Synopses & Reviews
The Pastor's Wife
Most men barely survive one mother, but Terrance Ellis has three -- his aunts. His grandmother Essie's sisters -- Eva, Dorothy Mae, and Mamie -- lovingly raised him after Essie died in a tragic accident. They made sure that troubled young Terrance got on the right path and made something of his life. And now that he's all grown up and the rising pastor of Houston's Lily Grove church, the endlessly argumentative sisters agree on one thing: Terrance needs to find a wife. And not just any wife -- but the right young woman to stand beside him as First Lady of Lily Grove at the fast-approaching one-hundredth-year Christmas service.
Humble and handsome, Terrance is focused on preaching more than dating and has kindly fended off the advances of more than a few perfectly available ladies. So why, of all women, is outrageous, flirtatious Savannah McKinney drawing him in? Seeing Terrance falling under her seductive spell has got his aunts frantically matchmaking since time is running out and gossip is flying. Who will be the pastor's wife? Only heaven knows for sure...and before he finds her, some surprising and dramatic revelations are in store for Terrance, his congregation, and the three aunts who love him most in the world.
Synopsis
From bestselling author ReShonda Tate Billinglsey comes a charming novel filled with love, laughter, inspiration and drama as Pastor Terrance searches for his Mrs. Right.
Most men barely survive one mother, but Terrance Ellis has three: his aunts. His grandmother Essie's sisters--Eva, Dorothy Mae, and Mamie--lovingly raised him after Essie died in a tragic accident. They made sure that troubled young Terrance got on the right path and made something of his life. And now that he's all grown up and the rising pastor of Houston's Lily Grove church, the endlessly argumentative sisters agree on one thing: Terrance needs to find a wife. And not just any wife--but the right young woman to stand beside him as First Lady of Lily Grove at the fast-approaching one-hundredth-year Christmas service.
Humble and handsome, Terrance is focused on preaching more than dating and has kindly fended off the advances of more than a few perfectly available ladies. So why, of all women, is outrageous, flirtatious Savannah McKinney drawing him in? Seeing Terrance falling under her seductive spell has got his aunts frantically matchmaking since time is running out and gossip is flying. Who will be the pastor's wife? Only heaven knows for sure...and before he finds her, some surprising and dramatic revelations are in store for Terrance, his congregation, and the three aunts who love him most in the world.
Synopsis
Bestselling author ReShonda Tate Billingsley evokes laughter, tears, and stunningly dramatic revelations in this uplifting novel about the power of love and forgiveness.The rising pastor of Houston’s Lily Grove church, Terrance Ellis needs to find a wife. And not just any wife, but the right young woman to stand beside him as First Lady of Lily Grove at the fast-approaching one-hundredth-year Christmas service. That is according to Eva, Dorothy Mae, and Mamie, Terrance's three endlessly argumentative aunts, the strong, outspoken ladies who lovingly raised him and got the once-troubled boy on the right path after his grandmother Essie died in a tragic accident. They know the perfect mate is out there for their humble and handsome nephew. So why, of all women, is outrageous, flirtatious Savannah McKinney drawing him in? Seeing Terrance falling under her seductive spell has got his aunts frantically matchmaking since time is running out and gossip is flying. Who will be the pastor’s wife? Only heaven knows for sure. . . .
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.
Reading Group Guide
Reader's Group Guide for The Pastor's Wife by ReShonda Tate Billingsley Description
Handsome and charismatic pastor Terrance Ellis is beloved by the Lily Grove Baptist Church community. Terrance's commitment to his work leaves little time for romance and, to the dismay of his congregation and his family, he is almost thirty and still a bachelor. While the church elders and his elderly aunts vow to find Terrance a wife before the church's upcoming hundredth anniversary Christmas celebration, Terrance tentatively begins dating Savannah, a woman with a checkered past and a provocative style. As he gets to know Savannah, however, his relationship with his secretary, Raquel, begins to change in unexpected ways. One way or another, Terrance seems on his way to settling down, but the long-buried secret Savannah uncovers threatens to destroy Terrance's career and his chance at love.
Questions for Discussion
1. The church elders are extremely concerned that Terrance isn't in a relationship, going so far as to suggest hiring an actress to portray his girlfriend. Aunt Mamie says, "They think if you're thirty and single, something's wrong." Why are the elders so focused on Terrance's marital status? How is their concern different from that of his aunts?
2. Terrance's friend Monty believes that Terrance can be a father to his child without marrying the mother. Do you think Terrance's decision to marry Savannah if she is pregnant is right? Why or why not?
3. Terrance's aunt Mamie tells Savannah, "People can change. We don't believe you can." Do you agree with Mamie that some people are incapable of change? Do you think that under the right circumstances anyone can change?
4. In what ways do Terrance's shortcomings help him to be a better pastor and a better man?
5. Were Terrance's aunts right to interfere so much with his love life? Did your opinion of them change as events unfolded?
6. If you've read Billingsley's novels Everybody Say Amen and Let the Church Say Amen, you'll recognize Rachel Jackson Adams, the first lady of Zion Hill who gives a speech at Lily Grove's Christmas brunch. What parallels do you see between Savannah and Rachel? Why do you think Billingsley included Rachel in this novel?
7. What did you think about the relationship between Raquel and Dolan? Did it realistically portray the horror of domestic violence? How did you feel about the dramatic way their relationship finally ended?
8. When Terrance reveals his secret and ends his relationship with Savannah for good, Savannah says, "I just needed someone like Terrance in my life and people would stop putting me down so much....I know I try to act like it doesn't, but it hurts and I just wanted a different life." Do you have any sympathy for Savannah? Did she genuinely think a relationship with Terrance would transform her? Do you believe she will truly "find herself"?
9. How does Grandmother Florence's past influence Savannah's behavior? How is it ironic that at the end of the novel, Terrance's aunts are more forgiving than Florence?
10. What did you think about Terrance after learning the secret he'd kept for fourteen years? Do you agree that, as Eva says, "[T]his is worse than any prison [he] could've been in"? Do you believe that he has been punished enough?
11. What does this novel seem to say about the nature of forgiveness and acceptance?
Activities to Enhance Your Book Club
1. Host a cozy potluck Sunday brunch or dinner (with or without Savannah's notorious hot wings). Visit www.food network.com and prepare tasty dishes featured in the novel, such as chicken Alfredo and lasagna.
2. Tyler Perry's films contain many of the same themes found in Billingsley's books, such as spiritual awakening and humorous family drama. Host a movie night and watch the blockbusters Diary of a Mad Black Woman and Madea's Family Reunion. Cast The Pastor's Wife and discuss who you'd like to see play the characters from the novel.
3. Learn more about the author and her upcoming tours and projects at the comprehensive website www.reshondatate billingsley.com.