Just Down the Road - Book Review

NY Times and USA Today bestselling author Jodi Thomas is pleased to present

JUST DOWN THE ROAD, the fourth novel in her award-winning Harmony series.

When Tinch Turner lost his wife, he gave up on living. Now he spends his nights brooding, boozing and brawl-ing. When one of his escapades lands him in the ER, he finds himself staring up at the beautiful new doctor in town. For the first time in years, he feels a spark, but Addison Spencer wants nothing to do with the unruly rancher—or any man for that matter. She’s only in Harmony four months, long enough for the trouble she left behind to be over. But then a vulnerable little boy barrels into both of their lives, forcing them out of the past —and into a future where love is just down the road…

"Extremely powerful and gripping writing...full of passionate moments, hidden secrets, and likable characters.

~ Roundtable Reviews

" Even for readers new to the series, the intricate relationships between these affable men and ec-centric women are easy to follow and even easier to love. "

~Publishers Weekly

Jodi Thomas is the NY Times and USA Today bestselling author of 34 novels and 11 short story col-lections. In June 2011, WELCOME TO HARMONY won a RITA, the highest award for women’s fiction. Jodi currently serves as the Writer in Residence at West Texas A&M University in Canyon, Texas.

www.jodithomas.com

Twitter.com/jodithomas

www.facebook.com/ JodiThomasAuthor

I had the great opportunity to read the newest book in the Harmony series by Jodi Thomas.  Just Down the Road is another great book by Ms. Thomas.  I thoroughly enjoy how each new book brings back old characters from the whole series.  The latest book is by far the best in the series and I look forward to reading more of Jodi Thomas' books.


*Disclaimer*  I was not paid for this post.  I was given a free copy of the book for review purposes.  Thank you to Jodi Thomas and staff for the book.

Shadow in Serenity- book review

 

Shadow in Serenity written by New York Bestselling author, Terri Blackstock takes you on a journey to small town Texas.


Carny Sullivan, suspicious about suave, handsome Logan Brisco and his charming ways, is drawn to him, despite her best intentions and her determination to expose his plans for her quiet Texas town.

Carny Sullivan grew up in the zany world of a traveling carnival. Quaint and peaceful Serenity, Texas, has given her a home, a life, and a child. Logan Brisco is the smoothest, slickest, handsomest man Serenity, Texas has ever seen. But Carny Sullivan knows a con artist when she sees one—and she’s seen plenty, starting with her father. As far as Carny Sullivan can tell, she’s the only one in town who has his number. Because from his Italian shoes to his movie-actor smile, Logan has the rest of the town snowed.

Carny is determined to reveal Brisco’s selfish intentions before his promise to the townspeople for a cut in a giant amusement park sucks Serenity dry. Yet, as much as she hates his winning ways, there is a man behind that suave smile, a man who may win her heart against her will.

 For me personally it took a bit longer to read, as I had a hard time getting into the plot of the story, not because it was a bad book, just not one I was overly excited about reading, not a hard plot to follow so I pretty much figured out how it would end well before I was done reading it. 
Shadow in Serenity is a fun read, with a happy ending.  This book was previously published under a different title, and has been modified to fit into the Christian realm.  I would give this book 3 out of 5 stars, and would recommend it to those that like Christian books. 
Shadow in Serenity will be available to purchase starting in September 2011.

*Disclaimer*  I was not paid for this post.  I was sent a free copy of the book to read in exchange for my review.  Thank you to the PR Company for sending the book.

The Wild Soccer Bunch book 2 - Review

Author Joachim Masannek is back with the second book of the wildly popular series The Wild Soccer Bunch : Diego the Tornado.


Fabio, the son of a famous Brazilian soccer player, wants to join the Wild Soccer Bunch. But Fabio’s father has other plans. He makes his son play for the Furies, one of the best youth club teams in the country. The Wild Soccer Bunch is devastated, but Diego has a plan. He turns the Wild Soccer Bunch into a club team and challenges the Furies to a game! Can the Wild Soccer Bunch survive the game? Can their friendship endure the test?

If your child loves soccer they will love this series of books.  Both boys and girls alike will find the series fun and captivating. 
My nine year old daughter read the book in about two days, she really enjoyed reading it and couldn't put it down. 

The Wild Soccer Bunch has sold over 10 million copies world wide and is a world wide phenomenom.  You can purchase book two Diego the Tornado on Amazon.com or through The Wild Soccer Bunch website.
For more information as well as contests, games, and prizes follow on Facebook .

Disclaimer: I was not paid for this review.  I was sent a free copy to read and review.  Thank you to the PR team for sending this book.

The Adventures of Joe-Joe Nut & Biscuit Bill - Review

The second book in the The Adventures of Joe-Joe Nut and Biscuit Bill is Case #2: Mineral Mischief.  Written by Renee Hand and Illustrated by: Jake Karwoski.

In the midst of having her friends visit her rock collection, Maple Moo’s rare mineral goes missing from underneath her large cow nose. She instantly turns to Joe-Joe Nut and Biscuit Bill, the most famous detectives in Acorn Valley, to find it. But they didn’t know the task was going to be an impossible one. The suspects were hard to figure out. Was it Candy Cardinal, who committed the crime? She collects various gemstones to make jewelry. Brutus and Betty Blue Beaver also collect minerals and have a fancy quartz collection. Liam the Llama looks suspicious with his igneous rocks and exploding volcano, or was it Huckleberry Moose with his sedimentary rock collection? Joe-Joe and Biscuit find themselves at a loss until some bullies roar into town. Will the detectives be able to find the missing mineral? Or, will this be a case they won’t be able to close? Find out in case #2 in the award-winning Joe-Joe Nut and Biscuit Bill Series-Mineral Mischief. Look for the various activities in the back of the book concerning rocks and minerals for added learning. Bubbling rocks, anyone?

My nine year old daughter read the book and loved it.  She especially liked all the information about rocks and the experiments in the back of the book.
As a homeschooling mom, I love that the experiments were added to the book, as this will give us some fun projects to try.
The book is funny, and educational and is well suited for children ages 7 and up.
I think the only thing I would like to see changed for the series is too see the illustrations done in color, instead of black and white.
You can find more information about the author Renee Hand on her website.  She is an award winning author and has written many other books as well as the The Adventures of Joe-Joe Nut and Biscuit Bill.  You can order book two through Amazon.com and Barnes and Nobles.
*Disclaimer* I was not paid for this review.  I was sent a free copy to read and review.  Thank you to Renee Hand for sending the copy and for writing an excellent book.

Texas Blue - Book Review

Texas Blue is the fifth book in the “Whispering Mountain” series by author Jodi Thomas. 

From the back cover:
Gambling man Lewton Paterson wants to marry into a respectable family, even if it costs him his friendship with Duncan McMurray. After fleecing a train ticket from one of the three gentlemen picked to call on Duncan's cousins, Lewt makes his way to Whispering Mountain. But seducing a well-bred woman is harder than Lewt thought, and he realizes that to entice a McMurray sister, he'll need to learn a thing or two about ranching—and love.

I absolutley loved this book!  I couldn't put it down and was able to read it in a weekend.  The characters were so fun and Ms. Thomas brings Texas to life in her books.  I went to my local library and have put on hold as many of Jodi Thomas' books as they had. 
I don't want to give anything away in the book, but it is a must read.  As it is the fifth book in a series, you don't necessarily have to read the first four books, I am going to go back and read them so I can get caught up in the series, but Texas Blue can be read first.
Texas Blue comes out April 5th so be sure and order you copy.
You can follow Jodi Thomas on Facebook and Twitter and visit her webpage here.

***Disclaimer*** I was not paid for this post.  I was sent a free book for review purposes.  Thank you to Ms. Thomas for the book.

Lilly's Wedding Quilt - book review

Lilly's Wedding Quilt was written by Kelly Long.  From the back cover:

She isn't looking for love. He's mending a broken heart. It will take divine intervention for these two to get together.

Local Amish schoolteacher Lilly Lapp is tired of weddings, afraid of horses, and immersed in caring for her depressed mother. But when Jacob Wyse, a handsome horse breeder from her small community rescues her from a dangerous accident, Lilly discovers a renewed interest in life and the possibility of love.
Yet Jacob has lost the one true love of his life to another man and doesn't care to expose himself to the vulnerabilities of loving again.

God works to bring this unlikely pair into a sweet romance to produce a pattern of faith, which leads to the creation and comfort of Lilly's Wedding Quilt.

If you love to read Amish fiction this is a must read.  The author has done a wonderful job of bringing the Amish culture to life.  The story is one of finding true love and the ups and downs that go along with it.  I really enjoyed this new to me author and plan on reading the first book in the series.  I also can't wait to read the next book!

***Disclaimer*** I was not paid for this post.  I was sent a free book to read in exchange for my review.  Thank you to Book Sneeze for making this possible.

Journey to Riverbend - book review

Michael Archer is nothing if not a man of his word. Though he was unable to save Ben Carstairs, Michael is determined to carry out Ben’s dying wish: to be reconciled with his father. Unfortunately, Sam Carstairs, one of the most ruthless businessmen on the frontier, has no use for his own son, much less a man of God seeking reconciliation.

Soon after arriving in Riverbend, Michael meets and falls for the stunning Rachel Stone while waiting for Sam to return from a business trip. Beautiful yet guarded, Rachel seems to be running from a past as dark as Michael’s.
When word reaches town that Sam has been kidnapped on the stagecoach home, Michael offers to join the search party formed by the local sheriff. With a budding romance behind him and a dangerous rescue ahead of him, he sets out on the trail, determined to complete his journey no matter the cost.

Henry McLaughlin is the 2009 winner of the Jerry B. Jenkins Christian Writer's Guild Operation First Novel Contest.  He has written an amazing story with Journey to Riverbend.  You will find yourself out in the old west, awaiting action from the cowboys of days long gone.  This book shows God's amazing grace and how forgiveness is the key to relationships.  I thoroughly enjoyed this book and really hope that the author left the ending the way he did so that there will be a second book. 

*Disclaimer* I was not paid for this review. I was sent a free book in exchange for my review.  Thank you to Tyndale publishers for the book.

Beneath The Night Tree - book review

Beneath the Night Tree was written by Nicole Baart.  This is the third book in a series about the life of Julia DeSmit.  The preface of the book is:

Do I have a child? Julia DeSmit knew she would face the question eventually, but she didn’t expect it now. At twenty-four, she is finally content with the way her life has unfolded. A single mother to her son and young brother, she works at the local grocery store while chipping away at a two-year degree. All her free time is spent with her unorthodox family—her boys, her grandmother, and her boyfriend of five years. It’s not perfect, but Julia is happier than ever.

So when she receives the cryptic e-mail from her son’s father, Julia’s world is turned upside down. She hasn’t heard from Parker since he left her in a college parking lot nearly six years ago. But one look at her son—the spitting image of his father—is enough to convince her that, for better or worse, Parker is a part of their story. Faced with this new reality and an unexpected tragedy, Julia begins a tightrope walk between what was and what is, what she hopes for and what will be.
 
I wish I had read the first two books so I knew the whole back story.  It isn't necessary to read the previous two books, it is still easy to follow along, just reading the first two books would have helped me make a connection to the characters.
While this is a christian themed book, I felt it lacked in christian content.  The whole book is about an unmarried girl raising a child, and other than a few "prayers" there didn't seem to be much about Christ in the book.  Overall it was a quick read, but the plot was pretty easy to pick out, and was like most other books.
 
*Disclaimer* I was sent a free copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.  Thank you to Tyndale for the book.

Bow Allure - review

As a mom of three girls I am always looking for fun, new hair accessories and we found it at Bow Allure!  Bow Allure offers a wide assortment of bows, headbands, hair clips and bow holders. 

Bow Allure is a brand new online boutique, based in Florida, specializing in hair accessories.

Bow Allure was started in 2010 by Juliet Hartley, who is a mom of two girls. Bow Allures goal is to provide fashionable, chic, handmade accessories.

We were sent 2 headbands, and 1 set of hair bows (the ones pictured).  My girls were so excited to try their hair bands and bows.  I especially liked the hairbands for the older girls.  They were super cute, and perfect for the 7 and up crowd!  My 2 year old loved the purple bows and they worked great in her fine, toddler hair.  The hair bows come on an alligator clip that is lined, so their was no pulling of little baby hairs.
I think I am going to be ordering this cute bow holder to contain all of our bows!
You can shop from Bow Allures online catalog and you can find them on Face book.

***Disclaimer*** I was not paid for this review.  I was sent free products to review.  Thank you to Juliet at Bow Allure for contacting me and allowing me to review her products.

Voices of the Faithful book 2- Review

Are you looking for a daily devotional?  Voices of the Faithful book 2 is a great devotional book by Beth Moore and Kim Davis.  With 366 daily devotions, this book will inspire you as you read about the lives of missionaries.  I have always found missionary stories to be very enjoyable and this devotion book gives you insight into the daily lives of some very great people and the experiences that they encounter.  The book is broken down into topics such as:  Prayer,  Priority, God, Our Loving Father, Divine Appointments, Lessons from the Young, Lost and Found, Making Him Known, and many more.  This book is a great read and a great reminder of those that are sacrificing their lives for the Lord.

Disclaimer: I was given a free copy of this book for review purposes.  Thank you to Thomas Nelson publisher for the book.

If I could keep you little... book review

If I Could Keep You Little is a wonderful new story book written and illustrated by Marianne Richmond.
As a mother, there are sometimes you wish that your children could stay little forever.  The author writes a fun book all about the ways a mother wishes she could keep her child young.   Whether you are a seasoned mother of many or a new mom to be this book will bring a smile to your face.  With beautiful illustrations throughout, If I Could Keep You Little, would make a great addition to any child's library.
This book can be purchased for 15.99 at www.sourcebooks.com.

***Disclaimer*** I was sent a copy of this book for review purposes.  I was not paid for this post.
Thank you to Sourcebooks for the opportunity.

Blind Sight - Book Review

Blind Sight written by author James H. Pence is a fast paced must read.

Peter Bishop is on a mission to save his two children, Micah and Michelle.  He has one chance left to get the children into the safe arms of their mother.  Peter calls Thomas Kent, an old college friend and leaves a message saying "Save my children", those are the last words Peter Bishop ever says.
Thomas Kent, is a man with baggage, trying to cope with the death of  his wife and children in a car accident, he has no desire to help anyone, let alone someone he hasn't heard from in years. 
Thomas reluctantly decides to help Micah and Michelle find there mother Justine, who is in hiding, she is hiding from a cult, who is desperately trying to find Justine and take her out before she can expose the cult and all its leaders.
Thomas and Justine find themselves on a mission to bring down a cult and save themselves from a group of people that will stop at nothing.

This book is really an interesting book, the fact that cults can so easily deceive people was really eye opening and believable.  Blind Sight is a good read, and I looking forward to reading more books by James H. Pence.

Disclaimer:  I was not paid for this post.  I was sent a copy of Blind Sight free of charge.  Thanks to Kathy Carlton Willis Communications for the book.

SCARS - Book Review

SCARS is a must read for every Christian.  The author, Patience Prence, takes Biblical prophecy and weaves a story that is based on the end times.

As Christians we all need to be ready for the coming of Christ, and for the anti-Christ.  SCARS is  a story about a young teenager, named Becky, and how she lives through the end times.  Biblical prophecy is portrayed in an intriguing way,as Becky's life is changed when the anti-Christ takes his place upon earth.  In the end Becky must decide whether to stay true to the real Jesus Christ or sway and give in to the anti-Christ.

The author really makes you think about what it will be like when the Lord comes back, and for those that are left behind and all that will happen to them.

I really think that all Christians should read this book as it is thought provoking, and then pass it on to those that are not saved.  And I was so glad to see the author use the King James Bible and how she accurately showed verse after verse of Scripture in this well thought out book.

About the Author:
Patience Prence is a lifelong Christian and busineness women.  As a child she was fascinated by the book of Revelations and prophecy.  She suffers from Usher Syndrome, a disease that causes blindness and hearing loss.  You can visit her website at www.thespringharvest.com/patienceprence/

***Disclaimer*** I was not paid for this post.  I was sent a free copy of the book SCARS by the author in exchange for my honest review.  Thank you to the author for a wonderful book!

The Devil in Pew Number Seven- book review

I chose this book to read and review based on the title, and this book did not disappoint.  The Devil in Pew Number Seven is a true life story.  The terror and horror that one family went through as well as a story of true forgiveness, no matter what.

Rebecca Nichols Alonzo shares the unimaginable story that her family went through in  The Devil in Pew Number Seven, and she shares a truly remarkable lesson in forgiveness.

When Rebecca was just a small child her family moved Sellerstown, North Carolina so that her father could be a Pastor.  Most of the town gladly accepted the family, except for the man in pew number seven, Mr. Watts.  The story that is told is one of hatred, by Mr. Watts, and love and forgiveness, by the Nichols family.   As the family is threatened day after day, they continue to show love and forgiveness, and as the family is destroyed right before Rebecca's young eyes she continues to show love and forgiveness to those that have taken the ones she loves the most.

A true story of one families undeniable faith and the ability to show true forgiveness no matter what the price.
I really enjoyed the whole story and couldn't put it down.  I don't know that I would ever be able to do what Rebecca did, as she truly shows the love of Jesus in her abililty to forgive those that took so much away from her.

**Disclaimer** I was not paid for this review.  I was given a free copy to read from Tyndale publishers in exchange for my review.

Let's Do Lunch- Book Review

Let's Do Lunch written by Roger Troy Wilson.  This is the true story about the author himself.  Roger Troy Wilson weighed an astonishing 425 pounds with a waist measurement of 5 feet before he finally got serious and started to control his weight problem.
Let's Do Lunch is a weight management how to book.  Mr. Wilson shows you how he learned to control his addicting habits and what foods are best to eat in order to lose weight.
The book has meal plans, recipes and the authors story all divided into easy to follow steps.

Honestly I was curious about this book because under the title it says Eating all the Calories and Carbs you want to lose weight.   After reading the book I really feel that this is a misleading statement.  The author clearly states you have to avoid bread, rice, potatoes, etc.  So obviously you can't really eat everything you want and still lose weight.
I did enjoy reading his story and how he lost the weight, although it really is common sense.   You can't eat and eat and expect not to get fat, and the way the author ate in the beginning of the story explains why he weighed 425 pounds. 
I think the book is like all the other books out there, just another "diet" plan, that may or may not work for you.

I did try to follow the meal plan, but it really hasn't been possible to stick to for me, though I am going to incorporate eating more fruits and vegetables.  I did try the frozen grapes as the author suggested, and they really are good!

***Disclaimer*** I was given a copy of this book free of charge in exchange for my honest review.  All opinions stated are my own opinion and yours may differ.  Thanks to Thomas Nelson and the Booksneeze program for the copy.

What We Have - Book Review

One of the best things about being a blogger is the chance to read really great books and I just had the opportunity to read an amazing book called:
What We Have: A Family's Inspiring Story About Love, Loss, and Survival written by Amy Boesky.

Grab a cup of coffee and a box of tissues and be prepared to put yourself in the author's shoes.  What would you do if you had a cancer gene that ran in your family?  Would you live your life to it's fullest, treasuring every moment?  Or would you sit and worry and go through life always waiting for the bad news?

What We Have is the amazing life story of Amy Boesky and her family.  Ever since she was a child it was drilled in her that women in her family die at a young age due to ovarian cancer.  Amy's own biological clock is ticking and she knows that at age 35 she must have her ovaries removed so that she too won't fall victim to the disease.  Amy takes you on her and her family's journey through birth, death, happy times and sad times. 

This is the BEST book I have read all year!  I couldn't stop reading this book, and I read it in two days.  It is a book that every women will want to read.  Whether you are a mother, daughter, sister, or friend this is a book that will resonate will all women.  I encourage you to either buy the book or borrow it from the library, you will not be disappointed.

You can purchase What We Have at Barnes and Nobles, Amazon, and Borders.  You can also visit the website for more information and to read an excerpt from the book. 

***Disclaimer*** I was not paid for this post.  I was given a free copy for review purposes.  Thank you to the PR company and Jessica for sending me the book to review.

Fatal Convictions - Book Review

Fatal Convictions written by critically acclaimed author Randy Singer is great new legal thriller.   Author Randy Singer has written a suspenseful book centered around Muslim honor killings.    Fatal Convictions is about attorney and pastor Alexander Madison.   When a client comes to Alex regarding a car accident  he gladly takes the case, but no sooner than taking the case his client is charged in connection with an honor killing.  Alex and his partner, Shannon  realize they are in over their  heads.  Alex and Shannon firmly believe their client is innocent and they soon discover things aren't always what they seem.

This book takes you on a journey through the Muslim world and what they believe.  The book itself is a great legal thriller and there is plenty of suspense and mystery.  While the chapters are short, there are many and the first part of the book is background to the story.  Once the book gets going it is a fast read.  I really enjoyed the book and look forward to reading more of Randy Singers books.  My only complaint is that it is classified as a Christian book, and I didn't really feel that there was anything in it that would "shout" out Christian.  The main character is supposed to be a minister, but there really wasn't anything to support this. No plan of salvation, or anything of that nature.  Overall if you like to read John Grisham novels then you would enjoy Fatal Convictions by Randy Singer.

***Disclaimer*** I was not paid for this review.  I was sent a copy for review purposes by Tyndale Publishers.  Thank you to Tyndale for the opportunity.

Geek Dad- book review

I have to tell you neither my husband nor myself are geeks, but the title of the book Geek Dad was to intriguing to pass up.  Geek Dad was written by Ken Denmead, a self proclaimed super geek.
The idea of the book is that
Today's generation of dads grew up more tech-savvy than ever. Rather than joining the Little League team, many grew up playing computer games, Dungeons and Dragons, and watching Star Wars. Now with kids of their own, these digital-age dads are looking for fresh ways to share their love of science and technology, and help their kids develop a passion for learning and discovery.


The author, Ken Denmead is an engineer and editor of the incredibly popular Geek Dad blog on wired.com, Ken has created the ultimate, idea-packed guide guaranteed to help dads and kids alike enjoy the magic of playtime together and tap into the infinite possibility of their imagination. With illustrations throughout, this book offers projects for all ages to suit any time frame or budget.

This book is great for those that love hands on projects with their kids.  The book takes each project and lets you know the cost, time, and skill for each activity.  With the handy guide you will be able to tell in minutes if the project is right for you.
 A few of the projects:

•Fly a night-time kite ablaze with lights or launch a video camera with balloons

•Construct the "Best Slip n' Slide Ever," a guaranteed thrill ride

•Build a working lamp with LEGO bricks and CDs

•Make geeky crafts like cyborg jack-o'-lanterns or Ethernet cuff links

I think my favorite project to try is going to be the Windup Toy Finger Painting- doesn't it sound fun!

Brimming with endlessly fun and futuristic tidbits on everything from gaming to gadgets, Geek Dad helps every tech-savvy father unleash his inner kid-and bond with the next generation of brainiacs. (edited by author)

This book is for you if you are a Geek Dad (or mom) and are looking for some fun activities to do with your kids this summer.  You can purchase your copy on Amazon.com  for $11.59.

***Disclaimer***  I was not paid for this post.  I was sent a free copy for review purposes.  Thank you to the PR company for the review copy.

Birthday Gift Baskets from ProFlowers- Review

Today is my hubby's birthday!  I was lucky enough to be a reviewer for the Birthday Gift Baskets from ProFlowers.  I chose the Sunshine Sweets & Savories basket for my husband's birthday.  Wow! What a basket. It is delicious!  Inside it was filled with an assortment of nuts and candies.   It is definitely a great basket to give and it is fit for any occasion. 

Each assortment is individually wrapped. There was a 3 ounce bag of the following:
Smokehouse Almonds
Rice Crackers
Roasted Salted Cashews
Roasted Salted Almonds
Honey Roasted Peanuts
Cinnamon Gummy Bears
Cherry Sours
Raspberry & Blackberry Chews
Jelly Belly Summer Mix Jelly
Licorice Bridge Mix

The next time you have a special occasion and need to give a gift basket think beyond flowers and try ProFlowers Birthday Gift Baskets.  The Sunshine Sweets & Savories basket can be purchased for $29.99, and there are many other types of gift baskets to choose from.

***Disclaimer*** I was not paid for this review. I was sent a free gift basket for review purposes.  Thank you to ProFlowers for providing the gift basket. All opinions are my own, yours may differ. 

Motorcycles, Sushi & One Strange Book- Review

With a title like this you know it's going to be a good book.  Motorcycles, Sushi & One Strange Book was written by Nancy Rue, and is part of a Real Life series.

What is normal in a teenagers life?  This book is about 15 year old Jessie Hatcher, who suffers from ADHD.  She lives with her mother, who suffers from Bi-Polar Disorder.  She has been brought up, not knowing that her father existed, until one day he shows up on her door step.
Her Father reappearing in her life, is the final straw that sends her mother into a complete breakdown, and Jessie is sent to live with her father, a man she doesn't know.

Jessie's dad is a man with a past life of alcohol abuse, who has committed to turning his life over to God.  On the way to her father's home in Florida, Jessie finds a mysterious book in the airport and she picks it up and takes it with her.  The book is about Yeshua and seems to speak to Jessie just when she needs it.
As Jessie tries to hide her ADHD from her dad and new step-sister, she is taught some valuable life lessons.  She learns to work in a Sushi restaurant, meets new friends, and finally confronts her mother and her mental illness.  The whole time she is reading the Real Life book and learning more and more about God and His plans for her life.

Overall this is a book written for teenagers, but adults would enjoy the book also.  The author does a wonderful job portraying how hard it would be for a teenager to have ADHD and what it is like for them. With the subjects of mental illness and alcohol abuse it is not a light read so I definitely think it should be read by kids 12 and up.  The Real Life book is meant to portray the Bible, and really I personally don't care for the way that it is modernized, but that is just my personal opinion.  There is never any real direct plan of salvation and I think that is the most important message left out of the book.  It is a quick read, and the next book entitled Boyfriends, Burritos & an Ocean of Trouble looks to be like another good book from an author who is hitting on tough teenage subjects.

***Disclaimer*** I was not paid for this review.  I was sent a free copy to review.  Thank you to Zondervan publishing for the review copy.