Review and Giveaway! "Sundays at Tiffany's"

To celebrate the premiere of the Lifetime Original Movie "Sundays at Tiffany's" on Dec. 6th, I have a giveaway of the book that inspired the movie- "Sundays at Tiffany's" by James Patterson! I read this book last year, and loved it.

Here is my review, originally posted last year:

"Sundays at Tiffany's"
by James Patterson and Gabrielle Charbonnett

My rating: 4 out of 5 stars

I thought "Sundays at Tiffany's" was a very sweet romance. The story itself is very simple and uncomplicated. I can easily see this book being made into a movie.

8 year old Jane Margaux feels like she doesn't live up to her extravagant mother's expectations. Vivienne, her successful broadway producer mother pays little attention to Jane, except for their weekly trip to Tiffany's every Sunday. Jane spends most of her time with the only person she can really depend on in her life, her imaginary friend, Michael. Michael always knows the right thing to say to cheer her up and build up her self esteem. He's always there for her when she needs him no matter what. But unfortunately, imaginary friends don't last forever and Jane loses the one person she counts on the most.

Twenty-three years later, Jane is still under her mother's rule and is in a miserable relationship with a man who cares more about her Broadway connections than about her. Jane and Michael find themselves miraculously crossing paths again, and are faced with many new choices and questions about themselves and each other.

The story and writing style are simplistic but the story itself is so sweet, it doesn't really need filler to make the story longer. This is a fantasy story in a way, but Michael's job as an imaginary friend is explained well and wasn't hard for me to believe. I found it a little odd that Jane's chapters were told in 1st person and Michael's were told in 3rd person, but I got used to it quickly. It wasn't hard to understand, but I did wonder why the author wrote the book this way.

Michael was pretty much flawless, so he really wasn't realistic at all. But I was viewing this novel as a fantasy anyway, so it didn't bother me that he was too good to be true. Jane was very much a pushover but still likable. It was fun to see her become stronger as she built her self esteem with Michael's help.

I thought this book was very innocent and refreshing and I will probably read more in this genre by Patterson.

The movie:

The movie version of the book premieres on Lifetime at 9pm on Monday, Dec 6. While I was reading the book last year, I thought it would be great as a movie, and now's our chance to see it! You can find more info on MyLifetime.

GIVEAWAY RULES:
Hachette has generously provided a copy of the movie tie-in paperback version of the book for one lucky reader of my blog!

All you have to do is follow my blog publicly and leave a comment on this post with your email address!

Please follow publicly or I can't tell that you are following :) Also, if you aren't comfortable leaving your email here, go ahead and leave a comment and then send me an email with your email addy.

Extra Entries:

• +1 Tweet this contest (leave link in comment)
  
• +1 Post link in sidebar of your blog (leave link in comment)
  

Rules:

• US and Canada only
  
• Must be a follower to enter
  
• Extra entries are optional and can all be left in the same comment
  
• Leave a comment with your email address
• Ends Wed Dec. 15
  

Thanks to everyone for entering! Good luck!

Teaser Tuesday (16)

Yay for "Teaser Tuesday" from MizB of Should be Reading!!

Teaser Tuesdays is a weekly bookish meme, hosted by MizB of Should Be Reading. Anyone can play along! Just do the following:

• Grab your current read
• Open to a random page
• Share two (2) “teaser” sentences from somewhere on that page
• BE CAREFUL NOT TO INCLUDE SPOILERS! (make sure that what you share doesn’t give too much away! You don’t want to ruin the book for others!)
• Share the title & author, too, so that other TT participants can add the book to their TBR Lists if they like your teasers!
  

My teaser Tuesday pick:


" My heart leaped into my throat. I tried to stuff it back down behind my ribs where it belonged. "


p 181 "Secondhand Charm" by Julie Berry

Waiting on Wednesday (46)

Waiting on Wednesday is hosted by Breaking the Spine, and it is a way to show off the books you can't wait to be released!!

This week I chose:

"A True Princess"
by Diane Zahler
HarperCollins
Release Date: Feb 1, 2011

The following description is from goodreads.com:

Twelve-year-old Lilia must save her best friend, Kai, from a terrible enchantment caused by their perilous encounter with the Elf-King and his beautiful daughter. Now the only way for Lilia to break the spell is to find a mysterious jewel of ancient power hidden somewhere in the North Kingdom. But the jewel will not be easy to find. The castle where it lies is caught up in a different kind of search—the search for a true princess.

You gotta love a fairy tale story like this!! And the cover is gorgeous!!

I want to wish everyone a very happy Thanksgiving holiday early because I probably won't be around much until after the holiday weekend!! Enjoy your holiday, everyone!! :)

Book Blog Follow and Book Blogger Hop Nov 19

Happy Friday, Everyone!!

It's time for Book Blog Follow Friday hosted by Parajunkee.com and The Book Blogger Hop hosted by Crazy for Books!



My answer to this week's question: One year!! I started Nov 9 of 2009.

My answer: I am most thankful for family and friends. Thanksgiving is the biiiiig holiday for my boyfriend and I to spend with both of our families so I may not be around much between now and Thanksgiving weekend. We have lots to do and lots of people to see! I can't wait! And I'll be back to the blog full time after Thanksgiving weekend :)

If you're visiting for the first time, I'd love to hear from you, so please leave a comment and say hi!! :)

"5 Ingredient Fix" by Claire Robinson

"5 Ingredient Fix: Easy, Elegant and Irresistible Recipes"
by Claire Robinson

Publisher: Grand Central Life & Style
Release Date: Oct 27, 2010

Source: sent by publisher

My Rating: 4 out of 5 stars

Summary from goodreads.com:

Food Network regular will instant recognize the concept behind this book: As the host of the channel's 5 Ingredient Fix, author Claire Robinson presents easy-to-make recipes with no more than five ingredients. Like the show, her debut cookbook demonstrates that this guideline is no harsh limitation. In fact, her recipes for dishes like Maple-Candied Bacon, Grilled Scallops with Saffron Aioli, and Brioche French Toast with Strawberries and Cream show that her penchant for fresh ingredients and distinctive flavors turn simple fare into delectable feasts. Especially appealing for kitchen newbies, but a fine resource for any home cook.

My review:

This is a beautiful cookbook with some really upscale recipes that have only five ingredients or less. Robinson's philosophy is that the more ingredients you add to a recipe, the farther away you get from the true flavor. Of course, the five ingredients that you do use need to be very high quality. While the recipes seem uncomplicated to prepare (yay!), they also seem like your grocery bill would be pretty high (boo!)

I loved that this book had sections on hors d'oeuvres, cocktails, and appetizers. I can really see how people would use this book to host elegant parties. It seems like a lot of books skip over these types of recipes, so I'm glad to see the options here.

I also thought the chapter on "All Day Eats" was unique and useful to me because I love snacks! The Fennel, Strawberry, and Arugula Salad" looks delicious, as do many of the other salads and snacks.

As for the main dishes, they weren't really anything I would try, for example-a whole chicken, but the side dishes looked really good. I'd love to try the "Smokey Roasted Peaches."

Bottom Line: This book is beautifully presented and would make a lovely gift. I think it would be especially great for a hostess who throws a lot of elegant parties.

Waiting on Wednesday (45)

Waiting on Wednesday is hosted by Breaking the Spine, and it is a way to show off the books you can't wait to be released!!

This week I chose:

"Strings Attached"
by Judy Blundell
Scholastic Press
Release Date: March 1, 2011

The following description is from goodreads.com:



According to Pub Marketplace, the story is about “a plucky 17-year-old chorus girl in 1950’s New York, struggling to avoid her obligations to a mob-affiliated lawyer. . .who is father to the boy she loves.”

Not too much of a description yet, but I read another book by her this summer and it was one of the more unique YA books I've read for awhile. I'm looking forward to this one!

What are you waiting for this week??

Teaser Tuesday (15)

Yay for "Teaser Tuesday" from MizB of Should be Reading!!

Teaser Tuesdays is a weekly bookish meme, hosted by MizB of Should Be Reading. Anyone can play along! Just do the following:

• Grab your current read
• Open to a random page
• Share two (2) “teaser” sentences from somewhere on that page
• BE CAREFUL NOT TO INCLUDE SPOILERS! (make sure that what you share doesn’t give too much away! You don’t want to ruin the book for others!)
• Share the title & author, too, so that other TT participants can add the book to their TBR Lists if they like your teasers!

My teaser Tuesday pick:

" 'Who's ready to warm up with some jumping jacks?' the hologram girl asked in a far too cheerful tone. Eva whispered to the Omnipod, 'Deactivate Gym Buddy!' "


p 22 "The Search for Wondla" by Tony DiTerlizzi

Waiting on Wednesday (43)

Waiting on Wednesday is hosted by Breaking the Spine, and it is a way to show off the books you can't wait to be released!!

This week I chose:

"Eona"
by Alison Goodman
Viking Juvenile
Release Date: Apr 19, 2011

The following description is from goodreads.com:

Eon has been revealed as Eona, the first female Dragoneye in hundreds of years. Along with fellow rebels Ryko and Lady Dela, she is on the run from High Lord Sethon’s army. The renegades are on a quest for the black folio, stolen by the drug-riddled Dillon; they must also find Kygo, the young Pearl Emperor, who needs Eona’s power and the black folio if he is to wrest back his throne from the self-styled “Emperor” Sethon. Through it all, Eona must come to terms with her new Dragoneye identity and power—and learn to bear the anguish of the ten dragons whose Dragoneyes were murdered. As they focus their power through her, she becomes a dangerous conduit for their plans....

Eona, with its pulse-pounding drama and romance, its unforgettable fight scenes, and surprises, is the conclusion to an epic only Alison Goodman could create.

This looks like a girl power book to me!! I hadn't really heard anything about the first one in the series, but this one looks amazing! Has anyone read the first book??

What are you waiting for this week??

Teaser Tuesday (14)

Yay for "Teaser Tuesday" from MizB of Should be Reading!!

Teaser Tuesdays is a weekly bookish meme, hosted by MizB of Should Be Reading. Anyone can play along! Just do the following:

• Grab your current read
• Open to a random page
• Share two (2) “teaser” sentences from somewhere on that page
• BE CAREFUL NOT TO INCLUDE SPOILERS! (make sure that what you share doesn’t give too much away! You don’t want to ruin the book for others!)
• Share the title & author, too, so that other TT participants can add the book to their TBR Lists if they like your teasers!

My teaser Tuesday pick:

"He waited until she'd downed three gingersnaps and a piece of cake before deeming her mood restored enough for him to sit safely beside her."


p 11 "Promise Me Tonight" by Sarah Lindsey

Winners Announced!! Aphrodite the Beauty Swag Bag

Winners Announced!!

The winner of the "Aphrodite the Beauty" Swag Bag giveaway is:


Jinky!

Winners was chosen via random.org random number generator. Congrats to the winner!! I have emailed the winner for her mailing address. Winner has 3 days to respond :) A huge thank you goes out to Joan Holub and Suzanne Williams for sponsoring the contest and to everyone who entered!! Congrats!!

In My Mailbox (46)

In My Mailbox is hosted by The Story Siren, and is a way for everyone to show their new books for the week, including those bought, swapped, won, or received for review.

contest wins:

"Hush Hush" by Becca Fitzpatrick


"Crescendo" by Becca Fitzpatrick


Both won from lucidconspiracy.blogspot.com! I haven't read Hush Hush, and I'm so excited to read the finished version of Crescendo! Yay!

Bought:

"The Underneath" by Kathi Appelt


I've wanted to read this one for a long time!

"The Sweet Far Thing" by Libba Bray


Sadly, I haven't read any of the books in this series, but now I have all three :)

"Marked" by PC Cast and Kristin Cast


I tried to read this when it came out but couldn't get into it. I want to give it another try!

What did you receive in your mailbox this week???

"Athena the Brain" Review

To celebrate the "Aphrodite the Beauty" Swag Bag Contest, here is my review of the first book in the Goddess Girls series!! Don't forget to enter the contest!

"Athena the Brain" (Goddess Girls #1)
by Joan Holub and Suzanne Williams

Publisher: Aladdin
Release Date: Apr 6, 2010

Source: sent by author

My Rating: 4.5 out of 5 stars

My review:
The first installment in the Goddess Girls books is a great introduction to the series. The reader is introduced to the school at Mt. Olympus at the same time that Athena first sees it. We are thrust into this brand new world of immortality and magic just like Athena is.

The book has a great message for girls about dealing with mean girls and also how to deal with boys. I loved Athena's attitude towards the cocky Poseidon as she realizes he's not so crush-worthy after all.

Book lovers will love Athena's brainy personality, and how she's always carrying around tons of scrolls (books). Her relationship with her dad, Zeus, is played out with love and comedy.

The only reason I marked this one 4.5 stars instead of 5 is because I really liked books 2 and 3 a lot better than this one. But sometimes that's what happens in the first book of a series, because the world has to be set up and introductions to the characters need to be made.

The covers of these books are fantastic. The bright colors and cartoony girls are so eye-catching, but the beauty is really in the details. Each cover has many small elements from the book that are woven into the picture. It's so fun to see Persephone's missing ball of yarn or Athena's pile of homework scrolls that she's never seen without. It's so nice to see a cover where the artist has clearly read the book instead of using a stock photo.


Main Characters: 5/5
Supporting Characters: 5/5
Setting: 4/5
Romance: 4/5
Uniqueness: 4/5
Cover: 5/5 (LOVE all the covers!!)
Writing: 5/5


Bottom Line: This is another great installment of the Goddess Girls series, fun, sweet stories for girls with a fantastic message!

Winners Announced!! "The Mischief of the Mistletoe"

Winners Announced!!

The 3 winners of the "The Mischief of the Mistletoe" book and ornament giveaway are:


samantha35
sharon

Winners were chosen via random.org random number generator. Congrats to the winners!! I have emailed the winners for their mailing addresses. Winners have 3 days to respond :) A huge thank you goes out to Dutton for sponsoring the contest and to everyone who entered!! Congrats!!

"Goddess Girls: Persephone the Phony" Review

To celebrate the "Aphrodite the Beauty" Swag Bag Contest, here is my review of the second book in the Goddess Girls series!! Don't forget to enter the contest!

"Persephone the Phony" (Goddess Girls #2)
by Joan Holub and Suzanne Williams

Publisher: Aladdin
Release Date: Apr 6, 2010

Source: sent by author

My Rating: 5 out of 5 stars

My review:I really loved this installment of the series. I think it deals with a really important tween issue for girls-standing up for yourself. This is an age where girls really start to feel pressure to be like everyone else and it's hard to remember to speak up.

Persephone is always agreeable, she wants to go along with everything just so she won't make anyone mad. She drags along to the mall when she would rather be home. She always agrees with her group of friends, even when she thinks differently. She even buys things she doesn't want in order to fit in and please others. For this reason, Persephone feels like a phony.

When she gets to know "bad boy" Hades, Persephone knows her friends and her mother don't approve. But for the first time, she wants to do what she wants, not what everyone else wants her to do. Persephone finds herself in danger by ignoring too many rules and she finally realizes there needs to be a balance between always agreeing and being too wild.

I think this age is when girls start submitting to peer pressure and start to lose themselves. This book could really be a helpful tool in teaching girls that they can still speak up for themselves and be an individual. Speaking up seems to be praised in boys but not girls, so I'm glad to see it addressed in a book targeted to girls. I can identify with Persephone even now and I hope I can learn to try to be less of a people-pleaser like she did.

Hades and Persephone's romance was just too adorable, and I enjoyed seeing their relationship continue to blossom in the third book.


Main Characters: 5/5
Supporting Characters: 5/5
Setting: 4/5
Romance: 5/5 (so sweet!!)
Uniqueness: 4/5
Cover: 5/5 (LOVE all the covers!!)
Writing: 5/5


Bottom Line:Persephone's story was another great addition to the Goddess Girls series, with fantastic elements of young love, friendship, family, and most of all learning about yourself.

Book Blog Follow and Book Blogger Hop Nov 5

Happy Friday, Everyone!!

It's time for Book Blog Follow Friday hosted by Parajunkee.com and The Book Blogger Hop hosted by Crazy for Books!



My answer to this week's question: Lisa Kleypas, Jennifer Echols, Karen Ranney, the list goes on and on and on and on......

My answer: of course I don't want to lose followers! I love all of my followers and all the readers of my blog!!

If you're visiting for the first time, I'd love to hear from you, so please leave a comment and say hi!! :)

"The Family Dinner" Review

"The Family Dinner"
by Laurie David, recipes by Kristin Uhrenholdt

Publisher: Grand Central Publishing
Release Date: Nov 3, 2010

Source: sent by publisher

My Rating: 5 out of 5 stars

Summary from goodreads.com:

The producer of An Inconvenient Truth, Laurie David's new mission is to help America's overwhelmed families sit down to a Family Dinner, and she provides all the reasons, recipes and fun tools to do so.

Laurie David speaks from her own experience confronting the challenges of raising two teenage girls. Today's parents have lots to deal with and technology is making their job harder than ever. Research has proven that everything we worry about as parents--from drugs to alcohol, promiscuity, to obesity, academic achievement and just good old nutrition--can all be improved by the simple act of eating and talking together around the table.

Laurie has written a practical, inspirational, fun (and, of course, green) guide to the most important hour in any parent's day. Chock-full chapters include: Over seventy-five kid approved fantastic recipes; tips on teaching green values; conversation starters; games to play to help even the shyest family member become engaged; ways to express gratitude; the family dinner after divorce (hint: keep eating together) and much more. Filled with moving memories and advice from the country's experts and teachers, this book will get everyone away from electronic screens and back to the dinner table.

My review:

This book is so much more than a cookbook! There are lots of tips to keep your family happy during your nightly family dinner. The book features fun, full color photos along with personal stories, games, recipes, and quotes from celebrities. Honestly, how can you not love a book that quotes "Leave it to Beaver"?

" 'Wally, there's nothing old-fashioned about politeness.'
-Ward Cleaver to his son at dinner" (p23)

There are lots of unexpected chapters in "The Family Dinner," including a section on staying green called "Your Green Table." The chapter features lots of environmentally friendly tips for parents and kids. Other interesting chapters are about giving thanks for our many blessings, and conversation starters. There's even a section called "Dinner After Divorce."

And or course, there are lots of family friendly recipes! I know my boyfriend would love the "Caesar Pita Pizza Pies" (p124), a yummy mix of a Caesar salad and pizza. And the very first recipe in the book looks like a show stopper-"Gary's T-Night Tacos" (p9)- and they're meat-less!

I've really taken a few of the tips to heart. I think a meal with no cell phones would be fantastic. It's hard to do but, I think it's worth it to give family undivided attention for that designated time.

Bottom Line: I am so impressed with this book and diversity it offers. This book is going to be on the shelf in my kitchen for along time. I think it would also make a wonderful and thoughtful gift for a special family.

"Another Pan" Review

"Another Pan"
by Daniel and Dina Nayeri

Publisher: Candlewick Press
Release Date: Oct 26, 2010

Source: sent by publisher

My Rating: 4 out of 5 stars

Summary from goodreads.com:

Sixteen-year-old Wendy Darling and her insecure freshman brother, John, are hitting the books at the Marlowe School. But one tome consumes their attention: THE BOOK OF GATES, a coveted Egyptian artifact that their professor father believes has magical powers. Soon Wendy and John discover that the legend is real—when they recite from its pages and descend into a snaking realm beneath the Manhattan school. As the hallways darken, and dead moths cake the floor, a charismatic new R.A. named Peter reveals that their actions have unleashed a terrible consequence: the underworld and all its evil is now seeping into Marlowe. Daniel Nayeri and Dina Nayeri return to reimagine Peter Pan as a twisty, atmospheric, and fast-paced fantasy about the perils of immortality.

My review:

"Another Pan" didn't have quite as much to do with the original Peter Pan story as I was expecting. Certain elements were definitely inspired by the story, like names and characters, but I think I wanted more of the actual plot to be like a modern retelling of the story.

That being said, I did like that certain aspects that mirrored the original story. I really enjoyed trying to figure out the nods to Barrie's "Peter Pan" because sometimes they weren't obvious. For instance, Tina, Peter's second in command was a great take on Tinkerbell. Tina was a tough girl in love with Peter, and definitely jealous of Wendy. Other moments I felt like I was uncovering a secret, such as-aha-that's the pixie dust!

I loved the five stories about ancient Egypt that held the clues to the mystery. The stories were fascinating and I'm glad authors told us the whole stories instead of just hinting or summarizing. I liked the Egyptian tie-in and the fact that the characters were involved in a museum exhibit. This reminded me of one of my favorite television shows, "Unnatural History." Sometimes I wasn't really sure how closely this related to the original "Peter Pan" though.

Sometimes, the villain's point of view slowed the story down, as did some of the adults' viewpoints. I really liked Wendy's father but reading about the villain got tiresome for me. I'd much rather see the story through Peter, Wendy, and John's eyes.

I liked the characters' "Happy Thoughts" compiled at the end of the chapters. It was another great homage to the original story.


Main Characters: 4/5
Supporting Characters: 3/5
Setting: 4/5
Romance: 3/5
Uniqueness: 4/5
Cover: 5/5 (this is exactly what a modern Peter Pan story would look like to me)
Writing: 4/5


Bottom Line:This story is absorbing, and I enjoyed trying to uncover all of the references to "Peter Pan."

Waiting on Wednesday (42)

Waiting on Wednesday is hosted by Breaking the Spine, and it is a way to show off the books you can't wait to be released!!

This week I chose:

"Wrapped"
by Jennifer Bradbury
Atheneum
Release Date: May 24, 2011

The following description is from goodreads.com:

This is Agnes Wilkins’ debut season and already she’s attracting the attention of one of England’s most eligible and desirable men: Lord Showalter. He’s been quite forward about his intentions and Agnes finds this at once thrilling and terrifying. He is handsome and wealthy and has this quirky interest in helping England amass the world’s finest collection of Egyptian artifacts. It could be a good match—but everything Agnes knows about courtship and high society romance comes from A. Lady novels, and it seems to be a rule that men who are too good to be true are usually hiding something. But, what Showalter is hiding is not crumbling finances or boarish behavior. He is deceiving the whole British Empire. He is spy working for Napoleon, his orders smuggled into London in Egyptian artifacts—like the one Agnes pockets while at a mummy unwrapping party at Showalter’s home. Her innocent interest in this trinket (and childish need to keep it) jump starts a chain of events that bring out dangerous characters, dangerous circumstances, and the biggest danger of all—true love. Jennifer Bradbury’s knack for suspense and adventure make this an amazingly rich, wildly compelling and utterly fascinating novel about the secrets in and out of a mummy’s tomb. Keep your wits and trust your heart.

Wow, I need to read this one asap!! Historical YA Romance, you don't see that everyday!! I love it!

What are you waiting for this week??

Winners Announced!! October Paranormal Romance Giveaway and She Smells the Dead

Winners Announced for two Halloween contests!!

The 3 winners of the October Paranormal Romance giveaway are:

Rubynreba
Lindseye
Ambur

The winner of the autographed copy of "She Smells the Dead" by EJ Stevens is:

Brooke


Winners were chosen via random.org random number generator. Congrats to the winners!! I have emailed the winners for their mailing addresses. Winners have 3 days to respond :) A huge thank you goes out to Hachette for sponsoring the first contest, EJ Stevens for providing the book for the second contest, and to everyone who entered!! Congrats!!

Teaser Tuesday (13)

Yay for "Teaser Tuesday" from MizB of Should be Reading!!

Teaser Tuesdays is a weekly bookish meme, hosted by MizB of Should Be Reading. Anyone can play along! Just do the following:

• Grab your current read
• Open to a random page
• Share two (2) “teaser” sentences from somewhere on that page
• BE CAREFUL NOT TO INCLUDE SPOILERS! (make sure that what you share doesn’t give too much away! You don’t want to ruin the book for others!)
• Share the title & author, too, so that other TT participants can add the book to their TBR Lists if they like your teasers!

My teaser Tuesday pick:

"It wasn't exactly a satin ribbon plucked from the window of some Bond Street linen drapers shop, but at the moment she would be hard pressed to find a gift more practical or dear."


p 93 "The Devil Wears Plaid" by Teresa Medeiros

Review and Giveaway! "Goddess Girls: Aphrodite the Beauty"

Contest is Closed
Authors Joan Holub and Suzanne Williams have generously provided an awesome Aphrodite the Beauty Swag Bag for one lucky reader of my blog! See contest info after the review!

"Aphrodite the Beauty" (Goddess Girls #3)
by Joan Holub and Suzanne Williams

Publisher: Aladdin
Release Date: Aug 3, 2010

Source: sent by author

My Rating: 5 out of 5 stars

Summary from goodreads.com: The Goddess Girls by Joan Holub and Suzanne Williams put a modern spin on classic Greek myths!

Aphrodite, the goddess girl of love, can hardly believe she's jealous! But after giving her best friend, Athena, a makeover, she's definitely feeling a little green. It just doesn't seem fair that the god boys who usually fawn over Aphrodite, are now paying more attention to Athena, who doesn't even care. When Aphrodite finds out the nerdy Hephaestus has a crush on her, she learns that love comes in many forms.

My review:

I love reading about the Greek myths and the tales in this series are perfectly told for young readers to learn how fun and exciting the myths are. Each of the characters are lovingly crafted as a young, modern version of the classic figure. The modern twist is there, even while being fully contained on Mount Olympus. The books teach the ancient stories and also teach valuable life lessons to young girls.

After reading the first three books in the series, "Aphrodite the Beauty" was possibly my favorite in the series. It was so much fun while still containing a great message.

Aphrodite has all the boys in school wrapped around her finger. She especially loves the attention from handsome Atlas. Aphrodite decides to give her friend, Athena, a makeover but doesn't really enjoy the result-all of the boys giving Athena attention instead of her. The only boy who still talks to her is Hephaestus, who walks with a limp. She likes Hephaestus but when rumors swirl about them, she starts avoiding her friend. But Hephaestus may be the only one who can help her with a special project.

I loved how this book told the story of Atalanta's race with the golden apples, one of my favorite myths. Hephaestus was such a sweet character, I loved reading about him.

This story was so fun, with crushes on boys and jealousy over other girls getting attention. But the focus was on friendship and being true to yourself before falling for a boy who doesn't deserve your attention. I love the girl power message of these books.
Main Characters: 5/5
Supporting Characters: 5/5
Setting: 4/5
Romance: 4/5 (perfectly age appropriate)
Uniqueness: 4/5
Cover: 5/5 (LOVE all the covers!!)
Writing: 5/5

Bottom Line: I can't' recommend this series enough, both to young readers, fans of Greek myths, and those who want a sweet, fun read with a great message for girls.
Check out my blog for the rest of the week for reviews of the other two books in the series!

More info on the series at: http://www.joanholub.blogspot.com/

GIVEAWAY RULES:


Contest is Closed
Joan Holub and Suzanne Williams are generously providing one lucky reader an Aphrodite the Beauty Swag Bag!! The swag bag was carefully put together by the authors and includes:

* 24-color eye shadow from Claire's
* 7 lip glosses with faux rhinestones
* Multi-color bracelet
* Goddess Girls bookmark
* Autographed copy of Aphrodite the Beauty

All you have to do is follow my blog publicly and leave a comment on this review with your email address!
Please follow publicly or I can't tell that you are following :) Also, if you aren't comfortable leaving your email here, go ahead and leave a comment and then send me an email with your email addy.
Extra Entries:

• +1 Tweet this contest (leave link in comment)
• +1 Post link in sidebar of your blog (leave link in comment)

Rules:

• US only
• Must be a follower to enter
• Extra entries are optional and can all be left in the same comment
• Leave a comment with your email address
• Ends Sunday Nov. 7

Thanks to everyone for entering! Good luck!