This week, the
Christian Fiction Blog Alliance
is introducing
Hometown Favorite
Revell (September 1, 2008)
by
Bill Barton and Henry O. Arnold
ABOUT THE AUTHORS:
Bill Barton is a business partner with Compass Technologies. An active member and volunteer at his church, Hendersonville Chapel, Barton is a regular speaker at services and other events. He lives in Hendersonville, Tennessee, with his family.
Henry O. Arnold has been a professional actor, writer, and director in theatre, film, and television. He co-wrote and produced the film The Second Chance starring Michael W. Smith and wrote the screenplay for the first authorized film documentary on evangelist Billy Graham, God’s Ambassador. Arnold lives in Portland, Tennessee.
ABOUT THE BOOK:
Talented, handsome, and personable, Dewayne Jobe rose from humble beginnings in rural Mississippi to play college football in Southern California and beyond. One of the best wide receivers in college ball, Dewayne is assured a promising career in professional football as one of those rare athletes whose exceptional abilities place him in a league of his own.
He easily finds success both on and off the field. Dewayne’s got a beautiful, intelligent wife running his lucrative endorsement business and carrying his child and the pristine white picket fence to boot. The only thing lacking is a road sign confirming his address on Easy Street.
But catastrophe looms right around the corner and ultimately strikes with a crushing vengeance. Will Dewayne’s faith and character stand the test of such tragedy? Or will he lose everything–including the love of his life?
This modern retelling of the story of Job will capture readers with the age-old question of why bad things happen to good people–and how good people can survive.
Combining realistic sports action and a deadly serious challenge to faith, Hometown Favorite is a story that won’t let you up off the turf until the game clock hits zero.
If you’d like to read the first chapter of Hometown Favorite, go HERE
“An amazing story of betrayal, forgiveness, redemption and hope. The characters are vibrant and alive. Barton and Arnold have a rare and keen understanding of human nature, making the spiritual truths of this story both profound and compelling.”
~Michael W. Smith, recording artist
“Like a close game and a score that just won’t turn around, Dewayne’s true fans and Hometown Favorite readers will appreciate the daunting odds fate doles out and this story’s hard-won outcome.”~Darnell Arnoult, author of Sufficient Grace
Bill and Henry can be reached through the Contact links on their Website
MY REVIEW:
I will confess that when I first looked at the cover of Hometown Favorite, I was a bit dubious about it. A story about football – definitely not the type book I usually read. But I had elected to review it so I began to read like a dutiful girl. I am not sorry I did. The authentic characters, realistic dialogue, intriguing plot, and the conversational writing style held my attention until the very end.
Hometown Favorite is a contemporary tale that can be compared to the biblical story of Job. It is complete with success and failure, love and hate, good and evil, loyalty and betrayal, triumph and tragedy. The writers do no pull any punches – the narrative is bold and gritty and does not hesitate to deal with difficult real life issues.
Dwayne Jobe’s story illustrates just how quickly one’s life can change and leaves the reader with some hard spiritual truth to ponder. “How would I react in a similar situation? Will I just trust God during the good times or will I cling to Him when life deals a losing hand?”
I would recommend Hometown Favorite even if you are not a sports fan. I’m glad I read it.
Come and visit some of those participation in this blog tour:
Adam at Northwoods Blumer
Amy at Simple Folk Schoolhouse
Amy at My Life
Andie at frommipov
Andrea at The Laughs Will Go On
Angela at Angela Benson.com
Angela at One Baby, Seven Dogs, and a Mommy
April at Projecting A
April at Living In A State Of Constant Kansas
Becky at Savvy Mom
Bonnie at Bonnie Writes
Brittanie at A Book Lover
Camille at There is a season
Carla at Carla’s Writing Café
Carolyn at Serenity
CeeCee at Book Splurge
Christy at At Split Ends
Courtney at A Mom Speaks
Dave at Dave Rhoades
Dave at Novel Spotlight
Deanna at Deannna’s Corner
Deborah at books, movies and chinese food
Deborah at Comfort Joy Designs
Debra at Soul Reflections
Deena at A Peek At My Bookshelf
Delia at Gatorskunkz And Mudcats
Erin at Life Around Here
Gretchen at Inspire Me
Heidi at Take Root And Write
Janis at The Nearsighted Bookworm
Janna at Cornhusker Academy
Jennifer at Musings on This, That, & The Other Thing
Jennifer at My Buckling Bookshelf
Karen at Mommy of Three
Karla at Ramblin’ Roads To Everywhere
Kelly at A Disciple’s Steps
Kim at Window To My World
Kristi at Stamped With Grace
Kristinia at Loving Heart Mommy
Kristy at I Need To Read
LaShaunda at See Ya On The Net
Laura at Laura William’s Musings
Leah at Ponderings From My Heart
Linda at Mocha With Linda
Lori at Noggin Bits
Lynetta at Open Book
Lynnae at Lynnae’s Bookshelf
Margaret at Creative Madness
Michelle at Edgy Inspirational Author
Michelle at Just A Minute
Michelle at Raising Little Women
Nicole at Into The Fire
Nora at Finding Hope Through Christian Fiction
Pam at Pam’s Private Reflections
Pam at Daysong Reflections
Rachel at Rachel Hauck
Rachelle at Stifled Squeal
Rel at Relz Reviewz
Rhonda at Whatever…
Sally at Welcome To Sally Bradley.com
Sean at Bookmark Cafe
Sunny at Life In The Estrogen Sea
Takiela at Beauty 4 Ashes
Tiffany at Snapshots Of Life
Tracy at Pix-N-Pens
Victoria at Overlooked Orchid
