Author: Cindy

(Review) Jen and the Frosted Friends

Posted on by Cindy


Title: Jen and the Frosted Friends
ISBN:9781452053493
Author:Sparks, Kerry
Publisher:Authorhouse
Pages: 76

Source: Received a copy from the author.

Synopsis (from Powell’s):
Introduction Fifth grade is the best for Jennifer, Rebecca, Pamela and Sammie. Their teacher, Mrs. Fern, is as sweet as pie, the boys are extra cute this year, and, between the girls, the glitter supply is strong. The girls use so much glitter, the principal calls them “The Frosted Friends.” All is well until mean old substitute, Mrs. Frost, comes along. Jen and Becca already had to have Mrs. Frost for fourth grade, and Mrs. Frost is supposed to be retired! Mrs. Frost is back, and she’s as mean as ever. She’s making the girls write sentences and confiscating glitter! Everyone seems to think Mrs. Frost is the pits, except for Jen’s classmate “Frowning Francesca” Clearwater. She’s the only one smiling for once. Will Mrs. Frost pass the girls on to the sixth grade, or are they destined to stay in the fifth grade forever!

MY THOUGHTS:
This is book two of the Get Frosted Series.

I enjoyed this just as much as I enjoyed the first book. I am sure middle grade girls would love this one just as much as the first one.

Jennifer has passed and is starting grade five with a new group of friends. The girls are Rebecca (who was Jennifer’s friend in the last book), Pamela and Sammie. They are all excited because they have a great teacher, Mrs Fern.

The girls are your typical girls who like pizza, boys, sleep overs and make up. The girls earn the nick name “The Frosted Friends” from the principle because of the amount of glitter the girls use.

Things are going great in school for Jennifer until Mrs Fern announces that she is pregnant. What will happen once Mrs Fern goes on maternity leave?

The day comes and Jennifer is shocked at who the replacement teacher is. Once she sees who it is her world comes crashing down. Its the one person she thought she would never see again, Mrs Frost. The class quickly realizes that the rest of the year is not going to be fun except for one person who is actually smiling and enjoying this. Its Francesca.

Jennifer is determined to find out what Francesca is all of a sudden so happy when the rest of the class is so miserable because it appears as though Mrs Frost has gotten meaner since the last time Jennifer saw her.

Jennifer is dealing with having Mrs Frost around and problems with boys. A dance at the school almost risks Jennifer loosing her best friend, Rebecca because it looks like Jennifer is going after the boy she likes (which of course turns out to be the complete opposite because this boy likes Rebecca) so Jennifer lets her friend know that.

Things at school aren’t getting better and to make matters worse Mrs Frost has announced this is pairing the class up for the science project. Jennifer is happy she gets Sammie but its Pam who isn’t thrilled and it leaves Jennifer wondering what is wrong with Pam. The girls have passed and Pam has worked out her issue. Its around Valentine’s Day that Pam surprises the group with her new found friendship. How will the group react?

There is so much more about the book I would love to share but I am afraid if I go on I will spoil it. So much more happens that will surprise you. I know I was surprised and I had to continue reading it.

These books are a super fun and quick read.

Check back tomorrow for my interview with Kerry Sparks.

copyright 2010, Cindy (Cindy’s Love Of Books)
If you are reading this on a blog or website other than Cindy’s Love Of Books or via a feedreader, this content has been stolen and used without permission.

(Review) Frost Bites

Posted on by Cindy


TITLE: Frost Bites
ISBN:9781438954141
Author: Kerry Sparks
Publisher: Authorhouse
Publication Date:March 2009
Pages:92

Source: I received this book from the author.

SYNOPSIS (from Powells)
Jennifer Logan is excited about entering the fourth grade…until she finds out her teacher is mean old Mrs. Frost! Mrs. Frost is known for making her students write sentences at their Christmas parties and orders them to square dance on Valentine’s Day! Mrs. Frost has her eye on Jennifer. Will she make it to the fifth grade? Find out in this humorous tale about the ups and downs of fourth grade.

MY THOUGHTS:
One of the best things about blogging is getting to know a new author and/or book that you might not hear about. Since blogging I have been exposed to so many great authors (taking the time out of their busy schedules to email and answer questions) and books. Kerry is one of those authors who has been so generous with her time (via emails and answering interview questions) and sending me both of her middle grade books so that I can review them. Thank you Kerry.

For me I have to say that I didn’t know about Kerry and her two middle grade books Frost Bites and Jen and the Frosted Friends until she emailed me in early December to see if I would be interested in reviewing them.

I read the synopsis of both books and thought they were cute and fun reads so of course I accepted.

Frost Bites was a super quick and fun read. I actually read it pretty quickly. I have to say I think that middle grade girls would enjoy this book.

Jennifer is your typical fourth grade girl. She thinks this is going to be a good year and is feeling really good about it until her first day of school. Jennifer and her best friend Tracey walk into the class to get some good seats but their bubble is quickly popped when the teacher Mrs Frost announces seats are going to be assigned. The class quickly realizes its going to be a rough school year. (I remember my whole elementary school years being in assigned seats.)

Things quickly go down hill for Jennifer as it always seemed like she was the one getting into trouble with the teacher. She almost senses she is in the clear because after Christmas vacation Mrs Frost asks the kids about Christmas and their favorite gift. Jennifer is stunned because she didn’t get presents so she said her favorite part was spending time with her family. Mrs Frost liked the answer.

I felt so bad for Jennifer because it did seem like Mrs Frost was always picking on her. Granted Jennifer was no angel but still. I actually could relate to Jennifer because I had a teacher in elementary school who probably could give Mrs Frost a run for her money. She not only was a teacher but the principal and I have to say not many kids liked her but I found that if you were a student that she knew (I lived three doors down from her) she expected more of you and if you didn’t she would let you know.

Not only is Jennifer having to worry about Mrs Frost, passing fourth grade but she is always worried that she might be loosing her best friend to the class suck up Erica. Jennifer first realizes this budding friendship when Tracey has a sleep over and invites Erica, Rebecca, and Patty.

While Tracey is away on vacation Jennifer connects with Rebecca (even though she is going out with Jennifer’s crush, Billy) but both girls quickly bond over a boy who Jennifer likes and Rebecca is going out with (or she thought).

Will Jennifer and Tracey be able to get over this hurdle or will she loose her friend?

Check back tomorrow for my review of Jen and the Frosted Friends.

copyright 2010, Cindy (Cindy’s Love Of Books)
If you are reading this on a blog or website other than Cindy’s Love Of Books or via a feedreader, this content has been stolen and used without permission.

(bloggiesta) The Finish Line

Posted on by Cindy

Where did the weekend go? It just seems like it was Friday morning and I was working on Bloggiesta. I guess I was so busy that I didn’t see it pass. Which is a good thing because I am really happy that I was able to tackle an ever growing list of things I have wanted to do on my blog and just never really had the time to do it. There is still things I want to do and I plan on tackling this gradually.

Before I go any further I have to send out a huge THANK YOU to Natasha the host of the Bloggiesta .Who manages to pull this together two times a year. I got to meet Natasha last year briefly at BEA.

With any kind of marathon there just never seems to be enough time to get things done on your list and I think I managed to tackle a good chuck of it and I managed to put in 20 hours for the bloggiesta.

What I accomplished:

  • Some goals (short term and long term)
  • Google Documents
  • Wrote up some reviews to save for back up
  • Wrote up some interview questions
  • Organizing (books coming in/review dates/commitments)
  • Worked on some button ideas
  • Worked on a new blog look
  • Worked on a blog schedule
  • Worked on Mr Linky
  • Redid my review policy
  • Backed up my blog

Still looking for:

  • Anyone who designs blogs.
  • Guest posts

So this is how I did, how did you do?

copyright 2010, Cindy (Cindy’s Love Of Books)
If you are reading this on a blog or website other than Cindy’s Love Of Books or via a feedreader, this content has been stolen and used without permission.

It’s Monday What are you reading? #3

Posted on by Cindy

It’s Monday! What Are You Reading, is where we gather to share what we have read this past week and what we plan to read this week. It is a great way to network with other bloggers, see some wonderful blogs, and put new titles on your reading list.
It’s Monday! What Are You Reading is hosted by Sheila who blogs at One Persons Journey Through Books And Coffee. If you haven’t checked out Sheila’s blog you really should. She is an amazing blogger.

As I am rewritting this post on this very cold (-27) Monday morning, I am so happy I get to stay indoors, well at least until 2.30pm when I have to walk to the bus stop to get Michael. If its cold where you are I hope you are staying warm. Its a good day to curl up on the couch and read.

So I have to say this past week I really didn’t read alot because I as preparing myself for bloggiesta. I wanted to get alot done this weekend so I have to say that my reading suffered the consequences.

With that being said this is what I did get to read this past week:
Dead Frog On The Porch
Dead Bird Through The Cat Door
This will be reviewed later this week with an author interview following. They are great middle grade books by a fantastic Canadian author.
Currently reading:
The book is called Love, Love, Love by Deborah Reber and Caroline Goode. Its two books in one. The one I am reading now is called Language of Love by Deborah Reber. Deborah contacted me in early December asking if I would be interested in reviewing her book and it sounded really good so I said yes. My review of that should be up next week.
Also hoping to get to read this:
Cloaked

XVI
copyright 2010, Cindy (Cindy’s Love Of Books)
If you are reading this on a blog or website other than Cindy’s Love Of Books or via a feedreader, this content has been stolen and used without permission.

(Bloggiesta) #2 Mini Challenge

Posted on by Cindy


One of my goals for this past weekend was to learn how to use Google Documents and to be able to incorporate that form into a blog post especially when I am running a contest. Alot of bloggers swear that this is the absolute best thing out there and use this when they are running contest.

The main reason I love entering contest from bloggers who use the form is simple: 1) I don’t get hit with a ton of spam because the only person who sees your email address is that blogger and 2) I am able to leave my mailing address in that form and not have to worry about a lost email and losing my chance at the giveaway.

Thanks to Jen at Devourer of Books for hosting this mini challenge. She explained this in easy to do steps and I have to say that I am not technically inclined but her step by step was easy to do and I have the proof check out my google document:

What do you think?

I have to say I spent the past hour playing with the themes and I am really looking forward to being able to add this feature to my blog very soon.

Thanks Jen for sharing this how to.

copyright 2010, Cindy (Cindy’s Love Of Books)
If you are reading this on a blog or website other than Cindy’s Love Of Books or via a feedreader, this content has been stolen and used without permission.

(Bloggiesta) #1 Mini Challenge

Posted on by Cindy

The first mini Challenge that I am taking part in is being hosted by Amy fromMy Friend Amy. Her mini Challenge is about Setting Goals.

Amy posted this:

Here are some things to consider when making blogging goals.

-Think about you blog as a whole. Do you feel that your blog reflects who you are as a person? Do you have a mission statement or purpose for your blog, and if so, are you meeting it?
-What isn’t working? Are there design elements or technical problems you’d like to change or fix?
-What do you love about your blog? What do you think you’re doing right?
-What do you wish you could do with your blog?
-What are your favorite blogs to read? (not your favorite bloggers as people!) Why do you love them? Can you figure out what they have in common?

After reading this it got me thinking about my blog.

In my personal opinion I feel as though my blog reflects who I am. It reflects what I read and feel.

When I started blogging my purpose was to share my love of books, to perhaps expose the reader to an author or book they might normally not pick up and to share my thoughts about books and anything book related.

I feel as though I am meeting that purpose, am I?

I love the look of my blog but I feel like I need a change to refresh the blog. To give it a over haul. So I think this weekend I will be looking into a new blog look. I have a few ideas that I am hoping to put together.

With a new look I am hoping to learn more about html etc all that technical stuff I should know to make my blog better. That will mean a trip to my library to get some books on that and reaching out to ask bloggers if I need to know something.

Personally what I find is not working is sitting and writing up reviews. I need to work on some kind of template so that I am able to fill in info and links. (to the book publisher, online store, affiliate links)

What I love about my blog is my header. It took me awhile to find it and when I spotted it I loved it so that I plan on putting into the new look. I love the three column look.

My wish for my blog is to get it out there more and I know that I really need to get more active in that. In other words I really need to pimp the blog more then what I have been.

I won’t list my favorite blogs because I always feel as though the ones who don’t make the list aren’t worthy when they are. One thing that makes blogs onto my favorite lists are the content and with content I mean reviews constantly and with relevant info. I tend to get turned off by blogs like that.

So with all the reflection I guess I have to say I have a few goals that I am hoping to achieve this year as a whole.

My over all goal in 2011 is learn more about blogger and anything that goes along with having a blog ie HTML etc.

By Sunday night to tackle at least half of my goals that are listed here.

By March/April to have a whole new look and along with the new look having business cards and bookmarks made.

copyright 2010, Cindy (Cindy’s Love Of Books)
If you are reading this on a blog or website other than Cindy’s Love Of Books or via a feedreader, this content has been stolen and used without permission.

Truly Honored

Posted on by Cindy

I just wanted to let you guys now that I will be making a special appearance today on Scene of the Blog over at Kittling Books. Cathy contacted me earlier this month asking if I would be interested in taking part. I was very interested because every Wednesday I am always checking out Cathy’s Blog to see what blogger is taking part.

I love this feature not only does it allow you to take a peak into a bloggers world but it can introduce you to a new blogger that you might now already know.

So if you get a chance hop on over to check out Cathy’s blog (she has alot of great content and info) and check out where I blog and read. Don’t forget to leave a comment or even say Hi to Cathy.

copyright 2010, Cindy (Cindy’s Love Of Books)
If you are reading this on a blog or website other than Cindy’s Love Of Books or via a feedreader, this content has been stolen and used without permission.