Crimson Footprints

Crimson Footprints #1

by Shewanda Pugh

When an insecure, bi-racial woman begins a cloak-and-dagger love affair with a Japanese American man, she is intent on keeping her bigoted family in the dark albeit with devastating consequences. On the night of her brother s murder, Deena Hammond stumbles upon Takumi Tanaka, lost and on the wrong end of a .32. After rescuing him from the certain fate driving through the hood in a Porsche will bring, a sweet kind of friendship begins. A balm for her grief. Maybe, Deena likes to think, it happened the day her white mother killed her black father. Or maybe, it was always a part of them, like DNA gone bad. Whatever the case, Deena knows that her family would never approve, hell, never acknowledge her fast-growing love for Takumi. And had he never made love to her that way, in that unraveling, soul-searching sort of way, she could ve done the same. But love s a devil that way. So, their game begins. One where they hide what they are from everyone. Anyone. And Tak understands this for now. After all, Deena s career hinges on the favor of her mentor and boss, his hard-ass of a father. And the Hammond family is already stretched thin with grief. Yet, each step Deena takes toward family and career brings her closer to an acceptance she s never had. And away from him.

Genres: Romance, Interracial Romance, Contemporary, Contemporary Romance, Slow Burn, New Adult, Forbidden Love

361 pages, Kindle Edition

First published May 1, 2011

About the author

Shewanda Pugh's a tomboy who's been writing romance since an inappropriate age. While she's been shortlisted for a few awards and snagged a bestsellers list or two, there's nothing she enjoys more than hearing from her readers.

In another life, she earned a BA from Alabama A&M University and an MA in Writing from Nova Southeastern University. Though a hardcore native of Boston, MA, she now lives in Miami, FL, where she sulks in the sunshine, guzzles coffee, and puzzles over her next novel.

Reviews

[Pragya · Rating 5 out of 5]

My Views: Wow! Yes, that is the word. I opened this book expecting nothing and I ended up with everything. Literally. This book hooked me from page 1 and never did my attention falter. The book is just so refreshing. It’s so fresh and new, the concept unexplored, at least as far as my reading is concerned.

This is an underdog (said so, because the book is not high in the ranks or popularity while it clearly needs to be out there) which has much to offer. It has got them all, the touches of reality, the romance, the humor, the seriousness, everything. It is one of those books that captures you in a way so unexpected and just takes you with itself for a ride.

The concept is like a breath of fresh air. You keep on thinking what would happen next but it’s so unpredictable, just like life. It’s so real, the setting, the people, the situation, the whole book. It just doesn’t feel like a book, it’s like viewing someone’s life from the outside, almost being a part of it.

The characters are very well-sketched, there is no inconsistency and you feel like you know them all intimately.

I loved the humor, it’s so real and fresh.

One thing that unnerved me were editorial glitches but I hope they would have been taken care of in the final version.

So I think you really need to watch out for this one and read it.

[Elise Marion · Rating 5 out of 5]

I am going to be really honest and start by saying that I almost passed on this one. When I read the line 'insecure bi-racial woman' in the blurb I will admit, I rolled my eyes a little. I've read this theme before, and honestly am sick of any type of insecure heroine, as they seem to sabotage themselves at every turn to my annoyance. However, after some thought, I decided to go for it as I haven't seen a lot of African-American woman/Asian man pairings in Interracial Romance and I liked the idea. I went in expecting a love story but I got so much more than that and boy, am I ever glad I read this book. I am going to try to get all of my feelings about this book into a review that doesn't take up pages, but it's going to be hard, so bear with me!



Yes, this is a love story at the core, a romance between Takumi (Tak) and Deena (Dee), two people who couldn't be more opposite of each other. Dee is from the 'hood' and has had to scrap and work hard to get where she is now, as a successful executive at an architectural firm. Tak is a privileged artist with a trust fund who wouldn't have to work a day in his life if he didn't have to. The two probably would have never met except for the fact that Dee saves Tak's life....and, get this, it's from the end of her own brother's gun that Dee saves him. From there an unlikely friendship blossoms and this is what I like most about the book. While there is chemistry and attraction, Tak and Dee's friendship blossoms first, allowing for a great build of sexual tension that leaves you waiting breathlessly for it to 'happen' between them. As friends, they are a likeable pair and Tak's devil-may-care nature plays a huge role in Dee's character development. A timid mouse who is used to people walking all over her slowly evolves over the course of the story to become a woman, thus giving the story another layer beyond the romance.

At the heart of Dee's issues are her black side of the family's disdain for her bi-racial heritage, white mother, and so-called bourgeois ways. These people define the stereotypes that plague black people and while I know that people like this do exist, I felt a huge disconnect with them. Being a black girl who was raised a long way from the ghetto, I felt I couldn't really identify with this family at all. Not one of them represented what I know, although being off fairer skin I could certainly identify with the problem of having people make comments about your skin or hair. I guess I would have liked to see less stereotypes in Dee's family, as Tak's family was a nice blend of different personalities and not every one of them was molded from a preconception of what an Asian person acts like. However, I can understand if this is the author's experience and this is what she knows, or if it was her intent to create that disconnect so that the reader could identify more with Dee. Whatever the case, while some of the stereotypes and ignorance of most of the black characters irked me at times, it in no way influenced my five star rating. There is so much more to this story than that.

This story covers every aspect of an insecure woman's life, from her love life to her job....did I mention that Dee work's for Tak's father, who happens to be an uber successful, downright iconic architect who is stiff with Japanese tradition and would flip his wig if he knew his son was dating a black girl? Yeah, the layers are thick in this one. There is so much going on, but at no point is the reader overwhelmed by the details. In fact, this is what made the story come alive for me because it was multi-layered and deep, and the execution was pretty much flawless. The author's prose is beautiful and it is clear that she knows a lot about both architecture and the United States. Either someone's done their homework with some extensive research, or she's really experienced the cross-national journey that Tak and Dee go on, as well as the ins and outs of architecture and the different styles of buildings, etc. Honestly, I couldn't tell, which made me love this story more. Even if the author has never been to New York, or St. Louis, or Tennessee, she made me feel like I had been there, which is the mark, I think, of an excellent writer. It doesn't matter how much she knew when she started writing this....what mattered to me was that she made me feel like I knew it!



In the end, I was more than satisfied with the ending, although the issue of Dee's promiscuous sister was kind of left hanging out there. Since there will be a Crimson Footprints part 2, I wonder if her story won't be expanded on more later on. I certainly hope so, as I'd like to think those little snippets about her escapades served some kind of purpose as they did not exactly affect Dee's story overmuch. Nevertheless, I am looking forward to it with breathless anticipation.

[Laura Thomas · Rating 5 out of 5]

Sometimes I like to start a book without knowing what it is about. After I finished the last page there is one thing I do know, I will be watching for future books by Shewanda Pugh.
This story has a great plot line, with many sub-plots that are crucial to the main plot.
Each character had their own place and were important in the progression of the story. I felt a genuine connection with the main characters and the secondary ones played an important role in fleshing out the story.
With well written descriptive scenes, the authors words painted powerful pictures. The diaglogue was good and flowed nicely.
Deena, being half black, half white is trying to find out where her place is in her family, while juggling a new relationship and a huge project at work. Takumi, a Japanese American, grapples with the knowledge that his love for Deena is not acceptable by his father and if discovered could destroy them both.
Having read this book in one sitting, I was completely captivated. Shewanda Pugh is a talented writer and I highly recommend that you read her book. I will be on the lookout for more.

[Raymond Mathiesen · Rating 5 out of 5]

The balancing act of life…
Deena Hammond is a 24 year old architect living and working in her home town of Miami, Florida. In some ways Deena is very successful, but she comes from a poor background, and in many ways she is still inextricably tied up with those origins. Her grandmother, Emma Hammond, who brought Deena up, is constantly demanding and never satisfied. Deena’s adult brother Anthony is a small-time criminal, and her sister Lizzie, though still at school, is incorrigibly wayward and seems headed for a disaster of a life. Deena is half African-American and half white and feels that she was never really accepted by the black side of her family when they took her in as a child. In very harrowing circumstances Deena meets Takumi (Tak for short) Tanaka, the son of her world famous, distant and demanding boss Daichi Tanaka. Immediately the personal chemistry and attraction seems right, but everything else between these two people seems impossible. Deena is a mere underling. Should she even be talking to the son of the owner of the business she works for? What is more Deena’s family very much expects her to date a black man. Can these two people overcome the odds and form a friendship, or even the romance they both desire?

Shewanda Pugh’s Crimson Footprints can certainly be classified as a romance; however, it is much more than that. It is a story of class consciousness and racial division. It is about the struggle to find the right equilibrium between work and family, and it is a story about trying to ‘do the right thing’. Most of all, this novel is about balance in all things. We are all different, but we must overcome our resistances and come to the centre ground if we are truly going to be a success in life.

Pugh has managed to successfully weld sweet romance with biting ‘slice of life’. Romance, especially the first phase, usually seems enjoyable, even with its ups and downs and Pugh captures the pleasant nature of first love well. Mixed in with these chapters, though, are insights into the often seedy, cruel world of the lower class. This juxtaposition works very well, jarring us, and reminding us that while life can seem pleasurable, there is always harshness, perhaps not too distant from us. There is considerable irony in the contrasts between Deena’s romance, and her striving for career success, and Lizzie’s pure-flesh ‘sexploits’ and base efforts to get ahead (for example the Ch. 7 / Ch. Ch. 8 contrast). Pugh’s phrasing, particularly at peak moments, is often excellent, lifting her prose from the mundane. In Chapter 1, for example, which describes the run down suburb of Liberty City, we read of “Torn fences that imprison rather than embellished” the houses which Deena passes. This care with words, and occasionally poetic turn of phrase, helps to mark out the book as more than the average read. There are moments of pure humour, particularly the events surrounding Takumi’s cousin Mike and his fumbling attempts to capture Deena’s attention (CH. 47 & following). There are also moments of true shock and also scenes of high drama that take us far from the average world of romance. Pugh has included occasional swearing, and sex is very openly discussed and depicted. This may offend conservative readers, but is certainly justified by the themes, characters and story line.

The book has a more unusual plot structure. Part One (Ch. 1 - 7) serves as a general introduction to the Hammond and Tanaka families, and to Deena’s work. The plot peaks early, then builds as complications follow. Part Two (Ch. 8 – 42) is a very long section covering Tak and Deena’s extended holiday road-trip across much of the U.S. Romance blooms as Deena learns to loosen up, then a series of couples are met. These couples serve to show how Tak and Deena’s love perhaps could work. The sequence comes to an unexpected close as events suddenly twist in a crisis. This Part could perhaps have been divided into two sections, though the whole sequence is certainly united by the structure of the holiday. Part Three (Ch. 43 – 64) covers the problem of the hidden nature of the romance, centring on complications during a working holiday break. The disastrous climax of the novel is reached followed by a brief sequence wrapping up circumstances with the Tanaka family. Part Four (Ch. 65 – 67) describes the complications with Emma. This section is quite brief and perhaps could have been extended a little considering Deena’s grandmother’s earlier resistance, tenacity and belligerence. The Epilogue, set some years in the future wraps up the plot lines nicely, though one question is pointedly left open.

As already indicated the main theme of Crimson Footprints is balance, or Difference/Harmony. We like people ‘like us’, but we are all individuals. What does it really mean to be ‘like me”? Is this merely a matter of externals, or are internals more important? We need to accept who people are, and where they came from, but not be bound by that. An openness in outlook and balance is needed otherwise we will be bound forever in very limited circumstances. On another level, how do we handle the conflict between work and family / social life? Is one demand more important than another? Can we neglect either? Of course there are no easy answers, though those may be the first to come to us. Life is complicated and this book explores these complications.

The family is a second important theme. Families can be both sources of pain and sources of strength, and both features can occur in the same kinfolk. Families are what make us, but at the same time are what we grow from. They can be conservatively stolid, relying heavily on tradition, or can adapt to new circumstances. We can ignore them, but we can never really escape them. Following from tradition, a family can be a basic mother, father and children, or it can be a less conventional grouping. Families are very basic to human nature and being taken in, or adopted, does not make it of less importance to us. This very contrary institution in fact dominates us. We come from families and then we make new families, or at least extend those which we have.

Another important theme in the novel is what could broadly be termed as success. We are encouraged to ‘do our best’, to ‘do good’, to ‘shine’. What is success and what are the traits that allow us to see it? Is it hard work resulting in material objects? Is it love, honesty, caring and ethics resulting in respect and attachment? Is there room for both? Millennia ago the ancient Greeks asked, “What is the good citizen?” In response they formulated the idea of “Virtue” (Ben Dupre. 50 Philosophy Ideas You Really Need To Know: Quercus, 2007, p. 96 – 99), that is, the character traits that make us wisely successful in both working life and family life, and indeed everything that we do. This idea of ‘virtue’ is central to Pugh’s novel. Deena struggles to be a ‘good person’ ethically, socially and workwise. For her these are not separate issues, and not merely because she is in love with the boss’s son: all are tied up with who she is as a person. Of course there is success in terms of one social class’s ideals or another’s, but what is truly wise success. In the end isn’t success really related to what makes us “happy” (Ch. 20), as complex an issue as that may be?

Following from this there is also a minor theme of ‘religion verses ethics’. The Christian religion claims to be the guide for good, but surely considering the evil things that befall us for no reason we should conclude that God in some ways unfairly hates us (Ch. 2)? Indeed doesn’t hell hang over us like some permanent, inescapable damnation (Ch. 2)? Even if these things aren’t entirely correct theologically, aren’t accusation and condemnation how Christians really act? Is this really what good is all about? Equally, for so many, isn’t Buddhism in reality simply a constraining tradition full of rules about obligation (Ch. 10), rather than a source of right behaviour leading to internal peace? Once again this may not be correct according to the true tenets of Buddhism, but isn’t this how it often works out in practice? If religion in practice isn’t such a good guide for ‘goodness’, what do we take as our guide? Surely we must fall back into the painful position of finding our own way, and indeed Deena must struggle to find her own position.

Deena Hammond is an interesting character who we immediately like and care about. What strikes us is her positivity in very negative circumstance and her determination to get somewhere better. Deena is a ‘Star’, without being too perfect. Despite her determination, in certain circumstances, particularly with her Grandmother, she collapses. What unites these converse character elements is the fact that she is a self-accuser. Her accusation drives her on to career success, but also holds her up in her battle with her domineering Grandmother. While she accuses herself, Deena is somewhat driven to help others, particularly her siblings. This kind of complexity does much to make Deena seem more real to the reader. She is no cardboard cut-out. Deena must learn to limit her career “expectations” (Ch. 12) and not rely so much on “reason” (Ch. 16) alone to solve problems. These are human challenges the reader can recognise and understand, even if they do not personally suffer from them.

Takumi Tanaka is in some ways the ‘perfect man’ every woman dreams about. He is “athletic” (Ch. 1), a success at both art and business (Ch. 5) and caring. His limitation is that, while he can understand Grandmother Emma all too well, he only has a limited understanding of his own father and family. Despite this the reader wonders if Tak could have had just one or two more faults to make him more human.

Grandmother Emma Hammond is an appropriate nemesis. She is a narrow minded bigot, uneducated, an immense hypocrite and appropriately venomous, though occasionally she can give way. The words “consistently hostile” (Ch. 1) certainly sum her up. Her Christianity is certainly a biting irony.

Daichi Tanaka is describe by a magazine is “Architectural God” (Ch. 3) and his behaviour exhibits the kind of flaws that such adulation would certainly bring. He can be arrogant, bad tempered, rude and cold, but he is also willing to give others a chance to prove themselves, and even work to bring out the best in people. Daichi is like Deena in his determined, even driven nature, and in his concern for others, but quite different in his self-adulation. Pugh has these two character form an interesting and rich relationship, and has managed to make Daichi equally complex.

Examined from the perspective of Feminism it can easily be seen that Deena is a successful young career woman and entirely self-made. Deena’s challenge is to live up to the goals set by Betty Friedan (Cathia Jenainati. Introducing Feminism: Icon Books, 2010, p. 90 – 94) of being successful both in her job and family life, without falling into the same traps that men do (primarily favouring career over relationships). Hatsumi, Tak’s mother, however, is by marked contrast a 1950’s woman: unloved, unhappy, trapped at home, but beautifully dressed. Even Hatsumi, however, has a certain dignity and demonstrates a mind of her own, showing how women can rise above these circumstances. Emma, for all her failings, is certainly headstrong. Lizzie has a mind of her own, but serves as representative of the ‘sex object’ so propagated by traditional media and male driven dominance. Pugh makes it more than clear that according to her this option is not to be desired. Rhonda, Deena’s aunty, is also a career woman (Ch. 4), but demonstrates the bigotry which the ‘new woman’ faces as she must “constantly field unfounded accusations that she is a lesbian” (Ch. 4) simply because she does not fit a very narrow picture of what a woman should be like.

Daichi is very representative of the 1950’s male role model, being a stranger to both his feelings and his family, and believing that his duty as a male is solely to provide income. He sees himself as the family figure head. As the story progresses, however, this position comes under increasing, condemning scrutiny. Tak, by contrast, is the twenty first century man: not New Age / Spiritual, but none the less in touch with his own feelings, and caring of others. As an artist he expresses freedom and creativity, rather than being trapped in a rigid role. Anthony Hammond, Deena’s brother, represents that large group of men who have not progressed to the standard proposed by twenty first century male Gender Studies. He is everything a man should not be, trapped in a 1950’s ‘tough rebel’ role, renamed “gasgsta” (Ch. 56) as if it were something new.

This is by far a predominantly heterosexual novel, though, LGBTIQ people are very briefly represented by Bridget, “a lesbian” (Ch. 20), who is positively depicted as a successful career woman. Two quite large families are depicted in the novel, plus other minor characters, and we wonder if more of a representation of LGBTIQ people could have been made, particularly in a book where ‘difference’ is an important theme.

The aged, who are often ignored in society, are chiefly represented by Emma Hammond, though this is clearly not a sympathetic depiction. Of course being old does not automatically make you nice or wise. The absent character of Eddie Hammond, Emma’s husband, is equally uncomplimentary, though that is not surprising as the two belong together, having chosen each other as partners. Yukiko, Tak’s grandmother, by contrast proves to have learned wisdom over the years and in an important scene gives Daichi very useful words of advice.

This is a novel very much about minorities and highlights the difficulties those who would reach beyond their group face, as well as the difficulties those of mixed racial background face. African-Americans are highlighted, as are the U.S. minority of Japanese-Americans. This is, however, not really a book about political agenda or advancement in the standard way Post-Colonial Studies thinks. We do not, for example, really hear of civil rights. The social history behind African-American food is certainly mentioned early on (Ch. 4), and we hear that this is the food of slaves who must do with left overs. Also we hear that architecture should reflect the culture of the ethnic group (e.g. Mayan farmers) and empower these local groups (Ch. 3). As has been seen, both Deena and Rhonda are successful, black career women, and Daichi is certainly successful way beyond the normal expectations. The bigotry faced by both Japanese and Negroes in the U.S. is also briefly touched on as is the difficulties of mixed race couples (Ch. 57). The difficulties of people of mixed racial origin are also mentioned (Ch. 22). In all of this, however, the emphasis is on personal coping rather than political agenda. As has been said, this is a book about ‘Virtue’, and Pugh’s aim is to demonstrate the personal attitude in the face of these circumstances is what is important. Personal action to overcome poverty, for example, is the solution, rather than simply social programs. This is illustrated by the marked contrasts between the Tanaka and Hammond families. The Tanakas, despite their problems and failings, are educational achievers, work achievers and socially successful. The Hammonds, on the other hand ignore education, choose criminal careers, and glory in social bigotry and abrasiveness. They lead lives full of failure and ineptitude and seem to glory in it. Deena and Rhonda are of course the exception. As can be seen Pugh is not pulling her punches. This is a tough message and will be unpopular with at least some, though her message is overwhelmingly one of hope.

Similar to the position on minorities, Pugh takes an unusual stand in the Capitalist / Socialist debate. The evils of poverty are openly depicted. One example is the Liberty City high school where it is virtually impossible to take driver education courses because of under-resourcing (Ch. 7). There is no doubt that people should be able to live better. But once again the primary solution is personal virtue and not government programs. Opulent wealth is not openly condemned, far from it, but it is not placed above interpersonal caring and personality characteristics of value. Monetary wealth is of value, but not if that is all you have. This is certainly in keeping with the theories of Marx (Gill Hands. Understanding Marx: Hodder Education, 2011, Ch. 6), but is hardly standard Socialism. Pure Capitalism at the expense of virtue is certainly to be denied. Anthony has his “Air Jordans” (Ch. 6) and Lizzie has her tawdry, growing personal income, but at what expense to them personally? None the less this novel is in part a celebration of the American rags to riches ideal: the self-made man/woman.

Pugh is of course aiming to write about ‘real’ people and ‘real’ life, and so the field of psychology comes into play. Psychology aims to discover truths about human nature and behaviour, and so is a useful tool and aid to fiction. Deena is primarily motivated by guilt instilled in her by her overly-critical, religious grandparents who “bullied” her relentlessly (Ch. 12), and as a result is very critical of herself (Ch. 7), though she has achieved much in her life. She is controlled by the voice of others rather than her own “decision making and self-regulation” (Michael J. Formica. Guilt is a Wasted Emotion: Psychology Today: July 25, 2008, http://www.psychologytoday.com/blog/e...). She is a rigid planner (Ch. 9) locked in schemes to ensure success, so that the critical voices (now in her head) will be appeased. Of course Deena must break free of this circumstance, and that is a major plot line in the book. Also it can be noted that Deena is a “rescuer” (Andrea Matthews. The Rescuer Identity: Psychology Today: April 21, 2011, http://www.psychologytoday.com/blog/t...), who feels that she must ‘save’ her sister and brother, but is never successful in doing so. She carries out her ‘mission’ at great expense to her own development. She tries to ‘save’ others, but has never really established her own self-worth. Once again, it is clear that Deena must overcome this issue and Pugh explores this plot line in some detail.

A name can often help to shape us into the people we are, and studying names can sometimes help the reader to understand fiction. According to David L. Gold (A Dictionary Of Surnames: Oxford University Press, 1988, p. 237) the family name Hammond means “home”, with the special implications of “high [ … ] protection” and “ancestor [… ] protection”. This is certainly very ironic as Deena’s home is indeed anything other than a place of strong refuge, and her grandparents are hardly shields against the ill-will of the world.

Pugh’s novel is not heavily symbolic: however, the image of architecture hangs over the whole book. Architecture is “order in a world of chaos, sense in a world of madness” (Ch. 9). It can be something false and contrived that we impose on nature, or it can blend with the environment, as Deena wants to do with her Postmodern theories (Ch. 5). It can construct artificiality or it can deconstruct our fake ideas of life (Ch. 3). As has been noted Deena is trapped in the construction of her family and their “expectations” (Ch. 12), as well as her own, and needs to break free into her own natural being.

Shewanda Pugh’s Crimson Footprints has many aspects to it. It has the themes of difference / harmony, family and success, which are explored in some detail. Pugh writes well and she has created a successful novel which I am happy to rate as 5 stars.

[Gigi · Rating 4 out of 5]

After Deena's mom went to jail for killing her husband. She finds herself alone with only her brother and sister. They move in to they're grandparents house. They have no respect for her, they have no appreciation for her whatsoever, only because she's not fully black. Shortly after, Deena's brother Anthony is murdered. The only person who helps her through it all is Tak, the only man she's ever loved but loving him comes with a price. 



   I absolutely loved Deena she just grew on me throughout the whole book. Shes this beautiful person that cared so much about her family, searching for their approval. She was driven, sophisticated, intelligent and so passionate about her job as an architect. I really liked that about her. And Tak was definitely a wonderful guy you could tell that he was in love with her & wasn't just a simple crush. I really liked that he made her stand up for herself, loved her when her family didn't. And He was also very talented I loved that. I enjoyed this book to much I didn't exactly know what to expect. But it was a beautifully written book, with so many descriptions and details to it that you actually thought you were in it also. Thanks Shewanda.

[brisingr · Rating 3 out of 5]

Surprisingly lovely in the end; though I am not a fan of family second chances.
Surprising cliffhanger too, but I'm not sure I can go anymore through the Tanaka and Hammond families troubles. The romance was good though! Love friendship --> slowly turns to love.

[Romance Novels in Color · Rating 4 out of 5]

Deena Hammond is described as a bi-racial, near-white woman who has had her share of being hurt, disappointed, and ridiculed in her twenty-five years living. Deena, the oldest of three siblings, lost both parents at an early age to domestic violence and prison. Being raised by her grandparent should have awarded security; instead she was scorned for her ethnicity. In spite of their hardened hearts, Deena’s deepest desire was the love and acceptance from her father’s family. Reminiscing on memories with her father, she pushed through every misfortune to become a successful architect with Daichi Tanaka.

Returning to her hometown of Liberty City after graduating from MIT, Deena was mortified by who her siblings had become. Her brother, Anthony was a street hustler, and the youngest of the three, Elizabeth was promiscuous by the age of eleven.

One evening Deena and her grandmother heard Anthony’s boisterous voice, leaping out of the door. First, Deena was horrified at the visual in front of her. Stepping between the victim and her brother, she intervenes and saves the stranger’s life.

Takumi Tanaka is a Japanese American who indulges the world with his talent as an artist. Takumi has become a father figure to his younger brother due to the absence of their parents. He’s thankful for his uncle and cousin as he tries to cope and understand how his overzealous father can spend time with employees rather than his own flesh and blood. Looking for inspiration, Tanaka finds himself in the wrong place at the wrong time, staring in the eyes of a villain; the villain is the brother of the woman he will come to love and adore.

Deena and Takumi grew up with different backgrounds, yet their attraction towards one another is mutual. Due to their families’ beliefs and tradition, a multicultural relationship is prohibited and unspoken of. Understanding the consequences, they continue on, hiding their relationship from all except for a few. Allowing others with flaws of their own to speak into their lives, they find themselves in a worse state than before. Realizing she has taken the love and acceptance she has always desired for granted, Deena contemplates the inevitable.

Author Shewanda Pugh is very descriptive from beginning to end, connecting the reader with each character. As the story went on, I found myself laughing, in awe, or teary eyed. Crimson Footprints is about family, acceptance, forgiveness, and love. The ending is astounding, which is the best part because I never saw it coming. The book is well written and Pugh does a remarkable job of keeping the storyline unpredictable. Definitely a must read. The sequel Crimson Footprints II is also available.

-Reviewed by LaMona

[Lily · Rating 4 out of 5]

** Crimson Footprints was generously offered by the author for the purposes of an honest review, through Read it & Reap **

This was an incredibly enjoyable and intricate novel. From beginning to end, it was rich in detail and character development. No character went unexplored, and each story was told exquisitely.

This is a story of an interracial couple, that struggled throughout their 3 year relationship with how to combine their love for one another with their cultures and families. I sympathized so much with Deena, an insecure yet deeply strong woman, determined to succeed amidst a family surrounded by chaos and struggle. Her determination to care for and hope for the love of her family was heartbreaking to watch/read. I enjoyed reading through her journey of discovery, when she met Tak, a Japanese American artist and musician who loved her and tried to empower her along the way. And succeeded in helping her grow and become stronger as an individual.

It was refreshing to read a book that dealt with realistic obstacles and realities that could/do face real couples in this situation. I also enjoyed the slow development of their romance. It felt very real, and I was also able to relate to each character separately, or at least understand them if I could not relate or agree with their views. I do wish that there was some more development with Deena's younger sister. There was quite a lot of focus on her story in the middle of the book, about her exploits and how she came to be in the situation she was in. But then her story just dropped off to focus on Deena and Tak again, and never got back to her. I wish it had in some way, as it felt like there was a lack of closure with her story in this book.

The only criticism that I have in regards to this book was the formatting of the e books, which has been brought to the author's attention, and I hope there is time to make those corrections. The missing words, punctuation, and repeating sentences that I encountered on my .mobi format did distract from the story somewhat. I found myself having to reread sections because a missing word, etc, and it was distracting from the story.

I wish Shewanda Pugh much success, and hope she will continue to write. I would be very happy to read more written by her. I thoroughly enjoyed this book.

[Erin Black · Rating 3 out of 5]

My rating is 2.5 stars.

*I generously received this book as a read and review from the Read it and Reap review program, and thank Shewanda Pugh immensely for letting me read and review her book*

Crimson Footprints is a well written story about a racially mixed woman who falls in love with a man who is Asian. The story focuses in on both families, each who have their own viewpoints on who is “right” for their family. The conflict is as real as it could be. The characters were all very well developed, and played an important part in the story.

In my opinion, the story starts off very slow. I actually wasn’t fully invested in the story until I got through about 80 pages, than I feel the story really kicks off. There were a lot of details, sometimes I felt like it was a little too wordy.

The one thing that completely threw me off and drove me crazy throughout the book was the excessive drama in the style of writing. It could very easily be turned into a script, without adding the directive. I understand that part of what makes a stellar book is the description, and being able to easily picture it in your head. But you have to leave something to the readers imagination. Let the reader decipher what the persons facial expressions were while they are saying something. To be completely honest this book would have gotten a better rating from me if there wasn’t the excessive drama in the writing.

All in all, a good read. I would recommend this book to anyone who enjoys a well written, descriptive novel.

Kudos to Shewanda Pugh for her debut novel. I would pick up another one of her books. I wish her the best of luck in her future novels.

[Gabriela · Rating 4 out of 5]

Crimson Footprints is a good read. Deanna is a young woman who achieves success despite her family and the world she grew up in. She is an architect in a prestigious firm and has the faith of her boss but hides her talent and ability by accepting mediocre work. She is surrounded by a family that constantly feeds her negativity and guilt; suffering tremendous loss and rejection as a child and later on as an adult. She finds friendship that later blossoms into love all the while juggling the demands of her job and family. Her forbidden love affair fuels her confidence and strength in herself only to have it all come crashing down in a matter of seconds; only then causing her to reflect and become the woman she so dreamed to be. To realize that she deserves to love and be loved no matter if her family or anyone else accepts her. The author develops this story quickly with characters that are complex and convincing. As I began to read this book, I found myself being sucked into Deanna's world. Her insecurities mirrored a lot of my own and I identified with the characters in a lot of ways. I enjoyed this book so much I read it in one sitting. I wanted to give it 5 stars but unfortunately there were some language errors, typos, and repeats of sentences in a couple chapters. I am recommending this book to my friends. We all need to be reminded of what is important in life and to be loved is something we all seek.

[Annalise Grey · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.5

I LOVED this love story. I can't say that enough. I loved Tak and Dee and how they interacted with each other. I loved how Tak brought out a more playful, fun side of Dee and challenged her to consider life as something brighter than her family's drama.

Having said that, I really wish I hadn't read the Lizzie stuff. It brought the book (and the happy/hopeful nature of Tak & Dee's relationship) down a lot for me. I didn't go into this thinking it would be a light-hearted chick-lit romance but Lizzie being used and molested by her teacher and then the party, prostitution, etc. was too much for me. I think the book would have been a full 5 stars if it hadn't been for that.

The rest of her family's drama/issues/negativity was so important to shaping Dee's character and her life that - while it was hard to read at times because it was so sad and I wanted to hug Dee forever - it made sense to story. Lizzie's story though just made me feel like I was riding a roller coaster - Dee...happy, happy, happy, hopeful, BAM...horribly depressing....

Even still, I loved the book enough that I'll reread it again and just skip over those sections.

[Janhvi · Rating 4 out of 5]

I would like to thank Shewanda Pugh for providing me with her book in exchange of my honest review.
This book is about Deena Hammond who accidently meets Takumi Tanaka held at the gun point by her brother and soon finds herself falling for him. She is a successful architect and is beginning with a great career. While her family doesn’t appreciate her much and she faces rejection rather than support from them. After the death of her brother the demands of her family and work increase. While is fells head over heels for Takumi. In my opinion this quite a good book, while I could not connect with Deena at all because I have a totally different and pretty luxury lifestyle and never faced what she had to. I completely understand her and the role all the characters had to convey. I respect the struggle she went through for realizing that her love was important than her family’s denial for her relationship. It was an engaging read and I finished it within 3 day. I would recommend this book and want others to give it a try.

[OOSA · Rating 4 out of 5]

Jungle Fever Love

Deena Hammond is a beautiful, smart, and hardworking young woman that strives to accomplish success without receiving love and support from her family. Besides the devastating obstacles she encounters during her life, she is introduced to Tak. Tak introduces Deena to life outside of her box where she discovers another meaning to life that develops into something she never imagined…love. Tak and Deena’s lives become closer over time which causes major controversy between their families.

Shewanda Pugh’s “Crimson Footprints” is a fascinating, romantic, and enchanting novel that I recommend to readers looking for a change. This is a well written novel that clearly demonstrates the author’s skills. I love the way Pugh provides clear and detailed information throughout the novel without leaving the reader confused. I am looking forward to the sequel. Keep up the good work!

Reviewed by: Tekisha

[Tony · Rating 3 out of 5]

Enjoyed this read. All the characters including the ones I didn't care for reflected the realities of family and co-workers. My intention was to read a few chapters and then pick up where a left off on another night but instead I read the book in one sitting. Dee came a long way and though she seriously frustrated me at times I had to stick around and watch her blossom. Tak was a great guy, who after realizing what he'd found in Dee was patient enough to wait it out.

Ms.Pugh sort of wrapped up Dee and Tak's story along with his side of the family, here's hoping that the second book will tell us the story of her parents,along with the turn around of Liz, and something of Aunt Rhonda.

[InD'tale Magazine · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.5/5.0

A captivating story about a couple fighting against all odds for their happiness.

Read full review in February 2013 issue of InD’tale Magazine.

[L.V. Lewis · Rating 4 out of 5]

Crimson Footprints left footprints all over my heart!

When this story opened with Deena Hammond, the near-white, bi-racial female protagonist walking through the detritus of her African American Grandmother's neighborhood where she was raised, I was saddened by the incongruity of this image as she strolled through in her designer clothing. The meticulousness of Ms. Pugh's prose gave me a clue that while this story was for the most part well-written (there were some structural plot issues, copious instances of improperly words, and some grammatical errors that should've been caught by Ms. Pugh's editor--whom I blame wholeheartedly for what didn't qualify her for five stars), the author was going to go there with this story. She didn't begin exactly in medias res, but she was all set to plop her characters down into a whole mess of conflict.

Having suffered the loss of both parents, one to death and the other to prison, Deena had been raised by her grandparents--a now deceased, intolerant grandfather and a prickly grandmother who eschewed Deena and her siblings' bi-racial heritage. However Grandma Emma doesn't hesitate to use her successful, architect granddaughter as a cash cow to help support them.

Deena meets Takumi Tanaka when her gangster brother, Anthony, encounters the lost Asian male driving a luxury car through the streets of Liberty City. Saving Takumi from robbery and/or death by her brother and his thugs, Deena impresses the young Japanese man, who can't forget the biracial beauty who virtually saved his life. When Anthony is murdered, Deena relives the pain of her father's death. It is clear in the opening chapters that although Deena appears to possess all the trappings of success, her emotionally abusive extended family has robbed her of her self esteem. It bothered me that she was so long-suffering and tolerant of their abuse. So many times I wanted to scream at her to "grow a pair," even though I knew that was physically and anatomically impossible. Here was a twenty-five year old woman allowing her grandmother, one aunt, and cousins to ride rough-shod all over her feelings.

Takumi Tanaka comes into her life at just the right time and exposes her to a whole new world--literally. During the course of their friendship, he takes her on the first true vacation she's ever had and they take a twenty-something glorious day vacation, which I won't describe to you, because that would be too spoilerish (is that a word?). I love that their relationship developed over time and there wasn't insta-love occurring within days of meeting him like so many of the contemporary romances that are popular now. Tak befriended Dee, all the while hoping for more, so much so he had me screaming at him to "make a move already, buddy!" Tak was so tender with Dee, so gentlemanly, and a truly swoon-worthy male protagonist. He helps her to find the courage she needs to stand up for herself with her family and her boss--who just happens to be Tak's father--and is a horse of a totally different color!

Daichi, Tak's father while emotionally absent from his own family becomes like a mentor, and in some respects a surrogate father to Deena. He's tough-as-nails and says exactly what's on his mind, but he's a brilliant architect whom Deena found the wherewithal to approach while she was a student at M.I.T. and wowed him with her near-photographic memory and her architectural knowledge. With the exchange of a few words, he offered her an internship upon graduation, and she impresses him with her work ethic once she's on staff enough for him to take her own as his protégé. Over time, Daichi and Dee begin to confide in one other about familial things.

At its core, this is Dee and Tak's story, but there is a parallel storyline involving Lizzie which is excruciating to read. I felt that in some ways it deserved its own story because it detracted so much from what was going on with Dee and Tak, I sometimes resented the chapters about Lizzie for some reason. I think it had mainly to do with the fact that there's so much going on it convoluted the story somewhat. And I suppose since the story was told in sort of a limited semi-omniscient third person POV, I didn't feel like I connected or identified with Lizzie as much. However, the third storyline involving Daichi was done exceptionally well. Alpha-male though he was, I totally got him as a sympathetic character because Ms. Pugh did an excellent job of describing the social mores which governed the Japanese culture, combined with Daichi's tortured personal emotional landscape.

There were some instances where the description was over-kill, and a chapter from Tak's POV that involved no dialogue whatsoever, as well as a few places where suspending belief was difficult. (I'm still mad at whoever edited this story. As a writer myself, I found it unacceptable. It gave the appearance that two people wrote this story. One with stellar prose and dialogue at times, and another who left out words and flubbed some of the grammar.) All-in-all it was an exceptional read in terms of Ms. Pugh's presentation of the love story itself, and the architectural terms which made Dee's vocation totally believable. The author also writes very well from a middle-aged Asian man's POV. The dialogue between Daichi and his family and with Deena was so spot-on.

Early on, Dee and Tak agree to hide their relationship from almost all of their dysfunctional family members, the only exception being Tak's kid brother Kenji and first cousin, John. The story stacks up rather nicely as a formula for true disaster, and Ms. Pugh doesn't disappoint.

Will Dee and Tak come clean with their families before it is too late? Or will they remain un-enlightened, spawning a chain of events that will most assuredly derail Dee and Tak's growing love for one another? What causes the Crimson footprints? Find out when you read this explosive story about love, dysfunctional families, cultural differences, and acceptance.

This was an ambitious undertaking and the author almost pulled it off, but it had so many characters, some of whom weren't introduced until much, much later, and the parallel storylines weighing it down. Watch out, readers! When Ms. Pugh gets a better publisher, editor, and more writing craft under her belt, she's going to take the world by storm!

I give Crimson Footprints 3.5 stars because I loved Ms. Pugh's style of writing and the story so much, I was able to overlook the literary faux pas.

[DelSheree · Rating 4 out of 5]

Deena Hammond has dreams of becoming the type of architect that changes the way people view buildings. She has the talent to rise to the top, but personal problems may put everything at risk. Deena's family seems intent on dragging her down when all she wants is to escape the violence, drugs, and sex of Liberty City. Deena also falls in love with her boss's son, which may compromise her career. Add in the fact that both hers and Takumi's family are not open to bi-racial relationships and Deena finds herself struggling to keep her life from falling apart.

Even though many readers may never have to deal with the death of a family member due to gun violence, face becoming an outcast because of the ethnicity of their partner, or risk losing a promising career to keep the person they love, but readers will find themselves drawn into Crimson Footprints because of the realism of both the characters and story.

Deena and Takumi both face rejection by their families because of their relationship. The fear they have of their relationship being exposed was handled very well. I felt concerned and worried right along with the characters. What helped me connect with the characters was that their fears were not over the top, nor were they too blase. Deena especially had a lot to lose if her love for Takumi was discovered. Even at the risk of hurting Takumi, she wasn't willing to step that step into the unknown and announce their relationship. It was hard to watch Takumi be hurt by this, but it was completely understandable. I could see her reactions happening in real life. This handling of reactions and emotions was well done throughout the book.

The romance between Deena and Takumi develops slowly, more slowly than I expected, but despite the slower pace, I didn't find myself wishing it were any different. Pugh set up Deena's insecurities and fears about relationships very well in the initial chapters, so Deena's slow acceptance of Tak's affection felt quite natural. When the sexual tension between them began to build it was all the more effective because of this. I will point out that when the relationship did become sexual, there were sex scenes that were somewhat descriptive. These scenes do make this inappropriate for younger readers.

The pacing with the relationship was actually the same as the overall story. It was longer than I expected, and at times I wondered why I wasn't bothered by the slow pace. For a while I couldn't quite put my finger on it, but after finishing I realized I didn't mind the pace and length because rather than just reading a story, I felt like I was experiencing Deena's life along with her. I never found myself bored, however, this isn't a quick read. Readers will need some time to devote to Deena's story, but the time spent will be worth it.

The only aspect of the book I didn't love was scenes where Deena's little sister became the MC. Her chapters were interesting, but they never really connected to anything in this book. I kept waiting for her story to come into play with Deena's and it really never did. I realize that Pugh was setting this up for the second book, but I found it to be distracting. I felt the story would have been better served if these scenes had been kept back for the second book.

There was also a significant amount of profanity in this book. Mainly it came from Takumi and others, but Deena also in a smaller proportion. There are sexual topics discussed in a fair amount of detail as well. My only other complaint was that the editing could have been better. Missed words and grammatical errors were distracting at times, but not a deal breaker.

Overall, this was a fascinating read. Looking into the life of Deena Hammond kept me interested throughout the book. The length and pacing may be an issue for some, but personally I wasn't bothered by it, which is actually unusual for me. I enjoyed following Deena's story and would be interested in reading more about her life.

Would I recommend this book? Yes, but it won't be for everyone. This is a very interesting and captivating read, but the pacing, length, language,and sexual aspects may put some readers off.

Who would I recommend this to? This is mainly going to appeal to women in the 18-35 range. I would not recommend it for younger readers. The dramatic elements are a big draw for drama readers. The romance was well written, but may not pull in serious romance readers.

Check out my other reviews on The Edible Bookshelf

[Brandon · Rating 3 out of 5]

Ok Im going to admit that I didnt have high hopes for this book and after reading it I was surprised to find that I enjoyed it. That being said... I do have some issues with it (hence the rating) that I just couldnt ignore.

Warning: Possible Out of Context Spoilers

First things first: Who edited this book? Because they should NOT be allowed to edit another book from now till the end of time. It wasnt just the typos that got to me (a few I can understand, but towards the end they were EVERYWHERE!), it was the paragraph formatting as well. There were unnecessary page breaks, grammatical errors and poor punctuation throughout the entire story (worst towards the end) and it got to the point where it upset the flow of the story.

Secondly: The time gaps/leaps. Some of the dialog and writing suggested time leaps that made no sense and left me feeling like "Wait what? When did that happen?". I understand that the book is broken up into parts, but most of the time leaps were not within the sections of the book, rather, they were smack dab in the middle of them. For example... In part one Deena and Tak meet, and start hanging out eventually and then not too long after that (a handful of chapters later) she mentions that "When they met last year...". What? What do you mean "last year"? Didnt you just meet him not too long ago and start hanging out?

Third: Viewpoint changes: The book skips from Deena and Tak to other characters with little or NO explanation, exploring their backgrounds and current situations without preface. Again, this disrupted the flow of the story. One minute you're with Tak and Deena , the next, you're with her idiot little sister. It left me wondering "Why the heck is she exploring the sisters story for no real reason?". This didnt make ANY sense to me UNTIL the very end of the book. No not the last chapter, the end of the book when Amazon throws up that little "Readers who bought this book also enjoyed...." page. Thats when I realized (after exploring the details of the next book)that the focus would shift more to her (So THATS why she was shoving the sisters story down our throat!).

Also, Deena made for a hard character to like. I understand that she was supposed to start off a weak pushover and slowly come into her own... but she read more like a battered woman than a girl who was quiet, reserved, and lacking confidence. Really? You're going to quit your road trip with this amazing guy to take money to Mr. So and So at the liquor store for your verbally abusive grandmother? Really? That progression was almost way to long for my tastes. I found myself saying "Just leave her alone Tak, shes clearly content to be a victim all her life". That being said... it was refreshing to see a role reversal for once.... where the GUY wanted to proclaim their relationship whilst the girl wanted to keep it secret.

Umm... cant we talk about the unrealisticness of her little sister? Not her sexual encounters, but the things that happened surrounding them. Your brother shoots up Snows car NOT because he RAPED you but because you were only 11 at the time? Really? You get gang raped at a party (the flock of JUST DUDES didnt make you even a little suspect?) and that only makes you more determined to prositute yourself BETTER? Really?

Despite all the crazy parts to this book, my interest remained peaked throughout and I DID finish it (Unlike Pepper Pace's "Juicy" were I made it MAYBE 100 pages before I chucked my kindle in sheer disgust) and MAYBE the other two books will be better than the first

[Home Is Where the Wine Is Book Blog · Rating 5 out of 5]

Got this ARC from Read It & Reap for a fair and honest review. Thank you Shewanda Pugh for giving me the opportunity



4.5 Awesome Stars!!!

You all know the story. Two people meet and fall in love. But what if society told you that you could never be together...

If you were Deena Hammond and Takisum Tankaka you save to hell with the world and do it anyway!!!!

Meet Deena Hammond. A insecure biracial woman from a very strong rooted African American family. She is struggling to find her place in the family and has always felt out of place.

She is beautiful.
She was free
She was Deena.











Now meet Tak. He is from a very successful Japanese family. He is an artist. He is confident. He is blown away by Deena and can't get her out of his mind.













They cannot resist the pull to each other so start a fly by the seat of your pants love affair and hide it from Tak's father (aka Deena's boss) for three years.

But what if a hidden love affair was not enough? Do they risk everything to be together?

"I love you, Dee. I've never doubted that you were the woman for me."





Well done Shewanda Pugh. I loved the different POVs as well as they vulnerability you can show in your characters. You will hate them one chapter and feel sorry for them in the next.

Can't wait to start reading book two!!!!

[Alina · Rating 5 out of 5]

I was given this book for free by the author in exchange for an honest review and well, I found this book quite enjoyable. I will say that to me it read like a Tyler Perry movie - filled with family drama and a smart, gifted young main character that puts up the abuse of a family who wont quite except her due to her biracial heritage, and due to this, despite becoming success in her life, still seeks full love and acceptance from them, all the while unable to stand up for herself and unable to see how beautiful she is. Enter Tak - her love interest, raised on the other side of town to a wealthy Japanese American family and a strict, work-a-colic father who neglects his family for his work, realizes, but doesn't know where to begin to fix the pieces. Add the fact that Tak's father also happens to be Deena, our main protagonist, strict boss that seems something great in Deena and you have a whole recipe for drama, lies, deception, deceit and down right humor and comedy.

Understandably, I was unable to put this book down and read it in one sitting from start to end and will most certainly read the second half to this story.
Now for my complaint is that of the main character Deena. With obvious reasons, she suffered from low self esteem and self worth, therefore cowered in any tough situations, although this was understandable in the beginning, it seemed like her character did not evolve and learn a lot of self confidence, safe for her finally standing up to her grandmother in the end, it seemed a bit anti-climactic. Also her younger sister's story seemed like it got cut off a bit abruptly and you're left to wonder what happened to Lizzie and her spiral down hill, however sad an predictable it maybe.
I also found it a bit annoying at times when the book would switch into a different character POV out of the blue, but got used to it after awhile. I am very much hoping the second book, if continuing on with Deena's story, will clears up lose ends and we can see an even bigger boost of confidents and will dive deeper into Deena's parents and what happened there.
Other then that Loved this book and the Tanaka brood were a delight to read, same could not be said for the Hammond's, but it evened its self out.
The author, Shewanda Pugh has put forth a cast of characters and nice breath of fresh air to the urban fiction genre of two people from different backgrounds falling in love and dealing with the bigotry that may follow.

[T.M. Smith · Rating 4 out of 5]

Deanna Hammond is a bi-racial woman that has suffered the loss of both parents therefore being raised by a family that looks down on her bi-racial heritage but certainly enjoys the money she gives to support them. She graduates college and lands her perfect job as an Architect. Then her brother is murdered, opening up old wounds from her Father’s murder that never completely healed. She has achieved her success through hard work and strong character though life and circumstance have left her with very little self esteem.

Takumi Tanaka is a Japanese American man that has suffered loss of a different kind but just as damaging. A very successful artist in his own right he hasn’t faced the hardships in life or the suffering brought on by a less than loving family but, his emotionally absent father has left his mark on this young man. When he finds himself staring down the barrel of the gun with Deanna’s brother on the other end, this odd couple share an instant attraction that won’t be denied.

As you read you learn more and more about the two, their families, how they grew up and became the people they are today. Their love story slowly builds as they attempt to lay a solid foundation, growing more and more comfortable with each other every day. All the while though, they are hiding their love affair from almost everyone in their lives. What will happen when their two worlds collide, will they live happily ever after? Will the love Deanna craves so desperately continue to grow or crumble at her feet?

Once you throw in Deanna’s overbearing boss, who just happens to be Tak’s emotionally absent father, it would seem the deck is stacked against this pairing and they are doomed from the start. I will tell you the ending shocked the hell out of me, totally didn’t see it coming. Bonus points to Pugh for knocking my socks off with that twist.

This is a slow story, I’m telling you it will not be rushed! In the end I was glad for it. Pugh is very descriptive with her characters and their development, side characters, plots and background. I read another review where it was stated that it was like reading a movie, I would completely agree, I could visualize every scene it was so well described. I give this one 4/5, but that’s just my two cents!

[Books Mom · Rating 5 out of 5]

Truth? I read this book as a favor for the tour -- it didn't really sound like a book I'd enjoy, but I was intrigued enough to give it a try. And, honestly, I'm so glad I did. The author is stupendously talented.

The story is one we've read before: girl from the wrong side of the tracks hooks up with rich boyfriend. Families disapprove. It's all very West Side Story. But the author's added in race issues as well (about as many as you can: Deena, the heroine, is half black/half white and all conflicted and Tak is Japanese).

Even that is far too simple an explanation, though, and this book is far from simple. Deena is making a life for herself, despite her background, and is completely torn between family and future. Tak isn't quite as conflicted -- he's such a great guy. Yes, his family has its share of issues as well, nevermind that his father is Deena's boss.

It's such a cliche, but I really was sucked right into this book from the beginning, and went from a reluctant reader to an avid one, turning pages to see what would happen next. Every time I'd think there would finally be a bit of smooth sailing for our lovers, something would happen. Or when I'd think it couldn't get any worse, it would.

I can't write this review without mentioning the author's skill. She's truly got some amazing talent with words. She really does paint a picture with her words, from the slums where Deena's family lives, to the office where she works, to Tak's family home. I could see every setting clearly, as well as each very individual character, and the book unfolded like a movie in my mind. I was so impressed.

This book was wonderful from it's tragic beginning to its satisfying ending. So, even if you read the blurb to this book and think "meh" like I did? Don't move on to something else. Give it a try. If you like suspense, romance, tons of conflict and great writing, you'll love this book. I know I did.

[Judy & Marianne from Long and Short Reviews · Rating 4 out of 5]

Originally posted at: http://www.longandshortreviews.blogsp...


With remarkable skill, Shewanda Pugh paints a picture of a bi-racial woman from a disadvantaged background who is smart and ambitious enough to succeed at life, despite her family's efforts to bring her right back down.

Deena Hammond is a great protagonist. She's got a foot in two worlds as we begin. We see her in her fancy suit, getting off a bus and arriving in a poor, gang-ridden neighborhood. Her family derides her for her fancy ways and are just as biased against her white half as many others are biased against the black.

I felt both badly for and so proud of Deena as I read this book. Her life is a struggle and she does her best to make it through. When she finally finds someone she can love, and who loves her right back it's just another struggle. Why? Well, he's Japanese and exceptionally wealthy (two HUGE strikes against him).

I wasn't sure I'd like this book. The blurb doesn't do it justice but I'm so glad I gave it a chance. It's bold and tragic and sweet and encouraging. The author's writing skills can't be faulted. She created a world that was vivid and real and then invites the reader in. Even with my very busy life, I managed to read this book in just a couple of days, and even now I think about it. There are more stories here to tell: I'd love to know the story behind Deena's mother and the murder of her father. There are hints that it's not all what it seems. And Deena has another sibling she's trying to save. I'd like to see her sister's story, too. Then there's Tak... he's such an awesome hero, and he has family I became attached to as well. I'm sure they have plenty to say!

If you'd like a book full of angst and love, family drama and family redemption, from an author who has amazing skills with the written word, I recommend you give this book a try. I bet you won't regret it.

[Tanya Santiago · Rating 4 out of 5]

I received a copy of this book from the author in return for an honest review and I must say that was really nice read. Deena and Tak were enjoyable characters. The fact that Deena was bi-racial and how that affected how her family treated her was very moving. She endured so much as a young girl and continued to shoulder so much as an adult. If it wasn’t her grandmother or other family members giving her shit, it was people from work or clients from work.

Deena’s a very smart individual and accomplishing what she did growing up where she did never went to her head. I also enjoyed how Deena and Tak were really good friends before becoming lovers. What I did not like was how the story dragged a little when it came to them revealing their relationship. I can understand why both wanted to hold off, but wow, three years is a really long time not to mention that Tak’s father was also her boss.

Deena’s love for her family despite how they treated here was truly genuine. I applauded her backbone towards the end when it came to defending her relationship with Tak. I am glad this story had a great ending and loved the fact that even when both families detested their relationship, they made it work and overcame the odds.

Overall, this was a well written book that touched on issues that are very real in today’s world. Deena proved that just because you are bi-racial and grew up in a bad neighborhood does not dictate the outcome of how your life should be played. She defied the “norm” and went to college and became successful in her chosen career and fell in love with someone outside of her race and proved that she could be and would be happy.

I give Crimson Footprints 4.5 out of 5 stars. This was a really good read and I am very eager to read Lizzie and Kenji’s story in part II. Special thanks to Shewanda for giving me a copy of her book for this review! I look forward to part II.

[Nicole · Rating 4 out of 5]

Deena Hammond has grown up in Miami dreaming of the day when she could design buildings that reflected life. However, she struggles daily with trying to fit in with her all-black family, when she is only half-black. It doesn’t help that her entire family puts her down every chance they get, except for when they need her money or her help to handle her little sister. Deena has never belonged, but she has loved her entire family with every fiber of her being. Takumi Tanaka is an artist looking for inspiration in the wrong part of town, when his life is saved by a beautiful woman. Little does Takumi know, he has more in common with his heroine that he can’t stop thinking about. Takumi knows his father will never approve of a romance with a non-Japanese woman, so he must decide whether he is willing to risk it all for the love of a woman who has never known love and acceptance.

Shewanda Pugh has written a romance novel filled with all of the imperfections of modern-day life. The author makes this book even more real, by not shying away from the difficult topics found in the typical lifestyles of both the lower and upper class families. Readers will appreciate reading a romance novel that is very relatable to this day and age. The story line is in present day with memories of past events, the points-of-view jump around between the two main characters and a couple of the minor characters, which occasionally distracts from the main story. Readers’ emotions will be put through the wringer as they turn each and every page. This is an outstanding debut novel.

Even though this book covered very “taboo” topics, this was still a refreshing read, because it felt more real than most of the “fairy-tale” romance novels where everything is perfect. The main characters had to fight for themselves, their family and their love.


Notes:
The author provided a copy of this book for me to review.
This review was originally posted on Ariesgrl Book Reviews.

[Beth Cutwright · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a very interesting read for me. I admired our heroine and the background she grew up in and escaped from. I loved her boyfriend, Takumi Tanaka. I loved his patience with her, his love for her and his understanding of her. Crimson Footprints verified for me that secrets are not meant to be kept forever.

The characters ranged from very young to very old and from races of purity to mixes and it was very interesting to watch as the elder of each family grew and changed with acceptance and forgiveness. Deena's character grew and matured, although it took a near death experience to bring this about and the same for Takumi .


I was confused about Lizzie's story. It seemed important enough to tell, but to end suddenly in no further clarity. Maybe that was the point. Anyway, I surely enjoyed the love story between bi-racial Deena and Japanese Takumi. I loved his family, even Daichi. I even liked Grandma Emma, cantankerous, but a hoot in the end.

Families are one of the most complicated situations in life. Every member has their own perspective and I doubt that most of us are just evil. From our perspective we think and formulate ideas about right and wrong and mostly we believe ourselves to be good and acceptable souls. This book is definitely one of family values with a wide assortment of personalities and belief systems. Only when we come together through love and forgiveness can there be a meeting of the minds and acceptance for one another despite our differences. The Crimson Footprints certainly was a feel good read and inspires one to stretch their boundaries and lives. Thank you Ms Pugh for a delightful read and such strong characters!

[Jamee Pritchard · Rating 5 out of 5]

Shewanda Pugh describes her debut novel as a “literary romance,” and after reading and thoroughly enjoying it, I can say with conviction that she has artfully mastered the skill of storytelling. Her characters are genuine and complex. The story that she presents is real, and the issues wrapped in that story and in those characters are authentic to real life situations.

She presents her readers with the story of forbidden love, comparable to a modern day version of Romeo and Juliet. In her version, Romeo is Japanese and Juliet is a bi-racial blend of black and white. The two come from different worlds, but still find that ounce of magic that sets them down the path of passion, devotion, and above all, true love. The secondary stories that Pugh includes in the novel add substance to the story, laying out the consequences and outcomes that result from the way in which an individual chooses to live his or her life. All characters in the novel demonstrate an evolution from start to end, especially the heroine, Deena. It was both a joy and a frustration to follow her path of self-discovery and self worth.

Crimson Footprints is a very good read and highly recommended. It’s nicely paced, never a dull moment. The essence of the story is heightened not only by the emotion and beauty of the story, but also by Pugh’s ability to set the scene through her use of imagery. I loved every word, every sentence, and every page of this book. Her debut novel is definitely one of my favorite reads this year, and I can honestly say I cannot wait to read what’s next from Shewanda Pugh.

[Nakira · Rating 4 out of 5]

My rating is 4.5 stars!!!

A great book from a new author; LOVED the fact that Deena was a bi-racial architect. I too have an architecture degree and as an AA woman, I have not encountered many others.

I found the plot and characters to be unique and something different from what I am used to seeing in ethnic (AA) romance novels. Character development was good and as an AA woman, I could so relate to Deena's family members and the pressure that she felt to succeed while being viewed as a saviour. I wish that the Pugh had followed the fellowship hall work...I would have loved to see if Deena eventually helped the church along with some conversations from the church "design" meetings :).

I also want to add that the humor in the book was amazing! I LOVED the dinner with Deena and Tak's at Grandma Emma's!!!!! Them continuing to call him Chinese was a RIOT....I could SO relate!

There were a number of grammar errors that were easy to overlook but I am now starting to think that Kindle books, when edited, do not always get the same care as paper/hardbacks. I also did not understand the reason why the book was broken into four parts. It would have read just the same without it. And the big jump in time from when Tak and Deena met through for a minute. It did not hit me until the chapter where they decide to take the cross country tour and the story mentions that they had spoken a year earlier about something. I was like huh...what happened to that year.

Great work Pugh...looking forward to reading more of your work!

[Cathy · Rating 4 out of 5]

I found this story on a whim on Goodreads.com when the author was holding a giveaway for it. I wasn't exactly sure what I was expecting in the novel. Crime story? (I have the tendency to misread things lol) Regardless, I found this story to be pretty great.

Even though the main characters and I have only a little in common (I grew up in a loving and multicultural home - my mother is black american, my father is Haitian), I found myself really into the characters, even when I REALLY didn't agree with what they were doing.

My only real thought is that maybe it was the version of the story I got, but it didn't seem like it was thoroughly edited. Also, there were a few characters where I wondered why we were given their perspective. For example, we're given glimpses of what Deeana's sister Lizzie is doing and some of the conflicts in her life when she all but drops off the face of the earth 2/3rds of the way. Also, Dee's Aunt Rhonda was a source of sanity and, dare I say it, love in the Hammond family for Dee. Why wasn't there more interaction between the two of them?

Also, it was a little difficult to tell exactly how much time had past. I suppose it's not the important component, but there weren't enough indicators for me (it's how I stay a little grounded in novels).

Overall, this was a very enjoyable read. It described the intimacy between the main characters without being too graphic and I wish there were more novels like this one. I can't wait to see what Ms. Pugh has in store for us in the sequel!!

[Judy Thomas · Rating 4 out of 5]

Crimson Footprints is about family, acceptance, and differences. It was hard for me to identify with Deena's family--as my family was always very supportive. Deena's family not only didn't support her--they actively put her down because of the fact that she is bi-racial and that she is successful. But, they are the only family she has since her white mother is in prison for killing her black father (and that's another story I would love to read. Hopefully in the next book, all that will be explained).


Shewanda did a great job at sharing the backstory slowly. Just as she did an excellent job stretching out the sexual tension between Deena and Tak. I like him--he, too, has issues with his family, but they were the types of issues I understood. Both Deena and Tak, however, have families they feel would not accept the other because they are of different races.


There were elements of this story the author left hanging--esp. the issue of Deena's sister, Lizzie. She was wild, but the author shows us in snippets that go back until the time she was eleven that helps explain the circumstances that lead to her current behavior. I hope that she, as well, is given more time in the second book to work out her issues.


This book is richly drawn--not a quick read, but a very satisfying read. Even with the times I wanted to take Deena and shake her, I was still very interested in what she was going to do and how her and Tak's relationship was going to play out. Kudos to Shewanda Pugh for an intriguing debut.