Showing posts with label Janette Rallison. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Janette Rallison. Show all posts

Wednesday, August 1, 2012

Waiting on Wednesday (August 1)

Happy August!



Waiting on Wednesday was started by Jill at Breaking the Spine. This weekly meme shares the upcoming books that I'm most excited about.

Erasing Time by C.J. Hill

In this high-action and romantic futuristic adventure, there is no escape from the future for two contemporary girls pulled out of their own time.

When twins Sheridan and Taylor wake up 400 years in the future, they find a changed world: domed cities, no animals, and a language that’s so different, it barely sounds like English. And the worst news: They can’t go back home.

The twenty-fifth-century government transported the girls to their city hoping to find a famous scientist to help perfect a devastating new weapon. The moblike Dakine fights against the government, and somehow Taylor and Sheridan find themselves in the middle. The only way to elude them all is to trust Echo, a guy with secrets of his own. The trio must put their faith in the unknown to make a harrowing escape into the wilds beyond the city.

Full of adrenaline-injected chases and heartbreaking confessions, Erasing Time explores the strength of the bonds between twins, the risks and rewards of trust, and the hard road to finding the courage to fight for what you believe in. (From Goodreads)

Published by Katherine Tegen Books
Release Date: August 28, 2012

Hold the Pony Express...am I the only person that didn't know C.J. Hill is a pseudonym for Janette Rallison? What?! I'm definitely picking this one up. 

Friday, December 10, 2010

Book Review: My Unfair Godmother by Janette Rallison

From Around the World ARC Tours

Tansy Miller has always felt that her divorced father has never had enough time for her. But mistakenly getting caught on the wrong side of the law wasn't exactly how she wanted to get his attention. Enter Chrysanthemum "Chrissy" Everstar, Tansy's fairy in shining, er, high heels. Chrissy is only a fair godmother, of course, so Tansy's three wishes don't exactly go according to plan. And if bringing Robin Hood to the twenty-first century isn't bad enough for Tansy, being transported back to the Middle Ages to deal with Rumpelstiltskin certainly is. She'll need the help of her blended family, her wits, and especially the cute police chief 's son to stop the gold-spinning story from spinning wildly out of control. Janette Rallison pulls out all the stops in this fresh, fun-filled follow-up to the popular My Fair Godmother. (From Goodreads)

Rallison has written another hilarious novel filled with adventure, romance, and heart. Wishes, mishaps, and fairytale characters are present in the second novel featuring the "fair" godmother, Chrysanthemum Everstar. Rallison has this amazing gift of writing witty lines that leave me in fits of laughter. Her characters, plots...well, pretty much everything about this book is enjoyable.

Tansy was a realistic, flawed (in a good way) character. She feels as though her father abandoned her, and started a new family instead. So, things don't go smoothly when she's forced to move in with them. She starts dating a town troublemaker, and things spiral out of control from there. I thought that her reactions were pretty typical, and that her bad behavior was an attempt to get some attention from her father. I mean, Bo was a pretty horrible boyfriend...there aren't really that many reasons to stay with him. Hudson was a pretty dreamy male lead, but he had substance. He was dealing with the loss of his mother, and it was nice watching him open up to Tansy/ I also loved seeing Robin Hood and his gang. They were completely different from the Robin Hood that we have read about, and that was amazing.

There's some focus on morals in this book. Tansy has to figure out what the moral of her story is, and that isn't easy. So what did I learn from Rallison's newest book? No character is completely good or evil. Well, most characters aren't completely evil (I'm looking at you, Rumplestilskin, and Bo). Even Hudson, the sheriff's son, helps to keep Tansy prisoner in one part of the book.

The only thing that I wish the reader saw more of was resolution between Tansy and her father. Part of the reason why she's dating a "bad boy" and acting out is because she feels neglected by him. Overall,
the romance was sweet, but the focus was on the growth of Tansy. I really enjoyed this one, and am eagerly waiting for Rallison's next release.

Plus, the cover is awesome!

My Unfair Godmother
By Janette Rallison
Published by Walker Books For Young Readers
320 Pages
Release Date: April 12, 2011
Rating: A

Saturday, December 4, 2010

In My Mailbox

In My Mailbox was created by Kristi of The Story Siren, who was inspired by Alea of Pop Culture Junkie. All of the synopses you see below were found on Goodreads. Here are the books I got this week...

For Review:
My Unfair Godmother by Janette Rallison

From Around the World ARC Tours

Tansy Miller has always felt that her divorced father has never had enough time for her. But mistakenly getting caught on the wrong side of the law wasn't exactly how she wanted to get his attention. Enter Chrysanthemum "Chrissy" Everstar, Tansy's fairy in shining, er, high heels. Chrissy is only a fair godmother, of course, so Tansy's three wishes don't exactly go according to plan. And if bringing Robin Hood to the twenty-first century isn't bad enough for Tansy, being transported back to the Middle Ages to deal with Rumpelstiltskin certainly is. She'll need the help of her blended family, her wits, and especially the cute police chief 's son to stop the gold-spinning story from spinning wildly out of control. Janette Rallison pulls out all the stops in this fresh, fun-filled follow-up to the popular My Fair Godmother.

Published by Walker Books for Young Readers
Release Date: April 12, 2011

Entice by Carrie Jones


Zara and Nick are soul mates, meant to be together forever. But that's not quite how things have worked out.

For starters, well, Nick is dead. Supposedly, he's been taken to a mythic place for warriors known as Valhalla, so Zara and her friends might be able to get him back. But it's taking time, and meanwhile a group of evil pixies is devastating Bedford, with more teens going missing every day. An all-out war seems imminent, and the good guys need all the warriors they can find. But how to get to Valhalla?

And even if Zara and her friends discover the way, there's that other small problem: Zara's been pixie kissed. When she finds Nick, will he even want to go with her? Especially since she hasn't just turned. She's Astley's queen.

Published by Bloomsbury USA
Release Date: December 14, 2010

Tuesday, November 30, 2010

Teaser Tuesday (November 30)

What is Teaser Tuesday?
It's a meme hosted by Should Be Reading and here are the rules:
Grab your current read...
Open to a random page
Share two teaser sentences from somewhere on the page
Don't include spoilers.

"Fairy's side note: Mortal girls will overlook a pinata full of faults if a guy is considerate enough to be handsome."

-My Unfair Godmother, page 8, by Janette Rallison

(This is an ARC edition, quotes/page numbers are subject to change)

I'm only a few pages into this one and I've already had a few laughing fits.

Friday, May 7, 2010

Book Review: My Double Life by Janette Rallison

Her whole life, Alexia Garcia has been told that she looks just like pop star Kari Kingsley, and one day when Alexia’s photo filters through the Internet, she’s offered a job to be Kari’s double. This would seem like the opportunity of a lifetime, but Alexia’s mother has always warned her against celebrities.

Rebelliously, Alexia flies off to L.A. and gets immersed in a celebrity life. Not only does she have to get used to getting anything she wants, she romances the hottest lead singer on the charts, and finds out that her own father is a singing legend. Through it all, Alexia must stay true to herself, which is hard to do when you are pretending to be somebody else! (from Goodreads)

Part of Around the World Tours

I absolutely loved Janette Rallison's book, My Fair Godmother, and couldn't wait to read more from her. So when I saw the chance to read her newest book, My Double Life, on Around the World Tours, I had to sign up. While the plots of both books were strikingly different, there were aspects that I picked up in both books.

The first of which was the humor found in both books. While I think that My Double Life focused less on humor than MFG, there were still quite a few funny moments. During some scenes, I ended up laughing aloud (much to my embarrassment), and I found a few scenes funny because I really connected with Alexia. Alexia was a realistic, likable character. While not all girls look like superstars, I could definitely relate to some of her insecurities, and was glad to see her follow her heart. I also want to mention Kari, the singer who is struggling to put out her new album. At first I expected to seriously dislike her. She seemed like the typical mean girl, who felt entitled to the royal treatment simply because she was a star. By the end of the book, however, it was clear that she was struggling with insecurities, too.

A major theme throughout this book is the idea of the importance of family. Alexia has grown up without her father, but her mother and grandmother have done a great job raising her. They don't agree with Alexia's decision to accept the job as Kari's double, and that's mostly because they care, and worry about her. After all, Alexia is traveling to the other side of the country to work, without any friends or family there to help her. I did wish that we could have learned more about Alexia's father over the course of the story. Without giving too much away, it takes quite some time for Alexia to actually meet him, and I really wanted to know what he was thinking.

Overall, I thought that My Double Life was another great read from Rallison. It was funny, and the story had some depth to it. As the summer grows closer, I'd suggest this to people who want a read that isn't too heavy, but still has substance. Plus, there's a bit of romance, too.

My Double Life
By Janette Rallison
Published by Putnam Juvenile
272 Pages
Release Date: May 13, 2010
My Rating: B+

Tuesday, April 27, 2010

Teaser Tuesday (April 27)

What is teaser tuesday?
It's a meme hosted by Should Be Reading and here are the
rules:
Grab your current read...

Open to a random page
Share two teaser sentences from somewhere on the page
Don't include spoilers

"When I'd thought about what being a double meant, I'd imagined, vaguely, that I would be used as a decoy to throw off the paparazzi when she went to events or stuff like that. Like a stunt double. Not once did I ever think she actually wanted me to pretend to be her."
-My Double Life, Page 38, By Janette Rallison

This is based on the ARC edition, and quotes are subject to change

Saturday, April 24, 2010

In My Mailbox (April 25)

In my mailbox was created by Kristi of The Story Siren, who was inspired by Pop Culture Junkie. Here are the books I got this week...

Around the World Tours:

My Double Life by Janette Rallison (Arc Edition, Published by Putnam Juvenile, Release Date: May 13)

Her whole life, Alexia Garcia has been told that she looks just like pop star Kari Kingsley, and one day when Alexia’s photo filters through the Internet, she’s offered a job to be Kari’s double. This would seem like the opportunity of a lifetime, but Alexia’s mother has always warned her against celebrities.

Rebelliously, Alexia flies off to L.A. and gets immersed in a celebrity life. Not only does she have to get used to getting anything she wants, she romances the hottest lead singer on the charts, and finds out that her own father is a singing legend. Through it all, Alexia must stay true to herself, which is hard to do when you are pretending to be somebody else! (from Goodreads)

Wednesday, March 17, 2010

Waiting on Wednesday (March 17)

This was started by Jill at Breaking the Spine. Waiting on Wednesday shares the upcoming books that I'm most excited about.


My Double Life by Janette Rallison

Her whole life, Alexia Garcia has been told that she looks just like pop star Kari Kingsley, and one day when Alexia’s photo filters through the Internet, she’s offered a job to be Kari’s double. This would seem like the opportunity of a lifetime, but Alexia’s mother has always warned her against celebrities.

Rebelliously, Alexia flies off to L.A. and gets immersed in a celebrity life. Not only does she have to get used to getting anything she wants, she romances the hottest lead singer on the charts, and finds out that her own father is a singing legend. Through it all, Alexia must stay true to herself, which is hard to do when you are pretending to be somebody else!

Published by Putnam Juvenile

Release Date: May 13, 2010

Thursday, June 4, 2009

Book Review: My Fair Godmother by Janette Rallison

Finding your one true love can be a Grimm experience! After her boyfriend dumps her for her older sister, sophomore Savannah Delano wishes she could find a true prince to take her to the prom. Enter Chrissy (Chrysanthemum) Everstar: Savannah’s gum-chewing, cell phone–carrying, high heel-wearing Fair Godmother. Showing why she’s only Fair—because she’s not a very good fairy student—Chrissy mistakenly sends Savannah back in time to the Middle Ages, first as Cinderella, then as Snow White. Finally she sends Tristan, a boy in Savannah’s class, back instead to turn him into her prom-worthy prince. When Savannah returns to the Middle Ages to save Tristan, they must team up to defeat a troll, a dragon, and the mysterious and undeniably sexy Black Knight.


If you are a fan of disjointed fairy tales, or like a little bit of historical adventure, I would suggest picking up a copy of My Fair Godmother. At the start of the book, the superficial "airhead" Savannah seems to have the perfect life. She has a good-looking boyfriend, Hunter, and doesn't really seem to be bothered with anything other than shopping and prom. Her older sister, Jane, is completely different from Savannah. Jane concentrates on her schoolwork rather than her appearance, and had been crushing on Hunter even before he started dating Savannah. Refusing to give up, Jane undergoes a total makeover, and in the process she gets Hunter. That's breaking the most cardinal rule of sisterhood...never steal your sister's boyfriend. It's an unwritten rule. Luckily, Savannah has a fair(y) godmother to help save the day.

Or not. Savannah's fairy godmother,
Chrysanthemum Everstar, isn't what one might imagine. She's just like Savannah, shallow and immature. Her wishes go haywire, and she doesn't really seem to care whether Savannah gets her prince charming or not. For her first two wishes Savannah is sent back in time, once as Cinderella, and once as Snow White. Rallison doesn't Disney-ify these princesses, they lived in the middle ages, and it was miserable. Plus, the princes don't seem very prince-like, they're rather rude and egotistical.

For her third wish, Savannah inadvertently sends a classmate back in time, and she has to go back to help him become a prince, otherwise they'll both be stuck there forever. While there they encounter a dragon, a cyclops, and a dark knight who is more than he seems.

I really enjoyed this book, it had all the elements I look for in good YA fiction. There was a little bit of romance, some fantasy, and it was funny.
It also made me appreciate shampoo, and being able to bathe on a regular basis. In other words, I didn't want to set it down. While this was Rallison's first fantasy novel, I hope to read more like this from her.

My Fair Godmother
by Janette Rallison
320 Pages
Published by Walker Books for Young Readers
Rating: A

Sunday, May 24, 2009

In My Mailbox (May 24)

In my mailbox was created by Kristi of The Story Siren, who was inspired by Pop Culture Junkie.

Here are the books I got this week (most of them are for review)



Bloodhound by Tamora Pierce
Published by Random House

Beka Cooper is finally a Dog—a full-fledged member of the Provost’s Guard, dedicated to keeping peace in Corus’s streets. But there’s unrest in Tortall’s capital. Counterfeit coins are turning up in shops all over the city, and merchants are raising prices to cover their losses. The Dogs discover that gamblers are bringing the counterfeit money from Port Caynn. In Port Caynn, Beka delves deep into the gambling world, where she meets a charming banking clerk named Dale Rowan. Beka thinks she may be falling for Rowan, but she won’t let anything—or anyone—jeopardize her mission. As she heads north to an abandoned silver mine, it won’t be enough for Beka be her usual “terrier” self. She’ll have to learn from Achoo to sniff out the criminals—to be a Bloodhound. . . .



Ghost Huntress: The Awakening by Marley Gibson
Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt

Psychic Kids, Paranormal State, Haunting Evidencethese and countless other television shows are making believers out of millions of people: Ghosts exist, and they’re living right beside us. For centuries, individuals have been trying to prove the existence of ghosts. But without hard evidence, it’s been difficult to make the case. But now as science and technology have progressed, ghost hunters have been able to use scientific means, along with more traditional psychic tools, to make their case. Photographs, video recordings, and sound recordings are all producing some amazing results. In this new series, Ghost Huntress, meet Kendall Moorehead, a seemingly typical teen. When her family moves from Chicago to the small historical town of Radisson, Georgia, her psychic abilities awaken. She’s hearing, feeling, and seeing things that seem unbelievable at first, but with the help of the town psychic, Kendall is able to come to terms with her newly emerging gift. So, together with her new BFF, Celia, Kendall forms a ghost hunting team. They’ve got all the latest technology. They’ve got Kendall for their psychic. Now they’re going to clean up Radisson of its less savory spirits. The story is fiction. The science is real. Welcome to a new reality.


My Fair Godmother by Janette Rallison
Published by Walker & Company
Finding your one true love can be a Grimm experience! After her boyfriend dumps her for her older sister, sophomore Savannah Delano wishes she could find a true prince to take her to the prom. Enter Chrissy (Chrysanthemum) Everstar: Savannah’s gum-chewing, cell phone–carrying, high heel-wearing Fair Godmother. Showing why she’s only Fair—because she’s not a very good fairy student—Chrissy mistakenly sends Savannah back in time to the Middle Ages, first as Cinderella, then as Snow White. Finally she sends Tristan, a boy in Savannah’s class, back instead to turn him into her prom-worthy prince. When Savannah returns to the Middle Ages to save Tristan, they must team up to defeat a troll, a dragon, and the mysterious and undeniably sexy Black Knight. Laughs abound in this clever fairy tale twist from a master of romantic comedy.

Audrey, Wait! by Robin Benway
Published by Penguin Group

When funny, charming, absolutely-normal Audrey Cuttler dumps her boyfriend Evan, he writes a song about her that becomes a number-one hit and rockets Audrey to stardom!

Suddenly, tabloid paparazzi are on her tail and Audrey can barely hang with her friends at concerts or the movies without getting mobbed let alone score a date with James, her adorable coworker at the Scooper Dooper. Her life will never be the same at least, not until Audrey confronts Evan live on MTV and lets the world know exactly who she is!



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