Samaria Jacobs Series
Press Release: July 2010
Christian novel introduces a modern day “Samaritan Woman”
A marriage in trouble, a man-stealer with a plan…sounds like fertile ground for lots of drama in a novel, but how do you tell the tale and still deliver the message of faith, hope and redemption the way “Christian fiction” is supposed to? In her second novel, An Inconvenient Friend, author Rhonda McKnight, shows us how. She believes the Bible itself was full of messy drama, but God’s messages of love, hope and redemption resonate throughout.
In the book, Samaria Jacobs is the ambitious anti-hero that readers will love to hate. She’s a social climber with a truck load of debt that she believes will magically disappear if she finds the right man to write a check. Like the Samaritan woman at Jacob’s well in the John, chapter four, Samaria brings a host of emotional baggage to her relationships. Her mother’s no Claire Huxtable, her father abandoned her when she was six and she’s been nursing a broken heart for eight years. Samaria’s skewed view of the world drives her actions and hideously taint her values. In fact, her actions will keep your stomach in knots. This is “Christian fiction” at its edgiest. It’s a tense, seductive story about two women, one man and high stakes.
“This is not just about a conniving mistress,” McKnight says. Mistress stories have been done a thousand times. “It’s a journey toward sisterhood and it addresses the things women will do to themselves and each other in the name of getting or keeping a man.” Samaria Jacobs is not the only hurting woman with a voice in the book. Angelina Preston, the Christian wife of Samaria’s lover, struggles to keep her marriage together while trying to overcome the pain of a infertility. A parallel for the women is that both have controlling, emotionally abusive mothers. McKnight says, “Their mothers have defined and shaped who they are.” In Angelina’s case her mother’s coldness causes her to seek out female friendships, while Samaria avoids them. The two form an unlikely and inconvenient friendship. “I hope mothers raising daughters examine themselves after reading this book to make sure they don’t make the same mistakes,” McKnight says.
McKnight hopes An Inconvenient Friend gets women thinking about the things they do to each other. “Even in the church we have women who desire the pastor or other men in leadership. This man stealing and lack of respect for our sisters has to stop.” And because one of Samaria’s problems is unforgiveness, McKnight hopes people who are in the same place will see themselves. “I hope they would pause and reflect and perhaps think about the next step to get beyond unforgiveness. “There is a connection between our behavior and our unresolved emotional issues,” McKnight says. Like her debut novel, Secrets and Lies, McKnight believes that An Inconvenient Friend exemplifies the power of faith and hope in overcoming personal pain and the power of forgiveness to set us free.
Books in this series in order from left to right:
Samaritan Woman Series
An Inconvenient Friend
Samaria Jacobs has her sights set on Gregory Preston. A successful surgeon, he has just the bankroll she needs to keep her in the lifestyle that her credit card debt has helped her grow accustomed to.
Samaria joins New Mercies Christian Church to get close to Gregory’s wife. If she gets to know Angelina Preston, she can become like her in more than just looks, and really work her way into Greg’s heart.
Angelina Preston’s life is filled with a successful career and busy ministry work, but something’s just not right with her marriage. Late nights, early meetings, lipstick- and perfume-stained shirts have her suspicious that Greg is doing a little more operating than she’d like. But does she have the strength to confront the only man she’s ever loved and risk losing him to the other woman?
Just when Samaria thinks she’s got it all figured out, she finds herself drawn to Angelina’s kindness. Will she be able to carry out her plan after she finds herself yearning for the one thing she’s never had . . . the friendship of a woman?
What People Have Said about An Inconvenient Friend
“Rhonda McKnight has written a sizzling novel, full of jaw dropping, sexy drama and unexpected plot twists. I was captivated by this fresh, original story from page one.” — Victoria Christopher Murray, Essence Bestselling Author of The Deal, The Dance and the Devil and Sins of the Mother
“Talk about scandalous! An Inconvenient Friend is full of drama and deception, but God’s message of forgiveness and redemption are powerfully delivered. Rhonda McKnight has quickly earned her place as a favorite in Christian fiction.” — Sherri Lewis, Essence Bestselling Author of Selling My Soul and The List
“A smoothly blended story line of the Bible and everyday life, An Inconvenient Friend will have you looking closer into your relationships.” — Reviewed by Sharon Lewis of The RAWSISTAZ(tm) Reviewers
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What Kind of Fool
Angelina Preston tunes out the voice of God when she decides to divorce her husband, Greg. She’s forgiven him for his affair, but she won’t forget, even though her heart is telling her to. Shortly after she files divorce papers, she finds out her non-profit organization is being investigated by the IRS for money laundering. In the midst of the very public scandal, Angelina becomes ill. Through financial and physical trials, she learns that faith and forgiveness may really be the cure for all that ails her, but can she forgive the people who hurt her most?
Sexy, successful Dr. Gregory Preston didn’t appreciate his wife when he had her. His affair with a devious man-stealer has him put out of his home and put off with women who continue to throw themselves at him. Greg wants his wife back, but he’ll have to do some fancy operating to get her. When the secrets and lies from his past continue to mess up his future, Greg finds himself looking to the God he abandoned long ago for a miracle only faith can provide.
Samaria Jacobs finally has the one thing she’s always wanted: a man with money. The fact that she’s in love with him is a bonus, but even so, life is anything but blissful. She’s paying for her past sins in ways she never imagined and living in fear that the secret she’s keeping will separate them forever.
Reformed man-stealer, Samaria Jacobs, has finally surrendered to love and marriage. Will she keep her man or has the time come for her to reap the heartache she’s sown?
Zane, Benxi, and Mekhi’s careers are on the brink of superstardom. But each has a past that’s threatening to catch up with them. While some of their demons are deep emotional wounds, others are flesh and blood enemies who will stop at nothing to keep them from achieving the fame they’ve worked so hard for.
Righteous Ways
Sometimes we find hope in unexpected places…
Samaria Jacobs would be living a platinum life as the wife of successful music producer, Mekhi Johnson, that is if she weren’t on her way to prison. Samaria has always been a bit of a Grinch this time of year, but she feels like she has absolutely nothing to be grateful for.
Will the desperate situation of an old friend make her examine her life at its lowest moment and find that even in her fear, shame, and sorrow that God has given her the capacity to love?
Almost There
Grammy Award winning R&B princess, Benxi, is a rising super-star. When the man she loves marries someone else she rebounds from hurt with one of nastiest rappers in the business. Will the choice she makes cost not only her stardom, but her life?
Mekhi Johnson has one of the hottest new record labels in the industry, but when he reneges on a promise he never should have made his personal and business life spiral into an abyss. Will he lose everything he’s worked hard for trying to do the right thing?
Samaria Jacobs is paying her debt to society. She’s trying to live right, but challenges are coming from all sides. Will she come out of prison a better woman or revert to her old shameful ways.
Shame On You
Grammy Award winning R&B princess, Benxi, is a rising superstar. When the man she loves marries someone else she rebounds from hurt with one of nastiest rappers in the business. Will her choice cost not only her stardom, but her life?
Mekhi Johnson has one of the hottest new record labels in the industry, but when he reneges on a promise his personal and business life spiral into an abyss. Will he lose everything he’s worked for trying to do the right thing?
Samaria Jacobs is paying her debt to society. She’s trying to live right, but challenges are coming from all sides. Will she come out of prison a better woman or revert to her old shameful ways.
Rhonda McKnight 