NO PLACE TO FALL

Fueled by a dream to make it as a singer outside of her small town, one girl struggles to make the right choices as social tensions press against her from all sides.

At just 16, Amber loves nothing more than singing at church and making music with her best friend, Devon, and his handsome older brother, Will. Over the summer, she and Devon frequent the “hiker barn,” where walkers of the Appalachian Trail stop to rest and be merry. Always her mother’s good girl, Amber finds herself turning wild at the hiker barn. When school begins, that little bit of wild sticks to her, and soon new, difficult choices confront her: How does she juggle all the newfound male attention? How does she keep her tenuous group of friends forged over the summer together? And most importantly, how does she make her dream of becoming a trained singer come true? With family and hard times pressing in on her, it isn’t long before Amber has to face the music and ’fess up. Southern charm oozes off the page, and on the whole, the read is an enjoyable ride. Still, there’s little danger felt, even while Amber’s family flounders and even though the price paid for poor choices is high.

A quick, predictable, romantic read with a denouement that leaves much to be desired.