March Madness: Drive to the Final Four or the First Four?

Whether you love college hoops or not, March and spring also are great times for the drive to read the First Four Pastor Stephen Grant novels – WARRIOR MONK, ROOT OF ALL EVIL?, AN ADVENT FOR RELIGIOUS LIBERTY, and the latest, THE RIVER – by Ray Keating. 

Not only did KFUO’s “BookTalk” host call Keating “a great novelist,” but THE RIVER was a 2014 book of the year finalist. 

And in The Washington Times, a former CIA operative and current pastor declared, “Mr. Keating's storytelling is so lifelike that I almost thought I had worked with him when I was at Langley. Like the fictitious pastor, I actually spent 20 years working for the U.S. intelligence community, and once I started reading ‘The River,’ I had to keep reading because it was so well-crafted and easy to follow, and because it depicted a personal struggle that I knew all too well. I simply could not put it down.” 

Make your picks at Amazon.

About That Hollywood Blacklist...

My review of a fascinating history of Hollywood, communists and the blacklist. Read the review on Aleteia.org at

http://www.aleteia.org/en/lifestyle/article/review-hollywood-traitorsblacklisted-screenwriter-agents-of-stalin-allies-of-hitler-5855324758081536

Allan Ryskind's Hollywood Traitors: Blacklisted Screenwriters, Agents of Stalin, Allies of Hitler makes for illuminating and compelling history.

Pastor Stephen Grant Novels Character Quote of the Day

Stephen came to Scott’s defense. “Hey, give Scott a break. He volunteered to be the designated driver tonight. And I think we’re corrupting him with drink and poker.”

- from Root of All Evil?

Pastor Stephen Grant Novels Character Quote of the Day

Tom interrupted, “Ah, tuxedo, beautiful women, a martini, baccarat and an over-the-top bad guy.”

- from The River

Pastor Stephen Grant Novels Character Quote of the Day

Finally, Keith Diehl, pastor of the independent Ark of Righteousness Church in Jamaica, Queens, simply proclaimed, “Adam Pritchett is a tool of Satan. There is no other explanation.”

- from An Advent for Religious Liberty

Pastor Stephen Grant Novels Character Quote of the Day

Cozzilino said, “It’s man’s nature, DNA, whatever you want to call it. But it’s not going to change.”

- from Warrior Monk

Pastor Stephen Grant Novels Character Quote of the Day

Sean said, “Sounds good. And for Scott, who does not drink and clearly feels uncomfortable with poker, how about another Coke?”

- from Root of All Evil?

Pastor Stephen Grant Novels Character Quote of the Day

“Hey, I’m proud of my nerdist leanings,” Zack replied.

- from The River

Pastor Stephen Grant Novels Character Quote of the Da

Dr. Brett Matthews, president of the Lutheran Church- Missouri Synod’s Atlantic District, told a reporter, “I’m deeply saddened by the path chosen by Mayor-elect Pritchett. Unfortunately, I think his extremist take on religion is not all that uncommon today. We all must pray for him, for this city, and for God to help us heal a culture torn apart by sin.”

- from An Advent for Religious Liberty

Pastor Stephen Grant Novels Character Quote of the Day

Stone finally broke the silence in his best Sean Connery: “Well, if that’s the way it has to be, Mr. Bond. By the way, do you want that orange juice shaken or stirred?”

- from Warrior Monk

Pastor Stephen Grant Novels Character Quote of the Day

“Sorry, are we cramping your style, Sean?” asked Stephen.

- from Root of All Evil?

Pastor Stephen Grant Novels Character Quote of the Day

Stephen Grant: “Just can’t see Father McDermott in Sin City.”

- from The River

Pastor Stephen Grant Novels Character Quote of the Day

In response to that observation, one conservative Catholic commentator said, “Pritchett is out to lunch. His atheism is the most radical of any elected official I’ve come across. At the same time, maybe this incident will serve as a wake up call to Catholic and other religious charitable endeavors as to the dangers of taking handouts from the government.”

- from An Advent for Religious Liberty

Pastor Stephen Grant Novels Character Quote of the Day

Stephen decided to be as honest with his friends as he could without violating oaths. “Guys, let’s just say that this was not a completely unique experience for me. And that’s as far as I can go.”

- from Warrior Monk

Pastor Stephen Grant Novels Character Quote of the Day

Ron interjected, “For him? How about a prayer for Zackary Charmichael having to deal day in and day out with Pastor Grant? Now that warrants prayer.”

- from Root of All Evil?

Pastor Stephen Grant Novels Character Quote of the Day

Stephen Grant: “Jen is speaking at her alma mater, UNLV, as part of a conference on the state of economic freedom around the world.”

- from The River

Pastor Stephen Grant Novels Character Quote of the Day

City Councilman Marvin Sanders: “I will work hard, with every fiber of my being, to stop Mayor-elect Pritchett’s misguided plan, while also praying just as hard that he will come to see and understand all of the good that churches and other religious groups do in this city. None of us are beyond forgiveness and redemption thanks to our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ.”

- from An Advent for Religious Liberty

Pastor Stephen Grant Novels Character Quote of the Day

Stone pushed. “It’s not like you shoot somebody every day, even if you were with the CIA at one time.”

- from Warrior Monk

Pastor Stephen Grant Novels Character Quote of the Day

Stone added, “Newbies, ugh. I’ll say a prayer for you.”

- from Root of All Evil?

Pastor Stephen Grant Novels Character Quote of the Day

Ron replied, “I’ve learned never to declare that my week is going to be more exciting than Stephen Grant’s.”

- from The River