Customer Reviews

A Change is Gonna Come

5 star:		(17)
4 star:		(6)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

Date Reviewed: February 5, 2003

Strength, determination, and friendship are three words that describe Tangie, Bonnie, Sabrina and Cordelia, the main characters in Jacquelin Thomas' new book A Change Is Gonna Come. They all work at St. Paul County Human Services, trying to help women in need get their lives in order. The problem is that these four women are so focused on the lives of others, they don't seem to recognize their own problems.

Cordelia is a woman of God and on the outside her world seems perfect. Faith is a word that Cordelia uses a lot but it is something that she struggles to hold on to. When tragedy strikes, will she lose her faith and lose the things most important to her? Can she let go of past hurts and resentments in order to move on?

Tangie appears to be a prim and proper woman, but nothing could be further from the truth. She does not love herself and as a reader you wonder if she can reach within herself and learn to love the person inside or will her promiscuity destroy her?

Bonnie, the listener of the group, takes on everyone else's problems, while inside she is consumed with loneliness. She is hurt because no one ever asks about her problems, but she also realizes that if she doesn't open up and share her feelings the fault will lie wiith her.

Sabrina longs to be rich, loved and provided for, and since she has none of these things,her life is not a happy one. Sabrina's gossipy ways and the joy she experiences from other peoples pain may leave her out in the cold. Will she ever realize her faults and change her ways?

A Change Is Gonna Come is an excellent read. It shows the reader that prayer, strength and forgiveness has the power to change everything. This is an inspiring story that is very realistic and very touching. I highly recommend this wonderful book to others.

Reviewed by Simone A. Hawks
of The RAWSISTAZ Reviewers

This is a dramatic story of four friends who work together at St. Paul Human Services and the many issues that envelope their lives. Jacquelin Thomas guides you through the labyrinth of their trials, friendship, and faith.

Cordelia is the divorced mother of a teenaged daughter, Devon. She appears to have the strongest faith in God until tragedy strikes and she feels abandoned.

Bonnie Mae is lost and lonely after losing her husband. She fills the void by mothering her friends and compartmentalizes the pain she actually feels.

Tangie appears to have it all together to her friends, but has self-esteem issues from being abandoned by her mother. She tries to fulfill her need for love by having one night stands. She keeps her personal life very private.

Sabrina is extremely self-centered, materialistic and intrusive. She dreams of the time when she can really live the rich life instead of just pretending to do so. She has to pry into everyone's life to make sure she is doing better than them.

Each woman goes through a series of life changing events that could destroy them, but they keep the faith and God pulls them through. They are forced to look into the mirror and see all the flaws and insecurities that are hindering them from true serenity and a change must come.

This is one of the best books I have read by Jacquelin Thomas. She expertly intertwines the four women's lives and dots the story with just enough unpredictable twists to keep you turning the pages. I stayed up until 5:00am to finish this novel and the ending was not what I expected. This novel gives you food for thought. Take a true look in the mirror. Who do you see?

Tina
R.E.A.L. Reviewer

A CHANGE IS GONNA COME is the story of four friends who all work together in the Family Services Department. Each woman has to trust God in the midst of their struggles.

Cordelia who to me was the main character in the book was a bible carrying goody, goody who always wanted to judge people. She was at the church each time the door was open. A debilitating illness strikes and her and she begins to question God faithfulness toward her. She goes through many emotions throughout her ordeal.

Tangie works with Cordelia and seems to be a desent person. She hates her mother. Tangie sees her mother as a loose woman and doesn't want to end up like her. The problem with this is Tangie is just like her. She has to trust God to deliver her from her lust demon.

Bonnie seems to be the person all the ladies go to when they have problems. Bonnie is a sweet woman who lost her husband and now lives with her dog. Bonnie loves the Lord and trusts him, but she has a self esteem problem. She does trust herself to live again after the death of husband. She's very crafty, but doesn't think she's good at it. She has to find that confidence within herself with God's help.

I saved Sabrina for last. This woman got on my last nerve. LOL
She has so many issues, I just felt sorry for her. First of all she only dated men that could give her things. Her reward to them was to sleep with them. She used so many men, I actually couldn't believe she had no remorse. She lied to her mother all the time. She told everyone's business she heard and to me was just a low down individual. She was broken and needed to be strengthen.

A CHANGE IS GONNA COME touches a lot of issues people face today, be it illness, brokeness, abandonment, lust and no self worth. It paints us a picture that only God can deliver you from these issues.

Great Job Ms. Jacquie.

A Change Is Gonna Come is the perfect title for this story about friendship, faith and forgiveness.

Ms. Thomas introduces four friends who work together at St. Paul County Human Services. To the outside looking in, these ladies have their stuff together.

Cordelia is a God fearing woman who has let her religion take over her life. Not realizing her actions have shut out her husband and daughter. A announcement from her daughter changes her life forever.

Bonnie's life revolves around the office. She has made her co-workers her family. Afraid to live after the death of her husband. She doesn't realize she is just existing day to day until a tragic circumstances with Cordelia makes her wake up.

Tangie is the perfect lady during the day and a hot mama at night. Her hatred for her mother's lifestyle has made her make decisions that will come back to haunt her.

Sabrina knows every bodies' business but her own. She thinks having a rich man to take care of her will make her life wonderful. Her dreams come true only to turn into her worst nightmare.

Ms Thomas shows with these ladies how the Lord works in everyone's life. He knows what they needed and he supplies it. He had to whip these friends back in shape and let them know that he had never left them even when they thought he did. He shuts one window only to open another one.

These ladies were co-workers who learned to be even better friends and how to trust in the Lord. He showed them that out of their sorrow goodness comes. You just have to believe that a change is gonna come.

Reviewed by LaShaunda C....

This book is a fine example of why you can't judge a book by it's cover. First Cordeila who was looked upon as a real Christian. But as soon as tragedy stikes, she bails out on everything Christlike. Second Tangy who appeared to be so innocent and sweet had a closet full of skeletons.But she was a true nice girl. Bonnie was my girl. Ms Homey flipped the script and got her life together. And last that dang Sabrina. She was a real trip. I couldn't wait to see her fate and she got what she deserved. I almost felt sorry for ole' girl.
The author did an excellent job of weaving the story together. I could hardly put the book down.
It is an excellent read.

I had the opportunity to read this book back in January. This was my book club's first chosen read for the year 2004 and what a way to start the year! I thoroughly enjoyed reading this one. Jacquelin Thomas crafted quite a novel with "A Change Is Gonna Come". In it, she takes readers on a journey through the mind of one Christian woman who took the term "narrow-minded" to a whole new level. There are deep lessons about parenting, friendship, love and Christianity to be learned between the pages of this novel that everyone should be exposed to.

Very few drama books out there are as well written, heart warming, and above all realistic as this one. Usually the drama books I pick up and decide to read are a bit trashy so I was skeptical to read this at first. I'm glad I did.

The characters I think are the best part in this novel. They are very well developed, which is important, and you can relate to them and their hardships. There are several subplots here that are woven together perfectly. A thriller/mystery fan like me was never bored while reading this. I hope that people aren't turned off from the Christian fiction basis of this book because I can tell you now that this book doesn't preach.

I recommend this book. I think most people will enjoy it, even if you're not a drama fan. Maybe this book will be a model for other drama authors and show them that drama doesn't equal trashy.

The novel A Change is Gonna Come by Jacquelin Thomas started my Christmas break as I patiently prepared to endure a fourteen-hour drive down south. This book gave me a place to disappear, and also prevented me from sheer boredom as I typically watch the trees and road signs go by. The story was simple and easy to read. I felt like I was on staff at St. Paul Human Services where the novel was set. Each character in the book made me think about my life and the decisions I have made. Ms. Thomas did a great job of bringing the people alive in the story. I was able to get to know the characters and gain insight into their lives.

A Change is Gonna Come reminded me of how human we all are and how we all make mistakes or "fall short." This book made me realize the only thing that redeems us is each other. As we forgive each other, it makes us better in the end. For me a sign of a good book is determined by how I feel when I finish reading it. Do the characters stay with me? Every now and again, I think of how Cordelia, Sabrina, Tangie and Bonnie Mae are doing. I wonder where they are now.

I am pleased to recommend A Change is Gonna come for when you have a free weekend and you want to travel to a small town in North Carolina, work at St. Paul Human Services and meet four great and aspiring women who will change your life while they change theirs, as well as each others. You will not be able to put this book down!

Reviewer: Alexandria Taylor for www.goodgirlbookclubonline.com The GOOD GIRL Book Club

This is an excellent book that everyone must read. It helped me to understand the true meaning of friendship. It has also helped me to lean the importance of forgiveness. However, most of all this book encouraged me to put my faith in the one who is able to help me through any obstacle that I face, my Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. Thanks Jacquelin for writing such an inspirational book.

Jackie writes wonderful stories about friends with the underlying theme of faith. Placed in Human Services office, this novel introduces us to four friends. Tangie, who has something to hide that can destroy everything that she really wants. Sabrina, a shallow, self-centered beauty who uses men, friends and family to get all that she wants, giving very little back. Bonnie, missing her late husband, mothering everyone at work to fill in her enormous lonliness. And Cordelia, whose powerful faith has already sustained her through some tough times, faces a new tragedy resulting her her faith being shaken, so badly that she just cannot figure out how to regain her love and trust in God. Wonderful story, terrific character development. I simply could not put it down. Enjoy.