Freaky Friday :|: 36

Title: Crash Landing
Author: Nicole Davidson
Published: October 1996
Publisher: HarperCollins Publishers
Pages: 187
Summary:

A group of friends head to the mountains for a planned ski trip. But they didn't plan on murder. Starting with one girl's murder, followed by another's death, the friends are caught in a fatal cat-and-mouse game in which they all may end up as victims. (from bn.com)

Review:

This is a well written book! I am 17 and I don't like to read because I find it a drag but this book was very cool to read. I wasn't bored with it and it had a good plot. Different events occurred that made you wonder what was going to happen. I would recommend reading this book even if you don't like to read!! (Anonymous, from bn.com)

This is a sequel to Crash Course. Looks like it did better than its predecessor! How rare that is, huh? Sounds like the same premise, just a different purpose. I guess it was better written or something.

Freaky Friday :|: 35

Title: Dying to Dance
Author: Nicole Davidson
Published: May 1996
Publisher: HarperCollins Publishers
Pages: 192
Summary:

The dance world evokes lovely images of grace, balance and beautiful movement, but not for Carrie Clark. the aspiring dancer finds herself the prime suspect in a murder case after her arch rival, who stole her dancing partner, is found dead. (from bn.com)

Editorial Review:

A fast-paced, well-written page-turner. Carrie, a competitor on the ballroom-dance circuit, finds herself suspected by everyone; her brother, her closest friends, and the police, of murdering Miranda, an unscrupulous rival. Carrie is trapped in a net of circumstantial evidence, stolen CDs, and her partner's defection and eventual disappearance. Forged paintings, blackmail, bloodstains, class rings, and a loyal boyfriend smooth the young woman's progress in her own investigation and on the dance floor. This one offers what YAs crave: a plucky heroine, a lively mystery, snappy style, satisfying ending, and budding romance. Buy it, and give it a solid B+ for the genre.Doris A. Fong, Benson Polytechnic High School, Portland, OR (from School Library Journal on bn.com)

Well at least the premise, or what the premise is mired in, sounds original enough. There are a lot of dance books out there but not too many about ballroom dancing involving teens. Pretty interesting. The storyline isn't one for the books but this one has potential, especially considering the review. You never know.

Freaky Friday :|: 34

Title: Crash Course
Author: Nicole Davidson
Published: July 1990
Publisher: HarperCollins Publishers
Pages: 224
Summary:

When eight teenagers sign up for an intensive SAT prep course to be held over Thanksgiving weekend in a remote lakeside cabin, they little suspect that oneof them will be murdered! Their teacher goes off for help and never returns, leaving the teens to wonder if there is a lunatic killer loose in the woods . . . (from bn.com)

Editorial Review:

Kelly Peterson and seven other high school students have enrolled in an intensive SAT course, to be held at a secluded cabin during Thanksgiving vacation. Tragedy strikes on the first night of their trip when Brian Lopez, Kelly's closest friend, drowns in a nearby lake. Brian's longtime (and possessive) girlfriend, Paula, had been with him, and claims he died from a struggle with an unknown assailant. When their teacher goes in search of help but doesn't return, the group is convinced that a madman must be stalking the area, waiting to pounce on his next victim. The book's main flaw is that not much happens until its midpoint, and readers expecting an action-packed thriller won't have the patience to sit through this drawn out story. (They'll also see through the author's manipulative ploy of casting suspicion on most of the characters.) In addition, the setting is contrived: it's highly unlikely that any school would sanction a retreat 10 miles from a telephone or any transportation. Davidson's effort pales in comparison to others in this genre. (from Publisher's Weekly, bn.com)

I'm sensing a theme with this author. The summary alone screams forced. The thing is, maybe this wasn't as contrived as it sounds now when it was published back in 1990. You never know. Then again, the plot as it stands is rather unfeasible with or without the force. Eh. What are you going to do? At least we have a cover for this one.

Freaky Friday :|: 33

Title: Night Terrors
Author: Nicole Davidson
Published: June 1994
Publisher: HarperCollins Publishers
Pages: 192
Summary:

Sleep, Maggie - and confront the terrifying demon of your dreams. Look into the crazed eyes of the madwoman who chases you through the night. Wake up and discover a faceless killer who wants you dead before you learn too much. (from fantasticfiction.co.uk)

Well that sounds pretty creepy. I could probably get into that. Honestly, the thought of getting attacked through your dreams is truly terrifying. I mean, how do you escape that? You can't. If you stay awake too long, you die. If you sleep, you die. Double-edged sword much?

Freaky Friday :|: 32

Image Not Available

Title: Surprise Party
Author: Nicole Davidson
Published: October 1993
Publisher: HarperCollins Publisher
Pages: 10 (?, per bn.com)
Summary:

Intrigued by the mysterious new guy in town--a guy whose strange eyes draw her to him--Mo invites him to her Halloween party and soon discovers that she has invited evil into her own home. (from fantasticfiction.co.uk)

Book cover images from this author elude me. Blast. I would like to know a little more about this book. The summary's a bit elusive. Guess I'll have to do a dig for it and read it myself. Damn. More reading. Whatever shall I do? And yeah, I don't know what the deal is with the page numbers. I'm thinking BN was a little confused.

Freaky Friday :|: 31

Title: Fan Mail
Author: Nicole Davidson
Published: July 1993
Publisher: HarperCollins Publishers
Pages: 176
Summary:

Christina Ann English, child model turned young teen actress, has just received her biggest break in motion pictures. She's been chosen among dozens of other hopeful girls to costar with Kurt Richmond, a major teen heart throb, in an upcoming horror flick called Dark Memories. More...

Along with Christina, a few other high school drama students are picked to be extras and miscellaneous crew members, including Christina's friendly ex-boyfriend, John Washington, and his jealous sister, Beryl.

At first, everything's going perfectly for Christina, until she starts receiving harassing phone calls. And then someone breaks into her trailer several times to leave more twisted messages. Who's been stalking Christina and wants her dead--her freaky director, Theodore Dreising; her egotistical costar who can't handle rejection; the new guy (Steve Jackson) she's just met who has a shrine of her in his gym locker--or is it someone else on the set? (from abebooks.com)

Dun dun dun. Hey, the book cover is ever growing! Wheee! This one still sounds typical. Nothing all that original but I'm a sucker for corny horror mysteries. Sue me.

Freaky Friday :|: 30

Title: The Stalker
Author: Nicole Davidson
Published: October 1992
Publisher: HarperCollins Publishers
Pages: 176
Summary:

Jennifer escapes an attempt on her life in an empty shopping mall, but the terrified girl is stalked by the strangler, who is determined to silence her forever. (from fantasticfiction.co.uk)

Woohoo! A larger cover image! It's getting better. At least the image is, anyway. As for the books, well, they're pretty cookie cutter at this point. I'm actually more interested in reading these books just to see what was done different to make a rather mundane plotline more interesting.

Freaky Friday :|: 29

Title: Demon's Beach
Author: Nicole Davidson
Published: July 1992
Publisher: HarperCollins Publishers
Pages: 160
Summary:

In the Florida Keys in search of sunken treasure, the Archaeology Club from Fort Johnson High School encounters an unspeakable evil as members of their group begin to behave strangely and accidents happen. (from fantasticfiction.co.uk)

Well that's elusive. It could go either way. And it sounds original enough up against what I've posted for this meme thingy already. I'd read it. And yeah, the image is pretty pathetic. It was all I could get, though. When you're skint, you'll take what you can find, I guess. And it's a really short book. I mean really short. By any standards. I guess there's no fat on it at all. Makes me kind of worried, actually.

Freaky Friday :|: 28

A day late. I think it's excusable.

Cover Art Not Found

Title: Winterkill
Author: Nicole Davidson
Publisher: HarperCollins Publishers
Published: July, 1991
Pages: 192
Summary:

Her family's move to rural Vermont proves dangerous for Karen Henderson as she tries to track down the killer of her friend Matt. (from fantasticfiction.co.uk)

This author's books are rather illusive when it comes to much of anything. This one sounds like your standard murder mystery but it rightly could be a grab back of whatever you can think. Hmmm . . .

Freaky Friday :|: 27

Title: Farewell Kiss, Final Cruise, Volume 3
Author: Nicole Davidson
Publisher: HarperCollins Publishers
Published: May 1995
Pages: 208
Summary:

Crew member Carol Walters struggles to identify the killer of two passengers aboard the luxury cruise ship, Mystique, wondering whether it could be the man she shared a moonlight kiss with and whether she will live to find out. (from fantasticfiction.co.uk)

More dun dun dun! I'm boggled that this series lasted 3 books. I mean, each one sounds the same. But yay for a cover image! Albeit tiny. Eh. I guess it's better than nothing, right?

Freaky Friday :|: 26

Cover Not Available

Title: Final Cruise: Kiss of Death, Volume 2
Author: Nicole Davidson
Published: April 1995
Publisher: HarperCollins Publishers
Pages: 224
Summary:

Since the death of an obnoxious teenager--who witnesses say was pushed overboard--the crew and passengers are all on edge, including 16-year-old Carol Walters. Someone on board the cruise ship is a psychotic murderer, waiting to strike again. Is Carol's name next on the killer's elimination list? (bn.com)

Still not finding covers for this one. Elusive, I tell you. Just from the summaries, I'm nonplussed about this series. Doesn't sound all that original or particularly thrilling. But it's old school bookk love nonetheless.

Freaky Friday :|: 25

OMG, what? I just got another email indicating that I've received yet another BBAW nomination for Best Blog Name! *squee* How cool! Thank you, thank you, thank you! Thankfully I don't have to do anything for that one. :) I'm so excited!

Cover Not Available

Title: Final Cruise: First Kiss, Volume 1
Author: Nicole Davidson
Publisher: HarperCollins Publisher
Published: March 1995
Pages: 208
Summary:

When 16-year-old Carol Walters lands a summer dream job as part of a cruise ship crew, she's delighted. Romance blooms with both a straight-arrow junior officer and the flashy singer in a rock band. But the horror begins on their first night out, when an obnoxious teenager falls overboard--and witnesses say he was pushed.

Dun dun dun! Not quite sure if this is more murder mystery or horror. Or both. I couldn't find much on it, including the cover. Nothing. Judging by her book list, she leans more towards horror so it might take a slant there. Alas, love gone wrong. Where will it end??? I guess that's what happens when you start double dipping . . .