After being inspired by Bishop Payne, a traveling minister, Francine Amen decides to leave her old life behind and dedicate herself more fully to the Lord.  Before she leaves to join Bishop Payne's ministry, she takes it upon herself to tell off everyone in her church and urge them to get right with God.  When her childhood friend, who also joined Bishop Payne’s congregation, confides that she is pregnant by the bishop, Francine shuns her.  Feeling hopeless and isolated, her friend commits suicide.  Plagued with guilt and haunted by memories of the event, Francine spends time in a mental hospital.  When she is released, she has no place to go, so she is forced to return to her hometown with her tail between her legs and rebuild her life.  It is here that THE AMEN SISTERS, Angela Benson’s latest novel begins. 

As Francine gets settled in at the home shared by her sister Dawn and her husband Sly, it soon becomes apparent that things between the couple are not quite right.  As Dawn and Sly try to cover up their problems, the stress between them continues to build and eventually, something will have to give.  In addition, Dawn and Francine have always had a tenuous relationship; the sisters have to work through the issues from the past so they can become the sisters God would want them to be.  Francine begins building new relationships and mending old ones and along the way, she and everyone around her must learn not only to forgive one another, but also themselves. 

I thoroughly enjoyed this book.  Angela Benson has written a rich, multifaceted work of Christian Fiction that is both timely and realistic.  The characters create the pulse of the story, and they are well balanced…not the “perfect people” often seen in this genre.  As a result, I was able to relate to and understand the characters, and I found the plot engrossing.  THE AMEN SISTERS touches on things that are often pushed under the rug in the church, such as unscrupulous ministers and church members, and “holier than thou” Christians who are fiercely judgmental and look down on others.  In addition, the book addresses social issues such as teen pregnancy and parenthood, marriage and fidelity, and even the current challenges many small business owners face.  Most importantly, the book highlights God’s power to transform lives and the importance of forgiveness.
 

Reviewed by Stacey Seay
of The RAWSISTAZ™ Reviewers