I’m thrilled to be able to share with you the cover of my newest book, eXtreme Blindside, as well as a little sneak peek into the story. The book will be available in early December. Enjoy!
Opening Line:
SPECIAL POST – Ella’s Promise Book Tour
Every once in awhile, I get the opportunity to help another author with the launch of a new book. Today, I’m excited to share about Ellen Gable’s new book, Ella’s Promise. Scroll down for my review and an excerpt of this wonderful book.
Blurb: When she joins the war effort during the Great War, American nurse Ella Neumann doesn’t see allies or enemies. The daughter of German immigrants, Ella sees only human beings in need of care. A promise to herself and a promise made to her by an enemy officer become the catalyst for the life she plans to lead after the war. But a handsome Canadian soldier may complicate her plans. In this third installment of the Great War – Great Love series, join Ella in a tale of promises, betrayal and unconditional love.
My Review:
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 these books highlights a beautiful, Catholic love-story but they also showcase interesting historic elements as well. I think these pieces 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.
Please visit my Book Recommendations for reviews of Julia’s Gifts and Charlotte’s Honor.
Excerpt:
Ella’s head snapped up. She turned and saw that the lavatory door was still open. Where is Major Schmidt?
She stood up, then took mental attendance of the cots. The occupied cots all seemed occupied, even the major’s cot. But that couldn’t be. He couldn’t have finished his business in the lavatory and covered himself up and gone to sleep that quickly.
No, someone had left the barrack. A feeling of dread came over her, and she raced across the barrack to the back door. It was unlocked!
Ella pulled the door open and stepped outside into the warm spring evening air. She could just make out the silhouette of a soldier creeping along the side wall of the barrack.
“Excuse me, sir?” she called out loudly in German, her heart pounding. “Please step into the light.”
The man didn’t move.
“Sir? Step into the light so I may see who you are.”
Still no movement.
Instead of waiting for him to comply, she straightened, took a breath and walked toward him. It was only then that the man inched forward, a shadow on his face. She couldn’t see him, but she was certain it was Major Schmidt.
“I…uh…was…uh… just stepping out for some… fresh air,” he said in German, waving his hands.
Ella scowled. I don’t think so. She continued in German, “I don’t remember you asking for permission to come outside. You asked permission to go to the lavatory.”
“Oh, I’m sorry.”
“Well, I will remain with you while you finish breathing in the fresh air, then I will accompany you back into the barrack. You must understand that I will be reprimanded if I allow a POW soldier to be outside.” She paused. “Why did you unlock the door?”
The man smiled, but it seemed forced. Then he replied, this time in English, “I don’t remember unlocking it. I suppose I should just go with you back inside. I’ve had enough fresh air for the evening.”
“I should say so.”
This man had no German accent when he spoke English and certainly no English accent when he spoke German. His smooth voice sounded kind and gentle. Ah, yes, she remembered him: this was the man with the large birthmark on his shoulder.
***
Now what? He could run, but she would call the nearby guards to apprehend him. He tried to appear nonchalant, but he balled his fists in frustration. He’d have to wait until a future date and try again.
Garrett considered reaching for the gun tucked in his waistband. Collins had given it to him. He could use it to threaten her so he could escape.
The girl folded her arms across her chest, smiled, her foot tapping, waiting for him to comply. She was brave, but he was twice her size and could easily overpower her. He could knock her unconscious, leave her in the shadows and take off. She’d be reprimanded for letting him escape. She—the sweetest and most intelligent girl he’d ever met – would get in trouble because of him.
Strange that he’d never considered the repercussions for the person in charge when he had escaped the other POW camp. Truthfully, he’d never cared. Even so, this camp was one with little security. He should have known that this nurse would be so aware of everything going on around her.
He would have to contact Collins in the morning to inform him that it was not going to be as easy to escape this time. Until then, he would bide his time and do nothing.
Monthly Book Review – Value-Based Fiction
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!
Monthly Book Review – Suspense
Welcome to my monthly book review! Did you know that if you sign up for my newsletter, you will receive a FREE short story as well as my monthly reviews and quarterly updates sent directly to your inbox? Don’t miss a single review!
October always seems like the perfect month for mysteries and suspense novels. The three books I’m highlighting this month are all very exciting and have an element of suspense. Two are dystopian stories. One is a middle-grade story. Two are rather short. And all are part of a series.
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.
A Truly Raptor-ous Welcome by Corinna Turner
Corinna Turner is an expert at creating new, exciting worlds in her fictional books. Whether it be a dystopian future, a fantasy world, or a Jurassic-park type of environment, her descriptions brilliantly engulf you into her books.
A Truly Raptor-ous Welcome is one of the stories in her Unsparked series. These are truly exciting adventures. This short installment follows two parallel storylines. The first revolves around Darryl and her family. Darryl is a teenage girl who is tough as nails when it comes to dealing with dangerous dinosaurs. She also has a deep faith. Darryl’s father recently married a city-girl who is having trouble living in the wild, dangerous, dinosaur-filled country.
The other storyline revolves around Joshua, a young man who is alone in the world. He has been trained by his father and uncle to take dangerous hunting jobs. This exciting story leaves you wanting more and yearning for the next segments that will be forthcoming. I look forward to more episodes of this series.
Escape by Glenn Haggerty
This fun, Christian, middle-grade, adventure is the first book in a series about a young teen named Tyler. Escape is actually more of a short prequel to the series, but it is a great book on its own. This is a fast read, jam-packed with action. Which might be a problem if you’re hoping for a book that will take a while for your kids to read because they will get through this one quickly. But they will most likely want to immediately read Tyler’s next adventure.
Younger boys especially will enjoy the story of thirteen-year-old Tyler. Tyler has made some bad decisions lately that have caused a lot of problems. But nothing compares to the danger he finds himself in on this particular day.
Right from the very first line, the reader is drawn into the story. “I’d never seen a dead body before, but I was pretty sure the guy in the car trunk was dead.” Who doesn’t want to keep reading after that?
While I love the adventure aspects, my favorite part of this book is the Christian messages. As Tyler fights for his life, his friendships, and his reputation, he begins to clearly see the bad choices he made. The lessons he learns are powerful reminders for everyone about telling the truth, being a good friend, and the importance of a loving family.
The Resistance by J. Rodes
The Resistance is the first book in a dystopian series set in the not too distant future that honestly doesn’t seem too farfetched. When the Progressive Reform Presidential candidate is elected, religious worshipers begin to be persecuted. Eventually, all religion is banned, and things quickly go from bad to worse. A mob mentality rules and if people do not prove their loyalty to the new government, resistance camps and public executions are created to persuade them to become party members.
This book is obviously for older teens. There are some disturbing concepts and scenes – although nothing overly graphic. The main character’s voice is fantastic. Braxton is a rebellious, hot-headed preacher’s son who doesn’t really understand his father’s unwillingness to pretend to work with the government. He blames his father’s steadfastness in his beliefs for the suffering their family faces.
The similarities to World War II Germany were striking. I’ve read a lot of books about that time period, and I’m always left wondering how the Holocaust could happen. How did the regular German citizen go along with such evil? Were they scared to voice opposition? Brainwashed? Unaware? This story delves into that mentality and shows how such things could happen.
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!
September Update
Free Short Story, Title Reveal, New Awards and more in this quarter’s update.
Welcome to my Quarterly Update! This update is to share with you any new happenings regarding my books and work.
Extreme Blindside: A Jake and Sophie Adventure
Yes, that is the official name of The Perfect Blindside sequel! It is still on target to be released in early December. I’m anxiously waiting to see the cover design.
Here is a little sneak peek:
Where You Lead
I’m so excited that Where You Lead has received two new awards.
Catholic Press Association 2nd place award
Colorado Small Press Award 2nd place award.
New Short story
The main characters from The Perfect Blindside and An Unexpected Role appear together in a few short stories. I have written a new one that will only be available on my website for new subscribers to my newsletter. This story occurs in time before the books. Discover the unusual connection between these characters. You can read it by clicking on the title below.
Shared Blessings – Leslea Wahl
Where You Lead Study Guide
There is now a study guide available for Where You Lead. This can be used as a supplement for a lesson plan and is created in the OLVS Homeschool curriculum style. There are already study guides for The Perfect Blindside and An Unexpected Role.
Conference
This summer, I once again had the privilege to attend the Catholic Writers Guild Conference. It is such a joy to be around like-minded authors and to finally meet some of the friends I’ve known online. AND for the last two years, it has been in beautiful Lancaster, Pennsylvania so I’ve been able to visit family. I’d love to share a few highlights.
CatholicTeenBooks News
Lots of new things to report!
The joint website I am part of, CatholicTeenBooks.com has a few really exciting programs going on right now for Catholic schools. Please help us share this information.
We are offering book packs for schools. These packs are a great way to add some fantastic adventures to a classroom or library at a discounted price. Find more information HERE.
Through September, Catholic school teachers and librarians can enter for a chance to win 12 new adventures for their school. GIVEAWAY!
Secrets: Visible and Invisible
The Catholic Teen Books anthology Secrets: Visible and Invisible was also an award winner at this summer’s Catholic Press Association Awards. My short story “More Precious Than Gold” is in this collection. The story is a summer camp adventure with the characters from The Perfect Blindside and An Unexpected Role. Also, fellow CatholicTeenBooks author Corinna Turner took top honors in the YA category with her fantasy novel Elfling.
Christmas Anthology
Gifts: Visible and Invisible
Once again, the authors at CatholicTeenBooks have joined together to create a new anthology. This collection of Christmas themed stories will be coming out next month. Multiple genres are included, which makes this book a great gift for any reader. These anthologies are great ways to discover new authors. My short story explores the idea of keeping Christ in Christmas.
Well, that’s it for this quarter! Thank you so much for your continued interest and support!
Monthly Book Reviews – Fantasy
Welcome to my monthly book review! Did you know that if you sign up for my newsletter, you will receive a FREE short story as well as my monthly reviews and quarterly updates sent directly to your inbox? Don’t miss a single review!
This month I am reviewing three fantasy novels. Truth be told, this is not my favorite genre, but I was determined to do a segment on fantasy books, so I read quite a few novels to find three I felt comfortable endorsing. Well, let me assure you, the time and energy were well worth it. I have three outstanding Christian fantasy options for you, including a just-released middle-grade novel. So, if dragons, fairies, or a girl/lamb hybrid intrigue you, then I’ve got some fantastic choices for you!
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.
A Hidden Miracle by Gerilyn Herold
A Hidden Miracle was just released two days ago! Talk about hot off the press! This middle-grade story is a modern-day speculative fantasy novel about what is happening on a spiritual realm around a teen surfer who is battling a deadly disease and a loss of faith.
The story is told from the perspective of a fairy named Gabriella. Her job is to assist angels by delivering needed gifts to humans. Gabriella and the boy fairy she adores are assigned to help surfing star, Jaden Marino who is battling cancer. However, Jaden’s loss of faith makes their job extra challenging. When an accident changes everything, Gabriella struggles with how far to bend the rules in order to deliver a miracle before it is too late.
I really enjoyed this middle-grade story. The glimpse into the surfing world was quite interesting. The descriptions are beautiful, and there are some fantastic supporting characters among the angels, fairies, humans, and evil spirits. Although, I am not sure I will ever look at certain insects quite the same ever again! With beautiful descriptions, a thought-provoking storyline, and a glimpse into the exciting world of competitive surfing, this book will keep readers captivated.
Mercy’s Prince by Katy Huth Jones
Mercy’s Prince is a fantastic adventure novel set in medieval times. The imaginary Hordes, dragons, and unique powers of the characters move it into the fantasy realm. In this first novel of the series, we meet the brave and heroic Prince Valerian and the lovely and powerful Mercy.
Mercy has grown up in a Brethren colony of pacifists. (Having grown up as a Mennonite, I come from a pacifist background, so really enjoyed the aspect of the story.) Valerian is the youngest son of the King of Levathia. This unlikely duo must work together to save their country from the destructive masses of the Horde.
There were many aspects to this book that I really enjoyed. Valerian was an incredible character – brave, strong, and devoted to his faith. There were plenty of battle scenes that will spark the interest of male readers. (Though boys may not care about the last 2 or 3 chapters which winds up the love story.) Mercy is a strong female character and the relationship between the two leads will be something the female readers will enjoy. This story is far from predictable and is a wonderful book.
Mandy Lamb by Corinna Turner
Mandy Lamb is a totally unique novel about the unusual friendship between Mandy, the world’s first half girl/half lamb, and James another human hybrid with a dangerous secret. This book is like nothing I’ve ever read before. I’m a fan of Corinna Turner and her I Am Margaret series for older teens, but this fantasy novel is for a younger crowd.
Mandy and James are both twelve years old and each have dealt with a lot in young lives. Their unique struggles with fitting in is a topic that a lot of kids in this age group can relate to. I also loved the parts that showed how important it is to have a strong faith.
But what makes this novel really intriguing is the serious moral dilemmas that Turner introduces. This is one of the things I always enjoy about Turner’s books, her ability to bring up important societal topics, that other people don’t write about. In this book the subject of controlling and manipulating genetics is part of the story. However, since this book is written for older elementary and middle school students, the moral implications of this topic are only touched upon, leaving families the opportunity to delve into this subject matter as much as they would like. Another wonderful book by Corinna Turner.
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 – Older Teen Girls
Welcome to my monthly book review! Besides writing my own YA novels, I love to review them as well.
This month’s books are aimed for older teen girls. The main characters in each of these books are a little older, and some of the subject matter might be more appropriate for older teens. One is a beautiful historical romance, one focuses on the dangerous illusion of fame, and one is a thoroughly enjoyable pro-life story.
Before we begin…
In case you are new to my blog… 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.
Books for Older Teen Girls
Sydney and Calvin Have a Baby by Adrienne Thorne
I wasn’t sure what to expect from this story. This book is listed as a YA novel, but the subject matter might make some readers a little hesitant. I mean, high school students having a baby is not something you expect to find in Christian teen fiction. But this book surprised me. It was such a delight.
The basic premise of the story is traumatic and horrible – a teenage girl, who is a bit of a nerd and doesn’t really fit in with the popular crowd, is date raped which results in a pregnancy. Her attacker, who had been drinking, dies in an accident right after the incident. Don’t worry, I’m not giving anything away, this information is printed on the back of the book. (I should note, there are no graphic scenes at all.)
Knowing all that, you might think “delight” would not really be an appropriate word to describe this novel. But the book is written from the perspective of a teen boy named Calvin. This book has a bit of an unusual style, and might not be for everyone, but it completely worked for me. Calvin’s voice was so wonderful. This teen boy is from England, and his dry, clever comments reminded me of the charm of many of actor Hugh Grant’s characters. I loved the British-isms throughout the book. Through Calvin’s voice, this difficult story is filled with a clever sense of humor and beautiful heartfelt messages.
Poor Calvin has his own tragedy to work through, and my heart broke for this fictional teen boy. Somehow Sydney and Calvin’s traumatic tales turn into a beautiful story with powerful messages. There are some wonderful topics for older teens to explore, the dangers of drinking and driving, the sanctity of life, the hurtfulness of lying and gossiping, and standing up for what is right.
It was so sad, but probably accurate, on how many people thought Sydney would be able to go back to her life by getting rid of the problem. And I was a bit horrified that a character, who should have known better, was willing to help Sydney resolve the issue without her parent’s permission. Again, this might be rather accurate, but was shocking to me. I happened to finish reading this book on the same day that hundreds of thousands of people marched in DC for the Right for Life, the timing was quite fitting. The messages in this story, that babies are a precious gift, that good things can come out of tragedies, and that faith is our stronghold, are so important and sadly are not heard often enough in our society.
A Love Such as Heaven Intended by Amanda Lauer
This is the third book in Lauer’s Heaven Intended series. Due to the number of books I read for reviews, I’m often not able to read all the novels in a series, no matter how much I enjoy them. But I have read all the books in this particular series, and I adore them all.
The Heaven Intended books are all set during the Civil War. Each book is a love story that unfolds amid the horrors of the war. Each book highlights interesting aspects of the war and explores the complexities of both sides of that dark part of our history. My favorite part of the series is how the storylines of these novels all intertwine, and the endings all happen at the same moment in time. You don’t need to have read the other stories to enjoy this latest release, but after reading the last chapter, I have a feeling you’ll want to read the other two books as well.
A Love Such as Heaven Intended is a sweeping adventure about a love so great that even a civil war can’t stop it from happening. Josephine is a spoiled, self-absorbed daughter of a Brigadier General who lives a pampered life in Washington DC. Michael is a handsome West Point graduate, a friend of Josephine’s brother, and a Confederate soldier with some complicated secrets. A chance encounter draws them together, but circumstances beyond their control threaten to end things before any relationship can even begin. However, Josephine is determined to get the man of her dreams despite the circumstances stacked against them. I absolutely adored the character of Josephine. While she was spoiled and privileged, she had a beautiful, giving heart. Her feistiness was so much fun.
I also really enjoyed the historical elements that the author includes in all her novels. Lauer has a knack for bringing history alive through these exciting, adventurous romances. Creating such a story set during one of the most difficult times in our history cannot be an easy thing to accomplish. The author weaves many factual items about the war and the era into the story. For instance, she mentions Josephine had seen a play that featured actor John Wilkes Booth. Josephine also discusses the “new” books that she had recently read, which are now classic pieces of literature. These added elements really brought the time period to life. Because of these historical parts, I think this book would be a fantastic supplement to lessons on the Civil War and would make for some interesting discussions.
Grace Unplugged by Melody Carlson
The concept of this book is unique. You may remember Grace Unplugged as a recent movie by the same name. Typically, the book comes first, then the movie. In this case, the movie was created first, and the author was then approached and asked to write the book. I thought Melody Carlson did a great job of keeping to the movie, but making it a great book as well. I’m sure it was difficult not being able to create her own unique twist on the story but stay true to the movie.
The story is about teenager Grace Trey, who dreams of making it big in the music industry. Her father was a one-hit-wonder years ago, but left the destructive rocker life he found himself involved in and turned his life around. He now is a worship leader at a church in the south. Trying to keep his daughter safe and her values intact, he becomes a little controlling – in her eyes anyway.
When Grace finds her opportunity to make it big, she jumps at it, leaving behind her family, her church, her friends, and heads to LA. Grace must decide who she is, what her beliefs are, and who she wants to be. This is a good, coming of age story that points out the destructive side of Hollywood. Teens often see fame as appealing and glamourous. This book does a nice job of showing the ugly side.
Overall, it is clean, but there are some scenes of underage drinking, binge drinking, and dating “expectations” that make it more appropriate for older teens.
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 – Adventures
July is a great time for exploration and adventure. So that is what this month’s selection of books revolves around – adventures. My three recommendations vary in age-appropriateness, so there should be something for each teen member of the family to enjoy.
Before we begin…
In case you are new to my blog… 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.
Riddle at the Rodeo (A Camarata Cousins Mystery) by Claudia McAdam
Riddle at the Rodeo is a delightful middle-grade mystery – a Catholic Nancy Drew. This book is the kind of Christian book that I love, where the character’s faith comes out in a completely natural way. I always think these types of “Catholic-light” books are extremely important because they portray the characters as just regular kids, and that faith can be a natural part of their lives. This is a great message for our children to see represented in their entertainment.
In Riddle at the Rodeo, while the main character, Kirsten, is on vacation with her cousins, she is asked to help solve a mystery. The mystery is fun and intriguing, and the sections about the rodeo were quite interesting. I especially appreciated how this character was aware of her own bad behavior. When Kirsten feels bad about the white lies, she has told, and for the way she has treated her brother, she takes a detour during her sleuthing to go to confession. Though her sins were small, this is precisely the kinds of difficulties kids face every day. Having characters that portray a faith-based way to handle problems is such a fantastic example for kids. I look forward to more adventures with the Camarata Cousins.
Greyson Gray Camp Legend by B.C. Tweedt
I’ve been curious about this book for quite a while. It is usually at the top of its Amazon categories and often beats out one of my own books, so I’ve wondered what all the fuss was about. I can understand why it is popular because there is a lot to enjoy about this book, but I also have a few concerns.
Greyson Gry Camp Legend is the first is a series of books about a middle school boy named Greyson Gray. Overall, this is a clean, middle-grade adventure. It is fun and fast-paced. I really enjoyed the character of Greyson and loved some of the supporting characters, especially fellow camper Jarryd and the boys’ teen counselor Brandon. The author brilliantly captured the dialogue and friendly jabs of middle school boys.
So, what were my concerns? They aren’t really concerns so much as observations. This book is listed as a Christian novel. It was a clean book and had Christian values throughout but didn’t talk specifically about Christianity or mention bible verses. I don’t remember the main character praying either. The violence in the book also bothered me a bit. Overall, there’s not a lot of violence, and what is there is not gory. I just feel like the author’s descriptions were a little too, well, descriptive. There were also some deaths which, in middle-grade novels, seemed a little surprising. This book is listed on Amazon for 9 -12-year-olds, I personally think it would be better for 7th and 8th graders. But it depends on what your children are exposed to, their maturity level, and the kind of books you are searching for. Overall, a very fun read.
Show Me A Sign by Susan Miura
Looking for a fun mystery that is a quick read? Look no further than Susan Miura’s Show Me A Sign. This story was such a treat. I’ve read one other book by this author, Healer, so knew she had a knack for writing from a teen perspective, but I was still surprised by how much I loved this main character’s internal thoughts. Nathan is such a quick-witted joy. The interactions he had with his elderly neighbor were hysterical, and the back and forth between him and his best friend was perfection.
High school student Nathan has finally worked up the courage to ask out the girl he likes. Haylie is beautiful, smart, sweet, and happens to be deaf. But when the object of Nathan’s affection is kidnapped, Nathan finds himself being interrogated by the FBI. He immediately jumps headfirst into trying to clear his name and find out what happened to Haylie. Nathan pursues his investigation the only way an infatuated high school boy could – rather recklessly. Besides being a fun story, there was a fantastic message as well. That life is unpredictable, you never know what could happen. If there is someone you feel you need to share your faith with – then don’t wait, do it. Show Me A Sign is one of the most enjoyable books I’ve read so far this year.
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!
June Update
Quarterly Newsletter
Welcome to my Quarterly Update! This update is to share with you any new happenings regarding my books and work.
Perfect Blindside Sequel
As many of you know, I have been working on the sequel to The Perfect Blindside. If all goes well with the final editing, the book should be released in early December – just in time for Christmas! It has been so much fun to once again write about Jake and Sophie. Over the next several months, I will reveal more about the story on Facebook, Instagram, and here on my blog. If you haven’t had a chance to read The Perfect Blindside yet, now is a perfect time. Or you can catch up with their adventures with my novella, Unlikely Witnesses.
Formed
I recently found out that The Perfect Blindside is now available on FORMED. And, this week it happens to be the book recommendation of the week! If you’re not familiar with FORMED, it is an online resource for parishes available through the Augustine Institute. They provide an online library with books and videos that subscribers can enjoy for free. If your parish does not subscribe to this great program, maybe you could inquire about them joining.
Ministry thru Mystery
I am blessed to have a very creative mother who gave me a beautifully spelled name. I have always loved having a unique twist to my name, but it does make some things challenging, like when your name is your website address. Because I have started doing more interviews and podcasts, and there can be many ways to spell Leslea Wahl, I decided to start using my logo to help with this issue. I can now be found on Instagram as MinistryThruMystery. Also, people can now use MinistryThruMystery.com to reach my website.
AUR study guide
I am slowly working on creating intensive study guides for each of my books. These can be used for traditional classrooms or with a homeschool curriculum. Last year, I created one for The Perfect Blindside and have recently finished one for An Unexpected Role.
CTB Book Packs
The joint website that I am part of – CatholicTeenBooks.com has created a program specifically for schools and libraries. We are now offering book packs at a discounted price. It is a fantastic way for schools to purchase more faith-filled books for their classrooms and libraries at a discounted price. We are trying to spread this exciting news so if you know of a school or teacher who might benefit from this program – please share this link which will give all the information. BookPacks
Well, that’s it for this quarter! Thank you so much for your continued interest and support!
Monthly Book Reviews – Friendships
This month’s books are all about friendships. The friendships in our lives help us to become who we are. They help shape us by making a profound difference in our lives. Often when we think of friends, we think of peers, people who are our own age and are similar to us. But sometimes the friends who have the biggest impact in our lives are people that are quite different from us. People of different ages or life experiences can bring new perspectives and change how we see situations and even ourselves. I’m sure many people can think of a friend that came into their life, possibly for only a brief time, that somehow made a huge, life-altering difference.
Before we begin…
In case you are new to my blog… 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.
Friendships
Sunflowers in a Hurricane by Anne M. Faye
This is a multigenerational tale of heartache and forgiveness. I enjoyed this book so much that I kept neglecting the work I needed to get done, telling myself I’d just read one more chapter – over and over again.
Sunflowers in a Hurricane is told through three different characters. George, the elderly neighbor who is still grieving the wife he lost years before. Cheryl, the single mom who returns to the hometown that she fled as a teenager amidst scandal and trauma. And Ruth, the middle-school age daughter who struggles to understand her mother’s anger and overprotectiveness. Circumstances meld the lives of these three characters as they each deal with painful family issues.
This story is mostly told from the young teen’s perspective, which will connect with teen readers. However, I think it’s wonderful for young readers to understand the inner thoughts and personal feelings of the elderly gentleman and the mom as well. To see that adults also struggle with issues and that they don’t have everything figured out is a fabulous lesson. This is a thoroughly enjoyable book, with many fantastic discussion opportunities.
Spokes by Deanna Klingel
Spokes could be classified as an adventurous mystery, but the real heart of this story is the very special friendship that forms between the lead characters.
In the aftermath of a tragic accident, the lives of two very different teens. Kelsey, a homeschooled Catholic girl and Brendan, a Jewish boy who is dedicated to his faith, are intertwined. Their search for a mysterious sports car and a determination to compete in a triathlon leads these two on a summer adventure that will forever change them both. As the summer progresses and their training and search intensify, their friendship grows.
Besides the compelling storyline, there are several side stories that center around triathlon training, a group of friars, and the Special Olympics – all are quite interesting. I think this story could be the catalyst for some great conversations.
Catholic Reluctantly by Christian M. Frank
I’m so glad I stumbled across this book. Not only is the story extremely engaging, but the concept behind the book is equally intriguing. This series of books was written by a collaboration of authors.
The story is about a group of students at John Paul 2 Catholic High School. This is a new, small school. In fact, there are only 7 students. All the characters had unique voices and personalities. The authors did a great job blending together these characters from very different backgrounds. The friendships that blossomed between these teens was wonderful. I also liked how the distinctions between the public school, the large Catholic school, this tiny new school, and the homeschool community were dealt with. And, being a fan of mysteries, I thoroughly enjoyed the mysteries that were woven throughout the story.
The best part of this book, however, is the message of how hard it is to stand up for and live your faith in our society amid peer-pressure. This is a problem that is very relevant to all teens.
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!
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