A Safe Place to Land
Laurel A. Ness
Taryn Rose Alexander has never met her father, and her mom won't tell her much about him. Though she is always painfully aware of his absence, Taryn has a full life in Indiana and makes the best of it. Trying to befriend Jag Marley, an angry foster kid who moves in with family friends, is a challenge for Taryn, and she's not sure if it's worth the bother to try to penetrate the wall around his heart. Meanwhile, a group of obnoxious girls begins bullying her for no reason. Then, something impossible-seeming happens, and Taryn finds herself in Hollywood, face-to-face with Tadd Barton, a TV star she has admired for a long time. After temporarily experiencing his world, she must face the aftermath, including dealing with pushy paparazzi and the reactions of her friends back home.
Jag Marley is a troubled foster kid with a big chip on his shoulder. When he meets Taryn, he tries to intimidate her with his attitude, but finally realizes she isn't fooled by his tactics. When he dares to let his guard down a bit, a healthy friendship develops. Just when Jag is becoming aware that he loves her, Taryn leaves for a trip to L.A. and Jag wonders if Taryn could ever possibly love him after meeting and spending time with Tadd Barton.
Tadd Barton is where he believes God wants him to be, but the price of fame is beginning to get to him. There are few people he feels he can trust, and he's becoming weary of girls hyperventilating around him. Then he meets Taryn Alexander, who is different from anyone he has met before. For the first time in a long while, Tadd feels drawn to get to know someone close to his age, and feels desperate to convince her to remain in Los Angeles.
When all three teens unexpectedly find themselves in the same town for several days, the surprising events that follow are both heartbreaking and dangerous!
What deep wounds haunt Jag's memories? Will Taryn ever find answers about her father? Is Tadd ready to leave behind all of the fame and its trappings in search of a more average life? Find out whether or not each teen discovers the hope within reach!

