YA

Author K.E. Ganshert just released a new YA book, and it’s one you won’t want to miss! Here’s what The Fabrication of Eden Pruitt is all about:

Studious and principled Eden Pruitt stepped out of line just once. Unfortunately, that reckless decision ended with an arrest, a mug shot, and two very concerned parents. Now they’re starting over. In Iowa, of all places. On the cusp of her senior year, of all times. The situation is less than ideal but she’ll just have to manage, and without complaint. The change of address was her fault after all, and she isn’t going to make anything harder on her parents, who have already been through enough.

But life in Iowa turns strange fast. Odd things are happening, and Eden has no idea what any of it means. Then she comes home from her first day of school to a ransacked house and the nightmare officially begins. Her parents are missing. She’s convinced something terrible has happened to them. But nobody believes her. Except for a hardened, mysterious stranger who is as dangerous as he is enticing.

Wow, K.E. Ganshert’s latest is a thriller from start to finish! She draws you into Eden’s world compassion and a cup of coffee, and the next thing you know you’re on a high-stakes chase through a dystopian sci-fi city.

That’s really what I loved most about this The Fabrication of Eden Pruitt: the main character is totally relateable, and then you’re drawn into a world, byte by romantic sizzle by clue, that’s clearly much more than you expected. Ganshert doesn’t lay it all out for you – she makes sure that you’re sucked into Eden’s world along with Eden so that you can see and feel from her perspective. This not only makes everything – even the sci fi aspects – feel totally realistic, but you’re also much more empathetic to the problems and the people at hand.

I’m excited to be using this book with one of my teen book clubs during this next school year, because while it’s totally a fun ride, there’s also a great deal that we can talk about. There are themes of love and sacrifice and dating and ethics all woven into this story, so that there’s great fodder for discussion. While my seniors won’t be in exactly these same scenarios, they are enough similarities to spark great debates and deep thought.

That won’t lessen the fun, though! Between the action scenes that read like something from a big-screen movie and the romantic asides with lots of sizzle, The Fabrication of Eden Pruitt is a fantastic, clean read for teens. I’m excited to recommend it – and I can’t wait for the sequel.

I received a complimentary copy of this book. All opinions are my own.

Jody Hedlund’s newest YA book just released this week – and it’s a doozy! Here’s the summary:

A princess in need of a husband, a young Sage who cannot have her, and a web of deceit that threatens their love.

Having been raised by her childless aunt and uncle, the king and queen, Princess Elinor finds herself the only heir to the throne of Norvegia. As she comes of age, she must choose a husband to rule beside her, but she struggles to make her selection from among a dozen noblemen during a weeklong courtship.

With aspirations to become the wisest man in the land, Maxim is summoned home by his father Rasmus, a Royal Sage. Reunited with Elinor, once his closest friend, Maxim is quickly enamored with her even though he can never be considered a prospect for her husband.

Elinor’s feelings for Maxim are rekindled too . . . until she learns he has been unwillingly drawn into Rasmus’s scheme to take control of the throne. With the kingdom under attack both from within and without, can Elinor and Maxim overcome the deceit spinning around them? Or will it destroy their love once and for all?

Jody Hedlund’s Enamored is a Medieval rush for fans of legends! This tale is a new twist on the Arthurian legends surrounding the wizard Merlin, and I love the way that Hedlund has created this new world. I love the Medieval setting, and with a Germanic culture, a forested land, and a patriarchal culture that values wisdom more than women, there’s much to dig into.

Hedlund’s take on the sword in the stone legend are unique. I love the addition of codes and tricks and the detail that the romantic story adds to it. Even more, there are nuances and love interests that aren’t found in the original.

While being a princess in her own version of The Bachelorette may seem breezy, Elinor clearly takes her responsibilities seriously, and therein lies the difficulty of the story. Elinor quickly becomes someone you want to champion, and when other characters throw obstacles in her way, you’ll see how quickly you’ve become invested in this story.

Best of all, Hedlund keeps you guessing. Since the story is based on a legend, it seems logical that it could be somewhat predictable – but the unique story world and Hedlund’s creativity keeps the plot moving and the reader off-balance. I love when a story presents me with happy surprises – and Enamored does in the best kind of way.

If you’re a fan of Medieval legends, YA romances, or sweet coming-of-age stories, Enamored is the book for you.

I received a complimentary copy of this book from the author. All opinions are my own.