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The Waymaker: Another Pimp In The Pulpit
Three gunmen wearing red devil masks walk into a church and forever alters the lives of its members. Two members, in particular, has their paths merge in unexpected ways. Ameena Mimms, a former Broadway actress who inexplicably left Manhattan at the height of her career, is shielded from a gunman by associate pastor Willie Dantzler. After the shooting, the tall, attractive, yet humble associate pastor, and the beautiful well-traveled actress become close, even with romantic possibilities.
Investigators believe that the shooting was not a terrorist act, but an inside job. They uncover church leadership’s dissention over the pastor’s unabashed support of a president that his members do not approve, and the pastor’s history of sexually exploitative dealings with women in the church.
The investigation also exposes secrets concerning Will and Ameena who each have disturbing history with the pastor and with two of the shooters, and those secrets could be the demise of what promises to be an enduring love. But before they could even consider a future, they have to get themselves out of danger, as the church shooters, now fugitives on the run, may have some more killing to do.
Investigators believe that the shooting was not a terrorist act, but an inside job. They uncover church leadership’s dissention over the pastor’s unabashed support of a president that his members do not approve, and the pastor’s history of sexually exploitative dealings with women in the church.
The investigation also exposes secrets concerning Will and Ameena who each have disturbing history with the pastor and with two of the shooters, and those secrets could be the demise of what promises to be an enduring love. But before they could even consider a future, they have to get themselves out of danger, as the church shooters, now fugitives on the run, may have some more killing to do.
Kindle Edition
First published April 8, 2020
79 people are currently reading
47 people want to read
About the author
Rod Palmer
15 books69 followers2023 AAMBC MALE AUTHOR OF THE YEAR, Rod Palmer is the son of a carpenter and a nanny, born in a historic Gullah Geechie community in Charleston, SC. He received his degrees in creative writing and Afro studies at the University of South Carolina before becoming an author, and growing a list of eight published novels and counting. Currently he resides in Europe where he is a dedicated husband and girl-dad, enjoys travel and writing the next novel.
A Pimp In The Pulpit
The Work-Husband Caper
The Harvest
Karma Wears Versace
KWV II: Man Eater
The Waymaker
The Things We Bring To The Table
Della: The Ballerina And The Billionaire
A Pimp In The Pulpit
The Work-Husband Caper
The Harvest
Karma Wears Versace
KWV II: Man Eater
The Waymaker
The Things We Bring To The Table
Della: The Ballerina And The Billionaire
Ratings & Reviews
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Displaying 1 - 25 of 25 reviews
November 6, 2021
I love this book have not read a good book in a while just want to say thank you for this
March 15, 2022
Worth the wait
It took a minute to get to this book on my to read list. And it was well worth the wait. I like a good mystery. I was able to figure out a plot thingy or two, then again in the end you will have to see what happens on your own. No spoilers here. Enjoy!
It took a minute to get to this book on my to read list. And it was well worth the wait. I like a good mystery. I was able to figure out a plot thingy or two, then again in the end you will have to see what happens on your own. No spoilers here. Enjoy!
October 15, 2021
Movie in the making!
Wow!! This book should be a movie. The author dealt with life. Period.
The book showed plausible things that happens in our churches and I love the way he laid it all out. The way the church is failing because of greed and so many other things.
I think he did a great job exposing secrets and shame but also forgiveness. He did what most won't deal with and that is colorism! We have to learn to love ourselves.
So many issues were dealt with I just think it's a great read. Great job ❤️
Wow!! This book should be a movie. The author dealt with life. Period.
The book showed plausible things that happens in our churches and I love the way he laid it all out. The way the church is failing because of greed and so many other things.
I think he did a great job exposing secrets and shame but also forgiveness. He did what most won't deal with and that is colorism! We have to learn to love ourselves.
So many issues were dealt with I just think it's a great read. Great job ❤️
October 13, 2021
Interesting
Thought about this book a lot after I read it. The characters & the storyline developed in ways that I would not have imagined earlier in the book. Loved the inclusion of the "backstories" of the characters. I am tempted to read it again!
Thought about this book a lot after I read it. The characters & the storyline developed in ways that I would not have imagined earlier in the book. Loved the inclusion of the "backstories" of the characters. I am tempted to read it again!
November 15, 2021
My heart raced so many times while reading this book and I had to put it down several times. So many elements to this book but they all intersect perfectly. Truly well written. You wont be disappointed.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
August 6, 2020
Good Read
I loved the characters and the storyline. I also enjoyed the fact that it's urban lit w/o drug dealers and gang bangers.
I loved the characters and the storyline. I also enjoyed the fact that it's urban lit w/o drug dealers and gang bangers.
February 25, 2022
Awesome book
This book is amazing. I enjoyed the characters, the storyline, and the flow of the content. Our book club is reading this book for March.
This book is amazing. I enjoyed the characters, the storyline, and the flow of the content. Our book club is reading this book for March.
January 30, 2023
Pride
Pride will have us believing we don’t deserve what God has for us. We are our worst critics and hardest on ourselves than anyone else. Gods grace and mercy allows us to submit and reach out to others that are placed in our lives for support and guidance.
Pride will have us believing we don’t deserve what God has for us. We are our worst critics and hardest on ourselves than anyone else. Gods grace and mercy allows us to submit and reach out to others that are placed in our lives for support and guidance.
January 19, 2020
It was a way made
I rated the book 3 stars because it was hard to follow at times. The author got confused with characters it seems himself at times. I loved how it ended. It was a push to read.
I was an eye opener of how some pastor's think they are god. How miracles are performed in our everyday life, and how I have had to just praise him for what he has done for me.
I rated the book 3 stars because it was hard to follow at times. The author got confused with characters it seems himself at times. I loved how it ended. It was a push to read.
I was an eye opener of how some pastor's think they are god. How miracles are performed in our everyday life, and how I have had to just praise him for what he has done for me.
March 3, 2023
This book starts with a suspenseful robbery of a church's tithes and offering during a service and never lets up from there.
The dedication page quote warns us that this will be a heavy book:
Refusing to forgive requires the tedious upkeep of hatred. ~ Betty Palmer ~ DV Survivor
...so I wouldn't recommend it to someone who's looking for a light read. This story is good for people who like "ghetto romances" because there's enough "realism" for them, but it's deep enough to make it worthwhile for the Christian reader.
Excerpts:
A worldly eye sees the brass buckets being filled by a congregation of many that struggle with bills and debt, yet unwittingly extend themselves further to ensure that a man, already wealthy beyond their comprehension, will never again have to fly commercial. Financial sacrifice, however, is the prerogative of the giver and their God. Their praise is not for the man who sits in the most magnificent chair in the building; true praise is for God.
True praise is personal. Those who praise the fiercest, often convulsing with the Holy Ghost, have been through the most.
___
By the joy in Rose’s praise, though, no one could tell that she’d received a death sentence. She, too, sings, There’s an army rising up/ There’s an army rising up/ To break every chain/ Break every chain/ Break every chain. So mature, now, in her short Christian walk, Rose’s praise is no campaign for healing, but a praise of gratefulness; knowing how God will strengthen her spirit, if not her body.
____
One of the robbers has stopped and pointed his gun at Ameena and Rose who are huddled together and crying. Will dives between the gunman and the women, shielding them as he says, “You’ll have to kill me first!” The red devil in steel toe boots raises the gun to Will’s head, now preferring him. Will’s arms spread, ready for ascension. Tears spill from his eyes, leaving glistening tracks down his face. He fully believes he’ll be walking on a floor of clouds, directly, but mourns the thought of leaving without goodbyes to the people he loves. Will says, “You pull that trigger, you send me to paradise, but send yourself to a lake of fire.”
Old School doesn’t dare say a word for fear of Will recognizing his voice. He lowers the gun and runs to catch up to the other two.
___
But even on such a day, a day of crisis, Charmaine won’t bite her tongue for long.
“Ameena,” Charmaine calls, from the kitchen. Ameena looks up from setting the dining room table.
“Yes, ma?” Charmaine stirs her pot, but the pot isn’t all she’s stirring. “Might ironic, how the same convicted felon you was settin’ up there judging, turned out to be the hero that saved your life.”
Ameena looks at her mother as if she’d expected as much. “An I-told-you-so just hours after I had a gun in my face? You are so wise, ma – if that’s what you need to hear.”
Charmaine’s head lay back. “Don’t worry ‘bout me. What you need to do is thank God and shut ya mouth.”
“I am grateful for what Will did, ma, but only that gunman knows if Will actually saved my life or not.”
“Child, you got a talent for making simple things complicated, you know that?”
“And you got a talent for making complicated things simple.” Charmaine huffs.
She sprinkles a little salt. She stirs and sips from a tasting spoon, her eyes stuck on Ameena, wondering how a creature like that came from her, being so poised, and dry – and judgmental to top it off. “You let that good man go, just to prove a point. Careful that’s how you end up in life: right but alone.”
“Can we not do this, ma?”
Charmaine echoes her own words, “Right, but alone.”
“Will and I were never together anyway. We were only friends.”
“Child, ain’t no such a thing as a man friend that tall and fine, hear me?”
Ameena studies Charmaine from the corner of her eye. “Ma, spare me please.”
“Spare me please,” the mother mocks. “Think ‘cause you speak proper, you speak smart, huh…” She turns the pot lid face down, head shaking, her indictment, a two-word song, “Jussa dumb…”
Will pulls up on time, in Ameena’s driveway, although he feels undeserving of her gratitude. He didn’t decide to jump in front of the gun; he’d acted without conscience. But since Ameena’s gratitude comes with an invitation to a home cooked meal, he couldn’t refuse. Ameena was apologetic over the phone when she told Will that dinner was only neck bones, collard greens and cornbread, but it sounded like lobster and caviar to the bachelor who normally eats from take-out boxes, or from a pot of spaghetti – the one meal he knows how to prepare.
___
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
The dedication page quote warns us that this will be a heavy book:
Refusing to forgive requires the tedious upkeep of hatred. ~ Betty Palmer ~ DV Survivor
...so I wouldn't recommend it to someone who's looking for a light read. This story is good for people who like "ghetto romances" because there's enough "realism" for them, but it's deep enough to make it worthwhile for the Christian reader.
Excerpts:
A worldly eye sees the brass buckets being filled by a congregation of many that struggle with bills and debt, yet unwittingly extend themselves further to ensure that a man, already wealthy beyond their comprehension, will never again have to fly commercial. Financial sacrifice, however, is the prerogative of the giver and their God. Their praise is not for the man who sits in the most magnificent chair in the building; true praise is for God.
True praise is personal. Those who praise the fiercest, often convulsing with the Holy Ghost, have been through the most.
___
By the joy in Rose’s praise, though, no one could tell that she’d received a death sentence. She, too, sings, There’s an army rising up/ There’s an army rising up/ To break every chain/ Break every chain/ Break every chain. So mature, now, in her short Christian walk, Rose’s praise is no campaign for healing, but a praise of gratefulness; knowing how God will strengthen her spirit, if not her body.
____
One of the robbers has stopped and pointed his gun at Ameena and Rose who are huddled together and crying. Will dives between the gunman and the women, shielding them as he says, “You’ll have to kill me first!” The red devil in steel toe boots raises the gun to Will’s head, now preferring him. Will’s arms spread, ready for ascension. Tears spill from his eyes, leaving glistening tracks down his face. He fully believes he’ll be walking on a floor of clouds, directly, but mourns the thought of leaving without goodbyes to the people he loves. Will says, “You pull that trigger, you send me to paradise, but send yourself to a lake of fire.”
Old School doesn’t dare say a word for fear of Will recognizing his voice. He lowers the gun and runs to catch up to the other two.
___
But even on such a day, a day of crisis, Charmaine won’t bite her tongue for long.
“Ameena,” Charmaine calls, from the kitchen. Ameena looks up from setting the dining room table.
“Yes, ma?” Charmaine stirs her pot, but the pot isn’t all she’s stirring. “Might ironic, how the same convicted felon you was settin’ up there judging, turned out to be the hero that saved your life.”
Ameena looks at her mother as if she’d expected as much. “An I-told-you-so just hours after I had a gun in my face? You are so wise, ma – if that’s what you need to hear.”
Charmaine’s head lay back. “Don’t worry ‘bout me. What you need to do is thank God and shut ya mouth.”
“I am grateful for what Will did, ma, but only that gunman knows if Will actually saved my life or not.”
“Child, you got a talent for making simple things complicated, you know that?”
“And you got a talent for making complicated things simple.” Charmaine huffs.
She sprinkles a little salt. She stirs and sips from a tasting spoon, her eyes stuck on Ameena, wondering how a creature like that came from her, being so poised, and dry – and judgmental to top it off. “You let that good man go, just to prove a point. Careful that’s how you end up in life: right but alone.”
“Can we not do this, ma?”
Charmaine echoes her own words, “Right, but alone.”
“Will and I were never together anyway. We were only friends.”
“Child, ain’t no such a thing as a man friend that tall and fine, hear me?”
Ameena studies Charmaine from the corner of her eye. “Ma, spare me please.”
“Spare me please,” the mother mocks. “Think ‘cause you speak proper, you speak smart, huh…” She turns the pot lid face down, head shaking, her indictment, a two-word song, “Jussa dumb…”
Will pulls up on time, in Ameena’s driveway, although he feels undeserving of her gratitude. He didn’t decide to jump in front of the gun; he’d acted without conscience. But since Ameena’s gratitude comes with an invitation to a home cooked meal, he couldn’t refuse. Ameena was apologetic over the phone when she told Will that dinner was only neck bones, collard greens and cornbread, but it sounded like lobster and caviar to the bachelor who normally eats from take-out boxes, or from a pot of spaghetti – the one meal he knows how to prepare.
___
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
January 14, 2023
My first romance novel by a man, and a black male writing a romance! He did an in-depth job with his characters.
“For the time is come that judgment must begin at the house of God: and if it first begin at us, what shall the end be of them that obey not the gospel of God?”
1 Peter 4:17 KJV
The characters lives are interwoven thru their church lives. And they each have colorful backgrounds. Even now as churchgoers the need for deliverance hasn’t been embraced. From the leader and wife, down to some of the congregants. The leader has lorded over the ppl, and uses his power and influence for bad. Plus he has an equally as bad First Lady, who is more concerned about status. Together that’s a dangerous couple and they cannot be servant leaders with that haughty attitude.
The Bishop has spent seemingly most of his pastoring career being a man given to vileness, abuse, and sin. But too dumb to realize he too got played! He went too far, stayed too long in his sins, and couldn’t get back to a true place in God due to his preferred life of sin.
God ripped the covers back, and made a full exposure on the leader and his wife. This novels is choked full of human expectations juxtaposed against God’s righteous judgements. So much drama happens in the span of days that it will have your head spinning. Much scheming and conniving, many disappointments, past wrongs that resurface, but the author equalized many of them in the end.
“For the time is come that judgment must begin at the house of God: and if it first begin at us, what shall the end be of them that obey not the gospel of God?”
1 Peter 4:17 KJV
The characters lives are interwoven thru their church lives. And they each have colorful backgrounds. Even now as churchgoers the need for deliverance hasn’t been embraced. From the leader and wife, down to some of the congregants. The leader has lorded over the ppl, and uses his power and influence for bad. Plus he has an equally as bad First Lady, who is more concerned about status. Together that’s a dangerous couple and they cannot be servant leaders with that haughty attitude.
The Bishop has spent seemingly most of his pastoring career being a man given to vileness, abuse, and sin. But too dumb to realize he too got played! He went too far, stayed too long in his sins, and couldn’t get back to a true place in God due to his preferred life of sin.
God ripped the covers back, and made a full exposure on the leader and his wife. This novels is choked full of human expectations juxtaposed against God’s righteous judgements. So much drama happens in the span of days that it will have your head spinning. Much scheming and conniving, many disappointments, past wrongs that resurface, but the author equalized many of them in the end.
January 7, 2023
Honest Review …one reader’s perspective
Pros:
Good in the way of keeping my attention. It was definitely a page-turner. I was highly interested in finding out what happened with the characters.
Creative plot- with twists and turns
Length of story-Perfect!
Cons: There was too much drama and death for my personal taste. I expect Christian fiction to be uplifting-this was not really. More like Urban fiction with Church people.
I also prefer happy endings. This was happy ending for some not so much for others. There were also quite a few grammatical errors- need editor to take a better look before publishing.
As an aspiring author-I applaud the Author for his work . I know writing a book is no easy task. However, this didn’t do it for me. I left the book feeling blah, sad even. Therefore, not likely to recommend it to others.
Pros:
Good in the way of keeping my attention. It was definitely a page-turner. I was highly interested in finding out what happened with the characters.
Creative plot- with twists and turns
Length of story-Perfect!
Cons: There was too much drama and death for my personal taste. I expect Christian fiction to be uplifting-this was not really. More like Urban fiction with Church people.
I also prefer happy endings. This was happy ending for some not so much for others. There were also quite a few grammatical errors- need editor to take a better look before publishing.
As an aspiring author-I applaud the Author for his work . I know writing a book is no easy task. However, this didn’t do it for me. I left the book feeling blah, sad even. Therefore, not likely to recommend it to others.
October 19, 2021
Different
This is the first time I’ve read anything by this author. All I can say is that it was interesting I thought I could clearly see where the plot was leading and how it was going to end However I was mistaken. The epilogue really threw me for a loop and left me with some unanswered questions. I couldn’t help but wonder if Moses did in fact receive the inheritance he felt he was owed. Was he able to maintain custody of the four children of his murdered girlfriend? Was he able to give them a better life. Did he and his half sister make amends? Along with a few others I won’t bother to list
As stated it was an interesting read
This is the first time I’ve read anything by this author. All I can say is that it was interesting I thought I could clearly see where the plot was leading and how it was going to end However I was mistaken. The epilogue really threw me for a loop and left me with some unanswered questions. I couldn’t help but wonder if Moses did in fact receive the inheritance he felt he was owed. Was he able to maintain custody of the four children of his murdered girlfriend? Was he able to give them a better life. Did he and his half sister make amends? Along with a few others I won’t bother to list
As stated it was an interesting read
November 10, 2021
Waymaker
This book was exhilarating, dramatic and full of ungodly people like pastor Simon and Bianca. Oh boy did she think highly of her rapist husband. When he got shot Bianca could not let go. Pastor atheist daughter Rachel met in an accident and got converted. Wow his son Moses turn up loo!ing like Pastor went and have sex with his father's wife and have her believing he is alive. Best was Bishop Will ask Ameena to be his wife. Ameena daughter who was born with cancer was heal on the night she met her rapist father who also was kill by the police. Lovely read.
This book was exhilarating, dramatic and full of ungodly people like pastor Simon and Bianca. Oh boy did she think highly of her rapist husband. When he got shot Bianca could not let go. Pastor atheist daughter Rachel met in an accident and got converted. Wow his son Moses turn up loo!ing like Pastor went and have sex with his father's wife and have her believing he is alive. Best was Bishop Will ask Ameena to be his wife. Ameena daughter who was born with cancer was heal on the night she met her rapist father who also was kill by the police. Lovely read.
September 12, 2022
Church People
Wow... This was a great read,very well written book. In this book you will find so many people from church and the One that we all need #Jesus.
This book was a page turner from beginning to in there was drama, lies ,forgiveness , hope, healing, and miracles in healing and relationships with the Lord.
This book gave me hope that the church and it's people can be better if we are willing to share God's truth in our lives.
Wow... This was a great read,very well written book. In this book you will find so many people from church and the One that we all need #Jesus.
This book was a page turner from beginning to in there was drama, lies ,forgiveness , hope, healing, and miracles in healing and relationships with the Lord.
This book gave me hope that the church and it's people can be better if we are willing to share God's truth in our lives.
March 17, 2023
What a week!
First time reading this author's writing. The themes are inventive and profound, bordering close to reality. I was going to give the book 4 stars until reading from the accident scene of the daughter. So many themes were involved. I would like to read more! The material and tone of the book kept me reading.
The vernacular of the region was noted however, your editor should be replaced. The spelling, grammar and typos almost kept me from finishing the book.
First time reading this author's writing. The themes are inventive and profound, bordering close to reality. I was going to give the book 4 stars until reading from the accident scene of the daughter. So many themes were involved. I would like to read more! The material and tone of the book kept me reading.
The vernacular of the region was noted however, your editor should be replaced. The spelling, grammar and typos almost kept me from finishing the book.
April 25, 2023
Waymaker
Enjoyable read. Love the complexity of all the characters. Glad to understand why Bianca is the the she is. I was worried for Scoop for a minute,, feeling him when he said, " being with her is like being in prison ". Appreciated how he stepped up for those children. Loving the writing style of this male author.. He doesn't play with your emotions, but has you walking curiously through his maze of interesting characters.
Enjoyable read. Love the complexity of all the characters. Glad to understand why Bianca is the the she is. I was worried for Scoop for a minute,, feeling him when he said, " being with her is like being in prison ". Appreciated how he stepped up for those children. Loving the writing style of this male author.. He doesn't play with your emotions, but has you walking curiously through his maze of interesting characters.
March 29, 2022
I truly enjoyed this book. When I first opened this book on my Kindle app I was not going to read it because of the format. I assumed it was going to have a lot of errors. Instead, I continued to read the book and it was a really good book. I enjoyed the storyline and the characters. I smiled and even cried at times. The greed and the behavior of some was over the top, but it went well with the story. Full of trials and tribulations, but ends with victory.
January 27, 2024
Interesting Read
This book was a lot to process. There were many characters and it was a little hard at times to keep up with. This book helps you want to be a better Christian that’s truly focused on God and His kingdom and not mess!
This book was a lot to process. There were many characters and it was a little hard at times to keep up with. This book helps you want to be a better Christian that’s truly focused on God and His kingdom and not mess!
August 31, 2020
I can’t even...
January 26, 2021
The Waymaker
I really enjoyed this book! I started reading it yesterday and finished it tonight. The ending had a happy ending too !
I really enjoyed this book! I started reading it yesterday and finished it tonight. The ending had a happy ending too !
June 12, 2021
Excellent
This was a really good book and the way they left it hanging at the end I’m hoping for a part 2.
This was a really good book and the way they left it hanging at the end I’m hoping for a part 2.
August 11, 2021
Sensative Roots
For those of us raised in the church, the gory underbelly of church life is a thorn in our side. It sadden us to have to admit this is part of church's dark side.
For those of us raised in the church, the gory underbelly of church life is a thorn in our side. It sadden us to have to admit this is part of church's dark side.
November 29, 2022
Riveting
I read this book in three days. There are many subplots and a wry sense of humour.At the end it is still sound Christian principle
I read this book in three days. There are many subplots and a wry sense of humour.At the end it is still sound Christian principle
August 13, 2021
ABSOLUTELY WONDERFUL
I thoroughly enjoyed this book! When she pulled over and shouted, I felt that. The story brought out things people place "under the carpet" and wonder why they do what they do. Hurt & damaged people, hurt and damage others😢😭 Keep letting the Lord use you. Excellent read.💯
I thoroughly enjoyed this book! When she pulled over and shouted, I felt that. The story brought out things people place "under the carpet" and wonder why they do what they do. Hurt & damaged people, hurt and damage others😢😭 Keep letting the Lord use you. Excellent read.💯
Displaying 1 - 25 of 25 reviews