Rating: 
Summary: Sunday Slickers
Review: I was told about this book and Exiting Hell book. I think that these people were playing church and were playing with God. What is the point? I was afraid for these people because they were not sincere with God. But i'm glad that the author brought out what phony folks there are in the church.
Rating:
Summary: astute 1970s based drama
Review: In 1975 St. Louis, in nine months a special SECOND SUNDAY will mark the centennial birthday of the founding of the Gethesemane Missionary Baptist Church. However, tragedy strikes when Pastor Forbes suddenly dies. Though the fifty something Pastor occupied the pulpit for six years, the congregation is in a tizzy over selecting someone new in time to lead the gala.Wealthy Deacon Johnson parades a series of candidates that only seems to divide his church peers. The women, tired of male foolishness, turn to estranged member single mother Sheba Cochran to insure that the individual who heads the church has solid morals and beliefs. Anyone else could cause the death of the church. Exposing these losers of Johnson proves easy until she meets George Wilson. He not only believes in God, he believes in love, especially with Sheba. Now he needs to persuade her regardless of who becomes pastor they belong together in the eyes of God. Though the selection process is the running link throughout the tale, SECOND SUNDAY is a series of short stories focusing on congregation members as they struggle in life and worry that the place they turn to for solace will soon be gone. As she did with CHURCH FOLK, Michele Andrea Bowen provides a deep look at an urban African-American church that is done with wit and intelligence so that the reader obtains an insightful tale. The cast is a delight as Ms. Bowen avoids easy stereotyping and instead uses vignettes so the characters seem genuine. Though the action is limited, fans will appreciate this astute 1970s based drama. Harriet Klausner
Rating:
Summary: Not At My Church You Won't
Review: In any church you will find a variety of members good and bad. They could be the member who feels that since they give the most money they should have the most say; a busybody church mother, a deacon who sits quietly watching and when the time is right doles out words of wisdom, or a "saved" brother who is abusing his wife behind closed doors. In Michelle Andrea Bowen's sophomore novel Second Sunday, she exposes all these secrets and more as she depicts the members of Gethsemane Missionary Baptist church. The church is in trouble when their philandering pastor, Rev. Clydell Forbes, Sr. dies and the church is getting ready to celebrate its 100th anniversary. It is now up to the deacon board to find a new pastor quickly. The men take on this task, leaving the women out of the decision-making process, so they take matters into their own hands. The women approach Sheba Cochran, a "loose" Christmas and Easter attending member, to expose the undesirable pastoral candidates. When Sheba meets Rev. George Wilson and he does not fall prey to her advances, they know they have found the right man. Not only is he right for the church, but Sheba could be the right woman for him. The bigger problem is stopping those who would oppose him for their own gain. Set in St. Louis, Missouri in the 1970's, pastel colored leisure suits and platform shoes were the fashion craze for men. Just picturing their wardrobes "... a powder blue leisure suits, a black silk big-collared shirt, a silver chain and a black suede hat...." was hilarious. The antics of the church members made for laugh out loud moments; the scene at the American Worship Center was classic. Ms. Bowen updated the readers on some of the favorite characters from Church Folks as they made cameo appearances throughout the book. Overall, I applaud Ms. Bowen on continuing to provide a humorous and spiritual peek at the inside workings of the African American church. Jeanette
APOOO BookClub
Rating: 
Summary: Who will be the new pastor?
Review: Michele Andrea Bowen, author of Church Folk, has done it again with SECOND SUNDAY. She has given us a deliciously funny and intimate look behind the scenes of the Gethsemane Missionary Baptist Church when its shady minister, Rev. Forbes, unexpectedly dies at a crucial moment for the church. Gethsemane's 100th anniversary is in six months and it entails a lot of planning. They need to have a minister in place as soon as possible but there are warring factions who can't agree. The sisters of the church are tired of the mess and take matters into their own hands. In the background, several marriages are on the rocks, some members are pursuing romantic notions, a white super church is planning a take-over and the greedy are plotting revenge. It is a mix of good versus bad, the saintly versus the sinner, nightclubs, prayer meetings, old men dressed like Super Fly, young hoochies and an all around hilarious time as Sister Louise Williams straightens everybody out. It is a quick and easy source of relaxing entertainment that no one should miss. Reviewed by Alice Holman
The RAWSISTAZ Reviewers
Rating:
Summary: Laugh-Out Loud Reading At It's Best!
Review: Michele Andrea Bowen, author of the bestseller "Church Folk", has done it again. Welcome (3x - as the proper greeting in the black church) to Gethsemane Missionary Baptist Church in St. Louis during the 1970's. The pastor has died and the church members scramble to find a replacement in time for the 100th Anniversary Second Sunday celebration. Certain members of the board like Cleavon Johnson don't have the congregation's best interest at heart during the selection process. The women of the church are peeved at the board and set out on a mission with the help of Sheba Cochran. Sheba sniffs out the good and the bad candidates. Finally, Rev. George Wilson is selected and he certainly has his work cut out for him. Not only does he become head of a church in turmoil, but he begins to fall in love with Sheba. In "Second Sunday" there are many laugh-out loud situations that are strongly familiar for the regular black church attendee. While Bowens humorously uncovers the un-Christian actions of church members, she gracefully shows how God is in the midst when the congregation is on one accord.
Rating:
Summary: Laugh-Out Loud Reading At It's Best!
Review: Michele Andrea Bowen, author of the bestseller "Church Folk", has done it again. Welcome (3x - as the proper greeting in the black church) to Gethsemane Missionary Baptist Church in St. Louis during the 1970's. The pastor has died and the church members scramble to find a replacement in time for the 100th Anniversary Second Sunday celebration. Certain members of the board like Cleavon Johnson don't have the congregation's best interest at heart during the selection process. The women of the church are peeved at the board and set out on a mission with the help of Sheba Cochran. Sheba sniffs out the good and the bad candidates. Finally, Rev. George Wilson is selected and he certainly has his work cut out for him. Not only does he become head of a church in turmoil, but he begins to fall in love with Sheba. In "Second Sunday" there are many laugh-out loud situations that are strongly familiar for the regular black church attendee. While Bowens humorously uncovers the un-Christian actions of church members, she gracefully shows how God is in the midst when the congregation is on one accord.
Rating:
Summary: A Sunday To Remember!
Review: Michele Bowen's "Second Sunday" really depicts the discord, deceit and chaos that can happen even within the church. There is never a dull moment with any of the characters. Bowen keeps the book engaging by having multiple perspectives. Some of the situations in the book will have you sprawled out on the floor laughing, while others will have you curled up in a ball crying. To watch God work in situations and people like those portrayed in "Second Sunday," is nothing short of amazing!
It is interesting to experience the dynamics of the church not only from the pews but from behind the pulpit. This book teaches the lesson of what it means when we as Christians do not have pure intentions when doing the work of the Lord's. "Second Sunday" is also a story of forgiveness, love, old-style prayer and fervent worship. This book illustrates that God is the director, and He is always in control behind the scenes and the schemes. This is definitely an entertaining book about church folks! Submitted by GoodGirlBookClubOnline.com reviewer, Sherna Graham
Rating:
Summary: Great sequel
Review: Michelle Andrea Bowen has captured the drama and behind the scenes mess that goes on in church. Gethsemane Missionary Baptist Church is approaching its 100th yr anniversary, when months before the anniversary date, the presiding pastor dies. This leaves the church board of deacons and board of finance to select the next Pastor of the Church. The women of the Church decide that it is time to step forth and have a say so in who runs the church, because the men do not know what they are doing. The men are being guided by Cleavon Johnson and his crooked, scheming, heathen self. As the church is in turmoil and trying to select a proper, well respected, Spiritual, God Fearing Man to pastor Gethsemane Missionary Baptist Church, alot of devious and unsuspecting bumps in the road occur. You have your politics and bribery, your womanizing and adultry, your lying and scheming, fear of loving, wives just dealing with doggish husbands, premarital relations, along with old fashioned wisdom and spare the rod philosophy. It is a little of everything in this story and it is a page turner. At some points I wanted more. If you have read Church Folk (debut novel) you may have a tendency to compare the 2 stories and you can't do that. This story is a stand alone story. I would have liked more on Pastor George Wilson. Also, Cleavon and his trifling nephew need to get what they deserve also. These women need to rise up and put a whooping on them too. Now the story line did keep me reading. Its a story that you want to know how it ends and it has some surprising events occur, also displays true forgiveness and change in people when they truelly become saved.
Rating: 
Summary: Time to show out, act up, it is............Second Sunday.
Review: Michelle Andrea Bowen has captured the drama and behind the scenes mess that goes on in church. Gethsemane Missionary Baptist Church is approaching its 100th yr anniversary, when months before the anniversary date, the presiding pastor dies. This leaves the church board of deacons and board of finance to select the next Pastor of the Church. The women of the Church decide that it is time to step forth and have a say so in who runs the church, because the men do not know what they are doing. The men are being guided by Cleavon Johnson and his crooked, scheming, heathen self. As the church is in turmoil and trying to select a proper, well respected, Spiritual, God Fearing Man to pastor Gethsemane Missionary Baptist Church, alot of devious and unsuspecting bumps in the road occur. You have your politics and bribery, your womanizing and adultry, your lying and scheming, fear of loving, wives just dealing with doggish husbands, premarital relations, along with old fashioned wisdom and spare the rod philosophy. It is a little of everything in this story and it is a page turner. At some points I wanted more. If you have read Church Folk (debut novel) you may have a tendency to compare the 2 stories and you can't do that. This story is a stand alone story. I would have liked more on Pastor George Wilson. Also, Cleavon and his trifling nephew need to get what they deserve also. These women need to rise up and put a whooping on them too. Now the story line did keep me reading. Its a story that you want to know how it ends and it has some surprising events occur, also displays true forgiveness and change in people when they truelly become saved.
Rating:
Summary: All of God's Children
Review: Ms. Bowen has done it again with Second Sunday! I thought Church Folk was a comical look into the black church and Second Sunday provides yet another glimpse into what could be anyone's church. The book touches on the political manueverings, family drama, relationship issues and more. . this book has it all. It has the characters like Cleavon Johnson that you just love to hate, as well as the goody-two-shoes, high-rollers. All in all, if you like a good wholesome read, look no further than Second Sunday.
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