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Books of Note is an avenue for lovers of African American Fiction and Nonfiction to read and post book reviews, suggest and discover new titles and to learn more about the Union County Public Library.

Monday, November 1, 2010

A Million Blessing by Angela Benson, Marilynn Griffith and Tia McCollors


Reviewed by Gypsy Culp Houston

A Million Blessing consists of three novellas written by established Christian fiction authors. Each novella deals with the main character winning the lottery. These stories are not your mother’s Christian fiction. Each author presents a different story with varied circumstances and diverse results. All three writers create characters that are relatable and for the most part likeable.

In Angela Benson’s Showers of Blessings, the reader is introduced to Andrew Gooden, a man of the cloth with a secret. He has a severe gambling problem that could cost him everything, or will it make all his dreams come true? The reader witnesses Andrew’s weakness bring him extreme wealth only to be brought right back to the brink by his little problem. In the end will Andrew learn from his mistakes or continually repeat them?

In Marilyn Griffith’s Second Chance Blessings, Craig Richards an injured professional football player has lost his career, his money and his wife. After so much loss, the one place he can go is home to his aunt in Tampa. There his Aunt Tee, the church and the community of his youth embrace him with open arms. Unbeknownst to him, his aunt had started a scholarship fund with the money Craig had sent to her over the years. The money had touched so many lives that everyone saw Craig as a local hero. How could he be their hero and such a failure in both his professional and personal life? As the story unfolds more is revealed about his relationship with his wife and God. Is there a way to honor the God that he now depends on, and prosper without a football?

Tia McCollors’ A Knight in Pink Armor focuses on thirty-something, motorcycle riding, entrepreneur, Dara Knight. Winning the lottery seems to be the answer to her life long goal of helping others. Dara is opposed to playing the lottery, but after her cousin buys her a ticket, they win. After winning, Dara vows to secretly use the money to help a group of people to whom she has regularly ministered. At first, everything seems to line up perfectly, but unfortunately things take a turn for the worst. Faced with trouble and the unraveling of her dream, Dara is forced to expose her secret and risk loosing everything.

A Million Blessings presents three different scenarios with three different outcomes. All of which include a healthy dose of mistakes, faith and redemption. Is playing the lottery a sin or simply marginally questionable? A Million Blessings allows the reader to consider the presented information and draw his or her own conclusion.

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