Secrets of a Kept Woman: Book Review

      Many people especially Blacks often wonder why most Black women don't get along with one another? It could be anything from jealousy to gossip. Some Black women don't have a lot of female friends. They feel as though, they always keep quarrel going on. From award winning, self-published author, Shani Greene-Dowdell's second novel and best-seller, Secrets of a Kept Woman, it dignifies friendship between three females who grew up in the setting of Opelika, Alabama and how it all can come crashing down because of various lifestyles they live.

       One of the main and leading characters, Shayla Wilson, a fine young woman has it all of one of luxurious homes, the South can offer as well as her big balling husband, Titus Wilson. After Shayla helps him build an empire that stretches across the country during the beginning of their marriage, she has found herself on numerous occasions homesick from isolation of love by Titus. Shayla becomes a mentally and emotionally scarred wife. Today, a lot of Black women are bitter towards Black men because they feel as though, once they've had a hand in getting men to the top in life, the men trash them. So, Shayla turns to her best home girls and characters, Rhonda Jackson and Gladys LaQuinn for comfort. Rhonda and Shayla seem to be the closest out of the three ladies as they all call themselves sisters from another mother. But because of Rhonda's neglectful childhood, she's in the midst of stealing one of her friend's most prized possession, their man and will not stop at anything until she succeeds in her scheme. Gladys has enough of her own problems as she's torn between a current lover and an old college sweetheart.

      Greatly, Shani Greene-Dowdell wove through pages of chapters in third to second person. She even gives Shayla, Titus, Rhonda and Gladys their own voices. The plot thickens of good nonstop drama as each individual tell their side of different situations. Betrayal, infidelity, domestic violence and murder plays a pivotal role in their lives. Its actually for better or worse.

      Towards the end, relationships drastically change between Shayla, Titus, Rhonda and Gladys. New bonds form and even chances of new life being brought into the world, which probably wouldn't exist when all the turmoil was happening. Some of them are able to pursue dreams, they had put on hold since, after high school. Still, it will never be the same. Its like, each person for self.

      Whether you're a feminist or strong believer in the unity and support of females, Secrets of a Kept Woman is a must read. This novel is a superb addition to African-American Fiction. Real friendship is hard to come by and what is done to KEEP it. Shani Greene-Dowdell stays true to that aspect of life as the characters never die as they become more and more meaningful. When reading Secrets of a Kept Woman, the majority will have to ask themselves, are they their sister's keeper...?

©2011, Alphonso Taylor. All rights reserved. No republication of this material in any form or medium is permitted without expressed permission of the author.