The Jerk Magnet

Sixteen year old Chelsea Martin’s life is about to get turned upside down. Chelsea’s father informs her that his job has transferred him and he is getting remarried. Chelsea wants to part of her dad’s plans and she especially does not want to get to know her soon to be step mother, Kate. Though, once Chelsea does get to know Kate she likes her. In fact, Kate takes Chelsea on a shopping spree for a new make over. The transformation is great. It seems that others have noticed Chelsea’s make over as well. The others being guys. Chelsea has never received so much attention from all these guys. This would not be such a bad thing if it weren’t for the simple fact that the guys are jerks!

The Jerk Magnet is book one of the Life at Kingston High series. I have read several books by this author. She writes for the young adult genre. I think that Melody does a good job portraying the emotions and what type of situations a teen goes though.

I felt bad for Chelsea. While, the make over her step mom gave her was nice, Chelsea was not ready for all the attention she received right away from the guys. Though, I thought Chelsea handled herself really well in these situations. She never flirted with the guys to lead them on. She was up front with them about just wanting to be friends. It was just that as the title of this book is called The Jerk Magnet; Chelsea could not help it that all the guys that hit on her were “jerks”. Reading this book, it is sad though that we as a society put so much emphasize on the outer appearance versus what someone is really like on the inside. This was a good book to start of this new series from author Melody Carlson.

“Available January 2012 at your favorite bookseller from Revell, a division of Baker Publishing Group.”

Blind Traveler’s Blues

Review by Nancy

Written a bit into the future, Blind Traveler’s Blues explores agri-science as it will be known. There is a corn plaque, casting millions in South America into starvation and death. The world is fraught with earthquakes, nearly daily and, depending on where you live, possibly great damage.

Douglas Abledan is taking his first vacation since being shot and blinded several years ago. He now uses all of his senses to survive and get around in the chaotic world we have become. He uses a sonic cane which leads him with vibrations. He can read Braille and major steps have been made to convenience folks with “issues” as Douglas has.

On the flight to Chicago, Douglas meets Dr. Cara Cordelia – a botanist heading up one group in a convention to try to find a cure for the corn disease. They hit it off and make plans to meet later after both are settled. She has tea on their flight to calm her nerves and Douglas enjoys the minty aroma. They part at the airport and plan to meet for supper the next day.
Between well-researched history, a great future plot and learning about possible advances in tech- nology you will fly through this book just like I did. Poison, murders, Mexican icons, a sonic cane – what ext??!


Robert P. Bennett
Writer/Lecturer
Issues of Disability
Author: The Blind Traveler Mysteries
WWW.Enablingwords.com

Dear Holly! Love your emails. XOXO

I read this book back when it was in print format. It was hiliarous and I read half od the book in one sitting. Now you can check this book out for yourself as an electronic version is now available.

Purchase a copy here
Also check out the website for this book and you can read some of the emails there

So whom will you choose…Team Jasmine or Team Rachel? To cast your vote, pick up a copy of Sinners and Saints today!

Jasmine Larson Bush never imagined that she could become the first lady. The first lady of the American Baptist Coalition (ABC) that is. Her husband Hosea informs Jasmine that he has been nominated by the church to represent the North division for the ABC. Now all Jasmine can picture is all the things she will do once she is the first lady. Though, first her husband has to win and he is running against Rachel’s husband, Lester.

Rachel can not wait until she becomes the first lady. Than she can hang out with Michelle…Obama that is! Rachel knows she is the right woman for the job. Besides what type of woman is Jasmine that her secrets can by found on the website Dirt Diggers? When the current first lady of the ABC will not step down without a fight, will Jasmine and Rachel band together to take down the current first lady or will it be every woman for herself?

I read The Deal, the Dance, and the Devil by Ms. Murray and enjoyed it. So when I read about this collaboration she did with new to me author, ReShonda Tate Billingsley, I thought I would check it out. I am glad that I did. This book provided me with some good comedic relief. Something that I was not expecting but it was a nice surprise. Watching Jasmine and Rachel go after each other with their comments that usually included sharp thorns was funny. Both Ms. Murray and Ms. Billingsley did a good job with this book. I could not tell when one voice stopped and the next one started. My vote goes for Jasmine. I felt she was picked on the most and yet she was the nicest one. So whom will you choose…Team Jasmine or Team Rachel? To cast your vote, pick up a copy of Sinners and Saints today!

Spy themed Contest!

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The Look of Love is a nice cozy mystery. It serves up a nice slice of mystery and intrigue.

Piper Donovan is a cake maker. Piper receives a phone call from Jillian Abernathy. Jillian is the owner of Elysium, an exclusive spa. Jillian is getting married and wants Piper to make her wedding cake. Both Piper’s father and her good friend, Jack don’t think that Piper should take the job. It could be because someone does not want Jillian to get married. In fact, Jillian’s poor maid was the recipient of a face full of acid that was meant for Jillian. Despite all the warnings, Piper heads to Elysium.

The Look of Love is book two in the Wedding Cake Mysteries series. You do not have to read book one to jump right into this book. Piper is kind of like Nancy Drew. She always finds herself in the middle of trouble. One of the funniest moments was when Piper’s father a retired cop was sitting down with Piper going over the emergency kit, he had put together for Piper that included an acid protective apron, instructions on all the different acids and poisons there are and how to survive them.

I hope to see Piper and Jack’s relationship blossom more in the next book. They were separated in this book. I like Jack and think he is the perfect guy for Piper, though she does not want to admit it but I have a feeling she will sooner or later. The Look of Love is a nice cozy mystery. It serves up a nice slice of mystery and intrigue.

Chasing Mona Lisa

Swiss OSS agents, Gabi Mueller and Eric Hofstadler are on a very important mission. They are to recover one of famous artist, Leonardo da Vinci’s masterpieces…The Mona Lisa. Gabi and Eric must retrieve the Mona Lisa before the German’s take it and this piece of art is lost forever. Though, Gabi, Eric and the Germans are not the only ones interested in owing the famous lady. Reichsmarschall Hermann Goring also wants the smiling lady and will do everything in his powers to claim her.

I read The Swiss Courier by Goyer and Yorkey. I enjoyed that book. While, I did like this book as well, it had plenty of action and authenticity; there was just something about this book that I found myself not really getting into. I think it was the fact that even though the story moved along right from the beginning, the story did not feel like it really began until about mid way. Prior to that, it felt like a lot of dialect and set up to the story line. My favorite person was Gabi. She held her ground and was smart. She and Eric worked together well as a team. Goyer and Yorkey also worked well as a team. Though this is only their second book together, it seems like they have been writing as partners for years. I could not tell when one writer stopped and the other began.

“Available January 2011 at your favorite bookseller from Revell, a division of Baker Publishing Group.”