T Allen Madding

A coming-of-age YA story that is as hauntingly authentic as it is deeply thought-provoking. The summer of 1982 in Whitiker County in Southwest Georgia was another hot and dry season. The best friends, Ricky, Jimmy, and Buck, are ready to graduate from high school and step into adulthood. But when the lovely Jenny catches both Jimmy and Buck's eye, Ricky has a bad feeling about the whole thing. Soon, Ricky's fears come true. Readers will laugh out loud at the boys' adventures and sympathize with their heartbreaks and failures. As enjoyable as all the characters may be, the standout character of the book is Ricky, whose grounded, sensible nature will have readers rooting for him throughout. While the storyline is intriguing, what sets this novel apart is how beautifully Madding explores the boys' vulnerabilities, hopes, and passions while delving into themes of love, young adult drama, friendship, mistakes, and regrets. Setting his tale against the quaint backdrop of the forgotten South of the 1980s, Madding skillfully weaves together multiple story strands to create a poignant coming-of-age tale. This is a page-turner.

An employee needs the paycheck to pay the rent, the mortgage, the car payment, student debt, the credit car bill, the utilities, and a host of other bills. Volunteers, on the other hand are not motivated by a paycheck to stick it out when the manger is chewing someone out or things get uncomfortable. The volunteer is simply motivated by making a difference and being a part of the organization. Their commitment hinges on how vested they are with the vision and purpose of the organization. When it gets to be too much of a hassle to serve, when they begin to feel unappreciated, when they feel the commitment is too demanding, they will walk away - usually without any warning or explanation. With several decades of experience between them, Madding and King share insights on how to manage these valuable resources in your organization.

Peachtree Street Church has slowly been dwindling away as it members have died. In the face of a winter storm, the pastor and a small group of people open the doors of their fellowship hall and education wing to the homeless and those stranded and seeking shelter from the cold. The experience opens their eyes to the plight of the homeless living just outside the doors of their church. They begin to search for meaningful ways to effectively make a difference in the lives of their community one person at a time. The journey takes them farther than they ever imagined and completely changes the trajectory of their lives in the process. Awakened is the sequel to Shaken Awake.