Customer Reviews

Saved In The City

5 star:		(3)
4 star:		(2)
3 star:		(5)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

Is there a limit to what you would do to make your dreams come true? Would you be willing to relocate to a big city, not knowing anyone? Or would you be willing to live with total strangers in an effort to cut costs and focus on fulfilling your life dream? Is your dream in God's will or does he have a totally different plan for your life? SAVED IN THE CITY by Jacquelin Thomas takes readers on a journey with three strangers from different backgrounds with diverse personalities who have one thing in common, the dream of becoming a successful model.

Macy Baldwin is a typical spoiled little rich kid. Growing up in New York City, her parents have always pampered and catered to her every whim. She is selfish, not use to hard wotk, lazy and accustomed to getting her way. When she flunks out of college and her parents cut off financial support, Macy is devastated. Determined to get back at her parents and continue her wealthy lifestyle, Macy devises a plan to rent two rooms in her apartment to two strangers she meets at a casting call for models. But will Macy be able to share her living space and tone down her selfish ways in an effort to show her parents she doesn't need them? Or will she go crying back to mommy and daddy begging them to take her back?

Patterson Haney, a very beautiful southern belle has always dreamed of becoming a model. In an effort to make her dream a reality, she packs up all her things and relocates to New York City from Three Oak, Georgia. New York is a vastly different atmosphere for the small town country girl, but she is determined not to go back to Georgia. Being saved and a tad bit naive, Patterson encounters many obstacles that test her faith in the big city, but she stands firm in her beliefs and knows that through Christ she can do all things. Will the big city be too much for the small time country girl? Or will Patterson cast all her fears on the Lord in an effort to overcome all the temptations that come her way?

LaRue Arnett, a social worker who grew up with a strong spiritual foundation, is the daughter of a Baptist minister. Currently, LaRue is not on speaking terms with God, because according to her, he caused her two unnecessary heartfelt losses. LaRue has always been mistaken for a model and wants to give a modeling career a shot. She decides to quit her job and relocate to New York City from California to see what the city that never sleeps has to offer. Although LaRue has always felt God's true calling on her life, she opts to make her own dreams come true and run from God's will. Can LaRue forgive God for the losses she has encountered and turn her life over to him? Or will she continue to run inspite of what her heart is telling her to do?

SAVED IN THE CITY is a refreshing novel that delves into the heart of friendship, faith and making dreams become a reality. Find out what happens when three strangers unite and become roommates in an effort to become successful models. Can the three women live together in perfect harmony? Or will their differences hinder them from getting along? Macy, Patterson and LaRue all have very strong personalities and are very well developed, so much so that I found myself getting mad, laughing and crying with them. Thomas does an excellent job portraying the art of true friendship and displaying how although their differences should keep them apart, they in essence, are what bring them together.

Reviewed by Eraina B. Tinnin
of The RAWSISTAZ™ Reviewers

A fan of previous novels by Jacquelin Thomas, I was eagerly awaiting my copy of her latest "Saved in the City". This novel focuses on three women who meet at an open call for models in New York City and soon are on the path to friendship.

Patterson is from a small town in Georgia and has dreamed of being a model all of her life. A sheltered Southern belle who is also a strict Christian, Patterson is off to the big city to chase her dream. Patterson has the solid faith of a child that all will work out well for her. Despite her innocence, or because of it, she is soon off on her path to fame and is being pursued by a handsome New York man. Patterson's strict moral values and faith will be tested as she tries to adjust to life at the fast pace of NYC.

LaRue is a bit older and wiser than Patterson. Having survived the loss of her husband and friend in a matter of months, LaRue is angry with God and moving to New York to pursue a new life including modeling. LaRue is running from God, but still feels the tugging of the Spirit in her life.

Finally, there is the spoiled rotten Macy who has been pampered all her life. She's been in school for years jumping from major to major as her parents foot the bill for her extravagant life. After failing to graduate once again her parents have had enough. The prospect of having to fund her own lavish life style sends Macy off on a job search. Macy's desperation leads her to take them in Patterson and LaRue as roommates. Macy is facing the anger of being "dumped" by her parents and the loneliness of her life despite all the outward trappings of success and happiness.

These three women are each facing their own challenges, in addition to the challenge of their burgeoning friendship. The first two-thirds of the novel focuses in great detail on their stuttering attempts at friendships. As the characters are at times one dimensional - i.e. the innocent/naive Patterson, spoiled rich girl Macy and older and wiser LaRue - this novel really dragged on slowly for me. I was also highly distracted and annoyed by the phonetic attempts to capture Patterson's southern dialect.

Even the "climax" of the novel was a bit disappointing as everything quickly fell neatly into place for each of the characters. Not my favorite novel by Ms. Thomas, "Saved in the City" was only average for me. I did appreciate the realistic portrayals of these ladies struggles to walk in Christianity and the accountability and support they showed for each other in this regard. That was the saving grace for this novel by Ms. Thomas.

Jacqueline Thomas' latest novel SAVED IN THE CITY focuses on three very different women who meet at an open call for models in New York City. Soon these women are on the path to friendship, excitement and spiritual maturity.

Patterson is a Georgia peach who has dreamed of being a model all of her life. Patterson has led a life thanks to the strict Christian upbringing she has received. Patterson soon learns that despite her solid faith, she is not prepared for the fast pace life of the city with its bright lights, loud music and slick men. Patterson's strict moral values and faith will be tested as she tries to adjust to her new life and her new friends.

Having survived the loss of her husband and friend in a matter of months, LaRue is angry with God. She too moves to New York to pursue a new life. And to run from God, who she feels has let her down. But no matter how fast she runs or where she goes, she finds that she will never be far from Him.

Finally, there is the spoiled rotten Macy who has been pampered all her life. She's been in school for years jumping from major to major as her parents foot the bill for her extravagant life. After failing to graduate once again her parents have had enough. The prospect of having to fund her own lavish life style causes Macy to take LaRue and Patterson in as roommates. Can these three very different women live peacefully together? No! Well, not at first.

Jacqueline Thomas does it again! Thomas delivers another novel that is contemporary, engaging and filled with spiritual insights. SAVED IN THE CITY follows Patterson, LaRue and Macy as they explore friendship, Christianity and personal fulfillment. Thomas created characters that were so real and personable that I found myself laughing and crying right along with them. And in the end, they realized what we all realize: While men and fashions come and go, Christ is the same yesterday, today and forevermore.

Happy Reading!

Reviewed by: Sabrina Hall for [...]and The GOOD GIRL Book Club™

The previous reviews here have already done a pretty good job of presenting the synopsis of this novel. Therefore I don't see the need to rehash on that. However, unfortunately, I didn't find this novel as appealing as the others.

It took me almost two weeks to finish this book. That was mainly because I couldn't get into it and the first 2/3 of the book was prolonged with empty chattering and had me questioning the purpose of it all. When the plot finally developed towards the end it was rather rushed and the overall tone of the book had sort of a fairy-tale theme - "Once upon a time...and they all lived happily ever after".

I was greatly disappointed with the book. I have read other Christian-based novels by Jacquelin and this is definitely not her best.

I truly enjoyed reading "Saved In the City". This book was interesting and intriguing without the slut that is found in most books. In this book Jacquelin reveals how people are not prefect yet God is forgiving and gives all a second chance. The characters are real and the story line is great.

This book moved incredibly slow. I started flipping through until something caught my eye. Also, the 3 main ladies: Macy, Patterson, and LaRue, all seemed to be missing a dimension. I could not relate to them at all.

Once upon a time there were three girls...

Macy is a native of NYC. She's a spoiled brat and after getting in some trouble her parents decide that it's time for her to make it on her own.

Patterson is a Georgian and a strict Christian. She'll meet obstacle after obstacle as she tries to adapt to big city living.

LaRue is a Californian who's harboring a lot of hurt. Though she's been told that she looks like a model, it's late in her life that she decides to make a go for it without following God.

I found this book to be a very good read because not only was it refreshing, but it was also very inspirational. Three strangers with a common goal develop into friends.

Reviewed by: Carmen

There are many expectations in the Christian world. And yes, there are those who feel the need to measure up. They want to be true to what they believe but they also want to live.

This book presents young women with real life situations that we all may have faced at one time or another in our faith walk. How do you live and still be faithful to what you believe to be the "right" way to live.

The book was well written and helped us to gear up in our beliefs.

This was a good book, but I agree with the previous reviewer comments about the book being slow paced.

This book was enjoyabe to read. It brought back to me the feeling you have when you are with your girls, your sister friends. I also found a message in this book..that we all can become close friends if we just love one another for who we are and not try to change each other. Another great read from Jacquelin Thomas.