February - April 2005
 Speak To My Heart
by Stacy Hawkins Adams
Life is not so perfect when angst is allowed to show its ugly head. More often than not one’s spirituality will force you to come to a greater understanding of how important it is to make the right decisions. First time author Stacy Hawkins Adams speaks to the hearts of those that can identify with the main character in her novel. Serena Jasper deals with circumstance when things do go wrong. Speak To My Heart is a somewhat vanilla tale with a tremendous upside that’s easy to digest and with enough taste to render devoid, all of the ‘in your face’ drama that depict a lot of the inspirational-themed books of late. The setting surrounds the fragile façade of living life under the guise of splendor where faith and family is not compromised. What happens then, when a wrench is thrown into the fray causing that which you’ve always thought as security to become a liability? Or, when worse, if everything you’ve ever believed in was found out to be lies…. what recourse do you have then? Answering these questions are not easy for Serena, nor where they for me as I followed the action waiting to see how things would manifest itself without predictability playing a major role in drawing conclusions.
The book starts out rather slow building to a crescendo when it’s obvious that a turn in the action is needed to guard against boredom. The gist of the story tells of Serena’s plight dealing with important information that wasn’t disclosed about her mother, causing a self-imposed rift. She questioned why her mother would lie about matters so close to the both of them. As a result of the issue of integrity being a focal point in her rationality, Serena distances herself from family, faith and commitment trying to find answers. Without the foundation of what has sustained her throughout her life she wavers dangerously on the edge, taking beatings psychologically where second-guessing is more than reality but a product of the times. In between time, she tries to aid a friend trying to come to grips with an abusive boyfriend amidst the trials and tribulations of her career. The story takes a different turn as she finally, if not reluctantly confides in her boyfriend about what’s happening in her life. The lessons here that the author so skillfully exposes are the importance of always listening to that ‘still small voice’ that is ever so present – The One that speaks to the heart, and being in position to accept what it means to be connected to a higher power that orders every guiding step.
This book will appeal to quite a few people who may identify with needing a wakeup call in addressing spirituality. Surely they will also be able to align themselves with the author’s penchant for illustrating points without resorting to any ungodly acts of dramatic emphasis. Moreover, the fact that the characters are believable and easy to digest attributes itself to real-life situations that many can identify with. How we challenge and channel our faith toward making wrong right, and dealing with adversity through blessed assurances will always be the measuring stick for the heart to be spoken to. Here’s hoping that too much is not made of the author quoting bible verse lest they lose the flavor added to give it a nice taste. I would have liked for more drama and demonstrative mannerisms from the characters, but this, nor the aforementioned statement diminish from the author’s point of view in crafting this story for wider acceptance. I rate it 3 1/2 stars out of 5. I’m hoping to hear more from this talented writer.
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