The Chapel Wars
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- $13.99
Publisher Description
Sixteen-year-old Holly wants to remember her Grandpa forever, but she'd rather forget what he left her in his will: his wedding chapel on the Las Vegas strip. Whatever happened to gold watches, savings bonds, or some normal inheritance?
And then there's Grandpa's letter. Not only is Holly running the business with her recently divorced parents, but she needs to make some serious money-fast. Grandpa also insists Holly reach out to Dax, the grandson of her family's mortal enemy and owner of the cheesy chapel next door. No matter how cute Dax is, Holly needs to stay focused: on her group of guy friends, her disjointed family, work, school and... Dax. No wait, not Dax.
Holly's chapel represents everything she's ever loved in her past. Dax might be everything she could ever love in the future. But as for right now, there's a wedding chapel to save.
PUBLISHERS WEEKLY
The chapels that Leavitt's title refers to host weddings, not religious services, and they're in Las Vegas. Holly's grandfather has just left her the Rose of Sharon which would be complicated enough, since Holly's only 17 but the chapel's in major debt, the rival chapel owner next door is always plotting his next move, and, inexplicably, Holly's grandfather also left her a letter for Dax, the nasty neighbor's adorable grandson. Leavitt (Going Vintage) is a Vegas native, and Holly is an effective tour guide not only for newcomer Dax, but also for readers who wonder what it's like growing up in a place associated more with lost weekends than with proms. Dax is charming and a little lost, Holly's a logical type who's suspicious of emotion, and it's fun to watch them fight their attraction and struggle with the feud between their families. While Grandpa Jim's eccentricities are laid on a little thick, secondary characters like Holly's brother James are well drawn, and Leavitt's sense of place and ability to balance grief with hope make for an entertaining read. Ages 12 up.
