Romantic Reads for Summer: The Kiss of Deception, #Scandal, The Bridge from Me to You

Three popular young adult authors are back with  romantic reads that are perfect for summer escape. Mary E. Pearson's (The Jenna Fox Trilogy)  The Kiss of Deception is the first book in her new Remnant Chronicles trilogy. Sarah Ockler's (Twenty Boy Summer, The Book of Broken Hears)   #Scandal cautions teens about the dangers of social media. And in alternating chapters of prose and verse,  Lisa Schroeder's (Chasing Brooklyn, I Heart You, You Haunt Me) The Bridge from Me to You follows the story of two troubled  teens who together find the strength to deal with their problems. 

The Kiss of Deception introduces Princess Lia, who flees from an arranged marriage, which would secure an alliance with a neighboring kingdom.  She travels with her maid to a distant village, hoping to find a new life as a commoner.  When two strangers arrive, she finds herself attracted to both of them.  Little does she know that one is her jilted fiancee and the other is an assassin who was sent to kill her. Naive and headstrong, Lia always seems to leap before she looks, which, of course, spells trouble.  The romance and mysticism, along with the nonstop action, makes this a must read for fantasy fans.  I am looking forward to the sequel The Heart of Betrayal, which comes out in 2015.

#Scandal weaves a cautionary tale about social media into a familiar tale about a girl who falls for her best friend's boyfriend. Lucy has been the third wheel in Cole and Ellie's relationship since freshman year. When Ellie claims to have the flu and asks Lucy to go to prom with Cole, she has no idea that  Lucy is in love with him, and he is attracted to her as well. Prom night revelations abound when someone steals Lucy's phone and photographs many of the revelers' indiscretions, including Cole and Lucy kissing, at an after prom party. The thief posts them on Lucy's Facebook page, as well as submits them to an online blogger's scandal contest. By Monday morning Lucy has been branded a back stabber and a narc.  She turns to members of eVIL, a school group battling the problems with modern technology, to help her find the perpetrator and clear her name. This engaging read points out the dangers of smart phones with unprotected access to social media sites, as well as explores issues of honesty in friendship. I'm a Sarah Ockler fan and this book does not disappoint.

Those of you familiar with Lisa Schroeder's novels-in-verse will enjoy her latest offering, The Bridge Between Me and You.. Lauren has been sent to live with relatives by her abusive mother, separating her from the little brother she loves.  Colby is struggling to convince his football loving father that he is done with sports once high school is over.  When they meet at the local convenience store, they are immediately attracted to each other. However, their romance barely gets off the ground when Colby’s best friend is seriously injured in a motorcycle accident and Lauren’s past begins to overwhelm her. As they struggle to deal with their problems, they turn to each other for love and support.  The novel-in-verse format makes for a quick satisfying read. It will be available July 29th.