Books with author Patrick Jones

Nong Vang dreams that one day he'll be an MMA superstar. He can trash-talk with as much force as his deadly kicks. But being a hero in his real life hinges on more than his first amateur MMA fight—it means struggling through school and protecting his family from his bully big brother. Can he find the courage and skill to succeed inside the cage and out?

Mick, Brody and Aaron spend most of their free time drinking and commiserating about the raw deal they have in life. One night, instead of going to the high school football game, they start on a drinking binge that spirals down farther and farther until it ends with a deadly mistake. Although he's not part of the violence, Mick helps his friends cover up their terrible actions. When they get caught, Mick must decide whether to trust his friends not to talk to the police or to choose to be the one tha t makes a deal to get himself off the hook. An exploration of class, opportunity-or the lack thereof-and the consequences of taking the wrong path.

Todd and Tina Morgan were both there the night their mother died. They both saw their father kill her. But they can't agree on what actually happened. To Tina, their father is a murderer. Their mother was trying to defend herself. To Todd, their father is a protector. He saved Todd and Tina when their mother turned a knife on them. Now their father is on the run. Todd and Tina are in separate foster placements. Todd knows there's only one way to clear his dad's name: get Tina to change her story. Get her to tell the truth. But the truth may not be as simple as Todd thought. Whose story is right? And whose side should Todd really be on?

I hope this book is an inspiration to everyone who reads it. To those who are sick or have a loved one who is sick, and to those who have lost a loved one; I pray that you will find comfort in the words. Read along as the little girl in the story grows up and learns that memories last a lifetime, and can be shared for generations to come!Patrick Jones, Professional School Counselor

Jackson James wants three things: to succeed in MMA, to join the military like his father, and to protect his little brother from ending up in trouble like he did. But it's a challenge to stay in control of his life at school, at home, and at the dojo—especially with the distraction of Tyresha Harris, one of the new female fighters. When faced with tough choices, can Jackson learn to make the right ones inside the cage and out?

I hope this book is an inspiration to everyone who reads it. To those who are sick or have a loved one who is sick, and to those who have lost a loved one; I pray that you will find comfort in the words. Read along as the little girl in the story grows up and learns that memories last a lifetime, and can be shared for generations to come! Patrick Jones, Professional School Counselor

Sometimes things change, and sometimes they don't...Johanna always feels like she has to be perfect-the perfect student and the perfect obedient daughter, which leads her to being the perfect outcast among her high school peers. They say opposites attract, and that could be the only explanation for her attraction to Paul. Always the life of the party, Paul won his seat on the student council by running on an apathy platform. Wherever Paul goes, laughter follows, and Johanna longs to be a part of his inner circle. And whenever Johanna wants something, she plans and works hard to achieve her goal. Getting Paul into her life turns out to be the easy part. Keeping Paul happy while juggling all her other responsibilities is tough even for an overachiever like Johanna. Soon Paul's happiness becomes more important to Johanna than her own. More important than her relationship with her parents and friends. More important than her grades, her safety, and her future.

Danielle is drawn to Reid, the quintessential "bad boy." Even though she should learn from her mother's poor taste in men, she can't seem to shake her strong feelings for him. As she gets caught up in Reid's lifestyle, Danielle turns a blind eye to his lies, and is soon in way over her head. But her BFF Ashley is determined not to let Danielle become the road kill on Reid's joy ride through life. Once she forces Dani to see through Reid's deception, they take off on a revenge-injected road trip that starts with a stolen car and ends with some harsh truths. Patrick Jones takes readers for a ride in this dynamic story about good friends, bad boys, and fast cars.

The nail that sticks out farthest gets hammered the hardest.Flint Southwestern High School is run by a cult: the jockarchy. And Bret Hendricks could never fit into their conformity cult. Bret doesn't mind standing out from the crowd when he's on stage acting or singing in his band. And he feels at home in his funky girlfriend's arms because sticking out together doesn't seem as hard. But loyalties aren't what Bret thinks they are, as his safe havens seem to disappear one by one, and he learns that sometimes you just have to risk getting hammered in order to build a great future. For any teen who feels that standing out is harder than just conforming. Patrick Jones's second novel nails the real truth about the high price of hiding one's true self.

Point guard Mercedes Morgan is on track to set the all-state record for three-pointers. She's even caught the attention of a big-time college recruiter. But her sister has fallen in with a gang from the old neighborhood, and a drive-by shooting lands her in a coma. Now their little brother might be headed down the same dangerous path. Can the star player help her family leave the past behind them while also saving her season, or will they always be on guard?

Break free.Before he died, Christy's daddy used to say that when you feel lost, follow the tail lights of the truck in front of you, and they'll get you somewhere safe. Christy keeps chasing those tail lights, but somehow, she's always still lost in Flint, Michigan. Like most teens in Flint, she's dying to leave this dying city. But she's got a secret that she's never told anyone, and it's keeping her chained like a dog to her dead-end life. And she'll never be able to make a fresh start until she's able to reveal that horrible truth and bring herself back into the light. Patrick Jones revisits his hometown of Flint, Michigan, and the darkness that has overtaken this impoverished city in a novel that reveals the chilling reality of growing up on the wrong side of the tracks in America today.

The nail that sticks out farthest gets hammered the hardest.Flint Southwestern High School is run by a cult: the jockarchy. And Bret Hendricks could never fit into their conformity cult. Bret doesn't mind standing out from the crowd when he's on stage acting or singing in his band. And he feels at home in his funky girlfriend's arms because sticking out together doesn't seem as hard. But loyalties aren't what Bret thinks they are, as his safe havens seem to disappear one by one, and he learns that sometimes you just have to risk getting hammered in order to build a great future. For any teen who feels that standing out is harder than just conforming. Patrick Jones's second novel nails the real truth about the high price of hiding one's true self.