Desperate Pastors' Wives

Secrets from Lulu's Cafe

by Ginger Kolbaba

Four pastors' wives. All desperate for something .

Is it possible that their desperation will lead to hope?

Mimi, Lisa, Jennifer, and Felicia all live in the fishbowl of Red River, Ohio. Everyone expects something from them. Gourmet casseroles. Perfect husbands. Well-behaved children. They expect even more of themselves.

The constant demands and always-ringing phones are enough to drive any sane woman crazy. Add to all that the condescending Katherine Fleming Katt -- self-promoting pastor's wife of the town's largest church -- who loves to flaunt her superior position. In the midst of such chaos, will each woman find the one thing she longs for?

When the unflappable Kitty Katt starts showing up at odd places, the four friends get suspicious. Is Kitty hiding something? What secrets lie behind her "perfect" exterior? But even more significant than unraveling Kitty Katt's secrets is finding answers for themselves.

Genres: Christian, Christian Fiction

307 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 2007

About the author

Ginger Kolbaba is on a journey to embrace joy in every moment. She doesn't always succeed (she's a recovering cynic, after all), but she loves to learn from the adventure of the pursuit. She loves a good laugh, a ready smile, a dog's smooch, great food (vegetarian, thanks), growing faith, and remembering that love is all-powerful. She also claims one of her greatest gifts is ranting (good-naturedly, of course).

An accomplished author, Ginger has written, ghostwritten, collaborated, or contributed to 30 books, including Your Best Happily Ever After.

Ginger also teaches and speaks across the country. She's appeared on national venues such as HLN's Nancy Grace, as well as Family Life Radio and Moody Radio's Midday Connection. A former professional editor of several award-winning national magazines, including Today's Christian Woman and Marriage Partnership, she continues editing for both individuals and major publishing houses.

When she isn't chained to her computer, Ginger enjoys spending time with her husband motorcycling through the countryside, visiting Yellowstone National Park, walking her Doberman, reading good books, and contemplating the deep meaning of life--as well as trying to figure out how to get her husband to give her a donkey or a duck for Christmas. She believes one of her greatest accomplishments would be dusting off her piano and treadmill and using them both--at least once this year.

Visit her at www.GingerKolbaba.com.

Reviews

[Mandy Burkhart · Rating 4 out of 5]

I don't usually go in for Christian fiction, it's just not my thing, usually. This book popped up in my Little Free Library, though, and looked interesting. Being about a group of women (who happen to be pastor's wives) who are each dealing with a struggle of one kind or another, I can definitely relate (especially to the mom of more than three who is a constant volunteer- I definitely had multiple moments reading her storyline where I thought to myself, yep. That's how it is.

Well written, a quick read, and I loved how the women of different faith became such great friends. every gal needs a girl squad to back her up.

[Monica · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoyed this the second time around as much as the first. Felt like I needed to read it again, to remind myself that I have it pretty easy!

[Ruth · Rating 2 out of 5]

Jennifer needs faith, Felicia needs fulfillment, Lisa needs love, and Mimi needs peace. The stress and pressure of being pastors' wives has driven these four women, all from different denominational and family backgrounds, to form a supportive fellowship where they can freely vent their frustrations and encourage one another. Every other week they "escape" to LuLu's Café, forty miles from their hometown, to secretly share their stories and seek a brief respite from living in the ministry "fishbowl."

I'm a bit torn about how to approach this review as I'm single and not a pastor's wife (or even a pastor's kid, for that matter), so the question of how I can relate to the characters in this novel arises. However I think a good story that focuses on women's identity issues and struggles will ideally allow women from all walks of life to identify with the protagonists in some form or fashion (Sharon Hink's The Secret Life of Becky Miller is an excellent example of a "mom lit" book that succeeds in making the heroine a true "everywoman").

DPW is a light, fast-paced lit novel that attempts to be everything to everyone, and in doing so overreaches just a bit. Each of the four pastors' wives profiled are basically one-issue women, which leaves them feeling a bit flat, like cardboard cut-out characters. Being "types" allows the authors provide a nice "peek" into Jennifer, Mimi, Lisa, and Felicia's lives, but I was left wanting more in-depth story and character development. I think DPW could have been more effective if it involved perhaps only two women instead of four. With four main characters, the scope of the novel was too broad for me leaving the character development was rather shallow (due to each woman being overwhelmingly identified by her "one" big issue). Also, more "showing" instead of "telling" would help tighten the novel's prose -- i.e., instead of summarizing a character's prayer or conversation ("telling"), let the readers actually see or hear the action as it occurs ("showing").

What DPW does right is its representation of the crucial role friendships play in the lives of women. The short chapters, which alternate back-and-forth between each woman's point-of-view, make this a fast-paced, quick read. Kolbaba and Scannell have succeeded in identifying a niche market, pastors' wives, that I haven't really seen explored in Christian fiction (thus far, anyway). DPW is a fairly engaging, though occasionally predictable, novel that gives a glossy account of average women attempting to balance faith, family, work, and others' expectations while remaining sane. The raw material's there, and one hopes that with a bit more polish future novels chronicling the lives of Jennifer, Felicia, Lisa, and Mimi will give readers an even more in-depth, well-rounded, and fulfilling look at the "secret" lives of pastors' wives.

[Sally906 · Rating 4 out of 5]

Mimi, Felicia, Jennifer and Lisa all live in Red River, Ohio.  They are also all the wives of Pastors from different Christian denominations.  Once a month on a Tuesday they secretly escape to the next town and have lunch together at Lulu's Cafe.  They are a support group as no one can understand the problems they have, except another pastor' wife.  The four women use some very unorthodox methods to solve their problems, proving that God really does move in mysterious ways.  There are tears, anguish and laughter before,the story comes to an end.  The first in a series, there are two more books to follow.

[Kirsten · Rating 4 out of 5]

Written with a conversational/gossip tone, the book was very enteraining and a real eye opener. I never really thought about what the pressures of being a pastors' wife is like until I read this book. Just because your husband has a calling to minister, doesn't mean that you do as well, but you need to stand by your husbands' side and act a certain way because that is what the church expects. This was a good book and I now look at my own pastor's wife with very different eyes!

[Charity · Rating 5 out of 5]

WONDERFUL book written from the point of view of 4 different pastors wives with all of their individual struggles with their husband's role in ministry, their role at his side, their career, the pressure they are under and scrutiny as a pastors wife, the career-driven, the perfection-driven...all come to the place where they see they aren't perfect, cannot be and letting God heal their pain and falling in love all over again.

[Linda Searby · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book is recommended for anyone who has been or is a pastor's wife or anyone who wants to understand the reality of life in a pastor's home!! Since I was a pastor's wife for 25 years, I totally identified with these four young pastor's wives who met every week in a nearby town to have lunch and commiserate with each other. This is fiction but it sure could be true! Funny, too!

[Raelynn · Rating 4 out of 5]

Four pastor's wives form a friendship in a sleepy midwest town where their husbands minister. To avoid the "fish bowl" existences they endure in their hometown, the ladies travel to the out-of-the way refuge of Lulu's cafe. Once there, they nosh, rant, confess, laugh, and cry over issues such as infertility, parenting, career, and love.

[Ruth Everhart]

Being a clergywoman myself, I was curious about this perspective on women who are married to clergy. I found it to be surprisingly well written and engaging. The format of women meeting at Lulus Cafe is a good way to engage 4 different personalities -- think Sex and the City without Sex and without the City!

[Alison Isbell · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book was really good. It gave the reader a look into what goes on in the lives of four different pastor's wives and how they coped with everyday life and being a pastor's wife. I enjoyed getting to know all four women.

[Elaine · Rating 4 out of 5]

(book, novel)
a. This book is the first in the “Secrets from Lulu’s Café” series. It centers around the lives of pastors’ wives. The women meet regularly at Lulu’s Café to unwind and fill each other in on what’s going on in their lives, from trouble to victories. 4 STARS

[Jennifer Gentry · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this book! I wasn't sure what I would think about it, but I absolutely LOVED it. There were many times the authors had me in tears over the desperation of the characters and the various trials they faced. Any book that can make me cry is a good one, for sure!

[Shannon · Rating 4 out of 5]

I liked this really well...you can tell it was written by Christians, unlike a similarly titled book I read recently. The women in this book love the Lord but have real struggles. I am not a pastor's wife.

[Alisa]

Behind the scenes

Every pastor's wife will find a scenario or two to relate to in this book. It is a quick and enjoyable read. The resolution/s were a little too pat,but I'll revisit Lulu's Cafe.

[Bebemiqui Bolt · Rating 1 out of 5]

A little bit of encouragement and truth wrapped up in mediocre writing. A lot of it seemed too light and contrived. But hey, if it helps you lighten up in your role as a PW, then its done its job.

[Crystal · Rating 5 out of 5]

Hard to put down. I liked it. Definitely understand the struggle to be truly authentic as a pastor's wife.

[Melissa (Semi Hiatus Until After the Holidays) · Rating 3 out of 5]

Four pastors' wives meet for support.

[Jessica Strack · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a real eye opener. I never really thought about how tough it would be being a pastor's wife. Good book!

[Jen · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book was co-written by my mentor Christy Scannell! It's worth the read! It's a very enjoyable, easy read with a bit of a twist! A series of 3!

[Sarita · Rating 1 out of 5]

a lttle slow so far but not bad - reading it for my book club!

[Laura Bland · Rating 4 out of 5]

I found myself reflected in the lives of these Pastors' Wives. Yet, there is so much more. Enjoyed the read.

[Andria · Rating 4 out of 5]

Love this series, wish it were longer...actually lent it to my pastor's wife for a laugh.

[T.M. · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wonderful book. Each character deals with what every person does. Peace. Doubt. Infertility (for some folks). Insecurity. Themes we all understand.

[Anne · Rating 5 out of 5]

Awesome Book. Very relaxing to read. Same type of writing as Fannie Flagg. You'll have fun with this --- There is humor and you feel like you are going through it with the characters.

[Cecilia Stanton adams · Rating 4 out of 5]

As a fan of reality tv I just had to check out this book and it delivered as well as the real housewives franchise. I liked it so much I purchased the next two books in the series.

[Lois Hecksel · Rating 5 out of 5]

An entertaining story about the pressures of being a pastor's wife...humor, pathos, secrets.

[Leah · Rating 5 out of 5]

I couldn’t put it down

[Judith · Rating 5 out of 5]

A great read

I enjoyed this book and wished I had friends like, Mimi, Lisa, Jennifer and Felicity. I got into this story and was pulled in from the first page. I love how God and faith are in this story. It is about Pastors wivis. Ginger Kolbaba is a great writer. There are two more books in this series and I’m getting ready to start book two.

[Julie Stanford · Rating 4 out of 5]

Fun, light-hearted read

[Laura · Rating 5 out of 5]

I enjoyed the book and characters. I did not realize it was a christian based book until I started reading. As a person of Jewish faith, I found it inspiring for any faith.