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Showing posts with label prisoners. Show all posts
Showing posts with label prisoners. Show all posts

Tuesday, June 2, 2015

Wakulla Book Review: Seventh Dimension - The Door, Book One, A Young Adult Fantasy, by Lorilyn Roberts

SEVENTH DIMENSION - THE DOOR, A YOUNG ADULT FANTASY




The Door is an excellent book. The story began well with the young girl getting into trouble. But I stopped when the talking animals entered the scene. This is not the kind of story I like to read. I let the book sit for two days before I gave it another try. I picked up where I left off and quickly remembered why I had set it down. But suddenly, the story changed and became alive.

I became enthralled with the story and the characters. The people and the animals had such depth to their personalities that I was truly amazed. But being able to see Jesus through their eyes was what really hit home with me. How easily the animals recognized Jesus as the king, and how difficult it is for the people who see him as king was precious and eye-opening.

Very thought provoking and very entertaining at the same time. If you are a fan of fantasy books or not, I recommend this one. One of the best books I've read that could open the Gospel of Jesus to those who might not listen otherwise. I look forward to the next book.


Seventh Dimension - The Door, Book One, A Young Adult Fantasy, reviwed by: 
Leon, a brother in Christ, Wakulla Book Review


To learn more about Lorilyn Roberts and her books, visit her website at LorilynRoberts.com




 I want to personally thank all the men who are reviewing the books written by JOHN 3:16 AUTHORS. I am thankful that we are able to bless them and appreciate the encouragement given to us by their reviews. 

Their insights and comments mean a lot. Steve said I (Lorilyn Roberts) could visit the prison and I hope to do that sometime in the near future. I ultimately look forward to the day when we are free in the Lord's presence to worship together our Risen King!

Each WEEK (usually on Tuesday), we are posting reviews from Wakulla Correctional inmates of John 3:16 books. 





Inmates are loving the new books from John 3:16 authors. Chaplain Steve Fox is adding the new books to the prison library in this initiative to "change lives to ensure a safer Florida."

Thursday, January 15, 2015

Wakulla Book Review: Seventh Dimension - The King, Book 2, by Lorilyn Roberts




Seventh Dimension Series, The King, Book 2 – A Young Adult Fantasy

Wakulla Book Review



I wanted to share one of my favorite reviews by a reader who “got it.” My belief is that God opens the eyes of readers who are open to receiving our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ into their hearts and minds. In fact, God gives us the ability to perceive spiritual things that without His Spirit working within us, we would not be able to see. 


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Wakulla Book Review by Ronald

Summary:  Where Book 1, “The Door” was offered from the perspective of a teenage girl with no particular religious upbringing or background, “The King” is derived from that of a teenage boy of modern Jewish origin.

Daniel, the story's protagonist, is neither devout nor hardhearted toward God, taking a more contemporary, “he must be somewhere else doing other things” outlook. Throughout, God is calling and showing Himself to Daniel by sending angels to aid him, messages to tell him, and miracles to convince him, all pointing to Jesus of Nazareth and Passover. Aided by actual Biblical figures, sayings, and events, this is an informative look at the unfortunate, contemporary attitude of Israel and God’s never ending love for them and desire that they return again to Him (reminiscent of the parable of the lost sheep).

Purpose:  With an admittedly Jewish slant, Roberts reaches out to Jews and everybody with a Biblical portrayal of Jesus as the Messiah, in obvious agreement with the apostle Paul in Romans 10:1: Brethren, my heart’s desire and prayer to God for Israel is that they might be saved (King James Edition).

Theme:  That God is ultimately in control of everything; our lives, our futures. and our destinies. That the only satisfaction we can have is when we acknowledge Him and submit ourselves to His will for our lives.

Thesis:  That the world’s Messiah—Jewish and Gentile—has come in the person of Jesus/Yeshua of Nazareth.

Controversial issues:  Worship‑that the world offers gold, fame, respect, and adoration to those foolish enough to fall for its temptations. Romance‑that we are God's temple and are to remain pure and undefiled by casual sexual relations. That God wants us to save ourselves for marriage. Ambition‑that pursuing personal desires and goals that do not consider Him first actually regulate Him to second in our lives, and that to our detriment. Salvation‑that God offers the only way to be saved.

Enjoyed the book: Yes, particularly after Daniel left Shale and took Nathan to his father. From that point on it was an intense tale of the struggle that takes place in our lives as God draws us to Himself. Yes. It caused me to re-examine those pursuits in my own life and whether they are Godly or self-fulfilling.

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To purchase a copy of  “Seventh Dimension – The King, Book 2,” from Amazon, please visit http://bit.ly/The_King_P for the print version and http://bit.ly/AWKING for the Kindle version.

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Florida Department of Corrections, Wakulla, Florida

Our Vision: "Changing Lives to Ensure a Safer Florida"




This is the first blog post in a series of posts featuring reviews by Wakulla Correctional inmates of John 3:16 books. I hope you will visit our blog next week to enjoy more reviews and discover new Christian books by John 3:16 authors.



Sunday, October 12, 2014

Prisoners Help John 3:16 Authors With Heart-Felt Book Reviews

Steve Fox, a chaplain at Wakulla Correctional near Tallahassee, Florida, is coordinating a pilot program, 

Our Vision: Changing Lives to Ensure a Safer Florida, that allows prisoners to review books written by Christian authors.  


John 3:16 books delivered to Steve Fox for Wakulla Correctional in September 2014




The program not only helps the prisoners feel like they are contributing to society by writing book reviews, but the authors benefit from their insightful comments. 


I asked best-selling Aussie author Martin Roth if I could share his blog post about our new prisoner review opportunity for John 3:16 authors. 


Here is Martin Roth's thoughts after having several prisoners review his Christian thriller books.






Captive Reviews Shine a New Light

My first three novels were commercially published, but they received few reviews and have sold poorly, despite one being an Australian Christian Book of the Year finalist. So I decided I would self-publish my subsequent novels and promote them myself. I now have a total of 10 novels on the market.
Like every self-published author I am quite obsessive about getting reviews, especially on Amazon, as I know that these can make a difference to sales. I even have a spreadsheet on my computer and once a month I neurotically enter the number of Amazon reviews for each of my titles and the average rating (which is a pretty depressing thing to do, as your early reviews, mainly from friends and relatives, are glowing, whereas subsequent reviews inevitably include one-star and two-star dogs that gradually bring your averages down).
But now I suddenly find myself with a new stream of reviews that are among the most important and touching I have ever received. They put everything I have been doing in a new perspective. Amazon is no longer as important.
Maria Kannon - Smashwords Cover Jan 2013I am part of a group of Christian writers, the John 3:16 Marketing Network, whose 300+ members work to help promote one another’s writings. Though based in America, we are pretty international, with a globally diverse membership, including some here in Australia.
Recently the coordinator Lorilyn Roberts announced a new initiative, together with a Florida prison chaplain, Steve Fox, to take members’ books into prison to be read by the inmates, who would then write reviews, as part of a writing and job skills program.
I have recently received the first reviews of two of my thrillers, and they have thrilled me.
Here is Keith, reviewing “The Maria Kannon”:
I enjoyed the book, it had a good story and action. Also it didn’t drag with many pointless details, it just kept flowing.
And Lian (who describes himself as a Brother in Christ):
The main theme was that Christians should always act out of love, never vengeance. And at times some Christians must step up and do what is necessary to stop evil people from continuing evil….All in all a good read for an evening or weekend. I enjoyed it.
Of course, not all the reviews are positive. Here’s Robert:
The author has tried to twin the Japanese way of life and the Korean way of life into one simple life form, and it cannot be done. It is two wholly different life forms involved entirely upon God who in my opinion was not spoken of in a good manner….I have been to Japan myself and I have seen very little in the book to remind me of the Japanese people. I did not enjoy this book…
Coptic Martyr3But then, here’s William, reviewing “The Coptic Martyr of Cairo”:
The author seems to want to get across the importance of the persecution of the Christians around the world….This book was enjoyable. I had to rethink the way I see my faith according to a large view of what it is to be Christian.
Helping prisoners. Seeing people rethink their faith. Just what we as Christians should be doing. Thank you Keith and Lian and William and even Robert. Suddenly the mighty Amazon is no longer so important, as I view my writing endeavours in an altogether different light.