Strap on your heels and freshen your lipstick!

This review is for the novel "Premiere" by Melody Carlson.
It is the first novel in the 'On The Runway' series.


Melody Carlson has written over 200 books and it definitely shows when you read her creations.

Paige and Erin Forrester are sisters but they are different as night and day.
Paige is obsessed with fashion and owns many name brands. From Prada to Badgley Mischka she knows them all by site and fabric quality. And shines like a star in the spotlight, be it in a group of friends or doing spots on her mother's nightly news program.

Erin is far more comfortable behind the camera than in front of it. She got dumped a good long while ago by her boyfriend of two years and has pretty much let her appearance go. Much to the almost disdain of her sister and friends. They mean well and say it with love but her friend gets on her about her appearance and she ends up letting Paige do a makeover on her.

After Paige does a segment on the news, which turns from a feature on a newly opened theme park to a fashion critique of the people entering the park, she is spotted by a famous reality television producer. She is interviewed and offered a reality show of her own critiquing fashion on the red carpet and runway shows. Erin is brought along for the ride as the producer wants her to be her sister’s sidekick, helping to film her and banter back and forth.

Add in a few guest spots on another hot teen reality show, a good looking boy and a few catfights and you've got 'Premiere'.


One of the things that I liked about this novel is that it was different from a lot of books I have read.
Erin is a Christian who enjoys going to her group at church but her mother and sister are not. Their dad, who was a news anchor, died in a plane crash.
I read the book in a matter of days and absolutely loved it. It kept me interested and turning pages till the end of it.

Also, by the last chapter, Paige realizes, after some hard things happen, that although she has believed in God, she needs to make room in her life for God and prayer.

The ending left me wanting to read the next book as soon as possible!
I commend Ms. Carlson on writing an engaging "teen" novel without compromising the message.


Have you read a book by Melody Carlson that is your favorite?


Have a Wonderful Wednesday!
Jenny :o)




*Note* I received this book for free from Zondervan Publishers in exchange for a review about it. I am not required to post a positive review. Any opinions expressed are my own and they are sincere.

Lights, Curtains, Action!

This review is for "In Between" by Jenny B. Jones. It is the first book in A Katie Parker Production series.
In a side note I want to commend Ms. Jones on her character development and all the interesting characters she brings to this book.
I would love to read a book that is based on Maxines character! Just a thought ;)


I knew from reading the back of the book that I was going to like this novel. But, I couldn't believe how much I actually did end up really really enjoying this book! I am definitely looking forward to reading the other books in this series and will for sure look for other titles by Ms. Jones.

This book is not your usually Christian fiction as Katie questions things. She doesn’t just automatically believe because her foster parents do. She questions and tries to figure out if and what she believes of what she hears in church. She wants to believe but she’s had a hard life and questions. It does have a happy ending though. But I liked that she didn’t just automatically be like I believe whatever you believe. I connected with this character because she goes to a place that I think we have all been.
I just can’t say enough about this book.

You've got Katie whose life is just a mess. Plain and simple you would not want to be in this girls shoes.
Her mother is in jail, she's living is a crappy home for girls and her dad is a deadbeat.

Being sixteen can be hard enough without adding in a drug peddling mom and a no show dad.

She seems to have no faith in God and definitely has an overdramatic streak running through her.

We open with her riding along heading toward In Between Texas to be dropped off with her new foster parents. Or as Katie likes to refer to them as, her pretend-o-parents.

What makes it even "better" for her is as they roll through town, she sees the local water tower with the words "Home of the In Between Chihuahua". And realizes with semi-horror that her new high school mascot will be the Chihuahua. So not only does she get to be the new kid in school once again...she has to be a Chihuahua. Life just isn't looking up for one Ms. Katie Parker.

Her foster parents turn out to be a couple in their fifties. What she doesn't realize until the director, of the girls home, leaves her there is that her new foster dad happens to be a preacher. She is less than thrilled about this as she doesn't "do" church.

She is the typical get myself kicked out so I can go back to the home girl for just a little bit and then is able to turn it around.

She definitely has abandonment issues and thinks any little problem is going to get her sent back and eventually she doesn't want that.

Needless to say her foster parents are long suffering and try to give her a little leeway toward being able to make good decisions on her own.

She blows it first chance she gets and her butt lands in church and helping out others, in various ways, pretty quick. Which is what she needed even if she didn't know it yet.

Throw in Mad Maxine, her foster grandmother (who I could totally write a whole other review on just her), a huge drooling dog who likes to play dress up, a mystery daughter that no one speaks of and one jaded foster daughter and you have a whopper of a story.

There are so many interesting characters I can't write about them all or this review would turn into a novel of its own.

I think anyone will relate to this book. Especially if you have ever felt awkward in a group, like you maybe don't belong, been the new kid or even ever questioned faith. This novel is a gem and I would love for all of you to read it too as I think you would love it right along with me.


Venture along with Katie as she learns it's all right to count on God and faith and it's all right to let your guard down and really want something.

Hope you all are having the best Monday possible!


How is your week going?
Jenny




***Note*** You can check out Jenny B Jones website here http://www.jennybjones.com/ to read about the author and see the books that are currently out and ones coming out soon.





Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from NavPress Publishers as part of their Blogger Review Program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission's 16 CFR, Part 255: "Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising."

Review for Izzy's Pop Star Plan~ Daily Devo

Izzy's Pop Star Plan is a daily devotional for tween/teen girls. It follows Izzy's journey toward trying to become a pop star while not losing herself and her walk with God. The difference between this devotional and others is this one reads like a novel with 90 days worth of devotional pages. It is set up like you are reading Izzy's blog day to day. I give it a thumbs up for uniqueness. There is even a website they put on some of the pages so that the reader can check it out on the computer as well as the book. I definitely think that the writing and the format that the book is in will encourage young girls to read their devotional for the day. I read it like a book and have to say that it kept me interested and entertained and I will be passing it along to my 10 year old niece. It seemed incredibly obvious that the writer modeled the singing competition off of American Idol but they did make it different by making it a competition with people from different countries. I am assuming by the ending of this book that there is another book to come and I have to say that I look forward to reading that one as well. I do suggest to the author that in the next book (if there is one) that they add a small place at the bottom of each page so the girl reading can write down her own prayer or thought for that day. In closing this review I will say that the book is well written and well thought out. A book that I will be proud and happy to pass on to my niece, confident in the fact that if she will read it, it will help point her in the right direction possibly when she will need it most. The book is not just well written, it has a point to it and is a light for goodness and morality in a dark world. Something daughters, nieces, friends, really any girl, needs in their book collection and their lives.

Happy reading to you all :)
Jenny

***Update***************
I just looked on a bookstore website and indeed there is a second book to this. It says it comes out in July of this year.
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