Sunset Heart by Cherie Bennett

We open on the beach with Sam and Emma dying to hear about Carrie's date with Billy last night. We read how impossible it is that three such different girls would end up best friends and a recap of all the previous books. Carrie isn't sure if she wants to go all the way with Billy. She wants them to get AIDS test first because anyone could have AIDS (we'll ignore the full proof method since the author doesn't believe teenagers can control themselves.)
Later we find out the Carrie's working on a portfolio of pictures for a summer project for school with Claudia and Ian. I'm sure this will be important later. Becky, who's now Ian's girlfriend, comes over. Becky at 14 wants them to go hang out in his room with the door closed, but Mom insist it has to be open. During the night we find out both Chloe and Ian have chicken pox. Wonder if Becky has them as well? Carrie has some time since the kids are sick. Billy comes over - he's fighting his third cold from April. Wonder if this is a warning sign for an STD? Billy thinks they should both get tested not just him. Carrie's shocked that he could think he's sick. Then he says that one girl he slept with did sleep around a lot so he's nervous to take the test. I'm thinking that's more reason to take it.
The girls meet that evening and we get outfit descriptions. Sam - an antique navy-blue lace slip from a thrift store with a jean jacket and her red cowboy boots (trademarked). Carrie - baggy jeans, t-shirt, and flannel shirt (Did she get lost on the way to Seattle?). Emma - white jeans, sleeveless white lace t-shirt, and a long embroidered white vest (gee, think she's the Ice Princess?)
And guess what the twins have chicken pox! Told you so.

Alaskan Midnight by Joyce Livingston

I bought this as I was going to Alaska and thought it would be a fun read. It was. Except how do these people from Juneau drive to a cabin in the woods? That's impossible from there. And a mass start dog race? Or a Siberian that can roam and come back? I like the idea of Christian romance novels, but I'd suggest the authors google their topics so that some of the facts are correct.

Sweet Valley High Secrets.

I posted my first post to 1bruce1 tonight!!! Here it is. Remember being snarky is a good thing there.
Be gentle. It’s my first post, thought I’m a long time lurker.
First, the cover – I get that the girl is Jessica, but is the boy supposed to be Ronnie or Bruce?
We open with Jessica still fuming receiving a pool push at the end of Double Love. The homecoming nominees are announced. I won’t bore you with the list since it’s the usual suspects. I do have a question – why is it mostly juniors? At my school, underclassmen had a court and the king and queen were seniors. Maybe at SVH, they change it every year to make sure a Wakefield can win. Jessica, Lila, and Cara say Enid was nominated because she’s dating the mysterious new boy, Ronnie Edwards. They evidently have amnesia, without a motorcycle accident, since he was in their sixth grade class.
Enid comes crying to Elizabeth wearing Juicy Couture. Seriously, Enid wearing Juicy Couture like she wouldn’t think that was a lip gloss flavor? Enid spills her guts to Liz about Geo. Why would he be called Geo? Evidently he’s now a rich boy, whose parents paid off the kid’s parents so they wouldn’t have to go to jail. I think that’s new. Enid knows Ronnie’s going to have problems with her having a friend who isn’t a girl, because he’s borderline psycho. Enid shows Liz the emails in a folder called “George”, seriously secret correspondence should be kept in a folder that’s not obvious if anyone sees it, like say “Geo”?
Jessica is spacing out in French class. Winston tries to save her, and Ken comes to both of their rescue. And tries to flirt with Ms. Dalton. Sigh, I’ve always liked Ken. There’s a reference to Bruce’s non-Porsche. Okay, calm down I’ll show you what I saw the other day on the way home.

In case, you can’t read it, the license plate is “2 Sylbl” I think she’s married to Bruce after he divorced Lila. But back to the story, Lila’s not happy that Ms. Dalton has the attention of both her father and her homecoming date. This is the one mention of Lila being in choir. L Cara gives Jessica the run down of which clique is voting for each girl. Enid may win because she’s all that. Jessica chases down Bruce, and he teases her as much as she enjoys teasing her boyfriends, but then he throws her at Winston.
Jessica goes home and bitches to Alice about Elizabeth and Enid. Alice actually acts like a parent. And in a departure from the original Jessica gets pink lemonade on a white t-shirt instead of a cherry tomato on a pink sweater. Why do I remember these things? I love how she goes upstairs but her room (not called the Hershey Bar “pouts”) is too messy so she goes to hang out in Liz’s room to check her email. She finds the email and forwards them to Ronnie. She finds the address on the SVH website with all the email addresses on it. SV Parenting 101: let your minor child’s email be published online.
E & T and E & R go on a double date to the movies. Todd notices how annoying Ronnie is acting. Maybe he should threaten to punch him. Then he gives Liz his varsity jacket. Aww, I always wanted a guy to give me his letter jacket. Liz remembers how Jess he tried to keep them apart. Um, Liz? She told you he tried to rape her, that’s a little more than tried to keep them apart. Todd kisses Liz, but it’s not one of his patented connect-the-dot kisses. Liz goes to check on Enid and to pat her on the shoulder. Enid goes home with Ronnie to talk to him, but this isn’t what he has in mind. However, we do find out why Ronnie is such a controlling jerk. His mother cheated on his father. See how divorce messes up a person in Sweet Valley?
Jess goes to a martini tasting at Lila’s. EWW (sorry, really don’t like those) I’m sure that’s how teenagers drink. Liz calls Enid and find out she’s P-I-S-S-E-D at Liz because Ronnie knows about Geo. Jess acts surprised and tells Liz that she shouldn’t be a doormat. I assume she means to people not named Jessica.
Jessica manipulates Ronnie into going to homecoming with her. I’m wondering why Lila bothered to invite him to her party. He’s not awesome enough to be there.
The next day at school everyone finds the Photo-shopped photo of Ken and Ms. Dalton. Liz is upset that anyone would treat a teacher disrespectfully. I think she’s upset that Ms. Dalton had Ken before her. Jessica pretends to try and patch things up between Enid and Liz. Jess gives us this pearl of wisdom: when dumped by a guy it’s important to look fabulous the next time you see him. Elizabeth wonders why patching things up involves Jessica and Ronnie dating. Because you are a clueless, doormat Liz.
Liz goes to cry on Mr. Collins’ shoulder about her problems. He, now, has horrible fashion sense to match his movie star looks. She and Olivia start gossiping (told you Liz isn’t any better than Jessica). Mr. Collins tells them to be quiet. He’s upset that they are discussing his best chance at a girlfriend, who isn’t a minor. Liz goes to talk to Winston and wonders why shallow cheerleader Jessica would like the gorgeous, rich Bruce better than comic relief Winston. Gee, I wonder. Liz and Todd go out on a date. Todd gives her the same advice as ol’ Roger. He says he has an earpiece and Mr. Collins is feeding Todd lines to tell Elizabeth. Let’s just imagine that for a second. Okay, yeah that is nasty. She goes home and finds out that they are right and it’s Jessica’s fault. You know after sixteen years, I would think the smart twin should know Jessica is guilty until proven innocent.
Enid and Nora run into each other at the grocery store, which does make more sense than going to her house. They bond over Starbucks and then Ms. Dalton tells Enid to do as she says not as she does. And Enid, actually doesn’t act like Liz the doormat and rips her a new one. Enid goes home to get ready for the dance. Surprisingly, Ken’s doppelganger shows up – George. I assume they look alike since they are both described as Abercrombie hot. They go to the dance. Enid makes up with Liz. Jess gets jealous that Enid shows up with a hot guy, because you have to be a blonde size four to date a cute guy. Ms. Dalton comes. I wish she had come with Ken. And Liz gets Winston elected Prom King. Because I always vote for the guy the Prom Queen would want to go out with. Yeah, I guess maybe Winston is all that instead of Enid.

2 Reviews!

Dogs of the Iditarod by Jeff Schultz Gorgeous mostly picture book about the Iditarod dogs. It's about 5 years old, so some more recent names are mentioned, but still great pictures.
Storm Run by Libby Riddles. A children's story about how Libby won the Iditarod. I think how brutal it was was very much glossed over, but very inspiring. A lot of background information about dog mushing. Also, you can tell how life has changed in the past 20 years. No Iditarod Insider, no up to the minute updates for those at home following along. But then this past year we spent twelve hours wondering about what was happening to Mitch Seavey and Jeff King so modern communication isn't perfect.

Josh Hamilton: Beyond Belief

I had heard parts of Josh's story living in the Cinti area when he played for the Reds. I heard more on an ESPN show a year or so ago. It was fascinating that someone with so much talent could fall so far and so hard and really so quickly. And then to have his wife stay with him took such an unbelievable amount of strength on her part. I, also, found that his perspective on his rehab unique and interesting. I recently read that he relapsed in the past year. I know the road of recovery is hard, I hope that it was a rare occurence and think that the groundwork he explained in this book will help carry him through.

Sunset Island Dixie's First Kiss by Cherie Bennett

Book #2
So it seems we will be going backwards through the series.
Dixie is the narrator & she's from Mississippi. She has big news about why the boys she, Tori, and the twins met in the last book haven't called - they have been sick. She then notices Ethan & how cute he is. So the twins are tied to Sam, and Ethan is tied to Emma to show how this really does connect with the other series. Dixie has Asthma that's why she tells us her parents are super strict, but this summer she's staying with a cousin, Molly Madison, who I believe is mentioned in the main series. Then she gives us a fashion rundown, but I won't repeat all 4 details, let's just say early '90s. And of course they are all sooo different.

Granite by Susan Butcher

I bought this at the Iditarod Headquarters when we were there in August. Expect several reviews to follow. This is Susan's story about Granite, her lead dog when she won the Iditarod the first time, as well as winning many other races together. I wasn't aware that Granite was the "runt" of the litter. I'd be curious to know if that's true or meant to be dramatic. I thought the part about the moose atttack was handled well. It's a children's story that includes what was a horrifying event. It was sad to realize at the end that both Granite and Susan are no longer with us. I guess he was needed to go ahead and help prepare her silver harness team.
Also, the illustrations are wonderful.

Dominique Moceanu: An American Champion

An autobiography written the year before the Mag-7 won gold in Atlanta. Not much new is covered in here, though Dominique now has quite a different perspective on those young years. I'm not sure how much to believe as I read it. I'd say it's for 5th-6th grader, though now they have no clue who she is. OTOH, you'll like it if you are a gymnastics fan.

Cherie Bennett's Club Sunset Island #3 Tori's Crush

Here's Cherie Bennett's attempt to with Sunset Beach what Francine Pascal did to Sweet Valley High when they created Sweet Valley Twins. Earlier (and eventually to be recapped) we found out that Allie and Becky aren't the terrors that Sam thinks they are and that deep down they really like her. They are summer camp jr. counselors at the country club where they meet Dixie, Southern Belle, and Tori, tomboy. This book is narrated by Tori. She's suddenly interested in boys and one of the boys in the next set of counselors up from them (There's way more levels of counselors to keep straight) who's dating the camp mean girl, who's the cousin of Sam's rival. What a coincidence! Tori gets a make-over from the other girls, which she may or may not like. Speaking of the other girls, are there really camps that allow 14 year old counselors to wear string bikinis? That seems odd. Her parents try to fix her up with a friend's son, who sounds dorky. A mass amusement park trip is organized where the girls may or may not have dates in a fairly realistic jr. high set up. The boy is actually one of the quiet counselors that they like but never talk to. But the older boy doesn't realize that this could be a date and shows up with his girlfriend. How embarrassing! Then and I'm not making this up there's a synchronized swimming showdown. Of course Tori wins, ends up with quiet boy, but is thrilled that the older boy did sorta notice her. Show of hands if you think, if the series continued that she would decide that quiet boy is a better friend then boyfriend and end up with the older boy?

Sabrina the Teenage Witch: Switcheroo by Margot Bartea

I read a blog a few weeks ago, that books were meant to be read and movies/tv shows were meant to be watched. This book sums that up. It's a decent teen lit book, however Salem isn't as funny in writing. And the whole thing is funny just not enough for you not to wish it was an episode instead. And really Harvey and Lilly need to compare notes on how many wierd dreams they have had regarding Sabrina.

Signs - Michael W Smith

I finished doing this book as a devotion. I enjoyed it. Each chapter has the title of a song and uses that and the inspiration for the song as a jumping off point. There's a verse and a directive to journal on the blank pages following each chapter. And a CD enclosed! The book is written for teens, a fact that I don't think is made clear on the back of the book. Not that I think that ought to disuade you from reading it, I think many questions don't change as we get older - we just get more set in our ways and it seems harder to change directions.

Little Farm in the Ozarks

by Roger Lea MacBride
This is the second book in the Rose Series. I know some people didn't enjoy the series, but I did. It's begins soon after the end of the last book which parralled "On the Way Home". Many of the stories will be familiar to those who have read what Rose has written about her childhood, and other stories that resemble Laura's life, as well as a few things that seem like local color. It's not as good as the original series, but still a good story with a lot of the same themes. I like Blanche better than Nellie. :)

Mean Girls All Grown Up by Hayley DiMarco

I read through the reviews on Amazon which give me things to comment on as well as the book.
First, reviewers are upset it's not labeled a Christian book. Get over yourself, Freedom of religion not from religion. Either finish it and consider the point of view or not. Believe it or not sometimes we Christians can have something to say to the rest of the world. But onto the book. I don't know about how comments that self-esteem is wrong and to never stand up for yourself. Let God do it. While final judgement belongs to the Lord, I'm pretty sure I've not read that you shouldn't take issue with the person personally and then with a couple friends if not. I understand not antagonizing a mean girl, but I find it difficult to believe that we should try to disappear. It just reminds me of someone I know who began cutting because she didn't believe she could be a Christian and be angry with someone and so she turned it on herself. I've heard others have ended up in the same place and so we need to be careful of the examples we write.

The Wonder of America by Derric johnson
Two page stories that the author tells before telling the reader who it is. Some are easy to pick out, some not. Your impression will vary on how much you like hearing how wonderful America is. I, unlike some Presidents, enjoy this greatly.

Diary of Anne Frank

Hmmm, I'm not sure how to describe something that is considered to be such a classic. I find the perspective interesting. I mean, she's wondering when the invasion will come. I'm thinking June 6, 1944, but that's just a hunch. And some of the descriptions of the isolation are heartbreaking. Other times, Anne is kinda whiney. Of course locked in a closet, basically for several years with 7 others - who wouldn't be whiney? And it's not like teenagers don't crave to break away, but how can one break away when they can't get more than one room away? And yes, I'm curious about the passages that were ommitted.