Wilford “Preacher” Winters is a changed man. Thanks to his friend and accountability partner Barnard Jenkins’ and the redemptive powers of God, Preacher is determined to live right when he leaves prison, vowing to never return to an unlawful life. But secrets from Preacher’s past with Barnard’s wife, Serena will cause tension between the friends and strife in Barnand’s marriage.
As an additional strain on Preacher’s newfound faith, not everyone is excited about his conversion. Tanya, his high-maintenance girlfriend and mother of his two beloved boys, doesn’t want Preacher to be converted, working a normal job, and living paycheck to paycheck. His sister Loretta is afraid the only family ties she has with her brother will be severed if the “business” is shut down. Besides, she can’t stand church folks anyway, thanks to her abusive, churchgoing foster mother.
Soon Preacher finds following God isn’t as easy as he once thought. When his past jeopardizes his new life and his relationship with his boys, will Preacher decide it’s too hard, too lonely, and too much trouble serving God?
A pastor once said, “ The enemy attacks the ones able to do damage to his kingdom.”
Up Pops the Devil fictionalizes the pastor’s sentiments to a T. From the prologue, we learn that before Preacher has stepped a foot into his new life, the devil devises a plan to sabotage him. He cringes at the thought that one of his best soldiers will now be working for the good side.
After reading the prologue about the devil and his minions, I was concerned the characters in the story would be cartoonish depicting characters with overblown flaws and personalities. I was relieved the characters felt real and multidimensional. For instance, Preacher was vulnerable and tender in his devotion to his faith and to his sons while still being strong, sure, and competent, especially around his former associates.
In fact, every character was written realistically. Both unchurched and believers were imperfect needing forgiveness which I found refreshing and real.
Believers know we’re flawed!
New York Times bestselling author, Kimberla Lawson Roby writes in her endorsement, “...Up Pops the Devil is a wonderful story about hope, faith, and redemption the kind of story we can all learn valuable lessons from.”
I agree with her assessment and usually I don’t put too much faith in author endorsements.
Read the book for yourself, you will find it’s true.
If you would like to read the Prologue and first chapter of Up Pops The Devil, click HERE
ABOUT THE AUTHOR: Angela's first hardcover title, The Amen Sisters, was released in September 2005 by Walk Worthy Press. The Essence bestselling title won the Emma Award for Best Inspirational Romance. The trade paperback edition was released in November 2007.
Up Pops the Devil, published by HarperCollins (Avon A) in August 2008, is Angela's tenth novel.
Angela has a diverse education and work history. She majored in mathematics at Spelman College and Industrial Engineering at the Georgia Institute of Technology (Georgia Tech), and worked for fifteen years as an engineer in the telecommunications industry. She holds Masters degrees in operations research and human resources development. Her most recent degree is a doctorate in instructional technology from the University of Georgia. Dr. Benson is now an associate professor of educational technology at The University of Alabama.
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