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The Gray Line
Angel Lamb has overcome many obstacles in her three decades of life. Rescued from an abusive environment at a young age, Angel has a realistic and cynical outlook on life, yet a strong sense of right and wrong. After she loses her wife in a tragic automobile accident, Angel seeks out the assistance of a local grief support group to help her deal with the crushing loss.
When violence begins to find members of the group, Angel is forced to face her painful past as well as an uncertain future. In order to survive, she will have to challenge her own black and white view of good and evil.
When violence begins to find members of the group, Angel is forced to face her painful past as well as an uncertain future. In order to survive, she will have to challenge her own black and white view of good and evil.
275 pages, Paperback
First published October 6, 2021
1 person is currently reading
3 people want to read
About the author
B.J. Cyprian
2 books22 followersBJ Cyprian has harbored a passion for writing from a young age. It took her a while to get around to writing her first book because frankly, she wasn't sure she had anything to say that others wanted to hear. After years of successfully posting Facebook posts regaling her friends with stories about her life, she thought maybe she did have a unique voice.
After the 2016 election, BJ felt just as agitated as over 50% of the population and felt like she might actually have a whole story in her mind. Tired of her underestimating herself, her wife Shauna threatened to divorce her if she didn't just sit down and write the damn book. Well, okay, perhaps it wasn't that serious, but Shauna did tell her she needed to do what was in her heart. (Obviously, BJ favors sarcastic hyperbole over heartfelt "aww" moments.)
Shadow Resistance is BJ's debut work, centered around injustice, humanity and the history of racial tensions in the United States. The goal of the writing is not to anger but to make the reader think and try to find the empathy and critical thinking humanity seems to have misplaced.
When she's not writing, she's driving her wife insane playing Playstation 4, reminding her wife of why she married her in the first place in the form of gourmet cooking, and working to fund all three, (games, food and the wife) in the financial services industry.
After the 2016 election, BJ felt just as agitated as over 50% of the population and felt like she might actually have a whole story in her mind. Tired of her underestimating herself, her wife Shauna threatened to divorce her if she didn't just sit down and write the damn book. Well, okay, perhaps it wasn't that serious, but Shauna did tell her she needed to do what was in her heart. (Obviously, BJ favors sarcastic hyperbole over heartfelt "aww" moments.)
Shadow Resistance is BJ's debut work, centered around injustice, humanity and the history of racial tensions in the United States. The goal of the writing is not to anger but to make the reader think and try to find the empathy and critical thinking humanity seems to have misplaced.
When she's not writing, she's driving her wife insane playing Playstation 4, reminding her wife of why she married her in the first place in the form of gourmet cooking, and working to fund all three, (games, food and the wife) in the financial services industry.
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Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews
December 16, 2021
There are many pivotal moments in life. In The Grey Line, we experience many of them vicariously as the author finds a unique balance between loss and the search for light at the end of grief’s dark and painful tunnel. And along the way there are many micro and macro decisions that Grey Line’s rich, well-developed characters must explore. Over and over, our characters are faced with existential questions about who we are, who we want to be, and how we perceive others who are making decisions that differ from, or resonate with, our own. In this richly dialogued piece of inclusive fiction, readers will be forced to question their core values, the darkness of grief, and the love and levity of friendship and companionship. The genius of this story is that the grey lines are many, but subtle. The shades of grey never overwhelm us with platitudes or preferences, they simply allow us space to watch life unfold in all of its miraculous, painful, loving, sad, tragic, and unforgettable imperfection. As we read about their lives and their experiences, it forces us to ask ourselves many questions about who we are and who we want to be—particularly when we encounter the unpredictable realities of life in spaces where we don’t always get to make the rules, nor control the choices made by our peers and friends. Ultimately, The Grey Line challenges us to think about what it means to understand people who don’t live by the same rules that we value and the difficulty of reconciling our beliefs in the face of change and uncertainty. I hope this book is the beginning of a series, as there is so much this book ignites in my mind and heart about the difficult choices we make daily, and how they change us…even when we don’t want to change.
January 4, 2022
The Gray Line by B.J. Cyprian follows Angel Lamb as she tries to reconcile with the death of her wife. But when individuals from her support group go missing or wind up dead, Angel, Alex (the support group leader) and the rest of the support group must survive the onslaught from a mystery source as they uncover the truth about the deaths, and the internal truths they all must face to recover from their emotional scars. Can Angel learn how to find the moral middle ground in her actions before its costs another life?
Cyprian has crafted a unique set of characters that are refreshing and frustrating. I only use that word because each character takes actions that make sense, logically, but also add to the complexity that can only be found in a group of people leaning on each other for support. Seeing how they grow and deal with their pasts felt therapeutic as a reader, although the underlying tension did not always serve as a very realistic setting for some of the emotional breakthroughs. The action scenes were also a bit farfetched, but the tension remained despite these stretched scenarios.
The book really excels through the wisdom that each of the characters deliver to each other. Pretty much every chapter has a great piece of advice or a thoughtful observation, and it really demonstrates the author’s understanding of grief and emotional pain. If you are reading this review and have dealt with loss of some kind or another, then you will feel challenged by the conversations in these pages, but you’ll also feel that there is hope moving forward. Angel and her friends deal with the mystery and tension of a classic murder story, but they also heal and learn to live another day. 4.5 stars.
Cyprian has crafted a unique set of characters that are refreshing and frustrating. I only use that word because each character takes actions that make sense, logically, but also add to the complexity that can only be found in a group of people leaning on each other for support. Seeing how they grow and deal with their pasts felt therapeutic as a reader, although the underlying tension did not always serve as a very realistic setting for some of the emotional breakthroughs. The action scenes were also a bit farfetched, but the tension remained despite these stretched scenarios.
The book really excels through the wisdom that each of the characters deliver to each other. Pretty much every chapter has a great piece of advice or a thoughtful observation, and it really demonstrates the author’s understanding of grief and emotional pain. If you are reading this review and have dealt with loss of some kind or another, then you will feel challenged by the conversations in these pages, but you’ll also feel that there is hope moving forward. Angel and her friends deal with the mystery and tension of a classic murder story, but they also heal and learn to live another day. 4.5 stars.
February 23, 2022
Grief can be a catalyst for so many things (violence, love, extraordinary actions, the list goes on...). One thing remains true: grief is best handled when you have a village of people to walk alongside you. Every character is equally inspiring and equally flawed. I loved that there were so many twists and turns in this book. From the very beginning to the very end, there was lots to keep me hooked. It was full of suspense, humor, sadness, and joy, BJ keeps you on your toes all the way through. You can tell that there is personal investment in each of the character's successes. Very well done.
November 3, 2021
Most of life exists in a gray area, not black and white. In The Gray Line, author B. J. Cyprian explores this concept. Sometimes you have to create your own black and white situation in order to bring resolution to an issue. Cyprian places her main character, Angel, into a plot that forces her to make a decision - no more ignoring the past or blowing off the present - she will either live or die. It's up to Angel to decide her course, and she must rely on others.
Angel has joined a grief group after losing her wife in an accident. As she begins to accept joining the group might be helpful, the group becomes the target of a killer. As the group comes to understand they're being hunted and decides to act, the killer becomes the hunted by the organization they belong to.
Cyprian creates a well-paced read with tension and conflict in the right places. As she pushes the characters into what could be an untenable situation, she brings the reader along with a trail of bread crumbs. How willing would you be to place your life into the hands of others?
Angel has joined a grief group after losing her wife in an accident. As she begins to accept joining the group might be helpful, the group becomes the target of a killer. As the group comes to understand they're being hunted and decides to act, the killer becomes the hunted by the organization they belong to.
Cyprian creates a well-paced read with tension and conflict in the right places. As she pushes the characters into what could be an untenable situation, she brings the reader along with a trail of bread crumbs. How willing would you be to place your life into the hands of others?
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December 14, 2023THE GRAY LINE by B.J. Cyprian is a combination exercise in group therapy to cope with the loss of a loved one and at the same time an intriguing mystery stemming from strange events that befall members of the group.
Read the full review on BookTrib.com
Read the full review on BookTrib.com
February 19, 2022
The Gray Line is a captivating character study that explores the protagonists critical thinking, which characterizes her worldview and beliefs about the world and its inhabitants. Author B.J. Cyprian’s work is colored with suspense, depravity, and a critical sensibility. The author leads us through tortuous paths between right and wrong and shows readers how the lines blur with each new situation, and makes us question what our perception will be when facing such delicate situations?
This complex book also explores loss and how we deal with it and move on. It is a heavy theme that allows for much deliberation, especially for the character Angel Lamb. Besides the painful loss of her wife in a tragic car accident, we are given many other details that define her personal growth and ensures readers will be empathetic.
The plot of The Gray Line unfolds through easy flowing dialogue between characters. Its primary focus is on the torrid and complicated experiences of each of them, while the development of the setting is almost an afterthought. In addition to all the previously mentioned themes, the book also deals with issues such as sexual gender and black intolerance – even though they are not the most striking factors in this work, I felt that they were discussed in authentic ways.
The events that unfold lures the reader into a story that seems prosaic at first, due to its casual conversations and uncomplicated language, but this only makes it easier for readers to become close to the characters, and because of that their hardships are felt deeply. This also made it easy for me to visualize the problems and allowed me to form my own judgements about certain scenarios.
The Gray Line is an emotionally charged novel that will appeal to readers looking for a dramatic mystery story that is as thrilling as it is thought-provoking. This is a book that will stay with you long after you have put it down.
This complex book also explores loss and how we deal with it and move on. It is a heavy theme that allows for much deliberation, especially for the character Angel Lamb. Besides the painful loss of her wife in a tragic car accident, we are given many other details that define her personal growth and ensures readers will be empathetic.
The plot of The Gray Line unfolds through easy flowing dialogue between characters. Its primary focus is on the torrid and complicated experiences of each of them, while the development of the setting is almost an afterthought. In addition to all the previously mentioned themes, the book also deals with issues such as sexual gender and black intolerance – even though they are not the most striking factors in this work, I felt that they were discussed in authentic ways.
The events that unfold lures the reader into a story that seems prosaic at first, due to its casual conversations and uncomplicated language, but this only makes it easier for readers to become close to the characters, and because of that their hardships are felt deeply. This also made it easy for me to visualize the problems and allowed me to form my own judgements about certain scenarios.
The Gray Line is an emotionally charged novel that will appeal to readers looking for a dramatic mystery story that is as thrilling as it is thought-provoking. This is a book that will stay with you long after you have put it down.
December 24, 2021
The gray line by B. J. Cyprian is a suspenseful and thrilling read that takes the reader on a mysterious ride. We follow Angel Lamb who has survived growing up in an abusive environment. After losing her wife in an accident, she seeks help through a local support group. Forced to face her past, Angel must find her inner strength to keep herself safe.
The irreplaceable value of relationships in one's life is beautifully depicted by the author. Cyprian published this novel in the loving memory of Serine Renee James Calvert, and that itself makes this special. The author’s writing style is conversational making it easy for the reader to relate and put themselves in the protagonist’s shoes. The suspenseful scenes that the author created really captivated me and made it hard for me to put the book down. Angel is such a strong character but I liked that she was not perfect. You see her ups and downs and root for her to find her strength in order to save herself. The author has definitely written an unpredictable story, one that I didn’t expect to turn out the way it did. Cyprian’s writing makes the readers question themselves and their values especially when it comes to relationships with others. I look forward to reading more books by this author.
The Gray Line is a complicated and beautiful story that I highly recommend to those who are looking for a relatable read.
The irreplaceable value of relationships in one's life is beautifully depicted by the author. Cyprian published this novel in the loving memory of Serine Renee James Calvert, and that itself makes this special. The author’s writing style is conversational making it easy for the reader to relate and put themselves in the protagonist’s shoes. The suspenseful scenes that the author created really captivated me and made it hard for me to put the book down. Angel is such a strong character but I liked that she was not perfect. You see her ups and downs and root for her to find her strength in order to save herself. The author has definitely written an unpredictable story, one that I didn’t expect to turn out the way it did. Cyprian’s writing makes the readers question themselves and their values especially when it comes to relationships with others. I look forward to reading more books by this author.
The Gray Line is a complicated and beautiful story that I highly recommend to those who are looking for a relatable read.
August 28, 2022
A good read! Fast moving, great characters, and fun twists!
September 10, 2022
Great read!! This book draws you in quick with relatable characters and situations and then pow! Plot twist and action to the end!
Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews