Mundie Moms

Monday, August 9, 2010

Book Review - Rules of Attraction(Perfect Chemistry #2)

Published by: Walker & Company
Released: April 2010
Source - Purchased
3.5 Stars - It was a good read.


Synopsis: When Carlos Fuentes returns to America after living in Mexico for a year, he doesn’t want any part of the life his older brother, Alex, has laid out for him at a high school in Colorado . Carlos likes living his life on the edge and wants to carve his own path—just like Alex did. Then he meets Kiara Westford. She doesn’t talk much and is completely intimidated by Carlos’ wild ways. As they get to know one another, Carlos assumes Kiara thinks she’s too good for him, and refuses to admit that she might be getting to him. But he soon realizes that being himself is exactly what Kiara needs right now


Classic "forbidden romance" story - if you liked Prefect Chemistry you will enjoy Rules of Attraction. Simone follows the same storyline, one of the Fuentes boys being mixed up in a gang, falling for the "good girl".

To me, the characters weren't as well developed in this story, as they are in Perfect Chemistry. But I didn't think it was harder to connect to the characters- probably easier, most female readers are going to have more in common with the smart tomboy, than the hottest head cheerleader.

At the beginning of Rules of Attraction, Carlos is sent to live with Alex - Carlos wants nothing to do with this lifestyle, and thinks his brother has abandon his heritage. During his first week of school he is assigned an aid(Kiara), to help him find his way around. Carlos uses all his "Fuentes Charm" to try to scare her away; although intimidated, Kiara isn't willing to give Carlos the satisfaction of seeing her run and hide, and she prefers revenge.

Soon Carlos finds himself mixed up with the wrong crowd, and is forced to find another place to live. Kiara's dad, one of Alex's favorite Professors, agrees to let Carlos stay in his home. Over the next few weeks, Carlos grows attached to his "foster family." Carlos's past seems to be catching up with him; he has to make a choice- risk everything he has grown to love or runaway from it all.

I really enjoyed the story, it was a fast pace easy read. The cover is amazing, and taken from one of my favorite scenes. I also enjoyed seeing parts of Alex and Brittney's relationship 2 years later.

CWA Celebrations- Day 9, Clockwork Angel Playlist Part 2


As promised, I'm excited to share the second half of Cassie's Clockwork Angel playlist with you guys. I agree with a comment that was made yesterday under the 1st playlist post, that the songs are very fitting for Clockwork Angel. I hope you enjoy the playlist as much as we have. You'll find all Cassie's comments are italicized and color coded to make them stand out more.

Playlist for Clockwork Angel:

Yes, despite the fact that this is a historical novel, the playlist is contemporary. I'm a contemporary writer and you have to go with the music you love if it's going to get you into the right space to write, even if it's anachronistic! So below, the songs on the CA playlist and why they meant something to me about Clockwork Angel:

8) Banquet, Bloc Party

This one makes me think of Tessa and the way she struggles with her identity.

"Turning away from the light
Becoming adult
Turning into myself."

9) Waiting for My Real Life to Begin, Colin Hay

And this one makes me think of Nate, Tessa's brother. He doesn't get talked about much in reviews, but he's a pretty important character, and when writing from his viewpoint, I listened to this:

"And you say,"Just be here now
Forget about the past
Your mask is wearing thin"
Let me throw one more dice
I know that I can win
I'm waiting for my real life to begin."

10) Red Right Hand, Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds

You've got to have one song about the bad guy. Even better if it it mentions cogs. :)

"He's a ghost, he's a god,
he's a man, he's a guru
You're one microscopic cog
in his catastrophic plan
Designed and directed by
his red right hand"

11) Monsters and Angels by Voice of the Beehive

This one I actually associate with Tessa, and with her learning about this new world she lives in and about her own powers. It's a very feminist song. (I'm nobodys' wife/I'm nobodys' baby)

There are monsters, there are angels.
There's a peacefulness and a rage inside us all.
There's sugar & there is salt
There's ice and there is fire.
In every single heart, there are monsters, there are angels.

And the next one, makes me think of Will and Tessa, and how Jem tells Tessa will lies to make himself look worse in other people's eyes.

12) Either Way, Guster

You were almost kind, you were almost true
Don't let me see that other side of you
You have learned in time that you must be cruel
I'll have to wait to get the best of you
Poison in everything you say
Don't you, don't you?
Wonder what difference does it make......either way.

There's a brief scene with Will and Tessa toward the end of the book. I listened to this song a lot while writing it.

13) "You're in my Love" by Sinead Lohan

you're in my love you're in my blood
you can be anything that you want
you climb into my mind
you drive everything inside wild
and then i curl around you madly
you say you'll mind me with your life

there are four corners on my bed
there are four angels on overhead
this is a carriage i am safe inside
it's refuge when my horses ride
into the stormy night.

And the last one: I just love the Magnetic Fields in general, and "All the Umbrellas in London" didn't conjure up a character for me so much as the image of London streets in the rain.

14) All the Umbrellas in London, The Magnetic Fields

"if i make it tonight it'll be all right
it'll make a good song or something
i've been trying to give myself reasons to live
and i really can't think of one thing
i drive around, i walk around in circles.
And all the umbrellas in london couldn't stop this rain..."


Here's the songs that I could find. Enjoy listening to the rest of Cassie's Clockwork Angel playlist!


Get a playlist! Standalone player Get Ringtones

Mundane Monday #45

Happy Monday!!! Here's a little teaser from City of Glass, the paperback edition. This comes from the City of Fallen Angels excerpt.

"Having rock star problems may be the closest I ever get to being an actual rockstar."

"No one told you to call your band Salacious Mold my friend."

"We're Millennium Lint now," Simon protested.

Clary shrugged. "Look, just figure this out before the wedding. If they both think they're going to it with you and they find out at the wedding that you're dating them both, they'll kill you." She stood up. "And then my mom's wedding will be ruined, and she'll kill you. So you'll be dead twice."

-City of Fallen Angels, City of Glass Excerpt, Clary & Simon

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