{"id":1375,"date":"2009-04-30T03:04:52","date_gmt":"2009-04-30T08:04:52","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.daysongreflections.com\/\/?p=1375"},"modified":"2009-04-28T23:07:17","modified_gmt":"2009-04-29T04:07:17","slug":"new-york-debut-by-melody-carlson","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.daysongreflections.com\/?p=1375","title":{"rendered":"New York Debut by Melody Carlson"},"content":{"rendered":"

<\/a>\"\"<\/a>It is time for a FIRST Wild Card Tour<\/a><\/strong><\/span><\/strong> book review! If you wish to join the FIRST blog alliance, just click the button. We are a group of reviewers who tour Christian books. A Wild Card post includes a brief bio of the author and a full chapter from each book toured. The reason it is called a FIRST Wild Card Tour is that you never know if the book will be fiction, non~fiction, for young, or for old…or for somewhere in between! Enjoy your free peek into the book!<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

You never know when I might play a wild card on you!<\/em><\/span><\/p>\n

Today’s Wild Card author is: <\/strong><\/div>\n
Melody Carlson<\/a><\/span><\/strong><\/div>\n

and the book:<\/span> <\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n

New York Debut (Carter House Girls)<\/a><\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n

Zondervan (May 1, 2009)<\/p>\n

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:<\/span> <\/span><\/strong><\/div>\n

\"\"<\/a>Over the years, Melody Carlson has worn many hats, from pre-school teacher to youth counselor to political activist to senior editor. But most of all, she loves to write! Currently she freelances from her home. In the past ten years, she has published more than a hundred books for children, teens, and adults, with sales totaling more than 2.5 million and many titles appearing on the ECPA Bestsellers List.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>Several of her books have been finalists for, and winners of, various writing awards including The Gold Medallion, The Christy, and The Rita Award. And most recently she is in the process of optioning some of her books for film rights.
\nShe has two grown sons and lives in Central Oregon with her husband and chocolate lab retriever. They enjoy skiing, hiking, gardening, camping and biking in the beautiful Cascade Mountains.<\/p>\n

Visit the author’s website<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Product Details:<\/p>\n

List Price: $9.99
\nReading level: Young Adult
\nPaperback: 224 pages
\nPublisher: Zondervan (May 1, 2009)
\nLanguage: English
\nISBN-10: 0310714931
\nISBN-13: 978-0310714934<\/p>\n

AND NOW…THE FIRST CHAPTER:<\/span> <\/strong>
\n<\/span><\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a><\/p>\n

\u201cWhere is Taylor?\u201d asked Grandmother as she drove DJ home from the airport.
\n\u201dIs she coming on a later flight?\u201d<\/p>\n

DJ hadn\u2019t told her the whole story yet. In fact, she hadn\u2019t said much of anything to Grandmother at all during the past week, except to leave a message saying that she\u2019d changed her flight and planned to be home two days earlier than expected. Obviously, Grandmother had assumed that Taylor had changed her plans as well.<\/p>\n

\u201cTaylor\u2019s in LA,\u201d DJ said slowly, wishing she could add something to that, something to deflect further questioning.<\/p>\n

\u201cVisiting her father?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cNo\u2026\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cTouring with Eva?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cNo\u2026\u201d
\n\u201cWhat then?\u201d Grandmother\u2019s voice was getting irritated as she drove away from the terminal. \u201cWhere is the girl, Desiree? Speak up.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cShe\u2019s in rehab.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cRehab?\u201d Grandmother turned to stare at DJ with widened eyes. \u201cWhatever for?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cFor alcohol treatment.\u201d<\/p>\n

Grandmother seemed stunned into speechlessness, which was a relief since DJ didn\u2019t really want to discuss this. She was still trying to grasp the whole strange phenomenon. It was hard to admit, but the past few days of being mostly by herself in Las Vegas had been lonely and depressing and one of the reasons she\u2019d been desperate to change her flight and come home early. She had really missed Taylor. The hardest part was when she discovered that Taylor wasn\u2019t allowed any communication from outside the rehab facility. This concerned DJ. No cell phone calls, email, or anything. It seemed weird. Although DJ was praying for her roommate, she was worried. What if it wasn\u2019t a reputable place? What if Taylor never came back? What if something bad happened to her? Not only would DJ blame herself, she figured everyone else would too.<\/p>\n

Finally Grandmother spoke. \u201cDid you girls get into some kind of trouble in Las Vegas, Desiree?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cNo\u2026\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cI want you to be honest with me. Did something happen to precipitate this?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cThe only thing that happened is that Taylor came to grips with the fact that she has a serious drinking problem. If you\u2019ll remember, I tried to let you in on this some time ago.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cYes, I remember the vodka bottle. I simply assumed it was a one-time occurrence.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cI told you otherwise.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cWell, I know that girls will be girls, Desiree. You can\u2019t have spent as much time as I in the fashion industry and not know this.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cWere you ever like that?\u201d asked DJ. \u201cI mean that girls will be girls bit?\u201d<\/p>\n

Grandmother cleared her throat. \u201cI wasn\u2019t an angel, Desiree, if that\u2019s what you\u2019re hinting at. However, I did understand the need for manners and decorum. I witnessed numerous young women spinning out of control. Beautiful or not, a model won\u2019t last long if she is unable to work.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cIsn\u2019t that true with everything?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cYes\u2026I suppose. How long is Taylor going to be in\u2026this rehabilitation place?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cI don\u2019t know. You should probably call her mom.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cOh, dear\u2026that\u2019s something else I hadn\u2019t considered. Certainly Eva Perez won\u2019t be blaming me for her daughter\u2019s, well, her drinking problem.\u201d
\n\u201cEva is fully aware that Taylor had this drinking problem long before she came to Carter House.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cGood.\u201d Grandmother sighed and shook her head. \u201cI just hope her treatment won\u2019t prevent her from participating in Fashion Week. That would be a disaster.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cSeems like it would be a worse disaster if Taylor didn\u2019t get the help she needs.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cYes, of course, that goes without saying. But I would think that a week or two should be sufficient. Goodness, just how bad can a problem get when you\u2019re only seventeen?\u201d<\/p>\n

DJ shrugged, but didn\u2019t say anything. The truth was she thought it could get pretty bad, and in Taylor\u2019s case it was bad. And it could\u2019ve gotten worse. To think that Taylor had been drinking daily and DJ never even knew it.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt\u2019s just as well you came home early, Desiree,\u201d said Grandmother as she turned onto the parkway. \u201cAlready Casey and Rhiannon are back. And Kriti is supposed to return tomorrow. Eliza will be back on New Year\u2019s Eve.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019m surprised she didn\u2019t want to stay in France for New Year\u2019s.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cAs am I. If I were over there, I\u2019d certainly have booked a room in Paris. Nothing is more spectacular than fireworks over the City of Light. But apparently Eliza has plans with her boyfriend. Imagine\u2014giving up Paris for your boyfriend!\u201d<\/p>\n

Of course, DJ knew that Eliza\u2019s life of lavish luxury didn\u2019t mean all that much to her. Like a poor little rich girl, Eliza wanted a slice of \u201cnormal.\u201d Well, normal with a few little extras like good shoes, designer bags, and her pretty white Porsche.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt\u2019s good to be home,\u201d DJ proclaimed as her grandmother turned into the driveway.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt\u2019s good to hear you say that,\u201d said Grandmother.<\/p>\n

And it was the truth. After a week in Vegas, DJ was extremely thankful to be back. Maybe for the first time, Carter House did feel like a home. She couldn\u2019t wait to see Casey and Rhiannon.<\/p>\n

\u201cWelcome back,\u201d called Casey as she opened the door, dashed out onto the porch, and hugged DJ. \u201cNeed some help with those bags?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cThanks.\u201d DJ studied Casey for a moment, trying to figure out what had changed. \u201cYour hair!\u201d<\/p>\n

Casey picked up one of DJ\u2019s bags then grinned as she gave her strawberry blond hair a shake. \u201cLike it?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cIt\u2019s the old you\u2014only better.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cMy mom talked me into it. The black was a little dramatic, don\u2019t you think?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cI think you look fantastic. And that choppy layered cut is very cute.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cYour grandmother approved it too. And I got highlights.\u201d<\/p>\n

DJ touched her own hair. \u201cTaylor had been nagging me to get mine redone. But it was so expensive in Vegas. I figured I\u2019d do it here.\u201d<\/p>\n

Casey lowered her voice. \u201cSo how\u2019d your grandmother take the news about Taylor?\u201d<\/p>\n

DJ stopped at the foot of the stairs and stared at Casey. \u201cDid Rhiannon tell you everything?\u201d
\n\u201cYeah, is it supposed to be a big secret?\u201d Casey made a hurt face now. \u201cI was wondering why you told Rhiannon and not me. I thought we were friends, DJ.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cI didn\u2019t mean to, but I sort of spilled the beans with Rhiannon because I was so desperate and didn\u2019t know what to do at the time. But then I felt bad. I mean it was possible that Taylor wanted to keep it private, you know?\u201d<\/p>\n

Casey nodded somberly. \u201cYeah, I guess I do know.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cYou should.\u201d After all, it had only been a few months since they had intervened with Casey in regard to her pain pill snitching.<\/p>\n

\u201cSo, are you saying mum\u2019s the word?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cUntil Taylor comes back. Don\u2019t you think it\u2019s up to her to say something or not?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cYeah. I can just imagine Eliza with that tasty little morsel of gossip. It\u2019d be all over the school in no time.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cSpeaking of Eliza, that means Kriti too.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cKriti just got here about an hour ago.\u201d Casey paused, nodding toward the room that Kriti and Eliza shared. The taxi dropped her and she went straight to her room. But something seems wrong.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cWhat do you mean?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019m not sure. She just looks different. Kind of unhappy. I mean she didn\u2019t even say hello or anything.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cMaybe she was missing her family.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cMaybe, but my guess is it\u2019s something more.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cWe should probably try harder to reach out to her and make her feel at home.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cYou\u2019re here!\u201d Rhiannon burst out of the room and threw her arms around DJ. \u201cWelcome home!\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cMan, it is so good to be back. Vegas\u2014for more than a day or two\u2014is a nightmare.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cAt least you got a tan,\u201d observed Rhiannon. She glanced at Casey. \u201cBoth of you, in fact.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cIt\u2019s that California sun.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cDon\u2019t make me envious,\u201d said Rhiannon.<\/p>\n

\u201cHey, look at you,\u201d said DJ as she noticed that Rhiannon had on a very cool outfit. \u201cIs that new?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cOld and new. My great aunt gave me some of her old clothes and I\u2019ve been altering them.\u201d She held out her hands and turned around to make the long circular skirt spin out. \u201cFun, huh?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cAnd cool,\u201d said DJ.<\/p>\n

\u201cShe\u2019s got all kinds of stuff,\u201d said Casey. \u201cHats and costume jewelry and scarves and things. I told her she should open a retro shop and get rich.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cMaybe I will someday.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cOr just sell things here in Carter House,\u201d suggested DJ. \u201cBetween Eliza and Taylor\u2019s clothing budget, you could clean up.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cOh, yeah, DJ, Conner just called,\u201d said Rhiannon. \u201cThey just got back from their ski trip and he said he tried your cell a few times, but it seemed to be turned off.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cMore like dead. My flight was so early this morning, I forgot to charge it.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cWell, I told him you\u2019d call.\u201d<\/p>\n

Casey set DJ\u2019s bag inside her door. \u201cSpeaking of boys, I think I\u2019ll check and see how Garrison is doing\u2014find out if he missed me or not.\u201d She touched her hair. \u201cDo you think he\u2019ll like it?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cHow could he not,\u201d said Rhiannon. \u201cIt\u2019s so cool.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cLater,\u201d called Casey as she headed for her room.<\/p>\n

\u201cSo, how\u2019s Taylor?\u201d asked Rhiannon quietly.<\/p>\n

\u201cYou didn\u2019t tell Kriti, did you?\u201d whispered DJ, pulling Rhiannon into her room then closing the door.<\/p>\n

\u201cNo, why would I?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cI just wanted to be sure. I think we need to respect Taylor\u2019s privacy with this.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cAbsolutely. So, have you talked to her?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cThey won\u2019t let me. They have this no communication policy. No email, cell phones\u2026nothing. It\u2019s like a black hole. Weird.\u201d<\/p>\n

Rhiannon nodded. \u201cYeah, it was like that with my mom at first. I think they wanted to keep her cut off from any bad connections. Then after a while, you earn communication privileges.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cOh, that\u2019s a relief. I was really worried.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cI still can hardly believe Taylor went willingly.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cYeah, our strong-willed wild child\u2026putting herself into rehab.\u201d DJ shook her head.<\/p>\n

\u201cThat remind me, Seth has called a few times too. He wanted to know why Taylor\u2019s cell was off and where she was.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cWhat\u2019d you say?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cThat I didn\u2019t know.\u201d She shrugged. \u201cActually, that was the truth.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cBut nothing else?\u201d
\n\u201cNo.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cGood. I mean it\u2019s not like we need to keep it top secret, but until we hear from Taylor, let\u2019s not talk about it.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cSure.\u201d Rhiannon put a hand on DJ\u2019s shoulder. \u201cAnd don\u2019t worry about her, DJ. She\u2019ll be fine.\u201d
\n\u201cI know.\u201d DJ nodded as she put her bags on her bed and started to unzip them. But as soon as Rhiannon left, DJ wasn\u2019t so sure. What if Taylor wasn\u2019t fine? What if something had gone wrong? And what if it was all DJ\u2019s fault?<\/p><\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

It is time for a FIRST Wild Card Tour book review! If you wish to join the FIRST blog alliance, just click the button. We are a group of reviewers who tour Christian books. A Wild Card post includes a brief bio of the author and a full chapter from each book toured. The reason […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_et_pb_use_builder":"","_et_pb_old_content":"","_et_gb_content_width":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[8],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-1375","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-books"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.daysongreflections.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1375","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.daysongreflections.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.daysongreflections.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.daysongreflections.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.daysongreflections.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=1375"}],"version-history":[{"count":2,"href":"https:\/\/www.daysongreflections.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1375\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":1377,"href":"https:\/\/www.daysongreflections.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1375\/revisions\/1377"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.daysongreflections.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=1375"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.daysongreflections.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=1375"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.daysongreflections.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=1375"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}