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 about strong friendships. The three books I’m highlighting this month are all amazing books, and all are part of a series. They are each about teens who realize how important good friends can be. This is a perfect theme since all the books happen to be written by friends of mine!

Friendships are interesting to think about. I don’t know about anyone else, but at least for me, the friendships that are the most precious are the ones with people who share my same values and faith beliefs. Good friends can understand what we are going through and offer support. They are people we can confide in and turn to when we seek advice. They are people we can ask to pray for us. They are people we enjoy being around and can share our accomplishments and good news with. Good friends are there for us during the good times and the bad.

For those teens who feel they don’t have good friends at the moment, don’t despair. There were times, especially when I was young, that it was hard to find loyal friends. Other people seemed to have best friends, and I remember feeling quite lonely. I’m sure most people have times like that. There were also times when people I thought were my friends did not have my best interest at heart. If that is how you feel, don’t despair, God will lead good people into your life. Be open to those you meet, but focus on your faith and who you are, and the people who share your values will make their way into your lives.

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.

Violet by Renee Lichtenhan

Violet was such a joy to read. I really couldn’t put this one down. From the start, I was completely engaged in Violet’s story and had to find out what would happen next. There is a lot going on in the middle-grade book that would be great for teens of all ages.

Violet is the second book in the I Am Girl series by Renee Lichtenhan. I thoroughly enjoyed the first novel, Carabelle, and now am a huge fan of this second installment as well. Each book is an entirely different storyline, but all are faith-based novels featuring strong female characters.

Violet seems to lead the perfect life – her father is a Senator, she lives in a beautiful brownstone in New York, and she attends a prestigious private school. But there are two things in Violet’s life that don’t fit in that perfect mold. Her autistic brother, Oliver, and her secret passion for skateboarding.

I loved how the author wove this story together, showing that God really does work in mysterious ways. He leads us on unexpected paths as we touch the lives of those we meet. We often don’t see how God uses us to help others, but this book showed how one decision can start the spiral effect of grace.

This novel has some fantastic characters from very different walks of life. I enjoyed how these characters learned a lot about themselves and serving others. I also loved the spiritual elements. There are so many interesting issues and topics in this story that would make for fantastic discussions in a book club, classroom, or as a family.

 

Fire Starters by Theresa Linden

Fire Starters is the final book in Theresa Linden’s West Brothers series. If you haven’t had the chance to read the previous books, don’t worry, this book can definitely be read as a standalone. Although, I have a feeling one book won’t be enough and you’ll want to spend more time with these amazing characters. And, for those who have enjoyed the entire series, you’ll be happy to know that many characters you’ve grown to care about over the years are in this story. One of the unique aspects of this series is that the books are written from different unique points of view. The West brothers themselves, friends, and even angels have spurred this series along! This final book is told from the perspectives of Caitlyn and Peter, two of Roland West’s friends.

Theresa Linden is a truly gifted writer who boldly tackles topics that aren’t often seen in YA literature. The strong Catholic viewpoint from which she writes fill her books with truth, knowledge, and faith. I’m also always impressed how her descriptions leave me feeling like I’m right there in the moment with the characters. No matter the genre, contemporary YA, dystopian teen novels, adult suspense, or children’s books, Linden’s ability to bring to life the characters and the worlds they live in, set her novels apart.

Fire Starters is set around the sacrament of Confirmation. Due to previous circumstances, the West brothers have never been Confirmed, so now they must prepare for the sacrament with younger students. When their friends hear about this, they decide to show their support by attending Confirmation class with the boys. This reviewing of the sacrament brings some surprises. The deepening of faith for each of the characters was really beautiful. I’m sure readers will relate to the different feelings that are portrayed through the various characters. Besides the moving faith-based premise, there are also several side stories that add emotion, intrigue, and fun to the novel. Fire Starters would make the perfect gift for the teen in your life.

 

Shards of Light by Susan Miura

Shards of Light is the sequel to Susan Miura’s Christian YA novel, Healer. This story not only revisits the main character from Healer, Shilo, but also tells the story of her best friend Melody. We are also introduced to several new intriguing characters. Besides being a gifted storyteller, Miura always includes diverse characters in her books. The different ethnicities and backgrounds that are represented are always quite interesting.

Shards of Light begins where Healer left off. For various reasons Shilo, who recently found out she possesses healing powers, is sent to Italy to spend the summer with her great-grandmother. Who wouldn’t want to spend the summer in the Italian countryside? Well, Shilo because she must leave behind her best friend, her family, and her boyfriend to live at a convent. But quickly she finds that spending time with her nonna, the nuns, an injured man being cared for at the convent, a houseful of mysterious girls, and an attractive Italian boy lead to a summer that is far from dull.

Back at home, Shilo’s best friend is dealing with her own life-altering situations. Melody was in the last book, but we get to know her much better in this sequel. An unexpected event in her life leads to an uncertain future, new relationships, and revelations from the past.

Interestingly, these two best friends, while thousands of miles apart, are each touched by the horrors of human trafficking. This is such a horrific topic that unfortunately is part of our society. Miura has done a masterful job of bringing attention to this awful reality without it overwhelming the story. Shards of Light is a powerful story about looking for goodness amid the pain and difficulties of life. What a beautiful message for teens. Everyone faces disappointments and the pain of unattainable dreams, but God can use those times in life to lead us on an incredible new path that we never could have imagined.

 

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 teen books that feature sports. Since we have not been able to participate in, or watch, sports for a while, this is a great month to highlight this particular theme. Each of these books have a lot to offer besides focusing on a sport. They all have great stories, wonderful characters, and plenty of 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.

The Mentor by Ryan Shelton

Vincent doesn’t have much in life. An abusive father, a disinterested mother, and no friends. He has finished high school with less than impressive grades and has no promising prospects for the future. But he does have determination and a love of baseball, which provides him an opportunity to play for the state championship team.

Unfortunately, the coach and his all-star son resent Vincent and nearly destroy his one opportunity to better himself. When an elderly couple sees potential in Vincent, they step in to become the loving parents the teen has never had. They believe in him. They see that he is a good person, a hard worker, a talented ballplayer, and a child of God.

This is a beautiful story about how important a mentor can be. Even with a loving family, a mentor who is not a parent can make a huge difference. Having someone you respect believe in you can give you the confidence you need to then believe in yourself. This person has the ability to provide constructive criticism and guidance that doesn’t feel personal but helpful. Personally, I know that I probably wouldn’t have become a published author without the writing mentor that helped me succeed.

As you can probably tell, I really enjoyed this book. My heart went out to this young man and all the heartache he had to endure in his life. I loved his determination and positive spirit. I also really enjoyed all the fantastic baseball scenes. The author did a wonderful job of bringing those passages to life, making me feel like a spectator sitting in the bleachers watching the ball games. If you’re missing baseball, this might be a great book to bide your time.

 

Cracks in the Ice by Deanna K. Klingel

This is the second book I’ve read by Deanna Klingel. This author has a knack for delving into relationships amid interesting subcultures of our society. Cracks in the Ice is a historical fiction novel that touches on quite a few different topics – the Mafia, the Olympics, Figure Skating, the 1960s, and alcoholism. The author’s unique writing style takes the reader on an intriguing journey through the 1960s and ‘70s. The bits of history were fascinating, the relationships were heartbreaking, and the message of turning your life to God was inspiring.

The main character, Gina, lives a unique life. She realizes her family is different but doesn’t really know why. She lives a life of isolation, mostly staying in the family compound except for the time spent pursuing her passion—ice-skating. Since she’s never known anything different, she doesn’t question her family. But when you are a Mafia princess in the 1960s, life eventually comes crashing down around you.

From reading the description of the book, I was prepared for the first half of the book, but the second half was a complete surprise. The story took a few surprising spins (please excuse the ice-skating pun 😊) that kept me intrigued. This story about finding yourself amid shattered dreams is a YA novel full of great discussion topics.

 

Full Cycle by Christopher Blunt

Full Cycle follows the life of Alex, an older elementary-age boy, and his family over the course of a year. The story is told from Alex’s perspective as well as his father, Rob’s. It was interesting to see both the father and son change, struggle, and grow throughout the novel. Faith is a part of the story, but the novel is more about discovering yourself, reaching your goals, digging deep within yourself, and the importance of teamwork.

Years before we meet this family, Alex suffered a devastating injury that left him with a noticeable limp. This physical difference makes it nearly impossible for him to participate in sports and unfortunately, leaves him a prime target of the school bullies.

When Alex learns about a 200-mile bicycle ride from Seattle to Portland, he becomes fascinated with the event and the sport. He dreams of being part of a community of riders and the freedom of biking. When he learns that his father had ridden in the event, Alex can’t imagine why his dad would have ever given up such an amazing sport.

There were several aspects in this book that I particularly enjoyed—from Alex’s love of music to his brother’s baseball scenes, to the strong friendships, and the encouraging family relationships. Competitive biking was brought to life through the author’s fantastic descriptions. My muscles ached, just reading about it! I also appreciated that the bullying issue reflected real life and wasn’t tied up in a neat little bow at the end of the story.

There was one particular message that I just loved. That we all have gifts that God has blessed us with. We have the responsibility to share them with others. Otherwise, we are the ones hiding our light under a bushel. What a wonderful visual! It reminds me of something I read by Catholic speaker/author Chris Stefanick, that God created each of us to be unique, and the unique gifts He gave us can’t be shared by anyone else. How sad if those gifts are hidden and not shared the way God desires. This is a great message for us all, especially kids.

Full Cycle is a wonderful story about the importance of family. Sometimes I see adults who spend so much time on a sport or hobby that it becomes almost an obsession. All the hours spent on their interests takes away from time with their families, which is sad. So, I greatly appreciated the sacrifices this father made for his family and the way Rob selflessly found a way to include his boys in his passion so he wouldn’t be away from them but instead could share it with them, spend time with them, and create amazing memories. This would be a wonderful book to read as a family.

 

 

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 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!