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I Know I've Been Changed
Denial isn't just a river. . .
Raedella Rollins left the dusty town of Sweet Poke, Arkansas, on a Texas-bound bus with four mismatched suitcases, a newsroom job offer, and a promise to herself: never look back. Now, less than a decade later, she's a top-rated talk show host, a celebrity news anchor, and fiancée to Houston's star councilman. The future looks bright for Rae, and Sweet Poke is nothing more than a distant memory.
. . . and she's paddling as fast as she can.
But now that she's reached the top, her ragtag family comes knocking. Mama Tee, the grandmother who raised her, calls with unwelcome family updates; and Shondella, her jealous older sister, guilts her into sending money. To Rae, nothing could be worse than an unexpected reunion with her over-the-top relatives. But when her picture-perfect life turns out to be an illusion, Rae's family calls her back to Sweet Poke and to the life she left behind. Can Rae let go of the pain of her childhood and open her heart to the healing that only faith and family can provide?
352 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 2006
23 people are currently reading
1,476 people want to read
About the author
ReShonda Tate Billingsley
62Ìýbooks1,410ÌýfollowersReShonda Tate Billingsley is a general assignment reporter for KRIV-TV, the Fox affiliate in Houston, Texas. She is the author of the nonfiction book Help! I've Turned Into My Mother! and three previous adult novels: My Brother's Keeper, for which she received the prestigious Gold Pen Award for Best New Author from the Black Writer's Alliance and the Nova Lee Nation Award from the Greater Dallas Writing Association; the national bestseller Let the Church Say Amen, chosen for Library Journal's Best of 2004 list for Christian fiction; and I Know I've Been Changed, a Main Selection of the Black Expressions Book Club.
Her previous Christian teen novels are Nothing But Drama and Blessings in Disguise, both available from Pocket Books.
She is also a contributor to the story anthology Have a Little Faith.
Her previous Christian teen novels are Nothing But Drama and Blessings in Disguise, both available from Pocket Books.
She is also a contributor to the story anthology Have a Little Faith.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 36 reviews
May 20, 2022
This book was your typical "Tyler Perry feel-good" type of novel.
Predictable, and had a few laughs here and there.
I have read much better work from Billingsley but this is a good quick-read to lift your spirits.
Predictable, and had a few laughs here and there.
I have read much better work from Billingsley but this is a good quick-read to lift your spirits.
April 29, 2014
It was okay. It had a little bit too much cursing for my taste. I read Christian books to get away from wordly garbage. Mama Tee upset me. She was supposed to be the virtuous woman in the story, but she had a potty mouth. She can't teach others to be holy if she wasn't living a holy example in front of her female relatives. She made a joke about "shackin" with a deacon none the less. That wasn't funny to me.
Call me a prude. I call it holy.
I don't think that the main character was treated fairly. I felt as if she was the scapegoat of the story. Everyone was wrong in some way, but I felt like Rae got the short end of the stick. I did not like the ending. Everyone was upset because Rae wanted to be "successful" in life. There was nothing wrong with her wanting to be successful, but she should have been more loving towards her family; she was mean at times, but they were users. They all could have done better with their dealings of each other.
Call me a prude. I call it holy.
I don't think that the main character was treated fairly. I felt as if she was the scapegoat of the story. Everyone was wrong in some way, but I felt like Rae got the short end of the stick. I did not like the ending. Everyone was upset because Rae wanted to be "successful" in life. There was nothing wrong with her wanting to be successful, but she should have been more loving towards her family; she was mean at times, but they were users. They all could have done better with their dealings of each other.
November 19, 2013
This was a predictable plot and yet I couldn't put it down. I'm such a sucker for tales of transformation and this is just the type!
October 19, 2013
This book was indeed a good read. It hit home with some similar experiences. I would easily recommended this book to anyone who is or has ever been close to me...Any spiritual individual would absolutely love to read this book. Accordingly, I could easily read it again and again.
April 1, 2019
I loved it. Mama Tee with her witty and wise sayings was my absolute favorite. She was the quintessential southern grandmama and the backbone of the family. I enjoyed seeing Rae’s transition in this story. I would love a follow-up story to see what her life is like now. Great read.
June 20, 2015
People must realize that family is all you've got and when you reject them, you miss out on a whole lot of things. I can understand her desire to get out of the town but she's so desperate for people not to find out about her family. Glad in the end she found peace within herself to accept them and her misgivings about her mom.
January 3, 2014
Raedella was a woman seriously struggling with her inner demons.
I'm glad it wasn't the typical picture perfect ending with Raedella either taking back her husband, or finding another man to accept her, acceptance for her mother, or her living happily ever after. This story had real truth and grit to it. I felt like it was real and a true story.
Not everything that glitters is gold.
I'm glad it wasn't the typical picture perfect ending with Raedella either taking back her husband, or finding another man to accept her, acceptance for her mother, or her living happily ever after. This story had real truth and grit to it. I felt like it was real and a true story.
Not everything that glitters is gold.
June 5, 2011
Many times we take advantage of the blessings that are directly in front of us; in this particular case the blessing is family. This novel focuses on a family's love even when the character Rae Rollins disowns them. Family is always a constant in everyone's life through challenges and triumphs.
September 16, 2018
All I can say is...sometimes family are the only ones who will stand by you! Raedella had to learn the hard way that God's plan is not always our plan. She had not choice but to submit and allow God to work in her life.
October 21, 2007
EXCELLENT BOOK.
January 10, 2009
This book held my attention
May 19, 2009
Wow! This was a great book I loved it. It's a shame I didn't read it sooner. I didn't want it to end. :)
June 9, 2010
This book really made you think about how you treat your family and how they are really all you can count on at the end of it all. It was pretty predictable but I liked it
January 29, 2014
Good book except for the profanity, always remember where you came from cause you never know when you might have to go back.
February 9, 2018
An ok read if you can excuse the foul language.
July 14, 2020
ReShonda Tate Billingsley never seems to disappointment the reader. I Know I've Been Changed was a great read! Laugh out loud moments and where you wanted to hug and choke the main character, Raedella, all at the same time. The story really draws you in and you can't wait to see what happens next. Excellent book that drew me in that I read it in 2 days.
August 27, 2024
This book teaches a lot of valuable life lessons as far as family and relationships, can’t let it go over your head
July 26, 2019
as always, wonderful in this contemporary with no fantastic or elements but a surprise in the ending!
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August 15, 2007This book is light fare--there are all these books out now that have this "you need to get right with god" storyline and this is such a book. (The publishers sent it to me, so I'm reading it, cuz it's fast and easy and maybe I need Jesus). My question is: why do all these popular black women writers always have protagonists who are light skinned and have long hair? And the men always have hazel eyes? It's annoying. But I read on....
Read
May 13, 2015Unable to complete this read after 70 pages for some reason. I really was looking forward to reading this one since I liked Say Amen series.
There was nothing wrong with the writing but oddly I couldn't continue reading this one; not as engaging as I would have liked. Therefore I will not rate since (dislike reads are a 1 and not fair to the author just because of me not intrigued in the read once it started out. Have so many reads and just stopped in one sitting.).
Leisure read 2015
There was nothing wrong with the writing but oddly I couldn't continue reading this one; not as engaging as I would have liked. Therefore I will not rate since (dislike reads are a 1 and not fair to the author just because of me not intrigued in the read once it started out. Have so many reads and just stopped in one sitting.).
Leisure read 2015
Currently reading
October 10, 2007So good
November 14, 2007
If you tried to run from God he will bring you back. you will love the Drama.
Read
January 8, 2011this book made me mad i didnt like it
Read
May 15, 2011This was a good book it shows you no matter what you do family will always be there for you.
June 1, 2011
My 1st book to read of Mrs. Billingsley and she had me on the edge of my seat that I finished the book in one day.
June 27, 2011
I really enjoyed this book. If was a great story of how the things that happen in you childhood can effect you when you get older.
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June 11, 2012This was the first book I ever read from RTB and I was hooked immediately!
September 18, 2012
Good read
October 27, 2012
Got through chapter one before I realized I'd already read it. You can't go wrong with this author. Grab this book!
March 17, 2013
Book was golden.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 36 reviews
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