Angela Carlie

I'm honestly not one hundred percent sure how to explain my feelings about this book. Land of Corn Chips is the first fantasy based middle grade book that I've read, and it was definitely an experience. I kept having to remind myself that I was seeing this world through a much younger person's eyes. However once I was able to get into that mindset, I began to understand the world that Nate was immersed in. I must admit, it's a rather interesting place to be!

Young readers will be treated to a very believable protagonist. Nate has problems like any other young person. His dad is spending more time with his new family, rather than with him. His dad keeps missing his important football games. Worst of all, his dad doesn't tend to follow through with his promises. Sound familiar? To a lot of kids out there it definitely will. Lest you think that Nate is whiny about all of this, he's not! Instead he's quite an intelligent young boy. I liked how he thought everything through when he was faced with a problem.

Enter Cornelius Chip. Nate is whisked magically off to a place where he might have thought he wanted to be, but now realizes was a mistake! See Nate wishes he could grow up so he can take care of himself and not have to rely on his parents. Again, sound familiar? Let's just say his wish is granted. What ensues is a fascinating, sometimes slightly confusing but always fun, adventure. Yet again I must applaud Nate's character. This setting brings out even more of his resourcefulness and tenacity. This boy doesn't give up, and I adored him for that.

Land of Corn Chips is definitely a different kind of middle grade novel than I've ever read before. I applaud Angela Carlie for meshing a very realistic character and such a quirky and interesting world. I'll admit that it took me a little while to get into the book at first, but once I finally understood exactly what was to come, I did enjoy reading about Nate and his adventure. A truer hero I don't think you'll find. Nate doesn't give up, and he teaches his young readers not to give up either.… (plus d'informations)

I don’t normally read a lot of adult book, but this one sounded like something I would enjoy, and it was worth picking up for sure. Now it was different than I expected it to be, but none the less it was still good. Jenny is stuck in a job that she doesn’t enjoy. She want more attention from her husband. She has met a woman named Casandra, and she encourages her to write a book. This open a whole new world to Jenny.

Jenny was fairly to relate to, she has two young girls, and a husband and just wants to feel good about herself from the work she does to her home life. Her husband Jason, seemed to be genuinely a caring husband and he supported her writing the book too. I couldn’t help but to like Jenny and Jason, and wondered if they were going to make it or not. Cassandra was Jenny’s friend, and she was strange, just popping up places, she acted kinda strange to me, but Jenny seemed to like her.

This is told from Jenny’s perspective, and from her books character Candy’s prospective as well. The story was engrossing and confusing, it goes back and forth between Jenny and Candy, and there are so many little things that would happen, and hints of other things that made me think that there more to the story of this book that Jenny was writing and how it fit into her life. And just about the time I think I understand exactly what is going on, the biggest twist of all was thrown out there and holy wow, this was not what I was expecting, but man it was an awesome twist. I’m talking, people missing, absolutely scary truths being revealed and it was heart breaking and a page turner. I wanted to know how it all fit together. The last few pages were ones that I had to read again to make sure I understood what happened, and it definitely made me curious if Jenny’s story is really over.

Carlie did a great job keeping me guessing what was truly going on, Overall, this was a pretty good dark romantic thriller, and worth the read.

For more review, check out Book Live Forever

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Angela Carlie’s Jenny’s Blue Velvet is a story within a story and by that I mean, we get Jenny’s story and a glimpse into the book she’s writing. Jenny is an author and dreams of publishing her book and it becoming a bestseller in order for her husband, Jason, to quit his job and spend more time with her and the girls. I really enjoyed Carlie’s writing and she knows how to throw a curve ball I didn’t see coming. The alternate text from the story she was writing was engaging and at times, it was a distraction because I wasn’t sure what to make of it; sometimes I just wasn’t interested in reading what she was writing, but it is all related to Jenny’s life.

Character development is a bit weak, but since it’s told via Jenny’s perspective, all we know is what she sees. In the end, it is her story and oh boy, is it a story! I liked Jason and he is a caring husband and I kept wondering why he kept asking her if she took her vitamin. I won’t go into details because I don’t want to spoil the plot, but it all comes together in the end. Candy is the woman Jenny becomes friends with and she’s a bit odd, but accepts Jenny for who she is and Jenny is happy to have a friend. We’re introduced to several secondary characters including Jenny’s daughters and Jason’s friend Adam. Everyone plays an important role including the characters in Jenny’s novel.

I mentioned how Jenny’s book is related to her life and I’m not going to go into details because I really would spoil things and don’t want to do that. I do want to high-five Carlie for the subtle clues that are sprinkled throughout. When I got the end, I was shocked, but then I went back to reread and I could see areas that left me questioning things and while these little hints make sense, at the time they didn’t. Brava, Ms. Carlie for the dark twisted ending! I only hope this isn’t the end of Jenny.

If you have a few hours to spare and are looking for something intriguing to read, I recommend Angela Carlie’s Jenny’s Blue Velvet.… (plus d'informations)