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Lincoln Square Series #1
Talents
Parker Wilson has nothing to worry about beyond his marketing job and donating bone marrow to his nephew, who is fighting leukemia. Then he meets Marcus, a little boy dying of a brain tumor who spends most days alone in a hospital room. Because of this child's life and then death, Parker is forced to step outside his suburban comfort zone and confront the struggles, not only of one family, but of an entire community.
Then Parker and four other people are each given $10,000 with the stipulation it is invested in their community and, in a year, report what they did with it. The needs in the community far outpace this gift, and Parker is stretched to the limit of his ability to make the money go as far as possible.
Beatrice feels insignificant and useless since her husband died, until she's invited to invest in a new restaurant — and the lives of the young people who work there. Collin loves his cushy lawyer job but decides to invest his money in the Lincoln Square Community Center, even when it means getting his hands dirty to make the money go as far as it can. Ed feels as though life has handed him some rotten deals. When his $10,000 practically lands in his lap, he thinks his luck has turned — until he loses it all and must decide whether he's willing to put forth the effort to change.
How will each of these people use the talents God has given them to be an influence for good in their struggling community?
Then Parker and four other people are each given $10,000 with the stipulation it is invested in their community and, in a year, report what they did with it. The needs in the community far outpace this gift, and Parker is stretched to the limit of his ability to make the money go as far as possible.
Beatrice feels insignificant and useless since her husband died, until she's invited to invest in a new restaurant — and the lives of the young people who work there. Collin loves his cushy lawyer job but decides to invest his money in the Lincoln Square Community Center, even when it means getting his hands dirty to make the money go as far as it can. Ed feels as though life has handed him some rotten deals. When his $10,000 practically lands in his lap, he thinks his luck has turned — until he loses it all and must decide whether he's willing to put forth the effort to change.
How will each of these people use the talents God has given them to be an influence for good in their struggling community?
285 pages, Kindle Edition
Published July 28, 2017
4 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews
April 23, 2018
Talents by Anna Huckabee is a contemporary retelling of the parable of the talents (Matthew 25: 14-30) and not a book you want to miss. If you are unfamiliar with the Biblical story, I would recommend reading that first to familiarise yourself with the tale - but you don't have to.
Anna Huckabee is a new author to me - and what a powerful story teller she is. Talents is an amazing novel with great power in its words.
Talents is about making a difference. We all have different talents and we need to play to our strengths. Money is important but only if we use it in conjunction with serving. "I don't want to just throw money at a problem."
A run down community is at the heart of the novel. It needs good hearted people to rebuild it. It needs people "investing in the community. Enriching lives." Where we spot a need, we need to meet it. No one is ever too old to serve in God's kingdom. If we are still breathing, we can be used.
Serving others takes the focus off us. "Keeping her busy was making her feel less lost... like she was making a difference." Changing the lives of others also changes us.
Grief plays a part in the novel. Grief is painful but we can use it to motivate us for good.
Not everyone makes wise choices. The heart is willing but the flesh is weak. Poor choices bring consequences and regret but because of grace, it is never too late to have a fresh start. "As long as you are alive, it isn't too late."
Individuals from all walks of life connect within Talents. They have one common goal - to change lives and to make a difference. The old, the young, male, female, educated or not - all can serve the community, using their unique talents to be the change they want to see.
Talents is a powerful novel. It can be a surface read or you can dig deeper. We can all meet the needs we see. God needs all sorts of workers in His kingdom as clearly illustrated in Talents.
If you do not know what to read next, choose Talents, you will be glad you did. May this novel change hearts and minds and may we all take its message to heart.
Thank you Anna Huckabee for such a powerful retelling of a well known Biblical story.
I received this book for free. A favourable review was not required and all views expressed are my own.
Anna Huckabee is a new author to me - and what a powerful story teller she is. Talents is an amazing novel with great power in its words.
Talents is about making a difference. We all have different talents and we need to play to our strengths. Money is important but only if we use it in conjunction with serving. "I don't want to just throw money at a problem."
A run down community is at the heart of the novel. It needs good hearted people to rebuild it. It needs people "investing in the community. Enriching lives." Where we spot a need, we need to meet it. No one is ever too old to serve in God's kingdom. If we are still breathing, we can be used.
Serving others takes the focus off us. "Keeping her busy was making her feel less lost... like she was making a difference." Changing the lives of others also changes us.
Grief plays a part in the novel. Grief is painful but we can use it to motivate us for good.
Not everyone makes wise choices. The heart is willing but the flesh is weak. Poor choices bring consequences and regret but because of grace, it is never too late to have a fresh start. "As long as you are alive, it isn't too late."
Individuals from all walks of life connect within Talents. They have one common goal - to change lives and to make a difference. The old, the young, male, female, educated or not - all can serve the community, using their unique talents to be the change they want to see.
Talents is a powerful novel. It can be a surface read or you can dig deeper. We can all meet the needs we see. God needs all sorts of workers in His kingdom as clearly illustrated in Talents.
If you do not know what to read next, choose Talents, you will be glad you did. May this novel change hearts and minds and may we all take its message to heart.
Thank you Anna Huckabee for such a powerful retelling of a well known Biblical story.
I received this book for free. A favourable review was not required and all views expressed are my own.
January 9, 2018
Lovely writing and an inspiring story
I enjoyed getting to know all of the characters in this story, especially Parker. Once I started reading, I couldn't stop and finished it in one evening.
I enjoyed getting to know all of the characters in this story, especially Parker. Once I started reading, I couldn't stop and finished it in one evening.
July 10, 2018
I knew this was a contemporary Christian novel when I picked it up, so I was definitely interested in it due to the fact that I’m a devout Christian. What I didn’t know, however, was that it was actually a modern retelling of a well-known parable from the New Testament of the Holy Bible. That was a very positive and very wonderful surprise, not just because I’m a Christian but because it felt like a very refreshing take on a story I know by heart. Its comparable to reading a modern take on Cinderella or Robin Hood or any other common tale you heard growing up. On top of all that … it was done very well.
The story revolves around Parker Wilson who loves his job and loves his family. He is one of those characters who has a very cut and clean life; there’s nothing for him to focus on outside of his ill nephew and his job and he’s happy with that—until he meets a little boy who introduces him to an entire community that needs people like him to make a difference.
There is a lot of stress on decision making, selflessness, and grief in this book. Every character is unique and has their own story that adds weight to the message. I will admit, I wish there was a bit more to the story than what I read. It was good but sometimes it felt like there was a dead sadness hanging over the entire novel and it really didn’t budge for a good long time. The book was a modern retelling of a Biblical story, but it was also just another book about a guy from the suburbs helping out some poor people. It felt a little cookie-cutter at times, but it was a good story and it was written fairly well.
All in all … I would consider this a solid book and I would recommend it to any reader who enjoys contemporary fiction. Although the story is based on a Biblical passage, you don’t have to be Christian—or religious at all—to appreciate the value Huckabee has to offer. It is a sweet and pleasant read with a message that everyone needs to learn. I hope you grab a copy soon.
The story revolves around Parker Wilson who loves his job and loves his family. He is one of those characters who has a very cut and clean life; there’s nothing for him to focus on outside of his ill nephew and his job and he’s happy with that—until he meets a little boy who introduces him to an entire community that needs people like him to make a difference.
There is a lot of stress on decision making, selflessness, and grief in this book. Every character is unique and has their own story that adds weight to the message. I will admit, I wish there was a bit more to the story than what I read. It was good but sometimes it felt like there was a dead sadness hanging over the entire novel and it really didn’t budge for a good long time. The book was a modern retelling of a Biblical story, but it was also just another book about a guy from the suburbs helping out some poor people. It felt a little cookie-cutter at times, but it was a good story and it was written fairly well.
All in all … I would consider this a solid book and I would recommend it to any reader who enjoys contemporary fiction. Although the story is based on a Biblical passage, you don’t have to be Christian—or religious at all—to appreciate the value Huckabee has to offer. It is a sweet and pleasant read with a message that everyone needs to learn. I hope you grab a copy soon.
July 2, 2018
Several people receive a large sum of money out of the blue from an organization that asks them to spend it in the interest of improving their community.
The choices of several have a definite impact on those around them, but also change their own lives as they begin to actually see how others are in need and step out of fear and/or selfishness to do what they can to meet those needs.
Because of their commitments, the community sees an improvement and those living there begin to have hope in a larger proportion than the original funds should have produced.
I found the book a little slower in the beginning (but still interesting) due to the introduction of the new characters, but I really enjoyed how the story wove together as people's lives intersected and their perspectives began to change. The characters were real and compelling to me and led to a satisfying ending.
The choices of several have a definite impact on those around them, but also change their own lives as they begin to actually see how others are in need and step out of fear and/or selfishness to do what they can to meet those needs.
Because of their commitments, the community sees an improvement and those living there begin to have hope in a larger proportion than the original funds should have produced.
I found the book a little slower in the beginning (but still interesting) due to the introduction of the new characters, but I really enjoyed how the story wove together as people's lives intersected and their perspectives began to change. The characters were real and compelling to me and led to a satisfying ending.
June 24, 2025
This is my voluntary review of a copy I was given.
This isn't a fleshed-out retelling of the parable but a story based on it, so you really could read this book without knowing the parable. The characters in the book go to church, and there are some mentions of some Christian themes, but there is no preaching in the story, except by the lives of some of the characters. So anyone who enjoys clean romance or heartwarming, encouraging stories would enjoy this one.
Most of the characters do just a little with the money. It's a small amount when compared to the need. But, along with the donation, they invest their time and skills in the neighborhood. In that way they influence the lives of the people around them.
This isn't a fleshed-out retelling of the parable but a story based on it, so you really could read this book without knowing the parable. The characters in the book go to church, and there are some mentions of some Christian themes, but there is no preaching in the story, except by the lives of some of the characters. So anyone who enjoys clean romance or heartwarming, encouraging stories would enjoy this one.
Most of the characters do just a little with the money. It's a small amount when compared to the need. But, along with the donation, they invest their time and skills in the neighborhood. In that way they influence the lives of the people around them.
May 17, 2018
Modern interpretation of the Parables of the Talents
I love this modern interpretation of the Parables of the Talents from the New Testament. I loved the romance stories intertwined into it too.
I love this modern interpretation of the Parables of the Talents from the New Testament. I loved the romance stories intertwined into it too.
Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews