Size 12 and Ready to Rock by Meg Cabot

 

I first discovered Meg Cabot's book shortly after the first Princess Diaries (starring Julie Andrews and Anne Hathaway) movie came out. My mother walked in and saw me watching it for the millionth time and said to me "You know that's a book right?" At the time I hated reading, but that statement was all it took for me to go running to the library and take out the book. I fell madly in love with them. I soon discovered that not only did she write the Princess Diaries books, but she also used a pseudoname, Jenny Carroll to write The Mediator Series and the 1-800 Missing Series (re-released under the name Meg Cabot). I read every single one of the books almost immediately and counted the days until new books were published. I was ecstatic when 1-800 Missing was turned into a Lifetime TV show staring, Caterina Scorsone (yes the very same person who is currently Derek Shepherd's little sister, Amelia on Private Practice ), and was practically devastated when it did not return for another season back in 2007.

As I got older I began reading her Adult books including the "Boy" books, Queen of Babble Books and one of my favorite series, the Heather Wells books. Counting the days until Meg's new books are published which is why I am thrilled to be given the opportunity to read and review her newest book Size 12 and Ready to Rock (book 4 in the Heather Wells series). 

Once again we see former teen singing sensation Heather Wells working in Fischer Hall at New York College. It's summer and the building is closed for construction, or so she thought. Soon a current rock star, who is also her ex boyfriend's wife takes over the building with her rock school. Things do not go as planned when a that star's life becomes endangered. 

I enjoyed this book. They are fun and have a mystery twist. This book is a quick read and would be great to sit on the beach with. I would love to see them on the big screen!

This book will be published July 10, 2012 but is currently available for pre-order.

The Next Best Thing by Jennifer Weiner

If you have not been able to tell from several other postings I am a very big fan of Jennifer Weiner's novels and short lived TV show.  I have been following Jennifer Weiner on facebook and twitter for years. Unlike some authors she responds to comments, posts and even emails personally. Despite following her for so long I am always shocked when I receive a response from her. Shortly after I shared that she had a free ebook available entitled Swim she sent me a message saying as a thank you she would like to send me an advanced reader copy to read and review. I soon received a box expecting to find a paperback book with the cover marked "advanced reader copy" like most ARC's I have received, instead I find a book so new it has a spiral spine.

Swim turned out to be a republication of a previous story from her book Guy Not Taken that led to a the full novel entitled The Next Best Thing. Once again we follow the life of Ruth Saunders as she leaves her childhood home and follows her dream to Hollywood, CA where she becomes a screen writer. After several years she has created her own show which has been picked up by network tv. We see Ruth as she begins to bring her show to life, but it does not go as she had planned.

This story was great. It was nice to see closure for the character's I fell in love with when I first read Guy Not Taken. Throughout the story I could not help but wonder how much of it is true and based on Ms. Weiner's relationship with the production studio for her show State of Georgia, which stared Raven Symone and the fantastic Loretta Devine. There are a number of scenes in the book that an outsider could see a possible relationship between the two.  I truly enjoyed this story and I hope that everyone else will too.

I would once again like to thank Jennifer Weiner and Simon & Schuster for sending me the book.  This book will be published on July 3, 2012 and is currently available for pre-order.

~I received a free ebook or book to review. ~

~I was not be compensated in any way for my honest review~

Recalculating by Jennifer Weiner

It was around mid October 2011, shortly before Halloween when Ms. Weiner posted on facebook about her crazy GPS and wondered if she could turn it into a story. Several days later she posted "Jonesing for a new book? I wrote a spooky short story about a possessed GPS. Fingers crossed you'll be able to buy it on Amazon on 10/31. Happy Halloween!" That short story is Recalculating. It follows a women whose abusive husband passes away. While cleaning she finds a gps which turns out to be possessed.

It amazes me that Ms. Weiner was able to write a story so quickly. This book was great, but like most short stories it leaves you wanting more.

Then Came You by Jennifer Weiner

I would like to thank Jennifer Weiner for taking the time to send me this book via kindle when she saw a posting stating that I was not allowed to bring a book to work, but was able to sneak my kindle in.This story follows the lives of four women one in school looking for money to help a family member, one looking for money to support a growing family, one wanting to have a child and one in a surprising situation.

Ms. Weiner has a very unique way of having her characters live completely separate lives that some how find away to connect. The story was fantastic, but  it left me wanting more. I hope that she decides to make a sequel to this story so I can dig deeper into the characters lives.