Customer Reviews

The Prodigal Husband (New Spirit)

5 star:		(43)
4 star:		(19)
3 star:		(4)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(4)

 

 

This is the first novel that I've read by Jacquelin Thomas. I truly enjoyed and highly recommend this one. I couldn't put the book down. I had to know that was going to happen next. What trick would Shelia try this time. My mind was wondering so I read the story in two settings.

Victoria (Tori) life has sharattered right before her eyes. Tradegy strikes then she discovers her husband Jake has been unfaithful to their marriage. With someone she calls a friend. Tori is a praying wife and I loved that about her character. She never gave up on her marriage but she was weak at times. The devil knows just how to play mind games with you.

Jake was naive when it came to his business partner Shelia. The lenghts Shelia went to in an attempt to get Jake. She was very determined to get Jake.

Prodigal Husband is a story that will have your mind going and thinking. Keep God first and everything else falls in place. When God is for you who can be against you. Best Wishes to you Jacquelin and I look forward to reading your first release and other work from you.

Jake and Victoria (Tori) Madison have a picture perfect and ideal marriage. Jake is a handsome successful businessman and co-partner of Madison Moore Creative Visual Solutions, Inc., a model husband and father to his fifteen-month-old daughter Tiffany. Tori is a young energetic mother, attractive and a vitreous woman of God who is submissive to her husband Jake.

The foundation of their relationship is shaken when Jake's business partner, Sheila Moore purposely encourages Jake to drink and later seduces him at a company party. Sheila carefully plans her escapade down to the very last detail that involves Tori walking in on the two of them during their act of infidelity.

When Jake decides to find Tori and somehow find the words to explain his "moment of weakness", he discovers that Tori has left their home and moved in with her family. Jake intends to get their daughter Tiffany and bring her back home with him knowing that Tori would soon follow.

Before their arrival to Edisto Island, Jake and Tiffany are involved in a serious motor vehicle collision that takes the life of young Tiffany. Both Jake and Tori are completely devastated by the loss of their infant daughter and their failed marriage. Instead of Jake facing this loss with his wife, he decides to leave the hospital emergency room (without a word to anyone) into the arms of his partner and ex-lover Sheila. Jake deals with his failed marriage and daughter's death by leaving the country and isolating himself without any communication to Tori or his family.

Sheila can never bring herself to see how Jake could be so attracted to someone that looks like Tori. Both of them are such opposites, Sheila is slim and very aggressive, wears the finest clothes, attractive and considers herself "any man's dream". Tori, on the other hand, is a conservative dresser, wears little or no makeup, has long shoulder-length straight hair and most of all, Tori has failed to lose the weight from her pregnancy.

One year later, Jake decides that it is time for him to return to his painful past and seek the forgiveness of his family and his estranged wife. During the past year of separation, Jake is kept involved of all the aspects of his business, families' lives and changes involving his wife through frequent communication with Sheila. Of course, Sheila never misses an opportunity to let Jake know that Tori is moving on with her life, that she can never be trusted and that Tori has become a bit feisty with her language and attitude. During one of the many unforgettable scenes involving Sheila, Jake comes to realize that his wife and family were right about Sheila all of the time. Sheila's betrayal to Jake causes him to finally see the "real" Sheila instead of the fake one that he has known as a trusted friend and business partner.

Meanwhile, Tori has also made a few changes to her self-image and physical appearance by cutting her shoulder-length hair, presently wears makeup, completely changes her wardrobe to an update fashion style, has lost weight and with the help of her cousin, Charlene opens a Book Store. This new and improved Tori is a no nonsense Business Woman that seems to be heading in the right direction. Tori has an old friend, Nicholas that comes back into her life and allows her to see her newfound freedom as a positive change, but encourages her to keep in mind that she is still a married woman (even if the present situation dictates differently).

Little does Tori realize, Jake is making plans to return home to make a mends with his mother, brother and with Tori. Jake also knows that it is past time that he confronts some of the ghosts that have haunted him and maybe he can rid himself of the frequent anxiety attacks that have occurred since Tiffany's death. He attempts to seek out and develop a relationship with Christ, but since it seems the Lord is not moving fast enough, he decides that praying to God is a waste of time. Jake feels that the Lord is allowing him to suffer because of him not being a believer and an unfaithful husband. Will Tori be able to assist Jake with his "torn" relationship with Christ?

Both Jake and Tori soon realize that learning to love each other will include lessons in forgiveness, faith, trust and prayer. The Prodigal Husband is filled with many unforgettable characters that will have you filled with a mixture of emotions and admiration. Jacquelin Thomas is masterful with her development of issues involving abortion, infidelity, trust, faith, love and forgiveness.

If there is a message that I gained from reading this book it would be that...in order to be forgivers, we must first be able to forgive.

Jacquelin Thomas has created a spiritually enriching novel. The main characters Jake and Tori are faced with turmoil in their marriage. Distrust and insecurity is tap-dancing on both Jake's and Tori's heart throughout the marriage. Jake finds he is not strong enough to handle the tragedy he and Tori are faced with, so he takes the easiest way out. Tori find through the tragedy she is a woman with needs, desires, intelligence and perseverance. With a spiritually powerful faith she is able to endure. But the question becomes, is she willing to fight Sheila for her husband? Nicholas is a true friend to Tori, but some may look at it as more.

Then there's Charlene and Shepard. A couple destined to be united in matrimony. But, there's a secret that Charlene has been carrying since their college years. Did Charlene deceive Shepard, or was it he giving her mixed messages?

With stimulating women such as Aunt Kate, Gwendolyn Madison, and Linda Samuel-Dawson who are filled with the urgency of God in one's life. These women and men can't go wrong. You will find that you are not just reading along as the characters are praying throughout the novel, but you will be praying with them. You will feel God's presence during the entire story. Chills will relish your body as God work through all of their lives. But, most of all you will come to learn how to "let go and let God."

Tonya Howard

This book is an inspirational novel that gives the reader hope that all things work out for the good of them who love the Lord. Ms. Thomas even provided an added twist with an conniving scheming business partner with her own agenda.
The reader will be immediately drawn into the lives of Tori and Jake Madison following the death of their fifteen month old baby girl Tiffany. Tiffany died three days after Tori walked in on Jake and his business partner Sheila in bed together.
Feeling guilty for the affair and the death of his young daughter, Jake disappeared for a year.
Upon his return he quietly sought his wife to find out if she had forgiven him and wanted to reconcile. However, he absolutely refused to attend marriage counseling with her to help resolve their problems.
Any attempts at reconciliation were undermined by an outsider.
Sometimes we see the good in everyone and are blinded by their deception and schemes to build a wedge between others.
Through constant prayer and the help of the church, as well as other God fearing Christians events were turned around.
This book kept on the edge of my chair trying to figure out what could possibly happen next.
The author also provided some very descriptive information about the scenery in the Carolinas.
Pick up a copy of the book and see how Christians sometimes deal with their issues.

I picked this book up and couldn't put it down - it is a must read. My intention was to read a few chapters and then turn in for the night but each page and each chapter kept me going because I wanted to know what would happen next.

At times I found myself yelling at Sheila because of her manipulations and Jakes blindness to her games. She was telling him what she was doing by injecting her actions on Tori and accusing her of doing those things she was doing. Diverting the attention on Tori and creating doubt in Jake's mind about his wife. The good thing is Tori and Jake would end up talking about the accusation.

The writing, the plot,and the character presentation was absolutely excellent. It constantly moved and had you wanting to know what was going to happen next. Jacquelin Thomas has captured real life events and details what happens when you turn to others with problems in a marriage or about a spouse. She also detailed what goes on when we don't know how to seek God or we turn our back on God but she noted the positive results of faith and prayer when we seek God for strength and guidance. This was evident in the death bed scene of Gwendolyn Madison.

The strength, dedication and love that Tori and Jake had for each other was evident but the down fall in the relationship is the lack of communication and trust with each other and God. When they finally realized and did what was necessary, the end results were complete union, peace, comfort and fellowship with each other and God. They were complete in mind, body, soul and spirit and ultimately complete as a family unit.

Author Jacquelin Thomas has done an outstanding job with The Prodigal Husband. In her second novel Jake and Tori Madison are at a crossroads in their marriage. A road with a fork so wide neither are sure they can rise above it. What keeps them both trying is their love for one another, but is it enough?

After the death of his daughter, Jake is consumed with guilt. He is sure Tori blames him and he makes an unsettling decision to leave the hospital with the help of Sheila, who happens to be the woman he has had an affair with. Filled with grief and guilt Jake decides to travel to the Carribbean and Europe rather than face his wife. After a year, he decides to face the music and go home.
What unfolds next takes you on a ride through Jake and Tori's marriage. Will Tori's faith in her lord and savior bring her through the death of her daughter and the pain of infidelity? Will Jake find the lord and be able to "Let go & Let God? The Prodigal Husband is a definite read for everyone.

Missy
APOOO Bookclub

this is a so-called "christian" book. for that reason alone i put
off reading it. when i finally got around to reading it, i was very surprised and enjoyed reading it.

Prodical Husband deals with the pain of forgiveness and regrett. of how men can have the wool pulled over our eyes and be blinded from what we really need to see. Jake (the lead male character) is holding onto the pain of the death of his daughter. he leaves his wife Tori, lost, confused and to mourn the loss of her daughter alone. Jake finds some comfort in the arms of his business partner and friend Sheila....but that doesnt stop him from loving and wanting Tori in his life. when Jake finally returns, he finds a much different Tori than the one he left. she
is strongminded and independent....and while she still loves Jake, she doesnt know if he can be trusted. While Jake and Tori are working on getting back together, Sheila (who is in love with Jake) is busy trying to cast a cloud of doubt over the two.

there are some lessons to be learned from the book.....forgiveness, communication, love and faith are all things that people in a relationship need

Tori Madison is falling apart. She experiences a major tragedy and to make matters worse, she discovers that her husband Jake has broken their marriage vows. Jake has slept with Sheila, his business partner and a woman Tori considered to be her friend.

Tori is heartbroken over Jake's indiscretion, but she is not willing to give up her marriage. She is very dependent on her husband and the prospect of living without him frightens her. Despite some major obstacles, Tori is determined to do whatever she has to do for her husband's love.

Sheila is determined to keep Jake for herself and she does not care who or what gets in her way. She feels that she and Jake were meant to be and that Tori is nothing but an inconvience.

The Prodigal Husband by Jacquelin Thomas is an emotional and spiritual story that has you rooting for some of the characters in the story. The spirituality shown in Tori's character draws you in and keeps the pages of the book turning. There are however some situations in the book that I considered unrealistic, but overall I liked the flow of the story and the story itself.

Reviewed by Simone A. Hawks

Jacquelin Thomas returns to the Christian Fiction arena with her sophomore release of The Prodigal Husband. It's is a touching story of a couple whose life is in turmoil, but they find forgiveness, love, and the power of trusting God in any situation.

Jake and Tori's story is real and you could feel their suffering and their pain. I was so happy that Jake realized that God will never leave us or forsake us. Forgiveness is a big issue for a lot of people and I applauded Tori's effort. Her journey toward forgiving her husband was tough, but she depended on the Lord to help her get to that place in her spiritual journey.

The secondary characters were great. I think Shepard and Charlene have a story to tell themselves. I loved Aunt Kate, she cracked me up. Then there is Ms. Sheila,(the devil) to stir up the pot. She has some issues I think she could probably resolve in her own book.

Jacquelin Thomas is an excellent writer. All of her Romantic Fiction works have been great. She creates believable characters and stories. She is also emerging as a front runner of the Inspirational or Christian Fiction markets. I'm sure we'll see more extraordinary works from this writer.

Great Story Ms. Jacquie!

In this world where marriage vows are taken for granted we have a read that dares to disagree. Ms. Thomas boldly writes of the commitment to the covenant vow, while exposing the dangers of casual liaison's.
Most would have loved to have seen the pages full of steamy bedroom scenes between Sheila and Jake that escalated to Tori physically fighting for her man.
Tori's prayer to reconnect with her irresponsible husband is commendable. She is not portrayed as a graveling desparate woman, but one, through her pain, has grown into the woman she was destined to be. A woman full of faith and determination to put the past behind and move on to what she believes can be a stronger marriage.
Ms. Thomas artfully wove the stories of the characters with the rich heritage of the Carolina's and nearby islands, into a tale of faith, and the courage of forgiveness.
I commend Jacquelin Thomas for daring to write what God desires for us, rather than following the pack by filling her pages with that which would lead many down the road to destruction.