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Angels of Interstate 29
Tex Harris has just turned 70 and been put out to pasture by his employer. The curtain seems to be falling on his life. Before the obese soprano can vocalize the final notes, Tex discovers there is more to living than a career. After rescuing a damsel in distress on the freeway, he decides the role of hero fits him as well as the white Stetson he always wears. He organizes a group of senior citizens to patrol the highway to help those in need. His quest brings him into contact with Lizzie, an attractive widow who captures his heart. Unfortunately, she also wins the affection of Tex ’s best friend and his newly acquired nemesis. The three compete for Lizzie’s affections as they all experience new things together. Tex learns that being a hero sometimes means making enemies, but more importantly that discovers that forgiveness is the most wonderful gift of all.
200 pages, Paperback
First published September 24, 2008
2 people are currently reading
24 people want to read
About the author
Donald James Parker
32 books142 followersDon is a 1968 graduate of Madison Central High School in Madison, South Dakota. He graduated from Dakota State University in Madison in 1972 with a degree in secondary education. After moving to Washington State in 1981, Don studied computer programming and turned his writing efforts to software. After twenty-five of IT work, Don's passion for writing flared up again, and the doctors couldn't do anything to cure it.
After publishing 20 Christian books (19 novels), Donald turned his attention to Christian movies. 11 of the scripts he has written or co-written have been made into films. In addition, Donald has been the producer of nine movies and acted in eleven films. He is now busy novelizing many of the scripts he has written.
After publishing 20 Christian books (19 novels), Donald turned his attention to Christian movies. 11 of the scripts he has written or co-written have been made into films. In addition, Donald has been the producer of nine movies and acted in eleven films. He is now busy novelizing many of the scripts he has written.
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Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews
February 17, 2009
The first few pages of "Angels" certainly had me intrigued. The hero is seventy. The love interest must be something similar. And the humor is wild and crazy, like watching prime-time TV. Donald James Parker has created some very believable characters, and I immediately wanted to know them better.
Parker’s realistic dialog captivated me wonderfully. I’ve read how writers should avoid “he said, she said.” But "Angels of Interstate 29" might be a classic example of how to keep the voices separate without ascribing words to speakers. Eventually the conversations did begin to drag, but with perfect timing, that was when Parker began to ramp up the relationships.
Tex and Parnelli are long-time friends—Tex perhaps the wiser of the two. And Alistair is the smooth-talking newcomer who seems set to win Lizzy’s hand. I29 is the freeway where Tex plans that the old folk might angelically rescue the stranded. But the first person rescued is Tex when he puts his back out, and Lizzy is the rescuer. The reader begins to hope for more out of their relationships, but first there are problems: Tex’s secret sorrow, a fishing trip with attendant worms and rocking boats, eating well and exercise, and church.
Parker introduces God, and Tex’s aversion to God, in a very natural way. And just as the relationship issues are beginning to wear thin, faith and forgiveness rush into the fray. The last quarter of the book races past in a blur—threats and fear, excitement, healing and hope. The impossible turns out to be more than possible, and faith and love win through.
This was a surprising book. I guess I didn’t know what I was getting into, but I was more than glad to be carried along, and the ending left me smiling with tears in my eyes. A thoroughly enjoyable read—just don’t expect the heroes to be perfect angels; they are the "Angels of Interstate 29" and you take them as you find them.
Parker’s realistic dialog captivated me wonderfully. I’ve read how writers should avoid “he said, she said.” But "Angels of Interstate 29" might be a classic example of how to keep the voices separate without ascribing words to speakers. Eventually the conversations did begin to drag, but with perfect timing, that was when Parker began to ramp up the relationships.
Tex and Parnelli are long-time friends—Tex perhaps the wiser of the two. And Alistair is the smooth-talking newcomer who seems set to win Lizzy’s hand. I29 is the freeway where Tex plans that the old folk might angelically rescue the stranded. But the first person rescued is Tex when he puts his back out, and Lizzy is the rescuer. The reader begins to hope for more out of their relationships, but first there are problems: Tex’s secret sorrow, a fishing trip with attendant worms and rocking boats, eating well and exercise, and church.
Parker introduces God, and Tex’s aversion to God, in a very natural way. And just as the relationship issues are beginning to wear thin, faith and forgiveness rush into the fray. The last quarter of the book races past in a blur—threats and fear, excitement, healing and hope. The impossible turns out to be more than possible, and faith and love win through.
This was a surprising book. I guess I didn’t know what I was getting into, but I was more than glad to be carried along, and the ending left me smiling with tears in my eyes. A thoroughly enjoyable read—just don’t expect the heroes to be perfect angels; they are the "Angels of Interstate 29" and you take them as you find them.
July 5, 2010
This is a delightful read. It was not until the main character, Tex begins to realize the role of forgiveness that I realized that this book was written by God through the author, Donald James Parker. I love the portion of the book that illustrate how the power of prayer can overcome any discord and dangerous situation. Decreeing the Name of Jesus is the key!!!!
April 3, 2009
Angels of Interstate 29 by Donald James Parker is a Christian fiction romance that can't quite figure out what genre it belongs in or what story it's trying to tell. There are three competing stories: the car thieves looking for revenge, Tex's desire to do something good for Sioux Falls in his retirement from the force, and the romance between Lizzy and Tex. All three of these plots in the end get tossed aside for a deus ex machina of biblical proportions.
Tex Harris and his Angels of I29 plan was my favorite part of the book. He reminds me of my own grandfather who has been volunteering nearly every day of his life since he retired. He'll be 90 in about six weeks and he's still volunteering. With him in mind, Tex rings true to me.
The banter Tex has with his close group of friends also has some endearing moments. They share jokes and pop cultural references from their youth all the way to modern times, sometimes smoothly and sometimes awkwardly. Early on there is a very funny running joke from The Music Man, one of my favorite musicals. Unfortunately, a little banter goes a long way and the dialog in this novel tends to run on at the expense of setting, plot development and internal monolog.
It is through the lengthy dialog that the novel goes from being a romantic thriller with mature characters to being a blatant Christian novel. Lizzy begins by asking Tex about his religious beliefs and he believably dances around giving an answer but she persists. Her long passages on God and scripture completely break the flow of the story. To force everything to stick together in a tidy conclusion the main characters end up being held hostage only to be saved by the act of prayer. Unfortunately for Tex to be "saved" both literally and spiritually he has to have a complete change of character. I just don't buy Tex's tragic past or his sudden change of heart. People don't change like that under duress; if anything, they become more stubborn.
Although Christian fiction isn't one of the main genres I read, I do occasionally enjoy a book in the genre. I have a certain weakness for Richard Paul Evans. I wanted to like Angels of Interstate 29 more than I did. With less dialog and a more subtle hand with the religious message, this book could have been a charming romance.
Tex Harris and his Angels of I29 plan was my favorite part of the book. He reminds me of my own grandfather who has been volunteering nearly every day of his life since he retired. He'll be 90 in about six weeks and he's still volunteering. With him in mind, Tex rings true to me.
The banter Tex has with his close group of friends also has some endearing moments. They share jokes and pop cultural references from their youth all the way to modern times, sometimes smoothly and sometimes awkwardly. Early on there is a very funny running joke from The Music Man, one of my favorite musicals. Unfortunately, a little banter goes a long way and the dialog in this novel tends to run on at the expense of setting, plot development and internal monolog.
It is through the lengthy dialog that the novel goes from being a romantic thriller with mature characters to being a blatant Christian novel. Lizzy begins by asking Tex about his religious beliefs and he believably dances around giving an answer but she persists. Her long passages on God and scripture completely break the flow of the story. To force everything to stick together in a tidy conclusion the main characters end up being held hostage only to be saved by the act of prayer. Unfortunately for Tex to be "saved" both literally and spiritually he has to have a complete change of character. I just don't buy Tex's tragic past or his sudden change of heart. People don't change like that under duress; if anything, they become more stubborn.
Although Christian fiction isn't one of the main genres I read, I do occasionally enjoy a book in the genre. I have a certain weakness for Richard Paul Evans. I wanted to like Angels of Interstate 29 more than I did. With less dialog and a more subtle hand with the religious message, this book could have been a charming romance.
May 4, 2009
Liked his handling of the topic of forgiveness...
Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews