Overview
Sixteen-year-old Addison Blakely has tireless played the role of PK—preacher’s kid—her entire life. But after Wes Keegan revs his motorcycle into town and into her heart, Addison begins to wonder how much of her faith is her own and how much has been handed to her. She isn’t so sure she wants to be the good girl anymore. Join Addison Blakely as she attempts to separate love from lust, facts from faith, and keep her head above water in her murky, fishbowl existence.
Synopsis
Sixteen-year-old Addison Blakely has tireless played the role of PK--preacher's kid--her entire life. But after Wes Keegan revs his motorcycle into town and into her heart, Addison begins to wonder how much of her faith is her own and how much has been handed to her. She isn't so sure she wants to be the good girl anymore. Join Addison Blakely as she attempts to separate love from lust, facts from faith, and keep her head above water in her murky, fishbowl existence.
Editorials
Publishers Weekly
Sixteen-year-old Addison Blakely is a little stuck with her identity: she’s a preacher’s kid. Her BFF Claire goes hostile on her, jealous that Addison is the object of attention from the football player Claire’s interested in but Addison is not. Addison wants the bad boy next door, Wes, dressed for a casting call of Rebel Without a Cause, complete with motorcycle, leather jacket, and a blonde girlfriend who favors belly-baring tops. Meanwhile, Addison’s widowed pastor dad learns that his old high school girlfriend is now Addison’s new English teacher, making Addison a shoo-in for merciless teasing as teacher’s pet. Add Marta, a German exchange student; Luke, yet another guy enamored of Addison; a high school talent show; a heaping helping of teen hormones; shake and stir. In her YA debut, St. Amant (Fireman Dad) adds a little too much stereotypical sugar (how much ice cream can Addison eat?) and a few too many Serious Issues (alcoholism, family dysfunction, bulimia). Despite all that, the central dyad of Addison and Wes is rendered with a psychologically astute hand, crisp pacing, and just the right amount of Christian sugar: character is built, not found ready-made on a page in the Bible, and temptation really is tempting. Good for teens (and anyone who ever fell for a rebel). Ages 12–up. Agent: Tamela Hancock Murray. (Jan.)Beth's Book-Nook Blog
I just loved this novel! I wanted to know how Addison would end up and what choices she would make (and why) so I kept reading. Addison was an engaging character whom I couldn’t help liking. I did enjoy the writing, though, and would recommend this book to older YA readers who enjoy the Christian genre. Addison has a lot of choices to face in her life and in her relationships, as do teens today, and this book showed how she could use her faith to help guide her in those decisions.
— Beth Nolan Conners
Beth's Book-Nook Blog
I just loved this novel! I wanted to know how Addison would end up and what choices she would make (and why) so I kept reading. Addison was an engaging character whom I couldn’t help liking. I did enjoy the writing, though, and would recommend this book to older YA readers who enjoy the Christian genre. Addison has a lot of choices to face in her life and in her relationships, as do teens today, and this book showed how she could use her faith to help guide her in those decisions.
— Beth Nolan Conners