It's release Tuesday and I've got a great recommendation for you. Not that my recommendation is all that fabulous when the book in question got a cover quote from Carly Phillips - and Carly offered to do it after reading Ally's first book - it was not solicited!
The book is LEARNING TO PLAY GIN which is the followup to CHEATING AT SOLATAIRE.
There are a number of reasons you should read books by Ally Carter, but the most important reason is that she is my friend and an all-around great gal. Okay, so maybe that's not the most important reason. So let's just cover the list:
1. She's funny. Ally has a great wit and captures the hilarity that is apt to happen at the worst moments of life.
2. She's smart. Oh sure, Gin (and Solataire) are wonderful reads and not hard on the mind - unless you want them to be. Ally's writing style is deceptively simple and on a surface level everything seems straight forward, but heroine Julie James has a way of looking at things that will make you think harder about your own life choices.
3. She's incredibly accurate with writing small-town situations and down-to-earth people. But then, that one was easy. Ally's an original farmgirl and comes by it honest. Even today, she uses her degree to help ranchers run their business the best they can.
4. Did I mention she's my friend?
Here's a little teaser from LEARNING TO PLAY GIN. This is an email from Julia's (heroine) mom to her:
From: James Family Farm
To: OK Lady
Subject: Just checking on you
Nothing new here today. Daddy kind of hurt his leg, but the vet was here and said it was nothing, so he's not going to the doctor.
We're so lucky to have such a good vet nearby.
Love,
Mom
Now, how can that not make you smile??????? This is so typical, so real. And her heroine is a woman we'd all want to be. Julia is smart, successful, actually has hips and has all the same insecurities we all do when faced with deciding if this man is "the one." You'll cheer for her and agonize for her, but most of all, you'll love her.
If you haven't read anything by Ally Carter yet, now is the time to start. I promise, you won't regret it!
8 comments:
Awe shucks. I'm blushing.
Thanks so much!
Ally
Yes, Ally's awesome. =D Will be picking up GIN!
Sounds great! Thanks for the rec. My daughter loved "I'd Tell You I Love You..." and can't wait for the next one.
Hi Ally - sorry blogger wouldn't let me post the cover last night so I added this morning - happy sales!!!!
Hi Kelly - Ally is awesome and Gin is great!
Colleen - the next one is coming, although if your daughter is close to teenage years, so might like Solataire and Gin. Ally writes very, VERY clean.
I love 'funny!' Heck, at this point in my life I NEED funny. Ally's book is on my reading list, but can you promise me there are no whiney, wimpy females in it? I do not like that, mm-mm. Not no how. It's okay if they're not the heroine and she gets to drop-kick them into the bayou or something though.
kimber - No, Julia is definitely not wimpy. She's smart, funny and classy. The classy part doesn't allow her to handle things the way I might :) but she's definitely someone I would want to hang out with if she were real. That's kind of the way I judge whether character development was successful or not. Would I want to hang with them.
I'd definitely hang with Julia. And shop - I have hips too!
The rest of the women are not wimpy either, so I think you'll be fine. :)
So far, I've only read I'd Tell You I Love You, But Then I'd Have to Kill You but I totally loved it!!!
Hi Tori - Love Ya was totally great. You should try out Gin & Solataire.
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