Customer Reviews

The Ideal Wife

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3 star:		(8)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

The Ideal Wife by Jacquelin Thomas was a book, that at the very beginning I knew where it was going, however, I enjoyed it just the same. Jana has spent her whole life immersed in the Bible. She was actually attending a bible college until she was convinced by her new husband, Lawrence, to quit. Lawrence is entranced with his wife's beauty and though he knows she is ultra-conservative and very spiritual, his mission is to turn her into what he wants her to be. He chooses to use the Bible as a tool to get what he wants. What he does not bargain for is how much his new, much younger wife really knows.

At first, Jana is focused on submitting to her husband, but as time passes she discovers that Lawrence has a lot of issues. One of the bigger issues being that he attends a church where the Word is skewered to allow its parishioners to engage in illicit behavior. There were times when I could not believe what I was reading. It was amazing to read how one could take a passage from the Bible and render an amazing interpretation to fit his or her own desires. Immediately, Jana knows she is not interested in the same things her husband is but, will her love for him, make her change and become what he wants? Or will her sister, Robyn and best friend Graciela, be able to talk some sense into her? More importantly, will her faith sustain her?

Ms. Thomas answers all of these questions in an entertaining and fast-paced manner. And though the reader may know where he or she is going, they will enjoy the ride. I recommend The Ideal Wife to all who enjoy contemporary Christian fiction.

Angelia Vernon Menchan
APOOO BookClub

Jana thinks she has it all when she gives up Bible College and marries rich and powerful Lawrence Collins. Settling into a life of luxury, she soon learns that every thing has a price, including love.

In The Ideal Wife, Jacquelin Thomas takes the ideology of submission to a whole new level. This novel not only ministers to women, but also challenges men to evaluate their motives for wanting The Ideal Wife.

This is one of those books that had me asking how often do devout Christian women fool themselves into marrying inappropriate men due to their niaevety, not asking God for His leading, being blinded by the man's wealth, educational status and lifestyle or all of the above? I do not blame the heroine, Jana for her situation but as each problem was revealed in her marriage I kept looking for evidence in the story that she ever asked God if she should marry this man. The story begins with the couple already married so one has to guess how the courtship took place.
However Jana raised by her sister and brother in law (who seemd to vere on the side of extreme shelteredness which IMO did her no favours in the long run) is young, naieve and 'sexually innocent' - she marries an older, wealthy man and is introduced to a lifestyle that shocks her. Lawrence's greatest mistake is being deceptive, a control freak, and basing his marriage on nothing but sexual attraction.

This book is a good account of choices that you make in life, and how sometimes those choices are very difficult. I did not realize when I purchased this book that it would reference the Bible, but it did and in such a way that blended the story and scripture together on a topic I have never seen dealt with in a Christian book. I found it to be enjoyable and a good read.

Jana Collins has the ideal life. She married Lawrence Collins, a well known and very wealthy Hollywood lawyer. She lives in a beautiful home in Hollywood Hills. She had everything going for her, except for one thing...her husband didn't want anything to do with her faith in God. Before marrying Lawrence, Jana was completely focused on her religion. She was also going to bible school. Lawrence knew his wife was the ultra conservative and very spiritual. He was determined to mold her into the ideal mate, and he would stop at nothing to get what he wants.

In the beginning, Jana was eager to please her husband. Over time, she soon realized that her and Lawrence were in different places and one of the biggest issues is the church he belonged to. His church would read the bible, but then would twist things around a little. Some of the things they would do were just too unspeakable, and Jana was not having it. She soon realized they were not as compatible as she thought.

When things were not working the way she thought, she tried to do things his way. Friends and family were starting to see a different Jana, and they were getting a little concerned. Her sister Robyn and best friend Graciela were determined to make Jana see what was really going on in her marriage and in her life. Will she be too far gone for them to reach her, or will her faith in God rescue her?

I have loved every book that I've read by Jacquelin Thomas. After reading a couple of chapters, you kind of see where The Ideal Wife was going. It was becoming a little too predictable. Even though you could tell what was going to happen next, I don't think the reader would be disappointed. I always enjoy the detail that Ms. Thomas puts in her books and how you know that God is always in control. The Ideal Wife is a quick read, and overall a very good book.

Reviewed by Jackie
for Urban Reviews

Jacquelin Thomas has done it again. Tackling a bold (and perhaps controversial) subject with tastful presentation. How far would a young loving wife go to please her powerful and wealthy husband? A roller-coaster of emotions vs. godly conscience -- yet a strong moral lesson is revealed. A must read.

Twenty-four year old Jana is married to handsome and wealthy lawyer, Lawrence Collins, living in a luxurious mansion in Hollywood Hills.At the start of the story, Jana is focused on submitting to her husband and doing what makes him happy but as the story unfolds,Lawrence begins to change Jana's choice of clothing and her hairstyle and soon after her friends and Jana's choice of the church she is to attend.Jana begins to question it and knows Lawrence has some issues.She is shocked upon learning the type of lifestyle he has been hiding from her. Jana realizes she really doesn't know Lawrence.Jana's faith and values are constantly put to the test.Although Jana loves her husband, she must put her trust in God and let God lead her on the right path.The story was fast paced and well written.Definitely a good read!

This was another great book by Jacqueline Thomas. All I can say is you cannot go wrong with her books. She will never let you down!

I've been a Jacquelin Thomas fan since the beginning of her career. My very favorites have always been Singsation and A Change Is Gonna Come and more recently Redemption. Just when you think an author couldn't write a better story, couldn't possibly tug at your emotions more than they already have...they do it. The Ideal Wife was not a book I thought I'd enjoy. The title suggested a woman working hard at being the perfect Biblical wife and that's been done a million times over in Christian publishing. What I didn't fathom was the criteria for "ideal" in this novel. Without giving it away, being "the ideal wife" had a whole lot to do with a room in the house that was no where near the kitchen or an ironing board. This story took us into the bedroom - you guessed it, the marriage bed and what tangled sheets they were.

Ms. Thomas kept me in suspense with on the edge of the seat conflict and lots of "No he didn't" moments. I loved not knowing where this story was going. There were surprises around every corner, interesting characters and good, snappy dialogue.

I also applaud her for dealing with this taboo subject, while bringing home several spiritual messages, one of the most resounding being that "we" need to be careful to not let others twist the meaning of the scriptures.

Rather than follow her plan to attend Bible College young Jana follows her heart and marries the wealthy Hollywood attorney Lawrence Collins. They are truly in love and Jana is determined to become the ideal wife. Lawrence intends for her to be that for him, unfortunately their definition of what that is will become the point of contention that challenges the strength of this newlywed couple.

Set against the background of the rich and famous, The Ideal Wife brings readers into a world that is usually spoken of behind closed doors. It will be behind those close doors where Jana will have to decide who she is, what she stands for and if she is strong enough to stand for what and who she believes in.

Author Thomas is to be applauded for shedding light on a subject that many have fallen prey to and one that many others are seeking a way out of.

Reviewed by Dr. Linda F. Beed
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