Why 50 Shades shouldn't be dismissed as mere Twilight fan fic

I have spoken to several friends who are curious about the 50 Shades craze, and one friend who read it back when it was really just fan fic who thinks I'm an idiot for enjoying the series so much.  While 50 Shades certainly isn't for everyone, and I don't think it's a MUST READ, the attitude of it being inferior to other romance stories or that I have no taste for enjoying it really irks me.  I think the general attitude is that if you think Twilight sucks, then this book that is BASED OFF Twilight must be even lamer.  Here's why I think 50 Shades shouldn't be discounted because of its origins:

1. Christian's control issues are viewed as an illness and treated as such.  In Twilight, Edward's crazy protection/control mentality is seen as for Bella's own good.  In 50 Shades, Christian is seeing a therapist, and he and Ana eventually work out that control in the bedroom is good for them (though they switch it up), but Christian trying to control Ana's life is unacceptable.  She gets angry at him and stands up for herself.  I love that at several points she refuses to back down.  She doesn't get flustered and start doubting her stance- instead she fights for her freedom and refuses to give in to Christian.  He has to come to terms by adjusting his behavior, and although it is sometimes painful, he does.

2. There are no vampires, werewolves, or other paranormal elements.  My fiance was still laboring under the assumption that Christian was a vampire. No.  All paranormal elements have been removed, which also removes the strange desire Edward feels to eat Bella because of his "nature."  Although Christian at some point admits to wanting to hurt women, there are psychological reasons for this and it is addressed as part of his mental illness, not a sexy thing.  Edward wanting to suck the life out of Bella but trying to control himself is portrayed as hot; Christian wanting to beat a woman is portrayed as unhealthy and unacceptable.

3. Ana is not a dishrag.  While Ana reminds me of Bella during the first couple of chapters where she is clumsy and has bad fashion sense, Ana quickly develops into a strong-willed, smart, and passionate woman.  She is able to defend herself and does at a couple points, she is not afraid to be alone (no laying the woods for hours), and she knows what she wants from life.  While Ana does bite her lip to the point of obnoxiousness, she isn't mousy.  She actually IS very beautiful and interesting.

4. There is no morality message from 50 Shades.  Twilight's pro-abstinence, pro-life, and sometimes religious undertones are not evident in 50 Shades.  This is just a fun series for grown-ups without the author trying to make something that is not spiritual into a message- no hidden PSAs here.

To wrap up, I'd like to point out that while I would be embarrassed to be seen reading either series on the train (I love my Kindle!), aside from a basic outline the actual perspectives and tones of the novels are very different.  Not to say they don't have things in common, because they clearly do, but 50 Shades isn't "Twilight for grown-ups."  It isn't even really "What if Edward and Bella were into BDSM?"  (The BDSM sub-plot takes a backseat to other story-lines.) It's an erotic romance series about unconditional love and overcoming mental illness.

Lucky Charm Blog Tour- Interview With Author Marie Astor

Lucky Charm

Marie Astor

Adult Contemporary Romance

Purchase at Amazon, Barnes and Noble, or Smashwords

I love the cute cover!
What a classic, romantic scene.

Author Marie Astor

LPFR: As a newer author, many bloggers may still be unfamiliar with you.  Could you please tell us a little bit about yourself?

MA: I am a die-hard romantic who wholeheartedly believes in true love, which is why I write in the contemporary romance genre. I am the author of a contemporary romance novel, Lucky Charm, and a short story collection, A Chance Encounter and Other Stories. In addition to being a writer, I am an avid hiker, an excellent swimmer, a good skier, and a capable badminton player.

LPFR: Please tell us about Lucky Charm in one sentence.

MA: In a nutshell, Lucky Charm is a story about a girl who loses her faith in love, but it is also a story about friendship and forgiveness, and most importantly, it is a story about being brave enough to believe in love and having the courage to pursue it.

LPFR: What was your inspiration for writing Lucky Charm?

MA: Romance is such a big part of women’s lives – we spend so much time dreaming and worrying about finding that special someone, but when things do not go exactly as planned, we rely on our friends to help us through the tough times. I knew I wanted to write a fun contemporary romance about the role that friendships play in women’s lives and the challenges of opening up to love after getting one’s heart broken.

At first, the idea started out as a short story I wrote, entitled Lady Luck, which is part of my short story collection, A Chance Encounter and Other Stories. By the time I finished the outline for Lucky Charm, the novel turned out to be very different from the short story that inspired it.

LPFR: You handle the unraveling of Annabel’s engagement with honesty and hope.  I went through a broken engagement as well… What advice do you as a romance writer and woman have for others recovering from broken relationships?

MA: Never give up on love! We’ve all suffered from a broken heart - as daunting as it may feel at the time, it is possible to fall in love again.

LPFR: What is your favorite part of the story?

MA: My favorite part of the story is when Etienne takes Annabel for a tour of a chateau – Annabel is expecting them to be part of a tour group, but instead she finds herself sharing a romantic evening alone with Etienne.

LPFR: What are some of your favorite books right now?

MA: I just finished rereading Sidney Sheldon’s If Tomorrow Comes. I absolutely love this book - it’s got romance, intrigue, revenge – what more could a reader want?

LPFR: What are you working on now?  Can we expect another book soon?

MA: I am currently working on my next contemporary romance – it is a love story set at a ski resort. The book should be coming out in November. Please visit my website, http://www.marieastor.com/ for updates. Here is a little preview:

At twenty two Maggie has a lot of important decisions to make: Jeffrey, her aspiring politician boyfriend of five years has just proposed to her, and an acceptance letter from one of the best law schools in the country is lying on her desk. But is that what she really wants? The answer comes most unexpectedly when during a ski trip to Colorado she meets Taylor, a handsome, free-spirited big mountain skier who is the complete opposite of Jeffrey. Maggie’s attraction to Taylor is undeniable, but she is engaged to marry Jeffrey. Will Maggie find the courage to follow her heart?

LPFR: Thank you, Marie Astor, for this interview!

I received a copy of this book from the author for review.  Review for this book to come soon.  Visit the next stop tomorrow August 28th at Housewife Blues & Chihuahua Stories!

Love Potions, Librarians, and a Tiny Hispanic Boy: Review of Witches of East End by Melissa de la Cruz

Witches of East End

#1, The Beauchamp Family

Melissa de la Cruz

Adult, 272 pages

I like the cover, but I'm not too sure
why there are pretty red leaves.

This is Melissa de la Cruz's first adult novel, and I LOVED it.  It was fun, but not ridiculous (some of the Blue Bloods kind of weirded me out), it read smoothly, and basically, it was like the perfect truffle- rich but not too big of a serving.  I also liked that although there will be more books about the Beauchamps, this book could be a stand-alone novel.  As in, it's a complete story in one book!  Imagine that!

North Hampton is an old-fashioned coastal town in New York, and three witches live there.  Joanna Beauchamp lives there with her two adult daughters, Ingrid and Freya, and their familiars: a griffin, a raven, and a cat.  Joanna's gift is wisdom, Ingrid's is Hearth, and Freya's gift is love.  Unfortunately, back in the 1600's, the three were told that they could no longer practice magic- they had to live as humans...  So Joanna is a lonely woman, Ingrid works at the local library as an architectural archivist, and Freya is a bartender, engaged to be married to wealthy Bran Gardiner.  Things are going well for the family until Freya's eye is caught by Bran's younger brother at their engagement party.  When Ingrid decides to secretly practice a little magic to help a fellow librarian conceive, things really start to spin out of control, and the events that follow start to look pretty bad for the family.

As I said, this was an excellent novel.  It's advertised as a summer read, and it's really perfect for reading right now, with the end of summer mentality going around.  For me, it's cooler nights, stormy weather, and an air of nostalgia.  Some Blue Bloods characters show up, which is fun, and there is a heavy infusion of Norse mythology, particularly at the end.  It's also refreshing to read the first book in a paranormal series where the paranormal beings already know about their powers!  All three main characters are engaging and likeable.  Joanna is a very motherly figure, and her affection for her housekeeper's young son is endearing.  Ingrid, who might have an unrequited crush, has a sincere desire to help others, and Freya's passion for love and life is energizing and sexy.  My favorite part is when Freya starts to mix up love potions at her bar- I love fancy drinks, and magical ones sound even better!

I'd recommend this to older fans of Blue Bloods- I like this book better, and it's got a positive energy flowing through it. I'm looking forward to the next book!

MEG CABOT WEEK: Chick Lit Day!

To wrap up Meg Cabot Week here on La Petite Fille Rousse, I'd like to highlight two of Meg Cabot's adult series that I absolutely loved.

Heather Wells Series
Size 12 Is Not Fat, #1
Size 14 Is Not Fat Either, #2
Big Boned, #3

Heather Wells used to be a famous pop star, but now she is just your average assistant dorm director at a NYC college... well, except for the fact that people keep dying in her dorm.  Heather decides to get nosy and do a little bit of investigating herself, but what she finds is even weirder than what she expected.  While Heather's struggle with body image is part of her character, it's by no means the focus of these books.  This series features crazy college students doing very sketchy things.  I found this series to be hilarious and a little bit scary- these are my favorite books by Meg Cabot after The Princess Diaries.  I would strongly recommend these to anyone looking for chick lit with a mysterious kick.  According to her website, Meg Cabot is working on two more books in this series- I can't wait!

Queen of Babble Series

Queen of Babble, #1

Queen of Babble in the Big City, #2

Queen of Babble Gets Hitched, #3

This series is a lot of fun, but it's hard to describe.  Basically, Lizzie Nichols, your average twenty-something American woman doesn't really know what to do with her life.  She has kind of a big mouth, but as far as I can tell, the thing that stands out about her most is her love for vintage clothing and fashion.  That's probably my fav thing about this series- the amazing clothing descriptions... oh, and the super excellent series ending that blew my mind!  Queen of Babble is pretty typical chick lit (by this I meant that it doesn't have Meg Cabot's crazy premise spin of secret powers, etc.).  Writing this now makes me really want to reread the series.

MEG CABOT WEEK: Happy Birthday to Overbite!

Overbite

The Insatiable Series, Book 2

Meg Cabot

July 2011

The Insatiable series combines two of my favorite things... Meg Cabot and vampires.  I'm not sure what it is about vampires... There's something so exciting about a super powerful guy desperately in love with an unlikely girl.  Anyways.  Meg Cabot has fun with her vampires, and in Overbite, they get a bit more evil than in Insatiable.

TEASER: "But when he actually saw Meena Harper emerge from a taxi in front of the Freewell, New Jersey, Police Department... he realized that all the worst-case scenarios he'd been imagining came nowhere close to the horror of this one:  

There was a pink scarf tied around her throat." p. 48

Insatiable (Book 1, see my review here) introduces us to Meena Harper, resident of NYC with psychic powers.  Meena has the gift to know how people are going to die- this sounds like an awesome power, but it's actually kind of creepy to other people.  Meena is determined to use her gift for good even though it causes some uncomfortable conversations.  She's doing okay until she finds a new boyfriend, Lucien, who happens to be a vampire.  Not just a vampire, but the actual prince of darkness, as in the son of Satan.  (Note: this is still a fun book, even if you don't like horror or super dark books, you would probably still enjoy it.  The evil is played down and the drama is played up.)

Overbite starts with Meena working for the Palatine, happily living with her brother Jon in a secret location... Lucien is in hiding, but Meena tries to remain anonymous in the city, just in case.  She still believes that he has good in him, and she is trying to find information from the Vatican to prove that it's possible.  In the meantime, she has bigger problems.  She has had repeating nightmares about her ex-boyfriend, and she asks him to meet her in the city to talk.  She's in the car with him, trying to figure out how to break the news of his impending death, when the unthinkable happens.  A chain of events is set off involving a desperate mission to New Jersey and corruption in unlikely places.  Through it all, Meena is pursued by the charming Palatine guard Alaric Wulf and the brooding vampire prince Lucien Antonescu.

Overbite is fast paced and full of mystery- the ending definitely surprised me, and there were several plot twists that made me audibly gasp, much to the amusement of my family who was riding in the car with me.  Meena's brother Jon is a really fun character.  In this book, he has been hired to work at a church coffee shop, but he still really really wants to work for the Palatine.  He's come up with a new invention called the SuperStaker (I'll let you read the book to find out more) that's super cool... Meg Cabot doesn't take her vampires too seriously, and the SuperStaker is proof of that.  I'd love to see Edward Cullen (*swoon*) fight one off, haha.

Lucien also goes through major character development during this book.  He struggles with choosing between his father's legacy of evil and the good Meena believes he is capable of.  I like that he is a deeply flawed character, and he visibly struggles with evil temptations.

Even with all of this drama and action, the book is written in Meg Cabot's humorous voice, and the reader will enjoy the light hearted bits interspersed with the moments of darkness.

As I said above, the ending was unexpected, and I'm not sure what's going to happen with the series. Is there going to be another book?  I can't find the info online, but if you know, please leave a comment.  EDIT: According to commenter below, this is the last book in the series.  :(  Bummer for me.

Four stars to an excellent sequel with humor, intrigue, and the ultimate triumph of good over evil.

Meg Cabot's website has some fun extras, including links to Palatine publishings and excerpts.

The book trailer is HILARIOUS.

Disclaimer:  I received this book from the publisher in exchange for an honest review.

Belated Books: MEG CABOT WEEK!

In preparation for the release of Meg Cabot's new book, Overbite, on July 5th, here's a glimpse into my minor obsession with Meg Cabot!  This week, I will feature some of her books- she has written A LOT...


The Princess Diaries series (and associated bonus books!)
The Insatiable series (my review)
How to Be Popular
Teen Idol
Nicola and the Viscount (my review)
The Airhead series (my review)
All-American Girl series
Queen of Babble series
Heather Wells series
The Abandon Series (my review)
The 1-800-WHERE-R-YOU series (have only read the first two)
Pants on Fire (haven't read this yet)
Jinx (haven't read this yet)
The Boy series (have only read the first one)
She Went All the Way (haven't read this yet)
The Mediator series (haven't read these yet)
Victoria and the Rogue (haven't read this yet)
Avalon High series (have only read the first one)
Allie Finkle's Rules for Girls series (haven't read these yet)

The Princess Diaries Series- SPOILERS. but this is romance/drama, not a mystery, so you probs don't care.

I don't exactly remember how I got into The Princess Diaries, but I'm pretty sure that my mom took me to see the movie when it came out in 2001.  I would have been in... 7th grade?  Soon after seeing the movie, I picked up the first book at the library and loved it, although I was surprised at how different it was from the film.  I remember reading Volume III: Princess in Love while on a camping trip- this is still my favorite from the whole series, because the ending is so magical and Michael is so hot.

Yes, I have had a major crush on Michael, both in the movie and the books- I love dark haired guys, and my boyfriend of almost 8 years is Jewish, just like Michael.  Michael is a musician, a genius, and three years older- how dreamy!

I guess the reason I love The Princess Diaries so much is the characterization... Here's a rundown of my ten favorite characters:

• Mia aka Princess Amelia Mignonette Grimaldi Thermopolis Renaldo (I definitely just wikied that- I forgot Grimaldi!)-  Princess Mia herself rocks for the self-discovery she goes through in the later books- she writes her own novel, Ransom My Heart, which is available for you to read!  Mia also has a lot of guts- she pulls a fire alarm, stomps on a cell phone, and eventually brings constitutional monarchy to her country.  In the books, Mia is actually blonde and looks nothing like Anne Hathaway. 2.  

• Helen Thermopolis- Mia's mom is a crazy artist who is somewhat irresponsible (particularly when it comes to family planning) but cares about Mia more than anything else in the world.

• Mr. G. aka Frank Gianini-  Mia's algebra teacher turned step-father is a stand-up guy.  He helps Mia with math, takes care of Mia's mom when he gets her pregnant, and is generally a fine male specimen. 

• Lilly Moscovitz-  I spend a lot of time wanting to punch Lilly in the face- she's pushy, selfish, and too smart for her own good- but underneath it all, Lilly is a sensitive girl who needs Mia just as much as Mia thinks she needs her. 

• Michael Moscovitz-  *dreamy*  I really would like to smell his neck, just once.  Michael is romantic, bossy, and nerdy enough to make me crazy.  I'm not sure why Michael works at a garage in the movie, because he is really just a member of the Computer Club until his band Skinner Box gets off the ground. 

• Tina Hakim-Baba- I wish that I had a friend like Tina- her father is very rich, so Tina has a body guard just like Mia.  However, Tina is shy and super super nice- she loves all things romance- and Tina is so unselfish and pure-hearted.   

• Grandmere-  HAHAHA Grandmere is a nightmare.  I can picture her with her tattooed eyeliner and cigarette, eye-balling the run in my stockings and cursing me in French.  Grandmere is the dowager princess, and she takes it upon herself to prepare Mia to be proper royalty. 

• Lars-  Lars is the most hilarious body guard- he hides Mia's diary for her, exchanges knowing glances with Michael, and generally is a quiet sidekick to Mia's shenanigans, serving as a lookout on a couple occasions and pointing out obvious flaws in Mia's plans. 

• Boris Pelkowski-  Boris is a violin virtuoso who drops a giant globe on his head because of his love for Lilly.  The globe scene alone makes him one of my favorite book characters of all times. 

• Lana Weinberger-  Lana is a nasty nasty girl- at least in the first half of the series.  I would love to know who Meg Cabot based her off of and whether or not they know about it.  I hope no one ever makes me a mean character in a book!

There are other excellent characters that I omitted, but these are my favs!

However, there was a rough patch in my relationship with The Princess Diaries... In Volume VIII: Princess on the Brink, Michael and Mia have a huge fight and he leaves for Japan for an extended stay, essentially ending the relationship.  When I got my copy of the book, I was looking forward to a fun read, but I found this book super upsetting, and I cried hysterically for a long time.  When I finally stopped crying, I changed my Facebook profile pic:

I took it with my laptop, so I had to write the note backwards, which is why it looks all facacta.

I was so mad!  I wanted to write her a letter.  I was so upset that I didn't get the next book as soon as it came out, but when I did, I was relieved to find out that Mia sort of becomes less insane and makes good decisions with the help of her therapist.  Volumes IX and X were excellent, and by the end of the series, I felt that the story had come full circle with lots of character growth.

If you haven't read this series, I highly recommend it.  Mia's voice is authentic, the NYC setting is fun, and the situations Mia finds herself in are comedic and challenging.  Fans can continue to enjoy Mia's thoughts by following her blog- on which there may or may not be hints about a wedding to come!

As mentioned above, Meg Cabot also wrote a book as Mia Thermopolis: Ransom My Heart.  For Mia's senior project, she writes a historical romance novel- that we can actually read!

During BEA week, I went to the Scholastic Store in NYC to the This is Teen event, and I actually got to meet Meg, which was an amazing experience.  There were school kids in front of me (boys and girls who looked to be in middle school), and they were SO EXCITED to meet Meg- apparently they are reading her books for school.  It was great to see middle schoolers so excited about reading- especially boys.

Highlight of my year- maybe my decade, unless I get married before 30.

Interview with Jennifer Rainville, Author of Trance of Insignificance

The author of Trance of Insignificance, Jennifer Rainville, agreed to do an interview with me- here it is!  You can check out my review of the book here.


LPFR: As a debut author, many bloggers may still be unfamiliar with you.  Could you please tell us a little bit about yourself?  I understand that you've had an interesting career path!

JR: First let me say that I’m delighted to have been so warmly welcomed into the book blogosphere! Yes, I’ve taken what some may consider an untraditional path to being an author...I’ve worked in politics at both the state and national level, I was a local TV news reporter in NYC and have served as a media advisor to high-profile figures. However, whether working on political campaigns, in a newsroom or as a consultant - my craft and skill set has always centered around the art of communication. Writing has been the constant in my work, regardless of the field. My unique career experience has not only given me a rich reservoir from which to pull from, but expanded the style and range of my writing...so I wouldn’t change anything about the path that led me to this moment.  

LPFR: Please tell us about your book in one sentence.

JR: A blonde NYC television news reporter has an intoxicating affair with a hunky morning anchor.

LPFR: I mentioned in my review that I found the September 11th part to be passionate and realistic.  If you don't mind sharing, were you working in media during that time?  Did you find it challenging to write about such a powerful event?

JR: The September 11th scene was inspired by my experience while working as a production assistant at WNBC 4, the NBC affiliate in NYC, that day in 2001. I had been on the job only a few days, with no previous experience in a TV newsroom...so, that, combined with the magnitude of the event, made for a powerful day.  It was challenging to write...it was important to me to accurately convey the pace, intensity and mood of a newsroom while covering a story with that much dimension, tragedy and scale. I wanted to pull back the veil on what was really happening behind-the-scenes in NYC newsrooms that day and my experience of actually being there hopefully helped me to portray the scene and the characters in an authentic way. 

LPFR: What is your favorite part of the story?

JR: That’s such a tough question! Every word, every sentence, every scene has meaning for me. I did particularly love writing the chapter when Jules and Jack unexpectedly cross paths at Chateau Marmont in Los Angeles...because the central theme of that exchange is one that I am constantly fascinated by, which is, the interplay between the life that we want and the life we create and often the misalignment between the two. The scene examines the idea of self-sabotage and self-deception...how is it that after so much sacrifice and hard work, just when Jules’s greatest wishes are coming true, she still finds herself stuck in a pattern that is destructive to her well-being? Every moment of our lives is an opportunity for transformation and that moment is a pivotal one for Jules...it clearly triggers something in her. 

LPFR: The ending was a surprise to me.  Did you write the story with the ending in mind, or did the character development lead you there?

JR: The ending was a surprise to me too! Without giving too much away, for those who have yet to read it, I will say that I had a completely different ending when I wrote the first draft of the novel. As I spent more time with the characters and worked through multiple drafts, they helped me write the story...not the other way around. There were many times when the book seemed more real to me than what was happening in my day-to-day life...it may sound strange, but I grew very attached to the characters and loved being immersed in their world, so I went along for the ride with them...and was just as surprised by where they ended up. 

LPFR: You have lived in both Washington, DC, and NYC, just like Jules.  What is your favorite thing about each city?

JR: I truly love both cities. I lived in Washington, D.C. during a very formative seven years of my life, it is where I went to university and and started my professional career and so its impact on me was tremendous. I was fortunate to have been exposed to the highest levels of government, diplomacy and scholarship while living there...being a part of living history is by far my favorite thing about my time there.

New York City has been my home for more than a dozen years and every day it feels brand new. New York City has an energy and magnetism that invites you to dance from the minute you walk out your door. It evolves and unfolds before your eyes and is a magical place to live as a writer...it is my very own fantasy island. Depending on the seasons, I feel drawn to a different little corner of the city...at the moment it is NoLita...I can spend hours there just drinking cappuccino and watching the world unfold. 

LPFR: What made you decide to write and publish your first novel?

JR: I left the news business because I wanted to focus on my writing. Being a full-time writer and author was definitely always a childhood dream...and one, that even after three decades, I wasn’t ready to give up on. For years, I’d jot down notes, ideas and outlines for stories. I didn’t really know what form they would take, but I knew there was something there. The pieces of the novel came together organically...it was the one story that kept coming to me - torrents of dialogue and scenes would hit me, often when I was doing something else, so I knew this was the first story that wanted to be told. 

LPFR: What was the hardest part of the writing/publishing process?

JR: The most challenging part of writing the novel was being patient enough to receive the story. Being a journalist was a great apprenticeship because it gave my writing discipline and focus. But writing fiction is completely different. I had to learn not to force timelines and release myself from external goals, and instead create the circumstances in which the writing would flow naturally.

When it came to getting the book published,  I went the traditional route (with a top literary agency, etc.) for more than two years and became completely fed-up with the lack of progress, arcane pace and quiet frankly the pomposity of it all. Luckily we live in an age when technology has made the traditional ‘gatekeepers’ largely irrelevant. But in a town where image is everything, the hardest part of independently publishing my book was having the courage and humility to do it. Once I got over the fear and released from ego, everything started to fly! 

LPFR: What are you working on now?  Can we expect another book any time soon?

JR: I’m always writing...at the moment I’m dabbling between two genres...fiction and memoir. But I’ve learned that, for me, it is better to keep the exact story a bit of a mystery...it is the only way to be fully present in the world I'm creating. Outside inquiry and examination are the quickest ways to get yanked out. Daniel Day-Lewis has a great quote in the opening of the film Nine, playing the character Guido Contini, based on the amazing filmmaker Federico Fellini, he said “You kill your film several times, mostly by talking about it”...as a creative, these are words to live by. 

Thanks so much to Jennifer Rainville for this interview!

Review of Trance of Insignificance by Jennifer Rainville

Trance of Insignificance

Jennifer Rainville

2011 Debut!

Adult Fiction

226 pages

*Interview with author coming soon!*

I love the symbolism of the cover.
Jules is standing at a street corner, looking at the street signs.
Which way will she go?  Will she follow the directions imposed upon her or find her own way?

Trance of Insignificance tells the story of Jules, a young woman who escaped her dysfunctional life in South Boston for a dynamic career, first in politics in DC, then in television news in New York City.  She is beautiful, strong, and ambitious, but she can't seem to find the right man for her.  This story is told through events in the present, flashbacks to a past relationship, and a few glimpses of her childhood.  The book centers around Jules' attraction to a handsome, powerful news anchor and her struggle to move on when he fails her.  The depth of their passion and the problems that ultimately destroy it are revealed through the story as Jules must decide between this past lover and her new husband, who is everything she ever imagined wanting in a husband.

The main drama of the story is captivating- the challenges that meet Jules and how she deals with them make what could be simply a chick lit romance into a powerful story about perseverance.  In addition to a fast-paced plot, this book also has several story elements that I love: awesome clothes, New York City, a perfect proposal, and an unexpected-yet-authentic ending.  One of the most engaging scenes is near the beginning of the book- it is Jules' first day of working at NEWS 30, and it happens to be September 11th, 2001.  Reading about that day from a media perspective was fascinating.  We all have our stories about where we were when we found out that the towers fell, but I have never considered it from the point of view of the media.  While this story is fiction, it reads like a very personal account, and the author's rich, honest voice made this book a passionate experience for me.

While I initially had trouble keeping up with the changes in dates due to the flashbacks, the flashbacks are used to provide background on the cause of events or feelings in Jules' life.  As soon as I became comfortable with jumping between the couple of time periods/locations, I really enjoyed how the flashbacks added depth to the story.  

Four stars to an excellent debut.  I would recommend this to adult and mature teen readers who enjoy big-city stories about romance and enjoying life.  For more information, check out the author's website and blog here.  

**Disclaimer: I received a complimentary copy of this book from the author in exchange for an honest review.**

Review of Beauty Queens by Libba Bray

Beauty Queens

Libba Bray

390 pages

May 2011

Beauty Queens is the story of a plane full of Miss Teen Dream contestants that crashes on a seemingly deserted island.  Of course, all of the adults have died,  but chaos is averted by Miss Texas, who takes control of the situation and starts to organize the girls. The book starts in the POV of Adina, who admits right away that she thinks the Miss Teen Dream pageant is stupid and she wants to throw the whole thing, but I really liked that it didn't stay in her POV.  We get to experience the POV of many different girls, which is really cool- throughout the story, we find out each girl's secrets and how they perceive the world.  Reality TV pirates and a psycho dictator soon join the story, which add to the humour level significantly.

Throughout the book, social commentary is weaved in through "Commercial Breaks" and foot notes.  Readers will enjoy seeing Sarah Palin represented (I'm now even more terrified of her after reading this book), as well as Justin Timberlake, popping up in an unexpected place (at least, I think it's Justin Timberlake, haha).

Libba Bray really uses this book to create a space for dialogue about the oppression of women, female sexuality, LGBTQI issues, racial stereotypes and identity formation, how we perceive intelligence, and even environmental issues.  At first, it felt really preachy, but it evens out  when you realize that the book isn't Adina "Man-Hater" vs. everyone else, and each girl has her own strengths and weaknesses.  The book even made me think about my life- such as my anxiety about how I look at the gym.

I give this book 5 stars and I recommend it as an excellent YA beach read.  It's full of hot girls and guys, heart-pumping action, and a hilarious pirate captain who reminds me of Russell Brand.

Book Blogger Hop (14) and Follow Friday (3)

Book Blogger Hop is hosted by Crazy for Books!  Well, usually.
This week it is hosted by Lori's Reading Corner.

This week's question:
Who is the one author that you are dying to meet?

This is a tough question- I have a lot of fav authors, however, the one I would like to meet most is Ann M. Martin, the author of The Baby-Sitters Club.  The BSC is my all time favorite series- I actually own every book (not the Little Sister ones, though).  This is one of my semi-awkward literary secrets, so now you know!

Follow Friday is hosted by Parajunkee's View!

Q. The magic book fairy pops out of your cereal box and says "you and your favorite character (from a book of course) can switch places!" Who are you going to switch with?

O.o  Who would I switch with?  Well, what about Hermione, Clary, or Rose?  Wait, those are all taken? I have to choose someone else?  Oh, okay... um... *checks Goodreads*  BRIDGET JONES, but only if Mark Darcy is around.  I'd love to try being British and silly. 

Top Ten Beach Reads

Hosted by The Broke and the Bookish

In my opinion, a beach read needs to be:

• emotionally on the lighter side (not Cut or The Bluest Eye)
• physically easy to carry (not a hardcover of Harry Potter 5)
• relaxing and calming for the reader (not City of Fallen Angels)

So here are my Top Ten Beach Reads:

10.  That Summer by Sarah Dessen-  Her new book What Happened to Goodbye could probably fit here too, but I stopped reading her books after the first few pages of Just Listen reminded me of a horrible middle school experience and I had a panic attack.  This was at least four years ago, so I should probs suck it up... I was a huge fan of her books, and I'm sure I would love them if I could get back into them!

9.  The Wedding by Nicholas Sparks-  This is an excellent story about Noah and Allie's children/grandchildren- but be forewarned, like all Nicholas Sparks books, there is a definite danger of some tears!

8.  The No. 1 Ladies Detective Agency by Alexander Smith McCall- if you are not into "Chick Lit," this is a good option for you.  This is a whole mystery series about a woman who sets up a detective agency IN AFRICA (also a good way to pretend you are summering somewhere exotic, rather than the man-made "beach" an hour from your house.

7.  The Devil Wears Prada by Lauren Weisberger- This author has a unique voice in her writing.  She is somewhat detached from her characters, and there is always lots of glamour and fabulous people.  Anything by her is excellent for traveling.

6.  The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants by Ann Brashares- Oh, man.  I used to be obsessed with these books.  Lots of summer, lots of travel, and lots of cute boys.

5.  The Last Summer by Ann Brashares- I'm not sure if a lot of people have read this one.  I read it on a plane- I don't remember very much, but I remember thinking about what a good book it was to read in the summer.

4.  The Sleeping Beauty Proposal by Sarah Strohmeyer- In The Sleeping Beauty Proposal, a young woman's famous boyfriend proposes on television, but not to her! Since everyone assumes he has proposed to her (and why would she say no?), gifts start arriving and a wedding is planned.  

3.  The Cinderella Pact by Sarah Strohmeyer-  This is the story of an overweight, frumpy sort of woman who is secretly a posh celebrity writer.  When she makes a pact with her best friends to lose weight and get her life where she wants it to be, she realizes that looks aren't everything.

2.  The Heather Wells Series by Meg Cabot-  By-gone pop star Heather takes a job as a dorm director at an NYC college, and she loves her new job until she learns why the dorm is nicknamed "Death Dorm."  These three mysteries will entertain you and scare you a little. 

1. Bridget Jones's Diary by Helen Fielding- Supposedly Helen Fielding is working on a 3rd book- how awesome would that be?

Review of The Daughters by Joanna Philbin

The Daughters

by Joanna Philbin

288 pages

2010

The Daughters is the story of three teenage best friends living in NYC who all have famous parents.  Lizzie, the main character, is the only child of world-famous model Katia Summers, only Lizzie did not inherit her mom's looks.  Although Lizzie isn't ugly, she considers herself to be weird-looking, with wild red hair, a large nose, and some other features that are not part of traditional model beauty (think Mallory of the BSC).  Lizzie mostly tries to avoid the spotlight because of her low self-confidence.  When Lizzie's childhood best friend and first kiss returns to the states from England, she starts to question her life of hiding in the shadows, and her best friends are right beside her as she takes on new challenges and stretches her wings.

This book is exactly what is sounds like- a fun beach read (incidentally there are a lot of Gatsby references in it, so Gatsby fans might particularly enjoy it).  I love books like this right now because I read so much serious stuff for my graduate classes- it's nice to be able to relax and just chill with something fun.  This book contains glamour, romance, comedy, and great clothes, and I give it 4 stars.  I recommend it as a light, quick summer read!

Review of Abandon (or My Love for Authoritative Boyfriends)

When I reserved Abandon at the library, it was only because it was a Meg Cabot book.  I actually knew nothing about the plot, but as you can easily tell from my blog, I am a little bit obsessed with MC, and have been since I was about 15.

Abandon is the first book in the story of high school student Pierce Oliviera (loosely based on the myth of Persephone).  I don't want to spoil the mystery that surrounds the first chapters of the book, so I will just say that Pierce is recovering from a NDE (near death experience) and a subsequent disastrous event, referred to at first as "the incident."  As a result of her bizarre behavior following and surrounding these events, Pierce is asked to leave her prestigious all-girls school. She moves with her mother to her mom's hometown on Isla Huesos, based on Key West, where she is expected to start high school.  Little did Pierce know that she had escaped from one dangerous situation into another even more dangerous one.

This book is full of action- very fast-paced.  It reminds me of Rick Riordan's writing (appropriate given the subject matter!) in that it moves quickly between scenes, no pages of descriptions or long transitions to flip through.  The beginning is so mysterious that I couldn't put it down until I made it about halfway.  It was fortunate that there was sort of a gap between the mystery and the climactic action so I could get some work done, because once I picked it up a second time, there was no stopping.

I give this book 4/5 stars, which on my rating scale means that PERSONALLY I loved it, but I am not sure if it is for everyone.  I would definitely recommend giving it a shot, this book is dark and delicious and surprisingly romantic.  The male protagonist (or is he?) is a perfect combination of Mr. Darcy, Michael Moscovitz, and Will Herondale- old-fashioned, sexy, demanding, and tortured. LOVE IT!!  I've been rereading the PD series, and Mia goes on and on about how she likes it when Michael is bossy (me too ;D), so I laughed when I realized that MC had created this amazing fantasy character whom Mia would swoon for.

Anyways, the ending was epic (shoutout to Jade!), and I can't wait for book 2, Underworld.

Check out MC's guest post on blog Presenting Lenore!

Review- Mini Shopaholic by Sophie Kinsella

This is the sixth book in the Shopaholic Series, and it was just released last week.  Let me tell you, this book is EXCELLENT.  It picks up two years after the last book and has all of your favorite characters...

Plus a new character- Minnie.

Minnie is Becky and Luke's daughter.  At only two years old, she is extremely... difficult.  Very much like Becky herself.

I loved this book because the plot was great and the premise- a surprise party for Luke- was engaging without causing me the actually anxiety that the first book did (too close to my real life!)  This book was hilarious- I won't give away any of the stunts, but there are plenty of hilarious mini incidents (okay, one example- Becky is now apparently an art scout from the US).

And in case you are wondering what I was wondering- the plot is set up for a 7th book!

I honestly have nothing negative to say about this book.  :D  5 STARS!

Review- Twenties Girl by Sophie Kinsella

Twenties Girl by Sophie Kinsella
Published in 2009

Book Website

So I'll say it again- Sophie Kinsella is my fav.  I <3 her!  This book is definitely my favorite of her non-series books, and it might be better than Shopaholic.

Summary from Goodreads: 

Lara Lington has always had an overactive imagination, but suddenly that imagination seems to be in overdrive. Normal professional twenty-something young women don’t get visited by ghosts. Or do they?

When the spirit of Lara’s great-aunt Sadie–a feisty, demanding girl with firm ideas about fashion, love, and the right way to dance–mysteriously appears, she has one last request: Lara must find a missing necklace that had been in Sadie’s possession for more than seventy-five years, and Sadie cannot rest without it. Lara, on the other hand, has a number of ongoing distractions. Her best friend and business partner has run off to Goa, her start-up company is floundering, and she’s just been dumped by the “perfect” man.

Sadie, however, could care less.

Lara and Sadie make a hilarious sparring duo, and at first it seems as though they have nothing in common. But as the mission to find Sadie’s necklace leads to intrigue and a new romance for Lara, these very different “twenties” girls learn some surprising truths from each other along the way. Written with all the irrepressible charm and humor that have made Sophie Kinsella’s books beloved by millions, Twenties Girl is also a deeply moving testament to the transcendent bonds of friendship and family.

This book is definitely a fun read- it's got romance, intrigue, and comedy, and the ending made me cry!  I was a bit skeptical before reading- the whole ghost-aunt thing kind of worried me, but actually, great-aunt Sadie was my favorite character.  All of the characters are well-developed and interesting, and Sadie's romantic interest is super cute.  He reminds me a lot of the hottie in The Little Lady Agency.

I think that the only downer of this book is that it took me a really long time to get through- I'm not sure why.  The twist in the last quarter of the book, however, was so unpredictable and exciting (at least to me) that it made this book actually genuinely inspirational.

I'll give this book 4 stars and recommend it to anyone who likes chick-lit.  Plain and simple :D

My very first post...

I have been trying to start a blog for awhile, and I think I am finally ready.  I really have no design experience, so please excuse the noob appearance of my blog.  If you have any advice for how I can get started, I would really appreciate it.  :D


I think that the best way for me to introduce myself is with a list of the last 10 books I read... according to my Goodreads account:


1.  Intensely Alice by Phyllis Reynolds Naylor- I LOVE ALICE.  I 100% recommend this series to everyone who like YA coming of age books.  Alice is a genuine girl with high standards for herself, and the books honestly explore adolescence in terms of family, emotional issues, sexuality, independence, courage, friendship, and big issues such as suicide, drunk driving, and teen pregnancy.  These books are some of the most banned in the United States, and they span Alice's life from elementary school through high school.  The series- 5 stars.  This particular book- 4 stars.


2.  The Short Second Life of Bree Tanner by Stephenie Meyer-  I am still thinking about this book.  I definitely liked it, but I am trying to decide if it is actually well-written.  Anyways, it is a very short read. I recommend it to anyone who liked Twilight (even if you won't admit it).  It is definitely grittier and kind of makes up for the "fairy vampire" issues with Twilight.  4.5 stars.


3. The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian by Sherman Alexie-  This is a YA book about a Native American high school student who decides to leave the reservation and attend the white school.  The coolest thing about it is the illustration- the book has unique cartoons every few pages to emphasize key events and ideas.  This book is very sad, and contains a lot of bad language, so I would only recommend it for high school and up.  4.5 stars.


4. The Little Lady Agency by Hester Browne- This is very deep chick lit.  A young British woman starts her own girlfriend agency after losing her job.  I think it is very well written and has a lot of character development.  It is also surprisingly long, which makes it a little more of a challenge than average chick lit.  4 stars.


5. Before We Were Free by Julia Alvarez-  I LOVE JULIA ALVAREZ.  You must first read In the Time of The Butterflies.  Then read this book.  It is about the dictatorship in the Dominican Republic.  Both are very good reads. 5 stars.


6. Lucky by Rachel Vail-  DO NOT READ THIS BOOK.  GIANT WASTE OF TIME.  It also made me very grumpy because I was so irritated by all of the main characters.  1.5 stars (because it was at least short).


7.  The Lightning Thief by Rick Riordan-  The Percy Jackson series is a great new alternative to Harry Potter.  So much YA fantasy is about wizards and elves, but this series is about Greek mythology.  Excellent male and female protagonists.  5 stars.


8.  The No. 1 Ladies Detective Agency by Alexander McCall Smith- great mystery set in Africa!  A lady starts up her own detective agency, and this book details her life in flashbacks as well as how she begins the agency.  4.5 stars.


9.  The Mysterious Benedict Society and the Perilous Journey by Trenton Lee Stewart- Excellent children's book.  This is the second in the series.  I would recommend this series to anyone who likes adventure.  These books are truly unique and emphasize that all children have special talents, they just need to learn how to use them!  5 stars.


10.  The Twilight Saga by Stephenie Meyer.  Hopefully I do not need to summarize these for you, haha. I am embarrassed to admit that I totally enjoyed Eclipse and Breaking Dawn.  It was like making a huge pot of mac and cheese and eating the whole thing.  Not nutritious, totally processed, but delicious!  3 stars for actual quality, 4.5 stars for pleasure.