Sinners & Saints [Paperback]

Victoria Christopher Murray (Author), ReShonda Tate Billingsley (Author)

Book Description

Release date: January 10, 2012

TEAM JASMINE or TEAM RACHEL?

Bestselling and award-winning novelists Victoria Christopher Murray and ReShonda Tate Billingsley bring their favorite heroines together in a novel that will delight their legions of fans.

Jasmine Larson Bush and Rachel Jackson Adams are not your typical first ladies. But they’ve overcome their scandalous and drama-filled pasts to stand firmly by their husbands’ sides.

When a coveted position opens up—president of the American Baptist Coalition— both women think their husbands are perfect for the job. And winning the position may require both women to get down and dirty and revert to their old tricks. Just when Jasmine and Rachel think they’re going to have to fight to the finish, the current first lady of the coalition steps in . . . a woman bigger, badder, and more devious than either of them.

Double the fun with a message of faith, Sinners & Saints will delight readers with two of their favorite characters from two of their favorite authors.

Editorial Reviews

Review

"Double the fun, with a message of faith, Sinners & Saints will delight readers with two of their favorite characters from two of their favorite authors. It’s a match made in heaven!"--Grace Magazine

"Murray and Billingsley keep things lively and fun."--Juicy magazine

About the Author

Victoria Christopher Murray is the author of nine Essence bestselling novels, including Too Little, Too Late and Lady Jasmine. Winner of the African American Literary Award for Fiction and Author of the Year, she splits her time between Los Angeles and Washington, D.C. Visit her website at VictoriaChristopherMurray.com.

ReShonda Tate Billingsley is the #1 national bestselling author of numerous novels for adults, as well as the Good Girlz teen series. She recently won the NAACP Award for Outstanding Literary Work for Say Amen Again. She is also the author of the nonfiction book Help! I've Turned Into My Mother.

Product Details

• Paperback: 288 pages
• Publisher: Touchstone; Original edition (January 10, 2012)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1451608152
• ISBN-13: 978-1451608151
• Product Dimensions: 8.3 x 5.5 x 0.7 inches
• Shipping Weight: 8.8 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.4 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (86 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #233,008 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Victoria Christopher Murray is the Essence bestselling author of the novels Truth Be Told, Joy, and Temptation. Visit her at www.victoriachristophermurray.com. She lives with her family in Inglewood, California.

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

9 of 9 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Which One are You January 10, 2012

By Readers Paradise VINE™ VOICE

Format:Paperback

The head of the ABC is stepping down, and the competition is fierce! But, two candidates stand out in the crowd.

Pastor Hosea Bush, and Lady Jasmine Larson Bush, are the leaders of City of Lights Church.

Pastor Lester Adams and his wife Rachel Jackson Adams are the leaders of New Hope Baptist Church. Both men are Holy Ghost proud to be chosen to represent their region.

But these two saved women of God with their less than holy pasts, have decided that their husbands should become the new ABC president, by any means necessary!

These women underhandedly try to sabotage the other, to get the attention and favor of the current 1st lady.

But when one stunt is taken too far, and questions arise about certain supporters; who will drop out, who will win, or is there another candidate lurking in the wings? What lengths would you go to?

Come along on this scandalous side of Christianity, and ride this road to victory, and find out who really is a Saint or Sinner!

This was a great read, these characters really showed out; I laughed and got mad and enjoyed recognizing a certain pastor that was mentioned. It kept me interested til the end. You'll never know the lengths people will go for a taste of power!

Great job ladies, I look forward to your next collaboration!

A complimentary copy of this book was provided by the publisher for the purpose of this review.
(read and reviewed November 28th, 2011)

8 of 8 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Dramatic. Suspenseful. Fun. January 10, 2012

By Monique VINE™ VOICE

Format:Paperback

Both Jasmine Cox Larson Bush and Rachel Jackson Adams' husbands are pastors. Both of their husbands are in the running to be nominated as pastor of the American Baptist Coalition - which would make one of those ladies one of the most important Christian "First Ladies" in America. And each of the woman wants their husbands to win - not because he's the best pastor for the job, but because she is the best First Lady for the job. See the problem here? LOL

The antics are over-the-top crazy, but it's very interesting to see how this competition plays out. What was really excited me was that the authors took turns writing the chapters from their characters point-of-view. See, Murray wrote every other chapter from Jamine's perspective and Billingsley wrote the other chapters from Rachel's perspective. I just find it amazing that one would write a chapter, pass it along to the other, and then the other author would write the next part of the story. That is some serious artistry right there. And in order to make that work - which they did with this book - they had to really work together. It's apparent that they work well as a team.

The ending was surprising, too. I read the book in 24 hours because it was just that good. Having said that, I hope to never meet First Ladies like these two women - apparently you can take the woman out of the hood, but you can't take the hood out of the woman - no matter how long it's been since she's been there.

Good reading.

Disclosure: I received a review copy of the book to facilitate my review. The opinions expressed above are my own. As usual.

7 of 7 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Team Jasmine or Team Rachel ? January 10, 2012

By Urban Reviews VINE™ VOICE

Format:Paperback

Well...all I can say is Jasmine Bush and Rachel Adams are not your average First Ladies. They both have had shady pasts, and they've beaten the odds and have become better women for it. At least, that's what we thought. When the President of the American Baptist Coalition is retiring and both Rev. Lester Adams and Pastor Hosea Bush are nominated, Jasmine and Rachel decide they both deserve the prestigious title of First Lady of ABC. When both ladies think they have to fight dirty to win, they underestimate the current first lady of the coalition. She's a first lady that's bigger, badder, and has more tricks up her sleeve than both Jasmine and Rachel put together. So, who will come out on top?

Sinners & Saints is one of the best collaborations of authors I've ever seen. Both Reshonda Tate Billingsley and Victoria Christopher Murray are two of the best authors. I've always enjoyed reading their novels, and that's because they never disappoint. In Sinners & Saints, they give you drama, laughter, and suspense. Also, if you have not read any novels about Rachel Adams and Jasmine Bush, you won't get lost with this one. Each author gives a brief summary of some of the mayhem that both first ladies have inflicted. You'll understand the viewpoint from both the main characters and their sub-characters. Sinners & Saints is an excellent read, and you won't be disappointed. The only decision you'll have to make is whether you're for Team Rachel or Team Jasmine.