Texas Jack

by Bart "J.B." Hopkins

Product Description
Meet Jack Leonard…

Jack was destined to be an alcoholic. His father, Billy, is a happy-go-lucky drunk from East Texas whose behavior varies from outdated to outrageous. He isn’t a bad person, but he tends to make bad decisions. Billy drives his life like he drives his truck: under the influence.

Against all odds, Jack escapes his fifty-percent-alcohol-by-volume fate. How? He meets a girl, of course. Samantha rescues Jack from his path of self-destruction. Fast-forward twenty years, and Jack’s life is nearly perfect: he has the job, the house, a wonderful marriage, and a 10-year-old son he loves more than anything.

But life is never perfect...is it?

Texas Jack is a compelling story about family relationships, forgiveness, and finding harmony with those you love. From lighthearted and humorous to achingly painful, it captures real people, at their best and worst, and chronicles the choices they must make along the way.
About the Author
Bart Hopkins is originally from Galveston, Texas, but has lived in Mississippi, Louisiana, Tennessee, South Korea, and Germany. He has also been on brief forays into Bosnia and Kuwait. He was born in the middle of the 1970s. The author has a BS in Liberal Arts and an MA in Adult Education; he has served in the United States Air Force for nearly 19 years as a Meteorologist. For now, Bart writes when he can, in those spare moments between work, Scouts, and soccer games. One day soon, he hopes to devote all of his time to bringing the characters in his head to life. Bart’s passions include reading, traveling, photography, writing, and sharing time with his beautiful wife and three awesome children. Texas Jack is Bart’s second novel. His first, Fluke, was co-authored with a friend during their back-to-back deployments. You can learn more about the author, and contact him, through his website: www.barthopkins.com. He’s always happy to hear from readers.

Genres: Fiction, Romance, Ebooks

205 pages, Kindle Edition

First published March 1, 2013

About the author

J.B. Hopkins grew up along the muddy waters of the Texas coast.

He owned an Atari 2600, loves 80's music, and can use a card catalog like nobody's business.

J.B. likes to snap pictures, design covers, and tell stories.

Subscribe to his newsletter and score a free copy of Dead Ends.
https://eepurl.com/hu2AgL

J.B. has written five novels, a novella, and a few dozen short stories.

Reviews

[Zoeytron · Rating 2 out of 5]

This story moves easily between scenes of Jack Leonard from when he was a little boy, a teenager, and adult. Snapshots of his life, as it were, as he learns life's lessons and becomes the man he is today. It is a feel-good tale of family values and forgiveness.

For me, the characters were almost too good to be true, with the only fly in the ointment being Jack's hard drinking father. I wasn't crazy about the myriad product mentions, either. All in all, it was too saccharin for my taste, tending toward a Hallmark commercial sentiment (and boooo - I've committed a product mention of my own - say sorry!). Even so, it was well worth the price of free and it was paced well enough to keep me reading.

[Mia · Rating 5 out of 5]

After reading "Fluke" by Bart Hopkins and David Elliott, I had high expectations for "Texas Jack" and it does not disappoint!

Jack's father, Billy, is an alcoholic and has been since Jack was a kid. The story moves back and forth from the present to the past and gives you insight into Jack and Billy's (often strained) relationship. Billy has amazingly found a way to still be a functional drunk and miraculously hasn't been killed in a car accident, even though he always drives with a beer between his knees. I always hate to post any spoilers, because I don't like to ruin a reader's journey, but so many things about this book will resonate with you. You'll laugh, you'll cry, your heart will pound, and you won't be able to put it down until you see what happens. I literally read it in a little over a day!

I highly recommend it, and if you haven't read "Fluke" yet, go ahead and read that one, too, I promise you won't be disappointed!

[Terri Baldwin · Rating 5 out of 5]

I was given this book by the author in exchange for a fair and honest review. When Bart gave me the book, he cautioned me that this might not be my kind of book. Honestly? This was exactly the kind of book I needed! From the very first page, this story grabbed my interest and my heart and didn't let go. In fact, I read this book in one sitting over a weekend.

The story starts out with Jack as a young boy in the 80's being the lookout for his father on a back road in Texas while his father Billy, relieved himself. Holding a beer and smoking a cigarette, this scene sets the story of Jack's childhood. Each chapter jumps back and forth through time, the younger Jack enjoying his childhood and normalizing his alcoholic father's lifestyle. The older Jack is a more self-reflective person, looking back on these times with a mixture of joy and sadness. In high school and college, Jack was on a path to be just like his father, but was saved at a Nirvana concert by Samantha, the woman he would later call his wife and the mother of their wonderful son, Jake.

Jack and Samantha had a wonderful marriage and an incredible little boy. He had a good job, nice house, and everything he could ask for. On a trip to visit his parents, however, his world turned on end. This is truly a story of addiction, love, family, miracles and finally, redemption. I don't really want to go into detail with what happened that caused this chain of events, but I will say that it was extremely vivid in my mind as I read. Actually, I completely forgot I was reading at all! I was wrapped up in the story and characters as if they were my own family. I laughed, cried, was horrified, and felt the release of decades of hurt and hostility that were always just bubbling under the surface. That last part goes for the book AND my own life!

This book hit really close to home for me. I am the child of an alcoholic and I struggled to become the person I am today. I've never been brave enough to open up and outwardly discuss my feelings with that parent. This book made me want to! So many stories centering around addiction have sad endings. This story ends up being more about love and family than anything.

The characters in this book were wonderful! Billy himself was a hilarious harmless sort (for the most part) and Jack's mother was a strong, caring woman who managed to raise two very well-adjusted children. Jack was an excellent husband, father and employee, and an all-around great guy. His wife, Samantha was the perfect compliment to him... they were such a strong, committed couple! Jack's sister, Katie was positive and helped center the family when tragedy struck. Jake was a wonderful, smart and happy child. Even Scott, Jack's best friend, was part of the family. Every time the family said "Team Leonard",he'd chime in with "And, Scott", I'd laugh out loud. The support this not so perfect family had for each other was definitely abundant!

I recommend this book to anyone who needs a reason to smile. Whether you already have the perfect life and family, or are struggling and facing hard times, this book will hit you right where it counts and make you love the people around you (no matter how imperfect) just that much more.

[Anna · Rating 5 out of 5]

You just don't get enough good guys in books (says the shallow professed lover all "bad boy books!") these days. And you certainly don't get the male POV for an entire well written book.

Bart Hopkins hooked me with Fluke and I knew I would always read whatever he wrote. This book was a departure from my typical genre but I have to say it's one of the best books I've read in quite some time. I can never get enough of Hopkins' writing style. He does a two paragraph description of a teenage boy's cool head nod to a friend that is the perfect example of simplicity that we take for granted. The throwback chapters with incredible music references (just the first lines of Unbelievable threw me back in time and by doing that he completely changed the mindset of the reader: You burden me with your questions, You'd have me tell no lies.).

The maturity of this great father/husband/son that we know in present day Jack wasn't without some fate intervening and the fact he credits his wife, what woman couldn't fall in love with that sentiment?

The ending might have been a bit shiny happy. It was what made this book so special though, there is enough drama and miscommunication in everyday life and typical book formulas, I didn't miss it much, although this good guy witha good life felt new and different. I mean there were a few shiny happy moments throughout the book and as indicative is it is on our society and Jack kept giving us glimpses to how great his life is, I kept thinking "the other shoe is going to drop annnnyyy minute now!" Isn't that sad? So, I'm not going to take those cheesy parts for anything other than icing on the cake of this great story!

[Pearl · Rating 5 out of 5]

!!!!!!!!! Bestseller !!!!!!!!!!!

TEXAS JACK is a rare find in this modern world. The perfect brew of humor and drama, of joy and sadness, but mostly a feel-good novel all around. It's about fathers and sons, parenting, friendships, and even football! Yes, just about everyone will be able to identify with Jack and his world.

The author blends literary savvy with modern topics, yielding beautiful prose that swirls around people who are dealing with internal and external problems and pressures. Without divulging any spoilers, I can say that it's a touching story for those who have ever known an alcoholic, drank too much in college themselves, or battled the bottle in any way… anyone that might have had one too many and made a mistake or two.

It's set on the Gulf Coast of Texas and presents some of the abundant magic contained in that part of the nation. From the beaches of Galveston, to the spirit of Texas football, it draws you in and holds you tight until the end.

I highlighted over 16 beautifully written and profound passages. Here are only but a few uplifting quotes that I thought you may like as well:

“I had told her how much I loved her every day of our marriage, because the truth was that I never tired of it, and I always wanted her to know.”

“There had not been many moments in my life when the world stopped moving around me—moments when everything in the periphery blurred or disappeared.”

“The sun was just poking up above the horizon, a brilliant silver of heat and life, giving Austin a good morning kiss.”

“But, until that day was here, I had to hand it to the minions over at Apple—the xylophone tone was a pleasant and reasonable sound, for an alarm.”

“I noted the doctor, the quarterback, had good hand placement and was communicating well with the center, Samantha. I prayed that there wouldn’t be a shotgun snap and my prayer was answered; they used the classic under-center snap. The doctor got the baby with both hands and a firm grip and made the play—quarterback sneak—and score!”

While my degree is in Spanish Literature and I have analyzed works like EL CID and DON QUIXOTE, I have also been to the birth home of Shakespeare and have walked along the pathways Jane Austen once strolled herself. I appreciate literature in any language and I can point out a great book when the praise is due. I truly find that Bart Hopkins’s TEXAS JACK is right up there with the current book I am reading by Barbara Delinsky (ESCAPE) and my other favorite modern writers, such as Nicholas Sparks and John Grisham! Like me, take the ride along Jack’s Texas roads and realize that this could be you or someone you know Anywhere, USA — or worldwide for that matter— you’ll be glad you did! Bestseller indeed!!!!!!!!!

[Editing Services by Cynthia Shepp · Rating 5 out of 5]

Bart Hopkin’s ‘Texas Jack’ was a tale of family, heartbreak, betrayal, and forgiveness. I will admit that it hit really close to home as Jack’s father reminded me of how mine used to be. The story switched back in forth from past to present and told the tale of Jack’s life from childhood to adulthood. I always love books that do that. It gives you more of a sense of who the character is.

Jack is a man with a family, a wife that he loves and a son that he adores. His family life is happy, regardless of the blasé attitude that everyone gives to his father, Billy, about his drinking and the excuses everyone makes for him. Jack was on the road to being an alcoholic just like his father while he was in college. He drank all the time…until he met a girl at a concert and she changed his life.

Fast forward to the future and a trip to visit his parents, and you can feel the build-up to something with every page you read. You know it’s coming, you know it’s going to be bad, but you don’t know the outcome. I laughed, I cried, I bit my fingernails, and I even found myself praying for the characters in the book (lol, God must think I’m nuts), but you just can’t help it. You get so invested in the outcome of the book that their family has become your family.

Full of characters that you wish you only had in your life, friends and family alike, this book shows that family, friendship, and love is alive…and that forgiveness may be hard, but it’s possible and worth it in the long run. I actually felt like I didn’t know if I could forgive what happened, but after hitting the last page, I knew he had done the right thing, and it changed their family forever. This book is an instant classic, a must-read, and one of those books that stay with you long after you are done. I give Texas Jack 5 STARS and would give it more if I could. A moving, heartwarming story that everyone should read!

[Tucker Elliot · Rating 5 out of 5]

There’s a great line in “Texas Jack” that reads: “Families start out, most of the time, with unconditional acceptance of one another.” In this novel, Jack Leonard – the protagonist – has to deal with the reality and conflicted emotions that emerge in that tenuous space “between childhood and adulthood” when “the ability to distinguish right versus wrong is born.”

Throughout his formative years Jack Leonard has witnessed time and again the mistakes and poor choices made by his father – but his father also taught Jack how to live, how to love and respect and treat family, and perhaps most importantly, how to be a man.

These powerful lessons gave Jack a foundation that served him well as an adult. He has a great family, a successful career, and a life that’s nearly perfect. Then tragedy strikes – and here’s the beautiful part of the story: how should we react or live when we see people who we love unconditionally choosing behavior that we know is wrong? And what should we do when that behavior yields horrific consequences on our own children? Is the “unconditional acceptance” of one’s family strong enough to survive our worst flaws?

“Texas Jack” is a powerful story about loving our families, the things we do that threaten to destroy our families, and the powerful choice we all have to forgive the ones who hurt us the most. The author has done a terrific job of exploring these topics that impact us all and I highly recommend “Texas Jack”.

[Lynda Kelly · Rating 5 out of 5]

I was kindly given a copy of this by the author in exchange for a review, warts 'n' all. I got the better deal as it's a terrific story.
I loved his previous book, Fluke, so was more than happy to give this one a go.
It's about Jack, a lad brought up by a father who is a drinker......a big drinker, and how this impacts on those around him, namely his closest family. It's not all doom and gloom, though. There were some laugh-out-loud moments in it despite the subject matter.
I share Jack's hope in the story that humanity might forget to spell altogether in the future.....we're seeing signs of this already in a certain generation. It's pretty sad.
I do have to point out that I'm an English reader and bumming here means something completely different to what it does there !! Also, there was mention of being on the range and I'd assumed a golfing range but it wasn't ! I should have realised with it being set in Texas.
I was wanting to know all about Jack's wedding and it wasn't featured which was a great shame. We got to hear about the birth of his son (I loved the line about the world's newest mother) and how Jack met his wife but nothing in-between.....including his friend's marriage. All glossed over and it didn't need to be, I thought.
As with Fluke, there were real ups and downs throughout the story but altogether a terrific story.

[Courtney · Rating 5 out of 5]

If there is one thing Bart Hopkins does well as an author, it is making his characters relatable. Everyone can find a little bit of themselves in his books, and because of that, they pull you in and allow you to lose yourself in his fictional world for a few hours.
It is hard to put his books down.
Texas Jack is no different.
Very simply, Texas Jack is about… well… a man named Jack from Texas.
Obviously, though, Jack is much deeper than that. Growing up with an alcoholic father isn’t easy on a kid, but he gets through it.
He grows up and has a son of his own and seems to have his life put together.
That is until that one tragic day..
His son’s life is as risk and no one knows if he will live.
It is emotional, and Bart expresses this emotion by having Jack flash back to earlier parts in his life. It happens throughout the whole book, but now these flashbacks are focused on his father and how his father was with him while he was growing up.
Texas Jack carries a lot of emotion, but it is always very fun.
Bart has a great writing style that keeps you captivated from the front cover until the very last page.
The character development is wonderful, the character arcs created through present time events and Jack’s flashbacks to earlier times in his life.
5/5 the story is great. The characters are great. The writing is great. Pick it up!

[Mary · Rating 5 out of 5]

** 4.5 Stars

Texas Jack opens on a Texas road where a young Jack keeps watch while his drunk father pees beside his truck. The rest of the book goes back and forth between the present (2012) and the past, telling an intricate tale of forgiveness and love.

This book falls outside of my typical genres, but I read a short story by Hopkins and I absolutely loved his writing style. Hopkins beautiful style translates well into this genre. A little slow to start, but once the story got going, I absolutely loved this book. The story is filled with flashbacks, something many authors don't do very well with, but Hopkins weaves them into his story almost flawlessly. Jack's narration has a bit of humor to it that balances out the sometimes heavy subject matter of the story. Jack is a very well-developed character and I enjoyed learning about his life. There's a slow build up of suspense, leading to a scene in the pool that I had to stop reading for a moment because I was so affected by what was going on. Overall, this book is a well-written story with a great message.

[Susan Mcswain · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book grabbed my attention from the beginning. I could not put it down. The setting was in Texas where I have lived all my life. The story encompassed so many familiar events such as Texas high school football and the role that played in Jack's life. It was a story which touched many lives but focused on the joys and sorrows that happened in one family's life. Jack's father made many mistakes and many poor choices. But he also taught Jack how to love and respect and treat family, and to also know that family is most important. When tragedy struck Jack's unconditional love and acceptance was tested. The author did a terrific job of exploring the issues that could have torn the family apart. The powerful choice of forgiveness that keeps families together when circumstances and events threaten to tear them apart is beautifully portrayed. I highly recommend this book.

[Bart Jr. · Rating 5 out of 5]

Best book I read this year! All family pride aside. Texas Jack has all the elements. Moving and real with characters you care about. Hats off to the author. Very important issues presented with humor and compassion. Suspense and drama. What else could you ask for? They say that fiction is the truth that is buried inside the lie, and the truths shine through in Texas Jack.

[sherry beth · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent read

I liked this book so much, I ordered a copy to send to a friend. Very interesting story and well written. It is well worth reading.

[Dana P. Johnson · Rating 4 out of 5]

Well written.....tear jerker.

Very well written....emotional story...good story line but changed times often... .... .... .... .... .... ... ... ... ... ... ...

[Nancy · Rating 2 out of 5]

This is a pleasant, easy read, but I found it predictable and pollyanna-ish. One thing really puzzles me: how could such intelligent and responsible parents have left their child with an iresponsible drunk?

[Carolyn Valcik · Rating 3 out of 5]

How a family tragedy brings a family together.

[Krys · Rating 5 out of 5]

Meet Jack Leonard... he may not have come from much, but his story will win your heart!

Texas Jack is the story of growing up in an imperfect family - downright dysfunctional at times - and still finding happiness in life in spite, or because, of it. Alcoholism plays a major role in the story of the Leonard family, and the author's depiction is real and riveting. If you've experienced alcoholism in your family, this will strike a chord with you again and again... and leave you with a familiar whirlwind of emotions. And if you're unfamiliar with the issue directly, you'll be moved beyond words by the close encounter of the likeable and relatable family's struggles.

After reading the author's first novel, Fluke, I was looking forward to his enjoyable sense of humor and knack for resonating with those in the gen-X and gen-Y crowd; I found it, along with an unsuspected buildup of suspense and major pulls at the old heart-strings. This is a heartfelt story of family: tough times, growth, and forgiveness.

Texas Jack is genuine, funny, and moving - you won't be able to put it down. I highly recommend this book, as well as the author's other works!

[Natalie · Rating 4 out of 5]

I didn't really have any expectations for this book when I downloaded it, outside of having something new to read on the beach this summer. Given that, it hooked me pretty quickly, in large part because the story is set in familiar terrain for me as a native Texan, and I happened to start reading it on a weekend trip to Galveston which is featured heavily in the book.

I thought the opening sections where he's remembering his childhood with his father were particularly well written, and aside from feeling like this family was too good to be true (or at least that the characters were very one-dimensional), I really enjoyed reading it.

A pleasant read became terrifying very quickly as the story turned tragic - a kind of tragedy that I unfortunately have personal experience with. I ended up tearing through the rest of the book to get to the resolution and have been haunted by it every since.

This one hit too close to home for me to really say I "enjoyed" it, but I would definitely try another book by this author.

[Bart Hopkins · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thanks for reading Texas Jack!

If you've already read it, I truly hope you enjoyed it.

If you haven't, and you're wondering, is this book for me? then let me try and help you...

It's literary fiction.
It's about alcoholism and family relationships.
And, while it's humorous in parts, it isn't meant to be purely comedy. It is, after all, the story of a boy with an alcoholic father and how that affects various parts of his life.

If you like John Irving or Nicholas Sparks, then I think there's a good chance you'll like Texas Jack, though it's also different from them, too.

If you have any comments or questions, I love connecting with readers, just shoot me a line at bart@barthopkins.com

Happy Reading!
Bart

[Meghan Bauer · Rating 3 out of 5]

So this book really dragged on for a long time. I liked the flash-backs to when Jack was a kid, but the rest of it was drivel.
I really hated Jack in the end the way her blathered on about how perfect his life was and how beautiful his wife was and how happy he was to have her and how nice his life and his house and his things and his job was. OMG dude, we get it, you won life.
Also the constant name dropping was really REALLY off-putting. By the 48% mark I counted 73 (maybe more). Some were relevant to the story (we were at a Nirvana concert) but a lot (A LOT) of them just seemed gratuitous and commercial-y. (OMG guys, COD, iPads, I swear I'm relevant!)
At least the end of the story moved quickly but of course everything worked out for Perfect Jack

[Candy · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is one of those books that was really hard for me to write a review of. The storyline and writing is well done, but the author seemed to get lost a few times. At least a third of the book could have been cut and the story would have been just fine. It was a bit overly-written in many parts and could have used a good editor to slice it up and flesh out a few places that needed.

Overall, I found the story itself to be compelling and I liked the flashbacks and how the author pulled the two stories together. I think the ending was predictable but satisfying.

Recommended for those looking for a heartfelt read that don't mind a little rambling.

[Lynn · Rating 1 out of 5]

Why is there no zero star rating for books such as this? Ugh! Jack lives the perfect life. There is no depth to the characters or the storyline. Perfect is boring and unrealistic. The only conflict in the story comes at the halfway point. Exactly. (Perfect. you know.) Because the only thing not perfect in this story is the main character's father who is and always has been a drunk. But he's a nice, friendly drunk, so it's okay. Until he lets his grandson drown. But don't worry, in this perfect world the grandson recovers and the grandpa stops drinking and everyone lives happily ever after. The best thing about this book is-it's short.

[Garth Mailman · Rating 4 out of 5]

Like so many books I've been reading lately this one jumps around in time and place mid various generations of the same family. We see Jack as a 10-year-old, as a teenage jock, and as a parent with a son of his own. No one would accuse this of being great literature but the book is well-edited and although at times pedestrian has a certain familial appeal. It gives one an insiders view of a family's life. At times the shifting point of view leaves one wondering who's doing the narrating. The book confronts issues of alcoholism and child neglect. The book has a ready for Hollywood ending.

[Peg · Rating 2 out of 5]

A heartwarming story, and a short read. But it was not convincing as being "true-to-life". The characters are likable, but with the exception of the alcoholic father, much too perfect to relate to. With all the dysfunction going on in the family, the negative consequences would have been far more frequent and violent than just the one climactic incident. I would have liked to see the main character (Jack) more flawed and less idyllic.

[Terri · Rating 1 out of 5]

I don't understand all the rave reviews - this book dragged on and on, to the point I gave up half way through it.

[Carolyn · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 stars. A good freebie.

[Anita Dobbs · Rating 2 out of 5]

Predictable story of a man with an alcoholic father and the lifes perils this causes.

[Lisa · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was a light read. Cute story about a family, but that's about it. I enjoyed it, but didn't get much out of it.

[Rob · Rating 2 out of 5]

Sickly sweet morality tale about three generations of boys / men, in which everyone, except perhaps the alcoholic grandpa is simply wonderful in every way !