Tag: fiction

Concrete Rose

~ rachelbenzine ~ Leave a comment

Plot:

Maverick is seventeen years old. His dad is in prison, but the gang he joined gives him the protection he needs. Dealing drugs allows him to help his mom make ends meet. Life’s not perfect, but he’s managing well… until he finds out he’s a father. And now he’s supposed to juggle school, caring for his kid, helping his mom, and staying alive. Concrete Rose is the prequel to Thomas’s smash hit, The Hate U Give. You wouldn’t need to read that one first, but you should absolutely read both of these amazing books ASAP. Move them to the top of your TBR list.

What I loved most:

Books featuring teenage parents are rare… but books featuring teenage single dads?! Concrete Rose is basically a unicorn. I loved seeing the way Mav rose to the challenge of fatherhood. Thomas doesn’t glamorize teenage parenthood in any way… being a parent is hard, and Mav struggles with it. But the growth we see throughout the book just WARMS MY HEART, y’all. Absolutely beautiful.

And because I loved too much about this book to contain it to one paragraph… this book does a fantastic job of digging into generational cycles that continue to last. Mav’s dad dealt drugs and ran a gang, so it’s the only life that Mav knows. He joined the gang when he was young, and leaving isn’t an option if he wants to stay alive. Dealing drugs keeps the water bill paid and the electricity on. When Mav does try to stop dealing, and gets a job as a cashier, he can’t afford to help his mom pay the bills, plus buy the things his son needs. He sees dealing as the only feasible way to keep his head above water. It’s absolutely impossible to read this book and judge the choices that Mav makes. Bottom line: read this book.

Read this book if you like:

The Hate U Give by Angie Thomas (obvi), deep dives into personal development, not judging on surface level characteristics but actually taking time to get to know someone, social and emotional learning, social justice, the #WNDB movement

Book details:

  • Author: Angie Thomas
  • Publisher: Balzer + Bray
  • Date of Publication: January 12, 2021
  • Interest Level: High school and up

Woodwalker

~ rachelbenzine ~ Leave a comment

Plot:

Mae was a Woodwalker – an elite guard, charged with protecting the Silverwood – until she was banished. If she ever returns to her homeland, she will be executed.

Mona is the rightful Queen of Lumen Lake. Her country was snatched from her in a hostile takeover, but she is desperate to get back home and reclaim her throne.

When Mae and Mona cross paths, Mona asks Mae to escort her back to Lumen Lake. The only problem is… Mae will have to lead Mona through the very lands she was exiled from. And if they’re caught, they’ll both face unimaginable consequences.

What I loved most:

This was one of those books you just sink into, finding yourself quickly immersed in the land. As I was reading it, I wanted to go wander in the woods like a Woodwalker, completely at peace with nature. It gave me Robin Hood meets cottagecore vibes (and that’s a sentence I never thought I would type). Plus, it’s the start of a completed series, so 1) you get to cruise through the entire series without cliffhangers, and 2) you get to immerse yourself in this world for an extended period of time. I’m in the third and final book right now, and Y’ALL, let me just tell you that this series will be one you will enjoy.

Read this book if you like:

Fantasy, books where romance isn’t the main point of the story, enemies-to-friends, personal growth, tales of rulers and kingdoms, strong female protagonists

Book details:

  • Author: Emily B. Martin
  • Series: Woodwalker #1
  • Publisher: Harper Voyager Impulse
  • Date of Publication: May 17, 2016
  • Interest Level: Late high school to Adult

Mistletoe & Mr. Right

~ rachelbenzine ~ Leave a comment

Plot:

Lana Montgomery works for her family business, a real-estate conglomerate. She recently bought most of the properties in the small town of Moose Springs, Alaska, with the purest heart and intentions of helping the residents maintain the small-town feel while also bringing in new tourist revenues. Let’s just say, the town doesn’t take nicely to their new collective landlord, or her plan to build a fancy new condo complex.

Rick Harding, on the other hand, has had his eye on Lana for a long time. And when Lana accidentally shoots him with a tranquilizer gun while trying to hunt down a rogue moose that’s been destroying Christmas decorations all over town… he might just get the chance to prove to her that this small town can love her for who she is.

This is the second book in the Moose Springs, Alaska series. You don’t have to have read the first book for this one to make sense, so feel free to pick it up if you’re looking for a cute Christmas read! However, the main characters from the first book are also in this one… so you might get a couple spoilers on their romance if you read Mistletoe & Mr. Right first.

What I loved most:

I am HERE for cozy, Christmas romances where things are generally pleasant and light and just all around fun. The characters in this series are people that I can see myself being friends with. Morgenthaler has a beautiful style of writing that pulls you in from the very first sentence, and it’s a funny book to boot. Light a fire in the fireplace, brew a cup of tea, grab a cozy blanket, and get reading.

Read this book if you like:

Christmas, snow escapades, genuine friendships, hedgehogs in Christmas sweaters

Book details:

  • Author: Sarah Morgenthaler
  • Series: Moose Springs, Alaska #2
  • Publisher: Sourcebooks Casablanca
  • Date of Publication: October 6, 2020
  • Interest Level: Adult
  • Look up Mistletoe & Mr. Right on WorldCat to find it at a library near you!