Once in awhile an author comes along with a book that
sweeps
me away from the first to the last page. This happened
to
me with JADED, a debut novel written by Varina Denman.
Ruthie Turner, twenty, has lived in Trapp, Texas, her
whole
life. She works two jobs; at the United grocery store and
is the attendance clerk at the high school. She dreams of
leaving for college and never coming back to Trapp.
When Ruth was seven years old, her father left home and
never
returned. One Sunday at church services, Lynda Turner
opened the Church Bulletin to see what the sermon was
about,
and let out a gasp. She grabbed her daughter, ran from
the
church never to return. The sermon that Sunday was about
adultery. When her mother was accused of adultery because
her husband had left her, all their Church friends stopped
talking to Lynda and Ruth. The elders visited them and
urged them to leave the church. Thirteen years later, the
snubbing continues with both Ruth and Lynda very bitter
about Christians, their church, and the church members
that
used to be friends.
The Cunninghams, Grady, Dodd, and their mother Milla
arrive
in Trapp from Fort Worth and it's the talk of the day.
Dodd
is to be the new minister.
He meets Ruthie at the United grocery store and is
captivated the moment he sees her. For Ruthie, she finds
him handsome and friendly but feels she can not trust him.
Dodd begins to turn her dark world upside down,
and watching
their romance grow is sweet and so natural.
JADED is a tale about pain, forgiveness, trust and
forbidden love. What happens when a harsh decision made
thirteen
years ago was made without the true facts being known?
What do you do to correct the devastation caused to the
accused, a loyal church member and her daughter? Where is
God? How could he let this happen?
Dodd Cunningham is a special man. I loved how he wooed
Ruthie. Their dinner, movies and dancing was a chapter I
re-read and found charming. He listens as Ruthie tells
him about her rejection of the congregation of her
childhood
church. She explains her bitterness and hurt. Dodd,
along with his brother and mother welcome her into their
home and hearts. Little by little he discovers the
truths
about what happened in his church so many years ago and
faces the man responsible for the deceit and the
spitefulness. Neil Blaylock, powerful, wealthy, and one
of the three church elders was responsible for the lies,
and
the accusations about Lynda. It is time to confront him.
JADED captured my heart. I enjoyed the uplifting
message of forgiveness, faith, hope and love. I will look
forward to the next chapter coming soon from Ms. Denman.
As a child, Ruthie was shunned by the local congregation.
Thirteen years later, Ruthie’s heart begins to stir when
an
attractive single preacher arrives. But their
relationship
is bitterly opposed—unearthing a string of secrets which
threaten to turn the church, the town, and her world
upside-down.
Jaded is the rare novel that is both love story between a
woman and man ... and God and His church. Plunging deep
into the waters of shame, forgiveness and restoration, it
will resonate with every woman who’s experienced a loss
of
heart ... and a thirst for hope.
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