What A Boy Wants by Nyrae Dawn was my first ever YA contemporary experience. Are you shocked? Excluding Harry Potter and TwilightI am basically a YA newbie. I began reading them in earnest a little over six months ago. My YA drug of choice has been; dystopian, paranormal and urban fantasy. I am not a huge contemporary fan to begin with -with the exception of small town series and anything with a cowboy *swoons*..but I digress. I could not have picked a better book to try. This was a fun, hilarious, sweet and touching tale of first love. I was able to connect; simply from remembering that first crush, that first kiss and that first love.
The Sandcastle Girls by Chris Bohjalian
“How do a million and a half people die with nobody knowing? — You kill them in the middle of nowhere.” –Chris Bohjalian, The Sandcastle Girls
The Sandcastle Girls by Chris Bohjalian is one of the most beautiful and touching novels that I have ever had the pleasure to read. I just finished reading this and I sit her with puffy eyes and a heavy heart. This was both an epic family love story and a look …
Article 5 by Kristen Simmons
Kristen Simmons debut novel Article 5 blew me away. Set in the United States this post apocalyptic dystopia was gripping and the romance bittersweet. I consumed this book in a few hours and it left me wanting more, wrought with emotion and completely convinced I could never be compliant.
The Book of Lost Fragrances by M.J. Rose
The Book of Lost Fragrances is a captivating historical fiction. It offers a tale of suspense with paranormal elements, religious oppression and a romance that spans the ages. Rose masterfully blends fact and fiction as she takes us from the tombs of ancient Egypt to the catacombs of Paris. I was fascinated by the history and drawn to the characters.
Iron Kissed by Patricia Briggs
Iron Kissed is the third book in the Mercy Thompson series. Mercy is asked to assist in figuring out who is murdering Fae on the reservation. Zee, Mercy’s friend and mentor is later arrested for the murders. Mercy steps in to clear his name and the Fae make it very clear they do not want her help. This novel is my favorite in the series thus far. Briggs blends folklore and fiction to enhance this tale and the effect is delightful. Mercy’s character growth is awesome as she is tested by some of her biggest adversaries. In this novel, Mercy make a much anticipated decision regarding the men in her life.