A Silken Thread

by Brenda Jackson

For Erica Sanders, finding a soul mate was the easy part. Brian Lawson is the man she wants, and everyone agrees they're the ideal couple. Almost everyone. The one exception is Erica's mother, Karen, who prefers her daughter marry another man. Karen even hires a private detective to investigate Brian, but the truth he uncovers is the last thing she expected—a devastating betrayal that rips both families apart.

Convinced that her relationship can't be salvaged, Erica ends her engagement. Yet she has lingering doubts over her decision, especially once Brian's attractive single neighbor starts pursuing him. A chance meeting proves that the passion between Brian and Erica hasn't dimmed—but neither has the determination of others to keep them apart, or the shocking lengths Karen will go to in order to undermine her daughter's relationship.

As secrets old and new are revealed, Erica and Brian find themselves caught between the bonds of the past and an uncertain future, each making painful discoveries about who to believe and trust. Masterfully told and laced with the sensuality and drama that Brenda Jackson does best, this is an unforgettable story of relationships at their most complex, and how hard it can be to choose between living separate lives—or holding fast when love hangs by a silken thread….

Genres: Romance, African American Romance, Contemporary, Contemporary Romance, Fiction, African American

368 pages, Paperback

First published February 9, 2011

About the author

In 1994, Brenda Jackson’s first novel, Tonight and Forever, was released. Since then she has had more than 100 novels and novellas published (the first African-American author to accomplish such a feat) and has over 3 million books in print.

A native of Jacksonville, Florida, Brenda is the first African-American author to have a book published by Harlequin Desire and the first African-American romance author to make the New York Times and USA TODAY bestseller lists within the series romance genre.

In 2012, Brenda received the Romance Writers of America’s Nora Roberts Lifetime Achievement Award—one of the highest literary awards a romance author can receive. In 2013, she was recognized by the mayor and the city of Jacksonville as being a Trailblazer in the literary field.

In 2010, she collaborated with Five Alive Films to turn her Truly Everlasting title into a feature film. Brenda’s 2011 novel A Silken Thread is scheduled to be filmed with Debbie Allen attached as director in 2015.

Email Brenda at authorbrendajackson@gmail.com or visit her on her website at brendajackson.net.

Reviews

[Vintage · Rating 3 out of 5]

I saw "Brenda" and that there was a bad mommy in one of the reviews and got Brenda Jackson and Brenda Novak mixed up. They are NOT the same, but they both do bad mothers very well. However, in this case Jackson's bad mother trumps even the most annoying and manipulative one that Novak has created. Bad mothers are my kryptonite among other tropes, and this one gave me plenty to chew on.

SPOILERS

The pretty bland heroine has the Mother from Hell and an okay dad. The h wisely found a hunky man outside the constrained small Ohio town and will be moving to Texas after she gets married, yeehaw. I am sorry to say it is Dallas, but we can't have everything. If MfH has anything to say about it, the h will marry the man the MfH chose even if he doesn't want to marry the h anymore than she wants to marry him. Arranged marriages are the thing in this contemporary community which explains why the h's dad has been in a marriage without sex for 20 years.

Sideplot is the h's dad meets the H's mom, and they end up falling in love and having an affair. I hate cheating in a book, but the man deserves a medal. MfH is more upset that the OW wore department store clothes to the engagement party than she is about the cheating. Plus it gives her the leverage needs to set her evil plot in motion.

Destroying the engagement is key for MfH, and she not only accomplishes that, but conns her idiot daughter the h into taking her on a cruise and being her caretaker for the next six weeks. She uses the time old trope of a bad heart to win the heroine over leaving the H, the fiancee in the dust. Hero deserves a better chick.

A second sideplot with the man MfH wants for her daughter and his affair with the h's best friend works into the story. Two more interesting characters.

I've already given lots of details, but have left many if not most of the MfH lies and machinations out as there are just so diabolical and straight out of Tennessee Williams.

[Lady Raven RAVE! · Rating 5 out of 5]

An Applause and A Standing ovation to Mrs. Jackson

*********I have to start out by saying even though I love Brenda Jackson's book series, this book was a breath of fresh air. It's a book from start to finish that doesn't come with a series, so this makes it a little different and exciting ( please note I love her series and not hating on them). She changes this book up a bit, the way she combines everyone, the way she involves everyone and the way she brought them together, now with saying that:


*********The book was about Erica and Brian but ladies, while I love love love their story so many other individuals stole my heart in this book as well as the different story lines. The best way to describe it it's like Young & The Restless to the tenth level a very good soap opera and you know a soap opera includes the big dramas, the big lies, the big secrets and and who likes who from who doesn't like whomever etc, etc. With saying that, I had favorites at first, of couples through out the book but by the end they all made me love them more, I don't want to give away who ends up with who (but i will say this for one of the couples April and Griffin O.M.G that build up to their relationship, i though it was wonderful) but all their stories made you fell in love with them so much more.

PS: let's just say this, for Karen she makes the Joker who is a villain on batman seems more innocent like a saint.


if you are a fan of Brenda Jackson then I think you would appreciate this book it's so different but yet familiar.

********************
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[Angelia · Rating 3 out of 5]

I really wanated to give this book more than 3 stars because I love Brenda Jackson so much. I will say that I did like the fact that she totally changed her writing style with this book and this story had a lot more depth then her usual. I gave this 3 stars because I thought the story line between the main characters Erica and Brian was quite BORING. April and Griffin, Rita and Wilson stole the story.....and every time the story line went back to Erica and Brian I wanted it to end so that I could read about the other characters, and Karen was some kinda SPECIAL.....

[Patriciaw · Rating 4 out of 5]

Started out slow for me, with all the background stuff Ms. Jackson tends to put in her first few chapters. But once the story got going, oh boy! Brenda Jackson is in a class of her own when it comes to creating characters that you want to spend time with and plotting unexpected twists you'll never figure out. Some of the stories I thought would future installments were wrapped up here, so it will be interesting to see what's next.

[January · Rating 3 out of 5]

A Silken Thread by Brenda Jackson
363-page Paperback

Genre: Romance > African American Romance, Contemporary Romance;
Adult Fiction, African American Fiction

Featuring: Ohio, Elitism, Dallas, Texas; Engaged Couple, Wedding Planning, Sex - Detailed, Arrangements, Infidelity, Drama, Secrets

Rating as a movie: NC-17 for strong sexual content

My rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️½

My thoughts: 📖 Page 174 of 363 Ch. 16 - This story is completely predictable, but more than you would expect a romance novel to be. What I was not expecting was all of the messy drama. I have barely spent any time with the main characters, and the side stories are taking over. This is pretty much a soap opera, but I think those are considered romances, too, so I guess it counts. I'm not feeling any of the storylines.

If you read the back of this book you will be led to believe that this story is about Erica. Although all of the characters in this story are connected to Erica she is the side story in her own book. I'm not a fan of soaps so that's probably why I was rolling my eyes while reading this. I didn't like much about it. Messy small-town affluence drama with sex scenes. Something about this book made me feel like it could have been written by Kimberla Lawson Roby, it was different from the other Jackson books I've read.

Recommend to others?: Maybe. If you love daytime soap operas this book is for you.

[Selin Özkan · Rating 5 out of 5]

İşte yorumum..

Yakın zamanda okuyup bitirdiğim ve yoğunluktan yorumunu yazamadığım bir kitap daha ! Geç olsun güç olmasın diyerek incelemeye başlıyorum ... :)

Öncelikle yazarın okuduğum ilk kitabı olduğunu belirteyim.Ancak yazarın diline çok çabuk alıştım.Takip edeceğim yazarlar sırasına yükselmesi için 50 sayfa yetti.

Normalde ilk 50 sayfada pek bir olay gelişmez ve karakterleri tanımaya başlarız.Bunda da tabii ki öyleydi.Ancak tek farkı,bu kitap 'aşık olma' devresini geçmiş bir yerden başlıyor.Ana karakterlerimiz zaten aşık olmuşlar,sevgili olmuşlar,hatta ve hatta evlenmeye bile karar vermişler ! Bizde evlenmelerine çok kısa bir zaman kala hayatlarına dahil oluyoruz.
Çiftimizin aşkları diğer tüm aşk kitaplarında olduğu gibi destansı ! Yani okurken normal hayatta bulamayacağınız tadı damağınızda bırakıyor elbette...
İki zenci genç aşık[ancak kitapta 3 çift anlatılıyor.Ben Spoiler vermemek için o konuya azıcık ucundan uzun açıklamada değineceğim ;)],kötü-kalpsiz bir anne,soyadı-aile baskısı,zenginlikle gelen sorumluluklar vs vs..Konumuz kısaca bu.Ama uzunca anlatmak gerekirse ki amacımız bu :D Şöyle ki;

Kızımız Erica ünlü zenci bir ailenin kızıdır.İlk direnişçi zenci ailelerinden.Bu aileler özgür zenci kasabasının kurucu aileleri,öncüleridir.Bu her ne kadar kulağa iyi geliyorsa da,belirli sosyal sınırlar,farklar oluşturmuştur aslında.Kurucu aileler zengin ve neredeyse kasabanın (dükkan vb.) para kaynaklarının tümüne sahip iken,halk işçi kısmı olarak geçmekte ve yoksul kalmaktadır.Bu üstünlük halleri Ericanın ve onun ailesinde en sevdiği kişinin yani babasının hoşlanmadığı bir gerçektir.Ericanın annesi ise bundan çok memnundur.Anne babasının evliliği bir aşk evliliği değildir ve annesi de tıpkı kendi evliliği gibi (Bizde görücü usulü denilir ya hani ) ana-babaların uygun gördüğü biri ile evlendirme niyetindedir Ericayı.Tıpkı kendileri gibi varlıklı bir ailenin oğlu ile.Buraları çok klasik gibi geliyor ama unutmayın biz kitabı okumaya başladığımızda bu olayla çoktan olup bitmiş oluyor.Bunu sadece ana konuyu anlamak için yazıyorum. ;) Ama ailenin çocukları birbirlerini sevmiyorlar.Sadece arkadaşlar.Ve bu durum ailelerini çok kızdırıyor.Bir gün yine böyle bir şekilde Erica en yakın arkadaşı(kitapta geçen bir diğer çiftin ana kahramanlarından) April'in evine gidiyor.Ve orada aşkı Brian ile tanışıyor.Ki emin olu mükemmel bir erkek.Gerçek dışı ! ♥ Onunla evlenmeye karar veriyor ve annesi elbette hoşlanmıyor ama elden ne gelir :D Kız aşık ve aşkı için direnmeye hazır...
Direnmeye değecek nadir aşklardan zaten sahip olduğu erkek.

Erica ile Brian'ın aşkları mükemmel ! Tek kelimeyle MÜKEMMEL ! ♥ Büyük bir uyum ve sevgi ile birleşen böyle bir çift çok nadir görülür.Ancak başlarına gelenler beni delirtti ! O annesi olacak şeytanı boğazlamak istedim.Bu ne entrikadır kardeşim ! Soluksuz okudum.Son sayfaları hele jet hızıyla çevirdim diyebilirim.Aşkı tutkuyu bol bulacağınız bir lezzet yaratmış yazar.Bayıldım.♥
İşte biz hikayeye böyle başlıyoruz.Bundan sonra Spoiler içerikli detaylar geliyor.Haberiniz olsun.. :)

İşte can alıcı,oyun bozan noktalar !

Devamı Blogumda ;)
http://all-about-books-n-books.blogsp...
'sLn

[Beverly · Rating 5 out of 5]

I am always excited and anxious when one of my favorite authors publishes a new book. I have enjoyed previous works by Brenda Jackson as her stories are full of passion, heart, and power. In A Silken Thread, Jackson’s new series Hattersville, Ohio, I experienced all of this along with the added element of intrigue. Erica Sanders and Brian Lawson have met by chance on a summer vacation, fell in love, and are planning their dream wedding and future together. Everyone can see how much in love they are. But, little do they know that their love has set off an unexpected chain of events for those closest in their lives. Two of Erica’s best friends will now be free to express their love for each other, and an unlikely pair will begin an illicit affair. But, the biggest surprise will come from Erica’s mother, a first-class manipulator, as she twists outcomes to fit her own deranged plan. All of the characters will be tested, and will find out love, like silk, is flexible, adaptable, strong yet delicate. And when love is left hanging by a thread, you will wonder who will survive the secrets and betrayals.

Master storyteller Brenda Jackson has woven a delightful tale that took me on a ravishing and romantic ride from the very first page. The main characters play well against one another, and the secondary romances are as entertaining as the main one. The natural progression of the secondary characters and storylines was well done so I did not feel overwhelmed. I enjoyed how each of the romances presents different issues, but yet all are connected. I commend the author on how she handled the infidelity situation, it was not only tasteful, but had me cheering on the participants. The skillful characterization imbued the characters with spunk, humor, and much ingenuity to survive all of the plot twists. I also enjoyed how the characters addressed their short comings – where they came from, and how sometimes it is harder to acknowledge them in order to be free of them. The town of Hattersville is very much a character in the book, and reminded me of Peyton Place.

A Silken Thread will please Brenda Jackson fans and attract new readers. I recommend this book to all readers who enjoy heartwarming stories with a blend of romance, intrigue, secrets and survival. I look forward to reading the next book in the series.

This book was provided by the publisher for review purposes

Reviewed by Beverly
APOOO BookClub

[Ceren Ünlü · Rating 5 out of 5]

Ohohooo ! Ohohoooo ! Oohohohooo !!! Yok Artık ! Ohoohooo ! Ağzımı beş karış açık bıraktırdı ya !!

Brenda Jackson'un yazdığı ''Pamuk İpliği'' soluksuz okundu, bitti. Yazarın kalemi çok iyi ya. Bende şok üzerine şok yarattı resmen. Ephesus'un en iyi kitaplarından biri diyebilirim.
Yalnız bu yazar gerçekten çok iyimiş. Öyle bir olay örgüsü var k, akıcılığını bırak her bölümün ardını merak ediyorsun. Ve öyle bir işlemiş ki... Yazarda ki cesarete bak sen hele, ayıp ayıp :-P Neden mi ? Ohohooo neler olduğuna inanamazsınız.
Aile ilişkileri, aşk hikayeleri, duygusallık ve dram... Kendini soluksuz okutan modern bir, hayır hayır üç aşk hikayesi. Bir ciltlik kitapta onlarca süpriz. Ayrıca kitap bir veya iki karakterin ağzından değildi. Alışılagelmişin dışına çıkmış yazar. Asıl karakterler Erica ile Brian olsa da, Wilson, Rita, Karen, Griffin, April ve Donna... Her karakterin okuyabilirsin. Ve birinden bir diğerine geçişler de kopukluk da olmamış. Çevirisi de düzgün zaten. Herneyse... İşte onların sırları, yaşadıkları ve aşkları sizi şok üzerine şoka uğratıyor.
Yazar karakterlerini özellikleri ile çok iyi kaynaştırmış. Kimi bana tırnak yedirtti, kimi gülümsetti, kimi de kaş çatmama sebep oldu.
Hele o Karen yok mu Karen ! Erica'nın deli zekiye annesi.. Yaptıklarını okudukça sinirden midem ağrıdı. Fakat en sonunda onun da geçmişini öğrenincei, acımamak elde değil ki :'( Of, salak karı benim yüreğimi hoplatıp durdu.
Kitapta 'kötü karakter' yok aslında. Bir iki şirret var sadece :-D Ve herkes hak ettiğini buluyor. Kimi kazanan, kimi ise kaybeden...
Oh, bu kitap okunur... Herkese tavsiye ederim. :-)

[Limecello]

:X so ... this book was a totally "it's me not you" - because...

While I was apprehensive about the premise I figured "it's Brenda Jackson and she's way more hit than miss for me - even when I'm leery of the premise/blurb."

But :X look. I listened to the audiobook.
And I have exceedingly severe misophonia and anything can set it off.
And maybe it was just because I tried to start the book after 3 AM and was just tired and irritable.
But ... the narrator's voice was not for me. It made me want to commit violence.

So ... yeah :X
And - considering that ... [and how ~little of the book I listened to - I debated not even putting it in GR ... but then I also realized I should put it in my DNF so I ideally know not to check out this audiobook again. So - to future me - please heed this note.]

[Dawn “D-Love” · Rating 4 out of 5]

Book started off slow with Brian and Erica’s relationship. They were so boring. The best was Rita and Wilson. They need their own book. Erica’s mother was possessed with an evil spirit because of her father and his evil ways. She treated any and everybody horrible to get what she wanted. In the end she was alone. Can’t believe they didn’t have her committed or prosecuted for all the pain she caused and the fact she denied her husband sex for over 20 years 🤭

[Techlady · Rating 4 out of 5]

I'm a major Brenda Jackson fan. I've done the audio version of her books. This is the WORST that I've ever listened to. Very robotic. But since I wanted to see how it played out...I plowed on through.
This was a change of pace for me in terms of a Brenda Jackson novel. Would love to see this as a series...with a DIFFERENT reader.
The crazy mother, the old friends, family secrets/drama and parental issues (on both sides) kept me going to the end. Wish I could've enjoyed it more!

[Brandi · Rating 4 out of 5]

I'm going to need another story out of Hattersville, Ohio. Who needs All My Children when you have the Delbert, Hayes, and Sanders families to filll your days with? These people are off the chain with their intrique, scandals, and not-quite-s0-dead relatives. Brenda Jackson has managed to take in another great direction. Good stuff.

[Lynnetoo · Rating 2 out of 5]

This type of romance genre is not my favorite. I would not have selected this. I read it as a book club selection.

Lots of lusty or tender physical descriptions. Plot is weak. A family "curse" requires two families to unite through marriage to heal the past generations scarred by pedophilia. The ending ties everything up neatly with a red bow.

[Thinkthendoit69 · Rating 2 out of 5]

enjoyed the committment and communication of partners, being honest and upfront about their true feelings for the other and willing to fight through barriers to sustain the relationship...a bit predictable and overdramatic...but at least the suspense of the blackmail piqued my curiosity..

[Samantha · Rating 3 out of 5]

Wow. This story had more potential to be a 4 or 5 star book but the main characters were boring. Some of the major twists was so obvious. The secondary characters are the best part of the story. Good but could have been better.

[Ria Jordan · Rating 2 out of 5]

Read this in a day on a 15 hour flight. Dull read. I used to like Brenda Jackson novels but it seems she has found a formula which no longer elicits interest on my part. Nothing surprising in the prose nor in the plot.

[Celeste · Rating 2 out of 5]

I had the audiobook of this novel. The story held my interest but I didn't care for the narrator. She felt almost robotic at times. Watching the drama unfold between the characters was done well by Jackson. Erica and Brian's story with crazy momma drama.

[Anissa · Rating 4 out of 5]

Brenda Jackson is one of my favorite authors. This book was a little bit different from her other feel good books. I felt at times the story was spread too thin between all the characters it just seemed a lot was going on. I did like the fact that she switched the story line up and made it more gritty. The mom character was just downright evil and diabolical. I felt Erica was ignorant I mean she grew up with this woman she should’ve been a bit less naive about her mothers antics. Also the story line with her and the fiancé was a little dry. I enjoyed reading about Rita and Wilson having a sordid affair. I thought maybe because they are older that it might have been too much but it was actually pretty sweet. However there is no way on Gods green earth that I’d ever believe a man would wait 23 years to have a sexual encounter that’s preposterous! April and Griffin’s relationship was more exciting than the two main characters. I wanted the author to go more into details about those two. When Mrs. Sanders told her that lie I wanted April to grow a backbone and let her have it finally. The book overall was pretty good and very entertaining especially the Mom. She’s the kind of character you love to hate.

[JoygaPeach · Rating 5 out of 5]

5 star story but 1 star narration

Let me say that the issue for me was not the story but the narrator, and because of this I pushed through although I wanted to stop listening several times. The narrator sounded like a robot. I tried speeding up the flow and it did not help. I would like for them to have this book recorded again with better narration because the current does it no justice.

Now for the story...ohmigoodness, what a crazy ass family (well a select few). I was totally outdone by the mother's antics to stop her daughter's wedding at any cost. She was relentless and treacherous, but once hearing her reasons I could see why she thought she needed to break the curse although I don't quite understand how future molestations would have happened without any male descendants to carry on what her father had done. I may have missed something though because I zoned out a few times with that robotic voice.

Overall, it was a great book and I will definitely revisit this one either by reading it myself or if they re-record it with better narration.

[Tina Jackson · Rating 5 out of 5]

WOW

The level of hatred, betrayal, and deceit that one woman srtvin motion to get the results she wanted from someone else's life is totally ridiculous. All the negative energy that she put in motion could have been used in so many other ways. I might have been able yo understand Karen's feelings toward Wilson, but her feelings and actions toward Erica her own child was disgusting. Karen was a very unhappy person and wanted everyone around her to be unhappy as well. In the end the two couples that Karen tried to destroy both got their happily ever after . There was an unexpected third coiple ,I do not condone adultery by any means but I am low key happy for them as well. Totally LOVED this book Mrs. Jackson GOOD JOB

[Turtleberry Turtleberry · Rating 5 out of 5]

Erica and Brian were planning her wedding and her mother was doing her best to ruin it. Erica's mother wanted her to marry Griffin. Griffin wanted April. April is Erica's best friend.
This story was a web. The lies that Erica's mother told and the web she spun trying to get Erica and Griffin together were insane. I was on the edge of my seat just trying to figure out the why of it all.
This was by far one of the best books I have read. This is now my second favorite Brenda Jackson book. I was so glad that I read it.
Three love stories. Suspense laced in there. It was outstanding.

[Selina Durio · Rating 4 out of 5]

Page turner

When I started reading this book I was concerned that I might not finish it. The beginning chapters were difficult to get through. But midway through the book I was unable to put it down. The web of deceit and lies that are weaved, the manipulation of people and events , and the overall character development kept me riveted until the last word.

[Snow · Rating 3 out of 5]

It was difficult to get into the story. I trigged along until I got to about 50% of the book then my interest begin to pick up. There were several love stories in this book and each one had its own challenges. Some of the couples were believable but others were not. It wrapped up very nicely although you're left to your own in terms of how some characters came full circle

[Sada · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great

Always a pleasure to read one of Ms. Jackson's books. They always hold your interest. All the characters were interesting. Karen was such an evil person. Wilson took the right path. A must read.

[Arnissa · Rating 5 out of 5]

Whew!

This book should be a movie! This was too good to put down. Scandals, love, drama, and filled with passion on every page. I absolutely loved this story. Had !e guessing what other scandals were going to be revealed. LOVED IT!

[SHARON LIGON · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love this book it told the story of everybody's love story. I couldn't stop reading I had to finish. I stayed awake all night to finish. Love Love Love Mrs. Brenda Jackson she is my favorite author. I would love to attend her cruise.

[Rita Wallace · Rating 4 out of 5]

Karen Sanders has Alexa Carrington beat

4 stars because this story had love and passion and secrets and a manipulative woman who was working to get what she wanted. I LOVED the whole story. Worth the read

[Deborah C. Fidderman · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a great read.

I loved Brian and Erica's story. I loved the intriguing twists and turns but I especially loved the way the story ended. I recommend this book to everyone who loves romance novels.

[ethel j davis · Rating 5 out of 5]

Good story

Good read. Suspenseful. Good plot. Loved the characters and the storyline. Have been reading books by author for years. Don't like that you can only submit review if you write 20 words

[D'Andrea Virgil Dixon · Rating 5 out of 5]

Let love conquer all

Wow, this was truly an interesting story. It has all the elements of great story: legacy, secrets, lies, love, lust, betrayal, forgiveness and hope. Karen is proof that hurt people hurt people.