Welcome to my monthly book review! A FREE short story, monthly book reviews, and quarterly updates can be sent directly to your inbox if you sign up for my newsletter. Don’t miss a single review!

This month I’m reviewing books that all have to do with overcoming trauma. While this theme was planned out months ago, it seems a rather fitting one for the strange time we are suddenly living in. While dealing with the coronavirus might not be a trauma for all of us, it is for some people. And we all are having to make sacrifices at this time. Some of you might be worried about family finances, food shortages, catching the virus, or someone you love getting sick. Young people might even be devastated by school suddenly being canceled—no interactions with friends and no spring activities. I’ve always found that one of the best ways to put our worries into perspective is to focus on the good things in our lives. One way to do this is by caring about others and their problems. All the stories this month are about teens who are facing devastating problems. They all come to the realization that focusing on faith can get them through their ordeals. And that is what we all need to do during this uncertain time—focus on our Savior, Jesus Christ.

Before we begin…

In case you are new to my blog, besides writing YA novels, I love reviewing them as well. Every month I post about 3 YA books that I’ve read each month in a new genre. I also send out quarterly posts marked UPDATES regarding news about my own work.

But for those of you who have kids, or grandkids, or you yourself like teen books (like me!), each month, I’ll introduce some of my favorite Christian and Catholic YA books.

I’ve decided to provide more reviews because there are a few things I’ve learned since I had my first book published:

1 – So many of the teen books published by the big publishing companies contain messages that don’t match the values of many families.

2 – There are a lot of fantastic, clean, faith-based books out there – books that are entertaining yet wholesome and reflect Christian values.

3 – These types of books can be difficult to find. So, I’d like to introduce you to a few new adventures.

Beneath Wandering Stars by Ashlee Cowles

I was blown away by this story. Beneath Wandering Stars was one of those books that I couldn’t put down. It’s a powerful story about dealing with a traumatic experience and discovering who you are.

Seventeen-year-old Gabriella Santiago is an Army brat living in Germany where her father is stationed. She is counting the days until her high school graduation so she can get back to the States and far away from the military. But when her soldier brother, Lucas, is critically wounded, her priorities change in an instant. When Gabi finds out that Lucas had dreamed of walking the Camino de Santiago in Spain, Gabi is determined to honor Lucas’ wishes as he fights for his life.

There are so many fantastic elements to this story. I was intrigued by the lifestyle of the Army family. It was interesting to see this transient life from the perspective of a soldier’s teen daughter. Also, experiencing the pilgrimage trek across Spain with the characters was fascinating. Gabriella’s journey is packed with wise words, deep thoughts, and powerful life lessons. I absolutely loved the voice of Gabi. The witty spunk was superb. Some of the best writing I’ve come across is YA novels. It was such a fantastic book that I immediately picked up the sequel.

 

Leap of Faith by Kimberly Brubaker Bradley

Leap of Faith a middle-grade story of self-discovery. Abby is a middle school student at a public school. After an act of desperation, where she lashes out at a fellow student when no one believes her side of an ongoing situation, her parents send her to a private Catholic school.

My heart ached for this character. Abby’s parents are both career-oriented and have little time for their daughter. Overwhelmed by hurt and anger with her agnostic parents, Abby comes up with a fantastic way to get back at them. To become Catholic. Her parents are not happy with their daughter’s desire to join the church. While starting the journey for the wrong reasons, Abby begins to feel peace at church and slowly learns some wonderful lessons about faith, family, friendship, and forgiveness.

 

The Lost Son by Tamra Torero and Preston Norton

This book was a complete surprise. I happened to stumble across this novel while searching for Christian Christmas stories. Even though this story is set on a Christmas tree farm during the holiday season, it is much more than a Christmas story.

The Lost Son is about a teen boy who kills another teen while drinking and driving. This story has a heart-breaking backdrop but is about hope, faith, love, and forgiveness. All these elements are woven into an enjoyable story that is not as heavy and emotional as I expected for such a difficult subject matter.

In all honesty, a few passages probably should have had a little more emotion and drama. And sometimes it seemed a touch too easy for the three main characters to move past the trauma they experienced. However, I think these aspects are also the reason I enjoyed the book so much. I’ve never been one who likes heavy, emotional drama. Books that pull at the heartstrings have always too much for me and a bit of a turn-off. I prefer my drama to be interspersed with humor and romance. I think this approach might also appeal to teens more effectively than a heavily dramatic novel would. Stories have a wonderful way of teaching, but if they are too preachy or emotionally draining, some readers could be turned off and miss the important messages within the story.

 

All these books can be found on Amazon. I’ve set links – just click on the highlighted titles. For those who don’t use Amazon you can also check Barnes and Noble online or www.indiebound.org where you can search for books and the local bookstores that might carry them or order them directly from the website. You can also ask your local bookstore or library to order the books for you.

Next month I’ll be reviewing three more Christian/Catholic teen novels. But if you’d like more reviews before then you can always check out my recommendation section on my website: YA Recommendations.

If you’ve come across this post on Facebook and would like to get my monthly reviews sent directly to your inbox, you can sign up on my website – www.LesleaWahl.com.

Until next month – Happy Reading!

Welcome to my monthly book review! A FREE short story, monthly book reviews, and quarterly updates can be sent directly to your inbox if you sign up for my newsletter. Don’t miss a single review!

This month I’m reviewing books for the college-age kids. Don’t worry, teens (and their parents) will still love these books. But since the main characters are all out of high school, I thought I’d give them their own category. All of the books are fantastic with strong female protagonists, and each made an impact on me in some way. One is a contemporary, finding-yourself romance, one is a pro-life mystery, and one is a dystopian tale that really makes you think.

Before we begin…

In case you are new to my blog, besides writing YA novels, I love reviewing them as well. Every month I post about 3 YA books that I’ve read each month in a new genre. I also send out quarterly posts marked UPDATES regarding news about my own work.

But for those of you who have kids, or grandkids, or you yourself like teen books (like me!), each month, I’ll introduce some of my favorite Christian and Catholic YA books.

I’ve decided to provide more reviews because there are a few things I’ve learned since I had my first book published:

1 – So many of the teen books published by the big publishing companies contain messages that don’t match the values of many families.

2 – There are a lot of fantastic, clean, faith-based books out there – books that are entertaining yet wholesome and reflect Christian values.

3 – These types of books can be difficult to find. So, I’d like to introduce you to a few new adventures.

Anyone But Him by Theresa Linden

Theresa Linden has quickly become one of my favorite authors. She is certainly one of the best Catholic YA authors out there today. Through each of her novels, her writing keeps getting better and better. The series of books that she has created about the West Brothers is simply spellbinding. These novels differ from most series in that each of the books is written from the perspective of different characters. Each book is very unique and great on their own but put the entire collection together, and it becomes extraordinary.

My favorite in the saga of the West family, Anyone But Him, is so fantastic that I’ve read it a few times. I don’t often re-read books, but once in a while, one touches me, and I become so connected with the characters that I must revisit them from time to time. Anyone But Him is that kind of book.

When the main character wakes up and realizes she is married to someone she can’t stand, she has to piece her life back together to discover how this possibly could have happened. The author has a lot of elements going on in this story – mystery, romance, amnesia, and a pro-life message. How she intertwines and weaves all these pieces together is perfection. There were so many scenes that I read numerous times because they were so captivating.

In this book, we are reunited with some of the characters from the West Brothers series, but they are now a few years older. Amnesia can sometimes be used as a convenient tool, but Linden uses her character’s memory loss to slowly reveal the past to us. In this story, the amnesia is a powerful and moving way to bring the love story and the mystery to life.

 

The Light by Jacqueline Brown

The Light is a contemporary post-apocalyptic story about college student Bria and the life-altering events she encounters. As Bria and her friends are driving down a highway late at night, a flash of light changes everything. Immediately, the car stops working, the cell phones are useless, and everything electronic fails to work.

Stranded on this dark road, trying to figure out what they should do, Bria and her friends are approached by two people their own age. This duo, a brother and sister, invite the stranded travelers to join them on their long trek home.

The characters soon learn that an attack on the country and a massive EMP, electromagnetic pulse, has changed life as they know it. This family and group of friends must somehow learn to survive in this new reality. Not only does Bria have to deal with an unexpected future, but the events also cause her to reevaluate the past. This suspenseful book does discuss some sensitive topics, so it is recommended for older teens.

A few years ago, my family experienced an EMP event from a lightning storm. All the electronics in our house and even one of the vehicles were affected. It took months to get everything repaired and replaced. Ever since then, I’ve thought about what would happen if a massive EMP occurred, and the electricity in the entire city or country was destroyed. Think about a world with no electricity—no lights, no heat, no cars, no running water. All of that would mean, no grocery stores, no banks, no water supply. How would people survive? How would people react? How quickly would chaos turn to violence? This premise is quite frightening but makes an excellent backdrop for a novel.

 

The Grace Crasher by Mara Faro

Most of the reviews I’ve read for this novel focus on the humor. There are plenty of humorous lines, but that is not what stood out for me. There was a lot going on in this thoroughly enjoyable book. A young adult searching for love. An alcoholic father. A dependent mother. A difficult parent who won’t let go. Discovering out who you are. Figuring out what you believe. And moving away from home for the first time.

I could relate to the main character in a few ways. First, I embarrassingly admit to seeing my younger self in this character—not the horrible family life that she had but the dreaming of the perfect relationship part. I’m sure many young women have tried hard to fit a crush into their ideal of a romantic partner. I could also relate to the difficulty that Julia and her love interest had in reconciling their faith. My husband and I also had this struggle when we first met.

In her light-hearted style, the author shows, and takes a few jabs at, the beliefs of both evangelical Christians and devout Catholics. In doing so, she does a superb job of highlighting the dangers of judging others and the importance of trying to understand one another. I don’t know why there is sometimes a divide between the churches because despite the differences, we are all Christians. We all believe in Christ and that through Him, we have eternal salvation. Our shared beliefs should be stronger than our disagreements. I often think how sad God must be to see such divisions within His Church. Disparaging each other is the exact opposite of what Christians should be doing.

Whether you are curious about a different faith perspective or have a friend who attends a different church than you, this might be a good book to use to open up a dialogue. This book probably won’t change anyone’s church-going experience, but I think it has the potential to start some meaningful conversations. But be prepared for a few laughs in the process.

 

All these books can be found on Amazon. I’ve set links – just click on the highlighted titles. For those who don’t use Amazon you can also check Barnes and Noble online or www.indiebound.org where you can search for books and the local bookstores that might carry them or order them directly from the website. You can also ask your local bookstore or library to order the books for you.

Next month I’ll be reviewing three more Christian/Catholic teen novels. But if you’d like more reviews before then you can always check out my recommendation section on my website: YA Recommendations.

If you’ve come across this post on Facebook and would like to get my monthly reviews sent directly to your inbox, you can sign up on my website – www.LesleaWahl.com.

Until next month – Happy Reading!

Welcome to my monthly book review! A FREE short story, monthly book reviews, and quarterly updates can be sent directly to your inbox if you sign up for my newsletter. Don’t miss a single review!

This month’s theme is Romance. February always makes me think of Valentine’s Day, love, and romance. Whether you enjoy contemporary novels, historic fiction, or medieval fairy tales these books not only are stories of romance but are full of adventure, intrigue and faith.

Before we begin…

In case you are new to my blog, besides writing YA novels, I love reviewing them as well. Every month I post about 3 YA books that I’ve read each month in a new genre. I also send out quarterly posts marked UPDATES regarding news about my own work.

But for those of you who have kids, or grandkids, or you yourself like teen books (like me!), each month, I’ll introduce some of my favorite Christian and Catholic YA books.

I’ve decided to provide more reviews because there are a few things I’ve learned since I had my first book published:

1 – So many of the teen books published by the big publishing companies contain messages that don’t match the values of many families.

2 – There are a lot of fantastic, clean, faith-based books out there – books that are entertaining yet wholesome and reflect Christian values.

3 – These types of books can be difficult to find. So, I’d like to introduce you to a few new adventures.

 

Ella’s Promise by Ellen Gable

This is the third book in the Great War, Great Love trilogy by Ellen Gable. While this book is part of a series about young couples who meet amid the heartbreak of war, it is a standalone book as well. There are a few characters that are in each of the books, but this story is mostly about Ella, a young American woman working at a field hospital during World War I.

It’s hard to know for sure since I enjoyed each of these wonderful books, but I do believe this is my favorite of the three. I adored the strong, competent, faithful Ella. I also enjoyed the secret agent intrigue of the story.

Each of the books in this series highlights a beautiful, Catholic love-story, but they also showcase interesting historic elements as well. I think these passages will be quite interesting for today’s teens – such as medical advancement, roles of men and women, communication technology, etc. This would be a great supplement to a lesson on the Great War.

While the books can be read without having read the other stories, the author also provides a nice conclusion to the series for those fans that have read them all.

 

18 Hours To Us by Krista Noorman

Every once in a while, I love a fun, light-hearted romantic adventure. And that is what I was expecting with this Christian YA novel. But this story turned out to have a few more layers to it.

A senior class road trip on a bus to another state turns into something Natalie never expected when a car accident prevents her from getting on the bus. Instead of riding with her friends and classmates, she makes the 18-hour drive with popular football player Colton Daynes.

The first half of the story was filled with playful banter, touching getting-to-know-you moments, and cool stops along the journey. The second half of the book had a lot more teen drama infused into the story. I’ll be honest. Parts of this book were absolutely delightful, other parts made me cringe because they pushed the boundaries of what I prefer in clean teen novels.

But I did appreciate how this book touched on some serious teen issues – depression, suicide, the hook-up culture, and bullying. We all wish teens didn’t have to deal with these kinds of things, but in many schools, this is the reality kids face daily. It’s always nice to find a book that can show that these topics exist but offer a positive alternative. This Christian YA novel had two fantastic messages. 1 – Stick to your beliefs. If someone truly likes you, they will respect who you are. 2 – Anyone, no matter what has happened in their past, can change if they really want to.

I would probably recommend this book for older teens, but it depends on what your teens have read and the atmosphere within their schools.

 

Evermore by Jody Hedlund

This is the first book in The Lost Princesses series. This medieval romance is the story of a destroyed kingdom. Years before, the beloved King and Queen of Mercia were overtaken and killed by a ruthless neighboring Kingdom, but not before their three daughters were all safely hidden away.

Evermore is the story of the oldest princess, Adelaide and her discovery of her true identity, what that secret entails, the fight to help her people, and the search for the other two princesses. Apparently, there is a prequel novella that sets up the premise of the whole story, but I found it easy enough to understand the storyline through this first book.

I thoroughly enjoyed this beautiful love story and main characters. This enticing tale is full of battles, mystery, and an intriguing connection to King Solomon and his treasure. I really liked the strong, smart Princess Adelaide, and am curious about her sisters. I have a feeling the villain better watch out when these three princesses finally reunite.

 

All these books can be found on Amazon. I’ve set links – just click on the highlighted titles. For those who don’t use Amazon you can also check Barnes and Noble online or www.indiebound.org where you can search for books and the local bookstores that might carry them or order them directly from the website. You can also ask your local bookstore or library to order the books for you.

Next month I’ll be reviewing three more Christian/Catholic teen novels. But if you’d like more reviews before then you can always check out my recommendation section on my website: YA Recommendations.

If you’ve come across this post on Facebook and would like to get my monthly reviews sent directly to your inbox, you can sign up on my website – www.LesleaWahl.com.

Until next month – Happy Reading!

Welcome to my monthly book review! A FREE short story, monthly book reviews, and quarterly updates can be sent directly to your inbox if you sign up for my newsletter. Don’t miss a single review!

This month’s theme is Fame. These books all deal with the issues and perils of fame. So many times, young people admire celebrities and long to be famous, but often they only see the glamor and none of the problems that are associated with fame. Each of these books addresses these issues and specifically focus on how challenging it is for a person of faith to stay true to their values when in the public eye.

Before we begin…

In case you are new to my blog, besides writing YA novels, I love reviewing them as well. Every month I post about 3 YA books that I’ve read each month in a new genre. I also send out quarterly posts marked UPDATES regarding news about my own work.

But for those of you who have kids, or grandkids, or you yourself like teen books (like me!), each month, I’ll introduce some of my favorite Christian and Catholic YA books.

I’ve decided to provide more reviews because there are a few things I’ve learned since I had my first book published:

1 – So many of the teen books published by the big publishing companies contain messages that don’t match the values of many families.

2 – There are a lot of fantastic, clean, faith-based books out there – books that are entertaining yet wholesome and reflect Christian values.

3 – These types of books can be difficult to find. So, I’d like to introduce you to a few new adventures.

eXtreme Blindside by Leslea Wahl

eXtreme Blindside is my newest novel, which is finally releasing this month. This is the sequel to my first novel, The Perfect Blindside. In case you are unfamiliar, the Blindside series follows teenage snowboarding superstar, Jake, and aspiring journalist, Sophie.

At the age of 16, when Jake shocks the nation by winning a silver medal in the Olympics, his life drastically changes by instant fame. While both novels are adventurous mysteries, they also deal with the effects of fame. In the first book, The Perfect Blindside, Jake struggles with his new celebrity status. However, his move to Silver Springs, Colorado, and meeting Sophie help bring him back down to earth and to focus on what is truly important. While Jake has grown as a character, in the sequel, eXtreme Blindside, we see the continued perils and temptations of fame. This newest book in the series also touches on the importance of telling the truth, doing what is right, and the subject of chastity.

Life is good for Jake and Sophie. After the incident at Silver Springs mine last year, things are getting back to normal. Or as normal as things get when you’re an Olympic snowboarder or getting your first big break as a journalist! But when strange accidents start happening on the slopes at the premiere extreme winter sports competition, Jake becomes suspicious. And it’s only a matter of time before he and Sophie are tackling another mystery together – one that may prove more dangerous than the Mountain Madness Games themselves. Can this couple unravel the clues before Jake becomes the next victim? 

Things are about to get EXTREME.

 

Guarding Aaron by T.M. Gaouette

Guarding Aaron is the third book in TM Gaouette’s Kung Fu series. The series centers around Gabriel, a handsome teen who is dedicated to his faith, his mother, and his martial arts. In the first book of the series, he meets Tanner Rose, a Hollywood starlet and the daughter of his mother’s friend.

Guarding Aaron continues the story of Gabriel, Tanner, and their friends. Gaouette does a wonderful job of creating relatable characters that you start to care about. Through the series, I have enjoyed the growth of Tanner and Christian, wanted to scream at Faith, and now wish I could hug Aaron.

Aaron is new to the series. His story, which runs parallel to what is happening with Tanner and Gabriel, is incredibly touching. Aaron is being bullied at school and, tired of being the victim, has decided to take Kung fu classes. This is where he meets older teens Gabriel and Christian, who are his instructors. The two storylines are woven together perfectly to make for a thoroughly engaging novel. There are even a few shocking twists that will keep you turning the pages. (One, in particular, had me gasping out loud.)

You don’t need to have read the other books in the series to enjoy this book, but I’m sure you will want to so you can spend more time with these characters.

 

Premiere by Melody Carlson

This was a fun story full of insights into the world of reality television. The story follows two sisters, Paige and Erin Forrester, who live in the Hollywood area. Their mother is a producer for a local news channel. While helping their mother with an assignment, the sisters are “discovered” and offered a reality television show about fashion.

This book is a few years old. It was published in 2010, but the story is still fun and relevant. The book focuses on the perils of fame, how reality television does not really reflect reality, the importance of family, and doing what is right.

Erin happens to be the only Christian in her family. I liked that she and her friends are involved in their youth group and church. Erin hopes to use her interest in filmmaking for good and to somehow make a difference in Hollywood by creating wholesome entertainment. Oh, how I wish there were more people in Hollywood with this desire. Although recently, there have been more Christian films made, which is a wonderfully positive sign.

This is a light-hearted, fun story with lots of teen drama. It shows teens making very bad choices and how these choices are not bringing them the fulfillment or happiness they seek. If you’re looking for a clean, entertaining story with a good message, this might be one for you.

 

All these books can be found on Amazon. I’ve set links – just click on the highlighted titles. For those who don’t use Amazon you can also check Barnes and Noble online or www.indiebound.org where you can search for books and the local bookstores that might carry them or order them directly from the website. You can also ask your local bookstore or library to order the books for you.

Next month I’ll be reviewing three more Christian/Catholic teen novels. But if you’d like more reviews before then you can always check out my recommendation section on my website: YA Recommendations.

If you’ve come across this post on Facebook and would like to get my monthly reviews sent directly to your inbox, you can sign up on my website – www.LesleaWahl.com.

Until next month – Happy Reading!

Welcome! Did you know that a FREE short story, monthly book reviews, and my quarterly updates can be sent directly to your inbox if you sign up for my newsletter? Join today so you don’t miss a single review!

This month I’m celebrating Christmas with books for the whole family. The three YA choices include two anthologies that will introduce you to numerous authors. One is filled with Christmas stories that encourage the real reason for the season. The other might be perfect for a Hallmark movie lover. And the third is an incredible historical fiction that takes you on an exciting journey with the Three Wise Men. This month I also have several book recommendations for the younger kids in the family AND a treat or two for Mom and Dad.

Before we begin…

In case you are new to my blog, besides writing YA novels, I love reviewing them as well. Every month I post about 3 YA books that I’ve read, each month in a new genre. So, if you’re not interested in other teen books you can skip past this Book Review Post. I’ll still be sending out quarterly posts marked UPDATES regarding news about my own work.

But for those of you who have kids, or grandkids, or you yourself like teen books (like me!), each month I’ll introduce some of my favorite Christian and Catholic YA books.

I’ve decided to provide more reviews because there are a few things I’ve learned since I had my first book published:

1 – So many of the teen books published by the big publishing companies contain messages that don’t match the values of many families.

2 – There are a lot of fantastic, clean, faith-based books out there. Books that are entertaining yet wholesome and reflect Christian values.

3 – These types of books can be really hard to find. So, I’d like to introduce you to a few new adventures.

Let’s get started!

YA Novels

 

Gifts: Visible and Invisible by CatholicTeenBooks authors

This is the second anthology by authors at CatholicTeenBooks.com. Gifts is a collection of eight Christmas-y stories which introduces readers to different author’s unique styles and may help make Christmas a little bit more meaningful. I am so blessed to be part of this incredible group of authors.

Our Christmas anthology is full of inspiring Christmas stories. Contemporary, historical, dystopian, and saintly stories fill this second anthology. All the stories are about a gift of some sort, and all have an element of helping others.

Signs of Christmas by Cynthia T. Toney is set during the depression in a small Louisiana town. It features one of the characters from Toney’s historical fiction – The Other Side of Freedom.

The Outlaw’s Friend by Susan Peek –Set during a harsh winter in the 1920s, this story about a modern-day priest on the road to sainthood, is a little bit more contemporary than her usual novels.

Operation Gift Drop by Theresa Linden is a dystopian story that includes my favorite character from her Chasing Liberty series. This exciting story gives the reader some insight into this fascinating series.

A Very Jurassic Christmas Eve by Corinna Turner is part of her unSPARKED Jurassic stories. This short story, full of excitement and danger, is another installment into the lives of two intriguing characters.

Just Jesus, by T.M. Gaouette, has a wonderful message about the dangers of judging others. A mysterious gift and a frustrating new student propel the intrigue of this contemporary story.

In the Steps of a Saint by Katy Huth Jones – Katy is the author of Treachery and Truth, about the real-life story of Good King Wenceslas. This short story explores the words of this beloved Christmas carol.

A Perfect Christmas by Carolyn Astfalk is an introduction to characters that will soon appear again in a new YA novel. The main character is a delight, and I can’t wait for her full-length adventure.

Christmas Angel by Leslea Wahl – My contribution is loosely based on a true story that a friend had told me about. I was so touched by the event and thought it would make a perfect Christmas short story.

Check out our VIDEO.

 

From Afar by Roger Thomas

I absolutely loved this fascinating fictional look into the Three Wise Men. While we all know of these three mysterious men, there is little that is actually known about them. The author takes us on a fictional journey into how these men knew about the birth of a King and why they were even interested in this Jewish king. I was expecting an interesting story but was blown away by this exciting, adventurous tale that I couldn’t put down. Everyone in the family will enjoy this one – even the dads!

Historical fiction is always so interesting. Getting a glimpse into another time period is a wonderful learning tool. From Afar really brought to light the environment into which Jesus was born. Such as the evil corruption of Herod and the communities that worshiped pagan gods. Even though this is a work of fiction, it offers possible explanations to questions in the story that I didn’t even know I had.

These three brilliant men and colleagues have each been searching for something. One has spent his career in the military looking for pure strength and harmony. One has been studying all the different religions of the world searching for the light of the divine in man. And one has been studying ancient scriptures and writings searching for truth and constancy. These unsettled quests and their study of the constellations leads them on their epic journey.

The characters were fantastic. The three wise men were all so unique. Melchior, the elder, gentle teacher. The brilliant Balthazar. And my favorite – the brave and youthful Gaspar. There were also two fantastic supporting characters, a soldier and a young boy that really helped keep the story moving. And, even though they only show up at the end of the story, I absolutely loved how Mary and Joseph were portrayed.

I will never think of the Three Wise Men in the same way ever again. Fantastic book.

 

Home For Christmas by Daphne James Huff, M.F. Lorson, and Kayla Tirrell

This is a collection of Christmas romances that are short and sweet. Is there someone on your list that enjoys YA short stories? Someone who adores stories set around Christmas? A sucker for Hallmark holiday movies? Then this might be a great gift option.

This set of short stories are not Christian, but they are clean and sweet. Each tale is a romance centered around an older teen girl at Christmas time. It was an enjoyable, quick read that might warm the insides of the romantic at heart on a cold December day.

 

Children’s Books

 

The Strangers at the Manger by Lisa Hendey

This book is part of Lisa Hendey’s Chime Travelers series. This adventure follows twins Katie and Patrick as they magically travel to the night Jesus was born. This is a fun way for kids to think more deeply about the Holy Family and their story. I love how the author not only informs readers about biblical events and saints through these stories, but she always offers a lesson as well that readers can take to heart and learn from.

 

Molly McBride and the Christmas Pageant by Jeanie Egolf

I have thoroughly enjoyed each of the books in this collection by Jeanie Egolf. Molly McBride is a delightful Kindergartner whose energetic spirit makes for entertaining stories that reflect important virtues. Molly’s newest adventure, Molly McBride and the Christmas Pageant, is full of wonderful lessons about obedience and caring for others. This would be an excellent addition to any family’s Christmas story collection.

 

Saint Rudolph and the Reindeer by Susan Peek

This is a heartwarming tale that is destined to become a new family favorite. Taking her vast knowledge of saints, Susan Peek has added a beautifully religious twist to transform a favorite children’s Christmas story into a holiday treasure. If you are unfamiliar with the author’s books you really should check them out. She is an incredibly talented author who writes about the lives of Saints for children and teens. Susan loves to take little known saints and using their true-life experiences, create exciting stories around them. I am so excited about this little Christmas story and am sure it will be a new family treasure for many.

 

The Forgotten Christmas Saint by Susan Peek

This picture book by Susan Peek is a beautiful story about Saint Anastasia whose feast day is Christmas day. This was a fascinating story about a saint I knew nothing about. But now I know that she is the patron saint of martyrs. Anastasia’s fascinating life is told through a conversational text and lovely illustrations. Like most saints, she had a difficult, tragic life but this story of her steadfast faith is truly inspiring.

 

The Dragon Who Saved Christmas by Katy Huth Jones

This kindle-only story is a little different choice. It is about a dragon who saves Christmas by using his unique skills to help Santa. While not a Christian story it does have a sweet message about using your gifts to help others. Katy Huth Jones is the author of several excellent Christian YA novels and is also a contributor to the CatholicTeenBooks Gifts anthology. This children’s story is one she created for a grandchild. So, if you have a dragon enthusiast in the family and are looking for a cute little kindle story, this could be a fun option for you.

 

And something for the adult in your life.

 

Ornamental Graces by Carolyn Astfalk

What a wonderful Christian Romance. The story of Dan and Emily is about the journey these two must take in order to find a real, faith-based relationship. I love how real this story is. This is Carolyn’s expertise – creating authentic characters with genuine issues. This story has plenty of sweet romantic moments, but it also has all the grit and problems of real life. Let’s face it, mistakes from the past can affect our future. It’s difficult to let go of the pain and the guilt from the poor decisions we make. The only way to really get over these past wounds is to turn to Christ, to let Him wrap us in forgiveness and for us to truly believe we are forgiven. Wonderful job.

 

The Christmas Tree Treasure Hunt by Deanna Klingel

The moment I heard about this book from my friend Deanna Klingel, I was fascinated. The story is actually a collaborative project. Each chapter is written by a different Christian author. That unique aspect, along with the words “treasure hunt”, had me intrigued. This is the story of a young college-age woman who has been trying to move on with her life after a series of heart-breaking events in her life that have left her utterly alone. A mysterious package and accompanying letters sets her off on a Christmas-time adventure to discover truths that she had never known. Older teens and adults will enjoy this tale of self-discovery and overcoming trauma.

 

All these books can be found on Amazon. I’ve set links – just click on the highlighted titles. For those who don’t use Amazon you can also check Barnes and Noble online or www.indiebound.org where you can search for books and the local bookstores that might carry them or order them directly from the website. You can also ask your local bookstore or library to order the books for you.

Next month I’ll be reviewing three more Christian/Catholic teen novels. But if you’d like more reviews before then you can always check out my recommendation section on my website: YA Recommendations.

If you’ve come across this post on Facebook and would like to get my monthly reviews sent directly to your inbox, you can sign up on my website – www.LesleaWahl.com.

Until next month – Happy Reading!

 

Monthly Book Reviews – Value-Based Fiction

Welcome! Did you know that a FREE short story, monthly book reviews, and my quarterly updates can be sent directly to your inbox if you sign up for my newsletter? Join today so you don’t miss a single review!

This month’s theme is Value-Based Fiction. What does that mean? Well, each of this month’s books deal with issues and topics from not only a Christian viewpoint but specifically a Catholic one. I’ll introduce you to a short story collection that teens of all ages will enjoy, a middle-grade theology of the body story, and a pro-life YA/New Adult novel.

Before we begin…

In case you are new to my blog, besides writing YA novels, I love reviewing them as well. Every month I post about 3 YA books that I’ve read, each month in a new genre. So, if you’re not interested in other teen books you can skip past this Book Review Post. I’ll still be sending out quarterly posts marked UPDATES regarding news about my own work.

But for those of you who have kids, or grandkids, or you yourself like teen books (like me!), each month I’ll introduce some of my favorite Christian and Catholic YA books.

I’ve decided to provide more reviews because there are a few things I’ve learned since I had my first book published:

1 – So many of the teen books published by the big publishing companies contain messages that don’t match the values of many families.

2 – There are a lot of fantastic, clean, faith-based books out there. Books that are entertaining yet wholesome and reflect Christian values.

3 – These types of books can be really hard to find. So, I’d like to introduce you to a few new adventures.

For Eden’s Sake by TM Gaouette

Author TM Gauoette’s collection of faith-affirming Catholic teen novels has a new addition, For Eden’s Sake. I’m impressed with how unique, and different all Gaouette’s books are, from her heart-warming middle-grade story, her exciting contemporary YA series, to this newly released powerful pro-life novel for older teens.

After a night he desperately wishes he could change, college graduate Isaac finds himself fighting for the life of his unborn child. While the characters are a little older, I think this is a fantastic book for teens to read with an important message. When our teens leave the protection of our homes and move on to college and the working world, they will probably find themselves in situations where they will need to defend their values and beliefs. Sadly, out in the real world, the foundation we teach our kids at home is often questioned, ridiculed, and attacked. It takes a strong person to hold true to Christian values.

I love the message that even when the decisions we make might throw our goals off track if we trust in God, we will get through any troubles. Even in the darkest of times, God has a plan for us. For Eden’s Sake is a powerful story about fighting for what is right, believing that God is with us even in the darkest of times, and trusting that He will get us through any situation.

 

10 Commandments of Kissing Gloria Jean by Britt Leigh

First of all – a little background. I grew up in a household that didn’t really discuss uncomfortable topics. So, maybe that is why I found the first part of this book a bit cringeworthy. In fact, I put it down a few times thinking, there was no way I could recommend a book that mentioned so many awkward topics. But, alas, it won me over.

This middle-grade novel is about a girl named Gloria Jean who is obsessed with thoughts of kissing a boy. She doesn’t have a specific boy in mind but is curious and wants to experience her first kiss. To prepare, she comes up with rules and questions about how this moment might happen and what to do if it does happen. During this same time, her public-school class is covering sex education and she is attending Confirmation classes at church. On top of all that, she has just learned she has celiac disease and the last thing she wants is to be different in any way.

You can imagine the multitude of uncomfortable topics that are brought up in this book. The author does a really wonderful job of discussing these topics from a middle school girl perspective. She did such a great job in fact that memories of those awkward years came flooding back. That’s when I realized the beauty of this book. Middle school kids, full of developing hormones, have so many questions about their bodies and members of the opposite sex. Because these topics are tough to talk about, kids often are left to seek answers from friends (who usually don’t have very accurate answers or provide exaggerated information) or nowadays – on the internet (not necessarily a place you went them searching such topics).

In an enlightening contrast, this book shows what public schools teach in sex education courses alongside what the church teaches through Theology of the Body. What a stark contrast. While this book might not be for everyone, if you have a child questioning some topics, or are wondering how to broach such topics, or you’re concerned about the way your child’s school teaches these topics, this might be a fabulous book to read. The lessons this character learns are beautiful. Gloria Jean discovers so much about herself, about true friendships, the perils of peer pressure, respect of herself, and who she wants to be. All this is why I ended up thoroughly enjoying this book that at times was uncomfortable to read. Certain topics are tough to discuss, specifically because of that, it’s wonderful to have a book that presents them from a faith-based perspective.

 

Secrets: Visible and Invisible from the authors at CatholicTeenBooks.com

Secrets is a collection of short stories from seven of the authors at the joint website – www.CatholicTeenBooks.com. I am one of the authors of this anthology and working with all these talented authors was such a joy. All the stories involve a secret of some sort and all are new original tales. Some are stories that involve characters that can be found in the author’s previous novels, some are new characters, and all are faith-based stories for teens. My story, More Precious Than Gold, is a summer adventure with the characters from my YA novels The Perfect Blindside and An Unexpected Role. One of the most wonderful parts of this book is that it provides readers with a taste of seven different author’s styles and genres. Who knows, you may find a new favorite author!

As described by Mark Hart of Life Teen International, who provides the foreword, “Each story reveals something different about the human heart and our constant (though, often veiled) desire for truth and virtue.”

• In a dystopian future, an innocent picnic turns deadly!
• Elijah knows nothing of the elderly stranger’s secret past–until her disappearance changes everything.
• A mysterious, ever-changing painting alarms a group of teens.
• The cannonball took Dario’s legs . . . Will he lose his soul too?
• The arrival of a mysterious girl challenges everything about Jason’s life.
• An unlicensed driver. His dad’s truck. What could possibly go wrong?
• An old tale of murder and forbidden love leads to a modern-day treasure hunt.

 

All these books can be found on Amazon. I’ve set links – just click on the highlighted titles. For those who don’t use Amazon you can also check Barnes and Noble online or www.indiebound.org where you can search for books and the local bookstores that might carry them or order them directly from the website. You can also ask your local bookstore or library to order the books for you.

Next month I’ll be reviewing three more Christian/Catholic teen novels. But if you’d like more reviews before then you can always check out my recommendation section on my website: YA Recommendations.

If you’ve come across this post on Facebook and would like to get my monthly reviews sent directly to your inbox, you can sign up on my website – www.LesleaWahl.com.

Until next month – Happy Reading!