Katt's in the Cradle

Secrets from Lulu's Cafe

by Ginger Kolbaba

When you're in the trenches, sometimes you're up to your neck in mud. That's the not-so-glamorous life of a pastor's wife.

Felicia's family is...complicated. That's putting it nicely. Now they're flying in from LA -- all at once -- to stay with her...just when her brother-in-law, Javier, and Mama aren't even speaking to each other. And the whole church will be there to witness the feud.

Mimi has a lot on her mind with her four energetic kids -- especially Milo the screamer, with his Pavarotti voice. Then her live-in alcoholic dad starts to mow their lawn at midnight.

Lisa has her hands full with loudmouth Tom Graves and the other troublemakers at Red River Assembly. Then vicious rumors start to fly about the Barton family...and the attacks and threats get increasingly personal.

Jennifer is pushing her adopted daughter, Carys, in a stroller, when she notices a black town car -- the same car she's seen several times over the past week. Could someone be following her?

The PWs plunge into an unnerving mystery...and discover what "family" really means.

Genres: Christian Fiction, Mystery

320 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 2009

About the author

Ginger Kolbaba is on a journey to embrace joy in every moment. She doesn't always succeed (she's a recovering cynic, after all), but she loves to learn from the adventure of the pursuit. She loves a good laugh, a ready smile, a dog's smooch, great food (vegetarian, thanks), growing faith, and remembering that love is all-powerful. She also claims one of her greatest gifts is ranting (good-naturedly, of course).

An accomplished author, Ginger has written, ghostwritten, collaborated, or contributed to 30 books, including Your Best Happily Ever After.

Ginger also teaches and speaks across the country. She's appeared on national venues such as HLN's Nancy Grace, as well as Family Life Radio and Moody Radio's Midday Connection. A former professional editor of several award-winning national magazines, including Today's Christian Woman and Marriage Partnership, she continues editing for both individuals and major publishing houses.

When she isn't chained to her computer, Ginger enjoys spending time with her husband motorcycling through the countryside, visiting Yellowstone National Park, walking her Doberman, reading good books, and contemplating the deep meaning of life--as well as trying to figure out how to get her husband to give her a donkey or a duck for Christmas. She believes one of her greatest accomplishments would be dusting off her piano and treadmill and using them both--at least once this year.

Visit her at www.GingerKolbaba.com.

Reviews

[Ruth · Rating 4 out of 5]

this is a story about four minister's wives who have become friends and who meet forty miles from their small town to give each other support and friendship.

I enjoyed the book. While I didn't particularly identify with any of the women, all four seemed real. The book dealt with problems suffered in many marriages like infertility, mental illness in the family, the decision to have (or not have)another baby, illegitimate children and alcoholism. It also focused on problems unique to those married to those in ministry, like the feeling of living in a fishbowl, jealousy between and among church members and making time for a spouse.

A couple of things I'd like to point out. One of the wives suffered from infertility. While that wasn't a big part of this book, evidently it was in one of the earlier books. She sought counsel from the local Catholic priest at that time, and they have remained friends.

Also, at one point in the book, the wives are at a larger meeting of preacher's wives and the following is read: "80% of pastor's wives feel left out an unappreciated by church members. 70% do not have someone they consider a close friend....1500 pastors leave the ministry each month due to moral failure, spiritual burnout, or contention in their churches.... 50% of pastors are so discouraged that they would leave the ministry if they could, but have no other way of making a living....a majority of pastors' wives said the most destructive even that has occurred in their marriage and family was the day thier husbands entered the ministry." I am assuming the authors quoted real studies here; that they did not make up these figures for the sake of the story. If true, they support thet contention I made in the last post; that substituting married clergy for celibate doesn't eliminate problems, it just changes them.

[Wyndy · Rating 3 out of 5]

The PW (Pastor's Wives) are meeting at Lulu's Cafe in order to strengthen their support system. It's difficult being a pastor's wife in a small town, who do you turn to when you need support? Who else understands the pressures and stresses that the job brings? The writers have given these wives very down to earth characters and problems and emotions. This second book expands on their lives but at the same time can stand alone if you haven't read the first one. The four women who come from dysfunctional homes that have turned them into perfectionists, the ones who have children with all their problems or can't have children and the problems that brings, and the one whose husband is the pastor of a church that is in the midst of a spiritual attack. This is their story. The story is well written and easy to follow. The women are shown as very human in that they have their times of doubt and their times of trying to take control of their lives away from God and into their own hands, just like the rest of us. I do wish it had been called something other than Katt's since I kept waiting for more about the new Mrs. Katt. If it had been called anything else I would have enjoyed it more but I kept waiting and looking for more about her and I found that distracting and disappointing. Because of that I have decided that it is a 3 1/2 star book.

[Kris · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book was just okay for me. But in all fairness, I think it would have made a tremendous difference if I had the opportunity to read the first two books Desperate Pastors' Wives and A Matter of Wife and Death first.

I liked the writing style - it was very flowing and easy to read and understand. The problems that the four wives were having were things that have probably happened somewhere at sometime - so it was realistic, except that I am not sure they would all be going on at the same time.

When I first started reading the book, the characters kept getting jumbled up in my mind. Again,I attribute this to not reading the first two books. There is a nice synopsis of each wife at the beginning of the book, though, so I referred to it quite often in the beginning.

I did like that it made me think about how I treat or even think about my friends and family. I hope that I do not devalue their feelings or ambitions just because it might be different from my own. It also showed me how necessary it is to show Christ's love in all encounters.

[IrenesBookReviews · Rating 4 out of 5]

Do Pastor’s wives handle the day to day stresses of life the same way you and I do? This book follows the good and bad days of four pastor’s wives, Lisa, Felicia, Mimi and Jennifer.

Although this is not the first book in the series you can read it as a stand alone and still follow the characters stories. Each chapter follows one of the wives. The story gets a little choppy but is still a good read.

The wives tackle family issues that you can relate to. This is not an overly religious book but is a fun read where you can escape from your day to day life and enjoy reading about theirs.

I was given this book by christianreviewofbooks.com to review.

[Elaine · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is the 3rd book in the series; I've read the others. It is difficult to remember who is who since each chapter deals with one of the 4 main characters (except for the "Lulu's Cafe" chapters).

Good for Joel for doing what he had to do in confronting Tom. Two of the PWs learn to forgive. Relationships are restored. Archie is more than a bit difficult to deal with. Someone "new" enters Jennifer's life. Felicia's family plans to fly in from California for Dave's birthday and some of them aren't getting along. Perhaps Grace will find grace.

[Lisa]

I was a little disappointed with this book. I can't really tell you what the plot it, there didn't seem to be any. It's just the travails of a group of pastor's wives and the everyday things they have to deal with. Mostly with other pastor's wive, their husbands, and other pastor's wives groups. They each had personal trials that are dealt with the way all personal trials are dealt with, and are resolved neatly. Not really a riveting story.

[Crystal · Rating 4 out of 5]

I love these characters but sometimes get frustrated by the stereotypes that this author so strongly portrays. However, I will read all in the series simply because there's not much that's even close to real in the realm of being a pastor's wife and fiction.

[Alisa · Rating 4 out of 5]

The rating is more for the results of the book than its writing. The authors have a good understanding of pastors' lives; the good, bad, ugly, frustrating, and glorious parts. This series was refreshing for me.

[Howard Books]

In the delightfully entertaining Secrets from Lulu's Cafe series, the pastors' wives encounter all the elements of mystery, intrigue, and scandal that have made Desperate Pastor's Wives so popular.

[Heather Siani · Rating 4 out of 5]

Surprising turn of the series. I expected the original characters to develop more around their lives as pastors wives.

[Tina · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really like this series and the way the women are presented with real problems and real faults.

[Jake Goossen · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is great. Can't wait to read the rest of the series!!

[Pat · Rating 4 out of 5]

Nobody's family is perfect, including pastor's families. These 4 pastor's wives support each other through many family and church problems.

[Shannon · Rating 5 out of 5]

KSKS