The Promise of Jesse Woods by Chris Fabry

The summer of 1972 was the most pivotal of Matt Plumley's childhood. 

While his beloved Pirates battle for back-to-back World Series titles, Matt's family moves from Pittsburgh to Dogwood, West Virginia.

A fish out of water, Matt forges a fast bond with two unlikely friends: Dickie Darrel Lee Hancock, a mixed-race boy, and Jesse Woods, a tough-as-nails girl with a sister on her hip and no dad in sight. 

As the trio traipses the hills and hollers, Matt begins to fall for Jesse, and their promises to each other draw him deeper into her terrifying reality.

One night, Matt joins Jesse in a rescue that saves one life and ends another . . . and severs the bond of their friendship.

Years later, Matt is pulled back to Dogwood and to memories of that momentous summer, determined to learn the truth behind the only promise Jesse Woods ever broke.

I enjoy reading.  I enjoy reading pretty much anything from Contemporary Fiction to Mystery & Suspense all the way to Science Fiction.  As much as I enjoy reading, though, I have a special place in my heart for authors that write books that include areas that I’m familiar with.  This book, The Promise of Jesse Woods, is set in areas of West Virginia that I grew up around.  The author lists several different places and activities that brought back a lot of memories for me while reading this book.  This helped my enjoyment level of this book reach new heights.

There’s that time in Matt’s childhood that changed everything.  Riding around the small town with his friends Dickie and Jesse, Matt is finding his way being the son of the new preacher in town.  Do this and don’t do that, hang with them and avoid them, go here and don’t go there.  A world filled with rules and small town bigotry culminates between these friends on that one fateful night.  Years later, Matt is drawn back into this world.  But this time, it may all turn out different than before.  What happened on that night that changed it all?  What does Matt hope to accomplish by going back home? What was the promise of Jesse Woods?  You’ll find the answers to those questions plus so many more if you’ll GO BUY THIS BOOK!!!

Characters that are flawed, places that are descriptive and story lines that flow magically towards a meaningful conclusion.  These are the elements that are included in all of the books by Chris Fabry that I’ve read that also keep me picking up his newest novel.  Mr. Fabry writes a story line that invites you to immerse yourself in the daily lives of the characters, wants you to cheer with them and cry with them.  His characters are real and full of emotion, your emotion as you read the story.  The byproduct of all of this fluidness is a book that you won’t be able to put down.

 

Is this a "guy's book"?  There’s not a lot of action, no great chase scenes or explosions.  This book offers a story of redemption, one that may have played itself out in so many lives over the years.  Take a chance, you may just enjoy this book as I did.

Connect with the Author:
Chris Fabry's Website
Chris Fabry's Facebook Page
Chris Fabry's Twitter Page

About the Author:

Chris Fabry is an award-winning author and radio personality who hosts the daily program Chris Fabry Live! on Moody Radio. He is also heard on Love Worth Finding, Building Relationships with Dr. Gary Chapman, and other radio programs. A 1982 graduate of the W. Page Pitt School of Journalism at Marshall University and a native of West Virginia, Chris and his wife, Andrea, now live in Arizona and are the parents of nine children.

Chris' novels, which include Dogwood, June Bug, Almost Heaven, Not in the Heart, Borders of the Heart, Every Waking Moment, and his latest release, The Promise of Jesse Woods, have won three Christy Awards, an ECPA Christian Book Award, and Christianity Today's Book Award of Merit, but it's his lyrical prose and tales of redemption that keep readers returning for more.

He has also published more than 65 other books, including nonfiction, film novelizations, and novels for children and young adults. He coauthored the Left Behind: The Kids series with Jerry B. Jenkins and Tim LaHaye, as well as the Red Rock Mysteries and The Wormling series with Jerry B. Jenkins. RPM is his latest series for kids and explores the exciting world of NASCAR.