HERE IS WHAT BOOK REVIEWERS HAD TO SAY ABOUT
THE SPERLING CHRONICLES: SPLIT IMAGES
Title: The Sperling Chronicle: Split Images
Author: Dilsa Saunders Bailey
Rating: 5
Headline: What a Sequel!
In Dreams Thrown Away, Dilsa Saunders Bailey introduced us to Kali and the Sperling men, and this sequel starts us in an unexpected place. In the middle of Colorado, a man who is beaten within a few inches of his death is found and nursed back to health. This man does not remember his identity or anything else about his life before Colorado. After meeting a “random” man at a store and following his instinct, this mystery man finds his way to New York City.
Kali begins to see this strange, homeless looking man around her kids and justifiably she is terrified for their safety. Her brothers in law (the Sperling men) seem to not think that this man is not a threat and puts him on their payroll. Kali becomes suspicious why the men seem to be so comfortable around this stranger and the more and more she really looks at him she begins to wonder if he could be her presumed dead husband, Ashton.
Split Images is mainly about vengeance and revenge and it is a rather dark read and makes you wonder to what lengths you would go to get your family back. Despite, it primarily being a dark read as mentioned previously, overall, it is a love story. Once again, Dilsa Saunders Bailey knocks it out of the park!
THE ORIGINAL DREAMS THROWN AWAY
(Re-Released as The Sperling Chronicles: Dreams Thrown Away)
I was impressed with this book. The story is about a teenaged girl whose life is devastated by the murder -suicide of her parents by her father. Kalina is forced to grow up quickly after she leaves South Carolina to move to Philadelphia, PA. She has been sent to live with her Aunt Mazetta. Little did Kalina know that this would be the beginning of her being under the control of other people who don't always have her best interest at heart. After her aunts boyfriend tried to sexually assault her, Kalina got away and ran away and never looked back. Thus begins her life of pursuing her dreams which came with a steep price. Kalina's life is no longer her own and she seems to become complacent with this. That is until a life altering event forces her to choose between life and death. The reader will be caught up in Kalina's story til the end. There are some unexpected twists and turns but the storyline is never lost. I didn't want to put this book down once I started it. I believe strongly that anyone reading it will feel the same.
Zandra Barnes
AAMBC Reviewer
Kali Harris was transplanted from her comfortable upbringing after the death of her parents. She moves to Philadelphia to live with her mother's sister. When she realizes it is not a safe environment for her, she flees and meets a couple who is kind to her. They provide employment as a caretaker to the man's father, a much older, but seemingly able-bodied man. Kali and Jordan Sperling fall into a comfortable relationship. He is a former R&B singer who now has investments in everything from real estates, to clubs and prostitution. The original intent was to groom Kali to become one of the girls in his employ, but he is intrigued with her and wants her for himself.
Jordan's grandson, Ashton Sperling, is his favorite and he has the uncanny ability to know his grandfather's intentions before they are voiced. He asks Ashton for a favor that will impact Kali's life in a big way. Kali finds herself in an open love triangle between grandfather and grandson and the object of all of the Sperling men's desire. As she fights to remain faithful to both Jordan and Ashton, despite Ashton's high-profile marriage to a super model, she questions their love for her and becomes concerned about their true intentions.
DREAMS THROWN AWAY invoked me to hang on to the ride to the end; there was never a dull moment. The Sperling men had too much time and money at their disposal and Kali was just the entertainment they needed to be fulfilled. Although the ending brought closure to a few things, it felt rushed and I was still left with too many unanswered questions. Overall, I am glad I had the experience of reading this tale.
Reviewed by Paula Henderson
of the RAWSISTAZ(tm) Reviewers
DREAMS THROWN AWAY by Dilsa Saunders Bailey is a coming-of-age story. We are introduced to Kalina Denise Harris, a young woman who is about to head off to college. Living in a small town where practically everyone knows one another and having such doting, loving parents makes for a sheltered life. Unfortunately, tragedy strikes leaving Kalina homeless and left in another state to fend for herself. All her hopes and dreams are put on hold.
In the midst of it all, she meets a family of very wealthy and powerful men. 74 year-old Jordan Banks will take Kalina under his wing and refine this country bumpkin into a sophisticated young woman. He sends her to college to make sure she gets the education she so desires. Little does Kalina realize that Jordan is a very dominating man and he may expect more in return than Kalina realizes. When Kalina meets Ashton Sperling, the lawyer in the family, she is smitten with him. Although he is married, they begin a love affair unlike any other. There is an underlying darkness to the Sperling men that Kalina will eventually find out for herself. At some point, she will be in a struggle with her emotions to flee or to fight back.
DREAMS THROWN AWAY by Dilsa Saunders Bailey was a remarkable debut. I thoroughly enjoyed this book. The character development draws you easily to the characters. The story reads like a lifetime movie that you just hate to end. It is a story about heartache, pain, love, lust and manipulation. My only issue with this book is that the ending seemed too rushed; if it were not for that, this would have easily been a 5-star read. I highly recommend this book! I look forward to reading more by this author.
This book was provided courtesy of the author.
Reviewed by Leona
APOOO BookClub
