The Church Ladies [Paperback]

Lisa E. Samson (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: March 14, 2001

Competition for church members in Mount Oak has reached a furious peak. When tragedy strikes one of their hometown sons, the church women are drawn together through compassion. The Church Ladies is a contemporary tale illustrating how women can have a major impact on the church. Through friendships that reach beneath surface level -- and trials more severe than simple -- they unite with common purpose: to pray, share, and comfort. Slowly, the community of believers learns that the church grows when it is rooted in love. Characters you'll laugh and cry with, in situations every woman will instantly relate to, light up this page-turner about a miracle that could happen anywhere.

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

A Thousand Acres meets Friendship Cake in this engaging novel by Christian romance writer Samson. Readers in search of a fast-paced plot will want to look elsewhere, but those interested in a complex, compelling protagonist will enjoy this book. Narrator Poppy Fraser leads readers through the novel's two plot lines. The central story concerns Poppy's best friend, Chris, whose son tragically dies in a college hazing stunt. Poppy, a pastor's wife, begins to meet regularly with other local "church ladies" to pray for Chris and her family. The second story line concerns Poppy's own family: although she is a devout Christian, Poppy struggles with her role as a pastor's wife, and with her eldest daughter, who has rejected Jesus and Mom in favor of multiple body-piercings and premarital sex. Furthermore, in a startling plot twist for evangelical fiction, Poppy also wrestles with the guilt of an affair she had several years before. She works to hold her own strained family together, even as she tries to help her best friend's family heal. Samson's fans will love the feisty, honest Poppy; she's down to earth, occasionally sarcastic and always tempted by sweets and expensive coffee. She loves her kids, but doesn't romanticize parenthood. The book is distinguished by Samson's polished prose, especially her striking metaphors and similes ("the darkened sky still hovers over me like a Reformer's cloak"). Samson combines finely grained family drama with quirky Christian women's domestic fiction. (Mar.)
Copyright 2001 Reed Business Information, Inc.

From Library Journal

The ministry makes no concessions for ministers' wives, Poppy Fraser thinks, when her husband of 20 years decides to chuck his fast-paced, high-paying career and answer the call from God. Poppy is unprepared for the demands the church makes on her time and, since she doesn't get paid as her husband does, isn't sure this is the life she wants. Add the fact that the town of Mount Oak is a tourist stop, with each church attempting to outdo the others, and Poppy is ready to pull her hair out. Gradually, she begins to meet with Mildred LaRue, the wife of a former pastor from another church, to gain advice. Their meetings expand to include most of the other ministers' wives in the area in a support group that crosses denominational lines. With their help, Poppy finally faces the failings in her marriage and her devotion to the Lord and becomes strong enough to help others when an unexpected death occurs. Samson (Fields of Gold) departs from historical romance to focus light on an aspect of ministry usually kept in the dark. Recommended for fans of Lynn Hinton's Friendship Cake (LJ 6/1/00).
Copyright 2001 Reed Business Information, Inc.

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Paperback: 304 pages
• Publisher: Multnomah Books (March 14, 2001)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1576737489
• ISBN-13: 978-1576737484
• Product Dimensions: 5.2 x 0.6 x 8.2 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.9 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (36 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #819,341 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Lisa Samson was born in Baltimore, MD. She lives in intentional Christian community in urban Kentucky with her husband, three children, three other household members and three cats, changing the old adage to "Good things come in threes." While she has always been interested in issues of grace, she is now interested in issues of mercy, peace and justice as well. She is her sister's biggest fan.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

22 of 22 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars The Church Ladies: A Novel, March 19, 2002

By 

L.J.DANIELS (Uncasville, CT, USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Church Ladies (Paperback)

I have it & I'm NOT selling it!!This is by far the best book I've read in the past year! (And I read 3-5 novels every month...) The characters lives are so real you begin to think of them as your actual friends. With poignant honesty, that will make you smile, laugh til it hurts, cry buckets & pray harder. I am a better friend & person for having read this book. Buy it & keep it!!

27 of 29 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A quiet little book that packs a mighty wallop, July 27, 2002

By 

R. Tiedemann "Sunnye" (Bellevue, NE USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: The Church Ladies (Paperback)

I was peacefully reading along, enjoying some recognizable characters with somewhat predictable problems, appreciating the relationships between the church people of Mount Oak and sympathizing with Poppy's struggles with her life and her secret when, suddenly, this tame little book rose up and smacked me in the face. Like life tends to do sometimes.

This book asks the ancient question, "Why does God allow..." and offers the equally ancient answer. It's the soothing quietness of Samson's prose that contrasts so vividly with the issues she deals with here. Read it with your heart open -- it will hurt, but it will heal, as well.

14 of 14 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Barely Readable? No Way!, August 11, 2003

By A Customer

This review is from: The Church Ladies (Paperback)

I can't believe the previous reviewer read the same book I did! But she proves the message Lisa Samson was trying, I thought, to get across in her book: that Christians are all too eager to tear their brothers and sisters in Christ apart. The Church Ladies holds us all accountable to be kinder people, to watch our words and our actions and always be ready to extend grace. And yet, the characters were always human, not super-Christians who can do no wrong. I set down the novel feeling challenged to grow. You'll enjoy this. You may not feel comfortable with it all the time, but if you allow God to speak, I guarantee He'll have something to say.