Customer Reviews

Cover Girls

5 star:		(6)
4 star:		(12)
3 star:		(8)
2 star:		(6)
1 star:		(7)

 

 

To say that I was utterly disappointed with this book would be an understatement. Extremely predictable it reminded me of a low budget movie. I would not recommend it to any of my friends who are also avid readers. I chalk this one up to a donation to Jakes ministry. I wish I had sown a seed elsewhere.

I picked this book up because it was written by Bishop T.D. Jakes. I have read several of his books and frequently watch his show. He inspires me and his words have definitely helped bring me closer to God. I really didn't know what to expect but was impressed by his skill in this genre. The book is well-written and he uses dialogue wisely and correctly. There is a nice flow to his words and the characters are believable.

Bishop Jakes intertwines bible verses and references to his own books throughout the book. I hear his words in the prayers and his stength in the wisdom of Miz Ida and Tonya. It is a rather painless way to get the message out there to those who may not be receptive to the stronger version.

The story actually holds up well and kept me involved. It is a little bit predictable but that's okay. I liked it and read it in one sitting so he succeeded in that.

I have nothing but respecct and admiration for Bishop Jakes and if he writes another novel, I will read that one too.

No no no no noooooo. This was the worst fictional novel i have ever read. It was torture just to get through the first few chapters. I couldnt finish it. The characters were so boring and undeveloped. Whoever wrote this or helped Jakes write this needs a lot of help in character development, plot development, story lines etc etc. I am so particular about the christian books i choose to read, and was very upset when i wasted my money on this.

Cover Girls has to be one of the worst Christian books I have ever read. I do believe that if Bishop Jakes' ministry was not so well-known that this book would never have been published.

The characters are one dimensional and poorly developed. This made it difficult to relate to or empathize with the main characters. It was hard to find the characters' true voices. They all sounded as if Bishop Jakes was mimicing women's conversations he'd overheard. The plot was unbelievable and lacked cohesion. Plus, the plot was just so-o-o predictable.

Don't get me wrong. I love T.D. Jakes, and enjoy his ministry.

Just not this one. I couldn't get with the characters to save my life. They seemed to have no...oomph! They didn't seem real to me. I gave the book a three because sometimes I felt like it was making sense, but then it would fall right off. The storyline was a yawn, predictable, and I was more annoyed than disappointed. Sometimes the characters would say the same thing three different ways, in the same block of dialogue. I, personally, was bored. Maybe you'll enjoy it though.

T.D. Jakes bursts on to the Christian Fiction scene, with his first novel, COVER GIRLS. In this book he likens the life of a woman to the four seasons. Spring being the time of youthful growth and nurturing, summer being the time emerging from the period nurturing and coming into full bloom as a young adult, fall being the period of harvest and rest, and finally winter, which is a time of waiting for new life to emerge. Each of the four main characters in the book represent one of the seasons in his analogy. Michelle is young, spirited and in the summer of her life, yet she is battered by a troubling past that continues to haunt her. Tonya is in the Fall of her life, but instead of enjoying this time she is always trying to please others while neglecting herself. Mrs. Judson, the only primary character that is not African American, is in the winter of her life. But instead of being at peace and waiting for new life to emerge, she is caught in a web of sorrow primarily due to her insatiable desire to appear "together." Miz Ida is also in the winter of her life, but as a result of her strong faith in God, she celebrates this stage of her life and looks forward to the many things that are yet to come. The characters lives intersect and in spite of their unlikely relationships with one another, each of them grow to new heights spiritually and personally.

T.D. Jakes is known by many for his prolific non-fiction writings on any number of Christian topics. With COVER GIRLS, his first novel, Jakes continues to establish himself as a writer whom everyone should take note of. He seamlessly integrates Biblical principles into real life situations that women can relate to, while keeping the reader engrossed in the lives of the characters. As a result, the novel is Christian Fiction at its best, filled with real life situations and everyday struggles. All of the characters are well-rounded, and they are made up of both the strengths and the flaws that make them inherently human. In this novel he demonstrates that all women, black or white, rich or poor, hip or reserved, share a common bond and common struggle with faith.

Reviewed by Stacey Seay
of The RAWSISTAZ Reviewers

I love TD Jakes the Pastor, Prolific Teacher, the Prophet, a true Man of God. However, in my opinion his writing leaves a lot to be desired. Cover Girls is not the only book that I have read. I really did not enjoy "The Lady, The Lover, Her Lord". God's Leading Lady was written fairly well. Pastor Jakes is gifted in many areas, I take nothing from him as I enjoy his ministry tremendously. I just don't think his literature is that great.

I'm a huge TD Jakes fan and I love his teaching and preaching ministry. However, I'd have to be honest enough to say that this novel disappointed me. I'd waited a long time to pick this book up and read it, mostly because I had friends who read and it and were lukewarm, at best, with their feedback. After reading it myself, I'd have to agree with them. I really think he should stick to his non-fiction, teaching-style books because fiction isn't his calling. This is such a far cry from the calliber of his teaching tools that I almost have to wonder if he had a ghostwriter for Cover Girls and then just had his name placed on it as the author. This, to me, doesn't even mirror his other printed stuff. At any rate, I did find some of the book to be entertaining (especially the opening chapter) and because I bought an autographed copy, I won't be selling it or giving it away. This book doesn't change my opinion of Bishop Jakes. I still think he's one of the best orators around.

FREE! This book should have been given away for FREE! I MUST tell the TRUTH on this Book. It was very boring with lifeless characters. Regardless of the truth, T.D. Jakes won't feel the brunt of these reviews because brotha-man is SO PAID!

Cover Girls by T.D. Jakes (or are the "ghost writer" rumors true?) was a book that was not very good, not very interesting, nor was there anything original about it. Okay writing with a predictable plot doesn't really do much for me but that's exactly what you get when you open and read this book. Maybe writing fiction just isn't T.D. Jakes' calling or maybe his next attempt will be better than this. In any case, I don't think I'll be reading anything else that's fiction by him.