Jennifer Echols- MTV books
The details: 325 pages, 2 days
to read, although I did read about 20 pages back in March. I just haven't been able to remember where I put it! (Under the bed, in case you were wondering. ;-) )
Summary: (From
Goodreads)
A sexy and poignant romantic tale of a young daredevil pilot caught between two brothers.
When I was fourteen, I made a decision. If I was
doomed to live in a trailer park next to an airport, I could complain
about the smell of the jet fuel like my mom, I could drink myself to
death over the noise like everybody else, or I could learn to fly.
Heaven
Beach, South Carolina, is anything but, if you live at the low-rent end
of town. All her life, Leah Jones has been the grown-up in her family,
while her mother moves from boyfriend to boyfriend, letting any
available money slip out of her hands. At school, they may diss Leah as
trash, but she’s the one who negotiates with the landlord when the
rent’s not paid. At fourteen, she’s the one who gets a job at the nearby
airstrip.
But there’s one way Leah can escape reality. Saving
every penny she can, she begs quiet Mr. Hall, who runs an aerial
banner-advertising business at the airstrip and also offers flight
lessons, to take her up just once. Leaving the trailer park far beneath
her and swooping out over the sea is a rush greater than anything she’s
ever experienced, and when Mr. Hall offers to give her cut-rate flight
lessons, she feels ready to touch the sky.
By the time she’s a
high school senior, Leah has become a good enough pilot that Mr. Hall
offers her a job flying a banner plane. It seems like a dream come true .
. . but turns out to be just as fleeting as any dream. Mr. Hall dies
suddenly, leaving everything he owned in the hands of his teenage sons:
golden boy Alec and adrenaline junkie Grayson. And they’re determined to
keep the banner planes flying.
Though Leah has crushed on
Grayson for years, she’s leery of getting involved in what now seems
like a doomed business—until Grayson betrays her by digging up her most
damning secret. Holding it over her head, he forces her to fly for
secret reasons of his own, reasons involving Alec. Now Leah finds
herself drawn into a battle between brothers—and the consequences could
be deadly.
Confederates Don't Wear Couture - Stephanie Kate Strohm - Graphia
The "Facts": Paperback, 240 pages, 3 days to finish
Summary: (From Goodreads) Libby's best friend and fabulous fashion designer, Dev, hatches a plan to jet down South and hawk his period gowns to the wives and girlfriends of Civil War re-enactors. With a pang, Libby abandons her plan to visit her boyfriend, Garrett, in Boston and jumps at the chance to help run "Confederate Couture," and let her inner history nerd loose in a 19th century playground. But Libby and Dev aren't whistling Dixie for long. Between the constant travel from battle ground to dusty battle ground (with no Starbucks in sight, mind you), blistering heat, and a violent ghost set on romantic revenge, they quickly realize Alabama's no sweet home. And the boys. . . well, let's just say Libby's got the North and the South fighting for her attention. Confederates Don't Wear Couture is another hilarious, historical romp from Stephanie Kate Strohm!
Review: I adored almost everything about this book! I first saw this book on another book blog, showcasing the new releases that week. I knew by the cover that I would have to read it. Full discloser: This is the second book in a series, and I have NOT read the first. However, I felt this book sufficiently covered the carry-over plot points quite well, so that this could be read as a stand-alone. I will warn you though, this book includes SEVERAL topics and pop culture references that will date this book. This book more than likely will NOT stay 'current' for much longer, and if you are a school library low on funds, I would not recommend using your money for this title. If you are a lover of books, and NOT a librarian or NOT low on funds, then this book will be very enjoyable!
This is a perfect light and fluffy read, especially if you enjoy historical fiction, or history at all. Stephanie has a decent grasp at how to catch and hold the attention of the reader when discussing historical facts that is quite refreshing. She doesn't over-load the book with them, as this isn't what the book is about, but you still find yourself learning something new every chapter! In fact, I would recommend this book to my students who REFUSE to read anything historical. I think they might find themselves actually entertained by it.
Rating: 3 stars (I would have rated this book higher if this book wasn't quite as fluffy. I felt the story derailed/spent too much time on the love triangle than I would have preferred, and also for the pop culture references. I liked this book, however I know I would not be able to pass this down to my daughter, as she wouldn't understand most of the references which is what was included in almost every joke!)
*Please note also, this is not a good book to 'finish this chapter'. I think the second chapter ended on something like page 72.
Jenni
