Praying Home the Mantis
Terry's Garden Book Three
They lived summer to summer. Then one winter took them down…
After Sebastian Cross’s parents divorce, he has to spend summers with his dad, far from everyone he knows. Fortunately, his dad lives next to the Kentons, three houses of family that includes grandparents, cousins, and one girl his age who welcomes him with a sunny smile. In his messy winter life with his mother, he relies on memories of magical summer days with Savannah Kenton and her gardens to keep him afloat.
But winters get darker and darker as his mother makes poor decisions that affect his school, his friends, and his family. Savvy’s aren’t much better, as bullies at school turn her into a pariah. Finally one winter tragedy sends Sebastian fleeing far from everyone who loves him, and Savvy, his sunshine and lifeline, might not be strong enough to pull him home. Unless God does something miraculous, Sebastian will be lost, and he might take Savannah down with him.
Praying Home the Mantis is book three of Terry’s Garden, stories about a huge family, an enchanting garden, and the healing power of faith and friendship. Christian coming-of-age/romance novels for teens and anyone who remembers what it’s like to take those first wobbling steps into adulthood.
Jill's Notes
- I did a deep dive into homelessness for this book. It was sad and eye-opening.
- Colt, Sebastian’s new brother, gets his own story in The No-See-Um of Dragonfly Creek.
- Because the timelines of the Terry’s Garden books overlap, the big event in this book gets replayed several times through the eyes of different characters. Seeing something through so many lenses reminds me I need to be careful how I see events around me and how others might see the same thing completely differently.
- This book is in Kindle Unlimited.
