Emma Jean marries Gustavus “Gus” Peace and from their union six sons are born.  Pregnant with number seven, Emma Jean feels deep in her heart she will be blessed with a girl; a daughter she will love and cherish, unlike the way she was treated as a child.  As fate will have it, she gives birth to a son; a beautiful son she will easily disguise as a girl and name Perfect.  For eight years, sweet, adorable Perfect was the apple of her brothers’ eyes and her parents' pride and joy.  However, Emma Jean and Perfect’s world is shattered when Perfect’s true identity is discovered.  Perfect’s name is changed to Paul and he is forced to start living his life as a boy.

PERFECT PEACE grabs the reader in a tight hold and doesn’t release them until the last page.  Black’s graphic writing allowed my mental images of the time and place in Swamp Creek, Arkansas flow through my mind with ease.  The colorful, flawed characters and intricate story line caused my emotions to soar to different heights in various sections of the story; laughter, anger, happiness, and tears.  PERFECT PEACE is a spectacular, soul-stirring literary gem!!!

Reviewed by Sharon Lewis
of The RAWSISTAZ™ Reviewers