What do you think?
Rate this book
Flabbergasted #3
Lost in Rooville
# 9
008:43:00Jay, the former-stockbroker-turned-missionary, travels to Australia for an exotic vacation but Jay and Allie find themselves stranded in the outback with little food or water, a jeep the color of the red dirt that surrounds them, and no way to let anyone know where they are..
008:43:00Jay, the former-stockbroker-turned-missionary, travels to Australia for an exotic vacation but Jay and Allie find themselves stranded in the outback with little food or water, a jeep the color of the red dirt that surrounds them, and no way to let anyone know where they are..
304 pages, Paperback
First published July 1, 2005
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 54 reviews
February 4, 2017
I purchased this at a used bookstore long ago, and it has been at my parents' house ever since. Thinking it was a lighthearted romp through Central Australia, I picked it up the other day to read. Little did I know it was Christian Fiction, so the wild and adventurous group traveling down under also spends their evenings discussing temptation and how to fight it. I couldn't really relate, and it was pretty predictable. It's also, apparently, the third in a trilogy. I won't be reading the first two.
June 27, 2022
Great ending to the trilogy. Wrapped up characters and loose ends, and left me wanting a 4th book. Listened to the audio book, and Andrew Peterson delivers a great performance. Highly recommend.
December 12, 2012
This book includes many of the things that i like to read about. First there is the spiritual side but not too much that its a devotional, then there is the adventure of trying to survive out in the middle of nowhere, and yeah there's the romance but not to the extent that it becomes a romantic novel. The story goes that two couples decide to go on a trip and the two guys have an alternate reason of going on this trip....to propose to the woman of their dreams. So they split up into their respective pairs and go off in a four by four vehicle. The whole situation seems to be going good but Jay--the main character--cant find the right opportunity to pop the question. Time delays and disaster strikes! They ran out of gas and before they set off their guide told them not to leave the vehicle and try to walk to get help and the vehicles also had walkie talkies to communicate with each other. So the story goes on that they run out of gas and are stranded. After many attempts to contact people for help Jay is going through an emotional roller coaster of sorts, wondering why God was doing this to him and how things could have gone so badly. Well long story short he found the perfect opportunity to propose to her while they were stranded. Time passes and a plane is out flying and he decides that the only way to get its attention is to blow the rental car up. Well he succeeds and gets the attention. They get rescued and make it to their destination where they are missionaries for a local village. They spend some time there and then go back home to the States. This story has its flaws but it is a good read, i really enjoyed it and would recommend it to anyone. This is a good book to read after a long day to calm down and relax your brain. If you do choose to read it let me know what you think about it.
June 20, 2011
While I enjoyed this book, I felt like there was something off about it. I felt like it had a religious undertone about it, which annoyed the hell out of me. It was about two couples who go on an adventure in the Australia Outback. Each of the dudes want to propose to their girls and I have never read about dudes making such a big deal about this, after a while, it was like, who cares. They each get a rental car and one couple gets majorly lost and the majority of this book is about their attempt to get rescued. Eventually, the dude has to blow up the car to get the attention of a plane flying far away. Because they have destroyed the car, for some reason, they owe the place were they rented it in the first place. But for some reason, they didn’t have to put down a deposit or credit card when they originally rented it and the rental company lets them leave the country, with only a promise that they will pay them back. I mean, what the hell kind of business practice is that? It’s crazy talk if you ask me. Also, it seems like the main couple had never been together, in that way, before they got married. And the guy seemed like obsessed with getting married and not being away from his women. It was a bit weird. I liked the Australian aspect of it all and that story, but the characters seemed a bit off.
Grade: C+
Grade: C+
June 29, 2022
Lost in Rooville has gotten a lot of mediocre reviews, and I think that's because you miss the humor if you are just reading it. We listened to it on audio, and the humor shines through. This is the third book of the trilogy; it can stand alone, but it is best to read the first two books to understand all the characters' backstories.
I loved Lost in Rooville, and my family really enjoyed it as well. We listened to it in one day on our road trip (it was great company and made the trip more enjoyable!). The characters are quirky, imperfect, and relatable. While this book is quite humorous, it has several serious and heart-warming scenes that were lacking in the previous two books. Therefore, it had a bit of a different feel but was still quite enjoyable.
I hate that this series ended because it left me wanting more. If you decide to read this series, I highly recommend listening to them on audio. Andrew Peterson narrates all three books, and he is fabulous!
I loved Lost in Rooville, and my family really enjoyed it as well. We listened to it in one day on our road trip (it was great company and made the trip more enjoyable!). The characters are quirky, imperfect, and relatable. While this book is quite humorous, it has several serious and heart-warming scenes that were lacking in the previous two books. Therefore, it had a bit of a different feel but was still quite enjoyable.
I hate that this series ended because it left me wanting more. If you decide to read this series, I highly recommend listening to them on audio. Andrew Peterson narrates all three books, and he is fabulous!
July 3, 2017
Great end to the trilogy. I enjoy the writer's humor and perspective.
July 24, 2020
I liked the first one of the series. This one fell flat for me.
May 15, 2026
I remember reading this book in high school after finding it on a mission base library. I remembered the basics of the plot, but I couldn’t find it anywhere. After over six hours of describing it to ChatGPT over a couple years, it finally has the capability to find this book. I just switched the events majorly, which affected the plot of the story. I thought a “dead relative” gave this person an inheritance and he chose to spend it on this vacation. Nope, the vacation happened first and the money helped remedy the problems the protagonist caused.
I first read this book as a missionary kid who had been to Australia when I was little. This time I’m reading it as a missionary adult who has travelled through Australia with a better recollection of it, now. I’m not a huge fan of how some things related to missions or Christianity is portrayed in the book, but it’s not enough to ruin the nostalgia. I’m not sure if I would choose to finish this book if I read it for the first time as an adult, but it was enjoyable to read through again now.
I first read this book as a missionary kid who had been to Australia when I was little. This time I’m reading it as a missionary adult who has travelled through Australia with a better recollection of it, now. I’m not a huge fan of how some things related to missions or Christianity is portrayed in the book, but it’s not enough to ruin the nostalgia. I’m not sure if I would choose to finish this book if I read it for the first time as an adult, but it was enjoyable to read through again now.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
October 11, 2019
Third book and final book in the series. So great to read another book set in Australia. I was able to visit my brother when he lived there. So many great areas to see from Ayers Rock to Syndey to the Great Barrier Reef.
In this book there is romance, but there is also life and death situations. Alot about doing work or doing the right thing in relationships even when you don't want to.
In this book there is romance, but there is also life and death situations. Alot about doing work or doing the right thing in relationships even when you don't want to.
May 14, 2020
I absolutely LOVE Ray Blackston’s writing and having read the first novel in the series (and the 2nd I believe too, but it has been a LONG while) I was familiar with these characters. This book at times made my heart smile, made me laugh out loud, and also “travel” to the land of Oz. Great job Ray!!
October 11, 2020
This book was written well. The problem was, the plot was zero. A couple drives 4 hours off the freeway in the Australian Outback, and the guy is asking why God did this to him?? Give me a break! The cover of the audiobook says it is "Non-fiction" and "A Novel." Well, which is it? I quit this book halfway.
April 18, 2024
This is the last book in a trilogy that I really enjoyed! It was refreshing to read a romance from a man’s point of view for a change. The characters are hilarious. The setting down under was great! And there was both divine intervention and lessons learned through the story. :) If you like light-hearted, funny, Christian fiction with a positive message, you’ll enjoy this series!
August 30, 2019
This book finishes the story of Jay Jarvis and Allie Kyle and their friends. It was as funny as the first in the series, Flabbergasted. Blackston has a way with turning phrases that brings out the humor, even in sitting in a jail cell. I definitely recommend the entire series!
January 23, 2021
Normally wouldn't have finished this book. It was an actual book I picked out of a little library that was easy to put down and pick back up again while I waited for other kindle books on my hold list. At some point I guess I got too far into it not to finish.
September 10, 2025
Well I found this book rather slow and boring. After about 50 pages, I just skipped large sections, and read a few pages here and there 'til I got to the epilogue, which, frankly, didn't mean anything to me. It would probably have had more meaning if I had read more pages of the book!!
June 21, 2019
A fun read, with american friends in the Australian outback.
February 22, 2021
Closer to 4 than 3. The plot has plenty of crazy twists, the characters are quirky, and the spiritual thoughts, especially about faith and waiting on God, were apropos.
June 10, 2024
Entertaining end to the trilogy. Probably the most engaging plot line, but I liked the jokes in Flabbergasted the best.
September 17, 2024
I gave this whole series five stars for a very good reason!!! I love Ray's writing style!! I am in love with all three books in this series and would definitely recommend them!!🥰
June 5, 2015
Review title: Outback surprise
I picked this up on the last day of a huge used book sale where its $5 a box, thinking purely based on a quick glance at the title it was a murder mystery set in Australia, at a time when I thought I might be spending some weeks in Australia on a project for my job. Well, sadly the project never came through, and I was only half-right about the book. It is set mostly in Australia, and has some suspense, but is not a murder mystery, even though a car does die a needful death, and it is mostly about young single Americans touring the Australian outback and getting hopelessly lost and having some serious and comic adventures therein.
The key part I had missed in my quick scan of the title is that the book was published by Revell, a large publisher of Christian literature, and that this title was the third of a trilogy by a writer of Christian fiction about the singles dating scene among Protestant Christians from the American Bible Belt. Having my roots in that culture (theologically if not always geographically) I found the book's insights and humor rang true, and that while I was surprised by the subject and direction of the book, it was a mostly pleasant surprise.
Jay Jarvis is the narrator and foremost "leader" among his group of four mid-twenties single friends (boy/girl, boy/girl, of course) on a vacation to Australia as a lark. Jay and his girlfriend Allie are missionaries working in an orphanage in Ecuador, while Steve and his on-again/off-again girlfriend Darcy are living and working in their Greenville, South Carolina hometown. Turns out each of the guys has decided this trip to an exotic location is just the right time to propose marriage, so they have each come with an engagement ring hidden in their luggage looking for the right time to spring the surprise.
Of course, the when and where of these events lead to the comic and serious events of the novel, wherein erstwhile "leader" Jay leads he and Allie right into a potentially disastrous spontaneous tour of the way outback and the others (joined by another pair of their friends also vacationing in Australia--yeah, it sounds implausible here, but it makes sense within the Protestant Bible-Belt singles cultural context of the novel) into a manic effort to rescue them--a rescue which takes place only halfway through the story, at which time the group (meaning mostly Jay) must face the consequences of the (de)tour and rescue and at which time the novel really grows in depth, insight, and humor.
While I have been neither twentysomething nor single for lo these thirty years or so, the novel was a quick, fun adventure in the reading, with insights into faith, relationships, and patience that I enjoyed along with the humor and adventure in the novel.
I picked this up on the last day of a huge used book sale where its $5 a box, thinking purely based on a quick glance at the title it was a murder mystery set in Australia, at a time when I thought I might be spending some weeks in Australia on a project for my job. Well, sadly the project never came through, and I was only half-right about the book. It is set mostly in Australia, and has some suspense, but is not a murder mystery, even though a car does die a needful death, and it is mostly about young single Americans touring the Australian outback and getting hopelessly lost and having some serious and comic adventures therein.
The key part I had missed in my quick scan of the title is that the book was published by Revell, a large publisher of Christian literature, and that this title was the third of a trilogy by a writer of Christian fiction about the singles dating scene among Protestant Christians from the American Bible Belt. Having my roots in that culture (theologically if not always geographically) I found the book's insights and humor rang true, and that while I was surprised by the subject and direction of the book, it was a mostly pleasant surprise.
Jay Jarvis is the narrator and foremost "leader" among his group of four mid-twenties single friends (boy/girl, boy/girl, of course) on a vacation to Australia as a lark. Jay and his girlfriend Allie are missionaries working in an orphanage in Ecuador, while Steve and his on-again/off-again girlfriend Darcy are living and working in their Greenville, South Carolina hometown. Turns out each of the guys has decided this trip to an exotic location is just the right time to propose marriage, so they have each come with an engagement ring hidden in their luggage looking for the right time to spring the surprise.
Of course, the when and where of these events lead to the comic and serious events of the novel, wherein erstwhile "leader" Jay leads he and Allie right into a potentially disastrous spontaneous tour of the way outback and the others (joined by another pair of their friends also vacationing in Australia--yeah, it sounds implausible here, but it makes sense within the Protestant Bible-Belt singles cultural context of the novel) into a manic effort to rescue them--a rescue which takes place only halfway through the story, at which time the group (meaning mostly Jay) must face the consequences of the (de)tour and rescue and at which time the novel really grows in depth, insight, and humor.
While I have been neither twentysomething nor single for lo these thirty years or so, the novel was a quick, fun adventure in the reading, with insights into faith, relationships, and patience that I enjoyed along with the humor and adventure in the novel.
June 5, 2008
I picked up Ray Blackston’s first novel a few years ago just because the title was so great. I mean, titling your first novel Flabbergasted is a great selling point and I will admit that I came away from the first book feeling just that. Blackston’s story of Jay Jarvis, a single guy who visited various churches to meet single women and found the girl of his dreams who turned his life upside down was a hoot.
So, I quickly read it and then its sequel. Now, come the latest entry in the series that finds Jay still dating Allie and moving toward taking the new step in the relationship. And the thing is—three books in, Blackston still makes all of his characters feel authentic. Jay struggles with his faith journey, but it never feels contrived or predictable like you get in other contempoary Christian fiction stories, such as any book with the name Tim LaHaye on the cover. The book starts off slowly as Jay and Allie, Steve and Darcy all take a trip to the Outback of Australia. Jay intends to propose to Allie while Steve has planned the same. But, as is typical for a Blackston book, things go a bit awry. OK, they go a lot awry. Before you know it, Jay and Ally have wrecked their Land Rover and are stuck in the Outback with no way to communicate and call for help.
Yeah, it’s a bit of a stretch, but the thing is Blackston says—just go with me here and as a reader, I can. Because he makes the characters so interesting. Also, the question of will she say yes does keep you turning the pages.
Anyway, to say more would be giving away much of the later portions of the book, but I will say this—the momentum picks up in the second half of the book. My only real complaint is the ending which is a bit contrived. Blackston takes his characters to a crisis and gives them an almost fairy-tale like ending that just doesn’t quite ring true. But hey, it’s not enough to make you not enjoy the overall book.
Give this series a try—I think you might like it.
So, I quickly read it and then its sequel. Now, come the latest entry in the series that finds Jay still dating Allie and moving toward taking the new step in the relationship. And the thing is—three books in, Blackston still makes all of his characters feel authentic. Jay struggles with his faith journey, but it never feels contrived or predictable like you get in other contempoary Christian fiction stories, such as any book with the name Tim LaHaye on the cover. The book starts off slowly as Jay and Allie, Steve and Darcy all take a trip to the Outback of Australia. Jay intends to propose to Allie while Steve has planned the same. But, as is typical for a Blackston book, things go a bit awry. OK, they go a lot awry. Before you know it, Jay and Ally have wrecked their Land Rover and are stuck in the Outback with no way to communicate and call for help.
Yeah, it’s a bit of a stretch, but the thing is Blackston says—just go with me here and as a reader, I can. Because he makes the characters so interesting. Also, the question of will she say yes does keep you turning the pages.
Anyway, to say more would be giving away much of the later portions of the book, but I will say this—the momentum picks up in the second half of the book. My only real complaint is the ending which is a bit contrived. Blackston takes his characters to a crisis and gives them an almost fairy-tale like ending that just doesn’t quite ring true. But hey, it’s not enough to make you not enjoy the overall book.
Give this series a try—I think you might like it.
March 4, 2012
The third and final installment of Jay Jarvis and friends and it was great!
This time, the gang is all together in Australia on a much needed vacation. And for Jay, it's the opportunity of a lifetime. He brought a ring and planned to propose to Allie Kyle at whatever romantic locale he could find during the trip. He planned it, strategized it and was ready to roll. And then he found out that Steve Cole came with the same plan for Darcy Yeager.
I enjoyed the misadventure- the two couples enjoying time together before a planned link up with Neil and Alexis Rucker, otherwise known at The Couple Who Couldn't Wait, Jay and Steve figuring out how to split off as couples so they could each propose and then Jay and Allie finding themselves lost in the outback with no way out.
It was a fantastic way to end the saga started in Flabbergasted with a beach trip.
This time, the gang is all together in Australia on a much needed vacation. And for Jay, it's the opportunity of a lifetime. He brought a ring and planned to propose to Allie Kyle at whatever romantic locale he could find during the trip. He planned it, strategized it and was ready to roll. And then he found out that Steve Cole came with the same plan for Darcy Yeager.
I enjoyed the misadventure- the two couples enjoying time together before a planned link up with Neil and Alexis Rucker, otherwise known at The Couple Who Couldn't Wait, Jay and Steve figuring out how to split off as couples so they could each propose and then Jay and Allie finding themselves lost in the outback with no way out.
It was a fantastic way to end the saga started in Flabbergasted with a beach trip.
February 27, 2018
What’s this? A Blackston novel with a plot other than boy looking for girl? It can’t be! That’s not how this series is supposed to go!
Our favorite narrator Jay Jarvis makes his return in the conclusion to the Flabbergasted trilogy. Jay has realized that he loves his departure from Wall Street and the stock world and wants to spend the rest of his days with his Jungle Girl, Allie Kyle.
And what better way to pop the question than on a vacation to Australia with their best friends Steve and Darcy? What Jay doesn’t know is that he isn’t the only one with ideas of proposal. So how do two best friends each propose to the women of their dreams without stealing each other’s thunder?
Full review over at: https://jaystareads.wordpress.com/201...
Our favorite narrator Jay Jarvis makes his return in the conclusion to the Flabbergasted trilogy. Jay has realized that he loves his departure from Wall Street and the stock world and wants to spend the rest of his days with his Jungle Girl, Allie Kyle.
And what better way to pop the question than on a vacation to Australia with their best friends Steve and Darcy? What Jay doesn’t know is that he isn’t the only one with ideas of proposal. So how do two best friends each propose to the women of their dreams without stealing each other’s thunder?
Full review over at: https://jaystareads.wordpress.com/201...
August 24, 2011
In this third book about Jay Jarvis both him and his friend Steve bring their girlfriends to Australia in order to propose marriage to them. Of course Jay and his girlfriend Allie get lost in the Outback where they do get found eventually by their friends. Jay uses the moment to propose to Allie and part of the book details how they spend their time that they are lost in the Outback. There is no sex in the book even though the pair do have the opportunity to enjoy some of the benefits of marriage without anyone knowing, if she doesn’t get pregnant . This book ties up some of the loose ends in the Jay Jarvis story and shows the beginning of the next chapter in Jay’s and Allie’s life.
July 31, 2008
I did not know that this was part of a trilogy, but I thought the book stood well on its own. It's a nice little memoir of a man who takes his girlfriend (and fellow missionary - there are some sad/sweet tales of their village in South America they teach at and the appalling conditions there) to Australia with another couple of friends, and their adventures there. Will they see kangaroos? Will they fight? Will he propose? Will they have adventures in the Outback? The book is pretty predictable, but funny, and true, which helps its case. Fun, light(ish) travel memoir.
September 3, 2010
I don't know if it's a stretch to call it the best book in the series but it certainly had the most action.
Jay Jarvis Stockbroker turned missonary is not only stranded in the outback but he's getting engaged provided he can find the perfect moment amid all of the Kangeroos and haveing to squeeze frogs for water.
A wild adventure that will test your highschool math skills. If 4 out 5 survive by staying in the car how many get rescued when we blow it up?
Well pick up this G'read mates and find out.
Jay Jarvis Stockbroker turned missonary is not only stranded in the outback but he's getting engaged provided he can find the perfect moment amid all of the Kangeroos and haveing to squeeze frogs for water.
A wild adventure that will test your highschool math skills. If 4 out 5 survive by staying in the car how many get rescued when we blow it up?
Well pick up this G'read mates and find out.
August 8, 2008
Jay's brain is full of math. It is also full of the thrill of seeking the perfect place to propose. While Jay's hope that Australia + Woman + Ring = Engagement, he soon has to face a scary reality: when lost in the Outback, four of five who stay with the vehicle live. A story of God's grace amid our stupidity, and His faithfulness to come through when our lives fall apart.
June 4, 2010
I enjoyed having some closure for the characters in this trilogy, however, the storyline seemed a bit far-fetched. This would not have been a problem if the first two books of the trilogy hadn't been much more realistic. Overall, though, it was a good story and I will definitely read this author again...love his style.
May 20, 2013
This book was funny and absurd. After reading some really heavy books, this was a nice respite. The writing itself seemed rather juvenile and the story far-fetched but it was amusing. So if the author wrote the book purely for entertainment, good job. If he was actually trying to say something, I didn't get it.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 54 reviews