Pink

Shades of Style

by Marilynn Griffith

Meet Raya Joseph, the creative head designer at an up-and-coming new fashion design firm. Like employees of any fledgling company, Raya and her fellow designers face a variety of challenges--especially when it comes to bringing in business. So when they are hired to design a million-dollar wedding gown, these talented and animated designers are thrilled. But there's one catch. The new customer is the woman who stole Raya's fiancé. Meanwhile, Flex Dunham, an athletic trainer who coaches a charity basketball team, needs team uniforms and soon finds himself in Raya's shop. Raya hasn't looked at a man since her engagement fiasco, so when Flex walks into her office, things get a little complicated. The entertaining first novel in the Shades of Style series, Pink offers a perfect mix of likeable characters, sweet drama, humor, and a little bit of romance.

Genres: Romance, Christian Fiction, Christian, Chick Lit, Fiction

336 pages, Paperback

First published February 1, 2006

About the author

Marilynn Griffith is the author of eight novels, mother to seven children, wife to a deacon and proof of God's enduring mercy. She has served as national Vice President of American Christian Fiction Writers and has served on faculty at several national writers conferences. When she's not writing about friendship, family and faith, Marilynn blogs and speaks to women and writers.

One of her novels, If the Shoe Fits, served as a prop in Tyler Perry's box office hit Why Did I Get Married? (The mistress has a book in her hand at the beginning of the scene where Jill Scott is forced off the plane. One blink and you'll miss it, but we're hyped about it anyway!)

She most recently took part in the Soul Expressions Book Tour with Angela Benson, Victoria Christopher Murray, Kimberla Lawson Roby and 11 other authors throughout Indiana and Illinois.

Though she lives in Florida now, Marilynn's muse often wanders the Midwest (especially her native Ohio) wearing a warm jacket and carrying a long stick, eavesdropping on the conversations of imaginary people.

Reviews

[Cece · Rating 3 out of 5]

I loved that the main character, Raya, was a woman of color and she had a diverse group of friends. She was relatable and I could see her evolution as a character. But to be frank, her story was boring to me. The drama with her ex-friend was slightly intriguing at first but as the book went on it got more and more played out. Both of the main characters had daddy issues so similar that it felt like I was rereading the same thoughts each chapter. The actual writing was pretty good, but perhaps the plot was just a little too fluffy for me. A solid pick if you're looking for a feel good love story.

[Lorri Banks · Rating 4 out of 5]

Goo scripture

I loved how scripture was used to support all that they were going through but the story moved very slowly.

[Alana · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great Read

Loved the book, wish it didn't end the way it did, left me wanting more, can't wait to see what book #2 has in store.

[Yosef · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very very cute and nice book. The interestingness and the ability to read it kind of faded near the end though.

[AnyKname · Rating 3 out of 5]

I don’t even really know what to say. For most of this book I wasn’t really drawn in but for the last seven chapters I was.

[Melissa (Semi Hiatus Until After the Holidays) · Rating 2 out of 5]

2.5 stars--
Raya Joseph is ready to break out of her beige shell. After suffering heartbreak over the past year, she put her dynamic personality and clothing under wraps and unobtrusively went about her job designing clothes and uniforms for Garments of Praise, a company owned by her friend Chenille. But Raya decides it's time to change - she dyes her afro white-blonde, dresses in pink, and tries to make her attitude match her look. Meeting gorgeous personal trainer Flex on the train serves to boost her ego. That is, until Raya discovers that her nemesis, Megan Arietta, may be involved with Flex.

Flex is working through tragedies in his own life and is relying on God to see him through. Raya is the first woman who has caught his eye and appealed to his spirit in a long while. But misunderstandings and assumptions serve to keep them apart - unless God has plans that the two can't change.

Pink is the first in the Shades of Style series, centered on the women who work at the Garments of Praise clothing design firm. Raya and Flex make an interesting couple. They both come into the relationship with preconceived notions about each other and about relationships in general. As each grows as a person, they are able to open up more and more to each other. The secondary characters give the story an incredible amount of depth. The storyline featuring Chenille's pregnancy is astonishingly realistic and heart-wrenching, as well as filled with faith.

Unfortunately, neither Raya nor Flex is well developed. The reader isn't clued in to the circumstances of their pasts until well into the story, and even then it's not very detailed. Since this is a major plot point and the reason the two have difficulty forming relationships, a clearer explanation would have been helpful. Raya has serious issues with her family, yet this is never fully explained. It's almost like background chapters are missing.

Marilynn Griffith is a writer to watch in African-American chick lit. Her voice is both unique and appealing. The humor and intriguing situations help to overshadow the shortcomings and make Pink a worthwhile read.

[Sandy · Rating 2 out of 5]

This crosses over into adult territory as well. Basically, Raya feels betrayed by her college roommate, who stole her fiance, and her college roommate’s mother, who destroyed her parents marriage. This caused her to flee to NY and move in with her grandmother, and also seriously shook up her faith in God. There was something else in there too, but it’s a spoiler. Anyway, it’s about her trying to find her faith in God again and also how she deals with meeting this new guy and her unexpected attraction to him. Also has bits told from his point of view, and he’s got his own problems too, let me tell you. It was ok, but personally I liked Melody Carlson better.

[schmorireads · Rating 3 out of 5]

I liked this book, the characters were easy to relate to. And i liked how the characters would think to themselves about bible verses, or when they were doing something hey knew they shouldn't the author had a good way of showing what the characters were thinking in the back of their minds. However I have one gripe about this book. Not just one or two but multiple characters in the book came down with AIDS. I know that it's a way of life but did so many of the characters have to get it!? I mean really the author could have proved a point easily enough with just one character getting AIDS. But other than that, good Christian fiction read.

[Shaneice · Rating 3 out of 5]

When I seen this book, I knew I had to read it. I have a passon of fashion and I love PINK! I did not expect for the book to talk about God and AIDS. The book had more drama about relationships more than she really talked about fashion.Overall I rate the book a 3. I would reccommend it to anyone who likes humor,drama, and romance.

[Sam · Rating 5 out of 5]

It was really good. It was about God and love and I really did like this book. I didn't think I would though. Mostly cause it was pink! Haha it was good and it was one of those books I read last year that really got me into love storys, no matter how cheesy.

[Leah Garcia · Rating 3 out of 5]

It was a great book but some of the writing had be going back to re-read to make sure I understood what was being written. But overall, the story had some great characters.

[Kelley · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great story about love and our relationships with God, men and each other