Customer Reviews

Promises Beyond Jordan

5 star:		(19)
4 star:		(6)
3 star:		(1)
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Messages are abundant in Promises Beyond Jordan. Beginning in Winston-Salem, North Carolina to Atlanta, to Birmingham, Alabama and back again, is the tale of integrity, commitment or lack there of, love, hope and redemption. "Have you ever loved someone that you never had," opens chapter one and is the catalyst for this story.

George Landris is the dreadlock wearing, spirit-filled, eloquent speaking pastor of Wings of Grace Faith Ministry Church. Theresa Jordan is a minister's daughter and the fiancé of Pastor Landris. She is selfish and often times her behavior is inexplicable. In the mix we have Bishop Richard Jordan (Theresa's father), his wife Beatrice and Lena Patterson. These three individuals have kept a long held secret from Theresa that seeks to destroy the family unit. However, they believed that harboring this secret was the right thing to do in hopes of creating a normal childhood for Theresa.

Nine days before his wedding Pastor Landris takes off for Birmingham, Alabama without informing Theresa as to why. During this fateful trip Pastor Landris is reunited with an old friend that fuels Theresa's insecurities. Theresa's insecurities cause her to loose her faith and she too has a secret that must be kept. During Pastor Landris' trip and upon his arrival, we are left wondering about the identity of this mysterious individual and why he will not reveal this information to Theresa. The answers to these questions are answered within the nine days leading up to the wedding and beyond.

Sometimes life brings trouble and offers little to no solutions and God's answers are not easy to understand. Promises Beyond Jordan demonstrates the adage of faith, being true to yourself and honoring a commitment once it is made. The sermons, church members and other church related activities are as entertaining as they are real. This is very good Christian fiction read with enough drama to keep you captivated.

Reviewed by Dawn R. Reeves

Vanessa Davis Griggs is one of BET's newest inspirational fiction writers. In her debut novel, Promises Beyond Jordan, the character Pastor George Landris asks his fiance Theresa Jordan the question "Have you ever loved someone that you never had?". This question sets off intense responses and consequences for the characters in this novel.

Theresa Jordan is due to marry Pastor George Landris in just ten days when he goes running off to Alabama to see about a friend, Johnnie Mae Taylor. Theresa understands that Johnnie's husband and child are seriously injured in an auto accident, but what she does not understand is why her fiancee is spending all his time at Johnnie's side, when their wedding is just days away. Because of his concern for Johnnie and her situation, Pastor Landris forfeits preaching the Christmas Eve sermon at his own church, while he stays in Alabama to comfort Johnnie.

Christmas celebration with the family turns out to be a disaster. Lena, her "play" mother is invited to the festivities and the wedding much to Theresa's dismay. She is horrified by the thought that Lena will be a part of her special day and directs unnecessary cruel statements towards Lena. As Theresa's conduct spirals out of control, she leaves the family gathering and finds comfort among friends. Her behavior shocks Pastor Landris so much that the second thoughts he had about their upcoming nuptials intensifies.

Many times so much is expected from a Pastor, and therefore the First Lady of a church has to be a special type of woman. Unresolved issues in both Pastor Landris and Theresa's lives jeopardize the harmony needed to be the couple blessed by God to lead their church. They have to learn to deal with issues involving trust, deceit and honesty. Vanessa Davis Griggs does a good job in bringing out these issues for both and neither character is without fault. I know I had issues with both of them. There are a few twists and turns that may surprise the reader. Overall this is a good book I would recommend for the reader who enjoys inspirational or romance reads.

Jeanette
APOOO BookClub
Motown Review Book Club

Promises Beyond Jordan is one of the best novels I have ever read. Vanessa Davis Griggs is a welcome addition to the African American Christian Fiction market. Ms. Griggs has crafted an intricate, inspiring tale of love, faith, committment and forgiveness woven with pain, fear and deception.

The depth of the characters and their problems kept me on the edge of my seat as I turned page after page. I wanted to know what happened in this book so badly, I was tempted to turn to the last chapter and read it. I found myself rooting for George, praying for Teresa and truly wanting God's will for these characters.

You will not regret reading Promises. It is a journey beyond the ordinary.

Finally, a fiction novel that depicts an honest, morally upright minister!! After reading several novels where the minsiter was the bad guy, this book was a refreshing change. Ms. Griggs weaves an entertaining tale of love, friendship, secrets, sacrifice and most of all, faith in God. I throughly enjoyed this book and would definitely read other works by Ms. Griggs. Bravo!! -ES

Not my usual fare, although I enjoyed the build-up of tensions. Vanessa Davis Griggs has written a lively, gossipy, Gospel-coated read. Her energetic dialogues authentically reflect how people can't seem to finish a thought, while others can't hear what's being said.

PROMISES BEYOND JORDAN is a good lesson on what happens when you don't walk your Walk, & talk your Talk. Or, in the culture of this story - you don't practice what is preached!

I am not going anywhere near how it is resolved. Some juicy secrets surface in unlikely places, good men emerge with their besmirched escutcheons squeaky-clean again, & some acid-tongued women learn about forgiveness & courage.

Promises Beyond Jordan by Vanessa Davis Griggs kept me sitting up until way past my usual bedtime because I was unable to stop reading at the end of each chapter. I was "hooked" by my curiosity about what plot twists would happen next, what the characters would do, and how the story would end. Ms. Griggs weaves an intriguing story and casts a powerful spell with her skillful use of suspense that keeps the reader on the edge of his or her seat. Her characters are believable, interesting, and real. The themes of the book and the issues raised are spiritual ones, but Promises Beyond Jordan transcends standard labels such
as Christian fiction. Instead, the reader is presented with very real dilemmas that face everyone, such as honesty, family and love relationships, when to speak up and when not to, how to deal with the past, and how to heal the emotional scars that we all have. As a counselor, I feel that it would be helpful for couples who want to have a quality relationship to read this book and to discuss the issues that it raises. Ms. Griggs has a real knack for highlighting the subtle choices people make that influence the quality and tone of their lives. I highly recommend Promises Beyond Jordan to readers who want to read a well-written novel that will keep their attention captive, as well as leave them feeling upbeat and hopeful. This book is a winner.

Pastor George Landris seemingly has everything a man could want. He is the Head Pastor of a large church with thousands of members and the leader of a successful television ministry. Pastor Landris has also managed to woo the beautiful Theresa Jordan's hand in marriage.

As a well-respected figurehead in the community, Pastor Landris shows love and compassion for his church members by counseling the troubled and visiting the sick and shut in.

Unfortunately, through the mask of all this success, both members of this seemingly happy couple hold damaging secrets. Theresa Jordan, daughter of a prominent Bishop has kept vital information about her past from George. Likewise George is caught in an emotional quandary between his feelings for Theresa and a yearning to be with a woman from his past during her family tragedy. This departure may seem inconsequential to the outside observer but when looking deeper, readers get a glimpse of the true feelings George has for this woman.

Vanessa Davis Griggs demonstrates her extraordinary writing talents in her captivating novel about religion, relationships, betrayal and redemption. Promises Beyond Jordan follows George and Theresa along their slippery slope toward relationship peril.

The spiritual references and scripture verses at the beginning of each chapter creates a fresh and unique approach to storytelling. The verses relate to the emotions and voices and acted upon in each chapter as well as its overall theme.

Griggs is very successful at telling the story within the story without losing the reader in the interpretation of complicated subplots. Characters are also well developed, allowing you to feel their struggles and moral dilemmas. When Theresa contemplates her relationship with George and questions his love for her, you can feel her sadness. Likewise, when George is faced with church politics and is confronted by members of his church, the reader is concerned with seeing his good name cleared.

Promises Beyond Jordan is not only for the spiritual churchgoers among us. The book speaks to many situations and relationships far outside of the realm of the church. I will admit that experience with church politics or even membership in a black church environment will give readers an increased appreciation for the author's realistic depiction of how church members often react to gossip and so called "inappropriate behavior".

I enjoyed this novel and was impressed by how things in the beginning tied into revelations at the end. I recommend this book to both men and women. Promises Beyond Jordan receives a rating of Four.

Promises Beyond Jordan is an emotional, heartfelt, suspense-woven novel by Vanessa Davis Griggs and is centered upon a single question: Have you ever loved someone that you never had? Promises, commitment, and the scars of past psychological wounds pervade this quiet yet emphatic story of love, betrayal, redemption, and hope. A singularly moving read, Griggs is an author with a genuine talent for storytelling.

What happens when your one true love slips beyond your reach? Can you move on and enjoy a happy and fulfilling relationship with your second choice or will part of your heart ache forever for the love you lost? These are some of the questions addressed in the book Promise Beyond Jordan.

Pastor George Landris and Theresa Jordan are set to be married just a few days after Christmas. This wedding is sure to be the event of the year for many of the over 3000 members of Pastor Jordan's church. However, a tragic event sends George out of town to check on an "old friend" from his past and her husband and daughter, after reading in the paper that they had been involved in a car accident. Although he tells Theresa about the trip before hand, she is less than thrilled about her fiancé's sudden need to take a road trip, especially to see a woman.

After George returns from this trip, his relationship with Theresa becomes strained. After a series of confrontations and a major blow up at a family Christmas dinner, it becomes clear to both Theresa and George that they need to re-examine their relationship. Both of them are seeing new aspects of the other's personality and are beginning to wonder if they REALLY know each other at all. Will the wedding actually take place? What will all the church members think if the wedding is called off?

George struggles to understand his own feelings towards his fiancé and to understand his past. Theresa has many issues of her own most of which stem from her childhood. What will it take for her to deal with them? In a surprising climax, George and Theresa are both forced to choose between their commitment to God and doing what's right and their own reputations.

This is a well written and enjoyable read that tackles some really tough spiritual questions. Griggs does an excellent job of weaving spiritual messages into the story without coming across as preachy. The story inspires, touches the heart, and reminds you to be appreciative for the love we have in our lives. You will come away from this book with a new and clearer understanding of the meaning of love.

Reviewed by Stacey Seay

Promises Beyond Jordan is an intriguing and suspenseful sophomore Christian Fiction novel from Vanessa Davis Griggs. The prologue quickly captured my attention as I tried to figure out what mystery character--Lena Patterson had to do with the characters of Theresa Jordan, Theresa's parents, George Landris and Johnny Mae Taylor. By Chapter One I was already hooked just from the opening line of "Have you ever loved someone that you never had?" I questioned why, with only nine days before his impending nuptials to Theresa Jordan, did the Reverend George Landris leave his fiancee with that statement as he rushed off to a hospital in another state to be with another woman by the name of Johnny Mae Taylor who the dear Rev. claimed was only a friend.
As Theresa waited for Reverend Landris to return she had the opportunity to ponder and stew whether or not he really loved her, but her quest for answers would have to wait as she was rudely interrupted by the arrival of the family's long-time friend Lena Patterson...a woman who Theresa despised but who knew Theresa better than Theresa knew herself. And while Theresa was questioning George's motives and desires within the week Theresa would experience some escapades that would leave her hair as well as everyone else's standing on edge...and this is only the beginning of what will happen as we travel into the new year with these characters.

Promises Beyond Jordan was a wonderfully written book. I was a little hesitant about reading this book because I had heard mixed reviews about the author's first book which initially I chose not to read. Well, let's just say that word of mouth and reviews are just opinions and sometimes we have to pick up a book for ourselves to see whether or not it suits our fancy. I'm glad the author contacted me and asked me to read this wonderful book...it was a page-turner, engrossing, compelling with well-developed characters and a fluid, smooth storyline. I liked how the author interwove the lives of the primary characters and placed them in real and believable situations. I especially liked the angle that Davis Griggs used to portray the minister; it was refreshing to read about a pastor who led by example and was a man of strength and integrity. I liked that Promises Beyond Jordan was a wholesome read without much profanity or lewd sexual scenes yet the author still managed to pen a story that kept me on the edge of my seat as I uncovered shocking plot twists and turns that made me LOL, wanna slap someone and then in the next second want to hug someone. Vanessa Davis Griggs gives us a spirited and drama-filled read with Promises Beyond Jordan. I really enjoyed the author's writing style and plan to go back and read her debut novel The Rose of Jericho so that I can determine for myself whether or not I like it.