Speak to My Heart by Stacy Hawkins Adams

By Robin Caldwell

Speak to My Heart (Revell) ushers in a new era of Christian fiction for an African American audience. Stacy Hawkins Adams has penned a sophisticated, intelligent, and extremely well-written book that probes deeper than much of what is currently available in the genre.

Adams moves beyond a formulaic approach to storytelling and offers a narrative rich in texture and layers—a sensory experience—relevant to contemporary Christianity. Speak to My Heart speaks directly to the hearts of faith seekers, the jaded saint and even to the most devout. It is not all things to all people - but comes pretty darn close.

Serena Jasper , the protagonist, epitomizes the committed Christian with a bright future in the horizon. The exposure of one secret changes everything and causes Serena to question her existence and her God. She thinks, “If serving him all these years has led me to this, what's the point? Why bother?” And, she decides to take a sabbatical from God, church and her past even if there are consequences.

Serena is a wonderful character who thinks critically about her life and faith issues. She is not content to skim the surface or accept the status quo. Moreover, Serena is portrayed as an accountable Christian though during her sabbatical she has every reason to do otherwise.

Speak to My Heart is not a romance novel, thank God. It doesn't even tow the line between the secular and the sacred with compromising or suggestive language and themes. There's a purity present that makes it an excellent read for teens and young adults.

Adams' prose is skilled. She is a writer's writer who takes calculated risks with words and dialogue. And, she is obviously an observant writer who hasn't wasted one ounce of all she's heard and seen in her years as a journalist.

The quality of Speak to My Heart is impeccable and signifies a long career for Stacy Hawkins Adams as a novelist. Her gift has indeed made room for her in this day of publish-for-dollars. She is a standout who joins the ranks of a Sharon Ewell Foster, Angela Benson, and Jamellah Ellis —authors who create timeless works loaded with spiritual integrity and craftsmanship.

Visit www.stacyhawkinsadams.com for more details on the author, the book, and to read an excerpt.