This Fire Down in My Soul [Hardcover]

J. D. Mason (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: April 3, 2007

When Faylene Watkins begins counseling women of her husband’s congregation at Hope Filled Christian Center church, three women teach her the perils of love, sex and obsession. Choir girl Elise thinks she’s found a good man in Jay, a truck driver who came blowing into her life one sultry night. Irresistible and sensual, he’s caught up in romancing Elise. However, when she’s ready for happily ever after, he realizes that he can’t just walk away from his wife and two children. And Elise just can’t seem to let him go. Everyone knows that singles ministry leader Renee is full of herself. When she starts her latest interior decorating project, she thinks her client’s husband is hot, and together, they’re on fire. Meanwhile his wife wants to be friends, and it’s not long before a twisted game starts to unravel. For twenty-five years Tess’s life revolved around her unfaithful husband (who sits on the deacon’s board) and their two wonderful sons. But now the kids have left the nest and Tess wants to spread her wings. While busy seeking her first job and creating a new social life outside the church, Tess meets a new man—a most forbidden man—who rides into the picture to rock her world off its steady axis.  All the while, First Lady of the church and counselor, Faye is keeping a secret of her own that is much deeper than any one of them could ever imagine.

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

The ladies of Hope Filled Christian Center spend more time serving other women's husbands than they do serving the Lord in Mason's fourth novel, a soap opera–like tale about the bad choices smart women make for love and companionship. Holier-than-thou Faye Watkins is married to the pastor of one of the largest churches in Dallas. She has a psychology degree and counsels the women of her husband's church, mostly about their problems with men. Among her charges is Renee Turner, a bohemian interior decorator who leads the church's singles' ministry. Renee breaks a long romantic dry spell with a client's husband, which has some negative consequence. Elise Clayton, a choir member and real estate agent, would do anything to get Jay, a married-with-kids truck driver, to leave his wife. And newly empty-nested Tess Martin wishes she had the strength to leave her philandering husband, Jesse, a church deacon who sleeps with everyone but her. Readers of commercial African-American fiction who haven't yet discovered Mason would do well to pick up this steamy cautionary tale. (Apr.)
Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

From Booklist

Mason's contributions to African American literature have dealt with life's problems head-on: leaving an abusive husband (And on the Eighth Day She Rested, 2001); running from a painful past (One Day I Saw a Black King, 2003); and facing unrequited love and suicide (Don't Want No Sugar, 2004). And her latest book is no exception. The women characters, all of whom attend Hope Filled Christian Center Church, have marital problems. Renee Turner, who leads the singles ministry, is an interior decorator who has sex with a client's husband. Elise Clayton, who sings in the choir, discovers that Prince Charming is married-with-children. Tess Martin's husband is a church deacon, but he's been unfaithful for years. "Dr. Faye" Watkins, who counsels these women, has her own issues. Her preacher husband [...] embarks on an affair[...] Emotionally gripping, this book will appeal to a wide spectrum of readers. Shelley Mosley
Copyright © American Library Association. All rights reserved

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Product Details

• Hardcover: 384 pages
• Publisher: St. Martin's Press; 1st edition (April 3, 2007)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0312326467
• ISBN-13: 978-0312326463
• Product Dimensions: 8.3 x 5.7 x 1.3 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 3.9 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (29 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,461,548 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

8 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Faithlessness, Here, There and Everywhere (3.5), April 1, 2007

By 

Angelia Menchan "acvermen.blogspot.com" (Florida) - See all my reviews

This review is from: This Fire Down in My Soul (Hardcover)

This Fire Down In My Soul by J.D. Mason is a literary departure from her earlier books. This novel has a contemporary, erotic edge. The story focuses on four women who attend Hope Filled Christian Church. Faylene Watkins, the pastor's wife is a sanctimonious sister with a psychology degree who provides counseling services at her husband's church. While she counsels other women, her husband, Reverend Teddy is involved elsewhere. Elise Clayton is a real estate agent, and choir member, embroiled in an affair with a married trucker. Though Elise should know better, she believes her married lover is the one. Renee Turner, an interior decorator and lead of the singles ministry, is not looking for a man, though she surely wants one. She discovers that decorating can have fringe benefits. She also finds there is no `Free Love', there is always a price. Tess Martin has been faithfully married to Deacon Jesse for over twenty years while he has had a series of affairs. Tess has played the long-suffering wife for years too long, now she is interested in getting her groove back. What she discovers is revenge is not always sweet.

This Fire Down In My Soul explores how easy it is for a man to get caught up in an outside relationship, and how easy it is for a woman to follow her heart when her mind is telling her otherwise. This age-old story does not have many new twists, but being told from the angle of the women as being involved church members, explores new territory. It proves people are just people, in the church or out. I enjoyed The Fire Down In My Soul, but I would have loved male characters who were not cheating or a female character who listened to her head, and not always her libido or heart.

This Fire Down In My Soul is a recommended read for J.D. Mason fans, and readers interested in a contemporary, fast-paced, contemporary read, with an unexpected ending.

Angelia Menchan

APOOOBookClub

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars This catches your attention from the very start!, May 14, 2007

By 

Nichole James "Waiting To Exhale Book Club" (Colorado) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: This Fire Down in My Soul (Hardcover)

This was my first read by J.D Mason, and immediately after I finished This Fire Down In My Soul, I wanted to purchase and start another by J.D.

While reading I found myself laughing, and screaming with and at the

so-real characters. She created characters so believable that everyone will be able to relate to, seeing themselves or someone. J.D has a way of taking you into the minds, heart and souls of these characters making you believe (while reading) you really know them.

You won't want to put this one down.

Fast, entertaining, thought provoking read!

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Another Great Read By Another Great Author, May 2, 2007

By 

Tiffany "Shoe & Book Connoisseur" (Maryland) - See all my reviews

This review is from: This Fire Down in My Soul (Hardcover)

I absolutely enjoyed this book. JD Mason has become one of my favorite authors. I love her style of writing.

This book is about the complexities of marriage, relationships, and choices. It's about 3 married couples and their mistresses and mister. It's hard for me to write a review without mistakenly telling the story. This book, as well as the author's previous books are well worth reading.