Faith Under Fire: Betrayed by a Thing Called Love

by Lajoyce Brookshire, Karen Hunter (Contributor)

An autobiographical account of one woman's marriage to a man who hid from her the fact that he was suffering from AIDS describes her feelings and experiences after discovering the deadly secret and offers helpful guidance for other women in a similar situation, drawing on her personal faith to call for an end to the silence, ignorance, and stigma of AIDS.

Genres: Memoir

272 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 2006

Reviews

[Anina · Rating 2 out of 5]

I find it difficult to say anything negative about the book because I know a lot of good has been said about it in the black community because it adresses AIDS issues and homophiobia. It is the real story of a woman whose husband was (probably) a closeted gay man and died of AIDS. And it's hard to judge a person who was in that situation. But I couldn't help getting annoyed at her because the whole book was filled with things she (albeit in retrospect) noticed but ignored. Any of us can be vulnerable and fall under the charms of a controlling psychopath however some of it was hard to understand. She never contracted AIDS and every other page she talks of how the "Blood of Jesus" prevented her from getting it...but I feel like this is misleading as it was probably the condoms they used. So I guess I AM being judgy but I still thought it was a fascinating story and she does urge women to realize that, Blood of Jesus aside, even if you can mentally bear your husband being a nutjob, you should take care of your physical health and get tested for AIDS.

[Ashley · Rating 5 out of 5]

This memoir is extremely intense. It is about the author,LaJoyce, whose husband was HIV+ and never told her. His family knew about his condition and never told her. LaJoyce didn't find out about her husband's condition until his health started to get worse and he was diagnosed with full blown AIDS.

Why LaJoyce stayed with her husband I will never know. Me personally if someone lied to me about their personal status, it is over. But I do think LaJoyce is was very brave to stay with her husband and I guess love does conquer all. Great memoir overall. Plus she gives HIV/AIDS resources at the end of the book and give 200 sample questions to ask someone to get to know them and thier status.

[Andrea · Rating 2 out of 5]

What a tragic story! Too bad it is not that great a book. The author drops names throughout, and you never understand why she married her first husband and stood by him during his illness when he treated her so badly from day 1. I found her faith to be magical thinking than anything else - for example, she writes that her first husband did not "find" her but her second husband did, which is why that union is superior.

[Patti J Lanfair · Rating 5 out of 5]

Faith Under Fire is a memoir by Lajoyce Brookshire a young lady who I knew from t my childhood. LaJoyce brings to life the story of what she went thru with her ex-husband showing us the strength, faith in God, and the power of being the focus as she tells her story. When I started to read this book it reminds me of what I said about what I call Rose-colored love because you hide behind the glasses blocking out all the signs because you are so caught in what you believe to be love that you block out all the warning signs and what you gut is saying. The issue of trust was strong in this storyline to me because the author had her friends and family being the supportive force she needed and having her back 100%, but the man who she fell in love with was holding back lies even after some point when he realized she knew the truth of his HIV status and how long he had it and etc he never gave her the change. The strongest of this book was her faith in God which was truly needed to help her through all of this and in the end she ended up with the first one who was a friend, family, and her first true love.

[Jetti · Rating 5 out of 5]

Faith Filled Fabulous read!

This was an easy read because it was so real. I understand that this is a true story, but it read like fiction. It made me reflect on my previous and current marriage and brought true appreciation for who I'm with. I could definitely relate to the transparency that was shared. I would recommend this to really just about anyone, especially if you're going through, and have been through anything.

[S. LaRue · Rating 5 out of 5]

Nobody But God!

Amazing. Unbelievable. Frightening. Loving. Sad. Uplifting. Devastating. Glorious. Informative. Motivating. Victorious. Delightful. Hopeful and Miraculous. Nobody but God. Won't He do it!

[Vic · Rating 2 out of 5]

Interesting and important subject matter -the author finding out her husband married her knowing he had AIDS, however, I did not enjoy the writing style or the spirit in which the story appeared to be told.

[Toskana · Rating 3 out of 5]

I was so motivated by her faith🙌🏽

[Pauliyah Livas · Rating 2 out of 5]

This book was hard to read. Boring. However, I’m glad she is happy. I like the resources provided at the end of the book.

[chsmiley · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a fast and intense read, especially in the beginning. I read the book in 2 days. I found myself irritated by both the author and her first husband. She portrayed him as a sociopath who failed to inform her of his positive HIV status which he knew about long before they married. And according to Brookshire, he was hoping to pass it to her so they could suffer and die together. Wow! He was portrayed as such a loathsome character from early on in their relationship, that I found it hard to understand why she married him, stayed with him, and nursed him to the end. Throughout the book, I found myself feeling simultaneously sorry for her and upset by the series of questionable decisions that led her to get in and stay in that horrid situation where she endured years of verbal abuse and utter disregard for her own life and health. As much as I wanted to, I really struggled to empathize with Brookshire. I kept feeling like I wanted to shake some sense into her. But I think beyond the story itself, that's what made it a good book and compelling read. It was like peering into the diary of a crazy friend who has the worst man trouble you can ever imagine.

[Karen Okamoto · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book was not a great book in the sense of being written by an author with great prose, or deep philosophical
thought. It was a book that was interesting, however, because it spoke of the deep pain and anger of someone married to a man she did not realize for two years was infected with AIDS. She also did a good job of expressing her faith, not hiding her anger, nor covering up her resentments toward the white community. I could not help but like LaJoyce Brookshire for her integrity and courage in the face of such a tragic shell of a man.

[Kim C-B · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is one of the best books I've ever read. I found myself praying for LaJoyce throughout the book. Anyone in a relationship or thinking of being in a relationship should read this book. As the old saying goes, "Everything that glitters ain't gold." This book proves that you never really know a person as well as you think you do.

[Angie · Rating 3 out of 5]

this autobiography had its good and bad parts. the author had an interesting story to tell, and the reading went fast. but she also had an agenda in the telling, and i think was not as brutally honest about her own actions. heavy religious overtones, but if you can handle it, its got a few good health tips included!

[Kim · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is one of the best books I ever read. I was intrigued from the first page to the last. LaJoyce's life reads like a made for television movie. I found myself praying for her situation as if she were a family member or friend while readin the novel. Her life story proves that everyone should have faith in God no matter what the situation.

[Tina Hobbs · Rating 5 out of 5]

The book is to be discussed in an upcoming book club meeting in October. The author will be present. The author gives great details about how important it is to live a life of trusting God, building strong relationships at work as well as within your family. I applaud her strength when she continued to honor her marriage vows and stayed faithful to a man who had given her a life of lies.

[Toya · Rating 4 out of 5]

The author of this book was on 105.1 and after hearing her, I had to read it. I finished it in 1 day, the name dropping and event timeline helps you relate, where were you march 9th? This woman and her story will make you think twice about life, God and everything else...

[Kesha · Rating 5 out of 5]

I read this book in one day, and while reading it I think I went through every emotion possible. Lajoyce Brookshire has a strong testiment of faith, and if you haven't read this book, you're missing out on an awesome testimony. I commend her for writing and sharing her story.

[Dera · Rating 4 out of 5]

This author who wrote the book Soul Food endured unbearable pain and disillusion with her marriage but also exercised amazing faith that brought her through. What does a woman do when the man she fell in love with and married gets AIDS?

[Nishara · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was an excellent book!! I would recommend that everyone read this book..I finished it in 3 days

[Oneak · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book is a testiment to the power of faith and how far having faith can take you.

[Cheemoandia · Rating 3 out of 5]

Very sad story, I just could not beleive people could be so inconsiderate of other people lives. Lajoyce was blessed, god is good.

[Teka · Rating 3 out of 5]

Learned a lot about the virus, forgiveness and spirituality.

[Afrykanqwin]

The best book ever read...Her faith is so inspiring!!

[Carlotta]

Pretty good writing could have been better

[Felicia · Rating 2 out of 5]

Not told that well. I felt no emotional connection to the book at all. I thought the love story of how she met her 1st husband was gonna be beautiful and it wasn't.

[Tamieka · Rating 3 out of 5]

Thought provoking story, but it becomes a little hard to finish...aka boring

[Judy · Rating 4 out of 5]

It was a sad story with a moral to it.

[Tiffany · Rating 5 out of 5]

Awesome book, but a sad story. I am happy that she found true love.

[Brenda · Rating 1 out of 5]

The person who is right in their own eyes is a fool.

[F.D. Stewart · Rating 4 out of 5]

this book is a lesson that need to be teach to everyone..