The Boy in the Park

The Boy in the Park by A.J. Grayson
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

This book is going to be very hard to review without having any spoilers. I received an ARC copy of this book from Netgalley for my honest review.

I love books that have a total twist...this one did not disappoint. Nothing in the description of this book gave away what was really going on in the book. Even though I did discover about halfway through what was going on, I still wanted to keep reading.


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All the Missing Girls

All the Missing Girls by Megan Miranda
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I am so happy to finally be able to give a book 5 stars!! This book had me at the beginning when I learned that it was set in a small town in North Carolina. Being a North Carolinian, I could definitely relate to the main character and small town life.

When I found out that this book (part of it anyway) was told in reverse chronological order, I was a little skeptical. I have a hard time staying focused on a book that jumps around. However, this book didn't really jump around. The chapters were perfectly chronological...except it went backwards. It was not hard to follow at all. In fact, I believe that the reverse order made me more curious for what happened the day before.

I loved everything about this book...the characters, the plot, the twists and turns.. It will definitely be a best book for the year!!!!

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Marlena

Marlena by Julie Buntin
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

What did I think?? This one is a hard one. I wanted to give this book 4 stars, but eventually I decided on 3. The best thing about this book is that it brought back memories of that special adolescent friend that we probably all have in our lives. Fortunately my friend did not have the negative impact that Marlena had on the main character of this book. But, it is a good reminder of the costly influence that we can have on each other. Marlena changed this girl's life forever. I would venture to say in a very negative way.

This is a very raw and real book. There were parts of this book that I would have not wanted to read. However, it is a stark reminder of what children of drug addicts have to live through.

As a Christian, I am reminded that everyone is searching for a feeling, for something to take away pain and guilt. I am thankful that I have found the answer for that emptiness through a relationship with Jesus.

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Strange Alchemy by Gwenda Bond

Strange Alchemy by Gwenda Bond
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

I received this book as an ARC from Netgalley. First of all, let me say that I am reviewing this book from the perspective of a young adult reader.

I was super excited to see a book about the Lost Colony. I am from North Carolina and this part of history has always intrigued me. Unfortunately, I haven't found a lot of books concerning the Colony. I don't want to say that this book was a disappointment. If this book had been written for adults, I would say it would have been a disappointment. Knowing that it is a YA book, I had to read it with that in mind.

There were some facts about the Lost Colony embedded in this book that I had never learned. That was great! The book mainly stayed in perspective of the two main characters. I feel like the author chose a perspective that would be very appealing to YA. One character is a boy and the other a girl. There is a relationship that developed between the characters, but it was totally appropriate to the age group.

I personally did not care for the Sci-Fi aspect of the book. I would have enjoyed reading more of a historical fiction mystery about the Lost Colony, but I believe the Sci-Fi aspect would appear to younger readers. Overall, I would recommend this book for YA readers.

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The Dinner Party and Other Stories

The Dinner Party and Other Stories by Joshua Ferris
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

I appreciate Netgalley for the free ARC. The stories in this book were very interesting. I am sure that someone who likes to read this kind of genre would really appreciate these stories. It was just not for me.

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You Are Not Alone by Dena Yohe

Where do I begin with reviewing this book?   I felt like the author looked inside my heart and wrote my own feelings.  This is an account of what she and her husband experienced while raising their troubled daughter.  It is a book to reach out to any parents who have raised (or are in the process of raising) a child who has abused drugs, harmed themselves, or experienced mental illness.

The author, Dena Yohe, is the wife of a pastor and missionary.  She and her husband went through some real battles with their child, Rene, who has pretty much experienced everything that is a parent's worst nightmare.  Mrs. Yohe shares her pain and heartache as well as Biblical advice on what helped her make it though.  There are also a few excepts written by her daughter which gives a perspective from the troubled child's point of view.

Fortunately, God turned ashes in beauty in her and her daughter's life and used them to help start a ministry to troubled youth called To Write Love on Her Arms.

I strongly recommend this book for anyone who is having a difficult time with a child.

Dancing Through Life (Candace Cameron)

Dancing Through Life is an autobiography by Candace Cameron Bure of what spiritual truths she gleaned from her experience with Dancing With the Stars. I was drawn to this book, not because I am a dancer, (or have even watched Dancing with the Stars for that matter) but because Candace and I are the same age and I grew up watching her grow up as DJ on Full House.  I have always been amazed at her and her brother, Kirk Cameron's testimonies as Christians while being a successful Hollywood actress and actor.

The book gives the reader an inside view into what life is like being a contestant on Dancing with the Stars.  Candace shares valuable spiritual lessons that she learned through the frustrating and great times while she was a guest star on the show.

I really enjoyed the book.  It is written in a very conversational manner.  If you have ever heard Candace talk, it sounds just like the manner in which she would speak.  The spiritual lessons she shared were very relevant to my life as well.  Great book!