Click here to buy this book! Amazon Lulu Author's website Category:  Romance Publisher: Sword of the Spirit Publishing ISBN-10:  0615242928 Type: Fiction Pages: 200 Copyright: 2008 ISBN-13: 9780615242927 A Christian romance about senior citizens. 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 means sometimes means making enemies, but more importantly that discovers that forgiveness is the most wonderful gift of all. Excerpt Tex looked at the woman. "Are you OK with that?" "Whatever. I just need to get my baby to the doctor. He’s really sick, and it doesn’t matter who helps." Tex peered through the window and saw the little fellow. He looked back at the two wannabe good Samaritans. They looked more like the highwaymen from that story. Something doesn’t feel right here. My gut tells me these guys are trouble. Tex tipped his hat. "OK. Good luck, ma’am." "Thank you for stopping and for the good luck wish." "My pleasure." He moseyed back to his truck. After studying the scene ahead of him for a minute, he fumbled into his pants pocket and pulled out a cell phone. It was his one concession to the 21st century. He wanted a CB radio, but almost nobody was using them anymore. Pressing the quick-dial button, he called the wrong number twice. "Screw it!" he yelled at the communications device and punched in all the numbers manually. Luckily I know it by heart. If I had to look up a number on this damned contraption, the baby would be a teenager before I got the number called. "Minnehaha Sheriff’s Department." "I’d like to talk to Deputy Sheriff Carson please." "Can I tell him who’s calling?" "Sure." After a brief hesitation, the female voice on the other end said, "And who might you be?" "Just tell him Tex is calling." "Tex?" Did I stutter? "Yes, ma’am." A minute later a male voice ricocheted off his ear. "Tex, what the Sam Hill you up to?" "I need a favor. I want you to run a license plate check for me. I’ve encountered a suspicious situation with a young woman and baby at risk. I want to make sure I don’t drive away from a potential crime scene." "OK. Shoot the license number to me." "California 2BCA630." "Hold on a second. I’ll see what the computer spits out." Damn computers. I wonder if they need spittoons in them fancy computer rooms for those pesky contraptions to spit into. "Ah, Tex, you’ve got a live one. Stolen and suspected of being used in a crime in Utah. What’s your ten-twenty? We’ll get a car on the way ASAP." "I’m on I-29 between the 12th and 41st Street exits." "Roger that. Sit tight." "Kit!" "Yeah, Tex." "I’m sure I can’t wait for your assistance. I’m going in to make sure that the young lady isn’t harmed." He hung up before his friend could protest. It really is easier to ask for forgiveness than permission. Tex twisted around, endangering the discs in his back, and took down his hunting rifle from the rack in the back. He’d never used it on a man before. Hopefully his perfect record wouldn’t be broken today.

Apex Reviews
Seventy year-old Tex Harris has just been "put out to pasture"; due to mandatory retirement laws, his longtime employer has officially relieved him of his duties, and he finds himself wondering just what he'll be doing with the rest of his life...fortuitously, he doesn't have to wait too long when an unexpected event quickly changes his life forever.

When he notices a young woman stranded on the side of the road, Tex - the Southern Gentleman that he is - pulls over to offer his assistance. Two young men are already on the scene, but something about them strikes Tex the wrong way, and his intuition is proven right when the situation quickly devolves into a tense standoff. Thankfully, the woman and her baby escape unharmed, but her would-be assailants manage to elude law enforcement and make a hasty getaway. Nonetheless, as a result of the breathtaking encounter, Tex is infused with a new reason for living: assisting those in need when no one else is around to do so.

So, he launches The Angels Of Interstate29, a vigilant group of civic-minded seniors, who, like Tex, are retired but yet unwilling to pass quietly into the twilight of their lives. Joined by his best friend, Parnelli, and the lovely Lizzy, a widow he meets during his initial recruitment stop, Tex and crew embark on their collective quest to save innocent lives. As times goes on, though, the natural complexities of humanity inevitably emerge, and, at the same time that Tex competes with Parnelli for Lizzy's attention and affections, he soon finds himself contending once again with unresolved dangers from the not-too-distant past...

Angels Of Interstate 29 is quite the enjoyable read. Donald James Parker is a veritable master at crafting unique, original characters whose lives and leanings lend the story an impressive authenticity. Moreover, the wit and candor of his narrative style give it a distinctive edge that moves the story along at a compelling pace.

Last but not least, Parker's ability to bring equal parts intrigue, mystery, and suspense together into a convincingly coalesced whole treats the reader to a well-balanced, carefully-crafted tale hard to put down. A sure treat for fans of a good old fashioned, well-told story.

Latonya Franklin
Apex Reviews