Retro Friday: The Sweetheart of Prosper County by Jill S. Alexander

At First Sight: Tired of being the butt of the town's bully's jokes, Austin Gray latches onto a solution to her troubles: to become a Sweetheart and ride in the No-Jesus Christmas Parade. This, of course, will require quite a bit of work, starting with getting a chicken for a Christmas gift, entering it at the county fair and joining the Future Farmers of America's chapter at her school, who pick their own Sweetheart for the parade and are her best chance of getting a spot.

With the reluctant support of her mother Jeannie and her best friend Maribel, Austin soon finds herself raising a chicken known as Charles Dickens and becomes friends with Sundi Knutt, the current sweetheart who is funny and outgoing and seems to love every body... and with Josh, an FFA member and friend of Sundi's who takes an interest in Austin and seems to understand that she sometimes doesn't like to talk about certain things.

And even if things don't always run off smoothly, the year Austin spends trying to become a Sweetheart brings a strange mix of blessings into her life in the form of a little more confidence, a renewed connection to her best friend, the friendship and advice on an evangelical Elvis performance artist named Lewis, and a bit of closure for herself and her mom, as they are finally able to talk about what happened on a Christmas Eve, many years before, when her dad died. 

Second Glance: I was quite surprised by how much I loved The Sweetheart of Prosper County because, to start with, it covers quite a bit of time for such a short book and it doesn't really feel rushed or anything like that.

I really liked Austin and she sounded quite real, she's a good girl who sometimes bends the truth a little, chaffing at the over-protectiveness of her mom but still very much wanting to make her proud. And it was fun to see her interact with the people around her, how she grows to appreciate Sundi -whom she and Maribel call Marshmallow Girl because she's big and soft and fluffy - and how she doesn't get jealous that Sundi and Josh as such good friends. And how she realizes that you can grow up to be someone very different from your best friend but still remain as close as ever.

I loved the whole FFA spin of things, and Charles Dickens made for one fun character, as did Lewis, I really liked him. Actually, I think I liked all the main characters in this book. Plus, there is a bit of social commentary regarding town's politics and even discrimination without it being shoved in your face or exaggerated, I liked it. I wasn't entirely happy with how the bully was handled but it didn't take away from my enjoyment of the book.

Bottom Line: The Sweetheart of Prosper County is a fun, quick read with more substance than I first imagined. It's full of likable characters and fun situations and I found myself really rooting for Austin, who was flawed but good. And I would say that, just as Charles Dickens, this book is a winner.

Favorite Scene:
...I had played with marshmallows - pressing one onto the end of each finger, mashing them down just to watch them spring back up. They were soft but though, resilient. No matter the pressure or poking, they almost always returned to their original shape.


...
For me, it was a rock star moment. Sundi Knutt - the marshmallow girl, the sweetheart - in the weepy throws of despair pounding my archenemy into silence. But it was her moment, not mine. Sundi stood up; I didn't.


We left the fairgrounds, but I learned something from Sundi that being a sweetheart in the no-Jesus parade couldn't provide. Sundi traveled light; she didn't tote around a load of loss. She could throw away or throw down. Either way, she put stuff behind her. She didn't get her confidence from a prize lamb, a mound of cleavage, or a hood ride in the no-Jesus parade. Her confidence came from facing the losses and the losers, not being a hood ornament. That's the strength of a marshmallow sweetheart.

Retro Friday is a weekly meme hosted at Angieville and focuses on reviewing books from the past. This can be an old favorite, an under-the-radar book you think deserves more attention, something woefully out of print, etc. Everyone is welcom

Retro Friday: The Bermudez Triangle by Maureen Johnson

At First Sight: Nina, Avery and Mel have been best friends since what feels like forever, they were given the nickname The Bermudez Triangle by a snide little rival - because Nina's last name is Bermudez - and it stuck. But now the triangle is about to part for the first time ever, the summer before senior year of high school as Nina is going to a pre-college course in San Francisco, and Mel and Avery are staying behind in Saratoga.

But a lot of things can happen in one summer as all the girls fall in love. Nina with an environmental warrior, third generation hippie boy she meets while away. And Avery and Mel fall for each other.

Once the triangle is reunited, things quickly unravel, as Nina is more busy than ever, struggles with a long distance relationship and with the realization that there is something between Mel and Avery that they aren't telling her. And things don't improve after she realize what their secret is.

As the weeks pass, the triangle starts to fall apart, once Nina finds herself keeping secrets from Mel, who seems to finally be ready to admit to herself -and others - that she's gay; and as Avery pulls away, not ready to do the same.

Second Glance: The Bermudez Triangle has been in my TO BE READ list for quite a few years but somehow I never got around reading it. Until now... and I'm sad to say that I was, over all, a little disappointed with it all. I never could really connect with any of the girls and I frankly found them a little too self-absorbed.

The one I somewhat liked was Mel and Nina - a little -toward the late middle, before she did something to another character that pissed me off. I liked Parker - a friend Mel makes at her job - and the digs at the Irish restaurant where they work, but otherwise, I just didn't much care either way about what happened to the characters.

The ending was kind of cute though.

Bottom Line: I think this is one of those books where you need to connect to enjoy the book, I didn't, but it's well written and even funny at times. I didn't mind the gay stuff, it wasn't overdone or heavy handed, I just didn't much like the characters themselves - particularly Avery.
1/2

Retro Friday is a weekly meme hosted at Angieville and focuses on reviewing books from the past. This can be an old favorite, an under-the-radar book you think deserves more attention, something woefully out of print, etc. Everyone is welcome to join in at any time! 

Retro Friday (32) - Daisy is Back in Town by Rachel Gibson

At First Sight: Daisy Monroe left Lovett, Texas when she was 18 years old and never wanted to look back. She moved to Seattle with her husband and best friend Steven, and they raised their son Nathan there, quite content with their lives.

But on the heels of Steven's death after a long illness, Daisy knows it's time to make things right, to go back and tell the boy she once loved the truth of what happened 15 years ago, the reason why she married their best friend and left town. But Jack Parrish isn't a boy any more.

All those years ago, Jack lost his girl and his best friend and he has never forgiven or forgotten, and Daisy's being in town just serves him to put him on a bad mood, not only because of what happened before, but because even after everything he still wants Daisy as much as he ever did.

But everything changes once Daisy's secret is out: she was three months pregnant when she left, and Jack was the father. Hating Daisy more than ever, Jack endeavors to spend some time with his newly discovered son, namely that he stays for the summer and helps him out on the restoration garage he owns, and while Nathan isn't sure how he feels about his biological father, he does love cars, so the plan should work.. only that it also means Daisy and Jack will have to see a great deal of each other. 

Second Glance: I know a lot of people don't like Daisy is Back in Town - or at least they don't like it that much - but I have always thought it was a rather fun book. Granted, it was one of the first contemporaries I ever read and I tend to look back on those with a particular fondness.

That being said, I think its a good book on it's own, perhaps not Rachel Gibson's best but I've always been a sucker for the secret baby plot so this book totally played to my tastes, and I kind of liked the fact that Nathan was a bit older than usual with this plot device.

The relationship between Jack and Daisy has always been very physical and I really liked seeing how they had to let go of that a bit to learn to like each other as people again, to remember they were once best friends and in love apart from being in lust. Jack's anger is understandable and well played, I thought; and while what Daisy did was rather cowardly and she didn't handle things well, she was quite likable.

In my most recent re-read, I kind of grew annoyed a bit more with Daisy's sister Lily - who's own woes are a major secondary plot - but over all the secondary characters were well done, I particularly liked Jack's brother Billy.

Bottom Line: For me Daisy is Back in Town is a a comfort read. It might not be the most spectacular book out there but it will keep you entertained for a good while, and Gibson's style is easy to get into and the pages just fly by.
1/3

Retro Friday is a weekly meme hosted at Angieville and focuses on reviewing books from the past. This can be an old favorite, an under-the-radar book you think deserves more attention, something woefully out of print, etc. Everyone is welcome to join in at any time! 

Retro Friday (31) - The Accidental Vampire by Lynsay Sands

At First Sight: Victor Argenau wasn't sure what to expect when he was sent to Port Henry to investigate an add in the single's column from a "Single Vampire Female". As an Enforcer for the Immortal Council, it's Victor's job to make sure other Immortals don't step out of line, and advertising one's being a vampire? definitely stepping out of line.

In Port Henry, he meets Elvi Black, a beautiful, single immortal who has gotten all her ideas on 'vampire behaivor' from movies and folk lore. At 62, she looks as if she were 25 and she really isn't sure how she came to be a vampire, only that it happened during a trip to Mexico and that without her best friend Mabel, and everyone in Port Henry, she would have died.

Sure, Elvi finds it a little tiresome to be the town's Vampire, sleeping in a coffin and avoiding sunlight, but she figures things could be worse. However, aware that she's not getting any younger, Mabel enlists the help of their friend Teddy to find Elvi some Vampire friends, so she's not left alone when nature takes it's course.

The situation is nothing like Victor expected, and he isn't sure what to do, specially after he, his friend D.J. and the other single, male Vampires invited along to meet Elvi - Alessandro, Edward and Harper - spend a week in town getting to know Elvi and realize what a nice person really she is.

Second Glance: The Accidental Vampire was such a fun, campy book!!! I think that with vampire novels, when one of the partners in the relationship needs to be 'turned', it can get a little repetitive, but I have to commend Lynsay Sands because so far her Argeneau Series isn't reading like that.

And this book is a great example of it! The situations weren't at all like the ones presented in previous books and I found this story really, really funny. I loved the secondary characters - the other vampire men were so much fun! - and it was just cute.

Bottom Line: If you're in the mood for a funny paranormal romance, with a lovely contemporary feel, The Accidental Vampire might just be what you're looking for! It'll make you laugh, I swear.Oh and even though its book 7 in the series, you can pretty much read it on it's own.

Retro Friday is a weekly meme hosted at Angieville and focuses on reviewing books from the past. This can be an old favorite, an under-the-radar book you think deserves more attention, something woefully out of print, etc. Everyone is welcome to join in at any time! 

Retro Friday: An Unacceptable Offer by Mary Blaogh

At First Sight: Jane Mathews is a spinster who once fell in love with the very handsome Michel Templeton, Viscount Fairfax. He never even knew she existed and went on to marry the belle of the season, Susan.

Now, years later Jane gets invited along for her beautiful cousin Honor's season to act as both companion and chaperon. Just as Fairfax returns to Town to find a new wife.

After five years of unhappy married life, now a widower and with two small daughters Michael is determined not to make the same mistake again and quickly decides that Jane - unlike her cousin Honor - will make him a suitable wife and mother to his children.

He knows he's handsome and he knows Jane is firmly on the shelve, so he figures she'll be happy for his proposal of a marriage of convenience... but she isn't. Much as he might have loved him (from afar) once, Jane isn't ready to settle.

Instead, she does accept the proposal of Fairfax's best friend Sedge as she thinks they have enough things in common and will get along well. Her betrothal results on Jane spending some time at Michael's state, where she gets to know his two daughters - Amy and Claire  and gets to see a whole new side of Michael's, revealing a man she could actually love, instead of just the idea of him. 

Second Glance: An Unacceptable Offer is one of the few Mary Balogh books that I love - I usually have a love-hate relationship with them, and they are kind of guilty pleasures because of it - because it really shows two people getting to know each other and falling in love.

At the beginning, both Jane and Michael were seeing just what they wanted to see, but once they are out of each other's reach - because she's engaged to his best friend - they start to see each other from whom they are and realize how perfect they are for each other. Which brings us to Sedge, he really is a minor character but I really liked him, he sees clearly what Jane and Michael can't and when the time comes he lets them be happy.

Sedge also has a nice secondary story with Jane's cousin, Honor, who likes to pretend to be a pretty airhead because she thinks that's what men want, and only allows herself to be who she is around Sedge.

Bottom Line: An Unacceptable Offer is a really nice comfort read. It is  story of it's time (first published in the late 80's) so don't expect it to be super steamy, but I still liked seeing how Jane and Michael got to know each other.
3/4

Retro Friday is a weekly meme hosted at Angieville and focuses on reviewing books from the past. This can be an old favorite, an under-the-radar book you think deserves mora attention, something woefully out of print, etc. Everyone is welcome to join in at any time! 

Retro Friday (29) - Magic Knight Rayearth Vol 1 (Omnibus)

This week's retro friday is going to be a little different, as I choose to review the manga of Magic Knight Rayearth by CLAMP which was re-released last July by Dark Horse Comics.

At First Sight: Fuu, Umi and Hikaru are three Tokyo school girls, who go to different middle schools but happened to take a class field trip to the Tokyo Tower on the same day. Once there, they hear a strange voice asking the Magic Knights to Save Cephiro, before a blinding white light iluminated the sky.

Next thing they know, they are flying over a strange ocean, looking at big volcano and floating mountains. Oh, and they are catching a ride on the back of a huge flying fish.

They have arrived to Cephiro, a world where the will and strength of the heart rule everything. A world that is in a lot of danger since the high priest Zagato kidnapped the ruling princess of Cephiro, Princess Emeraude who is literally the Pillar of the whole world, her will and prayers what kept the world glued together. At least, that's what the strange looking kid (who claims to be over 700 years old but looks roughly about 10) tells them when trying to explain what they are doing in that strange world.

Fuu, Umi and Hikaru have been summoned to Cephiro by the princess, to become the legendary Magic Knights and help save the world. To do that, they must awaken three mashins - or rune gods - and learn magic... and face one of the best villains ever!!

Second Glance: Okay, as you might have noticed there is a lot going on, and if you can't detect it yet, I was gushing a little bit because I quite frankly love the anime series of Magic Knight Rayearth, but never had the chance to read the manga until now (thanks, NetGalley!).

I only got to sample the first 100 pages (the actual book has over 650, quite a good deal for 15 to 20 bucks, depending where you buy it), but I loved it. CLAMP has a very distinctive style that's is both incredibly beautiful and incredibly dynamic, something that serves this story well as there is a lot of action on it. It has some beautiful color pages - something I love, particularly since this is an special edition.

And, from what I know of the story, I say that they did a pretty awesome job with the translation. It flows well, it's understandable and it's even funny - I cracked up about 5 times while reading this). It starts almost like a (parody of a) role playing game but it evolves into so much more. There is love, lost and heartbreaking tragedy woven into a story full of adventure and fun and even dashes of romance.

Bottom Line: For me, this series is one of the best there is. This edition looks beautiful -as much as I could see from the e-galley - and I highly recommend it for the story alone. It does differ a little from the anime (particularly on the second season of the anime), but never the less, is awesome. I recommend it for anyone 12 years and up (the protagonists are 14, in case you were wondering). Currently only the first volume is out, but volume 2 will be out January 2012.

Retro Friday is a weekly meme hosted at Angieville and focuses on reviewing books from the past. This can be an old favorite, an under-the-radar book you think deserves more attention, something woefully out of print, etc. Everyone is welcome to join in at any time!

Retro Friday (28) - Treasured Vows by Cath Maxwell

Retro Friday is a weekly meme hosted at Angieville and focuses on reviewing books from the past. This can be an old favorite, an under-the-radar book you think deserves more attention, something woefully out of print, etc. Everyone is welcome to join in at any time! 

This week I chose Treasured Vows by Cathy Maxwell. This is an author that I don't follow religiously but I always wind up reading her books sooner or later. She creates lovely stories, I think. And Treasured Vows is not only my favorite by her, but also one of my favorite romance novels ever.

At First Sight:  At 25, Phadra Abbott is tired of living in a boarding school waiting for her famous explorer father to return. So she runs away and sets her own house in London, happily thinking one of her father's only worthy discoveries - a set of priceless emeralds, left in the care of the Bank of  England - will back her up financially.

But once the bills start to pile up, one of the bank directors - Sir Cecil - calls her in and gives her some shocking news. The emeralds in the bank's vault are fakes left behind in place of the real gems, which Sir Cecil and her father pawned away to finance Abbott's latest expedition, the one from which he never returned.

Now, all Phadra wants is to find her missing father but Sir Cecil instead decides that Phadra must be married off to be kept out of trouble. Enter Grant Morgan. Grant works for Sir Cecil at the bank - more like he does all the work and Sir Cecil takes the credit - and he has been saving like crazy, trying to build a respectable fortune and hoping to eventually become one of the bank's directors - a post that comes with a knighthood -thinking his work is enough to get him them.

But Sir Cecil has other plans and unless Grant finds Phadra a suitable match, he'll block Grant's chances to move up in the bank. But if he succeeds, Sir Cecil will give him the hand of his daughter in marriage and help him get the post he wants.

Driven by ambition, Grant takes on the task, often clashing with the colorful, outgoing Phadra. Until one of her rash decisions results on their having to get married.

Second Glance: As I sad before, this is one of my favorite books ever. It's a story where polar opposites attract. Phadra is all outgoing, all her own person, and even if she's a bit reckless and headstrong at times, she means well and is smart. Also, she has a big heart and is always trying to help other people, even if she needs help herself.

Grant, on the other hand, is level headed. He's a banker and one of the most solid men I've ever read in a novel. He's remarkably handsome but ignores it the best he can. And he has an interesting past - his father was a renowned rake who nearly destroyed his family, and Grant was very much on the path to follow him, until his father died and he had to take her of his younger sisters.

One of the things I love the most about this story is that, while Grant learns to appreciate the unique, lovely spirit Phadra is, he's also in control. He's a guy who got your back and goes out of his way to make sure you're fine. That's how he loves Phadra. He's practical for the two of them, allowing her to be as whimsical as she wants.

Bottom Line: Treasured Vows is just a lovely, comforting story. I re-read it every couple of years and just let the warm fuzzies roll over me.

Retro Friday (27) - Scandal in Spring by Lisa Kleypas

Retro Friday is a weekly meme hosted at Angieville and focuses on reviewing books from the past. This can be an old favorite, an under-the-radar book you think deserves more attention, something woefully out of print, etc. Everyone is welcome to join in at any time! 

And it's finally time to finish the Wallflowers series!

At First Sight: Daisy Bowman is the last Wallflower standing, as she has seen her sister and friends find love and happiness. As the youngest, she was the last to go, but now the Wallflowers are centering their efforts in her, particularly since her father has issued an ultimatum: either Daisy finds a husband by the end of May or she'll have to marry Mathew Swift.

Having known Mathew in New York, Daisy is sure he's the last man she could ever marry, as Mathew is her father's protegee in Bowman Enterprises and is widely renown as a cold sort who isn't very handsome or charming.

At least, that's the Mathew Swift Daisy remembers. The man he meets when her father ask Mathew to come to Hampshire is completely different. Mathew has grown into his looks and his accomplishments at work have made him confident; charm has harder but he also worked to get that. But there is one thing that never changed... the fact that Mathew has been in love with Daisy since he met her, almost ten years ago.

But knowing that the secrets of his past could destroy him any moment, and take her with him, Mathew had always avoided pursing Daisy, even with her father's scheme to get them married. He's determined to stay out of it, and he's fully prepared to let Daisy go. But, by then, Daisy has other plans once she realizes that all the things she ever wanted in a man... might be in-bodied in the least likely one.

Second Glance: Scandal in Spring is one of my favorite Wallflower books, because Daisy is my favorite wallflower. I have always loved how she embodies both the whimsical and the pragmatical. She's a romantic but she also has her feet on the ground.

And Mathew also holds a special place in my heart. I love how dependable he is and the fact he has so many feelings for Daisy but doesn't know what to do about them as he thinks they don't have a future together. I think a lot of people don't give him a fair chance since in the previous book it was sort of hinted Daisy would end up with Cam Rohan, who later went to find his HEA in Mine Midnight; and people sort of got attached to that idea.

I also loved seeing the other wallflowers and husbands around. I have to say I didn't like Lillian -again - for a large part of this book, but she does come around eventually.

Also, I love Westcliff, I believe he's the character that has hopped through the most books in the Lisa Kleypas universe and I always love how honorable a man he is.

Bottom Line: Scandal in Spring is one of my favorite comfort reads ever, though I'll admit the ending is a bit rushing, I still like it for the end of this lovely series.

Favorite Quote: There are so many scenes in this book that I love - like when Mathew comforts Anabelle's daughter when the poor baby is crying 'cause she's teething or when Daisy realizes he carries something of hers in his pocket all the time. And the lawn bowling scene - Not as good as Bridgerton Pall Mall but close!!!

But anyway, if I must pick a quote...

"She was the most provoking, beguiling woman he had ever met. Thunderstorms and rainbows wrapped together in a convenient pocket-sized parcel." - Mathew about Daisy

PS - I tried to listen to the Audio book of Scandal in Spring - as I listened to the audio books of the previous 3 books - but I didn't get very far into it. The narrator was very inconsistent with the voices, which made it very hard to follow as basically all the women sounded the same as did all the men.