Wow! Time is flying! I can’t believe spring break is upon us. And maybe it’s already past for some of you.
Speaking of spring break, if your kids are looking for clean reads for the time off, I have a few new suggestions. See below! I also added them to my clean teen books list here…
Plus, I want to share a writing update and a recipe we use at my house every week. Keep scrolling.
Clean YA book recommendations:
I’ve had the opportunity to connect with more authors who write clean books, and I’m excited to share their novels with you! Below is my list of YA books I’ve recently read or plan to read soon based on recommendations. See my complete list here…
*Yes, my site contains affiliate links. I don’t make much money on these, but every little bit helps, am I right? And don’t worry; there is no extra cost for readers. Obligatory text: As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases.*
Pride and Premeditation
by Tirzah Price
YA Mystery Retelling
No language, no sex
If you like reimaginings, you’ll love this mystery inspired by Pride and Prejudice!
It is a truth universally acknowledged that a young woman who desires a law career must be in want of a case. So when sixteen-year-old Lizzie Bennet hears about a scandalous society murder, she sees an opportunity to prove herself as a solicitor by solving the case and ensuring justice is served.
Except the man accused of the crime already has a lawyer on his side: Mr. Fitzwilliam Darcy, the stern young heir to the prestigious Pemberley Associates law firm. Lizzie is determined to solve the murder before Darcy can so that she can show the world that a woman can be just as good as a man. (The fact that Darcy is an infuriating snob doesn’t help.) But there’s still a killer on the loose, and as the case gets more complicated, Lizzie and Darcy may have to start working together to avoid becoming the next victims themselves.
A Thousand Heartbeats
by Kiera Cass
YA Fantasy Romance
No language, no sex, mild fantasy violence
I decided to give Kiera Cass’s latest stand-alone novel a try. It was a fun, clean read, though maybe not as good as The Selection.
Princess Annika has lived a life of comfort—but no amount of luxuries can change the fact that her life isn’t her own to control. The king, once her loving father, has gone cold, and Annika will soon be forced into a loveless marriage for political gain.
Miles away, small comforts are few and far between for Lennox. He has devoted his life to the Dahrainian army, hoping to one day help them reclaim the throne that was stolen from them. For Lennox, the idea of love is merely a distraction—nothing will stand in the way of fighting for his people.
But when love, against all odds, finds them both, they are bound by its call. They can’t possibly be together—but the irresistible thrum of a thousand heartbeats won’t let them stay apart.
Calculated
by Nova McBee
YA Contemporary Thriller
No language, no sex, mild violence
I totally enjoyed this thriller by Nova McBee!
In seventeen-year-old Jo River’s complicated world of numbers, there’s no such thing as coincidence. When she is betrayed by someone she loves, kidnapped by the world’s most wanted smuggler, and forced to use her talent to shore up a criminal empire, Jo deems her gift a curse—until she meets Red.
Fellow captive and unlikely sage, Red teaches Jo to harness her true potential, so she can do more than just escape. Before he dies, Red reveals a secret about her enemies and makes her vow to right his wrongs. But Jo has a vow of her own. With help from Chan, a bitter billionaire, and Kai, his off-limits son, Jo rises into a new role, ready to take down those who ruined her life. Until a mathematical error comes back to haunt her with a threat much more dangerous than the criminals on the loose.
To beat the odds, Jo must decide who she really is and if risking everything is worth it.
Recruit of Talionis
by C.J. Milacci
YA Dystopian
This book is on my to-be-read list and was recommended as a clean read.
Seventeen-year-old Bria Averton grew up in a small town of survivors near the ruins of Portland, Maine. It’s all she’s ever known — until she’s kidnapped along with hundreds of other teens and brought to the city of Talionis. A city no one knew existed.
The soldiers tell them the intense trainings are for the good of the survivors, and Bria resists being forced into a new life as a recruited soldier. But she soon finds the dangers in the city are greater than she imagined.
Escape is impossible, and Bria fears drowning in the evil of the city… and the guilt from her own past. But can she find hope, even here?
The Uncertainty of Fire
by Stephanie Daniels
YA Historical Romance
This book is on my to-be-read list and was recommended as a clean read.
Chicago, 1871. A public blunder potentially ruins sixteen-year-old Whimsy Greathart’s chances for a future courtship. Agreeing to her parent’s matchmaking plan might be the only way to pursue what she really wants–exposing Chicago’s child labor practices. But when she leads her family into danger on the night of the Great Fire, her focus shifts to survival. She overcomes hardship with the help of a shy preacher’s son and a big-dreaming newsboy, but which young man will hold a home for her heart?
Writing Update
Confession: the draft I’m working on for the second book in the Chronicles of the Marked series has given me fits! My initial idea was for this series to be a trilogy, but as I worked out the intricate details, I realized the second and third books would be so much stronger as one story. So I completely reworked my outline, meshed my ideas together, and took the series from a trilogy to a duology. I’m so happy with how it’s working out! If you’ve read This Dreamer, you know my secondary character’s storyline was inspired by Joseph and the coat of many colors. As planned, book two’s secondary character is inspired by Queen Esther, but you can also expect to see a bit of Samson in there. And, of course, Evie still needs to fulfill her destiny!
Please add Book Two on Goodreads!
Chocolate chip pumpkin muffins – a fun family tradition
Fun fact: my daughter and I have made chocolate chip pumpkin muffins every Wednesday since she was in kindergarten. She’s fourteen now! These muffins may sound like a fall thing to you, but it’s not at our house! Baking year-round has become a fun weekly tradition. Now that she’s older, she sometimes makes them on her own since they’re a request at school, and she now makes 150 mini-muffins every week! It’s a time commitment! My husband and I told her she should start selling them—especially with the price of eggs (can I get an amen!?).
Anyway, the recipe must be good because everyone loves them. With her permission, I’m sharing it with you:
Chocolate Chip Pumpkin Muffins
3/4 cup sugar
1/4 cup vegetable oil
2 eggs
about half a can of pumpkin
1/4 cup water
1 cup white flour
1/2 cup whole wheat flour
3/4 teaspoon baking powder
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 teaspoon ground cloves
1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1/4 teaspoon salt
1/4 teaspoon ground nutmeg
1/2 cup semisweet mini chocolate chips
Directions:
- Preheat the oven to 400 degrees F. Grease muffin pan.
- Mix sugar, oil, and eggs. Add pumpkin and water. Then add baking flour, baking soda, baking powder, spices, and salt. Stir in chocolate chips.
- Fill muffin cups 2/3 full and bake in a preheated oven for 20 to 25 minutes.
That’s it for now. I hope you are enjoying your spring! Please follow me on Facebook, Instagram, and Pinterest if you don’t already!
Thank you so much for your support!
-Sara