Customer Reviews

Jezebel

5 star:		(33)
4 star:		(13)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(2)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

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

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

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

I am baffled by all of the high reviews for this book. This was the most poorly written piece of fiction I have ever read. The events were thrown in haphazardly. Out of the blue, Jessie Belle orders a meal of fried foods and then Bam- a heart attack and full recovery in the span of a page or two.

There were a ridiculous number of characters and very little character development. I felt like the author just made up names and threw them in at will.

The author made no attempt to provide any details justifying why any of the events should ring true. How does a preachers wife have a ring of prostitutes and no one ever know or suspect anything? How likely is it that you will run up on two girls in a restaurant, ask them to be your prostitutes, and they say sure, that sounds great?

I am sorry, the events in Jezebel do not relate to my modern day issues and Jessie Belle does not remind me of anyone I know. What kind of people behave thiis way? I hope I never meet them.

Lastly, why did everyone go from speaking ebonics to speaking correct English toward the end? Was there any significance to this or did the author just forget that they should be leaving words out and saying "f'sho"?

In 1970 Mayville, Georgia, eighteen years old Jessie Bell Holt learned from her mom that sexual enticements work. However, if her daddy ever learned how she flaunts her assets, he would condemn her as having a Jezebel spirit. Somehow whether her father Reverend Holt chooses to ignore or remain ignorant, townsfolk know of Jessie Bell's reputation including an abortion and a miscarriage.

Holt hosts Preacher Traynor Deveraux Jr. who is in town to provide a tent revival sermon since his dad is too ill to perform. Jessie Bell recognizes Traynor as her ticket out of town; encouraged by her mom, she hooks the young preacher whose sermon feels God-inspired. Traynor and Jessie Bell marry. Over the years through her sexual and extortionist machinations, he becomes an international star while they raise their son. However, one day her reckoning will come, but Jessie Bell never expected the price she must pay for her transgressions; yet still has one chance at redemption.

Bringing the biblical tale of Jezebel into a modern text, Jacquelin Thomas provides a deep look at temptation in various forms. Jessie Bell is terrific as the lead protagonist as she learned very early how to sue her beauty to manipulate men; in fact only her son who loves her deeply seems immune to her charms. Fans of inspirational Christian fiction will relish this powerful look at the Jezebel Spirit alive and well in contemporary America.

Harriet Klausner

This book was a page turner that kept you engaged and in suspense from beginning to end. So true to the characterisitics of the actual spirit of Jezebel, one could read this book and actually learn while being entertained. I LOVED this book!!!

I'm pretty sure you have heard of the name Jezebel before, and most people known that the name Jezebel derived from the Bible. However, few people know the story about the women named Jezebel.

Jacquelin Thomas crafted a well written story about biblical character Jezebel that people can relate to. I'm pretty sure you know someone or heard about a women who is a Jezebel.

Living in a small town called Mayville, Georgia Jessie Belle is know as the fast behind young girl that uses men to get what she wants.

Jessie Belle mind is set on getting out of the small town she grew up in and move to a bigger more fast paced city. Her dreams come true when a young and attractive pastor name Traynor Derueax is standing at her front door.

Traynor is Jessie Belles ticket to a much better life in a bigger city. Traynor quickly falls in love with beautiful young Jessie Belle.

After being hitched quick and in a hurry Jessie Belle and her new husband move to Atlanta, GA. Jessie Belle becomes antsy at the thought of Traynor becoming a well know pastor in a bigger church. Soon Jessie Belle mind is set on buying a bigger home and a luxury car to match. Traynor is happy with his life but Jessie Belle is determined to get what she wants at any cost.

Jessie Belle and Traynor's life is taken on a roller coaster of ups and downs until the day that Jessie Belle's wrong doings catch up with her.

Good read! Well written!

Jezebel was a very good contemporary Christian story that parallels the story of Jezebel in the Bible. The main character in the book is Jessie Bell, a girl from a small town in Georgia. Jessie Bell is desperate to leave her small town and a visiting young minister is her way out. She marries the young minister and has dreams of him becoming a big minister of a mega church. Jessie Bell has big dreams and will stop at nothing to get what she wants no matter who she hurts or has to manipulate in the process. The book was entertaining, you never knew what Jessie Bell was going to do next and just when you thought she had learned her lesson, she would do something else. I like that this book was classified as Christian Fiction and it really was, many books say that they're Christian Fiction and they're full of sex, violence, and cussing. I could share this book with other Christian readers and not be embarrassed. I will definitely read more books by Jacquelin Thomas.

Jezebel started off a little slow but it was still a good read. This author never disappoints me and that Jessie Bell was a mess - the devil in disguise. Keep them coming, waiting on the next novel!!!

I tried a couple of times to get into this book, but after the third attempt I put it down. The storyline for this book was a great idea, but the characters are underdeveloped and the story moves way too fast without enough details. Although, it wasn't a bad book it didn't hold my attention either.

Final rating 2.5