Between Us Girls

John (Heart Echoes) introduces the residents of Casa de Vida in the first volume of her new Family of the Heart series. A collection of 11 bungalows in the San Diego, Calif., neighborhood of Seaside Village houses an eclectic group of renters, but owner Olivia “Liv” McAlister has fostered a sense of community among them. Jasmyn Albright heads to California for a brief respite after a tornado destroys her Illinois home. After her rental car is stolen with all her possessions inside it, she becomes the newest member of the enclave. Like the other residents, Jasmyn is as much in need of a second chance as she is a roof over her head. When Liv suffers a heart attack, it’s up to the tiny band of misfits to pull together, not only for her but also for itself and the way of life that has become its safety net. All of the residents are complex characters as full of flaws and failures as they are of compassion and hope. John deftly weaves the theme of faith into the fabric of her story, and as her characters are inspired so, too, are her readers. A delightful read. Agent: Andrea Heinecke, Alive Communications. (July)