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Last Temptation
Will a dream come true push one woman to her limits? Sensible single mother Patricia "Peaches" Miller isn't about to follow in her mama's footsteps and become dependent on a man--no, that would be too easy. But when she doesn't see eye to eye with the man she wants to marry, she knows that returning to a life of girls' nights out, retail therapy, and chocolate peanut clusters just won't do for her. Then Raphael, her son's father, steps back into the picture--and makes it clear that his attraction to Peaches is stronger than ever. There's just one problem. Raphael has already pledged his heart to another woman. Peaches has been praying for a perfect family for a long time. Deep down she knows this can't be God's idea of an answer--but can you blame a girl for hoping? Now, as she battles with temptation, and with her faith, she's not sure which will win. . . "Michelle Stimpson does a wonderful job of creating characters that are believable and l
320 pages, Paperback
First published November 1, 2010
37 people are currently reading
365 people want to read
About the author
Michelle Stimpson
102 books671 followersHello, Goodreads community! I'm Michelle Stimpson, and storytelling is my heartbeat. I've found my calling in penning heartwarming women's fiction that offers a seat at the table of family, humor, and hope. As an author, my greatest joy comes from crafting narratives that resonate with anyone seeking to find laughter and light in the pages of a good book. My tagline, 'Read. Love. Repeat.', is a promise of the emotional journey I aim to provide—engaging stories you’ll love and yearn to revisit.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 32 reviews
December 22, 2010
Michelle Stimpson will have you laughing, crying and relating to each of her vivid, vocal characters. In her book Last Temptation, we step into Patricia "Peaches" Miller’s world, and she is faced with multiple struggles against herself.
It’s been a while since I’ve read Christian fiction, but Last Temptation had me laughing, shaking my head and admiring each character’s authenticity. Peaches’, who is a character humanly flawed like the rest of us, is in a constant mental battle with herself and the choices she faces are a true to life examples of womanhood. What I enjoy most about Stimpson’s work is each character’s believability. While some would argue that some of Peaches’ struggles don’t make sense, I would argue that Peaches represents the thought process many women face when it comes to relationships. Nothing is more believable than a woman who is constantly trying to figure life’s twists out.
Stimpson’s characters are real and believable – and most of all, hilarious! She kept me smiling and laughing throughout!
I enjoyed the humor and authenticity that Stimpson breathed into each of her characters. Even the most unlikeable character was humanized in some way. Score! I’d recommend this book to everyone!
She had me laughing and smiling and enjoying every word!
It’s been a while since I’ve read Christian fiction, but Last Temptation had me laughing, shaking my head and admiring each character’s authenticity. Peaches’, who is a character humanly flawed like the rest of us, is in a constant mental battle with herself and the choices she faces are a true to life examples of womanhood. What I enjoy most about Stimpson’s work is each character’s believability. While some would argue that some of Peaches’ struggles don’t make sense, I would argue that Peaches represents the thought process many women face when it comes to relationships. Nothing is more believable than a woman who is constantly trying to figure life’s twists out.
Stimpson’s characters are real and believable – and most of all, hilarious! She kept me smiling and laughing throughout!
I enjoyed the humor and authenticity that Stimpson breathed into each of her characters. Even the most unlikeable character was humanized in some way. Score! I’d recommend this book to everyone!
She had me laughing and smiling and enjoying every word!
January 26, 2025
Life is great for Patricia “Peaches” Miller. She has a great job, which is starting to become stressful, an amazing son and a fiance whom adores her. Life happens and Peaches steps outside the will of God, and everything around her starts to fall apart. When she decided to give her ex, Raphael another chance, those around her began to be alarmed.
What did they do…they prayed.
As Peaches began to reestablish her relationship with God, things began to fall back in place.
This book is a gentle reminder to always keep God first, in everything that you do and whenever you step outside His will, things start to crumble. It’s not a form of punishment, but rather a lesson of tough love. @stimpson.michelle did an amazing job with this one and the characters will live rent-free in my head for awhile. My favorite character has to go to Quinn, because he was such a stellar guy and my least favorite (go straight to jail - do not pass Go) is Raphael. Please go check out this book.
What did they do…they prayed.
As Peaches began to reestablish her relationship with God, things began to fall back in place.
This book is a gentle reminder to always keep God first, in everything that you do and whenever you step outside His will, things start to crumble. It’s not a form of punishment, but rather a lesson of tough love. @stimpson.michelle did an amazing job with this one and the characters will live rent-free in my head for awhile. My favorite character has to go to Quinn, because he was such a stellar guy and my least favorite (go straight to jail - do not pass Go) is Raphael. Please go check out this book.
December 7, 2011
My first time at reading a novel by Michelle Stimpson, I was nervous yet excited. Christian fiction? Not usually my cup of tea. But I dove into the book with high hopes and was left energized and satisfied! The book is like a roller coaster, starting off sweet and nice, then quickly taking you through a maze of steep, downhill falls, upside-down loops, and rapid turns. We see the main character make mistake after mistake, refusing to use the one "get out of jail free card" that she possesses from the very beginning. But honestly, isn't that just like you and I? We all know that the answer to everything we need and want in life is just one prayer away, but we are so intent on doing it our own way that we have to get beat up and knocked down before we ever submit to the One above. The book is drama-filled, but not in a cheesy, this is ridiculous way-instead the drama reveals how poorly things can go when we handle our problems ourselves. I loved the book! It was so messy in a good way and I look forward to reading more books from this author. Stimpson seems to have mastered the art of storytelling and the beauty of deliverance.
June 4, 2017
Proverbs 16:18,19
Loved this book! Peaches took her eyes off of God and thought she could do it alone and was too stubborn and prideful to admit it until she was forced to. So determined not be like her mother when she didn't have clue about her parent's relationship and how they worked together. When things started going south, she was too full of herself that even when she knew things were bad she just gave up. But God! The prayer warriors kept her on the altar!
Loved this book! Peaches took her eyes off of God and thought she could do it alone and was too stubborn and prideful to admit it until she was forced to. So determined not be like her mother when she didn't have clue about her parent's relationship and how they worked together. When things started going south, she was too full of herself that even when she knew things were bad she just gave up. But God! The prayer warriors kept her on the altar!
September 4, 2020
This book is a great demonstration of what happens when little by little, we make choices that take us further away from God. When life is finally in pieces and God doesn't seem to be helping us anymore, it just gets worse. but then, when we finally realize that it was us, not God, that made wrong choices and turned life into a mess, God can take us back, turn it around, and turn our mess into a message. He can turn the victim into the victor. Amen! Very well done!
August 11, 2021
The message of God's loves us regardless of our mistakes is loud and clear. The biggest lines in the book that stop out to me was that God path for our life is like a GPS destination.....we may get off the path and take detours but we will still arrive at the ultimate place that God has ordained us to be.
November 3, 2020
Another great read by Michelle Stimpson. A single mother balancing a career and motherhood, plus a handsome fiance', gets caught up in not wanting to turn out like her mother and learns some very hard lessons. But like most stories, things work out for her good. I recommend this book.
July 21, 2018
This book was “on time” for me. The bottom line is that God’s view is longer than mine. Trust Him. I could have skipped the Natasha chapters (weird); but overall, I enjoyed the story.
November 28, 2018
A good refreshing read. Enjoyed it from beginning to end.
June 23, 2020
Df main character was to prejudice for me.
May 8, 2024
Peaches got on my nerves!! Overall all, it was a good book.
February 3, 2011
I must admit that I didn't enjoy this book. It was too predictable and the author tried to hide the lack of development of the plot and characters behind a multitude of religious verses. This "heroine" was not what she claimed to be when the going got tough. We are all human, but her continual repetition of stupid decisions showed she wasn't learning any lessons. A different ending would have provided a better opportunity for the author to show growth and maturity.
The main character Patricia "Peaches" Miller was presented as independent, strong and religious woman. She had a young son named Eric, a fiance named Quinn (not her son's father, Raphael) and a great job. But her fiance got a promotion requiring him to move from Texas to Philadelphia and that is really when all hell broke loose.
Peaches didn't want to take that leap of faith and move to another city because she didn't want to be "dependent on man". She gave various reasons from not wanting to find another job to her son's barely stable relationship with his bio dad to her friends in Texas. The fiance offered to fly the son down for the once a month visitation with bio dad, but Peaches wouldn't budge. Peaches knew her job had an office in Philadelphia, but she just kept spewing the "Independent woman" rhetoric and asserting that she "didn't need him to take care of her and her son".
Keep in mind that Peaches was aware that the company she was working for was undergoing a financial transition and was having difficulty. She also complained that her baby's father Raphael was inconsistent and not a great father, while her fiance Quinn was a great role model and very loving to her son. Not one to be dependent, Peaches and Quinn separated and he moved to Philly. Peaches then began sleeping with her son's father, who was engaged and living with someone else.
She hid that fact from her mother and all of her friends because she obviously knew she went from a steak to ground beef. It came as no surprise to me to find out that the man she described as a loser, was in fact, a loser in the end and left her more damaged than before. In order to truly sympathize with Peaches, I wish that the author had made Peaches go to counselling to deal with her issues such as her perception of her parent's marriage etc.
In this case, the author was determined to have a happy ending for one of God's children, so Peaches had to regain everything she threw away. I see the religious message that the author was trying to impart to the reader, I didn't buy the ending. This book had potential, but it didn't live up to it for me.
The main character Patricia "Peaches" Miller was presented as independent, strong and religious woman. She had a young son named Eric, a fiance named Quinn (not her son's father, Raphael) and a great job. But her fiance got a promotion requiring him to move from Texas to Philadelphia and that is really when all hell broke loose.
Peaches didn't want to take that leap of faith and move to another city because she didn't want to be "dependent on man". She gave various reasons from not wanting to find another job to her son's barely stable relationship with his bio dad to her friends in Texas. The fiance offered to fly the son down for the once a month visitation with bio dad, but Peaches wouldn't budge. Peaches knew her job had an office in Philadelphia, but she just kept spewing the "Independent woman" rhetoric and asserting that she "didn't need him to take care of her and her son".
Keep in mind that Peaches was aware that the company she was working for was undergoing a financial transition and was having difficulty. She also complained that her baby's father Raphael was inconsistent and not a great father, while her fiance Quinn was a great role model and very loving to her son. Not one to be dependent, Peaches and Quinn separated and he moved to Philly. Peaches then began sleeping with her son's father, who was engaged and living with someone else.
She hid that fact from her mother and all of her friends because she obviously knew she went from a steak to ground beef. It came as no surprise to me to find out that the man she described as a loser, was in fact, a loser in the end and left her more damaged than before. In order to truly sympathize with Peaches, I wish that the author had made Peaches go to counselling to deal with her issues such as her perception of her parent's marriage etc.
In this case, the author was determined to have a happy ending for one of God's children, so Peaches had to regain everything she threw away. I see the religious message that the author was trying to impart to the reader, I didn't buy the ending. This book had potential, but it didn't live up to it for me.
November 5, 2014
LaShondra, Pateicia and Deniessa are good friends. When LaShondra and Deniessa get married, Patricia (Peaches) wants to be married also.
LaShindra and Stelson are doing well and thriving in their marriage.
Deniessa and Jamal are married but not doing so well. Jamal beats Deniessa and has no job. But for whatever reason, she stays with him.
Peaches and Quinn seem to be doing well in their relationship, until Quinn informs Peaches that he has a great job offer in Pennsylvania. Quinn has a wonderful relationship with Eric, Peaches' son. Peaches decides she doesn't want to leave her job, she's not going to move and be dependent on a man, (even one who loves her and her son) and she gives Quinn back his engagement ring and lets him get away.
Quinn moves to Pennsylvania and Peaches stays behind. Once her job uses her to fire the people they no longer want, they turn around and fire her! She hooks back up with Raphael, (the father of her son) who left her high and dry when she got pregnant. The thing is, he's living with Cheryl, whom he's engaged to and supposed to be marrying.
Needless to say, he doesn't come through for Peaches, he's still the same bum he was when he left her and on top of that, when Cheryl destroys Peaches's car, he doesn't even speak up on Peaches behalf, he tries to protect Cheryl, who Peaches learns is pregnant!
Peaches starts hanging out at clubs with Deniessa, almost gets raped by a lesbian, her and Deniessa get into a fight and Peaches has to find her way back to God, from whom she has strayed far away from. Things have gotten so bad that Peaches mother decides, Eric will not live with Peaches until she gets herself together, and she means it.
It takes a while, but Peaches finally realizes that God has never left her, and if she will just walk with him and trust him, he will see her through. And the love of her life comes back and loves her and Eric like he never left.
Read: November 2014
LaShindra and Stelson are doing well and thriving in their marriage.
Deniessa and Jamal are married but not doing so well. Jamal beats Deniessa and has no job. But for whatever reason, she stays with him.
Peaches and Quinn seem to be doing well in their relationship, until Quinn informs Peaches that he has a great job offer in Pennsylvania. Quinn has a wonderful relationship with Eric, Peaches' son. Peaches decides she doesn't want to leave her job, she's not going to move and be dependent on a man, (even one who loves her and her son) and she gives Quinn back his engagement ring and lets him get away.
Quinn moves to Pennsylvania and Peaches stays behind. Once her job uses her to fire the people they no longer want, they turn around and fire her! She hooks back up with Raphael, (the father of her son) who left her high and dry when she got pregnant. The thing is, he's living with Cheryl, whom he's engaged to and supposed to be marrying.
Needless to say, he doesn't come through for Peaches, he's still the same bum he was when he left her and on top of that, when Cheryl destroys Peaches's car, he doesn't even speak up on Peaches behalf, he tries to protect Cheryl, who Peaches learns is pregnant!
Peaches starts hanging out at clubs with Deniessa, almost gets raped by a lesbian, her and Deniessa get into a fight and Peaches has to find her way back to God, from whom she has strayed far away from. Things have gotten so bad that Peaches mother decides, Eric will not live with Peaches until she gets herself together, and she means it.
It takes a while, but Peaches finally realizes that God has never left her, and if she will just walk with him and trust him, he will see her through. And the love of her life comes back and loves her and Eric like he never left.
Read: November 2014
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
December 22, 2010
Michelle Stimpson will have you laughing, crying and relating to each of her vivid, vocal characters. In her book Last Temptation, we step into Patricia "Peaches" Miller’s world, and she is faced with multiple struggles against herself.
It’s been a while since I’ve read Christian fiction, but Last Temptation had me laughing, shaking my head and admiring each character’s authenticity. Peaches’, who is a character humanly flawed like the rest of us, is in a constant mental battle with herself and the choices she faces are a true to life examples of womanhood. What I enjoy most about Stimpson’s work is each character’s believability. While some would argue that some of Peaches’ struggles don’t make sense, I would argue that Peaches represents the thought process many women face when it comes to relationships. Nothing is more believable than a woman who is constantly trying to figure life’s twists out.
Stimpson’s characters are real and believable – and most of all, hilarious! She kept me smiling and laughing throughout!
I enjoyed the humor and authenticity that Stimpson breathed into each of her characters. Even the most unlikeable character was humanized in some way. Score! I’d recommend this book to everyone!
She had me laughing and smiling and enjoying every word!
Andrena Mason
AAMBC Reviewer
It’s been a while since I’ve read Christian fiction, but Last Temptation had me laughing, shaking my head and admiring each character’s authenticity. Peaches’, who is a character humanly flawed like the rest of us, is in a constant mental battle with herself and the choices she faces are a true to life examples of womanhood. What I enjoy most about Stimpson’s work is each character’s believability. While some would argue that some of Peaches’ struggles don’t make sense, I would argue that Peaches represents the thought process many women face when it comes to relationships. Nothing is more believable than a woman who is constantly trying to figure life’s twists out.
Stimpson’s characters are real and believable – and most of all, hilarious! She kept me smiling and laughing throughout!
I enjoyed the humor and authenticity that Stimpson breathed into each of her characters. Even the most unlikeable character was humanized in some way. Score! I’d recommend this book to everyone!
She had me laughing and smiling and enjoying every word!
Andrena Mason
AAMBC Reviewer
July 19, 2015
SPOILER ALERT!
Peaches is attempting to live a Christian lifestyle while engaged to Quinn (who she met at church). This title is my 1st Christian fiction in a long time and while I tend to stay in the middle mainly because of the usually heavy message, this one "preaches" but not too heavy. The characters are believable but I had trouble with the plot development (Quinn and Peaches are celibate but she renews her sexual relationship with her baby daddy after she breaks up with Quinn? And her naïveté: first doesn't she realize her company has her firing all its employees and it's just a matter of time before she's next? second in not realizing Raphael is still living with Cheryl? Come on now: college educated but no common sense.
Anyway, I give it a C.
Peaches is attempting to live a Christian lifestyle while engaged to Quinn (who she met at church). This title is my 1st Christian fiction in a long time and while I tend to stay in the middle mainly because of the usually heavy message, this one "preaches" but not too heavy. The characters are believable but I had trouble with the plot development (Quinn and Peaches are celibate but she renews her sexual relationship with her baby daddy after she breaks up with Quinn? And her naïveté: first doesn't she realize her company has her firing all its employees and it's just a matter of time before she's next? second in not realizing Raphael is still living with Cheryl? Come on now: college educated but no common sense.
Anyway, I give it a C.
Read
February 7, 2016Last Temptation
I liked Peaches Miller, it reminded me of me in my younger days, going through the trills that she went through with her job loss, friends really not understanding what she's going through, and not really being able to take care of her child. We seem to take ourselves in a downward spin before we finally look up to God and realize that we should of listened to him and put our trust in him in the beginning. I loved how Quinn still was looking out for her through Lashonda. Although her mother was hard on her, she had good intentions and took care of her son until she could turn her life around. She knew she just needed to put her trust in God. I would recommend this book to everyone. I love all of her books, and give this one five stars.
I liked Peaches Miller, it reminded me of me in my younger days, going through the trills that she went through with her job loss, friends really not understanding what she's going through, and not really being able to take care of her child. We seem to take ourselves in a downward spin before we finally look up to God and realize that we should of listened to him and put our trust in him in the beginning. I loved how Quinn still was looking out for her through Lashonda. Although her mother was hard on her, she had good intentions and took care of her son until she could turn her life around. She knew she just needed to put her trust in God. I would recommend this book to everyone. I love all of her books, and give this one five stars.
January 5, 2011
This book started off really good. It kept my attention throughout the beginning. Towards the middle up until the end, I was fed up with Peaches. She started making dumb decisions over and over again. Based on the first dumb decision she made, it was hard to beieve that so many were made after that and continued to happy over and over again. I wish I would have known this is a somewhat religious book. Had I know that, I would have been prepared for all the scriptures thrown in every 5 minutes.
July 28, 2014
This book was pretty good. I enjoyed the premise abs I enjoyed the characters somewhat. Although I understood the problem Peaches had with Quinn, I felt like some of the stuff she did as a result was dumb. She could have just prayed and asked God for an answer, and then been patient because He does things in His time. I did like the coming to Jesus part at the end.
This is your predictable bad stuff happens and it eventually turns into good for the main character.
This is your predictable bad stuff happens and it eventually turns into good for the main character.
September 12, 2014
I really enjoyed this book because it was about how we sometimes take the reigns of our lives instead of letting God lead us and the trouble it can get you into. The ended was a little weak. Kind of seemed like the author had a "page maximum" and had to wrap things up in a nice bow quickly. But overall it was a good book.
September 30, 2019
This book followed peaches (The best friend of Lashandra from Boaz Brown.. Peaches had to deal with her own personel demon as she went through her journey, but her own stubborness cause a lot of her problem. but everything worked out in the end and she had to go through some stuff before she had her HEA
November 8, 2011
I enjoyed this book. I have got to admit that I wanted to slap Peaches a few times. She had a good man, a godly man and traded it all for trials and tribulations. I loved how Stimpson showed how God works things out to our good even when we are bent on doing it our way.
June 14, 2015
Great book!
I learned some good lessons and scriptures from this book! Peaches was something else. I loved the true friendship between her and LaShonda. I felt bad for the way she treated her son, her mother and Quinn. I loved the way the book ended!
I learned some good lessons and scriptures from this book! Peaches was something else. I loved the true friendship between her and LaShonda. I felt bad for the way she treated her son, her mother and Quinn. I loved the way the book ended!
April 21, 2023
I know the plans I have for you, said the lord of host. We can try all we want to do things our own way and in our own time, but Gods will, will be done. She had to learn things the hard way but, in the end she didn’t let pride hold her back In the end. Great book!
January 19, 2011
Miss Peaches worked my nerves but I enjoyed the story.
January 27, 2011
Very well written, enjoyable book, easy reading
January 22, 2013
Really enjoyed it!
May 31, 2011
Sorry, I couldn't get into this book even after the first chapter. I skimmed through and just gave up. She writes good, editing was fine, just not my cup of tea.
March 2, 2012
This book was ok. The story line seemed to go a little far at times, but in the end I feel like the author put it back together.
November 21, 2012
Very good read.
September 9, 2015
I enjoyed peaches story. I am glad she came back to The Lord. And I thank God for her mother for taking in Eric Peaches son. I'm not gone even talk about Raphael Eric father (DEADBEAT).
Displaying 1 - 30 of 32 reviews