Keep Your Enemies Closer

by Sharon Oliver

Book Overview

Divorcee Charlotte Morley is on Turtle Island visiting her grandparents. Also visiting are her conniving twin cousins, who disappear shortly after their arrival. In between refereeing feuds and... This description may be from another edition of this product.

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 1601629656
• ISBN13: 9781601629654
• Release Date: July 2008
• Publisher: Urban Books
• Length: 309 Pages
• Weight: 0.65 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.8" x 5.5" x 8.3"

Customer Reviews

"A must read"

"keeping your Enemies closer" drew you into its characters one by one. you actually became part of the story. As a woman of faith,I could identify with Charlotte's character all so well.This novel was an easy read for me. Sharon's fictional characters reminds us that we all have drama in our lives at some point in time;through it all, without faith, love, and surrendering it all to God,you will have no peace. I loved the way she eloquently orchestrated each character to tell the story of how even in the midst of lies, deceit, disruption, and pain, a strong root of family that serves God, can keep it together. When I began reading,I was so intrigue by the suspense of what each chapter would take me next to the point of wanting to not stop until I read it completely. Of course I cannot wait until the sequel comes out. I applaud Ms.Oliver for her talent which God has anointed her with to share with others...

Sooooo Anxious!!!!!!

Wow!!! This debut novel by Sharon Oliver is as mouth-watering as the tasty dishes whipped up by character "grandma" Mattie Mae. There were several things that I really appreciated about the book. For one thing, as a Christian, I can't remember the last time I had such a guilt-free pleasurable read. Ms. Oliver is so talented that she conveys the gamut of emotions from anger, despair, joy, and longing, without resorting to the use of profanity. The author explores every emotion of her characters. They are Christians, being perfected, but not perfect. Ms. Oliver presents them as they are, as we all are really, an incredible mixture of faults and faith. Another aspect of this novel that really resonated with me was the fact that it's so easy to care about the characters and what will become of them because we all "know" them. Ms. Oliver's characters are immediately recognizable as people we have met, will meet, or will become ourselves. You can easily imagine sitting around the table talking with them over a cup of coffee, feeling comfortable and welcome. Ms. Oliver is also gifted in the areas of scene and details. Her description of Turtle Bay Island is so vivid that you can see it as you're reading. So much so, that I was shocked to learn that it is not a real town. As for that "chutch" (as the older southern characters call it), Ms. Oliver does a wonderful job of showing it's not just a building in which to take a quick nap on Sundays, but how members reaching out to and embracing the community is what really draws people to God's love. Now to the "dirt" (just kidding). Without so much as a smidgen of x-rated naughtiness, Ms. Oliver has created a stunning leading man. Jeff....Lives in a mansion, drives a hummer for which he can well afford the gasoline, is CEO of a real estate development company, a true gentleman, loves his family, generous and wait....the best part....is a praying man and Ordained Minister to boot!!!! Hold on to your choir robes girls, talk about an answer to a single woman's prayers..(smile) Best friends Charlotte and Timmi are the kinds of friends you want in your corner. And twins Terry and Tina, along with Rev. Holiday, are definitely the type of enemies you'd better keep closer till you can discern what's really going on. In Sista, Ms. Oliver has created a loveable "mouth of the south" character who loves you enough to tell you like it is. There is a crazy cast of characters from Mattie who missed and left a dirty dishrag in her greens to chicken-stealing Otis Moss. The snappy dialogue will have you laughing out loud. But it's not just the laughs that make this book so engaging. There are some head-scratching plot twists that will leave you shocked and amazed. All in all, Ms. Oliver has produced a wonderful novel that is just the beginning. Most time you finish a book, it was good and you move on. But like author E. Lynn Harris, Ms. Oliver has a written a book that so involves you with the characters that you can't

Review by The Light of the Lowcountry Magazine

Book Review by "The Light of the Lowcountry Magazine,", Bamberg, SC Sharon Oliver's book "Keep Your Enemies Closer" , although labeled as Christian Fiction, is wonderfully believable as it weaves you into the story of "Charlotte," a Christian woman visiting her grandmother "down south". With Sharon's Oliver's brilliant writing style, you will find yourself easily captivated by the endearing characters lives, with all of their colorful and complicated "quirks." Ms. Oliver weaves a storyline so suspenseful that you will actually catch yourself holding your breath, waiting for the turning of the next page. You will also find yourself laughing out loud at the delightful character of "Ms. Sista!" The main character, "Charlotte" gives us all a shining example of faith in action. Charlotte handles each complication that comes her way, by seeking God first, and so her own faith shines as a beacon to her friends, as well as family. "The Light of the Lowcountry Magazine" has picked Sharon Oliver's book, "Keep Your Enemies Closer" as No. 1 on our list of Recommended Christian Books. We encourage each of our readers to order this wonderful book. You will be very blessed by doing so. Marty Clayton Banfield Publisher "The Light of the Lowcountry Magazine" Bamberg, SC [...] email: [....]