tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-92095367459923052842024-02-20T02:54:43.162-08:00Babysitting in Sweet ValleyA Sweet Valley, Babysitters Club, Fear Street, Point Horror, Sweet Dreams and Nancy Drew addict Mimihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16705070197265851329noreply@blogger.comBlogger27125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9209536745992305284.post-75925869833067506002014-02-06T10:10:00.003-08:002014-02-06T10:10:45.934-08:00Review #14 - Sweet Valley High #14 - Deceptions by Francine Pascal<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: x-large;"><b>Whose gonna drive you home, tonight ?,</b></span></div>
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In an unexpected change of personality from Elizabeth, she willing embarks on a forbidden endeavour with the seductive Nicholas Morrow when she agrees to go on a date (she sees this as act of kindness, I see it as the sign of a break-up with Todd) to the most expensive restaurant in Sweet Valley the following Sunday. </div>
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She figures that she'll be okay because it's Todd's mothers birthday that day so he won't want to hang out with her. She decides not to tell anyone about the date except Enid as a confidant and advice giver.</div>
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Jessica, unaware of this misdeed, decides that taking computer lessons from Sweet Valley's resident expert (surprisingly not Winston :o, but a never previously mentioned randomer Randy)will lure Nicholas to her (his family owns a colossal computer cooperation).</div>
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She takes the lessons too far when she gets him to hack into the schools database in order to change her grades. They both end up getting caught but fortunately Liz's persuasion powers prevent them from being punished.</div>
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Elizabeth goes on her date with Nicholas (they both decide that they should just be friends which is the only reason Liz went in the first place) and Todd's at the restaurant to celebrate his mother's birthday. </div>
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Panicking, she pretends to be Jessica and he believes her until he goes to her house to apologise to<br />
her for mistaking Liz as Jess at the restaurant, Jess reveals she never left the house that evening.<br />
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Todd and Jess are both unsurprisingly furious but Jess decides that any boy who prefers Liz to her is unworthy of her attention anyway.<br />
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Todd, however, hasn't forgiven her that easily and the silence between them is lethal when Elizabeth is asked to review his teams championship basketball game. Todd plays badly because his mind is on Liz, not the game.<br />
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Nicholas, saviour to the masses, explains to Todd at half time that it was his fault Liz betrayed Todd because of his pressurising.With this revelation boosting his confidence Todd wins the championship.<br />
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Liz is on a sorrowful walk home refusing to go to the celebratory party for fear of seeing Todd when Todd finds her, of course, and they have a passionate make up kiss.<br />
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But it's practically law that Sweet Valley has to end on heart-stopping cliff-hanger and this one was definitely one to beat them all. The twins are at the party when they get a phone call from their parents who explain that Tricia, Steven's girlfriend who has leukaemia, is in intensive care and she could die at any minute!<br />
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This ending hit me like a ton of bricks - "Not Tricia.How will Steven survive ? Who will Jessica bitch about now ?" was all I could say for 5 minutes afterwards. I think I'll cry if she dies.<br />
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The side story was hilarious and the main story was excellent for this month but I'm waiting for a Sweet Valley book where Jessica's the star - it's been all about Liz lately and I bet Jess is not best pleased.<br />
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Can't wait (yet am also dreading because of the death aspect) for #15 !<br />
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<span style="font-size: x-large;"><b>Verdict : 5 stars !</b></span></div>
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Babysitter's little sister review next time,</div>
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Mimi</div>
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xheartx</div>
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Mimihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16705070197265851329noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9209536745992305284.post-83023492107529467212014-02-05T09:09:00.001-08:002014-02-05T09:09:12.034-08:00Review #13 - Sweet Dreams #68 - Lovebirds by Janet Quin-Harkin <div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: x-large;"><b>Down Under,</b></span></div>
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Failed to surpass the previous two (and only two I've read) Sweet Dreams books, but still heart-warming and definitely a perfect choice for Valentine's month.</div>
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The plot of all the Sweet Dreams books are so original : Tiffany is an unintentional prejudice brat from New York but must join her father on his filming trip to Australia for a safari documentary while her Mother goes on her honeymoon. </div>
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On the trip, she meets a millionaire's son, Bruce Dawson, and soon falls for him and his love for protecting the environment. The love is requited.</div>
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Tiff goes through a complete attitude change after saving koalas in a forest fire (literally couldn't make this stuff up) and having to fight for survival in the wilderness.</div>
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There's just one thing separating Tiff and Bruce's love - he lives in Australia, she in New York. When Bruce discovers that he's been accepted to UCLA, Tiffany decides to move into her fathers house as she can't deal with her mothers attitude, the same attitude as she used to have. This end was definitely the sweetest part.</div>
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That little subheading I used is particularly fitting as Tiff refers to Men at Work as one of the only things she knows are from Australia in the beginning.Simply couldn't resist.</div>
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I particularly enjoyed the setting of this book, it has me convinced that I need to travel to Australia. I also adored the monumental character development of Tiffany which you don't often get in 80's and 90's YA.</div>
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Need to read more of these this month.</div>
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<span style="font-size: x-large;"><b>Verdict : 5 Stars !</b></span></div>
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Sweet Sweet Valley is my next subject matter,</div>
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Mimi</div>
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xheartx</div>
Mimihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16705070197265851329noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9209536745992305284.post-50181864276542161162014-02-04T08:57:00.001-08:002014-02-04T08:57:48.434-08:00Review #12 - The Babysitters Club #42 - Jessi and the Dance School Phantom by Ann M. Martin<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: x-large;"><b>When We Dance,</b></span><br />
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February has begun. Therefore,in the theme of the season, I shall be reading and reviewing as many books as I can with a romance theme. It'll be mainly general romance books but there will be some Nancy Drew mysteries and horror books with a romance theme as well.</div>
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Here's the first book that I finished this month :</div>
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Proving yet again mysteries reign supreme, this is the second book I've read from Jessi's perspective (the other being the rather uneventful book #75 - Jessi's horrible prank) and I can already make the judgement that she's my second least favourite BSC member because her personality is rather boring.</div>
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In this one, Jessi receives threats after being cast as the lead in her dance schools latest production and she,with help from the rest of the club, must use her powers of deduction to discover who the saboteur is. </div>
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Meanwhile, The club are gearing up for the Pet Show (another of Kristy's great ideas, no suprise there) in which their charges will showcase the best attributes of their animals in order to win prizes. There's dispute on who shall win and which sibling gets to enter each pet but in the end all the kids get prizes. </div>
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The main thing I enjoyed about it was that there was a heavy focus on ballet and it had me wishing I had done it - not to receive death threats though. </div>
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The side story was the weakest of all the books that I've read so far but it was still fun.<br />
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Another disappointing thing was that there weren't many babysitting anecdotes although there were many Nancy Drew references which I much appreciated.<br />
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<span style="font-size: x-large;"><b>Verdict : 5 Stars !</b></span></div>
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Next we have a Sweet Dreams Review,</div>
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Mimi</div>
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xheartx</div>
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Mimihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16705070197265851329noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9209536745992305284.post-48970449958095242182014-02-03T08:46:00.000-08:002014-02-03T08:48:14.536-08:00Review #11 - Dear Bruce Springsteen by Kevin Major and Michael J Fox Rant<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: x-large;"><b>Baby we were Born to Run,</b></span></div>
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I apologise for not posting in a while - too busy gushing over my new Walkman (aka my one true love) and Teen Wolf (Belting out 'Win in the end' and desiring to go surfing).</div>
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Speaking of Michael J. Fox, Back to the Future is in great danger of being destroyed by the idea of it being turned into a musical. I should probably explain that, in my opinion, Back to the Future is one of the best films (possibly THE best trilogy) of all time. Seriously if you haven't seen it drop everything and watch it NOW !<br />
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Therefore I almost screamed in terror when I found out - nobody else can play Marty and Doc and nothing else can re-create the greatness of one of the best films ever.We need to create time travel so this abomination of an idea can be erased.</div>
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Anyway, onto happier thoughts :</div>
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The only reason I originally picked this up was because of the title (I'm a huge Bruce fan in case you didn't already know) it was an added bonus that the plot line was also pretty appealing and that it just so happened to be YA from the 80's. I squealed even more when I realised it was entirely written in letter format - which is one of the best formats I think. </div>
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What I ended up with was a surprise... But certainly a pleasant one at that. It had depth, raw emotions and I felt as if I had an interpersonal relationship with Terry. </div>
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The easiest way to describe the plot would be that it seems unintentionally to follow the same theme pattern as Bruce's albums :</div>
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We begin with Greetings from Ashbury Park - Terry's naive and only just beginning to grow up(like Bruce was when he made the album). He still thinks his parents will stay together.</div>
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Then we move onto The Wild, The Innocent and The E.Street Shuffle - Sadness mixed with Happiness (like the album) Terry's parents are separated but he's made a new friend who shares his musical dreams - Terry wants to be a Rockstar.</div>
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Born to Run - Bruce and Terry's breakthrough. Terry purchases a secondhand electric guitar and amplifier - his first step in the door in music.</div>
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Darkness on the edge of town, The River and Nebraska - All sad albums ( well The River not as much as the other two). Terry attempts to date but his first relationship falls through and saddest of all he sees the harsh reality of how his Dads been living after the divorce (he moved to a different city). This part was very emotional as I was almost in tears at the part where his Dad comes after him in the bus station.<br />
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Born in the U.S.A - None of the other albums had been released when this book was written so this is the album the book ends on. The end and by far the happiest (and best) part of the book, the same words can be used to describe that album in my opinion.<br />
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Terry hosts a charity concert and headlines with 'Dancing in the Dark' and drags his new crush on stage. It turns out the love is requited and she's a Bruce fan too so she has my vote. Terry also accepts his stepfather and has a proper relationship with his father. He stops writing the letters because he no longer needs to escape life.<br />
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I'd definitely recommend this to Bruce fans as it's basically a homage to him and is packed with references yet it also has a lot of depth to it too.<br />
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<span style="font-size: x-large;"><b>Verdict : 4 Stars !</b></span></div>
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Babysitters Club review on it's way,</div>
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Mimi</div>
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xheartx</div>
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Mimihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16705070197265851329noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9209536745992305284.post-67429938580162344772014-01-29T11:09:00.000-08:002014-01-29T11:14:56.374-08:00Review #10 - Saturday Night series by Caroline B. Cooney <div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: x-large;"><b>Dancing in the Dark,</b></span></div>
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A series that focuses on four dances that five very different girls attend.</div>
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The plot is basically this for each of the girls in each book:</div>
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<b><span style="font-size: x-large;">Anne</span></b> </div>
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The schools golden girl who suddenly finds herself pregnant in book one. </div>
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She recovers from this by the second book and nothing exciting really happens to her until the fourth book when she gets a job travelling round the world with an author</div>
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Unfortunately, in every single book of the series, Anne's main story is repetitive - she breaks up then gets back together with boyfriend and father of her child, Con, which shows weakness in character development as well as plot.</div>
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<b><span style="font-size: x-large;">Kip</span></b><b style="font-size: x-large;"> </b></div>
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Bossy and commanding Kip is the organiser of the dances and often the saviour of them as well - she put out a forest fire in book two and resolved petty crime in book one. </div>
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Kip meets Mike (utter annoyance) at the end of book one and finds herself torn between him and a waiter named Lee in book two, who she ends up with.<br />
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However, book 4, Kip is boyfriendless in the end but has a promising future in New York at college.</div>
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<b><span style="font-size: x-large;">Beth Rose</span><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></b></div>
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Previously a wallflower, Beth is transformed by Gary's love in book one when he pity's the fact that she's dateless. </div>
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In book three, she has a brief romance with one of Kip's younger brothers but in book four she meets photographer Jere who she ends up with.</div>
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<b><span style="font-size: x-large;">Molly</span></b></div>
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Not part of the same group as the other girls, Molly actually does everything to destroy them.<br />
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In book one, she invites a drunk college guy to the dance. Next , in book two, she starts the<br />
aforementioned forest fire and tries to drive Con and Anne apart.Book three, she attempts to get the girls arrested for false drug possession. </div>
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Finally, in book four, her attitude is changed dramatically when she falls for Blaze who she ends up with.</div>
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<b><span style="font-size: x-large;">Emily</span><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></b></div>
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I saved the best for last, Emily definitely has the best plot by far.</div>
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Making a dramatic entrance in book one, Emily barely makes it to the dance when her and her date the sweet, dashing Matt get caught in a storm with dangerous electrical wires surrounding them as they try to save a dying man after crashing their car.</div>
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In book two, Emily is kicked out of her house and almost attacked by Molly's date from book one.</div>
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The most romantic yet, in book three Matt proposes to Emily and book four follows her denial about the proposal when Matt gets an overseas job. She and Matt fortunately get a happy ending.</div>
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<b><span style="font-size: x-large;">Overall Opinion</span></b></div>
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On the whole, this series probably should've stopped at book one with a passage at the end about the futures of the girls as the characters plots don't really develop.<br />
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<span style="font-size: x-large;"><b>Verdict : 3 Stars !</b></span><br />
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Dear Bruce Springsteen review tomorrow maybe,<br />
Mimi<br />
xheartx<br />
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Mimihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16705070197265851329noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9209536745992305284.post-37241984395606701032014-01-28T11:49:00.000-08:002014-01-28T11:49:47.141-08:00Review #9 - Sweet Valley High #13 - Kidnapped ! by Francine Pascal <div style="text-align: center;">
<b style="font-size: xx-large;">I always feel like, Somebody's watching me,</b></div>
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<span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">Although it failed to triumph the greatness of the previous book in the series (<a href="http://babysittinginsweetvalley.blogspot.co.uk/2014/01/review-6-sweet-valley-high-12-when-love.html">see my review</a>) it was still one of the best Sweet Valley High books because of it's stellar ingredients : drama, far-fetched plot, a crazed stalker on the loose and Jessica's seductive flirting - which just about puts her on the same wave length in craziness and danger as the stalker.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">The plot continues directly from the previous book : </span></div>
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<span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">Elizabeth has been kidnapped by a mental orderly, Creepy Carl, at the hospital where she's working as a candy striper. </span></div>
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Unaware of these events, Jessica leaves for the rich,new and attractive Morrow's party where she meets Regina. She's the only Sweet Valley High character I know with a disability (she's deaf) and the star of a similar Sweet Valley High book #26 - Hostage which is just as good.</div>
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There's also Nicholas, her brother whose in college who Jessica has her sights set on - don't get your hopes up a Jessica, have you read the plot of the next book ? </div>
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After days in darkness and days of Jessica crying, Elizabeth is saved due to a slip up at the hospital where Carl mistook Jessica for Elizabeth - yet more proof why being a twin is better.</div>
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The novel ends with Elizabeth meeting Nicholas who gazes at her adoringly upon sight and Liz knows she's in for trouble.</div>
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Basically, it was like a slightly inferior version of my favourite Sweet Valley book - Sweet Valley High #7 - Dear Sister.</div>
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Another thing that made me love this book even more was that it's got me obsessed with the Sweet Valley High tv show because the three part episodes of this were absolutely amazing. </div>
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They add in the additional story of Carl (or as he is known in TV show, Peter) escaping from prison after being arrested for kidnapping Liz and kidnaps Jess. Still not as good as the books though but equally satisfying.</div>
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Can't wait for #14 - Deceptions !</div>
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<span style="font-size: x-large;"><b>Verdict : 5 Stars !</b></span></div>
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Look forward to a series review soon of the Saturday Night series,</div>
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Mimi</div>
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xheartx</div>
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Mimihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16705070197265851329noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9209536745992305284.post-63009609478257838382014-01-27T08:50:00.001-08:002014-01-27T09:00:57.074-08:00Review #8 - The Babysitters Club #40 - Claudia and the Middle School Mystery by Ann M. Martin<div style="text-align: center;">
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<span style="font-size: x-large;"><b>The only thing Claudia is guilty of is bad spelling,</b></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">No picture for this because it's the collection cover. I understand it's pretty unacceptable that this post is almost a week late. </span><br />
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<span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">But at least it's here now :</span><br />
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<span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">I've decided that, even though I've only read two books from her perspective, Claudia is my second favourite babysitter and Mary Anne is my least favourite - hence me not reading any books from her and reading books from all the other babysitters.</span><br />
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I absolutely adored the storyline of this one - Claudia is accused of cheating in Maths test off one of the best students in the class and must somehow prove her innocence therefore solving the mystery of why the other girl cheated.<br />
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Here's the reason for hating Mary Anne in this one : she actually thinks Claud cheated and says so but when the other babysitters get angry at her she bursts into tears so they forgive - Slap not hug Claud !<br />
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The main reasons for my love for this were : there were lots of anecdotes about babysitting, mystery's always tend to be my favourites and Janine was in it a lot (she's my favourite non-babysitter).<br />
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Although it wasn't as good as possibly my favourite ever Babysitters club book and the only other Claudia book I've ever read (I plan to change that soon) The Babysitters Club #2 - Claudia and the phantom phone calls it was still excellent.<br />
<br />
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<span style="font-size: x-large;"><b>Verdict : 5 stars !</b></span></div>
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Sweet Valley review coming soon,</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
Mimi</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
xheartx</div>
</div>
Mimihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16705070197265851329noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9209536745992305284.post-52838734109602519932014-01-25T06:13:00.002-08:002014-01-25T06:13:52.218-08:00Review #7 - Fear Street #3 - The Overnight by R.L Stine <div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: x-large;"><b>Keep with me forward, All through the night</b></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
Sorry, I didn't post this earlier - I've been pretty busy this week.<br />
<br />
No picture for this because yet a again it's the collection cover. The same shall go for the feature of my next review - The Babysitters Club #40 - Claudia and the Middle School Mystery by Ann M. Martin which will posted tomorrow.<br />
<br />
Back to the Present :<br />
One of the worst Fear Street books, particularly because I hate it when a supposedly dead character suddenly comes back to life.<br />
<br />
This far-fetched weakling has you actually rooting for the main characters to die, instead of stay alive, because they're utterly annoying. <br />
<br />
Maia was over-sensitive (which just reminded me of Mary Anne who's my least favourite member of the Babysitters Club), Suki was clearly flirting with Ricky so she was leading Gary on, Ricky's jokes were terrible,Della was an idiot and I could just about tolerate Pete and Gary.<br />
<br />
The plot was just as bad :<br />
<br />
The Outdoors Club's ( I seriously doubt there'd be so many members, all the people above) overnight gets postponed so they decide to go on their own overnight without a super visor.<br />
<br />
Surprisingly their motives aren't what you'd initially think.They actually start of the trip by playing an innocent game of paintball.<br />
<br />
Della comes across a 'handsome' gentleman, wearing a skull necklace , in the woods who proceeds to attack her. In act of self-defence she pushes him off a cliff and he 'dies'.<br />
<br />
The group decide not to contact the police but cover the body with leaves when it's windy. Seriously R.L ?<br />
<br />
When they return home, Della and Gary receive skulls, from the dead mans necklace, with<br />
threatening messages attached. Also, Pete and Della almost die in a car chase.<br />
<br />
What the group have forgotten though is that nows the time to go on the supervised overnight.<br />
<br />
Dead guy comes back to life and attempts to kill Della but is quickly arrested.<br />
<br />
What I've discovered is that I prefer Fear Street's were a character actually dies as they usually tend to be better.<br />
<br />
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<span style="font-size: x-large;"><b>Verdict : 3 stars !</b></span></div>
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Post again soon,</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
Mimi</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
xheartx</div>
</div>
Mimihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16705070197265851329noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9209536745992305284.post-78554574879446022582014-01-21T10:06:00.002-08:002014-01-21T10:13:02.492-08:00Review #6 - Sweet Valley High #12 - When love dies by Francine Pascal<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: x-large;"><b>It must have been love, but it's over now,</b></span></div>
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Posted a day early because plans fell through. No picture unfortunately because I only own the 3 in 1 that it's in so you'd be getting a picture of Deceptions.</div>
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My opinion :</div>
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It seems like ages since I've read a Sweet Valley High, since December I've only read Sweet Valley Twins books, and what a good decision it was to pick up this one, that I received for Christmas, to remind myself how far-fetched and loveable they are.</div>
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<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
This has to be one of my favourite Sweet Valley High book and maybe from every Sweet Valley series one of the best. In my opinion books 5 to 30 are the best from the SVH series are the best for plot in my opinion as the book proves.</div>
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<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
Both twins work as Candy Striper's at the hospital, Elizabeth to actually help out and Jessica to swoon a hospitalised <span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">SV resident celebrity. </span></div>
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<span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">Karma's a bitch (and so's Jessica) so Elizabeth ends up working on the ward that the aforementioned celebrity is on and ,downside, a creepy stalker who keeps asking her strange questions and watching her when he thinks she's not looking. Meanwhile Jessica's plan has majorly back-fired, again..., so she's working on the maternity ward run by a witch of a woman.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">This doesn't stop Jessica from going to see the celebrity and stirring up trouble by accidentally injuring him every time she tries to make him swoon.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">Elizabeth discovers the real motive for Jessica's volunteering and seeks revenge by getting the celebrity to fake propose to Jessica. Hilariously, Jessica actually considers marrying him but changes her mind - how convenient for the sake of the series.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">The book also focuses on their brother's, Steven, girlfriend's ,Tricia Martin, dilemma - Should she tell everyone she's got leukaemia ,including Steven ? </span><br />
<span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><br /></span>
<span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">The answer is yes and Tricia realises this after a lot of unnecessary crying and a break-up. They make-up after Steven's short- lived relationship with Cara Walker , one of Jessica's best friends (can you guess who set them up in the first place ?), crashes and burns.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">The ending is probably the best part of the book - Elizabeth is kidnapped by the mental orderly who has been stalking her all week ! This is the focus of the next book which I literally want to read right now - it might be even better !</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-large;"><b>Verdict : 5 out of 5 stars !</b></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
Coming soon : Fear Street #3 - The Overnight by R.L Stine Review,</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
Mimi</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
xheartx</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
Mimihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16705070197265851329noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9209536745992305284.post-78220215115424074352014-01-20T11:01:00.000-08:002014-01-20T11:01:21.221-08:00Review #5 - Babysitters Little Sister #4 - Karen's Kittycat Club by Ann M. Martin<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: x-large;"><b>Manic Monday,</b></span><br />
<br /></div>
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<img height="400" src="webkit-fake-url://0F89EF30-466F-49B7-95C2-83F7B6E2BB2C/imagejpeg" width="298" /><br />
(Photo belongs to me)<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: left;">
So I actually read this book on Friday but have only just managed to post this. The day after tomorrow I'll be posting a Sweet Valley High review so look forward to that.</div>
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<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
Anyway here's my thoughts on this book :</div>
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<br /></div>
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So as per usual these books are incomparable to the greatness that is it's predecessor The Babysitters Club, but they're rather cute.</div>
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In case you didn't know, these books focus on Kristy's 7 year old stepsister Karen's antics.</div>
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<br /></div>
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This book focuses on Karen wanting to be like Kristy (why Kristy when there's Stacey, Claudia practically anyone else in Stoneybrook ?) so she creates her own club about cat-sitting - so naive !</div>
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<br /></div>
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Predictably the club fails but Karen does learn some important lessons - such as karma will get you if you even admire Kristy. What I learnt was that Karen's a better speller than Claudia even though Claud's 9 years older than her.</div>
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The cover has to be one of my favourites of the series even though the even worse equivalent of Mary Anne yet a stylish version,Nancy isn't on the cover.</div>
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<span style="font-size: x-large;"><b>Verdict : 2 Stars !</b></span></div>
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Until Wednesday,</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
Mimi</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
xheartx</div>
</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<img src="webkit-fake-url://041D388C-628D-4509-A2C7-9A912543E512/imagejpeg" /></div>
Mimihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16705070197265851329noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9209536745992305284.post-41039546133858437502014-01-18T14:29:00.000-08:002014-01-18T14:29:52.569-08:00Book Haul #1 <div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: x-large;"><b>So many books, So little time,</b></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
Today I was pretty successful on my shopping expedition although I unfortunately didn't get any Sweet Valley or Babysitters Club books. I did however get some things I didn't even know I wanted.</div>
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<br /></div>
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I shall list what they are from the top down and why I bought them/what they're about.</div>
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<br /></div>
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Anyway here are the books (and cassette) :</div>
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<img height="298" src="webkit-fake-url://F1BD8C8E-FE03-47BD-BAC0-A84A26EC9E3E/imagejpeg" width="400" /></div>
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(Photo belongs to me)</div>
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<b>The Police - Every Breath you take - The Singles Cassette 50p in Cancer Research UK</b><br />
<b><br /></b></div>
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The Police are my favourite band (as well as loving 80's books I love the music and movies - I don't listen to anything that was released after the 90's) so I couldn't resist when I saw this for such a low price. </div>
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I love that it lists the lyrics and particularly the order form for a VHS showcasing their music videos for £16. Oh the world before YouTube ! </div>
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<b>The complete guide to the music of Bruce Springsteen by Patrick Humphries £1.99 in Oxfam</b></div>
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Bruce is my favourite lyricist and my second favourite singer after Sting so I was overjoyed when I discovered this.</div>
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Essentially it ranks and explains the history of every Springsteen song up to his album 'The Ghost of Tom Joad' including pictures of The Boss through the years.</div>
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I want the complete guide to the music of Sting and The Police now which is listed on the back.</div>
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<b>Samantha Slade #2 - Confessions of a Teenage Frog by Susan Smith 40p in Martin House Hospice </b></div>
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<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
I first heard of this series on Cliquey Pizza's (awesome Blog you should totally check it out by the way) A-Z of 80's YA series' and immediately added it to my TBR - who wouldn't love a horror<br />
version of The Babysitters Club ?</div>
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<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
Therefore when I saw the sequel I snapped it up immediately. It sounds extremely far-fetched but<br />
that's what you expect from 80's YA.<br />
<br />
<b>Different Directions by Theresa Breslin 40p in Martin House Hospice</b><br />
<b><br /></b>
The plot line of this is so unrealistic - a teens Mother decides to go back to school and goes to the same school as her daughter. The teen is embarrassed but all her friends love her mother and she may even be dating her Maths teacher.<br />
<br />
This sounds utterly hilarious so I can't wait to read it.<br />
<br />
<b>Point Romance - Russian Nights by Robyn Turner 50p in Scope</b><br />
<b><br /></b>
The cover is very cringe worthy for public viewing and so is the story - ballet student falls for a sexy Russian Dancer but they could be torn apart before their relationship even starts.<br />
<br />
This doesn't stop me wanting to pick it up soon though.<br />
<br />
<b>Point Horror - The Snowman by R.L Stine 50p in Scope</b><br />
<b><br /></b>
I have already read this but I only owned it in a point horror collection and I wanted to own that spine chilling cover so I bought it.<br />
<br />
One of R.L Stine's best and creepiest.<br />
<br />
<b>Magenta #2 - Magenta in the Pink by Echo Freer 89p in Oxfam</b><br />
<b><br /></b>
I have read and own the rest of this series which I love dearly.<br />
<br />
It's similar to the Georgia Nicholas series for humour value so I'd recommend it to fans of that.<br />
<br />
<b>This final book I didn't purchase today but weeks ago but it arrived today.</b><br />
<b><br /></b>
<b>The Lying Game #6 - Seven minutes in heaven by Sara Shepard </b><br />
<b><br /></b>
The conclusion I've been anticipating - I can't wait to see how this ends.<br />
<br />
I shall be back tomorrow with a review,<br />
Mimi<br />
xheartx<br />
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Mimihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16705070197265851329noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9209536745992305284.post-36735618937652934172014-01-17T09:24:00.000-08:002014-01-17T10:43:55.860-08:00Review #4 - Sweet Dreams #99 - One boy too many by Marian Caudell or Seriously Marian, just let her date them both !<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: x-large;"><b>Friday Fabulousness,</b></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
My first review in months but what actually feels like years and boy am I happy to be reviewing again. Been busy the last couple of days that's why this wasn't up on the day after I read this (Tuesday).</div>
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<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
Heads up for tomorrow - a book haul may be posted. Unfortunately last week when I went shopping I only got 1 book - Sweet Valley at least for 5p ! But another from a mini series -second in a series I don't own the rest of.I hate it when that happens. The town I'm going to tomorrow I haven't been to since October so the shops should be well stocked - including one that practically specialises in 80's/90's books.</div>
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<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
Anyway onto Today's review (couldn't find a picture of this one sorry) :<br />
<br />
I seriously regret that I don't own any more of these - I shall hope to buy some more tomorrow or if not in my monthly Amazon order - and also regret not picking them up sooner.<br />
<br />
Splendid story again : an avid reader (who I felt very poignant to) has to choose between two identical twins with very two very different personalities - which I can't fathom how she managed to do because they were both equally attractive.<br />
<br />
My personal favourite parts were the 80's mall scenes as they went into excruciating detail about the dresses and books at the time. Also the poolside scenes were pretty cool.<br />
<br />
Not as good as Sweet Dreams #83 - Love by the book by Anne Park - the only other a Sweet Dreams book I've read - but still amazing !<br />
<br />
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<span style="font-size: x-large;"><b>Verdict : 5 out of 5 Stars</b></span></div>
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</div>
<blockquote class="tr_bq" style="text-align: left;">
Don't forget to comment below about what you thought of this post or you not allowed to date the other twin,</blockquote>
Mimi<br />
xheartx </div>
Mimihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16705070197265851329noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9209536745992305284.post-34416625784613346932014-01-13T08:33:00.000-08:002014-01-13T08:33:31.147-08:00New Schedule<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: x-large;"><b>A Change of Heart,</b></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
So I know I said that this Blog would only be for read-a-thon's but I've changed my mind due to the amount of attention the Blog's gotten this week.</div>
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<br /></div>
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From now on I shall be posting every two to three days and the posts shall be either a review, book haul or anything else I feel like posting.</div>
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<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
I won't be doing a read-a-thon wrap-up because I ended up reading less than I'd read in a normal week during the read-a-thon week funnily enough.</div>
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<br /></div>
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I hope you continue to love this Blog and I promise to try not to abandon it again,</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
Mimi</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
xheartx</div>
Mimihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16705070197265851329noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9209536745992305284.post-37383018969619290012014-01-11T05:34:00.001-08:002014-01-11T05:34:52.171-08:00Bout of Books 9.0 Read-a-thon Update #5 and Book Spines Poetry Challenge<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: x-large;"><b>Keep Reading, Keep Breathing,</b></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: x-large;"><b>Update #5 </b></span></div>
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Yesterday I again managed not to surrender to sleep and woke up earlier so I could finish Sweet Valley Twins #10 - One of the Gang by Francine Pascal. </div>
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<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
It ended up actually being one of the worst Sweet Valley (maybe even <b>THE </b>worst Sweet Valley Twins books) books I've ever read. It did have some good points - such as how Jessica broke her ankle (hilarious) and the last 30 pages or so - however this doesn't redeem the fact that the rest of the book was utterly unexciting. Can't wait for the next book though - it could potentially be the best SVT book ! My verdict of this was 4 stars - all other Sweet Valley books I've rated 5 stars, except for SVH #2 - Secrets which was equally atrocious.</div>
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<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
Last night I did a lot more procrastinating than reading, as I only reached page 56 in The Lying Game #4 - Hide and Seek by Sara Shepard.<br />
<br />
<b>SERIOSLY THOUGH, IF YOU LOVE THE BABYSITTERS CLUB YOU NEEED TO CHECK OUT THE URL BELOW :</b><br />
<b>http://www.buzzfeed.com/summeranne/the-definitive-ranking-of-baby-sitters-club-cover-outfits</b><br />
<b><br /></b>
Anyway today I want to get to page 150, at least, of <span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">The Lying Game </span><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">#4 - Hide and Seek by Sara Shepard.</span><br />
<span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><br /></span>
<span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0); font-size: x-large;"><b>Book Spines Poetry Challenge</b></span><br />
<br />
This challenge is pretty simple - you take the titles of the books you have and put them together to make a Poem.<br />
<br />
You can compare this year's to last year's if you want by clicking on this URL :<br />
http://abonkersbookaholic.blogspot.co.uk/2013/07/summer-lovin-read-thon-update-4-my.html<br />
<br />
<span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">My Attempt (this year) :</span><br />
<span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><br /></span>
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<span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><img height="300" src="webkit-fake-url://4CAD7E15-CED4-446F-B048-86819DF0C618/imagejpeg" width="400" /></span></div>
<span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><br /></span>
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<span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0); font-size: x-small;">(Photo belongs to me)</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0); font-size: x-small;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">Charlotte, Olivia,</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">Best Friends,</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">Two Weeks in Paradise,</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">Behind Closed Doors,</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">Unbelievable Secrets,</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">Wanted Killer,</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">Paradise Lost...</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">Personally I love it because it sounds like the synopsis of an 80's YA novel.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
Book Haul Coming soon ?,</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
Mimi</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
xheartx</div>
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Mimihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16705070197265851329noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9209536745992305284.post-21133334934401701342014-01-10T08:26:00.001-08:002014-01-10T08:26:51.381-08:00Bout of Books 9.0 Read-a-thon Update #4 and Double Date Book Challenge <div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: x-large;"><b>It's Friday, I'm in Love,</b></span></div>
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After denying you of the previous two days challenges you finally get one. Enjoy !</div>
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<span style="font-size: x-large;"><b>Update #4</b></span></div>
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On Thursday morning, I forced myself to wake up early to finish Fear Street #2 - The Surprise Party by R.L Stine due to the massive cliff-hanger I ended myself on the previous evening. Needless to say I finished it ,reading from page 154 to the end page 167,but it ended up not being the best but not being the worst. </div>
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I thought I'd figured out the murderer but then came the end that quickly abolished that prediction. My favourite thing about it was the fact that there were some re-occurring characters from book one which I've never come across in an R.L Stine book before. My favourite part was when she opened her lunch bag and thought there was blood inside but it was of course paint - typical cheesiness of a 80's YA horror book !</div>
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Unfortunately I only got to page 62 of 104 of Sweet Valley Twins #10 - One of the Gang by Francine Pascal.<br />
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Today I've finished it and hope to get to at least page 100 of The Lying Game #4 - Hide and Seek by Sara Shepard.</div>
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<span style="font-size: x-large;"><b>Double Date Book Challenge</b></span></div>
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The concept of this challenge is that you have to pick two books that have connection (same<br />
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era,genre etc) and say why they should go on a date together.</div>
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My choices :</div>
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<b>The Babysitter's Club #1 - Kristy's Great Idea by Ann M. Martin</b></div>
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<b>+ </b></div>
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<b>Sweet Valley High #1 - Double Love by Francine Pascal</b></div>
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I paired them together because they both basically share the crown for Best Original (by this I mean not one of their spin-offs like Sweet Valley Twins) and most successful 80's YA series. I can guarantee that when you pick up either of these you'll be hooked for life.</div>
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Possibly a Book Haul tomorrow,<br />
Mimi<br />
xheartx</div>
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Mimihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16705070197265851329noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9209536745992305284.post-17972471228605757582014-01-09T08:41:00.000-08:002014-01-09T08:41:53.499-08:00Bout of Books 9.0 Read-a-thon Update #3 <div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><b>Halfway there, Living on a Prayer,</b></span></div>
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Challenge wasn't my forte yet again so here's a simple but effective post.</div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><b>Update #3</b></span></div>
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Yesterday I failed my goal by only reading up to page 154 of 167 of Fear Street #2 - The Surprise Party by R.L Stine.<br />
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Today I've finished it and plan to start and finish Sweet a Valley Twins #10 - One of the Gang by Francine Pascal.I also plan to read at least 25 pages into The Lying Game #4 - Hide and Seek by Sara Shepard.<br />
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I shall be doing a challenge tomorrow hopefully despite being busy,<br />
Mimi<br />
xheartx</div>
Mimihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16705070197265851329noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9209536745992305284.post-64916423510411836072014-01-08T09:10:00.002-08:002014-01-08T09:10:43.439-08:00Bout of Books Read-a-thon Update #2 <div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><b>Good to see you've survived so far,</b></span></div>
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So I didn't want to participate in the challenge yesterday because is there really anyone who would be perfect enough to voice any of the Sweet Valley characters, never mind the Wakefield twins, in a radio show ? I think not. Therefore this post shall be short but sweet unlike Lila Fowler.</div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><b>Update #2</b></span></div>
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Yesterday<span style="font-size: xx-small;"> </span>I managed to start and finish The Babysitter's Club #39 - Poor Mallory by Ann M. Martin. I thought the plot was phenomenal and my favourite part was definitely Mallory's speech to the mean girls. I'd rate it 5 out of 5 stars. </div>
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I read the whole 137 pages of the book yesterday and nothing else - slightly better than Monday however I still want to read at least 200 pages today. Already I've read 28 pages today out of 167 of Fear Street #2 - The Surprise Party by R.L Stine so I hope to finish it by the end of the day as well as trying to get to page 50 of Sweet Valley Twins #10 - One of the Gang by Francine Pascal.</div>
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Until tomorrow,</div>
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Mimi</div>
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xheartx</div>
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Mimihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16705070197265851329noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9209536745992305284.post-7523010511901239872014-01-07T10:31:00.000-08:002014-01-07T10:31:32.004-08:00Bout of Books 9.0 Update #1 and Book Buying Spree Challenge <div style="text-align: center;">
Hope you're doing well,my fellow participants ,</div>
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Please note that all read-a-thon posts are likely to be posted a day late.<br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><b>Update #1</b></span></div>
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Yesterday I managed to complete Nancy Drew Files #45 - Out of Bounds.It exceeded my expectations as it turned out to be the third best (Perfect Plot and High Risk are better) Nancy Drew Files book that I've read so far. Overall I'd rate it 3.5 out of 5 stars because it was unpredictable and action-packed.<br />
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I had already read 55 pages of the book before the read-a-thon therefore my total for day one was a disappointing 97 pages. I hope to do better today by completing Babysitter's Club #39 - Poor Malllory ! by Ann M. Martin - before and during school I managed to get to page 21 out of 137.<br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><b>Book Buying Spree Challenge</b></span></div>
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This concept was created by Bookish Comforts and I myself couldn't wait to give it a go. Unfortunately I'm not old enough to enter the giveaway but I'll do it for fun.</div>
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Basically what you have to imagine you've been given $100 to spend on The Book Depository and pick books from your wish list till you reach this total.</div>
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My picks :</div>
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Sweet Valley Senior Year #21 - The It Guy by Francine Pascal $3.94 </div>
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<span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">Sweet Valley Senior Year #36 - Tearing me apart by Francine Pascal $3.94</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">The Babysitter's Club #0.5 - The Summer Before by Ann M. Martin $5.33 </span></div>
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Fear Street #5 - Wrong Number by R.L Stine $5.60 </div>
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Fear Street #39 - The Boy Next Door by R.L Stine $5.41</div>
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Sweet Valley High #4 - Power Play by Francine Pascal $5.62</div>
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Sweet Valley High #3 - Playing with Fire by Francine Pascal $5.65 </div>
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Miss Peregrine's home for peculiar children the graphic novel by Ransom Riggs $15.86 </div>
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Forever by Judy Blume $7.61 </div>
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Tiger Eyes by Judy Blume $6.30</div>
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Signs of Love #2 - Stupid Cupid by Melody James $7.07</div>
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<span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">Signs of Love #3 - Paris crush by Melody James $7.97</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">Signs of Love #4 - Destiny Date by Melody James $7.33</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">Nancy Drew Files #125 - Teen Model by Carolyn Keene $5.64</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">Fear Street Superchiller - New Year's Party by R.L Stine $6.99</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">My Total came to $100.26 </span></div>
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See you tomorrow,</div>
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Mimi</div>
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xheartx</div>
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Mimihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16705070197265851329noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9209536745992305284.post-65236882840021091302014-01-06T08:54:00.001-08:002014-01-06T08:54:46.542-08:00Bout of Books 9.0 Read-a-thon Announcement<div style="text-align: center;">
Long time no post readers,</div>
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So I'm posting today to announce that this Blog, for the meantime, shall only be used for read-a-thon posts and possibly book hauls. I'm sorry but my life is simply too busy as of now to write detailed reviews and I myself would prefer a quality review over a basic review.</div>
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Moving on,today I shall be posting my sign up post for Bout of Books 9.0. I've participated in one of their read-a-thons before and hope to outdo my previous totals.</div>
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Go to main website for a description of the read-a-thon if you're interested in joining.<br />
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My TBR consists of :<br />
Nancy Drew Files #45 - Out of Bounds by Carolyn Keene (I'm on page 67 at the minute and read 55 pages before the read-a-thon began)<br />
Babysitter's Club #39 - Poor Mallory ! by Ann M. Martin<br />
Fear Street #2 - The Surprise Party by R.L Stine<br />
Sweet Valley Twins #10 - One of the Gang by Francine Pascal<br />
Witch by Christopher Pike<br />
Babysitter's little sister #4 - Karen's Kittycat club by Ann M. Martin<br />
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(And if they arrive from Amazon)<br />
<br />
The Lying Game #4 - Hide and Seek by Sara Shepard<br />
Teach me by R.A Nelson<br />
Point Romance - Saturday Night #4 - Summer Nights by Caroline B. Cooney<br />
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Wish me luck,<br />
Mimi<br />
xheartx<br />
<br /></div>
Mimihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16705070197265851329noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9209536745992305284.post-12200272102102909692013-11-06T15:00:00.000-08:002013-11-06T15:00:09.317-08:00Review #3 - Point Horror - Homecoming Queen by John Hall or Seriously John, death in the Laundromat ?<div class="separator" style="clear: right; float: right; height: 1px; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em; text-align: left;">
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<img alt="Homecoming Queen by John Hall (Paperback, 1997)" class="bimg cu1" height="640" id="b_img1" src="http://i.ebayimg.com/t/Homecoming-Queen-John-Hall-Paperback-1997/01/!!d7md-Q!WM~$(KGrHqJ,!gwE)CWlHZ4cBMRojSNm0Q~~_32.JPG" style="height: 400px; width: 250px;" width="400" /></div>
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<strong><span style="font-size: x-large;">Hello Book Lovers,</span></strong></div>
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<strong><span style="font-size: x-large;">WARNING THIS REVIEW CONTAINS SPOILERS</span></strong></div>
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The story begins on the first day of the school year with our main character Melissa (ordinary PH) showing her friends ,since she began attending the school last Winter , Celeste DiPagila (Is that even a proper name ? she's the Mary Anne of the story) and Izzy (pretty much Claudia but if Claudia wore outrageous vintage pieces) , the transformation she undertook during the Summer for Senior year - basically Melissa's looks have gone from Mallory to Stacey.</div>
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Thanks to her new found beauty Seth, boy next door type ,her crush is caught checking her out in the hall much to the distaste of mean girls Laurel (who previously dated him and refuses to let him go - sounds like she's escaped from The Girlfriend by R.L Stine) and Betsy (whose name strangely makes me think of a cow so I guess her personality fits).</div>
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During homeroom there's an announcement of the first Homecoming for 25 years. Que time for the plot to kick in. </div>
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After a strange conversation about Tasty Tuna (Seriously John?) killing dolphins - Seriously John, did you steal this from a Dawn rant in BSC ? - Melissa asks why there hasn't been a Homecoming for so long.</div>
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It turns the last Homecoming Queen Brenda Sheldon was killed in a car accident after the last Homecoming dance along with 5 other students and the dance hasn't been held since to respect them. The dance is being held again because the school needs funding because it's basically more of a dump than most of the houses on Fear Street.</div>
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Seth comes up to the table to join them and when he leaves Laurel threatens Melissa to stay away from Seth because he belongs to her just like the Homecoming Queen crown. Melissa decides to prove Laurel wrong and runs for Homecoming in order to beat her and Betsy (the cow). </div>
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Her campaign begins when she <strong>breaks into the school</strong> to put up her posters up before the other contestants.Naughty Point Horror teaching us to commit crimes and foul play <strong>again</strong>. Suspiciously and sensibly Celeste stays in the car as she fears admonishment. </div>
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When she's putting the posters up she discovers the Homecoming Queens throne, robe, crown and scepter in the theatre room and on human impulsive tries them on then sits on the throne. Her dreams of the crown are interrupted when she looks up and sees a sand bag (Seriously John, couldn't you think of a more intimidating weapon ?) headed for her head.</div>
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Predictably she escapes in the nick of time and notices that Laurel, Betsy (a cow and a spy) and Betsy's creepy boyfriend (if she's a cow would that make him a bull?) Zach.Their relationship is described as being like Fatal attraction. Look at Point Horror naming the films they've ripped off. The terror trio have ripped all of her posters down - mean people are mean - so she leaves in a hissy fit like the mature seventeen year old she is.</div>
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The next day the first week's (out of 3) Homecoming Queen results are announced and Melissa's in the lead thanks to a light effect Izzy did with the posters. Of course Laurel comes over to the table in a furious rage saying she'll be Homecoming Queen no matter what. Seriously John , they'll be at college next year it won't even matter then and no one will remember, stop with the over dramatic statements. </div>
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Seth offers to ride Melissa home (don't carpool with almost strangers Melissa) and a revelation occurs. He spent $20 dollars worth of votes for Melissa to become Homecoming Queen - which is a fine line on the border of creepy and romantic - and they kiss making a date for next Saturdays county fair . Seriously John, a county fair ?</div>
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Anyway the 'walking on sunshine' feeling comes to an abrupt end when she returns home to an angry Celeste whom she'd accidentally double booked (yeah sounds like Mary Anne in my previous read Babysitters mystery #26) but she's forgiven when told the reason.</div>
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At the library that evening Melissa meets other Homecoming contestants Tia and Faith - the schools friendly gossipers. So basically a duo version of Caroline Pearce (SVT).They invite her to a 'popular' party and she's overjoyed - way to ditch your friends.</div>
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On her way home she sees a girl in a white blood stained dress resembling Brenda Sheldon who tells her "Wear the crown and you will die ... just like me." So from Friday -Monday none of the lights in my house were working. Can you imagine how much scarier this scene seemed with only a feeble lamp at midnight ? </div>
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Izzy convinces her the next day that it was probably Laurel or Betsy (a ghostly cow?) but it plays on Melissa's mind for days. </div>
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Seth invites Melissa to go roller-skating on Friday (like in my previous re-cap of Left Behind coincidentally) and she agrees obviously. But oh the horror ! She's double-booked accidentally again (unorganised idiot). </div>
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Celeste - whose making herself more clearly crazy by the chapter - throws another hissy fit because they were supposed to be going shopping for Homecoming dresses however Melissa resolves the issue by going shopping with them that evening. </div>
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At the mall that evening, Melissa spots a sexy scarlet dress -Seth's in for something good - in the boutique but deems it inappropriate. Eventually she picks a strappy teal dress instead - doesn't sound quite so appealing. Poor Seth.</div>
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Laurel overhears them talking about Melissa going to the dance with Seth and so ensues a jealous rage. Melissa blames it on Izzy because she practically screamed across the shop about Seth. They make up again when Izzy has another great idea - watch out Kristy she's giving you a run for your babysitting money - give out chocolates with 'Vote for Melissa' written on a strip of paper inside.</div>
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Tension and double booking rise again (Seriously John?) when news of the party reach them as it clashes with their John Hughes movie marathon - don't you forget about them Melissa. They claim she's ditched them for the popular crowd (which she totally has) and she storms out.</div>
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Flash forward to the next day when Melissa's at the gym and so are Laurel, Faith,Izzy as well as Zach. She and Faith rest after their workout by getting carrot juices at the bar (yuck! A Dawn concoction) together but Faith leaves to use the tanning beds soon after.</div>
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Big mistake! The tanning bed was tampered with so it would burn her so she couldn't run for Homecoming Queen anymore or have her party.</div>
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It's Friday, Friday gotta get down on Friday - time for Seth and Melissa's roller-skating date. Seth asks Melissa to the Homecoming dance and she's only just had time to accept when Laurel (her companion cow not far behind) interrupts by 'spraining her ankle' directly in front of them forcing Seth rushes her to hospital.</div>
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To soothe her achy breaky heart she goes to see a carefree horror movie with her friends called The Strangler. Barely into the film Melissa feel like someone's strangling her and they are but not intentionally - mistaken identity.</div>
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Something sinister is awaiting Melissa at home - a bouquet of dead roses with a note attached that says :</div>
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THESE FLOWERS ARE DEAD</div>
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AND SOON YOU WILL BE TOO</div>
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To clarify that Brenda Sheldon is not victimising her , like any sane person, Melissa chooses to got to a graveyard in the middle of the night to check if she has a grave. Seriously John ? Izzy accompanies her however not for long as Izzy suddenly disappears and Brenda comes crawling out of her grave ,lunging for Melissa! Of course it's actually a dream - YA may be far-fetched but not the far-fetched *coughs* except for *coughs* SVH The Evil Twin *coughs*.</div>
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In P.E the next day Tia asks to borrow Melissa's text book from her locker.When she opens Melissa's locker a swarm of ruthless bees are unleashed and begin worsening her complexion. Melissa's convinced that Laurel and Betsy (I suppose cows are good bee-charmers) are guilty but when she tells them her suspicions they say that she put the bees in her own locker knowing that Tia would have to borrow a text book - because that's totally logical.Zach might be the one who's truly the culprit as he was sighted by Celeste near the scene of the crime - told you he was shifty.</div>
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Melissa wins the homecoming queen vote count yet again but there's still another week until the winner is announced. The happiness continues on her date with Seth on Saturday at the county fair were they do the cliché things : he wins her a teddy bear on the bullseye hammer thing and after that they share a steamy kiss in the tunnel of love - Ooh Saucy !</div>
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Unfortunately there isn't a perfect ending to this evening because Seth takes Melissa to the haunted house. Somehow they become separated in the hall of mirrors and Melissa ends up being almost be-headed by a masked axman (which turns out not to be part of the attraction) but luckily only the teddy suffers his wrath. R.I.P Teddy.</div>
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The weekend becomes progressively worse when she gets a phone call that tells her "Almost lost your head tonight, Melissa. That would have been awful. A Queen can't wear her crown without her head." </div>
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Things don't improve on Monday as Betsy takes the Homecoming Queen crown instead of her and Izzy threatens to kill her so Melissa can have her dream night with Homecoming King Seth.</div>
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That night Melissa goes to the Laundromat. Later she's thirsty so leaves for a short while. Upon her return she notices that the washers cycle is complete and reaching inside it she finds a severed head... </div>
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Thankfully it's a fake planted there by Laurel and Betsy (cows just wanna have fun !) and she leaves as they cackle. Seriously John, this story is set in the late 20th century, does no one have a washing machine in this town ?</div>
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Melissa's halfway home when she realises she's forgotten the text book she was revising from at the Laundromat so she goes back for it. Instead of finding her textbook though she finds Betsy's corpse ! Seriously John, death in the Laundromat ?</div>
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Melissa's Homecoming Queen now but she might not even be able to go to the dance because she finds her dress slashed to shreds. Celeste has a back up for her though - a beautiful white fairytale dress that belonged to her Aunt.</div>
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Melissa didn't even know Celeste had an Aunt so she begins asking questions about her and Celeste tells her it was Brenda Sheldon ! Before you know it knifes out,Celeste is confessing to everything. Her motive was that she didn't want anyone to replace her Aunt as Homecoming Queen and that Brenda had become a disrespected myth. </div>
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The book ends with Celeste being electrocuted by a pond (Seriously John?) and Melissa ends up with a happily ever after.</div>
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This is another really awesome point horror - there's plenty of 'scary' scenes and the ending is pretty unpredictable. The cover gives a good demonstration of the goodness - not as spine tingling as Spring Break but better than Call Waiting. Just proves that you should judge books by their covers kids.</div>
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My rating of Homecoming Queen : 4 out of 5 stars</div>
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<span style="font-size: x-large;"><strong>If you liked this Post please don't forget to Comment.</strong></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-large;"><strong>If you've read Homecoming Queen please share your opinion of it.</strong></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-large;"><strong>Don't forget to Follow this Blog and Share the love with your friends!</strong></span></div>
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Another re-cap will be posted promptly, </div>
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Mimi</div>
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Mimihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16705070197265851329noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9209536745992305284.post-71728591567415301212013-11-03T12:00:00.000-08:002013-11-04T10:34:01.794-08:00My Resurrection<div align="center">
<strong><span style="font-size: x-large;">Let's just all agree that ,like SV and BSC, I suck at continuity,</span></strong></div>
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Hey faithful readers,</div>
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So this is my second apology post in less than a month about the absence of posts.</div>
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Unfortunately this time there isn't really an excuse - I've had a whole week off to post away. </div>
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The fact is I'm just a pure procrastinator. As far as I'm aware I was basically in a coma after Tuesday because ,as far the last 4 days are concerned, I haven't accomplished anything except eating too much Halloween candy !</div>
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So I'm resurrecting the blog and my life - wave goodbye to those unnecessary hours of Youtube watching and say hello to writing 3 posts a week.</div>
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Fingers crossed I keep my promise this time.</div>
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Oh and on another note I won't be reviewing The Ruling Class because that book was awful and I didn't even survive to the end.</div>
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Do look forward to reviews of these books this week :</div>
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Point Horror - Homecoming Queen by John Hall </div>
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The Babysitters Club Mystery #26 - Dawn Schafer, Undercover Babysitter (such a funny title) by Ann M Martin</div>
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Point - Love lessons by David Belbin</div>
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<span style="font-size: x-large;"><strong>Don't forget to Follow this Blog, Comment and Share the love with your friends !</strong></span></div>
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See you soon,</div>
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Mimi</div>
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Mimihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16705070197265851329noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9209536745992305284.post-21535438693602111492013-10-26T12:00:00.000-07:002013-10-26T12:00:00.764-07:00Currently Reading #2 - The Ruling Class by Francine Pascal<div align="center">
<img alt="The Ruling Class" id="coverImage" src="https://d202m5krfqbpi5.cloudfront.net/books/1347954345l/2159793.jpg" /><a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/2159793.The_Ruling_Class" title="The Ruling Class"></a></div>
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(Picture belongs to Goodreads)</div>
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<strong><span style="font-size: x-large;">Hello Readers,</span></strong></div>
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So this isn't a Book Haul because I only got 3 books :( so I'm waiting until I accumulate enough to do one . On the Brightside I've just ordered 23 books as My Birthday present and I'm off school this week so shopping opportunities are destined to arise.</div>
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Luckily for you I'm posting something else. A Currently Reading Post of a modern book by Francine Pascal - Sweet Valley's creator !</div>
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<strong><span style="font-size: x-large;">Blurb :</span></strong></div>
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<span id="freeText882598965373664876">In the posh suburban Dallas high school of Highland Park, the beautiful and perfect Jeanette Sue is queen. The Ruling Class, her clique of spectacularly cruel girls, runs the school. Brutally. And no one questions them. Certainly not the little suck-up Myrna Fry, whose only aim in life is to be part of the Ruling Class, no matter what or who gets trashed. It's a nightmare school caught in the grips of terror until the arrival of the totally undesirable, absolutely unfashionable, and -- way worse -- poor Twyla Gay Stark. And then, of course, there is the tall and gorgeous hunk, Ryder McQuaid, Jeanette Sue's property. Or so Jeanette Sue thinks.</span></div>
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<strong><span style="font-size: x-large;">My Current Thoughts :</span></strong></div>
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I'm on page 21 out of 176 at the moment and I already know it doesn't even compare to SVH . Sure Jeanette Sue's a lot meaner than Jessica but literally none of the characters are relatable whereas ,with SV, I share qualities with pretty much every character.</div>
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This doesn't mean I'm not enjoying this Mean Girl's style read because after all I do love an excellent antagonist so Jeanette Sue and the rest of the clique is awesome.</div>
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One issue with this book - why does everybody have a double barrelled first name ?<br />
Seriously Francine - Jeanette Sue, Myrna Fry (what sort of name is that anyway ?), Twyla Gay, Anna Marie, Mary Anne (BSC!) and Betty Jane - ?<br />
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<strong><span style="font-size: x-large;">Teaser Tidbit :</span></strong></div>
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Basically a Teaser Tidbit challenge is a showcase of a taster from my current read to entice you to add it to your TBR pile. <br />
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<strong><span style="font-size: x-large;">"With her so blond hair (somebody said it's not really blond, but they don't know) and her aqua eyes (I heard they're colour contacts, but I don't believe that) and the whitest teeth (this girl in my math class said they're all caps, but that's not true), she's way the most perfect girl in the school." - page 2</span></strong><br />
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Sound familiar? Minus the parts in brackets and Multiply by 2 you've got a standard SV opening. Seriously Francine ?<br />
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<strong><span><span style="font-size: x-large;">Don't forget to Follow this Blog, Comment and Share the love with your friends !</span></span></strong></div>
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<strong><span><span style="font-size: x-large;">You wouldn't want to face the wrath of Jeanette Sue, would you ? </span></span></strong></div>
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Review/Recap of this will be up tomorrow most likely,<br />
Mimi<br />
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Mimihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16705070197265851329noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9209536745992305284.post-9316967572613119342013-10-22T15:00:00.000-07:002013-10-22T15:00:02.937-07:00Review #2 - Sweet Valley Twins #21 - Left behind by Francine Pascal or Seriously Francine,a gold digger?<div align="center">
<img alt="Left Behind (Sweet Valley Twins, #21)" height="400" id="coverImage" src="https://d202m5krfqbpi5.cloudfront.net/books/1366000559l/10102907.jpg" width="240" /></div>
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<strong><span style="font-size: x-large;">Good evening readers,</span></strong></div>
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I know there was never a currently reading post for this but that's because I read this in one sitting on Saturday so I didn't really see the point in doing one.<br />
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My next post probably won't be until the weekend because I'm working my way through my modern books at the moment and taking a break from Nightmare Hall. But you're in luck because my Saturday post will probably be a Book Haul because I'm going to one of my best towns for 80's and 90's books.</div>
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Expect a lot more posts soon though because on Friday, half-term break commences.</div>
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Back to the present and the review :</div>
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<strong><span style="font-size: x-large;">WARNING THIS REVIEW CONTAINS SPOILERS </span></strong></div>
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In my opinion this is one of the weakest Sweet Valley books I've read because it was more focused on Elizabeth's friend Sarah than the actual twins. However that doesn't mean that it didn't have enough drama to outshine any daytime soap.</div>
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First let me introduce you to our main character (I won't bother introducing you to the usual characters) Sarah and her train-wreck of a family. Sarah is a member of Elizabeth's posse and has recently been suffering problems at home due to her father's gold digger fiancé.<br />
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<span lang="">The story starts with it's generic opening of the twins descriptions and extra-curriclars as if we needed reminding for the millionth time that the twins are more beautiful, Elizabeth's smarter and Jessica's wilder than we'll ever be. <br />
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We then move on to the actual story with Elizabeth, Amy and Sarah discussing a history project and arrange to work on it at Sarah's sleepover the following Friday. <br />
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Amy invites them both over for home-made brownies - *drools* - and Sarah mysteriously refuses ! Seriously Francine , who refuses brownies (except Stacey for medical reasons and Dawn because she's weird) ?<br />
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Jessica then finally makes an appearance to complain that the Unicorn's featurette in The Sweet Valley Sixers was less than appeasing - as if they got a featurette anyway.<br />
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Jessica rushes home as she remembers that the president of the Unicorn club (whose amazingly more annoying than Kristy) ,J</span><span lang="">anet, </span><span lang="">is coming to the Wakefield residence to discuss the plans for the Unicorns la</span><span lang="">test party </span><span lang="">so she has to clean her room in order to impress her - because that's a totally normal thing to do.<br />
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Anyway Janet comes over and asks about Steven - unobvious to Jessica because she has a crush on him - but he's not there so they continue with their planning while eating cookies. Seriously Francine are you trying to make them obese (and me) ?<br />
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The perfect idea of a luau - Seriously Francine, what ? - and they decide to have the Hawaiian party in Jessica's yard because it has palm trees - I thought there was palm trees like everywhere in California ?<br />
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The next day the twins go roller-skating - How 80's :D - Jessica invites Janet and Elizabeth invites Sarah who at first attempts to refuse. Seriously Francine , who wouldn't want to skate with the Wakefield's ?<br />
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At the rink Sarah tells Elizabeth her Cinderella tale - After her Mother died her Father persu</span><span lang="">ed his secute</span><span lang="">ry Annie whose spiteful to Sarah when her Father isn't around and who Sarah is convinced is only marrying him for his money. Now I ain't saying she's a gold digger...<br />
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Meanwhile Janet asks Jessica about Steven again but of course he's too macho to hang with his little sisters and is playing basketball. Janet decides it's time for refreshments - nacho's and cherry cola (Seriously Francine, can you hear my stomach grumbling ?) </span><span lang="">- and they bump into Bruce Patman. Do I hence foreshadowing , Francine ?<br />
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Sarah has returned after the rink and tries to sneak up stairs to avoid Annie but gets caught and scolded. Annie pigs out on the sofa whilst Sarah does Annie's jobs for her as a punishment<br />
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As soon as Daddy dear returns though Annie clears up any evidence of her lounging - speechlessness annoyance ensues - and a harsh reality slaps Sarah cold. Her father is going on a business trip for a week therefore she and Annie will have a week alone together. Seriously Francine , does the poor girl deserve such torture ?</span><br />
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The situation reminded me of the opening lines to one of my favourite songs I'm on fire by Bruce Springsteen from Annie's perspective :<br />
Hey little girl is your daddy home ?,<br />
Did he go and leave you all alone ?,<br />
Oh I got a bad desire<br />
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<span lang="">Automatically after Sarah's father leaves Annie receives a phone call summoning her to a town faraway from Sweet Valley for a week! </span><span lang="">Sounds like a win win situation right ? Well imagine being alone in house for an entire week </span><span lang="">at age 12. Sound like my worst nightmare personally.</span><br />
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When Sarah gets home she gets a call from her inquisitive Aunt Lillian but she dismisses all comments of unhappiness. <br />
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The seemingly endless evenings of restlessness continue and everyone is become more concerned especially Elizabeth but Sarah's too afraid to admit the truth.<br />
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Jessica finally finds out about Janet's unrequited love and loses it - The argument even ends up with Jessica threatening to leave the Unicorns ! I haven't been so shocked since Mallory went on strike. Fortunately this is quickly resolved.</div>
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Sarah's returned home from school on Friday when she hears a noise from downstairs and does the 'logical' thing of running downstairs to see if there's a burglar. This is when she stumbles, her head colliding with a banister and is knocked unconscious all because her school books fell on the floor.<br />
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Elizabeth shows up at the house a few hours later to take Sarah to her sleepover but no one is answering the door. Peering through the window Elizabeth witnesses a horrible sight - no not Scott from All night long - Sarah looking dead !<br />
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Immediately Mr Wakefield jumps into Emergency mode - breaking through the glass to save her and finding her father's business card so he can come to rescue.<br />
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Luckily Sarah's worst injuries were two broken twos plus a concussion. Sarah's father and Aunt Lillian turn up and they're bewildered to learn that Annie wasn't caring for her. Little Miss Guilty turns up and it turns out she's been lying about everything including the fact that she actually had no reason to leave Sarah ! Somebody tune the hospital radio to Kanye West's Gold digger.<br />
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The book ends up with the twins learning that Sweet Valley Middle School has a new arrival - Ginny Lu (what a name !) from Texas - the star of the next book Out of Place.<br />
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Disappointment then flooded through me - what about Jessica's legendary luau ? Seriously Francine you better include that in Out of place or there'll be trouble. At least it's only month till my birthday which I think is when I'll be receiving it. Damn you Sweet Valley cliff-hangers!<br />
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My rating of Left Behind : 5 stars</div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><strong>If you liked this Po</strong></span><span style="font-size: large;"><strong>st please don't forget to Comment.</strong></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><strong>If you've read Left Behind </strong></span><span style="font-size: large;"><strong>please share your opinion of it.</strong></span></div>
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<strong><span style="font-size: large;">Don't forget to Follow this Blog and Share the love with your friends!</span></strong></div>
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<span>See you Saturday,</span></div>
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<span>Mimi</span></div>
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Mimihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16705070197265851329noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9209536745992305284.post-31032272048755870282013-10-17T16:00:00.000-07:002013-10-17T16:00:02.564-07:00Redesigned and Revived<div align="center">
<strong>I'm back Readers and better than ever hopefully,</strong></div>
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<strong>So after not posting for over a week due to the crazy ad problem that Blogger was having, I'm back.</strong></div>
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<strong>As you can see Babysitting in Sweet Valley has a new colour scheme that I think is far superior to it's previous design.</strong></div>
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<strong>Anyway I read two Nightmare Hall books - Monster and Truth or die - during my absence which I might do re-caps for. Please comment if you want them.</strong></div>
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<strong>I'll be reading Deadly Attraction after my current read so expect a currently reading post soon.</strong></div>
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<strong>Before I go I'd just like to thank you all for your lovely feedback. I really appreciate it.</strong></div>
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<strong>Bye for now,</strong></div>
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<strong>Mimi</strong></div>
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Mimihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16705070197265851329noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9209536745992305284.post-68122216795305917542013-10-09T16:00:00.000-07:002013-10-09T16:00:00.810-07:00Review #1 - Point Horror - Nightmare Hall - The Wish by Diane Hoh or Seriously Diane, how many times are they going to go to Vinnie's?<span lang=""><div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: x-large;"><strong>Hi readers,</strong></span></div>
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Sorry this wasn't posted yesterday but you can blame that on the boring geography I was enduring till 19:00. My next post will probably be a currently reading of Point Horror - Nightmare Hall - Monster by Diane Hoh or a review of it on Friday.<br />
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Anyway let's move onto the review shall we :<br />
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<a href="https://d202m5krfqbpi5.cloudfront.net/books/1370743819l/2349320.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="The Wish (Nightmare Hall, #4)" border="0" height="400" src="https://d202m5krfqbpi5.cloudfront.net/books/1370743819l/2349320.jpg" width="245" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-large;"><strong>WARNING THIS REVIEW CONTAINS SPOILERS</strong></span></div>
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I've read 5 of the Nightmare Hall books (Silent Scream in 2011, The Roomate in 2011,Guilty in 2012,Scream Team 2009 and Pretty Please last week)and nearly all of Diane's stand-a-lone Point Horror books. In my opinion she's one of the series' best writers and I wasn't disapointed by this novel.<br />
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The Wish begins in a setting that appears in all the Nightmare Hall books but rather to an over-kill point in this one (8 TIMES) - Vinnie's Pizzera which is basically a less superior version of The Dari Burger (SV) but specialising in pizza's instead. <br />
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Our main character Alex - whom is a plain jane (typical point horror) - stumbles across The Wizard ,a creepy beyond belief fortune telling booth , that she happens to be afraid of due to a fortune telling incident when she was 9 - so random.<br />
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As she's quaking in fear at this 'harmless' antique her posse approachs including the Sweet Valley Twins ! Not really but Julie and Jenny (why is there always a Jenny/Jennifer in Point Horror books?) are dead-ringers for the Californian beauties - long blonde hair, one twin is studious and often wears blouses and the other lives to party and is addicted to dating.<br />
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Other honourable characters I'll mention are Kiki,whose name even sounds bitchy. Kiki is known for her bitchness and constantly failing diets. And Marty whom Alex is besotted with.<br />
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Back to the story - 2 of the characters decide to make wishes and get their fortunes told. Julie wishes for an exotic face - you definetely wouldn't catch Jessica Wakefield wishing for that - and her fortune card reads "BEWARE THE LOOKING GLASS,LEST YOU SEE YOUR TRUE REFLECTION". Gabe , Julie's boyfriend and your typical jock, wishes for wheels and his card says "SLOW AND STEADY WINS THE RACE".<br />
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2 more of the characters are about to make wishes when suddenly a power cut strikes because of a raging storm happening outside. When the lights finally turn back on the students decide to return to their dorms. But not all of them make it...<br />
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Julie crashes the car into a tree lying across the road and her face is completely destroyed. Gabe's confined to a wheelchair. Alex realises their fortunes have come true ! <br />
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The next day the reminants of the gang are at Vinnie's again and Kiki wishes to be 5 pounds thinner . Her fortune card reads "SELF-DISIPLINE IS THE GREATEST OF ALL VIRTUES".<br />
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They then venture to the hospital visit Gabe, Julie and Jenny (who stayed overnight because she didn't want to leave her sister). But before Alex can reach the room she hears a blood-curdling scream from Julie's room - Poor Jenny's learnt she's missed a trip to Vinnie's! Only joking this book may be far-fetched but not that much.<br />
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Inside she discovers twins fighting over a snake patterened mirror that was gifted to Julie anonymously - possibly by a snake in the grass ? <br />
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After this fiasco Jenny decides not to protect her twin from this creepy Santa but chooses to return to the dorm instead.Meanwhile Alex goes to her job at the radio station and Kyle closes the door to the radio booth with Alex inside. During her radio work she receives an anonymous request to play the song "Who's sorry now?" for Julie.<br />
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She ends her shift rather abrubtedly after this - just because Julie may have a pyscho after her doesn't mean you should be slacking on the job Alex - but the door to the booth is locked. To the reader Kyle is looking pretty shifty but Alex dismisses his involvement and tries to phone for help. <br />
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Predictably the line is dead and darkness suddenly descends upon the radio station. This next part now is a bit weird : an unexplainable wind tries to drag Alex off the balcony that's connected to the radio booth. Seriously Diane ?<br />
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Fortunately the head of the radio stations saves her and so the next day she's recovered enough to go to - drum roll please - Vinnie's ! During their pizza Alex has several bitchy thoughts (that are repeated several times throughout the book) about Kiki eating the most out of anyone on the table. I thought Kiki was supposed to be the bitchy one !<br />
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Alex forgets her resentment towards The Wizard by having her own fortune told with Marty. Marty wishes to not have to do an upcoming speech. Alex doesn't wish for anything which is a bit strange considering the title of the book. They both get the same card that reads "SILENCE IS GOLDEN".<br />
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Now this was when I started getting my suspicions about Bennet - a member of the group who badly damaged his legs in a previous accident that is never explained (so much for back stories) so wears crutches and is always groaning about his inability to play football due to the crutches-who is the only one who hasn't visited the Wizard.</span><br />
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The next day it's time for another group outing not to Vinnie's this time - SHOCKER ! - but to a football game. During the intermission Alex receives phone that tells her to "Take me seriously or you'll regret it "The voice is disguised of course - it always is in point horror books - but Kiki later admits that it was her who called intending for it to be a joke about Alex's refusal to take The Wizard seriously - her bitchy side has finally been unleashed!<br />
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While the others go to Vinnie's, Alex goes to a party back at the dorms.And sees Kyle being thrown over the balcony... I should point out this is a plot hole because Kyle is written to be at Vinnie's and so is the thrower who I'll reveal shortly.<br />
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Alex decides to investigate to see if any clues to the identity of the thrower are on the balcony - wow Alex look at you giving Nancy Drew a run for her money - after Kyle's been carted to the hospital in a coma. She finds a shiny gold football medallion (hence the cover) in a plant pot and discovers that it's the same design that was given to every member of the football squad. Including : Gabe, Kyle, Bennet (who's now looking SUPER FISHY) and Marty.<br />
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The next day whilst she's visiting her friends at the hospital she <strong>illegally</strong> searches through Kyle's belongings to see if the one that she found is his. It's not as Kyle's as it's amongst his possessions but before she begins to question the other suspects Kiki collapses in the ward (how convenient ?) and is hospital due to her dangerous weight.Karma's a bitch and so is Kiki.<br />
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This certainly doesn't stop the gang visiting Vinnie's - I swear that place would be bankrupt without them - and Alex gets each suspect alone to ask them about the football charm. They all claim to have lost it. Seriously Diane,everyone's so carless?<br />
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Alex gets the shuttle bus home from Vinnie's as she's lost her friends and finds that it's completely empty with the exception of the driver. As soon as she's inside he begins careening the bus at high speed like a maniac. When they reach the woodland near Nightmare Hall ,the same place as the car accident, he jumps out. Magically the police appear moments later to save Alex.<br />
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To cheer Alex up the following day the friends go to Vinnie's - seriously Diane ? what sort of diets do these kids have - and thus begins Alex's strange shouting rant with the Wizard about why all this is happening to her .Suddenly a fortune card comes out of the machine ,and I swear at the time I read this a shiver went down my spine , that reads "THE WHEELS ON THE BUS GO ROUND AND ROUND".<br />
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Frightened , Alex pleads for Marty to take her home but changes her mind and wants to go to the hospital instead to check if Kyle's jewel football is still there for a reason that remains unexplained. Of course ,as anyone could have guessed, the football has miraculously vanished !<br />
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We then come to the worst 'scary' scene ever :it has come to the time when Marty has to deliver his speech but his voice has gone , taken by a voice stealer it seems.<br />
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If you're like me you may have worked out now that a bad thing has happened to everyone but Bennet. Way to make it obvious Diane!<br />
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To make me even more convinced that Bennet is behind all these 'accidents' his ex-girlfriend tells Alex that she had Bennet's football charm and only just gave it back to him. <br />
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Alex then goes to Vinnie's thankfully for the final time and confronts the Wizard again - like any 'sane' person would. He starts sending her fortune cards that say things like "You dare threaten me ?".<br />
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Gabe appears and points his crutch at her and she realises that she's forgotten a majorly important detail of the night Kyle was thrown from the balcony.... <br />
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The weird length of the throwers arm.Exactly the length of the crutch Gabe has and Bennet but Alex has completely overlooked Bennet so is convinced Gabe is the perputraitor. Alex is knocked unconscious by an unknown and when she awakes she finds herself in the storage closet of Vinnie's. <br />
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As it is unlocked she quickly escapes and the Wizard is directly in front over her screaming -yes he can talk and if you're like me and petrified of creepy dolls (thank you Poltergeist) you'll be having nightmares tonight - that she and her friends are responsible for everything that has happened.<br />
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Alex spots a crutch poking out from behind the Wizards booth - thank god the Wizard wasn't the one talking - and she assumes obviously that it's Gabe. Out pops ... Bennet! I KNEW IT.<br />
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Bennet explains that the Wizard telepathetically told him to cause all the accidents and his legs would be fixed allowing him to play football again. The Wizard did the humanly impossible things like making Marty lose his voice. Seriously Diane?<br />
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Bennet is carted off to a mental hospital before he can do his final deed to the wizard - killing Alex - and the book ends with the Wizard being sold to a burger joint owner - The Dari Burgers' possibly ? - who's unaware of the terror it will cause.<br />
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My rating of The Wish :<br />
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<a href="https://encrypted-tbn0.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcRPMvq2yVz01bOlyrw_yeOSYHPWsqAZfHylb-LJY5ufASnLSp0REg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" class="rg_i" data-src="https://encrypted-tbn0.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcRPMvq2yVz01bOlyrw_yeOSYHPWsqAZfHylb-LJY5ufASnLSp0REg" data-sz="f" name="GQYE0SDMRnh6YM:" src="https://encrypted-tbn0.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcRPMvq2yVz01bOlyrw_yeOSYHPWsqAZfHylb-LJY5ufASnLSp0REg" style="height: 90px; margin-top: 0px; width: 276px;" /></a> 3.5 out of 5 stars</div>
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<strong><span style="font-size: x-large;">If you liked this post please don't forget to Comment.</span></strong></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">Bye for now,</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">Mimi</span></div>
Mimihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16705070197265851329noreply@blogger.com2