Tuesday, April 26, 2011

Wordless Wednesday

Favorite & Life on Hold: Book Reviews

Last year, I fell in love with A Scattered Life by Karen McQuestion. So I was excited to hear that AmazonEncore would be publishing two of her young adult novels this April, Favorite and Life on Hold.

Favorite is the story of Angie Favorite, a teenager whose mother disappeared five years before. Life hasn't been easy since her mother mysteriously vanished, but Angie has never given up hope that her mother is out there somewhere.When Angie is attacked in a parking lot, she can't help but think that the attack is somehow related to her mother's disappearance. After the family of Angie's attacker reaches out to her, her own family thinks it may be a chance for her to find closure. But, she discovers something much more startling.

Favorite is a fast-paced book, full of questions, hope, and many surprises. It is one of those stories that once you start, you won't be able to put it down until you reach the last page.

Life on Hold is the story of Rae Maddox, a 15 year old girl, whose mother moves them around more often than she can count. Over the years, Rae has learned to keep her distance from the other kids at school, after realizing how hard it is to leave friend after friend behind.
But, after being in Wisconsin for a short while, Rae's vice principal pairs her up with Allison, a new student, asking her to show her around. Allison is quiet and barely seems to acknowledge Rae's presence. However, after learning more about Allison's past, Rae realizes just how much everyone needs friends and people to care about them.

Life on Hold is another fast read from McQuestion. The characters are easy to connect to and have you hoping that everything will turn out for them in the end.

Favorite and Life on Hold are both available for $9.95 each.

Copies of the books were provided for review. All opinions are my own.

The Stormchasers: Book Review

Growing up, I loved to watch storms. My sister and I would sit on the porch until the lightning got too close and our mom would call us inside. There was just something about a storm's unpredictability that made them beautiful.

I recently had the chance to read The Stormchasers by Jenna Blum. The book, from The New York Times bestselling author of Those Who Saved Us, draws on Blum's own experience with storm chasing. But the book is not only about weather, it also explores the powerful bond between twins.
Karena and Charles may be twins, but they haven't seen each other in 20 years. Charles, obsessed with storms and diagnosed as bipolar, disappeared without telling his family where he was going. When Karena receives a call from a mental health facility, she starts tracking her bother and the storms he lives for.

The story follows Karena on her amazing adventures, witnessing powerful storms, catching glimpses of her brother, and falling for someone she never expected. The Stormchasers is an amazing tale of siblings, love, and overcoming the past. The vivid details provided by Blum throughout the book allow readers to imagine every aspect of the Karena's journey.

Buy It
The Stormchasers goes on sale today and is available for $15.

I was provided a copy of the book for review. All opinions are my own.