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Morrow Girls #1
How to Knock a Bravebird from Her Perch
This award-winning tale is a fan favorite and the perfect start to a family saga that will have you riveted.
Simmons brings this African American family to life! Once you start reading, you won't want to put it down. Perfect for book clubs!
Simmons brings this African American family to life! Once you start reading, you won't want to put it down. Perfect for book clubs!
In the wake of her father's sudden death Pecan marries the up-and-coming boxing sensation Ricky Morrow. When she begins to doubt that desperate decision she finds herself on the receiving end of Ricky's violent temper. Scared for her life, she hunkers down in this marriage of convenience as the babies and fists keep coming. Will the abuse ever stop? Will Pecan and her girls live happily ever after?
Literary fiction that packs a punch and plenty of surprises.
It's not the typical domestic abuse storyline. In How to Knock a Bravebird from Her Perch, you will find the story of a girl who grows into a woman before your very eyes.
DON'T WAIT! ADD IT TO YOUR SHELF TODAY.
A story so moving, it will stay with you long after you put it down.
This true to life story walks a careful line between fiction and reality. With characters as real as you and me, it will break and mend your heart a hundred time because it has just the right amount of honesty and love. And anyone who wants a true underdog story will be captivated until the very end!
DON'T WAIT! ADD IT TO YOUR SHELF TODAY.
- GenresFictionContemporary
340 pages, Paperback
First published January 2, 2014
36 people are currently reading
871 people want to read
About the author
D. Bryant Simmons
6 books44 followersD. Bryant Simmons is an award-winning author who pens realistic fiction that straddles the line between art and social commentary. She is currently hard at work on The Morrow Girls Series, a family saga that spans three generations of women. Simmons' fiction delves into muddy waters, exploring subjects such as domestic violence, addiction, and mental illness. She believes novels can act as agents of change and hopes that her writing will inspire and empower women.
Simmons' writing style is reflective of her personality. She suffers from a horrible case of impatience. She values emotional connections above all else and is hopelessly distrustful of happy endings.
She is a graduate of the Univeristy of Illinois where she earned her BA in Sociology. She also has an M.Ed in Education.
D. Bryant Simmons resides in Chicago, Illinois.
Simmons' writing style is reflective of her personality. She suffers from a horrible case of impatience. She values emotional connections above all else and is hopelessly distrustful of happy endings.
She is a graduate of the Univeristy of Illinois where she earned her BA in Sociology. She also has an M.Ed in Education.
D. Bryant Simmons resides in Chicago, Illinois.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 43 reviews
August 19, 2015
Haha! I'm reviewing my own book! Let's see how objective I can be, shall we?
I'm giving it 4 stars but I really want to give it 4.5 because it succeeds for what it attempts to do but I wish it attempted to do more.
The subject matter has been done before but never like this. No gratuitous violence, there's just enough so that the reader must live with the threat of it. The characters and dialogue are well placed and well thought out, insuring that the story jumps off the page. And here's the major test for me...I can start reading at any point in the novel and I'm immediately transported to that point in time and I feel the same relentless tug to continue reading even though I hate reruns and I've read the passage a million (really a million) times before.
However, so much happens between the covers—so much time is covered that the story feels rushed. Very little down time between episodes. Feels like the author was trying to fit everything into a certain number of pages.
And last but not least, I wish Ricky was a more complex character.
I'm giving it 4 stars but I really want to give it 4.5 because it succeeds for what it attempts to do but I wish it attempted to do more.
The subject matter has been done before but never like this. No gratuitous violence, there's just enough so that the reader must live with the threat of it. The characters and dialogue are well placed and well thought out, insuring that the story jumps off the page. And here's the major test for me...I can start reading at any point in the novel and I'm immediately transported to that point in time and I feel the same relentless tug to continue reading even though I hate reruns and I've read the passage a million (really a million) times before.
However, so much happens between the covers—so much time is covered that the story feels rushed. Very little down time between episodes. Feels like the author was trying to fit everything into a certain number of pages.
And last but not least, I wish Ricky was a more complex character.
March 16, 2016
How to Knock a Bravebird from Her Perch is set mostly in the 1970s and is about Belinda (“Pecan”), a girl with a daddy who raised her right and loved her so, but when a Ricky comes into her town, things get messy. Pecan’s daddy doesn’t really seem to like Ricky, but he can’t say too much about it, as he has a heart attack and dies within the first few pages. Ricky and Pecan get married and move to Chicago where Ricky trains as a boxer and Pecan starts having babies. Girl after girl is born, and Ricky really wants a boy. He appears to hold this against Pecan, but that’s not surprising; Ricky has a temper on him and fists trained to hit. For several years, Ricky’s Aunt Clara lives with the family, and she is often able to keep Ricky from knocking the crap out of Pecan by threatening him with a cast iron skillet. But one night, when Pecan goes dancing with her girlfriends after Aunt Clara tells her she has to, Pecan meets an honorable man.
It’s not 100% clear to me what would be considered a spoiler, so I’ll stop there. There are two distinct aspects of this novel that stand out: the way Simmons challenges the reader to face their preconceived notions about domestic abuse, and the pacing.
It’s fairly early in the story that the reader learns that Ricky hits. Pecan tries to use her voice for the first time, but is silenced: "That’s all I could get out before he hit me again. And again. And again. I just couldn’t believe it. Not me. Other girls might have that happen to them but not me. My man was not doing that to me."
There are a series of thoughts that I had as a reader that made me feel horrible, and I believe Simmons was doing this to me on purpose. First, I paid attention to why Ricky hit Pecan the first time. Shortly after their first baby is born, Pecan packs up the baby and as much food as she can carry and tries to run away. She says that she has been lying to him to tell him what he wants to hear, but if I think back on the timeline, they haven’t been together that long. Why did she marry the first guy to talk to her, I ask, if she’s just going to lie to him? When I think about Ricky finding Pecan standing on the sidewalk with his baby and her guilt, I realize that I would be mad, too. Then comes the hitting. It’s that moment that Simmons makes readers tie together poor logic: Pecan was being a horrible person, and Ricky was just reacting. Of course, people make these logical leaps in the real world all the time. We excuse the hitters and blame the victims–and are quick to do so. When Pecan spends years and years and years getting hit by Ricky, readers are forced to wonder why she doesn’t call the police. Why she doesn’t try to run away again. Why she doesn’t ask for help. We think, Oh, she’s probably thinking he doesn’t hit the kids, so it’s okay, but once he does she’ll leave (how stupid; of course he’ll eventually hit the kids). This is where we must all stop; why are we asking questions of what Pecan does and doesn’t do and not of what Ricky does? This is one of the triumph’s of Simmons’s novel: she makes readers go to these uncomfortable places and face their own judgments.
The pacing becomes very important to making the novel realistic. The children growing are great time indicators, and part of their growth is not just age, but in cognitive function. They begin to realize what’s going on, to speak to their mother differently than their father, to realize what makes them afraid. Watching the four daughters grow into their personalities gives the book a slow, steady pace that demonstrates just how long the domestic abuse goes on. We don’t need to read about every punch and every cut, black eye, and broken bone (I remember reading these details in Roddy Doyle’s The Woman Who Walked Into Doors and feeling sick over and over) because there are other ways Simmons shows how time progresses. When child protective services gets involved, it seems like the whole CPS agent/home visits is a waste of time to the point where I felt myself getting angry with an agency designed to help children be with their parents and be properly cared for. It feels like Pecan will never be with her family and happy and unafraid because someone will always be a barrier.
And it is this slow pacing that gives the book its realistic feel; separation, violence, legal issues, and parents’ rights are not easy topics to summarize and stuff in the closet. It’s a long, drawn-out process that affects so many individuals, and Simmons captures that reality in her book.
Overall, How to Knock a Bravebird from Her Perch is novel that is able to capture many characters and render them in a realistic tone that makes it pleasurable to read in addition to the challenging topics readers will face.
This review was originally published at Grab the Lapels.
It’s not 100% clear to me what would be considered a spoiler, so I’ll stop there. There are two distinct aspects of this novel that stand out: the way Simmons challenges the reader to face their preconceived notions about domestic abuse, and the pacing.
It’s fairly early in the story that the reader learns that Ricky hits. Pecan tries to use her voice for the first time, but is silenced: "That’s all I could get out before he hit me again. And again. And again. I just couldn’t believe it. Not me. Other girls might have that happen to them but not me. My man was not doing that to me."
There are a series of thoughts that I had as a reader that made me feel horrible, and I believe Simmons was doing this to me on purpose. First, I paid attention to why Ricky hit Pecan the first time. Shortly after their first baby is born, Pecan packs up the baby and as much food as she can carry and tries to run away. She says that she has been lying to him to tell him what he wants to hear, but if I think back on the timeline, they haven’t been together that long. Why did she marry the first guy to talk to her, I ask, if she’s just going to lie to him? When I think about Ricky finding Pecan standing on the sidewalk with his baby and her guilt, I realize that I would be mad, too. Then comes the hitting. It’s that moment that Simmons makes readers tie together poor logic: Pecan was being a horrible person, and Ricky was just reacting. Of course, people make these logical leaps in the real world all the time. We excuse the hitters and blame the victims–and are quick to do so. When Pecan spends years and years and years getting hit by Ricky, readers are forced to wonder why she doesn’t call the police. Why she doesn’t try to run away again. Why she doesn’t ask for help. We think, Oh, she’s probably thinking he doesn’t hit the kids, so it’s okay, but once he does she’ll leave (how stupid; of course he’ll eventually hit the kids). This is where we must all stop; why are we asking questions of what Pecan does and doesn’t do and not of what Ricky does? This is one of the triumph’s of Simmons’s novel: she makes readers go to these uncomfortable places and face their own judgments.
The pacing becomes very important to making the novel realistic. The children growing are great time indicators, and part of their growth is not just age, but in cognitive function. They begin to realize what’s going on, to speak to their mother differently than their father, to realize what makes them afraid. Watching the four daughters grow into their personalities gives the book a slow, steady pace that demonstrates just how long the domestic abuse goes on. We don’t need to read about every punch and every cut, black eye, and broken bone (I remember reading these details in Roddy Doyle’s The Woman Who Walked Into Doors and feeling sick over and over) because there are other ways Simmons shows how time progresses. When child protective services gets involved, it seems like the whole CPS agent/home visits is a waste of time to the point where I felt myself getting angry with an agency designed to help children be with their parents and be properly cared for. It feels like Pecan will never be with her family and happy and unafraid because someone will always be a barrier.
Took my time going down the stairs. One step at a time. Holding onto the banister and the wall. Had to come up with new reasons to get outta bed every night. Wasn’t no sense in having both of us worry. I flicked on the lights and checked each window on the main floor. Had to wait until bedtime because Heziah was in the habit of opening a window every time he went into a room, but most of the time he forgot to close and lock it. Wasn’t his fault. He just ain’t know like I did. I knew better than to leave anything open or unlocked. We’d gotten the locks changed, but Ricky Morrow wasn’t the type to let a locked door stop him.
And it is this slow pacing that gives the book its realistic feel; separation, violence, legal issues, and parents’ rights are not easy topics to summarize and stuff in the closet. It’s a long, drawn-out process that affects so many individuals, and Simmons captures that reality in her book.
Overall, How to Knock a Bravebird from Her Perch is novel that is able to capture many characters and render them in a realistic tone that makes it pleasurable to read in addition to the challenging topics readers will face.
This review was originally published at Grab the Lapels.
December 16, 2013
Inspired and influenced by family and friends who have been victims of abuse, D. Bryant Simmons – a firm believer in female empowerment and children’s rights, writes a hard-hitting story on the issue hoping to inspire women they don’t have to take it anymore. If you feel strongly about domestic violence, then How To Knock A Bravebird From Her Perch is a must read for you.
The book takes the reader through the life of a battered woman. The author explores how it all began, what led to her breaking point and the toll it takes on her family to survive.
Belinda Morrow (Pecan) is a humble girl from Mississippi who migrates north with her husband to start a life in Chicago. Pecan isn't up on the latest fashions and isn't the best cook but she brings southern hospitality and an endearing vulnerability.
After a short-lived courtship, Richard Elijah Morrow (Ricky) steps into the role of husband and quickly after that father. His first priority is providing for his family financially. As his boxing career takes off, Ricky becomes a local celebrity but Pecan can't stand the violence of the sport and wants nothing to do with that part of his life.
After two years of marriage, Belinda has a change of heart. She packs up, taking along her baby girl Nikki Morrow. When Ricky catches her, she was taught a lesson in boxing. Living in fear, and subjected to abuse of all kinds, Belinda did as best as she could. As the years rolled by, Belinda has three more daughters - Mya Ann, Jacqueline Belinda (Jackie) and Natalie (Nat). But there was no change, and when Ricky started focusing on their daughters, Belinda realizes it’s time to put an end to it. But leaving Ricky didn’t solve her problems. He stalks, threatens, and attacks her in his attempt to convince her to give him another chance. No matter how many times she says no, he persists until she is forced to find a permanent solution.
How to Knock a Bravebird From Her Perch is not only dramatic and heartbreaking, it also encourages women to accept the past but do whatever it takes to change the future. The story is a great reminder that we are responsible for our children, and that we need to speak up for them. It is a great lesson for all to strive to build a healthy relationship based on mutual respect, love and admiration. Like Belinda Morrow, the first step to ending the problem is to admit that there is a problem. Unless the first step is taken, there can never be another step. And the cycle will continue!
The book takes the reader through the life of a battered woman. The author explores how it all began, what led to her breaking point and the toll it takes on her family to survive.
Belinda Morrow (Pecan) is a humble girl from Mississippi who migrates north with her husband to start a life in Chicago. Pecan isn't up on the latest fashions and isn't the best cook but she brings southern hospitality and an endearing vulnerability.
After a short-lived courtship, Richard Elijah Morrow (Ricky) steps into the role of husband and quickly after that father. His first priority is providing for his family financially. As his boxing career takes off, Ricky becomes a local celebrity but Pecan can't stand the violence of the sport and wants nothing to do with that part of his life.
After two years of marriage, Belinda has a change of heart. She packs up, taking along her baby girl Nikki Morrow. When Ricky catches her, she was taught a lesson in boxing. Living in fear, and subjected to abuse of all kinds, Belinda did as best as she could. As the years rolled by, Belinda has three more daughters - Mya Ann, Jacqueline Belinda (Jackie) and Natalie (Nat). But there was no change, and when Ricky started focusing on their daughters, Belinda realizes it’s time to put an end to it. But leaving Ricky didn’t solve her problems. He stalks, threatens, and attacks her in his attempt to convince her to give him another chance. No matter how many times she says no, he persists until she is forced to find a permanent solution.
How to Knock a Bravebird From Her Perch is not only dramatic and heartbreaking, it also encourages women to accept the past but do whatever it takes to change the future. The story is a great reminder that we are responsible for our children, and that we need to speak up for them. It is a great lesson for all to strive to build a healthy relationship based on mutual respect, love and admiration. Like Belinda Morrow, the first step to ending the problem is to admit that there is a problem. Unless the first step is taken, there can never be another step. And the cycle will continue!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
June 18, 2015
I liked parts of it, the middle really dragged. The story of s woman living through abuse and raising her kids, it's frustrating to read because I know there are places to help, however a lot of women truly don't and this tells their story.
I wasn't going to get book two but it's about the kids growing up, AND most important it didn't end on a cliffhanger! I won't read books anymore that use that cheap ploy to hook me.
All in all worth the free download. ;)
I wasn't going to get book two but it's about the kids growing up, AND most important it didn't end on a cliffhanger! I won't read books anymore that use that cheap ploy to hook me.
All in all worth the free download. ;)
March 18, 2015
This is the life story of Belinda (Pecan) born in the 50's in Mississippi...
She is raised by her loving and doting father, her mother just wasn't around... She is a happy girl, living in a trying time, nonetheless.. she is a good girl...
Enter Ricky Morrow... a seemingly "good" man who sets his eyes on Pecan... he pursues, and fate steps in, and with the abrupt death of her father.. she is wed within a week...
Here begins her new life with a possessive man... Her life as a young mother... her life alone, with a very aggressive man. Then her life does a 180 as this man who professes his love for her... beats her...
Through many years, she goes through life as a battered woman, a mother who has no experience with anything, let alone any type of support system.
It's a very real life for many women, regardless of the era you are born in... D.Bryant Simmons, portrayed the reality of this life Pecan has very well. She speaks volumes into her character, an uneducated and a truly clueless lost soul. Her journey is a difficult one, yet you walk hand in hand with Pecan... and amazingly even though you may not agree with her decisions... you are right there with her.
I read this book straight through. I could not put it down... it made me sad, it made me angry, it made me hopeful.
She is raised by her loving and doting father, her mother just wasn't around... She is a happy girl, living in a trying time, nonetheless.. she is a good girl...
Enter Ricky Morrow... a seemingly "good" man who sets his eyes on Pecan... he pursues, and fate steps in, and with the abrupt death of her father.. she is wed within a week...
Here begins her new life with a possessive man... Her life as a young mother... her life alone, with a very aggressive man. Then her life does a 180 as this man who professes his love for her... beats her...
Through many years, she goes through life as a battered woman, a mother who has no experience with anything, let alone any type of support system.
It's a very real life for many women, regardless of the era you are born in... D.Bryant Simmons, portrayed the reality of this life Pecan has very well. She speaks volumes into her character, an uneducated and a truly clueless lost soul. Her journey is a difficult one, yet you walk hand in hand with Pecan... and amazingly even though you may not agree with her decisions... you are right there with her.
I read this book straight through. I could not put it down... it made me sad, it made me angry, it made me hopeful.
October 4, 2015
The very beginning of this book read like a light fun filler book. This is NOT one of those books. The subject matter hit a little too close to home with me. However, I managed to finish this because I wanted to see if the ending was satisfying. It was satisfying, enough. I have very mixed feelings about what Pecan did and didn't do. I did relate to her in the same way in regards to feeling trapped and lonely. I think a lot of things in this story may or may not have happened if she would have spoken up a few times. But there was definitely love and sweetness that pops up throughout this. I'm not sure if I'll read the next book. I kind of want to keep the ending to myself.
April 26, 2015
Very good, even if not really nice, story. About a young woman, living a life she does not want to live.
It sometimes frustrated me a bit, the way Pecan handles everything. In some ways she is more like a child than her daughters are. The daughters are wonderful. Sometimes they say and do the things Pecan should. I like Pecan better when she finally tries to take her life into her own hands.
Thank you, D. Bryant Simmons, for giving me the chance to read this!
It sometimes frustrated me a bit, the way Pecan handles everything. In some ways she is more like a child than her daughters are. The daughters are wonderful. Sometimes they say and do the things Pecan should. I like Pecan better when she finally tries to take her life into her own hands.
Thank you, D. Bryant Simmons, for giving me the chance to read this!
July 29, 2015
Such a good book! Read it in 1 day!
March 10, 2014
This is the first book in the Morrow girl series. A story of domestic abuse, a story of a women's courage and survival.
Belinda, or Pecan as she is known, is born in Hattiesburg, Mississippi in 1953 and lovingly brought up by her father after her mother disappears. Her father's love for Pecan is simple and deep, but he can't be there for her any more when she marries the first man who showed any kind of interest in her. Ricky Morrow is a professional boxer and the young couple move to Chicago as Ricky needs his boxing career to take off.
Right from their first meeting, Ricky shows very little respect for Pecan, but she doesn't know any better and only looking back, realised that the first signs had always been there that he is not a very loving man. When their first child, Nikki, can just about walk, and in her naiveness, Pecan tries to leave Ricky as she realises she doesn't really love him. So she just packs all her stuff in all bags she can find and walks out. But Ricky sees them walking down the road. And even though Pecan tries to play it down and tries to lie to him, he has been set off. He hits her, and again, and again, and again. From than on, she becomes his punching bag whenever he sees fit, whenever he thinks she might not be doing what she is supposed to be doing.
In time, the couple will have 4 girls, born shortly one after the other. Peacan's saving grace comes in the form of Ricky's aunt, Clara who more than once saves Pecan from her husband's fists by swinging the iron skillet. And than Peacan meets another man. Is she going to make the classic mistake of hurling herself into another relationship to escape from the horrific one she has? Isn't it too much to put on any man to 'rescue' her from an abusive relationship?
But Pecan is not only a weak and defenceless woman. Initally, for me she is just naive and as she has never known another relationship, just doesn't know any better. Later and with some life experience, she realised that it is very wrong but that doesn't help with the terrible fear he has instilled in her. And her children will always be her main concern. When Pecan says in her desperation that, from the bottom of her heart, she wishes Ricky would be dead, I did not only believe her and wished with her, heck, I wanted to go there myself and do the deed.
Yes, your emotions will lie raw. I've never experienced the things Pecan / Belinda went through and as horrific as the violence from Ricky was, sometimes I was also deeply shocked by the treatment she received from Social Services. Something tells me that those things are not entirely fictional and I can truly imagine that woman had to go through this. Luckily, there is now more awareness and help available with domestic violence. But still, the first step has to come from the victim.
Coming back to the book, the story is told with Pecan/Belinda as the narrator. The writing in her (slight) accent made her come alive for me. I also understand that the author will continue the story with the Morrow girls (Pecan's daughters). All of them are drawn to be very different characters, so I can't wait to see what's going to happen to them.
Invest in some time with Pecan and you'll find a friend
http://thepegsterreads.blogspot.co.uk...
Belinda, or Pecan as she is known, is born in Hattiesburg, Mississippi in 1953 and lovingly brought up by her father after her mother disappears. Her father's love for Pecan is simple and deep, but he can't be there for her any more when she marries the first man who showed any kind of interest in her. Ricky Morrow is a professional boxer and the young couple move to Chicago as Ricky needs his boxing career to take off.
Right from their first meeting, Ricky shows very little respect for Pecan, but she doesn't know any better and only looking back, realised that the first signs had always been there that he is not a very loving man. When their first child, Nikki, can just about walk, and in her naiveness, Pecan tries to leave Ricky as she realises she doesn't really love him. So she just packs all her stuff in all bags she can find and walks out. But Ricky sees them walking down the road. And even though Pecan tries to play it down and tries to lie to him, he has been set off. He hits her, and again, and again, and again. From than on, she becomes his punching bag whenever he sees fit, whenever he thinks she might not be doing what she is supposed to be doing.
In time, the couple will have 4 girls, born shortly one after the other. Peacan's saving grace comes in the form of Ricky's aunt, Clara who more than once saves Pecan from her husband's fists by swinging the iron skillet. And than Peacan meets another man. Is she going to make the classic mistake of hurling herself into another relationship to escape from the horrific one she has? Isn't it too much to put on any man to 'rescue' her from an abusive relationship?
But Pecan is not only a weak and defenceless woman. Initally, for me she is just naive and as she has never known another relationship, just doesn't know any better. Later and with some life experience, she realised that it is very wrong but that doesn't help with the terrible fear he has instilled in her. And her children will always be her main concern. When Pecan says in her desperation that, from the bottom of her heart, she wishes Ricky would be dead, I did not only believe her and wished with her, heck, I wanted to go there myself and do the deed.
Yes, your emotions will lie raw. I've never experienced the things Pecan / Belinda went through and as horrific as the violence from Ricky was, sometimes I was also deeply shocked by the treatment she received from Social Services. Something tells me that those things are not entirely fictional and I can truly imagine that woman had to go through this. Luckily, there is now more awareness and help available with domestic violence. But still, the first step has to come from the victim.
Coming back to the book, the story is told with Pecan/Belinda as the narrator. The writing in her (slight) accent made her come alive for me. I also understand that the author will continue the story with the Morrow girls (Pecan's daughters). All of them are drawn to be very different characters, so I can't wait to see what's going to happen to them.
Invest in some time with Pecan and you'll find a friend
http://thepegsterreads.blogspot.co.uk...
April 20, 2018
This is a powerful read that sort of sneaks up on you if you aren't paying attention. I say that because you know going in that it's pretty much involving domestic violence but it's not overtly descriptive in the occurrences of that until the latter half of the book. This book is mostly about the struggle the victim goes through making the decisions they have to make to allow themselves, & those they love, to be survivors.
Belinda, affectionately called 'Pecan', is a Mississippi daddy’s girl & was lacking in a woman’s touch in her upbringing. Fairly naïve, she falls for Ricky Morrow, an out of town visitor & the first guy that really overlooks her friends for her. Pecan’s father puts a stop to things fairly quickly since Ricky is older and for the most part the 2 abide by those rules. Fate then steps in, Pecan’s dad dies & she feels lost in the world. Ricky steps back into her life & promises to take care of her so they end up getting married & moving to Chicago, where he plans to become a fighter.
Living in a new place, where she has no one but her husband that she barely knows, Pecan has to now learn how to become a wife. It’s not too long before she also has to learn to become a mother. Ricky’s temper and abusive nature doesn’t take too long to begin showing & about 2 years into the marriage Pecan begins to try to get out. This is where the story gets frustrating, irritating, heartbreaking, & so much more. Not due to the writer’s ways mind you, due to the content, the truth of it all, and the fact that the victims of domestic violence aren’t only victimized by their abuser but everyone (or most everyone) around them & in turn themselves. As a lot of these stories go, Pecan endures many years with Ricky & ends up having a few more children & a miscarriage before she finally gets somewhere & divorces him. Now I don’t want to give away all the guts of the story because you need to read it & be in the moment of it all too really feel it. I will just say that one would think that the divorce would have made things better for her but it’s all in the eye of the beholder really. While she didn’t have to live with Ricky any longer, he was still out there living his life like nothing happened & she was dealing with all the repercussions of everything that did & continued to happen. Again, there was some good & she found a power within herself from all that she had been through but she continued to be penalized for things that she, as the victim, should have been helped with right to the end. It really just makes you have compassion for the struggles that the victims go through and empathize with the choices they make so that they can make it out alive.
I was provided with an ARC from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
Belinda, affectionately called 'Pecan', is a Mississippi daddy’s girl & was lacking in a woman’s touch in her upbringing. Fairly naïve, she falls for Ricky Morrow, an out of town visitor & the first guy that really overlooks her friends for her. Pecan’s father puts a stop to things fairly quickly since Ricky is older and for the most part the 2 abide by those rules. Fate then steps in, Pecan’s dad dies & she feels lost in the world. Ricky steps back into her life & promises to take care of her so they end up getting married & moving to Chicago, where he plans to become a fighter.
Living in a new place, where she has no one but her husband that she barely knows, Pecan has to now learn how to become a wife. It’s not too long before she also has to learn to become a mother. Ricky’s temper and abusive nature doesn’t take too long to begin showing & about 2 years into the marriage Pecan begins to try to get out. This is where the story gets frustrating, irritating, heartbreaking, & so much more. Not due to the writer’s ways mind you, due to the content, the truth of it all, and the fact that the victims of domestic violence aren’t only victimized by their abuser but everyone (or most everyone) around them & in turn themselves. As a lot of these stories go, Pecan endures many years with Ricky & ends up having a few more children & a miscarriage before she finally gets somewhere & divorces him. Now I don’t want to give away all the guts of the story because you need to read it & be in the moment of it all too really feel it. I will just say that one would think that the divorce would have made things better for her but it’s all in the eye of the beholder really. While she didn’t have to live with Ricky any longer, he was still out there living his life like nothing happened & she was dealing with all the repercussions of everything that did & continued to happen. Again, there was some good & she found a power within herself from all that she had been through but she continued to be penalized for things that she, as the victim, should have been helped with right to the end. It really just makes you have compassion for the struggles that the victims go through and empathize with the choices they make so that they can make it out alive.
I was provided with an ARC from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
March 19, 2015
This is the life story of Belinda (Pecan) born in the 50's in Mississippi...
She is raised by her loving and doting father, her mother just wasn't around... She is a happy girl, living in a trying time, nonetheless.. she is a good girl...
Enter Ricky Morrow... a seemingly "good" man who sets his eyes on Pecan... he pursues, and fate steps in, and with the abrupt death of her father.. she is wed within a week...
Here begins her new life with a possessive man... Her life as a young mother... her life alone, with a very aggressive man. Then her life does a 180 as this man who professes his love for her... beats her...
Through many years, she goes through life as a battered woman, a mother who has no experience with anything, let alone any type of support system.
It's a very real life for many women, regardless of the era you are born in... D.Bryant Simmons, portrayed the reality of this life Pecan has very well. She speaks volumes into her character, an uneducated and a truly clueless lost soul. Her journey is a difficult one, yet you walk hand in hand with Pecan... and amazingly even though you may not agree with her decisions... you are right there with her.
I read this book straight through. I could not put it down... it made me sad, it made me angry, it made me hopeful.
She is raised by her loving and doting father, her mother just wasn't around... She is a happy girl, living in a trying time, nonetheless.. she is a good girl...
Enter Ricky Morrow... a seemingly "good" man who sets his eyes on Pecan... he pursues, and fate steps in, and with the abrupt death of her father.. she is wed within a week...
Here begins her new life with a possessive man... Her life as a young mother... her life alone, with a very aggressive man. Then her life does a 180 as this man who professes his love for her... beats her...
Through many years, she goes through life as a battered woman, a mother who has no experience with anything, let alone any type of support system.
It's a very real life for many women, regardless of the era you are born in... D.Bryant Simmons, portrayed the reality of this life Pecan has very well. She speaks volumes into her character, an uneducated and a truly clueless lost soul. Her journey is a difficult one, yet you walk hand in hand with Pecan... and amazingly even though you may not agree with her decisions... you are right there with her.
I read this book straight through. I could not put it down... it made me sad, it made me angry, it made me hopeful.
March 19, 2015
This is the life story of Belinda (Pecan) born in the 50's in Mississippi...
She is raised by her loving and doting father, her mother just wasn't around... She is a happy girl, living in a trying time, nonetheless.. she is a good girl...
Enter Ricky Morrow... a seemingly "good" man who sets his eyes on Pecan... he pursues, and fate steps in, and with the abrupt death of her father.. she is wed within a week...
Here begins her new life with a possessive man... Her life as a young mother... her life alone, with a very aggressive man. Then her life does a 180 as this man who professes his love for her... beats her...
Through many years, she goes through life as a battered woman, a mother who has no experience with anything, let alone any type of support system.
It's a very real life for many women, regardless of the era you are born in... D.Bryant Simmons, portrayed the reality of this life Pecan has very well. She speaks volumes into her character, an uneducated and a truly clueless lost soul. Her journey is a difficult one, yet you walk hand in hand with Pecan... and amazingly even though you may not agree with her decisions... you are right there with her.
I read this book straight through. I could not put it down... it made me sad, it made me angry, it made me hopeful.
She is raised by her loving and doting father, her mother just wasn't around... She is a happy girl, living in a trying time, nonetheless.. she is a good girl...
Enter Ricky Morrow... a seemingly "good" man who sets his eyes on Pecan... he pursues, and fate steps in, and with the abrupt death of her father.. she is wed within a week...
Here begins her new life with a possessive man... Her life as a young mother... her life alone, with a very aggressive man. Then her life does a 180 as this man who professes his love for her... beats her...
Through many years, she goes through life as a battered woman, a mother who has no experience with anything, let alone any type of support system.
It's a very real life for many women, regardless of the era you are born in... D.Bryant Simmons, portrayed the reality of this life Pecan has very well. She speaks volumes into her character, an uneducated and a truly clueless lost soul. Her journey is a difficult one, yet you walk hand in hand with Pecan... and amazingly even though you may not agree with her decisions... you are right there with her.
I read this book straight through. I could not put it down... it made me sad, it made me angry, it made me hopeful.
March 18, 2015
This is the life story of Belinda (Pecan) born in the 50's in Mississippi...
She is raised by her loving and doting father, her mother just wasn't around... She is a happy girl, living in a trying time, nonetheless.. she is a good girl...
Enter Ricky Morrow... a seemingly "good" man who sets his eyes on Pecan... he pursues, and fate steps in, and with the abrupt death of her father.. she is wed within a week...
Here begins her new life with a possessive man... Her life as a young mother... her life alone, with a very aggressive man. Then her life does a 180 as this man who professes his love for her... beats her...
Through many years, she goes through life as a battered woman, a mother who has no experience with anything, let alone any type of support system.
It's a very real life for many women, regardless of the era you are born in... D.Bryant Simmons, portrayed the reality of this life Pecan has very well. She speaks volumes into her character, an uneducated and a truly clueless lost soul. Her journey is a difficult one, yet you walk hand in hand with Pecan... and amazingly even though you may not agree with her decisions... you are right there with her.
I read this book straight through. I could not put it down... it made me sad, it made me angry, it made me hopeful.
She is raised by her loving and doting father, her mother just wasn't around... She is a happy girl, living in a trying time, nonetheless.. she is a good girl...
Enter Ricky Morrow... a seemingly "good" man who sets his eyes on Pecan... he pursues, and fate steps in, and with the abrupt death of her father.. she is wed within a week...
Here begins her new life with a possessive man... Her life as a young mother... her life alone, with a very aggressive man. Then her life does a 180 as this man who professes his love for her... beats her...
Through many years, she goes through life as a battered woman, a mother who has no experience with anything, let alone any type of support system.
It's a very real life for many women, regardless of the era you are born in... D.Bryant Simmons, portrayed the reality of this life Pecan has very well. She speaks volumes into her character, an uneducated and a truly clueless lost soul. Her journey is a difficult one, yet you walk hand in hand with Pecan... and amazingly even though you may not agree with her decisions... you are right there with her.
I read this book straight through. I could not put it down... it made me sad, it made me angry, it made me hopeful.
November 26, 2014
I think that this book is a treasure to discover. It is a journey of Pecan trying to find her inner strength. It deals with domestic violence and the struggles to survive. Pecan accepts the past and changes her future. It shows her courageous dealing with Ricky's violent temper. This book is about Pecan's self discovery and will stay with you for a very long time.
September 30, 2014
Very good book about a young woman who feels trapped in an abusive marriage, and her journey toward escape. The story kept me interested from beginning to end. Although it is touched upon throughout the story, I think the victim's mindset and why she stayed in this marriage could have been explored more fully.
January 21, 2015
One walks the protagonist's life right along with her through good and bad. She was such a character to sit in the stands and cheer for loudly, wondering throughout if she would ever feel her power. Thanking whatever powers that be, it was something I never had to experience and conquer.
August 18, 2015
This book had me on the edge of my seat. I was sad, angry, mad, and happy all at the same time throughout this book. All in all, it was a good book and I look forward to what's to come of the Morrow Girls.
February 21, 2014
A hard hitting novel. about domestic abuse .a raw honest look at the effects domestic abuse has on the victim &the extended family.
October 2, 2014
I followed the storyline/dialect easily, and became totally immersed. Parts reminded me of one of my favorites, 'The Kitchen House'.
February 13, 2015
Uhmmmm seen this story too often in real life!!! Very accurate story of a young woman in abusive relationship kept pregnant as way of control then when kids taking away what she goes through.
March 21, 2015
Awesome.....
Good read I will keep up with the series she hit it dead on the struggles some of us have .
Good read I will keep up with the series she hit it dead on the struggles some of us have .
April 19, 2020
It was a good read. It kept my attention although parts dragged a little. I enjoyed the perspectives and main character was empathetic, likable, and three dimensional. The other characters were not but that is often the case when a book is written in this voice. I have to say I wasn't captivated enough to be interested in reading any other books in the series.
November 15, 2017
Riveting
A riveting story about a young southern woman who has to learn to stand on her own through a lifetime of abuse and sorrow. Well written with characters that could have come right out of today's headlines.
A riveting story about a young southern woman who has to learn to stand on her own through a lifetime of abuse and sorrow. Well written with characters that could have come right out of today's headlines.
May 10, 2015
D. Bryant Simmons has masterfully written a dark, hard, difficult story. Simmons manages to keep the reader engaged at each page turn by developing authentic characters and situations. In her own words, she describes a personal story she ignored for some time, not wanting to write it. Now she has used her real experience to build Pecan's story into a novel. A novel with a storyline so painful and dark at times, you don't want to read it, but you can't stop until you know what happens in the end.
At times, even though I am from the South, the Southern dialect was a bit overdone and could have been lightened to make the conversation between characters flow a bit better for the reader. However, this is not a huge criticism as I, as a writer, know how difficult it is to write dialectally.
Simmons tells this story about a crisis in Pecan's life while we read in the news of high-powered individuals domestically abusing women every day. A crisis which needs to be erased from our everyday lives. Hopefully Simmons' book will prevail in the lives of men and women to teach them the respect and dignity due to others.
I applaud the writer taking on a topic of such import and notoriety in our country. She has driven home a clear message in response.
At times, even though I am from the South, the Southern dialect was a bit overdone and could have been lightened to make the conversation between characters flow a bit better for the reader. However, this is not a huge criticism as I, as a writer, know how difficult it is to write dialectally.
Simmons tells this story about a crisis in Pecan's life while we read in the news of high-powered individuals domestically abusing women every day. A crisis which needs to be erased from our everyday lives. Hopefully Simmons' book will prevail in the lives of men and women to teach them the respect and dignity due to others.
I applaud the writer taking on a topic of such import and notoriety in our country. She has driven home a clear message in response.
June 29, 2015
I am torn between a 3 and a 4 for this story. It wasn't quite what I expected, but it was an interesting story. I found the main character, Pecan, a very lovable character and thought the interaction of her children with one another delightful. She made me smile with her description of herself as a "good girl" and I could also see her in my mind's eye after her episode with Ricky in her earlier 'dating days'. Based on other stories I have read and interviews I have seen on TV or heard from people I know, the abusive relationship between Pecan and Ricky was also quite believable. What I found somewhat bothersome was the spoken language and the spelling of words, e.g. gone for go on or going to - based on my seven years of living in Jamaica and acquaintances from the Southern States, if anything, I would think it would be 'gwan' not 'gone'. I also thought the book ended very abruptly without even letting us know whether the family situation was resolved to Pecan's satisfaction. I would love to read more about how those precious little children made it in the future based on the author's imagination.
June 10, 2015
I really enjoyed reading this book although I didn't understand the meaning behind the title. Pecan/Belinda was a young girl who became a wife and mother before she came into her own. She never had a chance to explore and find out who she was, wanted to be or could be in herself after her father died and she married Ricky. Marrying Ricky, was a rush decision that cost her more than she could afford to pay. Although she paid dearly for the decision with the assaults on her sanity, her children and her body. But in the true fashion what she couldn't do for herself, she found the strength to do for her girls. My heart broke at what Ricky did to Nikki and the way he generally treated all the girls except for Mya. I appreciated how the girls were there for their mom, even in the way Mya lied for her and how Jackie was her prize and Nikki was her mini-me. Truly happy she found her piece of happiness with Heziah. Now we just need Aunt clara to come back and make the family complete. also I am so glad this is a series so I can keep up with the family.
June 25, 2015
Not a huge fan of half stars but I'd give this book 3.5 stars if I could. For most of this book I was hanging on by my fingernails. The story was realistic and gripping without being gratuitous in its violence. I understood what was happening without needing exposition and I all at once was frustrated with and had sympathy for the simple girl who fell in with a man before she even knew what life was about.
Toward the end, however, the conclusion felt rushed and so many details glossed over. So much time spent unraveling the story... So little time wrapping it up.
The writing is real, true to life and envelops the reader in Pecan's world in a way few writers manage to accomplish. I would not hesitate to recommend this title and I plan to pick up the next book in the series.
Toward the end, however, the conclusion felt rushed and so many details glossed over. So much time spent unraveling the story... So little time wrapping it up.
The writing is real, true to life and envelops the reader in Pecan's world in a way few writers manage to accomplish. I would not hesitate to recommend this title and I plan to pick up the next book in the series.
July 7, 2015
While the story allows the reader to get a glimpse of an all too real life of abuse and control, it doesn't become too graphic. While someone reading the story may not understand how Pecan would continue to live in the abuse, it enables us, the reader, to see the mindset of the victim living with the abuse. The mindset where they are broken down to the point of believing they are to blame for another's actions, or believing they don't deserve a better life.
November 2, 2015
I read this laudable literary debut by Ms.Simmons for free on StoryCartel when it was vying to be selected for publication. I voted for it! and was excited to see it listed for sale on Amazon a few weeks later. She tackles complicated issues with truthfulness, and every aspect of her prose is infused with real-life. I look forward to reading the second novel in this series, Blue Sky, which was released on June 14,2015.
Well done, StoryCartel, and continued success to Ms Simmons.
Well done, StoryCartel, and continued success to Ms Simmons.
July 3, 2015
I really liked this one, read it in less than 24 hours (mostly on a plane) but liked it so much that I bought the sequel (which I rarely do). I think every woman can relate to Pecan and her feelings about family, motherhood, friendships and relationships. I really connected with Pecan and although I often wished she would do things differently, I understood her doing the best she could with what she had. I love reading about her struggles and feelings and her girls! Looking forward to more...
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