"Sometimes your absence will teach what your presence cannot.” Daughtry, an unconventional success, was hand-carved, primed, and conditioned from the gritty, grimy slums -where making it out just wasn’t logical. While his life is seemingly a chaotic puzzle, he banks on one simple piece to bring him solace, balance, and the will-power needed to bring forth better days -Phifer is her name. Phifer, the undeniably beautiful and talented freelance writer is as delicate as lamb’s wool. Her mellow essence is alluring and reels in the likes of Daughtry -tattered, bruised, uncertain and all. However, Phifer requires of Daughtry something that his urban background revoked as a pup -emotional availability. Her love has no limits, yet Daughtry’s discovery of the fact isn’t until she’s slipped from his grasp. Living life to the fullest, Phifer has no time to keep company with a man who is unappreciative of her love and generosity. Daughtry’s tangent of appreciation lays dormant until circumstances has cornered him, finally relieving him of temporary blindness. In an instant, it is revealed that one’s absence can be far more effective than their presence.
I'm still crying as I type this review.... Chest to Chest, it truly deserves more than 5 stars. My heart is hurting something serious! 💔 Author Mercy made you feel EVERY emotion within this story. Phifer, I love you girl! I feel your pain! 😭 Daughtry, he was a great man, but with messed up ways. 🤦🏾♀️ Hail and Jagger gave me my laugh, but this ending completely threw me for a loop. Although I want to be mad and stop these tears from falling, (I'm a G, & we don't cry.) I have to give Mercy the Praise for this MASTERPIECE! ❣️
I love how Chest to Chest was not your traditional story. Every word I read I could picture it in my head. Love can be so beautiful, yet hurt so bad at times. Phifer was truly a remarkable women. I wish her and Daugthery could have gotten it together. Often times we realize things when it's to late.
Will leave you heartbroken. Story so beautifully written ending full of pain...yet that is life you NEVER know what you have until its gone forever...thank you Mercy
Omg!!!!This was not what I was expecting this title to mean 😰 I had the thought that it would be both of them helping each other bring the best out and work through rough patches but you gave him her heart Merc omg!!! Something that she wanted so badly from him, he ended up with hers, LITERALLY! Daughtry was really a self centered selfish coward, all she wanted was for him to take in her love and protect her heart.. I liked him don't get me wrong, but he had so much to work on.out of four years you never acknowledged the love you hve for this woman never got to know her line of work, nothing about. As always being selfish, as long as daughtry got what daughtry wanted, nobody else mattered. now that she's gone he realized that all he had to do was change his ways. How you wait until she gone and out the door to notice you misused and a abused her love time and attention to you. Roper and Jagger both were trying to tell him; as if the poems and letters n Phif expressing her love was not enough!!! Smh.. Hail is the ish lol outspoken and down for whatever. She wanted to see her friend happy and was down to jack anyone for making her feel as if she wasn't worthy.. Poor Hail she is beating herself up over something that she couldn't have done nothing about, I'm so sad for her.. Phif would not want her sitting around being in a hole beating herself up! Jagger really don't stand a chance with her now, he's completely cut off and I hate she never gave him that chance. I admire that she still try's being independent and not just going off the doctors word and losing hope n faith in her ever walking though. She's determined and I hope she accomplish and finally give jagger that time he has been waiting on.. I was so in love thinking they were bout to get it right for once but you hit me this!!! Ugh I should've saved my heart this heartache.. you touched me, my soul, with this one Merc,damn man!!!
Ms. Mercy, your many writing styles never fails. As I read about "D" and "P", I felt that it was me and my spouse. We as women try our hardest to be there for men who never seem to be able to accept the love that is given to them. (Vice versa)...it pains me to come to the realization that all things aren't meant to work out. At some point a person has to let go so the other person can figure their issues out on their own. This was very deep and at times difficult to read. But I pushed through it, it provided me with much insight to share with others that may be in a similar situation, if not the same. Thank you Ms. Mercy for granting me access to another mental vacation!!!
As I wipe my tears typing this, I just have to say that it's going to take a minute to recover. Phifer was such a relatable character. Her reclusive self is me. Her pure heart, wanting love and giving it unselfishly. Daughtry was a broken man who never recover from his loss long ago. This book shows what can happen if you don't work through your past issues, past pain. I'm taking heed to this. What happens when you can't take back those words, when you can't say I love you again. I love when a book teaches you a lesson, adds to your growth as a human being. This book definitely does that. Beautiful
Phifer and Daughtry’s tale took me on roller coaster of emotions, from anger, to frustration, sometimes boredom, and then sadness. I find myself craving for a follow up or a series from the remaining characters but that’s just me. What saddens me most is the words of this author were stolen and placed in yet another book, word for word plagiarism. The thief had the nerve to mention the author as well, making it evident that imposter syndrome is a very real thing. This book was published well before the stolen words graced the thief’s book which told me all I needed to know. I hope the author is aware.
I was drawn in at the beginning of the story are the events taking place with this child &mother. I kept waiting to find out more not realizing I was already finding it out. The love story of Phifer & Daughtry seemed to be a beautiful thing & I’m so sure many have a live through something similar: a partner there but not REALLY there. Well, the saying goes you never miss a good thing till it’s gone & that’s just what happens. Phifer is a giver and has given all that she can but Daughtry can’t seem to get it right. I had to shed a tear over the ending of this book. Loved it!
I made it 10% of the way in. This book is over written as hell. You're doing too much, Mercy. A lot of the words you use don't mean what you think they mean.
On a side note, I would like you to know that to some degree human chromosomes are 99.8% identical and the remaining 0.2% is what keeps us from being clones. That description using chromosomes just made me uncomfortable. I recommend reading more books, Mercy.
I swear as I was reading this I felt for Phifer. I seen myself in her in so many ways, but I love the way she didn't give up so easily even when she did her heart was still with Daughtry. The ending had me in tears I was not expecting it to end like this but the title spoke for itself Chest to Chest she's always going to be in his heart no matter what. Mercy B you outdid yourself with this one and I loved every minute of it. Just phenomenal
I wouldn't have read it. I wanted them to live and him to learn. I wanted them to go through and make due but it wasn't to be and my heart hurts and yearns for a story that felt unfinished. However, most things are that way and this book gives you a healthy dose of reality and a love so deep it transcends. I wholeheartedly recommend this book but just be warned there is no happily ever after for these two.
This is my first story to read from this author, and it had me in my feelings, especially the ending. Daughtry pissed me off with his treatment of Phifer. She loved him deeply while he loved her surfacely. He didn't miss his water until his well ran dry, but then, it was too late. I was glad that Phifer finally chose herself over him and his unappreciated treatment for her and their relationship. Daughtry have to live with her permanent absence from his life.
Mercy B pulled at my heartstrings with this book. I felt the pain written on the pages. I cried the tears for both Phifer & Daughtry. An amazing book that from page one had me so captured I couldn't stop reading. Kudos Mercy B. You are an amazing author! Thank for sharing this story.
Girl , I think this is my new favorite from you. You are a talented soul and I am so glad that I get to bear witness! The way you brought this story together. You had my total attention from beginning to end. I laughed I cried and then I celebrated Phifer. Sometimes we don't get our happy ending but there is always a lesson.
I swear Mercy every book I've read by you always had an awesome message and this one is no different all Phifer wanted was for Daughtry to love her and put some thought into their relationship, it's sad that it took a tragedy for him to realize just how much she meant to him, once again great job...👏🏾👏🏾👏🏾👏🏾👏🏾👏🏾👏🏾👏🏾👏🏾👏🏾
Mane, we goin like that...ok. So Phifer is many of us...oh yea me. They say exhaust all avenues before giving up. Don't miss something til it's gone. Buy DAMN! Crushed my heart. Would love Hail to come through and give us her story and how life treats her after her loss but gain🤔😉
Omg I loved it from beginning to end. I like how they met with her being a nerd and she not knowing his occupation at first, thinking he was a thug like his brother jagger. I knew something unexpected was going to happen and it would be too late for someone to see it. Great story to tell if you can definitely relate to the message given.
What a read! This book definitely put a lot of things in perspective for me because I was also Phifer. I poured all of me into someone who wasn't capable of reciprocating that same love. Like I told you earlier...this book was everything & then some!
Welp! That was just sad. I thought for sure they would eventually work it out & get it together. But i understand that wasn't the reason for the book. Like the old saying goes "you never know what you have til its gone"
This was beautifully sad love story that is so relatable and what I'm currently experiencing right now. Loving someone who is emotionally unavailable and them never understanding it until its to late. Great story Mercy
This is the story of a woman who loves a man with all of being but is never shown that same type of love in return. Mercy articulates this love through Phifer's story. Sometimes when they finally get it it's too late.
I was not expecting it to end like that D made me mad but I can understand his position and why it was hard I just wish Phif has green a chance to see that he was trying before her sudden absence anywho you did your thing as always Mercy
I do believe this is my favorite by Mercy B. Although it totally left me in my feelings and I was in my feelings while reading most of the book I thoroughly enjoyed the word play the creativity the contrast. Beautiful.
This had me so emotional why did Phifer had to die, i wish she didn't. His selfishness cause that, but my heart hurts for them. The ending was so sad. Would Hail and Jagger get there's spinoff