"The Summer of Rice Candy" by Debbie Viguié

About this book:

  “The summer before college Candace discovers a brand new World.

   It’s the summer before her Freshman year of college and Candace Thompson is off to Zone World in Florida. There she discovers a world of firsts as she navigates life away from home, discovers the ins-and-outs of sharing a dorm room with a roommate, finds herself confronted by hostile people at a college orientation, preps for the resort’s summer games, and meets new personalities and challenging situations at her latest job selling rice candy. Everything and everyone she encounters will test her in ways she could never imagined as she struggle to find her place in the World.”

Series: Book #5 in “Sweet Seasons” series. (Reviews of Book #1 Here! Book #2 Here! and Book #3 Here!, and Book #4 Here!)

Spiritual Content- ‘H’s are capitalized when referring to God; Mentions of God; A few mentions of prayers & praying; A couple mentions of monks; A mention of church. 

 

 

Negative Content- Minor cussing including: a ‘gosh’, a ‘stupid’, two ‘dumb’s, two ‘idiot’s, and two ‘shoot’s; Some eye rolling & sarcasm; Pain, Injuries, & Blood/Bleeding (up to semi-detailed); Mentions of a person trying to attack others, injuries, & blood/bleeding; Mentions of a plot to kidnap a child & ransom; Mentions of alcohol (a comedy club in Zone World limits adults to two alcoholic beverages per evening) & a bartenders; A few mentions of criminals, shoplifting, & stealing; A few mentions of catty girls and their rude/mean comments towards Candace; A few mentions of lies & lying; A few mentions of cheating; A few mentions of throwing up & vomit; A couple mentions of jealousy; A couple mentions of rumors;

             *Note: A couple mentions of brand name clothing.

 

 

Sexual Content- A not-detailed kiss and a barely-above-not-detailed kisses; A ting bit of noticing muscles (not-detailed at all); Blushes; Mentions of a female teacher telling a group of students that (for women) they need to be very aware of sexual assault & that guys are biologically a predator (she comes across as very anti-men and Candace speaks up that that’s sexism and paranoia. Candace gives better tips on how to protect yourself while not being distrustful of everyone you meet); Mentions of boyfriends/girlfriends, exes, & dating; Mentions of flirting, being checked out, blushes, & cute guys; Having a boyfriend, being in love, & the emotions.

 

-Candace Thompson

                                P.O.V. of Candace

                                                        198 pages

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Pre Teens-

New Teens-

Early High School Teens-

Older High School Teens-

My personal Rating-

This series just makes me so tickled. It reminds me why I adore (Christian) contemporary YA books. I was so excited to learn that the author self-published this fifth book as I really enjoyed the prior books of the series and I can’t help but hope there will be more books to come. (Pleeeaaasseee, dear author???) I would have preferred a more faith content, but it did have a bit and was overall clean.

 

 

See y’all on Friday with a new review! 

 

*BFCG may (Read the review to see) recommend this book by this author. It does not mean I recommend all the books by this author.

 

"The Spring of Candy Apples" by Debbie Viguié

About this book:

  “They’re fun! They’re quirky! They’re Sweet Seasons—unlike any other girls’ books you’ve ever read. You could call them alternative, God-honoring chick lit. Join Candy Thompson on a sweet, lighthearted, and honest romp through the friendships, romances, family, school, faith, and values that make a girl’s lie as full as it can be.
  It’s the end of Candace’s senior year, and life’s getting sticky.
  A promotion to The Zone’s Candy Counter means Candace gets to create gooey treats all day long. She is a finalist for The Zone’s college scholarship (Florida anyone?), things with Kurt are getting really weird, and she’s bothered by all the questions about her future. Not unlike the challenge of making candy apples, Candace struggles to resist getting stuck and believe in what is truly at her core.”


Series: Book #4 (of four) in “Sweet Seasons” series. (Reviews of Book #1 Here! Book #2 Here! and Book #3 Here!)

Spiritual Content- Prayers; Witnessing; A couple Scriptures are quoted; Church going; Set during Spring/Easter & there are crosses around the park (also with rabbits and eggs); Talks about God having a plan & telling someone; ‘H’ are not capital when referring to God; Mentions of Church, Youth Group, Sunday School, & Bible studies; A few mentions of those in the Bible. 

            *Note: A few mentions of it being weird to eat deviled eggs on Good Friday.

Negative Content- Minor cussing including: an ‘oh my gosh’, a form of ‘suck’, a form of ‘wimpy’, two ‘wicked’s, four ‘stupid’s and five forms of ‘idiot’; Sarcasm & Eye rolling; Mentions of hatred & jealousy; Mentions of rumors; A couple mentions of throwing up; 

            *Note: A few mentions of movies, actors, & celebrities; A couple mentions of car brands.

Sexual Content- a cheek kiss, two not-detailed kisses and three barely-above-not-detailed kisses; Blushes; In a play, Candace plays a character who is a prostitute (Man of La Mancha); a form ‘hot’; Mentions of kissing; Mentions of jealousy; Boys, boyfriends, exes, crushes, dating, & all the drama; 

            *Note: A (teasing) mention of a polygamist; A few mention of freezing a girl’s bra & underwear (teasing); A mention of a hysterectomy; Candace wears shorts, tank tops & bikinis.

-Candace Thompson, age 18
                                        P.O.V. of Candace
                                                        187 pages

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Pre Teens-

New Teens-

Early High School Teens-

Older High School Teens-

My personal Rating-

Confession: I’m never been to an amusement park expect a Six Flags when I was much younger (and I swear I was *this* close to drowning on that water log ride). So, this series was a fun taste (see what I did there? ;) ) of behind the scenes of a park. I’m really sad this is the last book in the “Sweet Seasons” series, as this one was definitely my favorite and makes me wish there was more! I was actually semi-okay with the dating stuff in “The Spring of Candy Apples” since I’ve shipped that couple since Book #1. The secret from the first book is also revealed in this final book and I totally approve of it. I really would like a sequel series or a novella…anything! ;)

See y’all on Monday with a new review!

*BFCG may (Read the review to see) recommend this book by this author. It does not mean I recommend all the books by this author.