Customer Reviews

Par for the Course: A Novel (Faith Words)

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I have been a fan of Ray Blackston's writing since his first book Flabbergasted hit the shelves. I have since purchased and read his other works as well. I love his light hearted writing style. His characters make me laugh (sometimes at myself). I love rooting for the characters as they try to figure this life out. His most recent book "Par for the Course: A Novel" is no exception. This novel centers around Chris Hackett and his pursuit of success in business, success in life, and success in love. I was concerned that I would have a hard time staying with this book when I learned that Blackston's latest book involved golf. My closest encounter with golf involves chasing my golf ball into ridiculous places at the local putt-putt facility. I was relieved to find that the novel was easy reading and didn't require a dictionary or a copy of "Golf for Dummies". I enjoyed getting to know Chris, his friend and pardner Cack, and Molly-the girl who Chris wants to ride off into the sunset in his golf cart with. If you aren't already a fan of Blackston's writing, give Par for the Course a chance and then go back and read his other works as well.

Ray Blackston hits a hole in one with Par for the Course. Another light read with the male perspective in mind. This is not a golf book. If you don't know the first thing about golf, you will still love this book. And, if you do know about the game of golf, then that's cool too.

Par for the Course has something for everyone - sports, romance, drama and wit.

If you've read Flabbergasted, you will also appreciate the cameo appearances of a certain couple and their lime-green Caddy.

Like all of Ray Blackston's books, Par for the Course provides a just plain enjoyable read, which is a welcome relief at the end of a hard day.

PS - Make sure you read the glossary in the back of the book. Not because you need to know the words, but just because it's funny. And, again here you will see a little nod to the Flabbergasted series
Flabbergasted / A Delirious Summer / Lost in Rooville - 3 Book Set

I'm not a big golf fan. Ha. I don't even get the game though I was actually on my high school golf team for a week. But that's a whole nother story. And, no way can I tell it like Ray Blackston could.

I don't much care for political maneuvering either. So you'd think this would not be a book high on my list of recommended reads.

Ray Blackston can tell a heck of a story. I love his voice. Par is first person lad-lit in a charming, almost ADD meandering walk through poor Chris Hackett's life as he encounters drama, crisis and women.

My husband picked up Par within hours of its arrival at the house. He devoured it and asked if I had any more Blackston books. I produced Flabbergasted and Pagan's Nightmare from the bookshelf which he then devoured as well. Did I mention that he laughed out loud? He did, at very annoying times while I was trying to sleep. Based on his response, I had high expectations when I finally got my hands on Par. I was not disappointed.

If you love quirk, charm and off-the-wall humor with a dash of sweetness, I think you'll love Par. I did.

Par for the Course by Ray Blackston is another arrow in Blackston's quiver of satirical Christian books. Chris Hackett, owner of Hackett's Golf Learning Center is South Carolina, is trying to make ends meet doing what he loves best when political analyst Molly Cusack takes a golf lesson and makes a suggestion to boost business. Hack takes her advice and invites political groups to whack golf balls at a guy shouting political diatribes while driving a modified golf cart. Liberals, conservatives, atheists, even rival schools show up to listen to abuse while striking and driving the balls. But Hack pays a high price for the increased profits: someone accuses him of being biased and burns down the entire center.Blackston excels at creating delightful characters engaging in sparkling banter, and this book is no exception. Hack's faith is evident in his treatment of Molly, and their relationship grounds the book. Mystery aside, the book brings up excellent points about the divisiveness about our politics and how it bleeds over into other areas of life.Blackston brings the point home about how God views these antics without ever pummeling the reader with proselytizing or spouting aphorisms.

As the owner of a golfing center, Chris Hack specializes in treating his customers right. This includes personalize training time and also Happy Hour where one can release frustration by whacking a golf cart driven by Chris's assistant who hurls insults at you. One day a girl name Molly stops by and sees potential in Chris's golfing range in the political world involving elections. Soon business is booming as the publicity from the politicians make Chris's place a household name. However someone isn't too happy with all the holes in one Chris is getting. Will Chris be able to save his business and get the girl?

I am going to admit this. I am NOT a golf fan. I don't know anything about golf other than the goal is to get a ball into a hole. Is it a real sport? I mean, it's not in the Olympics. I suck at miniature golf too. I never can get it through the windmill course. Therefore I learned quite a bit more about what Tiger Woods does for a living while reading this book. This is by far one of the most hilarious books I have read this year. I could stop laughing while reading this book. Plus at the same time I kept thinking, wow this author is pushing the "Christian fiction" envelope with discussions of politics AND religion! Seriously it's really quite edgy the way the book allows for the attacks of both Democrats and Republicans. The feminist meeting which Chris attends was wonderfully written along with the battle of the sexes golf match. I do love the idea of whacking the golf cart with Cack hacking insults at the customers. I'd pay money to hit him as well! I also enjoyed how this book actually uses real political figures and not make up fake presidents or other top government officials. It's more fun to use the actual characters and jokingly make them larger than life. A lot of the issues dealt with this book really makes you think though about politicians, their tactics and elections. There's also a touch of mystery within the story as well. Chris and Molly are great characters who bring a hoot throughout the book. The study guide "questions" at the end will bring more laughs to the table. This is a great book to take on the lighter side of the election year this year. Another winner for Blackston!

Tis the season for romance and politics!

Ray Blackston humorously mixes romance and politics then adds a shot of mystery together to form a story that is sure to please any fan of romantic comedy. This is my second novel by Ray Blackston so I expected his wacky sense of humor but what I didn't expect was a romance to cheer for. I'm such a sucker for a good romantic comedy and that's what I got here.

Chris Hackett is not doing too badly for himself. He has the best working conditions: playing and teaching golf all day at Hack's Golf Learning Center he owns and operates in Charleston, South Carolina. He has the best employee in the world with the hilarious and loveable Cack. He even has quirky accountability partners whom he calls friends. Things seem to get better when political correspondent Molly Cusack enters his life and offers him advice on how to add a little more profit to his business bottom line. Blinded by his growing attraction to Molly, he takes her advice to capitalize on the heated presidential election season by allowing the political left and the political right to a friendly, comical battle on the golf course.

All is right in the world until Molly's idea starts to bring in dangerous results and Chris has to decide if he's made a mistake that might cost him his business and his heart.

I have read Ray Blackston previously in the Flabbergasted series and this book is just a great. He know how to write great books with great themes. He always has a little romance and a great sense of humour. In this book the golf world and the political world collide. Chris Hackett the owner of a local Driving Range in Charleston, SC. When one of his students an attractive political correspondent from D. C. named Molly Hackett, devises a scheme to capitalize on the political scene Chris jumps at the idea. The gimmick involves Chris' coworker Cack to drive around in a caged golf cart and yell insults at the driving range participants. This gives them a moving target and a way to vent their anger. What transpires is hilarious. Chris also begins dating Molly and they must devise a way to make their long distance relationship to work. This is a great book for all. You dont have to be a fan of golf to understand what is going on. Also this is not a romance book for women only it totally relates to guys. I know som guys may be turned off when they hear romance but this contains only a little romance(which I hope again doesnt turn off the women from reading this book either).

Ray Blackston knows how to create an interesting story. And with "Flabbergasted" and company, he showed that with great humor, he really is no joke. But there are other times where it seems like the story is forced, and with me "Par For the Course" was good, but almost like the movie version of Grisham's "Skipping Christmas" when "Christmas With the Kranks" came onto the scene. Or maybe the fact that I've never been a golf person plays into it, I don't know. But it was acceptable.

Howdy, friends and neighbors! Welcome to the world of Hack's Golf Learning Center, his insult-yelling buddy, Cack, and a world of fun! To say the least, Chris Hackett does love his golf, and he loves teaching the game. But then politics enter into his world as he meets Molly. And Molly has her suggestions that could really turn business into a hole-in-one Granddaddy scheme of things, and make things quite interesting. That is, until somebody takes it a little too seriously and makes light work of Hack's.

And it gets interesting. But for me, it got very predictable. Care to attempt to fill in the blanks as to what happens next? Ok, ok, I didn't see it all coming, but it wasn't all that hard to figure out either.

If this comes off as a "moving target" review, I really don't care. I liked it enough to finish it, but I also have better things to read in my lifetime. I'd like to see Blackston come up with something that has baseball in the mix. If he could do that and keep my complete interest, then I'd give him all the credit in the world. But for now, I'm grinning kind of a half-grin, and in a Charlie Brown and Lucy sort of fashion, thinking the whole time, "Good grief, Ray Blackston!"

I was looking for a good read & I have read almost all of Ray Blackston's books. I love them all. I wasn't sure if I'd like this one because it uses a lot of golf analogies-but it's still about relationships & has quirky humor that I've come to expect from his books. It keeps you entertained til the end. If you haven't done so before, check out his other books. Lost in Rooville & Flabbergasted are really good.

What happens when you mix golf and politics, especially if you throw in a little romance and a one-brick dog?

Read it to find out! Like all of Ray Blackston's books, this one is a light read and lots of fun.