The First Sunday

A New Beginning & A New Life

Sunday Rose Series Book 1

R.J. Berry

Tate Publishing 2011

ISBN 9781613461280

   This story loosely chronicles the life of the author's grandmother, Sunday Rose Tyler. The story begins with her birth in a small community in Texas, called Kittman comprised of mostly African-Americans. Rose is an extremely strong-willed young woman who is determined to become a singer even though she has had no professional training. The only singing she has ever done was in her family church. At the age of seventeen, she leaves Kittman to go to Dallas convinced she will make it big. She is not quite prepared for her new life when she finds that life in the big city is not as accommodating for African-Americans as her town of Kittman was. She discovers what life in segregation and prejudice is like.

   Her life takes a decided turn when she meets Mama Mae who takes her into her home and finds her a job cleaning at her former employer's home. She meets JJ, falls in love and settles into married life with him. She finds herself pregnant with her first child and the first problems for her develop in her marriage.

   This is a wonderful story of faith and love of family and the Lord. It is the first book in the Sunday Rose Trilogy. This book is based on events of her grandmother's life but not necessarily the way they truly happened. Rose is an extremely strong willed young woman and very independent for the time of the 20's and 30's. She makes some brash decisions that cause some severe and detrimental consequences to her life and marriage. Some of this could be the result of her young age. Either way, the story ends in such a way that has you wanting more of the story. If you like a good Christian story that is full of family and good values, this is the book for you. If you just want a good story that is quite engaging, I can most definitely recommend this one. I for one will be looking forward to the second one in the series.

   I wish to thank the author for providing me with a lovely signed copy of her book. I was not required to write a positive review. I was not compensated except to receive the book for review.

I give this book 4.5 out of 5 stars