Three-Fifty-Seven A.M.

Have you ever been sitting in church listening to the sermon and get this warm sensation in your chest that travels to the pit of your stomach? That’s when you know the preacher is saying something that you know is right, that you’ve experienced yourself or vicariously through a family member or friend. That’s exactly what I felt when I hit page 127!

A gorgeous cover instinctively sparks your curiosity even before the story is started. Essie Mae Richardson is much more than just a resident of Braxton Park, she’s God’s vessel and as such sees all and knows all watching from her front porch as three households are threatened by distrust, lack of communication and lack of faith. Elaine and Mason Demps’ marriage has hit a rocky patch; Jennifer Mays is at her wits end with her teenage son, Jerrod; and Colin and Angel Stephens are facing a tremendous loss. But Ms. Essie has the remedy for them all.

A poignant story captured realistically and delivered with the ease of a good storyteller, or in this case storytellers. I wasn’t immediately engrossed in this book but like a bolt of lightening, which is usually the feeling you get when you’ve discovered something good, it hit me and I finished within the hour. This was my first time reading either author and I commend them both on a spiritually moving and engaging story. So many times we make the mistake of acting when His answer was for us to wait—and the resulting mess is almost too much to bear. A good read, but more importantly, a meaningful lesson. Because these scenarios were so honestly written the message was painfully clear—in His time.

Reviewed By: AC Arthur
Black Butterfly Review