Spotted: Only the Good Spy Young

This makes me want this book EVEN more, which I wasn't sure was possible.

Review; Trading Faces

Twins Emma and Payton begin their first day at a new school - one with boys no less. They're both eager to make an amazing first impression. Emma wants to known for her scholastic achievements and Payton wants to be known for her fashion sense. Emma's first day is terrible. She's going to have to prove her smarts to everyone and it's not going to easy as someone else is considered the smartest girl. Payton loves the new schools. She's already gained access to the popular girls, thanks to her new wardrobe. When she has a mishap at lunch a few days later, she can't believe she has to show her face again.

Instead, the girls decide to switch places - just for the day. They're supposed to switch back before school lets out, but things get a little out of control. Emma smooths things over the popular girls and even gives them great fashion advice when they go shopping. Plus she meets a really great guy who seems to like her. Payton signs up for a video casting project - something in which only honor students can participate.

They vow they vow not to change places again, but Ox just called Emma asking her to sit with him during the pep rally and Payton wants to be on the video project. This time, something goes horribly wrong and their plan backfire. Will anyone at school still talk to the twins or have they both committed social suicide?

My Thoughts: Super cute story about two girls finding their tastes and ideas expanding while pretending to be each other. I love the idea of having a twin and someone who take your place
for the day.

Cover: Cute - appealing and fun and totally goes with the book.

Source: My Library

Next Up: Take Two

Review: Persephone the Phony

Persephone likes to make her friends and her mother happy, but it's often at the expense of her own happiness. She isn't interested in going shopping, or knitting, or having a makeover. She just doesn't know how to tell her friends without them becoming upset. She does meet one godboy who understands, Hades.

Unfortunately, Hades has a bad rap. Neither her mother nor her friends approve of their new friendship. Suddenly, Persephone can't stand it anymore. She meets Hades in secret, in a gloomy cemetery. Will she stand up for her new friend so they can hang out in public or will she go back to making everyone but her happy?

My Thoughts: This is the second of the Goddess Girl series - from another girl's perspective. I like how the goddesses/gods are portrayed as tweens. The first two books portray one goddess finding her true self while dealing with everyday issues plus magic.
The Cover: Super cute!

Source: Loaned from Jessica at I READ TO RELAX

Review: Athena the Brain

Athena believes she's a mere mortal, until a message from her father Zeus commanding her to Mount Olympus Academy. She's excited at the chance to learn something more challenging than her current studies, but she's sad to leave her foster family behind.

When she arrives at the school, she realizes that she's behind in her education. She has no idea how to perform magic. She doesn't want to mess with mortals for entertainment. Athena doesn't want her father to consider her a failure.

When she realizes she's on the wrong side of friendship with Medusa, she's not sure what to do. But she's not about to let Medusa and her sisters ruin her chance. Luckily, she does make friends with Aphrodite, Athena, and Pandora. Will she make a stand against Medusa and find her place at the Academy?


My Thoughts: The start of a new series for tween girls is amazingly cute and seriously fun. I love the combo of brains and fun in making a well rounded goddess girl.

The Cover: Very Cute

Source: My friend Jessica from I READ TO RELAX loaned this to me.

Spotted: Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows

Doesn't it look amazing? I simply can't wait!

Mysterious Saturday Review: Grace Under Pressure

Grace works at Marshfield Manor as the assistant curator. She's still within her probationary period, when she's called downstairs to handle an unruly guest in the tea room. He's extraordinarily unhappy and pitches a fit. Grace and the rest of the staff don't realize at the time that this man's providing an excellent diversion.

The real action's happening upstairs in the private wing of the manor. Abe, the head curator, is murdered in a case of mistaken identity. Now, Grace decides it's up to her to take control of the manor. She starts straight away, to the dismay of some of the staff members. Her switch in roles makes the police a little suspicious of her. They took a look into her background. Frustrated with the police, Grace attempts to put the pieces together from the crime.

The manor resembles a large family, with Grace trying to work her way to being part of the family. She starts looking through old files, trying to learn more about her staff. Will she turn up old family secrets that should remain hidden?

My Thoughts: A wonderful start to a new series. (Hyzy is also the author of the amazing White House Chef mysteries.) Grace Under Pressure has a strong main character with a nose for trouble. She has two best friends, Bruce and Scott who provide comic relief. She has a potential romance with landscaper Jack Embers. All in all, it's smart, fun, and charming.

The Cover: Adorable

Source: I bought this one because I needed to read it and the library didn't own it yet

Movie Review: Robin Hood

I saw this a few weeks ago and have been meaning to post about it ever since. I really loved most of the movie - until the ending.

I loved watching Robin and Marian's relationship unfold. I loved Marian's feisty, proud, strong, and sarcastic character. The Merry Men were fantastic - very funny. The parts I didn't enjoy were the French coming for the British and the British trying to band together even though they all hated King John.

There were parts not fully explained. Plus the movie seemed more like a prequel of how Robin Hood became an outlaw and not of his outlaw days, which makes me question if this movie will become something of a series. I wouldn't mind seeing where they take Robin Hood.