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Staci Stallings

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A Work in Progress: A New Adult Contemporary Christian Romance Novel (The Faith Series, Book 1) Kindle Edition

by Staci Stallings (Author) Format: Kindle Edition

4.4 3,347 ratings

Book 1 of 3: The Faith Series

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Rebecca Avery has never been one of “them”—the popular kids, the beautiful people. With less than fashion-plate looks and an off-beat, quirky style to living life, she has been relegated to finding “alone” activities to fill her time throughout high school. Unfortunately, college hasn’t changed that. Then she meets Eric Barnett, a nice guy who seems a little quirky himself. The only problem is, he’s in love with her roommate—one of the truly beautiful people. When Rebecca finds herself falling for him, she must find a way to break out of her shell or risk losing him forever. Who will win out in this mixed up jumble of feelings and loyalties?

Eric Barnett is drifting through college. Unlike his friends, he doesn’t have a path to relentlessly pursue. In fact, he often feels like the tag-along in a life that’s unfolding without him. Then he meets Rebecca Avery’s roommate who seems like she will finally give him what he most wants—credibility with his friends. However, when the roommate proves to be less-than-into-him, can Eric see past the outward appearance to find love with Rebecca?

A new adult college romance novel, “A Work in Progress,” gives new adult meaning to the genre of Contemporary Christian Romance. So many college students see only the world’s options presented in their romance novels, “A Work in Progress” shows an alternative—good, clean romance that makes you think about life differently. This is new adult fiction that will inspire readers to reach for more than what the world says is possible!

“Staci Stallings is Christian Romance at its best!”

“No, man, I didn’t blow you off,” Eric said as he approached the desk behind Rebecca. “I had a lot of stuff to get done.”

“Like what? More studying?” spike-haired guy asked.

“Is that so hard to believe?”

“From you? Yeah.” Spike-haired guy laughed in a way that made Rebecca want to turn around and knock his head off his shoulders. How dare he make fun of Eric.

“I needed to meet with Diane,” Eric said. “She was going to help me with sign language.”

“At ten o’clock on a Saturday night?”

“It was the only time she could meet.”

Rebecca’s eyes narrowed in confusion. Saturday night?

“Well, the party was just getting started. You could’ve invited her over.”

“We studied at the Student Union it was quieter there.”

Saturday night he was playing pool—alone, Rebecca thought as she listened.

“Sign language?” spike-headed guy asked as if that was akin to cleaning cesspools.

“Yeah.”

“Well, what time did she go home?”

Clinging to every word, Rebecca pressed back against the chair, waiting to hear the answer.

“About 11:15. The place was a madhouse.”

“I thought you said it was quieter.”

“Oh, yeah. Well…”

Rebecca heard the stumble.

“It was, but then a ton of people showed up, so we decided to pack it in for the night.”

“Uh-huh,” spike-haired guy said. “And where did you go after that?”

“She went home, and I went home.” Eric’s story paused. “I know. Wonderful night, but she’s not my type anyway. She’s all interested in her studies. Glasses, books, notebooks—you know the type. Not the kind of girl I’m looking for.”

Unconsciously Rebecca pushed her glasses up as her heart dropped.

“Yeah,” spike-haired guy said. “Seems like I remember that.”

Rebecca’s attention never wavered from the seat behind her. Eric was obviously lying. Yes, he was at the Student Union, but there was no girl. Was there? Fighting with her brain to recall every last detail of the non-encounter, Rebecca examined the clock in her mind. Although she couldn’t clearly remember the time they had left, it was 11:25 when she and Holly got back to their room.

How far was it from the Student Union to her dorm? Five minutes? Ten? But even so, his line about studying the rest of the time was totally bogus. And although she knew she shouldn’t care, one thought kept working its way into her brain. Why was he lying?

Editorial Reviews

From the Author

This new adult romance makes me shake my head when I think about it. Why?

Well, first it was new adult before there was such a thing, and now it's a Contemporary Christian New Adult Romance novel before there is such a thing! On top of that, this one literally took me 7 years to finish. I would write on it, put it aside to work on something else, pick it up again, write a bit, put it away. To say it wasn't a straight shot through it is an understatement!

However, I see now that I could not have written this book when I first started. There were far too many pieces of knowledge and understanding I needed from God that I learned on that 7-year journey. It amazes me now to go back and read it how much God taught me over those years. And although right now, the New Adult Romance virtual shelves are filled with easy sex and college age kids doing whatever they want, heedless of their Christian upbringing, I also know there are many students who cling to their faith with a hope that it will get them through this tumultuous time in their lives.

Those are the new adults I write for--those who really believe that God is the answer even if they are only now learning what the questions in their lives might be.

On a personal note, I love these two characters. Quirky and not "all together," they represent very well how I felt in college. While others were "the beautiful people"--going to parties and out on dates, I was the one sitting back in the dorms, studying and wishing I could be "like them." I now realize, as these two come to, that the lives of the beautiful people aren't always filled with wine, roses, and bonbons. We all have trials and issues. We are all looking for the answers even as we begin to understand what the questions are.

So I hope that whether you are a new adult, a young adult looking forward to the college years, or someone who has gone through that and gotten to the other side, you will see that being A Work in Progress is exactly where God would have us be. Learning, growing, understanding the questions, and ultimately searching for the Answer that is found in God Himself.

Product details

ASIN ‏ : ‎ B004JN05KY
Publisher ‏ : ‎ Spirit Light Publishing (February 13, 2013)
Publication date ‏ : ‎ February 13, 2013
Language ‏ : ‎ English
File size ‏ : ‎ 5794 KB
Text-to-Speech ‏ : ‎ Enabled
Screen Reader ‏ : ‎ Supported
Enhanced typesetting ‏ : ‎ Enabled
X-Ray ‏ : ‎ Enabled
Word Wise ‏ : ‎ Enabled
Sticky notes ‏ : ‎ On Kindle Scribe
Print length ‏ : ‎ 438 pages

Best Sellers Rank: #4,688 Free in Kindle Store (See Top 100 in Kindle Store)
- #26 in Christian Romance (Kindle Store)
- #55 in Religious Romance (Kindle Store)
- #166 in New Adult & College Romance (Kindle Store)

Customer Reviews:
4.4 3,347 ratings

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Staci Stallings

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USA Today Best Selling Author, Staci Stallings is a stay-at-home mom with a husband, three kids and a writing addiction on the side. She has numerous titles for readers to choose from. Not content to stay in one genre and write it to death, Staci’s stories run the gamut from young adult to adult, from motivational and inspirational to full-out Christian and back again. Every title is a new adventure! That’s what keeps Staci writing and you reading. So, sit back, grab your Kindle & something to drink, and settle in for some of the BEST stories in all of Christian Romance...

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4.4 out of 5

3,347 global ratings

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T Witt

Couldn’t Set It Down

Reviewed in the United States on February 6, 2024

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I truly enjoyed this book even though it’s been years since I was in college. I could easily identify with the characters and their stories drew me in so much that I found myself almost praying for them like they were my friends. Definitely worth the time to read this one!

One person found this helpful

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Linda DeGree

Great Christian Messages

Reviewed in the United States on November 22, 2021

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Some parts of this book were ackward for me, some were awesome. I loved the christian messages. Both Eric and Rebecca have experienced some christian upbring but did not have real faith. They just went to church because their parents went. I did enjoy the sermons in the book. I though they were clear and to the point. I am unsure why Rebecca chose to research religion. for her psychology paper. I thought there could be more build up to that. I did like the way she experienced Bibly Study members, and how they led both Rebecca and Eric to accept themselves. I did like the way Eric and Rebecca helped and supported one another. I did not notice any typoes. The characters of Holly and Jeremy added to the plot. In all, I enjoyed the book.

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smithgg

God’s Plan is Perfect

Reviewed in the United States on October 24, 2023

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Wow, loved the story. It was a little hard to get into but I’m glad I stuck with it. It is amazing how God works through some very difficult times in our life. I love how during the Bible study they reported on how The Holy Spirit was working in their lives. Eric and Rebecca’s story shows us how God’s plan for our life doesn’t always make sense, but it is always perfect. Nice job by the author.

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430booklover

Clean story about college students and finding faith

Reviewed in the United States on February 17, 2023

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I could totally relate to how both main characters were insecure in their own ways, she thought she wasn't pretty enough to be anything but invisible to others especially guys. And although Eric seemed pretty outgoing, he didn't feel comfortable getting together with his group of friends since he didn't have a steady girlfriend. He was surprised when he asked Rebecca's roommate out and she agreed, because she was so pretty. She had her own issues and I couldn't understand why she kept agreeing to meet Eric and then would stand him up. I felt if she really wasn't interested, she should have just turned him down. Then she ends up with a real jerk and ends up in a very bad situation and calls her roommate. Rebecca and Eric come to help her, and Rebecca comes close to being swept up with the partying students when the police show up.

I felt that despite his insecurities, Eric treated Rebecca pretty badly at times. Then they start to be kind of friends while working on psych paper and checking out various churches. I liked how Rebecca saw the note about a Bible study and started going to it. I think that was good for her self-esteem because the other students there accepted her and they became friends. It was good to see both Rebecca and Eric come to know more about God and changing.Eric's one friend is a total jerk-it seems like he has to make her feel bad because he isn't happy.

I want to read more of the series to see how things turn out for some of the other college students. I know some people think the story was unrealistic, but I think a lot of young adults act like they did as they are still growing up and finding their place in life. I thought it was realistic in showing how shallow a lot of the beautiful, popular students with money look down or simply ignore those who aren't them.

One person found this helpful

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Elisha Nichols

Good story with extensive typos

Reviewed in the United States on February 3, 2022

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The typos drove me nuts and repeatedly took me out of the story. That said the story was good. I laughed, I cried, I related far more than I should to so many parts.

There were a few parts that were never fleshed out and unfinished, which was odd and off putting. How was Rebecca going to attempt to pull rank on a mall security guard? How or why would she think that she could? What happens to Diane? What about Liz Ann?

We briefly meet Eric's parents, but they never have more than bit parts? Rebecca clearly sees trouble for her parents and then goes home for the summer. Does she try to address that at all?

Who do we get to learn more about in the next book? Am I the only one terrified by the lack of proper dorm security mentioned? Also, did anyone think to notify them of a potentially life threatening situation?

Also they go to a bunch of churches and them start going to the same one. Which one was that? Why did they both end up there?

Reviewed in the United States on January 3, 2020

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I really enjoyed this book. I have read other “Christian Romance Novels” that left me wondering how they were categorized that way.

This was an innocent love story but it still had aspects of life not being perfect and the search for purpose. I loved the struggle between what the world offers and the faith walk and the realization that what the world offers is short-sighted and not really worth striving for. I also really enjoyed the “sermons” the pastors gave at each church they visited as they worked on Rebecca’s research project and the clear distinction between a church that was Spirit-filled and a church that was not. It reminds us that, if we are looking for a church, we may need to try several to find the right fit.

There wasn’t any part of this book I could offer suggestions on - even the spelling and grammar were spot on! It was a great read and I have already recommended it to others!

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Top reviews from other countries

Kindle Customer

God's Purpose

Reviewed in Canada on April 14, 2022

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THANK you for another clean book of Christian love for others, and for the person God has chosen for you

Shiff

The heart touchiee one....

Reviewed in India on May 26, 2018

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It is a should read book.I am not kind of a bookworm in novels but i really liked this book.I assume you that there is a lot to learn about believing in 'Him' from this book.It really touched my heart.Its a dream life Rebecca and Eric had just woven together.

Oluwadamilola

The beginning was a just a tad slow but it picked up and was just awesome. I am reminded of the fact that I have a friend in God and should and can commune with Him at all times. There are several lessons to be learnt from the relationship between Eric and Rebecca to the word of God spoken in the services. I am grateful to God for coming across this book. I. So eager to read the next series A Little Piece of Heaven

Reviewed in the United Kingdom on June 18, 2017

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I highly recommend this book. It was well written with loads to take from it! And because it reminds me to develop a relationship with God and interact with Him and trust Him even though it will not be easy at first... I have so much to say but can't put to words

In short, this was real. It's as real as the struggles we born again Christians face in and during our walk and relationship with God. And reminds of displaying the fruit of the Spirit (longsuffering, kindness etc) at all times.
I'd give more than a five star rating if possible😊

One person found this helpful

Cathy Morgan

Enjoyable and thought-provoking book

Reviewed in Australia on November 30, 2015

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Some people may find it a bit depressing at times, as the main characters always seem to be wallowing in their own bad opinions of themselves, but to me it hit home and was quite meaningful. Very good and clean, mentions of kisses but that was as far as it went, and the language was good.

Fuhar arya choudhury

story was dragged

Reviewed in India on October 9, 2016

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The book is good, the only thing I didn't like is that the story was dragged like for hundred pages which could have been ended in just 50 pages or two small chapters. at the beginning you will find it very interesting, it will take you to their world of new campus and friends with the extraordinary and easy to understand language. I reached to 75% of the book, even at this stage the story feels like its again restarting and again being dragged. overall its a good book but needs to work on the crisp presentation of the chapters which must be intended to be short.