Book Review: IN BLOOM by Katie Delahanty

In Bloom, by Katie Delahanty, is part of the BookSparks Summer Reading Challenge 2014. 


Olivia (Liv) Bloom, the heroine of Katie Delahanty's debut novel In Bloom, gets to experience a Cinderella story, Hollywood-style. In this version, local hipsters Blair and Parker take Liv (who has recently moved to Tinseltown from Pittsburgh) under their wing and act as her fairy godmother/godfather, putting her through "Babe Boot Camp" and teaching her the rules of encountering a celebrity, like not acting like you know who they are (this is good advice for real life). The ball that Liv attends is not at a castle, but Elton John's Oscar bash at the Pacific Design Center, and her Prince Charming carries a guitar and has a microphone. She does not have an evil stepmother and stepsisters to contend with, but she does learn about haters on Twitter, the tabloid press, and publicity-obsessed starlets.

In Bloom is a really fun and light novel about Hollywood that just gets this city. After being cheated on, Liv moves to the West Coast, gets an apartment at a Melrose Place-sounding complex (complete with impromptu cocktail parties by the pool), and goes from watching Project Runway on tv one week to being at  the Sports Ilustrated Swimsuit Fashion Show the next. While at the fashion show, she has a run-in with Berkeley Dalton, the lead singer of her favorite band, and she tells him he is taller than she expected (a huge no-no, even though most celebs are tinier in person, except David Hasselhoff and John Taylor of Duran Duran.). It is an awkward first meeting, followed by more awkward encounters, but something sparks between the two, and Liv is so charming that I (cheesy as it sounds) found myself rooting for her to snag her dream guy.

You can find out more about Katie Delahanty here, and her story of going from working in the fashion industry to becoming a writer is very inspiring; most likely, if she had not lost her job, this book (and the ones in the The Brightside series that are to come) would not exist. Liv, btw, works on the design team at a lingerie company.  :-)

I just adored In Bloom. Whether you live in Los Angeles or hope to at some point, I think you will like it, too, and there are lots of insider tidbits, like getting a discounted wax at Queen Bee Salon with an apprentice (I have done this!), hiking in Runyon Canyon and passing women who are pushing tiny dogs in strollers, and shopping at Wasteland thrift store. Plus, as Liv transforms from unknown to It Girl, she gets some surprisingly refreshing advice that applies to all of us (like, find what makes you stand out and work it), whether we are in L.A. or LA (Louisiana).

 In Bloom pulls back the curtain on fame and what goes into crafting/maintaining a celebrity image, and it might make you think twice about any dreams you have of dating Harry Styles of One Direction. The book also offers some astute observations on our celeb, self, and media-obsessed culture, and each chapter has some tweets from various characters' feeds. And guess what? You can follow them on Twitter in real life--check out @BloomOlivia, for starters.

Even though, in many ways, Olivia's life is a total fairy tale, it could also actually happen. Lives in Los Angeles can change so quickly, because you never know who you are going to meet standing in line at Coffee Bean or what opportunities might come your way. It is exciting, and is one reason why so many pack up their dreams and move here with everything they own in a suitcase, ready to go for it. As one character in In Bloom says: "You can't leave things to chance in this city. Sometimes you have to make your dreams come true."

P.S. I also loved the relationship Olivia had with her psychic mom: "...no [Olivia], I'm not inserting myself into your dreams. Maybe it's your True Self trying to tell you something by taking the form of me. Maybe you should listen to your mother!"

Book Review: THE REVEALED by Jessica Hickam

 The Revealed, by Jessica Hickam, is part of the BookSparks Summer Reading Challenge 2014. Click here for the full list of this summer's reads! 

The Revealed is a nice addition to the current crop of dystopian young adult novels, like Divergent and The Hunger Games. Like both of those series, I could absolutely picture this one being turned into a film, with maybe Lily Collins or Emma Watson as Lily Atwood, the main character. One thing that I really appreciated about The Revealed is that it was full of suspense, action, and some dark themes, but did not have the graphic violence of, say, Mockingjay.

One reason this book is so chilling is that we live in a world where it seems like complete and utter destruction is just a button push away; it is not that hard to imagine ourselves rebuilding from devastation after a worldwide conflict, which is where The Revealed picks up. The middle class has disappeared, and most of the population is now working 12-hour days in factories and living in studio apartments. All that is left of the United States is the East Coast, with everything else a wasteland.

 Lily lives in Capitol City, a.k.a. Washington, D.C.,  and is the daughter of a presidential nominee; the upcoming election will be the first since the war. She has been targeted by a mysterious group called The Revealed, which has been associated with the disappearance of many other 18-year-olds. No one previously targeted by this group has ever been heard from again. The kidnappings started after the war ended, and over the past five years four hundred 18-year-olds have gone missing. ("What would an organization of any kind be doing with four hundred teenagers? Parents say having one is hard enough.")

I am not going to say much about The Revealed other than that they do NOT disappoint when they finally show, making plants grow, glass shatter, and guns fly out of people's hands from across the room.  (I know I am not 18, but how do I sign up to learn to defend myself like this?!)

In the midst of everything that is happening around her, Lily is a surprisingly normal teenager who is constantly sneaking out of the house. She is restless and yearning for freedom, and is counting down the days until her 19th birthday when she will be out of danger from The Revealed; most 18-year-olds are kept hidden away inside their homes for an entire year.  She has also caught the attention of two gorgeous guys: Kai Westerfield, who has a green-gold gaze, is the son of Lily's dad's rival for president, and is the most eligible bachelor in the North American sector; And Skylar, with the crystal-blue eyes, who comes into Lily's life under unbelievable circumstances.

I enjoyed The Revealed, and it surprised me by challenging me to think hard about destiny, the greater good, stepping into and owning your power, and the hard truth that you cannot truly understand and appreciate beauty until you have been through tough times.

Btw, Jessica Hickam is an actress and also worked in production on Star Trek: Into Darkness, and that sci-fi experience must have really come in handy while writing The Revealed. You can click here for more on the book and the author but (WARNING) do not read the author Q & A until you have finished The Revealed, because there are some SPOILERS in there. However, if you would like to try to guess at a spoiler, you will find a big clue on the cover of the book. And guess what? There is a sequel coming! The Revealed has revealed a talented new writer to keep an eye on.

Book Review: ELLY IN LOVE by Colleen Oakes

If you love watching programs like Bridezillas or any of the Real Housewives shows, I think you will enjoy Elly In Love, a little nugget of a chick lit novel by Colleen Oakes that is part of the BookSparks Summer Reading Challenge 2014.

This is book two in the Elly In Bloom series, and when it opens we find that Elly Jordan, owner of a flower shop in a swanky St. Louis suburb, is happily dating Keith, a solid guy who owns a deli, drives a Subaru, and reads the New York Times. He seems to be the perfect guy for Elly, whose ex-husband recently married the woman who broke up their marriage. Unbelievably, Elly did the flowers for the wedding! But that tells you something about her character.

Out of the blue, Elly gets a phone call from a reality television show called BlissBride, which covers B-list celebrity weddings and is interested in her for a St. Louis episode. It sounds like a dream come true, and the chance for so much exposure she will never have to advertise again, but this (infamous) celeb has seriously questionable taste, and if Elly cannot pull off some magic quickly this dream wedding could turn out to be her undoing. And why is Keith acting so mysterious, like he has a big secret? And who is the mysterious teenager who has appeared in Elly's shop and at her apartment?

This is a light, easy read, and Elly, with her blonde curls bouncing all over the place, is genuinely likable. I really enjoyed the peek into the world of florists and the over-the-top events they are sometimes called to do, like the toddler birthday parties with $2,000 cakes and teenagers dressed as jungle animals prowling huge backyards. There were two things, though, that just seemed a bit off to me, and one is that there were a lot of comments about weight (Elly's, Keith's, etc.) that seemed a little unnecessary. The other is that I could not figure out if this was a Christian Chick Lit novel or not, as there were a lot of references to God and praying and church, but then characters were drinking and cursing.




You do not need to read the first book in the Elly series, Elly In Bloom, to understand and enjoy everything in Elly In Love, so you can just jump right in. And I am glad that we have not seen the end of this sweet florist; Elly Inspired is coming soon!

For more on the Elly In Bloom series and Colleen Oakes (and to find out what U2, Kauai, and Stephen King have in common for her), visit http://www.colleenoakes.com/.

Book Review: Megan Abbott's THE FEVER

The girls in Megan Abbott's The Fever have some issues with their hearts, and you will most likely find yourself dealing with some serious palpitations as you read.

High school student Deenie is sitting at her desk on a normal day, thoughts wandering all over the place, when one of her best friends, Lise, has a mysterious seizure in the middle of class. Later, she bites a school nurse and ends up in the hospital. And Lise is not the only one; girl after girl follows, each with a mysterious but similar group of symptoms. As fear in the town grows and parents and kids start to turn on each other, everything from bats to vaccinations to the creepy, algae-filled lake are blamed for the continuing sickness (and what exactly was Lise doing in the bushes--and with whom--on the morning she took ill?), but no one really knows what is going on.

Megan Abbott really gets the brutality of teenage girls, as well as how quickly people can begin to unravel when tragedy strikes; as terrifying as the mysterious illness was, it was also scary to read about the hysteria and confusion that sets in when you do not know what is happening (we have all seen this kind of thing on the news). In this story, secrets, crushes, and family tragedies also come to light.

Even though The Fever might technically be a Young Adult novel and is focused on young girls in high school, there is nothing childish about it. Megan also writes convincingly from a male perspective; Deenie's brother, Eli, is a stud of a high school hockey star, and her dad, Tom, is a teacher who has recently begun dating after a divorce from Deenie's mom. And the town, Dryden, is the perfect backdrop for a chilling story, as it seems like it is constantly misting, raining, or snowing, all while fog is rolling in.


If you are an older reader of The Fever, this might take you back to your own coming of age, and possibly bring up some painful teenage memories for you. There were not any mysterious fevers going around when I was a kid (or texting and YouTube, used to great effect in the book), but school tended to be terrifying in many other ways. Reading this as a mom, I could definitely identify with the parents (much like I did with the mom in Reconstructing Amelia, another terrific read) as they struggled with powerlessness to protect their daughters not only from the mysterious illness, but from the general evils in the world that seem to be lurking around every corner.

Try to start The Fever when you can read it straight through, which should probably only take a couple of hours; I tore through it in one day, finishing it over a plate of mashed potatoes at Tender Greens. I was creeped out even in the middle of a busy restaurant, and reminded that the ties that bind can also easily tighten around our necks.

Movie Review: MERCY RULE

I can still remember when Kirk Cameron and Chelsea Noble (now Chelsea Cameron) fell in love on Growing Pains when their characters were dating. I was just a kid, but I breathlessly read all the details in Tiger Beat, Teen Beat, and every other magazine that covered it.

By now, you may have heard how Kirk gave his life to God and turned his back on mainstream Hollywood to work in faith-based films. And though many years have passed since the Mike Seaver days, Kirk somehow does not age and still has that same boyish charm and crooked grin

Mercy Rule is the latest offering from the Camerons' CamFam Studios (they have three more films in the works), and is available now on DVD. When I interviewed Kirk recently, he said that he and his wife (who have six kids!!!) have a hard time finding movies that they can all watch and enjoy together, and that that is the kind of movie they hoped to create with Mercy Rule. And they have succeeded; I think that kids will enjoy the sports aspect, and adults will be touched by the deeper story that is gong on. There is nothing too intense or mature in this film for little eyes and ears, which is good news!

Kirk plays John, whose family junkyard business is being targeted for a takeover by a shady lobbyist.
Meanwhile, John's young son Cody (Jared Miller) is facing his own problems with his baseball team as he waits for his big moment to shine as a pitcher. As both father and son see their dreams slipping away from them, they will need to decide if they will face their challenges on their own, or learn that they can rely on God, teammates, family, and friends to help pull them through.

As one reviewer (Pastor Rex Holt) said of the film, "Just as Fireproof restores marriages, Mercy Rule strengthens families!" And one way it does that is by including a booklet of family discussion questions and a study guide with the DVD. This is wonderful to have, as it lets you go a little deeper with your kids and spouse. It includes some great quotes from the movie ("Winning is not as important as fighting on the right side."), and covers things like building legacies, fighting envy, taking responsibility, and quitting whining (I need to take a second look at that last one!).


Kirk told me that he made the movie to help rescue families, and to remind himself about what is really important, because today it is so easy to get distracted and not put first things first. My favorite scene in the movie happens when Kirk and Chelsea (who plays John's wife, Maddie) are having a conversation about what "everything" truly means; when we say that we have lost or could lose everything, are we really just talking about material things?  And how can we be freed from the despair of this? Mercy Rule will remind you that focusing on faith and family, and having courage and looking out for others are the important things in life, and when we make those our priorities we can believe that will bring a blessing.

Check out the official Mercy Rule website at http://mercyrulemovie.com/.

Recipe: This Nondairy Ice Cream Has TWO Ingredients!

HERE'S A SUPER-EASY NONDAIRY "ICE CREAM" RECIPE! 

With as hot as it's been, we've been eating this pretty much every day. But you can...because this is good for you. 

Take 2-3 ripe bananas, peel them, and freeze on a sheet of tin foil for at least a few hours. When you're ready to make this, put the bananas in a food processor with 1/2 teaspoon of vanilla extract (you can also add a tablespoon or two of raw nut butter) and process with the "S" blade. Let it run for a few minutes; the mixture will get kind of crumbly before it gets that super-creamy ice cream texture. Serve immediately.

I have topped my ice cream with some of the dried fruits from NatureBox, and it is so good! My favorites are dried pineapple and dried peaches...just chop 'em up and sprinkle them on. You can also use fresh fruit, vegan chocolate chips, chopped nuts, a drizzle of honey...enjoy! :-)

P.S. If you order Naturebox snack through this page, you save 50% (!!!) on your first month.

Movie Review: GOD'S NOT DEAD

Years ago, while sitting in a philosophy class in college, we were discussing different arguments about the existence of God and belief in God. We were covering things like Pascal's Wager, God as the First Cause, and various kinds of Truth Tables. At one point, a boy raised his hand and simply said, "What about faith? What about believing in Jesus as the Son of God?" The professor proceeded to viciously take him apart, and it all ended a few minutes later with the boy collecting his things and leaving, never to return. That is one of those moments that I wish I could return to, so that I could change the fact that I sat silently by the whole time.


I am guessing that God's Not Dead (out now on DVD and Blu-Ray) hits very close to home for many people who have spent time in a college classroom.  College student Josh has just started Mr. Radisson's philosophy class when the professor jumps right in with the "fact" that there is no God. "God is dead," he says, and continues by saying that he never existed in the first place and is simply a fairy tale from days gone by. These days, science and reason have supplanted superstition. When Radisson asks the class to write those three little words on a piece of paper, sign their name, and hand it in, Josh cannot bring himself to do it and he admits that he is a Christian. Josh (who dreams of going to law school) is told that if he will not sign and does not want to fail the class he will need to defend the antithesis: that God is not dead. He will need to do this in front of his fellow students, who will decide if his argument was persuasive, and cover things like free will, creationism, issues of moral absolutism, and the meaning of life.
And there are other stories in the film that weave together, from a daughter caring for her mother with Alzheimer's to an ambitious young career woman who receives tragic news.

 God's Not Dead  is nicely shot and well-acted (unfortunately, a lot of faith-based films are not), and has a terrific cast that is led by Shane Harper (who is also a talented singer and has a song on the soundtrack), Dean Cain, and Kevin Sorbo. It is interesting to see two actors who portrayed superheroes in the 1990s (Cain in Lois and Clark: The New Adventures of Superman and Sorbo as Hercules) do such a convincing job as bad guys! There are some great smaller roles, too, handled well by Cassidy Gifford (Kathie Lee and Frank's daughter), Willie and Korie Robertson of Duck Dynasty, and the Newsboys, whose song "God's Not Dead" is featured prominently in the film. A special shout-out to lead singer Michael Tait, who does a great job in a very emotional scene. And while you might think you know how the movie will end, there is a big twist in the last few minutes.

I cried so hard while watching God's Not Dead, and not just because it really brought home the anti-faith bias that so many young people have to deal with as they get an education. God's Not Dead reminded me that you never truly know what is going on in someone's life, and that those who appear to deserve grace the least from us are the ones who need it most. I also appreciated some great advice that the pastor in the film gave to Josh; when Josh was questioning whether he should get up in front of 80 people in his class to defend God, the pastor said that most likely those same people would never set foot in a church, and that this might be the only meaningful exposure to Jesus that they would ever have. It really brought home that God has us exactly where we are meant to be, and that we can be used right where we are.

If you have (and I think pretty much all of us have) wrestled with questions like how God can exist while horrific suffering is happening here on earth, why your prayers seem to go unanswered, or why bad things happen to good people, you must see this film. Ultimately, when trouble comes, that is when we can draw closer to God, or reject him entirely...the choice is ours. I believe that you will be comforted by the answers God's Not Dead provides, and reminded that all the trappings of this life (and even life itself) are temporary.

Book Review: Paul Hoppe's THE CURSE OF VAN GOGH

Paul Hoppe's The Curse of Van Gogh, part of the BookSparks 2014 Summer Reading Challenge, is a fast-paced, suspenseful, wild ride through the art world. And even if you do not know a van Gogh from a Picasso, or a Manet from a Monet, not to worry; this book is for anyone who loves a good thriller. Writing about art theft seems to be a trend right now, as I have read two books recently (B.A. Shapiro's The Art Forger and The Girl You Left Behind from JoJo Moyes) that deal with similar themes.

The book opens in Nazi Germany with a horrific accident involving a young man who is carrying a stolen van Gogh painting, and later we find out that this story has been circulating for years as support for the rumored "curse of van Gogh," where anyone who owns one of his paintings is doomed to either become possessed or meet a terrible end.

Cut to New York City just before the dawn of the new millennium, and we are introduced to Tyler Sears, a bartender at the Art Bar, who is just out of prison and the recipient of a mysterious invitation to a swanky event at a new building whose lobby doubles as an art gallery. As the messenger informs Ty, he is known to be good at handling matters that require the utmost discretion, which is why Komate Imasu, a billionaire art collector and chairman of a powerful global corporation, wants to meet with him.

At the reception, Imasu "suggests" (threatens) to Ty that he should do a job for him involving van Gogh's Starry Night, and in the course of the conversation lets it be known that he has way too much information about Ty's family and complicated, tragic past. That same night, Ty also runs into Lucy, a woman from years ago that he loved (and left) in Paris. Still feeling the attraction, she pulls a business card from the top of her Italian leather boots, a move that I need to try one of these days.

Will Ty agree to Imasu's plan, or will he counter with an offer of attempting to pull off an art heist for the ages? As the web tightens around him, is there anyone in his life that Tyler can trust? Can he ever tell Lucy the truth? Will he live to see tomorrow? And how about the femme fatale he meets on a train who is known as Chanel No. 5? Not only was Tyler drenched in sweat and fear at certain times of the book, so was I. As you make your way through this smart and stylish thriller, you might feel like the web is tightening around you.

The BooksSparks bio on the author says: "Paul Hoppe worked as a lobbyist in Washington DC, a stockbroker on Wall Street, and a screenwriter in Hollywood before writing his first novel.  He has lived on four different continents and currently splits his time between the High Sierras and the beaches of Australia." Reading The Curse of Van Gogh, you can definitely see how he has written what he knows, and that he has a great love of the arts. I really loved how descriptive the novel was, with tons of details about famous paintings, gadgets used to pull of heists, buildings, and cities, and lots of references to classical music and poetry. At times, I felt like I was walking the streets of NYC and DC with Tyler, who I pictured as a cross between George Clooney in Ocean's Eleven, Chace Crawford from Gossip Girl, and Cary Grant in To Catch a Thief (which is mentioned in the book).


Initially, it took me a minute to get into this book, but once I got sucked in I was hooked. Like, did not want to do the dishes, shower, work, or go to sleep so I could keep reading kind of hooked. And like The Da Vinci Code, many of the chapters are short, so you think, "Let me just read one more. And one more. And just one more..." I do want to give you a heads up that there are some graphic descriptions of violence, but you can easily skim over those parts if you are faint-hearted.



I have heard that this is the first in a series of books that Mr. Hoppe is planning to write, all involving art and museums, and I look forward to what will be coming next from him! And, inspired by The Curse of Van Gogh, I signed up to take a course on Expressionsim at Lacma. Although, unlike Tyler, I will NOT be planning on taking any masterpieces home with me...

Book Review: Beth Kendrick's CURE FOR THE COMMON BREAKUP

Cure for the Common Breakup, by Beth Kendrick (part of the BookSparks 2014 Summer Reading Challenge), is a charming Chick Lit novel, and it so perfectly fits the description for a summer beach read that I wanted to head for Santa Monica immediately. In fact, the main character is named Summer.

In a whopper of an opening chapter, we find out that Summer, a gorgeously blonde flight attendant who says that 25 is a state of mind (she is 32), is most likely going to get a proposal from her smokin' hot pilot boyfriend after they land in Paris. However, it seems that Summer is allergic to commitment, but before she can decide how she truly feels about this tragedy strikes and a decision is made for her.

While on her last flight, Summer had seen a magazine cover that touted Black Dog Bay, Delaware, as the best place to recover from a breakup. Do they only sell Kleenex and Ben Jerry's at the stores? Is Steel Magnolias on 24/7? Is the official uniform in the town sweatpants? She heads there immediately, and things immediately get really interesting when she meets a handsome stranger after swerving to avoid a turtle. She also encounters a wealthy older woman who lives in a purple house (painted that color out of spite) and owns half the town; she has a mysterious hatred for Black Dog Bay and a plan to destroy it.

Cure for the Common Breakup is so much fun; this is the kind of book you want to tear through in a weekend. It is sweet and delicious, like the M&Ms, Rolos, Twix, and other candies that Summer shovels into her mouth throughout the entire story. What I really loved about it were the details; for example, many of the businesses in town reflect the breakup theme, with a bar called The Whinery, Retail Therapy Boutique, and Better Off Bed-and-Breakfast, where the innkeeper confiscates cell phones from all broken-hearted guests upon check in to prevent regrettable texts or calls (where has that woman been all my life?). The supporting cast of characters is also fantastic, from Jake, the town rebound guy ("I've cleansed a few palates in my day."), to Mimi, an unpleasant summer resident who is described as exuding the "smell of Chanel No. 5 and filthy lucre."

There is a rumor that in Black Dog Bay, when you are ready for big changes in your life, you will see the ghost of a big black dog. Although you might not spot any ghostly canines coming toward you on a deserted beach, you might be inspired to make a few changes or take a few chances in your own life after reading this little gem of a novel. And I would definitely recommend this to anyone who wants a fun reading experience, whether they have been married for twenty years or got dumped last night!

Book Review: Kris Radish's GRAVEL ON THE SIDE OF THE ROAD

I was cleaning up my house recently when I came across a picture of myself in high school. I had not seen a picture like this in years and years, and it shocked me. I searched that innocent face with the trusting eyes, chubby cheeks, bushy eyebrows, and retainer, wondering if she had any inkling of what her future would hold, and trying to find traces of the woman I would become. I then looked at myself in the mirror, hoping for some glimpse of that sweet young soul.

I wonder if Kris Radish felt that way when digging into her past for her latest book, Gravel on the Side of the Road--True Stories From A Broad Who Has Been There. This is my first time reading something from Kris, and after the first sentence ("Ordinary is very often extraordinary but experiences in this realm are usually overlooked."), I was hooked. You can tell a lot about a book from its opening sentence, and this one lived up to everything those words promised. I cannot wait to read more of her work.

I am so fascinated by the life that Kris has lead, and in these stories we find out that she is a woman who has done everything from raise babies to write for a newspaper to work as a waitress to earn money by catching night crawlers. Her fierce love for her children shines through, as well as compassion for tender souls (some who appear to be tough on the outside) who have been dealt a losing hand in the game of life.

In Jesus Drives A Thunderbird, the story that opens the book, we meet a woman (Kris) who is independent enough to have a cabin on an isolated mountain and handle a stranger at her gate.
Even Now is about the tragedy that she encountered when she responded to a routine fire call; this one will steal your breath and rip your heart right out of your chest. In Turquoise Ring, we are introduced to Ray ("He had two shirts. One plaid and the other more plaid."), a customer of Kris's at the diner who had suffered a stroke, whose simple presence helped soothe away her own anguish and loneliness.

Just the variety of experiences in Gravel on the Side of the Road are enough to make your head spin, as the book bounces from chance meetings to the sisterhood of women, peace, war, mullets, blind dates, and road trips with your family as a kid. Read this book if you want to be inspired by the ordinary moments in life that can be transformed by your attention, which is a priceless gift in these days of smartphones. I know that I am inspired to take a closer look at the people with whom I interact on a daily basis, from neighbors to the cashier at the local health food store.

In The Day They Sliced Me Open, Kris writes about how her newborn son seemed to know her voice just minutes after being born, and years later always knows it is her. Soldier Boy recounts Kris's meeting with a young man from her home state of Wisconsin, moments before hopping on a plane that would take him to a war zone; he had gotten married the day before. Becky Barton, a story that had me sobbing on the treadmill at the gym, is about a thirteen-year-old cancer patient whose mother wanted Kris to write a story about her daughter to help the family raise money for treatment ("Get involved. Never look back. Throw my heart into the air and watch it land in Becky's bony hands.").

Someone once said, "Some people come into our lives and quickly go. Some stay for awhile, leave footprints on our heart, and we are never, ever the same." Gravel on the Side of the Road has left an impression on my soul, and I am just so thankful that there are writers like Kris Radish to remind us of the beauty, wonder, and humanity all around us.