Christina Courtenay Books for Young Adults
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Sometimes I want a break from all the research needed to write historical novels so occasionally I allow myself 'time out' to write some contemporary YA stories. The New England series is the result.
This series is set in the fictional town of Northbrooke, New Hampshire, USA, and features characters who move from the UK to the US for various reasons and end up attending Northbrooke High, the local high school. They soon find out about the differences between our two countries, but they also learn that living abroad can be great fun! Especially if, along the way, you find love…
New England Rocks
Published by Choc LitFirst impressions, how wrong can you get?
When Rain Mackenzie is expelled from her British boarding school, she can't believe her bad luck. Not only is she forced to move to New England, USA, she's also sent to the local high school, as a punishment.
Rain makes it her mission to dislike everything about Northbrooke High, but what she doesn't bank on is meeting Jesse Devlin… Jesse is the hottest guy Rain's ever seen and he plays guitar in an awesome rock band!
There's just one small problem … Jesse already has a girlfriend, little miss perfect Amber Lawrence, who looks set to cause trouble as Rain and Jesse grow closer.
But, what does it matter? New England sucks anyway, and Rain doesn't plan on sticking around… Does she?
New England Crush
Independently PublishedCrushing on the wrong boy, why does it feel so right?
Raven Mackenzie has finally settled into her posh British boarding school when her parents decide she has to attend an American high school for a year just because her older sister enjoyed it - so unfair!
Being a newcomer is never easy, but to her surprise she's befriended by a group of Goths. She's teased about her accent and English ways by others, but with the support of friends it's easy to cope. In fact, everything would be perfect if she wasn't crushing on the one boy she can't have - a jock whose current girlfriend will fight for him by fair means or foul (well, mostly foul!)
Liam Donnelly is easy-going and has never given much thought to his friends' cliquey behaviour. But when new girl Raven quite literally falls into his arms, and his friends do everything they can to keep them apart, he starts to wonder - what's up with that?
New England TLC
Independently PublishedShy girl. Bad boy. Heading for heartache or tlc?
Kerrie Lanyon's world collapses when her parents are killed in a horrific car crash. With no relatives to turn to, she gratefully accepts an offer from her godfather, Sir Anthony, to spend some time with his family in the US.
Sir Anthony's daughter, Raven, is attending the high school in the little New England town where they live and Kerrie agrees to do the same. Having spent most of her life at an all-girls boarding school run by nuns, however, she has no idea how to interact with boys - especially gorgeous badass ones like Axel Ohlsen. Is the flutter he causes inside her embarrassment or something else?
Axel has an on-off girlfriend, but is intrigued and attracted by Kerrie's sadness and vulnerability. He wants to make her smile again, even though he knows it's none of his business. Can he help heal her? Or will his on-off girlfriend throw a spanner in the works? And will Kerrie let him?
New England Dreams
Independently PublishedWhen opposites attract, can dreams come true?
Staying in New England for a few months is just what Sienna Randall needs after all the family problems she's been dealing with at home in London. The last thing she's expecting is romance, so it's a total surprise when she ends up kissing a guy she meets on the flight.
Kyle Everett is Sienna's complete opposite - he's clean-cut and over-polished, she has piercings and pink dreads. But he can't resist making out with her. He is, after all, Northbrooke High's number one player. Except Sienna's different from other girls. He's definitely expecting to see her again - until they're separated by irate airline officials before he can get her number.
Then fate throws them together once more, but when Sienna turns up in Kyle's homeroom, neither admits to having met before. The chemistry between them is still there though - should they let it have free rein or should the attraction stay in their dreams?