Flabbergasted

Title: Flabbergasted (Audio book)

Series: Flabbergasted #1

Author: Ray Blackston

Publisher: Oasis Audio

Genre: Contemporary Fiction, Humor, Christian Fiction, Romance

Source: Scribd

My Review:

This is the first book that I have read by Ray Blackston and I loved it. I listened to it with my husband and son and we all enjoyed it. We found numerous lines to quote back and forth, and shared many laughs.

There were plenty of laugh-out-loud scenes but some serious moments too. Jay has just moved from Texas to South Carolina and his real estate broker suggests he visit the local churches to meet women. Not being overly religious, Jay heads to the Presbyterian Church the following Sunday anyway.This sets into motion an excellent story with lots of humor and depth (some shallowness too, but unfortunately that is part of human nature).

I love the wonderful cast of characters in this book. The descriptions are excellent and you feel like you are there. From the janitor, the police officer, all the friends, and even a couple of preachers, you enjoy learning about each one and seeing how they fit into the story.

While the book has a lot of mixed reviews, I enjoyed the honesty that came through the pages, a single guy's journey looking for that perfect girl, job, and something he didn't even realize he was missing. I don't know if it is better to listen to or read, but we enjoyed the audio version. If you want a fun read that will have you laughing and groaning this one is for you 😀 While it may seem like a fluff novel, Jay asks some really deep questions along his journey.

★★★★★/5

Bonus: My son (16) who doesn't like "romance" books also gave this 5 stars!

Synopsis (from Goodreads):

Blackston gives a whole new meaning to modern dating practices. Jay Jarvis, a successful stock broker, decides that the best way to meet eligible woman is to join a church singles group. The ensuing misadventures are delightful as Jay meets quirky people, including a Caddie-driving speed demon, an insightful African-American janitor, and. . .the perfect woman. The only problem is that she's a missionary in Ecuador. As Jay becomes a much wiser man, Peterson generously introduces us to a lively menagerie as he recites poetry, delivers chat-up lines, and reads Bible quotes from a surfboard. Old-fashioned charm is still to be found in contemporary America.