The Gifting Series by KE Ganshert

I can hardly contain myself as I sit to write this review. (At the time of this writing) I finished reading the series at Midnight last night and it’s still very fresh in my mind. The Gifting, The Awakening, and The Gathering by KE Ganshert are the most extraordinary contribution to YA literature that I’ve read. Better than The Hunger Games. Better than the Selection series. So completely engaging, I read all three books in five days. I admit my family was forced to scavenge on their own for a couple meals.

The story takes place in a Dystopian world where science has taken over and the whole country is convinced there is no such thing as a spiritual realm and no one has a soul. Every one who shows signs of acknowledging anything spiritual is convinced they are crazy and admitted to a mental institution. What spins out on this stage, is a coming of age story about a girl who just wants to be normal. On her way, she learns to embrace the “not-normal-ness” of her life in order to fight for a world where normal, beautiful moments can still happen.

There are so many creative details the author constructs, it reminds me of the delightful discovery of JK Rowling’s magical details when I read her books for the first time. The characters are so realistic, you’ll be cheering for them every moment you are forced to put the book down. I loved the character growth, the action packed tension on almost every page, and the emotions are beyond roller coaster…try hurricane! Romance, heart-racing action, teenage angst, fantasy, and some good old fashioned battles between good and evil make for an extra special story full of plot twists you won’t see coming.

Ganshert knows the teenaged mind. The interactions are priceless and spot on (I live with teenagers), with consistent characters who will capture your heart. She also knows how to keep the reader turning pages. Even the second book kept me hooked. One thing I love about this series is the fact that the cover is not black with blood dripping from a silver dagger or crown (You know what I mean). The books are clean, exciting, and NOT gory or depressing. While dealing with life and death and the spirit realm, this story is positive and edifying. What a welcome addition to the world of YA literature!

I hope you’ll give these books a try, even if YA is not your normal cup of tea. And if you cannot bring yourself to do it, recommend them to a teen in your life – she/he won’t be disappointed. You can snag them here, and if you want to learn more about the incredible KE Ganshert, check out her website here.

Do you read YA Lit? Why or why not?

Leave us a comment for a chance to win this week’s giveaway!

Secrets She Kept

Secrets She Kept

By Cathy Gohlke

Um….Wow. I thought this novel would be another typical WWII story, like most of the others I’ve read. Not. Even. Close. This story surprised me again and again (and trust me, I’ve read a LOT of WWII novels).

The back and forth between two different time periods is my favorite novel structure to read, so that was a good start. One story line follows a girl in 1973, who seeks to understand her recently passed mother, tracking down a grandfather she never knew anything about. The second story line follows her mother through the war years 1943-1945.

So many secrets. We all have at least one.

What makes this WWII novel different must be due to several things:

1.         The story twists are unlike any I’ve read before-unpredictable.

2.         The tension never lets up.

3.         The main characters include German Christians who help Jews in hiding. (Usually you have either Jews or Nazi’s – and there’s both of those too, but this angle is new for me)

I could not put this down. It’s been ages since I read while I was cooking dinner. And stayed up past midnight 3 nights running because of a book.

I’m a reader. Maybe that makes me harder to please. I’m telling you, this book is stunning. And the underlying truths run deep.

And as an added bonus, one of my favorite people from real life makes a cameo appearance . . . I hate to spoil the ending, but I'll give you a hint: she was a sweet, spunky, little Dutch lady.

Give this book a try - it's hot off the presses, just released September first. I guarantee you'll be telling people about it as you read - mesmerizing! You can snag a copy here and check out Cathy's website here.

Little girls love to tell secrets behind a cupped hand. And some big girls post them on Facebook. Why do secrets have such power? Leave us a comment for a chance to win our prize of the week!