Jezebel [Hardcover]

Jacquelin Thomas (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: March 4, 2008

Known for "African American Christian romance that will surprise readers"** Jacquelin Thomas now re-imagines the Biblical story of Jezebel as a compelling modern drama. It follows the exploits of manipulative Georgia beauty Jessie Belle who weds a trusting and prosperous pastor, Traynor Devereaux, as a ticket out of town. Traynor doesn't realize that his cunning new bride isn't just dreaming of a new life, but running from an old one-and an unsalvageable reputation that could destroy both their futures.

Editorial Reviews

Review

“Thomas takes this bible story and reworks it for modern times...I highly recommend.”
—RAWSISTAZ Reviewers

“A deep look at temptation in various forms. Fans of inspirational Christian fiction will relish this powerful look at the Jezebel spirit.”
—Midwest Book Review

“A stark, yet beautiful and poignant love story...of greed, jealousy, and redemption.”
—Romance Reviews Today --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

About the Author

Jacquelin Thomas the Essence bestselling author of The Prodigal Husband, Defining Moments, and Redemption. She lives in North Carolina with her husband and children. Author website: jacquelinthomas.com.

Product Details

• Hardcover: 336 pages
• Publisher: NAL Hardcover; First Edition edition (March 4, 2008)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0451223101
• ISBN-13: 978-0451223104
• Product Dimensions: 8.3 x 5.8 x 1.2 inches
• Shipping Weight: 13.6 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (50 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #925,527 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Jacquelin Thomas is an award winning, best selling author with twenty-nine titles in print. Her books have garnered several awards, including two EMMA awards, the Romance In Color Reviewers Award, Readers Choice Award and the Atlanta Choice Award in the Religious & Spiritual category. Jacquelin was a 2005 honoree at the Houston Black Film Festival for the movie adaptation of her novel, Hidden Blessings. She was the first recipient to receive the Writers Achievement Award at the North Carolina Book Festival in Winston-Salem.

Although Jacquelin initially published in the romance genre, she decided to follow the call on her heart to write Christian fiction because she seeks to write books that will touch your heart and uplift your spirits with tales of characters who yearn to have an intimate relationship with God. Committed to writing books that glorify God and her growing teen audience, Jacquelin published the first of her Young Adult Inspirational Fiction series titled Simply Divine in October 2006. Her second book in the series, Divine Confidential was nominated for a 2008 NAACP Image Award. She has since gone on to publish two more books in the series.

When asked why she is so passionate about writing teen novels, Thomas shares that teens are confronted with so much--sex, drugs, violence and abuse, physically and mentally. They need to not only listen to what the world says about these things but also to what the Bible says.

Jacquelin is a member of the National Writers Union, Romance Writers of America and the Society of Children's Book Writers and Illustrators. She is happily married to her best friend and is the proud mother of three children. Jacquelin and her family live in North Carolina.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

12 of 12 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Mainstream Ministry, March 19, 2008

By 

Monica M. Jones "Author Monica Marie Jones" (Detroit, MI USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Jezebel (Hardcover)

It never ceases to amaze me how Jaquelin Thomas can take a story from the Bible and turn it into a novel that that mirrors modern day issues that we deal with on regular basis. I feel that there is no better way to educate and inspire people than to apply these age old truths to everyday situations in a way that is entertaining and non-threatening.

Before reading this book, for me, the name Jezebel, was a description for a woman that just was not right. This book gave me a whole new outlook and it helped me to check myself because I see a lot of the traits of the main character, Jessie Belle, manipulation in particular, in myself.

Because the story was so real, relatable, applicable and easy to understand, it made me step back, take a look at my life, and want to make a change for the better.

The Ups and Downs of Being Round

Taste My Soul

8 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars (RAW Rating: 4.5) - Can there be redemption?, March 15, 2008

By 

The RAWSISTAZ Reviewers (RAWSISTAZ.com and BlackBookReviews.net) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Jezebel (Hardcover)

The story of Jezebel in the bible deals with a religious woman who was smart, deceitful and manipulative and she used her ways to get what she wanted at the expense of others. God deemed there was no redemption for Jezebel and she would befall a terrible death because of all the wrong she did. Jacquelin Thomas takes this bible story and reworks it for modern times and her character is just as cunning as the bible told. JEZEBEL is made modern which makes it is understandable and tangible for even those who don't know the story of Jezebel.

Jessie Belle meets her husband Traynor when he comes to her small town to preach at the revival services at her father's church. She is immediately taken with the young preacher and in a whirlwind they proclaim their love and marry, against the wishes of Traynor's father and aunt. Traynor is smitten and he knows Jessie Belle will be a good wife and refuses to hear any negativity about her character.

In all appearances Jessie Belle is a good wife and mother, but what Jessie Belle wants Jessie Belle gets. She doesn't care about the consequences or who will get hurt in the process as long as her dreams are realized that her husband is the most powerful preacher in the country and they have all the material trappings to accompany it. Jessie Belle had to do a lot of scheming, conniving, manipulation and some down right shameful things in order to make everything happen the way she wanted them to. Eventually, Traynor realized the lovely young woman he married was not the wife he thought her to be; in fact he didn't like what he saw, because his wife reminds him of the story of Jezebel. Will Jessie Belle's fate be the same as Jezebel's?

Jacquelin Thomas brought to vibrant life a bible story and placed it in reference to contemporary times and she makes the story accessible to all readers. Even with the preaching, bible verses and other reminders of Christianity, it wasn't a preachy story. It spoke of truth and the consequences of one's actions. The character development was done very well, as much as I disliked Jessie Belle, she was genuine. The pacing in the first section was a bit slow, but it was done to define Jessie Belle as a person. The book is broken into several sections: Her Character, Her Triumphs, Her Tragedy and Her Redemption. When I finished this book I felt I could truly speak on the story of Jezebel and relate it to my peers where they would understand and take away its true message. I highly recommend this book.

Reviewed by Cashana Seals

of The RAWSISTAZ Reviewers

11 of 13 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Jessie Belle, The Great Manipulator, March 29, 2008

By 

J.C. Wallington "jnettefrommi" (Detroit, MI) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)   

This review is from: Jezebel (Hardcover)

Jessie Belle Holt grew up in rural Mayville GA, with her preacher father and her unassuming, but conniving mother. Bored with life in Mayville, and feeling she was destined for greater things, Jessie Belle seeks a way out. When a young preacher, in the person of Traynor Deveraux, comes to town to run a revival at her father's church, Jessie Belle sees her opportunity to escape the rumors and innuendos of her character in Mayville. Jessie Belle manuvers her way into Traynor's heart and he falls madly in love with her. Knowing she does not love him, she marries him. Once they leave Mayville and move to Atlanta, the real Jessie Belle shows up and the drama begins in Jacquelin Thomas' newest novel, Jezebel.

Jessie Belle knows she was put on this earth for greatness. She is relentless in her efforts to make her husband see that he also was destined for greatness. His laid back demeanor irks Jessie Belle to no end, so she takes matters in her own hands, to steer him in the right direction. Jessie Belle uses blackmail, secrets, lies and her beauty to manipulate others into doing what she wants; and what she

wants is for her husband to rise above all others and to live a life of luxury. She desires to have the biggest church, the biggest house and the finest of everything. She does not want to keep up with the Joneses, she wants to surpass the Joneses. Knowing in his heart that Jessie Belle is greedy and manipulative, Traynor gives in to her whims, even though it does not sit right in his heart. It appears as if Jessie Belle and Traynor are sitting on top of the world, but as

the scripture says, Be not deceived, for God is not mocked, whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap. (Gal.6:7)

Initially, while reading Jezebel, I was getting frustrated at how easily Jessie Belle was able to manipulate everyone without any ramifications and how quickly she was forgiven by friends and family. However, once I reviewed the story of Jezebel in the Bible, I had a better understanding of where the author was coming from.

Jessie Belle's spirit was much like Jezebel's. A domineering seductress who used her beauty and wiles to control others, yet she could not be controlled. Ms Thomas did an excellent job in taking this biblical character and transporting her into a modern day character. My only problem in reading this novel was that I had a

hard time feeling the characters' anguish and emotions when they were angry, hurt, stunned or crying out to God. That being said, I am sure Ms Thomas' fans and readers of Christian fiction will enjoy this book, I did!

Jeanette

APOOO BookClub