I came across this book while searching for new reads to put in my classroom. I love love LOVE Prinz award novels, for whatever reason, the judges of this particular award really get the YA genre. I had never heard of Lucy Christopher before this, but I am now stalking her on other social media outlets.

I am halfway through this book, and have to admit, I am perplexed by this interesting story and of a teen kidnapper "stealing" another teen in such a blatant public way. I still have no clue where this story is headed- and I'm intrigued! It is written as a first person narrative, a memior, of her time being held captive by a strange and exciting young man, Ty.  Beyond magic, and Gemma's ill-fitting family, Ty's motivation is still elusive. It feels like a love story, it sounds like a love story, but I'm still wondering how it will fit together.

Even without finishing it is one I am reccommending!

Check out this book on Goodreads: Stolen: A Letter to My Captor http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/6408862-stolen

Anybody read this one yet?! It's a must. Stop cooking, stop working, go out and get this book. Awesome doesn't begin to describe the surprises waiting in store.

As a writer and teacher I was most impressed by the authors ability to convey emotion! This wasn't a typical YA, I'm not sure if it was the family dynamic, unique storyline, or what.  They way the author uses metaphors......just wow! And first person present narrative usually bothers me, but not this one!

Lori Katzfey, as usual, you are right about books. I will defer to you on reading selections from now until the end of time!

Check out this book on Goodreads: We Were Liars http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/16143347-we-were-liars

First of all I should be writing. Instead i begam this book at 9:00 and read it straight into the night.

Wow! So different, so good! Leslye Walton has a unique and austere writing style. For her first novel she blended a current YA storyline with a tone I am used to seeing in old British novels.

I loved the Roux family and how each character was extremely special and never really gone. Fatima's purpose confused me, but that was the only thing I could hardly complain about. i alwayd look for a great story to have strong minor characters. Jack and Laura both broke my heart as love's unheralded victims.  It was a great love story for everyone who has experienced heartbreak and healing.

I can't wait to read something else by this author.  Great job Leslye!!

Melissa Foster is fast becoming one of my new favorite romance writers. I started with Have No Shame and then jumped to The Braden family. Lovers At Heart, BOOK 1 of this series, was FREE and since reading it, I am in luuuuve with the Braden brothers.

This book was fast and memorable. The storyline is unique for the romance genre. I am looking forward to reading more by this author.

http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00G0ZRN18/ref=cm_sw_r_udp_awd_pCvYtb1JV4NMJ

Just starting this one, the first of my TBR pile. I have decided to devote my summer to indie authors. If you find a good one please let me know.

It's free on Amazon right now and has pretty great reviews. Will let you know more as I finish.

http://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B00BUUP6DU?cache=19e9d78f01e2f1e5ce762aed4f63d7ba&pi=SY200_QL40&qid=1402689179&sr=8-1#ref=mp_s_a_1_1

I love to find new interesting books in a world of so many independent authors.  Now that I have a little free time, I am finishing books faster than I can even add them to my website.  I found this one- it is from one of my instagram buddies.  i am looking forward to reading it when it is released in June 9th.  

Here is the link to Heather's website for more.  Looks like just my kind of book!http://www.heatherrigney.com/

I came across this book by accident- Have No Shame.  The author, Melissa Foster, likened it to The Help, another book I loved handed to me by my mother, and The Secret Life of Bees.  I could see my mother grabbing this one as well and saying, "Ashley, you need to read this."  She woulda been right.  Now it's my turn to say the same thing (and yes, I have told her directly about this one- got that again, MOM?)

The book takes place during the Civil Rights movement, which hasn't made it's way to the segregted and scared city of Forrest Town, Arkansas.  Allison is about to get married to Jimmy Lee Carlisle, a known biggot.  She questions her life, the love of her father and Jimmy Lee, and wonders is there more to life outside the borders of Forrest Town.  She may be bound by her engagement but she meets and falls in love with Jackson, a young black solider, who won't settle for anything less than a love that is blind to color.

Foster paints a wonderful family dynamic- I couldn't decide whether I loved or hated her family, feeling just as torn as Allison needing the love and support of her family, yet knowing deep inside that  "know you place" wasn't something she could endure any longer. 

Great, great, great!  I especially loved the Kindle version, because I could choose to read it with or without the Southern dialect...of course choose with dialect!

Okay, I realize I haven't also stated this log in almost a year! How sad is that. Please do not take that to mean that I have not read a book in that time. It just means I am a crazy busy over active person who has too much on her plate. Much like you, I'm sure.

I was perusing the best of the best YA/NA novels and came across this one, The Unbecoming of Mara Dyer by Michelle Hodkin.  I am only on page 30, but it is unique and exciting When a book with you from the first couple of pages, and that is exactly what this one does.

Mara weeks from an accident to find herself in the hospital, her best friend and two others dead from same accident. She has no idea how she got there, and no idea what she's in for. Mar recovers from the accident only to find her self with new powers that she doesn't know how to control as well as a love interest! What YA novel would be complete without an angsty, dark teen romance? And if anyone knows me, they know the angstier the better... As far as novels go.

If the rest of the world recommends Mara Dyer, then I think you and I should both give it a go! This is the first of a trilogy Hodkin has written. The third and final book is due to come out later this year. Let me know if you're interested in how the book ends. I do a great job in spoiling things for people in that department.


Check out this book on Goodreads for a better review!

The Unbecoming of Mara Dyer
(Mara Dyer, #1)

http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/11408650-the-unbecoming-of-mara-dyer

I have really enjoyed Taking Chances, by Molly McAdams. I found this ebook on Goodreads, some of my friends had read it and gave it a good review. Well, I'm half through and loving it!
This college freshman, Harper, has lived a sheltered life under a domineering father. She heads off to school and falls in love with not just the first boy, but two of them, shortly after arriving.
I love getting inside the character's head...my favorite style of writing (and reading) is first person. The omniscient narrator thing kind of creeps me out! But I'm stuck right now, in the middle of the novel, and I can tell the dichotomy that has taken place within herself, and it can't last for long. There's a big decision coming and no one will make it out unscathed.
Definitely a fast read- and it was super cheap!!!!

I am totally stepping out of my cozy Young Adult and Chick Lit genres to read something special.  C.S. Lewis wrote much more than just the Narnia series.  In The Screwtape Letters, two demons named Screwtape and Wormwood, try to tempt and corrupt a human known as "The Patient."  So far, what I have read and seen online, this story tells of the importance of living a Christian life.  A friend "kindled my curiosity" and now I have no choice but to read this story, just to prove that I can!  So far it makes me think back to college, when I read Dante's Inferno.  I don't believe the two stories are similar, but I don't have much to compare it to right now.

I'll let you know how it goes.  Here's the Lewis' website, if you're interested in this or any of his other musings of his own Christian journey:
http://cslewis.com/