Review: Goodness Gracious Green

by Judy Christie

Journalist Lois Barker’s second year in Green, Louisiana is not off to a good start. The mayor’s fancy little dog chows down on Lois’ cheek. The inherited newspaper she so recently decided to keep and operate is in jeopardy of a takeover by the former owners. An arsonist seems bent on burning Lois out of town. And her uncertain romance with her hunky neighbor, Chris, seems to be going nowhere fast.

As a new Christian, Lois is still learning about faith and trust, and hers is being tried on a regular basis. So much goes wrong that she has to wonder if she missed God’s leading when she chose to stay and operate the Green News-Item.

Aided by a group of quirky but loving friends and co-workers, Lois works through the kinks in her life and the holes in her faith in stubborn, funny, sometimes desperate ways. She even manages to be happy for her best friend when she gets engaged. But as she edges ever closer to forty, Lois can’t help wondering…will it ever be her turn to enjoy love and romance? And if so, will Chris be in that picture?

This second book in the Green Series, Goodness Gracious Green, is a well-written, fun story of faith under fire, with a light thread of romance and a strong cord of mystery woven throughout. Christie’s unique brand of humor is a genuine delight. While not particularly fast-paced, the storyline is interesting and once started, it demands to be finished.

A good read.

Review: The Dead Rise First

Rapture Countdown

by Alton Ragan and Robert D. McLaughlin

Jordan, Oklahoma is a sleepy, uneventful little town—until the trumpet sounds.

Not everyone hears it, and those who do aren’t sure what they heard. But they all wake up to a changed world—a global power outage, which limits the water supply as well. There’s no air conditioning or coolers in the midst of an Indian Summer weather front. Nothing with a computer chip works, which means all vehicles under a certain age are inoperable, as are televisions, video games, computers, radios, and cell phones.

Theories abound, from a terrorist attack to EMP detonation. The military steps in quickly, clamping down on public freedom to maintain order. Things are bad and getting worse.

But when dead folks leave their graves to walk and talk among the living, people begin to realize something unimaginable is taking place.

A pastor, who’s almost as confused as everyone else, tries to help his townspeople stand strong. When one of his parishioners suggests these events might be a prelude to the Rapture and backs up his proposal with scripture, Jack begins a desperate drive to bring souls to Christ, aided by his back-from-the-dead parents.

It’s a fascinating storyline, and one that definitely holds a reader’s attention. I enjoyed the read, and consider it a wake-up call. As Christians, are we really ready for the trumpet to sound? For non-believers, this story offers food for thought, with scriptural references and explanations of the authors’ interpretation of the major prophetic event of all time.

If I am to be completely honest, the book could have used a professional editing service. But if one is willing to look past the head hopping and punctuation errors, the storyline is quite good, and certainly thought-provoking. The authors take the action right up to the moment of Rapture, when the risen dead, followed by the believers, are taken up into the sky.

Read this one. It’s worth your time.

ALTON RAGAN is a business owner and presently serves on the board of Shawnee Rescue Mission. He has served on the board of two churches and co-hosted a small television program called Truth Talks. He has been an avid student of God’s Word for more than thirty years. He is the father of two children and three grandchildren. Alton Ragan resides with his wife of 34 years in central Oklahoma where he continues to write.

ROBERT MCLAUGHLIN graduated from the University of Central Oklahoma with a degree in psychology. He is a student of the Bible, Sunday School teacher, and avid reader of fiction.

Learn more about the authors and the book at http://www.thedeadrisefirst.com/

Book Launch: I'm a Keeper

I May Frustrate You, But I’m a Keeper
by Ray W. Lincoln

This is the parenting manual you have been searching for! One that really delivers on its promise.

This book will change your parenting because …

 You will understand how your children are made on the inside and what urges drive their preferences so that you will know how to motivate them.
 You will discover why they do what they do. (Wouldn’t that be great to know?) You can then teach and train them with wisdom they will respect and accept.
 Your parenting will become easier and much more pleasurable. Easier is happier.
 You will parent with new confidence because you will know you are doing the right thing for your child.
 You will bond with your child and prepare for those teenage years. They will relish your understanding them.
 All the help is tailored to the temperament of your child. It is not a new “method.” It is “understanding” how your children are made and what motivates them.
 Your appreciation and understanding of your children will grow and you will know what strengths to develop to help your children achieve their potential.
 You will learn how to talk to each child in a language they will understand and accept.
 You will discover what is causing much of the conflict in the home and how to resolve it.

Ray W. Lincoln, international coach, teacher, and expert in Temperament Psychology, has provided the tools necessary to determine your child’s temperament and the explanations of those temperaments in the warm language of a trusted friend to help you understand each child and parent with confidence.

Your resource for effective parenting, plus a generous package of gifts from the author and other supporters is available for a Limited Time in two simple steps here:

http://web.me.com/raynmaryjolincoln/RayWLincoln/Imakeeperbook.html

P.S. Please forward this information to your friends and relatives so that they can benefit from the understanding in I’m a Keeper and take advantage of this great limited time offer. Go here today!

Note:

http://web.me.com/raynmaryjolincoln/RayWLincoln/Imakeeperbook.html

Note from Delia: Today is the book launch date for Ray W. Lincoln’s I’m a Keeper. Ray is part of the John 3:16 Book Marketing Network, as am I. From time to time, we as a group will post announcements of our members’ book releases and launch dates. I don’t write these announcements, I simply post them as one more way of reaching the public.

The people in this network profess to be Christians, and it is always a pleasure to help another child of God further his or her goals. That said, please be aware that I have not read every book the John 3:16 network helps launch. I can neither recommend nor advise against these publications. Please use your own wisdom and discretion in the purchase of any reading material, even material you discover through a post on this blog.