Category: Book Review

Book Review, jenny b jones, so not happening

Book Review: So Not Happening by Jenny B. Jones

Kathryn Cooper

Title: So Not Happening
Author: Jenny B. Jones
Publisher: Thomas Nelson Publishers
Release Date: May 2009
Pages: 329
Series: The Charmed Life #1
4 Stars: I Really Liked It

New York’s social darling Isabella Kirkwood just woke up in a nightmare: Oklahoma.

Isabella Kirkwood had it all: popularity at a prestigious private school in Manhattan, the latest fashions, and a life of privilege and luxury. Then her father, a plastic surgeon to the stars, decided to trade her mother in for a newer model.

When her mother starts over with her new husband, Bella is forced to pack up and leave all she knows to live with her new family in Oklahoma. Before her mother can even say “I do,” Bella’s life becomes a major “don’t.”

Can Bella survive her crazy new family? Will the school survive Bella? How can a girl go on when her charmed life is gone and God gives her the total smackdown?

My Thoughts:
First, I have to give a shout out to my blogging bud Inky (Book Haven Extraordinaire) for recommending this book. Thanks girl! I really enjoyed it. 😀

Poor Isabella is having a rough time. Her parents divorce, and her mom remarries moving Bella from the Manhattan elite to an Oklahoma farm. I love when Bella first meets a cow and gets up close and personal with a dumpster. . . hilarious. She makes some mistakes in her journey to cope with her new life. It’s painful to watch, but she lives and learns.

This book is funny and heartwarming with a little romance. If you enjoy contemporary YA Christian fiction you’ll love this book. I’m looking forward to reading the rest of this series!

Content Ratings: highlight between ( ) to view details
Sexual Content: mild ( kissing )
Language: none
Violence: mild ( injury, murder threat, punched, blood )
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Reviewed by Kathryn Cooper
Creator of Clean Teen Fiction

Other Books By Jenny B. Jones

amber argyle, Book Review, witch song

Book Review: Witch Song by Amber Argyle

Kathryn Cooper

Title: Witch Song
Author: Amber Argyle
Publisher: Rhemalda Publishing
Release Date: July 2011
Pages: 305
Series: Witch Song #1
4 Stars: I Really Liked It

The world is changing. Once, Witch Song controlled everything from the winds to the shifting of the seasons-but not anymore. All the Witches are gone, taken captive by a traitor. All but Brusenna. As the echo of their songs fade, the traitor grows stronger. Now she is coming for Brusenna. Her guardian has sworn to protect her, but even he can’t stop the Dark Witch. Somehow, Brusenna has to succeed where every other Witch has failed. Find the traitor. Fight her. Defeat her. Because if Brusenna doesn’t, there won’t be anything left to save.

My Thoughts:
This was a great book! At the beginning this wasn’t the kind of book I just couldn’t put down, but I still enjoyed it. By the end the action picked up, and I found myself reading it every chance I got.

Brusenna was barely 15 at the beginning of her story, by the end I think she was almost 17. Senna’s mother left to try and defeat the dark witch leaving her alone at such a young age. Senna found instructions from her mother and started her journey. Along the way she found a witch guardian in training which added a lot of fun and romance. 😉

This was such a creative and new story where witches could sing to plants and make them obey. I’d never thought of plants as weapons. It was awesome. I loved getting to know this new world.

Content Ratings: highlight between ( ) to view details
Sexual Content: mild ( a bully squeezed her breast, naked to shape shift and some men see, kissing )
Language: none
Violence: mild/moderate ( hit by merchant, villain bit by animal, ship battle with cannons and guns, death, blood, beating, witch battles )

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Reviewed by Kathryn Cooper
Creator of Clean Teen Fiction

Books By Amber Argyle
 

blog tour, Book Review, count down to love, julie ford

Blog Tour: Review and Giveaway: Count Down to Love by Julie N. Ford

Kathryn Cooper

Title: Count Down to Love
Author: Julie N. Ford
Publisher: Bonneville
Release Date: July 2011
Pages: 234
Series: none
Source: author for blog tour
4 Stars: I Really Liked It

Abandoned at the altar, Kelly Grace Pickens finds herself left holding not only the bouquet but also the exorbitant bill for an A-list wedding. Homeless, a once promising singing career floundering, and her life bearing an uncanny resemblance to one of her country music ballads, she reluctantly accepts a last minute offer to appear on a reality TV show akin to the bachelor. Pitted against silicon-enhanced supermodels in four-inch heels, Kelly feels confident that she will be among the first would-be fiancés to be excused. Only, when the mysterious bachelor from New York City, Dillon Black, invites her to stay, Kelly finds herself thrust into the vortex of a game she doesn’t have the first idea how to play. Nursing her hopelessly broken heart while avoiding the foils of her fellow contestants, Kelly is oblivious to Dillon’s affections as she wades through hurt and betrayal to discover, in the end, that she has landed firmly on both feet.

Leaving behind Nashville’s Music Row for the majestic Grand Teton mountains, Count Down To Love takes readers on a journey from duplicity to sincerity as Kelly discovers that being true to oneself is the first step in finding happiness and everlasting love.

My Thoughts:
Wow. The beginning of this book was just tragic. Getting left at the altar?! That would be awful! So right from the start I wanted to see things turn out for Kelly. I wanted her to have a happy ending.

I normally love the love interest in stories, but I wasn’t so sure about this guy. I liked him then I hated him. I guess I just don’t like the setup of The Bachelor TV series which this book was similar to. I don’t like watching or reading about a guy who kisses and checks out a bunch of women at the same time. It’s just weird and makes the guy a player. Even with that strike against Dillon I still found myself liking him at times. I mainly just wanted Kelly happy.

This book took me on a fun roller coaster ride of emotions. I really enjoyed traveling to the different places the contestants got to travel to. That was fun. If you love The Bachelor/The Bachelorette TV shows, I know many of you do, then you’ll love this book. I couldn’t put this book down! It was an entertaining read.

Content Ratings: highlight between ( ) to view details
Sexual Content: mild/moderate ( talk, kissing, skimpy clothing, necking, asleep together- no sex )
Language: none
Violence: none

I received the book from Julie N. Ford. Thank you! I am not paid for my reviews. My reviews are solely my opinion.

review 1
Reviewed by Kathryn Cooper
Creator of Clean Adult Fiction

Buy it!

Author Bio:
Julie has a Bachelor of Arts degree in Political Science and a minor in English Literature from San Diego State University. In addition, she earned a Masters in Social Work from the University of Alabama. She has worked in teaching, childbirth education and family therapy. Besides writing, she spends many hours working along side her husband at their UPS Store franchise, but hopes to re-enter the Social Work field someday.

She is the author of three women’s fiction novels, The Woman He Married (March 2011) and No Holly for Christmas (November 2011), published by Whiskey Creek Press. The third, Count Down to Love (July 2011), published by Bonneville Books.

Currently, she lives in Nashville, TN with her husband, two daughters and one very feisty fish.

Social Networking:

Grand Prize Giveaway:
As part of the tour, Julie is generously offering a grand prize giveaway of a hard copy of Count Down to Love, a CD of the band Due West, and a copy of the single, “Who I Am”, which Julie and Due West wrote and recorded specifically for the book. All you have to do to enter is leave a comment on this post or any of the other stops on the tour. (Visit the tour page for the full tour schedule.) The more stops you comment on, the more entries you have into the contest!

Book Review, lisa t bergren, river of time, tributary

Book Review: Tributary by Lisa T. Bergren

Kathryn Cooper

THIS IS THE 5th BOOK IN THE SERIES!
Book 1: Waterfall (My Review)
Book 2: Cascade (My Review)
Book 3: Torrent (My Review)
Book 4: Bourne (My Review)

Title: Tributary
Author: Lisa T. Bergren
Publisher: Bergren Creative Group Inc.
Release Date: June 2012
Pages: 163
Series: River of Time #3.2 (5)
Source: bought eBook
5 Stars: I LOVED IT!!!

TRIBUTARY, a novella (1/2 the length of a normal novel), picks up a year after BOURNE… Lia struggles to overcome the fear that constant battle has heaped upon her; Gabi and Marcello face an unexpected crisis; and Lord Greco just may be ready to leave the grief and loss of his past behind him, so that he might grab hold of the future…

My Thoughts:
What a great way to end my favorite series!! I think it was the last book anyway. There was just the right amount of closure. I will miss reading about the lives of these amazing characters: Gabi, Marcello, Lia, Luca, Rodolfo. I still stand by my declaration that this is my all time favorite series!

Even though Luca’s picture was on the cover I think it told more of Lord Rodolfo Greco’s story. Greco was such a great character. We’ve been through a lot with him, lots of ups and downs. Luca was entertaining as always in this one, less serious than in Bourne.

I love the heroines! Gabi and Lia are kick butt kind of girls who won’t get pushed around. These two novellas were more Lia’s story than Gabi’s. It was fun to see where Lia would take us. She’s brave with a kind heart.

If you love the River of Time series like I do, you have to read this last installment. It’s just as wonderful as the earlier books. If you haven’t read this series drop everything you are doing and READ! You won’t regret it.

Content Ratings: highlight between ( ) to view details
Sexual Content: mild ( kissing )
Language: none
Violence: moderate ( beatings, fighting with swords, deaths, blood, broken bones, injuries )

review 1
Reviewed by Kathryn Cooper
Creator of Clean Teen Fiction

Other Books By Lisa T. Bergren:


Her New Adult/ Adult Books: 

Book Review, leigh bardugo, shadow and bone

Book Review: Shadow and Bone by Leigh Bardugo

Kathryn Cooper

Title: Shadow and Bone
Author: Leigh Bardugo
Publisher: Henry Holt and Co.
Release Date: June 2012
Pages: 358
Series: The Grisha Trilogy #1
Source: library
5 Stars: I LOVED IT!!!

Alina Starkov doesn’t expect much from life. Orphaned by the Border Wars, the one thing she could rely on was her best friend and fellow refugee, Mal. And lately not even that seems certain. Drafted into the army of their war-torn homeland, they’re sent on a dangerous mission into the Fold, a swath of unnatural darkness crawling with monsters who feast on human flesh.

When their convoy is attacked, all seems lost until Alina reveals a dormant power that not even she knew existed. Ripped from everything she knows, she is whisked away to the royal court to be trained as a member of the Grisha, the magical elite led by the mysterious Darkling. He believes she is the answer the people have been waiting for: the one person with the power to destroy the Fold.

Swept up in a world of luxury and illusion, envied as the Darkling’s favorite, Alina struggles to fit into her new life without Mal by her side. But as the threat to the kingdom mounts, Alina uncovers a secret that sets her on a collision course with the most powerful forces in the kingdom. Now only her past can save her . . . and only she can save the future.

My Thoughts:
I loved this book!! It was one of those reads where after I finished it I couldn’t stop thinking about it. The author created an imaginative, magical, and vivid world. It was not a world I’d like to visit though.

Alina had it rough through childhood as an orphan in this harsh world. I went on an emotional roller coaster for sure. I love those kind of reads. I don’t even know what to say without giving things away. I want you to read this book and discover this world for yourself. It’s great! I’ll tell you this: I cried tears of joy at one point which doesn’t usually happen when I read. It was the sweetest moment. I’ll have to choose this book for my book club to read so I can talk all spoilery about how wonderful it was!

The ending was great with enough closure to satisfy while leaving more to the story for the next installment. I can’t wait to read the next book!!! Is it really a year away?

Content Ratings: highlight between ( ) to view details
Sexual Content: mild with 1 short moderate ( some talk, kissing, moderate- kissing, necking, his hand up her skirt on thigh )
Language: mild ( a**-3, b****-1, h***-2 )
Violence: moderate ( fantasy animals attack, blood, death, injuries, hand to hand combat )

review 1
Reviewed by Kathryn Cooper
Creator of Clean Teen Fiction

Book Review, earlene fowler, fool's puzzle

Book Review: Fool’s Puzzle by Earlene Fowler

Kathryn Cooper

Title: Fool’s Puzzle
Author: Earlene Fowler
Publisher: Berkley
Release Date: January 1995
Pages: 256
Series: A Benni Harper Mystery #1
Source: borrowed from my friend Kiera, Thanks!
4 Stars: I Really Liked It

Leaving behind memories of her late husband, Benni Harper is making a fresh start…Moving to the trendy California town of San Celina, she takes an exciting new job as director of a folk-art museum. While setting up an exhibit of handmade quilts, she stumbles upon the body of a brutally stabbed artist. Hoping to conduct an investigation on her own, she crosses paths with the local police chief, who thinks this short and sassy cowgirl should leave detecting to the cops and join him for dinner. But it’s hard to keep a country girl down, and soon Benni uncovers an alarming pattern of family secrets, small-town lies–and the shocking truth about the night her husband died…

My Thoughts:
This was a great read. I love murder mysteries. I actually read book 15 for a book club awhile back so now I’m going back and reading the first books of the series. The beginning books show the budding romance which is the best part. I loved how Benni and Gabe drove each other crazy at the beginning.

Benni was 34 years old and a 9 month widow. She had been married to her late husband for 15 years. This book goes into the heart ache and loneliness that comes with that life changing event. Every day memories of her and her husband broke my heart.

There were times during the murder solving parts where I was like “Use You Cell Phone!” but then I remembered this was written in the early 90s when cell phones weren’t as prevalent. Hahaha. Just keep that in mind.

This was a fun mystery! At times it felt a little slow, but the plot and characters kept me entertained.

Content Ratings: highlight between ( ) to view details
Sexual Content: mild ( jokes, talk, kissing )
Language: mild ( a**-7, s***-8 )
Violence: mild ( murders, blood )

review 1
Reviewed by Kathryn Cooper
Creator of Clean Adult Fiction

Buy it!

Other Books By Earlene Fowler:

Book Review, firelight, sophie jordan

Book Review: Firelight by Sophie Jordan

Kathryn Cooper

Title: Firelight
Author: Sophie Jordan
Publisher: HarperTeen
Release Date: September 2010
Pages: 326
Series: Firelight #1
Source: library
5 Stars: I LOVED IT!

A hidden truth.
Mortal enemies.
Doomed love.

Marked as special at an early age, Jacinda knows her every move is watched. But she longs for freedom to make her own choices. When she breaks the most sacred tenet among her kind, she nearly pays with her life. Until a beautiful stranger saves her. A stranger who was sent to hunt those like her. For Jacinda is a draki, a descendant of dragons whose greatest defense is her secret ability to shift into human form.

Forced to flee into the mortal world with her family, Jacinda struggles to adapt to her new surroundings. The only bright light is Will. Gorgeous, elusive Will who stirs her inner draki to life. Although she is irresistibly drawn to him, Jacinda knows Will’s dark secret: He and his family are hunters. She should avoid him at all costs. But her inner draki is slowly slipping away—if it dies she will be left as a human forever. She’ll do anything to prevent that. Even if it means getting closer to her most dangerous enemy.

Mythical powers and breathtaking romance ignite in this story of a girl who defies all expectations and whose love crosses an ancient divide.

My Thoughts:
I love this cover! The fire red hair, eye scales makeup, and slit pupil make the cover amazing. This book had me hooked by page one. I loved the idea that dragon like Draki could be in human form. What an exciting story idea!

The plot was great, the characters likeable. The plot felt like reading a story from Edward’s perspective (Twilight). The main character wasn’t the innocent human this time but a powerful Draki trying to stay in human form with all her volatile emotions. Intense.

The only thing that annoyed me about this book was the insta-love. There was a reason for it, but it still bothered me that their relationship was at a certain level before they decided to spend some time talking. Oh well, it was still enjoyable to read.

Firelight was an intense, exciting, and deeply romantic book. I can’t wait to read the rest of the series!

Content Ratings: highlight between ( ) to view details
Sexual Content: moderate ( kissing with guy shirtless, kissing on couch while guy’s hand touches girl’s back up her shirt, more kissing )
Language: mild ( God-5, d***-1, s***-1, h***-4 )
Violence: mild/moderate ( draki injured from arrow, fist fights, bullying )

review 1
Reviewed by Kathryn Cooper
Creator of Clean Teen Fiction

Buy it!
[ Amazon / Barnes & Noble / The Book Depository ]

Other books by Sophie Jordan:
Book Review, darby karchut, griffin's fire

Book Review: Griffin’s Fire by Darby Karchut

Kathryn Cooper

THIS IS THE 2ND BOOK IN A SERIES!
Book 1: Griffin Rising ( My Review )

Title: Griffin’s Fire
Author: Darby Karchut
Publisher: Twilight Times Books
Release Date: April 2012
Pages: 200
Series: Griffin #2
Source: author
3 Stars: I Liked It

For centuries, there have been rumors about a lowly caste of supernatural beings known as the Terrae Angeli. Armed with the power to control Earth, Fire, Wind and Water, these warriors and their apprentices clandestinely serve as guardians for humans in danger.

Forced to become mortal, ex-teen angel Griffin has been banished from the Terrae Angeli. Struggling to adjust, he enrolls in the heaven-and-hell known as high school. In spite of his friends’ support, Centennial High proves to be a battleground, complete with a malicious math teacher.

And to make matters worse, his Mentor, Basil, has been ordered to take on a new apprentice, the gifted and egotistical seventeen-year-old Sergei, whose covert attacks make Griffin’s home life as bleak as a Siberian winter.

Caught between school, Sergei, and a desperate secret, Griffin is certain of one thing: the only way to fight a Cold War is with Fire.

My Thoughts:
Book 2 picks up right where the 1st book left off. Something life changing happened in book 1. Griffin was still dealing with his emotions from that event. He’s angry a lot of the time during this book which made me sad since Fin was such a fun guy to be around in book 1.

I enjoy the journal entries throughout the book. It’s fun to find out what some of the characters are really thinking. This book didn’t hold my attention as much as book 1, but I still liked it. There were some good twists throughout the story. The characters are great, and I want to know what will happen next.

Content Ratings: highlight between ( ) to view details
Sexual Content: mild ( kissing, light kissing with boy’s shirt off )
Language: mild ( bloody-12, h***-7, God-1, a**-1 )
Violence: mild ( flashbacks to his physical childhood abuse, fist fights )

I received the book from Darby Karchut. Thank you! I am not paid for my reviews. My reviews are solely my opinion.

review 1
Reviewed by Kathryn Cooper
Creator of Clean Teen Fiction

Buy Griffin’s Fire!

Check out Book 1: Griffin Rising

a healing heart, Book Review, melissa a hanson

Book Review: A Healing Heart by Melissa A. Hanson

Kathryn Cooper

Title: A Healing Heart
Author: Melissa A. Hanson
Publisher: Melissa A. Hanson
Release Date: February 2012
Pages: 270
Series: none
Source: author
4 Stars: I Really Liked It

On a bitter cold winter night Bailey Walsh’s family was killed in a traffic accident. Two years later as she lives with her aunt and uncle in Southern California, Bailey is still plagued by the nightmares of that terrible night. Everywhere around her are reminders of what she lost. Even her aunt, in a cruel twist of fate, is not just her mom’s sister, but her identical twin. Babysitting Riley, a spunky two-year old, is a sweet distraction and one constant light in her life. One day as she takes Riley to the park she meets Collin McKenna, a senior at her high school and her life is changed forever as he helps her find herself and realize her life is worth living. As the romance between them grows her broken heart begins to heal. However, still nagging in the back of her conscious is the fear that her new found happiness could come crashing down and she could lose everything she loves, yet again. Outside forces begin to tear them apart and Bailey must learn to trust in herself and realize that she is worthy of happiness. That sometimes love and healing comes in unexpected forms.

My Thoughts:
This book was so great! I love when a book opens my heart and emotions. Bailey had suffered so much in her young life. She was the sole survivor of a car crash that killed her parents and two siblings. I couldn’t imagine that! The author explores all those emotions involved in that healing process. Bailey goes to live with her aunt and uncle who’s two kids are off to college. Obviously Bailey had some difficult moments, but babysitting little Riley was the sunshine in her life.

The Point of View switched from Bailey to Collin. A few times one particular side character/ villain narrated which was interesting. Sometimes there was too much irrelevant details like what they ordered on the menu that slowed down the story. But the story was so beautiful that it didn’t bother me too much.

This was the sweetest love story! A Healing Heart will pull at your heart strings.

Content Ratings: highlight between ( ) to view details
Sexual Content: mild ( kissing )
Language: very mild ( d***-5 )
Violence: none

I received the book from Melissa A. Hanson. Thank you! I am not paid for my reviews. My reviews are solely my opinion.

Buy it!

review 1
Reviewed by Kathryn Cooper
Creator of Clean Teen Fiction

Book Review, intangible, j. meyers

Book Review: Intangible by J. Meyers

Kathryn Cooper

Title: Intangible
Author: J. Meyers
Publisher: J. Meyers
Release Date: January 2012
Pages: 264
Series: Intangible #1
Source: author
4 Stars: I Really Liked It

Twins Sera and Luke Raine have a well-kept secret—she heals with a touch of her hand, he sees the future. All their lives they’ve helped those in need on the sly. They’ve always thought of their abilities as being a gift.

Then Luke has a vision that Sera is killed. That gift they’ve always cherished begins to feel an awful lot like a curse. Because the thing about Luke’s ability? He’s always right. And he can’t do anything about it.

My Thoughts:
This book was really great! I seriously enjoyed it. The characters were fun and easy to like. I loved the relationship between Luke and Sera. They’re twins, 17 years old, and have so much fun teasing each other, but of course they love each other and would do anything for their sibling. The point of view switches from Luke to Sera and other side characters. I think the narration from the other characters was interesting and added to the read, but on the other hand it made it easy to put down when the POV switched. That’s not always a bad thing though. I need to be able to put down the books I read so I can take care of my 3 boys.

I was really surprised with the inclusion of some paranormal characters. I wasn’t expecting that at all. I won’t ruin a possible surprise for you, but if you don’t like paranormal creatures you might not like this book. There were great twists and turns throughout. I was elated one minute and brokenhearted the next. I loved the surprises! This was such a great read. I can’t wait to read the next book!

Content Ratings: highlight between ( ) to view details
Sexual Content: mild with 1 moderate instance ( jokes, passionate kissing in a motel room )
Language: mild ( d***-4, a**-2, God-23, h***-13, middle finger-1, b****-1 )
Violence: moderate ( vampire feedings, sexual assault, bullying a homosexual, murders, tortures )

I received the book from J. Meyers. Thank you! I am not paid for my reviews. My reviews are solely my opinion.

Buy it!

review 1
Reviewed by Kathryn Cooper
Creator of Clean Teen Fiction