Worth the Wait

Waltham Academy #1

by Laura Jackson

Ellie Lansing has a picture-perfect life with a close-knit family and the perfect boyfriend. But her world is suddenly knocked off center when her drool-worthy boyfriend cheats, and her always-has-it-together mother is diagnosed with cancer. Ellie doesn’t get it. She always does the right thing—doesn’t God owe her a happy life? Through her heartache, Ellie learns that sometimes what seems like the end is really just the beginning and that what God has for us is always worth the wait.

Genres: Christian Fiction, Contemporary, Young Adult, Christian, Romance, Fiction

220 pages, Paperback

First published February 2, 2014

About the author

I love books. As a school librarian, I get to share books with kids all day. Then I come home and write.

As a follower of Jesus, my goal is to share stories that not only entertain readers but also bring glory to Him.

I'm a fan of trees, cardigans, Alaska, and the Houston Rockets.

Reviews

[Karen · Rating 5 out of 5]

When I was in Junior HIgh and High School, I, like most girls my age, loved romance. Since I had none in my life, I lived vicariously through the heroines of Young Adult Romances, which at that time were totally secular. I mention this because I went to a Christian School and had one of my teachers grab my books and try to embarrass me by reading them out loud or point out the obvious way they differentiated from my Christian faith. This was extremely helpful to me because, as par for the course for an independent only child, I was extremely stupid and wasn't able to differentiate these things for myself.

(Side Bar: I wish you could have heard that sentence like I said it in my head, especially the word "stupid". I had a slight British accent, which made it extremely delightful to say!).

Anyways, back on course. As I've grown older, of course, my tastes have changed. I don't read a book just for the romance. I'm not a highly romantic person. I want action, or a deep spiritual theme, or...I don't know, but something more than just hand holding and kissy face. Since most YA romance is precisely that, hand holding and kissy face, I don't normally read YA romance because it's just plain boring. On the flip side, I always jump at the chance to read a pre-published manuscript, so when author Laura Jackson went on Facebook and asked for reviewers for her soon-to-be-released book Worth the Wait, my hand immediately went in the air like that annoying know-it-all girl in elementary school.

First of all, I want to make sure everyone understands, this is not the YA adult romance from my youth (## years ago). This delved right in to issues most of our youth are dealing with, making yourself over to please someone else; living your parents' dreams; should I have sex with someone I love; or should I take someone back after he cheated on me. One of the things I really liked was Ms. Jackson did not make the responses of our 17-year-old heroine too grown up. When she is dealing with the dilemma of whether or not to take her boyfriend back it sounded just the way I would imagine my daughter would sound.

I was moved to tears as Ellie struggled with why, if she followed God's laws, was all of this happening to her. Now I want to clarify something, which was absolutely huge to me. This is maybe the third book ever to move me to tears. When I mentioned earlier that I was not overly romantic, I am also not overly emotional. I cry when I'm tired or on medication, but very, very rarely do I cry at movies or books. This one moved me that much and for that I whole-heartedly applaud Ms. Jackson for making me connect so fully with the characters in the book.

There was one flaw to the book. The ending. For me, it shouldn't have ended there. I want to know more. I want to know how college was; who does Ellie marry; hat kind of foundation does she start? You can't leave me hanging this way.

I have already recommended this book to both of my daughters, and will happily recommend it to anyone else. When it releases on Tuesday, February 4th, I encourage you to go and get this book. It's worth the read.

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from the publisher. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255 <http://www.access.gpo.gov/nara/cfr/wa... : “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”

[Melanie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Worth the Wait was a fun YA read. I've had this book sitting on my TBR for a long time, but never got around to reading it until now...it was definitely worth the wait. ;) The story was written in a way that held my attention and I felt for the characters as they went through difficulties. The romance was sweet, but I do wish that there would have been an epilogue to show how things turned out in the end.

I don't know if I'll read the next book...I probably won't, just because I'm not all that interested in reading Lindsey's story.

I recommend Worth the Wait if you like YA novels.

[Lisa Godfrees · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book is pretty much how I remember high school. Dating, think your boyfriend was "the one," and loving so much it hurt to be separated. Needing a guy as much as needing air to breathe.

Worth the Wait deals with a couple of big theology points and deals with them well:

(1) If I do everything right and play by God's rules, how come my life is a mess? Why would God do this to me?

and (2) The need to find your identity in Christ and not in others or in a relationship.

Both of these themes are so important. These were issues I struggled with as an adult that I wish I had tackled when I was younger.

I see this book as most relevant to younger YA readers. While the characters are older YA (seniors in high school), it's written to educate younger YA and perhaps resonate with older YA readers.

***I received a complimentary copy of this book from the Publisher in exchange for my honest review.

[Dawn · Rating 5 out of 5]

Ellie Lansing is excited to start her senior year. She's a cheerleader, dating a wonderful guy, looking forward to the mission trip, and has a supportive family. Yes everything in life is going perfect. Perfect that is until she discovers her long-time boyfriend has cheated on her. Perfect that is until her mother's diagnosed with breast cancer. All of a sudden her perfect life has crumbled around her. Ellie struggles to pick up the pieces while trying to figure out exactly who she is in the midst of it all. Will she find herself or will she be lost adrift of all that is happening in her life?

This is Laura Jackson's debut novel. I was thrilled when the publisher contacted me to review this book. Like any other debut, I try to read it without overly high expectations because I never really know what I will get. Will I get a story that grabs me and causes me to react to the characters? Or will I get a story that feels like I'm be tortured to read? It does seem to me, lately, that the last several debuts I've read have fallen into the second category. I'm very pleased to say that Worth the Wait fell into the first category.

While I was reading it, I did find that Ellie was too perfect. Even when her life was completely turned upside down, she still seemed too perfect. That said, I loved watching Ellie grow and realize just exactly who she was and who God wanted her to be. I thought that Dylan was a first class jerk and that Ellie deserved better than him. I kept rooting for Ellie's best friend's twin brother, Josh, to be the guy that Ellie would finally notice.

I found that the author perfectly described life in a private Christian high school. I could "hear" in my mind as I read the cattiness of several of the characters, the gossip that ran rampant, and the wanting to fit in and be popular. Truly it wasn't much different than a public school. But where the biggest difference was, was in the way the characters reacted to situations. There was one party where one of the girls starts to feel really guilty about how she had been treating the main character and sends a rescue text or phone call to Josh. And while I can see several people being disappointed in how this book ends, I was really fine with it. Mainly because I felt that Ellie needed to figure out who she is.

Overall, I really loved this book. It's been a while since I've read a truly young adult book, and I found this one to be delightful. I will definitely keep an eye out for others by this author.

I received a pdf copy of the book from the publisher to review as well as to help promote the author's book. My thoughts and opinions are my own.

Recommended to fans of Robin Jones Gunn's Christy Miller, Sierra Jensen, and Katie Weldon series, Meg Cabot's books, young adults, Jenny B Jones, Krista McGee

Rating - 5 stars - I loved it!

[Abbi · Rating 5 out of 5]

Having followed this author's blog for awhile I was excited to have the chance to read and review her debut novel! I wasn't sure exactly what to expect but I figured it would be a quick read I could enjoy. It was so much better than I could have ever imagined! Every time I read it I hated to stop! The characters and the story were so well-written and realistic and I was totally sucked in!
Ellie was great! My heart broke for all the things she went through but I loved how it drew her closer to God. There were a few times I wanted to stop her from making the decisions she made, but at the same time you could really see where she was coming from and what caused her to do what she did. The author did a fantastic job of making her real, not perfect but not a wreck either!
Josh was by far my absolute favorite part of the book! I mean this guy was just plain awesome and I wish more teenage guys were like him today. I could gush forever about the things he said and did that I loved-honestly he made my heart melt several times-but I will let you discover that on your own!
As for Dylan, to put it simply he was a scum bucket! I wanted to slap him and wring his neck so many times, the guy was a complete jerk masquerading as a golden boy and drove me nuts!
I also loved Ellie's dad a lot, and her mom and brother had some great moments as well.
Having been homeschooled I don't really have any “real” school experience but I think the author did a good job of portraying the high-school life and I liked how she didn't make the kids perfect because they went to a private Christian school. Though it does make me sad how kids can say they're Christians on Sunday then act totally opposite every other day of the week!
One of my favorite parts about this book was the fact that there were so many little things mentioned that I enjoy too, like Jenny B. Jones, The Princess Bride, and Carrie Underwood. They were just small parts but they helped me connect since I knew what they were!
And lastly I loved the mission trip at the end! I went to Mexico on a mission trip the summer after I graduated, and it was so similar to the one in this book that it made me want to go back! There were several things they did on the trip that we did on ours and I just absolutely loved that aspect!
So yeah I loved this book and I can't wait to see what else this author has for us!
*There is one use each of the p-word and the h-word, and sex is mentioned frequently

I received this book free from the publisher in exchange for my review. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own.

[Sally · Rating 5 out of 5]

Worth the Wait
By: Laura Jackson

I loved this book by Laura Jackson. Ellie and Dylan grew up together and their whole life had been planned by their parents from birth. He was the perfect boy, she the perfect girl. But what happens when they grow up and they realize they aren’t living their own life? Can Ellie be content just being Dylan’s wife? What about her hopes and dreams?

Laura Jackson does an excellent job of weaving real life and fiction together into a great story. Ellie can’t decide if something is going on with Dylan or not. Is he keeping something from her? Should she stay with him anyway since she’s spent the last several years with him? Her friends at the Christian school she attends are like kids at any school. Some of the kids say things to try and break Dylan and Ellie up. She can’t figure out who to believe. Dylan is trying to rush things between them, but Ellie wants to wait until they are married. Should she give in since they are going to get married one day anyway? This is their senior year of high school. It’s supposed to be fun and carefree. But then Ellie’s mom gets sick and Dylan starts acting funny. When will things get back to normal?

I love Ellie’s dad. He tells Ellie to wait for the guy who treats her like a princess, one who puts her first. She has a friend who is just like her dad, loves Jesus, but he doesn’t like her and even left her standing on the stage when they performed Romeo and Juliet. Or, does he like her? How can she know?

I can’t wait to read more by this author. These characters are real and you get pulled into their lives and problems because they are true to real life. Every girl needs to know she is special and she is worth waiting for!

I received this book free in exchange for an honest review.

[Diana Maryon · Rating 5 out of 5]

Charming YA Novel

I must confess, as a 75-year-old British pre-WWII-baby, who went through rationing, the Blitz, terror of a Nazi invasion, post-war austerity, parental neglect, years of hard academic grind for high achievement, marriage (and only then sexual intercourse) on no money, more academic labour, emigration for employment, rented dwellings, childbirth with an imperfect physique, house-poverty and career uncertainty, reaching a modicum of leisure and financial security only in my 50s, I really did not expect to like this book – or the people in it – so much. I’d have expected to find it wholly unsympathetic, if I hadn’t myself as an immature 19-year-old contracted a foolish premature engagement, which if any of us had had any money in the 1950s might have turned into a disastrous marriage that both of us would have felt obliged as Christians to maintain.

This is in fact a very delightful coming-of-age story, fast-paced, natural and racy in style. The lingo is mostly teenage slang, the cultural context is bang up-to-date, with texting and pop-songs. Yes, the young people originate in suburban Middle America complete with small evangelical churches and sports-fetishism. Yes, there may be more than a dash of the autobiographical (or if the author inhabits a larger universe it is not apparent from the writing). Yes, the main characters have too much money, freedom and leisure for the good of their souls: they have cars at 16, and partly because those are such convenient bedrooms on wheels, unless they’re careful, sexual intercourse almost as early, they snack all the time, are constantly entertained, work rather sporadically in academically undemanding ways, eat in expensive restaurants, and look forward after ‘College’ to early marriage with salaries and houses. But I still found myself wanting to know what happened to them.

Ellie the heroine and her development is the core of the plot. We are allowed to see into her soul. Between her adoration of her boyfriend Dylan and her inherited piety she is not at the start much of a personality in her own right. There’s this to be said for her sexual abstinence, it’s quite as much rooted in fear of sin as of pregnancy (there’s no explanation of why there are no unplanned or out-of-wedlock pregnancies in this story). She starts out certain of much, both of her faith and of the love of her deeply Christian parents, but beginning to doubt the fidelity and reliability of the handsome Dylan, who has been away all summer and seems to be distancing himself from her. Everyone assumes that they will marry after a brief stint in post-secondary education. After all, they’ve been a couple ever since they were very small, and she at least has never been in love with anyone else. She has never doubted that her vocation is simple, and that it is simply to marry him. Physically speaking things have already gone, not all the way, but quite far enough for anyone’s peace of mind. But her life seems mapped out before her, her parents and his are all approval, and only doubts about Dylan’s love and her mother’s sudden illness disturb the picture.

Are the standards that she has imbibed and striven to honour enough? Why if God loves her can things go as badly wrong as they do? Ellie has never really faced that between legalism and licence lies a third or New Testament way, and that this way can be trod only in the power of the Holy Spirit Whom she knows only at second-hand. The best parts of the narrative are her prayers, as she grows to be a Christian unsupported by others’ faith and example, and centred on Christ not on some other human being. So this is much more than a morality tale, though it is that. Ellie makes an uphill climb not absolutely unlike that of Francis, growing out of an unadmitted self-love to a genuine love for God and care for neighbours especially the less fortunate (actualised in a visit to an orphanage outside her comfortable milieu down south in Latin America). If you like, she discovers for herself the idea of vocation so often missing in modern Christian thinking. She comes to understand that life, and Christian life, is not a matter of ease and pleasure, but of work and service; if joy and happiness are granted along with those, well and good, and if not, it’s still good. She becomes ‘worth the wait’ for someone who really wants to be her husband. The only assumption which goes unchallenged in the narrative is that her vocation will definitely include an eventual marriage. That’s just a little disappointing to me, in spite of my conviction that there are few things in this world more significant than matrimony.

Sinful abuse of the anovulant pill starting decades ago caused an earthquake so violent that we in the Western world are still all gasping, spluttering and struggling in the ensuing tsunami. We live in a cold, hard world, in which many people must find out in painful ways that idolatry of self always resolves itself into worship of the old gods, chiefly Aphrodite and Bacchus, and that these are savagely cruel deities. Young females especially are often the walking wounded in our society. I’d have no hesitation putting this story into the hands of most young people of either sex, and believe that it may prove a powerful lever to open the mind to Jesus in many cases. Yes, it is culture-bound, but the more vividly immediate for that. My only reservation? I just hope that no potential reader will be put off by envy of the security in the love of intact and deeply Christian parents which is the rule in this book. That security is emphatically NOT the rule for so many, who will have to decide whether they will take the lifeline that’s available, and that will enable them to climb out of self-pity and self-concern, and perhaps by grace make it all up to their own children.

I received a complimentary copy of this book from the Publisher in exchange for my honest review.

[Megan · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a quick read, but it packs a lot into it. Ellie is a good girl, almost too perfect, but I did like her and was rooting for her. Dylan is a character I didn't like from the beginning, which was probably the intent, but I just wanted Ellie to break up with him. The ending, while not what I was expecting, was good because I liked that it didn't wrap everything up perfectly.

[Rosie · Rating 4 out of 5]

A charming debut from Jackson!

Worth the Wait is an emotional story about a young woman, named Ellie, struggling to find herself after her world is turned upside down. Ellie's long-time boyfriend has cheated on her, her mother has cancer, and it's all she can do to keep her head above the water. I admit, I'm tough to please when it comes to the YA genre, but Jackson did a fair job presenting a real issue in our society.

Ellie Lansing is a frustrating character. She made several decisions I felt were completely stupid, however, Jackson made her far too likable to give up hope. Since I'm a former homeschooler, I may never understand private or public schools, nonetheless I appreciated that Jackson portrayed Grace Preparatory Academy (a Christian private school) with less than perfect students. Simply because you attend a Christian school doesn't mean you are one or that you act like one.

As far as the heroes go, in this story I thought Dylan was a real slime ball. Josh, on the other hand, was an excellent example of what young women should look for in a husband: a deep love for Christ. I suppose I could understand Ellie's struggle in her heart on a small level, but no deeper than that.

The core message of the novel is about abstinence, but something I think Ellie failed to understand, at least until the latter part of the book, is that following God's laws simply because you've been taught to is not the right motive. You should follow God's laws because you want to. There's a lot more about this that I could say, based on some recent personal studies of mine, but I'll save that for another time. I truly liked that Jackson brought up this issue in such a realistic manner. She executes it well. All in all, I enjoyed Worth the Wait and I recommend it to teen girls for its great theme.

I received an ebook copy of this book in return for an honest review of my opinions, which I have done. Thanks!

[Kara · Rating 5 out of 5]

My Comments
I started to read this book late last night planning on just a chapter or two to begin with……didn’t happen. I was grabbed from the first page and had to know what happened next with Ellie! I sensed immediately that Dylan was hiding something/up to no good after not seeing Ellie all summer and one thing was made clear right away…..I. COULDN’T. STAND. HIM. I’m not one to hate a fictional character because they all have the potential to make a turn around/do the right thing/find redemption and what not. That’s still a possibility, but with Book 1 and how things progressed, it’s not difficult to hate this guy.

I really loved Ellie’s heart and the way she views her life. She knows she has a great life, great family, and she REALLY wants to have a happy ending with Dylan. Unfortunately, she’s in for a very rude awakening and I was really stunned with how things got exposed. I didn’t want Dylan to get hurt, but in a way he got what he deserved. Ellie has learned the word “perfect” in the wrong perspective. She’s wrapped up with the wrong guy (been there, done that) and she can’t imagine a life without him. So yeah, I wanted to shake some sense into her several times in the book, but she is a completely authentic and genuine character. Jackson does a stand up job of writing her in a realistic way.

I truly loved and adored the Lansing family; mom, dad and brother, Nick. I laughed and cried with them throughout the story. Ellie’s dad is just pure delight for me the way he prays, hugs/comforts Ellie, gets angry at Dylan, loves her mom, and supports his family. He makes up for the louse Dylan is in the story…..I found Ellie’s dad to be the real hero and role model for what a godly man is about.

I didn’t consider this book to be a love triangle (don’t enjoy them), but Josh is also a strong yet flawed character as well. Him and Cara were also characters to easily love in this story. Cara is Ellie’s best friend (love that name) and Josh is Cara’s twin brother. They both play an important role for Ellie and her healing process.

The missions trip at the end of the story was very precious and that moment when Ellie truly gets clarity and revelation that is badly needed. I was so proud of her after all the confusion and heartache she endures. She’s determined to find herself, trust God, and do the right thing while everyone around her has their own opinion of her situation. Big time high fives to Ellie!

I totally recommend this book for preteens and older although anyone would enjoy Jackson’s writing style and scripture infused pages. There is plenty of peer pressure, some beer drinking, gossip, one cheating boyfriend (who is immature, neglectful, vengeful, moody, deceptive and completely unaware of the girlfriend/best friend he has because he only cares about himself---NOT all teen boys are like this but he is a great example of how NOT to behave), football games and cheerleaders, two loving families (the Martins and the Lansings), hope, and the promise from God that some things are worth waiting for. I didn’t find anything inappropriate within the plot and I definitely relate to Ellie in several ways. Being a teen girl is never easy, but God always sends help in different ways so that the emotional and spiritual journey leads us onward instead of feeling hopeless or trapped. I believe Jackson conveys this point beautifully! *includes discussion guide and resources page*

I want to thank the author for the review copy provided. The opinions expressed are my own.

[Lindsey (Books for Christian Girls) · Rating 4 out of 5]

About this book:

“Ellie Lansing has a picture-perfect life with a close-knit family and the perfect boyfriend. But her world is suddenly knocked off center when her drool-worthy boyfriend cheats, and her always-has-it-together mother is diagnosed with cancer. Ellie doesn’t get it. She always does the right thing—doesn’t God owe her a happy life? Through her heartache, Ellie learns that sometimes what seems like the end is really just the beginning and that what God has for us is always worth the wait.”


Series: Book #1 in the “Waltham Academy”.


Spiritual Content- Many Scriptures are quoted& Many Prayers are said; Talks about God, His Will, Trusting Him, why He lets bad things happen to Christians & what the Bible says about staying pure.


Negative Content- Minor cussing including: four forms of ‘suck’, two ‘dang’s, a ‘heck’, a form of ‘screw’ and a ‘darn’; Ellie drinks three beers and almost goes upstairs with a guy; Teen drink at parties; Dylan is a big jerk! lies.


Sexual Content- six ‘hot’s (used to describe a guy or a girl), and a ‘sl*tty’; Many not-detailed kisses and three semi detailed kisses; Ellie says before she left for the summer (before the book started) that she and Dylan had a fight because he kept pushing for s*x (she made him take her home); When alone in his car, Dylan kisses her “passionately”, asks “if she’s ready” and starts unbuttoning his shirt (Her answer stays the same, which is a no); A girl tells Ellie who she slept with; Ellie has a flashback of her 13th birthday where her Dad prays over her to stay pure; Talks about staying Pure & waiting till marriage.


-Ellie Lansing, age 17
P.O.V. of Ellie
209 pages

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
Pre Teens- One Star
New Teens- Three Stars
Early High School Teens- Four Stars
Older High School Teens- Five Stars
My personal Rating- Three Stars (and a half)

{Why was the mean girl named Lindsey?! Hmphf.}

While best for girls entering or in High School (Public, Private or Homeschooled, it doesn’t matter) or are fixing to go to college, it had a girl who had emotions most girls with boyfriends feel. (Don’t look at me! I’m trusting The Lord on my guy! No dating for me!)

Link to review:
http://booksforchristiangirls.blogspo...


*BFCG may (Read the review to see) recommend this book by this author. It does not mean I recommend all the books by this author.
*I received this book for free from the Author for this review.

[Katie (hiding in the pages) · Rating 4 out of 5]

Ellie has the perfect end to her school career in mind and it all seems to be within reach. Until Dylan turns out to be a cheating jerk and her mom gets sick. I loved how Ellie learned to adapt. I don't think most teenagers are secure enough to stand up for themselves like Ellie did. A big theme was that Ellie, a Christian, decided to wait for marriage before having sex and although she was pressured, teased, mocked, and tormented, even by those she loved and considered friends, she stood her ground and wouldn't cave. I love that kind of commitment and determination! What an example to her peers.

I had a hard time with Dylan. He grew up alongside Ellie and they were best friends before they were a couple. How could he treat her that way and throw everything away like that?! He seemed like a completely different guy from the one she knew and loved. Was he always that shallow?

I think the biggest thing that hit me with this book is that no one has the perfect life. A person can plan and plan all s/he wants to, but life never turns out as planned and it never works out perfectly. I believe that a person should make a plan, but be adaptable to the changes that will happen to that plan. And always, always stick to your morals and beliefs. The good things in life don't come easy--but they'll be worth the wait.

Content:

There is a lot of talk of teens hooking up and sex, but I felt the message was to wait until after marriage for those relations, even if those around you don't; there was also some underage drinking/partying; I don't recall any language or violence. I would consider if clean for an older teen and up. Religion is pretty prevalent.

[Stacey · Rating 4 out of 5]

I loved several things about this book. One, its appeal to teen girls as it deals with issues they can relate to on a daily basis. Laura did a great job of hitting on the hard topics, but keeping the subject matter biblically sound. Two, the characters were interesting and many teens will see people they know in these characters. They will relate to them in a way that an adult isn't always able to. Three, I cried. Yes, this book made me cry. I couldn't believe how emotionally invested I became in the story. I was disappointed with how it ended, but only because I want to know more about how Ellie does at college, who does she marry, etc? I have questions that need answers. I am hoping that Book 2 isn't too far away from being done (hint hint). I highly recommend this book.

“I received a complimentary copy of this book from the Publisher in exchange for my honest review.”

[Caitlyn Santi · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this YA novel! It had been sitting on my kindle for over a year and I'm so happy I finally took the time to read it, it was Worth the Wait (Pun definitely intended!) I am disappointed by how little quality YA Christian fiction is available, this book is an example of an author in this genre writing an excellent book and really hitting it out of the park! The world needs more books like this! I liked all the characters but I think Cara and Josh were definitely my favorites! I look forward to reading book two as well as however many other books there end up being in this series! Highly recommend!

[Cindi · Rating 5 out of 5]

I thoroughly enjoyed this novel. It's a very satisfying read and keeps your attention throughout the story.

It was really nice to read a young adult novel that I look forward to sharing with my grandkids. There are some thought provoking lessons intertwined with a wonderful Christian based storyline.

Knowing that this book is this author's debut novel will surprise you because it is so well written. I highly recommend this book for teens and young adults. I'm eagerly awaiting the next book by Laura Jackson.

[Nanc Jackson · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book captivated me from the very beginning. I loved the ending, and look forward to future books in this series. I highly recommend it as a good read.

[Kayla · Rating 4 out of 5]

This precious story reminds us of the challenges and peer pressure to have sex before marriage in our society today. Jackson handled these things with care while being transparent.

[Jenny - Book Sojourner · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5 Stars

Ellie is starting her senior year in high school prepared for perfection. Everything has been going so well for her and it would appear senior year would follow along that pattern. But we quickly see that not all is as it appears, and when Ellie starts to question what's going on with her boyfriend, and then her mother is diagnosed with cancer, we start to see Ellie's world unravel. She must not only face the truth of her boyfriend and her mother, but the deeper parts of herself that she has never had to explore because of the idealized life she has been planning for (and her family has been planning for her).

What I really enjoyed about this novel was that the author looked at several aspects of Ellie's life. This isn't just a so-your-boyfriend-cheated-on-you book. This isn't just a so-your-mom-has-cancer book. This is the story of a girl who must deal with heartache, disappointment, and utter confusion, and question those she's believed in, herself, and her faith. She must reevaluate her life, her beliefs, her goals. She makes mistakes along the way and must face those consequences. While the reader will be screaming at her to see things clearly, dear Ellie must travel this road to come to her own convictions, find herself, and believe that she's "worth the wait." Despite Ellie's blunders (or maybe because of them), the journey she takes is quite admirable and wonderfully written, drawing the reader completely into Ellie's life, welcoming her as a friend, and cheering for her along the way, making her a wonderful example.

Though this takes place amongst students attending a Christian private high school, they do not always act in a very Christian-like fashion. Having attended public school myself, I have no personal experience in a private school, but I can imagine these teens struggling with all the things that most teens struggle with, though with a different perspective. Outside of Ellie, we meet her cheating boyfriend, who handled things so very poorly, and it was just too bad. There's the "bad girl" who you've just got to hope there's something deeper going on there to make her the way she is. But then you have Ellie's best friend who is loyal and loving and just the friend you'd want. And then there's Josh, who proves you don't have to follow the crowd. There's also an honest look at loving parents who still make mistakes despite good intentions. This nice variety of secondary characters really adds to the story's depths.

Overall, this was a wonderful debut from Laura Jackson, depicting realistic struggles for teens, and honest questions about purpose and faith, with a touching ending. There's a beautiful message not only about abstinence, but much more. While this is a Christian-based book, I think any teen wanting to hold onto their convictions about waiting until marriage and not giving into peer pressure would enjoy this, regardless of faith. There is talk of hook-ups, references to sex, and partying with underage drinking, so I'd recommend this for a more mature teen.

[Debbie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Worth The Wait" (Waltham Academy Book 1) by Laura Jackson is a great book for young adults. The title describes the story very well. There are just a few scenes that bother me a little as I read it but then that could be because I am a 55 year old woman and through they are not what I want to read the scenes aren't really that inappropriate as this is a novel for teens.

Here are some reasons I love reading this book, " Stacy had said that God was big enough to handle her anger and strong enough to handle her hurt"and "You try to make everyone around you happy, and while I think it's Christ-like to love others as yourself, I don't think Jesus requires that you be someone other than what He created you to be."

One thing I found that I didn't like was "As the kiss deepened, he inched her shirt up and caressed the skin of her back. His fingertips were hot as his lips nibbled toward her ear."

That was all that was inappropriate in this scene because Ellie told Dylan to stop because her mom might see. I am thinking she should have said Jesus was watching since this is an Christian Novel but I loved the book and don't mean to imply that I could write better just giving my honest opinion. I am giving this story five stars. Dylan is always pressuring ellie to have sex with her and when she won't Dylan cheats on her but once again I want to point out there are no inappropriate scenes and the only language I found "for me" that is inappropriate is the words "my life sucks and sucked " I don't like those words and though I don't like it, it portrays most teens accurately.

This story shows us that just because you follow what you feel are the right rules and are a Christian, your life will still have trials and in the end God does have the perfect plan, and it is " Worth The Wait".

I was given an ebook copy from the publisher in exchange for an honest review.

I am going to read the second book in this series as soon as I finish this review and I'm sure I will love it just as well.

[Megan Besing · Rating 4 out of 5]

Worth the Wait (Waltham Academy Volume 1)

by Laura Jackson

(YA Christian Fiction)

review submitted by Megan Besing

Even those viewed by the world as perfect, well ... they just aren’t. The author did a good job of letting me know exactly who Ellie was, making it easy for me to connect with her emotions--especially those palm-to-forehead moments when I just wanted to shake her by the shoulders and say "duh! Big red truck!" ;) Each character had their own distinct personality, and if Cara, Ellie’s best friend, was a real life person, I would need to find her and force her to be my friend!

This book packs a big message. I could see how some might find it a little cheesy at times, but when I sit down to watch a chick-flick movie, I welcome those corny moments. (Honestly, I’d miss them if they weren’t there.) When I read the title, I was pretty sure I knew what I was getting into. And I’m glad I gave it a chance, because sometimes a little corniness brings out the best in all of us.

If you know a teenage girl, hand them this book and don’t let them out of their room until they finish it. (Perhaps leave them food and water, though!) Because they need to know they truly are worth the wait, their future matters to God, and our knights in shiny armor don’t always come in the ways we expect.

I’ll be waiting with bells on to see what’s next for Ellie!

CONTENT: EDGY (Christian YA lots of sexual references, drinking)
STORY: 4(ish) stars
This and other reviews can be found at Edgy Inspirational Romance
http://www.edgyinspirationalromance.c...

[Mary Hamilton · Rating 5 out of 5]

Laura Jackson's debut novel hits the mark for teen romance. Ellie and Dylan have grown up together. Their mothers are best friends, so it seems only natural for them to fall in love and head off to college together and eventually get married. They are the quintessential high school sweethearts--Dylan the quarterback and Ellie the cheerleader. But when Ellie returns from summer vacation before her senior year, she senses a change in Dylan. Could it be the pressure to have sex? Or is it the girl sitting at the end of the bleachers waiting for him at the first game of the season?
Ellie wants everything to be perfect. But then her mother is diagnosed with breast cancer and Dylan cheats on her. The back and forth pendulum of emotions as Ellie struggles with reconciliation with him is something nearly every teenage girl will identify with. And then there's Josh, her best friend's twin brother, who alternately encourages and avoids her. What's up with that?
Through it all, Ellie discovers she doesn't have to be perfect, and life is rarely perfect. But it is worth the wait to discover all that God has in store.
Ms. Jackson's novel is well-written and relevant, and should be required reading for every teenage girl.

[Gretchen · Rating 4 out of 5]

Who doesn't love a story where the hero is the nice guy rather than the cocky boy? Josh made for a great hero for sweet Ellie. My favorite thing about him is that he calls her "Lansing" (her last name). It's just so cute.
The story is a good one for girls who have everything planned out then life turns out very different. Like dumping out the pieces of a puzzle, Ellie has to sort everything out and put it back together.
I liked the story, but it's definitely a book for a Christian audience. It is a bit edgier than a lot of Christian fiction, especially with characters at Ellie's Christian school that aren't as "perfect" as many Christian kids are painted. However, I found Ellie fit a little too neatly into the "ideal" for "good Christian girls". She's the pretty cheerleader who is happiest when playing with kids on a mission trip. The kind of the stereotypical good girl who will one day have a handsome husband, 2.5 kids, a dog, and a home straight from Pinterest. This made her a bit hard for me to relate to. As a teen, I wouldn't have liked her. As an adult, I appreciate her because she is relatable to a lot of girls; she just doesn't happen to be much like me.

[Cynthia Marcano · Rating 3 out of 5]

What I Loved...
There was lots of Godly dialogue and relevant scripture throughout the book.

What I Liked...
Laura did a good job incorporating realistic teen issues...dating, parties, alcohol, raging hormones, gossip and emotional roller coasters. Teens are so overdramatic!

Other...
This book, like no other, had me really thinking about my review. Usually when writing a review I already know what I am going to write about. The likes and dislikes just stick out in my head.

Continue

[Farah Elgawady · Rating 4 out of 5]

*i received a copy through netgalley for an honest review*

For my full review go to : Two Weird Girls Living The Blogger Life


I was unsure of this book at first but i ended up liking it!

[Adriana B · Rating 5 out of 5]

I absolutely ADORED this book. I had it sitting on my Kindle waiting for the perfect time to read it and it turns out a six hours car trip is perfect timing so I read it yesterday and FINISHED it yesterday. It was such an amazing book! I could NOT put it down.

[Lynellen Perry]

"Worth the Wait" was the March 2014 winner of the "Clash of the Titles" contest!

http://www.clashofthetitles.com/2014/...

[Kathy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Review to come

Content: Clean (Christian Romance)

[Chidiscosaffair · Rating 5 out of 5]

Good book loved it. Full review on blog
http://anaffairwithbooks.wordpress.co...

[Courtney Whisenant · Rating 4 out of 5]

Being a teenager is hard. Being a Christian teenager with convictions is even harder. In Worth the Wait, Laura Jackson shows how living for Christ is possible in spite of difficult circumstances and ridicule. I loved the friendships between Ellie and the twins. I also loved the theme of finding your identity and wholeness in Christ before becoming involved in romantic relationships. There are so many great messages of love and hope in these pages. My only criticism is that it seemed a little preachy at times which broke the flow of the story. I think the author could have gotten the essence of the message across in a more natural way that stayed in tune with the tone of the story.

I received a free copy from netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

[Miska Reads · Rating 2 out of 5]

I didn’t love this book. I felt like the writing was too simplistic, it wasn’t realistic, and the tropes were tried and tried again. Too cliche, so I failed to review it at first. I would not recommend this book, and I received a copy from Net Galley.