I Promise

Book 3 of Christy and Todd: The College Years. Finally, after years as girlfriend and boyfriend, Christy and Todd are getting married. Before the day arrives, though, Christy learns a startling truth about herself that makes her doubt if she can love Todd forever.

VOYA

In this third installment of the popular series Christy and Todd—The College Years, Christy Miller and Todd Spencer are engaged to be married. As the wedding draws near, however, Christy begins to doubt whether they really are suited for each other. Todd wants an early wedding date, but practical Christy wants to wait until they both graduate from college and have saved some money. Their love for each other and never-ending faith helps them to see through their differences and make it down the aisle. Fans of the other titles in the series will enjoy this conclusion to Christy and Todd's romance. The author has included many characters from her earlier stories involving Christy, perhaps paving the way for her next series. It is not necessary, however, to read the other titles to follow the difficulties of the newly engaged couple and their friends. Although the conflicts are minimal and often too easily resolved, fans will be asking for this final installment, especially in libraries that own other titles in the series. The idealistic characters and Gunn's soothing writing style will appeal to young adults age twelve and up who are looking to enjoy a simple romance. VOYA CODES:3Q 4P J S (Readable without serious defects;Broad general YA appeal;Junior High, defined as grades 7 to 9;Senior High, defined as grades 10 to 12). 2001, Bethany House, 285p, $10.99 Trade pb. Ages 12 to 18. Reviewer:Elizabeth Prior—VOYA, December 2001 (Vol. 24, No. 5)

Robin Jones Gunn has a passion for communicating God's love to young hearts. She began writing story books for toddlers when her children were little. Her husband, Ross, has been a youth minister for over twenty years. While on a camping trip with teens from their youth group, Robin found some of the girls hiding away in their tent reading a stack of novels they'd brought with them from the library.

Curious as to what could keep these girls away from the sun, surf and guys, Robin borrowed three of their books. As she read them, her heart broke. They were not the kinds of stories these girls should be reading! After the camping trip Robin went to her Bible bookstore and bought every book she could find that she thought would be interesting for the girls and have a good influence on them. The teens read all the books in a week and asked for more. "There aren't any more," Robin told them. "That was all I could find." The teens challenged Robin by saying, "Then you write some for us. We'll even tell you what to write!"

She has now written over 50 books, including THE CHRISTY MILLER SERIES, which has sold more than one million copies. A storyteller at heart, she is also a popular speaker and an active youth worker. Robin lives with her family in Oregon.