Yay Spring...Yay Books!

The weather round these parts has been glorious! I know I'm not winter person, but the emotions that I feel during the first few beautiful days of Spring weather always catch me by surprise. It's such an inspirational time of rebirth and inspiration. Does anyone else experience this. I allow many things to plague me through the winter months but Spring is like a salvation. I know this is all very dramatic and over the top, but that's really how it feels to me.

I'm sure a lot of it stems from the fact that my business goes dormant in Winter, leaving me feeling a little useless...and well, a lot broke by the time Spring rolls around. I know that useless feeling is unwarranted, since I am still a mother, wife, writer and homemaker. But I can't help it. I need to feel like I'm producing something that is bettering our family. Now that I'm shooting again, it feels so good.

I'm also writing. Tons. I'm nearly done with my wip and I'm so happy I could scream. I love the characters, love the story, love that it's almost to "The End". So, as we all know, it can really get started! I'm actually very excited to do edits and revisions. Very excited. I think I'll be one of those people that enjoy that process the best.

On to other things, I've read some fantastic books lately. Thought I'd share.

1. Bright Young Things  Anna Godbersen

I adored this book. It's historical, prohibition, speak easy's, it's YA, there's drama and hot boys. Seriously? The only thing that could ruin it would be the writing...but no, Anna has not failed me yet. I loved the Luxe series (which I wrote about last year) and I know I will love the BYT series as well. 

2. Born Wicked  Jessica Spotswood

I will use one word to describe this. Yummy! That's how I felt. In some ways, this book is very complex. It's about witches and a very male dominated suppressive world. It really taps into some deep rooted issues that pertain to our world today, I think. I love this about it. I love how she writes it, but at the same time it's incredibly simple. I mean that in a positive way. It's just simply pleasurable and easy to read. Now, I can see where the following books may not be described this way. I can tell that things are sort of "just getting started" so to speak. That being said, I think Jessica has a writing style that is not fluffy, or full of useless jargon. I don't even know what that means! haha But I just felt like she nailed this one. It seemed like an ideal young adult book. Enough mature conflict and theme to please an adult, but the perfect voice, writing style and motivation for a teenager. If you can't tell....I loved it!!

3. Lola and the Boy Next Door  Stephanie Perkins

Oh Lola. Can you make me some clothes? Can you do my hair? Something? I want a little more Lola in my everyday life. Anyone else? What a fantastic character.
I loved this story as much, if not a smidge more than Anna ATFK. But I have to confess something. I loved Cricket, and she without a doubt made the right choice...but who else had a little bit of a crush on Max??? It must be a deep psychological issue of mine, but I have a weakness for the bad boy. What is wrong with me? But at the same time, I don't think Max was BAD, per se. He was just older, and wrong for her. But in my world, after they broke up, I was the older woman he saw while he was gone. Just sayin...

Feel free to judge me on that last comment!!! :)

I love *Books*

My reading obsession is sort of a problem. Just ask my dear husband...he could probably go on and on about this subject.

Actually no, he doesn't EVER go on and on...that is not his style. (This is whee we differ...greatly!) He would admit it's a problem though.

It seems appropriate to me to share my reading obsession here on my writing blog, because I'm going to guess anyone who cares to read it probably has a pretty decent reading obsession of their own. Yes?

So, I'm going to start by pointing out a few of my favorite YA books I've read the past couple of years.


The Luxe Series by Anna Godberson

First- I love anything remotely historical, so all I had to do was take one look at these and it was a done deal. I loved these books and loved the characters. Now. I had a slight issue with the way this series ended. I don't know if it's how I would have chosen it to end, but I have to admit that it was probably the right way to end. Make sense? Her new book Bright YOung Things is out now and I will be getting it soon!

Gemma Doyle Series by Libba Bray



I loved these. LOVED. Again, set in a historical setting but mixed with a fantasy world that becomes so real that I could probably draw a picture of it. In fact, just now I went to her site to get a link and she had a map of the school this is set in and it nearly matched what I saw in my head EXACTLY. To me that is real talent. She effortlessly makes everything so easy to see.

This was written in 1st Person/Present tense which I think would be soooo incredibly hard to stick with and to be honest it doesn't always work for me...but it totally works for these books. I was completely drawn in.

The Skylar Holt Series by Stephanie Morrill








I loved these books! Stephanie creates modern high school life perfectly and pulls a christian theme in without being unrealistic or goody goody. She doesn't leave out the ugliness of teen life or have her characters avoid it. Being a teen and a christian is hard and she deal with this so well. Skylar is a real girl, with real emotions and the secondary characters are wonderful, I loved and hated them at the same time. :) (Well, to be fair some of them I loved all the way through!!) I would be comfortable giving this to anyone I know between the ages of 14 and...well 100!

Her writing style feels effortless and it was fun to read because we live in the same town...which also happens to be the setting for this novel. :) Really enjoyed this. Oh, and Stephanie is a wonderful person and has a great blog for young writers HERE.


The House of Night Series by PC and Kristen Cast


On a completely different note...The House of Night.

Now. (pause for dramatic effect)

I'm kind of over the whole "I'm a teen, I discovered a secret power and am shipped away to a secret high school with other people who are weird like me and I then save the world."

That being said, this is the first one of "those" I read so I'm going to give it the benefit of the doubt. Oh, and I enjoy it so there!

(If you're writing one of "those" books...please ignore me. I have absolutely no idea what I'm talking about. AND, i'll probably still like your book. I just read too many of this theme in a short time period and had to take a break!)

Ok, on to these books.

I love that it's a mother/daughter team. I'm a sucker for a love triangle, and this is a love octagon or something. I mean, this girl is in a pickle when it comes to boys. (We've all had this problem right?;)) I love the world they have created, this books feels dark and the characters are yummy! I actually have the 2 last books to read still and need to get to them soon!

Many more that I could add...but my laundry pile is putting off toxic fumes so I must wrap it up! Any YA favorites????