Webster’s Dictionary defines perfection as a perfect embodiment or example of something.  Carmyn Bledsoe wants to be the perfect example of a Christian to her son, Brady, who is a senior in college and an apparent, rising star in the National Football League.  She’s made many mistakes and paid for them dearly in her life, but the sacrifices and buried secrets have been well worth it in the name of doing what’s best for her son.  Brady, on the other hand, is thankful for the known sacrifices his mother made as a single parent on his behalf and he has a wonderful relationship with her.   As a result,  she is the standard to which he looks and he doesn’t want to disappoint her.  He has followed in her footsteps and taken a vow of celibacy.  But a young man in college, who is a Heisman Trophy contender, can accrue many secrets he prays his mother never find out.   

With the right push, secrets can wreak havoc on the ideal life.  As both Carmyn and Brady carry the burden of hiding their secrets from one another, a greedy and overzealous sports agent is putting pawns into play to destroy the delicate balance between mother and son, as well as, make millions in the process.  In walks Barrett, a beautiful cheerleader, with one focus in mind — to help Brady break his vow and reap a few benefits for herself.  With the collision course set, will they learn when something looks too good to be true, it usually is?

The long awaited release of JUST TOO GOOD TO BE TRUE is a deviation from the norm by E. Lynn Harris, but it is a well-written, compassionate read that embodies all of what readers have come to expect from Harris.  It is filled with secrets, deceptions, twists, turns and a few life lessons.  Being perfect is a figment of the imagination.  We are all human and are subject to human frailties.  Putting our lives under a microscope reveals our perfect intentions are sometimes thwarted by our imperfect actions.  As a master storyteller, Harris brings us a compelling story about the relationship between a single mother and her son, which is hampered by forces from the outside.  With solid writing and memorable characters, don’t let summer end without reading this one.  If not already an E. Lynn Harris fan, you will definitely become one.

Reviewed by Brenda M. Lisbon
of The RAWSISTAZ™ Reviewers