A “wonderful novel” steeped in the folklore of the South from the New York Times–bestselling author of The Women of Brewster Place (The Washington Post Book World).
On an island off the coast of Georgia, there’s a place where superstition is more potent than any trappings of the modern world. In Willow Springs, the formidable Mama Day uses her powers to heal. But her great niece, Cocoa, can’t wait to get away.
In New York City, Cocoa meets George. They fall in love and marry quickly. But when she finally brings him home to Willow Springs, the island’s darker forces come into play. As their connection is challenged, Cocoa and George must rely on Mama Day’s mysticism.
Told from multiple perspectives, Mama Day is equal parts star-crossed love story, generational saga, and exploration of the supernatural. Hailed as Gloria Naylor’s “richest and most complex” novel, it is the kind of book that stays with you long after the final page (Providence Journal).
Millionaire hair and skincare mogul Morgan Carter has everything in her life except deep connections with those who aren’t of her bloodline. She’s spent the past ten years of her life devoted to making her brand a household name in the African American community. A year before her thirty-fifth birthday, Morgan realizes it’s time for her to focus on gaining friends and starting her family. Her initial plan involved a sperm donor so she wouldn’t have to waste time getting to know a new man, but that changes when her sister convinces Morgan to give herself one last chance at love.
When Amaru Mitchell’s chance to make it to the NBA was shattered, he picked up an addictive spirit that sent him spiraling out of control. It took a few years, but Amaru eventually sought the help he needed to get back on the right track. Now, he’s the founder of a world-renowned street basketball league that allows him and men like him to do what they love and make money while doing it. Amaru has everything he’s ever wanted in life except a family to come home to. That changes when he loses a bet with his younger brother and is forced to meet with a matchmaker.
Out of all the women Amaru could have been matched with, he never expected it to be Morgan Carter – the one who got away. Well… more like tossed him to the side. Morgan and Amaru’s shaky past makes them enemies when they first see each other in Giselle’s office, but those concrete walls around their hearts quickly begin to fall the longer they stay in each other’s presence.
Will Morgan and Amaru realize they were right for each other all along and get what they want from one another, or will this be even more proof that they belong apart because they are detrimental to each other’s hearts?
Song Lyric Sunday was created by Helen Vahdati from This Thing Called Life One Word at a Time and author Jim Adams from A Unique Title For Me is our current guest host. For complete rules or to join in the fun, click here.
This week’s theme is “Jack/John.”
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Leave it to me to take the long route to this week’s prompt! 😀 Instead of title/lyrics, I used the prompt for the artist’s name! 😉
Riding the success of her 1965 hit, What the World Needs Now is Love, Jackie DeShannon released Put a Little Love in Your Heart in the summer of 1969 to a country still mired in Vietnam War protests and racial conflicts. The song reached number 4 on the Billboard Hot 100 by August of the same year and number 2 on the Adult Contemporary chart, making it DeShannon’s highest charting release.
I was in grade school during the 60s and sang in my elementary school choir, the all-city elementary school choir and my church choir. EVERYBODY wanted to hear Put a Little Love in Your Heart. It seemed like I was singing it in one choir or another every week for a year! One of my music teachers said despite the turmoil our country was going through, most people simply wanted peace and hearing a group of 8-10 year olds sing about love went a long way in soothing stressed out adults.
Our country is again steeped in conflict and controversy but I believe most of us simply want peace. Our leadership is failing us and we’ve wasted enough time waiting. To paraphrase another song from school choir, “Let there be peace on earth and let it begin with me…” and we can start by heeding Jackie’s lyrics from over half a century ago to “Put a little love in your heart.”
FUN FACTS:
Jackie co-wrote the song with her brother, Randy and R&B singer/songwriter Jimmy Holiday.
In late 1969, the song reached number one on South Africa’s hit parade.
Annie Lennox and Al Green recorded a version that was released as the ending theme song to the 1988 film Scrooged. The song reached number 9 in the US on the Hot 100 in January 1989 and climbed all the way to number 2 on the US Adult Contemporary chart.
Put a Little Love in Your Heart has been released by almost two dozen artists including Any Williams, Dolly Parton, the Isley Brothers, and Leonard Nimoy.
I found several videos of Jackie performing the song… all bad! 😀 Jackie never got the hang of lip-syncing but she loves to flash the peace sign! 😀 I also added the Annie Lennox/Al Green cover from Scrooged. Annie and Al have never looked more fab-u-lous!
Disclaimer: I have no copyrights to the song and/or video and/or hyperlinks to songs and/or videos and/or gifs above. No copyright infringement intended.
Put a Little Love in Your Heart
by Jackie De Shannon
Songwriters: Jackie De Shannon / Jimmy Holiday / Randy Myers
Think of your fellow man
Lend him a helping hand
Put a little love in your heart
You see it’s getting late
Oh, please don’t hesitate
Put a little love in your heart
And the world will be a better place
And the world will be a better place
For you and me
You just wait and see
Another day goes by
Still the children cry
Put a little love in your heart
If you want the world to know
We won’t let hatred grow
Put a little love in your heart
And the world (And the world) will be a better place
All the world (And the world) will be a better place
For you (For you) and me (And me)
You just wait (Just wait) and see, wait and see
Take a good look around
And if you’re looking down
Put a little love in your heart
I hope when you decide
Kindness will be your guide
Put a little love in your heart
And the world (And the world) will be a better place
And the world (And the world) will be a better place
For you (For you) and me (And me)
You just wait (Just wait) and see
People now, put a little love in your heart
Each and every day
Put a little love in your heart
There’s no other way
Put a little love in your heart
It’s up to you
Put a little love in your heart
Come on and
Put a little love in your heart
You’ve got to
Put a little love in your heart
Compiled from Genius Lyrics, Google, Wikipedia, Songfacts.com, and YouTube.
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