Review: Paradise by Jill S. Alexander

Title: Paradise
Author: Jill S. Alexander Website
Publisher: Feiwel & Friends
Pub. Date: 7.5.2011
Genre: Contemporary
Keywords: Music, Relationships, Bands, Love, Romance
Pages: 256
Description (from Goodreads):
Paisley Tillery is the drummer for a country rock band. If they can make it to the stage at the Texapalooza music fest, then Paisley will be closer to her dream of a career in music and a ticket out of her small Texas town.

Drumming and music are what Paisley has always wanted. Until the band gets a new lead singer, the boy from Paradise, Texas. With Paradise in her life, what Paisley wants, and what she needs, complicate her dreams coming true.


It isn't easy for me to coherently explain my feelings about Jill S. Alexander's sophomore novel, PARADISE. I really enjoyed Alexander's first novel, THE SWEETHEART OF PROSPER COUNTY, but I wasn't at all prepared for how much I would adore PARADISE. Not only does PARADISE feature a fantastic plot and engaging setting, the characters are phenomenal. 


The main character, Paisley, caught me off guard... The name Paisley seemed a bit pink to me. I literally pictured a pink paisley pattern when I first saw her name and that didn't seem all that appealing at the time. (Okay, I never find pink paisley appealing... I'll admit it.) Eventually I stopped picturing her as a pink psychedelic pattern and accepted her for the badass she is. I think her parents really wanted her to be a Paisley, she just refused to be one... She's spunky, direct, and a drummer. And the fact that she's a drummer was, in my mind, a key part of her being a legitimate badass. She wasn't up on stage do wear skimpy clothes and dance around, she was behind an entire drum set rocking out and being awesome. Love it!


And then there's Paradise. Not only was he an interesting character on his own, he was a great match for Paisley. I liked that they challenged one another and didn't immediately fall madly in love. Paisley may have acknowledged his good looks early on, but she didn't fall for him for shallow, physical reasons, which sometimes happens and leaves the reader perturbed and not at all supportive of the relationship. I appreciated the banter between the two and the small moments that eventually led them to develop feelings for one another.


And the ending... oh my goodness. I definitely didn't see it coming at all. Since I read this novel in one sitting, I actually reread the ending a couple times just to make sure I wasn't just getting a bit loopy and imagining things. After becoming so invested in PARADISE's characters, I may have cried a bit to see it end, especially so surprisingly. 


Okay, I'm lying, I cried a lot. Sobbed really. This isn't a bad thing though: if I hadn't cared about the characters, I wouldn't have been moved to tears... Especially not big, sloppy tears. I won't be forgetting about Paisley and Paradise any time soon.


Alexander is one of those authors whose books are, for me, an automatic buy. I highly, highly recommend both her debut and sophomore novels.

Helpful Links:

BUY it on IndieBound.

ADD it on Goodreads.

Interview: Jill S. Alexander (Author of The Sweetheart of Prosper County)!

The talented Jill S. Alexander, author of the new September release, The Sweetheart of Prosper County, dishes about her new novel, chicken research, writing, and Matthew McConaughey!

Before we jump into the interview, here is a little blurb about Jill from her adorable website!

An interest in novels came late for me in my rural East Texas hometown. With no public library and few books, save one full set of encyclopedias, I learned poetry from church hymnals and storytelling from eccentric relatives. Captivated by country music's story-songs coming across my grandfather's AM radio after the morning farm report, I began writing out the lyrics and creating my own as early as second grade. At age 12, I went to work bussing tables at the local truck stop on weekends and the all-you-can-eat catfish joint at night. With the restaurants located by the interstate, I met colorful folks from all walks of life traveling to places I had only read about in encyclopedias.

Having developed a love for reading fiction in high school, I combined that with my passion for storytelling and focused my college studies on literature and creative writing.

THE SWEETHEART OF PROSPER COUNTY is my debut novel.

I adored The Sweetheart of Prosper County! Read my review here!

On to the interview!

First off, tell us a little bit about your new novel, The Sweetheart of Prosper County.
THE SWEETHEART OF PROSPER COUNTY is a rowdy coming-of-age story about a girl turning fifteen, her rooster, and her unflappable quest to be the sweetheart of the Future Farmers of America.

Are you anything like your main character, personality-wise?
Austin has a feisty personality that is all her own, and she’s not afraid to take
chances. We probably share that fearlessness.

Did your high school have FFA when you were in school? Were you a member? If not, what activities were you involved in?
We did have an FFA program. Both my brother and my father were FFA members. I participated in FHA briefly, but the dance/drill team took up most of my time. We were called the Tiger Dolls – lots of high-kicking in top hats. I’m sure there are pics somewhere.

In the Sweetheart of Prosper County, Austin raises a chicken in her quest to become a Sweetheart – did you have to do chicken research or do you raise chickens?
Most of the chicken specific info in the novel comes from memory. My great uncle raised roosters, and I grew up hearing those stories. My parents’ neighbors raised chickens, so I got some hands on experience there. Regarding research, I prefer talking to people. Whenever I had a chicken question, I’d call my dad or the local FFA/Ag teacher.

Austin tries “noodling” in the novel, have you ever done this?
Goodness! My mother could read this, so the answer is no.

In the beginning of the book, Austin tells a story about how she and her mother came to have signed picture of Matthew McConaughey in their house. My mother is also a big McConaughey fan, so I have to ask: did this aspect of the novel come from a personal daydream or experience? (I had to ask… :)
I LOVE this question! Matthew McConaughey grew up in Longview, Texas not far from where I live. My best friend babysat him. She was around fifteen; he was about ten. She has an autographed picture of the “shirtless wonder” in a silver frame. No one is allowed to touch it.

What was the most difficult aspect of writing The Sweetheart of Prosper County?
The end. It was like saying goodbye to a great group of friends.

Did you always want to be a writer?
I was a little country girl with no public library and very few books at home. Being a writer never occurred to me. However, I had music and a wonderful, eccentric family full of entertaining storytellers. I always wanted the stories -- hear them, sing them, tell them, write them.

What jobs did you have on your way to being a writer? Did they help you in any way as a writer?
My work experience has made me the writer I am today. While other kids were connecting with characters in books, I was connecting with real life characters. When I was twelve, I bussed tables at a truck stop. I met colorful folks from all walks of life. In high school, I worked in a hardware store similar to Gray’s True Value in the novel. After college, I taught English until the pull to pen my own stories became irresistible.

When and where do you usually write?
I write at home, starting in the early morning and writing until I pick my son up from school. I’m impressed with writers who can work in coffee shops. I like the quiet.

Is there something that is a must have for you to be able to write?
Coke Zero and quiet.

What author or book most influenced you as a writer or in general?
When I read Flannery O’Connor’s short story Good Country People, I just about lost my mind – in a good way. I loved the rural, southern voice and it was so smart, perfectly put together. I became a student of the Southern Gothics – Eudora Welty, Truman Capote, Harper Lee, Tennessee Williams.

What are currently reading?
I recently finished Julie Halpern’s INTO THE WILD NERD YONDER. Loved it! An original voice and it’s laugh-out-loud funny.

What book are you anxiously awaiting?
Watch for Kristin Tubb’s next historical fiction novel SELLING HOPE. I’ve read a small portion. Let me tell you, it’s going to be out of this world!

Can you tell us anything about your next novel?
Feiwel & Friends acquired my second novel PARADISE AND HIS SMOKIN’ SQUEEZEBOX. I’m hoping to have it ready for the Fall 2010 list. Get a fan. This one’s hot.

The Hiding Spot is dedicated to my personal hiding spot, books. Is there a place, activity, or person that is your hiding spot?
Muscle car, fifth gear, Highway 67

Anything else you would like to share with us?
God Bless Robert Earl Keen.

Who I is Robert Earl Keen you ask? Well, don't worry I have a handy dandy YouTube video of the one and only performing a song on Austin City Limits, one of my favorite shows! :)



I'd like to thank Jill for taking the time to answer these questions! And I totally called my mom and told her all about close encounters with Matthew McConaughey! :) Go out and get this book - it is a wonderfully fun story!

Review: The Sweetheart of Prosper County by Jill S. Alexander

Title: The Sweetheart of Prosper County
Author: Jill S. Alexander
Publisher: Feiwel and Friends
Pub. Date: September 1st 2009
Genre: YA
Main Themes: Friendship, Bullying, Self-Esteem, Love, Family, Identity
Pages: 224
Plot (from back of ARC):
"Almost-15-year-old Austin Gray is tired of standing at the curb and watching the parade pass her by. Literally. She decides this is the year she’ll ride on the hood of a shiny pickup truck in the annual parade, waving to the crowd and finally showing the town bully that she’s got what it takes to be the Sweetheart of Prosper County.

But far from simply being a beauty contest, becoming Sweetheart involves participation in the Future Farmers of America (FFA), raising an animal, and hunting or fishing. Austin will do almost anything to become Sweetheart, and has the support of her oldest friend, Maribel, her new FFA friends (including the reigning Sweetheart, and a quiet, cute cowboy), an evangelical Elvis impersonator, a mysterious Cajun outcast, and a rooster named Charles Dickens. If only her momma would stop overprotecting her, and start letting Austin live her own life. But Austin can’t move on until Momma moves on, too—and lets the grief of losing Austin’s daddy several years before out into the open."

This novel is absolutely adorable! That makes it sound a bit like a middle grade book so something, but it really isn't. Austin is young, only fourteen actually, but she really seems older. Everytime that attention was drawn to her age and I remembered she was only 14 I was a bit startled actually. While she isn't the most mature character, she definitely didn't seem that young.

I was never in FFA, but I'm from a small town where FFA is a bit of tradition, and in ways a lifestyle, for many families and kids. Reading about Austin's adventures in chicken-raising made me wonder if a missed out a little!

I was pleasantly surprised by the references to noodling and Matthew McConaughey! I know what you're thinking, "that is such a random comment to have in a review!" But it is true. One of the best parts about The Sweetheart of Prosper County was that it was so well rounded. There were all sorts of references: FFA, southern, current/pop culture references all blended together to make Austin's world believeable.

Austin was definitely the star of this novel, but the minor characters helped it shine! Charles Dickens the Rooster, Maribel, Lewis, Josh, and Sundi all were amazing characters, no matter how big or small their part in the novel.

I thought Austin's friendships and budding romance were believable and well written. There was even a subtle sexual reference that I thought was tastefully done and reflected Austin's age and personality well...

Ratings (Out of 10):
Plot: 10
Characters: 10
Writing style: 10
Romance: 10
Originality: 10
Total: 50/50 (A!)

I loved Austin and her quest to become a Sweetheart - even though I think she was a Sweetheart all along! Jill S. Alexander is an author to watch - I can't wait for her next novel!