Gone To Green by Judy Christie

This novel was a delight to read. It is extremely well balanced, it has the charm of Old South and Small Town. I especially liked the newspaper angle, since my background is in newspaper, too... especially since I was an editor of a weekly paper in Louisiana. There is so much that is true in that story, I thought I might be reading back issues of my old paper.

The characters are well developed and there really isn't too much whining from the protag. I really like that.

On the back cover, the story is compared to the Harmony Series. It is not like it very much because there isn't much Laugh Out Loud in the novel, although there are vast amounts of Grin Out Loud and Chuckle Out Loud.

Judy Christie has truly captured the flavor of a small newspaper, and the impact it has on the small town, including all the politics in a fun and lighthearted way that keeps your interest, keeps you turning pages and even keeps you up at night when you've got to get to work early. You don't mind, though, because you've had a great evening of satisfying reading.

This is well worth the money and is a keeper for the book shelf. I highly recommend it.

This week, the

Christian Fiction Blog Alliance

is introducing

Gone To Green

Abingdon Press (August 2009)

by

Judy Christie


ABOUT THE AUTHOR:




Judy Pace Christie, after working as a journalist for twenty-five years, left the daily news business to open a consulting firm that works with individuals, businesses, and churches on strategies for meaningful life and work, including goal-setting, living fully, and balancing personal and professional lives. She is the author of Hurry Less, Worry Less; Hurry Less, Worry Less at Christmastime; and co-author of Awesome Altars. Judy and her husband live in northwest Louisiana.




ABOUT THE BOOK

Lois goes from being a corporate journalist at a large paper in the Midwest to the owner of The Green News-Item, a small twice-weekly newspaper in rural North Louisiana. The paper was an unexpected inheritance from a close colleague, and Lois must keep it for at least a year, bringing a host of challenges, lessons, and blessings into her life.

When Lois pulls into Green on New Year’s Day, she expects a charming little town full of smiling people. She quickly realizes her mistake. After settling into a loaned house out on Route 2, she finds herself battling town prejudices and inner doubts and making friends with the most surprising people: troubled teenager Katy, good-looking catfish farmer Chris, wise and feisty Aunt Helen, and a female African-American physician named Kevin.

Whether fighting a greedy, deceitful politician or rescuing a dog she fears, Lois notices the headlines in her life have definitely improved. She learns how to provide small-town news in a big-hearted way and realizes that life is full of newsworthy moments. When she encounters racial prejudice and financial corruption, Lois also discovers more about the goodness of real people and the importance of being part of a community.

While secretly preparing the paper for a sale, Lois begins to realize that God might indeed have a plan for her life and that perhaps the allure of city life and career ambition are not what she wants after all.

If you would like to read the first chapter of Gone To Green, go HERE