Tina's Favorite YA Reads

The Fault in Our Stars by John Green
~Two young adults find love, friendship and humor dealing with cancer in a support group located in a basement called the heart of Jesus.

Code Name Variety by Elizabeth Wein
~A young girl captured by the Germans after her plane crashes, is tortured, questioned and led to make a confession about the British war effort. She reveals a story of friendship, love and the fascinating role women played in the French resistance.

Golden by Jessi Kirby
~An epic road trip leaves three friends finding out the truth about an old town mystery. Along the way this coming of age story highlights friendship, and the reality of highschool love.

Unwind by Neal Shusterman
~In a world were parents can "unwind" their children (aka-abort them for body parts after the age of 13) three teenagers all being unwound for different reasons, fight the government and the system that would kill them.

Hold Still by Nina Lacour
~After her best friends suicide Caitlin must deal with the loss, the fallout and the heartbreak of being the one left behind.

The Knife of Never Letting Go by Patrick Ness
~A world where women have become extinct and men can read each others thoughts, there is never a private moment. When Todd stumbles upon a disturbing, unbelievable secret he is forced to flee the only town he's ever known, with a girl who will change everything.

The Hate List by Jennifer Brown
~When Valarie's boyfriend brings a gun to school and shoots his fellow students and then himself, Valerie is left with an aftermath of suspicion, guilt and the sadness of grief as she mourns her boyfriend and the way things were.

If I Stay by Gayle Foreman
~Mia, a prodigy Cello player loses her entire family in a car accident. As her body lays in a coma, her subconscious must decide whether to fight and live or let go and die.

Grave Mercy by Robin LaFevers
~After escaping a brutal arranged marriage, Ismae begins training with a secret group of women assassins. Shes good at her job, but when one assignment leads to true love, she may have to rethink everything she took an oath to do.

The Splendor Falls by Mary Clement Moore
~Sylvie, a dancer since childhood, loses her dreams after injuring her leg. Her mother moves her to be with relatives due to her depression, but in the process of healing begins losing her mind, or at least that what she thinks in the beginning.

Divergent by Veronica Roth
~In a future Chicago, 16 year olds get to pick what factions they want to be in. Creators, soldiers, thinkers, managers....all work together to make life run smooth. But when Tris discovers shes divergent, a person who fits in all, but nothing, the stakes are her life.

The Replacement by Brenna Yovanoff
~Mackie has always been different, with his quirks, his quietness and allergies. As the teen years hit him though surviving starts to be almost impossible, because its not everyday you find out your a changeling from the underworld.

The Forest of Hands and Teeth by Carrie Ryan
~Mary has only known the village shes grown up in and the fence that surrounds them from the undead who roam the woods. Secrets and betrayals will destroy everything in the community and will lead to choices changing the village forever.

The Summer of Skinny Dipping by Amanda Howell
~Brokenhearted over a bad breakup, Mia spends the summer with her aunt and favorite cousin. She's always thought their life was perfect. Not all is green on the other side though, as this perfect family reveals hidden flaws unbeknownst to anyone. Confused, lost and angry Mia winds up dealing with the drama due to the help of a new love interest Simon.



Amy and Rogers Epic Detour by Morgan Matson
~Two teens (Amy & Roger) travel cross country on a road trip that changes both their outlooks on life forever.

The Silver Kiss by Annette Curtis Klause
~Zoe, a girl, mourning from the inevitable death of her mother, gets the scare of her life when she meets Simon, the vapor mist, scary as hell depressing vampire who teaches her how to live again.

Chasing Brooklyn by Lisa Schroeder
~Losing her boyfriend Lucca and later her close friend to death has almost sent Brooklyn over the edge. When nightmares and depression begin to overwhelm her, Lucca's brother Nico reaches out to help.

Shiver by Maggie Stiefvater
~Grace has watched the wolves outside her bedroom window since she was little, since one saved her years ago....those eyes, the ones that watch her haunt her dreams and thoughts. When the wolf she sees becomes Sam, the boy she loves, the two fight to save his life before he fades away forever.

Ice by Sarah Beth Durst
~An icy retelling of Beauty and the Beast, Cassie is taken by the polar bear king who comes to collect a debt that her mother made years ago. Terrified yet intrigued, Cassie is shocked when she learns the polar bear becomes a man at night.

Waterfall by Lisa T. Bergren
~When Gabi finds hidden hand prints in a cave, her and her sister are transported back to 14th Century Italy. Slammed right into the middle of a battle, Gabi winds up becoming a fierce figure in the face of political warfare and finds the man of her dreams in the process.

Honorable Mentions (The ones we all know about....)
~The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins
~The Twilight Saga by Stephenie Meyer
~Pushing the Limits (series) by Katie McGarry

 A day in the life of an Amish Teen by Karen Hopkins

Hard work and responsibility are parts of every Amish teen’s life. Whether girl or boy, they’re expected to contribute to the household’s income and livelihood. After graduating in the eighth grade, Amish teens are finished with schooling and thrust into the workforce, either leaving the home for a forty hour work week or putting that much time into in a family business. Jobs include carpentry, metal work, farming, and welding for the boys and butchery, bakery, woodworking, retail, teaching, child care, and housecleaning for the girls. Usually, 90% of a teen’s income is given to the family as an intricate part of the family’s financial survival. Part of the ten percent that the teens retain is saved towards the teen’s future married life, while the rest is for their own enjoyment. 
Even though Amish teens work hard, they also play hard. Oftentimes, they will take short trips with their church groups, visit relatives and friends, and participate in activities such as hunting, horseback riding and skiing. A usual day for an Amish teen begins at five o’clock in the morning, followed by prayer, breakfast and morning chores. After working an eight hour work day, the youth will arrive home to afternoon chores before dinner with the family. The evenings are playtime for the young people. They can be found at the church’s youth group gatherings, such as signings and ball games or they may be seen riding their horses or bikes on the roadways.


Love stories that inspired Temptation:

Romeo and Juliet, and Twilight are two stories that I can name that gave inspiration to Rose and Noah’s story. There are similarities in all three romances from the forbidden nature of the affairs to the struggle for the couples to be together. In TEMPTATION, however, the external forces are only part of the difficulties facing the young lovers. The aspect of whether Rose and Noah are willing to give up their own world is the driving conflict of the story.

The Mad Scientists Daughter by Cassandra Rose Clarke
March 2013 by Angry Robot

There’s never been anyone - or anything - quite like Finn. He looks, and acts human, though he has no desire to be. He was programmed to assist his owners, and performs his duties to perfection. A billion-dollar construct, his primary task is to tutor Cat. When the government grants rights to the ever-increasing robot population, however, Finn struggles to find his place in the world.

Amber House by Kelly Moore & Various Authors
October 1, 2012 by Arthur A. Levine Books

"I was sixteen the first time my grandmother died . . ."

Sarah Parsons has never seen Amber House, the grand Maryland estate that's been in her family for three centuries. She's never walked its hedge maze nor found its secret chambers; she's never glimpsed the shades that haunt it, nor hunted for lost diamonds in its walls. But all of that is about to change. After her grandmother passes away, Sarah and her friend Jackson decide to search for the diamonds--and the house comes alive. She discovers that she can see visions of the house's past, like the eighteenth-century sea captain who hid the jewels, or the glamorous great-grandmother driven mad by grief. She grows closer to both Jackson and a young man named Richard Hathaway, whose family histories are each deeply entwined with her own. But when the visions start to threaten the person she holds most dear, Sarah must do everything she can to get to the bottom of the house's secrets, and stop the course of history before it is cemented forever.

Hi Michaela, welcome to Tinasbookreviews, please tell us about yourself.

My name is Michaela Debelius. I’m an indie author who writes paranormal romance that, depending on the reader’s definition, borders on science fiction. I’m originally from New England, but I currently live in Arizona with my husband and two furry children.

What inspired you to write Decoy?

Decoy itself came to existence in a very normal fashion, though the road to get there was quite the learning experience. When I decided I wanted to write a novel length piece, I thought about all the aspects that, for me, comprise a really great, fun book. I’ve always enjoyed all things paranormal. With my insatiable love for zombie and apocalypse movies, I’m pretty sure I’d thrive in an Armageddon situation. I’d do just about anything to have a conversation with Dean Koontz, a mastermind in my opinion. So when I asked myself what I’d like to read if I were the reader, I knew I wanted to create a book that was plot-driven and dark, but had just enough salacious details to satisfy a good romance craving.

Indie Publishing.....good experience or hard road?

Both! Without hesitation I say both. Indie publishing is great because you get to do what you set out to accomplish: have someone read your book. I wanted someone to enjoy it, even if it was just one person, and I wasn’t getting there with traditional publishing. It’s an extraordinarily tough market and without a previously published work or a degree, it’s almost impossible to get someone to pay attention. The beauty of living in the technology age is the wonderful invention of e-readers. With e-readers the consumer gets to decide what’s good and what’s not. We no longer have to let someone else make that decision for us. But, and this is a big but, there is a lot of work that goes into self-publishing. Between formatting, which takes days if you’ve never done it before, and spending hours every week contacting blogs to request a book review, you really have to have strict discipline to work in some time for writing. You spend half your time promoting your last book while struggling to turn out pages for your next. But if you’re self-motivated, you can set and meet deadlines, and you’re willing to pound some virtual pavement in order to get your work outside of your immediate family, it’s worth it. I’ve never done anything the “routine” way so no one was shocked when I announced I was self-publishing.

If you could pick a song that encapsulated Decoy what would it be and why?

There are two songs that I used to help me get into the mindset for Decoy. The first is “Breath” by Breaking Benjamin. There’s a dark passion in that song, a longing for a wicked and destructing temptation, and that quality is felt by both Noel and Killian towards each other.

Tina's Favorite Summer Reads

The Serious, Dramatic & Emotional:

The Help by Kathryn Stockett (Adult-Fiction)
~A story about segregation, friendship and loyalty in the 60's. Told by two African American maids and one white woman who writes theirs and other maids story's about working for white women, the town, the injustice and the children they love.

Backseat Saints by Joshilyn Jackson
~Rose finds the courage to leave her abusive husband and finds her mother who left her as a child. The journey takes unexpected twists, self-discovery and a chance at love......again.

The Bungalow by Sarah Jio (Adult-Fiction)
~WWII nurse Anne is stationed in Bora, Bora during which she falls in love and discovers a secret bungalow on the beach that is said to be cursed.

The Forgotten Garden by Kate Morton (Adult-Contemporary)
~A young girl inherits an old book full of dark and mysterious fairy tales from her grandmother and learns that a mystery surrounds all she knows about her family, the past and her future.

Dear John by Nicholas Sparks
~A army solider falls in love over the summer with a pretty girl named Savannah, everything changes after 9/11 as the couple try and maintain a long distance relationship.

The Poisonwood Bible by Barbara Kingsolver
~A missionary moves his family to the congo and each daughter shares a side of the story in this gripping, raw account of living with the villagers, the conditions and the unstable in their life.

Here On Earth by Alice Hoffman
~A woman returns home after many years away and reconnects with her highschool sweetheart, only to rediscover the unique, reckless bond they once had still simmers under the surface.

The Secret Life of CeeCee Wilkes by Diane Chamberlain
~A kidnapping gone wrong brings about devastating consequences, an unexpected love and a secret life that effects generations to come.

The Fun, The Light Hearted..And the Romance......

Arranged by Catherine McKenzie (Adult-Contemporary)
~A thirty something looking for love and failing miserably decides to use a dating service that promises a husband (not a boyfriend) presented in a secret location where she will marry and live happily ever after...if only it were that easy.

How to Eat a Cupcake by Meg Donahue (Adult-Contemporary-Humor)
~Charming pastry maker Annie starts up her own shop with childhood friend Julia. The past, the present and all its secrets collide in an explosion of mystery and lemon cupcakes.

Anna and the French Kiss by Stephanie Perkins
~During her senior year in Paris, Anna meets St. Clair, the perfect guy who makes her heart melt, only problem he's already taken....or is he?

Always the Baker Never the Bride by Sandra Bricker
~A funny story about a wedding cake maker who wants to fall in love but can never seem to find the right guy....she's also a diabetic who can never eat her own cakes....oh the irony.

On The Island by Tracey Gravis Graves
~A teacher Anna and her 17 year old student T.J crash on an island and quickly have to survive. As the years pass, Anna can't help but notice the man T.J has become, nor can T.J ignore the intense attraction he feels for Anna.

One for the Money by Janet Evanovich (Adult-Comedy-Mystery)
~And so the adventures of bounty hunter and food lover Stephanie Plum come to life, in this hysterical 80's feel good comedy romance......PS-The entire series of Stephanie Plum (up until book 15) is funny and entertaining for quick beach reads.

Honorable Mentions:

The Distance Between Us by Kasie West
Faking It by Cora Carmack
The Matchmaker by Erin Hilderbrand
Second Chance Summer by Morgan Matson
Someone Else's Love Story by Joshilyn Jackson

Crimson Groves by Ashley Robertson
November 9, 2011 by Author (Indie eBook)
Paperback, 277 Pages
Review Copy

Abby knows what its like to have life turned upside down on her, recently her heart was broken due to the indiscretion of her boyfriend and best friend...who she found in bed together. Depressed, lonely and a very much vulnerable, Abby spends her nights working as a bartender and wallows in the bar community. When a particular night brings the handsome, mysterious Bronx who zeros in on her almost immediately she lets the conversion, the flirting and his distraction carry her away......all the way to his apartment. Not that Abby intended to go with Bronx to his place, but the nice, interesting, handsome guy turns into a major D-bag in the span of two minutes. He seduces her and lures her to his place due to his vampire powers. When he gets Abby there he sexually pounces on her and winds up turning her into a vampire as well. When Abby awakens as one of the undead, she knows life again has turned on her.

Bronx holds Abby captive while he waits for her to submit to the new life as a vampire and the forever psycho love he is offering. As she remains pretty much subdued in her actions, her mind is in overdrive with plots to escape and be free of the lunatic imprisoning her.She waits and abides her time, knowing that she can outsmart Bronx when necessary. When the "couple" does go on their first outing its to a donor club (a place where humans volunteer their blood to vampires) the plot twists and Abby finally gets a chance to escape Bronx with Travis, a donor who helps her get away. Together they try and figure her vampire life out, keep her away from Bronx and try not to fall in love with each other.

Crimson Groves was an interesting take on the much hyped genre of vampires, I loved the originality of the story and the determination and smarts of main character Abby. While I really enjoyed Abby's character,including her whit and dialog, I found her to be way too trusting, most her willing to give the benefit of a doubt obviously got her into the most trouble during the book, for being smart, she lacked commonsense at crucial points in decision making. The book itself in the beginning proved to be challenging for me, it took awhile to get into Robertson's style of writing as I found the sentences very fragmented and a tad choppy, or rather the flow of novel felt stilted. Once Abby escapes Bronx though I got used to the flux of the writing and mostly enjoyed the middle and ending. It was different and certainty a unique offering in the vast world of vampire tales.

I would recommend Crimson Groves to lovers of paranormal, especially the vampire genre.

Rating

Recommended to mature teen readers (17&up) and contains: Violence, language, drinking and sexuality.

3/5- Mature-Ya-Vampires
A Special thanks to Ashley for sending me Crimson Groves

Revel by Maurissa Guibord
February 13, 2013 by Delacrote

Shrouded in mist and protected by a deadly reef, Trespass Island is home to a community of people who guard the island and its secrets from outsiders. Seventeen-year-old Delia grew up in Kansas, but has come here in search of her family and answers to her questions: Why didn’t her mother ever talk about Trespass Island? Why did she fear the open water? But Delia’s not welcome and soon finds herself enmeshed in a frightening and supernatural world where ancient Greek symbols adorn the buildings and secret ceremonies take place on the beach at night.

Sean Gunn, a handsome young lobsterman, befriends Delia and seems willing to risk his life to protect her. But it’s Jax, the coldly elusive young man she meets at the water’s edge, who finally makes Delia understand the real dangers of life on the island. Delia is going to have to fight to survive. Because there are monsters here. And no one ever leaves Trespass alive.