Review of Tournaments, Cocoa, & One Wrong Move!

Tournaments, Cocoa, & One Wrong Move is the third book in the Real Life series by Nancy Rue. Each book, however, is pretty much a standalone. What if one mistake totally tears apart your life as you know it? Would you scream and rage? Give up? Or would you pick yourself up, and, with the help of God, family, and friends, fight through it? Such is the story of Cassidy Brewster in Tournaments, Cocoa, & One Wrong Move.

In this book, Cassidy Brewster, a basketball-loving, "perfect student" soon finds her world spinning out of control after an injury during a game leaves her unable to play. One wrong move drastically changes Cassidy's situation and her life spirals out of control, but will she find a way to make it through the words of a mysterious book? Will she ever leave "Loser Hall"?

I absolutely loved this book. Yes, I don't play basketball, but the author so artfully crafts this story in a way anyone can understand. You genuinely start being emotionally involved with the outcome of the story and the situation of the character. I won't deny it- I am a huge fan of Nancy Rue. I have been since the Lily series. Longtime fans will not be disappointed. Cassidy reads The Scarlet Letter in the story, and I could see parallels between the two stories. I absolutely love the characters of Rafe, one of the "loser" kids who becomes one of Cassidy's closest friends and Cassidy's mother, who encourages her through her difficulties. This book is a clean, meaningful book about not giving up, forgiving, and getting through hard times.

I thoroughly enjoyed the first book in this series, Motorcycles, Sushi, and One Strange Book, and I recommend it as much as I do this one. However, I do not highly recommend Boyfriends, Burritos, and an Ocean of Trouble as much as I do the first and third books due to some content and language issues.

All in all, I rate this book five out of five stars.

Specifics (from amazon.com):
~Paperback: 256 pages
~Publisher: Zondervan (September 28, 2010)
~Product Dimensions: 8.2 x 5.4 x 0.8 inches

Note: I received this book freely from Zondervan Publishers. I am not obligated to write a positive review- only an honest one.

Blessings,