Bookish Review: Rules of Attraction

Rules of Attraction by Simone Elkeles is a sequel to her novel, Perfect Chemistry (which I have not read). It reads like a Harlequin romance for teens. Carlos Fuentes is a first-generation American whose mother moved back to Mexico after he and his brother were involved in gang activity in Chicago. When he gets in even deeper trouble in Mexico, she sends him back to the US to live with his brother--who has cleaned up his act--in Colorado. Carlos has a major chip on his shoulder, and when he is framed in a school drug bust, he is forced to move in with his classmate Kiara and her family. Carlos thinks Kiara is so not his type, but he finds himself inexplicably drawn to her, and she feels the same. Carlos is involved in a dangerous situation, and it is up to Kiara's family to save him.

The attraction and soulmate business is laid on a bit thick, but I think teens will find it compelling. NB: Carlos & Kiara do have sex (thought it is not too graphically described), so know your audience before letting your kids read it.

Full Disclosure: I picked up a free ARC of this book at a conference. The book did pub this month, though.

Bookish Review: Finger Lickin' Fifteen

This is the newest volume in Janet Evanovich's Stephanie Plum series. Readers of the series will know what to expect. Stephanie Plum is a hapless bounty hunter. Each book involves a romantic subplot with either (or both) Joe Morelli and the mysterious Ranger Manoso, In this case, Stephanie is yet again "off-again" with Morelli, and coincidentally Ranger needs her help investigating some break-ins. Lula, Stephanie's big, flashy, former-'ho' sidekick, witnesses a murder and she and Stephanie must avoid the hitmen trying to take her down. Stephanie weighs her options between Morelli and Ranger, her mother tries to set her up with new men, and Grandma and Lula decide to learn how to barbeque. The book is fun and fluffy, as usual, but the typical pattern is starting to get old after 15 installments. Let's hope #16 has something new to offer.

Bookish Review: The Physick Book of Deliverance Dane

The Physick Book of Deliverance Dane follows serious student Connie Goodwin on her quest to finish her thesis for her Ph. D. In the middle of her search for an original source, she is also on a mission from her hippie mother to clean up and sell her grandmother's old house. As she works on the house, strange things begin to happen, and as she follows up on a lead to an original source--a possible book of spells owned by one of the women involved in the Salem witch trials--things only get stranger. Add in a handsome stranger and a demanding advisor and you've got an interesting and compelling read. The only drawback is that Connie herself often fails to see the obvious, which is a bit annoying, but the story overall is good, and puts witchcraft in an interesting perspective, as a gift from God rather than the devil's work. Fun read.