Check out "Grounded" by Neta & Dave Jackson

Check out a preview and my review of the latest book from Neta & Dave Jackson, courtesy of the publisher and CFBA:

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This week, the Christian Fiction Blog Alliance is introducing Grounded Worthy Publishing (May 7, 2013) by Neta and Dave Jackson

ABOUT THE AUTHORS:

As a husband/wife writing team, we are enthusiastic about books, kids, walking with God, gospel music, and each other! Together we are the authors or coauthors of over 120 books. (You can see our Publication Record by clicking HERE.) In addition to writing several books about Christian community, we have been privileged to coauthor numerous books with expert resource people on a variety of topics from racial reconciliation to medical ethics to ministry to kids in gangs.

But over the years the we have especially enjoyed writing for children and young people! This includes our award-winning TRAILBLAZER series, historical fiction about great Christian heroes and heroines for young people ages 8-12, and the four-volume HERO TALES: A Family Treasury of True Stories from the Lives of Great Christians, and the companion book, Heroes in Black History.

Somewhere along the way, our own children grew up! Son Julian is Director of Experience Design for the Alder Planetarium in Chicago where he “provides the experience of exploring space” for visitors. He has two sons, Liam Isaac and Elijah David. Daughter Rachel graduated from Eastern Mennonite University and after working in the field of rape-crisis prevention went on to earn a Masters Degree in counseling from the University of Illinois. She is now a counselor at “Uni High School” in Champaign, Illinois. She is the loving mother of Havah Noelle (our first grandchild!) and Noah Zion, our youngest grandchild. The Jackson family also includes a Cambodian foster daughter, Samen Sang, who has four children.

We live in Evanston, Illinois, where for twenty-seven years we were part of Reba Place Church, a Christian church community. We are now members of a multi-racial congregation in the Chicago area.

ABOUT THE BOOK

...But Hope May Be Just Across the Street

Grace Meredith is a beloved contemporary Christian recording artist whose career--and personal life--hits unexpected turbulence. She feels grounded--in more ways than one. Grace s fiancé, bothered by her outspoken stance on purity and her near-constant travel, has broken off their relationship. Exhausted and unable to continue her current concert schedule, Grace returns home to Chicago, where she is soon stranded in a major snowstorm. Facing new questions about her future and her faith, Grace finds herself connecting for the first time with the residents of her neighborhood. What she discovers in these unexpected relationships could change everything.

Welcome to the Neighborhood The first in the Windy City Neighbors series, Grounded is an uplifting, contemporary story about ordinary people wrestling with the spiritual and practical issues of real life. The series employs the innovative storytelling technique of parallel novels, each with its own drama and story arc, but whose characters lives become intertwined and affect one another. Grounded welcomes you to Beecham Street--a typical, isolated American neighborhood that might just be a place of hope.

If you would like to read the first chapter of Grounded, go Here.

my review.....

I have long enjoyed the writing style of Neta and Dave Jackson, and am happy to report that I greatly enjoyed this first addition to their new "Windy City Neighbors" series! "Grounded" features a character that readers are likely to form a quick attachment to, Gace Meredith, a character who struggles with the challenges life throws at her. Although most of us will not be able to relate to her life of relative fame as a Christian recording artist, all of us will be able to see ourselves in her moments of insecurity, her times of questioning God's will for her life, her struggles to handle disappointments. The reappearance of Estelle Bentley from prior books by the Jacksons added a wonderful flair to the story line, and she brought some real spiritual depth to the scenes that had me almost praying along side of her! The story moves along well overall, despite a couple of slower sections that involve more introspection on Grace's behalf. And, what I loved most of all is the wonderful way in which the book points to Jesus. Grace's experience of complete freedom as she delves into her past was beautiful to behold, and there were scenes that brought tears to my eyes!

I strongly recommend this heart-warming and faith-stirring book, and award it 4.5 out of 5 stars. I will definitely be keeping my eye out for the next addition to the series!

Book has been provided courtesy of the publisher and Christian Fiction Blog Alliance, for the purposes of this unbiased review.

Link to buy book: http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/1617950009