The Flowers of May, Legacy: Book Two

by S. Campbell Williams

William Baker was always accustomed to getting whatever he wanted. By force if not by free will. Though he struggles with understanding human connection; his childhood, colored, companion, May, is his only valued associate. Even when it appears that she has betrayed him, he is unable to distance himself from her for too long. As conflicts build for William, May is the only one he can turn to. He slowly starts to realize that she is his match, not only in the bed, but in life. When things ultimately go wrong, they finally uncover what they mean to one another. And May becomes aware that she, a backwoods colored girl, had always been the magic in his life.

Genres: Historical Fiction, Romance

179 pages, Paperback

First published February 1, 2015

About the author

My name is Summer-Sage and I live in Old Lyme, CT with my husband and two children. I have earned a Master's Degree in Health & Healing but have always found my voice in my written word. I have developed & written curriculums for multiple youth programs, ranging from snapping turtle research with National Geographic to building wooden boats and drums with inner city children. In addition to the above, I am a thespian, a dancer, a singer, a craftswoman an artist and above all else, a storyteller.

I started writing poetry and songs at thirteen, and by sixteen, the idea for The Summer of Tsunami came to me. My children and I are the products or many generations of interracial coupling, as I too have married outside of my race. This story came to me, when I experienced firsthand how difficult being a part of an interracial relationship could be. Upon deeper consideration, I found myself wondering how even more difficult it must have been for my parents and grandparents for that matter. As I explored these thoughts and feelings, "The Summer of Tsunami" was born and after almost two decades of thinking about the story, I finally sat down and wrote it. Upon completion of this story, the ideas for several others relating to it, began unraveling in my mind. Creating my Legacy series.

Reviews

[Genelle · Rating 5 out of 5]

She did it! Ms. Campbell Williams has done what VERY few authors have had the ability to do for me. She has made me take another look at a character that I felt was a villain and actually have compassionate feelings toward them. Even though she drug me kicking and screaming here from Book 1 in order to do it! LOL I may not have fallen in love with William in this book but I did change my feelings for and towards him. Given the fact that Ms. Campbell Williams did such a wonderful job in making me hate him in book 1 my ability to feel anything towards him let alone feel pity and sorrow means that she is a magician.

This book is part of a 4 book series and is actually a continuation from book 1. I say continuation but really what the book does is give a different look/view of the events in book 1 from another viewpoint. Can you read this as a stand alone? Yes, but to really understand what is happening and appreciate the plot you need to start at the beginning and read book 1 first.

William Baker Jr is the privileged, Adonis looking son of the owner of the general store. Willy is pampered, wealthy, beautiful, vain and most importantly used to having things his own way. He has an entitlement attitude that when paired with his sadistic streak pushes him to remove anything and/or anyone that prevents him from getting what it is or WHO it is that he wants.

May is a colored girl facing her own demons. Abandoned by her family and later shunned from the other colored people in the community as an adult she has a masochistic personality that looks at the angel looking/demon acting Willy and finds what is at first a kindred spirit and later develops into what she recognizes as her soul mate. May looks at Willy and is the only person who not only truly sees him but accepts him for who he really is even when at times he questions that himself.

These two meet as children and the story follows through what develops into a life long relationship filled with exhilarating highs and stomach clenching lows. During this whirlwind of a ride we are able to see the events that eventually occurred in book 1 of this series through the eyes of these characters. We get more information and insight as to what happened and why.

This entire series is a completed jigsaw puzzle and each book within the series is an intricate puzzle piece that helps to fit the story together. With this book we are able to get a clearer piece of the first puzzle piece that we put together - book 1. That focus also helps us to understand that there are definitely pieces missing. It leaves us with an understanding that the stories of all of these characters have been and will be interconnected in some way and that, through their children, this story is not over. Now the question just remains how will it continue and what will happen as it does.

The writing? Superb. Just like book 1 the writing was so vivid that I felt that I had on 3D glasses loaded up with the High Def as I munched on popcorn and watched a movie in the movie theater. (Minus the sticky floors. LOL) Characters. Love 'em or hate 'em the fact was that I was so involved with them that I actually DID care one way or another. So what was missing? For me the only thing that I was missing was that the next book in the series isn't out and ready for me to get.

So how the heck did this book make a 5 star rating from me when I am KNOWN for being stingy with my stars? Easy. The book lured me in with the fluid and descriptive writing, entrapped and engaged me with the characters and the plot and left me walking away not only wanting more but thinking over what happened and why. It made me look at someone that I easily LOATHED in book 1 and had me wondering what if. I walked in with the feeling that the book was going to be "How to Create a Serial Killer/Psychopath" and walked out asking a lot of questions. What ifs in regards to him and Whys relating to May were just some of the things I pondered.

If the book can make me look around and question things, remind me of things that I shouldn't have forgotten, change my way of thinking and/or appreciate things. If the book makes me read the last page and walk away changed or changing the way that I behave or feel. If it does this with characters I connect to and a plot that grabs me. If it has all of those things then yeah... I'm going to give it all of the stars that I can.

EXCELLENT job Ms. Campbell Williams. Now PLEASE get to writing and releasing that next book!

Recommend? How many times can I say ABSOLUTELY?

[Dawn · Rating 5 out of 5]

I finished both of these books within a day of each other. They need to be longer lol Book 2 is the perspective of William and May of the events that happened in book 1. Let me just say, I wasn't prepared mentally for what I read in book 2, at all lol. William knew from an early age that something might be wrong with him. Why would he believe that? Well, his mother lost her mind. This leads William down a very destructive path. In the path he meets May. A young black girl, who makes him look at her differently. Together they do destructive things but some how form a bond no one was able to break. William was a complete sadistic spoiled ass in the first book. I read another review, where a reader felt sorry for William in this book. Unfortunately, I didn't feel the same way. When William finally comes to the realization that he was actually in Love with May, this idiot was still being a selfish prick lol Jacob was the only person I truly felt sorry for and May came in 2nd. May poured everything she had into William but he was so spoiled, it was ridiculous. Even May said dude had superiority complex lol After confessing his feelings to May, it made no sense to me as to Why William would go after Paul!!!! I guess that was his mental illness, Lack of common sense. Let me squeeze in the BDSM that happened in this book!! Yes! I wrote BDSM lol because of the historical and sensitive nature of this book, when it comes to racism and the treatment of black woman, I really haven't found myself against or for it. Maybe I would have found myself ok, if William didn't do egregious things to other black women, even after May satisfied his appetite. This book for me was like reading a the Tale of Bonnie and Clyde, mainly because they are the villains in the series but you get a story from their point of view and sort of want to root for them. While this book will lead to a book 3. I still like the book overall. I just didn't feel sorry for William at all.

[Michelle · Rating 4 out of 5]

Just when you thought it was over....

Is that karma or what? Hopefully the newest generation will be able to move forward and get past a long ago revenge plot gone wrong, but did it? We all knew for 2 books now how dangerous Willy J was. On to book three. I'm now extremely excited to see how book 3 will play out.

[CJLuvsBooks! · Rating 4 out of 5]

I REALLY liked this book. In fact I liked “The Flowers of May” more than its predecessor “Summer of Tsunami”.

I had already thought William was an intriguing character in book 1, and he got even more interesting and complex in book 2. Although he was reprehensible, I still felt some compassion for him when he was brought down by his own actions. May was masochistic and an enabler, but at the same time she was very strong willed and could challenge William in a way that no one else could. William and May’s relationship fascinated me but disturbed me as well. As dark and twisted as they were, I felt that their love and connection was real. True soul mates.

I wasn’t crazy about the ending for “Summer of Tsunami” but I feel completely different about this one. I loved it! I am really intrigued with the direction the next book will take in the series.

I would happily recommend this book and the series. S. Campbell Williams is a talented writer and storyteller. :)

[Gina]

Kudos again

I can only say this book is a book to remember good job S Campbell Williams I will look for more from you.

[Regina Eberhardt · Rating 4 out of 5]

Omg

Ok this gives the other side of the twisted soul in book one. While it doesn't excuse what he did you get to understand his mental illness left untreated. But the end omg. I am one to book three