Customer Reviews

Holy Hustler

5 star:		(14)
4 star:		(5)
3 star:		(6)
2 star:		(2)
1 star:		(3)

 

 

This book was drama filled from the beginning to the end. Great story and now I am so ready for the sequel to find out how all the drama ends for the Goodlove family. Great christian fiction book even though all this drama could happen and probably has happened in a church or churches somewhere.

Holy Hustler by P.L. Wilson is an interesting story. If Sweetwater Powerhouse of God is an actual church, I beg of anyone wishing to attend to run! Every establishment is subject to its own drama but Sweetwater PG is in a class all to itself. With a minister who admits to himself that he has had relations with both men and women, but not men since he was married to his dearly departed wife, to three sons who cannot get a handle on their libidos; there is certainly enough drama to fill the scripts of any daytime soap opera from here to doomsday.

Reverend Goodlove III really stepped in it when he remarried a woman young enough to be his daughter. Theola thinks she hit the jackpot when she marries the minister. She is glad she will have a sugar daddy to take care of all her needs. But the elders at the church cannot stand her; they hate the way she conducts herself. According to them, there is no room in their Sweetwater PG for a woman who flashes T &A willingly. And then there are the Reverend's sons. First, we meet Damien. He is a womanizer who is married with children. It seems like he has slept with every woman with whom he has come in contact. He is a bona fide dog and he does not care who knows it. Then there is Reginald, the middle child. He is angry about the way his father treats him and he is itching to finally get even with the old holy hustler. And finally we meet Barry. Poor Barry slipped out on his fiancée, Amy Blackwell, who belongs to a neighboring prestigious, religious black family.

The Holy Hustler had its funny moments when the characters got into craziness. What fascinated me the most about this book was how the characters went to church every Sunday but were the ones with the most evil in their souls and spirits. Something that confused me at times was the characters and how many there were. Even though the Goodlove men were the main focal point, the story branched out and off into a few other characters having an active voice. Would have rather been eased into that--and preferred this title only have the minister be the main character and in the sequel focus on another Goodlove man. This book was a definite page-turner. I did not put the Holy Hustler down until I was finished with it. I believe the drama kept my eyes moving. What happens to Damien's wife, Michelle Goodlove, is what has me waiting in anticipation for the sequel to this book.

Reviewer Chantay W.
APOOO BookClub

The Goodlove men have a love of God but make special ways with the ladies. Sweetwater Powerhouse of God utilizes the talents of the Goodlove men to minister the word. But will the family be able to maintain their current lifestyle if all the skeletons fall out of the closet?

Pastor Ethan "Gee" Goodlove has built a mega church with a loyal following. Pastor Gee recently buried his wife of over 30 years and married a much younger, Theola. Theola doesn't fit the pristine image of a preacher's wife nor does she desire to fit into the whole church scene. However, the dress and conduct of his new wife is the least of his concerns. Pastor Gee is dodging sexual allegations; dealing with a sudden drop in church attendance; noticing a dramatic decrease in tithing; and dealing with possible impeachment. Will he have to step down from the helm of one of the largest congregations in Houston?

Damien Goodlove is the oldest son and next in line for senior pastor. He has a loving wife, Michelle and two beautiful girls. But Damien has one major flaw - he loves the ladies. Jazzlyn is the mistress of the month and is hooking Damien with a powerful lure. Damien may not recognize the signs of a woman scorned but Michelle has plans to uphold her vows...till death do us part.

Barry Goodlove is known as the baby boy. He is proud of his good looks and work ethic. Barry is engaged to Amy, daughter of one of the most prominent pastors in town. Life is perfect until he is contacted by Sissy Briggs. Sissy knows Barry's secret and intends to use it for her advantage - to marry into the Goodlove family. But Amy plans to keep her man by any means necessary.

Lastly, there is Reginald the middle brother who is in charge of the churches finances. He suffers the wrath of Pastor Gee's verbal abuse. Reginald has turned this abuse into an overwhelming sexual appetite. You see Reginald doesn't have enough self-esteem to find women on his own; he has to buy their company and pay for phone sex. Will he continue to carefully review the books at Sweetwater Powerhouse of God or will he allow the devil to use him to fulfill his sinful pleasures?

HOLY HUSTLER is a quick read with an attention-grabbing storyline. The drama that unfolds will keep your interest because you won't guess what will happen next. There are plenty of "holy hustlers" taking advantage of God fearing parishioners but never at your church, right? I hope we all lift God up in front of the man in the pulpit and people that keep the church going, remember we all make mistakes. HOLY HUSTLER has this reviewer engrossed in the tale of the Goodlove men and Sweetwater Powerhouse of God. However, there were several typos and some of the subplots were left open. Hopefully, these issues will be addressed in a sequel. I will be on the lookout for Wilson's next book.

Deltareviewer
Reviewing for Real Page Turners

I found out about this book from another author and have to admit at first I was a little apprehensive. But it was an entertaining, drama-filled read. Those men were out of control. It definitely had a bunch of drama going on and I found myself shaking my head. As long as you dont go in thinking this is Christian fiction I think you'll definitely enjoy. Definitely recommend.

I loved this book. This book makes you wonder do a church like this really exists? The storyline and the characters had me hooked from beginning to end. I'm really looking forward to reading the sequel.

Upon opening this book you are thrown headfirst into the Goodlove family, and the Sweetwater PG church where EVERYONE is up to no good. They say what you do in the dark comes to light, and that is exactly what the members of this church find out early on.
The Goodlove men, from the pastor on down to the baby boy have so much drama going on with them it is ridiculous. All of the men have a weakness of the flesh that they just can't shake(more like don't want to), and when the good Pastor Goodlove marries soon after the First Lady of Sweetwater passes it does not sit well with the founding members of the church. The thing is, they have hidden agenda's and secrets also, so he that is without sin can cast the first stone but they will get a boulder thrown back at them.
This fast paced read will have you looking at your church members wondering what secrets they are hiding. The only thing that got me with this book was how it just ended. I wanted more, and was desperatly flipping the pages hoping there was another chapter. Needless to say, I will definitely be scooping up the sequel when it drops.
This is my first time reading this author's work, and it will not be my last. HURRY UP WITH THE SEQUEL!!!

Have you ever wondered what really goes on behind the closed doors of the most powerful churches? Author, P.L. Wilson gives us an eye full with her engaging new novel, Holy Hustler. Welcome to Sweetwater Powerhouse of God and all of the sanctified drama involving the first family and some of its' holier than thou members. Run by Reverend Goodlove and his three sons, they spread more than the Word as they all take a stroll down sinners' lane, indulging in adultery, lying and stealing, just to name a few commandments that these guys have broken. But when the holy rollers get a whiff of their indiscretions allegations began to fly and Sweetwater suddenly finds itself in the mist of a nasty scandal involving their charismatic leader.

Stuck in the middle, Reverend Goodlove tries to get his holy house in order, but will it be too late? Sit back and be prepared to throw you hands up and testify, but a word of caution, if you're looking for the PG-version of Christian fiction, this isn't that kind of party. Packed with explicit scenes that would make your most devout Christian run for cover, this book is for the wondering soul that needs to hear a powerful message, but delivered in an unconventional way.

I felt the book was created for the secular audience and not those looking for a realistic read concerning Christians. Yes, we are flawed - but where were the characters in this novel who were trying to live right? People lived how they wanted to, did what they wanted to do, and all were actively involved in the church. It was not balanced in its portrait of us as christians which is just as dangerous as those who portray us as super people. I wanted to like this book but I ended up throwing it away.

Sweetwater Powerhouse of God in Houston, Texas is home to the Goodlove men. Reverend Ethan E. Goodlove III is pastor of this mega-church, which boasts a congregation of over ten thousand members. Along with his sons Damien, Reginald and Barry, there is plenty of hustling going on in and out of God's sanctuary.

Reverend Goodlove's mind is always on making more money to continue his lavish lifestyle and he is constantly scheming on how to bilk more out of his parishioners. His eldest son, Damien, is a married deacon who cannot stop sleeping around with every available woman within and outside the walls of Sweetwater. The middle son, Reginald, is the church's accountant and suffers from the classic middle child syndrome. He dances to his father's abusive beat but at the same time has a penchant for buying sex utilizing the church's money. The youngest son, Barry, stays on the straight and narrow, but an indiscretion from his past and his fiancée past, surfaces to cause havoc on the two.

Reverend Goodlove is married to a woman young enough to be his daughter and the elder women of the church, who dubbed themselves the Holy Rollers, scheme on how to oust her. Reverend Goodlove is also harboring a secret that rears its ugly head at the most inopportune time. Damien's philandering sends his wife on a mission to finally rid herself of her husband, an act that has dire consequences. Reginald's embezzlement leads him to a Caribbean island and leaves the pastor to answer questions about Sweetwater's finances. Barry's secret is used as leverage and when he doesn't succumb to the pressure, his name is posted throughout Houston for all to see.

HOLY HUSTLER by Pat Wilson is filled with drama on top of drama and had me wondering if these antics are the figment of someone's imagination or if they're based on facts. The antics are over the top and humorous, but the plot lacks substance; most of the subplots do not provide closure. In the end what is revealed is the redemption within some of the characters, but not much on the process of how they arrived at that point.

Reviewed by Dawn R. Reeves
of The RAWSISTAZ Reviewers

With all the books out there you have to be picky when selecting book and I can tell you this was worth it. It has homosexual things in it so as long as your not offended by that you will love this book



Danielle