Jenna Boller is dripping with newfound maturity after her life-altering summer on the road. She has a job she loves at Gladstone Shoes, a best friend who makes her laugh, and a dysfunctional family she's learning how to handle. Jenna feels ready for anything—until Tanner Cobb, a guy with a past, a police record, and dangerously good looks, walks into her life. Suddenly Jenna's surrounded by crises, including a shoe empire on the verge of crumbling. Tanner's street smarts seem to be what Jenna needs, but can she trust him enough when the going gets tough? ( )

Sequel to Rules of the road.Advance copy. ( )

A great book. See review of Rules of the Road. ( )

This is an author who handles complex subjects in a manner that doesn't over abuse feelings. She magically weaves the story line and balances humor and angst with the end result of hope.

Jenna Boller is the oldest child. She has a loving younger sister and very stable mother. Sadly though, her father is a knock down drag out alcoholic.

Finding a job selling shoes for Gladstone Shoe company enables her to learn valuable lessons. Bauer knows that people come into our lives when we most need them and thus she introduces the fiesty, elderly character of Mrs. Gladstone. When Mrs. Gladstone's near do well son manipulates the board of directors and buys up the leading shares of the company, his mother is no longer in charge.

Jenna is mentored by Mrs. Gladstone and grows to understand that dysfunction in families happens to many, not just Jenna.

Feeling guilty and taking responsibility for her father's alcoholism is a normal trait of a child of an alcoholic and through her relationship with Mrs. Gladstone Jenna begins to learn of forgiveness, of redemption and of the fact that we are not responsible for others. We are indeed only responsible for our own actions.

Highly recommended.

The author has first hand experience with the reality of the sad impact that an alcoholic father has on the family dynamic and on the individual level. ( )

Between school and Al-Anon meetings, Jenna helps Mrs. Gladstone cope with escalating problems that result from the merger of Gladstone Shoes with Shoe Warehouse Corporation, while managing a new employee with a shoplifting record. ( )