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The Sweethearts of Soul
The author of the critically acclaimed novel The Justus Girls spins a lively, outrageous tale about a girl singing group that hits the heights in the heyday of rock and roll, and then comes shockingly down to earth. Ladies and Gentlemen, presenting the legendary Sweethearts of Soul ... At long last, the Rock and Soul Foundation is honoring Ruth Thomas, Adeline Lights, Venus Jones, and Brenda Wade with the Pioneer Award and a place in its hall of fame. When music reporter Legs Diamond gets the assignment to do an in-depth story on the women, what a tale she hears, from their start singing gospel to their fame and fortune in the 1960s. When the glory days ended, the lives of these close-knit women went in very different directions. Searching for the past, Legs discovers a revealing Venus is a single mom struggling to run her own business and to raise a pregnant teenager. Ruthie tends bar when she's not playing gigs or keeping tabs on her free-spirited daughter. Addie is a real estate queen and stays busy watching her son deal with the success of being a rising rap star. And Brenda, aka Birdie, well, she has become something of a mystery and the most difficult for Legs to reach. With a little help from Legs, and a trip down memory lane that unveils dark secrets and fallen friendships, the women soon discover that they need one another now just as much as when they were young stars on the rise. The Sweethearts of Soul is a sassy, big-hearted, and irresistible story that will make you laugh and cry, and, most of all, love every one of these unforgettable women.
- GenresFiction
272 pages, Hardcover
First published December 1, 2004
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Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews
June 8, 2026
I randomly picked this book up from my local library, and I’m really glad that I did!
This book tells the story of a singing group from the 1960’s. The Sisters of Soul started as five sisters, Ruthie, Addie, Venus, Birdie, and Fluffy, who started out singing in the church, and moved on to R&B and Rock n Roll when they got older. The story is narrated by Legs Diamond, a female music magazine journalist, who was hired to interview each member of the group in anticipation of their receiving an award from the Rock and Soul foundation.
When Legs meets the Sisters of Soul, the women are estranged for reasons unknown. There are plenty of secrets and resentments between the sisters. However, it is clear that the sisters really do love and care for one another, especially their baby sister Birdie, who's having a hard time after the recent loss of her spouse.
I enjoyed reading about how the sisters began their singing career, how they got signed to their first record deal, and what it was like for black female performers at that time. The sisters were hilarious, and each one has lived a complicated life. I laughed and cried while reading this one. It was a beautiful story of sisterhood, friendship, and grief. I definitely recommend it!
This book tells the story of a singing group from the 1960’s. The Sisters of Soul started as five sisters, Ruthie, Addie, Venus, Birdie, and Fluffy, who started out singing in the church, and moved on to R&B and Rock n Roll when they got older. The story is narrated by Legs Diamond, a female music magazine journalist, who was hired to interview each member of the group in anticipation of their receiving an award from the Rock and Soul foundation.
When Legs meets the Sisters of Soul, the women are estranged for reasons unknown. There are plenty of secrets and resentments between the sisters. However, it is clear that the sisters really do love and care for one another, especially their baby sister Birdie, who's having a hard time after the recent loss of her spouse.
I enjoyed reading about how the sisters began their singing career, how they got signed to their first record deal, and what it was like for black female performers at that time. The sisters were hilarious, and each one has lived a complicated life. I laughed and cried while reading this one. It was a beautiful story of sisterhood, friendship, and grief. I definitely recommend it!
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October 14, 2009Author Evelyn "Slim" Lambright's latest release, "The Sweethearts of Soul," returns to Philadelphia and chronicles the trials and tribulations of five sisters who compose the fictionalized 1960's singing group by the same name. Legs Diamond, a reporter for Black Music Magazine, has been tasked to write a feature article on the all girl group in honor of their receiving the Rock and Soul Foundation's Pioneer Award that will be presented to them in a few months. Legs soon discovers that the group has fallen apart and the sisters are estranged from Fanya, the oldest sister, and haven't spoken to her in over 30 years.
Legs, guided by reporter instincts, suspects there is more beneath the surface and digs for the hidden story. In a series of one-on-one interviews which evoke a series of flashbacks, she learns of each woman's humble beginnings, hopes, lost loves, joys and disappointments. The main characters are colorful and vibrant - each has a distinct voice, personality and clear-cut role to play in the novel. For example, Fanya, the original front woman for the group, was the most driven and determined to make it to the top regardless of who got in the way, or what it took. As a result, she's a modern day superstar and drama queen. Ruth, a fighter, still dreams of making a comeback, performing whenever and wherever she can - even in local bowling alleys. Adeline (Addie), a glamour girl who wears fur coats in the summertime, is a successful realtor and realist. Venus, plumpish and practical, now a successful seamstress and business owner, is the most level headed of the group and serves as the peacemaker of the family. Brenda (Birdie) is the baby of the family who harbors a tormenting secret that drives her to a point of desperation and madness.
Though entirely fictional, Lambright blends in actual 1950's and 1960's musical hits, Philadelphia dance hall locations, and celebrities of the day to give the novel validity. The Sweethearts of Soul could be any girl group of the 1960's - however, one famous group instantly comes to mind. In a scene eerily reminiscent of a certain real life group, Fanya, the lead singer, breaks away from the group, dates the manager, goes solo, and hits the big time with mega hits, recording contracts and movie deals. The remaining members recruit their baby sister, Birdie, to take her place. The group enjoys moderate success until the Disco Era emerges and pushes them off the charts onto the history pages. The demise of the group leads to anger and bitterness that stews among the sisters for years. As they age, the Sweethearts deal with forbidden love affairs, mismanaged money, unpaid royalties, issues with their children, drug use, and heated sibling rivalry. A subplot involving their children and Legs's childhood friend, Roe, heightens the intensity of the story - however, the central theme to the book is the inescapable bond of sisterhood, as evidenced in their united efforts to help a sister in crisis and push pettiness aside to allow their family wounds to heal, just as they had done throughout their childhood.
This is a witty, reflective, nostalgic novel that transports the reader back to the glory days of the Motown Era, complete with warm doses of sisterly love and girl group internal squabbles. Unfortunately, The Sweethearts of Soul does not reclaim the glory and wonder of Lambright's debut novel, The Justus Girls, but it has enough clever dialogue and suspense surrounding the buried secrets of the group, as well as the modern day secrets concerning their children and Birdie to keep the reader interested until the end.
Legs, guided by reporter instincts, suspects there is more beneath the surface and digs for the hidden story. In a series of one-on-one interviews which evoke a series of flashbacks, she learns of each woman's humble beginnings, hopes, lost loves, joys and disappointments. The main characters are colorful and vibrant - each has a distinct voice, personality and clear-cut role to play in the novel. For example, Fanya, the original front woman for the group, was the most driven and determined to make it to the top regardless of who got in the way, or what it took. As a result, she's a modern day superstar and drama queen. Ruth, a fighter, still dreams of making a comeback, performing whenever and wherever she can - even in local bowling alleys. Adeline (Addie), a glamour girl who wears fur coats in the summertime, is a successful realtor and realist. Venus, plumpish and practical, now a successful seamstress and business owner, is the most level headed of the group and serves as the peacemaker of the family. Brenda (Birdie) is the baby of the family who harbors a tormenting secret that drives her to a point of desperation and madness.
Though entirely fictional, Lambright blends in actual 1950's and 1960's musical hits, Philadelphia dance hall locations, and celebrities of the day to give the novel validity. The Sweethearts of Soul could be any girl group of the 1960's - however, one famous group instantly comes to mind. In a scene eerily reminiscent of a certain real life group, Fanya, the lead singer, breaks away from the group, dates the manager, goes solo, and hits the big time with mega hits, recording contracts and movie deals. The remaining members recruit their baby sister, Birdie, to take her place. The group enjoys moderate success until the Disco Era emerges and pushes them off the charts onto the history pages. The demise of the group leads to anger and bitterness that stews among the sisters for years. As they age, the Sweethearts deal with forbidden love affairs, mismanaged money, unpaid royalties, issues with their children, drug use, and heated sibling rivalry. A subplot involving their children and Legs's childhood friend, Roe, heightens the intensity of the story - however, the central theme to the book is the inescapable bond of sisterhood, as evidenced in their united efforts to help a sister in crisis and push pettiness aside to allow their family wounds to heal, just as they had done throughout their childhood.
This is a witty, reflective, nostalgic novel that transports the reader back to the glory days of the Motown Era, complete with warm doses of sisterly love and girl group internal squabbles. Unfortunately, The Sweethearts of Soul does not reclaim the glory and wonder of Lambright's debut novel, The Justus Girls, but it has enough clever dialogue and suspense surrounding the buried secrets of the group, as well as the modern day secrets concerning their children and Birdie to keep the reader interested until the end.
May 30, 2011
My first book by this author, and I totally enjoyed it. 5 girls were adopted by MuDear & Paw Paw. They discovered they could sing, they sung on church and later formed a group called The Sweethearts Of Soul, this book is about their goodtimes and their badtimes. And how the love of these women are brought together. Very good book, and I give it 4 stars!
November 24, 2008
Showcases true sisterhood at it's best. You will fall in love with these ladies and find yourself interested in every little detail in each of their lives. This is truly one of those books that will make you think, laugh, and cry all before you turn that last page.
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October 4, 2008very good book. But when the baby girl died i almost broke down in tears. it was like why lord why!
Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews