A Sin and a Shame: A Novel

Book Description

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?

Customer Reviews:

Slick Vic finally got this inspirational thing licked.......2007-09-05

OK, Vic. I just got thru scolding Jac Thomas and have to give you your props on this one. You stepped out of the box and showed what Christian people are really made of. I also liked Mae, but she really got on my nerve addressing Jaz by her first and last name throughout the entire novel -- it was nerve wracking to say the least. But outside of that, it was a darn good read until I got to the end which was predictably corny, Vic. Hence the imperfect score. And I'm glad you didn't sugar it up to have Hosea actually be the bio Dad. Good job in keeping that part real.

OMG-Jasmine!!.......2007-09-02

4.5 stars. This is my second book by Ms. Murray and she has made a fan out of me. This is the first time in a long while an author has me talking to the book. Jasmine was just too much, but reading her story made me think of a lot situations where either you or your friends had gotten into something that just spiraled out of control. The only reason I knocked off half a star was because the book was slow getting started-but once it did, I had to pull an all-nighter to see how the story ended. Plus, there are quite a few coincidences-and I don't understand why Hosea talked like a cowboy with that 'darlin' stuff. He was straight out of New York. But it's all good. I wasn't disappointed in the ending, especially since I know the story is going to continue-and I can't wait.

Very Thought Provoking.......2007-08-11

I thoroughly enjoyed this book. So many examples of "how your lies can catch up to you" and "how the truth will make you free." I would definitely read this book again and recommend that this book be read by all who can get their hands on it!

"We Fall Down....but we get up.............2007-06-27

For a saint is just a sinner.....who fell down...and got up!!!! Victoria Christopher Murray delivered an abundance of lessons in this best seller!!! Jasmine Larson is a woman with a past that decided that enough is enough and too much stinks. She's decided that she wants to live for Christ, thus adamantly claiming the title, 'Christian.' She's studied hard to be a Christian, she doesn't talk the same, her walk has less switch in her steps, she holds her head the right way, all the markings of a true Christian, but she still has a dream to live the life of the rich and famous, so maybe if she slips here and there, it won't be too bad. Being that she attends church every Sunday, a vow she made to GOD, will ensure her that everything will work out for her. She makes several enemies and mistakes in her search for 'her husband', makes friends with her mysterious neighbor, Mae Frances, and discovers that she truly does embody the true attitude of her title once she lets her spirit lead her.

Ms. Murray provides her readers with a very intriguing, yet realistic view of the struggles, misconceptions, and diverse facades that encompass the 'walk of the righteous ones', it's not an easy life, but in addressing the trials and tribulations, she also gives one very deliberate and steadfast truth, the forgiveness of the Great ONE!

If you're looking for a excellent read that will keep your attention,inspire you and provide you with a greater insight, this is the one for you!!!! Don't wait, you won't be disappointed!!

Kudo's Ms. Murray!!! I see your light shining ever so brightly!!!!! Wishing you continuous blessings!!!

The best yet!.......2007-06-14

It amazes me that Victoria Christopher Murray can actually deliver a better novel than that last. She is simply incredible. I almost couldn't stop myself from reading the last chapter of this book to find out what happened. The supense was killing me. Jasmine's story was great and I fell in love with Hosea. I pray there's a sequel to this couple's story. It would be wonderful to have one more chance to see Jasmine grow into what God truly wants her to be.

Customer Reviews:

Holy Thor! #6 in Series Woman Viking!.......2004-10-15

Classic Hill here. But this time she took a Viking WOMAN warrior who is 6 feet and athletic with no qualms about telling the men to take a hike and is in charge of her own army as the heroine. Wow...I am impressed.
She is rude and crude and even scratches...parts at times, but Tyra, Warrior Princess is very aware she is a woman. Especially when she spies dear Adam the Healer.
Adam from the 5 previous books in the series has been a funny and sexy secondary character, but now he meets his match in Tyra.
Adam is a healer, trained by Rain and Selik (main characters from 'The Outlaw Viking'-2nd book in series) and runs his own orphanage, but has taken a vow of celebacy since the tragic death of his only family, his sister Adela. He wants nothing more to do with the healing arts and is furious when this Viking woman warrior kidnaps him and takes him to the Norse Lands to heal her dying father, the King.
What begins as anger and fury, turns into curiosity and attraction for Adam. Tyra is a fierce and different woman who may be capable of changing his mind about medicine and life. Maybe he can start over? But who could start a life with a woman who lops off heads of men? I mean really?

Tyra on the other hand is used to men ignoring her and when Adam, this gorgeous god from the Saxon lands seems extremely attracted to her she is dumbfounded. What in the world does he see in HER? She's too big, too loud, too obnoxious and too manly. All the maids are drooling after him including her sisters and he is looking at HER! Hmmm, maybe she should flirt? No, she already made a bargain with the randy Saxon, to sleep one ngiht with him if he saves her father and if he dies? Then she lets him go. No sleeping...she can't decide if she is sorry or glad.

This is trademark Hill Humor. Ms. Hill makes Tyra very insecure as a woman, but turns her into a very strong and vital vixen for Adam. I loved it! All the secondary characters from the other books are here and funny as ever, especially Tykir from 'The Bewitched Viking' and Bolthor the World's Worst Scald. We are also introduced to a new character here, Adam's assistant, Rashid, who is obsessed with getting Adam a harem and possibly asking Tyra, the man-woman to be the first houri, lol.
The antics and scrapes are all classic Hill and funny as ever and IMO, one of her best. I never thought she could be funnier, but she always gets me :D

1. The Reluctant Viking 2. The Outlaw Viking 3. The Tarnished Lady 4. The Bewitched Viking 5. The Blue Viking 6. MY FAIR VIKING 7. A Tale of Two Vikings

Tracy Talley~@

Hmm..........2004-09-08

Customers and fellow reviewers:

I actually enjoyed this book. I've read others of Sandra Hill and was vastly disappointed by them, but this was excellent.

One question though...why is Tyra wearing nail polish on the cover?

I loved it!.......2002-05-20

I love this author! Her books are filled with tons of humor, tenderness, passion and excitment. I love how they are tied in with each other and yet can stand alone by themselves.

This is Adam's story. He is the adopted son of Rain and Selik. He is a healer who has lost the desire to heal. A great tragedy has made him into a hermit for the last two years. That is is until a Viking Warrior Goddess shows up at his home and kidnaps him. She litteraly picks him up and carries him off to save her father. Tyra, is a tall, big warrior princess who needs Adam to save her father. Tyra thinks she is to manish to be wed and needs her father to be alive so that she can divorse herself from the family so that her younger and pretty sisters can marry.

Adam is very unwilling at first to try and save her father but soon the desire to heal overrides his arguments. He decides though that the lovely warrior princess must pay for his services. She agrees and is thrilled(secretly) that he finds her attractive but can't quite beleive it. Adam too is having trouble coming to terms with his desire for the too big, too loud, too stubborn Tyra.

When these two finally get together they creat fire with thier passions. but unfortuantely its not to be a long burn. Obsticales stand in their way and two very stubborn people must overcome their problems in order to have a life together.

I enjoyed this book so much I couldn't put it down. I laughed, cried and felt happy at the end. The secondary characters are wonderful and I'd love to read a book about some of them, Hint, Hint! We get to find out what has happened to some old favorites which I always love to hear about.

I hope Sandra Hill continues to write more in this series, they are wonderful.

Disappointing.......2002-05-18

Barely got through the whole thing. Normally like Hill, but this one just didn't cut it.

Vikings have never been this fun before!.......2002-05-12

Sandra Hill is written another eletrifying tale brimming with humor and romance. In this edition to the Viking Saga, Adam, a famed Saxon healer, is at a low point. He won't practice medicine and he's given up on women. His friend Rashid tries everything to pull him out of his slump, but then fate steps in. Tyra, a fierce viking warrior, arrives to fetch him so he can save the life of her father.
The attraction between them is sudden and powerful, but Adam refuses to budge on his position that he's no longer a healer. Tyra is left with no choice but to "convince" him to help her meaning she thwacks him with her sword, tosses him over her shoulder, and sails to Norway... with Adam tied to the mast of her ship.
This marks the beginning of a passionate, sweet, humorous tale. It never takes itself seriously and its bizarre humor provides many laugh out loud moments.
The supporting characters are a delight. While simplistic, the plot is original. Like all of Sandra Hill's viking novels, this one's going in my reread pile. Highly recommended.

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My Fair viking
Sandra Hill
Manufacturer: Leisure Books
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback
ASIN: B000RDM4X6

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A must have

Another satisfying book about Chung Kuo

A gripping what-if book,

Beneath the Tree of Heaven (Chung Kuo Novel , No 5)
David Wingrove
Manufacturer: Dell
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

General | Science Fiction | Science Fiction & Fantasy | Subjects | Books
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CHUNG KUO: THE MIDDLE KINGDOM (Chung Kuo)

ASIN: 0440221536
Release Date: 1996-04-01

Book Description

The spellbinding saga of the future continues in the year 2211. The Seven T'ang, the ruling dictatorship of the solar system, is weakened by the birth of a special child, and the forces of rebellion and change are spreading from the mega-cities of Earth to a secretive, planet-wide conspiracy on Mars. For generations the T'ang have controlled with mind manipulation and teams of black-clad assassins. But the human urge for freedom cannot be stilled by murder or seduction. Now, as a mad, blood-thirsty ruler plots a coup from within the T'ang, Hans Ebert, his famous face obscured forever behind a mask, begins a new fight for power and love on the red soil of Mars. Revolution may finally free the long-shackled masses, or it may spread unimaginable destruction sufficient to level a world--and the hopes of all worlds to come. The Chung Kuo series brings future centuries to life, portraying men and women caught between great powers fighting for dominance...and yearning for ageless passions for all that life holds dear.

Customer Reviews:

A must have.......2003-04-18

Take the chance and embark on a long journey with David Wingrove. You will not be let down. Problem is, you will see nothing of your friends or family for the next three months.

But, that is what you are looking for in a book, isn't it?

Another satisfying book about Chung Kuo.......2000-06-08

David Wingrove's series continues to keep me coming back for more. The characters are well developed, the intrigues are captivating and the possibilities are scary... Can't wait until the next volume arrives at my door.

A gripping what-if book,.......1997-03-08

What if in the 21st century the western powers were degenerate and the Chineese filled the leadership vacuum. This is another of David Wingrove's well written and researched novels of the world of Chun Ko

Beneath the Tree of Heaven (Chung Kuo Book Five ) Ppr

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Beneath the Tree of Heaven (Chung Kuo Book Five ) Ppr
David Wingrove
Manufacturer: Hodder & Stoughton General Division
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback
ASIN: 0450564169

BENEATH THE TREE OF HEAVEN: Chung Kuo Five

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BENEATH THE TREE OF HEAVEN: Chung Kuo Five
David Wingrove
Manufacturer: New English Library
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Mass Market Paperback
ASIN: B000SOBQH4

Chung Kuo: Beneath The Tree Of Heaven Bk.5.

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Chung Kuo: Beneath The Tree Of Heaven Bk.5.
David Wingrove
Manufacturer: New English Library
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

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Beneath the Tree of Heaven
David Wingrove
Manufacturer: Dell Pub Co
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Mass Market Paperback
ASIN: B000SBIFJ4

Beneath the Tree of Heaven Chung Kuo Book 5

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Beneath the Tree of Heaven Chung Kuo Book 5
David Wingrove
Manufacturer: Nel
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover
ASIN: B000M64U58

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Beneath the Tree of Heaven Chung Kuo Book 5
David Wingrove
Manufacturer: New English Library
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback
ASIN: B000M634BO

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Beneath the Tree of Heaven Chung Kuo Book 5
David Wingrove
Manufacturer: Nel
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover
ASIN: B000M67WJO

Customer Reviews:

Probably the Best Treatise to Date.......2005-02-01

Dr. Robert Price is the most significant and accredited scholar to present the Christ Myth thesis to date. His two Ph.D.'s are in systematic theology and New Testament studies respectively; which makes him more than qualified to comment on the historicity of the Jesus Christ character.

Although his presentation is not perfect, it is quite probably the best published thus far. His two works (Deconstructing Jesus, and the Incredible Shrinking Son of Man) have served to anchor the legitimacy of the Christ Myth thesis, despite the debaucheries committed against it by self stylized scholars such as Acharya S.

The Christ Myth thesis is quite plausible and is backed by a large body of historical, anthropological, and archaeological data, as well as a (slowly) growing body of academia. Unfortunately the efforts of legitimate scholars like Dr. Price are greatly undermined by an unfortunate paradigm of popular fiction by authors such as Dan Brown and Acharya S. If you are interested in educating yourself about the mythological foundations of Judaism and Christianity, stick to Dr. Price, Dr. Hoffmann, Dr. Pagels, Dr. Wells, Dr. Leeming, and Earl Doherty for the time being.

Request for the historical Jesus.......2004-12-17

In the vein of Burton Mack's _Who wrote the Old Testament?_ Robert Price's strong dose of Biblical Criticism pursues the phantom to deeper depths, resulting in something close to final skepticism about the Christ figure. The contructivist literature here that Price exposes is confusing in the extreme to anyone in the mainstream churches who is not a determined researcher or student of the literature. So many centuries after Spinoza, and the original deconstructions of Bauer of the Left Hegelians the disinformation game goes on and on, and on.

A REAL SNORE FEST!.......2003-10-30

It isn't that Robert Price hasn't studied the subject of Christian origins--he certainly has, and he's even been a born-again Christian. It isn't that he doesn't pontificate about the theories of this scholar and that apologist. That he surely does (the book seems to be a paean to Burton Mack). Price even makes a definitive statement now and again. But much of this book is not only boring--obviously designed to please his already-convinced peers of his immense erudition--but it goes nowhere, as Price is wishy-washy about his conclusions: "I'm not trying to say that there was a single origin of the Christian savior Jesus Christ, and that the origin is pure myth..." (p. 85) Blah, blah, blah. Price then proceeds to criticize the "Old Christ-Myth theorists," who, in fact, were not fence-sitters but who took a stand that sometimes became a bit wild but was never dull.

One area where this book is a bit more audacious than others in its genre is the section outlining other savior gods. Even though the perspective that the ancients--pagans and Jews alike--possessed practically every concept in Christianity, including the characteristics of its alleged founder, many modern scholars are simply terrified to touch the material brought to light in the past few centuries that reveal such facts of unoriginality through comparative religion. In other words, Jesus ain't original--he's a rehash himself of gods who already existed. At least Price has the courage to discuss these myths regarding dying-and-rising savior gods such as Baal, Tammuz, Osiris, Attis and Dionysus. Price reaches his zenith when he says, "It is very hard not to see extensive and basic similarities between these religions and the Christian religion. But somehow Christian scholars have managed not to see it, and this, one must suspect, for dogmatic reasons." (p. 88)

Also, Price displays some originality in his discussion of "ancient romances" and their correspondences to the gospel fable. ("The Cruci-fiction?") Price names a number of such texts and shows that their major plotlines are similar and "prefigure" that of the gospel fable as well. In the end, the Jesus myth could be considered another one of these "ancient romances," although it is not nearly as intriguing or edifying. In any case, Price highlights some "new" primary sources that reveal the banality of the Christian myth.

Unfortunately, despite some strengths the book is poorly organized and, again, appears to have been written for those who already know most of what is presented. It is certainly not for the lay public and will have little impact on the public in the long run.

If you are really interested in Christian origins, this book is not a bad read. But there are far better and more exciting ways to learn about Christianity and its alleged founder. The most readable of these is "The Christ Conspiracy" by Acharya S, who holds a number of the same views as Price but is able to present them in a far more exciting manner. Doherty's "Jesus Puzzle" is a well-written and necessary examination but it still can't reach the public like "The Christ Conspiracy." "The Jesus Mysteries" contains much of the same information found in Christ Conspiracy, but it is rubbery in its conclusions and focuses on spiritual experiences. Leidner's "Fabrication of the Christ Myth" is a pretty good work, with some interesting and unusual ideas. Price's "Deconstructing Jesus," on the other hand, contains little original and is mostly a rehash of other scholars' tedious and nitpicking opinions.

When rationalists lose their way.......2003-04-09

How do we know Jesus existed? Obviously, the four gospels and Paul's letters mention him, but since they are full of amazing miracles, we have to consider the possibility that they are not wholly reliable. Fortunately for scholars, Jesus' existence is independently verified from the brief mention of him and his brother in the Jewish chronicler Josephus. Although Christians added interpolations to these passages in their copies of Josephus, there is a clear consensus that Josephus wrote the core stating that Jesus was a religious man crucified by the Romans. This is all discussed in considerable detail in the first volume of John Meier's exhaustive "A Marginal Jew."

Robert Price has written a book that expresses his belief in "Jesus Agnosticism." He is agnostic not about whether Jesus was God, but whether Jesus actually existed. So what does Price say in response to Josephus and Meier? Absolutely nothing. So he has provided no reason why we should believe Josephus to be wrong. That Jesus' followers wrote little about him for four decades after his death is not surprising. There weren't that many of them, most of them were illiterate and they thought the world was going to end soon. Notwithstanding this simple solution Price argues that maybe people combined ideas from Greek Cynicism, Jewish scholars, classical heroes and cults of dying and resurrected Gods and projected them into a quasi-mythical Jesus who lived decades before the Gospel version did. In other words we are about to embark on a very complicated solution to a non-existent historical problem. Occam's razor anyone?

This is compounded with several fatal problems. (1) Inadequate sources: In search of "independent" traditions about Jesus, he spends thirty pages on a Sufi mystic versions of his sayings. The mystic lived ten centuries after Jesus, and obviously isn't independent proof of anything. Likewise Price uses dated authorities like Lord Raglan and Sir James Frazer's overstated theory of "dying and ressurrected Gods," (the most popular cult, that of Attis, clearly developed after Jesus). Meanwhile he cites a 1937 book by the discredited Hugh J. Schonfield to try to argue that Jesus lived 100 BCE. (2) Systematic anachronism: to show that Jesus was a Cynic, he compares verses to thoughts of Seneca and Musonius Rufus, who clearly lived after him. In searching for analogies for the empty tombs he quotes Chariton (first century CE), Longus (c. 150), Iamblichus (c.300), Philostratus (c.220) and Tatius (second century). Clearly the Gospels were not written that late, and so these Greek and Latin sources did not inspire them. (3) Confused comparative method: there are bound to be similarities in narratives, but this does not prove a common origin. "Macbeth," "Hamlet" and "King Lear," are all about monarchs who die because of the perfidy of someone they trusted. But they are obviously not the same story and have no common origin. And so there is no reason to believe that a legend in which the Greek healer Asclepius healed a person while in disguise was the basis of the story of the road to Emmaus. Likewise Price compares Jesus' order "Let the dead bury their dead," to several Cynic sayings. But he ignores the obvious difference. The cynics could care less about their corpses, while Jesus states that the Coming Kingdom of God is more important than the duty to bury one's father.

(4) Incoherent use of theoretical models: Price relies on Burton Mack's theory of Jesus and the Q Community as Cynics. But he also agrees with E.P. Sanders' view that Galilee was not a place likely to be open to Cynic (or Greek) influences. Rather than concluding that Mack is wrong, he uses this to argue that Greeks came up with the Q sayings and it was incorporated (how?) into Jewish thought. Price quotes with approval William Wrede's classic account of the Messianic Secret in Mark. But Wrede argued that Mark had Jesus keep his messianic status secret because people knew the real Jesus had never made such a claim. Such a contortion makes no sense if there was never a real Jesus to begin with. Price also ignores simpler solutions. He uses the ambiguities in the Gospels over who executed Jesus as proof that the actual event was far off in the past. He ignores the more obvious alternative: Jesus was executed by the Romans and the Gospel writers tried to get around this embarrassing fact by blaming the Jews. (5) Failure to explain the Jewish connection: all the early sources of Christianity are quite clear. The early Christians were Jews, not Greek philosophers or members of Pagan mystery cults. That Paul would come up with a theology of atonement to explain Jesus' death is one thing. But given that Jews did not expect a slain Messiash, why would he make up a crucifixion as well? Why indeed would Price's funky group of cosmopolitans try to convince the Jews that this non/barely existent Jesus was the culmination of their religion while at the same time using such ideas such as the Virgin Birth, the Incarnation and the Crucifixion they were most likely to reject? It just doesn't work.

Hard work but worth it.......2002-04-24

Robert Priceýs Deconstructing Jesus is a scholastic masterpiece of exhaustive research, carefully thought out arguments, and valuable insights into the historical reality of Jesus of Nazareth. He does a fine job demonstrating, by comparing the Gospel accounts of Jesusý supernatural conception, miracles, death and resurrection with similar traditions found in the mystery cults of ancient Greece and the near East, that Jesus was probably a mythical figure created from a synthesis of numerous mythologies then in vogue in the ancient world. His relentless pursuit of ancient texts to make his point that Jesus was, essentially, a Judaized version of the ancient mystery religions that was later usurped by literalists in the Catholic Church, should leave the objective reader with little choice but to agree. I also found his demonstration that many of Jesusý teachings and parablesýwhich I previously considered the strongest evidence for a historical Jesus availableýto have parallels in the teachings of the Midrash and other rabbinical writings to be especially damning to the idea of a historical Jesus. While he remains open to the possibility of a literal historical figure existing behind the mythology, I had to agree with his assessment that such can neither be known nor, if it could be proven true, whether it would make any real difference.

While Priceýs conclusions and scholarship were flawless, thatýs not to say the book was not without some problems. Price is a scholar writing for other scholars. As such, this is a difficult book to follow and should not be attempted by the linguistically challenged. One classic "Priceism" should be enough to serve as an example: "Neusner was no longer willing to assume that such attributions meant much diachronically (actually going back in history to Rabbi X); no, instead they must derive their meaning synchronically: as it were, two-dimensionally along the picture plane of the particular document." (Pg. 99). Huh? But for those who enjoy that kind of theological techno-babble, this is a great read. As for myself, I found it akin to wading across a sea of molasses upon the back of a Rhino.

Book Description

This digital document is an article from Journal of Church and State, published by J.M. Dawson Studies in Church and State on March 22, 2001. The length of the article is 535 words. The page length shown above is based on a typical 300-word page. The article is delivered in HTML format and is available in your Amazon.com Digital Locker immediately after purchase. You can view it with any web browser.

Citation Details
Title: Deconstructing Jesus.(Review)
Author: Adam C. English
Publication: Journal of Church and State (Refereed)
Date: March 22, 2001
Publisher: J.M. Dawson Studies in Church and State
Volume: 43 Issue: 2 Page: 347

Article Type: Book Review

Distributed by Thomson Gale

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Deconstructing Jesus
Robert M. Price
Manufacturer: Prometheus Books
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover
ASIN: B000N62ZJK

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