Nappily Ever After.

Napilly Ever After by Trisha R. Thomas Crown Publishers, December 2000, $22.00, ISBN 0-609-60583-6

Venus Johnson's cry for freedom echoes throughout this gripping page-turner as a series of self-revealing choices. Defying the pleas of her perm-toting hairdresser, Venus shaves off her long hair after years of chemical straightening. Her shockingly sparse Afro screams, "affirm me as I am--a beautiful sistah inside and out."

But this is Venus' trap. She seeks external validation and harbors secret insecurities that are easily fed by the reactions of those around her. She leaves the salon confidently sporting her new "do," but is instantly deflated when she walks unnoticed past a group of young men. Arriving home, Venus dumps her handsome, adoring, live-in boyfriend for his refusal to propose marriage.

In the wake of these two bold choices, our protagonist embarks on a passage of self-discovery. The reader gets to travel with Venus, and those whose lives intersect with hers, as Thomas skillfully weaves a tale of black women and men searching for validation, affirmation and connection.

Who among us has not wrestled with mating games in which issues of the ego collide with those of the heart? As Venus exorcises the demons of her love, work and family lives, the readers come to know her--and perhaps themselves--in a new light.

Thomas delivers up a powerful, funny and sensitive coming-of-age novel. She is, without doubt, a talented newcomer to the fiction scene. In spite of the occasional cliches, this novel will make a good read for book clubs and adult readers of all ages.

Delorese Ambrose, Ed.D., an award-winning motivational speaker and executive coach, has authored two books: Leadership: The Journey Inward and Healing The Downsized Organization. She resides in Atlanta where she is working on her first novel.