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3034 ratings | 1482 reviews | avg rating:3.78

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Beverly

141,745 books | 70 friends

Peter Younghusband

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Zahara Cerise cares about alien existential angst

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Iola Goulton

Goodreads Author

Website

https://www.iolagoulton.com

Genre

Christian, Romance

Member Since

August 2010

URL

https://www.goodreads.com/iola_goulton

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Iola Goulton is the empty-nest mother of two who lives with her husband in the sunny Bay of Plenty, New Zealand, and writes contemporary Christian romance with a Kiwi connection. She works part-time for a local company, wrangling spreadsheets by day and words by night. Find Iola at iolagoulton.com.

Combine Editions
Iola Goulton’s books

Average rating: 4.5 · 98 ratings · 43 reviews · 2 distinct works • Similar authors

	Always By My Side (Trinity Lakes Romance, #4) 4.45 avg rating — 66 ratings — published 2023 — 2 editions	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
	Always in My Heart (Trinity Lakes Romance #14) 4.59 avg rating — 32 ratings	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars

* Note: these are all the books on Goodreads for this author. To add more, click here.

Iola is Currently Reading

Iola is currently reading

Why I'm Still a Christian: After Two Decades of Conversations with Skeptics and Atheists--The Reason I Believe

by Justin Brierley

bookshelves: currently-reading, 2025-nonfiction, 2025-new-author

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Iola said: " I’m always intrigued to know how people (especially adults) decide to become a Christian. I’m equally intrigued to understand why Christians, in this age of doubt and deconstruction, maintain their belief in Jesus. I’m intrigued, but many of the argu I’m always intrigued to know how people (especially adults) decide to become a Christian. I’m equally intrigued to understand why Christians, in this age of doubt and deconstruction, maintain their belief in Jesus. I’m intrigued, but many of the arguments for and against faith are built on false logic. (“Christians still sin, so God can’t be real” – which is the doctrinal equivalent of throwing the baby out with the bathwater). Others are expressed in academic terms I find difficult to relate to.

Why I’m Still a Christian is built on over fifteen years of dialogue with Christians and atheists of all persuasions on his weekly radio show-turned podcast, Unbelievable. Brierley is also widely read, in that he quotes from books by mainstream Christin apologists such as C. S. Lewis and Lee Stobel, but also from nonChristian and atheist authors, who often make the case for Jesus even more powerfully than Brierley can.

This is the strength of the book.

While it is Brierley’s personal testimony and rationale for Christianity, it’s also based on extensive personal research, reading the works of many of the big thinkers about faith over the last two millennia.

Brierley discusses some big issues on contemporary science and how they can be interpreted to support or even prove the idea of a Creator: entropy, the Big Bang theory (it’s not just a TV show), the multiverse. He also points to some things that are perhaps easier to understand as proof: mathematics, gravity, and morality:

"The belief that humans are created free, equal, and with inherent dignity only makes sense if there is a God."

And:

"If atheism is true, then there is no ultimate right or wrong."

What stood out most to me, especially in the section on science, is that many of the new discoveries are pointing towards God, not away from Him (which is contrary to much of what I was taught in school). It reminds me of the importance of thinking and questioning matters of faith so we can have robust conversations on

Recommended for those who enjoy the topic of apologetics, and anyone looking for sound, reasoned and readable information that examines some of the central debates around the Christian faith from both points of view.

Thanks to Tyndale Elevate and NetGalley for providing a free ebook for review. ...more "

Jan 23, 2026 07:48PM · see review

Iola is currently reading

The Happiness Code: How Small Habits Will Change Your Life Starting Today

by Ray Brehm (Goodreads Author)

bookshelves: currently-reading

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May 07, 2021 10:00PM

Iola is currently reading

Canyon War (Doc Beck Westerns, #1)

by Sarah Elisabeth Sawyer (Goodreads Author)

bookshelves: currently-reading

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May 01, 2021 01:04AM

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Quotes by Iola Goulton (?)

“That’s like the quote Gran had on the wall.” “The Augustine quote?” Dad asked. “That was one of her favorites. ‘Love God, and do whatever you please: for the soul trained in love to God will do nothing to offend the One who is Beloved.”
― Iola Goulton, Always By My Side

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Iola’s Quotes

“I must not fear. Fear is the mind-killer. Fear is the little-death that brings total obliteration. I will face my fear. I will permit it to pass over me and through me. And when it has gone past I will turn the inner eye to see its path. Where the fear has gone there will be nothing. Only I will remain.”
― Frank Herbert, Dune

tags: bene-gesserit, fear, litany-against-fear, motivational, scifi

17049 likes

“If you don't have time to read, you don't have the time (or the tools) to write. Simple as that.”
― Stephen King

tags: reading, writing

13106 likes

“Both Rowling and Meyer, they’re speaking directly to young people. … The real difference is that Jo Rowling is a terrific writer and Stephenie Meyer can’t write worth a darn. She’s not very good.”
― Stephen King

tags: harry-potter, jk-rowling, stephenie-meyer, twilight

4120 likes

“The road to hell is paved with adverbs.”
― Stephen King, On Writing: A Memoir of the Craft

5737 likes

“If you liked being a teenager, there's something really wrong with you.”
― Stephen King

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Iola’s Friend Comments

Comments (showing 1-8) post a comment »

date

newest »

message 8: by Christy (last edited Oct 28, 2015 01:30PM)

Oct 28, 2015 01:28PM

Thanks Iola for accepting my friend request!!

reply | flag

message 7: by Rissi

May 27, 2015 08:25PM

Hi, Iola! Thanks so much for the friend request. It's wonderful to meet you. :)

We're thrilled you were able to join us as a judge. Thanks so much for your participation and willingness to join the fun. I know what you mean about it being hard. There are so many great reads. :)

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message 6: by Rose

Sep 03, 2013 06:49PM

Thanks for adding me, Iola. Pride and Prejudice is one of my favorites as well. Glad to connect with you. :)

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message 5: by Iola

Aug 04, 2013 01:29PM

Anna wrote: "Thanks for accepting my friend request. Its nice to meet like minded people!"

And thank you for actually answering my challenge question. I've been getting a lot of spam requests lately, which is why I added it.

I'll look forward to seeing your reviews etc.

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message 4: by English

Aug 04, 2013 04:59AM

Thanks for accepting my friend request. Its nice to meet like minded people!

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message 3: by Iola

Jan 16, 2012 04:07PM

Jennifer - thank you for the offer, but postage to New Zealand is more than you need to be paying. Besides, one of the reasons I got a Kindle is to save on shelf space! God Bless you too.

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message 2: by Jennifer

Jan 16, 2012 03:36PM

Hi, Iola! Can you please send me your address as soon as possible so I can send you a print copy of my second book (if you'd like one)? God bless you!

reply | flag

message 1: by Jennifer

Oct 02, 2011 06:37AM

Iola, thanks so much for posting your wonderful review on Amazon! My book just released yesterday, and it was such a joy to open Amazon and find all the kind words and stars you'd given me. Thank you much for making my release day a great one!

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Iola Goulton’s Followers (30)

Iola Goulton

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