A Sin and a Shame

by Victoria Christopher Murray

After fleeing Los Angeles when her attempt to break up her best friend's marriage fails, Jasmine is now a changed woman...and a Christian. She vows to attend church every Sunday, swears off married men, and begins her search for the soul mate she is sure God has for her. Now living in the Big Apple, she has shed twenty-five pounds, shaved ten years off her age, filled her expensive apartment with designer clothes...all to begin her man-finding mission.

She quickly meets her dream mate -- a preacher -- who falls head over heels in love with her. Surely, God is good! But things start slipping when another man from Jasmine's past refuses to stay there, and an unexpected pregnancy threatens to sabotage all of her dreams. Will Jasmine's lying and scheming continue? Or will she finally learn that honesty is the only path to redemption?

Genres: Christian Fiction, Fiction, African American, Romance, Christian, Chick Lit, Audiobook

400 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 2006

About the author

Victoria Christopher Murray is the author of nine Essence bestselling novels, including The Ex Files; Too Little, Too Late; and Lady Jasmine. Winner of the African American Literary Award for Fiction and Author of the Year (Female).

She has received numerous awards including the Golden Pen Award for Best Inspirational Fiction and the Phyllis Wheatley Trailblazer Award for being a pioneer in African American Fiction. Since 2007, Victoria has won nine African American Literary Awards for best novel, best Christian fiction and Author of the Year — Female. After four nominations, Victoria finally won an NAACP Image Award in Outstanding Literary Work for her social commentary novel, Stand Your Ground.

Victoria splits her time between Los Angeles and Washington DC.

Reviews

[Yvette · Rating 3 out of 5]

What I learned from this book - there are always consequences to your actions whether it's good or bad. "What goes around comes around" but you can sometimes pick up the pieces.

[Londa · Rating 5 out of 5]

Good Book, I wanted to come through this book and slap all the lies out this women, OMG! she was getting on my nerves I shook my head damn near thru the entire book. Of course the the end doesn't say if he actually took her back or not, but left us to think that he was strongly thinking about it for the child sake and the fact that he indeed loved her. but she was ridiculous.

[Yvonne · Rating 5 out of 5]

What I learned from this book - the difference between His grace and His mercy. Grace is getting something you don't deserve mercy is not getting something that you do deserve.

[Mserika · Rating 5 out of 5]

Think Jasmine Think--Lies...Lies...Lies...I loved this book Jasmine kept making her web of lies worse. Even though she loved her husband she still is the same. Moving to another city did not stop her past catching up to her. She wanted revenge but she was the one that gets the short end of the stick. This is a MUST read !!

[Pearl · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was my first time reading anything by Victoria Christopher Murray and I really enjoyed this so much so I purchased all of the books that she has written with Jasmine Lawson Bush. This book had me laughing out loud.

[Dee Cherry · Rating 4 out of 5]

#2
I was truly hoping Jasmine's change was for the better...Each act she performs makes it more difficult to believe it. Hosea is definitely a man of God. This second installment was a good read & has me wondering what other deceptive maneuvers she has in store.

[Monica Jackson · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this book! The book flows well, and gives an "honest" portrayal of Christians. Not all of us can be good to shoes! You will not be disappointed!

[Pamela · Rating 4 out of 5]

Jasmine is a trip. I can't wait to see what she does next.

[Toni]

The antics of these characters is funny and makes you shake your head.

[DEMCAEA LARKIN · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this book can't wait to start reading part 2!!!!

[Carol · Rating 5 out of 5]

Awesome book. Loved the characters and through plot. Blackstone Audio you get an F for editing the audio book.

[ConSonia · Rating 5 out of 5]

Amazing

[KayBee's Bookshelf · Rating 3 out of 5]

I listened to this book on audible.

The narrator was distracting. The delivery was not fluid and felt like a test run.

The story itself held the same slow yet steady pace to the finish. The normal lull with a sprinkling of drama. I appreciated the fact that I was not beat over the head with scripture after scripture, which is what happened in Temptation. It felt as if every paragraph contained a scripture and no character dialogue was complete unless it contained a scripture.

The character development was still lacking a tiny bit. I'm guessing that we will never know what happened with Jasmine during the 18 year time lapse between books 1 & 2 that took her selfish & treacherous ways to new lows or highs depending on how you look at it.

I also found it interesting that while in Temptation, the "victim" in that book was given literally 24 hours before she was badgered to forgive her husband for his adultery & go repair her marriage. However, the "victim" in this book was given all the time he needed to come to terms with an affair.

Jasmine still comes out on top regardless of her wrongdoings. So no lesson learned .............yet
I did love the dynamic between Jasmine and Mai Francis. While I don't know how Jasmine developed into the now 43 year old she is, this book did show a tiny bit of personal growth for the character. And just a random observation -Why is Jasmine still referred to as Jasmine Larson or Jasmine Cox Larson Bush. Does that sound more regal to have 2 marital last names from 2 different men?

[Barbara · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this Novel and can't wait to start on the next one in the series.
Jasmine Lawson had went to church with her godbrother Malik and once she saw the Reverend Bush she said he was going to be her husband and she became obsessed with him. She started calling his office at the church and even went to the church and stuck a knife in her tire so she could spend time with him but it didn't work out like she planned.
The Reverend told her he didn't fraternize with the women in his congregation and she couldn't wait for her revenge. So she ended up with this guy on a trip back home and she couldn't wait to get away from him until the next day at church the Reverend told his congregation that his son had came back home and just so happen his son was the man she met on the plane. And he was dressed to kill and she couldn't believe he was the same guy.
They started courting (was what he called it) and he told her that he was celibate. He treated her like a queen but something was missing so she ran into an old friend name Brian Lewis and they got intimate a couple of times.
Hosea Bush was the Reverend son and after about five months they were engaged, and she started being sick a lot so on the day of her wedding you left out something that you should have told him.

[Dawn “D-Love” · Rating 3 out of 5]

Editorial: I read this on audio book. Had to be one of the first audio books to ever be created because it was created and edited very poorly. The person reading the book Monalisa Lewis was so monotone and the fact that you can hear her say stop to pause the audio and abundance of times will make you cringe. Incorrect references also takes away from the rating. Overall it was a great read and made me go back and read the book that this one spinned off from entitled Temptation. I hope they re-recorded the audio with one of the other regular voices but this is the one I read and what the library has.

BOOK REVIEW SUMMARY: Jasmine is a true piece of work who sincerely needs Jesus because that sexual demon she has is bringing in more demons. The demon of lies, demon of deceit and demon of lacking integrity just to name a few. Hopefully having a child of her own will help her learn to seek God more so that her child will not fall prey to her generational curses and spirits of inequality she still has. I am rooting for Jasmine to get her life in order and be the woman God calls her to be.

[Dréya · Rating 5 out of 5]

Lordt I didn't know this book was as old as it was until they mentioned Circuit City. This was a great read and in every chapter there is some form of mess going on. You have Jasmine who has a past of messing w/ unattainable men who relocates to NY to help her godbrother, Malik, launch a club named Rio. Jasmine has it in her mind that she is going to meet a man, be married w/i one year and live happily ever after. She puts her aim on a pastor and when this doesn't work she starts messing w/ a married man whose wife she doesn't like. By chance she meets another man who happens to be the pastors son who is very much interested in her, pursues her but is celibate until he gets married. Jasmine ends up getting pregnant and has to create a plan to make her new husband, pastors son, think it's his child. It's a spicy read that will have you feeling your heart beat and calling Jasmine stupid. #GiveItARead b/c you will love it and all of the characters that pop up and plays a part in Jasmine's life.

[Taneka · Rating 3 out of 5]

I don't understand what Autophobia has to do with lying. Jasmine lied just to lie. Did she really have to lie about her age? Did she really have to lie about her first marriage? And then she lied until the end. Hosea gave her too many chances, to tell the truth, and she just kept praying to God to help her lie. SMH

These characters were hard to believe. How can a man be that naive to think that you can detect pregnancy after two weeks?

The story was entertaining. I listened on audio, which was a challenge. The narrator didn't do all that well to me. However, it was a great bit of drama, nonetheless.

[Shirley Marie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good writing! The development of the story was at a great pace and enjoyed the characters. Not much of a fan of the ending but understand why they ended it that way. However, the story could have ended with hope without it ending in that way. Overall, the story was a good ‘2000s black Christian woman whew chile’ read.

[Amber L · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love this book. I was first introduced to her character in Scandalous, but she really shines in this story. Her antics are over the top and sometimes shameful, but deliciously envious. She lives her life on her terms and does not apologize for it. She picks up a confidant along the way and the two go for it! She makes you root for her despite her bad behavior!

[Linda · Rating 3 out of 5]

Story was good but when it was over, I felt like the reader was just left wondering about the rest of the story....incomplete....
Previous novel, Joy, was a delight. This one, not so much. I was really disappointed 😔

[Maya McDonald · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book was MESSY!!!! And I loved every bit of it! I just wanted to shake Jasmine so bad and tell her to stop all the lies!!! She got on my nerves so bad. I felt so bad for Hosea cause he definitely deserved better than Jasmine deceitful ssa!

[Tonja Montgomery · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great read couldn't put down

[Rita · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoyed the book.

[LaCresha · Rating 1 out of 5]

Unfortunately, I couldn't get through this book. It was quite boring. I usually love Victoria's novels.

[Nicole Murphy · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is a "can't stop even if you try" kind of book.....enjoyable!

[Charlotte · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent reading and speak about relationship

[Sarita Napoleon-Mills · Rating 5 out of 5]

Outstanding as always. I am hooked on this series.

[Stephanie R Howard · Rating 5 out of 5]

Jasmine Cox Larson Bush has got some lessons to learn,especially when she wants to serve the Lord yet continue to call all of the shots. Great story of salvation, grace, and forgiveness.

[Kat Ferguson · Rating 3 out of 5]

Degenerate main female character. Religion is used as fodder, a joke.

[Abi · Rating 2 out of 5]

I love this thread! I am always so worried about spoiling the book that my reviews are usually just a few sentences and basically pointless