To Drink From a Cup of Love

Good black men are alive and well in Franklin White's newest release, Cup of Love. This realistic tale of human and spiritual growth between people is beautifully spun by the same author of Fed Up With the Fanny.

The main character, Vance Butler has a conscience that is eating him up like rust on steel. Through some mysterious way unknown to Vance, his fiance Artise has found out about his affair number three. Through her initial unspoken silence, his future is hanging in limbo.

In Vance's contemplation of walking the straight and the narrow and asking Artise to marry him, his best friend Ethan offers his best "playa-playa" advice, "Everytime a brotha gets caught up in a scandal, they want to perpetrate and do the marriage thang."

Ethan's attitude toward faithfulness is easily manifested in his stick-and-move "relationships" with WWKs (women with kids). His explanation being, "These ladies want me to do what I do."

He continues to get his milk for free until his latest conquest, Monica decides to leave her three young sons at home alone does Ethan's conscience bother him in wondering whether there is something more real to life than bedding women, hidding from commitment and just plain squeaking through life.

Vance's fiance, Artise has put ten years of her life into their love and as Vance described it, "...nothing to show for it except some stupid...arguements and failed goals."

Along with her best friend, Tassha, Artise decides to focus on herself and to pursue her dream of motivational speaking instead of sitting at home and sulking over Vance.

The most inspirational character and the most enjoyable for Franklin White to create was Stubby. This eighty year old gentleman and his wife, Gloria will inspire readers with their belief in God and love for their people.

Almost as much as real parents could love their children they love and watch over Vance. Stubby is blunt at times but he doesn't backdown when identifying wrong. He bluntly suggests to Vance and Ethan to act as men.

Cup of Love has humorous scenes as well as scenes to stop your very breath. Franklin White successfully paces and builds tension within the novel.

What sets Cup of Love apart from most sista-girl and brotha-man novels is it's originality. Instead of reading this novel from the "I'm the sista who has been done wrong by that man" viewpoint, White took us into the mind and heart of Vance. From this angle the reader is able to see that even men like Vance have a heart and mind. Novels such as Cup of Love will help restore the reputation of black men.

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