Elvis Takes a Back Seat by Leanna Ellis

Claudia's husband Stu has passed away. Claudia can't seem to part with any of Stu's things, including a huge bust of Elvis Presley.

Claudia relegated Elvis to the attic for the past 20 years. While going through Stu's things she finds him(Elvis) along with a note from Stu stating that Elvis needs to be returned to Memphis.

Claudia, her Aunt Rae and Ivy(Stu's best friend Ben's daughter) set out from Dallas to Memphis to try to find out where Stu originally got the Elvis bust. Each woman has a reason for being on this trip.

Rae had a relationship with Elvis when she was a young woman. While on this trip she reveals little by little bits and pieces of her life. Ivy has a secret of her own. One that will change her life forever. Claudia has lost her faith in God and is still tied to the memories of her husband.

Will each woman find the answers they are in need of? Will they eventually find where the Elvis bust belongs? Will Claudia find her faith again? Will Ivy make the right choices for her life?

I can't say this was one of my favorite books to read. I thought it was dis-jointed in parts. I couldn't tell who was talking to whom or even sometimes who was doing the talking! I thought the spiritual content was pretty weak. There was talk of having faith in God, but never how to have that faith. When the characters visit the "church" that the Elvis bust supposedly came from and talk about seeing "the ghost of Elvis" started the book pretty much lost me. Even with all of that though I did feel a connection and enough interest in the book to finish it and find out what happens to everyone. If you are looking for a deeper spiritual message this is probably not for you.

Dear Pen Pal by Heather Vogel Frederick

Dear Pen Pal is the 3rd installment of The Mother-Daughter Book Club series. A group of girls and their mother have formed a reading group to discuss books that they read throughout the year. In Dear Pen Pal the group is reading Daddy-Long-Legs by Jean Webster. This year the mother's have paired the girls up with another Mother-Daughter book club group. This group is in Wyoming. The mother's from both groups decide that the girls should become Pen-Pals. When the mother's say Pen-Pals they do not mean IM'ing, or texting or e-mailing Pen-Pals. They mean actually sitting down and writing a letter and mailing snail mail Pen-Pals. You must read the first two books to be able to follow the characters.

Meet the girls:

Becca: Becca is the newest member of the group. The girls still cannot decide if she is a friend or an enemy. So they call her a "frenemy". Becca's mom has decided that this is the year that she is going to "improve herself" all of her outlandish outfits make quite an embarrassing situation for Becca. Becca's pen pal is Zoe Winchester. Zoe's mom is the mayor of their town. Will Becca and Zoe hit it off or are they too much alike to ever be friends?

Cassidy: Cassidy is a girl-jock. she loves sports. She is the first girl to be on the all-boys ice hockey team. Cassidy's dad has passed away and her mother has recently re-married. To add to Cassidy's disgruntlement with the situation her mother and step-dad inform her and the group that they are going to have a baby. Cassidy is not happy. Cassidy is paired up as a pen-pal to Winky Parker. Winky's family own a Dude Ranch. Cassidy is not getting along with all of the changes in her life. Will this new little one soften her heart?

Jess: Jess's family own a farm. They work hard and there isn't much money to spare. Jess loves her home and loves her friends. Jess is given a scholarship to Colonial Academy. A very prestigious boarding school for girls. Jess doesn't want to leave her friends at Walden Middle School. In order to please her family she agrees to go. She is placed in a room with Savannah, a senator's daughter. Savannah is a typical priviledged girl and the girls do not get along. Jess is paired up as a pen pal with Madison Daniels. Jess's mother figured since Jess loves to sing and Madison loves to play the guitar that the girls should have music as a common interest. Jess likes Emma's brother Darcy. When Savannah asks Darcy to go to a dance with her the little bit of friendship that Jess felt towards her evaporates. Will the girls ever learn how to get along?

Emma: Emma loves to write. Emma loves to read. Walden Middle School has decided to make students wear uniforms this year. Will Emma find that the "Pen is mightier than the sword" and be able to change the faculties mind about uniforms? Emma has a boyfriend, Stewart is Becca's brother. Will Emma be the first club member to be kissed? Emma is paired up as a pen pal with Bailey Jacobs. Bailey's mother owns a bookstore. The girls are sure to get along!

Megan: This year Megan's grandmother moves in with her and her family. Megan seems to get along better with her grandmother than she does with her own mother. Megan's mother doesn't understand Megan's interest in fashion. Megan doesn't understand why she is an only child. Why does her mother have to be so different? Megan is paired up as a pen-pal with Summer Williams. Summer sews quilts and Megan sews clothes, it should be the perfect match right?

So far I have enjoyed all three books in the Mother-Daughter Book Club series. I am looking forward to the next installment. All 3 books deal with friendship issues and with social issues. These novels are  so refreshing from the novels that deal with drugs and sex. I know that middle schoolers are dealing with those issues too, but there are also kids that aren't dealing with those darker issues of life. BUT they still are having to deal with acceptance among their peers, family issues, and other growing up issues. Life isn't all rose-colored glasses, and neither are these novels.

nightlight a parody by The Harvard Lampoon

A parody of course of Twilight by Stephenie Meyer. There is some humor in the book, but the laugh-out-loudest line came from the synopsis on the back of the book. I was expecting it to be more humorous than it was. Just an okay read.

Cup of Joe by Teri Wilson

Goldie's grandfather who has raised her from childhood has just passed away. This sends Goldie into a depression that she seems unable to get out of on her own. Joe owns the local coffee house and was a friend of her grandfathers.

Every morning Joe brings Goldie a cup of coffee to hopefully draw her out. She refuses to answer the door so Joe leaves the coffee on the doorstep. After several days of this Joe finally insists that Goldie open her door. Goldie lets Joe know that she does NOT like coffee. Not to be put off Joe has his employee(Cinnamon) make Goldie a special coffee drink that she can't possibly resist. When Joe takes it to Goldie the next morning he brings along his dog Java. Seeing that Java actually brings a smile to Goldie's lips Joe decides to bring her a dog. Goldie loves Bliss from the moment she sets eyes on her.

Once Goldie decides to move on with her life she also decides to leave out the most important person in her life~the Lord. Goldie is angry with the Lord but yet knows that eventually she is going to have to work out her relationship with Him. When will she be ready to have "The Talk" with the Lord? Will Goldie realize that she and Joe are meant for each other?

I thought this was a cute story. The relationship between Goldie and Joe was sweet. Their relationship with their dogs Java and Bliss was cute. One thing that bothered me was the authors changing of game show names. Name That Price and Judge Rudy for of course The Price is Right and Judge Judy. I didn't understand that part as she then used the actual name for a drama on TV.  A small thing, but it bothered me when I was reading it. For the most part I enjoyed Cup of Joe and would recommend it to anyone that likes clean romances and pet stories. As I was looking for a picture to post for this review I also found a picture of a gift basket that had the book and coffee with it that I thought was totally FUN! Check it out: I think it is a great marketing idea!

An Interview with author Jackie Gilmore

Jackie Gilmore has been married to Mike, her childhood sweetheart, for 45 years. This is her first book to be published.

1. How long did it take you to write let the sun shine in...? I had the book in my mind for several years.  Once I sat down to write, it came quickly. Within 3 months it was complete. I had much help with editing, two friends read it over and corrected me many times.

2. Do you plan on doing a sequel? I hope to make this a three book series.

3. How did you come up with the story and names? I related it to personal experiences in one way or another.  I wanted an unusual name for the main character and I actually looked online.

4. Have you ever written other novels? I have written a children's book called "Lonesome" about a lonely little boy and a wandering dog.

5. Do you plan on trying to publish another novel? My publishers asked me to submit Lonesome to them once this novel was complete so I'm thinking about it.  One of my daughters likes Lonesome better than this one.

6. What parts of the novel parallel your life if any? Relationships with my grandchildren, the death of the father in the story with my niece being killed at 22 from a reckless teen driver.

Let The Sun Shine In...by Jackie Gilmore

Idella is 19 years old. She lives with her mother and grandmother. Her brother is away at college studying to be a missionary. Their father was killed 6 months before by a drunk driver.

Idella and her grandmother have a very strained relationship. Idella is very self-centered. She has no time for older people. Idella gets a job at Treasure Care a mentoring program for troubled young girls. Idella just knows she has wisdom to impart to these girls and put them on the right path. The only problem is she doesn’t seem to connect with the girls that she is assigned. Meredith hardly talks. Valerie is brash and talks too much. Carla seems to be the only one that Idella can relate to. She has the looks, the friends, and she seems to be very spiritual.

The family is facing the trial of the young man that killed their father/husband/son. Will Grandma’s prayers for Idella ever be answered? Will the family be able to forgive the young man? Will Idella see her shallowness and mend her relationship with Grandma? Will she succeed in the mentoring program?

Jackie Gilmore knows how to weave a great story. She draws you into the lives of her characters. I was totally irritated with Idella. I felt the Grandma’s pain. I cried for their loss and for their triumphs. Great first novel and I hope there are more to come!

The Morgue and Me by John C. Ford

Christopher is spending his summer working in a morgue. One day while sitting in the Medical Examiners office he finds an envelope full of money. Christopher thinks of himself as the next James Bond so he immediately senses something is not right and sets out to find out what it is. When the body of a man is brought in Christopher decides to examine it when nobody is around. What he finds doesn't match up with the death certificate so now he is out to solve the mystery. He teams up with a young newspaper writer to uncover what the Sheriff and other people in authority seem to be hiding. Friendships are tested, danger around every corner, Christopher decides that maybe he doesn't want to be a Spy after all.

I enjoyed the action in this book. There were definate times that I didn't want to have to put the book down. The things that I didn't care for were the language and some sexual references. I think YA books are really disappointing me with the "trying to keep it real" mentality.