True Believers

by Linda Dorrell

As heiress Peggy Nickles, black minister Otha Lee, and a stranger work together to renovate a church, the people in their small town become outraged at Peggy's plans to donate the historically white church to a black congregation in mid-1950s South Carolina.

Genres: Fiction, Christian

Paperback

First published May 1, 2001

Reviews

[Jane · Rating 2 out of 5]

I can't improve on the first sentence from the book jacket as a plot summary: "Cotton heiress Peggy Nickles offers to give Otha Lee Sturgis, a black country preacher, the deed to an old church cemetery if he will help restore them. Aided by a carpenter named Joseph, who wonders into town, they begin their work - and are quickly opposed by Peggy's domineering sister and a racist community."

Sounds like a great story line. Unfortunately, for me anyway, it didn't live up to the promise. The characters were so one-dimensional and (pardon the bad pun here) so all black or all white. It was a fairly interesting quick read, but overall just a little too coyingly sweet.

[L. · Rating 4 out of 5]

I loved reading this book. It was a quick read and spoke about prejudices against the black folk, but also about God's love and second chances. How faithful God is when we trust Him. I loved reading about the restoration of the church and how Peggy trusted Joseph when he came to town looking for a job and a fresh start. And how they fell in love. I loved how the author weaved the story about these characters and Otha Lee reunited with his son while patiently waiting for his own church. Great story, very sweet.

[Nancy DeValve · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book takes place in small-town South Carolina in the '60's. It is an easy read and I enjoyed the characters. I think it was a good story dealing with family secrets, healing of past hurts, and with a secondary theme of race relations. It was realistic enough to not just be "happy ever after."

[Robyn Klepfer · Rating 3 out of 5]

It was an ok book. There was just SO MUCH MORE that could have happened with the characters and plot. When I finished it, I was kind of disappointed and felt unsatisfied.

[Eric Anderson]

it was fucking weird, I remember that much

[Kinsley Vo · Rating 5 out of 5]

read three times in a week
new favorite book

[Melissa · Rating 5 out of 5]

Dorrell has written yet another excellent historical fiction novel. Peggy Nickles purchased a church and graveyard, in Bonham, South Carolina, that she decides to renovate and donate to a local black congregation. Peggy enlists the help of the pastor, Otha Lee, and a newcomer in town, Joseph. Together, Peggy, Joseph, and Otha Lee not only renovate a church, but become a support team for one another as family secrets and long-lost relatives begin to surface in each of their lives. If you enjoy this novel, be sure to check out Dorrell's other novels, The Trees of Eden and Face to Face.

[Virginia Myers · Rating 4 out of 5]

To me, this is a feel good book. If you are not a person of faith, however, I do not believe it will really appeal to you. It is about a trio consisting of one white woman who has just inherited some money (a blessing), an elderly black preacher with a congregation but no home for his community of faith, and a white stranger who just happens to appear on the scene needing a hand-up. What makes it "feel-good" is the way God blesses all of them - although you may choose to see it as a result of hard work and a few strokes of luck. I vote for the former.

[Brian · Rating 3 out of 5]

The late Linda Dorrell was a member of the church I currently serve. She passed away about a year before my arrival. Her mother gave me "True Believers" and "Trees in Eden" to read. Linda captures the essence of small town Carolina life, and the influence of her hometown (Effingham, SC) is evident in True Believers.

[Cindy · Rating 3 out of 5]

Sweet story about a young woman who decides to renovate an abandoned church and donate it to a local congregation in need of a home. The problem is: she's white, the congregation is black, and they all live in the 1950's in the southern US.

[Ruth · Rating 5 out of 5]

I bought this book at the discount rack at GCC. It is tottally different type of book from what I normally read. It now is one of my all time favorites!

[Marti]

Take away an L, & you'll have my maiden name. That's the only reason I picked this book.