Both of Me by Jonathan Friesen (Review)

Both of Me
by Jonathan Friesen
YA / Christian Fiction / Contemporary
Available December 2014
Zondervan
272 pages

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About the Book

From award winning author, Jonathan Friesen, a contemporary story dealing with mental illness and an unexpected friendship.

Elias Phinn copes with his painful reality by slipping into the imaginary realm of Warilia, a world that colors his every waking moment and feels more real than the actual one around him. When his carry-on luggage is switched with that of the beautiful and mysterious Clara, Elias becomes convinced that she is a Warilian diplomat’s daughter. But as the two become friends and their carefully constructed worlds begin to crack, Elias must save them both before everything falls apart.

Poignant, heartrending, and powerfully real, Both of Me is the latest young adult novel from award-winning author Jonathon Friesen. As it explores themes of friendship, mental illness, and self-discovery, this gripping novel will catch—and keep—the attention of teen readers.

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My Thoughts

I cannot tell you how much I wanted to like this book. The plot is totally unique, which is a little rare these days to find something that no other author (that you're aware of!) has attempted or sort of done or whatever. A story about a teen with multiple personalities? Never read anything even close to that before. When I started reading the book, though, it was hard for me to connect with the storyteller (Clara) or the other main character (Elias Phinn). And when we started getting into his problems and his alternate world, I just got confused and couldn't really sort through everything. Unfortunately, after picking up and putting down this book over the past couple of months, I just can't get into it (30% done). [DNF]

I will say that I'm in the minority on this book. If the plot intrigues you, check out this review from Sara Ella, who raves about "stellar writing, an engaging story, and a well done ending." Her review caused me to pick the book up at least twice more in my quest to finish it. :)

I received a free copy of this book from the publisher in exchange for my fair and honest review.

About the Author

Jonathan Friesen is an author, speaker, and youth writing coach from Mora, Minnesota. His first young adult novel, Jerk, California, received the ALA Schneider Award. When he’s not writing, speaking at schools, or teaching, Jonathan loves to travel and hang out with his wife and three kids.

Revolutionary by Krista McGee (Review)

Revolutionary
by Krista McGee
Anomaly series, Book 3
Christian Fiction / YA / Dystopian
Available July 2014
Thomas Nelson
320 pages

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About the Book

All her life Thalli thought she was an anomaly. Now she must use her gifts to fulfill the role she was called to play: Revolutionary.
 

Back in the underground State against her will, Thalli is no longer the anomaly she was before. She has proven herself to be a powerful leader aboveground and returns with information that Dr. Loudin needs to complete his plan of uniting the world under one leader: himself. But he, too, has information. A secret he has kept from Thalli her entire life. A secret that, once revealed, changes everything about the person Thalli thought she was.
 

Hoping to help Thalli rise up against the Scientists, both Berk and Alex join her underground, but their presence only brings more trouble for her. Now Dr. Loudin knows just the leverage to use on his captive, and she is forced to choose between the two of them. Is her first love her true love? Or does Alex ultimately claim her heart?
 

Unsure of everything around her, including her own identity, Thalli doesn’t know where to turn. She knows she needs the Designer, but he seems further away than ever. What she does know, though, is that if she doesn’t do something to stop Loudin, the fragile world aboveground will be lost once and for all.

My Thoughts

I had high hopes for this book as I've thoroughly enjoyed the first two books in this trilogy. (Yes, you definitely need to read these in order!) For some reason, I wasn't able to get into this book the way I would have liked. I just couldn't really stay invested in the story. I ended up starting and stopping a few times along the way. BUT it was a good read, and I was glad to get resolution for the series after some serious cliffhangers in the first two books! Krista McGee is a talented author, and I'm glad to see a dystopian series with a Christian worldview available for readers (especially teens). This is a very clean series that consistently points to Christ. 

Despite my somewhat mixed thoughts on this final book, I still definitely recommend this series as a whole. It might help to read the books a little more closely together now that they're all available. Particularly if you've enjoyed other dystopian series like The Hunger Games or Divergent, I think you'll enjoy the Anomaly series! [3 stars]

I received a free copy of this book from the publisher in exchange for my fair and honest review.

About the Author

Krista McGee’s passion to see teens excited about serving God is a driving force behind her novels. Ever since college when she spent a summer working at a youth camp, McGee knew she wanted to invest in teenagers. Since then she’s been involved in a variety of youth ministries and currently teaches at a Christian school in Tampa, FL.

McGee broke into the writing world during her time in Spain. A friend encouraged her to submit an article to a Christian girls’ magazine, and it got published. Once her family moved back to Tampa, she got the idea for her first novel, First Date, a modern take of the story of Esther. Her subsequent books, Starring Me and Right Where I Belong, are based on Rebekah and Ruth.

When Krista McGee isn’t living in fictional worlds of her own creation, she spends her days as a wife, mom, teacher and coffee snob.

Krista McGee Online

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The Language of Souls by Lena Goldfinch (Blog Tour & Review)

The Language of Souls
by Lena Goldfinch
YA / Fantasy / Romance
Available October 2010
148 pages

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About the Book

A fast-paced tale of adventure, impossible choices, and a soul-stirring romance that will leave you breathless.

Solena trespasses into hostile territory to search for a rare herb to cure the grandfather she loves. When a young enemy soldier captures her and she's accused of being a spy, she discovers just how much she’s risked.



As a soldier, Rundan struggles to please his father, a ruthless army commander. When his father orders him to take the beautiful trespasser to the royal courts, where she’ll surely be tried and executed, Rundan is plagued by an inconvenient desire to protect her.

The handsome young soldier confuses Solena. First, he cruelly captures her, and then treats her with uncommon kindness. When he risks his life to save hers, she fears she may have risked more than her life on her journey…she may have lost her heart.

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My Thoughts

I've enjoyed seeing some of Lena Goldfinch's beautiful covers and am now diving into her books! The Language of Souls is a YA fantasy romance novella that takes readers on an adventure. Rundan and Solena should be enemies but despite their inability to communicate with each other, they become unlikely allies, sacrificing everything for each other.

Lena does a great job of introducing this new world to the readers. I had a vivid mental picture of the place the whole time I was reading. She also introduces the characters and lets us get to know them, facing the unique challenge of the characters not being able to talk to one another for much of the book. Yet she still managed to keep my interest. :) I wish the story had been just a few pages longer, perhaps another chapter, to give a little more depth to the relationship that developed. But overall, this was an endearing story with a great message! [3.5 stars]

I received a free copy of this book from the author in exchange for my fair and honest review.

About Lena Goldfinch

LENA GOLDFINCH writes fantasy and romance for teens and adults. She's a sucker for a good old-fashioned romance, whether it's a novel, novella, or short story, young adult or adult, fantasy or realistic, contemporary or historical. Elements of romance, fantasy, and mystery have a way of creeping into her writing, even when she's writing something light and contemporary. Her latest release is TAKE A PICTURE, a lighthearted contemporary romance for teens and new adults, which includes a bonus short story, CHAIN REACTION, a prequel to HAUNTING JOY. You can learn more about Lena and her books on her website.

Giveaway
Lena is giving away two great prizes. ALL readers are eligible to enter one of the two giveaways! (Note: I am not moderating this giveaway, but only posting as part of the blog tour.)

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Book Review | Luminary by Krista McGee

Luminary
by Krista McGee
Anomaly series, Book 2
Christian Fiction / YA / Dystopian
Available January 2014
Thomas Nelson
320 pages

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About the Book

Thalli thought escaping to the surface would mean freedom. But is she any less of an anomaly aboveground?

After escaping an underground annihilation chamber, Thalli, Berk, Rhen, and John find themselves fleeing across the former United States, aboveground for the first time. As the defectors cross the forgotten landscape, the three youths see things they had only read about on screens: horses, rain, real books—and a colony of unsanctioned survivors living the ancient way in a town called New Hope.

When these survivors reveal the truth of what happened years ago, Thalli is left unsettled and skeptical of everything she’s ever been told. Can she trust anything from the State, including her own feelings for Berk? When she volunteers for a peace mission to New Hope’s violent neighbor, Athens, her confusion mounts when the supposedly ruthless Prince Alex turns out to be kind and charming. Although everyone in New Hope warned her not to, she can’t help but fall for him.

Meanwhile, John’s unwavering faith in the goodness of the Designer begins to make its mark on Thalli’s heart. But can Thalli really come to trust in a generous, protective Designer who rules over all things? Would that not be setting herself up for another betrayal?

The time for her to decide is now . . . because the State is closing in.

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My Thoughts

NOTE: If you have not read Anomaly (the first book in this series) yet, there are slight spoilers ahead. Read at your own risk!

After reading Anomaly this summer, I could hardly wait to read Luminary! I got my hands on a copy last week and moved it to the top of my TBR stack. While Thalli was a little ... whiny ... at the beginning, I soon got over my frustration with her and got swept up in the drama of their escape from the State. It was fascinating to read about three characters who were experience life as we know it (relatively speaking anyway) for the first time. McGee's creativity in describing things like home and parents and marriage and horses from the perspective on people who have never seen nor experienced these things was brilliant! 

My favorite part of the story was seeing John and Thalli's friendship grow as Thalli came to know the Designer (God) better. John encouraged Thalli in so many ways. I also enjoyed seeing how Psalm 23 was woven throughout the book in subtle ways. I also enjoyed the fact that I never really figured out what was going to happen next. There were a couple of characters that I'm still not sure which "side" they're on. Ha! 

With a huge cliffhanger ending, I'm really excited for the conclusion, Revolutionary, later this year! Krista McGee is a talented writer, and I highly recommend her stories for readers of all ages! [4 stars]

I received a free copy of this book from Thomas Nelson in exchange for my fair and honest review.

About the Author

Krista McGee’s passion to see teens excited about serving God is a driving force behind her novels. Ever since college when she spent a summer working at a youth camp, McGee knew she wanted to invest in teenagers. Since then she’s been involved in a variety of youth ministries and currently teaches at a Christian school in Tampa, FL.

McGee broke into the writing world during her time in Spain. A friend encouraged her to submit an article to a Christian girls’ magazine, and it got published. Once her family moved back to Tampa, she got the idea for her first novel, First Date, a modern take of the story of Esther. Her subsequent books, Starring Me and Right Where I Belong, are based on Rebekah and Ruth.

When Krista McGee isn’t living in fictional worlds of her own creation, she spends her days as a wife, mom, teacher and coffee snob.

Krista McGee Online

Website & Blog  |  Facebook  |  Twitter