32 Candles

I enjoy discovering new authors and Ernessa T. Carter is definitely a new one to watch! Her first book, 32 Candles was a treat for me, perhaps because the main character Davidia Jones is from a small town in Mississippi and grew up loving the John Hughes films created in the 1980's. The book title is a play on Sixteen Candles, one of Davidia's favorite movies, that has the storybook "Molly Ringwald-happy-ending" where the misfit girl wins the heart of the popular rich boy. Davidia idolized Sixteen Candles because she grew up being physically and mentally abused by her single mom, a prostitute in small-town Glass, MS. Davidia was always an outcast in high school but her troubles worsen when the Farrell family moves into town. The Farrell's own Farrell Fine Hair, the hair products plant that employs the majority of the residents of Glass. Davidia immediately falls in love with James, the oldest kid in the family and the one in line to inherit the Farrell Fine Hair plant when Mr. Farrell retires. Davidia is dealing with her crush until her mom starts having an affair with James's dad, soon to be a congressman. Victoria and Tammy, James' siblings immediately begin an intense hate campaign against Davidia which results in her running away to CA where she bcomes a singer in a 1940's-style nightclub. Davidia begins a new life, until people from her past begin to crop up and she must learn how to forgive and forget--or exact revenge? The book is a great story of discovery and growing up, written by a new African-American author, and Davidia is a delightful character. The reader learns to live along with Davidia and the experience is a wonderful thing to witness. Both the Mississippi and California settings are portrayed authentically and the reader delves into the world of nightclub singing along with Davidia. Ernessa T. Carter has worked as an ESL Teacher in Japan, a music journalist in Pittsburg, a payroll administrator in Burbank and a radio writer for American Top 40 with Ryan Seacrest in Hollywood. She is also a retired member of the L.A. Derby Dolls roller derby league and graduated from Smith College and Carnegie Mellon University's MFA program. For more information on Carter, read her blog at http://www.32candles.com/.

Sizzling Sixteen

It is my fervent wish that Janet Evanovich never stops writing books in her Stephanie Plum series. These books are laugh-out-loud funny and give me the opportunity to share with other folks a new author (I'm always reading one of them in a public place when the person sitting next to me asks what book I'm reading that is causing me to laugh so much)! In this installment, Sizzling Sixteen, Stephanie's Uncle Vinnie is kidnapped because he owes too much money to his bookie. This is a big problem because with Vinne kidnapped Stephanie is unable to do her job as a bounty hunter and collect funds so that she can pay her rent! Even though Vinnie is a sleaze, bless his heart, he is related to Stephanie and she feels as if she owes it to him to try and rescue him. Of course, she has help from plus-size former prostitute Lula, her policeman on-again-off-again boyfriend Morelli, the elusive bounty hunter and private contractor Ranger, and the Bonds Office Manager Connie. The group performs several hilarious rescue attempts while Stephanie is chased (literally) by the bad guys hunting Vinnie and (figuratively) by Morelli and Ranger. I enjoy this series because it paints a realistic portrait of Trenton, New Jersey and its residents and the book characters are very enjoyable. One for the Money, the first book in the series is currently in production as a movie and if it resembles the book even a little bit the movie should be a real treat to watch.

Remember Me

Every now and then I watch a movie that is so beautifully written it makes me want to cry. Remember Me, starring Robert Pattinson and Emilile De Ravin is one of those types of movies. It takes place in the Summer of 2001, in New York city, and is the story of a young man and woman, who each have had their own tragic experiences, who meet and begin a passionate love affair. The couple each let go enough to work through their own pain and the end result is a stunning piece of acting. The emotions and feeliings are so raw, that the viewer is totally sucked in to the film. This movie is an unforgettable story about the power of the heart, the strength of family, and the importance of treasuring every day of one's life. This is a great film to watch if you want to be inspired to live your life to its fullest!

Get Cut into Pieces by the Jigsaw Man...

It's so hot out! What better way to cool off than with a chilling read! Horror is not my usual forte but this title was so interesting that it just called to me. The Jigsaw Man by Gord Rollo opens as our hero, Mike Fox, is just about to commit suicide. His task is interrupted by a man in a stretch limo offering him two million dollars in cash for his right arm. Since he's left handed he figures it's a good deal and the money would provide for his teenage daughter from whom he's estranged. But that's only the beginning. The mysterious surgeon's plans go far, far beyond one simple limb, and Fox isn't his only "donor." Once Fox is trapped behind the operating room doors, he discovers there is no escape from the madness, as bit by bloody bit his body is taken from him and gradually replaced...

This frenetic story has a twisted plot that is suspenseful and a real page-turner. If you are a fan of Stephen King or Dean Koontz you will really love this book.