Informationen zum Autor Heather Buchta graduated from Loyola Marymount University with a B.A. in communications, but she'll tell you the real B.A. in college is learning how to pay bills. After receiving her National Certificate in Youth Ministry Studies from the Archdiocese of Los Angeles, she directed youth ministry programs and confirmation classes for both Catholic and Protestant churches. In addition, she taught high school English for a decade in South Central LA. Today, she is a part-time youth pastor for The Rock Covenant Church. In her free time, she enjoys traveling, obstacle-course racing, rock climbing, and snowboarding. She lives in the beach cities of Los Angeles, where she dotes on her dog and writes stories from her indoor porch. Beyond the Break is her first novel. Klappentext For fans of Sarah Dessen and Jenny Han, Beyond the Break is a funny and gorgeous debut about a girl experiencing her first love. Well, second, if you count her faith... and that's where things may get complicated. Manhattan Beach native Lovette has two rules in life. One: no surfing. Not after her brother's accident. Two: absolutely, no dating. And going into her junior year of high school, she's pretty happy with that arrangement. She has friends, her church youth group, and God to fall back on when things get dicey. But after Jake Evans walks into her life, following these two simple rules gets a lot more complicated. Jake is the boy from Lovette's childhood who grew up. Handsome and sweet, he unlocks the part of Lovette that wants nothing more than to surf the waves again. And as their relationship grows, she begins to question what it means to be faithful: to her family, to God, but mostly, to herself. Told with humor and heart, Heather Buchta delivers a sparkling debut that asks the question: Can you fall in love, be a teenager, and also be a good Christian? Leseprobe Chapter One The first time a guy felt me up was in the big church prayer room. All the parents of youth--group kids thought church lock--ins were a fantastic outreach. So many sign--ups from non--church kids for a night of innocent fun playing sardines and capture the flag, with the gospel message given! Even if Jesus died for you was thrown into the five minutes between Oreo--eating contests and discussions about which church Justin Bieber attends, seeds were planted! It must be from the Lord. Well, it wasn't, unless the Lord was the one fanning the flame of rumors about the endless possibilities at lock--ins. Dark rooms. Dark hallways. Lots of games requiring dark rooms and hallways. I was in ninth grade, and this was my first lock--in with our high--school youth group. I had just graduated from junior--high youth group and was nervous, but I had my two best friends Kelly and Lydia, so it was okay. We were playing sardines, where one person hides in the church building with the lights off, and then the masses are released to find that person. After finding the hider, you hide with him or her until there's one dogpile of quiet, giggly teenagers waiting for that last scared--poopless soul wandering in the dark after watching everyone disappear. Please don't let me be the last one, I prayed to Jesus. Oh, and thank you for the cross. I always felt guilty asking God for something without at least thanking him, too. Lydia, who was Catholic and didn't go to my church except for lock--ins, had sashayed off with some tenth--grade guy named Max, so I was hand in hand with Kelly. My goodness, don't leave me, Lovette, Kelly begged, but then released my hand and turned a corner into the main sanctuary. When I turned the corner, she was nowhere. Oh God-I mean, gosh. I squinted at the shadowed pews. Kelly! I whisper--yelled. Nothing. I felt my way, back pressed against the wall, searching for a glimmer of movement. A few outline...

Klappentext

For fans of Sarah Dessen and Jenny Han, Beyond the Break is a funny and gorgeous debut about a girl experiencing her first love. Well, second, if you count her faith... and that's where things may get complicated.

Manhattan Beach native Lovette has two rules in life. One: no surfing. Not after her brother's accident. Two: absolutely, no dating. And going into her junior year of high school, she's pretty happy with that arrangement. She has friends, her church youth group, and God to fall back on when things get dicey. But after Jake Evans walks into her life, following these two simple rules gets a lot more complicated.

Jake is the boy from Lovette's childhood who grew up. Handsome and sweet, he unlocks the part of Lovette that wants nothing more than to surf the waves again. And as their relationship grows, she begins to question what it means to be faithful: to her family, to God, but mostly, to herself.

Told with humor and heart, Heather Buchta delivers a sparkling debut that asks the question: Can you fall in love, be a teenager, and also be a good Christian?

Leseprobe

Chapter One

The first time a guy felt me up was in the big church prayer room.

All the parents of youth--group kids thought church lock--ins were a fantastic “outreach.” So many sign--ups from non--church kids for a night of innocent fun playing sardines and capture the flag, with the gospel message given! Even if “Jesus died for you” was thrown into the five minutes between Oreo--eating contests and discussions about which church Justin Bieber attends, seeds were planted!

It must be from the Lord.

Well, it wasn’t, unless the Lord was the one fanning the flame of rumors about the endless possibilities at lock--ins. Dark rooms. Dark hallways. Lots of games requiring dark rooms and hallways.

I was in ninth grade, and this was my first lock--in with our high--school youth group. I had just graduated from junior--high youth group and was nervous, but I had my two best friends Kelly and Lydia, so it was okay. We were playing sardines, where one person hides in the church building with the lights off, and then the masses are released to find that person. After finding the “hider,” you hide with him or her until there’s one dogpile of quiet, giggly teenagers waiting for that last scared--poopless soul wandering in the dark after watching everyone disappear.

Please don’t let me be the last one, I prayed to Jesus. Oh, and thank you for the cross. I always felt guilty asking God for something without at least thanking him, too. Lydia, who was Catholic and didn’t go to my church except for lock--ins, had sashayed off with some tenth--grade guy named Max, so I was hand in hand with Kelly. “My goodness, don’t leave me, Lovette,” Kelly begged, but then released my hand and turned a corner into the main sanctuary. When I turned the corner, she was nowhere.

“Oh God—-I mean, gosh.” I squinted at the shadowed pews. “Kelly!” I whisper--yelled. Nothing. I felt my way, back pressed against the wall, searching for a glimmer of movement. A few outlines crept across the balcony, everyone searching for Tim.

Tim Rainsforth was a junior and a leader on our worship team, SQUAD, so he’d nominated himself to hide first. I’d never find him. He spent, like, six days a week here and for sure knew every inch of this place.

My hand bumped against the doorknob to the prayer room. I’d been here once before, when I asked God for help with my pimples and making the volleyball team, and thanked Him for dogs and the weather. Inside, I couldn’t make out much, but I knew the space was tiny: just a rug, a couch, some pillows to kneel on, and a card table draped with a cloth. On one wall were curtains and a cross. On the opposite wall was a Bible verse: “And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God. Romans 8:28.”

Something brushed my leg, and I jumped. My foot landed on a pillow, and I toppled to the ground…