When I first started this book, I was not too sure of how I would like it. But then as I left it and went to do some other things, I realized that I kept thinking about the story, and could not get it out of my head! This is the first, I think, of Melody Carlson that I've been able to read.. meaning get my hands on. It is a great little story that should be read by all mid-high school girls. It is so real to life and it does meet up with every type of girl. You can see yourself and remember your painful history within each individual girl. I was shocked when it ended, because it is one of those wonderful books that has previews of the sequel in the back, so I had though there was much more. But it was really a great story! ( )

When I first started this book, I was not too sure of how I would like it. But then as I left it and went to do some other things, I realized that I kept thinking about the story, and could not get it out of my head! This is the first, I think, of Melody Carlson that I've been able to read.. meaning get my hands on. It is a great little story that should be read by all mid-high school girls. It is so real to life and it does meet up with every type of girl. You can see yourself and remember your painful history within each individual girl. I was shocked when it ended, because it is one of those wonderful books that has previews of the sequel in the back, so I had though there was much more. But it was really a great story! ( )

Innuendo: Some kissing. I don't think there was anything problematic in this book but the next few in the series have premarital situations (not the main character though)

Violence: None

Swearing: Don't remember if there were. Maybe a few.

Drinking, Drugs, Smoking: Underage drinking (again, not the main character)

Age Appropriate: 16 and up. This first book is probably ok for 15 year olds and up but the next few books in the series are more mature.

Similar/Better books: Read The Summer of Cotton Candy by Debbie Viguie. So much better! ( )

Rating: C

Apparently, when it comes to Christian YA fiction, it's a toss-up. You either get good writing and a some-what interesting storyline (see the Sweet Seasons novels) or you get a book that's not too preachy-preachy (like this series), but you can't have your cake and eat it too. What's unfortunate, in my opinion, is that Melody Carlson is a prolific writer--she's got literally tons of books in the Christian fiction genre. What does that say about tastes?

Some of the characters in these books are interesting--mostly the guy that DJ gets a crush/quasi-romance with, and the cliff-hanger at the end of the book is probably enough to keep me reading these books. (I've bought the next three in the series, there will be eight in total.) Don't really read too much into that, I need something to read while I'm on the theoretical toilet. It's something you can read while you're watching TV or riding the stationary bike... not too many brain cells required.

I gave it a C because Carlson sells so many books some people must like them, just not me. ( )

I am a late bloomer in discovering Melody Carlson. I recently read and reviewed a chick lit novel she wrote and felt that her style of writing would probably best be suited to the YA variety.

I have just finished reading Mixed Bags, the first in the series of Carter House. The premise is actually fun – an aging model/socialite needs money so that she can continue to live ‘in the manner in which she is accustomed’ so she decides to offer her services as a ‘etiquette coach’ and forms a kind of ‘boarding school for future debutantes’. As it so happens, one of the ‘debutante students’ is grandmother Carter’s own granddaughter DJ and DJ is in serious need of a makeover – not to mention an attitude adjustment!

DJ is having serious issues with this whole arrangement and becomes even more skeptical when she meets the other girls.

As DJ tries to figure out who is friend and who is foe – the usual high school, teenager stuff happens – lots of hanging out at the beach and lots of boyfriend stealing. What I really like about the book is that each girl is distinctly their own and have, in some cases, completely different personalities from each other. Of course, there is the ‘usual’ rich girl and the ‘usual’ mad at the world girl – but the mixture of personalities is very interesting and is the basis of this novel – and it works quite well. I like this series Carlson works better as a YA author. Carlson is obviously very religious and seems to find the need to incorporate religion in her novels – and this one is no exception, but, as I said, it works much better in a YA novel, although I would not classify this as a Christian novel.

Mixed Bags is number 1 in this series. I have already started on number 2, but in true, Montreal bookstore fashion, I can only find number 4 – for some reason, Chapters and Indigo have decided they don’t actually have to sell number 3!!!!

So, while I quest for number 3, stay tuned for my review of number 2. ( )