It’s the spring of her senior year, and Sierra
Jensen’s life could not be any more perfect. In CLOSER THAN
EVER, the 11th book in Robin Jones Gunn’s Sierra
Jensen series, Sierra has been accepted to Rancho Corona
University, where she already will have a close group of friends.
When best friend Randy gets his acceptance letter, Sierra knows
that college will be great. But as Sierra and her pals go out to
celebrate, they can’t help but worry that Vicki still
hasn’t received her acceptance to Rancho and that they will
soon be leaving behind the only lives they have ever known.

However, Sierra tries to temporarily place these worries aside as
she is finally graduating, and plans for a big graduation party are
underway. Sierra is ecstatic when she receives the news she has
long been hoping for: Paul is coming home, and he will be back in
time for Sierra’s graduation. Paul and Sierra have been
writing deeply personal letters for months (although the actual
status of their relationship is quite undefined), and getting to
finally see him is a better gift than she ever could’ve
imagined. Instead of thinking about her own graduation, Sierra
spends most of her time making elaborate plans for his visit and
daydreaming over his beautifully written letters.

When graduation day finally arrives, Sierra’s thoughts have
nothing to do with the momentous day, but with Paul’s
imminent arrival. She waits and waits, until her father receives an
awful phone call. Paul’s plane has crashed, and only three
people survived. With limited information and horrific images on
the news, what should have been the happiest day of Sierra’s
life turns into an unimaginable nightmare. Paul is nowhere to be
found, and Sierra must begin to rely on her friends, family and
faith in God like she has never done before, as the hours pass and
more information is learned.

CLOSER THAN EVER begins as a very happy, upbeat book. Sierra
finally seems to have everything going for her, and it looks as
though the long, drawn-out saga between Sierra and Paul will begin
to reach some conclusions. However, the tone quickly changes when
the plane crash occurs, and the book becomes extremely dramatic and
solemn. The plot will certainly keep the pages turning, and a very
unexpected and open ending will leave readers anxious to find out
what happens in the final installment of the series.

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