Haunting Joy by Lena Goldfinch

Haunting Joy
by Lena Goldfinch
Haunting Joy series, Book 1
Fiction / YA / Paranormal (General Market)
Available October 2013
Indigo Road Teen
156 pages

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About the Book

Joy’s new dress has a secret – one with a little supernatural history, one that’s a little more than she expected.

It all starts one ordinary afternoon, as seventeen-year-old Joy tries on some thrift-store clothes her grandmother gave her. The little white dress fits perfectly. Trouble is, now it won’t leave her alone. Soon Joy is swept up in an extraordinary journey to help a ghost complete some unfinished business. If only that didn’t involve Joy driving through dangerous intersections...or calling up her high-school crush, Nick...or getting stuck at a cemetery after dark.

Will Joy accept this ghostly challenge to be "more"? And just how far will she go to uncover the truth?

Light Paranormal Novella

My Thoughts
I've never ventured into the paranormal genre before, but I'm pushing myself to get out of my comfort zone a little this year and thought participating in the blog tour for Haunting Joy would be a good chance to try something new. Amber assured me that it wasn't too creepy, so I hopped on board. :)

I was pleasantly surprised! Haunting Joy is a cute YA novella about a girl named Joy who discovers a white dress in a pile of thrift store finds from her grandmother. She feels a connection with the dress and is drawn to it in an unexplainable way. Once she puts it on, she realizes that a "ghost" is haunting her and she won't give up until she figures out why.

I really liked Joy. She's a sweet teenager and as the story goes on, she begins to truly care about others. Her friends Emily and Nick are good additions as well. I also appreciated that Joy's mom plays such a significant role in the book. I get really annoyed when YA novels ignore adults altogether, so it was good to see an adult fulfilling a parental role (even if it was more of a supporting role).

By the way, the "ghosty" elements of the story are pretty minor and not really creepy at all. If you're not sure what to think about paranormal stories, this is a nice introduction to the genre.   [4 stars]

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

About the Author
Lena Goldfinch lives in a scenic small town in Massachusetts with her husband, two kids, and a very spoiled Black Lab. She writes fiction for young adults, mostly light fantasy with a healthy dose of "sigh-worthy" romance. You can visit her online at her blog.

Fabulous New Novel from Krista McGee

Anomaly
by Krista McGee
Anomaly series, Book 1
Christian Fiction / Young Adult / Dystopian
Available July 2013
Thomas Nelson
320 pages

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About the Book

Thalli has fifteen minutes and twenty-three seconds left to live. The toxic gas that will complete her annihilation is invading her bloodstream. But she is not afraid.

Decades before Thalli’s birth, the world ended in a nuclear war. But life went on deep underground, thanks to a handful of scientists known as The Ten. Since then, they have genetically engineered humans to be free from emotions in the hopes that war won’t threaten their lives again.

But Thalli was born with the ability to feel emotions and a sense of curiosity she can barely contain. She has survived so far thanks to her ability to hide those differences. But Thalli’s secret is discovered when she is overwhelmed by the emotion in an ancient piece of music.

She is quickly scheduled for annihilation, but her childhood friend, Berk, convinces The Ten to postpone her death and study her instead. While in the scientists’ Pod, Thalli and Berk form a dangerous alliance, one strictly forbidden by the constant surveillance in the pods.

As her life ticks away, she hears rumors of someone called the Designer—someone even more powerful than The Ten. What’s more, the parts of her that have always been an anomaly could in fact be part of a much larger plan. And the parts of her that she has always guarded could be the answer she’s been looking for all along.

Thalli must sort out what to believe and who she can trust, before her time runs out…

My Thoughts

I jumped on board for this blog tour because I'm a huge fan of Krista McGee's previous books. But then I got nervous about reading the book. It's a huge departure from her other novels—genre-wise at least—and my exposure to dystopian YA is limited to The Hunger Games trilogy (which I loved, but stil!) Silly, I know. Well, thank goodness, I got over myself because Anomaly was fantastic!

The book starts off with Thalli counting down the last few minutes of her life. What a hook! At that point, I knew I wasn't going to be able to put the book down. Krista is an incredibly talented author. She managed to create an entire world in the future, develop characters that I adored, and tell a story with so many twists and turns I was never sure what was going to happen next. And the best part was that it all seemed so believable. Futuristic novels are usually hard for me to buy into because they seem so ridiculous, but I totally believed the reasons why this whole world was living like they were. I also loved how she creatively wove in threads of God's character throughout the book—even though only one character even acknowledges God at the beginning.

I think it's only fair to warn you that this book ends with a bit of a cliff-hanger. I HAVE to know what happens next, and I can't believe I have to wait several months for the next book! I guess, I'll be learning a little lesson about patience in the meantime. :) Anomaly  is a fabulous book and I highly recommend it! [5 stars]

I received a free copy of this book from Thomas Nelson and Litfuse Publicity 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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Starring Me by Krista McGee

Starring Me
by Krista McGee
Christian Fiction / YA / Romance
Available July 2012
Thomas Nelson
336 pages

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About the Book
Kara McKormick is told she’s auditioning to star in a new teen variety show. It’s what she isn’t told that could change her life.

The feisty New Yorker moves to sunny Orlando to participate in a month-long audition, where she’ll live with nine other contestants and an eccentric housemother. Kara knows that the show already has a big-time celebrity lined up for the co-host, but she doesn’t know who it is.

Chad Beacon quickly rose to fame after winning America’s Next Star, but he doesn’t want his entire career to be about singing. There is so much more he wants to do—like act. The new variety show sounds like the perfect next step for him, but his parents want him to have a co-star who shares his faith since they’ll be spending so much time together.

Acting is high on Kara’s priority list. But a relationship with God? Not so much. But God is after Kara’s heart and He’s put people in her life who are showing her there’s far more to Christianity than rules and judgment.

And just when it seems that Kara’s going to have to give up her acting dream, God reveals that she may have a starring role after all—in a story so big only He could write it.

My Thoughts
After reading First Date and Starring Me, I am a huge fan of Krista McGee! In Starring Me, we follow Kara's story as she has the opportunity to audition to be the co-host of a new teen show. She's determined to get the role, but must beat out nine other contestants for the part. Living with the other girls presents a variety of challenges, but Kara leans on her friendship with Addy and wisdom from the house mother. When a family crisis interrupts the auditions, Kara is sure she will have to sacrifice her dream. Only God can work out the details, but will Kara trust Him to?

What a wonderful book! The story is fun and the characters are realistic (despite their fame) and the kind of people you would want to be friends with. One of the things I loved most about Starring Me was how McGee was so intentional about including the gospel throughout the book without compromising the story or creating super-cheesy characters and dialogue.

There was one instance where Kara was asking Addy questions about God and I thought the entire conversation was just brilliant! Teenagers who read this novel will be able to see that it can be easy and natural to talk about God with your friends. I also appreciated how the author handled the "romance" aspect of the book—and particularly dealt with a Christian and non-Christian being interested in one another.

Readers who enjoy sweet romance and fun stories will surely love Starring Me, and I have no reservations (at all!) about recommending this to younger readers.

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

About the Author
Krista McGee writes for teens, teaches teens, and, more often than not, acts like a teen. Along with her husband and three kids, Krista has lived and ministered in Texas, Costa Rica, and Spain.

Krista McGee Online

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Revell Blog Tour | Perfectly Ridiculous by Kristin Billerbeck

Perfectly Ridiculous
by Kristin Billerbeck
A Universally Misunderstood Novel, Book 3
Christian Fiction / YA
Available July 2012
Revell Books
248 pages

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About the Book
Daisy's ready for summer fun--but it seems summer has something else in store.

High school is over, and Daisy Crispin is happy to leave it in her past and look forward to a bright new future at college. In the meantime, she is planning an all-expenses-paid trip with her best friend Claire to Argentina--home of exotic food, the tango, and her handsome sort-of boyfriend Max.

When Daisy discovers she needs to do missions work to fulfill the requirements of her scholarship, she chalks it up to her monumental bad luck in life and kisses her vacation goodbye. What was supposed to be a relaxing time in the lap of luxury turns into hard work, sleeping on a cot, avoiding scorpions, and stressing about where she stands with Max. Daisy wonders if anything in her life will ever go according to plan . . .

My Thoughts
Daisy and Claire have finally graduated from high school and Claire's parents give them an all-expenses-paid vacation to Argentina as a graduation present. The only problem? Daisy learns that she must fulfill a community service / missions requirement to remain eligible for her college scholarship. Her vacation turns into a mission trip . . . and her parents decide to join her as a chaperone. This is not turning out to be the vacation of her dreams! Will anything in Daisy's life work out like she plans?

I've been reading quite a bit of YA fiction recently and jumped at the chance to read Kristin Billerbeck's Perfectly Ridiculous. I wanted to go back and read the earlier books in the series before reading the third, but I had a really hard time getting into the first book. I finally just skipped ahead to Perfectly Ridiculous and found it to be a delightfully funny book!

This is a story that will take you right back to all the turmoil and angst of high school. Daisy's parents don't understand her, her best friend is her complete opposite, she has crushes on boys who don't return her feelings, and she's fighting to assert her independence before she goes off to college. Billerbeck does a great job of portraying all the craziness of being a high school girl!

If you're looking for a light-hearted summer read full of laughs, you'll enjoy Perfectly Ridiculous! [4 stars]

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

Available July 2012 at your favorite bookseller from Revell, a division of Baker Publishing Group.

About the Author
Kristin Billerbeck is the bestselling, award-winning author of several novels, including What a Girl Wants, Perfectly Dateless, and Perfectly Invisible. A Christy Award finalist and two-time winner of the American Christian Fiction Writers Book of the Year, Billerbeck has appeared on The Today Show and has been featured in the New York Times. She lives with her family in Northern California.

Kristin Billerbeck Online

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Reckless Heart by Amy Clipston

Reckless Heart
by Amy Clipston
Kauffman Amish Bakery series
Christian Fiction / Contemporary / Amish / YA
Available April 2012
Zondervan
224 pages

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About the Book
Lydia Bontrager's youngest sister is frighteningly ill, and as a good Amish daughter, it falls to Lydia to care for her siblings and keep the household running, in addition to working as a teacher's assistant and helping part time at her grandmother's bakery. Succumbing to stress, Lydia gives in to one wild night and returns home drunk.

The secret of that mistake leaves Lydia feeling even more restless and confused, especially when Joshua, the only boy she's ever loved, becomes increasingly distant. When a non-Amish boy moves in nearby, Lydia finds someone who understands her, but the community is convinced Lydia is becoming too reckless. With the pressures at home and her sister's worsening condition, a splintering relationship with Joshua, and her own growing questions over what is right, Lydia could lose everything that she's ever held close.

My Thoughts
Lydia Bontrager's little sister is sick. While her parents are busy taking care of her, having tests run, and taking her for treatments, Lydia is left to care for her siblings, clean the house, and make sure things at home run smoothly. The harder she works at home, the more frustrated she feels. When her parents refuse to let her attend youth socials and the boy she dreams of marrying one day stops coming around, Lydia rebels and goes out drinking. Add in a budding friendship with the English teenage boy down the street, and tongues begin wagging throughout the close-knit community. Will Lydia find her way back to her family? Or will her rebellion cause her to lose everything?

I've been reading more young adult fiction this year than I normally do, and Reckless Heart by Amy Clipston is one of the best I've read! The story was captivating and I really connected with Lydia. Amy did such a great job of expressing the feelings, thoughts, and emotions of a teenage girl that I felt myself flashing back to my own teenage years at times! The stress on the family due to a serious illness was also spot on. Having been in a similar situation during high school, I really identified with Lydia and the situation she was in. At times Lydia's dad really frustrated me. I just wanted to shake him and tell him to talk to his daughter!

When I was in middle school, I loved a series of books by Lurlene McDaniels and A Summer to Die by Lois Lowry (my cancer stories, as I called them!), and Reckless Heart reminded me of them. It's refreshing to read a YA story that tackles a variety of tough issues and has such substance, made even stronger by the faith elements woven throughout.

I highly recommend Reckless Heart for young adults or not-so-young adults! [4 stars]

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

About the Author
Amy Clipston is the author of the bestselling Kauffman Amish Bakery novels. She has a degree in communications from Virginia Wesleyan College and currently works for the city of Charlotte, North Carolina. Amy lives with her husband, two sons, and four spoiled-rotten cats.

Amy Clipston Online

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First Date by Krista McGee

First Date
By Krista McGee
Contemporary Christian Fiction, Young Adult
Published January 10, 2012
Thomas Nelson
336 pages

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About the Book

The last thing Addy Davidson wants is to be on a reality TV show where the prize is a prom date with the President’s son.

She’s focused on her schoolwork so she can get a scholarship to an Ivy League college, uncomfortable in the spotlight, never been on a date, and didn’t even audition for it.

But she got selected anyway.

So she does her best to get eliminated on the very first show. Right before she realizes that the President’s son is possibly the most attractive guy she has ever seen in person, surprisingly nice, and seemingly unimpressed by the 99 other girls who are throwing themselves at him.

Addy’s totally out of her comfort zone but that may be right where God can show her all that she was meant to be.

My Thoughts
I haven't really read much young adult fiction since . . . well . . . probably since high school. However, I've wanted to stretch myself a bit this year so I'm choosing a few young adult novels to round out my bookshelves.

First Date by Krista McGee was a dynamite initiation back into the young adult world. A cross between (a much, much cleaner version of) Gossip Girls and The Bachelor, First Date reminded me of all of the things I loved and hated most about my teen years. (I have no desire to be back in the world of catty high school girls.)

I instantly connected with Addy. Wants to do what's right. Also wants to fit in and be "popular." Struggles with how to reconcile God's way with the world's way. But overall has a good head on her shoulders. I loved the fact that she spoke her mind so freely . . . even when it got her into trouble or introduced a bad case of foot-in-mouth disease. :)

The spiritual elements are strong in this novel. It felt like a real girl working out her faith and how that should look among real people (even if the setting—a reality TV show—is totally unreal). Addy's uncle reminded me of some of the adults in my life during my teen years—that adult friend type who is willing to tell you like it is and you're willing to hear it from them because they're not your parent. :) I also loved the journals from Addy's mom. What a great way to help Addy wrestle through things and still have the perspective of her mom (who died when Addy was a child) . . . and to allow her to see that her mom was flawed too.

I thoroughly enjoyed First Date and look forward to reading the Krista's next novel (coming out this summer).  [4.5 stars]

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

About the Author
Krista McGee writes for teens, teaches teens, and, more often than not, acts like a teen. Along with her husband and three kids, Krista has lived and ministered in Texas, Costa Rica, and Spain.

Connect with Krista
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Blog Tour: Across the Wide River by Stephanie Reed

Across the Wide River is a great fictitious retelling of the Rankin family's life in Ohio helping slaves escape to freedom. Told from Lowry's perspective, this is a great story of how even the youngest can be used to do great things. Stephanie Reed weaves in details about the period that make the book more authentic. A few chapters turned a bit more "history lesson" and - while interesting - didn't seem to add much to Lowry's story. However, young teens will enjoy this book for the incredible story as well as for the historical lessons.

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

About the Book
The red brick home of Rev. John Rankin is a beacon--the first northern stop on the Underground Railroad. Across the Ohio River in Kentucky, every slave knows to look for it. They have heard that if they reach that house, they will never be captured. Across the Wide River tells the true story of the selfless sacrifices one Christian family made to help runaway slaves reach freedom.

About the Author
During her childhood, Stephanie Reed's family would often pass through Ripley, Ohio, on their way to her grandparents' home. The signs she read there about the Rankin house were what prompted her to write Across the Wide River and The Light Across the River. Stephanie is a Latchkey teacher. She worked for the Dayton (Ohio) Metro Library system for nine years. Stephanie, her husband, and two children live in Dublin, Ohio.

Wild Thing by Dandi Daly Mackall

Wild Thing by Dandi Daly Mackall is the first book in the young adult series Winnie, The Horse Gentler. It's a sweet story about a girl who loves horses. Her family is going through a difficult time, and her love of horses and new friends help her get through difficult times. Along the way Winnie must learn to trust God in all things.

What a great series for tweens! What girl doesn't love horses at one time or another?! The book gives great information about the different breeds of horses and weaves in particulars about caring for horses. I think many young girls will wish they could be Winnie! In addition to all the "horse talk," the author weaves in wonderful truths of God's faithfulness and love. I would definitely recommend to tweens!

About The Book
Twelve-year-old Winnie Willis has a way with horses. She can gentle the wildest mare, but other parts of her life don't always come as easily. Along with her dad and sister, Lizzy, Winnie is learning how to live without her mom, who was also a natural horse gentler. As Winnie teaches her horses about unconditional love and blind trust, God shows Winnie that he can be trusted too. Readers will be hooked on the series' vivid characters, whose quirky personalities fill Winnie's life with friendship and adventure.


In #1 Wild Thing, Winnie's fearful heart finally begins to trust God again as she tries to gentle the horse of her dreams, Wild Thing.

Departures: The Rediscovered Stories by Robin Jones Gunn

Robin Jones Gunn was one of my absolute favorite authors when I was in middle and high school. I absolutely devoured the Christy Miller series in 7th and 8th grade. So I had no choice but to request this book and get caught up.

Departures gives readers two new stories about familiar friends: Christy Miller and Sierra Jensen. Each novella is about 100 pages, and I flew right through them. I had forgotten how much I loved Gunn's stories! Gunn uses her writing as a ministry to readers. These in particular are focused on teaching valuable biblical truths to teenage girls. The messages come through loud and clear. There is no subtlety with the truth here! The characters wrestle with different situations and rely on Scripture and the counsel of more mature believers to come to conclusions about which direction to go. At times, the stories seemed fairly simplistic in light of all the challenges that teens face today. But the more I read, the more I found myself remembering what it was like to be a teenager ... a high school student trying to make the right decision, on my way to college trying to figure out relationships. My younger self really identified with Christy and Sierra.

I cannot recommend this book ... and others in the series ... highly enough for girls of all ages. These would be totally appropriate for middle school and high school students. And if you're like me and a little bit older than that, don't be embarrassed to catch up with these old friends!

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

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About the Book
Christy Miller and Sierra Jensen cross paths on their way to summer vacations that reveal what a gift it is to have a true Forever Friend.

Now Boarding at Gate 10
After her high school graduation, still aching from Todd’s departure, Christy joins her family on a trip to Wisconsin to visit relatives. While there, she reunites with Matthew, an old friend from junior high. When Matthew starts to show a romantic interest in Christy, she realizes this summer vacation could change everything she thought her future would be.

In the Event of a Water Landing
Fifteen-year-old Sierra Jensen can’t wait to spend her summer vacation with her friend Jana at a pristine lake in Montana. But when they arrive, it becomes clear that Jana’s only interest is acquiring a boyfriend. Sierra just wants to hang out with the guys as friends, but Jana turns every encounter into a possible romantic relationship. As their friendship begins to suffer, Sierra wonders if it’s possible to find a Forever Friend who will listen to you, laugh with you, and keep your confidences.

About the Author
Robin Jones Gunn is the best-selling and award-winning author of more than seventy books, with over 4 million copies of her titles sold worldwide. Best known among them are the Christy Miller, Sierra Jensen, and Christy and Todd: College Years teen series. A Christy Award winner and a two-time finalist for excellence in fiction, Robin has also been a Gold Medallion finalist. She and her husband have a grown son and daughter and live in Hawaii.

The Secrets Beneath by Kathleen Fuller

The Secrets Beneath by Kathleen Fuller combines great young adult fiction with a little mystery and intrigue. Rebekah sees a strange man checking out the house next door. She "spies" on him several times and is more curious every time she sees him. To add to the drama, Caleb, an annoying boy at school, wants to help her figure out what's going on and her cousin comes to live with Rebekah's family for the school year. Will they be able to solve the mystery? Will Rebekah learn what's troubling her cousin?

The Secrets Beneath is a great young adult fiction novel. Fuller gives fantastic insight into life in an Amish community. The writing style is fairly simple and provides a quick, easy read. Most importantly, though, the author teaches valuable lessons through the antics of Rebekah and Caleb. I would definitely recommend this book and others in the Mysteries of Middlefield Series to young adult readers.

4 stars (out of 5)

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

Young Adult Fiction: Angry by Laura L. Smith

Having been a reader for my entire life, I've read my fair share of young adult fiction. Ah ... the Christy Miller series by Robin Jones Gunn! I chose Angry by Laura L. Smith to see what young adult fiction looks like these days. I was pleasantly surprised!

Angry is a short, quick read. The third book in the THINK series, readers follow Emma as she learns of her parents' divorce. Struggling with taking care of her five younger siblings, dealing with her anger at her dad and his new girlfriend, wondering why her mom is drinking so much, and fighting to fit in with her friends, Emma is generally angry. (Hence, the title of the book.) Things begin to look up when she makes the school play, but will she figure out that God is in control of everything and look to Him for guidance?

This book read a lot more realistically than much of the high school fiction I read back in the day. It addresses difficult issues and reveals feelings that most youth can identify with. This series is probably for a more mature teen reader as this book alone mentions/addresses teen pregnancy, eating disorders, divorce, adultery, and alcoholism. An involved parent or youth leader would be useful in discussing the issues brought up. The writing style of the author is in-tune with teenagers. Told from the perspective of Emma, I felt like I was in the midst of a high school girls conversation for most of the book. Well done! The only complaint I really had about this book is that it wraps up a little fast. Emma suddenly recognizes her need for God and jumps to the conclusion that everything is going to work out in the last two very short chapters. Just seemed a bit quick and neat for me. Overall, though, this was a great read! Check out the first two books in the series if you like this one: Hot and Skinny.

Read a sample chapter here.

4 stars (out of 5)

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

Heading Home by Renee Riva

In the conclusion of the Indian Island trilogy, A.J. is reunited with Danny when she returns to the island to go to college. As the two friends fall back into old routines, it's impossible to miss the fact that 8 years has passed ... and they're not the kids they were back then. While A.J. has some big decisions to make, Danny recognizes his true feelings for A.J. Together, they work through big decisions about careers, religion, family, and what they mean to each other.

This is a really sweet story. I had not read the first two books in the trilogy but felt I could easily catch up (although I certainly would enjoy the other books!). The book is funny and a great coming-of-age story. A great young adult novel or a quick read for those of us who wish we still were young adults!

4 stars (out of 5)

I received a FREE copy of this book from The B&B Media Group in exchange for my fair and honest review.