The Yada Yada Prayer Group Gets Real (Yada Yada Prayer Group, Book 3) [Paperback]

Neta Jackson (Author)

Book Description

Series: Yada Yada Prayer Group, Book 3 | Publication Date: April 1, 2005

The Yada Yadas thought they had a handle on forgiveness, but it seems God has them on a crash-course to an even deeper level.

After everything the Yada Yadas had been through in the past eight months, I told God I could sure use a little "dull and boring" in the new year! But that was before Leslie "Stu" Stuart moved in upstairs. Ms. Perfect herself and me--Jodi Baxter--living in the same two-flat? A recipe for collision. Then Delores Enriquez's son Jose wanted to throw my Amanda a quinceanera--a coming-out party, Mexican style--and they're only fifteen!

At least Bandana Woman, who held up our Yada Yada Prayer Group at knife-point last fall, was safely locked up in prison . . . or so I thought. We visited her, like the Bible says; even sent her something for Christmas. But then she ends up back in our face. I mean, how far is forgiveness supposed to go?

I guess I should have realized that with eleven Yada Yada sisters as diverse as a bag of Jelly Bellies, life would always be unpredictable. All I know is that the longer we Yada Yada pray together, the more "real" things are getting, not only with each other but with God. Dull and boring? Not a chance.

Editorial Reviews

About the Author

Neta Jackson and her husband, Dave, are an award-winning husband/wife writing team, best known for the Trailblazer Books-a 40-volume series of historical fiction about great Christian heroes with 1.5 million in sales-and Hero Tales: A Family Treasury of True Stories from the Lives of Christian Heroes (Vols. 1-4). The Jacksons have collected many awards from their work, including a 1995 C.S. Lewis Award and a Gold Medallion Award.

Product Details

• Paperback: 400 pages
• Publisher: Thomas Nelson (April 1, 2005)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1591451523
• ISBN-13: 978-1591451525
• Product Dimensions: 8.5 x 5.7 x 1.2 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 4.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (28 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #994,968 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

7 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Entertaining and realistic at the same time., August 25, 2005

By 

L. M. Middleton (Massena, NY USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: The Yada Yada Prayer Group Gets Real (The Yada Yada Prayer Group, Book 3) (Audio CD)

I have never enjoyed an audio book so much. I read the first two Yada Yada's and found it hard to put them down. Bought the third one in audio to listen to on vacation. I found myself so involved...my husband would hear me chuckling as I listened to the reader changing voices and making the people seem so real.
Having lived in Chicago for 4 years I found it easy to go back with the book. I felt some conviction regarding my own life and how easy it is for me to judge people and to not be open to people who worship in different ways. An excellent book for discussion, enjoyment and personal growth.

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars fan from florida, August 29, 2005

By 

S. Armstrong - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: The Yada Yada Prayer Group Gets Real (Yada Yada Prayer Group, Book 3) (Paperback)

I have just finished this book tonight. It is the third one in a series. I think Yada Yada Gets Real was my favorite! As a matter of fact, I actually cried at the end(first because it was a very touching and emotional ending and secondly because well.....it was over until the next one comes out in October!)

The title and cover almost gives the impression that these novels are "fluff" and sort of....lighthearted? But, nothing could be further from the truth! I find Jackson really has done an excellent job of developing the characters and creating a life that seems real. In fact, I keep catching myself thinking these women really exist somewhere in Chicago! I want to meet them!

I have loved and enjoyed these novels and I am highly recommending them to my friends, however they had better not ask to borrow my copies of the books, because I don't want to give them up!!

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars 4.5 Stars for the Yada Yadas, October 24, 2006

By 

NAJ "Book Princess" (Washington, DC USA) - See all my reviews

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: The Yada Yada Prayer Group Gets Real (Yada Yada Prayer Group, Book 3) (Paperback)

The Yadas Yadas are back again and they are each continuing to grow and learn more about not only themselves but about the God they serve. This series of books continue to be a good read but also allow for your own personal introspection. When I first started reading the series, I identified with Jodi mostly but as I have continued reading (and growing spiritually I hope), I can see myself in different aspects of all Yada Yadas. Each Yada Yada comes across many of life's stresses and joys but they continue to learn that their faith and prayer can help them deal with and conquer all of these things. This is a good book and a great series.