Review: A Blessing & A Curse – ReShonda Tate Billingsley and Victoria Christopher Murray

I received this book for free from in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.

First ladies of the Baptist church and sworn frenemies Rachel Jackson Adams and Jasmine Cox Larson Bush are stunned to learn they may have more in common than they thought—like who’s their daddy—in the scandalous new collaboration between national bestselling and award-winning authors ReShonda Tate Billingsley and Victoria Christopher Murray.

A heated American Baptist Coalition election. A murky murder cover-up. An outrageous reality TV show. What in heaven’s name kind of drama will holy rivals Rachel Jackson Adams and Jasmine Cox Larson Bush—prominent first ladies of the Baptist church—get themselves into next?

Since he first met Jasmine, Rachel’s father Simon Jackson has had a funny feeling about her. She eerily resembles his first teenage love. After doing some digging, Simon makes a shocking revelation—Jasmine may be his daughter. Rachel thinks the idea is absurd, but to pacify her ailing father, she sets out to debunk his theory.

When Jasmine discovers what’s going on, she heads to the Jackson Family Reunion in Smackover, Arkansas, in search of the truth. With her sidekick Mae Frances by her side, this big city girl isn’t ready for the country…or for the over-the-top family that she may have to claim as her own.

A Blessing & A Curse by ReShonda Tate Billingsley and Victoria Christopher Murray

Rachel Jackson Adams looks at her father as if he has lost his mind or worse about to have a stroke when he utters the words that could change her relationship with Jasmine Cox Larson Bush, someone she has been sworn frenemies with for some time now. Is the game changer in the story of these two women we have come to know from a heated church election, a murder cover-up, and a reality show.

When the Reverend Simon Jackson finds and is looking through some old pictures from his past, he begins to have a moment about his teenage love and because she looks so much like Jasmine could he be her father? Rachel is going to debunk this theory because it is not possible that this could be true and this is the start of a journey for them both to get the answers they need to remove all doubt.

Jasmine is not interested in what Rachel or Simon is saying about Simon being her father or attending a family reunion but when Rachel tells her there is an opportunity in Smackover, Arkansas to expand her charity Jacqueline’s Hope she jumps at it
if only to have Rachel and Simon to leave her alone.

I enjoyed this book as the authors always write a strong story that blends, so you don’t know who is writing what. There is a lot of back story about Simon that I enjoyed and the character Mae Frances who I want to have as a friend. She knows everybody who is anybody. There were some laugh out loud moments as usual, and this book for me is classic Billingsley and Murray. This is a well-crafted story that those who follow these two authors will enjoy and if this is your first time reading one of their work make sure you pick up the rest. As always we look forward to the next chapter in the lives of Rachel and Jasmine because they are fun to read about. There’s always some drama yet dealing with real life issues that are relatable.

Buy this book by ReShonda Tate Billingsley and Victoria Christopher Murray! It will be a great book club read as there is much to discuss.

Reviewed by: Linda C

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