240,000+ Words -- A Contemporary Christian Epic-Novel
California golden girl, Sage Wentworth’s life looks perfect from the outside looking in. She’s got money, friends, and all the social status a girl could want. But underneath the glitz and glamour, Sage’s perfect existence holds many dark secrets—secrets even she herself doesn’t know. When she is unceremoniously sent to live with her biological father’s family in North Carolina for the summer, Sage finds herself swimming in very unfamiliar waters with seemingly friendly sharks poised to eat her alive on every side. Can Sage navigate these treacherous waters long enough to get back home, or has life for this golden girl changed forever?
Luke Baker has always considered himself a slacker of the first order. He’s not particularly athletic, musical, talented or intelligent. In fact, his “talents” such as they are run more in the vein of helping people when they most need it, and right now, that talent is much-needed by his best friend, Jaycee Lawrence who is facing the arrival of the stepsister she had gladly forgotten ever existed. A whole summer trying to talk Jaycee down off the ledge while simultaneously fighting like mad not to fall for her gorgeous, unattainable older sister? Yeah, this should be fun…
A stay-at-home mom with a husband, three kids and a writing addiction on the side, Staci Stallings has numerous titles for readers to choose from. Not content to stay in one genre and write it to death, Staci’s stories run the gamut from young adult to adult, from motivational and inspirational to full-out Christian and back again. Every title is a new adventure! That’s what keeps Staci writing and you reading. Staci touches the lives of people across the globe every week with her various Internet endeavors including:
I liked the story but was really annoyed with the overdone mushiness, the typos, and some of the overused words and phrases. For instance, eep? Does anyone really say that? And, he put his hands to his beltline? What does that even mean? I finished it because of the storyline and the characters, but toward the end I was just ready for it to be over because it really got overly long and drawn out.
Staci Stallings tells a tear-jerking story once again. If the grammatical and spelling errors were corrected and the writing were tightened up by a good editor, it would be a five star book. The preaching was so amazing it helped me in my own Christian walk. Worth the time it took to read, but it could be improved with a good editor.
If I were to describe this novel in one sentence it would be: the image portrayed is not always what lies behind the glossy photo.
The story was laid out beautifully. When Stallings writes, she writes to where it is no longer fiction but to where the people in her novel are real. When one reads this novel it brings to light that there are actual situations and people in the world who hurt this way, feel this way, and live this way and who really needs God's authentic non-condemning love.
Yes, the story is revolved around Sage and Luke, but once you continued to read you are longer just concerned about those two characters but about all that surround them. Your heart is drawn to reasons why certain characters act the way they act, and you long to see them helped.
The way Stallings invites God into her writing gives the reader a chance to see the author. What she believes and what she has learned from God in the process of writing this novel. There's a line in the novel that says, "We give from the overflow of what God's doing in our lives." I truly believe that is what Stallings does when she writes her books and novels, and I am grateful for her pouring out what God is pouring into her. We are filled only to be emptied.
This is a sincere, heartfelt novel that makes one laugh, possibly cry (Sage cried enough to where I didn't have to), and shout just a tad bit.
I don't know how I feel about this book. I like that it's a Christian novel and so many things to learn, that's why it's got stars. Otherwise, the story of Sage was quite interesting and confusing too. I don't understand how Emily is nice and nervous initially and suddenly she switches. I understand that she may have tried from the beginning but it didn't seem like someone was trying initially, it seemed like she was afraid and trying to present herself and family in a "wealthy" or "okay" state.
Okay I'm blabbing now. The sermons were too long and so many repetitions. The storyline was great and should have been a short novel. More time was spent reading Sage's and Luke's thoughts than what really happened. Too many unnecessary plots too. I'm curious about Jaycee so I'll keep reading the next book.
What an amazing story. Love, acceptance, forgiveness. Hollywood vs small town. When Sage comes to spend the summer with her father and his family, she's excited to live in a real family. How sadly mistaken she is. Her real family wants nothing to do with her. She's in for some real heartache. But then there's Luke. Her champion, he turns out to be.
This story had a lot of drama and emotional interlaced with some very tender moments. Got to love Sage's little brother Ryder and his ability to love unconditionally. And the people of the community were amazing. Can't wait to move on to book 2.
I love reading books that challenge me personally, and ones that will help me be a better person. OH, and also ones that are entertaining! Well, this book is one of those. I’ve had this book on my TBR pile for years and I’m not sure why I’ve never read it until now, but WOW! I really should have picked it up sooner! It’s one of those books that when you’re done, you want to read the next one as soon as possible. Staci Stallings is an author I’ve followed, but never really read. However, that has now changed. I’ve found that her writing is powerful and what she shares really hits the spot in my soul! She’s also an author who brings to life characters that will end up digging down deep into your soul! It amazed me how each character had something I could identify with and take to heart. It was exquisitely written and flowed smoothly, so smoothly that at the end my heart was tumbling all over the place. I laughed, I smiled, and I cried, throughout the book. There were so many emotions in just one reading! This story is about a girl who appears one way, and everyone thinks she’s that way inside, but everyone is WRONG! It’s a book about how we all might see what’s on the outside and make judgments, but what’s on the inside can be hurt, broken, and dying. It’s a book about self-worth and how so often we let satan speak lies into our heads. It’s also a story about how one mistake can lead to hurts, and a ripple effect. It’s about how, only by the grace of God can we be healed, and lives be changed. It truly touched my heart, and I know it will stay with me for a long time. I highly recommend you pick this book up and read it, it just might change how you view things, and each moment in your life!
This is a slow-moving family drama that takes on hypocrisy, infidelity, alcoholism and the unresolved agony those patterns nurture. Tough topics for a teen romance.
A snobby, rich Beverly Hills girl comes to spend the summer with her father and his middle-class Christian family in a judgmental small town in North Carolina. Talk about mutual culture shock! I began disliking her, then suddenly found that she became Cinderella with the cruel step-family.
Sage. Though she knows she must always be a gorgeous, demure trophy she’s never had anyone seek to know her as a person—including herself—until she meets Luke and finds her real value.
Parts of this story lack credibility, like the way a teen builds and finishes furniture, ready to deliver, in an afternoon. However, I engaged with the characters and wanted to know how the story resolved.
Some of the messages carry impact. Pastor Steve’s counsel and sermons are key to helping the characters face what they’ve done and move to amend it. He explains, “We all do very unhealthy things for ourselves and other people when we get mired in shame and the fear that comes with it.”
His core message to his community boils down to the directive: “There are three keys to unlocking shame’s hold—courage, compassion, and connection.” He calls for forgiveness and genuine communication.
I liked him and his wife. I liked the person Sage became. I liked Luke.
The way the conflicts resolved themselves wasn’t satisfying for me. I felt like I was invited into a deep topic, got a few good sermons, and ended up with a cute teen romance. I’m not at all sure why the author called this an epic, but it’s a nice read.
I am so thankful summer has arrived and I am able to dig into this series. I actually started with book 3 but by the second chapter I felt like I should know more about the characters . When I looked at the previous novels I realized this novel was already in my library. The timing has been a perfect GOD-thing. Even the sermon in church Sunday seemed like a chapter from this book. Sage is a beautiful young lady. Her world is turned upside down when she's sent to live with her father's family for the summer. It's been eleven years since she last saw him. Her presence is unwelcome. She is uncertain of who she is or who she is supposed to be. She wears masks to please everyone. Luke is their neighbor and close family friend. He sees glimpses of the real Sage and risks everything to rescue her from a physical and mental prison. I have shed some serious tears over this book. I've been reminded of people who hurt me because of situations that had nothing to do with me. More than forty years later, I am discovering buried things that need to be exposed to GOD's light and forgiven. The timing of things this week have helped me see that it is possible and GOD'S timeline is gracious. This book deserves far more than five stars! Moving on to Jaycee's story next...
Contemporary Christian romance, aimed at young adults. This should be 5 stars for the story and the message. But it loses points for a need for a good editing for punctuation and word choice, being much too long and slow to start, and several story inconsistencies. I found the story, once I got into it, very moving. I felt the characters were well developed and multi-layered. I became outraged at how Sage was treated by Emily and Jaycee. But, it took a long time to get to that point. I also could not understand several story points, such as why there was no follow up to Rory and his treatment of Jaycee, or why her parents allowed her to date him after what happened with Sage. And, it seemed to me that Emily should have been much more contrite. However, I do recommend it. And I plead with this author to hire an editor, because her writing is just too good to suffer from the negative comments on the lack of editing.
A child, a girl born out of wedlock, never knew her dad. He impregnated her mother, and went back to his wife and also impregnated her. Two sisters were born. One was able to know the security of both parent's love and support. The rejected one had a step-father who had absolutely no time for her, and her mother was an alcoholic. To keep up pretenses in the wealthy community she lived in in California, she shopped 'till she dropped. She dressed to kill, and was hated for it by so many. Her reputation was shredded. No love. No comfort. No acceptance. She was sent to her real dad for 3 months, where her half-sister and step-mother hated her with a passion. A long story, satisfyingly long, as most of Staci Stallings' books are. Months of gut-wrenching agony eventually culminate in a happy ending after intense prayer. Loved it! Love all Staci Stallings' books.
Awesome Book Awesome writer. If you have ever read a Staci Stalling book, you will know it contains inspirational life lessons. This one is no exception. This is a love story between two young adults. But there is so much more going on in the novel. The characters are complex, but very realistic. Because of their history you understand why some act as they do. This book was a little longer than what I usually read, although there is not one part I think Staci could have eliminated and still been able to tell her story. Marital infidelity, sibling jealousy, emotional and verbal abuse, and broken family relationships, it has it all. This story may make you laugh, cry, or like me get real mad and want to punch some body. But I can tell you one thing it will not do, it will not bore you. If you haven't tried a Staci Stalling's book, I totally recommend it.
There were so many disappointments in this book I will have to narrow down my list.
First I must agree with the other reviews. This story drug out every screen. The book was too long with not enough action or suspense threaded throughout the book
Secondly, I was waiting for the moment when one of the characters would say “let the south rise again”
Let me elaborate on that thought. The only African american mentioned in the book is Mrs. P and she was described and portrayed as a mammy. She gave big hugs, worked in the kitchen and called the young Caucasian girl Miss. Sage. That was subtle racism disguised in modern times.
Also the author kept exchanging step sister with half sister. I purchased this book cause I like to start a series with book 1 but this book doesn’t seem very Christian
This by far is one of my favorites in the. Several books I have read by Staci Stallings. It is about teenagers and adults. Packed with jealousy, cruelty, anxiety, emotion, anger, service, compassion, and courage, to name a few.
A stepmother, step-sister,against a father's daughter, a pastor and his wife. And most of all the gift of God's grace over the whole. The messages brought, that opened the eyes of all concerned. At times, with tears in my eyes I wanted to jump into the story to put my two cents in. The scriptures used were so appropriate to each situation. All this brought resolution to situations beyond a person's control. God's love triumphs. Thanks and blessing to all who read this novel.
I have read several books by this author but this one, oh my.. this one is the best book I have read this year. Sage’s story is one that could be anyone’s. How we see ourselves and what we show others is definitely a real issue that we never talk about. This book has everything; heartbreak, betrayal, intrigue, acceptance, forgiveness, redemption, grace and love. I enjoyed this book so much and I appreciated how long it was because as much as I wanted resolution for Sage, I did not want the story to end. Everyone needs to read this book! Pastor Steve and his wife Jane were supporting characters that I also enjoyed getting to know, and hope she writes something about them in the future. And Luke... what a dreamboat!
I had no idea what to expect from this novel, other than I saw that is was the length of some series. It was long, but it was good. The premise of a novel that was written from a YA point of view, but addressed issues that both adults and young people would relate to is very different. If you are not looking for a Christian novel, I would step away from this one, but I loved it. There was so much to learn in here. The talks with the pastor, the counseling, the inner battles with Luke and Sage were incredible. I would highly recommend this book.
This book has real-time problems, real-time feelings. When Sage is dropped off to her biological family's house she hopes to fit in. She has been living in California, keeping up with her girlfriends (read Valley Girl type). Now she's out of her element but hoping to fit in. Her step-sister resents her, her step-mother hates her and her father seems to want to pretend she doesn't exist. How is she ever going to make it through her time there? Luke helps her out of her shell and as things come to light, everyone gets to face their feelings. This book was very real for me.
This is a great book. Can't wait to read the next in this series. She brings everyone of these characters into living breathing people that you get to know so very well. When you are young these are the people you knew in high school. When you are older it is interesting to see these young high school kids find their way as in a maze. Would never give clues to this series. It is a definite "see for yourself" series. Wonderful!
Normally I get bored of frustrated with books that take this long to read, but I wouldn't miss a word of this one. It took me through so many emotions both up and down. Dealing with the dynamics of an unwanted child as the result of an extra marital affair has to be one of the most difficult situations in the world. Mostly though, this story is so inspirational.
I read the last three, then went back and read the first one, will start on the second one today or tomorrow. There are not enough words to tell you what a wonderful series of books these are! I have already told my daughter-in-law about them and plan on sharing them with all my girlfriends. My favorite author has been Karen Kingbury, now I have two favorite authors!
This book has a message for EVERYONE. It is a long book, so be prepared for that, but it is so worth it! A theme of broken families, the struggle to fit in, forgiveness, and unconditional love. Simply amazing and definitely one that we all need to read and take to heart!
Mirror Mirror was longer than the books I normally read, but it sure didn't seem like it. I was drawn into Sage's life in the beginning and had to keep on in order to find out what was going to happen. I enjoy every book that I have read by Staci Stallings. I definitely recommend this one!
This story has a good message and some good moral values in it. You care about the characters and you want to finish it to see what happens. There are only a couple of plot holes that I won't mention (spoilers) and sometimes it gets a little wordy. But I liked it and will probably read more by this author.
This story covers many areas of relationships and has many life lessons to share. I read a lot of books of all kinds and this is one the best I have read in a while. It talks about family disconnection spiritual disconnection and what is needed to truly reconnect in the way God wants for all of us. I am glad I read this story.
If you're looking for hot and steamy you looking at the wrong romance, but if you are looking for a guide through the stressful times of finding the right love and surviving a blended family with a past that brings pain; then, you have the right book for you. Not only that, but you may have stumbled on truths that will provide joy for your own corner of the world!
At first I was annoyed at this (lengthy) book. It seemed mainly YA with coming of age teens and their complaining/annoying attitudes. Also, the idea of finding your "love for life" in high school annoyed me on several levels. BUT I'm glad I stuck with it as the story turned into a beautiful message of healing and family. I've already started the second book in the series!
Liked the storyline, but had trouble liking the characters. Good Bible interpretation. I felt the tension between the 18 year olds was too mature for their age and also for an inspirational book. Lots of details, but liked the points about faith.
When I start reading a Stallings book I hate to put it down. She is a writer who gives characters that you care about and that you want to know. She tells a story that is inspirational and makes you think. She is a must buy author for me.
This is a very good Christian Book. I love the way Luke kept encouraging Sage and being the go between Sage, her Dad, and half sister Jaycee. Would recommend this book to anyone. I liked reading this book as it was so interesting.