THE PRAIRIES BOOK REVIEW

An unassuming, intriguing read…

After a bad marriage and a disappointing dating experience, the unnamed protagonist of Kellam’s novel, a single mother, tries a new dating site and finds her Mr. Right. The things look promising, but the years go by without any concrete progress in their relationship. Ignoring the warning signals throughout the relationship was not the only mistake the protagonist made: she settled for less when she knew she deserved to be treated better. Will she learn to value her self-worth before it gets too late? Written in the first-person narrative, Kellam beautifully conveys her protagonist’s harrowing emotional journey: too nice to take a stand for herself, she immediately becomes the target of her lover’s altering mood swings and petty insults. In an unpretentious tone, Kellam shows what the main protagonist, who tells the story in her voice, likes and admires about the new man in her life. The slow, tantalizing shift in their relationship, as she comes to recognize the significance of her lover’s occasional tempers is both believable and convincing. The book’s theme is fascinating, and the way Kellam executes the plot (the story told in the protagonist’ voice, making it ridiculously simple), makes the reader turn pages fast. While Kellam’s unassuming prose slips occasionally into commonplace and somewhat dull observations, the storyline stays intriguing enough to keep the reader invested. This engrossing book makes for an illuminating, intimate look at the relationship struggles a woman faces in an emotionally abusive relationship. Lovers of women’s fiction will be rewarded.

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The Match Disaster is more or less like a memoir written in story form—albeit a very emotional one. It captured the realities of modern day dating and how challenging it could be trying to find true love and happiness in a partner.

Still smartening from her broken marriage, Lacey couldn’t believe her luck when she eventually came across a handsome guy she met on a dating site. Just like Lacey, he too was a divorcee with children.

Lacey was deeply religious and believed so much in her faith, but she couldn’t help falling in love with him despite a voice that kept warning her to take things easy as well as several red flags along the way. Not to be deterred, Lacey threw everything into the ring, in an effort to make the relationship work.

The book is relatively small but is embedded with lots of life’s lessons on where to draw the curtain as well as things that should or should not be tolerated in a partner, especially when we desire to live with our dignity unscathed.

What Lacey passed through is easily relatable by many women out there who have been handed the short end of the stick. However, they too can find the courage to stand for themselves just like Lacey!

The Match Disaster, is a good book to read. The book is well written and definitely a page turner. I had so many mixed emotions as I read the book. A book about a woman that had experienced a bad relationship with her ex-husband and she was afraid to open up her heart again. However, she decided to give love another try. She thought she had found that special man until he began to display similar behaviors as her ex-husband did. For years she tried to make the relationship work while enduring mental and verbal abuse. It seemed that although this man treated her badly in the relationship. She was blinded because to her it was still better than the way she had been treated by her ex-husband. This book is definitely for any woman that is in a relationship and is just settling for less. The book clearly reminds women they deserve the best. –Sherita Simmons

I really enjoyed this book. It was an easy read and I could not put it down. I have my own rating system for every book I read and I rated this book as high as I would have rated a distinguished author. The author is a great writer and I look forward to more books from her. –R. Slacum

The Match Disaster was a great book to read. It was very enlightening. It showed ladies that they should not let any man or anyone belittle them and put them down. A person that makes you lose confidence in yourself is not a good match for you. The man that the young woman was dating had a anger problem that was beyond anyone’s control. The young lady really endured a lot of verbal abuse from the man. However, she was able to finally walk away from the unhealthily relationship. She should be very proud of all of her accomplishments, she is a good role model for her children and will be a great wife. This book encourages women who are in a bad relationship, that they can walk away because they deserve better!! –Beverly Owens

Great Read! Can’t wait for the next book by this author. –T. Hunter