Hometown Favorite: A Novel [Paperback]

Bill Barton (Author), Henry O. Arnold (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: September 2008

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 and easily finds success both on and off the field. Not only is he a great player, he's got the wife, the kids, and the pristine white picket fence to boot. 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.

Editorial Reviews

About the Author

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.

Product Details

• Paperback: 368 pages
• Publisher: Revell (September 2008)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0800732863
• ISBN-13: 978-0800732868
• Product Dimensions: 8.3 x 5.5 x 1.1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 9.6 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.4 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (10 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #2,747,361 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Discover books, learn about writers, read author blogs, and more.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Much More than Football!!, October 6, 2008

By 

Kimfurd "Kimfurd" (Alabama) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Hometown Favorite: A Novel (Paperback)

"Jesse, a man is not defined by one event in his life." (p. 96)

Coach Jake Hopper's words, spoken to one of his former high school football stars, became almost prophetic in my mind by the time I reached the final pages of Hometown Favorite. Truly, Bill Barton and Henry O. Arnold understand that life indeed has many defining moments, and whether we lose a ballgame, lose a family member or lose a friend, we each must choose whether or not we will cling to God's strength to see us through or whether we will cling to our own bitterness and become broken. Hometown Favorite is a story ripe with unconditional love, raw with human emotion and seasoned with sorrow and suffering that adds the depth needed to draw this story to a satisfying and thought-provoking conclusion. Your heart will never view life as anything less than a precious gift from God once you have read this story!

Hometown Favorite takes the reader on a journey through the life of Dewayne Jobe. Beginning in a small Mississippi town and reaching out as far as Los Angeles and Houston, this story is filled with richly textured, believable characters that range from Cheri Jobe, factory worker and sports mom, to Rosella Caldwell, daughter of wealthy L.A. parents and the love of Dewayne's life. Jesse and Sly are Dewayne's closest friends, and Coach Hopper is the man that loves each of the three men as his own sons. The story unfolds as easy-going and steady as Dewayne's rock-solid faith and intensifies to a point that almost squeezes the reader's heart in two. The changes that come to Dewayne Jobe take his faith beyond its breaking point to a place only God can reach.

Hometown Favorite is much more than just a football hero's tale. This is a story about God's grace and mercy - about His sovereignty in every detail of our lives. The details in this book may be fictional, but all readers will recognize many scenarios from their own life experiences. We will all recognize the fact that even when life is filled with unbearable pain and times of suffering that the thread of hope binds us to the heart of our Heavenly Father. It is this hope that brings us through our suffering and into a renewed place of joy and life.

Hometown Favorite is a book I highly recommend! It is a story you will remember for a very long time!

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars A beautifully written story..., November 28, 2008

By 

JMosby "J" - See all my reviews

This review is from: Hometown Favorite: A Novel (Paperback)

This book takes you on quite a journey. It is very engaging. By the time you arrive at the end of the book, you're amazed by the quality of the story. I would recommend this book to all.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Heavy Story Full of Hope, October 10, 2008

By 

Kelly Klepfer (Iowa) - See all my reviews
(TOP 1000 REVIEWER)    (VINE VOICE)   

This review is from: Hometown Favorite: A Novel (Hardcover)

I wouldn't have chosen this book to read for pure entertainment. My major reason is football. I'm not only not a fan, I don't get the game. I also do not care for omniscient point of view. The authors vocabularies and talent resulted in some overwriting as well. That said, I was won over by the story.

Though I skimmed football details fairly often, football non-fans can find something to enjoy in this story. I'm not going to give away many details since they would be spoilers. I will recommend this novel to folks who wouldn't have issues like mine as stated above, and who are looking for edgy Christian fiction. There are usages of slang and a smattering of curse words in this novel. Heavy subjects like child endangerment, violence, sexuality,drinking and drug use give the book a solid PG to PG-13 rating depending on your sensitivity.

The authors paint a picture of grace and hope. Despair pops up, forgiveness and restoration are covered. It's not a light read, but it could be just the ticket for some folks. Those who are fans of Creston Mapes novels may want to check out Hometown Favorite.