Customer Reviews

Selling My Soul (Urban Christian)

5 star:		(15)
4 star:		(9)
3 star:		(2)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

Selling My Soul is the long awaited sequel of Sherri L. Lewis's debut novel, My Soul Cries Out. Trina "Tree" Michaels has returned from Mozambique, Africa; where she has lived as a missionary for two years. Besides returning to a more fast-paced, technology dependent, and wasteful society, Tree returns to find all is not as she had left it. The first headlines she sees in the newspaper, right there in the airport, brings memories of an unhappy time for her best friend, Monica. She realized how much she had missed her friend, but most of all she had missed her mother and her sister, Tiffany.

Tree had kept in contact with her family as best she could while in Africa. However, her family could not say that they had always kept her abreast of everything that was going on in their lives. Tree was not only returning to an environment she no longer felt connected to, but she was also returning to changes in the lives of the people she loved. Her mother was diagnosed with cancer and Tree felt she needed to take care of her. She also needed to take care of get caught up in her own financial debacle. All the plans she had made in her mind before returning to Washington were crumbling before her. She so desperately wanted to head back to Mozambique, but that now seemed like a dream that would never come to pass. Tree's life was slowly unraveling and she had to make certain decisions that might her soul. What price would she have to pay to put everyone's life back in order? Could Tree live with her decisions?

I must admit the only book of Lewis's I have not read is her debut novel. Now more than ever before, I want to read it. No, it has nothing to do with me feeling as though I was missing some thing. My desire to read it is so I can read more about the characters that I enjoyed and my curiosity of such a strong subject matter. Lewis wrote a story unveiling controversial issues within the church. I take my hat off to her for being so bold. I recommend Selling My Soul and any of Lewis' previous works to readers of Christian fiction; this is not the preachy stuff but deals with real life issues.

I received this book for review purposes from the publisher.

Jennifer Coissiere

APOOO BookClub

The last we heard from Trina Michael's she was in Africa doing mission work. Now, it's two

years later and she has returned to the United States, though her heart remains in Africa. Upon

her return, instead of a happy homecoming, she finds things in disarray. Her mother is seriously

ill, her sister has been living in her home and not taking care of business, her best friend Monica

is pregnant and she is having a hard time getting reaclimated to the fast-paced city life. Worse

of all, her finances dictate that she get a job and get one quickly. Trina prays for a job, then on a

whim, calls her former employer and fnds out her old job is available. Is this job the answer to

her prayer? Trina accepts the position and finds herself in the midst of a big scandal. She starts

to think that maybe she did not really hear from God. This job that is supposed to be a

lifesaver, just may destroy the life of her best friend. Trina needs a shoulder to lean on, but the

broad shoulder she craves is still in Africa and she is reluctant to ask for help.

In this novel, Selling My Soul, the author explores several topics surrounding faith and trust.

Trina has seen God's miraculous healing power while in Africa and truly believes that her mother

can be healed, but her mother does not want any part of God and the church. She loves Gabe

and he is her soulmate, but she has to learn to let go of all the negative thoughts surrounding

men that her mother instilled in her. Most of all, even though she is required to work with

Bishop Walker and the church, she has to trust that God will move in His own time.

Lewis pens an excellent novel that kept me turning the pages to see what was going to happen

next. It seemed like Trina carried a heavy burden and everytime she thought she would crack,

God shows up. As with all the previous novels by Ms Lewis, I really felt like I was ministered to

and ended up being encouraged. This is another good story that I highly recommend.

Jeanette

This book (ARC) was provided courtesy of the author.

Selling My Soul picks up where My Soul Cries Out left off. All the wonder characters have returned and we get another great awesome view of how God works in mysterious ways. Having said that this book in some parts does become a tad bit predictable but at the same time, for the most part it is not. You just might be on the edge of your seat turning the pages in anticipation of what is to come. At least I was! You cannot help but wonder after reading My Soul Cries Out if Monica ever sees her best friend Trina again? Is Kevin really healed and delivered? What happens next? Order the book and find out, you will not regret it.

Trina has been in Africa for two years on a mission trip, even though she left a young man behind, Gabriel, who she has fallen in love with. She goes home for a quick visit hoping to spend a little time with her loved ones and her best friend Monica before returning back to Africa, which she has decided will be her new home.

Unfortunately, the short trip that Trina had in mind will not work for her. She arrives home to find that her mother has cancer and has been unable to pay her bills, forcing her to go back to work at her old PR firm. The company is extremely anxious for her to come back. Immediately she is given an assignment involving a church sex scandal at a mega church where the deacon and one of the associate pastors are accused of molesting boys. Trina is afraid, as she realizes that this case will trample on her life from every direction. Not to mention, Bishop Walker, the head of the church, is making things that much harder for her to deal with, even going so far as to threaten her.

Trina has strong faith, but with her moms being ill and the pressure of her job, it seems as if she's praying but not trusting the Lord to deliver her.

"Selling My Soul" was very good!!! The descriptions of Africa and the people are so vivid it made me want to pack my bags. I also really liked how Sherri Lewis showed Trina as a believer in Christ, but also showed how her faith wavered. That's something that I'm sure that many of us can attest to in certain situations.

Reviewed by: Carmen

After a two year stay in Mozambique Africa, Trina Michaels anticipates her return home to be short and sweet and flirts with the idea of soon returning to Africa where she left her heart. But once back on American soil she's faced with her mother's cancer diagnosis and a mountain of medical bills and past due house bills her sister Tiffany has racked up in Trina's absence.

Realizing that her presence is sorely needed for monetary help as well as support for her mother and Tiffany, Trina puts aside thoughts of Africa and the love she left there... Gabriel Woods.

Not being a woman to cry over spilled milk, Trina seeks out her old public relations job and careful negotiates a deal with her former boss to step back into the job on her terms. But Trina was not prepared for her first client to be Bishop Walker, who needs damage control before the errors of his associates Deacon Barnes and Pastor Hines come around to bite him.

You see Deacon Barnes and Pastor Hines have been accused of sexually molesting young boys for the past twenty years. Now they've been arrested the public and media are at an outrage asking how Bishop Walker the head of such a prestigious Mega Church didn't know what was going on...or did he?

And there's more. Due to her mothers medical bills Trina has no choice but to take on the unwanted task of damage control for Bishop Walker. But how is she going to break this news to her best friend Monica who is wife to a top gospel recording artist and former molested boy from the same church!!

Read on as Trina has to deal with her mother's impending death along with her attitude towards God, Tiffany's mysterious actions and possibly the lost of her friendship with her best friend.

I have read all prior books written by Ms Lewis and she has certainly become one of my favorites within the Urban Christian genre.

The characters here stem from a previous novel but you are deprived of nothing with Ms. Lewis premium writing skills.

This story started a little slow for me but eventually picked up pace.

That Bishop Walker is a character! Just how I'd expect someone like him to act! I loved Trina's mom, she struggled with her belief in God and I'm glad that redemption was found eventually.

A recommended read!

An advance review copy.

Locksie

ARC Book Club Inc.

Star Rating 4.5*****

Overall this was a pretty good read, however I didn't enjoy this book as much as the first in this series (My Soul Cries Out). While it kept my attention most of the time, there were some slow moments for me. I would recommend this book to others as it had a good message behind it. Put your trust in God not man. If you choose to read this book, you'll see why I say this.

This book it was a spinoff of My Soul Cries Out. The things friends have to go through in order to see what God will do if you just trust Him. If we are doing something against the will of God, the truth will eventually come out. Sometimes pastors get so caught up in the money, the prestige,and the overwhelming power of the devil, that they forget their direction and their congregation. But it is awful when a pastor says that he don't believe in God and that he has always been a smooth talker and thats how he got his church started and now he has a mega church and followers that will follow him anywhere.

I read her first book and I was completely engrossed. I had to get this one based on the reviews of others I had read on this site. I must say the same. Again, this book complemented "My Soul Cries Out" wonderfully. I'm glad the author chooses to expose such real talk topics but just leaves you with enough 'edge of your seat' feelings that you must finish the book to see how God always comes through! :)

I found this book to be tremendously well written and inspirational. It was exciting and a real page turner. I can't wait for your next novel.

REVIEW

Date: 2/22/2010

Title: Selling My Soul

Author: Sherri L. Lewis

ISBN 10: 160162848X

ISBN 13: 978-1601628480

Pages: 288

Publisher: Urban Books

Cover: Paperback

Reviewer: Yolanda M. Johnson-Bryant- Literary Wonders! ([...])

Rating: 4 Stars

Essence bestselling author Sherri L. Lewis takes her readers on a spiritual journey from the simple life of Africa to the hustle and bustle of D.C. In Selling My Soul, Ms. Lewis puts her main character Trina Michaels right in the middle of the action

After returning from a two-year mission trip in Africa, Trina comes home to find that even though some things change, some stay the same. Her sister has been living in her house and driving her car but has no job. She is shocked to find that her mother is fighting a terrible illness but had failed to hell her. She also discovers that her best friend and her husband are fighting a few demons of their own.

After succumbing to the pressure and against her spiritual will, Trina returns to her old job and lands herself in a whole heap of trouble. At Love and Faith Christian Center, it seems that the collection plate isn't the only thing being passed around and she soon finds out that the head pastor doesn't play nice. She finds herself protecting a man that she despises. She must decide if selling her soul is worth, losing her peace of mind, her family, her friends, her African Prince and her salvation with God. She must also decide if she will let generational curses destroy her spirit and her happiness and lose the love of her life.

Trina uses her spiritual wisdom and guidance to get her through this heart-wrenching story of faith and victory. Ms. Lewis' characters are true to life and leave you hanging on to every scene with anticipation which does not disappoint.

Selling My Soul touches the very hearts of those who may have, or may be going through the same situation and gives them hope that all will work out for the good of those who believe in and love God. Selling My Soul shows its readers that if you have the faith of a mustard seed, miraculous things can and will happen.

Kudos to Sherri L. Lewis for giving us so a touching a believable story!