Customer Reviews

Lost in Rooville: A Novel

5 star:		(10)
4 star:		(2)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(3)

 

 

I was introduced to Ray Blackston on a road trip, courtesy of Cracker Barrel and its books on tape. That was his first book, Flabbergasted. I was looking for something without hash language, violence, or sex in it. This fit the bill and then some. My 14 year old newphew who was traveling with me, loved it as well.

This book, Lost in Rooville, the third in the series, may in fact be my favorite. This time the crew goes on a trip to 'Stralia and the romance and adventure abounds. All of the major characters return to add their quirkiness and flavor to the story, which is so much of the charm of these books. Ray Blackston doesn't disappoint when it comes to first person narratives. The reader gets sucked into the story from the opening and is instantly living in Jay Jarvis's world. You can feel the heat, taste the dust (and fried chicken), and see the relationships in the novel unfold, from a MALE perspective. How rare and interesting to get a look into the male psyche, especially christian male. Jay asks the questions and brings forth the feelings that all christian singles, especially dating or engaged, face at one point or another. (Especially when actually LOST in Rooville!) I don't want to give too much of the story away, because I hate it when reviews ruin the book for you.

That being said, I picked the book up, and couldn't put it down. I read it in one afternoon, (this afternoon in fact), because I was so enthralled with the characters and overall momentum of the story. If you enjoyed Flabbergasted or Delirious Summer, don't miss this last installment. It will tie up all the loose ends that were left dangling in A Delirious Summer.

If you've ever been on a singles weekend to the beach, or even part of a singles ministry in a church, don't miss the entire series. You'll find yourself and your friends among the characters, guaranteed.

When someone reviews a book by Ray Blackston and uses words like "erudite insouciance", I have to figure he picked up the wrong book or got his computer files mixed up. Or maybe it's Frustrated Writer Syndrome. The only thing I can find wrong with this trilogy is that there are only three books. I want to be able to keep peeking in on the lives of Jay and the gang, more than three books allows me to do. Like another reviewer, I was turned on to Ray's books via a Cracker Barrel audio book. I loved Flabbergasted so much I ended up not returning it. And then bought Delirious Summer for another road trip and couldn't stop listening. I was so anxious for more, I took the time to read 'Rooville and loved it just as much if not more than the previous two. When a trilogy about the lives of Christian singles appeals to a reader who is non-Christian, you know you have something there. I dearly hope Ray writes more about these intriguing characters. Good job Ray!

Mark StoneBear Dierker

We first met Jay Jarvis in "Flabbergasted." He was a man focused on women and money, but feeling a need for something more--whether he acknowledged it to himself or not. In "A Delirious Summer," Jay matured in his relationships, gaining deeper friendships with men, women, and God. The story was not as breezy and humorous as the first, but it matched Jay's transformation.

In "Lost in Rooville," Jay is leaning toward long-term commitments--to the mission field, to a certain woman, and to his savior. With this commitment comes a freedom to enjoy life and love and--in this adventurous third book--the Australian Outback. I was smiling, giggling, and shaking my head as Jay travels Down Under with his friends. He lets romance take him by the hand, leading him into the unknown both physically and figuratively. He spends time in jail, finds his life on the rocks, faces bigger obstacles than Uluru.

Ray Blackston delivers the story in his characteristic male brio, with humor and relational faux pas, with spiritual concepts in a non-threatening manner. Although I saw the resolution to Jay's struggles too early, I still enjoyed every page of his journey. For those who've followed this man's story, you will miss out if you don't carry on to its conclusion. Blackston ends on a fun note, tying together loose ends, giving us what we wanted--without seeming too sappy. Will there be more? Will he explore other characters' lives? We can only hope so.

Lost in Rooville is the final novel in Ray Blackston's trilogy. I thoroughly enjoyed his two previous novels, Flabbergasted and A Delirious Summer. And with Lost in Rooville Blackston came through again with another great summer (or anytime) read.

This time Jay, Allie, Steve and Darcy (from the previous books) team up for "the adventure of a lifetime" down under in Australia.

Steve and Jay take their girlfriends in separate Land Cruisers deep into the arid plains of Australia, with proposals of marriage on their minds. Little did Jay know what he had gotten himself into. There are mishaps that include a near-death experience, time in an Australian jail cell, and a debt so large he has to go back to South Carolina to work, all of which bring him to test his faith in God.

As I finished the story, I felt sad that this was the final book in the series. I'm going to miss them and would love to keep looking in on the lives of these lovable, quirky characters. It is my sincere hope that Ray Blackston would consider continuing with this wonderful series.

Having read the reviews online here at amazon for Ray's books, how can I not add to them? Someone's gotta set the record straight for the bludgers who've gotten it wrong.
Rather than explain what the book is about (you can read that in the other reviews) I'm gonna tell y'all what I like about it... Everything.

Ray's moves with a laptop are part of a revolution in Christian fiction that I feel is long overdue. Consider, how many books do we have about death and destruction and overexaggerated hardhsips? Too many. Would Jesus sit on the beach and have a beer? Absolutely without doubt, to my mind. He might only have one, or He might choose coke in preference, but this also is beside the point.

If you want serious and sagacious, pick up a Peretti or a Rivers, or anyone else on the shelf. If you want something different, read this trilogy and start from the start (flabbergasted). If you're a religious fanatic, prepare to undergo the change of grace and freedom in Christ and discover who you are in Him because the first book will challenge your view of what "true Christianity" is if you didn't already know.
I could be here all day with the upsides and pleasures of reading these books.

As for Ray's shot at the outback, true blue, mate. True blue. From the moment Jay, Allie, Darcy and Steve stepped off the bus I was grinning from ear to ear, knowing what the reaction would be. First off, the heat, and it all just escalated from there.

Written by an author who knows his stuff... What we call 'red dirt' IS rather burnt orange as he put it, but hey, them's the brakes between aussie and 'yank' descriptives (being lost in an orange car - I couldn't think of anything worse for those needing to be found!). And when Jay went walkabout, I was cringing with every other Aussie who will read this because it's such a dumb thing to do, as Jay quickly discovers. People here are always on the news, particularly tourists.

So from the ocker, aussie perspective, y'did well, Ray. It's a good viewpoint written by an American about Aussies for Americans. A little rippa, and I'm hanging out for whatever comes next.
Get a life, get a leesh, or get with it! ;) ;)
Just get the books.

Ray Blackston has once again proved that the earlier novels (Flabbergasted and A Delirious Summer) in his now completed trilogy
were not a fluke. Although the familiar characters of Steve, Allie, Jay, Darcy, Neal and Alexis are back Blackston introduces some new querky personalities as he did in A Delirious Summer.

Moving out of his comfort zone of Greenville where he makes his home and Ecuador the setting of the second book, Blackston took time to research Lost In Rooville by travelling to the Australian outback. Through the eyes of Jay Jarvis we come to appreciate this picturesque landscape and the dangers it can pose.

The mates, Jay and Steve have matured and are set to propose marriage when faith and romance are once again put to the test.

I read Lost In Rooville, not knowing of the author's previous works and was so hooked I ran out and bought the first two jewels in this trilogy. I have been busy passing them out to my single friends. I suppose that is the best compliment one can give an author.

Lost In Rooville will cause you to laugh and at times pull at your heart strings and if you are the least bit sentimental you may find yourself fighting back a few tears. This book is far more than a romance novel seen through the eyes of a man, it is a comment on singleness from a Christian perspective. Having said that whether you share that same perspective or not Lost In Rooville makes for good reading.

Would I recommend this book? I already have.

Joe Montague
Freelance Writer

Wonderful characters carry you through to the end, and again we have a great adventure/romance, without the necessity of smut, sex, or violence. Ray takes us into the heads of Christian singles as they struggle with relationships, temptation, and just plain old staying alive. I couldn't suggest a better book to cart along into an airport or onto the beach. I wouldn't read it in bed, though, as you may still be reading when the alarm goes off. Enjoy!

I picked up Ray Blackston's first novel a few years ago just because the title was so great. I mean, titling your first novel Flabbergasted is a great selling point and I will admit that I came away from the first book feeling just that. Blackston's story of Jay Jarvis, a single guy who visited various churches to meet single women and found the girl of his dreams who turned his life upside down was a hoot.

So, I quickly read it and then its sequel. Now, come the latest entry in the series that finds Jay still dating Allie and moving toward taking the new step in the relationship. And the thing is-three books in, Blackston still makes all of his characters feel authentic. Jay struggles with his faith journey, but it never feels contrived or predictable like you get in other contempoary Christian fiction stories, such as any book with the name Tim LaHaye on the cover. The book starts off slowly as Jay and Allie, Steve and Darcy all take a trip to the Outback of Australia. Jay intends to propose to Allie while Steve has planned the same. But, as is typical for a Blackston book, things go a bit awry. OK, they go a lot awry. Before you know it, Jay and Ally have wrecked their Land Rover and are stuck in the Outback with no way to communicate and call for help.

Yeah, it's a bit of a stretch, but the thing is Blackston says-just go with me here and as a reader, I can. Because he makes the characters so interesting. Also, the question of will she say yes does keep you turning the pages.

Anyway, to say more would be giving away much of the later portions of the book, but I will say this-the momentum picks up in the second half of the book. My only real complaint is the ending which is a bit contrived. Blackston takes his characters to a crisis and gives them an almost fairy-tale like ending that just doesn't quite ring true. But hey, it's not enough to make you not enjoy the overall book.

Give this series a try-I think you might like it.

The most satisfying and enjoyable book this year! The type of book Hollywood should snap up in a heartbeat, but they'd probably mess it up. This novel ensures Blackston of a long and memorable career as a writer. "Rooville" made me laugh out loud and bring a lump in my throat in the same chapter. I read this one slowly because I didn't want it to end. I'm glad to see I'm not the only one who has stumbled across this amazing series. Keep writing Mr. Blackston, and we'll keep buying!

Love this book!! It's his last in a series of three and I was lost in the story. I have read all three of them and I was hoping that Ray Blackston changed his mind and decided to add to this series. Too bad for me that he didn't!