John 3:16 Book Review: Once Again, by Deborah Heal

Once Again 

Romance, Mystery, and History Combine for a Delightful Read

Author: Deborah Heal

Published January 2014

$ 3.99 Kindle

$10.99 Paperback

Buy on US Amazon

Amazon Canada

Amazon Australia

Reviewer: Cheryl Colwell

A history teacher at McKendree College, Merrideth Randall is fascinated with historical events that occurred nearby. Though resisting the handsome Brett Garrison’s pursuit, she finds herself entangled because of the genealogical research she is doing on his family.

The delightful twist Deborah Heal has added to this series is a mysterious computer program that allows Merrideth to virtually visit the past and learn facts lost long ago, facts she cannot substantiate. I enjoyed the varied characters, fascinating history and secrets that were unearthed. A great read that I presume will fully conclude in the next book!

Wakulla Book Reviews: The Aftermath and The Right Person, by Stacy Padulla

WAKULLA BOOK REVIEWS!

Title: The Aftermath

            "This is a story about a high school kid named Jason Davids who is dealing with peer pressure, alcohol, and drug abuse. He also finds himself caught in the middle of a spiritual battle. Luckily he has several Christian friends praying for and giving him good advice. But he also has a girlfriend and older brothers pressuring him to get high and party.

            Stacy Padula did an excellent job of highlighting the power of prayer and the power of the Holy Spirit to work through those who are willing to be obedient to His promptings—and how this combination will always bring God’s grace, love, and light into the darkest of people.

            This book has so many great messages for kids and young adults to learn from. And all of them have the foundational truths from God’s Word.

            I absolutely loved and enjoyed this book. So much so that any book I see written by Stacy Padula I will gladly read it.

            This book is mainly aimed at young adults, from 12 on up. But it holds so much truth and Godly advice everyone who loves God’s Word will enjoy it. And I’m confident they will recommend it to every teen they know." —Leon

Title: The Right Person (Montgomery Lake High #1)

            “The Right Person” is a story about people looking for acceptance. It raises an important question that faces almost everyone: what am I willing to do to fit in and be accepted by my peers? Ms. Padula takes this a step further and raises a more important question: whom should I be seeking acceptance from?

            Stacy Padula accurately describes the moral issues that teens and adults face: smoking, sex, drinking, drugs, lying, cheating, and disrespect. Ms. Padula weaves a tale that involves many characters who are each facing their own battles and struggles. She gives the reader just enough information about each one to bring the story together. She also gives the solution to each character’s struggle: Jesus.

            By the end of this book, I had tears in my eyes, as I could relate to the struggles they were going through and the deliverance they receive from God through Jesus. This is a book I’d like to have had when I was a teen! Well written, and the Gospel is shared without compromise! Stacy A. Padula is a voice God is using that will share the message of love, forgiveness, and acceptance to the world that needs to hear it!" —Loren

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Stacy Padulla is running a special

on all of her kindle books through Saturday. 

They will be on sale for

$1.99-$5.99 incrementally based on the edition.  

To learn more, 

visit her Amazon page at:http://amzn.to/1FUosWU

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Each WEEK, 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 is adding the new books to the prison library in this initiative to "change lives to ensure a safer Florida."

The Wakulla Correctional Book Review Series is part of 

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

Wakulla Book Reviews: The Last Train at Sunset by Pearl Nsiah-Kumi

 Title - The Last Train at Sunset

 2 Reviews from Wakulla prison

This book explains in very easy to read and understand language. How you can receive Jesus Christ as your Lord and Savior? It quotes a lot of key Scriptures from the Holy Bible to further clearly the truth of what’s written.

The second half of the book tells you how to walk and grow as a believer in Christ. It uses Scriptures beautifully to walk a new believer through the foundational beliefs.

The author’s purpose is very clear. How to receive eternal life and how to grow in the faith.

I loved every page of this book. The topic is controversial to anyone who refuses to believe the truth of God’s holy Word that Jesus Christ is the way, the truth, and the life, and no one will enter heaven except through Him.

 The main thing I liked about how this book was written, was Pearl kept it simple, and used easy to understand words. Even a grade school child could pick up this book and be able to read and understand it, and maybe come to understand and accept Jesus Christ as their own Lord, God, King, and Savior.

 Thank you for writing this book.

                                                      Leon, (11-3-2014)

                                                      A brother in Christ.  

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This book speaks the truth, the Word of God, Scriptures from the Bible. This book is pretty much for anyone, the unsaved, babes in Christ, even mature Christians.

It starts off with “the invitation” the way to receive salvation, and then there’s the “Christian walk” where a lot can be learned, especially if you search the Scriptures she puts in the book, and there are many.

As I read, I came across a lot of Scriptures that I forget to make active in my life. It would be a great devotional to read daily to remember where you stand if you can’t read the Bible every day. There are certain sections I would like to read and remind myself on how I should behave on a daily basis, because at times I can let it slide based on my emotions, or the day I am having, or some people in certain situations.

                                                      Keith (9-29-2014)

To purchase The Last Train at Sunset from Amazon, click here.

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Pearl is a retired registered nurse, and a Christian author.  She came to the United States from Ghana, West Africa. She has lived in Maryland for over forty years. Pearl has three children, a son in-law, and four grandchildren. She loves to write poetry and short articles based on Scripture.  She has authored three books "Get On Board and Stay On Board," "The Last Train at Sunset," and "Time Is Running Out."  These books contain salvation messages, and messages about the Christian walk.  They are suitable for devotionals and also helpful in witnessing. 

They are all available on Amazon, Barnes and Nobles, and also on her

Website: pearlkumi.weebly.com

Pearl is also a Volunteer Counselor at a local Crisis Pregnancy Clinic.

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Each Tuesday, we are posting reviews from Wakulla Correctional inmates of John 3:16 books. 

The Wakulla Correctional Book Review Series is part of 

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

Essence of Evil by Barbara Ann Derksen

Read about prolific author Barbara Ann Derksen's latest novel, Essence of Evil!

This book was the natural next link in the series that started out as a mystery to find the killer of her parents, but Christine chose to be a finder of missing children as well. Her profession takes her into the world of human trafficking, a place uncomfortable for her. When I started the series, I did not know I was going to delve into this cultural issue but God is using the series to make more people aware that this is an issue prevalent around the world, even in our own back yard. Book three in the series will be released spring 2015.

The Universal link for the first in the series, Shadow Stalker, is http://smarturl.it/llfqfy where you will also be able to find Essence of Evil from any country.

Essence of Evil,  Amazon.com http://amzn.to/1u4G6D9

$4.99 Kindle

$15.00 paperback

Watching the expressions on the faces of her readers, as well as answering questions about her characters, is what drives author and speaker, Barbara Ann Derksen to write yet another book and another. Her favorite genre is murder mystery but each book brings forth characters who rely on God as they solve the puzzle in their life.

Barbara’s devotionals are sought after each year when she publishes a new one that reflects what God has placed on her heart. From Straight Pipes, her first, to More Than Bells, Preparation for Prayer, the latest, Barbara’s devotions take people to the place where God can touch their heart and leave a lasting impression. When people stop by her table for the latest, they talk to her about using the devotions in their chapter meetings, or their personal devotions. Some men return at their pastor’s request because the books are used as launch pads for men’s bible study. Many copies have been passed on to new believers as discipling tools.

Born in Canada, Barbara lived in the US for 12 years. There her writing surfaced as she worked under contract as a journalist for six years with over 2500 articles published in newspapers and magazines during that time. Meeting and interviewing people, digging for the hidden gems in their lives, made those years informative as well as instructive. She began attending Colorado Christian Writer’s Conferences and each year, under the tutelage of great Christian writer’s like James Scott Bell, Angela Hunt, and others, she honed her skills.

Barbara has developed a speaking platform and has spoken across the US and in Manitoba, Canada for women’s groups and in church services on topics such as The Writing Experience, working in the ministry of Christian Motorcyclists Association, Love, Parenting, Time Management, and a host of others.

With 17 books to her credit, one currently inactive and awaiting revision, each one surpasses the last, according to her readers. They look forward to discovering the new characters in a new series Finders Keepers. Book One – Shadow Stalker – will be released mid-May, 2013

Writing, however is simply a tool to be used in the ministry she shares with her husband. With his gift of music (he sings country gospel), Barbara and her husband operate CatchFire Ministries, a ministry to bikers through Christian Motorcyclists Association. They travel for four to five months every summer in the US and the rest of the time in Canada where they seek to inspire, encourage and invite people into a deeper ministry with Jesus Christ. They also minister at Veterans Homes and churches along the way and are about to begin a ministry to Juvenile offenders incarcerated at Manitoba Youth Center. The mysteries include a gospel message that opens her readers to the possibility of reading books written from a Christian World view and supply funds for CatchFire.

Wakulla Book Review: SCARS by Patience Prence

Prisoner Review

By Bob.

 SCARS:  An Amazing End-Times Prophecy Novel

Author: Patience Prence

I have in front of me at this time an excellent book about the experiences of an extremely young girl. No matter how hard you try, a person cannot stop themselves from becoming part of this girl's life.

Ms. Prence takes us from the beginning to the very end of the book with you wanting more. I personally feel that Ms. Prence should have been more explicit at the end about what happened to her father and brother.

Ms. Prence did an outstanding job on this book and I was very fortunate to have been allowed to read it. She did an extremely good job on the book and it shows she is a Christian to boot.

This is one of those books that’s meant to be read again, soon.  To believe, because for you not to believe, as this lady says, then you may just have a problem.

Thank you for this book.  I look forward to reading more of her books.  It was a bone-chilling hair-raiser, but worth every minute I spent reading it.  A very hard book to adjust to, but worth it. Thank you.

To purchase Scars from Amazon, please click here. 280 reviews with 4.4 stars!

Each Tuesday, we are posting reviews from Wakulla Correctional inmates of John 3:16 books. 

The Wakulla Correctional Book Review Series is part of 

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

The Lighthouse of Asaph video book review

The Lighthouse of Asaph

Buy on Amazon US
Amazon Canada
Amazon Australia


Enjoy this video book review.

Roberto Ornan Roche is from Cuba.

Writing Self-Help: How Should Authors Portray the Protagonist in Young Adult Books?

by Lorilyn Roberts

For a book to make an impression on me, I must be able to identify with the protagonist. I think that is even more true with young adult readers. I remember reading a book by Randy Alcorn where the main character was a black man. I wondered if I would be able to relate to the protagonist. Mr. Alcorn did such a great job, I found myself fighting in the Vietnam War, being injured, and dealing with all the issues that the protagonist brought into his life from that event. 

I read the book for pure enjoyment, not knowing one day I would go back to school to get my Masters in Creative Writing. That book made an impression on me that never forgot. I realized that if a book is well-written, a reader should be able to identify with any kind of protagonist, and for me that even included a black man who fought in the Vietnam War.

Another example of a memorable protagonist is Scarlet O'Hara in Gone with the Wind. I read the book when I was a young seventeen-year-old. I went to Margaret Mitchell School and grew up in Atlanta. I had frequently been to the area called Tara and knew the historical setting well. But it takes more than that to create a relationship between the protagonist and the reader. Why did I identity with Scarlet O’Hara beyond the obvious?

The author, Margaret Mitchell, created a main character that was believable, endearing, and unpredictable. Scarlett represented a strong woman who was determined, smart, beautiful, passionate, and full of envy and jealousy. 

When I read Gone with the Wind  as a young adult, I wanted to believe I was like her. I admired her, particularly her strong will, determination, and self-confidence that I lacked. I actually did possess many of her qualities; even the hard-headedness and being too independent. It caused me many issues just as it was Scarlett’s downfall. I could relate.

Young readers today, typically young ladies, are very much like Scarlett O’Hara in many ways. The women’s movement has done much to propel women in the direction of Scarlett. Plus, human nature doesn’t change. We might live in different eras and face different problems, but the way a protagonist tackles those problems is what makes the story marvelous and memorable. The conflict, the twists and turns in the plot, the emotional turmoil, the uncertainty, with sub-characters who bring out the best and the worst in the protagonist, makes for a great story.

A classic is one that has staying power and can be enjoyed by multiple generations. No matter how many times I read the book or watch the movie, the final scene is etched in my memory when Scarlett asks Rhett, “Where should I go, what should I do?” and Rhett replies, “Frankly, my dear, I don’t give a damn.” What an awesome way to end a six-hundred page book.

Above all, authors need to make the protagonist reader-friendly, especially in young adult books. I've read several negative reviews by readers on Amazon who simply didn't like the protagonist. Perhaps she was too self-centered, too immature, or too flawed. Young adults want to read about heroes and heroines. Give the reader a flawed main character whom he or she cares about, put the protagonist in a life or death situation, add a little bit of magic (young adults love that), and chances are you will hook your reader all the way to the last page. Of course, it's easier said than done, but someone will write that next best best-seller, and it might as well be you.

A great book to help with character development is: Creating Unforgettable Characters, by Linda Seger. You can purchase it on Amazon here.