Grab your tamborine, put on your shouting shoes and get ready to be revived by Evangelist Myrtle Black. Majestic as an African Queen, eloquent in her sermons and fiercely proud, our good sister is the high priestess of the Spirit as well as an "in the closet" lesbian. Enraged over the shooting of two young prostitutes in Nashville, our minister embarks on a quest to form a coalition of all women to fight the sexist and racist atmosphere of the city's fathers (and some mothers). While doing this a soul stirring singer, whose self-esteem is at rock bottom meets this woman of the cloth. The relationship that develops between them will never be the same.

There you have it, all the elements of a good story. Issues of Black men's sexism, white women's racism, Black females reluctance to join a "women's movement" and the crass homophobia of the Black church are just waiting to be explored. Yet none of these issues come together in a story which has so much potential but is technically flawed. How is this?

1. Shockley gives a detailed explanation of the issues as if the reader doesn't or can't understand what is going on.

2. All of the characters are overly stereotyped to the point of being unbelievable.

3. She has very poor transitions. A character could be a gay hater in one paragraph and on the next page a converted person with no explanation of why.

4. Shockley deals with so many issues that the main plot gets lost and the story ends abruptly.

Shockley could have done much better. This story deserves a much better telling. I truly wanted to give this story at least a 4 star but after reading it I couldn't justify giving it those stars. As a collectors item of Black lesbian fiction this book will be an asset in your library but nothing more.

Miss Shockley does a marvelous job. This unique story of a sometimes horny lesbian Reverend and the woman that she falls in love with. It is extremely difficult to find stories in which we as black lesbians are depicted with grace, honesty, and dignity so gems like this book are all the more valueable. It can get very, i mean, very steamy at times so be prepared for the heat.

Enter into a world where women are men's objects for sexual desire and exploitation. Renay, a gifted and artistic woman decides to leave this world of abuse. Leaving with her young daughter she goes into the sanctuary of her lover for safety and wholeness.

The trials and tribulations that she endures is the essence of this novel coupled with her own unique background. For you see, Renay is Black and a lesbian. Her lover, Terry is white. Two lesbians of different backgrounds and races defy the sexual and racial mores of their time. What a wonderful tale full of possibilities.

Those possibilities never blossom. All of the characters are predictable in their dialogue and come across as one dimensional. Renay's spurned husband is the stereotypical misoganist with a deep hatred for lesbians. Renay come across as a passive woman needing to find salvation in her white lover's sanctum. Even Terry's love making with Renay comes across as a mechanical exercise in exploring new sexual techniques.

This novel had the seeds within it to explore the relationships of interracial lesbian couples. Instead, it comes across as a boring tome guarenteed to put anyone to sleep. It is a failed classic that could have offered so much more.

The discomfort of this book has nothing to do with black and white. Rather it is the homophobia that reigns throughout...at least, all that I read. There is never any let up in stories of a homophobic society and the internalized homophobia it yeilds.