Pound Foolish by Dave and Neta Jackson (Review)

• Paperback: 332 pages
• Publisher: Castle Rock Creative, Inc. (September 25, 2014)
• ISBN-13: 978-0982054499

Greg Singer coordinates consumer sports shows for powerboats, four wheelers, snowmobiles, and jet skis-macho toys for outdoor men like himself. But the job puts tremendous stress on his marriage with Nicole, who for the first time notices the handsome lawyer at the end of the block. "Greener pastures?" When the recession hits Greg's industry, he thinks the crisis is merely an opportunity for God to bless him with unmatched prosperity, a promise he hears preached each Sunday, and he steps out in bold faith . . . But is he being "pound foolish"? The fourth in the Windy City Neighbors series, POUND FOOLISH explores the economic upheaval and uncertainties challenging every family. Intersecting with PENNY WISE (book three), the Jacksons employ the innovating storytelling technique of "parallel novels." Though each book follows its own drama and story arc, the characters' lives become intertwined and affect one another. Pound Foolish returns us to Beecham Street-a typical American neighborhood . . . where a growing friendship brings new meaning to prosperity.

My Review:

This is the fourth book in the Windy City Neighbors series. I have enjoyed reading the series this far. That said this was not my favorite book. I have not liked Greg Singer from the beginning. That may have been on purpose by the authors, I'm not sure. I still like the way the story is written using the technique of "parallel novels" and the characters staying the same throughout. Characters from previous books make an appearance in each book after. I enjoy learning more of their stories in the background. The main plot line in this book is the relationship between Greg and Nicole Singer. Greg is all about money and it starts to consume him. When he loses his job instead of finding another regular one he explores the crazy ones that pop up on the computer like selling a new energy drink. I found interesting the sermons being preached at their church and the way Greg was able to twist them to fit his money ideas. Nicole was the only one that realized the preaching was not sound. Greg and Nicole have communication issues anyway. Greg learned the hard way that get rich quick schemes do not work. He almost lost everything. Many couples will be able to relate to the struggles Greg and Nicole experience. The ending felt a little unreal but otherwise good. I look forward to reading book five in the series.



Dave and Neta Jackson are award-winning authors living in the Chicago area where their parallel novels from the Yada Yada House of Hope and Harry Bentley series are set.
As a husband/wife writing team, Dave and Neta Jackson are enthusiastic about books, kids, walking with God, gospel music, and each other! Together they are the authors or coauthors of over 100 books.
Find out more about Dave and Neta at http://www.daveneta.com/

Review copy provided by Litfuse in exchange for an honest review.

Penny Wise by Neta and Dave Jackson (Review)

• Series: Windy City Neighbors (Book 3)
• Paperback: 316 pages
• Publisher: Castle Rock Creative, Inc. (May 22, 2014)
• ISBN-13: 978-0982054468

PENNY WISE (Book 3 in the Windy City Neighbors series) introduces us to yet another family in "the neighborhood"-the Jaspers, busy with demanding jobs, busy with church, busy volunteering, parents of three active teenagers, juggling sometimes crazy schedules. All good things. Until all those "good things" feed into a series of crises that affects the whole family. Something's gotta change! PENNY WISE is a contemporary peek at an urban family wrestling with the spiritual and practical challenges of real life. The series employs the innovating storytelling technique of "parallel novels," each with its own drama and story arc, but whose characters' lives become intertwined with their neighbors and affect one another. Welcome to Beecham Street-a typical, isolated American neighborhood that is beginning to come out of its shell . . . for better or worse.


 My Review:

I thought this was a good contemporary Christian fiction book. It is the third book in the Windy City Neighbors series. I have read and liked all of them. This series is written in "parallel novel" format which means the characters repeat. It can be read alone but if you are reading the series its nice to see the other characters interact more. I related more to the first two books in the series but this one still had good character and plot development. I felt the stress of the Jasper's busy lives. The parents have work, children, church, and other life issues that create a hard cycle to get out of and rest. This book points out that although being active in church is good too much is a bad thing. It also tackles a later in life pregnancy and the issues that come with it. The book started slow but picked up. I did not like the ending and thought a different one might be more suitable. I can't wait for the next book in the series.



Dave and Neta Jackson are award-winning authors living in the Chicago area where their parallel novels from the Yada Yada House of Hope and Harry Bentley series are set.
As a husband/wife writing team, Dave and Neta Jackson are enthusiastic about books, kids, walking with God, gospel music, and each other! Together they are the authors or coauthors of over 100 books.

Find out more about Dave and Neta at http://www.daveneta.com/


Review copy provided by Litfuse in exchange for an honest review.

Derailed by Dave and Neta Jackson (Review)

This week, the Christian Fiction Blog Alliance is introducing Derailed Worthy Publishing (October 8, 2013) by Dave and Neta Jackson

ABOUT THE AUTHORS:

As a husband/wife writing team, we are enthusiastic about books, kids, walking with God, gospel music, and each other! Together we are the authors or coauthors of over 120 books. (You can see our Publication Record by clicking HERE.) In addition to writing several books about Christian community, we have been privileged to coauthor numerous books with expert resource people on a variety of topics from racial reconciliation to medical ethics to ministry to kids in gangs.

But over the years the we have especially enjoyed writing for children and young people! This includes our award-winning TRAILBLAZER series, historical fiction about great Christian heroes and heroines for young people ages 8-12, and the four-volume HERO TALES: A Family Treasury of True Stories from the Lives of Great Christians, and the companion book, Heroes in Black History.

Somewhere along the way, our own children grew up! Son Julian is Director of Experience Design for the Alder Planetarium in Chicago where he “provides the experience of exploring space” for visitors. He has two sons, Liam Isaac and Elijah David. Daughter Rachel graduated from Eastern Mennonite University and after working in the field of rape-crisis prevention went on to earn a Masters Degree in counseling from the University of Illinois. She is now a counselor at “Uni High School” in Champaign, Illinois. She is the loving mother of Havah Noelle (our first grandchild!) and Noah Zion, our youngest grandchild. The Jackson family also includes a Cambodian foster daughter, Samen Sang, who has four children.

We live in Evanston, Illinois, where for twenty-seven years we were part of Reba Place Church, a Christian church community. We are now members of a multi-racial congregation in the Chicago area.

ABOUT THE BOOK

Forced to give up his hard-earned retirement, Harry Bentley goes back to work as a detective. Receiving a bizarre undercover assignment that sends him across the country by train. Things suddenly go awry when it appears one of his new neighbors may be part of a smuggling ring and suspicion rises about his own son’s involvement in a major drug cartel. The second in the Windy City Neighbors series, Derailed is a contemporary, and often humorous, tale in an urban setting, featuring ordinary people wrestling with the spiritual and practical issues of real life. Intersecting with Grounded (book one), the Jacksons employ their innovative storytelling technique of “parallel novels.” Though each book follows its own drama and story arc, the characters’ lives become intertwined and affect one another. Derailed transports you to Beecham Street—a typical, isolated American neighborhood . . . until hope moves in.

If you would like to read the first chapter of Derailed, go HERE.

My Review:

I enjoyed reading this book and learning more about the Bentleys. This is the second book in the Windy City Neighbors series. It is written in an interesting style called "parallel novels." The first book was called Grounded and I liked it also. I recommend reading them in order to get the full effect of the writing style. The characters and plot are well developed and interesting. I can't wait to read the third book. Highly Recommended.