Hollyweird

April 9, 2012
In Clark’s (Sleepless) over-the-top story of romance and spiritual warfare in the Hollywood hills, high school senior Aly King wins a contest to meet teenage celebrity dreamboat Dakota Danvers, traveling from Colorado to Los Angeles with her outspoken best friend Des and Ali’s wannabe-actress older sister, Missy. The story shifts between the (oddly similar) narratives of Aly and Dakota’s personal assistant, Jameson, a fallen angel seeking redemption by taking down Dakota—who is literally Satan’s spawn. Dakota charms Des and Missy, but Aly is taken with Jameson, who opens Aly and Des’s eyes to the supernatural battle taking place around them (nothing like a text message from God or celestial magic show to shore up one’s belief in a higher power) and instantaneously renews Aly’s faith, which was shaken by her mother’s death in a drunk-driving accident (a plot element that fits uncomfortably with the book’s campy, overcaffeinated tone). While the concept of Hollywood as a playground for supernatural creatures is fun, the amped-up personalities and dialogue are forced and, despite the book’s spiritual motif, it ends up feeling fairly empty. Ages 12–up.

April 15, 2012
A supernatural adventure and romance mixed with soul searching. Seventeen-year-old Aly can't believe her luck when winning a magazine contest whisks her, her best friend, Des, and her older sister, Missy, to Los Angeles to meet her hunky teen idol, Dakota Danvers. The girls are met in LA by Jameson, Dakota's brooding-but-hot assistant and given the star treatment, including a photo shoot with Dakota--who turns out to be much more than meets the eye. He is, in fact, the son of Lucifer (yes, that Lucifer). Despite the girls' first positive impressions of Hollywood, its shine quickly dims as they find themselves pawns in a battle that pits Heaven against Hell. The girls' Hollywood adventure is rolled out in chapters alternating between Aly's voice, which is riddled with teen slang, and Jameson's, which has a serious tone that adds believability to his early reveal that he is a fallen angel trying to get back into the good graces of his ethereal boss. Woven into the narrative are Aly's feelings about her own faith, which has been heavily tested by her mother's death two years before and her bumpy relationship with her sister. Despite heavy themes, though, it's ultimately another piece of paranormal chick lit. This modern twist on the fallen-angel tale won't drive any tourists to Hollywood. (Paranormal romance. 12 & up)

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