VALENTINE PRINCESS: A Princess Diaries Book
Meg Cabot
HarperTeen
Fiction
ISBN-10: 0060847182
ISBN-13: 9780060847180
96 pages

• Read an Excerpt

Mia is on her way to Genovia when she discovers a time travel ticket (well, actually her old journal) that takes her back to her very first Valentine's Day with Michael. What a find!

The first entry is for February 11th and tells how Mia met her grandmother's astrologist, Dr. Steve. Dr. Steve predicts grave danger plus a marriage proposal for Grandmere while Mia secretly scoffs. Mia doesn't believe it, yet she fears hearing her own forecast. Dr. Steve is insistent on telling it to her anyway. Mia is sure that Dr. Steve's predictions are foolishness; however, she is dismayed to hear him foretell that she will have a lasting relationship with a Leo. Mia screams that he can only be wrong since her beloved Michael is a Capricorn, and even suspects that Grandmere has put Dr. Steve up to his predictions simply because Grandmere doesn't like Michael.

When Mia mentions the forecast to her friend, Tina Hakim Baba, Tina urges Mia to fight for Michael. She's horrified that Mia and Michael have made no Valentine's Day plans and says that Dr. Steve's prediction will come true for sure if Mia doesn't plan the perfect romantic celebration.

When Mia casually brings up the holiday of romance with her best friend Lilly in front of Michael, she's dismayed to hear both of them diss it as a crass commercial ritual that they refuse to take part in. Tina insists that Mia must change Michael's mind about Valentine's Day by making it wonderful for him. The pressure is on, and Mia is in a quandary. How can she give a gift to someone without making it seem like she wants one in return? And how on earth can she give a Valentine's Day present to someone who hates the holiday?

Meanwhile, Grandmere is spending too much time with Dr. Steve. Mia is worried. Is Dr. Steve conning her royal grandmother?

This very quick read is pure enjoyment for Meg Cabot's many fans, with her signature rapid-fire wit and intriguing subplots. And, of course, it's full of heart. What could be more appropriate to the spirit of Valentine's Day?

   --- Reviewed by Terry Miller Shannon (terryms2001@yahoo.com)

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