Pastor Needs a Boo

May 5, 2014
This sprawling novel full of Christian hijinks, scandals, and steamy passion from Bowen (Church Folk) follows New Jerusalem Gospel United Church Rev. Denzelle Flowers and his “boo,” Marsha Metcalf, as they fight their feelings for one another for more than 300 pages. In the backdrop is Flowers’s run for bishop, which is threatened by political infighting, his treacherous ex-wife, and a potentially disastrous dance competition a la Dancing With the Stars. The women are all gold-diggers, except for Metcalf and Dayeesha Mitchell, Flowers’s secretary. The men are generally recovering gigolos, or worse. The dialogue is often stilted and repetitive, the language is trite (“She felt the touch of his hand all the way down in her heart”), descriptions of material possessions—shoes, cars, and suits—go on and on. Bowen has written a Tyler Perry movie in novel form. Just as Perry has his fans and detractors, some readers will be amused by Bowen’s novel. Others will find its entertaining moments eclipsed by sloppy writing and banal characterization. Agent: Pamela Harty, Knight Agency.

June 1, 2014
Bowen brings readers the story of retired FBI-agent Reverend Denzelle Flowers, a character introduced in More Church Folk (2010). And when Marsha, Veronica, and Keisha show up at the New Jerusalem Gospel United Church after losing their jobs, and Reverend Flowers hires them to run the Pastor's Aide Club, Bowen sets up the premise for a new trilogy. In this installment, Marsha, who has captured Denzelle's less-than-holy interest, is in charge of running his campaign for bishop. Behind that effort are the machinations of other characters from Bowen's previous works who are up to no good. Meanwhile, Marsha is getting tired of mixed messages from Denzelle, even as she plans a Dancing with the Stars event to kick off the campaign, which includes a chance to dance with him. Bowen's newest tale has a slightly sexy, edgier feel, which will appeal to younger readers while retaining her many fans. Bowen takes her time setting up the church politics and the characters' problems, but adds plenty of humor to keep readers going to the perfect ending.(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2014, American Library Association.)