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Showing posts with label Young Adult. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Young Adult. Show all posts

Saturday, October 19, 2019

That Special One - New Young Adult Release, by Nike N. Chillemi

THAT SPECIAL ONE: Young Adult (YA), Contemporary Romantic Suspense

College freshman Ivy Chalmers moved in with her aunt and uncle in Arroyo, Texas. She needed to get away from her alcoholic and weed smoking mother.  Ivy longed for a different life than the revolving-door-men in her mom's life. Making a one-eighty, she vowed not to make a serious dating commitment unless she knew it would be that really 'special relationship '.

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Once in a while, his dad showed up trying to extort money from them using threats. Then his blue-haired, self-centered cousin Ava came to live with them and the way she treats his mom enrages him.

Ivy is thrilled when she meets an upperclassman from a neighboring college and thinks he might be 'that guy.' When she is horribly betrayed, her world is thrown upside-down, and she plunges into a depression.  In a steady and kind of clumsy way, Corey is there for her during her worst moments. But his family is plagued with alcoholism, the life she had with her mom, the life she ran away from. What's wrong with her that she attracts the wrong guys? A s if that weren't bad enough, there's an arsonist terrorizing their tiny village.

♱♱♱ 

November 9, 2017
Format: Kindle Edition
As usual, Nike gives us true-to-life (and so very much needed) characters in this new genre/book. Teens face problems every day--getting through each day as a well-loved, well-adjusted person is hard enough, but for those who suffer from parents who fail in their parenting duties? It's disastrous for the teen.

When young adult Ivy Chambers heads to college life to escape home life, she vows to never have a relationship that is not "true love." But it happens, and Ivy is heartbroken! Ultimately, Ivy is pulled between two young and likable men. Add to the mix suspicious fires, troubling memories, and the pitfalls of a new scene, and Ivy has her young hands full weaving her way through the mix.

This book will pull readers back into their own past of insecurities and problems. You will root for young Ivy and learn to love all of the secondary characters that help make any book better.

I highly recommend this book. Chillemi is an author to follow.



Sunday, August 18, 2019

Teens in High School in a Coming-of-Age Novel - When Darkness Tries to Hide, Book 2 in Montgomery Lake High Series

Book Review by Lorilyn Roberts

When Darkness Tries to Hide is the second book in the Montgomery Lake High Series and continues with a new story but the same kids from Montgomery High. The struggles of the Young Adults are authentic and reflect many of the issues that teens face today –  bullying, drugs, sex, self-worth, and making good choices. 

I particularly liked how the author instills hope throughout the book and shows the reader how Jesus Christ truly can make all the difference. I look forward to reading the next book in the series.



To learn more about Author Stacy Padula, visit her website at https://stacyapadula.com/

Friday, November 16, 2018

Two John 3:16 Authors Are Readers' Favorite Award Winners - SUSAN MIURA and LORILYN ROBERTS



BOOK REVIEW
Religious Fiction for Young Adults


Reviewed by Gail Kamer for Readers' Favorite
“Inside my head, I see his broken parts. Inside my head, I feel his pain.” Those words hooked me immediately. Healer by Susan Miura shares the story of a young girl named Shilo coming to terms with the gift of healing. She’s different. Why? Is she a freak? 
Shilo struggles with her spiritual powers. When to use them? How to keep the world from using them and using her? Should she keep them secret? How to just be a normal person? Will her boyfriend understand? In addition, Shilo becomes involved when a drug gang’s transaction places loved ones in danger. A favorite aunt has cancer but Shilo can’t heal her. What good is the gift if she can’t heal someone she loves? In addition to that, Shilo can’t mend her own broken heart.

Healer by Susan Miura is one of the best Christian young adult books I have ever read. Ms. Miura keeps the reader guessing what will happen next and how in the world the main character will solve the problem. 
The pace is fast. The writing is active. The story line is amazing. She’s made connections with today’s young adult world. Healer is a wonderful story to restore your belief in God’s good in the world and would make a great book club read for young adults. The reader bonds with the characters and, of course, wants more. That’s good since this is volume I. Hurry, Ms. Miura and get volume II out. I’m ready to see what happens next.
To learn more about Susan Miura visit her website at 

☦☦☦☦☦☦☦☦☦☦☦☦☦☦☦


    BOOK REVIEW

    Religious Fiction for Young Adults

    by 

    Rabia Tanveer for Readers' Favorite

Seventh Dimension - The Prescience: A Young Adult Fantasy by Lorilyn Roberts is the fifth book in the Seventh Dimension series that has a very unique take on time travel. Daniel and Shale, a recently engaged (betrothed) couple, found a lost orphan girl in Jerusalem and try to save her from the devastated city. From there, they embark on God’s plan and return to the first century and search for Daniel’s father who has gone missing. Finding his father could be the first step in unraveling the mystery of a tragedy that is waiting to happen. 
However, it is proving to be more dangerous and difficult than both of them ever thought. There are far too many enemies and dangers awaiting them, and all they can do is fight them together. But can they? 

With religious themes mixed with coming of age, the novel is definitely very different and the author seems to be in her element here. I enjoyed the time travel, how the two main characters fought the odds together and came out victorious at the end. Although I have not read the previous novels in the series, I still enjoyed it and caught up with the story really quickly. The story was fast paced and entertaining. 
Right from the beginning, the story gripped my attention. The chemistry between Shale and Daniel was perfect; they respected each other with an intensity and worked together as a team. The element of time travel was spot on; the author ensured that the characters, the dialogues and even the environment were time appropriate. I thoroughly enjoyed everything about the novel! A really entertaining coming of age story.
To learn more about Lorilyn Roberts, visit her website at 

Sunday, September 2, 2018

New YA Bible Adventure Series - Relics of Power by RJ Peck

The Lion's Den is book one in a series of Bible Adventure stories for young adult. Twelve-year-old Christopher Cyprus has inherited the Legacy from his grandfather. Now it is his turn to become God's Secret Agent, time-traveling to help God's people when they get into a jam. His first assignment? Help Daniel the Prophet survive the night in The Lion's Den. And rescue Grandpa Jack on his final mission.


Book Review by Award-Winning Author Martin Roth

This is the first in an intriguing new series for youth and young adults, and I have to admit that right from the start I was hooked (though I am far removed from the target audience demographic). The theme is simple - twelve-year-old Christopher Cyprus is the latest in a long line of secret agents who have been used by God to help build His kingdom on Earth. It seems that in each book he will be required to go back in time and participate in some kind of adventure.

In this first book, Christopher receives, Mission Impossible-style, a secret message from a stranger. He is instructed to go back to ancient Babylon to help Daniel in the lion's den.

The book is fast paced and well written. It is full of atmosphere, taking us right into the heart of Babylon, with all its sights and sounds and smells. We learn enough about Christopher to enjoy being in his company. This is a great start to a new series. I highly recommend this book.

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Friday, July 13, 2018

Summer Catalog of Great Books by Southern Writers


 “You will find great books in this catalog for your enjoyment this summer. Click on the link and fill your summer vacation with rest, relaxation and pleasure. Feel free to share it on your sites, family and friends.  Click this link:  https://joom.ag/yoEY






Available for FREE on Kindle Unlimited
http://bit.ly/LP-Prescience

Monday, May 21, 2018

New Book Release, Tatum’s Teen Themes for Today, Topics and Resources for Youth Bible Study (Tatum's Teen Themes for Today Book 1)

How do I teach teenagers Bible truths and help them apply those truths to their lives?
This booklet is designed to help youth teachers create lesson plans as well as be a quick Bible study resource when the original teacher calls up an hour before class needing someone to do something with the teens.


This booklet contains resources to teach for Easter and Christmas and a Bible Study worksheet for any scripture, handouts for specific scriptures, devotionals, and pictures from/of famous places and things to spur conversation about Christianity and the development of the Bible.


Permission is granted to copy these pages for use in a Bible study class.


Sample Lesson Plan

On the next page is a Bible study worksheet to do an easy student-led Bible study.
1.     Determine the verses to be studied in the class period. Divide the scripture into short passages. Copy the worksheet and have at least 2 sheets for each passage.
2.     After your engagement activity, distribute worksheets to each student, creating as much variety with whom each student will work on step 3. Allow 5-10 minutes for each numbered question.
3.     Once students have completed the 4 steps, allow pairs with the same passages to read the scripture and share their insights into it. Add your own ideas from your own study as students share.
4.     What should students do as a result of this study? Ask students to consider how this Bible will impact their life this week.


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Friday, September 29, 2017

New Young Adult Book From Award-Winning Author William D. Burt - "The Lake Lights"

“The Lake Lights” by William D. Burt is the first book in his new Creation Series Seekers.

Jonathan Oliver, the main character, comes from a long line of scientists and inventors, and after the disappearance of his father, sets out to discover what the strange creatures are over Lake Oswego.

Jon's quest becomes more than a scientific homeschooling project when he is confronted by evilness that wants to destroy his father’s legacy and family at all costs.

God is an integral part of the story as William D. Burt discusses evolution versus creationism. Throughout “The Lake Lights,” God’s concern over the affairs of men is emphasized, and the compatibility of Christianity with science is explored, giving the book a Christian worldview

I enjoyed the intrigue, the suspense, and the surprise ending that ties everything together into a delightful and engaging story.


While the book is geared toward a younger audience, I thoroughly enjoyed reading “The Lake Lights” in my “old age” and learned a few scientific facts. I also highly recommend “The Lake Lights” to homeschooling families and look forward to reading the next book in the series.


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William D. Burt is the award-winning author of the seven-title Christian allegorical "King of the Trees" series. Other works are in progress. Two of his titles (out of three submitted) were finalists in the 2014 Readers' Favorite International Book Award Contest: "The King of the Trees" and "The Golden Wood."



Wednesday, February 25, 2015

Writing Self-Help: How Should Authors Portray the Protagonist in Young Adult Books?

by Lorilyn Roberts




For a book to make an impression on me, I must be able to identify with the protagonist. I think that is even more true with young adult readers. I remember reading a book by Randy Alcorn where the main character was a black man. I wondered if I would be able to relate to the protagonist. Mr. Alcorn did such a great job, I found myself fighting in the Vietnam War, being injured, and dealing with all the issues that the protagonist brought into his life from that event. 

I read the book for pure enjoyment, not knowing one day I would go back to school to get my Masters in Creative Writing. That book made an impression on me that never forgot. I realized that if a book is well-written, a reader should be able to identify with any kind of protagonist, and for me that even included a black man who fought in the Vietnam War.

Another example of a memorable protagonist is Scarlet O'Hara in Gone with the Wind. I read the book when I was a young seventeen-year-old. I went to Margaret Mitchell School and grew up in Atlanta. I had frequently been to the area called Tara and knew the historical setting well. But it takes more than that to create a relationship between the protagonist and the reader. Why did I identity with Scarlet O’Hara beyond the obvious?

The author, Margaret Mitchell, created a main character that was believable, endearing, and unpredictable. Scarlett represented a strong woman who was determined, smart, beautiful, passionate, and full of envy and jealousy. 


When I read Gone with the Wind  as a young adult, I wanted to believe I was like her. I admired her, particularly her strong will, determination, and self-confidence that I lacked. I actually did possess many of her qualities; even the hard-headedness and being too independent. It caused me many issues just as it was Scarlett’s downfall. I could relate.

Young readers today, typically young ladies, are very much like Scarlett O’Hara in many ways. The women’s movement has done much to propel women in the direction of Scarlett. Plus, human nature doesn’t change. We might live in different eras and face different problems, but the way a protagonist tackles those problems is what makes the story marvelous and memorable. The conflict, the twists and turns in the plot, the emotional turmoil, the uncertainty, with sub-characters who bring out the best and the worst in the protagonist, makes for a great story.

A classic is one that has staying power and can be enjoyed by multiple generations. No matter how many times I read the book or watch the movie, the final scene is etched in my memory when Scarlett asks Rhett, “Where should I go, what should I do?” and Rhett replies, “Frankly, my dear, I don’t give a damn.” What an awesome way to end a six-hundred page book.

Above all, authors need to make the protagonist reader-friendly, especially in young adult books. I've read several negative reviews by readers on Amazon who simply didn't like the protagonist. Perhaps she was too self-centered, too immature, or too flawed. Young adults want to read about heroes and heroines. Give the reader a flawed main character whom he or she cares about, put the protagonist in a life or death situation, add a little bit of magic (young adults love that), and chances are you will hook your reader all the way to the last page. Of course, it's easier said than done, but someone will write that next best best-seller, and it might as well be you.



A great book to help with character development is: Creating Unforgettable Characters, by Linda Seger. You can purchase it on Amazon here.