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 Jezebel by Jacquelin Thomas
My rating: 3 of 5 stars
Jezebel, by Jacquelin Thomas is a contemporary look at a popular biblical story, detailed in I and II Kings. In Thomas’s story, 18 year-old Jessie Belle Holt, who has an unexplainable, mesmerizing power over men, sets her sights and prowess on a young minister who fills in for his ailing father at a small town revival. Traynor Deveraux, is a true man of God, but falls for Jessie Bell, quick and hard. The two marry and set-off for their new life together in Atlanta.
If you are familiar with the biblical story of Jezebel, you know that she was cunning and spiteful and would stop at nothing, including murder, to get what she wanted. I’m not so sure that the modern day Jessie Bell measured up to her nemesis, but she was definitely someone to be reckoned with, nonetheless. She was materialistic to a fault, and did covet the lives of others. Her goal in life was to take her simple, God-fearing husband, and turn him into a powerful minister who would one day preside over a mega-church, and a religious organization. No matter whom she had to trample over to get it done.
I get what Thomas was trying to accomplish and I applaud the storyline. But that is where my appreciation for this book ends. Professor Peterson, at the University of South Florida, would probably faint if she learned I had said this; but, there was too much telling, and hardly any showing. Okay I said it. I finally get what it means Professor Peterson. Reading the book was difficult at times and I found myself skimming over pages. The characters lacked depth and were underdeveloped. The author presented scenarios, one after another, that were unrealistic, and before one character was properly disposed of, the story moved into the next set of deception with a new set of victims. It was just a far stretch for me to believe that a first lady could run a prostitution ring, have mafia like tendencies, and her husband, a smart anointed man of God, dismiss it all with the acceptance of the same half-hearted apology.
There were many things that annoyed me about this book, but to list them all would require spoilers. If you love fast-paced drama with a female villain kicking butt and taking names, you will probably love this book. But if you want a little more substance to your novels, you may be disappointed with Jezebel. By the time I reached the last page, I didn’t care that Jessie Belle had met her match in another Jezebel; and ultimately received her just reward. I’ve heard a lot of praise for the author, so maybe I will give another one of her books a try…perhaps one that was written after this one.
Much Love,
Tracy
Tracy L. Darity is the author of He Loves Me He Loves Me Not! and Love…Like Snow In Florida on a Hot Summer Day. For more information visit: www.TracyLDarity.com.
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