In My P.O. Box!

Guess where I went this past Friday??? The opera! I was really happy with the performance (Tosca), mainly because the main character had a lovely, soaring soprano. I may post something about that night in the near future...

In book news, Justina Chen Headley's North of Beautiful hit the shelves this morning, so everyone should go out and buy it. If you need some more descriptive adjectives before you are convinced, check out my review here: http://not-so-cg.blogspot.com/2008/12/north-of-beautiful-justina-chen-headley.html

Justina is extremely nice, and you can meet her at her book launch party which she talks about on her myspace blog over here: http://blogs.myspace.com/index.cfmfuseaction=blog.view&friendID=66246717&blogID=467922438
I'm really sad that I don't live in WA. Erggg.

She's also hosting a North of Beautiful: Find Beauty Contest where contestants have a chance at winning an iTouch! http://blogs.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=blog.view&friendID=66246717&blogID=467922781

I hope everyone who attends/enters has fun!

Now here, of course, is this week's In My P.O. Box, a feature inspired by The Story Siren's In My Mailbox (www.thestorysiren.com):

A Red Hot Valentine's Day by Various Authors
Cupid is hot to trot!
One fateful weekend at a country estate, a beautiful, well-bred widow is caught between a rock and a very hard place when she must choose between two deliciously irresistible lovers...in Lacy Danes's seductive tale of courtship à la mode, Torn Desires.

Long-distance lovers Edie and Ty are counting the hours until their scorching Valentine's Day reunion, each titillating the other with steamy letters describing their erotic journeys. And getting there is definitely half the fun in Megan Hart's wickedly wild Get There.

Eternal damnation has its perks—especially for a voluptuous succubus who is about to receive a very special, very hot Valentine's Day "gift" from her demon lover...in Jackie Kessler's ode to paranormal passion, Hell Is Where the Heart Is.

London's most irresistible rake has one week to prevent the woman he loves from marrying another. And he plans to do so by adeptly employing his most well-practiced arts—seduction...sensation...and erotic love—in Jess Michaels's sumptuous feast of juicy Regency romance, By Valentine's Day.

What can I say? Valentine's Day is coming up, and look at that cover! The first page has this little TO/FROM section so the book is a bit like a valentine, which is very adorable.

Her Notorious Viscount by Jenna Petersen (To Be Released March 31, 2009)
Beauty and her beast . . .
Viscount Nicholas Stoneworth is infamous—even being mentioned in the same breath with him is enough to ruin a lady's reputation. Why, the man's spent years in London's underworld pursuing every sort of vice while parlaying his hard muscled body into fame and fortune as a fighter! With his brother's untimely death, Nicholas must assume the title and relearn the civilized ways of the ton . . . and proper Jane Fenton is more than willing to teach him everything she knows.

Circumstances may have forced Jane into the role of ladies' companion, but she knows the danger of associating with a notorious man like Nicholas, a man who could tempt any woman into certain scandal. But her brother disappeared into the same underworld four long years ago, and if she transforms the libertine into a gentleman, he will use his connections to find him. Still, Jane will not—cannot—lose control. She must ignore the promise of sinful pleasure in his eyes . . . and her own wild desires desperate to break free.

I loved Jenna Petersen's Lessons From a Courtesan, so I'm really excited about getting this one. Halley is working on the Lessons review, and I'll be working on Viscount. And, to top it all off, Jenna has agreed to do an interview for the NSCGs! So keep your eyes open...

Becoming Chloe by Catherine Ryan Hyde

Meet Jordy. He’s on his own in New York City. Nobody to depend on; nobody depending on him. And it’s been working fine.

Until this girl comes along. She’s 18 and blond and pretty–her world should be perfect. But she’s seen things no one should ever see in their whole life–the kind of things that break a person. She doesn’t seem broken, though. She seems . . . innocent. Like she doesn’t know a whole lot. Only sometimes she does.

The one thing she knows for sure is that the world is an ugly place. Now her life may depend on Jordy proving her wrong. So they hit the road to discover the truth–and there’s no going back from what they find out.This deeply felt, redemptive novel reveals both the dark corners and hidden joys of life’s journey–and the remarkable resilience of the human soul.

I love this cover, and the description is so interesting!


Daughter of the Flames by Zoe Marriott (To Be Released February 10, 2009)

Inside an ancient temple in the mountains, fifteen-year-old Zira trains in the martial arts to become a warrior priestess who can defend the faith of the Ruan people. Bearing a scar on her face from the fire that killed her parents, the orphaned Zira is taught to distrust the occupying Sedornes.

Terror strikes when the forces of the tyrannical Sedorne king destroy the only home she knows. To survive, Zira must unravel the secrets of her identity, decide her people’s fate — and accept her growing feelings for a man who should be her enemy.

I stumbled across this book somewhere on the web and decided to try it out. And let me tell you, I am so thankful that I did. It was fabulous.

The Season by Sarah Mac Lean (To Be Released March 1, 2009)

Seventeen year old Lady Alexandra is strong-willed and sharp-tongued -- in a house full of older brothers and their friends, she had to learn to hold her own. Not the best makings for an aristocratic lady in Regency London. Yet her mother still dreams of marrying Alex off to someone safe, respectable, and wealthy. But between ball gown fittings, dances, and dinner parties, Alex, along with her two best friends, Ella and Vivi, manages to get herself into what may be her biggest scrape yet.

When the Earl of Blackmoor is mysteriously killed, Alex decides to help his son, the brooding and devilishly handsome Gavin, uncover the truth. But will Alex's heart be stolen in the process? In an adventure brimming with espionage, murder, and other clandestine affairs, who could possibly have time to worry about finding a husband? Romance abounds as this year's season begins!

I love strong-willed sharp-tongued heroines, so I new I had to read this. The Season turned out being wonderful, and I think Angela would be perfect for reviewing it.

always,

~bella aire~

The ABCs of Kissing Boys by Tina Ferraro (Review by Bella Aire)

Since I've been incredibly busy of late, it has been hard to post all the reviews I need to post in the time alotted. So, I will be posting the product descriptions as summaries rather than my own personal summaries for the time being.

Small Note: Isn't the cover gorgeous?! ---->



Product Description:
Parker Stanhope has played soccer practically since she could walk. And now that she’s a high school junior, everything she’s worked for is finally coming together. She’s paid her dues on the field, and as an upperclassman, she’s a shoo-in for the varsity team. But that’s not what happens.

This year, Coach Hartley moved up every JV player but two—and one of those two was Parker. Now, she’s stuck with the freshmen, her friends are cutting her loose, and her love of the game is seriously beginning to fail. But Parker is determined to get her life back. She has to get on the varsity team, and she has the perfect plan. All she needs now is the right kind of coach.





The Review:
Tina Ferraro’s latest novel is quite clearly fabulous. It is lightly captivating, particularly in exploring the unusual relationship between Parker and her freshman neighbor and kiss expert, Tristan. I loved Tristan’s handling of the situation, and Parker’s reactions toward Tristan. Not only does this book explore romance, but it also explores friendship as Parker learns who her true friends are. The ABCs for Kissing Boys is perfect for relieving stress related headaches or for homework breaks. It’s an easy read that doesn’t give a reader the feeling that they are lowering their IQ.



The ABCs of Kissing Boys is a pleasure read and a book for those who would like to take a minute just to read for fun. I realize that there are a lot of light, fun books out there to choose from. If you’re looking within this genre, The ABCs of Kissing Boys would make a wonderful choice: it is top quality fun and is now ranked as one of my favorite pleasure reads.

always,
~bella aire~




Purchase The ABCs of Kissing Boys here: http://www.amazon.com/ABCs-Kissing-Boys-Tina-Ferraro/dp/0385735820/ref=pd_bbs_sr_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1233429468&sr=8-1



And/or you can visit Tina Ferraro online at http://www.tinaferraro.com/
and friend her here: www.myspace.com/ferrarotina

What??? Where's the In My Mailbox? What??? No MORE In My Mailbox?

Um...yes. I'm afraid this was an incredibly busy week, so we were unable to run by the post office.



But more importantly, there will be no more In My Mailbox features. Don't be angry at me! Because...



Instead, they will be called In My P.O. Box, since that's where we really get most of our books. So it's just a name change rather than a feature canceler.



If I had cancelled the In My Mailbox feature entirely, I know a couple of girls who would be very unhappy with me: namely, the NSCG girls. A lot of them watch the In My Mailbox feature to determine which books they'd like to review.



I'll still be giving all credit to the Story Siren for beginning this fun feature. A name change does not constitute a new idea.

always,
~bella aire~

The School For Dangerous Girls by Eliot Schrefer (Review by Viola)

Okay, I'm starting off with a disclaimer on this one: The following review is about a book quite similar to Shelter Me, the last book I reviewed, so if you weren't into that book, you probably won't like this one.

Well, I recently got a hold of The School for Dangerous Girls by Eliot Schrefer, and as usual I read the book in a block of a few hours, refusing to engage in any communication with the outside world. I'm pretty excited that I haven't run into any not-so-great books recently.

This particular one sparked my interest with the whole 'Dangerous Girl' thing because I can to some extent relate. Angela Cardenas is the typical bad girl who gets way too involved with the wrong guys (*cough* older guys *cough*) and makes various other mistakes including something pretty close to murder.

Needless to say her parents have had enough and off she goes to reform school. Orientation is horrible, and one by one girls are being called away, leaving no traces of their existence behind. Soon, Angela is named, but to her surprise she's greeted with an actual school, better housing, and is reunited with a close friend, Carmen. However Juin, another acquaintance who seems to have become Queen over the girls, never reappears along with several other girls.

***SLIGHT SPOILERS AHEAD***

As difficult as it is to believe, Angela has been classified as a girl who will be able to improve and is a member of the 'Gold Thread'; the few girls who never come back are part of the 'Purple Thread.' Orientation for the Gold Thread members is quite like a birthday party compared to that of the Purple Thread. As good as the accommodations are for the Gold Thread members, that's how bad they are for the Purple thread members.

Angela eventually is placed with the Purple Thread girls. Their living conditions are absolutely atrocious and cause injury and death to many residents of the small, dank basement, until the girls decide that enough is enough.

***SLIGHT SPOILERS FINISHED***

I tried to be briefer with this review and to give a little less detail, though I seem to have failed miserably. I overall enjoyed the book, and the characters were well-developed. There were some points in the book where things got pretty unusual, which I personally don't mind too much, but others might find it difficult to digest. This is a decent read, so when you get the chance, pick it up- especially if you enjoyed or are hoping to read Shelter Me.

-Viola

The School For Dangerous Girls can be purchased here: http://www.amazon.com/School-Dangerous-Girls-Eliot-Schrefer/dp/0545035287/ref=pd_bbs_sr_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1232850652&sr=8-1

Guess what came out earlier this week...

The amazing Triple Shot Bettys in Love! This was the first book I ever recieved for review, so it holds a special place in my heart. See my review here: http://not-so-cg.blogspot.com/2008/11/triple-shot-bettys-in-love-by-jody.html

Back then, I didn't realize that reviewing books closer to the release dates would make more sense. So hopefully this makes up for that.

always,

~bella aire~

What Would Emma Do? by Eileen Cook (Review by Viola)

So far, I can honestly say that I've liked all the books I've reviewed, but I think this one's my favorite. When Bella first described it to me, she said it was something like a modern day version of Arthur Miller's play The Crucible, which I found to be pretty accurate.

Emma Proctor is a senior in high school, but her senior year isn't turning out to be much fun. She kisses her best friend, Joann's, boyfriend, Colin, over Christmas break and she is, of course, spotted because you can never get away with anything in the small town of super religious Wheaton. Emma absolutely despises the tiny Indiana town and is craving the adventure of the big city, Chicago, which she can only live in if she gets a full scholarship to Northwestern University; this can only be achieved with her track star skills, so she's pretty obsessed with training.

Emma chooses to speak with Colin, and tries to find out if there's anything between them. The two decide to go to a local hangout called the Barn, but once they arrive people are already wasted so they skip it. After Kimberly, daughter of the police sheriff, winds up in the hospital, she and Queen Bee Darci, daughter of Reverend Evers, have to cover their actions, so they come up with a wild story that they're being poisoned and blame the nerds of Trinity Evangelical School. Emma has to decide whether to spill what she knows and risk her scholarship or to let the innocent be punished.

This book started out as something that seemed like another teen love triangle book and ended as an entirely new story. The format Cook uses for her chapters is unique, and not something I've come across before. I actually added this book to my list of favorites on my personal MySpace, so I'd say it's pretty decent; however, it did have a bit of a flaw. Colin tended to tick me off on occasions. One minute he was sneaking Emma off somewhere to confess his everlasting love, and the next he was doting over Joann. I found that as a character he didn't have much dimension; in other words, he was a pretty flat character, but don't let one silly boy keep you from reading an otherwise totally wicked book!

-Viola

What Would Emma Do? can be puchased on Amazon here: http://www.amazon.com/What-Would-Emma-Eileen-Cook/dp/1416974326/ref=pd_bbs_sr_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1232761299&sr=8-1

Learn more about Eileen and read the first chapter of What Would Emma Do? on her website: http://www.eileencook.com/

Teaser Tuesdays- Hot Mess

I now know where I found Teaser Tuesdays! I found them over at Starry Night, who found them here: http://fizzybeverage.blogspot.com/

GRAB your current read OR the closest book to you
LET the book fall open to a random page.
SHARE with us two (2) “teaser” sentences from that page, somewhere between lines 7 and 12.
YOU also need to share the title of the book that you’re getting your “teaser” from … that way people can have some great book recommendations if they like the teaser you’ve given!
PLEASE avoid spoilers!


Hot Mess by Julie Kraut and Shallon Lester
Page 105:

"I sighed, not wanting to admit she was right. A moment of silence passed between us and suddenly she brightened."

My Fair Godmother by Janette Rallison (Review by Bella Aire)

Savannah really can’t believe her luck. Her gorgeous boyfriend just left her for her studious older sister. And one horrific bikini incidence later, Savannah really can’t imagine her life getting any worse.

So when Chrissy, Savannah’s Fair Godmother (Chrissy is only a mediocre student so she hasn’t achieved the level of “Fairy Godmother” yet), shows up, Savannah thinks maybe her luck has changed. After having Chrissy grant her a wish, Savannah realizes her luck has changed: unfortunately for the worse.

When Savannah wishes to go to a ball with a charming prince, Chrissy sets her up as a servant Cinderella, during a time months in advance of the ball. After a few weeks of servitude, Savannah escapes using her second wish. Sadly, it lands her in the part of Snow White, whom everyone believes is an airhead. Her third wish is so misinterpreted by Chrissy, that Savannah’s classmate Tristan is sent to the middle ages. To return, he must complete a series of tasks, including the slaying of a dragon. Savannah realizes that to get Tristan back to where he belongs, she will have to go back to save him…

I picked up My Fair Godmother mainly because I am a huge fairytale fan. I expected something light, fun, and fluffy with little or no substance. I wouldn’t have been disappointed if the book had ended up that way since light books are a great way to clear the mind. But I was pleasantly surprised by My Fair Godmother’s true nature.

I really got into the story, and I really liked the characters of Savannah and Tristan. Their conversations sounded pretty realistic in tone. It’s the way two classmates would really act if dumped together into such a strange situation.

But what impressed me most was Rallison’s handling of Savannah. It seems like every book I read nowadays features grade-smart main characters. I’ve noticed that the kids who don’t make the best grades are pushed into the roles of flat, ditzy characters. This upsets me because I have some friends who don’t make the best grades but are really funny and aren’t ditzy. They are totally round character material. Plus, this discourages reading for kids who don’t have the highest GPAs. I like reading books that I can relate to. So do all readers.

Savannah didn’t make the best grades. She didn’t put a lot of effort into school. But she wasn’t pushed into a flat role. Instead, Rallison dumped the traditional story on its side and made Savannah’s studious older sister the flat character. And in a story of twisted fairytales, this really worked.

I highly commend Rallison for creating a book with such an original, wonderful heroine.

This book itself had good substance, and I found myself really caring about what would happen to Savannah and Tristan. My Fair Godmother wasn’t difficult to read, but I really enjoyed the fact that Rallison never talked down to her readers. Overall, an impressive novel. I look forward to reading more from Rallison in this vein in the future.

My Fair Godmother can be purchased on Amazon here: http://www.amazon.com/My-Fair-Godmother-Janette-Rallison/dp/0802797806/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1232387887&sr=8-1

To learn more about Janette Rallison and her books, check here: http://www.janetterallison.com/ and http://www.janette-rallison.blogspot.com/


always,
~bella aire~

In My Mailbox and a Note on Personality Book Matching

So. Here’s a Little Known Fact: I read about 95% of the books sent to the NSCGs. Then I pick the NSCG reviewer who I believe the book will fit best. So almost all our books are personality matched. I want to give each book the best review possible. Interesante, si? So if you find a reviewer who reviews the kind of books you like, it's likely that you share the same taste in books.

Here is the general book type of each reviewer:

Halley
romance, whether it is young adult or adult (really, give a girl and a guy some chemistry in a book, and Halley’s there)

Viola
historical (she knows Henry V like you won’t believe) and fantasy/science fiction (esp. fantasy involving Avalon and King Arthur which usually has both history and fantasy)

Liesel
sarcastic books, books with smart humor, fantasy (like Inkheart)

Angela
upper class teen books (GG, The Luxe, etc) and fantasy (more of a Pendragon, Eragon, Maximum Ride sort of fantasy)

Nora
John Green (I am not kidding. Occasionally she’ll find a book that’s “not bad”, but John Green is her everything where books are concerned)

Bella Aire (me)
almost anything that goes in the “Fiction” side of the library (I also have a soft spot for strong female protagonists…and the boys who love them…Is anyone else in love with Joseph Jared of the Jacky Faber books or is it just me?)

With all the matching, I sometimes feel like I’m running a book dating service rather than a review site! It’s actually really exciting for me when a book and its reviewer hit it off, so to speak.

So that may give everyone a better idea of the reviewers' book types.

Anyway, here is what made it's way to our (figurative) mailbox:

A Match Made in High School by Kristen Walker (To Be Released in May 2009)
When the principal announces that every senior must participate in a mandatory year-long Marriage Education program, Fiona Sheehan believes that her life can’t get any worse. Then she marries her “husband”: jerky jock Todd, whose cheerleader girlfriend, Amanda, has had it in for Fiona since day one of second grade. Even worse? Amanda is paired with Fiona’s long-term crush, Gabe. At least Fiona is doing better than her best friend, Marcie, who is paired up with the very quiet, very mysterious Johnny Mercer.

Pranks, fights, misunderstandings, and reconciliations ensue in an almost Shakespearean comedy of errors about mistaken first impressions, convoluted coupling, and hidden crushes.

I really liked Book Nymph's review for this one, so I decided to check it out. I read it, and immediately thought of Halley for the review. It matches her book-type well, I think.


Hot Mess by Julie Kraut and Shallon Lester
EMMA FREEMAN IS waving buh-bye to her standard summer of stationwagoning around the suburbs. This summer she’s heading to the big city. Emma’s totally prepped for days at a fabulous internship and nights of socialite-ing around town. But when you’re 17 and not an heiress, reality is far from pink fizzy drinks and red velvet ropes. As the summer heats up, Emma learns that glamour is hard to come by when your only friend is too boy-crazy to hang, your budget is more H&M than D&G, and you spend 8 hours a day working for a man who proves that the devil wears Dockers too. Add one little white lie told to one very hot coworker and a roommate who makes Paris Hilton look junior varsity, and this summer in the city is starting to turn into one hot mess.
I'm actually in the middle of this one, and I really like it so far. I might be doing an internship this summer, so I'm curious about how it worked out for the girls of Hot Mess.


MAX (Earlier Titled Water Wings) by James Patterson (To Be Released in March)
Maximum Ride and the other members of the Flock have barely recovered from their last arctic adventure, when they are confronted by the most frightening catastrophe yet. Millions of fish are dying off the coast of Hawaii and someone--or something--is destroying hundreds of ships. Unable to discover the cause, the government enlists the Flock to help them get to the bottom of the disaster before it is too late.

While Max and her team are exploring the depths of the ocean, their every move is being carefully tracked by Mr. Chu--a criminal mastermind with his own plans for the Flock. Can they protect themselves from Mr. Chu's army of mercenaries and save the ocean from utter destruction?

I love this series so much! The Final Warning, the last Maximum Ride book, wasn't my favorite in the series, but this one more than made up for it. We have a lot more Fang in this one, and, come on...who doesn't want more Fang? This might even be the best Maximum Ride book so far. Angela nabbed this one for review, so I'm a bit jealous, but I know she'll do the book justice. So good! Expect a review closer to MAX's release date.


Peaches by Jodi Lynn Anderson
In a Ya-Ya Sisterhood for teens, Peaches combines three unforgettable heroines who have nothing in common but the troubles that have gotten them sentenced to a summer of peach picking at a Georgia orchard.

Leeda is a debutante dating wrong-side-of-the-tracks Rex.
Murphy, the wildest girl in Bridgewater, likes whichever side Rex is on.

Birdie is a dreamer whose passion for Girl Scout cookies is matched only by her love for a boy named Enrico.

When their worlds collide, The Breakfast Club meets The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants in an entirely original and provocative story with a lush, captivating setting.

I've heard good things about this one, so I borrowed it from an old drama friend. I'm excited about reading it. Plus, hello? It's summary compares it to the Ya Ya Sisterhood, The Breakfast Club, and Traveling Pants. Well, sort of. So I have to see if it lives up to it's comparisons.

American Teen (A Movie)
The documentary hit of Sundance 2008, American Teen offers up irresistible archetypes of everybody's high school years: the jock, the nerd, the prom queen. You can't blame filmmaker Nanette Burstein (The Kid Stays in the Picture) for focusing on these easily-relatable figures--they pop off the screen. She spent the school year with the senior class at Warsaw High in Warsaw, Indiana, a close-quarters town where, it seems, the lives of the adults are not so different from the lives of the teens. You'll hiss pampered princess Megan, whose behavior verges on the sadistic; you'll roll your eyes at geeky Jake, whose way with the girls does not measure up to his fantasy world of knights and fair ladies; you'll feel for Colin, whose shot at going to college is quite literally his jump shot. Most of all you'll be drawn in by Hannah, the typical creative-misfit type, whose gamine charm is subject to alarming depressions. The movie succeeds at its goal, which is to make all this familiar material come to life (even if an average year of The Real World accomplishes similar things). Purists might have more qualms about the extent to which the kids' actions occasionally feel motivated by the camera's presence, and how the film crew decided to let some of the more serious decisions unfold. Such unease probably won't deflect the general good time, nor the sense--for anyone over 18--of "thank god that's over." --Robert Horton (From Amazon's Reviews)

I won this from one of Melissa Walker’s Win-It-Wednesdays. How cool is that?


So now that I've wrapped up the Mailbox part, I have a question for our readers: Which NSCG reviewers' book-type do you share?

always,
~bella aire~

IMM is a feature begun by the Story Siren: http://www.thestorysiren.com

Our First Interview!!! (at Books Make Great Lovers)

This week we were interviewed over at Books Make Great Lovers: http://booksaremylove.blogspot.com/2009/01/fab-friday.html

I'm extremely excited about the whole thing. Stop by and make sure to check out the rest of the site. There's some neat stuff going on over there!

always,
~bella aire~

Need by Carrie Jones (Review by Liesel)

Though a stretch to fairly compare this book to the phenomenon of Stephanie Meyer’s widely acclaimed Twilight, Carrie Jones creates an enthralling fantasy and an enjoyable read in Need and one that certainly sets itself apart from its comparison to Twilight.

Zara, a girl whom the reader finds lethargic and drained of all energy after the death of her stepfather, is sent to Bedford, Maine to live with her grandmother in hopes of reviving her usually overflowing spirits. She feels helpless because she was unable to help her own stepfather, the one person about whom she cared more than anyone else. Strange, unexplainable events start to occur almost immediately when she sees a person whom she thought she had finally left behind in Charleston, but she makes loyal friends, Issy and Devon, in the process. She is a character to whom the reader can truly relate because of the depth of her emotions and how omniscient the reader can become because of her narration.

When she meets Nick, a seemingly strange guy, and her over-achieving classmate, Ian, subtle hints are given as to the true identity of both. The supernatural aspect of pixies is undoubtedly a fun twist to the plot, and the characters feel very realistic.

Need is the kind of teen fantasy novel with which everyone has recently been falling in love – and while the plot is fairly predictable and juvenile in comparison to other novels, it is a book that you cannot put down. This new book will fare well among the masses of teen readers!

Need can be purchased here:

http://www.amazon.com/Need-Carrie-Jones/dp/1599903385/ref=pd_bbs_sr_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1232060842&sr=8-1

Reviewed by Liesel

The Perspective Question on The Secret Life of Prince Charming

Before I saw a description for Deb Caletti's The Secret Life of Prince Charming, I wondered whether it was from a guy or girl's point of view.

A few others have questioned this as well.

Though my detailed review and description won't come out until nearer to the publication date in March (I think), I'd like to clarify here.

The Secret Life of Prince Charming is narrated by the seventeen year old Quinn (a girl). Though the majority of the novel is from her point of view, the fellow women in her life get input through little excerpt-like stories that the said women narrate themselves.

It weaves together beautifully. I can't wait until it comes out. It's the kind of book that one wants to share: the kind of book a girl will force upon all her friends so that they, too, will have a chance to love it.

always,
~bella aire~

Teaser Tuesdays- The Secret Life of Prince Charming

I got Teaser Tuesdays from here: http://fizzybeverage.blogspot.com

TEASER TUESDAYS ask you to:

Grab your current read.
Let the book fall open to a random page.
Share with us two (2) “teaser” sentences from that page, somewhere between lines 7 and 12.
You also need to share the title of the book that you’re getting your “teaser” from … that way people can have some great book recommendations if they like the teaser you’ve given!
Please avoid spoilers!

From Deb Caletti's incredible The Secret Life of Prince Charming:

"Sometimes you think you’ve found love, when it’s really just one of those objects that are shiny in a certain light-a trophy, say, a ring, or a diamond, even. Glass shards, maybe."

In My Mailbox

This week I bought two, received two, and borrowed one. Of course the two I bought had to be the hardcovers, but it was worth it...



Forever Princess by Meg Cabot


What's a Princess to do?


It's Mia's senior year, and things seem great. She aced her senior project, got accepted to her dream college(s), and has her birthday gala coming up . . . not to mention prom, graduation, and Genovia's first-ever elections.


What's not to love about her life? Well . . .


Her senior project? It's a romance novel she secretly wrote, and no one wants to publish it.
Prince Phillipe's campaign in the Genovian elections isn't going well, thanks to her totally loathsome cousin René, who decided to run against him.
Her boyfriend, J.P., is so sweet and seemingly perfect. But is he the one?
And her first love, Michael, is back from Japan . . . and back in her life.


With Genovia's and her own future hanging in the balance, Mia's got some decisions to make: Which college? Which guy? How can she choose? Especially when what she decides might determine not just the next four years, but . . . forever!

Mia has come so far since the first Princess Diaries novel. I really hope Meg decides to continue on to the college years.





The City of Ashes by Cassandra Clare
Clary Fray just wishes that her life would go back to normal. But what's normal when you're a demon-slaying Shadowhunter, your mother is in a magically induced coma, and you can suddenly see Downworlders like werewolves, vampires, and faeries? If Clary left the world of the Shadowhunters behind, it would mean more time with her best friend, Simon, who's becoming more than a friend. But the Shadowhunting world isn't ready to let her go -- especially her handsome, infuriating, newfound brother, Jace. And Clary's only chance to help her mother is to track down rogue Shadowhunter Valentine, who is probably insane, certainly evil -- and also her father.

To complicate matters, someone in New York City is murdering Downworlder children. Is Valentine behind the killings -- and if he is, what is he trying to do? When the second of the Mortal Instruments, the Soul-Sword, is stolen, the terrifying Inquisitor arrives to investigate and zooms right in on Jace. How can Clary stop Valentine if Jace is willing to betray everything he believes in to help their father?

In this breathtaking sequel to City of Bones, Cassandra Clare lures her readers back into the dark grip of New York City's Downworld, where love is never safe and power becomes the deadliest temptation.
I love this series. It really plays with your imagination. Wonderful.




Private by Kate Brian
Tradition, Honor, Excellence...and secrets so dark they're almost invisible

Fifteen-year-old Reed Brennan wins a scholarship to Easton Academy -- the golden ticket away from her pill-popping mother and run-of-the-mill suburban life. But when she arrives on the beautiful, tradition-steeped campus of Easton, everyone is just a bit more sophisticated, a bit more gorgeous, and a lot wealthier than she ever thought possible. Reed realizes that even though she has been accepted to Easton, Easton has not accepted her. She feels like she's on the outside, looking in.

Until she meets the Billings Girls.

They are the most beautiful, intelligent, and intensely confident girls on campus. And they know it. They hold all the power in a world where power is fleeting but means everything. Reed vows to do whatever it takes to be accepted into their inner circle.

Reed uses every part of herself -- the good, the bad, the beautiful -- to get closer to the Billings Girls. She quickly discovers that inside their secret parties and mountains of attitude, hanging in their designer clothing-packed closets the Billings Girls have skeletons. And they'll do anything to keep their secrets private.
My favorite Kate Brian novel so far.




Carter Finally Gets It by Brent Crawford (To Be Released on April 7, 2009)
Meet Will Carter, but feel free to call him Carter. (Yes, he knows it's a lazy nickname, but he didn't have much say in the matter.)

Here are five things you should know about him:
1. He has a stuttering problem, particularly around boobs and belly buttons.
2. He battles Attention Deficit Disorder every minute of every day...unless he gets distracted.
3. He's a virgin, mostly because he's no good at talking to girls (see number 1).
4. He's about to start high school.
5. He's totally not ready.

Join Carter for his freshman year, where he'll search for sex, love, and acceptance anywhere he can find it. In the process, he'll almost kill a trombone player, face off with his greatest nemesis, suffer a lot of blood loss, narrowly escape death, run from the cops (not once, but twice), get caught up in a messy love triangle, meet his match in the form of a curvy drill teamer, and surprise the hell out of everyone, including himself.



Sophomore Undercover by Ben Esch (To Be Released February 24, 2009)
For fifteen-year-old, adopted Vietnamese orphan Dixie Nguyen, high school is one long string of hard-to-swallow humiliations. He shares a locker with a nudist linebacker, his teachers are incompetent, and he's stuck doing fluff pieces for the school newspaper. But Dixie's luck takes a turn when he stumbles across one of the jocks using drugs in the locker room; not only does he finally have something newsworthy to write, but the chance to strike a blow against his tormentors at the school as well.

However, when his editor insists he drop the story and cover homecoming events instead, Dixie sets off on his own unconventional--and often misguided--investigation. He soon discovers that the scandal extends beyond the football team to something far bigger and more sinister than he ever thought possible. Once he follows the guidelines of his hero, Mel Nichols (journalism professor at Fresno State University and author of the textbook Elementary Journalism) this high school reporter just might save the world. That is, of course, if Dixie can stay out of juvenile hall, the hospital, and new age therapy long enough to piece it all together.
Part social satire, part teen-mystery parody, and wholly hilarious, Sophomore Undercover is a dazzling debut that will make headlines with teens everywhere.

(For both Carter Finally Gets It and Sophomore Undercover) I'm really glad that some more guy YA novels are coming out. It seems like the girls overpower the guys in every YA section, and I know my guy friends feel the same way. Plus, these sound really funny.
What do you guys think?
always,
~bella aire~

IMM began here: www.thestorysiren.com

Fantabulous Blogs

I've started a blog list of some amazing bookish blogs under the title Fantabulous Blogs! (This list can be found on the left hand side of the NSCG blog.) I know I'm missing a ton of my favorites, but I figure I'll remember to add them sometime.

For anyone who would like to take a more active roll in getting their blog added to the list, just leave me a comment with the name of your blog and the url.

If any of the links are messed up, please let me know.

Thanks!


always,
~bella aire~

The Luxe- Anna Godbersen (review by Angela)

The Luxe by Anna Godbersen is an intriguing, fast paced, and scandalous story set in Manhattan in 1899. The book revolves around the two upper-class Holland sisters: Elizabeth, the beautiful darling of New York City, and Diana, her more rebellious, but equally beautiful younger sister. To outsiders, their lives may seem perfect, but the sisters have many dark secrets. The family has run out of money, and Elizabeth must be married off to wealthy Henry Schoonmaker to keep her family from disgrace. However, Elizabeth is in love with the carriage driver, Will, and her best friend, Penelope, is in love with Henry. To make things worse, Diana is in love with the one person she can never be with, and Elizabeth's vengeful maid will stop at nothing to take her mistress down. Suddenly, none of this matters when Elizabeth's carriage overturns in the river and she is presumed dead. Her death leaves New York reeling, and many wonder if the beautiful socialite's death was simply an accident. The twists, turns, and intrigue in this story of Manhattan's elite will leave readers wishing that they too had lived during this decadent era.

This book is good for fans of similar book series such as Gossip Girl and The Clique*. The plot is interesting and often surprising, and the characters are well-developed. The historical setting and the quotes from books, newspapers, and characters at the beginning of each chapter both greatly add to the novel. The Luxe is great entertainment for those who love to read about the lies, scandals, and secrets of the rich and famous.

-Angela-

*Bella's Note: I actually wasn't a huge fan of the Gossip Girl or The Clique series (though I love the GG TV show...I love Chuck!), but I really liked The Luxe. So don't necessarily think you won't like The Luxe if you didn't like the other series. Though I suppose it may be more likely that you would like The Luxe if you liked the other two. Just a note.

The Luxe can be purchased here: http://www.amazon.com/Luxe-Anna-Godbersen/dp/0061345687/ref=pd_bbs_sr_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1231535639&sr=8-1

And it's sequel, Rumors, here: http://www.amazon.com/Rumors-Luxe-Novel-Anna-Godbersen/dp/0061345695/ref=pd_bxgy_b_text_b

And finally, the third book in the series, Envy, coming out on January 27, can be preordered here: http://www.amazon.com/Envy-Luxe-Novel-Anna-Godbersen/dp/0061345725/ref=pd_sim_b_2

Have fun with those post-holidays giftcards!

In My Mailbox (And the Truth About the Post-Holiday Review Slump)

Has anyone noticed how reviews have become a bit...sparse...at the NSCG sites? I've noticed a couple of other sites are stretched thin where reviews are concerned over the holidays, as well.

I can't speak for all book review sites, but for the NSCGs, the answer to the slump is simple. We are lacking the time to review...because we're all too busy reading. The holidays are a hard time for us, not only because we're all busy celebrating various things (including my birthday!), but also because we are suddenly bombarded with books we've been salivating over all year. I don't know about you guys, but this is just too tempting for me. Are there really people out there heartless enough to want someone to put down books as fabulous as The City of Bones in favor of a pen and paper?

Don't get me wrong- I love to write. I continually find poetry scattered throughout my math notes, and I've been toying with a story line for a few months now. But with all the essays I've been writing for English and History this year, I just find books a great way to take a break. A way to stop thinking, and to let someone else paint vivid stories for me.

So now, without further ado, here are the books I've escaped into this past week. Most were wonderful. Since I've kind of read all but one, this is closer to a guilt list. Who knew that reading so much could make one feel so guilty?

Enthusiasm by Paula Shulman

"There is little more likely to exasperate a person of sense than finding herself tied by affection and habit to an Enthusiast." Julie knows from bitter experience: her best friend, Ashleigh, is an Enthusiast. Ashleigh's current fancy is also Julie's own passion, Pride and Prejudice, and the heroine's quest for True Love. And so Julie finds herself swept along with Ashleigh, dressed in vintage frocks and sneaking into a dance at the local all-boys' prep school. There they discover several likely candidates for True Love, including the handsome and sensitive Parr. And Julie begins to wonder if maybe this obsession of Ashleigh's isn't so bad after all. . . .

I'm a Jane Austen fan, plus this has a starred review from Booklist. And as if that weren't enough...

"When someone asks for a reading suggestion, Enthusiasm is the first word off my tongue."
-Stephenie Meyer

If that doesn't sell a book, I don't know what does.

Wildwood Dancing by Juliet Marillier

High in the Transylvanian woods, at the castle Piscul Draculi, live five daughters and their doting father. It's an idyllic life for Jena, the second eldest, who spends her time exploring the mysterious forest with her constant companion, a most unusual frog. But best by far is the castle's hidden portal, known only to the sisters. Every Full Moon, they alone can pass through it into the enchanted world of the Other Kingdom. There they dance through the night with the fey creatures of this magical realm.

But their peace is shattered when Father falls ill and must go to the southern parts to recover, for that is when cousin Cezar arrives. Though he's there to help the girls survive the brutal winter, Jena suspects he has darker motives in store. Meanwhile, Jena's sister has fallen in love with a dangerous creature of the Other Kingdom--an impossible union it's up to Jena to stop.

When Cezar's grip of power begins to tighten, at stake is everything Jena loves: her home, her family, and the Other Kingdom she has come to cherish. To save her world, Jena will be tested in ways she can't imagine--tests of trust, strength, and true love.

I was worried this might be more of a younger YA book, but somewhere I read that it was perfect for older fairytale-loving teens. So, um, that would be me. I read this and am so grateful I did. It's perfect for Shannon Hale and Gail Carson Levine fans who may be searching for a fairytale retell targeted more to high schoolers rather than middle schoolers. Ah! Here's the quote: "With much to say about human nature and choice, not unlike the moral in fairy tales of old, this will be a hit with older teen readers, especially girls."-Booklist

Dramarama by E. Lockhart

Two theater-mad, self-invented, fabulositon Ohio teenagers.

One boy, one girl.

One gay, one straight.

One black, one white.

And SUMMER DRAMA CAMP.

It's a season of hormones, gold lame, hissy fits, jazz hands, song and dance, true love, and unitards that will determine their future and test their friendship.

What can I say? It's E. Lockhart!

Vampire Academy by Richelle Mead

St. Vladimir's Academy isn't just any boarding school—it's a hidden place where vampires are educated in the ways of magic and half-human teens train to protect them. Rose Hathaway is a Dhampir, a bodyguard for her best friend Lissa, a Moroi Vampire Princess. They've been on the run, but now they're being dragged back to St. Vladimir's—the very place where they're most in danger. . . .

Rose and Lissa become enmeshed in forbidden romance, the Academy's ruthless social scene, and unspeakable nighttime rituals. But they must be careful lest the Strigoi—the world's fiercest and most dangerous vampires—make Lissa one of them forever.

I'm not a huge fan of this cover, but I read the first chapter online somewhere, and it definitely convinced me to go out and buy it.

Wake by Lisa McMann

Not all dreams are sweet.For seventeen-year-old Janie, getting sucked into other people's dreams is getting old. Especially the falling dreams, the naked-but-nobody-notices dreams, and the sex-crazed dreams. Janie's seen enough fantasy booty to last her a lifetime.

She can't tell anybody about what she does -- they'd never believe her, or worse, they'd think she's a freak. So Janie lives on the fringe, cursed with an ability she doesn't want and can't control.

Then she falls into a gruesome nightmare, one that chills her to the bone. For the first time, Janie is more than a witness to someone else's twisted psyche. She is a participant....

An amazing, intriguing book. I loved the guy in this one. LOVED him. It's got a sequel coming out next month (Fade), and I can't wait to have some of my questions answered.

The City of Bones by Cassandra Clare

When fifteen-year-old Clary Fray heads out to the Pandemonium Club in New York City, she hardly expects to witness a murder — much less a murder committed by three teenagers covered with strange tattoos and brandishing bizarre weapons. Then the body disappears into thin air. It's hard to call the police when the murderers are invisible to everyone else and when there is nothing — not even a smear of blood — to show that a boy has died. Or was he a boy?

This is Clary's first meeting with the Shadowhunters, warriors dedicated to ridding the earth of demons. It's also her first encounter with Jace, a Shadowhunter who looks a little like an angel and acts a lot like a jerk. Within twenty-four hours Clary is pulled into Jace's world with a vengeance, when her mother disappears and Clary herself is attacked by a demon. But why would demons be interested in ordinary mundanes like Clary and her mother? And how did Clary suddenly get the Sight? The Shadowhunters would like to know...

Exotic and gritty, exhilarating and utterly gripping, Cassandra Clare's ferociously entertaining fantasy takes readers on a wild ride that they will never want to end.

I read the first chapter on Cassandra Clare's site, I think. And I loved it. Completely marvelous (stop looking at me funny- I've already used up wonderful and fabulous and intriguing). I suppose the fact the fantasy romance was my first love in reading makes this book an obvious favorite for me. I'll be buying the rest of the series ASAP.

So those are the latest books. These didn’t actually come in the mail since I borrowed one and bought all the rest. What do you think? Did I make some good shopping choices?

Extra Credit problem (sorry, no prizes, I'm just curious to see how you guys respond): Which big-deal (in the YA world) book(s) came out today?

~bella aire~

IMM began here: www.thestorysiren.com