"It's good to know the power of prayer, but it's better to pray with power."
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The Love from Just One by Michael Williams Trafford Publishing
book review by C.D.
Novice writers seeking positive feedback about their work are often told to write what they know. Herein Michael Williams offers up an inspiring read about family, relationships, finding comfort in faith, and trusting in God. As a young boy, Williams was clearly influenced by his Grandmother's caring ways and her deep connection with God. In honor of this remarkable woman, Williams personifies her as a central character in his first novel.
In The Love from Just One, Mae Nell Harris, aka Big Momma, is an ever present force that slips easily within the story chapters to connect the troubled characters. From Joseph hospitalized with a brain tumor, to Demetri, a comatose paramedic, to Robert, a man struggling to reconnect with an ex-girlfriend and her young child, to Dr. Anthony Trust, another key figure fighting his own personal demons. While Trust chooses modern medicine to heal the sick, the consequences of a shooting that killed his young brother keep him questioning his own faith, and the significance that it has for patients seeking peace and recovery.
Williams is extremely comfortable with his writing material. Familiarity is evident in his adaptation of childhood memories, as he places himself along with other friends and relatives within the storyline. Themes of guardian angels, demonic dreams, and voices that offer hope during the toughest times, all help draw in the reader. Pointedly there are moments where as a young narrator, the author addresses the reader directly in an aside about his own writing. Chapters are introduced effectively with a Bible quote relative to the narrative, and a date keeps the audience aware of the seasonal timeframe. From poetry, to play writing, to storytelling, Williams continues to hone his craft. As a young wordsmith it is clear he feels God's calling. With more life to live and stories to tell, it seems certain that Williams will be offering a sequel to this accomplished debut.