Crazy Beautiful ~ Lauren Baratz-Logsted's

Publisher: Houghton Mifflin Harcourt
Pub. Date: September 2009
ISBN-13: 9780547223070
Age Range: Young Adult
208pp

Synopsis

In an explosion of his own making, Lucius blew his arms off. Now he has hooks. He chose hooks because they were cheaper. He chose hooks because he wouldn’t outgrow them so quickly. He chose hooks so that everyone would know he was different, so he would scare even himself.
Then he meets Aurora. The hooks don’t scare her. They don’t keep her away. In fact, they don’t make any difference at all to her.
But to Lucius, they mean everything. They remind him of the beast he is inside. Perhaps Aurora is his Beauty, destined to set his soul free from its suffering.
Or maybe she’s just a girl who needs love just like he does.


Lauren Baratz-Logsted's exposition is breathtakingly beautiful. I found myself aching @ the raw emotion & losing myself in the sheer creative brilliance that is Crazy Beautiful!

I didn't read Crazy Beautiful, I devoured it! I must admit, I started to drag my feet as I was reaching the end. Why? Because Crazy Beautiful is so hypnotic (thank you my GH lovin' literary angel, Lauren Baratz-Logsted)!

Crazy Beautiful is an unparalleled fairy tale. Baratz-Logsted's interpretation of Beauty & the Beast is absolutely arrestive.

Told w/ a modern twist, Crazy Beautiful will have you believing anything & everything is possible thanks to Baratz-Logsted's striking & charismatic prose.

Crazy Beautiful is told in alternating point of views, which is not only refreshing but allows readers to experience the deeply intense emotions that cover Lucius & Aurora like second skin.

Baratz-Logsted weaves an enthralling tale of fractured teens who are destined to be. Not in some mushy/gushy/eye rolling/syrupy/words on paper/teen heart tripping/"who are you again?" /third rate/ straight to DVD nightmare!

Baratz-Logsted scribes a cultivated novel resplendent in exquisiteness! Lucius & Aurora are soulmates. You will become enchanted, bewitched & ravenous for more.

Baratz-Logsted's provocative duo are extremely well written, you can't help but wish them to exist outside of the pages she skillfully crafted.

Every player in Crazy Beautiful is vital to the story ~ the novel just couldn't propel smoothly w/o every cast member sustaining the life Baratz-Logsted created for this remarkable tale.

Crazy Beautiful is rich w/ a sense of strong family dynamics. Aurora's relationship w/ her father is well orchestrated & a breath of fresh air. Lucius' place in his family is realistic & well developed & the author deserves kudos for not sugar coating his role.

I absolutely loved the mall scenes w/ his sister. Misty is a dynamic character & I'd love to see her get her own story.

Crazy Beautiful is a fast, emotional read w/ a unique take on a classic tale.

Now since Baratz-Logsted lightly touched upon Lucius' back story, I am hoping visions of a prequel dance in her head. Hint ~hint! I wouldn't mind if it was told in alternating perspectives as we experience life w/ Aurora's mom.

I loved Lucius! He was such an enthralling character; he simply jumped out of the pages. He was absolutely a three dimensional player. I adored Aurora! She was authentic & not so sweet you develop sugar shock. Aurora popped out of the pages, too. It was like watching a play.

Despite some of the dark undercurrents, Baratz-Logsted shines w/ humor.

As much as I wanted to add a seashell w/ my 5 rating, I didn't. Why? I wanted more. Much more. I wanted to see Lucius & Aurora outside of the school environment & was spoiled when they had dinner.

To me the end was a bit rushed & I felt a bit cheated because I fell in love w/ these mesmerizing characters, I wanted more Lucius & Aurora. I know there is more to these two & I hope Baratz-Logsted doesn't forget to tap into a prequel & a sequel because this defintely showcases characters worth knowing!

Hurry! Grab your copy of Crazy Beautiful!

Check Lauren out @ http://www.laurenbaratzlogsted.com/.

Identical ~ Ellen Hopkins

Publisher: Simon & Schuster Children's Publishing
Pub. Date: August 2008
ISBN-13: 9781416950059
Age Range: Young Adult
576pp


Synopsis

Kaeleigh and Raeanne are 16-year-old identical twins, the daughters of a district court judge father and politician mother running for Congress. Everything on the surface of their lives seems Norman Rockwell perfect, but underneath run deep and damaging secrets.Kaeleigh is the good girl-her father's perfect flower, something she has tried so hard to be since she was nine and he started sexually abusing her. She cuts herself and vomits after every binge, desperate to feel something normal. Raeanne uses painkillers, drugs, alcohol, and sex to numb the pain of not being Daddy's favorite. Both girls must figure out how to become whole, but how can they when their world has been torn to shreds?

Ellen Hopkins has a natural gift for writing so poignantly you don't just read the words on paper, you become the words she so eloquently delivers.

Hopkins writing style is so naked & sincere it simply steals your breath away. Identical is told in free verse & sometimes that form of free verse utilizes pictures or poems w/i poems to convey it's message -- simply brilliant.

I knew where Hopkins was going w/ the storyline & it made me ache inside. I was not just an outsider looking in but was experiencing all the heart wrenching emotions Kaeleigh & Raeanne endured thanks to Hopkins' seamless stratagem.

It was difficult reading about what the father was doing to one of the daughters. I had a difficult time w/ it because it hit too close to home. All I am saying is, the cycle of abuse is a violently vicious one!

Hopkins' descriptions are remarkably riveting & powerfully fervent you may have to write a memo w/ the words "exhale" in bold print!

I am not going to give away the design of Identical, you are going to have to read the book for yourself. Hopkins' Identical is definitely not a book to be missed.

I have heard mumblings that this book is "graphic" but I ask myself as I type this, "Is this book anymore graphic than what you endured @ the hands of your uncle @ the tender age of 9?" My answer... No!

I believe Hopkins deserves kudos for shattering the glass ceiling w/ her groundbreaking prose, ripped from the headlines storylines & richly poured lyrical exposition.

Identical needs to be on every library shelf in the universe, given as gifts to young girls & parents across the globe.

While imitator's dip their toes, literary doyenne Hopkins plunges right in!

Grab a copy of Hopkins' Identical.

Check out Ellen's website.

While My Pretty One Knits ~ Anne Canadeo

Publisher: Simon & Schuster Adult Publishing Group
Pub. Date: May 2009
ISBN-13: 9781416598091
272pp

Synopsis

The Black Sheep Knitters -- Maggie, Lucy, Dana, Suzanne, and Phoebe -- meet once a week without fail, sharing the varied and colorful skeins of their lives as much as knitting tips, recipes, and small-town gossip, and creating an intricate, durable pattern of friendship. Now a shocking murder has peaceful Plum Harbor, Massachusetts, in knots -- and the Black Sheep women must herd together to protect one of their own from a scandalous frame-up.
Maggie Messina, beloved owner of the Black Sheep Knitting Shop, is thrilled to be hosting a workshop for one of her former students, now a celebrity in the knitting world. But the celebration is upstaged when Amanda Goran, the owner of the rival Knitting Nest, is found dead in her shop on the other side of town.
Maggie had reasons to dislike Amanda, a thorn in her side ever since Maggie's shop surpassed Amanda's in popularity. Then again, it wasn't hard to dislike Amanda -- the contentious woman, whose marriage was on the rocks, seemed to specialize in causing misery all over town. But the pointed evidence has a detective casting a suspicious eye on Maggie. She may be a whiz at knitting, but can she keep the police from needling her before her shop, her reputation, and her circle of friends become unraveled?


Knitting mysteries are the latest "whodunits" to saturate the shelves. It seems every cozy writer wants to try their hand weaving one making the sub-genre blend together in a knot...

Enter the stellar Anne Canadeo w/ her exemplary mystery debut While My Pretty One Knits.

Delightful. Enchanting. Humorous. Impressive. Witty. Those are just a few adjectives to describe Anne Canadeo's effervescent cozy debut, While My Pretty One Knits.

I absolutely adore this series. I couldn't put it down & when I was closing in on the ending I hid it. Yes, I did! I recently moved off the island & moved up to gorgeous northern New York & hid it in my huge house; ). Well, I tried to hide it but the engaging cast of characters whispered for me to hang out w/ them @ the Black Sheep Knitting Shop. When I tried to ignore them they poked me w/ a knitting needle. Ouch! OK, it was more than one knitting needle. Geez, knitters are a crafty bunch ; ).

While My Pretty One Knits is a dynamite introduction to an energetic new cozy mystery series.

Canadeo's writing flows effortlessly off the page & the enchanting, fun, ingenious cast steals the show.

Canadeo knows how to absorb the reader w/ a skillful, fast-paced plot. The characters are well-developed & Canadeo knows how to create a cast of characters you care about.

All you need is a cup of hot cocoa overflowing w/ marshmallows, a crackling fire, a throw & you have an impeccable cozy evening (cheese, fruit, wine & crackers may enhance your reading pleasure).

Canadeo showcases her sharp writing skills. She is a brilliant new addition to the cozy genre.


When I reached page 249 it was bittersweet. Infact, I am in a bit of a diva monster mood (grumpy sourpuss) because I have to wait until December for Knit, Purl, Die. Grrr... Where are those knitting needles when I need them?


While My Pretty One Knits is a perfect summer read for all of those scrambling to make the most of summer as it draws to a close but it is also an excellent read to curl up w/ as fall arrives.

I really wish I could visit Plum Harbor, Massachusetts & visit all the terrific friends Canadeo vibrantly created. I really want to spend time w/ adorable Tink & Matt -- *sigh*!

While My Pretty One Knits was so richly penned it has made me interested in learning to knit. Really! Moi, who can barely lace her kicks.

I loved this book so much that I imagine myself as a character visiting the Book Review & the Black Sheep Knitting Shop.

Non-knitters will revel in the picturesque surroundings.

While My Pretty One Knits is a tightly stitched novel not to be missed!

Hurry & grab a copy of While My Pretty One Knits. It's as relaxing as a day @ the shore!

The Real Real ~ Emma Maclaughlin & Nicola Kraus

Publisher: HarperCollins Publishers
Pub. Date: May 2009
ISBN-13: 9780061720406
Age Range: 12 and up
320pp


Synopsis

Imagine there was never a Laguna Beach, a Newport Harbor, the shimmering Hills. Imagine that your hometown—your school—is the first place XTV descends to set up cameras.

Now imagine they've trained them on you.

When Jesse O'Rourke gets picked for a "documentary" being filmed at her school in the Hamptons she's tempted to turn down the offer. But there's a tuition check attached to being on the show, and Jesse needs the cash so she can be the first in her family to attend college. All she has to do is trade her best friend for the glam clique she's studiously avoided, her privacy for a 24/7 mike, and her sense of right and wrong for "what sells on camera." . . . At least there's one bright spot in the train wreck that is her suddenly public senior year: Jesse's crush has also made the cast.

As the producers manipulate the lives of their "characters" to heighten the drama, and Us Weekly covers become a regular occurrence for Jesse, she must struggle to remember one thing: the difference between real and the real real.


Let me start off by saying I am not really into reality TV @ all! I find it to be a tad torturous. I do watch The Real Housewives in all its incarnations & The Real Housewives of Orange County is my fave! Hands down The Real Housewives of Orange County is a guilty pleasure. I don't consider it reality foolishness, I rather think it is me hanging out w/ older galpals. I don't give a hoot about The Hills unless they have eyes. I only want to lounge @ a beach -- Laguna or Jones!

I do believe that Lauren & Kristin were the most promising to emerge from fakeality TV. I am a real television lover & think there is way too much "reality" on the small screen & miss the days of must see TV. I do tune into DWTS while channel surfing. Idol - fugetaboutit!

So, imagine my surprise when I found myself loving Emma Maclaughlin & Nicola Kraus' The Real Real! I wondered if the fact that it was set on Long Island played into my adulation.

Hmmm. What about the fact I am 20-25 mins from the coveted Hamptons. Nah! I was raised on the Island & I'm not impressed. So, what was it that had me enjoying my time w/ Jesse? Jesse!

Emma Maclaughlin & Nicola Kraus' YA debut is a winner! The Real Real is real real impressive. Emma Maclaughlin & Nicola Kraus skillfully advoided getting caught up in a cache of redundancies & over the top histrionics! Brava ladies! Brava!

The Real Real is the perfect beach read but make sure to set a timer to roll over & slather on the SPF because you will definitely become part of The Real Hampton Beach happenings.

I loved how Maclaughlin & Kraus mentioned the CW when mentioning the fictitious Park Avenue Confidential -- juicy goodness like a crisp, succulent gala apple. Delish.

Maclaughlin & Kraus created characters that are genuine -- whether they are genuinely good or greedy fame & fortune seekers.

Jesse is an amazing, caring & intelligent young adult who has integrity. She has morals - yep, imagine a reality star that isn't caught up w/ the fake fake! Yippee! Hats off to Maclaughlin & Kraus for this endearing quality in the delightful Jesse!

Drew is also a refreshing addition who is charming & diverting. Toss in the wicked fame & fortune hunters & you've got a spectacular read.

The Real Real isn't brimming w/ mindless fluff & senseless drivel. The Real Real delivers a message behind the tantalizing tale.

Maclaughlin & Kraus penned an edgy, entertaining & savvy look into the world of reality TV w/ The Real Real.

The Real Real is not to be missed missed.

Grab a copy of The Real Real & enjoy the dog days of summer!

Check out Emma Maclaughlin & Nicola Kraus @ www.emmaandnicola.com/.

Pandora's Daughter ~ Iris Johansen

Publisher: St. Martin's Press
Pub. Date: April 2008
ISBN-13: 9780312368050
384pp


@ the age of 15, Megan Blair was orphaned & raised by her Uncle Phillip. Now an Atlanta pediatrician, Megan hears terrified voices.

Disclosure arrives when childhood friend Neal Grady, who is now a shadowy government agent, appears to apprise Megan of her psychic powers. Neal is also there to warn her: Molino-the merciless villain who murdered Megan's mother, concluding her touch killed his son-is targeting Megan next.

Molino thinks Megan was born to an ancient Sephardic family of psychics & plans to force her to reveal the location of the Ledger, a book that contains the family's secrets & finances. Molino then plans to kill her, if Megan, Neal and Neal's sidekick, Jed Hartley, don't get to him first.

Looks like another dud from the camp of Johansen. I think it is best to stick to the books featuring Eve Duncan & company !

Bottom line, this was . Boring!

It was a contractual fulfillment plain & simple. Johansen was trying way to hard to make a name for herself in the paranormal arena. NOT! Johansen better stick to telling stories she knows how to write or shut down the computer.

Check out Iris' books featuring Eve & the interesting characters Johansen is capable of creating @ http://www.irisjohansen.com/index.html.

You've Been Warned ~ James Patterson & Howard Roughan

Publisher: Little, Brown & Company
Pub. Date: September 2007
ISBN-13: 9781615563913
384pp


Synopsis:

Kristin Burns is making her way in New York City. Her photos are being considered at a major Manhattan gallery, she works by day with two wonderful children, and the man of her dreams is almost hers for keeps. But just as everything she's ever wanted is finally within reach, her life changes forever--with one murderous nightmare. Kristin wakes up every morning from the same chilling, unforgettable dream. And suddenly, it's visiting her during the day too. As her life turns stranger by the minute, Kristin is haunted and terrified. Is it all in her head? Or is the nightmare becoming her life? Kristin searches desperately for what's real through the lens of her camera, only knowing two things for sure: that no place is safe and the fate of everyone she loves lies in her hands.

It is obvious Patterson is going for quantity & not quality in this bizarre but boring attempt @ infusing supernatural elements into You've Been Warned.

I think he was trying to branch out into the supernatural arena -- maybe it was my mind trying to grasp the dreadfully peculiar happenings.

Patterson's signature short chapters, speedy nonsensical storyline & ever present co-author is packaged into a snoozefest.

You've Been Warned...

Grab the Tylenol.

Walk Run away!!!

I ♥love♥ Patterson's Alex Cross series but this novel is best stored away for when there is a toilet paper shortage!



Check out James Patterson @ www.jamespatterson.com.

Eyes Like Stars ~ Lisa Mantchev

Publisher: Feiwel & Friends
Pub. Date: July 2009
ISBN-13: 9780312380960
Age Range: Young Adult
368pp
Series: Theatre Illuminata Series

Synopsis:

All her world's a stage.

Bertie Shakespeare Smith is not an actress, yet she lives in a theater.
She's not an orphan, but she has no parents.

She knows every part, but she has no lines of her own.

That is, until now.

Enter Stage Right

NATE. Dashing pirate. Will do anything to protect Bertie.

COBWEB, MOTH, MUSTARD SEED, and PEASEBLOSSOM. Four tiny and incredibly annoying fairies. BERTIE'S sidekicks.

ARIEL. Seductive air spirit and Bertie's weakness. The symbol of impending doom.

BERTIE. Our heroine.

Welcome to the Theatre Illuminata, where the actors of every play ever written can be found behind the curtain. They were born to play their parts, and are bound to the Theatre by The Book--an ancient and magical tome of scripts. Bertie is not one of them, but they are her family--and she is about to lose them all and the only home she has ever known.

Open Curtain

Looks like Eyes Like Stars may be the breakout read for 2009!

Lisa Mantchev's Eyes Like Stars kicks off like gang glitter busters!

It is hard to fathom Eyes Like Stars is Lisa Mantchev's debut. With Mantchev's lyrically stunning prose you are taken to a bewitching world resplendent in drama, humor, romance & whimsicality.

Mantchev is a phenomenal storyteller. Eyes Like Stars is an inspired novel overflowing w/ luminosity.

Mantchev has created a delectable cast of alluring, amusing, salty & sprightly characters.

Mantchev's audience will just crave even more from The Théâtre Illuminata. There are times when you can't seem to turn the pages fast enough & there are times when you want to ease up because when you reach the end of Mantchev's engaging fairy tale you will be chomping @ the bit for Book Two in The Théâtre Illuminata trilogy.

Beatrice Shakespeare Smith is as effervescent as champagne bubbles on New Years Eve. Bertie is capricious, determined, fun-loving & vibrant.

Mantchev's description of the fairies is spot on! Fairies are adorable, devilish, frolicsome & pugnacious. Brava to Lisa for capturing the precise essence of Cobweb, Moth, Mustard Seed & PeaseBlossom.

Eyes Like Stars is strikingly scribed with Mantchev's fervent & scintillating dialogue. The storyline is an imaginative & an authentic fantasy extravaganza!

Whew! Mantchev possesses the goods to create a mystical contemporary fairy tale that would make Hans Christian Andersen rush to The Théâtre Illuminata for front row seats!

I do want to mention some may be confused in the beginning of Eyes Like Stars w/ all the scene changes & théâtre jargon but trust me once the stage is set -- you will enjoy the show!

Lisa Mantchev is a visionary talent & you will not be disappointed!

I'd like to share one of my favorite quotes:

"The only reason I'm friends with any of you is because I outgrew the vonTrapps, one annoying Austrian at a time"

Grab a copy of Eyes Like Stars.

Eyes Like Stars should be packaged with an eye mask, cucumbers, cupcakes & scrumptious fudge : }.*Hint*. lol.

Don't say I didn't warn you...

So, wanna Taste the Bad Candy ?!