Kimberly Joy Peters

Reviewed by Monica Sheffo for TeensReadToo.com

Still reeling from her abusive relationship with her ex, Tyler, Caitlyn is struggling to regain normalcy in her life. But when the opportunity arises for her to travel to Quebec on a French language exchange, she reluctantly takes it.

With her friend, Connor, by her side and a new host family, can Caitlyn heal the scars of her past, and find the courage to look towards the future?

Kimberly Joy Peters' talent is showcased once more in this heartwarming sequel to the novel PAINTING CAITLYN. Readers will sympathize with Caitlyn as she navigates the rough waters of new love and the heartbreak from her past. This novel is unique and good to the last drop.… (más)

You've heard the expression, "Just when you think you have life all figured out, fate steps in and laughs..." The main character of this story would tend to agree with this statement. Ashley has her life all planned out - at least for the next year or so, but then her ultra-popular boyfriend dumps her and her plans don't seem as "planned" anymore. Ashley must pick things up and decide what her next step will be. And the next step? Well, let's just say it's not something Ashley would have ever imagined. Kimberly Peters has written a coming-of-age story that doesn't involve gratuitous sex or bad language, but does feature a female character with a great deal of determination and spunk. The voice is great. The plot - though perhaps not the most realistic - probably could happen.… (más)

Reviewed by Cana Rensberger for TeensReadToo.com

Remember your first serious relationship? The breathless excitement, nervousness, and giddiness that comes when you realize that he likes you? Caitlyn can't believe how lucky she is.

She first meets Tyler at an amusement park, in the splash pool. The attraction is immediate and mutual, and the timing couldn't be better. Her best friend, Ashley, is totally engrossed in Brandon, her boyfriend of eight months. And at home, she feels less than invisible. The latest insult is moving to the basement so her room can be turned into a nursery. Her mother and stepfather are finally going to have their perfect baby, a baby they've been trying for for years. It seems they've forgotten that Caitlyn even exists.

At first, Caitlyn convinces herself that she's not changing. She's doing what every other girl does who wants to be with her boyfriend. If she really loves him, she should try to please him, right? She ignores the inner voices that wonder why she's not talking to Ashley about her relationship with Tyler. She lets Tyler talk her into doing things that she would never have considered before. When she realizes that she can't paint a smiling self-portrait she begins to look beyond the euphoria of new love and finds support and forgiveness from her family and friends.

Teen feelings of being alive and loved, truly loved, for the first time, mixed with the uncertainty, stubbornness, and incredibly strong desire to please, are vividly portrayed in this debut novel. Ms. Peters does a beautiful job of immersing the reader in the heady feeling of young love. PAINTING CAITLYN was a very enjoyable read.… (más)