Review of Hometown Favorite
October 10, 2008
This week, the
Christian Fiction Blog Alliance
is introducing
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
Sally Says: When they say the book has realistic sports action, they’re not kidding. A good chunk, maybe the first third or half, is pretty detailed football action. Now I’m a big baseball fan and I do like football once baseball’s over, but the details on the sports was a bit much for me.
That second half of the book made the first overly sport part all worth it. I do recommend Hometown Favorite. You may decide to skim some of the sports action, but once you get to the heart of the story, I think you’ll find it an amazing read.
But hang on. The second half of the book blew me away and actually gave reason for the sports information I’d read. This is another book that isn’t what you first think when you read that opening chapter, and again that’s a good thing.
I don’t want to give away what happens, but it came as a total surprise to me, and the book turned out to be an incredibly touching story of finding hope in the midst of terrible hurt.
Comments
One Response to “Review of Hometown Favorite”
You’re the third person I’ve checked out who’s read the book, Sally, and liked it. I must be the lone ranger who really didn’t. My review gives the reasons why.