Take a photo of a barcode or cover
A review by alookinsideri
skeeter hawk by Saby Stone
4.0
Life is full of mysteries awaiting its big reveal; secrets nestled in times past, yet taunting curiosity's nose. Oft times, the hidden truths and unearthed or better yet, unasked questions never quite accompany the death to their graves but walk among the living - waiting to be summoned by a simple "why" or "what if". As lessons often attempt to teach us, mysteries and secrets can never meet their final resting place until circumstances are ordered into their perfect place, emotions resurfaced, old habits triggered, faith re-evaluated, missions accomplished.
The mysteries that come to the surface in this Saby Stone story lead Attorney Benjamin Brooks on a quest to find out who he really is and to retrace the roots he'd nearly succeeded in pushing to the farthest corner of his mind many years ago. Never intending to revisit his Gullah heritage, things are shaken up a bit in his life, forcing Benjamin to return to Magnolia to face the hidden truths even if it meant swallowing the dreaded hard pill. As an officer of the court, Benjamin was used to being in control and having front and center stage when arguing his way to a successful court victory. But at the end of the day when he'd retire to his posh home, he was forced to face the man in the mirror and realize just how much control he lacked in his personal life. Initially in denial, he gradually comes to grips with the fact that his own identity seemed to have taken the back seat, overshadowed by his mesmerizing fiance Sheila. It is not until he returns to his true roots for answers, that he learns how to take the lead again, with a little sensual and tender nudging from his childhood friend, Faytima.
I was utterly surprised at how fast this novel took off within its first 20 pages which actually does it some justice without prematurely exposing the book's secrets. The author's creative use of symbolism within a fictional platform, sets the perfect stage to reel the reader in to all of the characters but more so to Benjamin. Symbolically, he wears the dragonfly tattoo as a badge of honor and pride. As the story unfolds, we learn of how the usage of the dragonfly is deeply connected to Benjamin and his heritage. I'm not sure if the author's intentions were to make the reader feel as if they were accompanying Benjamin on his journey of self-discovery, but he pulls it off with great success. Every angle of the story is vividly colored in detail; Take a look at Benjamin's emotional and mental state when he abandoned his 50th birthday party and retreated to his office for instance. The author was uninhibited in showing Benjamin's sensitive and emotionally fragile side. Another instance in which the author took care in painting great detail,was the traumatic experience Benjamin recounts to his friend Roosevelt when he was young and stumbled upon a Klan rally. This book isn't just about Benjamin reconnecting with his roots and finding himself, but it also does a thorough job of connecting historical facts to a fictitious setting. The spiritual undertone of the book is also brought to light as Benjamin is dealt one bad batch of cards after another, leading him through a rebirth, renewal and resurrection of his faith and relationship with God. As secret after secret unfolds the age old truths, another truth unravels between Benjamin and Faytima, unlocking a magical door filled with ecstasy and sensuality and soon he will be faced with yet another difficult decision.
This is a quick and easy read. The only instance in which I felt detached was with Sheila after breaking her promise to Benjamin. I would love to have seen her role brought out a little more, especially in the latter half of the book. Her character made a quiet exodus at a moment in the book when emotions were heightened and Benjamin finally settled into his own emotional awareness; this leaves the reader slightly curious. However, I was immediately drawn into Benjamin and appreciated the author's ability to keep the readers' focus on him and still successfully give life to the other characters. The fact that the snippets of history lessons did not overpower the story's premise can also be appreciated. I would definitely recommend this book and give it 4 stars.
The mysteries that come to the surface in this Saby Stone story lead Attorney Benjamin Brooks on a quest to find out who he really is and to retrace the roots he'd nearly succeeded in pushing to the farthest corner of his mind many years ago. Never intending to revisit his Gullah heritage, things are shaken up a bit in his life, forcing Benjamin to return to Magnolia to face the hidden truths even if it meant swallowing the dreaded hard pill. As an officer of the court, Benjamin was used to being in control and having front and center stage when arguing his way to a successful court victory. But at the end of the day when he'd retire to his posh home, he was forced to face the man in the mirror and realize just how much control he lacked in his personal life. Initially in denial, he gradually comes to grips with the fact that his own identity seemed to have taken the back seat, overshadowed by his mesmerizing fiance Sheila. It is not until he returns to his true roots for answers, that he learns how to take the lead again, with a little sensual and tender nudging from his childhood friend, Faytima.
I was utterly surprised at how fast this novel took off within its first 20 pages which actually does it some justice without prematurely exposing the book's secrets. The author's creative use of symbolism within a fictional platform, sets the perfect stage to reel the reader in to all of the characters but more so to Benjamin. Symbolically, he wears the dragonfly tattoo as a badge of honor and pride. As the story unfolds, we learn of how the usage of the dragonfly is deeply connected to Benjamin and his heritage. I'm not sure if the author's intentions were to make the reader feel as if they were accompanying Benjamin on his journey of self-discovery, but he pulls it off with great success. Every angle of the story is vividly colored in detail; Take a look at Benjamin's emotional and mental state when he abandoned his 50th birthday party and retreated to his office for instance. The author was uninhibited in showing Benjamin's sensitive and emotionally fragile side. Another instance in which the author took care in painting great detail,was the traumatic experience Benjamin recounts to his friend Roosevelt when he was young and stumbled upon a Klan rally. This book isn't just about Benjamin reconnecting with his roots and finding himself, but it also does a thorough job of connecting historical facts to a fictitious setting. The spiritual undertone of the book is also brought to light as Benjamin is dealt one bad batch of cards after another, leading him through a rebirth, renewal and resurrection of his faith and relationship with God. As secret after secret unfolds the age old truths, another truth unravels between Benjamin and Faytima, unlocking a magical door filled with ecstasy and sensuality and soon he will be faced with yet another difficult decision.
This is a quick and easy read. The only instance in which I felt detached was with Sheila after breaking her promise to Benjamin. I would love to have seen her role brought out a little more, especially in the latter half of the book. Her character made a quiet exodus at a moment in the book when emotions were heightened and Benjamin finally settled into his own emotional awareness; this leaves the reader slightly curious. However, I was immediately drawn into Benjamin and appreciated the author's ability to keep the readers' focus on him and still successfully give life to the other characters. The fact that the snippets of history lessons did not overpower the story's premise can also be appreciated. I would definitely recommend this book and give it 4 stars.