Review by Jachike Samuelson -- One Way or Another

[Nonso Samuelson]

[Following is a volunteer review of "One Way or Another" by Mary J. Williams.]

---

4 out of 4 stars

---

Share This Review

---

How powerful is love really? People believe that as long as they've got the support of people who love them, they can conquer any situation. This book paints an interesting picture of this perspective.

One Way Or Another by Mary J. Williams is the first book in the Sister's Quartet series. The book tells the story of four sisters who couldn't have been born under more abnormal circumstances. Andi, Calder, Bryce, and Destry, the four Benedict sisters, are powerful and self-made women, even though they are heiresses to a massive Benedict family fortune that doesn't become theirs until they clock thirty or get married, whichever comes first. The sisters are the product of one mother, three pregnancies, and four different fathers.

Thanks to their mother's dysfunctional love life and the deeply imperfect relationships they have with their respective fathers, the sisters practically have to raise themselves, and they consequently grow up with a disdain for patriarchy, men, and love, with experiences of their own to endorse this feeling. But soon, Calder meets Adam Stone. He is unlike any man she has ever met. As he slowly breaks down her defenses, Calder wonders if Adam is perhaps the exception – everything a man is meant to be. Her three sisters play a major role in helping her decide about Adam. This is all happening while they try to keep their love-struck mother from making a mistake that will ruin the entire family's happiness and threaten the family fortune. Does Adam prove to be everything Calder thought? Do they succeed in keeping their mother from destroying the family?

I have been let down by so many romance plots in the past, but when I picked up this book, I had a sense that this one was going to be different. As it turns out, I was right. Very right. One Way Or Another was a joy to read. Each of the books in the Sisters Quartet series focuses majorly on one sister, in this book's case, Calder. The author's skill at character development is honestly flawless. Even though the book focuses more on Calder and Adam, the other characters in the book were still sufficiently developed. Each character's speech, deeds, decisions, and mannerisms were easily believable because it made sense for each of their distinct personalities.

Mary J. Williams's writing style is, by far, my best takeaway from this book. It was simply perfect. There were no run-on sentences in a bid to describe a scene as clearly as possible. The sentences were just the right length: they were punchy and sufficiently descriptive for whatever they were addressing. Whether the author was describing a feeling, an action, or an emotion, no meaning was lost in the description.

I was also relieved that unlike many romance novels, the plot was not all mush and no substance. They were elements of the story that were worth my time. One of such is the way Calder ran her charity and the relationship she had with her assistant. That helped to further drive home Calder's personality.

One thing that did not sit right with me was the sex scenes. Thankfully though, they were very few, and the author made certain that they didn't cross over from reasonably descriptive to downright graphic. I was still able to read the book without too much discomfort. There were also instances of profanity in the dialogue, but this did not faze me much either.

I believe One Way Or Another was edited by a professional, seeing as I only found four errors in this 400-page book. Williams avoided the trap of creating a stereotypical romance story and used her powerful writing style to great effect in this book. I thoroughly enjoyed reading it, and none of the errors, instances of profanity, or erotic scenes were enough to dampen my satisfaction. Consequently, I rate this book 4 out of 4 stars. If you're up for a good love story that centers around independent, strong, and successful women, this book is for you. You should pass on it though if the slightest presence of profanity or erotic content makes you uncomfortable.

******
One Way or Another
View: on Bookshelves | on Amazon

[Adina Lutinger]

I read and reviewed this book a while ago too and I too enjoyed it very much. And I completely agree with you about the character development, all the characters were so well-built that they felt real! Thanks for the great review!

[That Reviewer]

This sounds like a really interesting book. Being that is a romance book, I'm not surprised that it has some level of erotic content. That seem to be the in-thing for authors in this genre these days.

[Nonso Samuelson]

I read and reviewed this book a while ago too and I too enjoyed it very much. And I completely agree with you about the character development, all the characters were so well-built that they felt real! Thanks for the great review!

It really is one of the best works of fiction I've read in a while. Thanks for your comment!

[Nonso Samuelson]

This sounds like a really interesting book. Being that is a romance book, I'm not surprised that it has some level of erotic content. That seem to be the in-thing for authors in this genre these days.

Yeah, romance and a little eroticism seem to go well together, but that is if it's done tactfully and with grace. Thanks again for your comments!

[Kelyn]

This sounds somewhat reminiscent of Christine Feehan's "Sea Haven" novels in that it addresses one sister at a time. I love that the character development, even of the side characters, is so strong. That's one of the things I look for in any book I read. Great review! I may just have to read this one!

[Nonso Samuelson]

This sounds somewhat reminiscent of Christine Feehan's "Sea Haven" novels in that it addresses one sister at a time. I love that the character development, even of the side characters, is so strong. That's one of the things I look for in any book I read. Great review! I may just have to read this one!

I haven't heard of Feehan's works. I may have to check her out too. Thanks for commenting.

[Kachi_Ejiogu+_]

Such a masterpiece. I really do hope Adam redefines Calder and her sister's definition of men. I hope to read this book soon enough, guess I'll enjoy it as you did. Excellent job well done.

[DBNJ]

Character development, plausible plot and believable story line is what makes of a good romance novel. It seems that this book has all of it and well worth the reading. Another well written and informative review as always!

[Diana Lowery]

I reviewed this book a while ago and actually went on to read the rest of the books in the series. Your review was honest and accurate. I enjoyed the way you wrote the summary. It gave just enough information without revealing anything.

[Edwin Amah]

Love is like a force, it pushes us to attain success. This story of four independent and strong ladies is quite interesting as I read how they came from different fathers, had a total bad impression about men and love but still had to stand by Calder when she finally found love. It shows that love still conquers all. Quite a nice job by the reviewer. I like your honesty about the book.

[Unique Ego]

I'm sure I'd love this book.. every page of it. Your review makes it really appetizing. Another beautiful review by an amazing reviewer.