“If I didn’t already love you, I would have fallen hard as hell today”
Truce of the Matter by Mrs. Charity Shané
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
star read
You know how this is going to go. I’ll recap my thoughts, and then I’ll be going all the way in. Because this one?!
Like the quote said, if I didn’t love Mrs. Shané’s work before? I most certainly would after this!
This was about Truce, the FMC. Who is the rock of a lot of people in her life. Now when you are the strong one in your circle, that means a lot of times you get overlooked when you are in need of some support yourself. So what happens when you need it yourself?
Enter Rex, the MMC.
Now… Even though this story has romance in it, you can’t go in thinking this is going to be a cookie cutter romance!
This is about life!
‼️You will experience grief in different forms, exposed family secrets, hypocrisy, overprotectiveness, domestic violence, family dynamics (positive and negative), and a whole heap of love. And being that it is Mrs. Shané? Expect the spice to be on point!!
I’m writing and posting about it, so YES, I recommend this one. However if what I mentioned triggers or impacts you negatively? Always choose your mental wellbeing.
This read by Mrs. Shané’s is available through the following link:
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SheReadsaLot to Audience: Now you know what time it is at this point. But if you don’t… Any and everything happening after this point is out of my control. I mean… I’ll try and not spoil anything AND at the same time… This book has been out for over a week at this point… Why haven’t you read this one yet?
Reintroducing the Characters
Truce, the FMC, a hardworking woman. As the oldest sibling not only her parents and little sister depend on her, the people of her families’ restaurant (that she manages) do as well. Strong case of the oldest sibling syndrome. Has a secret!
Rex, the MMC, a divorced single dad of the most precious seven year old girl, with a baby mama from H&LL. He sees all of Truce, and has been enamored with her since his teen years after a short but memorable encounter for him.
We also have friends and family in this story who all contribute significantly to this story. BUT I’ll be discussing one theme more so than the actual characters.
SheReadsaLot to SheReadsaLot: Did you tell them that you loved you some Rex? Most probably your favorite MMC from Mrs. Shané’s pen?
SheReadsaLot: I forgot to mention that part… But let me rectify that!
“When I say something, that’s it. Don’t ever approach my daughter like that again.”
Truce of the Matter by Mrs. Charity Shané
SheReadsaLot to SheReadsaLot: Good quote but why that one?
SheReadsaLot: Thank you for asking!
Mr. Rex has a loving relationship with his daughter Aryel. He is attractive, and what usually happens with single attractive men who are great dads, and make some good coin?
They attract women…
SheReadsaLot to SheReadsaLot: He doesn’t even have to be a good dad… You know society has become more and more superficial?
SheReadsaLot: I don’t know if it’s superficial, or more desensitized and reverting back to the notion that they can only survive when in proximity to power… being money… and male..
SheReadsaLot to SheReadsaLot: I’m sorry… I didn’t want to interrupt your train of thought.. Why that quote?
Rex isn’t interested in the advances of one of the moms. He has been polite in letting her down… But that isn’t enough! So what does this woman do to get her way? She tries and force the situation through the child.
SheReadsaLot to SheReadsaLot: The audacity! I hate when people talk through the child.
SheReadsaLot: Exactly, someone already told you no. But here you come trying again to get your way by pressuring the parent through the child!
SheReadsaLot to SheReadsaLot: Same as when people are telling parents to put on some socks on the feet of the baby, and when they don’t… Here they go talking baby talk, about mommy/daddy my feet are cold… IT IS 30 degrees Celcius outside!! You want my 6 month old baby to overheat???
SheReadsaLot: Okay… So that obviously triggered something…
SheReadsaLot to Audience: Let us go back to Rex… Shall we..
SheReadsaLot to SheReadsaLot: You remember this little gem about Rex, and his interaction with Truce?
“I’m starting to think that you’re following me” I tease, truly surprised but glad to see him again. His presence already is adding brightness to my very dreary day.
Truce of the Matter by Mrs. Charity Shané
“I’m not, but I’m not above it either” he says then smiles.
SheReadsaLot: Yes Rex! Crash out behind Truce!!
Rex, didn’t play you hear me?! He stood on business each and every time…
SheReadsaLot to SheReadsaLot: Now… we have to remain objective… Because it wasn’t each and every time… Remember Aria?
SheReadsaLot: ARIA!
Family dynamics
SheReadsaLot to Audience: I believe this is the right moment for us to continue on to the theme that I wanted to discuss. Grab a seat, because this will most definitely not be pretty..
“When Aria first showed back up when Aryel was three, I wasn’t going to let her see Aryel but my mom encouraged me to, and I did.”
Truce of the Matter by Mrs. Charity Shané
Rex has the misfortune of having a woman as the egg donor of his child, that really doesn’t want to be a mother…
And she shows this multiple times. First by leaving her daughter behind when the going gets though, and by only interacting with her when it’s conevenient for her.
Rex knows that Aria isn’t worth her salt, and her inconsistent “mothering” can even turn out to be detrimental for his daughter.
So why does he let her in his daughters live to do just that?
Rex’s mother! She vouches for Aria, framing it as a little girl needing her mother.
SheReadsaLot:
I think oftentimes people get so caught up in titles, that they forego the actual meaning of something, and in this case the child.
“I know. Trust me. It’s just that sometimes, I worry that she’s going to miss out on having her mother” I admit. This shit isn’t as easy as it sounds. I’ve been torn for a minute over this. I know deep down that Aria isn’t a good mother.
Truce of the Matter by Mrs. Charity Shané
Because what good is a mother, or father, that doesn’t want to be there? Who will be detrimental to the actual wellbeing of the child through neglect, hurtful words and actions?
Yes, council from your elders is absolutely something you can not forego. However, they are human, and will have their own dogmas. And when taking council it is always essential to QUESTION if the council is applicable to the situation.
SheReadsaLot to Audience: His mothers council in this situation, and Rex not questioning it was…
SheReadsaLot: Let me go on over to Truce’s parents… Because the way they did her!
In Truce’s case we find not only family dynamics but also secrets!
As a teenager Truce’s voice and choice was taken away from her by her parents and Church leaders.
SheReadsaLot to SheReadsaLot:
SheReadsaLot: Okay, Okay, I’ll not go in on the hypocrisy of the Church leaders, and the parents.. Eventhough I really… Really… Want to!
Truce’s choice gets taken away as a teenager by her parents. Enforcing this decision is mostly the mother, as years later she still doesn’t give Truce the go ahead to tell the truth.
Parents oftentimes think they know better for their children, but in doing so they also take away their voice. Respecting your elders doesn’t mean that they are always right. And if you want to turn biblical, even in the bible it’s stated that the parents should respect their children as well. That means giving them a choice, hearing what they have to say.
At least Truce’s father saw the error of their way..
“I’m so sorry. Your mother and I were wrong. Dead wrong.”
Truce of the Matter by Mrs. Charity Shané
SheReadsaLot to SheReadsaLot: Those family dynamics, the deference ingrained in her, were so strong that even as a 34 year old woman she didn’t feel it was her place to talk about her own lived experience…
“But what about when you turned eighteen? Twenty- one? Twenty- five? Thirty? … I looked up to you.”
Truce of the Matter by Mrs. Charity Shané
SheReadsaLot: It’s a damn shame how we have done our children… You know why that is though?
SheReadsaLot to SheReadsaLot:
SheReadsaLot to Audience: Let me get another quick word in before I round this one up.
While I highlighted the family dynamics of these situations this also dealt with grief, because of the death of an ideal situation, the loss of your choices, the loss of the way you view your elders. And I loved the way Mrs. Shané lets you come to these conclusions.
SheReadsaLot to SheReadsaLot: Now you can’t leave out on that note. Give your audience something positive to think about!
SheReadsaLot: Because you asked so nicely
Do I Recommend?
I’m writing and posting about it, so YES, I recommend this one. However if what I mentioned triggers or impacts you negatively? Always choose your mental wellbeing.
SheReadsaLot to Audience: And also let me tell you before you go why I would recommend this read.
I told you this is about life! Life isn’t always pretty. This read deals with the hard stuff. Meaning grief, the psychological effects of feeling as if you haven’t had the chance to properly say goodbye, and maybe even bury the hatchet, the negative effects of respecting your elders, keeping bad influences near, parenting, but above all this was about love.
“As imperfect as our family is, there’s no shortage of love. Even in our moments of disagreement, the love is ever present. A world without any of us in it is unfathomable.”
Truce of the Matter by Mrs. Charity Shané
This read by Mrs. Shané’s is available through the following link:
👩🏾SheReadsaLot 
I never heard of this book, but it sounds drama-filled. Especially with the parents being controlling. I love how you mentioned it has triggers, so people can choose what they want to read.
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It is and to me, beautifully told!
I try and mention the triggers, because as a reader I prefer to know before I invest my time and I truly value my mental health.
Thank you for interacting with my post 🫶🏾
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