Church Folk
Mississippi, 1963. Essie Lee Lane is a small-town girl from a humble background who doesn't take "stuff" from nobody. Yet even she isn't ready for the Reverend Theophilus Simmons, one of the South's most fiery, respected young preachers during an era of vast social change. Down-to-earth, caring, and oh-so-fine, he's everything Essie never thought she'd find in a man, and he realizes she is everything a pastor needs in a wife-a First Lady to share the joys and challenges of his ministry. But Essie and Theophilus soon discover that dealing with the contentious members of Theophilus's church will be no honeymoon.
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Critical Praise
"Charming…some very unexpected twists and turns…a joyful and enriching first novel."
-Bookreporter.com
"Will please churchgoing readers."
-Kirkus Reviews
"Readers will enjoy the rich glimpses into the spirit-filled African-American church of the 60s, complete with politicking, blackmail, [and] colorful dialogue.…[A] steamy morality tale with bold themes and fallible characters."
-Publishers Weekly
"The secular issues of greed, sex, misconduct, money, and politics are as evident and dangerous in the church as outside."
-Booklist
"A wise, scandalously funny, compassionate look at the wayward shepherds and lost sheep of the Black church....You will LOVE this book!"
-Marita Golden, author of The Edge of Heaven