Just Between Us
Just Between Us is the debut effort of new novelist Wyndy J. Adkins. It follows the story
of three women who each experience different parts of the companionship continuum. Ebony, married, is a flight attendant, who feels unappreciated at home. On a night out, she meets a man named Jackson, but chooses to cautiously approach love with a hesitance born of previous experience. Her timidity almost costs her the one man who can salve her wounded spirit.
Mona is the co-owner of a successful car dealership, struggling with a perfect life marred by the absence of much longed for children.
ShaLisa is the “wild child” who has decided that looking for “Mr. Right” is a process that requires a fair sampling of “Mr. Right Nows”. Mr. Right, when he does appear, turns out to be “Mr. Right Here”.
As a debut novel, I enjoyed the stories the author wove together. I found the imbalance of the characters a little distracting at first, which in turn affected the flow. After more reading, however, it dawned on me that the character development mirrored the characters. Ebony’s story was the first and most developed, suggesting that Ebony, was the anchor of the group. Mona’s story was light and breezier, suggesting a life “almost perfect”. ShaLisa, whose sarcasm is a cover for a lonely heart, suggested the isolation she felt doomed to, only to risk it all, including her friendship. As a story mechanism, I really enjoyed this technique because it added a dimension to the story that was perhaps unavailable through straight narration.
It was a pleasure to meet Ebony, Mona and ShaLisa, I found them particularly engaging, as they seemed to pop right off of the page. This book, like any good read, was comfortable, connected, and left me with a warm feeling that I had met three women I would be proud to introduce to anyone. My compliments, Ms. Adkins.
Just Between Us
Wyndy Adkins
Publisher: Writers & Poets.Com, May, 2005
ISBN: 0970380399
Reviewed By: Angela Hailey, Black Butterfly Review