Category: Challenges (past)

The Cinderella Society Review

Posted on by Cindy


TITLE: The Cinderella Society
AUTHOR: Kay Cassidy
PUB DATE:
April 2010
PAGES: 336

ABOUT THE BOOK:
Sixteen-year-old Jess Parker survives by staying invisible. After nine schools in ten years, she’s come to terms with life as a perpetual new girl, neither popular nor outcast. At Mt. Sterling High, Jess gets the chance of a lifetime: an invitation to join The Cinderella Society, a secret club of the most popular girls in school, where makeovers are the first order of official business. But there’s more to being a Cindy than just reinventing yourself from the outside, a concept lost on Jess as she dives tiara-first into creating a hot new look.

With a date with her popular crush and a chance to finally fit in, Jess’s life seems to be a perfect fairy tale. That is until the Wickeds–led by Jess’s archenemy–begin targeting innocent girls in their war against the Cindys, and Jess discovers her new sisterhood is about much more than who rules Mt. Sterling High School. It’s a centuries-old battle of good vs. evil, and the Cindys need Jess on special assignment. But when the mission threatens to destroy her new dream life, Jess is forced to choose between this dream realized and honoring the Sisterhood. What’s a girl to do when the glass slipper fits, but she doesn’t want to wear it anymore?

MY THOUGHTS:
The Cinderella Society is being released today and I was lucky enough to get an ARC of this book. The next book is suppose to be released sometime in 2011.

This is Kay Cassidy’s debut novel. I really enjoyed the book and had a hard time to put it down.

Jess is just your typical girl trying to fit into a new school. We discover that in the world there are Cinderella’s, Wickeds and Reggies. Cinderella’s are the good girls, the Wickeds are the bad girls and the Reggies are just your regular people, like me.

The Wickeds want to rule the world and dominate over everyone and they basically will step on anyone who gets in there way and they use the Reggies to spy and to control them. Enter the secret society of Cinderella’s. They want to bring good to the world one step at time.

Jess is tormented by Lexy on a daily bases and Jess always wonders when Lexy will get tired of tormenting her. Lexy’s other victim is Heather. Lexy is the common bond for these two girl and Jess tells Heather that its okay to stand up to Lexy and not let her blackmail her. That basically once your secret is out Lexy has no control over her.

When Jess is invited to be a part of the Cinderella Society she is happy and excited to be a part of something good and hopes that she can bring good to the Reggies. In order to be a Cinderella there is a whole book of things you must do and follow and one of those things is to look the part. Which means a whole new make over.

With the new make over she attracts the attention of a popular guy, Ryan who just happens to be Lexy’s brother. Jess is happy to finally be fitting into something. Ryan appears to be the your typical guy who is good looking and keeps his sensitive side hidden not even letting Jess see the real him.

How will Jess handle the new situation she is placed in and will she be surprised when she learns who the other ladies are that have been part of the Cinderella society? Will she risk it all to save the reggies?

Thanks to Egmont USA for sending me a copy of this book to read and review.

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.

Dirty Little Secrets Review

Posted on by Cindy

Dirty Little Secrets
TITLE: Dirty Little Secrets
AUTHOR: C.J. Omololu
PUB DATE: February 2010
PAGES: 212

ABOUT THE BOOK:
A gripping story about the secret shame of compulsive hoarding

Everyone has a secret. But Lucy’s is bigger and dirtier than most. It’s one she’s been hiding for years—that her mom’s out-of-control hoarding has turned their lives into a world of garbage and shame. She’s managed to keep her home life hidden from her best friend and her crush, knowing they’d be disgusted by the truth. So, when her mom dies suddenly in their home, Lucy hesitates to call 911 because revealing their way of life would make her future unbearable—and she begins her two-day plan to set her life right.

With details that are as fascinating as they are disturbing, C. J. Omololu weaves an hour-by-hour account of Lucy’s desperate attempt at normalcy. Her fear and isolation are palpable as readers are pulled down a path from which there is no return, and the impact of hoarding on one teen’s life will have readers completely hooked.

MY THOUGHTS:

After reading Kristi’s The Story Siren review of Dirty Little Secrets I had to rush out and buy the book.

All I have to say is “OMG” what a read. It was really good but yet sad and disturbing. Once I started to read the book I couldn’t put it down and I pretty much managed to read it in one sitting. I think there was only one part that I found kind of gross and I had to put the book down but I guess it is to be expected in a household that hoards.

Lucy is the main character and she is a young teenage girl who wants a life like her friends do and to live like they do. In a clean and organized house. Only once has Lucy’s secret got out and she was made fun of. Now in a new school she is trying so hard to keep her lies and her secrets from her best friend, Kaylie.

No one knows what goes on behind closed doors. That is until her mother suddenly dies in the house buried under junk that Lucy fears her secret is about to explode and everyone will find out what kind of life Lucy is living. She is afraid that she will loose her best friend and possible new boyfriend should word get out about what goes on behind closed doors.

The book is about that one day when Lucy finds her mother dead on the floor. She fears calling 911 because she doesn’t want everyone to know about the hoarding. So she comes up with a plan, will she be able to do it or will it all back fire?

In a way I was frustrated with Lucy for not calling 911 but for some reason I could understand why she didn’t right away. If you had that kind of secret would you want the world to know?

Did you know that within 100,000 people that roughly 350 of them are hoarders?
Did you know that 250,000 animals are victims to animal hoarding?

Thankfully I have no problem passing things on and getting rid of things either by friends, drop off center or recycling (garbage etc. I never knew anyone like this growing up and it was only when I met someone in my now extended family did I realize this was something. I knew this person was a hoarder from day one of walking into his apartment. He would never throw away anything and I mean that. I know the location of a storage locker to prove it. He would actually root through what people threw away and if it was good he would pick it up. He tried several times to pass things on to us and we would quickly throw it away once we got home.

For more information on hoarding you can check out this website http://www.childrenofhoarders.com/

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.

Asking For Trouble Review

Posted on by Cindy

Asking for Trouble (London Confidential)TITLE: Asking For Trouble
AUTHOR: Sandra Byrd
PUB DATE: April 2010
PUBLISHER: Tyndale House Publishing
PAGES: 272

ABOUT THE BOOK:
When her family moves to London, 15-year-old Savvy Smith has
to make her way in a new school and a new country. She just knows the school
newspaper is the right place for her, but she doesn’t have the required
experience, and the cute editor-in-chief is not looking to train anyone. She has
to come up with a way to prove herself and nab the one available position on the
newspaper staff at Wexburg Academy. London Confidential is a new series where
British fashion, friendships, and guys collide, and where an all-American girl
learns to love life and live out her faith.

MY THOUGHTS:

Sandra is a new to me author. She has written several adult and young adult novels. Asking For Trouble is her latest young adult novel which just happens to be part of a four book series.

Savvy’s family has just moved to London England. She is 15 years old. Her father got a job promotion and that is why the family is in London. Her mother is a stay at home mom and she has a little sister and her dog to deal with.

Her father is doing very well he fits in at work it just seems like everyone else hasn’t just yet. Savvy hasn’t made friends yet and its seems like her old friends from back home are all moving on which bothers Savvy.

Savvy wants to fit into her new school very badly and make friends. She discovers how hard it is to fit in and to make friends as it seems like everyone is already friends with who they want to be.

Seeing a poster in school looking for someone to help out on the Wexburg Academy school newspaper. Savvy jumps at the chance thinking this will be her ticket in. The only thing about this is that Savvy has no experience working on a school paper and Jack the super cute editor of the paper lets Savvy know he has no time to train her but offers her the position of delivering the school paper.

With the chance of the school dropping the paper from the budget they have to figure out how to keep the paper alive. Savvy comes up with the idea to put in an advise column. Jack likes the idea and she writes a sample column and gives it to him. Will he think its good enough to get a spot on the school paper or will it go to someone else?

I really enjoyed reading Asking For Trouble so much that I actually went out and bought the second book in the series. There was enough action going on in the book that kept me interested in reading the book and I managed to read it in one sitting. I think this is a great book for the tween and young adult crowd.
Through Thick & Thin (London Confidential)

http://www.sandrabyrd.com/index.htm

Special thanks to Christy Wong of Tyndale House Publishers for sending me a review copy.

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.

Horrid Henry’s Joke Book Review and Give away

Posted on by Cindy

Horrid Henry's Joke Book
TITLE: Horrid Henry’s Joke Book
AUTHOR: Francesca Simon
ILLUSTRATOR: Tony Ross
PUB DATE: April 2010
PUBLISHER: Sourcebooks
PAGES: 112

ABOUT THE BOOK:
Warning: Too rude for parents and for slimy toad little brothers!

These are Horrid Henry’s very own jokes: the jokes that grossed out Mom and Dad… that made Aunt Ruby run home… that sent Miss Battle-Axe screaming from class. Be horrid! Read Henry’s jokes. Then tell them to the world! Horrid Henry’s Joke Book features chapters dedicated to jokes much too rude for Mom, jokes not to tell your teacher, wisecracks for your baby-sitter (just make sure you can make a quick getaway!), underpants and stink bomb witticisms, and more humor from Moody Margaret, Sour Susan, Aerobic Al, Beefy Bert and Dinosaur Dave.

OUR THOUGHTS:

Knock knock.
Who’s there?
Boo.
Boo who?
Don’t cry it’s only a joke!

We love reading about the horrible things that Horrid Henry does in his books so when given the chance to read an advance readers copy of this book I jumped at the chance. Its exactly what it say it is a joke book.

I started to read this before Michael came home from school and I sat there laughing at some of the jokes.

Which pet makes the most noise?
A trum-pet!

 
When Michael got home I showed him the book and he was excited because it was Horrid Henry and asked me to read it to him so I would tell him to pick a number (that would be the page number) and then tell him to give me another number (that would be the joke I would read) some of them he would laugh at and others he would look at me and say “Is that suppose to be funny? Cause I don’t get it!”
 
Some of the jokes were funny and some I think were a little too old for him to understand. All in all it was a good laugh for me and of course Michael too.
 
This is Michael’s favorite joke from the book:
 

MARGARET: Knock Knock.
SUSAN: Who’s there?
MARGARET: Lettuce.
SUSAN: Lettuce who?
MARGARET: Lettuce in, it’s raining.

Michael loves knock knock jokes so those went over really well with him. Those were by far the best jokes in the book for him.

Thanks to Liz at Sourcebooks for allowing me to be a part of the tour for this book and for sending me a copy to read and review.

GIVE AWAY TIME!
I have 2 Horrid Henry April Activity Posters to giveaway to two lucky readers.

RULES:
-One Canadian and One International.
-The contest ends April 5th at midnight. Winners will be announce April 6th. Sorry that this is a short contest but I want you to enjoy the April Activity sheet.
– +1 for leaving email address
  +1 if you are a follower of this blog
  +5 if you leave a joke
-When you leave a comment please leave it to one comment. Its easier to add up that way.

This is what the prize win looks like. Just a heads up to everyone I am only giving away the posters and not the book.

Thanks again to Liz at Sourcebooks for providing this giveaway.

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.

In The Midst of it All Review

Posted on by Cindy

In the Midst of It AllTITLE: In the Midst of it All
AUTHOR: Tiffany L. Warren
PUB DATE: February 2010
PUBLISHER: Grand Central Publishing
PAGES: 320

All her life, Zenovia has struggled with the burden of caring for her schizophrenic mother, Audrey, alone. Until one day, God seems to offer support in the form of two members of a church called the Brethren of the Sacrifice, who knock at the women’s door preaching an unconventional version of the Gospel. Despite having questions, Zenovia agrees to join the church along with her mother. Soon afterward, Audrey stops taking her medication when fellow churchgoers deem her illness a demonic possession. Unable to watch her mother’s mental deterioration, Zenovia flees town, only to receive a fateful phone call several years later telling her of her mother’s suicide. Heartbroken, Zenovia must now make a soul-altering choice: accept “God’s will,” or return home to confront the demons she’s worked so hard to leave behind….

MY THOUGHTS:

This is Tiffany’s fourth book. I got to read her third book last year called The Bishops Daughter and really enjoyed it so when I found out this was her newest book I knew I had to read this one. I was not disappointed. I really enjoyed reading it. It was a quick read once you started it. I had a hard time putting it down because it seemed like every time I tried something happened that left me wondering what would happen.

Zenovia otherwise known as Zee lives with her mother, Audrey. Audrey suffers from schrophrenia and is on medication to control it. Whenever they go out which isn’t very often because Zee is worried that her mother will have a hard time, so she keeps a close eye on her.

They haven’t been to church in awhile and are invited to attend a service at the Brethren. Its unlike any church service that Zee has been too. There are some strict rules at this church that are set up by the elders. Some of the things that they must obey after they are baptized into the church is that your not allowed to associated with a sinner, can’t attend university, etc. If you break these rules you will be shunned.

Zee quickly feels welcomed by the young people she meets and quickly forms bonds with then and even catching the eye of some of the guys in the church. She quickly forms a friendship with Tristian which devlops into a crush. She realizes that there will be nothing between them and he leads her to believe they are only best friends. When Emil catches her eye she is quickly mesmorized by him. He is the bad boy sorta. He is not baptized in to the Brethren.

Things quickly heat up between Zee and Emil. She realizes what she did was wrong and confesses her sins only to be an outcast. They break up and she has university to excape to in a few months. Away at univeristy she lives her life for her and its only until she accidently bumps into Justin (Tristian’s brother). She graduates from univeristy with only her cousin and Justin to watch her.

What will happen when Justin asks for a chance to be with her? When given the chance to return home how will Zee react? Will she be welcomed back?

Curious to know what happens? Then I suggest you pick up the book.

Thanks to Miriam at HBG for sending me a copy of In The Midst of it All to read and review.

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.

Merlin’s Harp Tour and Review

Posted on by Cindy

TITLE: Merlin’s Harp
AUTHOR: Anne Eliot Crompton
PUB DATE: March 1, 2010
PUBLISHER: Sourcebooks Fire
PAGES: 256
GENRE: Young Adult

Among the towering trees of magical Avalon, where humans dare not tread, lives Niviene, daughter of the Lady of the Lake and apprentice to Merlin the mage. Her people, the Fey, are folk of the wood and avoid the violence and of man. But the strife of King Arthur’s realm threatens even Avalon’s peace, and Merlin needs his apprentice to thwart the chaos devouring Camelot. And so Niviene must use her special talents to help save a kingdom and discover the treachery of men and the beauty of love. A mystical love story, now back in print, sure to become a modern teen classic.

MY THOUGHTS:
When I started blogging over a year I told myself that I was going to step outside my comfort zone to read other genres. You never know you could stumble across a certain book that you might not have read otherwise that is a hidden gem.

This is a book that I might not have picked up on my own to read unless it was facing me on the shelf because I have to say that I love the cover. I think its a pretty cover. Don’t you?

The book is about a subject that I know nothing about the King Arthur period. I did recognize quite a few names such as Lancelot, Arthur etc.

Merlin’s Harp is told in the perspective of a woman. Although she isn’t a normal woman she is a Fey. The story is told by Nivienne and she ends up helping Arthur’s kingdom during their war with the Saxons.

I have to admit when I started to read the book for some reason it felt like I was reading another language and had a hard time to get into it. After struggling to get through the first chapter I decided to check what others on the tour were saying so far about the book and I felt much better realizing I wasn’t alone.

I decided that I wasn’t going to abandon the book and that I would push forward in reading it and once I past that hurdle things seemed to be going good. Saying this I liked the book but its not a favorite for me.

Here are some bloggers who enjoyed the book:
Book Journey
Bookalicio
Books and Literature For Teens
Today’s Adventure
Sarah’s Random Musings
Biblio File

I liked the premise of the story and how Anne Crompton told it and I think perhaps if I knew more about that period of time I might have enjoyed it more.

Thanks to Paul from Sourcebooks Fire for sending me this book to read,review and for allowing me to be part of the tour for this book. This is another new release under the Sourcebooks Fire imprint.

If You would like you can read the First Chapter.

UPCOMING STOPS ON THE TOUR:
http://dolcebellezza.blogspot.com/ 23-Mar
http://www.capriciousreader.com/ 24-Mar
http://examiner.com (Portland) 25-Mar
http://www.theveronicaproject.blogspot.com/ 26-Mar

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.

Waking up in The Land of Glitter Tour and Review

Posted on by Cindy


TITLE: Waking Up In The Land Of Glitter
AUTHOR: Kathy Cano-Murillo
PUB DATE: March 2010
PAGES: 336

Thank You to Miriam from Hachette for allowing me to be a part of this tour and for allowing me to review this book.

ABOUT THE BOOK:
With glue guns, glitter, twigs, or yarn, the ordinary can become extraordinary . . . especially at La Pachanga. Owned by Estrella “Star” Esteban’s family, the restaurant has a rep for two things: good food and great art. La Pachanga brings people together-even when it looks like they couldn’t be further apart.

One ill-fated evening, Star jeopardizes her family’s business, her relationship with her boyfriend, and her future career. To redeem herself, she agrees to participate in a national craft competition, teaming up with her best friend, Ofelia-a secretly troubled mother whose love for crafting borders on obsession-and local celebrity Chloe Chavez-a determined television personality with more than one skeleton in her professional closet. If these unlikely allies can set aside their differences, they’ll find strength they never knew they had, and learn that friendship, like crafting, is truly an art form.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:
Kathy Cano-Murillo is a lifelong writer and artist. Her crafts have been carried by hundreds of retailers including Bloomingdales, Target, and Hallmark. She is a former entertainment reporter for The Arizona Republic, and has authored seven books including Crafty Chica’s Guide to Artful Sewing. She is the founder of CraftyChica.com, a wildly popular web site to inspire women to brighten their lives with clever craft ideas. She has a web series on LifetimeTV.com, and can be seen on HGTV and DIY Network.

This is the official site for http://craftychica.com/

MY THOUGHTS:

This is Kathy’s debut novel. I am really looking forward to reading her future books. I also love the cover and I admit the picture doesn’t do the cover justice. The glitter details added to the book cover.

While I was reading this book I have to admit and I don’t know if any one else felt this way but I had the sudden urge to start crafting or doing something creative. Which I have to admit I have started to work on a few things. I guess a confession is going to happen here- I am creative but sometimes in my head its way better then what is actually produced. I think the one thing I can actually say I am good at is cross stitching hands down.

It was really nice to find at the back of the book a glossary of Spanglish (Spanish/English)definitions that were used in the book. Some of them I figured out on my own and others I wasn’t so sure so it was nice to know that.

In the book Star makes a love shrine (which BTW happens to be a actual store name in NYC) and I was curious to what it was and what it ensued thankfully Kathy mentioned what and how to make one. Also in the book the group has to make centerpieces for a national craft event and they decide to make glittered cactus which Kathy tells us how to make one of our own.

The book opens up with Star getting set to be interviewed on tv about a vandalism crime to a mural that has been painted on the family restaurant/art museum but Crafty Chloe. A lady Star doesn’t really like. Within the first few pages we discover who actually spray painted happy faces on the mural and the family and artist are very happy when they discover who did it.

Star is a twenty eight years old and does what she wants, when she wants and lives the life of a typical teenager basically. She lives at home with her parents. She has something good that could possibly be happening in her life but gets scared and ruins it and quickly realizes what she has done and tries to fix it. Can she get what she lost back?

Olfie is her best friend with a crafting addiction. She buys craft supplies like I buy books. Yes we are both addicts. The only thing is Olfie thinks her crafts are the best but in reality they aren’t that good. This is where I think beauty is in the eye of the beholder.

Chloe is a young newscaster who will do anything to matter the cost or how it effects her just as long as she is the best and gets what she wants. She will use and step on anyone who gets in her way. Chloe in reality hates crafts and anything to do with crafts. Before long her secret is revealed and could possibly blow up in her face.

I loved how the bond of friendship was developed and carried on through out the book.

I have to say that once I started reading Waking Up in the Land of Glitter that I was hooked and had to read on to find out what kind of trouble these friends could get into, would they be able to over come all the obstacles that ended up in their way and be able to make all those centerpieces with just the four of them. I found it to be a quick and easy read.

Some Other Bloggers reviewing this book today:
http://www.renees-reads.blogspot.com/
http://www.bookwormygirl.blogspot.com/
http://booksandneedlepoint.blogspot.com/
http://booksiesblog.blogspot.com/
http://www.thedivinemissmommy.com/
http://www.masoncanyon.blogspot.com/

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.