Gotta Keep on Tryin'

by Virginia DeBerry, Donna Grant

A Heartwarming Tale of How True Friendship Can Overcome Life's Obstacles

Gayle Saunders and Patricia Reid have been lifelong friends, as close as sisters. When they were teens their dreams led them down separate paths and away from each other. But they reunited as adults, drawn back together by a bond of friendship that stood the test of time.

Now Pat and Gayle co-own the Ell & Me Company, a business they founded based on a character Gayle created years ago for her daughter. Things are going well, but real-life dramas ensue as each must face issues from the past in order to protect the future.

Pat and Marcus look like the perfect twenty-first-century couple-smart, talented, each at the helm of a high-profile enterprise and at the top of their game. but will their professional pursuits leave them time for each other and a family, or carry them into the arms of others? Will a paternity claim prover to be too much of an obstacle to overcome?

Gayle faces her own family drama and struggles to maintain control of her life. Despite dating other men, has she ever really gotten over her ex-husband, Ramsey the gambler who left her and their daughter, Vanessa, in financial ruin? Gayle bends over backward to provide a stable, comfortable home for Vanessa, who seems just as devoted to making Gayle pay for every mistake she has ever made. And what ever happened to Ramsey?

Genres: Fiction, Contemporary, African American Literature

368 pages, Hardcover

First published January 8, 2008

About the author

We are best friends who’ve been co-writing women’s fiction since 1990. For more information about who we are, what we do and...what we did, please visit deberryandgrant.com. We can also be found online at: Facebook.com/deberryandgrant
Instagram @deberryandgrant

Reviews

[Mahoghani 23 · Rating 4 out of 5]

True friendship has its uphill battles just like relationships. The value of the friendship is what makes the friendship worth having. There are things that you'll tell your friend than you wouldn't tell your husband or significant other. This story and the characters portrayed can emulate ourselves or people we know.

Take Gayle; she's insecure, struggling with her daughter, suffered a bad marriage and struggling to make it day-to-day. Even within her weaknesses, she's a strong woman. She's pushing through to support herself as well as her daughter (whose very unappreciative). She's sworn herself off men but recognizes attractive men and understands she's missing companionship in her life. Plus she carries a secret that can be detrimental to her life.

Vanessa, Gayle's daughter, should be happy and appreciative but she lashes out and makes everything about her. She has her own demons but no one took the time to realize how life affected her while she was growing up. She has a real-life lesson taught to her that brings her to understand that life can be beautiful or really ugly.

Pat, Gayle's best friend & co-owner of their company Ell & Me, has had a rough childhood but now allows nothing or anyone to push her around. She's self-assured, no-nonsense, independent, carries everyone else's burdens and doesn't realize that her husband is more than just a man for her primitive needs. She gets carried away with things she sees as more important than valuing what's right in front of her.

Marcus, Pat's husband, a former professional baseball player now co-owns his own sports agency and things are not going as planned. He's being sneaked by larger agencies stealing his clients and as fast as the money comes in, it's going right back out. His marriage feels more like a hobby than the loving relationship it once was. The biggest issue for Marcus is his desire for children and Pat's noncommittal or no desire to get pregnant.

The past monitors the present and future and if mishandled it can lead to dire circumstances for everyone. Pat, Gayle, Vanessa and Marcus must deal with their pasts in order to survive and live in a healthy and meaningful life.

[SassyMama · Rating 4 out of 5]

A Worthy Sequel

This novel is definitely well worth the 10 year wait! I thoroughly enjoyed playing catch-up with Gayle, Pat & Marcus. DeBerry and Grant allows us to revisit with the best friends turned successful business partners. We also get a peek at Pat and Marcus' marriage, which has more or less just become a comfortable co-existence, as they have ceased being the loving, "happily married" couple. And Vanessa has definitely grown up with a chip on her shoulder and the all too familiar attitude of a spoiled and selfish teenager.~~~~~~~DeBerry and Grant also touch on several serious social issues throughout their sequel (eating disorders, domestic violence, infidelity, paternity and more) and they handle each in a very responsible, yet entertaining manner.~~~~~~~This sequel shows us how fame and fortune doesn't always equal happiness. It's was great to get reacquainted with past characters, but, I also enjoyed the introduction of the well-developed cast of new characters. They added quite a bit of intrigue and suspense to an already emotionally charged tale. As a fan I definitely wouldn’t mind reading more about DeJohn and Tiffani...hint, hint…happily awaiting a follow-up novel…LOL! KUDOS to Virginia DeBerry and Donna Grant on turning out a TOTALLY inspiring sequel!

[Ari · Rating 3 out of 5]

IQ "She knew it wasn't subtle, gentle, or coddling. But their best-friendship wasn't like that-never had been, no point going there now. [...] Their friendship had been to hell and back again and they loved each other like blood. They just weren't pink hearts and pinky swears BFFs." 211

The authors really know how to capture your attention. I was fully invested in the story even if I felt like it was doing the most at times. It tackles a lot of issues people face but I think the variety of issues it attempted to cover suffered from not being delved into enough. Such as emotional vs. physical cheating (should there be a distinction? What exactly does this mean? etc etc. A discussion between characters that could have been quite interesting), strained parental relationships, adult love, etc. I was most impressed by the authors deciding to address adult bulimia. Eating disorders often tend to be thought of as a "young upper middle class white woman thing" but like most ailments they don't discriminate. I thought they handled this in a superb manner. DeJohn absolutely got what was coming to him; the authors also did a fantastic job outlining the struggles of making it to major league baseball. I like baseball well enough but I don't watch it or read about it religiously thus I found the description of what life was like in the minors and during the off-season quite captivating. The authors seemed to have really done their research. This same methodical research could also be seen through their descriptions of the doll industry.

Of course not having children this may not be fair of me to say but I thought Gayle was an idiot and so was Vanessa. I just don't get how Vanessa could be so selfish after all her mother went through and how Gayle could be so quick to forgive. Of course Vanessa didn't deserve what happened to her but she should have been a lot smarter, she's one of those teenage characters that I feel like adults write about. Those who try to 'act grown' but fail miserably at it whereas I think teens make mistakes but some manage to keep it together until their adult years or at least avoid such catastrophic mistakes. I also think Gayle deserved some happiness and I'm not really sure she got it in this novel (definitely not the first), I really do think Pat is the better character. At least for me, she's easier to relate to. As in the other two books I've read by these authors I continue to be impressed by their cheeky or poignant one-liners. They don't wax poetic but they create sentences that make you pause and think, they sound like something someone I know would actually say (as opposed to beautiful turns of phrase that sound so lovely in books but would never leap off the page to real life). "Pat couldn't walk in his shoes, but she knew where the muddy soles came from" (322). I love that they write universal stories where the main characters are Black and I would like to continue to see more authors do this

[BiancaX N · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is written by two authors (which I didn’t realize until the end). Story about two childhood friends who co own a business and they each have family dynamics and challenges they are facing. One is married and not sure if she still loves her husband the other is a single mom with a daughter who she is not sure if she is raising properly plus her ex husband went missing so she’s not sure where he is or if he’s even alive still. Amidst the business reaching its peak will they be able to overcome their individual differences and challenges and lean on that sisterhood bond they share to be vulnerable with one another and ask for help? It’s labeled as a romance but it’s not a spicy lovey dovey one so if you don’t usually enjoy romance you may actually enjoy this one. Some parts were a bit slow for me but I’m also used to thriller books so what can I say haha. The ending really brought everything together and bumped up the rating for me! Give it a read!! Also apparently this is a sequel…I had no idea until the end (oops!)

[Angenette Burns · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great read...

[Allyn Reid · Rating 4 out of 5]

Emotionally riveting.

[Helen Williams · Rating 4 out of 5]

Lifelong best friends Gayle Saunders and Pat Reid run a successful doll company that has become very profitable. While their business life is flourishing their personal lives takes some hits. Pat and her husband Marcus marriage hits a road block when his past raises some concerns and Pat straddles the lines in a friendship. Gayle and her daughter Vanessa are having some communication issues and they both are keeping secrets. Gayle and Pat have some strain in their friendship when they cannot agree in a business decision. Open honesty will be the healing force for everyone to see that they all need to keep on trying for true happiness.

[Shannan Harper · Rating 4 out of 5]

A continuation about friendship. This is the second book in the series, and I felt it was just as good as the first one. The authors do a great job showing you how the characters evolve and grow as well as how their writing has grown. Patricia Reid and Gayle Saunders are working hard on their new company, with Gayle also raising a teenage daughter (My Lord, that Child). Marcus now travels scouting for new sports talent and has a sports management agency. There were a lot of things that happened that was unexpected. Marvelous job by the authors.

[Lakecia Allison · Rating 5 out of 5]

Beautiful story of small circles but great friendships! Gayle and Pat have gone through so much but they keep on keeping on through the great, good, bad, and ugly. I want more! I want Pat and Marcus, to finally be parents. I want Ramsey to become great friends with Gayle and an even better father to Vanessa. I want to see Karma catch up with Tiffani!

[Keyana · Rating 5 out of 5]

Usually I don't read sequels because they seem rushed or just like a totally different writer wrote it however this was a pleasant surprise! Not only did the sequel have the same writing style, it also flowed really well and the characters stayed true to how they were introduced in the first novel. A must-read !!

[Ju'Donne O'Neal · Rating 1 out of 5]

I couldn’t finish this book. I tried but was unsuccessful. I’d put it down, come back to it, put it down again, read another book. I finally came to the conclusion that it wasn’t keeping my attention and it was torture to read it so I gave up. I’m usually not a quitter but this one got the best of me.

[Kapreice B · Rating 5 out of 5]

I reallllllly loved this book as a sequel to Pat and Gayle’s life I feel like I know them like they’re really apart of my life as friends. Vanessa’s growing pains made me so emotional literal tears came to my eyes. Now as I close this chapter to their lives at 40 I wonder now what they’re up to now in 2024 and did everything still flow abundantly….. I miss them already

[Ta'Neisha Kemp · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was a great sequel to my FAVORITE book, Tryin to Sleep in the Bed You Made. It was nice to have an update on well-known characters and meet new ones. Plus, there were plenty of twists to keep you excited, anxious, and fussing out loud. Both books would do well as a movie!

[Robyn · Rating 5 out of 5]

These authors know how to work a story and keep the reader entertained. Not just a Goodread but a Greatread!

[TinaMarie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Continuing their story, it's real life that affects and troubles their lives. I don't always like them but I enjoyed the read

[Tee Morris]

Enjoyed this sequel. It takes a deeper look into relationships and their challenges and the decisions that people have to make every day.

[Stephanie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great read. Cannot wait to read the next sequel. I LOVE these characters!

[Renee Morgan · Rating 4 out of 5]

I'm almost100% sure that I've read this before, but if so it was still a good read. It deals with sensitive subjects, but handles them well. Definitely an interesting and engaging read.

[Lelisha Johnson · Rating 5 out of 5]

That was a good as the first book

[Amber Fields · Rating 4 out of 5]

Had slow moments but the end really came through.

[OOSA · Rating 4 out of 5]

Hope Those Sheets Fit

Although it's been a really long time since I put `Tryin' To Sleep In The Bed You Made,' down, even then I knew, like Michael Jordan to basketball and Jay Z with rap, we hadn't heard the last from Patricia Reid and Gayle Saunders, whose friendship solidifies what it truly means to have a friend.

With Pat's watchful eye and Gayle's creativity, the Ell & Me company has blossomed. More than an idea, a book, or a thought, it's now hitting the shelves in the toy department. While Pat knows that they have a goldmine, Gayle is continually in need of consulting for every new step.

Pat and Marcus are comfortably married. Both are busy, traveling and working to make it big in the business world. Marcus has his own sports agency. While Pat is far from motherly, Marcus is awaiting the pitter patter of little feet. Will a teen, paternity test and memories from the past, cause a rift in their future?

Gayle is still blaming herself for all of the things that went wrong sometime ago. Vanessa is no longer a little girl, but Gayle refuses to let go. Rebellious and determined to be free, Vanessa does all that she can to alienate her mother. Although Gayle knows she has to let go, she fears the unknown. With so much head bumping and secrets, Gayle is already too full to digest anything more. Can a mother and daughter reunite or will it be too late?

"Gotta Keep On Tryin'" revisits a valuable friendship. While in route, we journey through yesteryear, forgiveness, faithfulness, scuffles and familiarity. Fresh new characters add a cool new mix as readers embrace the past, the future, and what I personally hope is a trilogy in the making. DeBerry and Grant have been able to capture a flawed friendship that warms the heart, spirit and wrangles all of the craziness one thought they were unable to tackle. Like "Tryin' To Sleep In The Bed You Made," it's ancestor, "Gotta Keep On Tryin'" speaks volumes to women, friends, and love everywhere!

Definitely recommended reading!!!
Reviewed by: Crystal
Tryin' to Sleep in the Bed You Made

[Toni · Rating 3 out of 5]

I had no idea this was a sequel or spin-off of Tryin' to Sleep in the Bed You Made. I read it so long ago that I don't remember the plot or the people involved. (I read so much that, for some reason, I only remember books that I hate. So if I can't remember key plot points - that's a good thing.) If you haven't read the first one or can't remember it, no worries, this book stands well on its own.

Gayle Saunders & Patricia Reid are childhood friends who, now as adults, start and run a successful doll company based on Gayle's daughter, Vanessa. The business is doing great, but their personal lives struggle. Gayle's husband has disappeared with all her money and her daughter Vanessa, a dancer, is becoming difficult and rebellious. Pat's husband Marcus is under tremendous pressure from his job and she turns to a business associate to get the attention she craves.

That's a lot of drama, huh? I haven't even scratched the surface of all the other issues that are dealt with here, including bulimia, golddigging, and gambling. At times I felt a little overwhelmed by all of the things they tackle in this book. There is enough material here for 2 or 3 books. But the pace is good and, with the exception of the too neatly tied up ending, I never felt too bogged down by it. If you are a fan of the books co-written by DeBerry & Grant, then you won't be disappointed.

[Debbie · Rating 4 out of 5]

I read this book at the suggestion of a fellow doll collector. The backdrop of the main two characters' Ell and Me doll business piqued my interest. Gayle and Pat have been lifelong friends. They form a doll company inspired by Gayle's teenage daughter Vanessa, who could care less about the business or about her mother’s feelings. Gayle, a single parent, is troubled by her self-centered daughter’s rebellious nature and other issues. She copes with her troubles in a rather unhealthy manner.

Gayle's childless friend and business partner, Pat, is married to a sports promoter. Looking from the outside in, Pat and Marcus seem to have the perfect life. They, however, become distracted by past and current events and must work together to confront the issues that cause their separate distractions.

The book has its ups and downs and can at times be predictable. Overall, I considered it a good, light read. The characters were believable and some of the lows were emotion stirring.

Written as a followup to Tryin to Sleep in the Bed You Made, the friends continue to overcome obstacles in this book. The need to overcome even more is inevitable.

[Shannon · Rating 4 out of 5]

These two authors write beautifully together. Their first book, Trying to sleep in the bed you made was AWESOME! Now this book picks up from the first and readers find out what actually happened to Gail & Pat.

The story line deals with family, friendships, love, adultry, children, careers and all the messy little things we deal with everyday. It also deals with something else equally important...eating disorders.

I would recommend reading the first book just so you will have background knowledge of why the characters are develop the way they are.

This book is definitely a comfy, book club, glass of wine read.

[Tracie Momie · Rating 3 out of 5]

First, let me say, I had no idea this was a sequel to Trying to Sleep in the Bed You Made! Ha ha!

No wonder the entire time I felt like I had missed something. Now I have to go back and read the prequel before I can give a fair review of this book.

The story seemed a bit rushed. . .don't get me wrong there was a lot of stuff that took place, I think it spanned five years but it sped through the years and I didn't get the whole thing with the suicide/murder of the police detective.

I don't think this saga is over. . .there were a lot of unanswered questions.

[Ruth · Rating 1 out of 5]

This is why Oprah stoped having book choices for a while...she said no one is writing anything good. This is what she is referring to. This is a great example of how too much foreshadowing can ruin a story. I felt like the authors thought I was stupid. The biggest question I'm left with is why I read the whole thing? It was mind candy for when a vacation read is too intellectually demanding. Please don't read this.

[MaryAnn · Rating 4 out of 5]

I listened to this book read by the authors. I enjoyed the relationships and the situations they illustrated. I have a friend with eating disorders and one of the characters, situation and themes of the book helped me to better understand her and her condition. I am looking forward to backtracking and reading other books that preceded this one in the series.

[Carolyn Alleyne · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this book. It is one of the best sequels I've read in a long time. It picked right back up from where the first one left off so i felt like I became more interested in the characters and what became of them. I like how the writers fleshed out their flaws but also showed the hope for their futures as they rose above everything that happened in their pasts.

[Tapley · Rating 1 out of 5]

I only got through about first 50 pages of this book. I don't think it was terrible, but I didn't find either of the main characters to be particularly sympathetic, and a story of soldiering on in the face of life's cruel ups and downs just doesn't interest me.

[Dana "DWJ" · Rating 3 out of 5]

First of all, how did I not realize this was a sequel to "Tryin' to Sleep In the Bed You Made" ?! I needed to read that again to remember where the hell it left off. This was kind of anti-climatic but a quick read.