Freeing Tanner Rose is the story of young actress Tanner Rose. Her fame is overwhelming, she’s been making dangerous decisions, and her life is spiraling out of control. She is sent to live in the country with her mother’s friend Miss Ruth and son Gabriel to get away from the Hollywood lifestyle. The stark contrast between Tanner’s world and Gabriel’s life was stunning and Tanner’s growth and struggles were believable. The story highlights the destruction that fame can cause at a young age as well as the dangers of drugs and alcohol – which is an important message for all teens. There were a few aspects of the story that were unexpected. I thought I knew where the story was headed but was pleasantly surprised to find out I was wrong. I especially loved the ending of this book. Throughout the story I kept wondering how it would conclude. I usually love a happy ending, all tied up in a pretty little bow, but wasn’t sure how that could be accomplished here and thought the author did a wonderful job. Great book with wonderful messages for teens.
For Gabriel, Tanner Rose is just a superficial starlet, addicted to Hollywood. For Tanner, Gabriel is just a boring, kung fu-loving, Christian boy, who’s living a lackluster life in the middle of no-where. So, what happens when she’s forced to live in his world? It doesn’t take long before Tanner Rose craves a taste of her old life, even if it means upsetting a few people along the way. She thrives in the spotlight, after-all! Will Gabriel’s faith encourage Tanner to change her partying ways or will her wild undertakings and addicting vices tempt him to do things he’d never, ever considered before? “There has no temptation taken you but such as is common to man: but God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that you are able; but will with the temptation also make a way to escape, that you may be able to bear it.” (1 Corinthians 10:13) Freeing Tanner Rose is the first of four books in the Faith & Kung Fu series.
