Saturday, December 15, 2018

Books for the Girl in All of Us

Yvonne Collins and I recently got the rights back to some books previously published by Hyperion-Disney and we’re reissuing them with pretty new covers.

These books were originally meant for teens, but as I’ve been proofreading them again, I've really enjoyed them. Don’t tell anyone, but I actually laughed out loud… at my own words. Or more likely Yvonne’s words. She’s been making me laugh since we met while working in the public library at the ages of 13 and 15.





These books are sweet and sassy coming of age tales—stories you could read on your own and then share with the teens in your lives. They’re clean romantic comedies for girls of all ages--especially now that I’ve extracted the swear words. I’m surprised Disney let us swear that much!

They’re all guaranteed to make you laugh, and whisk you back to the blush of first love in high school.

Plus, they have well over 1,000 5-star ratings on Goodreads! 

The Black Sheep

Just a guy and a girl… and a million viewers.

Kendra Bishop is so frustrated with her conservative parents that she agrees to swap families as part of a reality TV show called The Black Sheep. Leaving Manhattan behind, she joins the free-spirited Mulligans in Monterey, California, along with their five kids, a pet ferret and an ever-present camera crew.

Just down the hall is her hot new TV “brother,” Mitch, who initially wants nothing to do with the show or Kendra. But when she embraces the family’s environmental cause at the aquarium, he warms up … at least until Judy, the show’s scheming producer, shamelessly exploits their budding romance for ratings. 

With the nation watching, can Kendra outwit Judy and discover the true meaning of love and family? Can she ever go home again, even if she wants to?

A bright and breezy fish-out-of-water romance for the girl in all of us.  Get it now!

"Kendra is an admirable character who discovers inner strength while thrust in a sink-or-swim environment." ~ Kirkus Reviews

Girl v. Boy

A high school wallflower gets feisty in an anonymous battle-of-the-sexes newspaper column. Will the rival writers still hate each other when the masks come off?

Luisa Perez likes to play it safe on the sidelines, but when she’s asked to pen an anonymous column for the school paper about a city-wide literacy fundraiser, she can’t say no. Writing might just be her ticket to college, and away from her abrasive drop-out sister. 

Disguised as “Newshound,” Lu reports on fundraising events from the female perspective, while rival columnist, “Scoop,” offers the male point of view. With an enticing prize on offer, the war of words heats up fast. 

In the midst of the school’s epic battle of the sexes, Luisa starts falling for a smart, sweet guy. But can she ever trust him knowing what Scoop has said about the primitive programming in the average male’s brain? 

Luisa vows to do whatever it takes to expose Scoop and win the competition for the girls—even if it gets her in deep trouble and costs her an amazing boyfriend. Because all’s fair in love, war and high school journalism… right?  Get it here! 

"This enjoyable, thought-provoking battle of the sexes highlights literacy's importance and the power of the written word to hurt, heal, and inspire." ~ Booklist



Love, Inc.

When three girls get their hearts broken by the same guy, they don't just get mad, they get even. And then they get rich.

Zahra, Kali, and Syd meet by chance in group counselling for teens of divorced families. When cheerful, diplomatic Zahra discovers they’re all dating one nefarious charmer, she’s devastated.

Rico had been her rock and sole confidant. How could she have missed the signs? Did the misunderstandings and culture clashes within her own family make her blind to the truth in relationships?

Kali and Syd are equally distressed by the betrayal, and the three girls join forces to show the cheater the folly of his ways. The mission is such a success that other teens offer to pay for their consulting services, and “Love, Incorporated” is born.

Soon they’re so busy with matchmaking, mediation and meting out revenge that Zahra lets down her guard and risks romance again. But when business gets too demanding, can she handle the pressure without falling apart?  Or will Love, Inc. sink into oblivion?

A laugh-out-loud story about the redeeming powers of friendship, love and family…

"Genuinely endearing, narrator Zahra reacts authentically to betrayal… Smart dialogue and a hip cast of characters keep the story engaging." ~ Kirkus Reviews

Bad for Business (Love, Inc. #2)

Can you put a price on love? Kali, Zahra and Syd sure can. Especially when so many romance-challenged teens are willing to pay for their help. 

Kali Esposito, matchmaker extraordinaire, couldn’t be happier that Love, Inc., the relationship management service she created with best friends, Syd and Zahra, is back in business. After a brief setback, the girls are once again using their skills to help lovelorn teens to break-up, make-up or take-up with someone new.

Fun, flirtatious Kali is cautious about commitment herself—no big surprise when your mom has racked up multiple divorces—but she’s a diehard romantic when it comes to bringing other people together. What’s more, her end-to-end makeovers can transform the most socially-challenged client into a confident charmer. The “Kali Method” she develops helps Love, Inc. expand beyond what the girls had dared hope.

But when a competitor steals the Kali Method and corrupts it to turn average guys into devious players, Kali is forced to rethink her views on love.  Can she come up with a plan to reclaim Love, Inc.’s trade secrets before every girl in Texas gets her heart broken… including her own?
This sequel to Love, Inc. draws you right back into the heartwarming, hilarious adventures of three irrepressible romantics… 

Yvonne Collins and Sandy Rideout are the authors of sweet, sassy romantic comedies and coming of age tales. Learn more about them and their books at www.collinsrideout.com and www.sandyrideout.com.

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