Grounded (Windy City Neighbors)
The Jacksons, authors of the wildly popular Yada Yada books, bring their typical charm to a new Chicago-based story, the first in the Windy City Neighbors series. Readers will feel as though they know each character personally after finishing Grounded, in which Grace Meredith, a popular Christian singer, faces a crisis of faith after several personal and professional setbacks. Grace is known both for her voice and for her commitment to purity before marriage. She believes in her message and uses her concerts to share it. When her own relationship comes to an end, however, she begins to doubt the truth of what she preaches: “You’re worth waiting for.” On top of that, her singing career takes a turn when she gets handed over to a new manager. Pride in her independence and her role as a “good Christian girl” have led Grace to unconsciously hold others at arm’s length. When new neighbors move in, she is surprised to find herself opening up and breaking down the walls she didn’t realize she’d built. --Carolyn Richard