2016 INSPY Award Winners!

So, since I fell off the face of the galaxy, hopefully you have seen this already! At the end of June, the INSPY award winners were announced! 

As a judge of Literature for Young Adults AND a fan of Jody Hedlund, I am proud to say her book 'An Uncertain Choice' was a hands-down winner. I've bragged about that read here on the blog before, but all the books in the category were great reads, Only one nomination was new to me, 'The Choosing' by Rachelle Dekker and I hope to share about that intriguing book here on the blog soon!

As for the rest of the categories, check them out HERE. Some fantastic books were read, reviewed, and chosen by readers and bloggers such as yourself. These are the book published in 2015 that NEED to be on your bookshelves. There are several I need to read still myself! So off I go....

Happy reading friends! :) 

INSPY Shortlists 2016

If you've been following the INSPYs (which you totally should be), you'll see they announced the shortlists at the beginning of the month.

Yours truly *waves* is a judge for Literature for Young Adults, as I was last year. I'm super excited to be apart of something so great, and fun!

The short lists contain some SPECTACULAR books that I can't imagine how all my fellow judges will choose a final winner!

So this is your PSA, friends. Check out the shortlists HERE or read more about me and my fellow judges HERE. Or even check out last year's winners right HERE.

Off to get reading <3

See anything on the shortlists you already love? Adding anything to your TBR??

Storm Siren {INSPY Review}

Storm Siren by Mary Weber

Storm Siren Trilogy Book #1

Visit the Author's website HERE

Publisher: Thomas Nelson

Publishing Date: August 19, 2014

Goodreads Summary:

“I raise my chin as the buyers stare. Yes. Look. You don’t want me. Because, eventually, accidentally, I will destroy you.”

In a world at war, a slave girl’s lethal curse could become one kingdom’s weapon of salvation. If the curse—and the girl—can be controlled.

As a slave in the war-weary kingdom of Faelen, seventeen-year-old Nym isn’t merely devoid of rights, her Elemental kind are only born male and always killed at birth — meaning, she shouldn’t even exist.

Standing on the auction block beneath smoke-drenched mountains, Nym faces her fifteenth sell. But when her hood is removed and her storm-summoning killing curse revealed, Nym is snatched up by a court advisor and given a choice: be trained as the weapon Faelen needs to win the war, or be killed.

Choosing the former, Nym is unleashed into a world of politics, bizarre parties, and rumors of an evil more sinister than she’s being prepared to fight . . . not to mention the handsome trainer whose dark secrets lie behind a mysterious ability to calm every lightning strike she summons.

But what if she doesn’t want to be the weapon they’ve all been waiting for?

Set in a beautifully eclectic world of suspicion, super abilities, and monsters, Storm Siren is a story of power. And whoever controls that power will win

Destined for Doon {INSPY Review}

Destined for Doon by Carey Corp and Lorie Langdon

Doon #2

Visit the series Website HERE

Publisher: Blink

Publishing Date: September 2nd, 2014

Goodreads Summary:

In this sequel to Doon, Kenna Reid realizes she made a horrible mistake-choosing to follow her dreams of Broadway instead of staying in the enchanted land of Doon. Worse, she's received proof she and Duncan are meant to be, along with torturous visions of the prince she left behind. So when Duncan shows up and informs Kenna that Doon needs her, she doesn't need to think twice. But even if Kenna can save the enchanted kingdom, her happily ever after may still be in peril.

The Doon novels are a part of Blink, HarperCollins Christian Publishing's new YA imprint that delivers empowering and heartening literature while maintaining a tradition of imaginative and impactful storytelling.

Seasons of Wonder {INSPY Review}

Season of Wonder by Lisa T. Bergren

Remnants #1

Visit the Author's Website HERE

Publisher: Zondervan

Publishing Date: April 8, 2014

Goodreads Summary:

THEIR ARRIVAL WAS FORETOLD FOR YEARS . . .

Andriana is a Remnant, gifted as an empath and one of the Ailith, destined to act as humanity’s last shield against the horrors that now plague those who remain.

After years of training in stealth and warfare, Andriana and her Knight protector, Ronan, are finally ready to answer the Call and begin the life they were designed for. But as they embark with the other Remnants on the first of their assignments, they quickly discover that the world beyond their protected Valley is more dangerous than they imagined.

The Sons of Sheol will stop at nothing to prevent Dri and Ronan from rescuing anyone sympathetic to the Remnants’ cause. And as the Remnants battle the demonic forces, still other enemies close in. Dangers intensity, but so do Dri’s feelings for Ronan–the one emotion she is not meant to feel. In the midst of their mission, Andriana must find a way to master her feelings. Or risk compromising everything . . .

Jupiter Winds {INSPY Review}

Jupiter Winds by C.J. Darlington

Visit the Author's Website HERE

Publisher: Mountainview Books, LLC

Publishing Date: May 15, 2014

Goodreads Summary:

In 2160, a teenager becomes the bait to capture her missing revolutionary parents she thinks are long dead.

Grey Alexander has one goal—to keep herself and her younger sister Orinda alive. Not an easy feat living unconnected in the North American Wildlife Preserve, where they survive by smuggling contraband into the Mazdaar government's city zones. If the invisible electric border fence doesn't kill them, a human-like patrol drone could.

When her worst fear comes true, Grey questions everything she thought she knew about life, her missing parents, and God. Could another planet, whose sky swirls with orange vapors and where extinct-on-Earth creatures roam free, hold the key to reuniting her family?

INSPY 2015 Award Winners!

I can't believe that after all that fun and great reading, I forgot to post the INSPY Award winners for 2015! The announcement went live on June 30th and hopefully you have already seen the results. First, for the category I was judging the winner was:

Literature for Young Adult: Storm Siren (Thomas Nelson) by Mary Weber:

INSPY Shortlists 2015

The INSPY shortlists have been announced!! Check out all the lists HERE. Here is the short list for Literature for Young Adults:

Remnants: Season of Wonder by Lisa T. Bergren

Storm Siren by Mary Weber

Blur by Steven James

Destined for Doon by Carey Corp & Lorie Langdon

Jupiter Winds by C.J. Darlington

I can't wait to start diving in! I'm going to have to buy myself some new sticky notes ;)

INSPYs Literature for Young People Judge

Is this a dream come true or what? I've been selected to be a judge in the upcoming INSPY Awards! I'm judging the category Literature for Young People!! Could that be any more fantastic??

I really think the INSPY Awards are fantastic. For bloggers, by bloggers, even the books are nominated by bloggers. It is an inspiration to see the community coming together to honor fantastic authors and their works.

Watch for the shortlist announcement April 30th!

-For more information about the INSPYs, check it out HERE

-Meet the other judges in my category and others HERE