Sunday, 24 January 2010

Becca by the Book by Laura Jensen Walker

Publisher’s Synopsis:

Adventurous and fun-loving Becca Daniels loves the rush of new experiences and is constantly pushing the envelope – trying everything from extreme sports, to while hair colours, to skydiving. So when a broken leg grounds her temporarily, Becca doesn’t take the interruption well.


Grumpy, restless, and a loose ends, Becca bristles one day when some of her Getaway Girls Book Club friends tease her about being commitment-phobic. To prove them wrong, Becca impulsively promises to accept a date with the next guy who asks her out; and to date him for three months or twenty-five dates – whichever comes first.

Unfortunately, the first invitation comes from Ben – too “churchy” and definitely not Becca’s type. Determined to win the bet, however, the two embark on a hilarious series of dates that plunge the outspoken, purple-haired Becca into a sea of church potlucks and prayer meetings.


Ultimately, the dating experiment opens Becca’s eyes to a new perspective on her life’s purpose and a new understanding of who’s directing her path – an epiphany that could lead to her biggest adventure yet.


What I thought:


Laura Jensen Walker has again delivered in fine style, with her third Getaway Girls instalment, ‘Becca By The Book’. Within the first few pages I was reminded how much I enjoy Laura’s work and happily engrossed myself in Becca’s world.


‘Becca By The Book’ has the perfect mix of humour and emotion. I laughed out loud at Becca’s antics and the situations she finds herself in. I cried as she faces heartache and loss. Despite being the fact that Becca is the embodiment of everything I am not, she is a character that I was drawn to. I was quickly invested in her story, wanting to know how her dating bet ended and whether or not the ‘hound of heaven’ catches her. I was captivated by Becca’s heart for those less fortunate and I loved viewing life through her adventurous, un-churched eyes. Seeing church culture through the eyes of one who has not had much experience in that environment was enlightening and Natalie Jensen Walker deftly weaves these truths with lightheartedness. I found myself considering the giant-sized hurdles to be overcome by those who come to Christ with no prior knowledge of church culture.


Laura Jensen Walker ends this instalment with the promise of adventure in Becca’s future and yet with some threads left untied, leaving me with something to look forward to with anticipation. I am entirely certain that Laura’s next book in this series will be one worth waiting for, however impatiently that may be!


With thanks to Zondervan for Tracy's review copy




Guest reviewer: My friend Tracy from Beyond My Picket Fence



Relz Reviewz Extras

Reviews of Daring Chloe & Turning the Paige

Interview with Laura

Visit Laura's website

Buy Laura's books at Amazon or Koorong

3 comments:

nolene said...

It sounds like heaps of fun! I do enjoy Laura's books and this I will not miss.

Gill - That British Woman said...

I have never read any of her books, but this sounds like my sort of book, reminds me of the movie that Kate Hudson and Matthew McConaughey were in.

Gill in Canada

Anonymous said...

Thanks so much for another great review. I must admit that this is the first I've heard of Laura Jensen Walker but after reading the review I promptly placed one of her earlier books on hold at our library. Even the titles of her available books made me laugh...Thanks for the Mammogram...? Good for her, she obviously employs laughter as her best medicine.

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