Customer Reviews

Don't Blame the Devil

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Don't Blame the Devil by Pat G'Ore-Walker - 5 stars

I haven't read anything this funny in years. Delilah and Thurgood are a old school couple that spent 40 years trying to find their way back to each other. After a hot mess at a night club separated their family, another drama filled few months may bring them back together.

G'Orge-Walker is a master writer of Christian comedy. I was falling on the floor laughing at Delilah's antics while Sister Marty was praying for the families salvation. Jessie, Tamara and countless church members fell in line keeping secrets, playing church and all things that families do.

Author Pat G'Orge Walker brings back Deacon Pillar and his conk in her latest novel, Don't Blame The Devil. Ole Deac was good at setting other folks straight and letting them know what thus saith the Lord, but this time, he had to face some things from his past that he thought would never come to the light; or did he?

When Deacon Pillar stepped out of church one Sunday and saw who he thought to be his deceased wife sitting in a SUV, his first impulse was to confront her immediately and get some answers. But Delilah was not trying to hear a thing from the man that she called an old fool, and tried her best not to pick up where they left off some 40 years prior. There were some things that were still between them that needed confronting and resolving, but it would not happen in that one time meeting.

Delilah Dupree Jewel's life had a beginning that most would not believe would have a good ending, but she used the beauty she inherited from her mother to move among the makers and the shakers, but it was not enough to keep her family together. After 40 years of almost realizing her dream, she returned to New York on a promise on her terms to serve God so that He would honor her prayer request and she could live out the rest of her life better than the beginning. However, God had so much more in store for Delilah, far exceeding anything she could ask or think.

It was such a joy to read Don't Blame The Devil! The exchange between Delilah, Deacon Pillar and the other characters that would round out this story of forgiveness, redemption and restoration had me laughing in tears. Ultimately, the most important message I received in this book is that we must take responsibility for what we have done and expect the consequences that will follow. After all, the devil is not the blame for what we consider to be bad in our lives. Even when we are the blame, we find God to be faithful in what He has promised; merciful and full of grace in the things we do not deserve, all because He loves us.

This book was provided to me courtesy of the publisher for review purposes.


Review by Sharel E. Gordon-Love
APOOO BookClub

In Don't Blame the Devil by Pat G'Orge-Walker, Delilah Jewel has bet her life on appearances because to her they mean everything. After 40 years, Delilah has change a new leaf, supposedly and heads back to her hometown to right some wrongs. Delilah's opportunity comes when she finds out that a family member has passed. Delilah does not receive the response that she expected and realizes that she has her work cut out for her.

Deacon Pillar receives the shock of his life when he runs into an old flame. Deacon knows that her presence will not only affect him but others associated with him. On the other hand, being around her has the Deacon's feelings stirring.

Jessie and his daughter Tamara are dealing with the loss of their wife and mother. Jessie cannot handle any surprises or the fact his daughter wants to go into a profession of music. When he meets Delilah and starts deriving a conclusion this meeting will soon change his life along with his daughters.

Don't Blame the Devil is a story of one woman's journey to make amends for those she left behind. Delilah's encounters with Deacon Pillar will have you cracking up. This book is about forgiveness and a restoring a family unit. The characters were well developed and will have readers wanting to change the pages until the end. I recommend it to others.

Teresa Beasley
A&R Book Corner Reviews

For the past 40 years or so, Delilah Dupree had chosen her career over the family. Her son, Jesse, had gotten married and had a family of his own. When Jesse's wife dies, Delilah believes that it's finally time to mend the fence and try to have a relationship with her family. Little does Delilah know, Jesse wants nothing to do with her. But she decides that it's time to change his mind, and she cannot do that on her own. So she enlists the help of her ex-husband, Deacon Pillar. Deacon Pillar thought that Delilah was dead and gone until he saw her in the church's parking lot. The Deacon has some demons that he would like to keep buried, but with Delilah knowing his past, that's a little hard to do. She threatens to tell his new woman all about his sordid past unless he helps her. Delilah got more than what she bargained for because the Deacon's new woman is nothing to play with. What will the Deacon do?

Author Pat G'Orge-Walker gives you a colorful outtake on what happens when you say you're a child of God, but don't act like it. Don't Blame The Devil is hilarious. The relationship between Deacon Pillar and Delilah will have you laughing from start to finish. I really enjoyed how the author subtly explains how God will be with you every step of the way...you just have to trust in Him. This novel also teaches you the lesson that you are responsible for your own actions, and no one is to blame but you. In Don't Blame The Devil, you can identify what each character goes through, and how it is hindering their walk with Christ. Even though this book will have you laughing out loud, it also raises the question, "Am I walking the right path with the Lord?" Don't Blame The Devil is a great read and I highly recommend it.

Reviewed by Jackie for Urban Reviews

In Delilah Dupree Jewel's customized view of the world there's always a "do over." As a young woman she left her husband while he was in prison. She left her two-year old in foster care to chase a recording and modeling career. When neither produced the results she'd "sacrificed" herself & family for she decides to TELL Jehovah how this can be fixed; albeit it took about 40 years for the surrender to occur. Now 2008, although estranged from her son, Delilah learns of the sudden death of Jessie's wife and feels it offers the perfect opportunity to re-enter and be mama and even become the dreaded "grandma" word to Jessie's daughter Tamara; who is now following in Delilah's footsteps without bed-hopping. She needed to be careful what she TOLD Jehovah to do because Jehovah delivered to her the one person who could emotionally and spiritually tie her in knotts.and vice-a-versa, her estranged husband Deacon Thurgood Pillar (Somebody's Sinning in my Bed) He's believed Delilah dead for years and long ago traded in his gun for a Bible but it doesn't mean he won't shoot from the lip when necessary and most of the time, unnecessary.

All in all, I loved the way the author uses characters that are colorful, complicated, young and old and puts them in the bubbling stew of real life. And, she seasons that stew with hysterically funny yet Bible-based emotions and dialogue. Only this author could take a serious situation like abandonment, death, sex between seniors, church folks and their schisms and make you don a Depend with each chapter. The dialogue between the characters are so funny and emotional and you find yourself rooting for them to please get together. But it won't be easy because whether it's the son, the granddaughter, the ex-husband or his girlfriend who was the son's foster mother; they each want to break Delilah's neck. But at the same time that you want to wring her neck too you want to give her a hug and tell her things will work out. I'm left with a need to read more books based upon Delilah and Thurgood. Who knew being a 60 year old Lena Horne look-a-like could be so sexy and watching a 70 year old walking fashion faux pas, still wearing a conk, deal with baby mama drama, could be so funny and endearing.

Her journey to acceptance is hilarious and so much the way Delilah handles everything...Even after advising Jehovah God on how He should go about to fix things, Delilah DOES IT HER WAY...

Cursed from birth to wreak havoc like her biblical namesake, life ain't been no crystal stair for Delilah Jewel. Despite a stunning face, angelic voice, and
sensational body trouble and heartbreak fueled by selfishness has wedged years of anger and resentment between her, her husband and a son she abandoned. In her golden years she has sought and started a relationship with Jehovah God, in true Delilah fashion -- on her terms. Her family fights to introduce her to the God she references in a more intimate and sincere way.

Walker is known for her joke riddled, soul stirring fiction and offers a new installment to the comedic fiction ranks she began with Sister Betty. The story is almost lost in the over the top antics and outfits of Deacon Pillar and beyond insufferable ignorance of Delilah, but unfolds well once you get to know the family. Jessie and Tamara are constrained between loyalty to his foster mother and grief for his wife when considering embracing Delilah without suspicion. Even more unbelievable is Delilah and Sister Marty fighting over Deacon Mack from way back; Pillar and incessant back and forth of Delilah and every other major character. Once you're able to read past the idiosyncrasies of the three elder caricatures and see them developing, the story becomes interesting.

Reviewed by Shawneda Marks
for The RAWSISTAZ(tm) Reviewers

The theme of the need for forgiveness is noteworthy. It is a Biblical principle to forgive others as you would want to be forgiven. God makes it clear that if you want to be forgiven for things you've done, you need to extend that same forgiveness to others.

Don't Blame the Devil

You can't Blame The Devil for everything, especially when she shows up 40 years later. Deacon Pillar has more skeletons in his closet than a graveyard. One he thought was long gone shows up in the church parking lot. Delilah has her own interpretation of religion, and she thinks she's owed something. Delilah looks like Lena Horne, sings like an angel but is hell in a Navigator. She and the deacon have some unfinished business that has come to pass. Unknowingly the time has come. The aging but still sassy diva has found some skeletons too that she abandoned but had been searching for, wrapped up in a neat package that includes Deacon Pillar. Jessie and Tamara have no clue what is going on between the deacon and Delilah, or that there is any history. They are wondering what in the devil got into the deacon little do they know the devil is Delilah, and the deacon also finds out you can't bargain with her either.

Don't Blame the Devil is a 5 Star story was really hilarious. Pat G'Orge Walker did a phenomenal job with this wickedly funny tale.

I also LOVED the Deacons "conk" and the subtle references to his hair and the story of Samson and Delilah! Very clever!!! I kept having visions of Reverend Al Sharpton in a few years!!!!

Pat G'orge Walker's latest book Don't Blame the Devil is not only filled with laughter, but with lessons of forgiveness and redemption. In Delilah Dupree Jewel's earlier years, she chose her career over her family. Now that Delilah's gotten older, she's determined to regain the family she lost. Regaining their trust after abandoning them is not going to be easy. Deacon Pillar has been harboring a secret from his close friends and church members. Delilah threatens to reveal his secret, if Deacon Pillar doesn't help her get back in her son's Jesse's good graces.

The interaction between Deacon Pillar and Delilah is comical. They both have unresolved feelings from their past relationship. Deacon Pillar wants to move on and be with a new woman; but Delilah's determined to put a monkey wrench in his plans. Delilah doesn't expect to meet her match in Deacon Pillar's new love. Deacon Pillar is caught in the middle and it will take divine intervention to save him from both women's wrath.

Each one of the main characters in Don't Blame the Devi deal with situations that could hinder their Christian walk. Reading how each character deals with life's issues shows readers that nothing is impossible with God. The book also reinforces that we're each responsible for our own actions and shouldn't put the blame on others or as Delilah would say, "Don't blame the devil."

Don't Blame the Devil is a great Summer or Fall read. Readers will be eagerly turning the pages to see what Delilah and Deacon Pillar are up to next. There's never a dull moment in Pat G'Orge Walker's latest book, Don't Blame the Devil. ~ Review by Shelia M. Goss, Essence Magazine Best-selling author of My Invisible Husband and more.

If you haven't met Pat 'G'orge Walker latest feisty character Delilah, thank the good Lord you haven't! She's a Delilah that would give the biblical one a run for her money. You would think a 70 plus year old man wouldn't have "baby mama drama" right? Wrong! Think again. Meet, poor Deacon Pilar, a man who has a few secrets he been keeping until hell fires spits out a flame called Delilah. A woman from his past bent on finding the family she has lost by any means or persons necessary. Delilah presence has everyone around her questioning their relationship with God and family while at the same time on their knees asking the good Lord for strength not to give her as Fred Sanford says "a knuckle sandwich" (or receive one from her.) When the grits hit the fan, they know NOT to blame the devil, but BLAME DELILAH! After a few fist punches, gunshots, cursing matches (with repentance coming always afterwards),mismatch clothes and pent up sexuality, the power of prayer prevails and destroys their demons of the past and brings renewed love and healing to the relationships of the present. This was a great read and page turner, I read it in a day...Great job Pat!