Grounded by Neta and Dave Jackson - REVIEWED

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.

My Thoughts:

“But who was she if she couldn’t sing?”  (p. 126)

Grace Merideth is a Contemporary Christian singer/songwriter who experiences a series of unexpected setbacks shortly after a very successful tour.  Basically silenced for a time, she begins to notice the details of her world in an entirely different way.  From meeting the teens next door and asking them to shovel her drive, to becoming prayer partners with a couple across the street, Grace experiences friendship and community in spite of her grueling West Coast tour schedule.  Basically, God takes her life in an entirely different direction and in ways she never imagined!  She learns the true meaning of her name after years of striving to earn the grace that was offered freely through Christ.

Oh, dear reader!  If you’ve never read one of the Jackson’s novels, what are you waiting for!?  I still get homesick for the original Yada Yada group from time to time – until I pick up the House of Hope series.  What I want to tell you is that once you are introduced to the characters in the Jackson’s novels – suddenly you have a group of folks in your life that encourage and challenge you in your faith in a fresh new way!  Seriously, the characters are that real and believable!

One of my greatest delights in Grounded was the familiar couple from another series!! (I refuse to spoil this surprise for others!) When I discovered that they were Grace Merideth’s new neighbors I got ready to watch God rock her world!  Those folks can PRAY!! Have mercy!! And through a growing set of circumstances, Grace realizes important truths that have surrounded her entire life journey.  When she decides to embrace the meaning of her name – watch out!!

I felt like I had spent time one a CCM tour bus ( or train!) when I reached the final pages of this novel!  What a great ride!! You DO NOT want to miss a word of this new series!! Prepare to have the Lord meet you between the pages and touch your heart! Wow!! What a GREAT novel!!  I can’t recommend this highly enough!!

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