PASTORS’ WIVES BY Lisa Takeuchi Cullen
Publisher: Plume, a member of Penguin Group
Date published: April 30, 2013
ISBN: 978-0-452-29882-8
Inspirational Fiction
Paperback
Reviewed by Lynne
Obtained via Litfuse Publicity Group.
Rating: 5
PASTORS’ WIVES by Lisa Takeuchi Cullen is an exceptional first novel that delves deeply into the private lives of three complex, fictional pastors’ wives who are involved with a mega-church, Greenleaf, in Magnolia, a suburb of Atlanta, Georgia.
Aaron and Candace Green, of Greenleaf Church, popular authors and leaders of this popular church, in need of a financial wizard, soon hire Jeremiah Matters, a financier straight from Wall Street, who holds masters degrees in both business and theology. He and his wife, Ruthie, quickly relocate to Georgia, where Jerry soon becomes Aaron Green’s right-hand man and where Ruthie suddenly finds herself thrust into the role of publicist. Ruthie, a non-practicing Catholic, isn’t exactly sure where she will fit in with this super church, but is willing to support her husband’s efforts to follow his calling.
As publicist for Greenleaf, Ruthie soon finds herself assisting a reporter, Juan Diaz, who is anxious to learn all he can about Greenleaf Church and, above all, Pastor Aaron. With her husband being so involved with the Church, Ruthie finds herself lonely and becomes tempted to involve herself with Juan, creating even more problems than she needs just then.
The Greens have three children: Anthony, Sophie, and Timothy, who have problems of their own. Timothy’s wife, Ginger, has a sordid past which she and Tim have kept well hidden, even from the family. When the truth comes out during an atypical background check, it is then Ginger escapes to her old stomping ground, to sort things out regarding her marriage, motherhood, and her own calling. With Candace as a mother-in-law, she is certain the woman will never accept her, no matter what. Timothy, involved with his own ministry, Faith Corps, is involved with a branch of Greenleaf, Newleaf Church, which usurps most of his time, adding to Ginger’s frustrations.
Candace seems to hover in the background as secret CEO of Greenleaf, having fully supported and stood by her husband, Aaron, for over twenty-five years. Yet she has her own problems and continually asks herself what her purpose really is. In Ruthie’s opinion, Candace is “a NASA-level genius who discreetly runs Greenleaf from behind her velvet smile,” and labels her, “The Wizard of Oz.” (p.145)
As time goes on, it is clear there are problems with the mega-church, as is to be expected, since Greenleaf often seems more like a business than a church. The PASTORS’ WIVES easily find their lives intertwined and involved with circumstances that will test their loyalties to their husbands, their families, and their church. When the idea for divorce comes into play, since two of the PASTORS’ WIVES believe they are overly neglected by their spouses, who they feel are more married to God than to them, it is then they step back and take a good look at themselves, their lives, and their beliefs, neither of them really wanting to divorce the men they are so in love with.
I find PASTOR’S WIVES a highly entertaining read. Cullen is such a gifted writer, it is almost with envy that I write this. Cullen, with her background at TIME Magazine, clearly has the makings of a great fiction writer and makes one want to aspire to be like her. I love her style.
PASTORS’ WIVES is fiction, of course, so one must keep a perspective when reading it. In reality, it would seem that when hiring someone to a position involving money, especially in the millions of dollars, a background check and an interview should be done, to check out the wife, before hiring her husband to such a position as was given to Jerry Matters. Although I have never attended a mega-church, it would just seem to be an important part of the hiring process. Corruption, even in the Church, is rampant, sorry to say.
Regardless of these facts, PASTORS’ WIVES is a realistic book that kept me turning pages. The reader, once deeper into the story, will become concerned and actually care for the characters. Candace is a truly unique woman, strong and competent, based on her usual comment, “Let me take care of it.” Her confidence stands out in many different areas of PASTORS’ WIVES.
Ruthie is a bit shaky in her beliefs, and I am surprised that Jerry chose someone like her to marry. Yet he clearly loves her, which is what makes PASTORS’ WIVES such an interesting read. The fact that Cullen threw in a supposedly Christian woman to tempt him to cheat on his wife was a unique conflict I wasn’t so sure would materialize. Which has to make believers aware that there are a lot of false Christians out there, and the enemy is always out there looking to bring down truly committed believers in some way, shape, or form.
I love Ginger. She is very down-to-earth and has many of the same fears and uncertainties many people face when involved with churches. She is so afraid people will judge her because of her past, which is also common in the churches, were the truth to be told.
I also love the husbands in PASTORS’ WIVES. Their strength and unique capabilities, as fathers, husbands, and believers faithful to their calling makes one want to meet them in real life. Cullen does a great job characterizing all of these men and helps the reader understand just why Ruthie, Ginger, and Candace had fallen for them to begin with.
PASTORS’ WIVES has a good array of minor characters that adds a lot of dimension to this story. They are original and most are quite likable. They add a lot of conflict which keeps the reader anxiously reading, to see how things work out. Learning what PASTOR’S WIVES go through when being married to a pastor, it an eye-opener that many may not have considered before. PASTORS’ WIVES gives one a new perspective in this arena.
PASTORS’ WIVES is realistic in so many ways, it is easy to relate to not just the wonderful characters in it, but also the great dynamics of this story. There is plenty of conflict, happy moments, humor, and emotion to keep one turning pages. If one wants to experience a behind-the-scenes look into the workings of a mega-church such as Greenleaf, then PASTORS’ WIVES is a good place to start.
PASTORS’ WIVES is well written, well-plotted, and a pleasure to read. Great dialogue is prevalent throughout and adds a lot of humor along the way. If one is looking for a great summer read, one that offers a lot of intrigue, hope, and heart-warming moments, then this one should see you through a hot and lazy afternoon on the beach.
