The Prodigal Husband (The Prodigal Husband Series #1) [Mass Market Paperback]

Jacquelin Thomas (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: January 1, 2005

An Essence Bestseller

The acclaimed author of Singsation returns with a poignant, passionate and inspirational novel about one couple's journey from betrayal and sorrow to forgiveness, healing, faith and joy. Once, Tori and Jake Madison had a loving, satisfying marriage. But they have begun to grow apart . . . and then tragedy sends Jake to the arms of another woman.

--This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

Product Details

• Mass Market Paperback: 304 pages
• Publisher: Kensington Books (January 1, 2005)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1583145524
• ISBN-13: 978-1583145524
• Product Dimensions: 6.7 x 4.1 x 1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 4.8 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.4 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (71 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #514,021 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

30 of 31 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Prayers work miracles, May 26, 2002

By 

Tanya - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Prodigal Husband (New Spirit) (Paperback)

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.

31 of 33 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Shades Of Romance Magazine Review, May 3, 2002

By 

Lashaunda C. Hoffman "SORMAG" (Saint Louis, Missouri United States) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: The Prodigal Husband (New Spirit) (Paperback)

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.

19 of 19 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars You Will Grow Spiritually and Feel Refreshed, March 24, 2002

By 

SisterDivas.org "Tonya Howard" (Shon Bacon) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Prodigal Husband (New Spirit) (Paperback)

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