Temptation [Hardcover]

Victoria Christopher Murray (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: September 2000

"Kyla and Jefferson Blake count their sixteen years together as a wonderful blessing from God. Their marriage is passionate, their daughter is a joy, Jefferson's medical career is prospering, and they have loyal friends.

Kyla knows her newly divorced and lifelong friend, Jasmine, is desperately unhappy and no amount of prayer or encouragement seems to help. Yet what Kyla doesn't know is that Jasmine has a plan to move her life forward with the type of man she feels she should have married in the first place.

A man like Jefferson.

Alexis Ward, Kyla's best friend, is single and successful and willing to wait for the right man for all the right reasons. But when "Mr. Right," Dr. Brian Lewis, finally appears, she finds herself facing a new challenge. Does she really have to walk away from what she believes in order to have a man in her life?

As people who love God, Kyla, Jefferson, and Alexis discover, each in their own ways, what happens when they truly allow God to be first in their relationship.

Full of contemporary characters who struggle to keep their strength, friendships, and daily lives framed by the Word of God, Temptation is a novel no reader will soon forget."

Editorial Reviews

From Library Journal

Kyla and Jefferson Blake's marriage is perfect. They have passion, love, a beautiful daughter, status as an influential African American family in Los Angeles, and a boundless faith. Unfortunately, this angers Kyla's friend Jasmine Larson, a recent divorcee. Even after Kyla gets a warning, she doesn't believe that Jasmine would hurt her until the morning she comes home from a trip to find Jasmine in her bed and Jefferson in the shower. As Kyla and Jefferson decide whether to piece their marriage together with the help of their pastor and the Lord, Jasmine schemes to steal Kyla's life for herself. An emotional, realistic look at the devastation temptation can wreak by a bright new author for this new Christian fiction imprint. For all collections.
Copyright 2000 Reed Business Information, Inc.

Review

"An emotional, realistic look at the devastation temptation can wreak."
-- Library Journal (Library Journal ) --This text refers to an alternate Hardcover edition.

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Hardcover: 353 pages
• Publisher: Warner Books (September 2000)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0446527920
• ISBN-13: 978-0446527927
• Product Dimensions: 9 x 5.9 x 1.3 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.2 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 4.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (151 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,191,775 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.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

13 of 13 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Inspiring...., December 1, 2001

By 

Phyllis Rhodes (Orlando, FL USA) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)    (REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Temptation (Hardcover)

Temptation is an extraordinary story of love, faith, friendship, betrayal, and forgiveness. It tells the story of Kyla and Jefferson Blake, their picture-perfect 16-year marriage, and their commitment to one another and also to God. Jefferson makes the mistake of sleeping with Kyla's best friend, Jasmine, showing that Christians are also faced with real trials and tribulations. The lessons of the story are illustrated in how the characters overcame this event-dealing with the issues of trust, betrayal, love, redemption, and forgiveness. The strength, belief in God, and the ability to act according to His wishes (despite desiring to do otherwise) is inspiring. This novel moved well and was paced just right.

The supporting cast of characters was balancing: Alexis and Brian both dear friends of Kyla and Jefferson begin a relationship together based on Christian values and go through their own temptations and issues, and Jasmine, the seductress, is relentless in her pursuit of Jefferson.

Murray sprinkles bible scriptures and words of love and faith to share the source of wisdom and power. It is a delightful, easy read that isn't "preachy" or condemning...in fact, I think it renews the inner spirit. This is a definite must read for Christian couples or anyone needing another's forgiveness.

12 of 13 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Totally Captivating, December 21, 2000

By 

Tee C. Royal (Boonies, AL USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Temptation (Hardcover)

How would you handle temptation if it were placed before you? This book asks that question and then continues to answer it in a story that touched my heart and strengthened my faith in the commitment of marriage. Temptation is an extraordinary story of love, faith, friendship, and forgiveness in spite of mistakes that a person may make through the course of their life. Temptation tells the story of Kyla and Jefferson and their picture-perfect marriage and their commitment to one another and also to God.

In addition to Kyla and Jefferson, we get a peek inside the windows of some of the other characters....their friends: Alexis, Brian, and Jasmine. From one scenario to another, I found myself talking out loud at the characters, smiling, and also crying as I flipped the pages of Temptation. It will take you from one situation to another in which you find yourself wondering what's going to happen next and just how strong STRONG is and how the characters will handle the obstacles faced before them. This was an easy to read book that I devoured in one sitting.

Through bible scriptures and words of love and faith, Murray writes this book in a way that will make you re-evaluate your life and your relationships with others and also with your inner spirit. This is a definite read for anyone who's ever faced temptation or one who has been placed in a situation in which someone else needed your forgiveness.

-Tee C. Royal
Founder, R.A.W. SISTAZ Book Club

7 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars All That...and then some!!, November 7, 2000

By 

Joy Fitzgerald (Memphis, TN) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Temptation (Hardcover)

It is so refreshing to read a fictional christian book. I applaud Victoria for stepping out of the typical stories we so often read about, and to write something of substance. I am so tired of reading the same tired stories by uncreative authors. This book dealt with real life issues facing many christians today.

The life of Kyla and Jefferson seemed perfect to many, including her so-called best friend Jasmine. Kyla and Jefferson appeared to have everything, mainly Jesus Christ. Because of their strong religious faith and their daily walk with God, Kyla felt her marriage was above TEMPTATION. However, love did not conquer Temptation in her marriage. This books takes you through the process of forgiveness and one's faith in God. Will Kyla be able to forgive the sin of Temptation? Does she really have enough love and trust in God to forgive completely?

This book does not have alot of twist and turns or surprises; however, the story takes you through a process that will keep your glued to the pages. One you pick up the book, you will not put it down. Kyla learns that her marriage must be tried by Temptation in order for her begin her purpose and ministry in which God had prepared for her. She learned, that in order to truly be a testimony of God, you must be tried by a storm, and Kyla's was a storm of TEMPTAION.

Keep up the good work !! Eagerly awaiting your next novel JOY!!