September Book Selection: Saved and Single by Shelia Copeland

Tiffany is used to planning Los Angeles' biggest, glitzies weddings, but her own love life is pretty nonexistent. A God-fearing thirty-two-year-old virgin, Tiffany is committed to finding just the right husband to share her life with. She's had her eye on Myles, her church's sexiest, most-sought-after bachelor. But Myles's obsession with the superficial proves problematic. (In his opinion, "you can learn to love the Lord, but you can't learn to be fine.")

When flyers for a new Christian singles website are handed out after a wedding, Shay, Tiffany's younger sister, secretly posts Tiffany's profile online. Before long, Shay is using the website to get dates for herself—even though she has a boyfriend and two small children at home. Deborah, Tiffany's best friend, also gets in on the online action. She is successful, beautiful, and prides herself on her high, "Bible-centered" standards. But when Deborah meets Mr. Saved-Rich-and-Perfect online, she's not ready for his whirlwind of passion, expensive gifts...and a diamond-cluster-worth of lies.

Now, as hopes rise and fall, illusions shatter, and their personal lives are forever changed, can these three dazzling women hold on to their bond, their values—and their dreams?

About the Author

Sheila Copeland's love for the arts began at a very early age, while attending Karamu House, a nationally acclaimed performing arts center in Cleveland, Ohio. As a youngster, Copeland was an avid reader and by the age of ten had read all of the books in her local branch library. One book in particular about girls in a boarding school piqued her curiosity, and when she was 14, she received a scholarship to a private school in upstate New York. The find out more about Shelia Copeland and her books go to http://sheilacopeland.com/.

Proverbs 31: Portrait of a Godly Woman by Shelia Graham

For thousands of years, God-fearing women have looked to the noble, or virtuous (KJV), woman of Proverbs 31 as their ideal. Mary, the mother of Jesus Christ, probably had this role model of the virtuous woman in the forefront of her mind from earliest childhood. Most Jewish women did, for this poem was traditionally recited in the Jewish home every week on the eve of the Sabbath.

But what about today’s woman? Of what value can this ancient poem be to the diverse, complex life-styles of women today? To the married, to the single, to the young, to the old, to those working outside the home or inside the home, to those women with children or without children? It is more relevant than you might at first expect — although it is also too good to be true.

When we examine this ancient biblical ideal of womanhood, we do not find the stereotyped housewife occupied with dirty dishes and laundry, her daily life dictated by the demands of her husband and her children. Nor do we find a hardened, overly ambitious career woman who leaves her family to fend for itself.

What we find is a strong, dignified, multitalented, caring woman who is an individual in her own right. This woman has money to invest, servants to look after and real estate to manage. She is her husband’s partner, and she is completely trusted with the responsibility for their lands, property and goods.

She has the business skills to buy and sell in the market, along with the heartfelt sensitivity and compassion to care for and fulfill the needs of people who are less fortunate. Cheerfully and energetically she tackles the challenges each day brings. Her husband and children love and respect her for her kind, generous and caring nature.

But with all her responsibilities, first and foremost, she looks to God. Her primary concern is God’s will in her life. She is a woman after God’s own heart. Let’s examine the characteristics of this remarkable woman — a role model for Christian women today.

To read more of this article go to http://www.wcg.org/lit/bible/poet/prov31.htm

Review "Me, Myself, and HIM" by E.N. Joy

"Me, Myself and HIM" was an AMAZING tale of redemption and saving grace! E.N. Joy was superb in telling this gripping tale of a young lady, Locksie, caught in a love triangle between the seemingly “perfect” guy ,her live-in lover Dawson, and the ONLY perfect man, Jesus Christ.

Locksie was raised in the church,well, actually several churches, by her Bible bashing, oil toting “holy roller” mother Mary. In a sense of rebellion, she runs from church once she leaves for college! Since then, she has fallen in love with a fine, kind, established young man, Dawson, whom she absolutely adores. But lately, especially after her aunt Mary’s and her “coffee talks”, she has started to feel like there is something missing in her life, and even her relationship with Dawson is suffering because of it. Then one day she goes to church with her aunt, and falls in love with Jesus Christ Himself. Now the “love” that she and Dawson used to make is no match for the TRUE love that she now feels. But she is confused because she doesn’t know where that will leave them.

She is also “counseled” by her friend/client, Hannah, a mixed woman with extremely good looks, and a gorgeous husband to match. Hannah is no stranger to dilemma. Her husband, Elkan, had an affair with a client of his, (Peni), and a child was the result. Even though she has forgiven Elkan and they have “worked through” their issues,Hannah still is not convinced that her marriage is secur. Especially after she meets Drake.

Drake is a saved, righteous brother who has vowed to keep himself until he is married,and he is also Dawson’s brother. Because of his status and wealth, he has a lot of women planning to “bait” him, but he keeps sliding off the hook, until he has a fateful meeting with the extremely attractive Hannah. From the first moment he falls for her, and was heart-broken to discover that she was already married. Determined to live a Godly life, he fights his feelings for Hannah, but keeps making poor judgment calls that puts them into a few compromising situations.

I loved the book! My relationship with God increased tremendously through this book! Sometimes I would just put the book down and worship! I loved how the author interwove Biblical themes and principles into everyday situations! I would recommend this as a must read for anyone who is in an immoral relationship, or just getting out (and over) one. I give this book 10 stars…but since that would be way over our normal grading curve, 5 will have to do…lol…

Book Selection for August: "Me, Myself & Him" by E.N. Joy

“How was Locksie supposed to tell her boyfriend that she had gone off to church and fallen in love with another man…”

Locksie grew up in the church-against her will-thanks to her holier than thou mother. But now that she’s all grown-up, she’s her own woman and church is the last thing on her mind; her live-in boyfriend, Dawson, is the first. When Locksie finally decides to go back and visit church upon the invitation of her aunt, who hoped that by extending the invite, her niece would find God again, Locksie ends up finding more than she could have ever expected.


Hannah is Locksie’s friend who has issues of her own. She’s struggling to forgive her husband for the affair he had, while at the same time be a stepmother to the child who is a result of his affair. And all while the child’s mother taunts Hannah every chance she gets.

In Me, Myself & Him, the characters are torn between holding on to the person they believe is the love of their life, or having to let go for the one thing that’s missing from their life. E.N. Joy humbly enters the Christian fiction scene with a fresh, fast paced formula for those folks who ain’t been saved all their life and can relate to the struggle of walking in the word while holding onto the hand of someone in the world.


About the Author
E.N. Joy writes children's and young adult books as well as Christian fiction for adults. The executive editor for a Christian fiction imprint and a magazine columnist, she is currently working on a young adult series entitled The Soul Sisters. E.N. Joy lives in the midwest with her husband and three children. When she's not writing, she enjoys praise dancing and reading. To find out more about E. N. Joy and her books go to www.enjoywrites.com.

E.N. Joy will be joining Proverbs 31's book discussion of "Me, Myself & Him" via phone on August 26th! Check out our events calendar for the place and time!

Review for "The Ex-Files" by Victoria Christopher Murray

The Ex Files: A Novel About Four Women and Faith” is written by Victoria Christopher Murray. It tells the story of four completely different women whose lives are interwoven by “destiny” as they face the “ending” of various interpersonal and intimate relationships, and move on toward their uncertain future. The author does an outstanding job as she introduces us to four different faces of heartache: Kendall Stewart, whose husband left her for HER SISTER; Asia Ingrum, who is in involved with and has a child by an ex NBA player who suddenly decides to make it work with his wife (Who is NOT Asia); Vanessa Martin, whose husband has just committed suicide and left her with immeasurable pain and so many unanswered questions; and Sheridan Hart, the leader of the group whose husband left her for A MAN! They are brought together when they are hand selected by Pastor Ford to be apart of a Woman’s Prayer Group, wittingly called “The Ex Files”.

Throughout the story, you see how each woman’s decisions from the past still affects her in the now present. Kendall’s refusal to forgive her sister Sabrina and her ex-husband causes her to push away and close herself off to any meaningful relationship that comes her way. Her sister even comes to apologize and “face Kendall’s wrath” and is almost mowed down by her sister. It really hit home to me then how much pain both women were in as the author writes that “they looked at each other through the tears in their own eyes”. Kendall’s hard-heartedness seems to not waiver even when her father tells her that her sister is really sick, and has been diagnosed with leukemia. Kendall is the only person who can help her, but when she flat out refuses to, her father basically tells her he is done with her.

But what was impressed on me the most is that it was through an adulterous affair that her sister was even conceived. Then, when Sabrina’s mother‘s (who was white) family makes her give the child to the father (Kendall’s dad), it destroys Kendall’s mom, who eventually dies from a broken heart. Its funny that the seed that was produced in such an immoral way would go on to destroy the other woman in Kendall’s father’s life: Kendall. It saddens me that he was not more repentant on what he had done, but tried to force Kendall to forgive her sister. I think if they had stopped trying to force her to forgive her sister and her ex-husband, and just let her come around on her own, that the story would have had a happier ending than the one that it does. She does make the “effort” to save her sister’s life in the end (even though they found out that she was not a match either/Kendall found Sabrina’s mother’s other children) but the relationship between Kendall and Sabrina was not to be redeemed.

Asia, to put it mildly, was a TRIP! She was so hurt by the rejection and “betrayal” of her MARRIED lover, that she concocted a story that I saw unfolding, but still refused to believe. She used her own daughter to seek revenge on her ex…but the person she hurt the worse was her daughter. My favorite part was when she went to confront Caroline, the wife, an educated southern belle who DID NOT PLAY GAMES! I thought it was very amusing that when she went to speak with the wife, she just knew that “the news of her affair with Caroline’s husband” would just devastate her, but Caroline would just have to get over it, but when she (Asia) was the one in tears when she was told to GET OUT, she grew vengeful immediately. I never understood how people could cause other people pain but then when it comes back to them, they think the world owes them something. Wow!

Now Sheridan was a SURVIVOR! But the thing that also survived were feelings for her ex-husband (Quentin) who she thought was GAY, but now claims to be “bi-sexual”. As the story unfolds, we see that he is still very much in love with Sheridan, who is in a relationship with a younger guy who is also in love with her. However, Sheridan keeps making excuses as to WHY she could not marry him. Everyone (including her ex) knows the real reason is because she is still in love with Quentin, but she didn’t admit it until it was almost too late. Now, she has to make the choice of whether to move on or to let go!

Vanessa’s story saddens me. I think she had been battling with depression since a very early age. I feel her marriage helped mask it, but when her “fix” was no longer around, she could no longer deal with the pain she had truthfully been feeling for years. I think it may have even went deeper with her own father’s untimely death. I think her resentment and impatience with her mother’s being “too emotional and dramatic” shows that she doesn’t deal with issues. She covers them, and resents anyone who gets too emotional or would “force” her to live through the pain. I also think she had self-esteem issues that hid behind long skirts and an out dated hair do. Her death disturbed me because there were so many signs, but no one caught them.

Overall, it was a really touching and well-written book. I encourage anyone who wants to get lost in a world of fiction to read it! You will enjoy it. Proverbs 31 rating is 4 stars. Until next time ladies…

BE A WITNESS FOR THE LORD AT ALL TIMES, AND IF NECESSARY, USE WORDS.

GOD BLESS!!!!
J Hall

The Ladies of Proverbs 31 have been Hot and Sizzling this July!!!

The ladies of Proverbs 31 have been busy this month! And we have enjoyed every minute of fun. We attended the 1st Annual White Party sponsored by Black Diamonds Book Club Distinguished Gentlemen on July 10th held at the Fort Shepherd Armory in Montgomery, AL. The ladies of Proverbs 31 showed up and showed out!(see picture: Left to right; Regina, Carolyn, Chelsa, Nicole, Alesha, and Jona) We had a wonderful time and truly enjoyed partaking in the all you could eat food and drink menu. We look forward to attending Black Diamonds Book Club's Annual Black and White Ball coming in January 2011. Look out for future updates for the date of this event!


Of course the fun didn't stop there! The Preacher's Kid was our movie selection for our movie night this month and we also celebrated member Regina's birthday. We had a wonderful time watching the movie and we ate waaaay too much of the delicious food that everyone brought. We started watching a second movie but were too tired and stuffed to complete it. I'm sure you can tell that we had a great time this night as well. Proverbs 31 favorite quote from the movie was, "I was platinum before you knew what a demo was!!!" Okay you'd have to have seen the movie to get it. LOL

And last night was our book club discussion of the book "The Ex-Files" by Victoria Christopher Murray. Keep an eye out for updates for a review of the book. All the ladies loved the book! This meeting was held at local restaurant Smoothies N Things, which is a small but cozy place with comfortable couches and great music. This spot was the perfect place for a book club meeting. We enjoyed the Happy Hour menu and the appetizer of choice for the ladies were the tasty chicken quesadillas and wings. Owner, Darian O. Clark, topped off our night by giving each member a slice of delicious cheesecake and for free!!! You should check out this great restaurant by checking out the link at www.smoothiesnthingscafe.com. We will definitely be back for another book discussion meeting.



As you can see the ladies of Proverbs 31 have been having a lot of fun and we're just getting started. We have community service projects coming up, in the process of planning fundraisers, and some giveaways. Please continue to stop by for future updates!!!! Don't forget to sign our guestbook! Have a fun and blessed weekend!!!

~ Peace & Blessings~

Chelsa

New Book Releases...Get your copy today!

1.Inconvenient Friend by Rhonda McKnight
In stores August 1! Pre-order your copy now!



2.Sins of the Mother by Victoria Christopher Murray
In stores now!


3.Holy Rollers by ReShonda Tate Billingsley
In stores now!


4. A Woman's Revenge by Rhonda McKnight, Sherri Lewis, and
Tiffany L. Warren
Available now!


5.Samson by Jacquelin Thomas
In stores now!


6.Flaws and All by Shana Burton
In stores now!