This Just In

by Kerry Blair

“I never thought anybody would hear these words from me, but there are times when fashion doesn’t count.”

When a presidential candidate’s young son disappears into the Arizona desert, TV fluff reporter Jillanne Caldwell gets her first chance at a real news story. But the former beauty queen will soon be forced to face her worst nightmares—and perhaps realize her biggest dreams—in her own hilarious way. Accompanying Jill on the race to save her favorite Sunbeam is Clay Eskiminzin, a seasoned tracker who dislikes reporters because of a secret of his own. Clay knows he can find Connor, but can only hope to find him alive. Thus the unlikely pair begins a desperate search in a vast, unforgiving desert wilderness where they must battle against the evils of men as well as the unrelenting forces of nature if they hope to save an innocent child.

Genres: Lds Fiction, Romance, Mystery, Lds, Suspense, Clean Romance, Adult

259 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 2004

About the author

Kerry Blair is a successful mystery author who weaves infectious humor throughout her work.

Reviews

[Marilee · Rating 5 out of 5]

I read this on a train and other passengers were constantly looking at me as I burst out in uncontrollable laughter.

[Marsha · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a fun book! It was sappy, it was silly, and it was totally entertaining. There were some intense parts but also a lot of laugh out loud moments. Bat Guy was awesome and Jill was so ridiculous she was hilarious. If you just need something fun to read then this is the book for you!

[Kathryn Cooper · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this audio book!!! Sweet hilarious romance with adventures.

[Marcia Roberts · Rating 4 out of 5]

I liked the story. Some of it was cheesy and I skipped the tips at the end of some of the chapters.

[Breanna · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this book.At first the main character, Jill, iritated me. I thought she was way blonde. But, the more I read the book, the more I loved this quirky character. I loved watching her overcome fears and fall in love with "bat guy" Clay- a character too wonderful for words. There is so many wonderful things in the this book (like beauty tips. hehehehehehe)

[Jenny · Rating 2 out of 5]

Unique main character makes this book a bit non-traditional and quirky. Kind of fun...

[Addie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Hilarious! Kerry Blair is an author that keeps me laughing! My daughter loves this book for the same reason!

[Gail · Rating 3 out of 5]

I don't care for this author's writing style - the story didn't get interesting until 3/4 of the way into it. The main female character is categorized as a ditzy air-head- Barbie doll person and I didn't like that. She exuded no confidence in herself and pointed out "beauty tips" at the end of each chapter. But that aside, the story was about a senators kidnapped boy in AZ and the man that was brought in to track and find him and the female character is a news reporter that ended up being his companion on this trek through the desert. It really is a wonder that she didn't get them all killed.

[Alisha · Rating 3 out of 5]

I needed a silly, sappy, fun book as a break once I finished my reading challenge and this one was perfect. You can not look at it serious or realistic or you will just roll your eyes. It is also silly how many church references, almost to an extreme (and usually it doesn't bother me but this one seemed a touch excessive) but it was ok because I was just listening for fun...

[Laura · Rating 4 out of 5]

How can you NOT love Jillanne? I love when an author gives his characters a personality that remains true to them throughout the book. This book has all of the components that I love - great storyline, well developed characters, suspense, and a little bit of romance. Good clean read!

[Happy Reading Watching]

◇This book is over 20 years old, so it will be full of cliches/tropes of its time.

◇If you want something short to read between heavier or longer books, this one could be it. 📚


⚠️ CONTENT WARNING ⚠️

◇Kidnapping (child & adults)
◇Murders
◇Weapons

[Heather · Rating 3 out of 5]

An entertaining fish-out-of-water story. Embrace the cheesiness of the beauty tips between chapters! I can tell that the author appreciates the Arizona desert and its history.

[Melody · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was sort of typical for books of its genre, though it was a bit on the funnier side.

Content: no sex or profanity. Some violence and mild gore.

[Rebekah Isert · Rating 5 out of 5]

One of my all-time favorites.

[Audrey · Rating 3 out of 5]

Cute, light, quick read.

[Jenny · Rating 3 out of 5]

Kinda cringy. Very LDS

[Amie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Decent listen

[Suze Price · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved it! A real page turner

[Rain Stotlar · Rating 5 out of 5]

I've read this like 5 times!

[Jan · Rating 1 out of 5]

The narrator reads really fast and to slow it down sounds funny. So don't know if I'll finish or not. OK no - couldn't do it. Couldn't take her whining.

[Kelli Blake · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.5... it was a fun easy read

[Darla · Rating 4 out of 5]

(Genre:LDS fiction/adventure suspense/humor/romance) I loved this book! I thought it was so funny, that when I was done reading it, I read it out loud to my husband. The main character, Jillanne, is an absolute riot for me. Jillanne is a morning TV reporter for "What's up Tuscan?". She was a first runner up Miss America and is supposedly your typical blonde airhead. But when her favorite Sunbeam (yep, she is a primary teacher) is lost in the desert of Arizona, she is sure that the Lord wants her out looking for him. She manages to tag along with Clay, a very handsome, single, temple worthy, capable search and rescue ranger. Soon it becomes apparent that this is not just a simple case of a child wandering off into the desert and both Jill and Clay are trying to stay alive while they follow the clues in their search for 4 year old Conner. I really enjoyed the humor of the story and Kerry Blair does a great job in describing the desert environment. And I really liked the heroine that shows she has more depth than people (including herself) give her credit for. 4 1/2 stars!

[Savanna · Rating 3 out of 5]

Jillanne Caldwell is a TV reporter and Connor Teagler's Primary Teacher. When he goes missing in the desert Jill makes sure she is assigned to the story. She teams up with Clay Eskiminzin, an Indian tracker, to search for Connor. Clay promises to find Connor but won't promise to find him alive. Jill will need to face the worst the desert can throw at her if she wants to find her best friend's son alive.

This book is great! Jill is silly and a drama queen; but she has a good heart. I love the humor of the story and the fact that Clay puts up with her just about makes him a saint in my eyes. (I wish he was mine!) In case you don't already know, this is an LDS fiction novel. So if you are a girl and love LDS fic. this is the book for you.

[Susan · Rating 5 out of 5]

What I really like about Jillanne Caldwell is how humorously brave she is. She is such a "girly girl", you can feel her hyperventilating at each perilous and squeemish moment. What really made me laugh were her beauty tips included with her narrative. It made her even more likable. Clay Eskiminzin is better than Batman! I kept picturing the movie "Charade". Jill wants to find out who Clay really is just like Audrey Hepburn wants to know who Cary Grant really is (mysterious and amazing). I loved their prayers, scriptures, and the difference between what is "real life" and "reel life." I really like to watch movies too.

[Linnae · Rating 2 out of 5]

Add survival in the desert mountains to a typical "opposites attract" romance line and you've got Blair's novel, "This Just In."

Jillane is pretty, and perhaps a bit shallow, two facts which count against her in the world of journalism. She's also a Primary teacher. When one of her little Sunbeams disappears, the son of a presidential candidate no-less, she knows she just has to get the story. She doesn't count on handsome, [quiet], legendary tracker Clay, nor does she count on having to survive in the Arizona desert with him. But Connor's disappearance is more than just accidental, and whoever has him does not want to be found.

[Alisa · Rating 4 out of 5]

Jillanne Caldwell, an obsessed beauty queen and fluffy reporter, finds herself as part of a two-person search team looking for her favorite Sunbeam, Connor. Connor is the son of an aspiring politician, and of Jillanne's former best friend. Jillanne is teamed up with Clay, an experienced tracker who has been hired to find Connor. I thought it was a fun book to read - as Jillanne and Clay get to know each other they find out they are more alike than different - at least in the ways that really matter.

[Melissa · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a suprisingly good book. I enjoyed learning a lot about the Arizona desert and survival. The highlight for me was when the book started tralking about one of my ancestors. It was a shock, but nice to see. I even learned some new, interesting info about him. Who knew my family hob nobed with the 19th pres. of the Untied States. So much so that one of the Presidents son's was named after him. George Crook. I thought it was gerat!

[Hilary Roberts · Rating 3 out of 5]

This author has a very unique writing style. Not the kind of book you where you can ever get totally into the action because the humor keeps things really light. I kind of enjoyed it, though, for something a little different. The romantic relationship development was interesting at first but written well enough that it didn't bother me at all in the end. If you want some light and different, yet fun, LDS mystery/romance then this is your book.

[Heather · Rating 4 out of 5]

I was loaned this book by Darla, and thought it was absolutely hilarious!! So I asked my hubby to buy me the book on tape for Christmas!! He did, yeah!!!
Loved it, it was very good! But I think I enjoyed reading it more! It was constantly hilarious when I read it, but not quite as funny while listening! Still a wonderful book!!

[Kate · Rating 5 out of 5]

Oh my goodness! I liked that it wasn't too cheesy, or too gushy, and I loved the humor. I caught myself smiling and laughing out loud a little bit more than normal. At first, Jill bugged me to death with all the blonde-ness. By the end I was in love with her hilarious wit, and with Clay! I wish I had a batguy....