YA

Friday Finds: 3 Contemporary YAs & 2 Paranormal YAs (September 7, 2012)

FRIDAY FINDS is hosted by Should Be Reading and showcases the books you ‘found’ and added to your To Be Read (TBR) list… whether you found them online, or in a bookstore, or in the library — wherever! (they aren’t necessarily books you purchased).

 PLEASE NOTE: Some weeks I add several books to my list. I’ll be limiting my Friday Finds posts to 5 books each week. Those that don’t make this week’s list will be on next week’s. So many books, so little time!

 

Dancing In The Dark by Robyn Bavati
Links: GoodReads | Amazon
Why I Added It: I like character-driven stories about secrets and I’ve been interested in reading books about ballet ever since I had a fan fiction plot bunny involving a ballet dancer.

GoodReads Summary:

Ditty was born to dance, but she was also born Jewish. When her strictly religious parents won’t let her take ballet lessons, Ditty starts to dance in secret. But for how long can she keep her two worlds apart? And at what cost?

A dramatic and moving story about a girl who follows her dream, and finds herself questioning everything she believes in.

 

The Summer of No Regrets by Katherine Grace Bond
Links: GoodReads | Amazon
Why I Added It: Looks like a fun summer YA romance with a mysterious boy. What’s not to like?
GoodReads Summary:

This was the summer that would change my life.

No more being what everyone expected. No more doing what everyone else wanted.

So when Luke came into my life, I decided to keep him a secret. Maybe he as a dead-ringer for notorious Hollywood bad boy Trent Yves. And it was possible that everything he told me was a lie. And yes, I was probably asking for trouble. But all I saw was Luke–sweet, funny, caring–someone who would let me be the real me.

But which was the real him?

 

The Boy Who Sneaks in my Bedroom Window by Kirsty Moseley

Links: GoodReads | Amazon
Why I Added It: I’m a fan of brother’s best friend to lover stories — as long as the age difference isn’t creepy. And this has a bit of angst thrown in as well. Plus, look at that cover!

GoodReads Summary:

Amber Walker and her older brother, Jake, have an abusive father. One night her brother’s best friend, Liam, sees her crying and climbs through her bedroom window to comfort her. That one action sparks a love/hate relationship that spans over the next eight years.

Liam is now a confident, flirty player who has never had a girlfriend before. Amber is still emotionally scarred from the abuse she suffered at the hands of her father. Together they make an unlikely pair.

Their relationship has always been a rocky one, but what happens when Amber starts to view her brother’s best friend a little differently? And how will her brother, who has always been a little overprotective, react when he finds out that the pair are growing closer?

 

Timepiece by Myra McEntire
Links: GoodReads | Amazon
Why I Added It: I finished Hourglass last week. Darn those unanswered questions.

GoodReads Summary:

A threat from the past could destroy the future. And the clock is ticking…

Kaleb Ballard’s relentless flirting is interrupted when Jack Landers, the man who tried to murder his father, timeslips in and attacks before disappearing just as quickly. But Kaleb has never before been able to see time travelers, unlike many of his friends associated with the mysterious Hourglass organization. Are Kaleb’s powers expanding, or is something very wrong?

Then the Hourglass is issued an ultimatum. Either they find Jack and the research he’s stolen on the time gene, or time will be altered with devastating results.

Now Kaleb, Emerson, Michael, and the other Hourglass recruits have no choice but to use their unusual powers to find Jack. But where do they even start? And when? And even if they succeed, it may not be enough…

Glass Heart by Amy Garvey
Links: GoodReads | Amazon
Why I Added It: Finished Cold Kiss and need to read the next one!

GoodReads Summary:

Wren can do things that other people can only dream of. Make it snow on a clear, crisp day. Fly through an abandoned tunnel. Bring a paper bird to life.

Wren knows her abilities are tinged with danger—knows how easy it is to lose control—but she can’t resist the intoxicating rush. And now that she has Gabriel by her side, someone who knows what she can do—what she has done—she finally feels free to be herself.

But as Wren explores the possibilities of her simmering powers, Gabriel starts pushing her away. Telling her to be careful. Telling her to stop. The more he cautions her, the more determined Wren becomes to prove that she can handle things on her own. And by the time she realizes that Gabriel may be right, it could be too late to bring him back to her side.

Book summaries from Goodreads. Amazon links are affiliate links.

christiespeich 2 Comments

Just a Hobby?

Several months back, my husband and I agreed that one night each week  I should go out and do something for me. As in, without the kids.

Now, I’m pretty sure what my husband had in mind was that I’d go out with some friends.  Maybe even make more friends.  Instead, I got all wide-eyed and said, “I can go to the library and write!”

Hey, it’s my time. I can do what I want with it.

Tonight on my way out the door, my husband said, “Have fun!”

In my head I thought, “Fun. Yeah. Revisions are so not fun!”

And that’s when it hit me. I’m not going out for a night of fun every week.  I’m not getting some relaxing time away from the kids. A night out with the girls.

No. What I’m really doing is working a second job.

I’m okay with that. It’s what I want.

My husband refers to my writing as “a hobby” which I suppose, technically, it is since I’ve yet to make any money from it.  Somehow I can’t quite place it in the same category as sewing or scrapbooking or pumpkin carving, though. I don’t ever intend to make money from those things.

I’d like to think that maybe someday I’ll make a little money from my writing. Enough to make a decent hourly wage after all the blood and sweat and tears poured into each story? No, but money isn’t the main reason I write.

On the other hand, I don’t get paid to take care of our children or clean the house or make the meals, but those things certainly aren’t “hobbies.” They’re the primary tasks of my first job.

When I was writing fan fiction, that was a hobby.  Now I’m writing with my own original characters and building my own plots and working with the intention to publish. I don’t think the word “hobby” fits anymore.

Nope. I can now consider myself working two jobs. Except that, of course, being a stay-at-home-mom is never considered a job. (But that’s a rant for another time.)

 

What about you? Is your writing (or something else you like to do) a hobby or a job? When did it change, or was it always a job?

 

christiespeich 2 Comments

Friday Finds: 5 More Books Added to My List (August 31, 2012)

FRIDAY FINDS is hosted by Should Be Reading and showcases the books you ‘found’ and added to your To Be Read (TBR) list… whether you found them online, or in a bookstore, or in the library — wherever! (they aren’t necessarily books you purchased).

 PLEASE NOTE: Some weeks I add several books to my list. I’ll be limiting my Friday Finds posts to 5 books each week. Those that don’t make this week’s list will be on next week’s. So many books, so little time!

Meant to Be by Lauren Morrill
Links: Goodreads | Amazon
Why I added it: It sounds sweet and funny and romantic.
Goodreads Summary:

Meant to be or not meant to be . . . that is the question.

It’s one thing to fall head over heels into a puddle of hazelnut coffee, and quite another to fall for the—gasp—wrong guy. Straight-A junior Julia may be accident prone, but she’s queen of following rules and being prepared. That’s why she keeps a pencil sharpener in her purse and a pocket Shakespeare in her, well, pocket. And that’s also why she’s chosen Mark Bixford, her childhood crush, as her MTB (“meant to be”).

But this spring break, Julia’s rules are about to get defenestrated (SAT word: to be thrown from a window) when she’s partnered with her personal nemesis, class-clown Jason, on a school trip to London. After one wild party, Julia starts receiving romantic texts . . . from an unknown number! Jason promises to help discover the identity of her mysterious new suitor if she agrees to break a few rules along the way. And thus begins a wild goose chase through London, leading Julia closer and closer to the biggest surprise of all: true love.s one thing to fall head over heels into a puddle of hazelnut coffee, and quite another to fall for the—gasp—wrong guy. Straight-A junior Julia may be accident prone, but she’s queen of following rules and being prepared. That’s why she keeps a pencil sharpener in her purse and a pocket Shakespeare in her, well, pocket. And that’s also why she’s chosen Mark Bixford, her childhood crush, as her MTB (“meant to be”).

Because sometimes the things you least expect are the most meant to be.

 

The Thing About the Truth by Lauren Barnholdt
Links: Goodreads | Amazon
Why I added it: I like secrets and unlikely romances. There’s nothing but the cover or the summary that says “funny” except the word “humorous” which makes me curious.

Goodreads Summary:

In this humorous love story from the author of Two-Way Street, an unlikely romance is the best sort of surprise—but the wrong secret can ruin everything. Kelsey’s not going to let one mistake ruin her life. Sure, she got kicked out of prep school and all her old friends are shutting her out. But Kelsey’s focused on her future, and she’s determined to get back on track at Concordia High.

Isaac’s been kicked out of more schools than he can count. Since his father’s a state senator, Isaac’s life is under constant scrutiny—but Concordia High’s his last stop before boarding school, so Isaac’s hoping to fly under the radar and try to stay put for a change.

When Kelsey and Isaac meet, it’s anything but love at first sight. She thinks he’s an entitled brat, and he thinks she’s a stuck-up snob. So it surprises them both when they start to fall for each other. Kelsey’s happy for the first time in months, and Isaac’s never felt this way about anyone before…But nothing’s ever completely perfect. Everyone has secrets, and Isaac and Kelsey are no exceptions. These two may have fallen hard, but there’s one thing that can ruin it all: the truth.

While He Was Away by Karen Schreck
 Links: Goodreads | Amazon
Why I added it: Apparently I was in an angsty mood when I added it? Hmmm…

Goodreads Summary:

One year–he’ll be gone for one year and then we’ll be together again and everything will be back to the way it should be.

The day David left, I felt like my heart was breaking. Sure, any long-distance relationship is tough, but David was going to war–to fight, to protect, to put his life in danger. We can get through this, though. We’ll talk, we’ll email, we won’t let anything come between us.

I can be on army girlfriend for one year. But will my sweet, soulful, funny David be the same person when he comes home? Will I? And what if he doesn’t come home at all…?

Finding Home by Lauren Baker, Bonnie Dee
 Links: Goodreads | Amazon
Why I added it: Sounds like a gritty story that touches on some of the same issues my WIP will touch on. When I first added it, I thought it was a YA novel. Now that I’m re-reading the summary, I realize it’s age-disparity, which I generally don’t go for. Still, I’m interested enough in the subject to give it a try.

Goodreads Summary:

Her family, her friends and her conscience all say it’s wrong to fall for the hustler she rescued from the streets. How come it feels so right? When Megan first meets Mouth, a homeless teenage hustler, on the streets of L.A., he’s the perfect subject for the street life expose she hopes will help her break into journalism. She doesn’t expect to be drawn into his life and become his friend-or to take him in after he’s been beaten and robbed by thugs. As they learn to live together, a powerful attraction flourishes between Megan and the young man. Although he’s street smart, tough and mature, he’s also a youth in transition. When they finally give in to the sexual heat between them, Megan fears she’s taking advantage of her position as his mentor. Their relationship challenges every aspect of her life. Megan must make difficult choices between the conflicting demands of her friends and family, her career and love.


The Unloved by Jennifer Snyder
Links: Goodreads | Amazon
Why I added it: The first thing that attracted me was the cover: it’s very sweet. Also, I’m a fan of friends-to-lovers stories.

Goodreads Summary:

Sometimes the love our heart needs to heal can be found in the familiar eyes of a childhood friend…

Julie Porter learned the hard way that trust is something which must be earned and not something to be given out lightly, those who say they love you are those who hold the power to hurt you most, and best friends can help you survive anything—until they move away.

Nick Owen knows a thing or two about a hard life. At a young age Nick learned how to take a hit and to make lemonade out of the lemons life tossed his way. Returning home after nearly two years of being away, all Nick cares about now is protecting his mom from the abusive hands of his father and catching up with his best friend—the girl who lived across the street, the girl he can’t seem to stop thinking about.

Finally reunited after two years apart, Nick and Julie are about to learn that age does nothing to protect you from life’s trials and tribulations, heartache and loss, but maybe together they’ll find a way to survive.

 

Book summaries from Goodreads. Amazon links are affiliate links.

christiespeich 4 Comments

Teaser Tuesday: Cold Kiss by Amy Garvey (August 28, 2012)

Teaser Tuesdays is a weekly bookish meme, hosted by MizB of Should Be Reading. Anyone can play along! Just do the following:

• Grab your current read
• Open to a random page
• Share two (2) “teaser” sentences from somewhere on that page
• BE CAREFUL NOT TO INCLUDE SPOILERS! (make sure that what you share doesn’t give too much away! You don’t want to ruin the book for others!)
• Share the title & author, too, so that other TT participants can add the book to their TBR Lists if they like your teasers!

 


He rakes is fingers through his hair again as he paces toward the windows. “Is he really the Danny you knew?”

 

~ pg 111, Cold Kiss by Amy Garvey

Here’s the summary from Goodreads:

After her boyfriend is killed in a car accident, high school student Wren Darby uses her hidden powers to bring him back from the dead, never imagining the consequences that will result from her decision.

Book summaries from Goodreads. Amazon links are affiliate links.

christiespeich 4 Comments