This book is best on different then any other. Though there seems to be a secret that no one seem to know about Rebanelle and her husband and father to Curtis Jean.

There seems to be a story about mothers and daughters. You see them struggle and what they decide to do what best for their loves ones. It seem to be a story about Curtis Jean mostly.

Curtis Jean does she accept and change the life with her husband and her two daughters. Does she fall backwards? What the legacy of this family and what could destroy everything in it path. There seems to be death around the corner. That it mean to them do they pray to god in one way or not.

I advise that you watch with your children who reads this book. For there is some things that are said that is only meant for adults. I say though of ages of 13 plus would be a good idea to read this book. It seem to be about men and drinking and all that kind of things. ( )

This book is best on different then any other. Though there seems to be a secret that no one seem to know about Rebanelle and her husband and father to Curtis Jean.

There seems to be a story about mothers and daughters. You see them struggle and what they decide to do what best for their loves ones. It seem to be a story about Curtis Jean mostly.

Curtis Jean does she accept and change the life with her husband and her two daughters. Does she fall backwards? What the legacy of this family and what could destroy everything in it path. There seems to be death around the corner. That it mean to them do they pray to god in one way or not.

I advise that you watch with your children who reads this book. For there is some things that are said that is only meant for adults. I say though of ages of 13 plus would be a good idea to read this book. It seem to be about men and drinking and all that kind of things. ( )

I am an independent reviewer and it is my pleasure to read and review Visiting the Sins by Melanie Denman. I received an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

What an incredible undertaking in writing Visiting the Sins must have been for Melanie Denman. I know it was an extraordinary feat to read and review it. It elicited an number of emotions from hilarity to sadness and more than a bit of nostalgia and the feeling that at times she was writing something about my life.

Visiting the Sins takes us into the turmoil of one Texas family from the standpoint of four women, from one generation to the next and from the POV of young woman, adult, and elder and how their actions affect the family and each other. It is a close look at motherhood and how actions have consequences.

I spent a great amount of the early parts of the book laughing out loud and regaling my husband with the passages that were tickling my funny bone. Ms. Denman created a family filled with characters that were humorous and I could relate to personally. From Pokey, to Mama, to Curtis Jean, I could find myself somewhere in each of them and some of their peculiarities.

Visiting the Sins is a great book to read, but somewhat slow toward the end. I guess Pokey was my favorite of the bunch and thus as she slowed down due to age, so did the book. Her escapades are the stuff of legends!

I still recommend you take the time to read it, find the humor in it and I commend Ms. Denman for her writing. I am looking forward to her next great publication.

I give Visit the Sins by Melanie Denman four steaming hot cups of Room With Books coffee.

©April 24, 2015
Patricia, Room With Books ( )

The cover art on this book had me doubting that this was a dark southern comedy but boy was I wrong! It's crude, inspiring, hilarious, and dark all in one go. It blew my expectations out of the water! Told from the viewpoints of the Wheeler women through several generations, the confessions, lies, gossip, and sordid family history will keep the readers turning pages. As the problems get bigger and the past gets dirtier you can't help but admire these women for their spunk, bravery, and hard headedness. There's Pokey, the grandmother of the clan raised in a shack in Thorny Bog, she had to rut and scheme her way out of squalor. With no more than an eighth grade education she was married at thirteen, pregnant by fourteen, and abandoned by fifteen. The fact that she made it out alive makes her unapologetic, sassy, and crude. Pokey says whatever vulgar things come to mind and is more often than not a source of embarrassment for her daughter, Rebanelle. Rebanelle was determined to make something of her self so she left for college, married a lawyer, and moved back with her head held high. She tries to be high class but it's soo hard with her ridiculous mother. Her only daughter, Curtis Lee, also fails to meet her expectations. As a divorced alcoholic, Rebanelle still wishes that she had never given up on pageants. All she wanted was a daughter to be Miss Texas! The vignettes are powerful and funny and there manages to be a good undercurrent of religion, which normally I would roll my eyes at, but honestly it goes quite well with the vulgar, hilarious, nature of the family. Honestly, it was quite refreshing!

A remarkable debut from Melanie Denman. I eagerly anticipate her future works! A must read for fans of dark family sagas, humor, and inspirational fiction.

I received this book for free from iRead Book Tours in return for my honest, unbiased opinion. ( )

Whatta wonderful world opens here! In Denman's confident hands, we are plopped into an East Texas community populated by extraordinary characters whom we quickly come to know intimately -- and to love!
The author invites us into the lives of a multi-generational family, with each person giving her view of their world. Pokey is the grandmother -- a singular individual whose personality bursts from the page. Rebanelle is her daughter, the church organist who battles to keep everyone safe (and torments everyone along the way). And Curtis Jean is the daughter who quits the beauty pageant circuit (and what a hilarious ride that is) and tests Rebanelle's patience to the breaking point. There are other people (we don't experience them as characters in a story -- these become real, live people) and each has a vibrant identity -- from Aunt Patricia and her husband Hotshot to the deacon at the church who may or may not want to replace Rebanelle with his own, younger choice. The devil has a role, too, and not only in his over-size portrait hanging above the fireplace.
There are dark secrets in this crazy family and as they are revealed, the author does a splendid job of evoking the time and the place; the unique voices speak into our ears and it is as if we are there -- transported to Thorny Bog and Calcote (pronounced Calcutta) and we don't want to leave.
Readers should be prepared to smile and chuckle and laugh out loud. And also to be worried and nervous -- and to be touched. ( )