Interrupted by: Rachel Coker

 

Within hours of Allie's mom's funeral, she is moved from Tennessee to Maine to be adopted daughter to Miss Beatrice Lovell, a woman with a strong faith in God - the problem is that as much as Miss Beatrice wants another daughter, Allie doesn't want another mom. 

They have a bad beginning and no mother-daughter relationship to start - Beatrice, however, cannot help but think that maybe over time ...

Life in Maine is never boring. An old acquaintance from Tennessee shows up who used to have a crush on Allie and it seems he could still ... but she doesn't return the sentiments, so getting stuck on a ride at the fair with him and going on a "double date" with him isn't her idea of fun.

World War II looms over everyone, Allie may lose her chance to love and to be loved if she chooses to hold on to the past.

This is the book trailer:

My thoughts:

I. LOVE. THIS. BOOK.

It is the best I've read in a long time. The writing was excellent, and the whole time I read it I was thinking "The author is only three or so years older than me." Seriously, this is the best writing I've read in forever. 

I didn't like the cover art at first, but now I THINK IT IS AMAZING.

I LOVE ALLIE. I love it that she plays piano and I love it that she hits Sam Carroll with her shoe when she's trying to tell him she loves him and I love it that she writes poetry. And I love it that she loves Emily Dickinson. And I love her love for her mom.

This book would make a good movie.

The romance was kept to loving someone and proposals, no kissing. :) This I liked. I wouldn't use the word "gosh," but most people don't have a problem with that word, and that was the worst the language got. There was no violence and no drug/alcohol content.

I reviewed this book for

Team Novel Teen

Team Novel Teen is a group of bloggers dedicated to spreading the word about clean teen fiction. Check out other posts about Interrupted by Rachel Coker by clicking on the links above, and check out www.NovelTeen.com for more information about Team Novel Teen.

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That Certain Spark by: Cathy Marie Hake

Gooding, Texas, doesn't know what hit them when Taylor Bestman, woman doctor, comes to town. With her sparkling personality, clever mind, and good looks, Taylor is a temptress. But there is one thing holding the men back ...

A woman doctor is unheard of. In school Taylor was the brunt of teasing, and here people refuse to let her treat them. And that includes Karl Van der Vort, a traditional and arrogant man. On the first page we find him drinking tea with a kind old widow who is keeping her eyes pealed for a wife for Karl. So we know the rest of the book will be a fulfilling of this prophecy.

But Karl is against woman doctors, so he can't marry Taylor ... right? When he is injured on the job, however, his opinion of her skills might just change ...

Speaking of marriage, Taylor's veterinarian brother, Enoch, has his eye on Mercy, a beautiful widowed mother of one. But after a big surgery, Mercy doesn't think she has what it takes to make Enoch content, and it could ruin their happy ending.

The town cannot resist Taylor's services forever. She's smart and she's got her brother supporting her all the way. That's what she hopes, anyway.

My thoughts:

I have mixed feelings about this book. One thing I appreciated was Taylor and her brother's obvious love for the Lord.

I love Taylor. She's so spirited that when I first started reading the book I thought "Wow. I want my novel to have a character like this," which is a good thing. But I thought the other characters were kind of silly and ... shallow. And I don't like Karl. And it's never good to not like the guy the main character marries. :)

One way to measure a good book is the amount of time you can get away from it without thinking about it, and my mind was never far from That Certain Spark. It is not often that you find a "clean" romance, but I think this was just that. Despite my disliking the characters (not everyone will, anyway) I thoroughly enjoyed this book (even if it is a little cliche).

Objectionable Content:


Language: None.
Romance/Sexual Content: Kissing. Mercy thinks after her surgery she can't marry Enoch because she won't fulfill his "desires as a man."
Violence: None.
Drugs/Alcohol: None.

Matched by: Ally Condie

Cassia lives in a perfect society where life is black and white. You have no choices and your life is a map that others use but you will never see. Cassia is wearing a green dress and she's going to finally see the man she will be spending her life with.

And it's ... Xander. Her best friend. It's not often that you get matched with someone in the same Province as you! Cassia is very fortunate. But then there's Ky. After a big mistake she finds herself falling in love with him. But is it him or a desire to best the Society that draws them together?

People don't die on their eightieth birthday, the Society kills them. Why did she not see that before? The Society says they want the best for them ... but can someone willing to lie to hide the truth care about you? Can someone who takes your words and gives back theirs want what is best for you? And, last of all, can someone who destroys love and hope be someone you can trust?

Matched book trailer:

 

My thoughts:

Dystopian novel? YES. Told in present tense? YES. Society that is never wrong? YES. Girl rebel? Cliche, but YES. :)

I like this book.

You really feel like you're really a part of and are swept along in the story. The whole love-triangle, dystopian story thing is kind like The Hunger Games. You'll love it.

I love Cassia because she's beautiful, because she's different, and because she's willing to fight. All of these things are cliched, but cliche can be good.

Today at work I was pondering what I learned from Matched and, frankly, I can think of nothing. So I asked my sister. She shrugged and said "True love conquers all?" and smiled. So, in other words, I don't think she learned anything either. ;) I'm still looking in to that. Have you read it? Did you learn anything?

I love dystopian stories, in case you didn't already notice that. :) Cruel governments and rebels. Mwahahaha. :)

Note to the author: PLEASE don't let Cassia end up with Xander. I like Ky a lot better.

Objectionable Content:

Language: None
Romance/Sexual Content: Kissing. People being forced into marriages that are usually perfect because the society is never wrong.
Violence: None.
Drugs/Alcohol Content: None.

She Walks in Beauty by: Siri Mitchell

During New York City's Gilded Age ...

THE GAME

is played amid banquets and balls.

THE PRIZE

is a lifetime of wealth and priviledge.

THE RULES

will test friendships and the desires of a young woman's heart.

Clara Carter is the social season's brightest cost ...

but at what cost?

Clara is going to make her debut a year earlier than planned. Her governess, friend to her since her mother died, is fired by her controlling aunt ... leaving her without anyone to teach her mathematics and literature. Instead she learns the importance of communication with a fan and dancing.

The dashing De Vries heir is desired by all, but competition is scarce. He is looking for just the right girl and has found what he wants in Clara ... and Clara's best friend. They promise each other nothing will come between them, but can they withstand the pressure of their parents pushing them away from each other and one man who can't decide between the two of them?

My thoughts:

I had mixed feelings about She Walks in Beauty.

Let's start with the good things.

•  THE COVER ART IS GORGEOUS AND I L♥VE THE TITLE. (Now that that's off my chest...)
• The time period is AMAZING. I LOVE THIS ERA. 
• Clara is sooooooooo easy to relate to. Although near the end she started to bug me.

Not so good things...

Don't you hate it when you find a great book and it has some things that make it not as great???!

Clara finds out that her mother died when her womb fell out of her body because her corset was too tight. It makes my heart constrict just thinking about it. Maybe that's not a "bad" thing, but it was kind of awkward.

The De Vries heir asks Clara to "do it" with him and she refuses. I was thinking GO CLARA!!!! but I wish they had not put that in the book.

Clara's best friend, Lizzie, bugs me to no end. But I had to read this book through twice, and the second time she seemed a little better. Still, though.

Clara's aunt is kind of frustrating, but you also have to feel kind of sorry for her. Come to think on it, I actually found Clara frustrating. But I don't know why. She's pretty cool. She just ... I don't know. Maybe it's just me. :) Have you read it? What did you think of her?

The book has no language or alcohol content or violence. Just ... romance. :)