Lost in Las Vegas (Carter House Girls, Book 5) [Paperback]

Melody Carlson (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: January 27, 2009

Mix six teenaged girls and one '60s fashion icon (retired, of course) in an old Victorian-era boarding home. Add boys and dating, a little high-school angst, and throw in a Kate Spade bag or two ... and you've got The Carter House Girls, Melody Carlson's new chick lit series for young adults! In a whirlwind, DJ accepts 'lonely' Taylor's invitation to join her mom's tour in Las Vegas during Christmas break. DJ soon discovers that the unsupervised Taylor is focused on one thing only---partying with a capital 'P.' She's invited Eliza, too, and DJ is quickly overwhelmed by the behavior of the wild duo. Desperate, she calls on Casey for help and prays for a miracle to help Taylor before she self-destructs.

Editorial Reviews

From the Back Cover

Mix six teenaged girls and one '60s fashion icon (retired, of course) in an old Victorian-era boarding home. Add boys and dating, a little high-school angst, and throw in a Kate Spade bag or two ... and you've got The Carter House Girls, Melody Carlson's new chick lit series for young adults! In a whirlwind, DJ accepts 'lonely' Taylor's invitation to join her mom's tour in Las Vegas during Christmas break. DJ soon discovers that the unsupervised Taylor is focused on one thing only---partying with a capital 'P.' She's invited Eliza, too, and DJ is quickly overwhelmed by the behavior of the wild duo. Desperate, she calls on Casey for help and prays for a miracle to help Taylor before she self-destructs. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

About the Author

Melody Carlson has written more than 200 books for teens, women, and children. Before publishing, Melody traveled around the world, volunteered in teen ministry, taught preschool, raised two sons, and worked briefly in interior design and later in international adoption. 'I think real-life experiences inspire the best fiction,' she says. Her wide variety of books seems to prove this theory.

Product Details

• Reading level: Ages 13 and up
  
• Paperback: 208 pages
• Publisher: Zondervan (January 27, 2009)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0310714923
• ISBN-13: 978-0310714927
• Product Dimensions: 8.5 x 5.5 x 0.6 inches
• Shipping Weight: 6.4 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 3.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (4 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #634,369 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Melody Carlson has written around 200 books for teens, women and children. That's a lot of books, but mostly she considers herself a "storyteller." Her books range from serious issues like schizophrenia (Finding Alice) to lighter topics like house-flipping (A Mile in My Flip-Flops) but most of the inspiration behind her fiction comes right out of real life. Her young adult novels (Diary of a Teenage Girl, TrueColors etc.) appeal to teenage girls around the world. Her annual Christmas novellas become more popular each year. She's won a number of awards (including the Rita and Gold Medallion) and some of her books have been optioned for film/TV. Carlson has two grown sons and makes her home in the Pacific Northwest with her husband and yellow Lab dog. To find out more about Melody Carlson, visit her website at http://www.melodycarlson.com/

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Teen Drinking, February 2, 2009

By 

Sally "SmilingSally" (Tampa, FL) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Lost in Las Vegas (Carter House Girls, Book 5) (Paperback)

Obviously, this book is meant to be read as part of a series. Reading it without having read the titles that come before it, puts the reader at a disadvantage. I did not understand the concept of Carter House, and so the living situation confused me. Somewhere in the middle of the book, I realized that six girls live together. I still don't know why.

DJ is a seventeen year-old Christian girl who stumbles into awkward situations and then prays her way through them. She's a typical teen who wavers when making decisions. Taylor, DJ's roommate, leans toward the wild side, and this sets up a good tug-of-war story between good and evil.

The theme is the dangers of teenagers drinking alcohol. The book ends where the next volume will begin. This one is labeled Teen Fiction.

4.0 out of 5 stars Too much viva-ing in Vegas, November 12, 2009

By 

Deborah "Books, Movies and Chinese Food" (Fairfax, VA) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)    (TOP 500 REVIEWER)   

This review is from: Lost in Las Vegas (Carter House Girls, Book 5) (Paperback)

This book pretty much is the downfall of Taylor. It's been foreshadowed since the day we met her in the first book. Seriously, this girl is totally uninhibited and just out to have a good time. However she goes for the extreme in whatever she does and doesn't seem to care about the consequences. I really could not stand her condescending attitude towards DJ just because she doesn't want to drink or anything else Taylor does. It had nothing to do with DJ being a Christian, she just knew that it wasn't healthy and it was dangerous. Yet Taylor keeps acting like she's the cool one and DJ is a freak for not joining her. Therefore DJ feels that she has to be always on the watch for Taylor and can't enjoy everything because she's like the baby sitter. The whole story just builds up until the ending when Taylor finally realizes that she has a problem.

While I enjoyed this book, at the same time there's also a bit of a fantasy with the situation. Maybe it's just me, but there would have been no way, I would have been allowed to go to Las Veags at that age, l et alone be on my own while there. It just seemed very unrealistic for a bunch of 16 year old girls to be on their own around in that city and no one really questioning them. Also DJ's grandmother is REALLY getting on my nerves. Seriously, throughout the entire series all she cares about is looks and making the right connections instead of being concerned about the girls' safety. I cannot wait until she gets a reality check.

Overall though, I have enjoyed this series and this one seems to be the edgiest one of all. I think it really speaks to teens and shows what they go through. Also I really like the cover, I think it's the first time I've ever seen fishnets on a Christian fiction book! I would recommend this book and the rest of the series for older teens.

4.0 out of 5 stars I was lost in another book about the Carter House Girls, February 27, 2009

By 

Soul Glow Activatur - See all my reviews

This review is from: Lost in Las Vegas (Carter House Girls, Book 5) (Paperback)

Okay, so in the fifth book of the Carter House Girls, we find that DJ is struggling with wanting to enter into a dating relationship with Conner, but doesn't want to hurt Hailey. And there's the drama that always takes place between Taylor and DJ, and the rest of the girls at Carter House. Christmas is coming up, and DJ isn't going to head home to spend the time off with her dad and his "new family". But everyone has plans, and staying home means being with DJ's fashion-crazed, calling DJ Desiree, grandmother. Then Taylor, who is spending the time off in Las Vegas, with her famous mom, who is booked to sing at an elegant hotel over Christmas, invites DJ to come to Vegas for the holiday.
DJ seems to have a motto: take the "sin" part out of "Sin City". But with Taylor, it's always difficult to have fun without guys or alcohol, or something that DJ doesn't approve of.
And in the end, she decides to head to Vegas for the holidays. And what could happen? Well, more than she bargained for. . .
At one point or another, you begin to enjoy, and even adore, this series, because you get to know the girls. I'm to the point where I can't stop reading the Carter House Girls; I know each character too well.
This is my favorite series by Mrs. Carlson. I'm able to relate with DJ and Conner, like many other girls can relate with the female and male characters. These books give good advice on events that teens face each day. And I love how Melody doesn't pound religion in our faces, she shows us the difference between religion and a relationship with Christ. Teens think that Christ is a big religion, but He isn't. . . He's a personal, one on one, relationship, and Melody shows how that can be done in real life. And she shows that it isn't as complicated as we like to make it. I'm always spiritually challenged after reading her books, which is a unique thing in this day and age.