Rating: 
Summary: Finally...!
Review: Finally, a fiction novel that depicts an honest, morally upright minister!! After reading several novels where the minsiter was the bad guy, this book was a refreshing change. Ms. Griggs weaves an entertaining tale of love, friendship, secrets, sacrifice and most of all, faith in God. I throughly enjoyed this book and would definitely read other works by Ms. Griggs. Bravo!! -ES
Rating:
Summary: Don't judgement before you know the facts.
Review: From beginning to end the book kept me on my toes. A twist in the story made my heart sad. But overall the book was well written.Pastor Landris and Theresa are about to be married in two weeks. Between those (2) weeks, so much drama has taken place and the book had me sitting on the edge of my seat. Theresa character was well developed. However, I was a little surprise as to how Pastor Landris character was written. It surprised me, that a man could love a woman so much that he would go to the length that Pastor Landris went to in order to be a comfort to Johnny Mae's family. I saw Pastor Landris as way too perfect. It was as if nothing bothered him. It was like he had it all together. Like he was superman. Overall the book was a page turner.
Rating: 
Summary: What's Good for the Goose is Good for the Gander
Review: Have you ever loved someone that you never had? This is the theme around which PROMISES BEYOND JORDAN by Vanessa Davis Griggs was written. Reverend George Landris is the charismatic pastor of the Wings of Grace Faith Ministry Church in Birmingham, Alabama. As the story begins, Pastor Landris is about to marry Theresa Jordan in a few days. He has had some urgings from the church membership that it was time for him to get a wife. Theresa is everything a Pastor could possibly need in a wife or at least his congregation thinks so. They appear to be perfect for one another. But, they each have secrets that begin to unravel and drive a wedge between them just days before the wedding. They both begin to see a side of the other that neither realized was there and it brings into question their commitment to each other. In this suspenseful Christian love story there are several lessons to be learned. Ms. Griggs did a fantastic job of relaying them all to the reader. She brought up several questions that are tackled at one time or another in daily Christian living. What is the face of true love? Should a person deny himself to make others happy? When should one listen to the desires of his/her heart? How does a minister live his life free from the influence of his parishioners? When your honor is at stake, should you throw integrity out the window? Can emotional scars be healed? These are just a few of the questions dealt with in this astonishing story. Griggs did an excellent job of answering them through her cast of characters. This book was hard to put down and it's one I would recommend highly to both men and women. Reviewed by Brenda M. Lisbon
of The RAWSISTAZ Reviewers
Rating:
Summary: He will give you the desires of your heart
Review: Have you ever loved someone that you never had? This is the theme around which PROMISES BEYOND JORDAN by Vanessa Davis Griggs was written. Reverend George Landris is the charismatic pastor of the Wings of Grace Faith Ministry Church in Birmingham, Alabama. As the story begins, Pastor Landris is about to marry Theresa Jordan in a few days. He has had some urgings from the church membership that it was time for him to get a wife. Theresa is everything a Pastor could possibly need in a wife or at least his congregation thinks so. They appear to be perfect for one another. But, they each have secrets that begin to unravel and drive a wedge between them just days before the wedding. They both begin to see a side of the other that neither realized was there and it brings into question their commitment to each other. In this suspenseful Christian love story there are several lessons to be learned. Ms. Griggs did a fantastic job of relaying them all to the reader. She brought up several questions that are tackled at one time or another in daily Christian living. What is the face of true love? Should a person deny himself to make others happy? When should one listen to the desires of his/her heart? How does a minister live his life free from the influence of his parishioners? When your honor is at stake, should you throw integrity out the window? Can emotional scars be healed? These are just a few of the questions dealt with in this astonishing story. Griggs did an excellent job of answering them through her cast of characters. This book was hard to put down and it's one I would recommend highly to both men and women. Reviewed by Brenda M. Lisbon
of The RAWSISTAZ Reviewers
Rating:
Summary: Great book
Review: I read this book when Ms Griggs had it self published, and I am so glad to see it was picked up by BET/New Spirit. And it really ran the gamut of emotions: anger, love, lust, hypocricy etc. George had a good heart to go and see his old friend, but his fiance took it to mean that he really loved her more than her and it tore her and eventually them apart. Then when George is brought up before the church, it wasn't until it got crucial that she even opens her mouth. To me that is not right. Great book and way to go Vanessa!!!
Rating:
Summary: A Refreshing Look at Integrity
Review: Messages are abundant in Promises Beyond Jordan. Beginning in Winston-Salem, North Carolina to Atlanta, to Birmingham, Alabama and back again, is the tale of integrity, commitment or lack there of, love, hope and redemption. "Have you ever loved someone that you never had," opens chapter one and is the catalyst for this story. George Landris is the dreadlock wearing, spirit-filled, eloquent speaking pastor of Wings of Grace Faith Ministry Church. Theresa Jordan is a minister's daughter and the fiancé of Pastor Landris. She is selfish and often times her behavior is inexplicable. In the mix we have Bishop Richard Jordan (Theresa's father), his wife Beatrice and Lena Patterson. These three individuals have kept a long held secret from Theresa that seeks to destroy the family unit. However, they believed that harboring this secret was the right thing to do in hopes of creating a normal childhood for Theresa. Nine days before his wedding Pastor Landris takes off for Birmingham, Alabama without informing Theresa as to why. During this fateful trip Pastor Landris is reunited with an old friend that fuels Theresa's insecurities. Theresa's insecurities cause her to loose her faith and she too has a secret that must be kept. During Pastor Landris' trip and upon his arrival, we are left wondering about the identity of this mysterious individual and why he will not reveal this information to Theresa. The answers to these questions are answered within the nine days leading up to the wedding and beyond. Sometimes life brings trouble and offers little to no solutions and God's answers are not easy to understand. Promises Beyond Jordan demonstrates the adage of faith, being true to yourself and honoring a commitment once it is made. The sermons, church members and other church related activities are as entertaining as they are real. This is very good Christian fiction read with enough drama to keep you captivated. Reviewed by Dawn R. Reeves
Rating: 
Summary: A Modern Day Bibically Based Drama
Review: Ms. Griggs has really captured the essence of scripture and real life in this dynamic story. It moved one to tears and @ times you learned to hate and love the same characters all at once. It was an inspirational story of hope. Hopefully some of us can learn the valid lessons Theresa learned in growing up and facing ones own mistakes. I look forward to reading more of Ms. Griggs' books. thank you.
Rating:
Summary: When your past catches up with you.
Review: Not my usual fare, although I enjoyed the build-up of tensions. Vanessa Davis Griggs has written a lively, gossipy, Gospel-coated read. Her energetic dialogues authentically reflect how people can't seem to finish a thought, while others can't hear what's being said. PROMISES BEYOND JORDAN is a good lesson on what happens when you don't walk your Walk, & talk your Talk. Or, in the culture of this story - you don't practice what is preached! I am not going anywhere near how it is resolved. Some juicy secrets surface in unlikely places, good men emerge with their besmirched escutcheons squeaky-clean again, & some acid-tongued women learn about forgiveness & courage.
Rating:
Summary: Promises Beyond Jordan
Review: Pastor George Landris seemingly has everything a man could want. He is the Head Pastor of a large church with thousands of members and the leader of a successful television ministry. Pastor Landris has also managed to woo the beautiful Theresa Jordan's hand in marriage. As a well-respected figurehead in the community, Pastor Landris shows love and compassion for his church members by counseling the troubled and visiting the sick and shut in. Unfortunately, through the mask of all this success, both members of this seemingly happy couple hold damaging secrets. Theresa Jordan, daughter of a prominent Bishop has kept vital information about her past from George. Likewise George is caught in an emotional quandary between his feelings for Theresa and a yearning to be with a woman from his past during her family tragedy. This departure may seem inconsequential to the outside observer but when looking deeper, readers get a glimpse of the true feelings George has for this woman. Vanessa Davis Griggs demonstrates her extraordinary writing talents in her captivating novel about religion, relationships, betrayal and redemption. Promises Beyond Jordan follows George and Theresa along their slippery slope toward relationship peril. The spiritual references and scripture verses at the beginning of each chapter creates a fresh and unique approach to storytelling. The verses relate to the emotions and voices and acted upon in each chapter as well as its overall theme. Griggs is very successful at telling the story within the story without losing the reader in the interpretation of complicated subplots. Characters are also well developed, allowing you to feel their struggles and moral dilemmas. When Theresa contemplates her relationship with George and questions his love for her, you can feel her sadness. Likewise, when George is faced with church politics and is confronted by members of his church, the reader is concerned with seeing his good name cleared. Promises Beyond Jordan is not only for the spiritual churchgoers among us. The book speaks to many situations and relationships far outside of the realm of the church. I will admit that experience with church politics or even membership in a black church environment will give readers an increased appreciation for the author's realistic depiction of how church members often react to gossip and so called "inappropriate behavior". I enjoyed this novel and was impressed by how things in the beginning tied into revelations at the end. I recommend this book to both men and women. Promises Beyond Jordan receives a rating of Four.
Rating:
Summary: What's Good for the Goose is Good for the Gander
Review: Pastor Landis was terribly wrong for not offering to take his fiance, Theresa with him to go see about his friend Johnnie Mae and her family. Even though Pastor Landis has always held a special love for her, he knew his limitations. This is what caused Teresa to become so suspicious and insecured. He caused this reaction in her. He has placed a "stumbling block" in his fiancee's path when the Bible distinctly informs us not to do this. Therefore, he is not as "pure" as some may believe. He held lust in his heart for Johnnie, but tried to conceal it. "If a man looks upon a woman to lust after her he has committed adultery in his heart." Pastor Landis is guilty of this. So we cannot put all of the blame on Theresa.
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