Desperate Pastors' Wives, Secrets From Lulu's Cafe Series #1

Ginger Kolbaba is the author of numerous books, including The 5 Sex Needs of Men and Women, A Matter of Wife and Death, Desperate Pastors' Wives, and Refined by Fire, which received a starred review from Publishers Weekly and was a 2005 Gold Medallion finalist. Ginger has worked on the editorial staff of Leadership journal, a publication for pastors, as an associate editor of MP's sister publication Today's Christian Woman, and as assistant editor of Preaching Today. She is a contributing editor for Focus on the Family magazine and has published hundreds of articles. Ginger lives with her husband, Scott, and beloved Doberman in Chicagoland.

Desperate Pastors' Wives is the story of four women struggling with their roles as pastor's wives (PW's). I thought the concept of this book was a great one: a book marketed as a chick-lit story that looks into the lives of PW's. But I cringed as soon as I saw the title. As Christians we should set ourselves apart from the world and not adapt ourselves to the world by mimicking a trashy television series as a title for Christian fiction. And although the cover and title scream it, this book simply did not have the elements of chick-lit. Instead, this book would fit much better into the Contemporary Fiction category.
The spiritual lessons in this work of fiction were wonderful. The lessons were something to which all women can relate. Lisa is struggling with her relationship with her husband, learning to honor her biblical marriage and husband regardless of what he is doing. Felicia is trying to balance a career and being a PW, finding her place in the church and becoming a helpmeet to her husband. Mimi likes to volunteer for everything, spreading herself so thin she feels she has lost control. Mimi must realize God loves her just as she is and has a special purpose for her life. Finally, Jennifer is struggling with infertility and losing faith and trust in God while closing herself off from those around her. Jennifer must restore her faith and trust God with His plan for her life.
Aside from the title, this book has great potential, stepping into the lives of PW's and their daily struggles. Character development could have been much better; after reading the book I still felt that these women were mere acquaintances instead of intimate friends. It was as if the same guard that PW's put up in the church was also put up to the reader, and while we were allowed glimpses into their struggles, I felt there was so much more to learn. These women have so much to offer and so much more development to go that this could easily become a series. – Brandi Webster, Christian Book Previews.com

"Move over, ladies of Wisteria Lane; the desperate pastors' wives of Lulu's Cafe have arrived! This sassy tale of women with real-life secrets will make you laugh as you share their anguish and connect with their hearts." -- Eva Marie Everson, coauthor of The Potluck Club series
"What a find! From the moment you meet the fabulous foursome in this tale of love, faith, hope, and forgiveness, you are hooked! These witty, vulnerable women wrestle with issues that are common to every woman -- though their unique position as pastors' wives puts them in a fishbowl of unnerving demand." -- Eric and Jennifer Garcia, cofounders, Association of Marriage and Family Ministries