Lovin' Rachel Coker and Team Novel Teen!!

Chasing Jupiter by Rachel Coker

Highlighting a great author on a great tour!!

Chasing Jupiter

by Rachel Coker

Hardcover, 224 pages

Published December 26th 2012 by Zondervan

Premise:

Scarlett Blaine’s life in 1960s Georgia isn’t always easy, especially given her parents’ financial struggles and the fights surrounding her sister Juli’s hippie lifestyle. Then there’s her brother, Cliff. While Scarlett loves him more than anything, there’s no denying his unique behavior leaves Cliff misunderstood and left out. So when he wishes for a rocket to Jupiter, Scarlett agrees to make it happen, no matter how crazy the idea might be. Raising the rocket money means baking pies, and the farmer’s son, Frank, agrees to provide the peaches if Scarlett will help him talk to Juli. The problem is, Scarlett really enjoys her time with Frank, and finds herself wondering if, someday, they could be more than friends. Just as she thinks everything might be going her way, Cliff suffers an accident that not only affects the rocket plans, but shakes Scarlett’s view of God. As the summer comes to an end, Scarlett must find a way to regain what she’s lost, but also fulfill a promise to launch her brother’s dream.

Q & A with Rachel

Meet Rachel:

About the Author:

Rachel Coker resides in Virginia with her parents and two sisters. She has a passion for great books, and has been surrounded by them all her life. Her gift for writing became apparent at the age of eleven, at which time her parents signed her up for a year of lessons with a professional writing coach. 

Rachel also has a deep love for classical music and old black-and-white movies. When she is not writing or playing the piano, Rachel enjoys spending time with her family and friends and serving her Lord and Savior.

Find & Follow:

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Get your copy:

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Reviews on Tour!

ADD Librarian • Becoming More Like You • Book Nook 4 You • Blooming with Books • Bookworm Reading  • Christian Book Review Blog • CTF Devourer • Gillian Adams • Jill Williamson • Labor Not in Vain • My Story Shelf • Rachelle Rea • The Ramblings of a Young Author • A Slightly Nerdy Bookworm • Shadow Writer World • Surrendering All of Me • Worthy2Read

Tour Review - Interrupted by Rachel Coker

Interrupted: Life Beyond Words
by Rachel Coker
Harcover, 320 pages
Published February 14th 2012 by Zondervan

Premise:

Can love really heal all things? If Sam Carroll hadn't shown up, she might have been able to get to her mother in time. Instead, Allie Everly finds herself at a funeral, mourning the loss of her beloved mother. She is dealt another blow when, a few hours later, she is sent from Tennessee to Maine to become the daughter of Miss Beatrice Lovell, a prim woman with a faith Allie cannot accept. 

Poetry and letters written to her mother become the only things keeping Allie's heart from hardening completely. But then Sam arrives for the summer, and with him comes many confusing emotions, both toward him and the people around her. As World War II looms, Allie will be forced to decide whether hanging on to the past is worth losing her chance to be loved.

My Review:

Um... Wow!!

I think age disappears in writing, I really do. But I've never read a book where I felt so completely like I was 14 again. The incredible thing about Rachel Coker is not that she has such a good grasp on youth... she is a youth!!  But that her writing is so seamlessly smooth!!  She has skill and perspective that make this book very unique.

On my copy there's a quote from Publisher's Weekly: "Coker is one to watch" and I have to agree 100%.

Interrupted has a somber tone. The main character, Alcyone, faces some difficult circumstances and grows hard & bitter. Her friend, Sam, is a neat character. Both of them are complicated, multi-layered. I was pretty much in awe of all the supporting cast. They are alive and vibrant.

The setting is beautiful and completely 1930 - 1940's. I could picture the lake, the ocean, the beach, the local hang-out. There was old-time chivalry, parties with dancing, cute polka dot dresses. In fact, "cute" describes the main feel of reading, rather like a (somber) flitting butterfly dancing along Ally's inner conflict.  

It feels weird to close the book and find myself in the present day. The pace of life and the values of the community were very refreshing. Ally's search for God and meaning was realistic, too. I would have liked more romance, maybe.  And maybe a little less time-jumping, 'cause that pulled me out of the moment, away from my connection with Ally, and left me catching up. But that just brings me around full circle to the beginning - I was just transported over seventy years back in time, where I felt completely at home. So... Wow!

My Rating: 3.5 - Worth the Time, Cute and better-than-cute.


About the Author:

Rachel Coker resides in Virginia with her parents and two sisters. She has a passion for great books, and has been surrounded by them all her life. Her gift for writing became apparent at the age of eleven, at which time her parents signed her up for a year of lessons with a professional writing coach. 

Rachel also has a deep love for classical music and old black-and-white movies. When she is not writing or playing the piano, Rachel enjoys spending time with her family and friends and serving her Lord and Savior.

Check out this GREAT author interview at wordslikesilver!!!!!

Find & Follow:

Blog

Goodreads

YouTube

Chapter 1

Get your copy:

The Book Depository
Amazon & Barnes & Noble:

The Christian Bookstore:

Interrupted: Life Beyond Words

This is a Tour Stop with Team Novel Teen.

Check out all these other Reviews!!!

ADD Librarian • The Book Fae • Book Nook 4 You • CTF Devourer • Gillian Adams • My Life with a Mission • My Story Shelf • Jill Williamson • Oh, Restless Bird • Rachelle Rea