Long Time Coming by Vanessa Miller

Faithful Christian Deidre Clark-Morris is a professional career-minded woman with a loving husband and beautiful home, but no children. Kenisha Smalls has lived in poverty her entire life and has three children by three different men. After learning that Kenisha has inoperable cervical cancer, the relationship between these two women becomes a catalyst of hope, leading them both to a place of redemption and healing.

Paperback: 352 pages
Publisher: Abingdon Press (November 1, 2010)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 1426707681
ISBN-13: 978-1426707681

Kenisha struggles to raise her three children alone, with little/no help from her children’s fathers or her biological family. She is sick of doing everything alone and is stunned when a friendship blossoms with a woman named Deidre, the principal at her son, Jamal’s, school.

Kenisha needs help even more now since she’s been diagnosed with inoperable cancer. She’s dying and before she passes away from this God-given earth, she must find suitable parents for her kids.

Kenisha goes through a lot of drama and turmoil as she goes through the process of having the deadbeat/incarcerated fathers of her children to sign away their parental rights, giving her the freedom to assign adoptive parents to her offspring.

This story also shows how Kenisha struggles to come to terms with her illness as she questions God and salvation. Does heaven really exist, or is it some fantastical place that people liken to fairy tale stories?

Deidre is also struggling with her own problems. Amidst her new friendship with Kenisha, she’s still holding on to the guilt of keeping a deep, dark secret from her husband. If he discovers why she hasn’t been able to conceive, then her marriage may be over. Deidre and her husband are Christians and they call upon the Lord to help them with their childless plight. Would adoption be the answer that they’re seeking?

This book was a really sad tearjerker. I do think the story is powerful and the message is extremely deep! However, if you should decide to read Vanessa’s book, be sure to have a box of tissues beside you…you’re going to need them.

I’d like to top off this blog post by stating that in spite of the sadness in the story, the ending is bittersweet and will make you smile!

I’d like to thank Abingdon Press for providing the review copy to me. This book will be released November first.

~Cecelia Dowdy~