If everything was perfect, you would never learn and you would never grow (Beyoncé Knowles, 2014). Victoria Christopher Murray’s Truth Be Told opened my eyes to the world of greed, intrusiveness, and carelessness I will be forced to enter once I am of age to be on my own. This Christian-Fiction novel truly spoke to me because I was able to feel the same way the main character felt as a result of her diction, dialogue, etc. I loved this book because it is almost as if it was non-fiction.Through the eyes of a vacillated woman, life could not be anymore arduous.In this expeditious book, the author is trying to make me see two things: That no one is perfect, and that things are not always as they seem. Newly elected on a Christian platform, councilwoman Grace Monroe faces many different obstacles that manage to escalate into more difficult hindrances. These disincentives include the haunting of past dalliances, a burning rivalry with her sister, raising both naive and rebellious daughters, and a secret of her husband’s antiquity.After reading this book, I’m still thinking about the absence of care and respect people have for one another. A golden line from this book for me is “...do you believe it would be right for you to maintain your position, especially as a Christian, when it is obvious there is a lack of morals in your home?...And is it true that you’ve had a number of extramarital affairs yet you ran under a Christian platform?” (361). It stuck out the most because I was appalled at how personal and insensitive the person’s comment was. They clearly did not care about the Monroe’s feelings when they spoke on the subject. In today’s world, it seems as if everyone has a dearth of deference.To conclude, Truth Be Told definitely earns 5 stars from me, because it is pretty hard to keep someone like me entertained. I’m the type of person that likes crime and thriller genres, so I was quite surprised I took interest in a book such as this one; especially because I am still young, a sophomore in high school. Victoria Christopher Murray has truly won me over with this book because I was able to really get into the book. I got lost in every page, interested in how each character felt, why they acted the way they did, and what the outcome could be. I am excited to read more of her work….she may end up being my favorite author!
The power of forgivenessHere we meet The Monroe's from Los Angeles, Grace and Conner. Grace is a newly elected councilwoman who's carefully being watched due to the fact that she's a Christian and used it as her platform. Grace has a number of ideas, one being returning prayer back inside public schools. Connor, who's a fraternal twin, has a successful law practice with his twin brother. The loving power-couple have two daughters Jayde, and Amber. As Grace starts to work on implementing her education programs, it appears that the past is rearing its ugly head. Before Grace found out what it was to be one of "God's Children", she'd been involved in and on and off extra marital affair with her first love. Through time, love, and God, Connor and Grace were able to reroute their bumpy road and "dance through their storms!" BUT as the clouds slowly clear another storm lies in wait.... People of faith face real problems! Connor's former assistant Pilar, who just one day disappeared, is back! As she reveals her reason for leaving, Connor has to face the fact that he's hidden his "OWN" demons from his marriage, and now it's time to reveal that secret, and deal with the consequences. As he searches for the words that might possibly destroy his family, Pilar constantly reminds him that there simply isn't enough time for him to adjust. As Grace tries dealing with her husband's news, she's saddled with her adversary Sara who's just searching for anything to show the constituents that she wasn't right for the job. Mabel; Grace's older and VERY competitive sister. She's a motivational speaker who has assumed the name Starlight. It appears that Starlight believes in the power of money, instead of the power of God. And then there is Jayde, their 15-year-old-teenager. Her attitude and behavior have Grace contemplating child abuse. Grace is slowly sinking in a never-ending bottom as she struggles with her faith as she's being tested in every way. Will the Monroe's survive and thrive these latest challenges? This is my first read by Victoria Christopher-Murray. My mother, and my "BESTESTEST" Lisa, are both fans and have read all of her previous work and the two of them consistently talked about how engaging this book was. How personal that it became. It's a very emotional read that truly electrifies you. This book is AWESOME! Keep God in the lead of your life!
What do You think about Truth Be Told (2004)?
"Truth Be Told" by Victoria Christopher Murray is the perfect example of a person being made to sleep in the bed that they have made. Grace Monroe, the main character, has a picture-perfect life - a great family, a promising career and no visible problems - right off. She really has no complaints, but, when she finds out her husband has a child from another woman, she's force to deal with some issues she's kept in the past for way too long.I mean...her husband forgiven her right...so, why is it so hard to forgive him? And, to top it all off, she's dealing with a self-proclaimed spiritual nut as a sister?If you love reading about "real-life" issues, and having their issues solved in a practical way, you'll love this book. You'll be reading trying to hurry up and get to last word on the page so so you can turn it and read some mo'...This book kept me interested the whole way through, and its main issue is one that we all seem to face sooner or later.I give it 5 stars.
—Pamela
People talk about forgetting the past, moving on—Letting-It-Go. But what if the past won’t let you go? What do you do? For Grace Monroe, heroin of Victoria Christopher Murray’s Truth Be Told, the past is a nasty stain she can’t wipe away no matter what she does professionally, no matter her political strides. The past comes calling and she has no choice but to face it or be destroyed.Grace seems to be the perfect wife. But as we delve into the novel, we see that she has made a pivotal mistake. She tries to move on but the error rears its head when a woman from her husband’s past returns with a package that won’t allow his history with her to be forgotten. How will Grace handle it?The novel gives you many real life issues. Grace not only has to deal with the strain of her husband’s past. She also has to deal with her rocky relationship with her sister, Mabel. There’s a little bit of resentment there. Mabel—who has done things quite differently than Grace—seems to be more successful on the surface. The tension causes them to be short with each other. Cold. Distant. Almost condescending. Another past Grace can’t get away from.As I read the novel, this theme of a nagging past kept appearing. Perhaps the past wouldn’t let go until Grace learned a lesson from it. Like ghosts that can’t rest until they deliver some message. Truth be told, the past, while sometimes painful, is a great educator, a professor providing nuggets for growth. Experience helps you either excel in an area or avoid making mistakes.I enjoyed Murray’s treatment of the story, her voice and the way she captured real life.
—James Fant
Truth Be Told is not your ordinary Christian Fiction novel. Far from preachy, Victoria Christopher Murray has crafted a page turner that takes you on a spiritual journey into the lives of Grace and Conner, a well-to-do African American couple who seem to have everything perfect, until a secret surfaces and threatens to shatter their marriage and test their faith. Although the plot is a staple in many books, Murray adds a fresh twist of faith that will keep the attention of her readers. Mrs. Christoper Murray has indeed mastered the art of contemporary ministering through story-telling.
—The Urban Book Source
