Tessa Emily Hall

My Review:

Genre: Non-fiction, devotional.

My Rating: 5 Stars.

Recommendation: Every girl who does or doesn't need a devotional!

My thoughts: I requested this from NetGalley AND got it for my birthday! Well, anyway I haven't read all of the devos yet, but I had to share my review! This is the best devotional I've found/read before and perfect for any girl (Even if she doesn't like coffee like me!) They are short devos, that makes me think about the lesson, and I didn't forget it right after I read it like most devotionals I've read. And I hope you'll check it out!

(I received this book from NetGalley for my honest review and I am truly happy to provide it!)… (plus d'informations)

Being a teen was hard enough 30 years ago when I landed in that demographic. Add in the advent of cell phones and social media, and teenage girls are bombarded with videos, photos, and comments from friends, role models, celebrities, and complete strangers. Is it any wonder so many struggle with self-worth?

In Love Your Selfie, Tessa Emily Hall gets real with teenage girls. The devotional is divided into four parts that will challenge them to discover their identities and embrace their uniqueness. Using scripture as a foundation for each chapter in the book as well as some personal anecdotes, she encourages young women to reflect on each week’s using the journal portion of the devotional as well as prayer then act on what they’ve learned through DIY projects, self-care tips, quizzes, and more.

With topics like insecurity, shame, anxiety, becoming followers of Christ, modesty, body image, discernment, and direction, something in Love Your Selfie will resonate with all of its readers. The book is bound to create some thought-provoking moments for the teenage girl in your life, but I think it would also work in a small group to generate some discussion and help each member see they are not alone on the journey.

Disclosure statement: I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book and was not required to write a positive review. All opinions are my own.… (plus d'informations)

I don't read a whole lot of contemporary fiction, but almost every time I do I wonder why I don't. One of my favorite things about books is that they transport you to a different place, and with contemporary fiction that place is often somewhere you feel like you could actually have a chance of going, particularly when that place is written well. Lake Lure was definitely written well. Tessa did a wonderful job of capturing the inviting atmosphere of Brewer's coffee shop, the mixture of fun and nervousness in Mr. Lovett's class, the almost-emptiness of the Huitt home. But what really brought these settings to life wasn't the settings themselves or the descriptions Tessa used. What brought these settings to life was the characters that inhabited them.

I tend to have no particular love for main characters--I'm not sure why. I think it's just a quirk of mine--but Selena was engaging to me. I felt like her anxiety could have been explored a bit more deeply, and the feelings that related to her past issues, but overall I was able to enjoy her character and see what made her tick. Plus, there were times I related to her in really specific ways, which happens very rarely.

Austin was wonderful. He was written very well, and I loved how Tessa brought out his personality and his values through the way he treated the other characters. (That birthday scene near the end... I just loved him all the more after that.) He's almost exactly what I look for in a guy in real life.

Madaleigh was also great. I loved her personality, her passion for art and for Christ, her view on brokenness... She was possibly my favorite character. (I'm slightly bummed she wasn't a bigger part of the last few chapters of the book.) Her friendship with Selena was one of my favorite things about the book.

I'll stop there with the characters, since I could comment on almost every one of them, and just say that all of the characters were wonderfully done. They were all incredibly distinct and engaging and sharp, and I even enjoyed reading the less likable characters because they were still so well-written. (Except Richard. No amount of good writing could make me enjoy reading about him.)

The plot and theme were also well-done. (Almost no part of this book wasn't well-done.) The theme was woven throughout the whole story beautifully, and the conclusion was mostly satisfying. I wish the bulk of the book had included more references to Christ and finding peace in Him, I felt like it was a little light-handed for a lot of the book, but the pieces nearer the end struck a good balance for me. (Again, the birthday scene. I loved that scene so much.) I felt like the beginning of the book had a lot of references to how Selena's life had changed the summer before and not so much showing that change. I also feel like Selena had too easy a time finding peace in God near the end (I say this as a Christian who struggles with trusting God and finding peace in Him); I'm not sure I've ever seen a real-life Christian find it so easy to place things in God's hands, so I feel like that transition was a little too smooth. But that could be a character difference between me and Selena.

Overall, I think Fallen Leaves is definitely worthy of five stars. It's a beautiful book, inside and out, and very well-written.… (plus d'informations)

Selena Taylor deals with the typical teenage struggles—a new school, figuring whether the boy she likes feels the same about her, and a new job. But she also has some much larger issues to contend with, including her new relationship with Christ, a mother in rehab, and a search for the father and brother she hasn’t seen in eight years.

While Selena steps out of her comfort zone and embraces courage in her artwork and her job, she is a bit too passive in a couple other areas. Specifically, where her mother and friend Austin are concerned.

Tessa Emily Hall writes and authentic teenage girl over a few months of navigating new areas of her life. Selena is learning to trust that God has the best in mind for her, even when that doesn’t look the way she wishes it did.

The emotions are raw, some relationships are on uneven ground, and the journey is paved with many twists, potholes, and a few U-turns.

This is the second book in the Purple moon series (and I suggest reading the first as I felt a little out of the loop or wanted more details regarding some of the past situations mentioned in Fallen Leaves). At the same time, I’m crossing my fingers for another book featuring Selena and friends. While this one had a satisfying ending, there were several questions left unanswered when the final page was turned.

Disclosure statement:
I receive complimentary books from publishers, publicists, and/or authors, including NetGalley. I am not required to write positive reviews. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255.… (plus d'informations)