Synopses & Reviews
In her riveting second novel, ReShonda Tate Billingsley -- winner of the Gold Pen Award for Best New Author for My Brother's Keeper -- crafts a bold and heartwarming story of family and faith that will inspire readers everywhere. Reverend Simon Jackson has always felt destined to lead and he's done a good job of it, transforming his small Houston church into one of the most respected and renowned in the region. But while the good Reverend's been busy tending his flock, his family's gone astray. His nineteen-year-old daughter, Rachel, gives new meaning to "baby mama drama." Crazy in love with her son's father, she's wreaking havoc on the man's life, even though he's about to marry another woman. David, Simon's oldest at twenty-seven, has been spiraling downward ever since a knee injury ended a promising football career. These days he's seeking solace in drugs -- even feeding his habit by stealing church offerings. Blessedly, twenty-three-year-old Jonathan, a college graduate and the apple of Simon's eye, is poised to take his father's side as associate pastor -- or so everyone thinks.
Loretta has been a devoted wife to Simon, but she's beginning to realize that enabling him to give more to the church than to his children was her biggest mistake. As things begin to fall apart and secrets are revealed, will Loretta be able to help her husband reunite their tattered family before it's too late?
Let the Church Say Amen is a powerful journey through one family's trials -- and a remarkable story of reconciliation and love.
Synopsis
In this emotionally compelling novel from award-winner ReShonda Tate Billingsley, a beloved reverend must choose between his congregation and his family. Reverend Simon Jackson knew from an early age that he was destined to lead. And he's done a pretty good job at it, transforming his small church into one of the most renowned in the South. Too bad he hasn't had the same luck with his family. His nineteen-year-old daughter Rachel--a rebellious mother of two--is head-over-heals in love with her son's father, even though he's engaged to another woman. David, Simon's oldest son at twenty-seven, was once a promising football player until his career was cut short by a knee injury. Now he seeks solace in drugs. Then there's twenty-three-year-old Johnathan, Simon's pride and joy, a college graduate who is poised to take his father's side as associate pastor. But Johnathan hides a secret that could threaten everything Simon believes is right. Through it all, Lorretta has been the devoted wife to Simon. And as their family falls apart, she must get him to embrace his hearth and home as he has never done before. Full of the all the palpable joy, grief, and soulful characters readers expect from this popular author, Let the Church Say Amen is vintage ReShonda Tate Billingsley.
Synopsis
Award-winning author ReShonda Tate Billingsley delivers a bold and heartwarming story of family and faith about a man who has succeeded as a reverend and failed as a father.
Reverend Simon Jackson has always felt destined to lead and he's done a good job of it, transforming his small Houston church into one of the most respected and renowned in the region. But while the good Reverend's been busy tending his flock, his family's gone astray. His nineteen-year-old daughter, Rachel, gives new meaning to "baby mama drama." Crazy in love with her son's father, she's wreaking havoc on the man's life, even though he's about to marry another woman. David, Simon''s oldest at twenty-seven, has been spiraling downward ever since a knee injury ended a promising football career. These days he's seeking solace in drugs--even feeding his habit by stealing church offerings. Blessedly, twenty-three-year-old Jonathan, a college graduate and the apple of Simon's eye, is poised to take his father's side as associate pastor--or so everyone thinks. Loretta has been a devoted wife to Simon, but she's beginning to realize that enabling him to give more to the church than to his children was her biggest mistake. As things begin to fall apart and secrets are revealed, will Loretta be able to help her husband reunite their tattered family before it's too late?
Let the Church Say Amen is a powerful journey through one family's trials--and a remarkable story of reconciliation and love. When things are down to the wire will Reverend Simon Jackson choose to fight for his family or the congregation?
About the Author
ReShonda Tate Billingsley is the #1 national bestselling author of numerous novels for adults, as well as the Good Girlz teen series. She has won many awards for her journalism and fiction, including the Nova Lee Nation Award from the Greater Dallas Writing Association, the prestigious Gold Pen Award for Best New Author for her first novel, My Brother’s Keeper, and the NAACP Image Award for Outstanding Literary Work—Fiction for Say Amen, Again. Her short fiction appears in the story anthology Have a Little Faith. She is also the author of the nonfiction book Help! I’ve Turned Into My Mother. ReShonda welcomes readers to her websites at ReShondaTateBillingsley.com.