Consequences

by Linda R. Herman

It all begins with the look; that initial contact when the eyes speak loud and clear as to what the body craves. Deep, wet, passionate kisses leading to mind blowing orgasms that leaves the body trembling much like a leaf on a tree on the windiest of days. Sex. It's meant to be a beautiful bond, a physically satisfying act between two people, but when not engaged in responsibly, sex can turn ugly, deadly even. Andre Peters, a man who has it all; the perfect wife and family, and the job of his dreams. From the outside looking in, one would have to ask, What more could he ask for? What he didn't ask for was his secret desires for the same sex; those desires that occasionally lead him astray from his marital vows. But Andre doesn't consider himself gay or bi. He still loves sex with his wife; it's just every now and again that he craves something different, pleasure he can only find in the arms of another man. His failure to be honest with his lovers of both genders; his failure to engage in safe sex; his denial of his sexual preference; and his desire to straddle the fence-sleeping with both women and men-leads to a domino effect, destroying lives one HIV infection after another. In Consequences, readers are taken on a journey into the lives of a down-low husband, his wife, his lovers, and a cast of others who are affected, whether directly or indirectly, by the HIV virus. The story is fiction but the reality of HIV is fact, and the reality is that each year there are thousands of new cases diagnosed-most of those new cases being women of color and minority. It has to end; and it has to end where it begins-with each one of us.

252 pages, Paperback

First published January 16, 2008

Reviews

[African Americans on the Move Book Club · Rating 5 out of 5]

Linda R. Herman undoubtedly created a life within Sade that all readers will come to love. When you think about men being on the down low the first thing that comes to mind is "so they are gay." But you don't automatically think of the death sentence that can come from sleeping with a man who has random sex with men. This story was so heart whelming, as I turned the pages reading Sade's story about how the only man she has ever slept with and love in her entire life, rewarded her with a death sentence, tears dropped from my eyes. I could feel the pain in each word. I could feel the pain within her heart. I could see has her life drifted away. I saw when her casket landed for her final resting place. I highly recommend Consequences when Love is blind for all readers. The life Linda told, the fact that she let us into her mind, was so rewarding and as I continued to read the very last pages, I thought what causes a woman to be blind. Why cant men be honest about their sexuality. With this story I hope you all will realize its not bad being gay. It's hurtful to be dishonest. At the end it's God who judges us, not man kind. This book marks a continuance to the awareness of drugs, down low men, and the epidemic that continues to kill our black race. FIVE STARS for Linda R Herman. A woman with a focus set on creating a more powerful movement.

Tamika Newhouse
AAMBC Book Reviews

[Dana · Rating 5 out of 5]

Sade Peters is living a seemingly perfect life. She has the luxury car, large house, two kids, loving family and a successful handsome husband. But everything changes after she decides to surprise her husband for their seventeenth wedding anniversary.

Linda Herman delivers a knockout in her debut novella "Consequences: When Love is Blind." Readers are quickly pulled into Sade's life as she learns a hard lesson about love and trust; and the consequences of when love is blind, even between a man and his loving wife.

[Shannon · Rating 4 out of 5]

wow this is a short book but it packed a powerful message and story. Ms.Herman got her point across no doubt about it. I loved this book it was so real.

[SassyMama · Rating 4 out of 5]

A Devastating Truth

“Consequences: When Love is Blind” will take you on an emotional roller coaster ride. Although we have been made more aware and are also more informed of these serious social issues, Mrs. Herman does a great job of enlightening us, AGAIN, while keeping us entertained. I was caught up in the drama from the first page. André Peters was a piece of work and had me shaking my head throughout as he foolishly kept denying his problems. And although I sympathized with Sade Peters, I was also frustrated with her for enabling André and allowing him to continue to live his lie and recklessly endanger other unsuspecting men/women. I wanted Sade to put him on BLAST the moment she discovered the truth. IMO, Sade let him off WAY too easy, she should have been a little more proactive with her anger from the moment she uncovered this ULTIMATE betrayal. I mean he basically showed NO respect for her life, and little to no remorse for his actions until the very end. The secondary cast of characters only aided in fueling your emotions as you read this “true-to-life” heartbreaking tale. This is a shockingly engaging read and I look forward to seeing what Mrs. Herman plans to share with us in her follow-up, “Consequences: The Life She Chose”.

[OOSA · Rating 5 out of 5]

A Woman Scorned

Andre and Sade Peters have been happily married for some time now with two beautiful children, Andre and Andrea. Andre was the perfect husband and father and had many good accomplishments in life that evidently were not enough for him. Sade loves Andre with all her heart. In fact, Andre was the one and only man she has been with. One dreadful evening changes Sade and Andre's life dramatically that leaves the reader stunned.

"Consequences" by Linda R. Herman is one of the most exciting and intriguing novels I've read this year. Linda keeps smacking the reader in the face with one incident after another, creating much suspense throughout the entire novel. Linda engrosses the reader into the world of HIV and AIDS and the severity of this disease among African Americans. I definitely recommend this book to all readers because it is definitely a must read novel!

I enjoyed every page in this novel and will continue to be a faithful reader to Linda R. Herman. Linda creates the most suspenseful and inspiring novels that always grasp my attention. Keep up the good work!

Reviewed by: Tekisha

[OOSA · Rating 5 out of 5]

Down Low Dirty Men

Consequences: When Love is Blind" by Linda R. Herman is the best fiction book I've read this year. I want to give the author a standing ovation because that was a great book!

Sade Peters is married to Andre with two beautiful twins, Andrea and AJ. She thought she had the perfect life and family, until her seventeen-year-anniversary. Sade discovered more about her husband's dirty laundry than anticipated. And what she discovered changed her life forever. Sade chose to live with this secret for a while until more drama began to arise. She thought she had taken more than enough, apparently not. Will Sade began to handle this drama, or will it be too late?

I love this book; it is now officially one of the best books I have read. I loved the way the author kept the details to a minimum and got straight to the point. This book should be recommended to all African American females as an "eye-opener." It should come as no surprise then the five star rating.

Reviewed by: Tekisha

[Claudia · Rating 3 out of 5]

Linda takes you into the marriage of Sade and Andrea. Sade is not the average kind of women that questions her man of his whereabouts. As long as he was coming home to her there wasn't no problem. It's the day of their anniversary when she gets a phone call "I have a client and the meeting will be running over. So we are going to have to cancel our anniversary." After the phone call she decides to go to his office as a surprise with only a coat on and heels. But the surprise was on her once she kicks the door open to find Andrea having sex with a young tender roni(man). After all of this they goes to the clinc to find out both has HIV.

Where do you draw the line in this situation when the person that you love so much is still in denial of his actions?

[Linda Wattley · Rating 5 out of 5]

I just finished reading this book. Linda Herman did an excellent job in revealing the seriousness of the secret lives of partners and their impact on innocent lives. I read the book in less than two days. Some profanity but still a very tasteful and much needed read. The main character's anger is well received as you follow her through hr journey.

[MavLit Publishing]

I think the storyline to Ms. Herman's book is both riveting and pertinent to the times. Irresponsible behavior has a devastating domino effect that can not only change lives, but ruin them. This book was both a combination of tragedy and triumph of souls.

[Allyson · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love this book! A learning tool as well as entertaining.

5 stars!

[Sharon · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wow, to read this book I can say but one thing everyone should read it.

[Angel Brown · Rating 5 out of 5]

Consequences by Author Linda Herman is a compelling book that provides a personal insight regarding the topic of HIV in the black community.