Sin of a Woman

Reverend Curtis Black #14

by Kimberla Lawson Roby

Raven Black is bouncing back after her very public divorce from Dillon. He's done everything he can to discredit her, but she's learned from her mistakes and him. In fact, she's become her ex-husband in more ways than one and is slowly but surely leading those connected to her down a terrible path of destruction. Playing with the lives of innocent people has dire consequences, the kind that Raven won't see coming.

Genres: Fiction, Audiobook, Christian Fiction, African American, Adult Fiction, Ebooks, Chick Lit

312 pages, Hardcover

Published June 20, 2017

About the author

New York Times Bestselling Author, Speaker, Encourager of Women & Podcast Host, Kimberla Lawson Roby, has published 30 books which include her faith-based, nonfiction titles, THE WOMAN GOD CREATED YOU TO BE: Finding Success Through Faith—Spiritually, Personally, and Professionally and THE WOMAN GOD CREATED YOU TO BE: Companion Workbook & Discussion Guide, as well as some of her novels, such as CASTING THE FIRST STONE, SIN OF A WOMAN, A SINFUL CALLING, SISTER FRIENDS FOREVER, A CHRISTMAS PRAYER, THE PRODIGAL SON, THE PERFECT MARRIAGE, THE REVEREND’S WIFE, IT'S AS THIN LINE, and her debut title, BEHIND CLOSED DOORS, which was originally self-published through her own company, Lenox Press. She has sold more than 3 million copies of her books, and they have frequented numerous bestseller lists, including The New York Times, USA Today, The Washington Post, Publishers Weekly, Essence, Upscale, Black Christian News, AALBC.com, Barnes and Noble, Amazon.com, Wal-Mart, The Dallas Morning News, The Austin Chronicle and many others. Kimberla is also the host of The Woman God Created You to Be Podcast.

Over the years, Kimberla has spoken to thousands of women at conferences, churches, expos, workshops, luncheons, libraries, colleges, universities and bookstores. She shares her own personal journey straight from her heart and has a strong passion toward helping women become all that God created them to be.

Kimberla is the 2013 NAACP Image Award Winner for Outstanding Literary Work – Fiction, the recipient of the 2017 SOAR Radio Trailblazer of Honor award, the 2017 Southwest Florida Reading Festival Distinguished Author award, the 2017 AAMBC Christian Fiction Author of the Year award and the 2014 AAMBC Female Author of the Year award, the 2006, 2007, 2009, 2010, 2011 and 2013 African-American Literary Awards Show (New York, NY) Female Author of the Year award, the Blackboard Fiction Book of the Year Award in 2001 for CASTING THE FIRST STONE, and in 2001, Kimberla was inducted into the Rock Valley College Alumni Hall of Fame (Rockford, IL). Additionally, in August 2020, she was named by USA Today as one of the 100 black novelists you should read, and in February 2021, her nonfiction book, The Woman God Created You to Be: Finding Success Through Faith—Spiritually, Personally, and Professionally, was nominated for an NAACP Image Award for Outstanding Literary Work – Instructional, giving her 4 NAACP Image Award nominations in total.

Kimberla’s books deal with very real issues, including women empowerment, sexual harassment, racial and gender discrimination in the workplace, problems within the church (and the consequences), Christian/family/moral values, drug and gambling addiction, marriage, infidelity, single motherhood, breast cancer, infertility, sibling rivalry, domestic violence, childhood sexual abuse, mental illness, and the care-giving of a parent to name a few. In addition, Kimberla’s books offer a message of redemption, forgiveness, and the realities of everyday life. Kimberla resides in Illinois with her husband, Will.

To share your thoughts with Kimberla regarding her work, please e-mail her at: kim@kimroby.com

Reviews

[Michelle Lindo-Rice · Rating 4 out of 5]

Raven! Raven! Raven! I'm shaking my head. Her story made my mouth drop. I am sure readers of the Curtis Black series will see this latest addition as a perfect fit. Porsha unexpectedly stole my heart. It was refreshing to read her journey and to see the depth of her character.
Another great job by Kimberla and all I can say is keep them coming. There aren't many authors who can have a series this long yet manage to weave in new storylines and concepts that make me finish a read in hours.

[Tiffany Tyler · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was an entertaining addition to this ongoing series...

[Tamara · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book was okay.

[Amy · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was a very quick read and flowed very well. Although it wasn't my favorite book in the series I enjoyed it. I really didn't like Raven's character at all, which made reading the story hard for me. There was some repetition and a lot of focus on name dropping for brands. I will still buy the next book. This author is still one of my favorites.

[Kimberly Chappell · Rating 3 out of 5]

It kept my attention to see what happened and then it was all breaks....Story ran out of gas for me. It was ok.

[Wendy · Rating 5 out of 5]

“Sin of a Woman” which I won through Goodreads Giveaways is an absorbing and compelling portrait of a power-hungry, greedy and ambitious woman who unconsciously begins self-destructing after posting a defaming Facebook video. Raven Black the senior pastor and co-founder of the well-attended and profitable NVCC (New Vision Christian Center) after bouncing back from time in prison, an addiction, and a public and costly divorce to her cheating husband Dillon not only pits her wits against the Black family through a damaging inference, but plans to rid herself of Porsha the assistant minister who’s infringing on her limelight at the church. But her scheme goes awry when she’s threatened by a criminal who wants the money she stole paid back at an exorbitant interest rate. Fearing for her life her plotting takes her on a path of destruction she doesn’t see coming.

Fast-paced and intriguing the story heats up as a unremorseful, selfish Raven plans her vengeance on those that wronged her while finding a way to embezzle the money she needs. In contrast, her assistant minister Porsha who’s unaware of being targeted, seems adrift, sleeping with married men and trying to discover her purpose in life. Dealing with a battered conscience and recognizing that she’s drifted away from the God she loves, Porsha struggles to undo the damage to her life to find purpose and a man she can trust to love. Emotionally-charged as NVCC prospers, gaining new members, an online following and more money than Raven ever expected, the story brings insight into some distasteful issues like the destructiveness of blind faith; judging others; following false gods like fame and fortune; the harmfulness of social networking; and following your will not God’s. Yet with Porsha, Kimberla Lawson Roby skilfully shows the redeeming grace of God’s love as still tempted she turns to Him for help and the promise of a better, more productive future.

The characters are complex, passionate and spirited especially Pastor Raven Black a woman whose past comes back to plague her. Materialistic, arrogant and selfish, enamoured by her work that’s bringing her fame and fortune, she becomes obsessed and delusional, overly-confident that she has the answers to her problems. Wealthy Porsha Harrington troubled by a guilty conscience and determined to make a stand for her faith tends to be naïve especially when it comes to the men in her life. Dillon Black although trying to change is still manipulative and dishonest lying by omission while D.C. Robinson the dangerous loan shark is arrogant and merciless, his demeanour cold and threatening. All the characters infuse this story with depth, intensity and suspense.

I thoroughly enjoyed “Sin of a Woman” and won’ hesitate to read other novels in the “Curtis Black” series.

[Buck S. · Rating 2 out of 5]

I have been reading this Curtis Black series for a while now, so this new addition just seems so repetitive. A lot of the things in this book, I feel as though I have already read in past books in this series.
A crooked, greedy pastor, who doesn't need to be anywhere near a church
The congregation is shocked by the pastor's scandal
And I always thought that in order to be a Deacon or a Pastor, you had to be married.
I understand that this formula is working for her, but I'm tired of reading the same elements over and over again...Hopefully she'll surprise me next time....

[Marva Tutt · Rating 2 out of 5]

Let it go...

These books are too far fetched and started to sound alike. Maybe she needs to let that series go and move on to something else. I'm disappointed

[Tia · Rating 4 out of 5]

I needed more of a splash for Raven's payback. That arrest was too tamed! I wanted mad confrontations!

[Latrisha Clark · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love this edition to the Pastor Black series, Raven was something else. Look forward to any other
additions in the future.

[Jay DeMoir · Rating 1 out of 5]

[Melissa Borsey · Rating 2 out of 5]

Greed, sex, lies, and the Church. Oh my! I thank Netgalley for the opportunity to read and review this book.

[Diane Rembert · Rating 5 out of 5]

The 14th book of the Reverend Curtis Black series finds Dillon's ex-wife Raven and his ex-mistress Porsha joining forces to start a church of their own, primarily to get back at him. The only problem is…neither has been called to preach. Raven is still up to her old tricks, which causes her past to come looking for her, while Porsha is in the midst of a spiritual battle.

If I were to choose one theme throughout the book, it would be…everyone has been given a ministry, but not everyone has been called to preach.

This book literally had me stuck to my chair, as I nearly finished it in one sitting. I highly recommend this 💎💎💎💎💎 book and look forward to the last installment by New York Times bestselling author @kimberlalawsonroby.

[Tip Mack · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was another good read for me. Even though I often found myself figuring things out myself and laughed when I was right. I love Kimberla Lawson Roby books and I have been a fan since I starting reading her books. I look forward to reading more books by her. If you are looking for drama, deceit and love crazed folks then this is the book for you.

[Cheryl James · Rating 3 out of 5]

I am a fan of this author and of the Curtis Black Series. It was different to see the women as the scandalous ones within the church vs. the men. The series is not as strong as it was when it first came out but as long as she keeps writing I will keep reading📚

Large Print. 437 pgs

[Gabriella · Rating 2 out of 5]

I mean, this was *fine*. Nothing interesting really occurred, but nothing terrible, either. I wanted more details about the church's animosity towards female preachers, but only received some ill-timed, off-handed comments about it from two women who did not need to be preachers in the first place, and thus weren't the best spokespeople for the issue.

It seems that the Black Family has outsourced all of the villainous activity in Sin of a Woman to one of their enemies and former family members, which makes the stakes of this one a bit less important. We understand from the beginning that Raven is wrong and will meet her demise, but her (anti-climactic) undoing has no earth-shattering implications for the rest of the family, making it a less nail-biting resolution than we're used to with this series.

I think Kim Lawson Roby lost her steam with these stories about twelve books in, as I haven't enjoyed the last two very much at all. It'll be interesting to see how she wraps all this up....

[Amira Smith · Rating 5 out of 5]

Deceiving, greedy, manipulating sinners are not words that are commonly used to describe women ministers/pastors but when reading ‘Sin of a Woman’ these are the words that came to my mind. Raven who is now a pastor of a very large church just hasn’t learned anything from her past and let’s her greed control her once again. Porsha is also entangled in the schemes but somehow finds her Grace. Her story line was my favorite because I can absolutely relate to her....being single and trying to do the right thing while following God is not always easy. This book touched me in so many ways. I was surprised, shed a few tears and even felt remorse. Way to go Kimberla!!

[Keisha Butler · Rating 3 out of 5]

I've never read a book where I really dislike all the characters. Maybe I missed something, because I'm pretty sure the Raven is the way she is because of a previous book, however I don't like Raven (or any of the other characters) enough to read another book about these money hungry, petty "Christians".

[Doreen Ashbrook · Rating 3 out of 5]

I was not crazy about this book - I guess since I did not read any of the earlier ones, I just didn't connect.

[Brenda · Rating 4 out of 5]

Enjoyed, great read. Would love more of this story.

[Cheryl Durham · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wow. Sin of a Woman was a great read. I couldn’t help but to pause often while reading. As always, KLR never ceases to give the reader something to ponder. The pause or pondering had me screaming, finding fault and pissed. Raven, Porsha, Cain, John, Dillion and Steve worked my nerves. I was so pissed and fed up with their “humanness.” Just as I suppose God has, at times, been tired of mine.

We have read time and time again the word of God in Jeremiah 3:15: “And I will give you pastors according to my own heart which shall feed you with knowledge and understanding.” That is an awesome responsibility. Were the ministers at NVCC “sheep in wolves clothing?” Was Dillion truly a changed man? What about John....what about Steve? The turning of each page would reveal the falling down and the giving in to temptation, greed, adultery, fornication, embezzlement and you name it. It truly gave us a lot to talk about.

To balance my reading and the message, I re-examined myself. I came to the conclusion that: the clergy were not sheep in wolves clothing (which was my original thought). I wanted to really talk about the fowl leaders at NVCC and their antics. But, I had to remember that church leaders can fall into sin or struggle just like everyone else. Their fall is greater because of the elevation and the pedestal that man puts them on.

Living a life as a true follower of Christ isn’t easy. Satan will dangle various sins in front of man in order to get him to succumb to temptation. Raven was greedy and a hot mess. Porsha was a mess but appeared to be at a serious crossroad. Steve was always going to want to have his cake and eat it too. Cain could easily see the flaws of others but not his own. And, poor John, was just used and abused and became the prey.

Thank you KLR for penning this work. Thank you for reminding us of the importance to not only talk to Jesus but to pray that we can hear Him talk to us. We also must commit to being disciplined by Him. It is evident that if we commit to being disciplined by Him....we will be more focused and above all give Him authority over our life.

[Dana Veronica · Rating 3 out of 5]

The convict Raven was at it again stole money from the chetch (church) she started, tried to blackmail Porsha but ole Dylan stepped in to save the day! Dylan is a good guy now but not much of a story she probably shouldn’t have made this into a 15 series book that took over 20 years to write….,sorry Kim

[Valarie · Rating 4 out of 5]

One of my favorites so far. My favorite take away from this book is the thought that we are all called to do something by God and doesn't necessarily mean we have to be in the pulpit or have a "title " to do work for God. This book really showed how God can and will use anybody and how He can come in and make a change in anyone. My favorite this time was Porscha because of how God was working on her in this book. This part was so true to life that it is amazing to read.

[Mary · Rating 1 out of 5]

DNF! One of 3 books I haven’t finished EVER! made it through 77 pages. Really unlikeable characters and story line. Infidelity, religious dishonesty, insincere friendship. Not interested in reading about these topics.

[Joiii · Rating 5 out of 5]

I enjoyed the book, it had a great plot as always. Im just wondering when Roby will end the series.

[Carmen · Rating 5 out of 5]

I am glad that Porshia really found God and Raven got hers!

[Lulu · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was an okay read. Nothing really stood out for me. As the old saying goes, "a leopard never changes its spots". In this instance, the leopard is Pastor Black’s ex daughter-in-law Raven. The Black family really didn’t make an appearance in this one.

One more book to go!

[zari ♡ · Rating 3 out of 5]

Chall this was a nice little quick read. What in the green leaf was this but very salty about the end cause if one went down, I needed the other to go down too.

[Shelleyheart · Rating 4 out of 5]

Oh this book, these characters smh. Raven worked my nerves, i ended up being so proud of Porchia and Dillon. Now on to the next to wrap this all up.

[Shakera · Rating 3 out of 5]

The most I can say about this installment is, "That Raven is something else".