Tuesday, January 20, 2009

Harry Bentley's Second Chance by Dave Jackson - Autographed Give Away!

Second chances can mean a lot of things. It can be an opportunity to correct a wrong, to take advantage of a missed opportunity, or to restore a broken relationship. For Harry Bentley, it turns out to be a bit of all of these things. Harry Bentley’s Second Chance is a parallel novel written by Dave Jackson that compliments Neta Jackson’s latest novel Where Do I Go? The concept behind this allows the reader to see behind the scenes of a character who appears as a minor character in the other novel. In this instance, Harry Bentley, a retired cop working as a doorman in an upscale apartment building, played only a minor role in Neta Jackson’s book. However, Dave Jackson brings him to vivid life and allows the reader to learn all about second chances.


My husband has always admonished me not to be quick to judge others, because you simply don’t know what God is doing in another person’s life. This admonition is very true for Dave’s main character Harry Bentley. While he is just an older gentleman acting as doorman to the residents of Richmond Towers, God is working out some very disturbing and important details in his life – totally unbeknownst to those with whom he interacts every day. Harry learns that his estranged son has been put in jail and his only grandson reprimanded into the custody of his mother who has just been released from drug rehab. Harry’s heart is torn over what he should do because he also has an elder parent who needs his care. He’s a recovering alcoholic besides, and the thought of trying to help his nine-year-old grandson is almost overwhelming.


But when one of the residents of Richmond Towers (the main character in Neta Jackson’s Where Do I Go?) invites Harry to an evening of family activity at the local women’s shelter, he is introduced to a group of people that begin to have a profound impact upon his heart. The men Harry meets that evening, and his introduction to the beautiful Estelle turns out to be a very important step in changing the direction of his life. Harry begins to realize that perhaps God is not only real, but genuinely interested in his life, and he begins to make small steps toward getting to know more about the God that Estelle and her friends seem to know so well.


Then things go dangerously wrong when Harry makes an attempt to regain custody of his grandson and rescue him from a life of drugs and delinquency. Does God really care? Is He even listening? You’ll have to pick up your own copy of Harry Bentley’s Second Chance to find out. This book is every bit as engaging as Neta Jackson’s Yada Yada series and promises to act as the beginning for the Yada Yada Brothers. Truly the concept of parallel stories is very realistic and life like. Dave and Neta Jackson are setting the standard high for contemporary fiction, and the gospel message shines brightly throughout the adventure! I highly recommend this novel! Please go here to read my review of Neta's parallel story, Where Do I Go?

667 Ernest W. Barrett Parkway, Suite 100
The book can be ordered most easily (and with a $5 discount) by going to www.daveneta.com. You can also ask your local bookstore to order it through Ingram or Spring Arbor by requesting ISBN 978-0-9820544-0-6.


And now a very exciting opportunity! If you would like to win an autographed copy of both of these fantastic stories, please leave a comment on this post! Please don't forget to leave your contact information so I can notify you of your win!

If you'd like, share an experience you've had when God gave you a second chance!

11 comments:

Grateful Gramma said...

I would be thrilled to win these books! I'm a big Neta Jackson fan.

God gave me a huge second chance to grow in my Christian faith. I've been a Christian most of my life but stagnant for a long, long time. Thankfully I'm moving in the right direction now (even if I'm not going as fast as I'd like to be..)

Thanks for the opportunity!

RAnn said...

Kim did you go to the W? (you can answer by email ruthjoec at aol dot com

Renee said...

Sound like great books. I would love the chance to win either or both.
A second chance in my life? Not exactly a second chance but an opportunity to change my mind. About a month before college began I called the admissions office to change my major (and my Fall classes) from Accounting to Elem Ed. They thought I was nuts but they assisted me in doing so. I am so glad to have that background as I"ve spent many years educating my children and have many more to finish

Renee said...

RAnn,
I was wondering the same thing about the W esp since she lives in ALabama....

Kim,
My dd is heading to the W in August and we too live in Alabama

twg said...

I'd enjoy reading these 2 books.
I recently changed churches & God has opened my eyes to what I had been missing-a closer walk with Him. Thanks Becky
twgooch(at)gmail(dot)com

Rachel said...

Please enter me!

My second chance was to love my husband again like I did the first time. Years 10-15 were very difficult for us and then he gave his life to the Lord and we have enjoyed the BEST chance at having a wonderful life together.

ReadingRobin said...

How generous of you! I love Neta Jackson and her husband writes such wonder YA books for boys too!
Thanks for the opportunity to win!
cmrobin at bellsouth net

Carole said...

What a joy it would be to win these books! I've found the Yada Yada series to be life changing, and have no doubt that these books will be as well.

The closest thing to a second chance was when I talked my parents into letting me quit taking piano lessons in high school. I was playing at church, but hated practicing. After not touching the piano for several months, God opened the door for me to play for a small church, and I've been playing for 45 years now.

Thanks so much for the chance to win these books.

cjarvis [at] bellsouth [dot] net

darbyscloset said...

I enjoyed this post and especially the part about where you share that they are raising the standard of Christian Fistion, to me that translates to "A Great Read"!!! : )
I'm trying to think of a 2nd chance to share and I realize I have them all over the place. Everytime I start a new job I am getting a 2nd chance, and I never try to guess what experience's God is going to bring me and where they will lead.
Thank you for this awesome giveaway!!
Darby
darbyscloset at yahoo dot com

donna said...

I would love to win these books!
I get a second chance everyday to change my attitude towards others, hopefully for the better!

-Sarah
rebornbutterfly.wordpress.com

Kim said...

Alright folks...I put everyone's name on a slip of paper...folded them carefully...shook them around...and took them to my office manager. She drew a name.

RACHEL!!! You win the books!!! Congratulations!