Last day for July GRaB

Good morning, blogosphere!

Just a quick reminder that today is the last day of July, so if you want to make any last-minute comments on this month's book reviews - do so TODAY 'cause tomorrow I'm tallying up entries!

Also, don't forget that Aerin also hosts a GRaB on her blog In Search Of Giants and, unless I am mistaken, will be selected TWO winners this month.

If you don't know what GRaB is, you can go here or there to find out more!

And, just because I'm in a cheerful mood as I post this, here's Good Morning, Baltimore from Hairspray because sometimes I wake up and that is the first thing that pops in my head :D

BkRv: Bye, bye, black birdie

Book Review: The Sweetness At The Bottom Of The Pie by Alan Bradley

Mystery | Murder

First Line (ARC): It was as black in the closet as old blood. They had shoved me in and locked the door.

Rating: 4 - Quite a dainty dish to set before a king!

I have had this book forever (well, for the past several months) and started to read it in June, left it to collect dust for a while, and then finally picked it back up last week to finish it and find out whodunit and why.

Don't let her youthfulness fool you, she may be eleven years old, but you'd be smart to watch what you drink and eat around Flavia de Luce. Annoy her enough, and she may steal your chapstick, mix uroshiol (poison ivy) into it, and take notes as she watches for your lips to balloon most unbecomingly. But Flavia already has 2 older sisters to use as guinea pigs, so you'll probably be safe from her experiments for a little while longer.

Nothing exciting ever happens in Buckshaw, much less at the de Luce residence. That is, until a dead jack snipe is discovered on their doorstep. A bright orange stamp has been stuck onto its beak. It must be for Flavia's stamp-collecting father, but usually the stamps arrive through more conventional means. Then a visitor comes to the house, and Flavia overhears her father arguing with said man. And to top it all, Flavia stumbles across said stranger in the gardens the next morning who tells her farewell in Latin and breathes his last before her eyes.

From page 28 (ARC)
I wish I could say my heart was stricken, but it wasn't. I wish I could say my instinct was to run away, but that would not be true. Instead, I watched in awe, savoring every detail: the fluttering fingers, the almost imperceptible bronze metallic cloudiness that appeared on the skin, as if, before my very eyes, it were being breathed upon by death.

And then utter stillness.

I wish I would say I was afraid, but I wasn't. Quite the contrary. This was by far the most interesting thing that had ever happened to me in my entire life.

Everything screams foul play, and Flavia gets to put her wits to the test as she tries to get to the bottom of this. Who was this man? How did he know her father? Why did he die in the gardens? Who killed him? How did the dead bird end up on their doorstep, and what did it all mean? She pokes her nose all over Buckshaw, asking questions and collecting evidence, trying to keep ahead of the official detectives on the case in hopes of showing them up. However, the more she learns, the deeper in trouble Flavia gets...

The Sweetness At The Bottom Of The Pie was a pretty decent mystery - I did not see the ending by a long shot. Sure, I figured Flavia would probably solve the case, but the final reveal caught me off-guard. I kept on guessing the who and the what happened all throughout the book, and I was not even close!

The one thing I had trouble with was the incongruity between Flavia's age and rather extensive knowledge of chemistry. The narration obviously reflected her genius, but I had a hard time believing that she was really that smart, that much of a chemistry geek who gets excited by the number of carbons and can identify chemicals by smell.

From page 102
The Thirteen Drakes, Mrs. Mullet had once told me, was given its name in the eighteenth century by a landlord who simply counted up twelve other licensed Drakes in nearby villages and added another.

Why not something of practical value, like the Thirteen Carbon Atoms, for instance? Something that could be used as a memory aid? There were thirteen carbon atoms in tridecyl, whose hydride was marsh gas. What a jolly useful name for a pub!

Adorable, but hard to swallow. Most likely because, when I was 11, I had not had the privilege of meeting the periodic table yet.

But once you get over the fact that she is an 11-year-old genius and simply enjoy her matter-of-fact narration, the rest is great! I think any mystery-lover would enjoy meeting this new amateur detective and observing her antics in sleuthing and displaying sisterly love.
---
Disclosure 10/7/09:
This is a review copy sent by a random LibraryThing member as part of the Member Giveaways.

Waiting on...Darklight (December 22, 2009)

The Book: Darklight
The Author: Lesley Livingston
The Publisher: HarperCollins
The When: December 22, 2009
The What About:

Darklight is the sequel to Wondrous Strange (which I just recently finished and really recommend to those who grew up with faeries and appreciate modern-day twists to age-old faerie lore - See review here). Quite a curious title - I'm not sure what to make of it yet...

No blurb available, but I assume that it picks up where Wondrous Strange leaves us and will immerse us in the beautiful but eerie and dangerous world of faeries once again as Kelley gets used to her true heritage.

And I really adore the cover for the sequel! It is even more breathtaking than the first one - with great improvement on the lighting - and may I just say the dress is to die-for?!

This WoW meme is courtesy of Jill @ Breaking the Spine

Teasing you with... bring it on

From bring it on by Laura Anne Gilman

Note: These are NOT random quotes that I flipped to without looking, but I thought they might pique some curiosity and make others crave a PB&J :)

First Line:
The demon in her kitchen was making a peanut butter and jelly sandwich.

From page 15:
" "Great. The entire lonejack community is freaking out over what might or might not be Council-directed attacks on them, the fatae are claiming that humans are targeting them, my love life is going seriously weird, and I'm getting slapped for self-pity by a four foot tall polar bear with attitude. Who has jelly in his fur." "

This Teaser Tuesday meme is courtesy of MizB @ Should Be Reading

BkRv: Girl spies on Boy, and Boy spies back?!

Book Review: The Gallagher Girl series by Ally Carter

YA | Girls | Series

• Cross My Heart And Hope To Spy Book 2
  

First Line: "Just be yourself," my mother said, as if that were easy. Which it isn't. Especially not when you're fifteen and don't know what language you're going to have to speak at lunch, or what name you'll have to use the next time you do a "project" for extra credit. Not when your nickname is "the Chameleon."

Rating: 4. Girl + Spy + Boy Spies?! = A Delightful Sequel

Belated apologies to anyone who participated in the discussion group a long, long time ago! It just was not going to happen - and it got hard to pace myself and wait another week (or day) to find out what happened next. I'm sure all of you can relate! :)

Cross My Heart And Hope To Spy picks up right where the first book ends - Cammie has had a whole break to reflect upon her break-up with Josh and endures a rigorous official interrogation about her relationship - or lack thereof. She may regret letting him go (and additionally having his memory modified), but Cammie tries to turn a new leaf and be a good Gallagher Girl. No more sneaking to secret tunnels and meeting normal Roseville boys.

From page 34
Our memories are the only weapons we take with us no matter where we go, but then I thought about the second part of his statement - Don't make things harder than they have to be. I thought about what I'd overheard the night before. The look in my mother's eyes on the long, quiet ride home. And finally...Josh. And then I realized that my life would be a whole lot easier if there were some things I could forget.

However, it is awfully hard to remain good when her "Chameleon" reputation remains legendary. Even among the boy spies who suddenly appear at the Gallagher Academy and threaten to turn all these highly-trained girl spies into giggly messes. Furthermore, it is hard to swear off boys when one boy spy - Zach - stubbornly tries to engage Cammie both flirtatiously and professionally.

It is hard for this "Chameleon" to change her colors, but Cammie manages just fine with some minor difficulties as her friends try to figure out why the school had a random CODE BLACK and if these boy spies are more good news than bad...

I loved how Ally Carter incorporated boy spies into the mix! While reading I'd Tell You I Love You, But Then I'd Have To Kill You, I got the impression that boy spies would probably pop up eventually, but I was not sure if there was a boy spy school. How they crashed into the girls' lives and arrived at the Academy proved to be amusing. It certainly created a dynamic boy vs. girl battle of wits.

I am not going to lie - as much as I hated to see Josh and Cammie apart, I truly dug Zach (Sidenote: I just have to get this off my chest - but I just love it when I spot my boyfriend's name (Zach) as the love interest!) and am now on Team Zach! Although Josh is still rather sweet, I think Zach is a better complement for Cammie, much better at understanding and even challenging her spy skills.

• Don't Judge A Girl By Her Cover Book 3
  

First Line: "We're moving." The man beside me spoke into the microphone in his sleeve, and I knew the words weren't for me.

Rating: 4. Once a spy, always a spy!

The 3rd installment takes Cammie, Macey, and the other Gallagher Girls to a whole new level of spy. Macey's father decides to carry out a presidential campaign, which means that Macey gets a whole Secret Service entourage wherever she goes. Which is laughable until there is a kidnapping attempt and Cammie and Macey barely escape!

From page 33
There were too many things to say, so I didn't press her. Instead I shifted and listened to the boards creak beneath my feet and thought about how our school had taught us how to get off that roof, but nothing in our exceptional education had told us what we were supposed to do next.

...I wanted to know who had done this and why and how.

And I wanted to believe that it was over, and those were the kinds of details that didn't matter now.

I wanted to take the greatest training I had ever received and learn from it, and be better because of it.

And I wanted it to stop being real.

Suddenly Operation: Keep Macey Safe is on everyone's agenda, but how do you explain to Secret Service that she goes to a school of girls who are exceptionally good spies? Simple, you don't. You just plant one of your own - in this case, Cammie's aunt - as the Secret Service agent on Macey's case while she attends her classes at the Gallagher Academy.

The Blackthorne Boys have long since moved on, but Zach still manages to pop up in the most suspicious circumstances. One minute he's flirting and ready to kiss Cammie, the next he may be tailing her incognito and having secret rendezvous with mysterious individuals.

From page 76
There are things spies often carry with them: pocket litter, fake IDs, the occasional weapon-slash-camera-slash-hair accessory. But the heaviest things, I think, are the secrets. They can drown you if they let them.

Is he still trustworthy? Are the Secret Service and Gallagher Girls enough to keep Macey safe?

Only time will tell, but most often danger comes sooner than later - and Cammie and her friends soon realize that being a spy can have grave consequences, even if you are exceptionally gifted.

I would say that Don't Judge A Girl By Her Cover gets a little more serious, although it was still a light and fun read. As the girls progress academically, they begin to realize that espionage is not a game - it truly is a matter of life or death, who is the better spy in the end. The nice feature of the 3rd book was that we got to see a little more of the adults and their illustrious spy pasts.

I cannot wait to see what Ally Carter has cooked up next for the Gallagher Girls, and I hope that it includes more of Zach and boy spies! They definitely have an air of mystery, even after the 3rd book, and I hope that things start to make better sense with the upcoming books!
---
Disclosure 10/7/09:
This has been bought with my hard-earned money.

Friday Features... Random Wedding Dance Number

Okay, so not book-related, but it certainly made my day! I mean, seriously, how fun is this wedding ceremony?! Sadly I'm not sure if I would have the kahunas to pull it off - I seriously think my parents would murder me - but I definitely expect some memorable dance numbers at the reception. And while I am not a fan of the tan color, I am all for the vests! Something more irresistable about them than a coat jacket.

Watch on YouTube - the Embed feature has been turned off :(

Teasing you with...The Darcys & The Bingleys

From page 47 of The Darcys & The Bingleys by Marsha Altman

"If you imagined that your betrothed has never done anything rash in his life, then you have no idea what he did to his aunt the evening before he proposed," Georgiana said.

"Really? You must tell me!"

"Well... I suppose I shouldn't, because I only heard it from Anne de Bourgh in later correspondence, but, apparently, when he heard from Lady Catherine that you had refused to swear you would never marry him, he made her repeat it several times, as if he had a hearing deficiency, before thanking her for aiding him in his quest to win your hand. She wouldn't stand for it, of course, so he left her alone in his London apartment while he rode off to Longbourn! In the middle of the night!" Georgiana giggled. "Somehow I imagine you can believe it."

This Teaser Tuesday meme is courtesy of MizB @ Should Be Reading

BkRv: She's going the distance, she's going for speed

Book Review: oh. my. gods. by Tera Lynn Childs

YA | Girls | Mythology | Series Book 1

First Line: When I'm running I can almost feel my dad at my side. He's been gone for nearly six years, but every time I lace up and slap sole to pavement I feel like he's right there. I can feel him talking about my inner strength and how I will be a world-class athlete when I grow up. That's part of why I love running - why I'm running right now, pushing myself a little harder than usual to win this race.

Rating: 4. OMG! I<3gods!

Originally I had a fondness for the tennis shoes across that very masculine Greek statue, but the winged tennis shoes with pink laces have a certain cutesy appeal that goes well with the book. Whichever cover you choose, you better be ready for the long haul - it's going to be a nice, fun jaunt!

Sure, Phoebe thinks that Greece would make a great vacation spot, but that does not mean she wants to leave her California paradise to live there! Yet she has no say in the matter: she will live in Greece with her mother with her new stepfather and stepsister. And not just any place in Greece, but a small and virtually insignificant island Serfopoula where her new stepfather also turns out to be her school headmaster and the internet is a myth. Can Phoebe's life get any weirder?

Page 33
Like I can suddenly decide that everything I've ever learned about the Greek gods is not just somem fluff story English teachers make you learn. No, it'll take more than Damian's say-so to move the Greek gods from the fairy-tale land of Santa Claus, werewolves, and Cinderella into everyday reality. But even if I'm not a believer in "alternative realities," as Nola calls them, I'm willing to keep an open mind. Sure, I'll believe they're real. Just as soon as I see one...

The answer, of course, is yes, indeed it can. Phoebe soon finds out that gods do indeed exist and she has to go to school with their offspring. Which brings cliques and high school athletics to a whole new playing field that borders on unfair. All Phoebe wants is to keep her all-star track record in order to score a full-ride to USC, but how can she compete with her new classmates who can magically tie her shoelaces together whenever they please? Especially if the evildoer is a rather cute boy named Griffin who is a descendent of Heracles...

Page 36
"I hope you're ready for a living nightmare, kako, because this school will chew you up, spit you out, and smite the tiny pieces of whatever's left all the way to Hades."

...I whisper back, "I've survived beach bunny cheerleaders, a slut-hunting ex-boyfriend, and five years of cross-country camp. I'm not afraid of some throwback to ancient myth with atrocious highlights and a Barbra Streisand nose."

It took a while for me to warm up to oh. my. gods. Again, I think the small bout of whining turned me off as Phoebe's life turned upside-down. Eventually Phoebe stopped whining, and the story got immediately better and more fun. I loved the idea of godly classmates with powers, although I don't think it was fully explored in this first book. Tera Lynn Childs touched upon the different cliques, but I would have liked more interaction between them and Phoebe. It was such a charming idea - and it was a shame to not read more about it! Good thing that there is a sequel! :)

I did not find the twist at the end a complete surprise. A sneaking suspicion as the story unfolded, but not sure how it might play out. Regardless, it was a very pleasant twist - and I am totally going to keep an eye out for the sequel!
---
Disclosure 10/7/09:
This has been bought with my hard-earned money.

Sunday Sent - July 19, 2009

So I find myself too busy/lazy to participate in the weekly mailbox feature. I'd forget to include certain books, include them twice, and get tired of linking everything under the sun. Instead of listing all the books received/borrowed/bought, I am going to spotlight one or two books that I am particularly excited and/or interested in that have come into my possession.

Spotlighting...

The Forest Of Hands And Teeth

by Carrie Ryan

From the publisher

In Mary's world there are simple truths. The Sisterhood always knows best. The Guardians will protect and serve. The Unconsecrated will never relent. And you must always mind the fence that surrounds the village; the fence that protects the village from the Forest of Hands and Teeth. But, slowly, Mary’s truths are failing her. She’s learning things she never wanted to know about the Sisterhood and its secrets, and the Guardians and their power, and about the Unconsecrated and their relentlessness. When the fence is breached and her world is thrown into chaos, she must choose between her village and her future—between the one she loves and the one who loves her. And she must face the truth about the Forest of Hands and Teeth. Could there be life outside a world surrounded in so much death?

I've heard so many good things about this book, and I can't wait until I get to open my newly-bought copy! I will most likely review this for Zombie Appreciation Week in September, so keep your eyes posted!

This "In My Mailbox" meme is courtesy of Kristi @ The Story Siren (inspired by Alea @ Pop Culture Junkie)

BkRv: Strange full of wonder

Book Review: Wondrous Strange by Lesley Livingston

YA | Fantasy | Series Book 1

First Line: Puck's tortured words rang in Kelley's ears as she lifted her head, struggling against the darkness that threatened to descend upon her.

Rating: 4. Faerie goodness!

So I caved in and finally decided to try to add some faerie into my life. Don't know why I waited this long, but sometimes childhood obsessions are better left alone. Yet sometimes it is fun to see what newfangled twists are added to the faerie scene. And Wondrous Strange does indeed live up to its title.

Kelley may have shelved her childhood love for faeries, but she has been working hard to fulfill her lifelong dream to grace the stages of the Big Apple. Luck seems to be on her side when the leading lady literally breaks her leg and Kelley gets to step up to take the role of Titania in A Midsummer Night's Dream. However, that means she has only 10 days to run through lines and perfect her part before the play opens. 10 days to dazzle the audience with her performance as the faerie queen....

Finally New York City seems to be her dreams coming true, but then again the last thing Kelley expects to come true is the existence of faeries.

Page 162
Of course she remembered. The fables. Folklore...cautionary tales of the fairies and their wicked deeds. She'd grown up steeped in it. Given even half an ear, Emma would rabbit on and on about the subject until her listener's head exploded. Eventually Kelley had become immune to it.

Every year, the Samhain Gate opens in Central Park and allows faeries - good and bad - to enter the mortal realm. However, since the kidnapping of King Auberon's daughter, any faerie or magical creature who tries to pass will face the Janus Guards - mortal changelings - and pay the price which may include death.

A kelpie manages to sneak by the Janus Guards, and somehow Kelley finds herself with a horse that refuses to leave her bathtub and can turn the faucet on for more water. She becomes the center of attention for the Janus Guards - particularly a young man named Sonny - and also for King Auberon and Queen Mabh, all for entirely different reasons and not exactly good reasons.

From page 87
"Once upon a time," the boucca continued. "I was Auberon's henchman, much like you. But I was never Auberon's fool. And I am not entirely without compassion." And then Bob, who was called Puck, who was called Robin Goodfellow, laughed gently and leaped gracefully from his perch, disappearing up into the shadows of the high stage rigging. His last words echoed down through the darkness.

"Take care of her, Sonny Flannery," he said. "I did..."

Wondrous Strange followed the same fantastical vein as Eyes Like Stars, but with less theatrical glitter and more faerie emphasis. I cannot even begin to explain how hard it was to summarize without going into too much detail at how wonderful this story is. It might be a little hard to jump into, but Lesley Livingston eases us into the faerie lore to a point where we become engrossed in Kelley's story and how it turns out.

Like all things related to faeries, nothing was what it seemed. Kelley's seemingly "normal" life turned to be fraught with underlying magic, and I never knew what to expect. Wondrous Strange gave a modern twist to faerie lore, but still kept the traditional elements at its heart. I really enjoyed Puck's new "secret" name that holds power over him.

If you are looking for something to read to satisfy the itch that Eyes Like Stars created, then try Wondrous Strange - I think you'll find another new book friend :)
---
Disclosure 10/7/09:
This was borrowed from the library.

BkRv: Can honest be served any other way?

Book Review: Brutal by Michael Harmon

YA | Girls

First Line: If I'd known I'd be living in Benders Hollow, California, when I was sixteen, I would have traded back every complaint I had about my life for a bus ticket out of this place.

Rating: 5! Quoth the Rat: More, more!

A pretty curious cover to walk past - with an equally cryptic title: Brutal. What does that mean? What's a house that almost looks like a arts 'n' craft project got to do with "brutal"? No clue, but I suppose I'll bite just this once and see what it's all about...

Poe (sidenote: what a great name!) has been unceremoniously dumped by her big-shot doctor mother for the children of Africa - who can compete? - and shoved to live with her small-town high school counselor father whom she has not seen since...well, never. Given her history of expulsions and anti-social nature, this may be the beginning of a beautiful relationship between her and Benders Hollow - or a very bad nightmare of a cheesy nature.

Page 37
"Yes, ma'am. My mother hasn't stopped smiling for seventeen years. She woke up one morning and her face stuck. Have you ever lived with somebody who's so happy it makes you want to eat your puke? Even my dad can't take that much sunshine, and he's the biggest glad-hander I know."

I laughed.

He nodded. "I'm serious. If I told her I wanted to slit my wrists up to my elbows, drink battery acid, and drive a car into a brick wall, she'd tell me to buckle up, have a good day, and grab a gallon of milk when I'm done. Reality and her don't go well together. I have to balance things out."

Not surprising, Poe cannot escape the cliques that seem embedded in high schools - but never has she encountered a school that pretends to have none. It claims to show no preferences for the jocks or rich kids, but when Poe watches the school hero nearly kill her next door neighbor with no repercussions, pardon her for calling the school's bluff.

Page 36
Even though there were more than the usual share of clones at Benders High, I was disappointed to know that this school was pretty much the same as every other school I'd been to. I shouldn't have been surprised. School was like McDonald's. A Big Mac in Tulsa tasted exactly the same as one in Seattle, and there was a reason for it.

Is it too late for the school to change its colors - and if that is indeed achievable, is it possible for Poe to also change her spots and actually fit in here?

Brutal came at a great time in my reading life - Poe was like the literary Veronica Mars minus the mystery, but with that same sort of sass. I always had a soft spot for the rebels with a cause, and high school is always full of surprises and drama that somehow never gets too old. Occasionally Poe goes a little overboard in her rampage, pushing away her well-meaning but spineless father, the cute rebel boy, the spoiled but nice-on-the-inside cheerleader, and everyone else on the planet. No one told her that a little sugary compromise can go a long way in trying to win people over to her cause.

I was pleasantly surprised with Brutal. The humor was spot-on, and I laughed at some of the causes Poe chose to highlight such as the gym uniform policy. Everyone in the book - at least, those close to Poe - had great page time, and they had several likable qualities that softened the hard shell known as Poe.

Last but not least, I cannot fail to mention the quirky nod to the cheese-lovers with names such as Velveeta and Colby. Is there any symbolism if Colby was the bully and Velveeta the victim? Or how about Velveeta winning in the end? Definitely some things to think about...

And, when I start talking about cheese, that is a sure sign that this review is at a close.
---
Disclosure 10/7/09:
This was borrowed from the library.

Monday Mailbox - July 13, 2009

So I find myself too busy/lazy to participate in the weekly mailbox feature. I'd forget to include certain books, include them twice, and get tired of linking everything under the sun. Instead of listing all the books received/borrowed/bought, I am going to spotlight one or two books that I am particularly excited and/or interested in that have come into my possession.

Spotlighting...

Veronica Mars

Season 1 | 2 | 3

I. LOVE. THIS. SHOW. And I just totally bought the entire set during the Buy 2, Get 1 Free Sale at B&N - so that attributes to my slowness in blog posts. It is hard to share reading joys and woes when I could be watching Veronica Mars work her private eye magic! I had been bummed when CW decided not to renew its contract - it was the best thing on that network that I could stomach (but now I j'adore Gossip Girl)! Also, I think Kristen Bell has an addictive charm that definitely will make me watch anything she happens to be in!

If you haven't seen Veronica Mars, I highly recommend it! :D It is full of witty banter and killer mysteries!

This "In My Mailbox" meme is courtesy of Kristi @ The Story Siren (inspired by Alea @ Pop Culture Junkie)

BkRv: Call me Ishmael

Book Review: Genesis by Bernard Beckett

YA | SciFi

First Line: Anax moved down the long corridor. The only sound was the gentle hiss of the air filter overhead. The lights were down low, as demanded by the new regulations. She remembered brighter days, but never spoke of them. It was one of the Great Mistakes, thinking of brightness as a quality of the past.

Rating: 4. If this was the beginning, I am very sad that it is probably the end as well.

I first spotted Genesis on Presenting Lenore many, many Wednesdays ago with its many different covers (after reading this book, I prefer the US cover best). Apparently, she (Lenore), Alea, and Sharon discussed their reactions to the novel, but I did not read their thoughts until preparing this post. However, I don't think they revealed too much about the book - and will definitely pique your interest if you enjoy a little dystopia and science fiction.

For Anax, today is the day that will decide her future - will she be admitted to the high-and-mighty Academy, or will she be stuck with everyone else? She has been preparing for this moment when she faces the Examiners and show off her know-all on renowned hero Adam Forde.

From page 6
Every pause, every flickering of uncertainty: the Examiners observed them all. This, surely, was how they decided. Anaz felt suddenly slow and unimpressive. She could still hear Pericles' last words. "They want to see how you will respond to the challenge. Don't hesitate. Talk your way toward understanding. Trust the words." And back then it had sounded so simple. Now her face tauntened and she had to think her way to the words, searching for them in the way one searches for a friend in a crowd, panic never more than a moment away.

However, choosing Adam Forde as her presentation topic is hardly original, but Anax hopes to stand out by shedding some radical light on the man who rocked the world into how it is today. A risky move on her part - and she has to prepare to face the Examiners' close scrutiny and impress them enough to be admitted into the prestigious Academy.

I am finding it a little hard to summarize Genesis without totally spoiling everything - or making it completely complicated and boring. I don't know what I had been expected, but the story that I got was beyond intriguing and different from the usual YA or science fiction book. I did not prepare myself for an intellectual discussion on man vs robots, conscious vs artificial thought, or a twisted ending that completely caught me off-guard.

From page 100
"You mock me for the shortness of my life span, but it is this very fear of dying that breathes life into me. I am the thinker who thinks of thought. I am curiosity, I am reason, I am love, and I am hatred. I am indifference. I am the son of a father, who in turn was a father's son. I am the reason my mother laughed and the reason my mother cried. I am wonder and I am wondrous. Yes, the world may push your buttons as it passes through your circuitry. But the world does not pass through me. It lingers. I am in it and it is in me. I am the means by which the universe has come to know itself. I am the thing no machine can ever make. I am meaning." Adam was silent, shaking. It was impossible to tell whether it was breath or words he had run out of.

I'll describe Genesis like a slow roast - a little dry on the outside, but full of savory food for thought on the inside. Anax's examination served as a medium to delivering the story of Adam Forde and his role in the development of artificial intelligence. I wish there had been more focus on Anax's character, that we got to know her a little bit better beyond her academic ambitions.

Other than that, this was truly an unexpected treat from fluffy romances and reading slumps. A short but excellent science fiction read! If you liked Ishmael by Daniel Quinn, then you will most likely enjoy Genesis.
---
Disclosure 10/7/09:
This was borrowed from the library.

BkRv: Pour me another Sherry

Book Reviews: Romance novels à la Sherry Thomas

Romance | Historical

• Private Arrangements

First Line: Only one kind of marriage ever bore Society's stamp of approval. Happy marriages were considered vulgar, as matrimonial felicity rarely kept longer than a well-boiled pudding. Unhappy marriages were, of course, even more vulgar, on par with Mrs. Jeffries's special contraption that spanked forty bottoms at once: unspeakable, for half of the upper crust had experienced first hand.

No, the only kind of marriage that held up to life's vicissitudes was the courteous marriage.

Rating: 5. I'd arrange a re-read any day!

What better way to save a marriage than to live on separate continents? No one can deny that Lord and Lady Tremaine - or Camden and Gigi - had passion on their marriage day, but obviously something went wrong when Lord Tremaine packed his bags and left her Ladyship behind. No one knows what happened, but for whatever reason, Lord and Lady Tremaine remain married in name alone.

That is, until Lady Tremaine decides that she is ready to move on - and demands her husband to divorce her so she can remarry to a more worthy gentleman, one who wishes to be married in more than name alone. So Camden returns home, but instead of giving Gigi his wholehearted blessing without compensation, he proposes to sign the divorce papers if and only if she first delivers him an heir.

Gigi has no choice but to accept his proposal, however despicable. However, that does not mean that Lady Tremaine will play the meek and obedient child-bearing wife without a fight! Especially to a husband who long-since broken her heart...

This was my first Sherry Thomas book, and it is by far my favorite one so far! I had discovered this author through a "telephone"-type manner - first, I became interested in Courtney Milan from Kristen Nelson's Pub Rants, then I became interested in Sherry Thomas when Courtney attributed her query letter to her.

Private Arrangements was Sherry Thomas's debut, and WOW! Does it ever take historical romance to a whole new playing field! She has a knack for creating such an intriguing story - a husband and wife who pretend each other does not exist and would rather not sleep in the same room - or the same continent?! I simply could not resist - and Gigi and Camden both complement each other so excellently that you wonder how they could have gotten in such a heart-rendering mess.

If you are looking for a contemporary but historical romance (I know, it sounds almost impossible), then I would definitely recommend this book - it will definitely get you hooked on Sherry Thomas! :)

• Delicious
  

First Line: In retrospect people said it was a Cinderella story. Notably missing was the personage of the Fairy Godmother. But other than that, the narrative seemed to contain all the elements of the fairy tale.

Rating: 4. Devilishly egg-cellent! ;P

Verity Durant is quite the unconventional Cinderella - she prefers to keep to the kitchens and, while she might work for Prince Charming, it is she who decides what he eats and when it shall be served.

From page 66
"I thought Cinderella was always gentle and kind and uncomplaining."

"Do you know why?" She looked up at him, but voice suddenly heated. "It's because these tales have been written by men, men who have never spent as much as an hour in the kitchen. The real Cinderella curses, smokes, and drinks a bit too much. Her feet hurt. Her back hurts. And she's resentful. She would like her pumpkin coach to run over the Wicked Stepmother. And Prince Toad too, if possible."

Her culinary talents has everyone jumping to accept any invitation to dine at Fairleigh Park with great salivary anticipation.

When Prince Charming suddenly dies and gets replaced by his more scholarly brother Stuart Somerset, Verity faces an unexpected adversary whose past has intertwined with hers in ways she would rather forget.

Page 26
But fairy tales concerned only virtuous, blameless girls, girls as pure in body and soul as they were beautiful. There were no fairy tales for willful women of impaired judgment who'd brought about their own disgrace and heartache.

All Stuart wants is a smooth transition into becoming the new master of Fairleigh Park as he continues his upward political climb and enjoys his recent engagement. Instead, he finds himself butting heads with his brother's cook seems to think herself as his equal - if not superior - but strangely makes sure to never be seen by him.

And when he sinks his teeth into her dishes, it looks like Stuart has bitten off more than he can chew...

Sherry again delights (maybe shocks) us by breaking from the mold of run-of-the-mill historical romance novels with Delicious. Verity and Stuart brought forward some toe-curling tension as they played cat-and-mouse with each other, although Stuart has been otherwise spoken-for. I enjoyed watching Verity bring some color into Stuart's monotonous life. While the main story is not quite the fairy tale that opens the Delicious, it falls into play when the secret of Verity's past was finally revealed toward the end.

• Not Quite A Husband
  
  

First Line (Prologue): In the course of her long and illustrious career, Byrony Asquith was the subject of numerous newspaper and magazine articles, almost all of which described her appearance as distinguished and unique, and unfailingly commented upon the dramatic streak of white in her midnight dark hair.

Rating: 4. Quite a streak of awesome!

Byrony never pays much attention to what people are saying about her, whether behind her back or to her face. She is too busy with her medical career, but that does not mean she will not deliberately fuel the gossip on her eccentricities. When the dashing and drool-worthy Leo Marsden comes home to London, Byrony finds herself attracted to him and, before she can help herself, proposes to him.

From page 2
He was witty, he was in constant demand, he was universally admired. She, on the other hand, spoke very little, was not in demand, and was admitted only in very limited circles. In fact, most of Society disapproved of her occupation - and the fact that she had an occupation at all. For a gentleman's daughter to pursue a medical training and then to go to work every day - every day, as if she were some common clerk - was it really necessary?

And so they wed. Similar to Private Arrangements, the marriage goes downhill from there. Without warning - and just as quickly as she asked for Leo's hand - Byrony shuts him out of her life, including the bedroom. Eventually they fall out of marriage, and Byrony decides to pack her bags and head to India where she can practice medicine and pretend Leo never existed.

Until Leo tracks her down 3 years later to take her home to her ailing father. Against her better judgment (though medically it appears that Leo may have strained too hard to find her), Byrony agrees to travel back to England with him.

As it turns out, a trek across India with no one other than Byrony and Leo may reveal unwanted skeletons from their past, but also show that it is never too late to change for the better.

A little more worldly than Sherry's first 2 books, and it had a more serious undertone with the war in India. Like her other books, Sherry has a way to draw readers into her venus flytrap and keep us there, wanting to know where the relationship went wrong - and praying that it goes right eventually. I believe this is the first woman doctor who has graced the historical romance genre - and frankly, I really appreciated this unique aspect of Byrony where her first husband is her medical profession and Leo must play a second fiddle.

The cover for Not Quite A Husband is absolutely scandalously amazing - and the reissued covers for Private Arrangements and Delicious make a set of Sherry Thomas books quite a feast for the eyes! I think my favorite is the blue one - that dress is simply beautiful in a ruffly sort of way :)
---
Disclosure 10/7/09:
These books have been bought with my hard-earned money.

BkRv: The name is Austen, Jane Austen

Book Review: What Would Jane Austen Do? by Laurie Brown

Romance | Historical | Fantasy | Austen

First Line: "What do you mean, no reservation?" Eleanor fought to keep her tone pleasant despite physical and emotional exhaustion. "Please look again. P-O-T-T-I-N-G-E-R."

{Opening quote: "I sensed a strong presence of spirits at Twixton Manor Inn. Two distinct females... one who cannot leave and the other who won't." - Crystal Darkhorse, psychic, in her newest travel book Haunted Destinations II}

Rating: 4 - I'm sure Jane Austen would giggle at the muscles nicely situated on the cover among the other charming aspects!

Jane Austen must be a busy little bee from beyond the grave - and who can blame everyone? She makes for a pretty fun Muse who likes to inspire stories of vampires, zombies, time travel, teens, and ghosts. I could not resist the title What Would Jane Austen Do? - what a truly appealing question that begs an answer, perhaps a witty and charming answer!

If you ask Eleanor how far she will go to meet the Jane Austen, she will probably travel the ends of the earth, but her budget currently allows attendance to the annual Jane Austen Society conference and host a seminar about authentic Regency costuming. But what if you ask her to travel back in time to meet the auspicious author? Be prepared for a skeptical look, even if "you" are a pair of sisterly ghosts who are looking for someone to change the past.

But, then again, since when do ghosts let the living make the decisions? The ghostly sisters transport Eleanor back to their time in order to save their pristine reputation from the ill-reputable Lord Shermont and therefore prevent him from killing their brother. Which they hope will allow their souls to rest in peace.

At first, Eleanor thinks this is all an elaborate ruse for the conference, but when everyone stays in character and costume down to the last corset, she has no choice but believe that she truly is back in the 18th century. So what is a 20th century girl do when trapped in time on a mission to prevent a death?

Well...what would Jane Austen do?

Page 101
Eleanor leaned forward and whispered in a conspiratorial manner. "I have no musical talent. I can't draw a tree in winter. I sing like a stuck pig. And I have two left feet. I have absolutely nothing to recommend my company."

"If that is a ploy to elicit a compliment, I must admit I am flummoxed by the unexpectedness of the content."

"I'm only being honest."

"Then I am completely discombobulated and yet spellbound by your atypical candor."

Surprisingly, I quite enjoyed myself when reading What Would Jane Austen Do? The summary on the back cover was nothing spectacular, but I was surprised at the charming answers to WWJAD as Eleanor attempted to fit into the different time period. She deftly thwarted two gentlemen about to challenge each other to a duel to protect her honor. She flirted quite wittily with Lord Shermont that might make Jane Austen proud. She calmly kept her cool around the snooty women and managed to keep the sisters - the real ones, not ghosts - in prim and proper line (though perhaps a wee independent and forward-thinking).

I believe any Austen fan will appreciate Eleanor's channeling of Austen - I mean, who hasn't dreamed of going back in time in order to rub elbows Austen-style, possibly find a Mr. Darcy to match wits with, and perhaps meeting the lady herself?

Page 181
That would mean she wouldn't have another chance to speak to Jane Austen. Hmm... hot sex or the real, live Jane Austen? Hell of a choice.

---
Disclosure 10/7/09:
This was borrowed from the library.

Teasing you with...Genesis

From page 99 of Genesis by Bernard Beckett

My first non-random teaser ever - but I really liked this snippet, especially the 2nd sentence!

"Words are an old and clumsy mechanism. A more efficient means of transporting Thought was always in the cards. Thought built me because Thought could. And what will happen next? Thought will use me, just as surely as it has used you. And who will last longer, you or I? Answer me that, Mister Flesh and Bones. Who will last longer? Who will Thought prefer?"

This Teaser Tuesday meme is courtesy of MizB @ Should Be Reading

Monday Mailbox - July 6, 2009

So I find myself too busy/lazy to participate in the weekly mailbox feature. I'd forget to include certain books, include them twice, and get tired of linking everything under the sun. Instead of listing all the books received/borrowed/bought, I am going to spotlight one or two books that I am particularly excited and/or interested in that have come into my possession.

Spotlighting...

Bloodhound

by Tamora Pierce

From the publisher

Beka Cooper is finally a Dog - a full-fledged member of the Provost’s Guard, dedicated to keeping peace in Corus’s streets. But there’s unrest in Tortall’s capital. Counterfeit coins are turning up in shops all over the city, and merchants are raising prices to cover their losses. The Dogs discover that gamblers are bringing the counterfeit money from Port Caynn. In Port Caynn, Beka delves deep into the gambling world, where she meets a charming banking clerk named Dale Rowan. Beka thinks she may be falling for Rowan, but she won’t let anything - or anyone - jeopardize her mission. As she heads north to an abandoned silver mine, it won’t be enough for Beka be her usual “terrier” self. She’ll have to learn from Achoo to sniff out the criminals - to be a Bloodhound...

I enjoyed reading Terrier early this year (has it really only been a few months? See my review here), and I have to admit that I have been putting off reading the sequel until now. In fact, I may put it off a little longer, but now I own a copy so it will be ready when I finally have enough time! I know, I can always make time, but sometimes a girl has got to get some sleep! ;)

This "In My Mailbox" meme is courtesy of Kristi @ The Story Siren (inspired by Alea @ Pop Culture Junkie)

BkRv: Life is but a dream

Book Review: Eyes Like Stars by Lisa Mantchev

YA | Fantasy

First Line (ARC): The fairies flew suspended on wires despite their tendency to get tangled together.


Rating: 4 - A starry-eyed debut that demands an encore!

The cover for Eyes Like Stars is extremely well-suited for the story within its pages – and how can I dislike a girl with Cobalt Blue hair? Simple. I can’t. But I also love the ARC cover where it features a passage from within - and it has the feel of a play script. Which is also well-suited since Eyes Like Stars is all theatrical fantastic-al.

While Beatrice Shakespeare Smith calls the Théâtre Illuminata home, she is the only person there who has no acting role – big or small – or backstage position minus the occasional exploding cannon that might obliterate the set. As far as the Theater Manager is concerned, “Trouble” may be a more suitable middle name for Beatrice. And so he threatens to exile her from the Théâtre unless she proves that the show cannot go on without her assistance.

The Théâtre houses an all-star cast that includes the power-crazy Lady MacBeth, a handsome and dreamy pirate Nate, a love-cursed Sea Witch, some mischievous fairies that makes sure to keep Beatrice in and out of line, and the death-seeking Ophelia.

From page 14
She turned to find Ophelia trailing flowers and chiffon through the saltwater-and-dye puddles. Like the fairies, she came and went as she pleased, walking the ragged edge of her sanity and drawn to the ocean by some unwritten instinct.

..."I heard the water running." Ophelia lifted her arms up and smiled into the ghostly, aquamarine lighting. "I thought I'd come and drown myself. I won't be in teh way, will I?"

But as Beatrice fights for her right to remain at the Théâtre, one of the actor - Ariel - desperately wants the opposite and leave his confinement to the Book.

From page 42
"Think of the places outside these walls, where the buildings aren't made of cardboard and the sunshine isn't electric." Ariel's words pulled Bertie closer. "You must want to see it, Bertie: the London that doesn't appear in Peter Pan, the Venice that exists outside of Merchant."

Suddenly Beatrice not only finds herself fighting for her right to stay, but also saving the entire existence of the Théâtre itself.

Eyes Like Stars was an absolutely charming book that took readers to an entirely different plane of existence where anything is possible. The characters are what stood out for me - not just Beatrice, but her supporting cast. It was great to see the re-interpretations of well-known Shakespearean roles (and other non-Shakespearean) and what they could be like behind the curtain. There were some moments that poke fun at their famous roles which I thoroughly enjoyed such as Ophelia.

The ending definitely leaves me with the demand of a sequel to see the directions that Beatrice, Ariel, and the Théâtre takes!
---
Disclosure 10/7/09:
This is a review copy sent by a fellow blogger after winning a author-created scavenger hunt.

BkRv: Love me, love me not

Book Review: Broken Wing by Judith James

Romance | Historical

First Line: Sarah, Lady Munroe, was also known as the Gypsy Countess, a moniker given her on account of her unfortunate parentage and her even more unfortunate behavior.

{Prologue: Wearing a new suit, shoes pinching, blinking from the searing sun, his eyes are riveted on the door, black and menacing.}

Rating: 3. Love just isn't the same without pirates...

I’m not going to lie – the pirate on the cover first drew my attention to this book. Not sure what he’s doing, but definitely not the usual hot pirate stance as I would expect with a romance. Instead I find him to be quite haunting with those trailing bandages from his forearms – which seems a little weird to say for a guy since I expect them to be standing all manly and muscle-ly.

Gabriel St. Croix does not know what it means to love and be loved. He grows up in a brothel and trains as a sex slave. All emotions have been buried so deep within him that even Gabriel has forgotten what it means to be human. His only link to humanity is a young boy who gets thrown into the brothel – and for the next 5 years, Gabriel tries his best to shield him from the sex-crazed clientele until the young boy’s family finds him.

To his surprise, the Munroe family offers to house Gabriel as a reward for taking care of the young boy. He accepts, though with some reservations, and suddenly finds himself immersed in high society and, more alarming, a close-knit family environment.

Page 30
Miraculously, he was being offered another chance, and despite his best efforts to strangle it, hope was born again. He knew he shouldn’t trust it. Vile temptress, she betrayed him every time, leaving him weak and wounded in ways too cruel to endure without the familiar palliatives of brandy and blood.

Sarah Munroe has never met anyone like Gabriel before. Instead of being disgusted with his past, she sympathizes with what he has had to endure – and that sparks an awkward friendship that slowly blooms into more.

Page 106
He’d needed to know if she would still welcome him, still accept him, if she knew, really knew, what his life had been like. He’d allowed her a glimpse into the dark horror of his past, and foolish girl, wise in all ways but this, she’d extended her friendship. She knew what it meant, as much as anyone could, but she couldn’t possibly have known what it meant to him.

But, in a world where prim and proper never mixes with grim and ugly, will Sarah be able to bring Gabriel back to humanity? Or is he too far gone to save?

I don’t think that I have read a romance quite like Broken Wing where the gentleman has such emotional backstory. This was more of the old-fashioned romance where sex barely touched the page. And the main character was Gabriel – not Sarah – which is surprising since typically the female gets the internal struggle. I had been amazed at how patient Sarah had been as Gabriel tried to push her farther from his ugly history.

Overall I thought Broken Wing too serious for me, not enough lightness (or pirates!). I would probably recommend this for those who enjoy a romance cut from a different cloth where the hero has a tortured past that may always haunt the rest of his life.
---
Disclosure 10/7/09:
This is a review copy sent by the author.

June GRaB Results

Is it just me - or did June just fly right on by? It's nearly halfway through the summer, and instead of getting through more books, I slowed waaaaaaaaay down. Partly because I've been reading too many blah books and not enough WOW books.

*THANK YOU* for those who stuck by all my scarce blogging this month! I hope to post more this upcoming month (sidenote: Is anyone having trouble with auto-posting where it does not auto-post at the designated time?).

The breakdown:

• 7 reviews this month (technicially 8 books - one review had covered 2 books). Considerably less than the last 2 months, but I certainly read more than I reviewed.
  
• 39 commenters who earned 654 entries
  
• The Book Pixie, Jo, katie, Laina, Llehn, NotNessie, and Sassy CC earned an extra 21 entries (7 reviews x3) for commenting on ALL my reviews! You are awesome! :)
• Llehn still remains the queen of 1st comments (for 4 reviews this month) - I don't know how you do it, but that is amazing!
• Eon: Dragoneye Reborn was the most-commented review with 22 comments
• Mortal Coils was the randomly selected review that earned extra bonus entries for those who commented on that review

And the June GRaB winner is...

Briana from The Book Pixie

Book selected - What I Saw And How I Lied

Congratulations! Email sent, book shall be sent, and the GRaB mayhem continues onward!

Updated rules for the July GRaB!

Thoughts? Suggestions? Thoughts?
(+5 for the July GRaB if you let me know
your thoughts on the June GRaB)

Sex In Teen Lit Month At Ink And Paper

Go visit Once Upon A Bookshelf this month of July for a series of interviews, reviews, and discussions about sex in teen novels.

From Jo herself

A discussion on Sex in YA novels started the sparks of the idea for a Sex in Teen Lit month, where I will review teen novels that focus on sex, and how the authors deal with the subject. The idea began to take more form during email discussions with Luisa Plaja, author of YA novels Split By A Kiss and Extreme Kissing. With recommendations from her of books which dealt with the subject, I decided I would read them for myself, but I would also give them some blog time, with the hope of shining some light on the subject.

I am looking forward to this month and seeing what Jo has in store for us, especially since she is stepping out of her element (FANTASY) and finding some enjoyment in NON-FANTASY YA! I think this is a great discussion topic, and I hope that you all have the chance to visit!

Waiting on...Mr. Darcy, Vampyre (August 1, 2009)

The Book: Mr. Darcy, Vampyre
The Author: Amanda Grange
The Publisher: Sourcebooks, Inc
The When: August 1, 2009
The What About:

I know, another Pride And Prejudice retake of paranormal proportions? As if zombies had not been enough... But how awesome are these covers for Mr. Darcy Vampyre (US on top, UK on bottom)? Something about the blood splatters that just makes me all tingly...

From the publisher

Amanda Grange, bestselling author of Mr. Darcy's Diary gives us something completely new—a delightfully thrilling, paranormal Pride and Prejudice sequel, full of danger, darkness and deep romantic love…

Amanda Grange's style and wit bring readers back to Jane Austen's timeless storytelling, but always from a very unique and unusual perspective, and now Grange is back with an exciting and completely new take on Mr. Darcy and Elizabeth Bennet.

Mr. Darcy, Vampyre starts where Pride and Prejudice ends and introduces a dark family curse so perfectly that the result is a delightfully thrilling, spine-chilling, breathtaking read. A dark, poignant and visionary continuation of Austen's beloved story, this tale is full of danger, darkness and immortal love.

I'm very curious to see how Mr. Darcy, Vampyre will go. I'm sure many of you can also jump the bandwagon once more...

BkRv: Too cliché or not cliché

Book Review: Prada & Prejudice by Mandy Hubbard

YA | Girls | Fantasy | Austen

First Line: It is a truth, universally acknowledged, that a teen girl on a class trip to England should be having the time of her life.

Rating: 3 (and 1/2) – More Elizabeth than Darcy, but still a treat!

I’ve been waiting for the release of this book since forever it seems – at least, since this blog began – and June seemed so far away last December. And I am sure everyone has been noticing the sudden influx of Pride And Prejudice retellings – or Jane Austen tributes – of all sorts that include zombies, vampires, and time travelling. Pretty fun when the story is spun just right, and sometimes it falls flat.

All Callie wants is to enjoy her time in England and perhaps get invited to sneak out of the hotel room with the cool girls to go clubbing. The only thing stopping her from doing so is her obvious “uncool” self who can’t seem to walk a straight line without embarrassing herself, whether by a trail of toilet paper stuck on her heel or falling flat on her face in a new pair of Prada pumps.

Page 8
My mom has always told me I have two left feet, but I think that's giving me too much credit. I'm so clumsy I deserve my own cliché. I'm sure eventually falling flat on your face will be known as "pulling a Callie Montgomery."

It is the latter that sends her to the land of unconsciousness where, upon awakening and totally against her will, she finds herself in 1815 and mistaken for a long-lost American cousin! Now all Callie wants is to go back home, but it takes more than clicking her red Prada heels three times. In the meantime, Callie has to suffer through corsets, ball gowns, snooty aunts, arranged marriages -

Page 82
I really don't like where this is headed. "You don't mean...he introduced you to him so that he could...arrange your marriage, do you?" I know I sound really dense, but I've never encountered a real, live arranged marriage. I thought they were mythical. Sort of like unicorns.

- and to top it off, she has to deal with the most arrogant and chauvinistic and hypocritical boy she has ever met who just happens to be the Duke of Harksbury.

While I enjoyed the concept of Prada & Prejudice, I was not a fan of Callie. I suppose I would probably be whiny as well if I found myself in a different time period against my wishes, but I did not want to read non-stop complaining. Sometimes I wanted to shake Callie silly when she miscontrued whatever the Duke said without even getting to know him better. It drove me nuts when people do that! Probably befitting the “prejudice” aspect of the title. I don’t recall ever getting this irritated with Elizabeth Bennett, but I think Jane Austen made it more subtle.

That said, it was fun to see how Mandy brought 1815 to life and made it a teenaged girl's dream-come-true (or not). I'm a little surprised that the Callie's Pradas didn't have more center-stage, especially since they would be pretty newfangled back in those days.

Prada & Prejudice was a cute, fluffy piece that harnesses the essence of Pride And Prejudice and delivers it from a teenaged girl’s perspective. If you are looking for something fun and light-hearted, then add this to your summer reading list!
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Disclosure 10/7/09:
This has been bought with my hard-earned money.