Aspiring dancer Jadyn Collins has a poor history with men
from the father who leaves her as a child to the stepfather
who abuses her and on to current boyfriend, Taji, who
doesn't seem to respect her or her dreams. When Taji learns
that Jadyn's career might actually take off, in direct
conflict with his desire for her to become a traditional
housewife, he sabotages her opportunity. Jadyn leaves him
and her Ohio roots in a quest to find the one man whose
departure she least understands, her biological father.
NOT QUITE WHAT IT SEEMS is not quite what I expected. The
first half of the story explains Jadyn's dysfunctional life
and sets up her quest to find her father. Once Jadyn hits
Florida, however, her burning quest fades into the
background with only enough mention to assure readers the
author hasn't completely forgotten about this storyline.
Rather, the second half of the novel focuses on Jadyn's
involvement with her cousin and his thug associates, a plot
turn that comes across as slightly gratuitous and largely
disappointing. There's enough action to satisfy many
readers but those looking to travel Jadyn's journey to
understanding and redemption through her familial search
will be left wanting, her eventual reunion with her father a
mere afterthought.
Mari Walker writes with her usual mix of urban sensibility
and literary flair. Again she interjects an element of
faith in a way not often seen in contemporary urban novels.
I wanted to love this book as much as I loved prior titles
from Ms. Walker, but NOT QUITE WHAT IT SEEMS felt as though
the story went on a tangent and never got back on track.
Jadyn has made a life for herself with her boyfriend, Taji,
and has a promising career as a dancer...just as soon as she
nails her next audition. However, she has never fully
recovered from the emotional and physical pain she suffered
at the hands of her mother and stepfather as a young girl.
After finding out that Taji, the supposed love of her life,
has been lying to his family about her, and may have even
ruined her chances at getting a lead role in STOMP, Jadyn
decides to make a drastic change in her life. She attempts
to locate her biological father, whom she has never had a
real relationship with. Her search takes her to Florida
where she stays with her great-uncle and cousin. While
following up on seemingly dead ends in her search for her
father, Jadyn discovers that sometimes things are not quite
what they seem when she becomes involved in a heated love
affair with a man named Julian, who may just be the death of
her.
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