A Sin and a Shame
Authors: Victoria Christopher Murray
A Sin and a Shame
“
A Sin and a Shame
is Victoria Christopher Murray at her best…. A page-turner that I couldn’t put down as I was too eager to see what scandalous thing Jasmine would do next. And to watch Jasmine’s spiritual growth was a testament to Victoria’s talents. An engrossing tale of how God’s grace covers us all. I absolutely loved this book!”
—ReShonda Tate Billingsley,
Essence
bestselling
author of
I Know I’ve Been Changed
Grown Folks Business
“
Grown Folks Business
is a wonderful testament of love, faith, and forgiveness and readers will find themselves still thinking about the characters long after they’ve turned the last page.”
—Kimberla Lawson Roby, author of the
New York Times
bestseller
The Best-Kept Secret
“Christopher Murray is known across genres for her ability to help the reader connect with the characters, offer compassion, and open one’s eyes to all facets of a situation. Because of its subject matter, it should be read by everyone, not just by those merely looking for entertainment as it offers so much more.”
—RAWSISTAZ.com
“
Grown Folks Business
is a worthy addition to this talented author’s body of work. Fans of Ms. Murray will enjoy this inspiring story of forgiveness, compassion, understanding, and love.”
—Romance in Color.com
“You know a book is good when you hate to see it come to an end.
Grown Folks Business
is a well-written novel about a faith-filled woman’s struggles to rebuild her shattered life—a novel that readers should widely embrace.”
—Cydney Rax, Book-Remarks.com
“Victoria Christopher Murray provides a richly detailed backdrop to a story of faith, hope, and love in the face of betrayal sure to delight and challenge readers.”
—Jacquelin Thomas, author of
Soul Journey
and
Saved in the City
“Victoria Christopher Murray has written an explosive story about picking up the pieces when a longtime love goes really, really wrong.
Grown Folks Business
rattles the relationship cage and gets to the heart of what’s serious and painfully real.”
—Lolita Files, author of
Tastes Like Chicken
“A moving and realistic portrayal of a woman’s journey from betrayal to triumph while never losing sight of God’s grace and mercy.”
—Francis Ray, author of
Like the First Time,
I Know Who Holds Tomorrow,
and
Trouble Don’t Last Always
“Hard-hitting. Thought provoking. Attention grabbing. Hands down, Ms. Murray’s finest writing.”
—Patricia Haley, author of
No Regrets
and
Still Waters
Truth Be Told
“
Truth Be Told
is exceptional and a must-read. Murray tackles topics such as AIDS, infidelity, God, drugs, atheism, and politics in such a way that when you close the book not only do you feel satisfied, but you feel like you can jump over any hurdle that may be in your life.”
—Ericka P. Thompson,
The Indianapolis Recorder
“I found myself touched by the characters and know that there won’t be any dry eyes when readers come to the close of this very profound spiritual journey.”
—Wayne Jordan, editor in chief of Romance in Color.com
“Victoria Christopher Murray is back! Once again she’s given us a fast-paced novel about people of faith who must face real-life challenges.”
—E. Lynn Harris, author of
W
hat Becomes of the Brokenhearted
“
Truth Be Told
is a truly enjoyable story. The unforgettable characters lend an air of reality to this emotional and engaging read. Her latest is sure to please fans and resonate long after the last page is turned.”
—Jacquelin Thomas, author of
Soul Journey
“
Truth Be Told
dishes a healthy dose of pure drama as it careens down a path plagued with infidelity, desperation, greed, and a series of consequences, which can only be overcome through grace.”
—Patricia Haley, bestselling author of
No Regrets
and
Blind Faith
“With memorable characters,
Truth Be Told
is an entertaining, suspenseful, and page-turning read. I loved it!”
—Kimberla Lawson Roby, author of
Too Much of a Good Thing
“Mystique and miracles converge in Victoria’s third and most absorbing work to date. My soul was enlightened and blessed all the while my heart jeered and cheered. Your breath will catch in your chest in the first chapter and you won’t be able to exhale until the last paragraph! Congratulations and welcome back Ms. Murray.”
—Parry “EbonySatin” Brown, author of
Sittin’ in the Front Pew
Grown Folks Business
Truth Be Told
Temptation
Joy
Blessed Assurance (contributor)
TOUCHSTONE
Rockefeller Center
1230 Avenue of the Americas
New York, NY 10020
This book is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, and incidents either are products of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously. Any resemblance to actual events or locales or persons, living or dead, is entirely coincidental.
Copyright © 2006 by Victoria Christopher Murray
All rights reserved, including the right of reproduction in whole or in part in any form.
T
OUCHSTONE
and colophon are registered trademarks of Simon & Schuster, Inc.
Designed by Jamie Kerner-Scott
Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data is available.
ISBN-13: 978-0-7432-9335-8
ISBN-10: 0-7432-9335-5
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I
t happened again
.
During the middle of writing this novel, my father, Edwin Christopher, passed away suddenly. I didn’t think life could be this brutal. This is the second time, while trying to write a novel that exalts God, that I’ve lost someone so close to me. And like the last time, grief wrapped its arms around me and I knew that I would never survive. How could I? How could I survive—losing the first man I ever loved? The man I’ve loved longer than any man in my life? The first man to make me feel special, told me I was a queen, convinced me that I could do anything. My father had many successes and achievements in his life, but I know the most important to him were that he loved God without reservation, loved his wife for more than fifty years, and loved his daughters unconditionally. He gained the respect and admiration of all who knew him and the many who just happened to cross his path. My sister, Cecile, said it best—Edwin Christopher was a man of solid character and all of his daughters just wanted to be half the woman that he was a man. It seemed too cruel that God would take him away from us. After all, he hadn’t been sick. Just went for a walk one Monday morning…
And then it happened again.
God showed up. Well, that may not be the correct way to say it, because God was always there. He never left—even though there were more than a few moments when I questioned Him. My father’s passing had obviously been a mistake; the first mistake He’s made in all of eternity, and it had to be with my dad. For the first time since coming to know God, I was mad. At Him!
But then I heard the voice of God. And I listened. There was no reason to look at this as a loss. I had gained so much just by having Edwin Christopher as my father.
And then it happened again.
I was comforted and I was healed.
So, this is a tribute to my father—my earthly one and my heavenly one. Thank you, Daddy, for being such a tremendous father. I was always so proud to be your daughter—to look like you, walk like you, speak like you. I will always love you and you will always be my daddy.
And thank you, Heavenly Father, for your long-suffering love. In spite of myself, you keep on loving me, and keeping me, and holding me. I would have never been able to walk through these months without you. And I would have never completed this novel without your constant nudging that in spite of life, your will must continue to be done.
