Not Quite What It Seems: A Novel

by Mari Walker

Jadyn has made a life for herself with her boyfriend, Taji, and has a promising career as a dancer...just as soon as she nails her next audition. However, she has never fully recovered from the emotional and physical pain she suffered at the hands of her mother and stepfather as a young girl. After finding out that Taji, the supposed love of her life, has been lying to his family about her, and may have even ruined her chances at getting a lead role in STOMP, Jadyn decides to make a drastic change in her life. She attempts to locate her biological father, whom she has never had a real relationship with. Her search takes her to Florida where she stays with her great-uncle and cousin. While following up on seemingly dead ends in her search for her father, Jadyn discovers that sometimes things are not quite what they seem when she becomes involved in a heated love affair with a man named Julian, who may just be the death of her.

384 pages, Paperback

First published April 13, 2010

About the author

Mari Walker is the author of two novels, NEVER AS GOOD AS THE FIRST TIME and NOT QUITE WHAT IT SEEMS. Mari is passionate about helping disadvantaged and at risk young people discover the hidden talents and gifts locked inside of them, and to channel their energies toward a more positive outcome in thier lives through creative writing. She is currently working on a new novel for teens titled Just Take Me As I Am and a new adult series, beginning withTired of Being Nice, both to be released late 2011. Mari is also a freelance writer for a national newspaper.

Reviews

[OOSA]

Dream Deferred

Jadyn Collins hadn’t grown up in the best of situations. Her nightmares continued to haunt her, though she sought counseling to help. While she and her favorite cousin, Nite, shared many things, this secret was too big to share and often times made it hard for Jadyn to maintain. Luckily, dancing had been her outlet. She’d dreamed of dancing for a major dance troop and was auditioning and waiting for the right opportunity to present itself.

What Jadyn hadn’t considered was her live-in boyfriend Taji Hietkikko. Taji had been loving, caring and the right person for her, but he was so wrapped up in his own goals that she often felt like he never listened. Once Taji starts to listen, Jadyn loves how he responds; unfortunately, they may be headed for ruin instead of ecstasy.

Betrayed, devastated and in desperate need of change, Jadyn decides a little distance between her and Ohio may be for the best. Unknowingly, Florida may not be as sunny as she‘d thought. Jadyn is able to find her long lost father, but she also finds herself in a very gnawing position.

NOT QUITE WHAT IT SEEMS by Mari Walker is just that, NOT QUITE WHAT IT SEEMS. Initially I liked how the story began. You get a feel for the character and the pain she has suffered. What I don’t like is how she immediately begins to contradict herself the minute she lands in Florida. The drama that tries to build into a mystery simmers into a heaping mess. Nothing is really settled and instead of feeling like you’ve read an entire book, you feel as though someone somewhere took a wrong turn and ultimately rushed to draw the story to a close. If that isn’t disturbing enough, the editing when it comes to Li’l Bri, a character, is beyond confusing. When you first meet the character, it’s a woman, though you know she’s a lesbian; soon after Li’l Bri is referred to as a man. WHAT?

Reviewed by: Crystal
3.5

[Megan Dew]

This book was a good quick entertaining read! I didnt realize I already read this book until it got to the climax at the last 4th of the book! I rate this book 3 stars because although I enjoyed the book there was no real moment where I couldnt put it down but that is typical of a book this genre! I like these books for pure entertainment and thats exactly what it was. Defintely nothing to write home about but wasnt terrible either!

[Joey Pinkney]

Not Quite What It Seems, by Essence Best Selling Author Mari Walker, is a knotted tale of the life of Jadyn Collins that slowly unravels one chapter at a time. Jadyn Collins' world pulls her in many directions. She struggles to resolve the emotional scars caused by childhood experiences. She is relentless in her pursuit to become a professional dancer. She has found love, yet her life goals do neatly align with her boyfriend's future plans for both him and Jadyn. On top of all of that, she yearns to find and reunite with her biological father separated from her and her two younger brothers by her mother when she was in her early teens.

Jadyn is the daughter of Samai Collins, the main character of Mari Walker's debut novel Never As Good As The First Time. A little older and on her own, Jadyn's character is strong enough to be the center of attention. She is driven by an inner-strength, full of sassiness and smart enough to navigate the varied situations she comes into contact with. Hence, Not Quite What It Seems is by no means a sequel to Never As Good As The First Time, and it's not really a continuation of Walker's first book. Just like the relationship between Samai and Jadyn, these two books are definitely related with the first being the foundation of the second. But Not Quite What It Seems has its own identity and can be read by itself.

Because of the ending, Not Quite What It Seems came off feeling more like two books jammed together as one. As a reader, I enjoyed the unfolding mystery of the connection between Julian, the man that she met on the flight into Florida, Jadyn's cousin Flash and Steele Money - a seemingly nobody, club promoter in the middle of nowhere. Julian slowly becomes a love interest, Flash becomes overly protective and Steele Money by no means hides his anamosity for Jadyn's presence in Palm City. By the time the dust settles in Florida, Jadyn's time there was a trip but not to Disney World...

Overall, I have mixed feelings about Not Quite What It Seems. I enjoyed what I considered the tale of two novels in, just not within the confines of the same book cover.

[Paula Allen]

NOT QUITE WHAT IT SEEMS is a plot-driven novel that kept me invested in the story. It is the sequel to Never As Good As The First Time, but it can stand alone because this book deals with Jadyn’s situation and there is very little interaction with the main character from the previous book and Walker provided substantial information on Jadyn’s background. While I became acquainted with Jadyn’s character, there was very little character development around the supporting cast. Walker took the story in a surprising turn midway into the novel, which made me feel as though I picked up a different book. That plot had the flavor of street fiction, which was totally different than the book began. In addition, the rushed ending left me with several questions.

[Daphne']

This book was definitely not what it seems. I enjoyed the book but the ended was abrupt. You never really knew what to expect and it kept my interest.

[Kiesha]

It's a good story. Its slow . It didn't really grab my attention until the 50+ something chapter. The chapters are short though. Its a good read.

[Lynne]

What a total waste of time. I only finished the book because I was hoping the writing would get better. Sadly, it did not.