Jezebel
Jacquelin ThomasContemporary romance
Available from Berkley Publishing
ISBN: 978-0-451-22464-4
March 2009
| Jessie Belle Holt has already been pregnant twice by the time she reaches eighteen. She has no problem using her body and feminine ways of manipulation to get the finer things in life. When young Traynor Devereaux comes to town to preach a tent revival she finds a man she believes will be able to give her all that she wants and more. She wastes no time convincing him that she's a shy, virginal girl who'll make a perfect pastor's wife. For years she works behind the scenes using every tool at her disposal, whether legal or not, to help move him up in the ranks of the church. Finally she takes on someone who is able to stop her. She may lose her husband and son but finally realizes she doesn't want to lose her soul.
Jacquelin Thomas pens a powerful story. The depth of Jessie Belle's character, both good and bad, is developed in a way that may astound the reader. The woman seems insatiable when it comes to pushing her husband up the ladder so that she can benefit from his success. The people whose weaknesses she exploits for her own gains have committed sins that pale in comparison to what this outwardly innocent woman is willing to stoop to. Through it all good people surround her, support her, believe in her and are willing to forgive almost any transgression against their marriage or friendship. This must have been a difficult book to write in many ways. The author walks that fine line between making a person into a villain or just making her into a victim of her own poorly controlled desires. I can't help but admire the deep and abiding Christian belief system that weaves throughout the book. It's a story that develops well without being pushy about any one religion. Still it evokes our emotions and helps give everyone reinforcement of the belief that forgiveness and salvation are available for everyone.
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Reviewer: Dee Dailey |
