The Fruit of My Lipstick

The Fruit of My Lipstick by Shelley Adina (An All About Us Novel)

What was this book about?

Gillian Chang is a student at a prestigious boarding school. She is an overachiever who knows to fit in with her family it is important that she gets good grades, does well in school, treats her family with respect and doesn’t have a boyfriend.

But it seems that fate is going to be kind to (or is it) when school hottie and brainiac Lucas Hayes wants to go out with her. He is busy with trying to be a scholar and has little patience at times but he loves her- right?

Meanwhile someone at the school is selling exams to the other students. If the school doesn’t find out who it is they will all fail. Could it be Gillian? One of her friends? Who could be the culprit?

Is Lucas the right man for her or are her friends just jealous of their relationship?

What did you think about the book?

This was a book that was hard for me to read. I totally got the whole perspective of trying had to be something you are not to impress a guy. And that when you step back and look at a situation (which is essentially what you are doing when you read a book) that the guy can be really good for you or really bad for you.

I think I just didn’t see the relationship between the mini-arcs of the story. There was the part about faith and how faith is used in your everyday life. How some charecters had it and others were looking for how it fit into their life. Then there was the boyfriend who is not very nice arc. How the main character changes who she is so that she can have him love her more. Then the friendship arc (which touches on the boyfriend arc in that she abandons a relationship with her friends for him). Lastly is the someone in school is cheating on exams and selling them so we should find him or her. It all was just too much. Some I would like to have had expanded on – others totally ignored.

What genre would you consider this?

Teen, Faith Words

Overall:

That’s (Not Exactly) Amore

That’s (Not Exactly) Amore by Tracey Bateman

What was this book about?

Laini Sullivan thinks she knows what she wants out of life. She wants to be an interior designer. She used to love it and thinks that is what she needs. Unfortunately no one has heard of a color blind designer.

So Laini gets a job designing the coffee shop of a friend. She is going to show all her doubters what she can really do. The only problem is that her major crush Joe Pantalone is in charge of things.

When Joe doesn’t ask her out but a policeman does – she goes for it. But then she finds out that Joe also wants to spend time with her. She can’t make up her mind especially when she finds out that Joe’s family may be part of the mob. Can Laini figure out what makes her happy before it is too late?

What did you think about the book?

As I mentioned before - I am not someone who likes preachy books, several books that I have read from the “Faith Words” publishers has met my need. The story is independent of the religious aspect of the books. Instead they only add the Bible verses and other religious parts to enhance both the book and the characters thoughts. I was halfway through the book that I realized the random biblical quote or trip to church was part of an overarching desire to have a religious part to this book (not something I usually associate with what I think is a romantic book).

Overall I enjoyed the book. It was interesting to see her progress to the man she was meant to be with – as well as find what she wanted out of life.

What genre would you consider this?
Romance (without any sexual scenes)

Overall:

The Miracle Girls

The Miracle Girls by Anne Dayton & May Vanderbilt

What was this book about?

Four girls who have varying pasts and relationships with their family find themselves drawn together. Ana Dominguez is new to school and has to find her place to fit in to both school, extra-curriculars, and church. She soon finds several girls that seem to have something in common. They are all “Miracle Girls” meaning they have all cheated death at least once.

But life as a teenager isn’t always clear. So they must move through the travails of high school life and do their best to survive and prosper.

What did you think about the book?

While I am not someone who likes preachy books, several books that I have read from the “Faith Words” publishers has met my need. The story is independent of the religious aspect of the books. Instead they only add the Bible verses and other religious parts to enhance both the book and the characters thoughts.

I enjoyed this book and think it would be one that I would recommend for teens of any age. It covers the teenage angst that everyone has had and at the same time continues to entertain.

What genre would you consider this?
Teen

Overall: