Hold On Tight/Closer Than Ever/Take My Hand (The Sierra Jensen Series 10-12) (Sierra Jensen Collection, Volume 4) [Hardcover]

Robin Jones Gunn (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: August 15, 2006

College on the Horizon

She’s the bold, free-spirited type. She’s young, she’s fun, and she’s following God. She’s Sierra Jensen—Christy Miller’s good friend—in her senior year of high school with college fast approaching! In this fourth volume of the popular Sierra Jensen series, Sierra’s life becomes a roller coaster of decisions as she strives to Hold on Tight through choices about friendship, honesty, and college. Then, with high school graduation Closer Than Ever , she eagerly plans for Paul’s visit and can’t wait to know where everyone will be going to college. Finally, in Take My Hand , a misunderstanding with Paul means Sierra must start college hurt and confused. Is the damage to their relationship as final as it feels?

Christy Miller knows a good friend when she meets her,

and so will you— Sierra Jensen is better than ever!

Hold On Tight

Decisions, decisions. That’s all Sierra’s life is lately. Eager to escape the stress, she can’t wait to join her brother and a few friends on a road trip as they visit a university in Southern California and tack on a day at an amusement park. It’ll be great! But right from the start, things go wrong. And suddenly Sierra’s trip is full of more twists and turns than any roller coaster. There’s only one way to handle a wild ride like this: hold on tight, trust God to keep her safe—and scream for all she’s worth.

Closer Than Ever

Paul is coming home! What’s more, he’s coming to Sierra’s graduation party. She spends every spare moment planning—after all, his visit has to be perfect. Then, more good news! Sierra and Randy are accepted into Rancho Corona University . Sierra couldn’t be happier—until she hears Vicki hasn’t received an acceptance letter. Does that mean Sierra and her friends won’t be in college together? But the worst news of all comes on graduation night. There’s been a terrible accident. With limited information, Sierra fears the worst. Can she let go and trust her dreams to God?

Take My Hand

What a year! Not only is Sierra starting college, but her older sister, Tawni, is engaged—to Paul’s older brother, Jeremy! As the two families prepare for the wedding, Sierra’s excitement grows. At last, she and Paul will be together—face-to-face! But their longed-for reunion is marred by a costly misunderstanding that turns Paul away and sends Sierra off to college hurt and confused. Only the gentle wisdom of Sierra’s good friend, Christy Miller, helps her face a difficult decision. But is it too late for Sierra and Paul?

Story Behind the Book

“After writing the twelve-book Christy Miller series for teens, a new teen character showed up on the pages of the final novel. Her name was Sierra Jensen, and she was such a compelling character that readers began asking for a series about Sierra in order to hear more about her life choices. Our family had just moved to Portland at the time, and I found it easy to picture a sixteen-year-old like Sierra shopping at the local vintage clothing stores, hanging out with friends at a garage band concert, and serving at the homeless shelter on weekends.” —Robin Jones Gunn

Editorial Reviews

About the Author

Robin Jones Gunn is a God-lover who has been telling stories all her life and writing them down for publication the past twenty years. A world traveler and mom of a grown son and daughter, Robin confesses she’s still crazy about her husband after twenty-nine years of doing life together.

Excerpt. © Reprinted by permission. All rights reserved.

one


SIERRA JENSEN STEPPED INSIDE Mama Bear’s Bakery. She had worked here for almost a year but never tired of the fresh fragrance of cinnamon and warm bread that greeted her as the tiny bell over the door announced her entrance. This clear spring afternoon she wasn’t working. She was meeting friends. Glancing at the empty corner table by the front window, Sierra realized she was the first one to arrive for the Monday
afternoon gathering. For months she and her friends Vicki and Amy had bent their heads close together over that same table every Monday at four o’clock. They shared secrets, settled arguments, gave free advice, and teased each other mercilessly.

Mrs. Kraus, the owner of Mama Bear’s, called to Sierra from behind the counter. “I just pulled out a pan of fresh rolls. Will you girls be sharing your usual large one with an
extra dab of frosting?”

“I’m sure we will,” Sierra said. Six other customers were seated in the bakery, and Mrs. Kraus appeared to be the only person working in the front of the shop. “Would you
like me to get the tea for us?”

“No, I think I can remember what you always have. I’ll get it.” The cheerful, round Mrs. Kraus turned to greet an older woman who had entered the shop.

Sierra settled her slim frame into her usual chair, welcoming the stream of sunshine that spilled through the window and cascaded down her long, blond curls. She loved the feelings of promise this time of year brought, especially this spring. It was her senior year in high school, and endless possibilities stretched out for her future. That was probably why she felt impatient for Amy and Vicki to show up. She had a very promising possibility to tell them
about.

Across the street a battered old Volvo pulled into a metered parking space. Sierra watched as petite Amy flipped her sunglasses onto the top of her head and fingered the ends of her short, dark hair at the base of her neck. Amy glanced right and left and then hurried across
the street. Her dash had a slight zigzag pattern to it. She kept her head down and didn’t watch where she was going. That’s the way Amy approaches life, Sierra thought, zigzagging with
her head down. I’ll have to tell her that.

“Personality observations” is what Vicki had first labeled these insights, when she communicated to Sierra that the way Sierra bit her lower lip was a sign of worry. Sierra
accepted the observation with grateful surprise. She had never realized she bit her lower lip.
Amy, however, wasn’t interested in observations lately. The openness she had demonstrated in February was gone by the beginning of March, and it didn’t seem to be returning. Sierra was just glad that, even though Amy hadn’t been saying much during their get-togethers, at least she kept coming. Sierra had nearly lost her friendship with Amy once, and she didn’t want that to happen again.

When Amy entered, Sierra smiled and waved. The pair had certainly experienced their ups and downs in their year of friendship. In spite of their differences, they respected and deeply cared for each other, and that’s what kept them close.

“Vicki’s not here yet?” Amy said, slipping into a chair across from Sierra.

Sierra shook her head. “When I saw her at lunch, I told her I had something to tell you guys, so I thought she would be the first one here.”

“Guess you’ll have to tell me first, then,” Amy said, her dark eyes glancing at Sierra’s outfit. “I like that shirt. When did you get it?”

“Believe it or not, I found it stuffed in a bag Mom was taking to the Salvation Army. I think it was Tawni’s. I’m actually wearing something my sister liked!”

Amy reached over and felt the sleeve of Sierra’s lavender chenille top. “I like this material. It sure brings out the blue in your eyes.” Amy smiled as she added, “If you get tired of it, you can always toss it in my direction.”

Mrs. Kraus arrived at their table, balancing a tray with their snack. Sierra reached for the mugs of hot tea, and Amy grabbed the plate with the cinnamon roll.

“It’s my turn to pay,” Amy said. “I’ll bring it up to the register, Mrs. Kraus.”

“No hurry. Just enjoy,” Mrs. Kraus said.

The bell above the door announced Vicki’s arrival. She swished past Mrs. Kraus and, with a flushed face, began to talk before she even sat down. “Sorry! I was almost out ofgas, and I didn’t have any money, so I had to go to the bank, and the line at the drive-up was terrible and, oh, you already ordered? I wanted iced tea today. I think I’ll get myself a glass of ice and turn this into iced tea. Anyone else want anything?”

Both Sierra and Amy shook their heads.

Vicki swept past the tables to the counter. Watching her, Sierra thought about the contrast between her two friends. If Amy zigzagged through life with her head down, Vicki moved through her days at full speed, with her chin to the sky and the wind in her long, silky, brown hair. That zestful optimism eventually had linked Sierra and Vicki, even though Sierra originally had interpreted Vicki’s bold approach to life as conceit. Of course, when they first met, Vicki did have an overly active bent toward flirting and was far more interested in developing relationships with guys than with girls.

Amy pulled off a corner of the cinnamon roll. “Do you suppose we can start eating without Vicki? I’m starved.” “Sure. She’ll be right back.” Sierra pulled her peppermint tea bag out of the mug. With a glance at Vicki, she wondered how her friends would describe her approach to life. Did they see her as a zigzagger or as someone with her face to the sun? She felt she had changed a lot during the past year, and she knew that Vicki and Amy had changed, too. What would they be like a year from now? Or even six months from now, when they all would begin their freshman year of college?

The instant Vicki returned to their table, Sierra spilled her news. “Okay, are you both ready for my big announcement?”

“It can’t be that huge if you didn’t tell me at lunch today and made me wait until now,” Vicki said, carefully pouring her steaming tea over the glass of crushed ice.

“I wanted to tell you both at the same time.”

“I appreciate that,” Amy said. Amy had changed schools this year after her parents’ divorce. She was at a public high school now, instead of at Royal Academy, the small, private Christian school where the three originally had met. “So?” Vicki prompted.

“Last night my brother called and told me he’s going to Southern California next week. He’s pretty sure he wants to attend Rancho Corona University for his master’s degree, but he wanted to check out the school before he made a final decision.”

“That’s your big news?” Vicki asked. Her pretty face took on a teasing grin. “You definitely could have told me that at lunch.”

“Wait,” Sierra said, her enthusiasm unruffled. “He’s going to drive down there next week, and he asked if I wanted to go with him, and my parents said yes!”

“Good for you,” Vicki said. “Bring back a surfer for each of us.”

“Didn’t you go to California last year for Easter vacation?” Amy asked.

“Yes.”

“And you also flew down there for your friends’ wedding last summer.” Amy turned her lower lip into a friendly pout. “How do you expect us to be happy for you again? You keep going on these adventures, and we don’t go anywhere. I’ve never been to California–ever–in my life. I’ve only been to Seattle–once.”

“I hope you have a good time,” Vicki said cheerfully to Sierra.

Sierra broke into a wide grin. “You mean you hope we have a good time.”

“‘We’ meaning you and Wes?” Vicki ventured. “Or ‘we’ meaning the three of us?”

“All of us!” Sierra spouted. “My brother is driving my parents’ van down, and they said I could invite my friends to go. We should be able to get an excused absence from school, since it’s a college scouting trip. Wes said he would let us check out as many different campuses as we want, as long as he can spend a day at Rancho Corona.”

“I’m in,” Vicki said without a moment’s hesitation.

“What kind of colleges?” Amy asked cautiously.

“Amy!” Vicki nudged her arm. “You just said you never get to go anywhere. Accept the invitation and say thank you.”

Amy hesitated a moment before saying, “It would be kind of fun.”

“When do we leave?” Vicki asked.

“Wednesday after school,” Sierra said. “I’m going to drive the van down to Corvallis, and then Wes and I will take turns driving from there. It’s going to take us at least twenty hours, so we’ll sleep in the van. In Los Angeles, we’ll stay with a couple Wesley knows.”

“Where is Rancho Corona University?” Vicki asked.

“I don’t know. Someplace down there. It’s about an hour’s drive from where my sister lives, so we might stay with her the next night.”

“This is going to be so much fun!” Vicki sipped her iced tea and glanced at Amy for a sign of enthusiasm.

“When do we come back?” Amy asked.

“Late Sunday night. It’ll be a really packed couple of days, but I...

Product Details

• Reading level: Ages 12 and up
  
• Hardcover: 464 pages
• Publisher: Multnomah Publishers (August 15, 2006)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1590525914
• ISBN-13: 978-1590525913
• Product Dimensions: 5.3 x 1.5 x 8.6 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 3.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (21 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #170,790 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

You are warmly invited to visit Robin's website at www.robingunn.com. Be sure to sign up for the Robin's Nest Newsletter and have a browse in the Online Shop.

Over the past 25 years Robin has written 70 books with over 4 million copies sold.

She started writing for teens when the girls in her church youth group challenged her to write stories for them. It took 2 years and 10 rejections before the first Christy Miller novel was published in 1988. Since then the tales of these Forever Friends have continued. The Christy Miller series was followed by the Sierra Jensen series, Christy and Todd the College Years and the Katie Weldon series.

As Robin's readers grew older they asked for more stories about characters their age. The 8 book Glenbrooke series was launched followed by the Sisterchicks(R) series and a variety of standalone destination novels including "Under a Maui Moon" and "Canary Island Song".

Join Robin Jones Gunn on her facebook public figure page where she frequently posts updates on her latest travel or writing adventure.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars A satisfying read!, July 6, 2006

By 

Armchair Interviews (Minneapolis, MN) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Only You, Sierra/In Your Dreams/Don't You Wish (The Sierra Jensen Series 1-3) (Sierra Jensen Collection, Volume 1) (Hardcover)

This collection includes the first three books in the Sierra Jensen series written by Robin Jones Gunn.

Only You, Sierra introduces sixteen-year-old Sierra. Flying home from a mission trip in the UK, Sierra has met several new friends, including Katie and Christy, who readers of Robin's Christy Miller series will recognize. Normally outgoing and adventurous, Sierra is surprised to feel anxiety about her family's move to Portland, Oregon during the time she was away. A new home, new school, and potential new love interest challenge Sierra to reevaluate beliefs about herself that she has long taken for granted.

In Your Dreams finds Sierra watching over Granna Mae for a few days while her family is out of town. While it's difficult for Sierra to see her Granna's memory come and go, what seems to be a simple responsibility becomes more than Sierra bargains for when Granna Mae receives a call saying she needs immediate surgery. Meanwhile, Sierra tries to find a part-time job and wonders why, when she was the most popular girl at her old school, she is having such a difficult time making new friends in Portland.

Don't You Wish takes Sierra and her sister Tawni to spend Easter break at the beach with Christy, Katie, and their friends. When Tawni hits it off immediately with Jeremy, and even Katie pairs off with Antonio, an Italian exchange student, Sierra struggles with being jealous and feeling left out. She wants a boyfriend too. She tries to have fun and even learns to surf. But when Sierra witnesses Christy and Todd, to her the perfect couple, going through a difficult time in their relationship, she realizes everyone has struggles in their life. And she learns, as 1 Tim 6:6 states, that godliness with contentment is the greatest gain.

"Have you ever felt as if you were caught between two lives? The one you're living, and the one you wish you were living?" Sierra asks Christy.

Armchair Interviews says: Readers of all ages will understand Sierra's feelings and be ministered to by the timeless truths God reveals to her throughout this collection.

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Awesome Book., February 29, 2008

By 

A Teens Review "A Teens Review" (Florida) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Only You, Sierra/In Your Dreams/Don't You Wish (The Sierra Jensen Series 1-3) (Sierra Jensen Collection, Volume 1) (Hardcover)

I loved this book. I will admit though, when I firt started reading it. I was thinking 'This book is going to be soo boring' But, the more I was reading it. The more I found I loved it. For any christian girl, or even a girl who wants to learn more about god. This would be an awesome book for them. It deals with a lot of the things that teen girls deal with. And the way Sierra Jensen handles all the things that are thrown at her, is awesome. She can turn and awful mistake, into a chance for god to use her.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Lessons learned, November 10, 2011

By 

Chrystal Mahan - See all my reviews

This review is from: Sierra Jensen Collection, Vol 1 (Kindle Edition)

All books are intended for young adult readers. Being 36 years old, I would have to say that even as an adult I found them a lot of fun to read. I really like how they all have growing, coming of age, life lessons written in such a manner that many can related and understand. I think a lot of young adults can learn a lesson or two from these books.