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sometimesiread11's review against another edition
This book is so long and slow and drawn out. 127 pages in and I still do not know where the heck this is going. Out of the 127 pages, 20 of them (if I’m being generous) are of information actually relevant to the story (based off the summaries I have since read to figure out where this story actually goes). The other 100 pages were full of excruciatingly drawn out details of the simplest/most irrelevant things. I even started skimming through some of the pages and I still can not bring myself to finish.
thepinkrainboots90's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
lighthearted
mysterious
reflective
relaxing
sad
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
2.0
This review is gonna be a long one as I am trying to purge this from memory
The Hand I Fan With tells the story of Lena McPherson having a relationship with a ghost named Herman. This ghost was summoned by her and her friend during a love spell ritual. You should also learn that Lena is a very lucky and extremely popular figurehead in this made up town of Mulberry, Georgia. Lena also is thee only living survivor of her family.
This needed to be a novella, or a max of 300 pages. Everything else in this book that was NOT plot driven was a waste of time. Seriously, there was a chapter of Lena being driven to her house and it was 12 whole pages of exterior/interior detail, who helped her design it, what the towns ppl thought, and the different apartments Lena had previously lived in. There were A LOT of superfluous passages/chapters like that. All of them were definitely author self insert fantasy (Tina McElroy/Lena McPherson🙄). How pretty, rich, physically fit, smart, multitalented Lena is. All under this thin veil of how all these positive traits are damaging to her.
And Herman was just a man who too knew everything, saw everything, and was there to cater to every single one of Lena’s needs. I’ve never read a paranormal romance/sex scene, but the first detailed one was written so ridiculous I wanted to end it there.
There’s a vague plot of Lena learning not to over extend herself by spending lots of time with Herman, and to embrace her and clairvoyant talents but mainly the book was written about mundane moments in the couples life w/lots of sex.
462 pages of shit no one should be subjected to. That’s why when I give my copy away, I’m putting in a note to reader that’s advising them to read the highlighted portions only. Would not recommend, will not read gain.
arushofemotions's review against another edition
5.0
I loved this book so much. It's been sitting on my bookshelf for years. I bought it well over 15 years ago and never read it. Don't know why! But as chance would have it, I feel like I wouldn't have appreciated this story when I was in my 20s. There's something about this book that just speaks to my soul. I can't explain it.
It starts with us getting to know Lena. She's a woman who has sacrificed so much of herself for others. She's "The Hand I Fan With", the woman who everyone can depend on to have their back. Lena's backstory was so intriguing! This author takes the first 20% of the book introducing you to who Lena is, what she went through as a child who carried a stigma with her since birth, and again what she went through as a child who could interact with the paranormal.
There's a lot of superstition woven into this story. And that's where Herman comes in. He's a 100-year-old ghost who comes to Lena after she and her friend perform a drunken seance of sorts. Believe me when I say that Herman was the man that Lena didn't know she needed. He taught her how to love and care for herself. For being so spiritually powerful, Lena was draining her own soul and spirit. His love for Lena was so good, so pure. He saved her.
And...he gave her some good lovin. Herman and Lena's love, their passion, was so perfectly written. Herman could throw it down, and he did so, often. In both spiritual and physical ways, Herman blessed her. They were intimate in human form but often he could switch between loving her as a spirit too. Whew...I can't explain how special those parts, but believe me, they were.
From beginning to end, I loved this book. It was sensual, yet thought-provoking. It gave the romancing loving reader in me that hot-and-heavy goodness I craved, and gave the other side of my brain a strong story to keep my captivated. I couldn't put this book down. It was soul searching, life changing, and will live in my heart forever. Thank you to this author for giving us this book. And many thanks to whatever led me to finally picking it up and reading.
It starts with us getting to know Lena. She's a woman who has sacrificed so much of herself for others. She's "The Hand I Fan With", the woman who everyone can depend on to have their back. Lena's backstory was so intriguing! This author takes the first 20% of the book introducing you to who Lena is, what she went through as a child who carried a stigma with her since birth, and again what she went through as a child who could interact with the paranormal.
There's a lot of superstition woven into this story. And that's where Herman comes in. He's a 100-year-old ghost who comes to Lena after she and her friend perform a drunken seance of sorts. Believe me when I say that Herman was the man that Lena didn't know she needed. He taught her how to love and care for herself. For being so spiritually powerful, Lena was draining her own soul and spirit. His love for Lena was so good, so pure. He saved her.
And...he gave her some good lovin. Herman and Lena's love, their passion, was so perfectly written. Herman could throw it down, and he did so, often. In both spiritual and physical ways, Herman blessed her. They were intimate in human form but often he could switch between loving her as a spirit too. Whew...I can't explain how special those parts, but believe me, they were.
From beginning to end, I loved this book. It was sensual, yet thought-provoking. It gave the romancing loving reader in me that hot-and-heavy goodness I craved, and gave the other side of my brain a strong story to keep my captivated. I couldn't put this book down. It was soul searching, life changing, and will live in my heart forever. Thank you to this author for giving us this book. And many thanks to whatever led me to finally picking it up and reading.
articulatemadness's review against another edition
5.0
The Hand I Fan with is a book I've read so many times I can recite passages from it.
Lena McPherson is a lady of prestige in her town of Mulberry, GA. Many readers who follow Ansa's work will remember Lena had a small part in Baby Of The Family. This book though gives us full insight to her initial sadness - Lena was born of a spiritual birth with a caul over her face. Her people didn't believe in that, and burned the caul. Over her life Lena has had remarkable spiritual gifts, but such gifts have limited her from having meaningful relationships with people except for Sister, her best friend. Sister is prety much a high priestess and has been trying to help Lena get a handle on her gifts.
The book picks up steam with Sister goes on a spiritual trip for a couple of months. Before they go they do a ritual trying to conjure Lena up a man. Little do either of them know they summon Herman, Lena's 100 year old ghost of a guardian angel. Herman ain't your typical guardian angel. He's there to love Lena in any way shape or form she needs it, and he gets the job done. Slowly but surely her gifts start manifesting him as flesh and bone, especially as their love thing intensifies. This at least gives her clarity and closure on the deaths of her entire immediate family, and a deeper understanding of the state of affairs in her life, especially pertaining to Herman. But all good things come to an end. In the case of Herman and Lena, the end is just the beginning.
Read it. Starts out slow but if you can make it to the chapter entitled "Love" the pages will turn and it will be over before you know it.
Lena McPherson is a lady of prestige in her town of Mulberry, GA. Many readers who follow Ansa's work will remember Lena had a small part in Baby Of The Family. This book though gives us full insight to her initial sadness - Lena was born of a spiritual birth with a caul over her face. Her people didn't believe in that, and burned the caul. Over her life Lena has had remarkable spiritual gifts, but such gifts have limited her from having meaningful relationships with people except for Sister, her best friend. Sister is prety much a high priestess and has been trying to help Lena get a handle on her gifts.
The book picks up steam with Sister goes on a spiritual trip for a couple of months. Before they go they do a ritual trying to conjure Lena up a man. Little do either of them know they summon Herman, Lena's 100 year old ghost of a guardian angel. Herman ain't your typical guardian angel. He's there to love Lena in any way shape or form she needs it, and he gets the job done. Slowly but surely her gifts start manifesting him as flesh and bone, especially as their love thing intensifies. This at least gives her clarity and closure on the deaths of her entire immediate family, and a deeper understanding of the state of affairs in her life, especially pertaining to Herman. But all good things come to an end. In the case of Herman and Lena, the end is just the beginning.
Read it. Starts out slow but if you can make it to the chapter entitled "Love" the pages will turn and it will be over before you know it.
novelsistah's review against another edition
5.0
This is my favorite book of all time.
It has everything I like: romance, magic, supernatural elements, the main character is a woman of color...for me, it is perfect.
I have read it so many times, my copy is so tattered and beat down.
I absolutely love it!
It has everything I like: romance, magic, supernatural elements, the main character is a woman of color...for me, it is perfect.
I have read it so many times, my copy is so tattered and beat down.
I absolutely love it!
lauriereadslohf's review
4.0
This book is many things and although the love story is very well done, is extremely sensual and touching, a large part of the book is just Lena's. And Lena is a wonderfully funny, likable character. The book is about her growth as a person as she learns how to slow down and enjoy the simpler pleasures of life - and learns that she doesn't have to please everyone (and learns that some people aren't happy no matter how much you do). The book goes into vivid detail about her small town and the people she gives her heart and soul to. It's heartbreaking, uplifting, erotic and funny and teaches a lesson a lot of us can really benefit from. I definitely enjoyed this story.
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