Title: Penny Wise (Windy City Neighbors Book #3)
Author: Neta & Dave Jackson
Pages: 316
Year: 2014
Publisher: Castle Rock Creative, Inc.
The Windy City Neighbors series begins with Grounded followed by Derailed, both published in 2013. A total of six novels are planned for this series and let me tell you each one keeps getting better and more involved with the neighbors on Beecham Street. When I began the series, it was because I am originally from the Chicago suburbs and loved growing up in that area. The people living on that street are a variety of ethnicities, backgrounds, careers, and more. It makes the interactions quite interesting as what once began as neighbors just passing each other with minimal contact is now growing into deeper relationships.
The spiritual beliefs of some of the neighbors are Christian. There is a Jewish family and others that the authors haven’t shared with the audience yet. As readers progress through the novels, more of the character’s home life and past are revealed. I enjoy the way real life and issues are dealt with by the authors. It is a wonder if there is anywhere these types of relationship are actually real.
None of the characters are perfect which makes their thoughts, actions or reactions more believable. It is easy to picture in my mind how various parts of the novel might play out in the real world or on a movie screen. People who are Christians are shown as people that battle with their thoughts or hearts or how they relate to others in a church setting.
One other notable quality is the lack of marital relations being explained on the pages, but spoken of briefly as a God given gift in marriage. For those in these books who have failed to wait, the message is one of hope through forgiveness found in Jesus. Families learn to grow together, making time to be together when so many other opportunities tend to pull at the neighbors’ attention or time. I recommend reading the books in order as each book shares more about various characters met in the first book, Grounded. Readers will come away with encouraged hearts and perhaps a challenge to look at people as God sees them. There is no one who is not in need of prayer support, friendship, love or compassion either within this series or in the real world.
My rating is 5 stars.
Amazon Link: http://www.amazon.com/Penny-Wise-Windy-City-Neighbors/dp/0982054467/ref=sr_1_1?s...
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Saying I enjoyed this latest novel from the Jackson's just doesn't cut it. I really loved this book. They've captured the stressful busyness of everyday life and thrown in some unusual extra's for an amazing read. I especially loved the "pennies", it touched my heart and made me just stop and think about how much God cares for us.

The characters are interesting and I can't wait to read more about the neighbors on this block. Meeting them has been fun. The Jaspers are the focus of this book, they're much too busy with work, children, church, and volunteer activites. Having to deal with bullies, gangs, and then a parents nightmare. So well written... a treasure.

I received a copy of this book free from the publisher in exchange for an honest review. ( )