Disclosure: I was given a copy of The Pastors’ Wives by Litfuse Publicity Group. This post has not been reviewed by a third party and all opinions are my own as always. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”

In Pastors’ Wives, Lisa Takeuchi Cullen writes about Ruthie, Candace and Ginger, she gives each woman a voice in the experience as a pastors’ wife. The three women come from very different backgrounds.

As the wife of the head pastor of a mega-church Candace endears you to her by a true desire to really serve her community. She may be acting as the director of a multi-million dollar empire, but she is constantly recalling scripture to check where her heart is.

Ruthie and Ginger are daughter-in-laws of the pastor, just trying to live up to what they think a pastors’ wife should be. Ruthie is still struggling with her mother’s death. Ginger is busy trying to forget a sinner’s past.

I liked how each woman shared the spotlight in the book, helping the reader understand her humanity.

As a Catholic, I cringed at the portrayal of Ruthie. Ruthie was raised as a Catholic and struggles with many parts of the Catholic faith. Confession, reconciliation and the Mass are amazing, beautiful and real parts of so many Christian’s faiths. These Sacraments had a platform to be explained and clarified. I felt that these were, instead, brushed over and the confusion the rift between understanding widened.

The way Cullen described confession and other women’s reactions to it did not offer the reader a true understanding of the beauty of the oldest Christian Faith, which saddened me as a Catholic.

The setting and characters were very promising. While the writing was very smooth and pleasant to read, I do wish there was a little more explanation of the Catholic faith.

Thank you, Litfuse, for sending me this book.