Up Pops the Devil

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 fiancé 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. 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!

Angela Benson did an excellent job of bringing me into a world that I am rather unfamiliar with! I felt like the characters in the book were people I could meet in real life...well, not necessarily my REGULAR everyday life since I tend to be surrounded by farmers rather than drug dealers, but the characters were completely believable! I found myself enjoying the inside look at life through an x-drug dealers eyes. I really liked that I didn't know the ending until I got there. To me that is a mark of an excellent book. I simply HATE it when I already know what is going to happen 3 pages in. This book deals with some pretty heavy issues- drug dealing, abortion, marital troubles, sexual sin- and shows how Christ loves us no matter what we do. There is always forgiveness waiting for us to reach out an grab hold of. This was an out-of-the-ordinary read for me and I am grateful I got the chance to broaden my literary horizons!

Wilford Winters gained the nickname "Preacher" because of the Bible he carried with him since his youth. The Bible was a reminder of the loving grandmother who had provided a home for him and his sister Loretta. But, when she died, the siblings were caught in the system of foster care and they hardened. As adults, the two entered the drug business determined never to "be without" again. The law caught up with Preacher though, and behind bars, he finally began to read the words inside the Bible. Benson's story begins when two years later a converted Preacher awaits his release. Bolstered by his faith and the support of friend Barnard who is part of a Faith Community Church Prison Ministry, Preacher is certain he's equipped to face the world as a free man now ready to serve the Lord. Preacher is naïve though. The women in his life aren't about to let his new walk as a Christian be an easy one. Preacher's rebirth as a Christian means he is no longer interested in helping run the family drug business and that doesn't sit well with sister Loretta. And, without the drug money there is no way Preacher can support Tanya, who is the mother of his children in her opulent lifestyle. Engaging interludes depict "The Boss" Satan, pressuring his henchman who is working hard to ensnare Preacher and turn him away from his newfound Christianity. Written with wry humor, these episodes remind that Satan is always on the job and his favorite methods to entrap are lies, secrets, guilt and shame. In "Up Pops the Devil" Benson successfully interweaves the lives of complex characters wrestling with difficult life issues. Christian characters Barnard, Natalie and Serena battle human failings even as they strive to provide Preacher with support in his new life. In Preacher Winters, Benson creates a character whose inner struggles are familiar as he attempts to stay strong in his new walk as a Christian. We feel his disappointment when he falls to temptation and root for him to stay faithful when his life seems to be falling apart. A relatable read, "Up Pops the Devil" brims with spiritual wisdom and insight while introducing a memorable character in Preacher Winters.

Wilford `Preacher' Winters experienced a spiritual conversion while spending two years in prison for drug trafficking. Before prison, he made a living wreaking havoc in the lives of users and their families, and profiting from their despair. Barnard Jenkins, his parole officer and `Brother in Christ,' is keenly aware of the challenges that face Preacher-such as his girlfriend, Tanya. As mother of his two children, she demands a lot of money and attention to keep up her high-maintenance lifestyle. And she doesn't believe this conversion is real-and will do anything to get her man back. Barnard doesn't know that Preacher's sister Loretta has kept their narcotics distribution business going, even expanding-AND about the devastating secret his wife keeps from him involving Preacher and a relationship that ended badly. Unknowingly, Bernard's life has deeply intertwined with Preachers. Preacher must continue practicing this new way of life with authenticity, knowing his loved ones do not believe it to be true. Through these struggles he learns that God forgives, supplies and saves those who ask for redemption. However at hell, d.b.a. 3sixes, the Big Boss is furious at losing Preacher, one of their best souls, to the enemy, and has summoned successful executive Sean Jones. Even though he manages a caseload of 1,000 souls with a closing ration of 80%, he is on the hot seat enduring the fiery wrath of the Devil. All Sean had to do was stir up conflict and confusion in Preacher's life, drop negative thoughts into the minds of his prison mates to kill him before this conversion happened. The boss wants Preacher back with no collateral damage, otherwise Sean is facing eternity in Third Hades, a dark dreary place filled with screams and wailings This book, and her other award-winning novels, deal with life choices and the promise of unconditional love God offers. As I read this book I could feel the characters' struggles because I had similar ones. To relive my conversion again through Preacher's story was magnificent. I would absolutely recommend this book to everyone. Armchair Interviews says: Angela Benson, Associate Professor of Educational Technology at the University of Alabama is considered on the brightest voices in Christian fiction.

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. 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 Reader's Paradise