Learning to love yourself before trying to love anyone else is the hard lesson taught to three childhood friends. Maxine is business savvy but man stupid; she sleeps with men without knowing more than their names. Her physical needs take precedent over her emotional needs. Indira is in an abusive marriage with a man she loves dearly. She wanted to one day have children but can't, at least not with her husband since he had a vasectomy before they married. Sydney, on the other hand, is a single-mother still pining for the father of her child. She lives with the hope that one day he'll return to her and their daughter.
Authors Den,
I've been away for a while but now I've returned with the re-release of She'll Learn with Writers & Poets. Please request the new book using ISBN 0970380380 to get it into your local bookstore.
I am also pleased to announce that my second novel Candy For My Soul is coming soon as well as the sequel to She'll Learn.
Excerpt
"Learn to love yourself before trying to love anyone else."
Professional Reviews
Sisterfriends Growing Together
Maxine, Indira, and Sydney are three friends that are more like sisters. The three women form an adoptive family that replaces what is missing in their blood family's relationships. In the spirit of family, the three women bicker and fight at times, but in the end each of them know they can depend on one another in a time of need. Maxine owns a successful hair salon and lives a pretty comfortable life. The only thing missing for her is a loving relationship with a man, and as she is approaching her thirties, her biological clock and her desire for this relationship is the main thing on her mind. Though she tends to be distrustful of men, she decides to give her heart to Bruce. But will her relationship with him provide the missing piece in her life or cause more drama and heartache? Sydney on the other hand has been burned once, after Anthony, the man she had hoped to marry, left her to raise their child alone. In addition, Anthony seems connected to the untimely death of her brother and her entire family, including Sydney herself, can't help but blame him. As a result her relationship with her mother has been severed. Instead of pursuing other relationships, she focuses on her career and raising her daughter with the help of her supportive father. But deep down is she waiting for Anthony to return in order to resume their life together, and will she miss out on the love that is right under her nose in the process? Indira has the life that both Maxine and Sydney envy. She is married, has a successful career and many of the material comforts in life. But all that glitters is not gold. Indira's husband turns out to be an abusive spouse, and the personal sacrifices she has made to try and maintain her relationship with him have taken their toll. She must decide whether she can walk away from her marriage. With the help of Eldridge, an artist she met through her job, maybe she will.
SHE'LL LEARN is a touching novel which combines some of the characteristics of a romance novel and those of mainstream fiction. The result is a unique blend of romance and drama that readers will enjoy. True to the book's title, each of the three main characters experience a tremendous degree of personal growth, and their stories will inspire many and at times tug at your heartstrings. Check out SHE'LL LEARN for a fast paced read about living, loving, and growing...
A Lesson Learned
How often does a man go through life feeling as though he'll never find his one and only true love? I'm sure it's not nearly as much as a woman does, especially if she is over the age of thirty and her biological clock no longer sounds like a tick - but an alarm. Maxine is business savvy but man stupid; she sleeps with men without knowing more than their names. Her physical needs take precedent over her emotional needs. Indira is in an abusive marriage with a man she loves dearly. She wanted to one day have children but can't, at least not with her husband since he had a vasectomy before they married. Sydney, on the other hand, is a single-mother still pining for the father of her child. She lives with the hope that one day he'll return to her and their daughter.
It's been said that past experiences dictate your future. In some cases that's true if you allow the vicious cycle to continue. Maxine is dealing with abandonment issues; her mother left her with her grandmother at a very young age, never to return. During a Thanksgiving dinner, Maxine's aunt reveals some shocking information about her mother and now Maxine must make a decision. Sydney's mother has never forgiven her for becoming pregnant by her thuggish boyfriend, Anthony. They have not spoken in almost two years even though they attend the same church and only sit two pews behind each other. A change is going to come and the person who brings it about is not whom you'd expect. Indira is steadily trying to hide her husband's abuse from her friends. Just when she's had enough, her husband decides to leave her and file for divorce. Indira is angered by the news and even more shocked when information she never knew about her husband is suddenly revealed.
There's a saying: Fool me once, shame on you. Fool me twice, shame on me. She'll Learn is about the lessons you learn (or don't learn) from life's experiences. I've always said there's a person who always "takes you there." By that I mean there's a person who always manages to make you weak enough to let your defenses down. And even though you get hurt in the process, somehow you just can't let go; therefore causing you to do stupid things in the name of love (or even lust). You become vulnerable and before you know it, you're caught up in trying to prove something either to yourself or the person who has hurt you. Maxine, Indira and Sydney each are in this predicament and their friendship sustains them.
To know someone has got your back, no matter what, makes all the difference in the world. These women had their differences but they didn't let that stop them from being friends, even when times got rough. I've always known a person will keep doing what you allow them to do; She'll Learn drove the lesson home. I even saw myself in one of the characters; however, I won't reveal which one. The story flowed well and didn't skip a beat. Barkley - Staples did well with this one and only teased me by insinuating there would be a sequel. I can't wait.
Reviewed by Esther "Ess" Mays for Loose Leaves Book Review
Sisterly Love
A friendship is considered a relationship filled with mutual affection, good will, and harmonious cooperation. If successful this bond becomes so strong that it results in a completeness that only a devoted family member can extend. She'll Learn by Sybil Barkley-Staples is a heart warming novel that embraces a friendship between three women, Indira, Sydney, and Maxine, during an unfortunate time in their lives.
Indira has been married to her husband, Robert, for over 5 years. Love at first sight overruled the fact that Robert was old enough to be her father, but the years of abuse and hatred has triggered such doubt about her marriage. Unable to take too much more, Indira is trapped between her love for a man who over chastises her every move and a aching for a family saturated with happiness.
Ambitious and outspoken, Maxine has become the beholder of "the truth will set you free" when it comes to any situation except her own. Scared of being alone for the rest of her life, Maxine takes out her anger on her friends by being rude and insensitive. The time has come for Maxine to grow up and face her demons from her past and present situation, but will she be able to accept it?
Caught between the man that she loves and a mother that is just as stubborn as she is, Sydney makes a choice that will alter her life and her heart. Dependent upon her friends for all the support they can offer, Sydney has learned to forgive and move on, until her past starts to resurface forcing her to make decisions that will steer her out of turmoil existence.
Connected since their childhood past, their friendship undergoes a test of support, guidance and forgiveness, enabling each woman to recognize their awaited path. Sybil Barkley-Staples has exemplified some of the hardships that we all go through in life, allowing readers to captivate the true meaning of sisterly love that some of us have been blessed with, yet still yearn for in our lives.
Monique Baldwin, Founder
Flavah Reviewers
Want to review or comment on this book?
Need a FREE Reader Membership?
Reviews for "She'll Learn"
Reviewed by M P
4/5/2006
She'll Learn's concept is universal. While people limit their thoughts around their own blood relationships, it is universal love that unites people with the strong thread of unseen intimacy.
---------------------
"Arjunan heard the determination in Appu’s voice and noticed Appu’s hair had greyed since he was stabbed. Although he is not that strong, he will act as he says, Arjunan thought. Appu has no one except me and I have no one except him. How surprisingly life brings people together. Many related by blood and birth do not have this kind of intimacy and love. We are not same blood, but our kinship is strong. Without him, how lonely I would be."
Excerpt from "Beneath the Clouds and Coconut Leaves."
Soldier's Gap is a non-traditional mystery with literary elements. The high school principal is brutally murdered, but Deputy Sheriff Dave Jenkins's search for meaning and love is a much more significant theme.
"Murder isn't usually this fun
