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Soon After
When Pastors Willie Green and Vanessa Morton got married and moved to merge their churches, they never expected so much resistance. Now it seems someone is sending a strong message by setting fire to the Harvest Baptist Church building.
The newly unified Pleasant Harvest Baptist Church is no more than four months into business as usual before Co-Pastor Willie Green is drawn into the middle of an arson investigation. Alexis Montgomery, an overzealous reporter, sees the experienced pastor as a great source to latch onto as she tries to unearth the stories that might solve the crime. Instead of being bothered by the presence of this woman, Co-Pastor Vanessa uses it as a distraction to help conceal her own secrets.
Orchestrating the unification rift makes Deacon Charley Thompson a prime suspect. His unexpected silence only fuels the accusations of guilt, and his meek wife becomes his unlikely spokesperson. Meanwhile, his nephew, Abe Townsend, couldn't care less about family allegiances. Led by an anonymous publicist, Abe and the remaining displaced members of Harvest Baptist Church gain notoriety when news reports garner an outcry of sympathy and support.
What should have been a simple unification of two churches has turned into something much more complicated, and it will take plenty of faith to hold it all together.
The newly unified Pleasant Harvest Baptist Church is no more than four months into business as usual before Co-Pastor Willie Green is drawn into the middle of an arson investigation. Alexis Montgomery, an overzealous reporter, sees the experienced pastor as a great source to latch onto as she tries to unearth the stories that might solve the crime. Instead of being bothered by the presence of this woman, Co-Pastor Vanessa uses it as a distraction to help conceal her own secrets.
Orchestrating the unification rift makes Deacon Charley Thompson a prime suspect. His unexpected silence only fuels the accusations of guilt, and his meek wife becomes his unlikely spokesperson. Meanwhile, his nephew, Abe Townsend, couldn't care less about family allegiances. Led by an anonymous publicist, Abe and the remaining displaced members of Harvest Baptist Church gain notoriety when news reports garner an outcry of sympathy and support.
What should have been a simple unification of two churches has turned into something much more complicated, and it will take plenty of faith to hold it all together.
288 pages, Paperback
First published September 1, 2010
4 people are currently reading
38 people want to read
About the author
Sherryle Kiser Jackson
9 books14 followersSherryle Kiser Jackson is a fresh voice in Christian fiction. Her style reflects an honest commentary on her life with Christ.
Soon and Very Soon is her debut novel. She anxiously awaits the publication of her second novel, The Manual, October of this year.
Soon and Very Soon is her debut novel. She anxiously awaits the publication of her second novel, The Manual, October of this year.
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Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews
November 9, 2017
I enjoyed this book, read it for a bookclub book. I didn't realize it was the second book in a sequel. I was very surprised of the one that set the fire. Also, I didn't care for the preacher's wife, Vanessa. But at the end she was a nicer person.
August 20, 2010
More like 3.5 stars. Soon After was an interesting insiders' look at the aftermath of an arsonist's attack on one church, and the merger of another congregation. I felt like I missed out on a whole lot of history from not having read the former book(s) in the series, if there were other books with the same characters in them. I did get an uncorrected proof to review so there were a lot of spelling and grammatical errors that I assume will be corrected in the finished book. Regardless, there were many things to like about the story.
The author made her characters flawed and real. They struggled like everyone else in this world, and weren't protected just because they were Christians. I also loved the insider's look into the church hierarchy and how things were run. I loved how the author had her characters face temptation and deal with issues related to pride, fear, the temptation to lie, etc. I always enjoy a good story with realistic players.
The cultural elements in this book are very strong. Having visited a number of African American congregations over the years I felt very comfortable and familiar with the structure of the church and the way services were portrayed. I also loved the way Vanessa was forced by circumstances to relinquish control of her life and let God do the work He had intended. I can't say more than that because it would be a spoiler.
I enjoyed reading about the arson investigation and getting to know the reporter, Alexis, from the news station. Those investigative scenes all felt real, like I was there with the characters. The mystery elements and her drive to solve the case kept me reading...along with Vanessa's mystery illness. I love it when things have a twist on them, as long as the conclusion is believable. In this case, the author did a great job with that part of the plot.
The author made her characters flawed and real. They struggled like everyone else in this world, and weren't protected just because they were Christians. I also loved the insider's look into the church hierarchy and how things were run. I loved how the author had her characters face temptation and deal with issues related to pride, fear, the temptation to lie, etc. I always enjoy a good story with realistic players.
The cultural elements in this book are very strong. Having visited a number of African American congregations over the years I felt very comfortable and familiar with the structure of the church and the way services were portrayed. I also loved the way Vanessa was forced by circumstances to relinquish control of her life and let God do the work He had intended. I can't say more than that because it would be a spoiler.
I enjoyed reading about the arson investigation and getting to know the reporter, Alexis, from the news station. Those investigative scenes all felt real, like I was there with the characters. The mystery elements and her drive to solve the case kept me reading...along with Vanessa's mystery illness. I love it when things have a twist on them, as long as the conclusion is believable. In this case, the author did a great job with that part of the plot.
August 29, 2013
In the sequel to Soon and Very Soon, the story heats up as Jackson lines up the suspects in the Harvest Baptist Church arson case. Just as Vanessa and Willie are settling into their new marriage and combined church, a purposely set fire at Harvest puts everyone on the Fire Chief's radar, including Willie who is still the beneficiary of the church's insurance policy. Alexis, an aggressive reporter with her heart set on an anchor job, determinedly picks through the evidence, looking for her lead story. In the process, will she uncover both the arsonist and truths that have been intentionally hidden in the dark?
I absolutely loved Soon After. A switch from Soon and Very Soon which was more romance/contemporary Christian fiction, Soon After is a mystery, bringing an entirely new and fresh storyline to the series. Often authors feel the need to drag the same storyline out in a sequel, but Jackson seamlessly creates a part two that could easily be read as a stand alone novel. Yet when read in sequence, Soon After proves to be a enjoyable addition to the original story, giving the reader more insight into the characters they've come to both love and hate. If you enjoy Christian fiction with a bit of mystery and romance, this is the book for you.
I absolutely loved Soon After. A switch from Soon and Very Soon which was more romance/contemporary Christian fiction, Soon After is a mystery, bringing an entirely new and fresh storyline to the series. Often authors feel the need to drag the same storyline out in a sequel, but Jackson seamlessly creates a part two that could easily be read as a stand alone novel. Yet when read in sequence, Soon After proves to be a enjoyable addition to the original story, giving the reader more insight into the characters they've come to both love and hate. If you enjoy Christian fiction with a bit of mystery and romance, this is the book for you.
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September 7, 2010Dream 4 More Radio had the pleasure of having Sherryle Kieser Jackson on September 5, 2010, www.blogtalkradio.com/Dream4More.
In the beginning of the book, I have not read the first book in about a year and after speaking with the author on the live showcase, I was able to clarify some things that were unsure while reading. She had me also re-look at some things while finishing up the book.
Dream 4 More received the "uncorrected proof" that had some loose-ends, very slow in the beginning for me, and really got a grip of the story and its plot during the middle and end. I'm so glad I continued to read and not stop when I was not entertained. She explained on the interview her style of writing and purpose that now shines newness to the book. I hope the actual copy was more developed and lack of minor editing issues.
Dream 4 More Radio (interview),
Adrienna Turner
What a Dream!-Dream 4 More Reviews.
In the beginning of the book, I have not read the first book in about a year and after speaking with the author on the live showcase, I was able to clarify some things that were unsure while reading. She had me also re-look at some things while finishing up the book.
Dream 4 More received the "uncorrected proof" that had some loose-ends, very slow in the beginning for me, and really got a grip of the story and its plot during the middle and end. I'm so glad I continued to read and not stop when I was not entertained. She explained on the interview her style of writing and purpose that now shines newness to the book. I hope the actual copy was more developed and lack of minor editing issues.
Dream 4 More Radio (interview),
Adrienna Turner
What a Dream!-Dream 4 More Reviews.
Currently Reading
October 9, 2010So far, so great. Love the line on page 8 about Luella, "The joke was lost on her. She was a young woman with an old name."
November 20, 2010
This was a slow start for me, but it end up being pretty good. Stay tuned for my full-length review. (3.5/4)
July 4, 2012
Tried it and just didn't care for it.
Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews