I think this is a great YA coming of age series. I really like the way Melody Carlson includes life lessons in her story line. Very entertaining read. ( )

This certainly isn't my favourite series by Carlson - I find that she takes the easy road too often and the books are too short to deal with the issues she tackles. But still, better than alternatives out there. ( )

Obviously, this book is meant to be read as part of a series. Reading it without having read the titles that come before it, puts the reader at a disadvantage. I did not understand the concept of Carter House, and so the living situation confused me. Somewhere in the middle of the book, I realized that six girls live together. I still don't know why.

DJ is a seventeen year-old Christian girl who stumbles into awkward situations and then prays her way through them. She's a typical teen who wavers when making decisions. Taylor, DJ's roommate, leans toward the wild side, and this sets up a good tug-of-war story between good and evil.

The theme is the dangers of teenagers drinking alcohol. The book ends where the next volume will begin. This one is labeled Teen Fiction. ( )

The book starts out with the 6 girls getting ready to go to the Winter Ball - this preparation includes actually confirming their dates, shopping for new dresses and accessories, and for Taylor and DJ (roommates, but not necessarily BFFs) a day at a posh new day spa.
DJ and Rhiannon are the Christian girls of the bunch with Eliza and Taylor being the self-professed party girls. Kriti and Casey fall somewhere in between. DJ and Rhiannon have the best time at the ball, without the alcohol offered to them and without compromising thier beliefs.
Christmas break is on the horizon and DJ is looking forward to "alone" time, away from the other girls. They are leaving soon to travel to various places to stay with family and friends. DJ is staying at Carter House with her grandmother. She as decided not to go to her dad and stepmom's house, as she feels she will just become the babysitter for her twin sisters. When Taylor calls from Las Vegas (where she is spending Christmas with her mom who is performing there) claiming she is lonely and could use some company, DJ prays that if that is where God wants her to go, then he will clear the way. She is ready for some company herself!
Once in Vegas, DJ questions why God has brought her here. Is she supposed to keep Taylor out of trouble? And when Eliza arrives, will she be able to? DJ questions why she is in Vegas at all and Taylor puts her faith to the test.
Lost in Las Vegas is Book 5 in the Carter House Girls series (Mixed Bags; Stealing Bradford; Homecoming Queen; and Viva Vermont). It read okay as a stand alone, but it was hard to keep the girls straight at first. I am going to try to find the first 4 so that I can get caught up - because books 6-8 are coming out soon!
This was a very quick read for me and I would highly recommend it - especially for teen girls struggling with their faith in the real world! ( )