A Family Affair

By ReShonda Tate Billingsley

Book Overview

From the national Essence bestselling author comes an engaging tale about a family secret that sends one young woman scrambling to uncover the truth about her past. Award-winning author ReShonda Tate Billingsley, whose bestselling fiction "tackles some of life's toughest situations" ( The Florida Times-Union ), unravels the secrets in a mother's past that turn her daughter's life upside down--by revealing the family she never knew existed. Her dream of studying dance at Juilliard is within reach, but Olivia Dawson turns down the opportunity, choosing instead to stay with her ailing mother in the Houston projects where they barely make ends meet. Lorraine Dawson is Olivia's whole world, and now Olivia insists on being there for her. But when Lorraine learns Olivia is sacrificing college for her sake, her heartache triggers a series of shattering events that results in Olivia discovering her father, a man she was told had died years ago. But he is alive and well--and he's the powerful CEO of one of the country's richest corporations. With her best friend urging her to claim a much-deserved chunk of Bernard Wells's fortune, Olivia seeks out his Los Angeles mansion. But it's not money she wants--it's answers: Why did he abandon Lorraine when Olivia was three years old? Why did they suffer in poverty while he gave his "real" wife and son a life of luxury? Opening up the past, however, is more complicated than Olivia--or Bernard--expected, and the pain of yesterday's sins must be confronted before true healing and a bright tomorrow can begin.

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 1451639694
• ISBN13: 9781451639698
• Release Date: July 2013
• Publisher: Gallery Books
• Length: 336 Pages
• Weight: 0.68 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.9" x 5.3" x 8.2"

Customer Reviews

Another Home Run!!!!!

This is my 8th book read by this author. She never disappoints. I like her story telling because she tells stories from the lives of everyday people who are not spoiled by material things but the kind that would live next door. The story is sad a lot at times. Olivia who has been dealt a hard blow when her mother spills shocking news before her death, now Olivia must accept and deal with the trauma afterwards. Now, as she travels down the road to get the truth, she must meet her family and all of the other folks who she must deal with as the drama unfolds. Her dad, Bernard has sowed his oats and did a lot of things he regrets but must deal with when Olivia arrives. He is a bit shallow but underneath the tough interior he really wants to do the right thing but is haunted by the decisions he made. Adele, (Bernard wife) is a spoiled b---- who thinks money will buy anything and she finds out later that her money cannot buy love as she is forced to face reality. Kendall (Olivia's brother) is the spoiled brother who is out of control but must face some shocking truth which will turn him around and make him learn to accept those who has protected him and gave him love. Olivia handles the truth very well until it gets to the breaking point of no return but in the end, she is overjoyed by the way the saga unfolds. I appreciate the smooth sailing of this story and some twist and turns that the author shows at the end. You got my support and blessings. Keep the stories coming. It is a joy to enjoy a great storyteller who allows us to see everyday folks trying to work it out.

A Winner!

Might be slight triggering* What a ride! I don't know how I missed this book years ago. I am going to have to go back and reread her books. I read most prior to my goodreads or review platform days. Didn't know anything about writing a review back then. I listened and read along. Let's get to the good stuff. This book will be with me for a long time. It started out with me screaming before we even get to chapter one. Lorraine and Bernard created a whole situation. I hated Adele. I didn't think about why she was such a witch, didn't care to know. She was just putrid in her personality. Olivia's journey was heart-wrenching to watch. There were parts of her story that worked my nerves though. I felt that she was incredibly naive in a sense, especially after her mother died. Lorraine was the sad part of the story for me. Mona was the gift. Every woman needs a friend like Mona. She was loud, out of pocket most times but the greatest advocate for Olivia. She told the truth, straight with no chasers. She believed in Olivia and she was a rider until the end. How Olivia unraveled her life was the journey. The truths she uncovered almost took me to Jesus! I mean, it was one blow after another. It's a wonder my make-believe pearls didn't break as I was clutching them so much! I knew Olivia was going to get her dream by the end but that didn't take away from the story for me. I still didn't like Adele in the end but understood her better and might have even had a twinge of emotion for her but I'd never own it, lol! This is how a story should grab you, by the neck. I shut down everything to get to the end. Now that's a book. I fell away from the table like I had just finished a good meal. And let me just add in my closing, narration is everything. Myra Lucretia Taylor read her hind parts off! You hear me? I know it was Olivia story but I sure couldn't wait to hear Mona's thoughts. Okay, back to my regularly scheduled reading.