To Get to You

From Joanne Bischof's first book, I have been a huge fan. She is a wonderful writer, gifted with the ability to tell a tale that holds the reader enthralled from the first paragraph. Joanne ventures from historical to contemporary in this story, Riley and Becca's story. Both are teenagers, and before you think, 'I don't want to read a book about teenagers', please think again. This is one of the most tender, loving and precious stories you'll ever read. Riley is trying to get to Becca, whose family has had a crisis and has had to move very far away for a while. On his way to get to Becca, Riley encounters some difficulties. How Riley manages to get to Becca is an integral part of the story and one that changes Riley's life. Bischof manages with every book to engage the reader's emotions to a degree that they are so sad when her stories end. I want these people to be real! She has a wonderful ability and I'm so glad she began to write. I can't wait for what she has for me to read next. Sometimes, a broken down transmission is not such a bad thing, either. You'll have to read the book to understand that sentence. *I was given a copy of this book by the author. I was not encouraged to leave a positive review and my opinions are my own.

Wednesday, September 23, 2015 Joanne Bischof ~ To Get to You, © 2015 The Wild Air Series, Book One live in the sunshine. swim the sea. drink the wild air. – Emerson But she wasn’t looking at his beanie. Or his hair. She was looking at his eyes... --To Get to You I can tell you my favorite parts, for a start. Riley and Becca: My very favorite part is the beginning and the visuals I got as the balsam fir was loaded on the sled and the walk in the starlight sky glancing off the snow. Their conversations budding; walking up to the Airstream and the siblings bursting forth. What love they had for each other. Hot cider and baked sugar cookies, lovingly carved and decorated by hand. Jake: I applaud the Dad for the decision he made ~ to reunite beyond rekindling another award from the public view. Riley: The struggle leaving the Jeep ~ the prized treasure that was all his. To make that call. How hard. Conflict of emotion. The buffer their friend Saul was. Feet on the dash ~ not mattering after a while as the connection was more important. The struggle to stay the course. A long trip with past memories ~ vacant and haunting, longing for what couldn't be returned, pushing back time. I want the reader to experience what I did and not have snippets put before them, robbing them of self-discovery. These are tidbits of To Get to You I gleaned. So important to read with the heart, filling in longing gaps, moving forward. ***Thank you to author Joanne Bischof for inviting me to review To Get to You. This review was written in my own words. No other compensation was received.***

This novella is heart-warming in it's romance, soul-touching in it's redemption and the second chances and hope woven through out pack a personal punch as Joanne's writing always does. She has done it yet again with this redemptive road-trip tale. While YA, and a road trip at that--slightly reminiscent of John Green's Looking for Alaska--there is something in this story missing in his. Hope. And you'll just have to read it to find out if Riley not only gets to the girl he loves, but if he embraces the hope of second chances.

SUCH a sweet story. Oh my goodness. To Get to You is a story of forgiveness and second chances.. of starting new and giving others that opportunity as well. It’s about seeing the best in others and embracing who they are deep down rather than judging who they might appear to be at a glance. At a glance, this story is stereotypical mohawk-wearing, skateboard-riding, former troublemaker kid-from-a-broken-home meets stereotypical sheltered, mom-reads-her-texts, Christian homeschool girl. But truly, it goes so much deeper than this. These characters are so very alive and developed… and they are their own people. Not cast from a mold. Not stereotypical. At all. Riley’s bitterness toward his long-absent dad is understandable but really tugs at the heart. When he ends up having no other option but to call his dad for help after major car trouble, Riley must confront the lack of history they have together. An adventurous road trip story, it incorporates themes of reconciliation and sweet love. And it brought tears. Joanne Bischof gives new meaning to the word heartfelt. This book kept me wanting to keep listening to just one more chapter, it left me continually wanting to know what comes next. I’m so looking forward to finding out when the next book is coming. Nick Powers did an excellent job with the audio book, as he brought out the many emotions found within these pages. This book, for me, is reminiscent of a freshly-baked batch of homemade cookies. The kind that aren’t yet cool, the kind that you find yourself reaching for another without even looking up. Because it’s natural. This story is natural too, it’s real.

After Riley helps Becca carry her Christmas tree home, their relationship grows, and Riley begins to wonder if she is the one for him. Then, Becca’s father gets in an accident and her entire family leaves to see him in the hospital a hundreds of miles. Desperate to be of help, Riley does something he has dreaded—he asks his dad, who has been absent from Riley’s life, for help, spring loading them on a road to healing in more ways than one. First off, can I just say I love the cover of To Get to You? The images, scenes, colors, and lighting are gorgeous and set a pleasant mood for the entire novel. Simply looking at it gives a sense of peace—a psychological effect of the colors used—which adds to the tone of the story. The content of the novel was equally lovely. The message of healing and restoration exuded hope and peace. However, the story had its share of turmoil. The relationship between Riley and his father began very rocky and tense; it is hard to forgive someone and revive a relationship with them after years of pain and bitterness. Although Becca is not physically present throughout most of the novel, as she is miles away in the hospital, her presence is felt through her and Riley’s phone calls and texts. The technology also places the story in the present time, making it relatable to the modern reader. Overall, I enjoyed the story. I would recommend it to YA readers who enjoy inspirational, contemporary fiction. I received a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

AMAZING book!!! 18 year old Riley Kane has had a rough life. His dad left him and his mom when he was only a child to pursue his surfing career, now Riley has nothing to do with his father. Becca Fletcher is a girl who was home schooled and a lot more sheltered in life than Riley, helping her mom take care of her siblings not dating or being around a boy without a chaperon. Riley and Becca's lives are totally different but they somehow seem to connect. After Mr. Fletcher had a tragic accident Riley needs to get to Becca finding out her dad was in a bad wreck in Texas she and her family moved their trailer from California to Texas not knowing what was going to happen to her her dad, now Riley is desperate to get to her and do all he can to help. With his Jeep broke down he has to turn to the one person he didn't want to see, his dad. Now he's on a fourteen hour road trip from California to Texas with his dad in a Volkswagen van. This trip will either be time to reconcile with the man that left him for dreams or it will be a total disaster. At first bitterness takes over in Riley he doesn't want much to do with his father except for them to get to where they are going and him to leave, but as time goes by they grow closer to one another and forgiveness finds its way in. I don't want to give away too much of the book so I should probably stop here but, if you have read Joanne's books you will not be disappointed with this one, if you have not read her books yet I highly recommend this book as well as her others.

"There are some things you can't go back from. You just lay the broken pieces down and then there's grace and it's glue, and in a strange way, you're more whole than before, because this time ... This time it's not by your own doing". ('To Get To You') 'To Get To You' is a story of love on 3 different levels: a teen boy's first love, a parent's love for his child, God's love and grace for mankind. A tender story told from the point of view of a troubled 18 year-old boy, a product of a broken home, who has shut the world out and pain in. It's Christmas eve - Riley Kane is closing shop at Harmony Farms feed store and Christmas tree lot, in the small mountain town of Idyllwild, southern California. A teenage girl appears, pulling a sled - attempts to load a large left-over Christmas tree Riley has discarded alongside the highway, her feet slipping in the snowy slush from the weight of the tree. Feeling compelled to help, yet his jeep in the shop for radiator repair and the girl on foot - Riley walks 2 miles to her Airstream trailer home, pulling the sled. Along the way, he realizes her to be a church friend, from childhood - Rebecca "Becca" Fletcher. When Becca's father, a semi-truck driver, is seriously injured driving off the road to avoid hitting a children-filled van (the driver having swerved to avoid a deer), his family drives to his hospital bedside in New Mexico to be with him, taking the trailer with them. Riley is shocked to find an empty lot when he arrives at Becca's - his name written on a grocery bag hanging from a branch of the discarded Christmas tree, a note inside explaining the family's plight. His phone not charged - Becca had tried, unsuccessfully, to call him. Riley is determined to get to Becca, to help the family by bringing their stored generator and water barrels. When his jeep transmission goes out, stranding him - his mother, who is out-of-town, insists Riley solicit his father's help. Jake Kane, a world-famous professional surfer - hasn't seen his son since Riley was in the 3rd grade, nor spoken to him since he was 11 years old. A man Riley hates, one he feels ruined his life. What follows is a road trip in a rare '65 VW Samba van for Riley, Jake, and Jake's surfer buddy, Saul Ramirez. A trip full of adventure and emotion-filled discoveries about, and for, both father and son. So vivid are the descriptions and life-like the characters, I felt I was along for the ride, and privy to their thoughts. 'To Get To You' is filled with the emotion and beauty I've come to expect from Joanne's writing - a tender, heart-warming story that alternately made me smile and shed tears. My heart ached for Riley, sympathized with Becca, and loved her vulnerable, innocent heart. An inspiring, sweet story of redemption, acceptance, hope, forgiveness, faith and love. Made even sweeter by the "Behind the Scenes" revelations at the end, 'To Get To You' is book 1 in the WiId Air series. Derived from a short story, 'The Balsam Walk', in the '21 Days of Christmas' short story/devotional anthology - both books are available now. I was provided a copy of this book, by the author, in exchange for my honest opinion - which I have given.

To Get to You is a heartwarming story! Joanne Bischof never fails to tug at my heartstrings and make me feel for her characters and their journeys. Although To Get to You is classified as Young Adult fiction, I believe Riley and Becca’s story is one readers of all ages will enjoy! One thing that makes this tale especially unique is that it is written from the male perspective. I really enjoyed experiencing Riley’s journey and loved his memorable road trip with Jake and Saul. The sights and sounds along the way were palpable, as were the emotions. I also enjoyed Riley and Becca’s subtle and sweet romance. From very different backgrounds, these two are drawn to each other from the moment they meet, and their feelings continue to grow as they spend time together with Becca’s family. To Get to You addresses teenage angst and coming of age issues and does so with humor, heart, and hope. I loved this story of new beginnings and second chances and can’t wait for the next book in the Wild Air series!

I read this book on a road trip and it was the perfect choice of reading material! Not only is it about a road trip, so that worked out nicely, but the story line had such great emotional pull, it kept me reading and reading. This is the story of a journey. It is a physical journey, a romantic journey, an emotional journey. It is a young adult book, told from Riley Kane’s perspective, yet is definitely not one that can only be enjoyed by the young adult community. I loved getting to see inside of this young man’s thoughts. It’s as if I was feeling everything along with him, the newness of love that was beginning to grow for Becca, the panic of trying to find a way to her, and the fear of opening himself up to a father who had abandoned him as a child. This story is packed with emotion and had me teary-eyed toward the end. It is an uplifting tale in which the reader gets to have a front row seat as Riley and his father stumble through the present and rehash the past. I loved the way so many relationships grew in this book, not only between Riley and Jake, but also friendship with Saul, and romance with Becca. There is such hope at the end of the story and the knowledge that there are things that have happened in life that can’t be undone, but through God’s grace and our extending grace to each other, the future has wonderful possibilities. I received a complimentary copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

This is a story of a teenage boy named Riley who goes on a road trip and makes many new discoveries along the way. It is a story of hope and healing that comes from place of brokenness. I won’t go into the details of the story since it’s already in the product description and also since you should really read the book for yourself! I think that many people will be able to relate in some way to the characters and the journey that they go on. The lighthearted scenes will make you laugh out loud and the thought-provoking scenes will leave you pondering the meaning behind them. This book is unique in that it is so much more than a book that you close and say “oh, that was such a good book”. The characters and lessons stay with you long after that final page. It's the kind of book that I would share with a friend who is searching and longing desperately to belong and to be loved. It has a powerful theme of healing and redemption. You’re going to want to get two copies of this book, one for yourself and another for that Riley in your life. They will thank you someday!

What a beautiful story of restoration. This tender story touched me deeply as it deals with broken relationships and the challenges they can cause; and in today's world, who can't relate to this theme? Riley discovers many truths on the journey to his sweet girlfriend who has helped him grow to see how important it is to be true to your word. He has been hurt by his father but Riley has recently found peace through a relationship with God. The author carefully handles the transformation that transpires in such a real way that even though it is geared towards YA it spoke volumes to me. I loved it! The author, who has written historical fiction in the past was unafraid to venture into a contemporary story. She nailed it! I also appreciate the fact that it will speak to both male and female readers. Something that I imagine is a difficult goal for any author. I was given an early reader's copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.