The Christmas Town by Donna VanLiere

The Christmas Town by Donns Van Liere 228 pages I am almost finished with this series, and I really like it. But I have to say, this is the first one I thought was a little "corny". I love the way the characters from previous books show up in the different stories, but this one did not seem realistic and I "figured out" the story in the first chapter. Not much suspense or surprise in this book. But I will keep reading the series until I finish it even though Christmas is over! "Lauren Gabriel spent many years of her childhood in foster homes, wishing her mother would come back for her and be the family she needs. Now twenty-years-old, she still longs for a place that she can truly call home. Her work as a cashier is unfulfilling, and at Christmas it's unbearable with the songs and carols and chatter of Christmas that she hears throughout the day. When Lauren ends her shift one night, she finds herself driving aimlessly in order to avoid returning to her lonely apartment. And when she witnesses a car accident she is suddenly pulled into the small town of Grandon, first as a witness but then as a volunteer for the annual fundraiser for Glory's Place, a center for single mothers and families who need assistance. Could this town and its people be the home she has always longed for?

Shifting by Bethany Wiggins

Shifting by Bethany Wiggins, 353 pages

18 year old Magdalene Mae has found herself tossed, once again, out of the current foster home she was in and placed in the care of her Social Worker's mother. Her long lists of arrests for nudity follow in her wake, but how does Magdalene explain it's because of her shifting during a full moon. Lately, though, her gift has been unpredictable and she is finding herself starting to change in the most inopportune moments. (Like during track practice.)
However, she finds her newest foster home in the tiny town of Silver City, New Mexico quite welcoming and a fresh new start -- if not for the school where she is bullied endlessly. She has landed her first job and now that she's on the cusp of adulthood, she is hoping that everything goes her way. Unfortunately, things start heading for the worse just as they started getting better. To complicate everything is the unwavering attention from high school popular rich kid - Bridger O'Connell. Bridger has a few secrets hiding as well and some could very well spell the end of Magdalene's life.