P.C Cast and Kristin Cast have done it again! Chosen, the third book in the House of Night series is full of even more surprises than the first two! This book is great for anyone 16 and older and is a perfect addition to the series!
It’s Zoey’s birthday and she is less than thrilled about it. With a birthday of December 24th, she has spent her entire life receiving exclusively Christmas themed present. The gifts are cute, but unfortunately they typically can’t be used any other time of the year but Christmas. Zoey is sure that this birthday isn’t going to be any different than the rest and she is right. Unfortunately, she doesn’t have time to dwell on her bad birthday, as she is frantically trying to save her undead best-friend, Stevie Rae.
With the help of her former enemy, Aphrodite, she sets out to save Stevie Rae but her boy troubles get in the way. All of her three boyfriends are fighting for her attention. Heath, her former boyfriend refuses to accept that Zoey can no longer be with him and Zoey is having a lot of trouble breaking things off. Then there is Loren, her teacher who she should know to stay away from, however he is making it extremely difficult for her to do so. And finally, Erik, who she is really starting to fall for and who is a fledgling vampyre just like her.
Zoey soon finds herself overwhelmed and without her best friends to help her. Will she be able to stay strong and overcome all the difficulties that are thrown her way? Read for yourself and make sure to look out for the next book in the series, which should be released in the fall of 2008!
By the Book Reviews was given the opportunity to interview P.C Cast and Kristin Cast and here is what they had to say!
1) As a mother-daughter team, what is it like working together?
PC: Working with Kristin is great. We’ve always been close, so it just feels like a natural extension of our normal relationship.
KC: We work really well together, and we’re together a lot, so it’s easy to share ideas. (She threatened to beat me unless I spoke well of her.)
2) What types of challenges come with co-authoring?
PC: It was unusual at first to consult with someone else about plot and character issues. I think I’d written about twelve adult novels when I started writing the first in the House of Night series, and so I was accustomed to spinning the story web myself. But it was really not very difficult to get used to brainstorming with Kristin. Actually I enjoy having another head thinking about plot issues, etc.
KC: In the beginning, I was kind of scared to tell her when I didn’t exactly agree with her ideas, but now that I know she won’t yell at me, I’m perfectly fine with telling her “NO!”.
3) What inspired you to write about Zoey?
PC: A few years ago my agent, Meredith Bernstein, said she had an idea for a series she would like to me write, and then she said the three magic words: vampire finishing school. I had just been reading the amazing HAWKSONG books by Maria Atwater-Rhodes, so I immediately thought young adult – and that’s how the House of Night was born.
4) What is the most fun part about writing the House of Night Novels?
PC: I love writing YA! It moves so quickly and is driven by angst and drama and dialogue, plus there is a wonderful sense of discovery and innocence within the characters that I really enjoy.
KC: I think the most fun part is that I get to put my friends and acquaintances in the books! I love it when they recognize themselves.
5) Is there another book in the works for the House of Night series?
PC: Right now Kristin and I are working on book 4, UNTAMED. There will be at least two more to follow UNTAMED, and three in a spin-off series.
6) Who are your favorite authors?
PC: I have LOTS of favorites: Pat Conroy, Anne McCaffrey, Wilber Smith, Nora Roberts, Diana Gabaldon, Christopher Moore, Tanith Lee, Robin McKinley…
KC: Bram Stoker, Richard Preston, PC Cast, Richard Rhodes, Richard Matheson, Kristin Cast, Sarah Strohmeyer…
7) What’s the last book you’ve read?
PC: I just finished THE DARK ANGEL by Meredith Ann Pierce and now I’m reading THE DARKEST EVENING OF THE YEAR by Dean Koontz, and listening to the audio of Philippa Gregory’s THE BOLEYN INHERITANCE.
KC: The last book I read was BIOLOGY. It’s a textbook for school and is full of lovely boring pictures and words with lots of letters. I’m currently reading Mel Odom’s BLOOD EVIDENCE. I heart you Mel!
Hobson Brown, Taylor Materne, and Caroline Says did it again! Miss Educated, the second book in the Upper Class series is just as thrilling as the first! This book is great for anyone ages 16 and older!
Parker Cole managed to survive her first semester but she still stands out like a sore thumb. Almost everyone thinks that she is strange based on her crazy since of style and he doesn’t disagree with them! The one thing she wants is for more people to see the real her, especially a boy.
A boy like Chase, who is too busy trying to get off of academic probation to see Parker as anything more than a lab partner and friend. Chase faces military school if he can’t get good enough grades to please his strict father. But Chase keeps getting distracted by disasters and to his surprise, by Parker. As the two start spending more time together something beyond friendship might be on the horizon. During spring break, their unique group of friends goes away for a week and Chase and Parker find themselves closer than ever.
But when they get back to school, everything changes and they find themselves barely on speaking terms. Will they be able to get back to where they were? You’ll have to see for yourself!
Hobson Brown, Taylor Materne, & Caroline Says do a fantastic job in The Upper Class, which is a great book for anyone 16 and older.
Nikki and Laine think that they have absolutely nothing in common, except for the fact that they are roommates at a prestigious boarding school, Wellington. The school is fulled of the social elite as will as rich kids who are simply screw-ups. Laine doesn’t seem to be remotely interested in being friends with Nikki and Nikki is confused as to why Laine is so distant. The girls not only have to learn to deal with each other but to survive in their new surroundings.
Laine is perfect for Wellington, at least that is what she has been told. Living the perfect country-club lives in Connecticut she is an athletic star and breathtakingly gorgeous. But her snobbish attitude and fear of failure keep her from making friends easily and many quickly label her as a snob. When her own teammates turn on her, she begins a downward spiral that they are more than happy to help her down.
Nikki is from what many call “new-money” and does not seem to belong at Wellington at all, and they make sure to let her know that. Sent there to keep her away from bad influences at home, she gets a lot more than she expected at the school, and not in a good way. Because she is always loud and a slight tease, she finds it almost impossible to get along with the girls at the school and they all bet on how long she will last. Will she be able to prove everyone wrong and make it through the semester?
This book is great for anyone who has ever had trouble fitting in and accurately portrays all the drama of high school! This book is a fun read that I suggest picking it up!
Secrets of the Hollywood Girls Club by Maggie Marr is a great book for anyone ages 18 and older. The sequel to Hollywood Girls Club, this book is a must read for anyone who is interested in the crazy and drama filled Hollywood life!
Celeste, Jessica, Lydia, and Mary Anne have managed to find and hold on to true friendships amidst all of Hollywood’s superficial stars. The girls have stuck together and are intent on making even more great films. But when the girls begin to experience major issues they need a lot more than one another.
Celeste isn’t getting any younger and although she looks great now, she won’t in a few years. As she contemplates plastic surgery she has to deal with the emergence of a sex tape that could ruin her career. Mary Ann is dating Holden Humphrey, the hottest young stud in Hollywood but his crazy ex is determined to drive them apart. Not only does Mary Ann have to deal with his crazy ex but she also has to dal with the fact that people all over are watching her every move. Lydia is busy trying to run the film studio, help her friends, and try to figure out who is sending her creepy notes and blackmailing her. Jessica is busy juggling a family, her job, and her clients.
Can these girls juggle everything and still remain on top? Or will they drop the ball and have their careers ruined? This is a great book but make sure to read Hollywood Girls Club first or you might be a little lost!
By The Book Reviews had the opportunity to interview Maggie Marr! Check out the interview below.
Q: What inspired you to write the “Hollywood Girls Club” series?
A: Probably this wonderful world of entertainment I stumbled upon when I became an agent. Plus I started to hear a voice in my head, telling me the story that became Hollywood Girls Club.
Q: Which of the main characters in the books do you relate to the most and why?
A: A producer friend of mine says he sees a little of me in all the characters. But when I was an agent I think I related most to Jessica, trying to break into the business with hard work and determination plus she was an attorney turned agent. Now, as a full time writer, perhaps I relate to Mary Anne the most, we’re also both from the Midwest.
Q: What is a typical day like for you?
A: Let’s see, I get up at 6 am and go for a walk and eat breakfast with the family. I like to be at my computer by 8 am. I work from 8 am to 12 noon. My girls get home at noon and we eat lunch together. Once I get them down for nap, (anywhere between 1 and 2) I work for another 2 hours. I always think, I’ll get more work completed in the evening after the girls go to bed, but usually I don’t. Sometimes I read, or catch up on reader emails.
Q: How do you deal with writers block?
A: I try to write through it. I usually get a little stuck right before I hear the final act. Sometimes, I lay down for a while and try to visualize the characters going through the end of the story…then I’ll hear a line and I rush back to the computer and start typing.
Q: Have recent Hollywood happenings inspired any of your writing?
A: Of course. All the time.
Q: What made you want to start writing?
A: I’ve written stories since I was 8 years old. I won a number of awards as a child and in junior high for my writing, but I never thought becoming a writer as a profession was an option. I grew up in middle America, my grandparents were farmers…on both sides. My father was the first person in his family to graduate college and he became a doctor. No one I knew wrote or worked in or made a living in ‘the arts’. I did what a lot of kids who are exceptional writers do, I went to school and became an attorney. It wasn’t until I was much older, that I had the courage and the knowledge to actually take a shot at my dream, my passion, my love…writing.
By the Book Reviews is thrilled to be giving away 3 autographed copies of Secrets of the Hollywood Girls Club! To enter just leave a comment with the name of your all time favorite movie! After you are finished please support us by clicking on an ad! Thank you and good luck!
Prize (3): Secrets of the Hollywood Girls Club autographed book (ARV: $20)
Contest ends: May 15th, 2008
Entry Limits: One entry per person, per day.
SWEEPSTAKES RULES: NO PURCHASE NECESSARY TO ENTER OR WIN. Sponsored by Teen Scene Magazine. Sweepstakes are open to anyone at least 13 years old who are residents of the United States, the District of Columbia, and Canada. Void in Puerto Rico, the Province of Quebec, and where prohibited by law. Odds of winning depend on the number of eligible entries received for each sweepstakes.
HOW TO ENTER THE BY THE BOOK REVIEWS: Secrets of the HOLLYWOOD GIRLS CLUB SWEEPSTAKES: Submit a comment with your all time favorite movie at By the Book Reviews beginning at midnight April 15th, 2008, through 11:59 p.m. ET May 15th, 2008. Three readers will win an autographed copy of Secrets of the Hollywood Girls Club.
Sienna Mercer is at it again with the 4th book in the My Sister the Vampire series, with Vampalicious! Twins Ivy and Olivia are dealing with even more issues in this book which is great for anyone 17 years and younger!
Ivy and Olivia finally found out who there father is: Ivy’s dad! But they can’t bring themselves to tell them that they know or stop trying to figure out why he gave Olivia up for adoption. As the girls begin to learn more about their past they must also deal with their present and the fact that Ivy and their dad are moving to Europe. As the girls pull the pieces of their past together they try to get their dad to stay in Franklin Grove.
The girls and their friends come up with plan after plan to keep the twins together. There first plan, to make their father remember all the good times in Franklin Grove, doesn’t go so well. He finds it very touching and even looks a little emotional at one point, but he doesn’t give in and still insists on moving. There second plan, to make their father fall in love in order to keep him there, goes even worse. The date that the girls spring on him goes well at first but then takes a turn for the worse when he has to give his date the Heimlich maneuver. The girls are about to give up when they come up with another plan to get their father the date he has always wanted. The girls succeed but when their father turns down the offer they know that their is no way they can change his mind.
Will the girls be able to find away to stay together? Or will they be separated yet again? You’ll have to read it to find out!
A Little Friendly Advice by Siobhan Vivian is the perfect book for any teen girl!Since they were young kids it had always been Ruby and Beth. Beth had been there through the good times and the bad. More recently they added flirty Maria to their group and had been very happy with their group dynamic. But when Beth saw Katherine, a rebellious athlete, crying in the girls bathroom, she had to invite her into their group. And ever since it had been the four of them. Although Ruby and Katherine don’t always get along, they are all still one happy group. That is until Ruby’s dad shows up unexpected on her 16th birthday.Ruby’s dad left when she was little and she never knew why. Now he is back and seems to want something from her. As she struggles to cope, Beth butts in over and over, thinking that it is her job to help. When she starts hiding things Ruby becomes even more distressed and doesn’t know who to trust. Adding to her troubles, she starts to really like a guy but finds herself having trouble making any type of commitment. All of her problems start to weight on her and she explodes on Beth at her birthday party. After enraging Beth, she finally hears the truth and learns more than she could have ever expected.
This book is great for girls of all ages and definitely something to pick up!
Patricia Penny does it again with another book in her Not Just Proms & Parties series. Emily’s Rebellion is a great edition to the series and perfect for anyone 18 and under!
Emily is just 15 years old but she is already rebelling against her parents and ditching her friends for a boy. When she gets a tattoo her mother is furious but thankfully Emily has her grandmother to go to when things get rough. When her grandmother leaves for Italy she gives Emily the task of watering her plants. When Emily starts dating a guy that her parents disapprove of she starts meeting with him at her grandmother’s house and things are going great!
Until Emily uses her grandmothers house to throw a party for her best friend and something terrible happens. Emily and her friend have to leave the party in order to get her brother to the hospital after he falls and breaks his arm. When they return Emily is shocked to learn that some of her grandmother’s jewelry has been stolen and the prime suspect is her boyfriend. While trying to figure out who stole the jewelry Emily is shocked by what she finds and it could tear her family apart.
Will Emily’s family be able to survive what Emily is about to tell them or will it devastate them? You’ll have to read to find out what happens to Emily and her family!
Thanks to the generosity of Patricia Penny and Lobster Press, we are going to be giving away 3 full sets of the Not Just Proms and Parties series to 3 lucky winners! All you have to do is leave a comment(be sure to include a correct name and address so that we can contact you if you win) stating which of these books you would most like to read! After you are done commenting please help support us by clicking on an advertisement. Thanks and good luck!
Prize (3 sets of 5 books): Not Just Proms and Parties Series (total value $40)
Contest Ends: Wednesday, April 30th 2008.
Entry Limits: One entry per person, per day.
Patricia Penny does a fantastic job with Karin’s Dilemma, another book in the Not Just Proms & Parties series. This book is great for anyone 16 and older!
For quite a while now its been just Karin and her mom. After Karin’s abusive father leaves the two girls are forced to go it along. Brenda, Karin’ mom, does her best and raises her daughter to be smart and motivated. Karin’s major goal is to get a scholarship to college so that she can get a good enough job to support herself and help her mother. When Karin’s grades start to slip she quits the sports she loves and starts spending less time with her friends and boyfriend. She is sure that by doing these things she will be able to pull her grades up.
But when her mom starts dating Cal things quickly get worse instead of better. Cal is creepy and likes to spend his time on the couch, drinking beer. As her mom starts to get more and more serious Karin finds her self more and more uneasy around Cal. When she tries to talk to her mom about her feelings she just winds up making things worse for herself.
Does Karina really have a reason to be uneasy or is she just jealous because she has to share her mom? You’ll have to check it out yourself to find out!