Customer Reviews

Sins of the Mother: A Novel

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Victoria Christopher Murray is the best selling author of several contemporary Christian novels that touch on hot topics that church people aren't too eager to disclose. Her infamous character, Jasmine Larson has been featured in three of those novels and she is certainly the character I have loved to hate. What else can Jasmine be up to this time? You would never guess.

A former stripper who has spent many years lying, stealing and sleeping with married men; she has finally settled down. She is now married to Rev. Hosea Bush, pastor of one of the largest churches in New York City. She is also the mother of two wonderful children; four-year-old Jacqueline and baby Zaya.

Jasmine seems to have finally found some peace in her life and she has grown spiritually as a person. She loves her husband and her children and life for Jasmine has come full circle.

Then comes that fateful day just when she has given her life to God. Jasmine's young daughter Jacqueline is kidnapped in broad daylight from a crowded mall in New York City at the beginning of the Christmas shopping season. Jasmine is horrified. When the days turn into weeks and the child is not found Jasmine is beside herself. Why would God let this happen to her? Her faith wanes under the pressure. As usual, Jasmine thinks it is all about her.

She completely falls apart especially when the police look into her background after someone sends an anonymous e-mail accusing her of having something to do with he child's abduction. She and her husband submit to a lie-detector test. He is cleared but Jasmine's results come up questionable.

By the second chapter; I began to wonder too, if maybe someone finally had sought revenge for some of Jasmine's dirty deeds. Would her child become the victim of her mother's past. Of course having read several of the author's novels; I was sure it was just not that easy but where was this child? Who had taken her and why?

Murray gives us a story full of complex questions. She gives us characters that are just as complex. Kidnapping and child abuse make for a difficult read. How does the mother of a missing child hold on and what if the child is never found? How do the parents move on with their lives? The author took a risk to assign these emotions to a character like Jasmine. But Murray's work is known to be risky.

As a Christian author; she knows how to stretch a Christian's faith. And this storyline bent poor Jasmine out of shape. She turned into herself in grief. I was beginning to feel sorry for her myself. But as usual, Jasmine showed she was still Jasmine. Her husband; Rev. Hosea Bush was doing all he could to comfort Jasmine and to search for Jacqui but she turns away from him. She blames him for not caring enough. She becomes as mean and as hateful as the Jasmine of her past.

The back story concerning Jasmine and Jacqueline's biological father, Brian Lewis added the fire to fuel the storyline even further. His affair with Jasmine had ended his marriage. After years of having no contact with Jasmine or the child; Brian learns of his daughter's kidnapping. Loaded down with his own emotional baggage, he takes a leave from his medical practice in California and comes to New York to help in the search. His presence added even more conflict to the story.

SINS OF THE MOTHER is a compelling read. I kept reading from chapter to chapter anxious to know how the story would end. I really think that this book is the author's best Jasmine story. The plot thickens even as the story comes to an end. The ending is climatic. I never would have guessed the spectacular finale. This novel is a very well written drama full of intense scenes and snappy dialog. Readers of Christian fiction will not be disappointed.

Disclaimer: If you're just being introduced to Ms. Murray's work, I want to emphasize that this is truly a stand alone novel.

Victoria Christopher Murray is back with another, long awaited (yes a year is a long time) novel about the infamous Jasmine Larson Bush.

Has Jasmine's past finally caught up with her? Readers of the prior books in the series almost can't help but hope so. Jasmine has been so horrible and so conniving for so many years that even the most forgiving reader would certainly expect the seeds Jasmine has planted to produce a bitter harvest. But just when you think it's time for her to pay, Victoria Christopher Murray delivers a story that leaves no room for anything but compassion; even for an anti-hero like Jasmine Larson Bush. Why are we going to have to relent? Because we meet Jasmine the mother when we lose Jacqueline, the helpless four-year-old; the combination of which make for a gripping, gut wrenching story that will literally have readers praying as they turn the pages. There's no room for anything else.

This novel is without question Victoria Christopher Murray's best work. A departure from what we've seen in the last few years, Sins of the Mother, is what I would almost call a psychological drama. Murray weaves conflict upon conflict into a mind bending story that emotionally draws the reader in beyond what you expect from a woman's fiction tale. The difference in delivery makes it an absolute stand alone read for those who haven't met this cast of characters before.

I have to admit, I have a four-year-old child myself and I had a hard time with this novel. Child abductions are tough stuff. But please don't let the subject matter scare you. There are scenes that are so spiritually uplifting that they will literally raise chill bumps; this too was a deeper layer for Ms. Murray. While true to her brand of edgy, inspirational fiction, Sins of the Mother is a character study and journey of faith. As a lover of Christian fiction, I was pleased. Fans be not deceived, Murray's ability to satisfy all is not mocked. This book is sexy with a capital "S". Brian Lewis is back and when Brian is on the scene, we can expect nothing less than heat between the sheets. Murray fans will have to read the story to find out whose fire he's putting out. My reviewer lips are sealed.

I'll close by saying I highly recommend this novel. What I appreciated most about Sins of the Mother was Ms. Murray's ability to deliver realism without abandoning hope. The characters covered the full spectrum of believable reaction. Some kept their feet planted firmly in the reality of faith, others struggled with their faith amidst the reality of humanness, but in the end, Murray reconciles all; most brilliantly.

Reviewed by Rhonda McKnight

An Advance Copy of this book was provided by the publisher.

I had missed out on reading this book before now and actually after reading a negative review or two of it, I was even more determined to read it. Maybe that is backwards a bit.....= )

Jasmine Bush has lived a sin filled life, she has turned her life around and has a beautiful daughter and baby son and serves alongside her loving husband, Hosea Bush. When her daughter suddenly vanishes, while in a friends care, at the mall, Jasmine sort of snaps, mentally. She blames her friend, refuses to let her son out of her sight and freaks out. When her daughter's biological father enters the picture to help and looks just like her daughter, she falls even deeper and farther away from where she should be. Can she come back? Can her marriage survive this? Will she get her daughter back?

This book was different. I will admit that. I was not sure what to expect. Ms. Christopher causes you to feel the passion and the temptation in this woman's life as well as her deep, deep pain in the loss of her daughter. I was troubled by the detail that was put into this book of the encounter between the estranged husband and wife. Whether or not they should have been together or not, is another discussion, but it made me uncomfortable with that much description for a christian fiction book. This was an excellent story or human beings failures, triumphs over their sin and dealing with horrible things that happen. But I would have liked to see a little more repentance. I wish Jasmine had asked some people to forgive her a little more clearly, it was implied, but not straight out. I wish that there was a little less detail of the bedroom stuff and a little less acting out what we may wish in our hearts to do, but as Christians, we should know better than to shame God in acting that way.

So, in conclusion, this book was some great writing, it is a excellent story, but if you are looking for a Christian fiction book without detailed talk of sin, keep looking.

Jasmine Larson Bush is back!!! Now a wife, mother of two, and first lady, Jasmine is sure to be on the path to a normal life. No longer is her life filled with lies, deception and betrayal. But, just when all seems to be going well, her daughter, Jacquie, is kidnapped while they are at the mall. Of course, this brings Jasmine to her knees. She does not know where to turn. She believes her husband, Hosea, cannot relate to her horror since he is not the biological father of her daughter. When Jacquie's biological father, Brian Lewis, shows up to help in the search, Jasmine believes he is the perfect solution to her pain. She senses a connection with Brian that could destroy her marriage. In SINS OF THE MOTHER by Victoria Christopher Murray, Jasmine is not sure if her past sins are catching up with her and her daughter is suffering the consequences. Will her daughter be found? Will Jasmine hold on to her faith or revert to her old ways?

Murray is a writer's writer. She is able to captivate the reader and hold your attention all the way to the end. Murray's fascinating lessons on forgiveness, love and faith make you take a look at yourself and ask what would you do in this situation? Would your faith be unwavering? Would you doubt God? Once I picked up the book, I could not put it down. I highly recommend SINS OF THE MOTHER for all lovers of the saga that is Jasmine's life. I thoroughly enjoyed it!

This book was provided courtesy of the publisher for review.

Donnica Copeland

APOOO BookClub

Sista Talk Book Club

I actually liked this book. BUt the only problem I had was that I started to get bored towards the middle. I was so happy to see how it picked back up at the end. But overall good story. I'm a mother myself, so it definitely saddens your heart.

Jasmine has been around for a while (and I use that term loosely) but there is a new Jasmine in town. Jasmine has changed her wicked ways. Now she is a loving wife, mother and friend. All was wonderful in her world until that day at the mall...the day that Jacqueline disappeared. Jasmine's life is in a tail spin and everything is out of control because her baby girl is missing. Hosea (her husband) is calling in all of his favors and making room for everyone to help find their baby. Three days into the abduction, Brian Lewis makes his way back to New York. Brian is Jacqueline's biological father but makes it clear to all that will listen that Hosea is her daddy. Will Jasmine's past make a return appearance and shatter everything she has prayed to change?

Murray ends Jasmine's story with a bang. All of Jasmine's demons make a return appearance and the pages turned so quickly for me that I was at the end before I realized it. The characters were real as we all know that even `saved church folk' act out of character when their lives are threatened. The story line did lag a bit in the middle and their seemed to be more written about Brian at times. However, even that can't overshadow the SINS OF THE MOTHER, Jasmine Larson Bush. Still one of my favorite authors, Murray knocks another story off the bookshelf and onto the bestseller list!

Note: This book was purchased expressly to support one of my favorite authors. Review was not solicited.

Deltareviewer

Reviewing for Real Page Turners

We as a book club (We Be Book'n Book Club) rated this book a 4. Ms Murray did a good job on this current day subject, which will touch your heart in ways you never thought of. The abduction of her daughter, and the inter turmoril Jasmine has to deal with and go through was heart hurting. Now Jasmine did alot of things wrong, just as she has done in the pass, like pushing her loving husband away and blaming him for something he had no control of, and not realizing that anyone that cared for her daughter (Jacquie) was going through heart hurting feelings also. The way she closed herself off to her baby son because being so desponded over the abduction. And the way she treated her best friend and blaming her. Also what was going on with her and Brian (Jacquie's biological father)?

The parts of the book about Brian and his other love, was taken much too far, as our book club (We Be Book'n) thought it could have been tampered down more. But all and all Ms. Victoria Christopher Murray has done a very good job in making you feel the emotions and personalites of her character, and making this a fine read.

Claudia from: We Be Book'n Book Club

Exploring the emotions and actions of the mother and father of a missing child is difficult at best. Victoria Christopher Murray did a commendable job creating a tale that speaks to the devestating pain of not knowing the whereabouts of a child and how it affects the lives of parents and family members. There's no denying she captured the insanity of one woman's experience: the fear, the anger, the sadness, the anxiety, the love, the worry, and the confusion that comes with not knowing.

But on another level, Jasmine Bush the protagonist in "Sins of the Mother" is not a sympathetic character. I didn't read the other books about Jasmine's journey and how she got to her place as "first lady" but the author gave just enough information to give a reader not familiar with the character a clear picture of who she was.

With that being said, I found Jasmine superficial. Her constant references to her place of importance as first lady and the trappings that come with being married to a prominent pastor was a turn off. Jasmine's anger with her friend Mae Frances was justified but she never showed her any forgiveness. I didn't see a lot of growth or change in her character but was thankful to see her realization that she needed to "bow her heart".

The storyline between Brian and Alexis was interesting but not compelling. It may have even weakened it as christian fiction.

The story was a little too melodramatic for my tastes, but I kept reading anticipating the spiritual growth and the ability to connect through tragedy and restoration. Unfortunatly, it just didn't resonate.

very good enjoyed the book. very well written by author. nothing else to say. Looking forward to reading something else by this writer

Lady Jasmine has it all, a great husband in Hosea, great children in Jacqueline and Zaya, and she's first lady of a great church. However, all of the greatness turns to bad when little Jacqueline is kidnapped. As the search for Jacqueline ensues, read how this crisis takes its toll on Jasmine, her family, and her marriage and watch Jasmine turn to the one man who really feels her pain. This is the second book I've read about Jasmine and just like the first one, this one was pretty average. Not something I'd read again or want in my library. 2.5 - 3 stars.