| Title | : | The First Ladies Club |
| Author | : | |
| Rating | : | |
| ISBN | : | - |
| Language | : | English |
| Format Type | : | Kindle Edition |
| Number of Pages | : | 280 |
| Publication | : | First published February 10, 2015 |
Whether living in a rectory, manse or parsonage, life married to a small town minister calls for faith, hope, and charity; plus heaping helpings of tact and the skin of a rhinoceros.
New to this life in the small coastal town of Bannoch, Oregon, Naidenne Davidson turns for support to her fellow ministers’ wives of The First Ladies Club.
The women share sympathy, friendship and tips on dealing with difficult church members, but when tall, shapely Naidenne catches the eye of an escaped killer, the Club goes beyond mere friendship.
Step into the quaint parlor of the drafty Bannoch Community Fellowship parsonage, nibble a Snickerdoodle, sip your tea from a chipped china cup and share the adventure. Although some scenes may be too intense for the traditional cozy, rest assured, Gentle Reader, evil gets its just desserts and good will prevail.
Part-time realtor and full-time pastor’s wife, Naidenne Davidson, is too busy coping with life in a small town church parsonage to think about her beauty, let alone imagine what sort of jealousy, envy or desire she is inspiring in the hearts of those around her.
Distracted by efforts to fulfill her new duties as unpaid pastoral assistant, Naidenne is caught off guard and no match for the sociopathic killer who abducts her, bent on living out his basest desires.
After two suspicious deaths and three disappearances in the small seaside community, law enforcement officials concentrate their suspicions on Naidenne’s husband, Scott.
Have the pressures of the pastorate driven Scott to do something terrible? Or are the authorities wasting precious time, with Naidenne’s life hanging in the balance?
When even members of Scott’s congregation begin to wonder about his guilt, can Naidenne’s friends in the First Ladies Club, help? Can these women of diverse denominations, ethnicity, cultures and ages put aside their differences and work in harmony to find her?
Old friend, Bunny Elder Banks, arrives from Texas to join the search, but is it already too late?
The First Ladies Club Reviews
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I would give this story a five-star rating starting with about Chapter 5 or 6. The story kept me engaged with a well-executed set of characters and plot lines that alternately let the reader into the lives of a wonderful group of women connected by their roles as pastor's wives, and the desperate existence of an escaped convict bent on terrorizing the people who cross his path as he tries to make his way to Canada and freedom.
The action moved along at a pace that kept me turning page after page until I got to the end. All-in-all a very satisfying read.
I had only a few concerns. In the prologue, we are pulled directly into the convict, Carver Schramm's, arrival at Pelican Bay Prison. There was a shift in tense from present to past about a quarter way in. I went back over the section, trying to understand the author's intention. I'm sure she had one, as she is obviously an experienced writer, doing so many things right. Maybe I missed her point, but nevertheless, I did miss it.
Next, it took me a while to feel the flow of the dialogue. In the first few chapters, it seemed unusually formal, especially the conversations between the prisoners. Again, I only mention this, because once I got further into the novel, it all seemed very natural. I ended up loving the main characters, and really hating the antagonist, which speaks well of the skill of the author.
So, although it took me a little while to be pulled into this story, it was well-worth the time. I will definitely read other books by Ms. Hawker. I'm happy that her characters reappear in other books, and I look forward to getting to know them all better. -
Overall this was a great read. I suppose I'd class it as a thriller in chick-lit/cosy style. I love the nuances of life in the town churches. The relations between the members and the complaints of the congregations had me giggling because they really rang true.
Few minor cons:
- the cast is really big with numerous points of view so I didn't feel I got to know some of the committee members very well
- the impact of the violent attacks on the ladies involved was brushed off too easily with little aftereffect - but then it was meant to be a gentle read so I can understand why
- the quick condemnation of Scott by the trustees and way they treated him shocked me - church people have their foibles but this seemed to step over the line
If you want a feel good thriller, with an emphasis on family/church and downplayed violence etc, but still with plenty of suspense, this is a good book for you! -
This book was provided to me for a fair and honest review. I love to read. I mean it's serious business with me. I've been a bibliophile since I was taught to read. I read 2-4 books a week and lots of different genres. Recently I was perusing one of my many book sites and I discovered J.B. Hawker. I read about her book and downloaded it. I must say The First Ladies Club has been one of the best surprises I've had in quite a while!! I didn't want to put it down! I did finish it in 1.5 days. Hawker is an excellent storyteller. Her story was compelling, intriguing, hilarious, touching, mysterious, and teaches you a lot about family, friendship, loyalty, greed and forgiveness. Hawker has a wonderful list of characters including some with very unusual names. The First Ladies Club is made up of the wives of the Ministers in a small town in Oregon - all different denominations. As they meet, they share common ground of loving the Lord, loving their husbands and trying their best to serve their congregations. This book is filled with love, romance, murder, kidnapping, greed, breaking and entering, and learning what it means to know you have family and friends you can count on. One last thing, I can't wait to start the next book in this series!
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I just finished reading The First Ladies Club and it was delightful! This clever mystery centered on a group of pastors" wives in a small town in Oregon.Whatever petty conflicts may have existed between them were overcome by their genuine love and concern for each other, teaching the reader a thing or two about Christian charity. The central couple, a young pastor and his new wife, are blessed with second chances at love, marriage and parenthood (spoiler), only to be faced with the possibility of losing it all when a vicious convict escapes and wreaks havoc on their
peaceful community. The story is well-constructed with just the right amount of foreshadowing, hints, and tension, making this a mystery that will keep you reading until all is solved. This book was easy to read and fast-moving, a mystery lover's dream. And just think! It's part of a series. There are three others to move on to! -
I received a free copy of this book in exchange for a review.
" Thank you all, so much, for being here. Without your support, friendship and prayers, I just don't know..." "That's what the First Ladies Club is all about." Elizabeth replied
This is the first of a series of books about the members of a pastors' wives' support group in a small. town in Oregon. The group was started by a couple of wives so support each other, and grows and changes as time goes on, but they are with each other through good and bad times with support, prayer, celebration and casseroles!
This story takes on something most of us don't deal with but us in the back if every rural community these days as desperation drives an abduction. One of the best things I see in this is the author's take on pastoral response. It is a reminder that pastors are human too. This book is a marvelous begining of what hopes to be a great series. Brava Ms. Hawker! -
I was wonderfully surprized how much I liked this book. I loved the character of Naidenne, and how she tried so hard to be the perfect pastor's wife, while adjusting to a new marriage. It takes a while to get into the mystery part of the book, but that is okay because you learn a lot about all the wives of the First Ladies Club. Ms. Hawker takes you on a ride range of emotions from happiness, fear, desperation to hope and letting go. I think she captured the human side of a preacher's wife and helped to remind us they go through things to like everyone else. I can't wait to read Ms. Hawker's next book. I am sure it will keep me entertained as much as this one. I received this e-book free in exchange for my honest opinion.
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I don't often give 5 start but I really enjoyed this. The ebook was provided to me free for an honest review.
When I started reading, I wasn't sure this was my kind of book. After the first few pages, I could not put it down. Friends, pastors wives, got together to form a support group. An escaped convict changed the quiet community.
The book is full of suspense almost from the being and you hope no one is hurt but you are never sure. Even after Deenie is rescued, the suspense is not over. It just kept coming. Though it is about pastors wives, it is not a 'preachie' book and will be loved by variety of readers. This is a book you could let your older teens read. -
While I am not a religious person, I found this book and the series endearing. There isn't too much religion. In fact it was refreshing to see a small town and it's churches coming together as friends, a community and supporting each other despite their branch of religion. Naidenne, a pastor's wife, really needs her friends in the First Ladies Cub and the community. When an escaped convict starts to stalk her it gets a little creepy but the the author pulls it off well despite what happens. Her friends come to the rescue and help Naidenne emotionally through the chaos of the deaths and her abduction. I received this book free in exchange for my honest review.
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It took me a few chapters to get into The First Ladies Club. Once I got going, though, I really enjoyed JB Hawker's work! There were a lot of quirky characters, and as a retired pastor, and I recognized many of them. I expected more of a cosy than a Christian thriller. The book was brutal in parts, sweet in others. Bottom line--The First Ladies Club kept me reading late into the night.
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The First Ladies Club will keep you reading. I had to chuckle at some of the details of the First Ladies Club because I have had some of the same things happen in my read church with different personalities. I enjoyed this mystery. It kept me reading and wanting to finish the book. I will read more from this author.
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This book had a decent mystery, but it was covered up in the fluff concerning the 'first ladies', who are all the wives of clergymen (though one is clergy herself) and a little to much praying for my taste. The story was good enough I may read another some day.
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I received this book free. I enjoyed the story but I have read better cozy mysteries. where is the mystery.
