Jessie Belle Holt grew up in rural Mayville GA, with her preacher father and her unassuming, but conniving mother. Bored with life in Mayville, and feeling she was destined for greater things, Jessie Belle seeks a way out. When a young preacher, in the person of Traynor Deveraux, comes to town to run a revival at her father's church, Jessie Belle sees her opportunity to escape the rumors and innuendos of her character in Mayville. Jessie Belle manuvers her way into Traynor's heart and he falls madly in love with her. Knowing she does not love him, she marries him. Once they leave Mayville and move to Atlanta, the real Jessie Belle shows up and the drama begins in Jacquelin Thomas' newest novel, Jezebel.
Jessie Belle knows she was put on this earth for greatness. She is relentless in her efforts to make her husband see that he also was destined for greatness. His laid back demeanor irks Jessie Belle to no end, so she takes matters in her own hands, to steer him in the right direction. Jessie Belle uses blackmail, secrets, lies and her beauty to manipulate others into doing what she wants; and what she
wants is for her husband to rise above all others and to live a life of luxury. She desires to have the biggest church, the biggest house and the finest of everything. She does not want to keep up with the Joneses, she wants to surpass the Joneses. Knowing in his heart that Jessie Belle is greedy and manipulative, Traynor gives in to her whims, even though it does not sit right in his heart. It appears as if Jessie Belle and Traynor are sitting on top of the world, but as
the scripture says, Be not deceived, for God is not mocked, whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap. (Gal.6:7)
Initially, while reading Jezebel, I was getting frustrated at how easily Jessie Belle was able to manipulate everyone without any ramifications and how quickly she was forgiven by friends and family. However, once I reviewed the story of Jezebel in the Bible, I had a better understanding of where the author was coming from.
Jessie Belle's spirit was much like Jezebel's. A domineering seductress who used her beauty and wiles to control others, yet she could not be controlled. Ms Thomas did an excellent job in taking this biblical character and transporting her into a modern day character. My only problem in reading this novel was that I had a
hard time feeling the characters' anguish and emotions when they were angry, hurt, stunned or crying out to God. That being said, I am sure Ms Thomas' fans and readers of Christian fiction will enjoy this book, I did!
Jeanette
APOOO BookClub
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Jezebel Books In Print, Audio Books.