With glue guns, glitter, twigs, or yarn, the ordinary can become extraordinary . . . especially at La Pachanga. Owned by Estrella “Star” Esteban’s family, the restaurant has a rep for two things: good food and great art. La Pachanga brings people together-even when it looks like they couldn’t be further apart.

One ill-fated evening, Star jeopardizes her family’s business, her relationship with her boyfriend, and her future career. To redeem herself, she agrees to participate in a national craft competition, teaming up with her best friend, Ofelia-a secretly troubled mother whose love for crafting borders on obsession-and local celebrity Chloe Chavez-a determined television personality with more than one skeleton in her professional closet. If these unlikely allies can set aside their differences, they’ll find strength they never knew they had, and learn that friendship, like crafting, is truly an art form.

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On occasion, I really enjoy a book that gives me a sort of comic relief and that is that is what I found in the pages of In The Land Of Glitter.  In this delightful laugh out loud setting, I found out very quickly that the old saying that all that glitters is not gold as the characters of this book are soon to find out!

The main character Estrella (or Star as we come to thankfully know her in this book!) can cause more damage to her relationships in short time than a F-5 twister!  At 28 Star really hasn’t really done anything with her life.  She still lives at home and floats about aimlessly through day-to-day life never really accomplishing (or finishing) anything.  As her father decided enough is enough, Star seeks redemption in the above mentioned  craft competition, and drags along a couple of her friends, Ofy and Chloe.   This is where the book really takes off in a flurry of glitter (about 350 pounds of it) and several laugh out loud events that follow.

The book characters are Hispanic and with that Spanish words are occasionally tossed into the book just adding to its unique craftiness.  I found the glossary in the back of the book for the meaning of these Spanish word to be a wonderful idea.

Let me introduce author Kathy Cano-Murillo who would like to share about this book:

The book is a fun ” just enjoy the rollercoaster ride ” style of read.  I do enjoy books about women’s friendships and that was what I found in this book. Star, Ofy, and Chloe are characters that make me smile.  And I do like to smile.

Reading Group Guide

I received my copy of this books from Hachette Book Group

Something strange is happening in Ellerton High. Phoenix is the fourth teenager to die within a year. His street fight stabbing follows the deaths of Jonas, Summer and Arizona in equally strange and sudden circumstances. Rumours of ghosts and strange happenings rip through the small community as it comes to terms with shock and loss. Darina, Phoenix’s grief-stricken girlfriend, is on the verge. She can’t escape her intense heartache, or the impossible apparitions of those that are meant to be dead. And all the while the sound of beating wings echo inside her head…And then one day Phoenix appears to Darina. Ecstatic to be reunited, he tells her about the Beautiful Dead. Souls in limbo, they have been chosen to return to the world to set right a wrong linked to their deaths and bring about justice. Beautiful, superhuman and powerful, they are marked by a ‘death mark’ — a small tattoo of angel’s wings. Phoenix tells her that the sound of invisible wings beating are the millions of souls in limbo, desperate to return to earth. Darina’s mission is clear: she must help Jonas, Summer, Arizona, and impossibly, her beloved Phoenix, right the wrong linked to their deaths to set them free from limbo so that they can finally rest in peace. Will love conquer death? And if it does, can Darina set it free?

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I loved the cover of this book and I love the synopsis.  This was one of those books that for me, I had trouble sticking to my reading plan and leaving it on the shelf…. I wanted to know what was in the pages.  Had to know.  Must know.

Darina is our main character and her boyfriend, Phoenix has been the latest teen to die.  What Darina soon discovers in an  old farm-house is about to turn her world upside down and cause her to question whatever she has known in the past to be true.

I guess in an odd “zombie like” way – this is a love story.  You can tell Darina and Phoenix’s love for one another and this also makes it – in a way – a sad story too.  I liked the “angel” type feel to the dead teens (I cant believe I just said that – it sounds creepy!).  This made the book more likable for me to see them in this light.  I also liked the tattoo of the wings that each of the “undead” characters received.  I thought that was unique.

Once I was able to familiarize myself with the characters and the plot I found the book to progress nicely leaving a sense of mystery and intrigue to make people want to read the next book to continue the story.

The Author

Eden Maguire lives in both Colorado and the UK. Her admiration for Emily Bronte’s classic, Wuthering Heights, ties in with her fascination for the dark side of life and informs her portrayal of the restless, romantic souls in The Beautiful Dead.

I received my review copy from Sourcebooks