"Through Thick & Thin" by Sandra Byrd

About this book:

  “Savvy Smith, 15, sees her chance to write a full column in the paper, making her name and making her way in her new hometown near London, England. But the choices she faces when given the chance to choose between friends, family, and fame may turn her dream into a nightmare. London Confidential is a new series where British fashion, friendships, and guys collide, and an all-American girl learns to love life and live out her faith.”

Series: Book #2 in the “London Confidential” series. Review of Book #1 Here!


Spiritual Content- Matthew 6:4 at the end; Prayers & Thanking God; Scriptures are read & mentioned; Church going & going to youth group; Talks about God; ‘H’s are capitalized when referring to God; Many mentions of God & Jesus; Mentions of prayers & praying; Mentions of Bibles, Bible reading, Bible studies, those in the Bible, events, & Scriptures; Mentions of churches, church going, youth groups, services, & pastors; Mentions of Christians; Mentions of spiritual gifts & miracles; Mentions of worship teams & worshiping; A few mentions of sins;

             *Note: A mention of someone thinking other’s horns emerging; A mention of the grim reaper.

Negative Content- Minor cussing including: a ‘darn’ and a ‘drat’; Some eye rolling & sarcasm; Savvy is tempted to lie but does not; Savvy later, though, disobeys her parents and sneaks out to go shopping, when she confesses/she’s found out later, she gets in trouble (she says when planning that disobeying wasn’t something she’d typically do, but because this isn’t a typical situation, she wonders of special circumstances applied; she does feel guilty); Mentions of lying & lies; Mentions of cheating; A few mentions of a historical figure’s wives being beheaded; A few mentions of thugs; A couple mentions of a school simulation of being drunk; A couple mentions of a smoke shop & cigarettes; A mention of throwing up; A mention of passing gas;

             *Note: A few mentions of designer names & clothing stores; A couple mentions of Teen Vogue magazines; A mention of Botox.

Sexual Content- Mentions of boyfriends, girlfriends, couples, & dating; Mentions of dances & dates; Mentions of super cute boys; Mentions of crushes & blushes; A couple mentions of kisses & kissing; A mention of a player; A mention of flirting;

             *Note: A mention of Savvy shaving her legs.  

-Savannah “Savvy” Smith, age 15
                                         1^st person P.O.V. of Savvy
                                                        271 pages

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Pre Teens-

New Teens-

Early High School Teens-

Older High School Teens-

My personal Rating-

This second books in the “London Confidential” series continues Savvy trying to find a good friend but also learning about how actions have consequences and more about British culture. There’s a large lesson of being truthful after Savvy hides something from her parents and gets grounded. Because this series is clean, I think older preteens would enjoy these books. 

See y’all on Friday with a new review!

*BFCG may (Read the review to see) recommend this book by this author. It does not mean I recommend all the books by this author.

"Match Made" by Erynn Mangum

About this book:

  “Annie McKay is a perpetual loner who moves to town for a job and expects for life to pretty much stay the same as it's always been - until she meets Lauren Holbrook Palmer and her group of crazy, fun friends. Being alone has always been Annie's way of life, but with Jesus and Lauren at the helm, things are likely going to change.
  This is the fourth novel in the popular Lauren Holbrook series - Miss Match, Rematch and Match Point.”


Series: Book #4 in the “Lauren Holbrook” series. Reviews of Books #1Here, #2 Here, and #3 Here!


Spiritual Content- Scriptures are remembered, mentioned, & talked about; Prayers & Blessings over food; Church going, sermons, & hymns; Many mentions of churches, church going, pastors, sermons, services, & hymns/songs; Mentions of God & Jesus; Mentions of prayers & praying; Mentions of Bibles & Bible reading; Mentions of Christians & witnessing; A few mentions of sins; A couple mentions of Christian retreats;

             *Note: A couple mentions of vampires; A mention of hell’s fury.

Negative Content- Minor cussing including: a ‘crap’, a ‘dumb’, a ‘sheesh’, a ‘shut up’, two ‘heck’s, four ‘oh my gosh’s, and six ‘holy cow’s; Lots of sass & sarcasm; Eye rolling; Mentions of serial killers & killing (teasing/joking mentions); Mentions of a divorce & a custody battle; Mentions of Annie’s parents’ divorce & them fighting; Mentions of lies, lying, & liars; A few mentions of diaper explosions & spit up accidents; A couple mentions of alcohol; A couple mentions of bars; A couple mentions of jealousy; A couple mentions of having to go to the bathroom often when pregnant; A mention of vaccines;

             *Note: Mentions of TV shows, movies, celebrities, & fictional characters; A few mentions of Starbucks; A few mentions of car & clothing brands.

Sexual Content- two cheek kisses; Touches, Hand holding, & Nearness (barely-above-not-detailed); Blushes; a ‘babe’; Mentions of dating, dates, kisses, & kissing; Tiny bit of love, falling in love, & the emotions;

             *Note: A couple mentions of revealing or not revealing enough clothing; A couple mentions of breast milk; A mention of the Immaculate Conception; A mention of menopause; A mention of underwear; A mention of falling on a butt.

-Annie McKay, age 28
                                1^st person P.O.V. of Annie
                                                        412 pages

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Pre Teens-

New Teens-

Early High School Teens-

Older High School Teens-

My personal Rating-

Eeeeeee! After having books four and five on my TBR for almost three years, I am so tickled pink to finally read them! After experiencing the Maya Davis fourth book with a new main character and enjoying it, I was more than happy to read this continuation of the Lauren Holbrook series—that happens to not be in Laurie’s point of view. Annie is definitely a pretty close 180-degree difference in personality compared to Laurie, but she still has that great faith and a fun sense of humor. (I just happen to like all of Erynn Mangum’s leading girls and feel a kindred spirit with all of them. :) ) Really enjoyed this novel and cannot wait to start the fifth book next!

See y’all on Friday with a new review!

*BFCG may (Read the review to see) recommend this book by this author. It does not mean I recommend all the books by this author.