Review: When Morning Comes by Francis Ray
Published by Macmillan on June 5th 2012
Genres: African American, Contemporary, Contemporary Women, Fiction, Romance
Pages: 352
Format: Paperback
Goodreads
In her unforgettable new novel When Morning Comes, Francis Ray delivers an emotionally powerful tale about the families we build, the choices we make, and how we find love and family along the way. Dr. Cade Mathis learned early that he was not the son of the man who raised him. His adoptive father, a cruel, bitter man, had always been quick to tell him that he was a bastard and an embarrassment to the rich society family whose daughter got pregnant with him. So when Cade received a full scholarship to college, he was only too happy to leave the only home he had ever known behind and never looked back. Now a successful doctor and one of the best neurosurgeons in the state, the only thing he still wants are answers about where he came from. What he doesn't expect to find is Sabrina Thomas, the new patient advocate at his hospital, or how this woman will lead him to the family he has been searching for and a love he never expected to find.
While Francis Ray released When Morning Comes almost three years ago, I only read it about two weeks ago. I saw it pop up on my recommendations a few times on Amazon, partly because I have read some of her other books, but didn’t really pay it much mind.
it was a solid book but unfortunately not one I would read again or necessarily recommend. It had all the necessary components that fans of Francis Ray have come to love, however, I have conflicting thoughts on this book. Though Cade and Sabrina are mentioned in this description, this book actually has two separate stories. The other couple features Sabrina’s best friend, Kara.
I think my main issue was what I would call the unrealistic ending. Well, if I am being honest, I couldn’t suspend my disbelief anymore about halfway through the book. How Sabrina ends up leading Cade to his biological family is more than unrealistic and a bit creepy to be honest. Once the dominoes started to fall regarding that bit of truth, everything else happened so quickly which was a bit surprising considering the book’s initial slow pace. A part of me felt like the ending was a bit too neatly tied up. I was waiting for more side effects but it didn’t happen.
Honestly though, Sabrina and Kara’s stories could have been two separate books. I think I would have appreciated it a bit if it were that way. While I had problems with Cade and Sabrina, their story was definitely more enjoyable. The plot and subplot were interesting, even if I didn’t agree with it all. Kara’s story to me was not that good and I think it is because I didn’t like the female character here. Tristan, her suitor, was strong and supportive among other things while Kara gave me nothing to cheer for. I understand what the author was trying to do here but it fell short. Kara was just TOOOOOOOOOO damn naive and played the victim way too many times when she should have stood up for herself or at the very least acknowledge that she was worth more.
I found this book in the bargain section at Barnes & Noble for $4.98 so considering the price, I can’t complain much. Like I said before, it isn’t one that I would recommend off bat but long time fans of Francis Ray would probably love this and may have a different opinion about it then I did.
Have any of you read When Morning Comes? If so, let me know in the comments how you liked it!
Natalya is the author of All The Things I Never Said, a soul-stirring collection of short stories, prose and love letters for the soulful wanderers, the brokenhearted and the hopeless romantics.
You can follow her rantings and occasional sparks of brilliance on Twitter @NatalyaMuncuff.
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