Samson [Paperback]

Jacquelin Thomas (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: May 25, 2010

Samson Taylor has just been installed as assistant pastor at a thriving North Carolina church. He’s a man of God—and most definitely no saint. Handsome and charismatic, Samson is controlled by his lust for beautiful women, a weakness that stirs up trouble, heartache, betrayal, and damaging rumors—and soon costs him his marriage, his best friendship, and even his new job. Samson loves God and tries harder than ever to keep his temptations in check. Then he meets Delinda. . . .Beautiful, irresistibly sexy, and married to a famous NBA star, Delinda has Samson head-over-heels in love . . . in a dangerous affair that leads to a physical confrontation with Delinda’s husband.Now, the disgraced pastor begins a journey he could never have anticipated, where his heart is now his guide—not a heart of lust, but of new wisdom and a new kind of seeing. God will forgive Samson’s past—but will Samson himself be able to let go of bitterness and regret, and find a new light in his life?Inspired by the Biblical tale of Samson and Delilah, Jacquelin Thomas powerfully portrays a modern-day pastor’s dance with earthly desires . . . and the faith that made him whole.

Editorial Reviews

Review

 “This is not a 'nice' book, but it comes by its anger and melancholy honestly, and it makes sense of much that is puzzling about our cultural moment.”  

—Jonathan Franzen --This text refers to the Kindle Edition edition.

About the Author

Jacquelin Thomas is the national bestselling and award-winning author whose many adult novels include Defining Moments, Saved in the City, Soul Journey, A Change Is Gonna Come, The Prodigal Husband, and Singsation. Her short fiction is featured in the Pocket Books anthology Have a Little Faith. A driving force in the world of Christian fiction, she is the founder and producer of the annual Faith-Based Arts Conference, an event showcasing authors in the field.

Visit her website at www.jacquelinthomas.com.

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Paperback: 288 pages
• Publisher: Gallery Books; Original edition (May 25, 2010)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1439109400
• ISBN-13: 978-1439109403
• Product Dimensions: 8.2 x 5.3 x 0.8 inches
• Shipping Weight: 8 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.2 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (28 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #635,395 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

13 of 13 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Another Wonderful Story, May 23, 2010

By 

Rhonda McKnight "Legacy Editing" (Atlanta, GA United States) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Samson (Paperback)

National bestselling author Jacquelin Thomas has hit it again with Samson, putting a modern spin on the biblical story of Samson and Delilah. It has all of the elements of the biblical tale--love, betrayal and redemption.

Despite major lifestyle differences, and against the wishes of his family, fifth generation pastor Samson Taylor marries beautiful Savannah Keys, the former girlfriend of his best friend. The union of Samson and Savannan brings 2 Corinthians 6:14 to modern times ("Do not be unequally yoked with unbelievers"). Samson feels that Savannah is going through a phase, and will eventually come around to his way of thinking. Savannah, on the other hand, has made it clear from the beginning that she has no intentions of changing. Samson tries to make his marriage work, but the lifestyle differences are too much, and eventually the marriage succumbs.

Samson loves God, but is fighting his lust for beautiful women, a trait he inherited from his father. He fights hard not be like his father, because his father's love of women ultimately took the lives of both his parents, leaving Samson in the very capable hands of his aunt and uncle. The more Samson fights to be different from his father, the more like him he really is.

Ms. Thomas is featuring everyday people, facing everyday problems. Samson was very engaging and I was eager to see what was going to happen next. The book was very easy to read and the characters and situations were believable, especially Aunt Hazel. I would highly recommend that you add Samson at the top of your summer reading list.

Reviewed by Deniece C. Shelman

About the Reviewer

Deniece Shelman is a member of SistahFriend Book Club and the Site Leader for the Greenwood, SC branch of the club.

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Modern day Samson, May 27, 2010

By 

Donnica Carter "AKA DCSquared" (Marietta, GA United States) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)   

This review is from: Samson (Paperback)

Charmingly handsome, Samson Taylor is trying to control his unhealthy desire for women in SAMSON by Jacquelin Thomas. He has just become the assistant pastor to his uncle's church. He wants nothing more than to live up to his aunt and uncle's expectations and be that man of God he has been called to be. But the temptation of women is so strong, Samson allows it to ruin his marriage, his relationship with his best friend, and ultimately his career in the pulpit.

Trying to get his life together after all of the deception and lies, Samson takes a sabbatical. It is short lived when there is an emergency at the church and he is called back home. Samson is determined to turn his life around and truly live for Christ. All is well until he meets Delinda who is an unhappily married to a basketball player. Samson's old self resurfaces and he once again finds himself intertwined in a web of deception. After a confrontation with Delilah's husband, Samson is left to deal with where his action have led him. Will he be able to forgive himself and finally walk in the light Christ has called him to?

Thomas carefully crafts a new-age story of Samson and Delilah. She places this story in modern times and it is totally relevant. She has lessons, bible verses, and snippets of sermons, but the book does not come off as preachy. I love how the story captures you from the very beginning. I highly recommend this book.

This book was provided courtesy of the publisher.

Donnica Copeland

APOOO BookClub

Sista Talk Book Club

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Strength In Weakness, August 3, 2010

By 

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

This review is from: Samson (Paperback)

Samson Taylor has accepted his calling into the ministry and installed as the assistant pastor at his uncle's church. He comes from a long line of ministers, including his father. His parents were tragically killed when he was young and Samson will never forget the argument that led to their deaths. His dad was a philanderer and his mother had taken all that she could stand. Samson loves women and has dated several throughout his teen and college years. His reputation as a ruthless player far surpasses him and he prays his lust will be an area that he will be able to suppress as a pastor.

When Samson meets Savannah Keys, she's dating his best friend, Trey. Unable to control the feelings she invokes in him, he pursues and wins her. He hastily marries her much to the surprise of his family considering she is not a Christian. The union creates a rift in his friendship with Trey and causes concerns for his aunt and uncle. The marriage is short-lived and subsequent decisions Samson makes, while driven by lust, only compounds the problems he has within himself and his ministry. A debilitating event occurs which causes Samson to rely on God, not his looks and his love of women, to get by.

SAMSON is a quick and engaging read that is similar to the story of Samson in the Bible. The character's flaws led him into situations which felt right to him but was weakening his spirit. He wasn't able to gain back his strength until he was totally dependent on God. Very well-written and very entertaining as it draws you into Samson's journey of spiritual maturity. This is a great book that I highly recommend.

Reviewed by Paula Henderson

of The RAWSISTAZ(tm) Reviewers