Drowning in Shallow Waters — A Review

Review by Musart Ellaahi

Summary:

Growing up, Brandon was an observant Muslim. In Law school, he focused on his education and career. Having built a firm filled with wealthy clients, he is now looking for someone with whom he can share his success. It's not easy.

Hawwah did everything right in her life, except marrying the wrong man. Now, she is constantly on the run, afraid that her abusive ex will catch up to her.

Brandon falls deeply for Hawwah, releasing years of pent-up desire. He must have her, but what price will he pay to be with her? Will he be able to protect her, or will he end up in danger too?

Drowning in Shallow Waters is a steamy Muslim romance between a BBW female and a sexy fluffy alpha.

Review & Thoughts:

Escapism is the best form of description I can give to this hard to put down book. Being someone who works in the self-development field and having to read something completely out of my comfort zone couldn’t have come at a better time for me. The week I started reading Drowning in Shallow Waters, it was an extremely hectic week for me with having to balance my mom's illness and going in and out of hospital and not having the usual availability of Netflix or fast internet, this book actually came as a savior, and I will tell you why. We watch TV to escape our realities and to honestly make the time go faster in whatever we are going through. This book felt no different. I didn't only get to watch TV in the week that I completed this week, but I also didn't need to. I just wanted to read what would Brandon, this high-flying lawyer, who was looking for the perfect bride do. He eagerly waited so long for Hawwah to accept him even though she had a past full of an abusive marriage and suffers from PSTD.

Williams has expressed Hawwah’s strength through taking the correct steps for healing herself from what she has been through in her past although her ex still haunts her mentally. Hawwah’s cousin Maryam, Adam, Inshirah and her Aunt Kameela gave her the best fresh start that she could ever ask for. Hawwah and Brandon’s attraction is love at first sight from Brandon's perspective. He cannot stop thinking about her from the moment he laid his eyes on her. The writer expresses their attraction in many expressive ways that is a mounting desire which awaits them from when they get acquainted.

Hawwah’s character grows from strength to strength being able to face her ex-Faruq, who tries everything to ruin her life and to get her back. He uses the only conniving ways he knows through the tip off he gets from her mother who believes that there's no such as rape if your husband forces himself on you in Islam. Lyndell Williams corrects this assumption by confirming through the characters that there's such a thing as rape when your husband takes it from you.

Brandon is a loving successful handsome African American lawyer, who looks like a geek. He actually has a tummy, not a six-pack, which is a reason he is picked on by Faruq continuously. No matter, Brandon's much more than what meets the eye and can go to any lengths to protect Hawwah from a scumbag like Faruq.

If you want to read a book that will keep you on your toes, that has intense halal romance, action, trauma, abuse, and leave you wanting to read more, then this book is for you. It had been a while since I read a book before bed and upon waking up. I honestly couldn't wait to read the next bit! Lyndell Williams has wonderfully expressed the power of healing, not giving up and most of all the power of being a woman who is able to stand up to an abusive man.

My favorite takeaway from Drowning in Shallow Waters is the power of a woman not needing a man to teach a man a lesson. See Dominique. Dominique, although her entry and exit weren't so long, her inclusion in the book was powerful! You need to read Drowning in Shallow Waters to understand why!

Oh, I also promise you that the justice in the end in Drowning in Shallow Waters will leave you either in awe or brimming from ear to ear.

***

Want to discuss Drowning in Shallow Waters with us?

Our Usual Book Club Questions Are:

1. What did you like most?

2. What gave you pause?

3. What didn't you like?

4. What are your other thoughts?

5. What question (s) do you have for the author(s)?

6. What questions about the book(s) do you have for the moderator or other members of the discussion(s)?

Thank you for reading. Dear Readers & Members, see you in Safar 1444 AH insha'Allah. We look forward to hearing from you.

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Until next time, subhanaka Allahumma wa-bihamdika ash-hadu anla ilaha illa anta as-taghfiruka wa atoobu ilayka. (O Allah, You are free from every imperfection; praise be to You. I testify that there is no true god except You; I ask Your Pardon and turn to You in repentance.) Aameen. Masalam, The Fofky's Book Club Team