Up Close and Personal: What Helen Did Next

by Jeff Lucas

'The odds are against me writing anything that might win a Nobel Prize for Literature. Perhaps tomorrow.' Enter Helen Sloane and her diary; this is the hilarious second novel from the ever popular Jeff Lucas. Battling with relationships, men and her career, Helen is coming to terms with the death of her father, whilst trying to live out her Christian life and help find a new pastor for their church. Corruption, chaos, passion, laughter, tears and thought-provoking lines are the ingredients of this page-turning read.

Genres: Fiction

208 pages, Paperback

First published July 1, 2011

About the author

Jeff Lucas is a Christian author, speaker, life coach, and broadcaster. He holds a pastoral teaching position at Timberline Church in Fort Collins, Colorado. He provides life coaching through Paterson Center. He is a columnist for Premier Christian magazine and for Sorted Magazine he has published 32 books, and he broadcasts a weekly radio show, Lucas on Life. He writes a column of daily bible reading notes, "Lucas on Life Every Day".

Reviews

[Paul Tokarski · Rating 5 out of 5]

Enjoyed reading this fiction humorous. It's good to have a laugh

[Sue · Rating 4 out of 5]

In this novel, which is the direct sequel to 'Helen Sloan's Diary', Helen has to deal with her two closest friends getting married, her pastor and his wife moving away, and being on the selection committee for a new pastor. She also has to deal with an ex-boyfriend who has come back into her life, with a girl she visits as social worker, and also with a new and rather attractive surfer who she spots at the beach… and it's all written in diary form.

I found myself believing more in Helen than I did in the first book. I didn’t plumb any depths of emotions with her, and I didn’t laugh out loud, but I enjoyed visiting her home and church again, I appreciated the irony in some of the caricatures, and I was pleased that there were so many plot resolutions to threads that were opened in the first book.

I read it over just a few days, finding it quite difficult to put down at times. I didn’t find it particularly thought-provoking, but it was, on the whole, an encouraging read about realistic Christians expressing doubts as well as faith, in an often difficult world.

Recommended, but only if you’ve previously read ‘Helen Sloan’s Diary’.

[Rachel Coulson · Rating 4 out of 5]

Definitely better than the first book because the characters had been established! Again, well worth a read, really gripping and well written. Enjoyed it thoroughly. For thoughts on the genre, please see previous review. I am only sad that there isn't another instalment in this series!