Who Is My Shelter? (Yada Yada House of Hope, Book 4) [Paperback]

Neta Jackson (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: March 1, 2011

Gabby knows God is the God of second chances.

But can she give one to the man who betrayed her?

When she was thrown out of the penthouse she shared with her husband and their sons, Gabby didn't know if she'd ever find a soft place to land. But after seeking refuge at the shelter where she works, extraordinary things happen as she is reintroduced to God.

From the ashes of her marriage comes the House of Hope-a safe haven for homeless moms and their children.

But now those ashes of her destroyed marriage are being stirred again. When her long-gone husband's life hits rock bottom, he reappears and asks for one more chance. And Gabby faces what feels like an impossible choice. Take him back. Or keep moving forward without him. Toward someone new who hasn't betrayed her.

Is God redeeming what Gabby thought was gone forever? Or is He leading her down a different path and giving her something-and someone-new?

Editorial Reviews

From Booklist

In Jackson�s fourth Yada Yada House of Hope Christian evangelical novel, Gabby Fairbanks is now settled in her new apartment at the House of Hope. But she is being pulled in several directions at once and has some hard decisions to make. Philip, her estranged husband, is in a lot of trouble with a rogue cop from whom he borrowed money and also with his partner at the commercial development firm after he takes company money to cover his gambling losses. Lee Boyer, the Legal Aid lawyer who has become a friend to Gabby, now wants to be more. Gabby must decide whether to give Philip another chance, as their sons, Paul and PJ, hope, and she turns to the folks at Manna House, where she works, and the Yada Yada Prayer Group to help her discern God�s plan for her. Jackson�s latest has Gabby continuing to learn key lessons about faith while more is revealed about the mysterious Lucy, a pivotal character throughout the series. --Lynne Welch

Review

This book is an absolute delight. Jackson has a way with character development that makes readers feel a part of the action. The depth of the faith element, coupled with a well-plotted story, makes for an absolutely winning combination. This series should be read in order. 4 ½ Stars. TOP PICK! -- Romantic Times

Eager series fans will snap up this fourth entry (after Who Do I Lean On?). --Library Journal

Product Details

• Paperback: 432 pages
• Publisher: Thomas Nelson (March 1, 2011)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1595548637
• ISBN-13: 978-1595548634
• Product Dimensions: 5.5 x 8.3 x 1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 13.6 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (59 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #39,138 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

As a kid I was crazy about horses and animals of all kinds and loved to draw (horses, mostly). Since I didn't have a horse, I wrote stories about them instead. My high-school English teacher sent one of my stories (about a couger) to a Scholastic magazine writing contest and it won First Place . . . and the rest, as they say, is history. I wanted to be a writer!

I grew up on the campus of a private Christian school in Seattle where my parents were teachers. A lovely childhood, though fairly sheltered. But college took me back to the Chicago area and a whole new world. My husband and I settled in the Chicago area soon after getting married, and even though we both grew up in solid Christian homes, our search to deepen our faith took the form of Christian community for much of our family life raising kids. Eventually the critical issue of racial reconciliation became the call of God upon our life, and we chose to immerse ourselves in African American and multi-cultural churches. Our world and our hearts expanded. What a gift these relationships of faith have been!

All during this time, my husband and I have been a writing team--writing books with expert resource people (as their co-authors) on a variety of topics (from medical ethics to stories of gang kids), then writing a whole series of historical fiction about great Christian heroes--40 titles in all!--called the Trailblazer books (and a series of "Hero Tales," five volumes in all). Now we are each writing adult fiction--the Yada Yada Prayer Group series for me, which was inspired by my real-life Bible study sisters, a multi-cultural group of feisty women going on 12 years now that God has used to turn my life upside down, or rather, rightside up! (I have to admit, sometimes my real world and my fictional world get a bit mixed up!)

I've been married for 40-plus years to the same wonderful man, we are truly partners in life. We raised two kids plus a Cambodian foster daughter, and together they've given us eight beautiful grandchildren! As one of my girlfriends and I agree: The best stress-busters in the world are pets, gardening, and grandkids!

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

10 of 10 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars heartwarming, February 7, 2011

By 

K. Russell "K. Russell" (New York, USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Who Is My Shelter? (Yada Yada House of Hope, Book 4) (Paperback)

Who Is My Shelter? By Neta Jackson Published by Thomas Nelson
Every woman needs a safe shelter.
The tables have turned and Gabby's estranged husband--who threw her out when she didn't live up to his image of a "corporate wife"--needs her in a way neither ever expected. He's begging for reconciliation,
but Gabby has moved on, finding purpose and a future in the House of Hope. Not only has she found shelter for herself and her sons there,
but she's able to help provide shelter for homeless moms and their kids.
And yet . . . there's a hole in her life. Is God leading Gabby down a new path and giving her something--and someone--new? Or is He redeeming what she thought was gone forever?

My Thoughts: This is a heartwarming story about forgiveness and Gods grace. This is the fourth installment in a series that melts your heart and makes you think about what you hold dear to your heart. I really enjoyed it and will be looking for the previous three books in the series. The author really pulls you into Gabby's struggle as she tries to figure out what god wants for her. Does she trust her husband again and go back, or does she stick with the new life she has created for her and her children? I really like the cover art as well as the story itself and am glad to have it as an addition to my shelf.


Other Books in the Yada Yada House of Hope Series are.

*Where Do I Go?, Yada Yada House of Hope Series #1
*Who Do I Talk To? Yada Yada House of Hope Series #2
*Who Do I Lean On?, Yada Yada House of Hope Series #3

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Another Great Book from Neta Jackson, February 18, 2011

By 

The Not So Perfect Housewife - See all my reviews

This review is from: Who Is My Shelter? (Yada Yada House of Hope, Book 4) (Paperback)

I have totally missed the first three books of this series - but after reading Who is My Shelter, I am going to quickly catch up.

Neta Jackson has a wonderful talent of being able to write stories of every day people and situations, yet written in such a way that by chapter 2 or 3, you feel like you've know these people your whole life and can totally relate to their circumstances.

Who is My Shelter follows Gabby Fairbanks as she learns to draw close to God and see Him as her fulfillment and not the men in her life.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Always Inspiring, March 22, 2011

By 

Gayla M. Collins (Sheridan, WY) - See all my reviews
(TOP 1000 REVIEWER)    (VINE VOICE)    (REAL NAME)   

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Who Is My Shelter? (Yada Yada House of Hope, Book 4) (Paperback)

"Who is My Shelter" is the last of the four books in the "House of Hope" series. This wraps up all the unfinished storylines while creating new ones for another series Neta Jackson is plotting. The action takes place in Chicago, creating an abundance of places, people and things that aid in bringing these Christ based books to life.

Gabby Fairbanks is busy with her job at the woman's homeless shelter directing activities as well as running her House of Hope apartment complex for single mothers. Her two boys, P.J. and Paul, keep her hopping as do the eccentric, loveable characters that surround her whirlwind life. Paul Fairbanks Sr., Gabby's estranged husband, has gotten into major trouble with loan sharks because of his gambling, bringing serious danger to himself and his family. Lucy, street woman extraordinaire, has sprained her leg badly and needs rescuing. Mystery abounds with her and a young man named Will Nissan who helps find her hidden between walls of a recreation structure on Lake Michigan's beach. Harry and Estelle are having problems with their relationship because of Estelle's mentally ill son. These people, plus several others, keep the action flowing. Except.............

I couldn't give five star to this offering as I have others in this series. Frankly, it was about 60 to 80 pages too long. Halfway through the drama slipped into repetitive writing which caused a tiring lapse. I would also ask Ms. Jackson to speak to the copy editors at her publishing house; there were really grievous errors that shutdown the flow as well.

Bless, Ms. Jackson, that she pulled it out and picked up the pace in time to save this otherwise languishing story. The spirituality of Neta's writing is always beautifully presented and inspires my heart. I have read all of the "Yada Yada" series and now all "The House of Hope" books. I look forward to the "SouledOut Sister" series to come. Ms. Jackson and her husband Dave are fluent writers and I am simply amazed at how much they have published over the years. Bless them for their commitment in writing quality Christian fiction for all these years.