Something Old, SOMETHING NEW by BEVERLY JENKINS

In Henry Adams, Kansas, there is drama after drama taking place. The scoop of all the dramas is Lily and Trent's wedding. Their romance is so wonderful. I especially loved Trent's playing the flute for ten nights. This happened every night until the night before the wedding. Along with the planning of this wedding between two people who love one another deeply, I met the rest of the town. There are many children and young people in the novel. Lily's boy is named Devon. Trent's boy is named Amari. These two boys aren't the biological children of the couple. No matter, they are exciting characters. Whether you're a biological child or not is one of the great points in the novel. This is explained by Beverly Jenkins at the end of the novel. She has a very deep interest in Foster children. She tells her personal experience at the end of the book. People always say truth is stranger than fiction.

Thinking of the youth in the novel, I fell completely in love with Zoey because her story is so moving. Zoey hasn't talked in two years. When Bernadine, the woman who owns Henry Adams and everything in it, goes to Miami she meets Reverend Paula. The Episcopalian minister knows everything there is to know about Zoey. Rev. Paula remembers Zoey's mother playing the organ in church. Zoey's mother lived an unhappy life. Addicted to crack led to a short life and not a happy life for little Zoey. Seeing Zoey transform is one of the many miracles in the novel.

I didn't especially care for little Devon. Who can love a nine year old preacher? Devon also likes to quote scripture.He tends to think every person is out of step except himself. He wears a clip on tie and a suit. He doesn't like to get dirty. Soon he wears on every person's last nerve. When Lily and Trent took him back to Ibo, Mississippi, I learned about his grandma and her best friend. I discover his roots. I will never forget Rosalie. I can still see her. This part of the novel is  filled with pain, trauma and  almost every emotion in the book. I would love to meet Devon in another book to see how he adjusts to these heavy truths in his adult life. Maybe Devon will remember Ms. Myrtle's wise words in his later years.

"Sometimes God gives you things not because you like them, but because you need them."

All of these blended families have their crosses to bear. Still, the book is fun. I especially loved Rev. Paula's boots. Yes, Rev. Paula is a female Episcopalian priest who loves bright colored boots. Even when she prayed, I wonder which boots she was wearing at the time.

"When their turn came, Lily made the introductions. The lady priest shook Amari's hand, who promptly said, "Your red boots are off the chain."


I also enjoyed the mix of cultures in the novel. There are the Lakotas and the Seminoles. When you have these many cultures getting together and extended families too, there has to be a pile of happiness and wild abandon taking place. It thrilled me. After I finished SOMETHING OLD, SOMETHING NEW, I felt a bit like Lily.

"...Lily wiped at her eyes and said, "If I do any more crying, my eyeballs are going to turn into raisins."

Looking forward to going back to Henry Adams in the first two books: bring on the blessings and A Second Helping.

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