Members with This Book
Most Helpful Reviews
see all reviews
Liked It1 of 1 members found this review helpful “Preacher is just a babe in Christ when he is released from prison. He strives to live the straight and narrow Christian walk. The Devil (Boss) and his assistant, Sean, have other plans to bring Preacher back into the fold by any means necessary. They target the women in Preacher’s past to help...” see full review » see other reviews » |
Newest Reviews
see all reviews-
“This was such a fun and unique book - I read it in one day. I enjoyed it so much that I even read it while on the treadmill because I didn't want to put it down.
Janna R wrote this review Thursday, September 3 2009. ( reply | permalink ) Was this review helpful? Yes | No
First off I loved the originality of it - the whole concept of a newly saved drug dealer getting out of prison ready to start fresh - oh, except for all the women in his life that might want to complicate that for him. There is the sister who is still running the "family business". The mother of his two boys that doesn't want to settle for the lifestyle of someone gone straight. The ex-girlfriend who has ties with Preacher from WAY back and is now married to his new best friend (and the man who led him to the Lord). Oh, and a very attractive woman who is the sister of his best friend and involved with a man with issues of his own.
Put all that together and stir in a lot of faith, forgiveness and redemption, but the part that really hit home with me was all the realistic struggles of new Christians and old. Life is not a bowl of cherries just because you become a Christian, it's just that from now on you'll never be in the pits alone.
Honestly, one of my favorite parts of the book comes when one of the ladies (Serena) is at a gym where she is a personal trainer and an overweight teenager (Bertice) is getting measured and has lost another inch or so from her hard work. This conversation follows:
"You know," Bertice said, "sometimes I wonder if I'm too fat to even call myself a Christian. I feel like I've let God down. Did you ever feel that way?"
Serena knew the feeling very well, but this wasn't about her. "I did and sometimes I still do. But you know what, Bertice? It's not true. If we all waited until we were perfect to call ourselves Christian, then very few of us would ever get the chance. The Lord is proud of you for what you're doing to get yourself healthy. He's the One who's giving you the desire to make the change and the courage to do the hard work to make it happen. Yes, you may stumble or fall off the plan, but you get right back on it. God doesn't care whether you're fat or thin, but He does care that you're using food the wrong way or if you're not taking care of yourself. He cares because He loves you."
"I know, Miss Serena. Sometimes I just get down on myself."
Don't we all? "Well, that's not God who's telling you to get down on yourself. God is the one who's building you up, who's encouraging you to continue on the path you're on. God is the one who's trying to tell you how beautiful you are in His sight exactly as you are. You aren't making yourself good enough for God with the exercise and all, Bertice. You're only doing your part in keeping the temple in which He resides healthy. No more. No less. Got that?"
This conversation spoke to me right where I am in life right now, and it was only one of many eye-opening revelations I found mixed in a delightful book. So for more insight, wisdom and fun - get a copy of "Up Pops The Devil"!”
“Angela Benson's book "Up Pops the Devil" was a great read. I love the Angela weaves her stories with unpredictable twists. Preacher's conversion and life thereafter was believeable and touching. I'm waiting for the next book by Ms. Benson, and looking forward to discussing this one at the Faith and Fiction Retreat :)
Author - Tiffany L Warren wrote this review Thursday, January 22 2009. ( reply | permalink ) Was this review helpful? Yes | No
”
“Wilford “Preacher” Winters becomes a Christian in prison and he’s determined to live his life for the Lord. He trys to make this very clear to Loretta, his sister who was also his partner in crime before his incarceration, and, Tanya, his materialistic, money-loving fianceé who is also the mother of his two sons, but his sincere words fall on deaf ears. When Preacher’s no longer behind bars these two women are used by Satan – they do everything they can think of to convince Preacher to abandon the Christian lifestyle and return to his old life where Satan guided his every decision.
Katrina L. Burchett wrote this review Tuesday, October 21 2008. ( reply | permalink ) Was this review helpful? Yes | No
Serena and Barnard Jenkins are a married Christian couple who seem to have the perfect, loving relationship but appearances can be deceiving. Serena is holding onto a secret that has her angry, unforgiving and tormented by guilt and it could destroy her marriage.
Natalie Jenkins, Barnard’s sister, believes she’s finally found the right man. Is Danté the one God wants her to spend the rest of her life with, does He have someone else in mind or has He called her to be single?
Before the story begins there is a quote from the Bible – Ephesians 6:12 (NIV): For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms. Angela Benson does a superb job of showing how the Devil is always at work, using whoever he can to destroy the lives of Christians or at least hurt them enough that they stop walking in Christian love. And the meetings Sean Jones has with his boss (the Devil) – these skillfully written conversations will help every Christian reader to understand how important it is to keep his/her spiritual eyes open!
Up Pops The Devil is an entertaining, thought-provoking, insightful read. I will buy more books by this author and I will never forget this one!
”
“Wilford"Preacher"Jones is a drug dealer/excon/new babe in Christ that gets released from the pen and comes home to turn a new leaf. Included in this is his "baby momma" Tonya, who is "high maintenance" and wants things to remain the same. his sister Loretta, who keeps the business while he's on lock down and is ready for him to get back in the driver's seat and is dismayed when he doesn't. Then you have Bernard, the pastor of a local church who befriends Preacher while in prison and helps him to transition back into the outside world. His wife, Serena , who shares a past with Preacher would prefer he stay in jail and not bring up unpleasant memories, while her sister in law and business partner Natalie, embraces Preacher as a friend but is perplexed when Serena doesn't wish for them to be friends. Of course, secrets and things unfold as time moves on. bound to keep you interested and tasteful for the church folk.”
Savvynlady wrote this review Monday, September 8 2008. ( reply | permalink ) Was this review helpful? Yes | No
“This is a great book! I now understand the meaning of the term "the Devil is always busy". Ms. Benson does a masterful job of setting up the characters and the plot. I loved all of the characters even the "bad guys" because Ms. Benson's writing helps you understand what makes them "tick" and why they do the things they do. Up Pops the Devil is a great reminder that faith, hope and trust triumphs evil everytime. ”
Beverly S wrote this review Thursday, August 7 2008. ( reply | permalink ) Was this review helpful? Yes | No
“In 1931 director Edward Sutherland wrote a movie with the same title "Up Pops the Devil" about a man who quit his job to become a novelist & his wife is not trying to hear that. Fast forward seventy-seven years to 2008 author Angela Benson writes a book titled the same and the women in Wilford "Preacher" Winters life is drawing a deaf ear to his repentance. After serving prison time Preacher decides to give up his life and give his heart to the Lord. Semi-same premise but delivered in 2 different styles. The play I believe was a comedy but this book is far from comedic. This novel is about God's unconditional love but we will get to the later on in the review.Ms. Benson characters jump right off the page and into your world. The situations are so real and on point several times I found myself pausing and thinking of my own testimony in which God's love brought me through. This review I pray does "Up Pops the Devil" justice because this book is a MUST read for every believer and non-believer. We forget that the devil gets very upset when he loses to our Father. We forget that Lucifer will stop at nothing to get us back on his team. Most importantly we forget where the real power comes from.Up Pops the Devil, is a realistic story of God's love and our choices.
Missy wrote this review Sunday, August 3 2008. ( reply | permalink ) Was this review helpful? Yes | No
Make sure you are making the right choice and be sure the battlefield in your mind is guided by the Light and not darkness.
Missy”1 of 1 members found this review helpful“Preacher is just a babe in Christ when he is released from prison. He strives to live the straight and narrow Christian walk. The Devil (Boss) and his assistant, Sean, have other plans to bring Preacher back into the fold by any means necessary. They target the women in Preacher’s past to help accomplish this goal in Angela Benson’s newest novel, Up Pops the Devil.
jnettefrommi wrote this review Saturday, August 2 2008. ( reply | permalink ) Was this review helpful? Yes | No
Upon release from prison, Preacher is anxious to reunite with his fiancée and the mother of his two sons, Tanya. Tanya is used to living the good life based on the money that Preacher made running drugs. She cannot fathom living a life less glamorous than she has in the past. As Preacher makes true to his claim of change, Tanya has plans of her own to thwart them.
Loretta, Preacher’s younger sister kept the business running while he was in prison. Her plans were for him to take the business back upon his release. Preacher’s conversion to Christianity put a damper on her plans, but she persisted in keeping the business going, so when Preacher decided to leave this “Christian nonsense” behind, he still had a business to run.
Serena is Preacher’s ex-girlfriend. Although it had been years since they were an item, their past relationship could mean the end of a meaningful friendship Preacher has with Barnard, Serena’s husband. Serena's problem in forgiving herself for past actions takes a toil on her marriage and puts a friendship in jeopardy.
Reading this book brought a couple of scriptures to mind that were relevant to the story. One is “Train up a child in the way he should go and when he is old he will not depart." Preacher got his name because he was always carrying around his grandmother’s bible. Before she died, she raised Preacher and his sister in the church and the bible was the one thing of hers that Preacher was able to keep and thus keep his upbringing in his heart. Also, I thought of the scripture that says “when I would do good, evil is on every hand." Preacher tried to do right; live according to God’s word, but the devil and his agent were there to twist and turn things around so that Preacher and all those close to him would suffer.
I loved how Ms Benson built up the suspense in this novel. Icould see all the layers of each individual's life come apart. I eagerly anticipated the cookout scene when all the characters came together. All the tension at that gathering was just the groundwork for even more suspense. I think Up Pops the Devil will appeal to both Christian fiction and urban fiction readers.
Jeanette
APOOO BookClub
Motown Review Bookclub”
displaying 1-7 of 7
