Reviewer: Amy Lignor
Title: The Yada Yada Prayer Group Gets Rolling - #6 in the Yada Yada Series
Author: Neta Jackson
Publisher: Thomas Nelson Publishers
ISBN: 978-1-5914-5362-8
Release Date: April 2007
Genre/Sub-genre: Chick-Lit/Inspirational
Year/Setting: Present/Illinois
Overall Rating: 3.0
Sexual Content Rating: None/Subtle
Language (Profanity/Slang) Content Rating: None
Violent Content Rating: None
Neta's Website:
daveneta.com
Let me begin by saying that I was at a disadvantage when I read this lovely book. I have never read the first five books in this series, so it took me a while to understand who all the characters were. There are also many references to incidents – in some cases life changing – that have happened in the past which were a huge part of how their friendships were formed.
However, this book began with a bang (not a whimper), offering a very interesting prologue that will entice the reader to not put the book down (which, as we know, is the key to a good novel). We are introduced to Jodi Baxter standing in front of her Christmas tree, coffee in hand, going over the previous year – the trials and tribulations of the prayer group. One woman’s husband, Mark, had been beaten after a racist rally; another had received the disheartening news that she had cancer; the next had a son who was arrested and placed in juvenile hall; another – a daughter – who had to stay at Manna House for abused and neglected women; and, Ruth, who was childless, on her third husband, and pushing fifty, who had given birth to twins. Jodi Baxter wonders what the next year may bring to her and her friends.
As the story progresses, we’re met with new dilemmas that just might break the faith of the many people who get tired, and yearn for SOMETHING good to happen in their lives; which is, quite frankly, the reason I liked this book. Unlike a great deal of inspirational fiction, this novel is not a constant stream of ‘just believe…just believe…everything happens for a reason...etc.’ This book delves much deeper than a sympathetic Hallmark card response to life. Watching the characters rely on each other just as much as they do the Heavens is believable. You feel the precipice that these characters are standing on as they dig deep to find something, anything, that will make all the despair and pain worthwhile.
I am intrigued by this book and, like I said, if I had more of a background on these characters lives, I probably would have enjoyed it even more. Answer, Dear Readers? I’m going to backtrack and start at numero uno. I believe it will be more than satisfying to get to know these characters.
Amy
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