Review: Shimmer

Summary: In just three years, CEO Robbie Case has grown Core Communications, a data technology company, from 30 people to over 5,000. Now a $20 billion company made legendary by its sudden success, Core is based on a technology no other company can come close to copying, a revolutionary breakthrough known as “drawing blood from a mainframe.” And Robbie, its 35-year-old CEO, is acclaimed worldwide for his vision, leadership and wealth. Except that all of it is based on a lie. The technology doesn’t work, the finances are built on a Ponzi scheme of stock sales and shell corporations, and Robbie is struggling to keep the company alive, to protect the friends who work for him and all that they’ve built. Each day, Robbie tries to push the catastrophe back a little further, while his employees believe that they are all moving closer to “grace,” the day their stock options vest, when they will be made rich for their faith and loyalty and hard work. The details of the lie are all keyed into a shadowy interface that Robbie calls Shimmer, an omniscient mainframe that hides itself, calculates its own collapse, threatens to outsmart its creator and to reveal the corporation’s illegal, fragile underpinnings. Shimmer is the story of a high-tech crusade nearing its end. The shell game Robbie has created is finally running out of room. And Robbie is the only one who knows or who has a chance to make things right. Or is he?

A breathless debut novel that charges the atmosphere with suspense and surprise and delivers complex characters you can root for in spite of their flaws, Shimmer is Robbie’s race against the truth. -- Unbridled Books

When I first picked up SHIMMER by Eric Barnes, I had a feeling that I might not be the ideal audience for it. SHIMMER is a unique novel in that I would describe it as a "techno thriller." In the past, I used to read a lot of suspense/thriller books; but lately I seem to gravitate more towards historical fiction and women's fiction. It's not that I have anything against thrillers, it's just that they aren't my first book of choice anymore. And, while I definitely enjoyed (and appreciated) SHIMMER, I'm thinking that maybe I should have passed it on for Booking Pap Pap to read and review. I just don't quite know how to review it -- so all I can do is share some of my thoughts about this novel.

Having said all that, I don't want it to sound like I didn't like this book because I definitely did enjoy reading it. There were times when I was reading SHIMMER when I couldn't put it down. I think a lot of credit goes to the author Eric Barnes for creating so much suspense. This isn't one of those books where there is a lot of action. In fact, almost the entire story takes place in Core Communications Office building. However, I could actually feel myself become shaky and nervous along with Robbie as he faced possible exposure to his secrets. This book really did make me feel like I was on a roller-coaster ride. The story was fast-paced and the characters' actions were at times frantic. It was a very suspenseful read!

As mentioned in the book description, this story is based on a high-tech company that was basically operating a Ponzi scheme. I'm going to be honest and say that I am one of the least technologically minded people out there -- I basically shut down at the first mention of computer terms. And while I wasn't really interested in all the computer lingo and understanding how the company worked, I did think the scheme sounded feasible; and I didn't have any problems comprehending what Robbie was doing with his company. So if you are like me and feel a little overwhelmed by the idea behind this book, don't let that deter you from reading it.

I thought Mr. Barnes did a really good job of developing the characters. The majority of the book was written in Robbie's first person voice so the reader really gets inside his mind. Since Robbie had been keeping so many secrets for so long, he was definitely starting to fall apart; and the stress because so many people were dependent on him really came through on every page. I also appreciated how Mr. Barnes threw in very brief chapters about a few of the executive employees which he wrote in third person. These sections let the readers know more about Robbie's co-workers as well as giving them an inkling that Robbie's secrets weren't all that "secret."

Robbie was an extremely interesting and yet a highly flawed character. So often in these types of books, these characters seem to be one-dimensional. That wasn't the case in SHIMMER. I thought the author did a fantastic job of developing Robbie and giving the reader information about his youth. His insecurities, his fear of intimacy, and his guilt were definitely the result of many things that happened in his past. I found Robbie to be a fascinating character but I didn't always like him. What I did find strange, though, was that despite all of Robbie's deception, I found myself liking him and even rooting for his successes!

I don't want to give anything away about the ending, but I think I can't write a review of this book without mentioning it. I thought the ending made the book for me! As my emotions went back and forth about Robbie depending on his actions -- sometimes I liked him and other times I couldn't stand him -- I thought I had him figured out by the end of the book. Suffice it to say that I was a little surprised with how the author ended this story, but I thought it was perfect for this book and these characters.

SHIMMER is available today, June 30, 2009. Thanks to Libby from Unbridled Books for sending me an ARC of SHIMMER.

Game On! and Pounds Off! (I Hope)

Summary: The Game On! Diet is not a diet. It's a bold new approach to fitness that turns the latest, smartest, most successful health science into a fun, fierce, and exhilarating game. Developed by Az Ferguson, to help Grey's Anatomy writer Krista Vernoff shed forty pounds of postpregnancy weight, it is the ideal program for busy people who should be working out but have a thousand good excuses not to.

Az keeps you motivated and Krista keeps you laughing as they show you how to organize opposing teams, set goals, and compete to earn points for daily exercise, healthy meal plans, and positive lifestyle changes. With The Game On! Diet, the process of losing weight, for the first time ever, is actually fun. After all, what's better than a bikini body . . . and bragging rights?

Get out there and lose . . . to win! Game on! -- Harper

THE GAME ON! DIET: KICK YOUR FRIEND'S BUTT WHILE SHRINKING YOUR OWN by Az Ferguson and Krista Vernoff sounds like an awesome concept for losing weight. I had a lot of success last summer when I lost over 20 pounds with Weight Watchers and exercise, but I've noticed that a few pounds are creeping back on the past few months. After reading about Book Club Girl's endeavor, I admit that I was a little interested in this health plan. And then when I saw her success, I became very interested!

Here's the premise in a nutshell:

Rather than focus on losing weight, you get to focus on winning points -- this idea definitely appeals to the competitive side of my personality. You can earn a maximum of 100 points a day for doing the following:

1) 30 Meal Points - 6 points per meal -no snacks
2) 20 Exercise Points - 20 minutes of exercise per day
3) 10 Water Points - 3 liters a day
4) 15 Sleep Points - at least 7 hours a night
5) 20 Transformation Points - 10 points for a healthy new habit and 10 points for dropping an old unhealthy one
6) 5 Communication Points - being in contact with your team members every day

You can also lose points if you:
1) 10 Points - snack between meals
2) 20 Points - if you collude with another player
3) 25 Points - alcohol penalty per portion

The diet does cut you some slack:
1) One day off a week when you don't have to follow any of the rules
2) One meal off a week when you can eat what you want and have one unit of alcohol
3) Each day you can have 100 calories of anything as a bonus treat

Admittedly, dieting is not a good time for me; however, I think the Game On! plan does sound kind of fun. A group of fellow book bloggers has agreed to take on this challenge along with me. We have been divided into three teams; and we will compete against each other to see which team gets the most points.

The Twinkies:
Dawn – She is Too Fond of Books
Jenners – Find Your Next Book Here
Jenn – Jenn’s Bookshelf
Candace – Beth Fish Reads
Denise – M. Denise C.

The Ding Dongs:
Tina – Book Chatter and Other Stuff
Amy – My Friend Amy
Jill/Softdrink – Fizzy Thoughts
Jill – Rhapsody in Books
Me!

The Ho Hos
Kathy - The Brain Lair
and her three friends who will be writing about their experience on Facebook

Our challenge begins today, June 29th and ends July 26th -- it's a four week program. All of the participants will be blogging regularly (at least once a week) and tweeting to keep everyone in the loop about our struggles (oops -- I mean efforts.) You can follow our discussion on twitter by using the hashtag #gameondiet. We haven't worked out all the details, but I'm pretty sure that the winning team members are going to get some good prizes!

I am very excited about this but also very nervous. So far, the thing that scares me the most is that I have to give up my diet soda -- that's my drug of choice. I try to limit my soda to one per day, but I still consider myself addicted! At least, I can still have my coffee and iced tea. I think I'll be okay with the exercise part because I already run three miles a few days a week; and I know I can stick to the diet if I set my mind to it.

As far as the Transformation Points go, it's not going to be easy. For my healthy habit, I am going to do five Sun Salutations each day. For my unhealthy habit that I need to kick, I'm going to stay off of my computer for two hours a day and spend more time with my family. That's something I should be doing anyway, but....

Wish me luck -- I'm going to need it! And to the Twinkies and the Ho Hos -- GAME ON!

Review: The Devlin Diary

Summary: From the acclaimed author of The Rossetti Letter comes a dazzling novel of intrigue, passion, and royal secrets that shifts tantalizingly between Restoration-era London and present-day Cambridge.

London, 1672. The past twelve years have brought momentous changes: the restoration of the monarchy, a devastating plague and fire. Yet the city remains a teeming, thriving metropolis, energized by the lusty decadence of Charles II's court and burgeoning scientific inquiry. Although women enjoy greater freedom, they are not allowed to practice medicine, a restriction that physician Hannah Devlin evades by treating patients that most other doctors shun: the city's poor.

But Hannah has a special knowledge that Secretary of State Lord Arlington desperately needs. At the king's Machiavellian court, Hannah attracts the attention of two men, charming courtier Ralph Montagu and anatomist Dr. Edward Strathern, as well as the attention of the powerful College of Physicians, which views her work as criminal. When two influential courtiers are found brutally murdered, their bodies inscribed with arcane symbols, Hannah is drawn into a dangerous investigation by Dr. Strathern, who believes the murders conceal a far-reaching conspiracy that may include Hannah's late father and the king himself.

Cambridge, 2008. Teaching history at Trinity College is Claire Donovan's dream come true -- until one of her colleagues is found dead on the banks of the River Cam. The only key to the professor's unsolved murder is a seventeenth century diary kept by his last research subject, Hannah Devlin, physician to the king's mistress. With help from the eclectic collections of Cambridge's renowned libraries, Claire and historian Andrew Kent follow the clues Devlin left behind, uncovering secrets of London's dark past and Cambridge's equally murky present, and discovering that events of three hundred years ago may still have consequences today....

A suspenseful and richly satisfying tale brimming with sharply observed historical detail, The Devlin Diary brings past and present to vivid life. With wit and grace, Christi Phillips holds readers spellbound with an extraordinary novel of secrets, obsession, and the haunting power of the past. -- Pocket Books

I was very excited to read THE DEVLIN DIARY by Christi Phillips because it just sounded like a book that I would really enjoy. Historical fiction has got to be one of my very favorite genres, and it seems like the books that go back and forth between the past and present day are especially appealing to me. I was not disappointed in the slightest! I loved THE DEVLIN DIARY and I hated to even put it down.

Before I go into my review, I have to tell you about my one regret. I really wish that I had read Ms. Phillips prior book THE ROSSETTI LETTER first. It wasn't necessary to read this book to have an understanding the characters -- THE DEVLIN DIARY definitely can stand alone and be enjoyed; however, I just loved this book so much that I felt as if I were missing out by not reading the books in order! Needless to say, I will be reading THE ROSETTI LETTER in the near future.

As you can see, I am so excited about this book that I barely know where to start! While I was reading THE DEVLIN DIARY, I kept telling everyone that it was just so good. I think my husband was getting a little annoyed with me. I guess the storyline is the first thing that really struck me as being special. Often times when I read a book that takes place in the past and the present, I find myself only interested in one of the story lines. That wasn't the case in the novel. I enjoyed both the stories and characters equally (whether they took place in current day or the 1670 London.) I also thought the historical parts of this story were extremely interesting, and it's very clear that Ms. Phillips did a great job with her research. I loved the way she incorporated the factual information with the fictional elements of this book. I also really appreciated the mystery aspects of the novel, and I loved how the story and the mystery eventually unfolded.

Besides the plot of THE DEVLIN DIARY, I also found myself liking the characters and how the author chose to develop them. It was very easy for me to like Claire and I enjoyed "being along" for her research. I also enjoyed seeing her interactions with Andrew (that's one of the reasons I want to read the first book), and I couldn't help but root for them to realize their feelings for each other. I also really liked Hannah, and I thought her character was developed so well. Hannah was a very complex character; and she was also a feminist and way ahead of her time. I really enjoyed reading about her (and her actions), and I found her so interesting because she was such a flawed character.

I hope I'm not building up expectations too much for this novel, but I was also really impressed with Ms. Phillips and her writing. I've already mentioned that I couldn't put this book down, and that was the case from the first few pages -- I was drawn into the story right away. I loved how the author was able to go back and forth between the time periods without missing a beat; and I was very impressed with how she tied the two different story lines together. I also thought her attention to detail, especially pertaining to the historical parts, was terrific. You can learn more about Ms. Phillips by reading this interview and this special feature called Christi Phillips Revealed.

I highly recommend reading THE DEVLIN DIARY as a future book club pick. The storyline is intriguing, the characters are interesting, and I'm pretty sure that everyone will enjoy reading the book. I was very excited to see that there is a reading guide available for this novel, and I have to admit that I was pleasantly surprised by the questions. There is a great deal to discuss in this novel including the characters' actions, the different time periods, and the themes of honesty and feminism. I also liked that the reading guide included some ideas for enhancing your meeting including menu ideas and links to the historical information in the book.

Check out these other tour stops:

S. Krishna’s Books
All About {n}
Jenn’s Bookshelf
Beth Fish Reads
The Literate Housewife Review
Book Soulmates
Chick With Books
Gimme More Books
We Be Reading
Book Bird Dog
Bookin’ with “BINGO”
My Friend Amy
Books and Needlepoint
A Working Title
Must Read Faster
Shhh I’m Reading
Debbie’s World of Books
The Tome Traveller’s Weblog
Write for a Reader
A Sea of Books
I Heart Monster
Pick of the Literate
Kingdom Books Blog
Drey’s Library
The Jaydit Reader
A Book Bloggers Diary

Thanks to Sarah from Pocket Books for allowing me to participate in THE DEVLIN DIARY blog tour.

Review: The House on Fortune Street

Summary: It seems like mutual good luck for Abigail Taylor and Dara MacLeod when they meet at St. Andrews University and, despite their differences, become fast friends. Years later they remain an unlikely pair. Abigail, an actress who confidently uses her charms both on- and offstage, believes herself immune to love. Dara, a counselor, is convinced that everyone is inescapably marked by childhood; she throws herself into romantic relationships with frightening intensity. Yet now each seems to have found "true love"—another stroke of luck?—Abigail with her academic boyfriend, Sean, and Dara with a tall, dark violinist named Edward, who literally falls at her feet. But soon after Dara moves into Abigail's downstairs apartment, trouble threatens both relationships, and their friendship.

For Abigail it comes in the form of an anonymous letter to Sean claiming that she's been unfaithful; for Dara, a reconciliation with her distant father, Cameron, who left the family when Dara was ten, reawakens complicated feelings. Through four ingeniously interlocking narratives—Sean's, Cameron's, Dara's, and Abigail's—we gradually understand how these characters' lives are shaped by both chance and determination. Whatever the source, there is no mistaking the tragedy that strikes the house on Fortune Street.

"Everyone," claims Abigail, "has a book or a writer who's the key to their life." As this statement reverberates through each of the narratives, Margot Livesey skillfully reveals how luck—good and bad—plays a vital role in our lives, and how the search for truth can prove a dangerous undertaking. Written with her characteristic elegance and wit, The House on Fortune Street offers a surprisingly provocative detective story of the heart.-- Harper Perennial

I have read a few raving reviews about THE HOUSE ON FORTUNE STREET by Margot Livesey, including one from a person whose opinion I respect a great deal; and I just knew that I had to read it. I had a feeling that this novel was going to be a beautifully written story with well-developed and memorable characters, and it indeed was! After I finished the book, I closed it and just said "Wow."

I absolutely treasured each and every word of this novel because the writing was just so rich and beautiful. The book was set up in four sections about four different characters. One section was written in first person while the other three were told in third person narrative. No matter which device Ms. Lively used to tell the story, each one was equally effective. I happened to appreciate that the section about the character with whom I had the most issues was written in first person. I think reading his personal thoughts allowed me to understand him more and actually be more sympathetic towards his actions.

I love how the author told each of these characters' separate stories while also showing some of the overlap. It was very interesting to see the same event and how two (or more) of the characters perceived it. I was very impressed with how Ms. Lively was able to weave all of the stories together and really show the effects that individual behavior can have on others. As a reader, I felt almost privileged to see inside these characters' lives and genuinely understand their actions and even their reactions. This book definitely reminded me that our behavior can affect others in ways we don't even realize.

For me, this book was really an amazing example of how well an author can create and develop characters. It is an extremely character driven novel. Each of these characters was quite complex and flawed in what first appeared to me to be very different ways. However after I finished reading this novel, I kept thinking about these characters and I realized that many of their "issues" were common to all of them (and actually are quite common to many people.)

Another thing that I was blown away by was how Ms. Lively managed to effectively weave so many recurring themes throughout all four stories. Probably the most obvious to me was how she had each character have a special interest in a different literary figure. I wish I were more familiar with these authors' works, so I could have fully appreciated what this told the reader about each character. In addition, I thought the author did a terrific job in showing how all of the character had a secret or something from their past that either they couldn't come to terms with or still had a dramatic effect on their life.

I have to mention one thing about THE HOUSE ON FORTUNE STREET that kind of threw me for a little loop. I read the back cover of the book before I actually started reading it; and I had an expectation of the story which was somewhat different than what the book actually was. The book summary focuses on the characters of Abigail and Dara so I was expecting the book to be mainly about them. The first two sections of the book are actually about Abigail's boyfriend and Dara's father, so I was a little confused. The last two chapters were about Dara and Abigail. Once I completed the entire book, it made total sense to me; and the stories all came together. I'm just saying that I found the summary to be a little confusing -- but maybe I'm way off base on this.

Trust me on this one, if your book club loves good literature, then THE HOUSE ON FORTUNE STREET is an ideal selection. As I mentioned earlier, the writing and the development of the characters is amazing; and the entire story is incredibly thought-provoking. There is a reading guide available which delves into some of the more complex issues including: love, trust, choice, luck, and secrets. There are so many topics to discuss that I'm not sure you could fit them all in one meeting. I really, really recommend this book for book clubs.

Thanks to Stephanie from Harper Collins for sending me a review copy of THE HOUSE ON FORTUNE STREET.

Review: Sylvie

Summary: Meet a flamingo of a different stripe!

“Mama, why are we pink?” asks an irrepressible and ever-curious young flamingo named Sylvie. When she learns that it’s due to the little pink brine shrimp they eat, Sylvie takes the maxim “You are what you eat!” to a whole new level. Her new diet leads to some very interesting new looks—from scarlet to stripey to positively purple! Like Leo Lionni’s chameleon in A Color of His Own, Sylvie eventually comes to learn that being yourself is the best thing to be—though with her own flair! -- Random House

I just might have found my favorite new picture book -- it's called SYLVIE and it's written and illustrated by Jennifer Sattler. I should probably start out this review by saying that I absolutely love flamingos and I have ever since I was in high school. I'm not the type to put the plastic ones in my yard, but I think real, live flamingos are just beautiful. So when I found a book that featured an adorable little flamingo, I couldn't wait to read it!

SYLVIE is just a wonderful book for so many different reasons. First of all, it is an extremely entertaining story and very funny too! When Sylvie realizes that she is pink because she eats pink shrimp, she decides to try some other foods that are different colors (and patterns) to see what happens. She eventually gets sick and doesn't feel (or look) at all like herself. When she returns home and sees her family, she realizes that she should just be herself.

I also thought that the illustrations in the book were just beautiful. Since the author uses a variety of colors and patterns to tell the story, she had the opportunity to make everything in this book extremely eye-catching. Each page is just filled with tons of bright colors, and there are just a few words per page -- absolutely perfect for preschoolers! I have a feeling that it's a book that we're going to read again and again.

I also really liked the message in this story -- that it's always important to be true to yourself. And even if you seem to be just like everyone else (like Sylvie), you can still be special and have your own unique traits. That is a message that I'm constantly trying to tell each of my children and I love that this book reinforces it.

Even though this book features a pink bird, my almost five-year old son loved it too! I'm not going to tell you that my enthusiasm for this book didn't have a little something to do with that, but I really think he did like the book on his own. After we finished reading it (and before I could even ask him what was his favorite part), he told me that he liked "everything" in the story. When I asked him to explain to me what was the best part of the book, he told me that he thought it was funny when Sylvie got sick from eating too much. And then he told me that he really liked the end when Sylvie decided to go back to her family and start eating like a normal flamingo. I was so happy that he grasped the entire story and the message in it.

Thanks to Random House for sending me a copy of this wonderful book!

Review: Have You Ever Tickled a Tiger?

Summary: Not your average touch-and-feel!

Everyone knows what it’s like to pat a bunny that’s soft and cuddly. But for those babies and toddlers who want to touch something different—say prickly and tickly animals of a more exotic nature—Betsy Snyder’s Have You Ever Tickled a Tiger? offers the perfect opportunity. This novelty book asks its readers if they’ve ever kissed a walrus, poked a penguin, or hugged an octopus, among others! Rhyming couplets share more about the delightfully illustrated creatures boasting tickly whiskers, velvety tummies, bumpy tentacles, fluffy feathers, etc.—all for baby to touch and feel! -- Random House

I just discovered a really cute picture book for the little one in your life. It's called HAVE YOU EVER TICKLED A TIGER? by Betsy Snyder; and it's positively adorable! Not only is the story and pictures cute, but it's also a touch-and-feel book!

HAVE YOU EVER TICKLED A TIGER? is geared towards children under two years old, but that didn't stop by little guy from wanting to read it. I told him that this book is really for someone younger, like his little cousin, but he says he really likes it and doesn't want to give it away.

This book is being sold as "not your average touch-and-feel book;" and I have to agree. Both of my children absolutely loved touch-and-feel books, but this book is different than any of the other ones that we've ever read. Each page in the book shows a different animals that you can feel; however, these animals aren't typical. There is a penguin, a hedgehog, an ostrich, a walrus, an armadillo, and an octopus -- see what I mean about this book having more obscure animals?

The pictures in this book are downright precious. All of the animals are very cute and have big eyes which make them even more adorable. The words in this book are very catchy and rhyme, and some of the words even sound funny when you read them. For example, my son thought this was extremely entertaining, "have you ever kissed a walrus? whiskers tickle! pucker up for fishy kisses from this pup." What he loved even more was actually kissing the walrus and feeling the "real" walrus whiskers!

The textures in this book are wonderful for little hands and fingers to touch. There is a furry penguin, a velcro-ish hedgehog, and a feathery ostrich to name a few. My son has played with this book a lot and loves touching all the different animals.

I definitely think this book is a winner and little ones are going to love it if my son is any indication!

A big thanks to the publisher for sending me a copy of this book!

Review: HairZing

Booking Daughter and I were so excited when we were contacted by Sherry for HairZing. She was wondering if we were interested in trying out some of these new hair accessories. Well, I probably don't have to tell you that we jumped at the chance. We are both girly-girls and love all things shiny and sparkly!

We each received a different HairZing -- Booking Daughter's is the one in the picture and I received a green beaded one. They are absolutely adorable and they do have lots of sparkles. While Booking Daughter and I both have medium-long length hair, we do have different styles and hair textures. What is so neat about HairZings are that they are designed with hair differences in mind -- there are actually three different sizes.

I was very worried about fixing my daughter's hair using the HairZing because I am not very good with styling hair (to say the least.) I watched the step-by-step video once to make sure I knew what I was doing; and it seemed easy enough -- click here for all of the step-by-step directions. I was successful in getting the HairZing into her hair on the first try, and we both thought it looked terrific. I will admit that I did have a more difficult time keeping it in her hair, but she does have very fine hair (and she tends to roll around a lot!) I think I definitely need to keep working on the "tug" part of the instructions.

Here's what Sherry had to say about the HairZing:

HairZing is the original double comb hair accessory. It’s used to create “hair healthy” quick, easy, comfortable, funky, fun and fashionable hairstyles. No two HairZings are exactly alike – the products are handcrafted by women artisans around the world. The HairZing is available in three different sizes—it was created for girls/women of all ethnicities and hair types.

With HairZing, you can effortlessly put hair up on the go and look fantastic. If you decide to remove your HairZing later in the day, there won’t be any lines or creases in your hair (which you know is a big deal!). You can even swim with the HairZing so it’s ideal for beach bags, camp backpacks and mom’s purse.

If you are looking for an easy, yet fun, way to wear your hair this summer, then I definitely recommend the HairZing. I am amazed by all of the different ways you can style your hair using the HairZing -- a french twist, butterfly, or ponytail to name a few. HairZings are also reasonably priced and would make wonderful gifts. Make sure you check out the website to learn more about this exciting new hair accessory!

Review: The Physick Book of Deliverance Dane

Summary: A spellbinding, beautifully written novel that moves between contemporary times and one of the most fascinating and disturbing periods in American history–the Salem witch trials.

Harvard graduate student Connie Goodwin needs to spend her summer doing research for her doctoral dissertation. But when her mother asks her to handle the sale of Connie’s grandmother’s abandoned home near Salem, she can’t refuse. As she is drawn deeper into the mysteries of the family house, Connie discovers an ancient key within a seventeenth-century Bible. The key contains a yellowing fragment of parchment with a name written upon it: Deliverance Dane. This discovery launches Connie on a quest--to find out who this woman was and to unearth a rare artifact of singular power: a physick book, its pages a secret repository for lost knowledge.

As the pieces of Deliverance’s harrowing story begin to fall into place, Connie is haunted by visions of the long-ago witch trials, and she begins to fear that she is more tied to Salem’s dark past then she could have ever imagined.

Written with astonishing conviction and grace, The Physick Book of Deliverance Dane travels seamlessly between the witch trials of the 1690s and a modern woman’s story of mystery, intrigue, and revelation. --Voice

Here I go again! I just finished another wonderful book and I'm afraid that my review isn't going to do it justice. I guess it's a good thing that I've been reading so many wonderful books, but I'm having a heck of a time writing my thoughts in an articulate and cohesive manner. The latest book that I've read and adored is THE PHYSICK BOOK OF DELIVERANCE DANE by Katherine Howe. I just loved this book and treasured each and every page, and I can't recommend this book enough.

I have to admit that I am fascinated by the Salem Witch Trials and books that deal with this subject, and I'm guessing that I'm not alone since there have been quite a few in recent memory. I guess one of the things that I really enjoyed about THE PHYSICK BOOK OF DELIVERANCE DANE was in how the author chose to handle this event. Rather than assume that all of the women charged with being witches were innocent, she chose to ask the question, "What if some of the women were actually practicing some sort of magic/witchcraft?" I loved her take on this, and it really made me sit back and think -- a lot.

Another thing I loved about this book was in how Ms. Howe told the story. The book went back and forth between the present (or at least 1991) and the 1670s; and it was seamless. I especially appreciated how she incorporated Connie and her research into the story of Deliverance Dane and her family. I honestly can't say which portion of the book I enjoyed more -- the past or the present because they were both done so well. I definitely enjoyed the story of Connie, and I liked that I discovered things about Deliverance Dane through Connie's research; however, I also loved learning about the characters in the past as well as the trials. This might sound strange, but it was almost as if I were researching the past along side with Connie and learning things as she did.

I love historical fiction so it was no surprise that I appreciate how Ms. Howe incorporate this time period and real-life people into this story. It is apparent that she knows her stuff and conducted a ton of research to write this novel. I think what brought this book to another level for me was her development of Deliverance and her descendants as well as the creation of the Connie character. I definitely found that Ms. Howe made Deliverance and Connie believable characters to me with both strengths and flaws. I also loved how Ms. Howe demonstrated the effects that these trials had on the families of the accused women -- she even showed how the effects lasted for many generations.

THE PHYSICK BOOK OF DELIVERANCE DANE is just an amazing book, so I was blown away when I found out that this novel is Katherine Howe's first book. Not only did she come up with a wonderful story, but she also told the story in a beautiful way. The book contained some mystery, intrigue, magic and even a little romance. It is just a fabulous and interesting story -- plus it's unique! Ms Howe is actually a descendant of two women who were tried for witchcraft -- Elizabeth Howe and and Elizabeth Proctor. She was working on her PhD in American and New England History when she came up with the idea for this novel and wrote it. I sincerely hope that she continues to write bokss because I will be waiting in line to read more of her work! In fact, I read that she has an idea for a sequel to THE PHYSICK BOOK OF DELIVERANCE DANE -- YAY!!!!

I think the website for this book is so interesting, and it really does seem to just "fit" the book. It has the normal things I expect like a summary of the book and information about the author, but it also has facts about the town of Salem which I found to be very interesting. It also has some examples of the loads of praise that this book has received as well as an excerpt from the audio book.

THE PHYSICK BOOK OF DELIVERANCE DANE would, without a doubt, make for a fantastic book club selection. I am almost positive that every member of my book club would enjoy reading and talking about it. I know many people find the Salem Witch Trials to be fascinating, and I think the author's take on this event makes this book extra special. I was thrilled to find this reading group guide on Barnes and Noble's website -- it was picked as part of their First Look Book Club and as a B&N Recommended Title. I think a discussion of this book would be extremely interesting, and I definitely appreciated quite a few of the discussion questions. Some of the themes which you can explore are: the role of women, witchcraft and the supernatural, religion, and especially mother/daughter relationships.

If you aren't tempted yet but all the praise, check out the book's trailer:

Giveaway: The Art of Racing in the Rain

Summary: Enzo knows he is different from other dogs: a philosopher with a nearly human soul (and an obsession with opposable thumbs), he has educated himself by watching television extensively, and by listening very closely to the words of his master, Denny Swift, an up-and-coming race car driver.

Through Denny, Enzo has gained tremendous insight into the human condition, and he sees that life, like racing, isn't simply about going fast. Using the techniques needed on the race track, one can successfully navigate all of life's ordeals.

On the eve of his death, Enzo takes stock of his life, recalling all that he and his family have been through: the sacrifices Denny has made to succeed professionally; the unexpected loss of Eve, Denny's wife; the three-year battle over their daughter, Zoë, whose maternal grandparents pulled every string to gain custody. In the end, despite what he sees as his own limitations, Enzo comes through heroically to preserve the Swift family, holding in his heart the dream that Denny will become a racing champion with Zoë at his side. Having learned what it takes to be a compassionate and successful person, the wise canine can barely wait until his next lifetime, when he is sure he will return as a man.

A heart-wrenching but deeply funny and ultimately uplifting story of family, love, loyalty, and hope, The Art of Racing in the Rain is a beautifully crafted and captivating look at the wonders and absurdities of human life . . . as only a dog could tell it. -- Harper

One of my favorite books so far this year has to be THE ART OF RACING IN THE RAIN by Garth Stein -- you can read my review here. My book club read it a few months ago, and we all agreed that it was just a marvelous book! I have been recommending this book to everyone I know, and I'm just so happy to say that I have a copy of this novel to share with one lucky reader. In addition to the book, I also have some "Enzo" swag to share with three of you!

To enter this giveaway, all you have to do is leave a comment with your e-mail address telling me the name of your favorite fictional dog. If you'd like to double or triple your chances, you can blog and/or tweet about this giveaway with a link back to this post. This contest is open until Thursday, July 9th at 11:59 p.m. EST; and I will notify the winners the following day. This contest is open to those of you with U.S. or Canada mailing addresses only. Good luck!

Review: Mackenzie Blue & Giveaway

Summary: Meet Mackenzie Blue, aka Zee

She has it all—smarts, talent, humor, and style. . . .

Is it enough to survive middle school?

Countdown to a 7th Grade Meltdown

1. Your BFF moves away.

2. Someone steals your diary and reveals your deepest secrets—to the entire class.

3. You have one chance to become a rock star and one chance to totally blow it. Guess what!? All three happened to me! School's a disaster already. Don't get me wrong—I love Brookdale Academy and I have a fabulous crew of friends. (At least, I think I do.) But, if I'm going to survive, I need all the help I can get!-- Harper Collins

There are just so many precious books out there right now for middle grade girls. The latest one that I've found is MACKENZIE BLUE by Tina Wells. Booking Daughter almost had a conniption when she saw this book and read the description (and the book even mysteriously disappeared from my desk)! I think the cover alone made her want to pick it up because it's just so appealing -- it has an adorable young girl on the cover with lots of hearts, stars and shine.

I thought this book was very cute. It was a great mix of a lot of elements that I find myself enjoying in middle grade books. The storyline definitely captured my attention, and there was even a mystery about a missing diary that kept me hooked. In addition, there were "real" diary entries on lined notebook paper, loads of text messages (with a glossary in the back for the abbreviations), as well as illustrations of Zee and her friends. It was a very quick read for me, and I think even young girls who aren't big readers are going to be attracted to this book and the story.

I absolutely loved Zee. She seemed to be a pretty normal tween who just happened to live in Los Angeles and attend a pretty posh private school. I especially appreciated that Zee and her friends were all very gifted with musical and singing talents. Zee was actually a singer/songwriter who had dreams of winning the Teen Sing contest; and I know girls are going to really like the "American Idol" performance aspect of the book. I liked the Zee's lyrics and really enjoyed seeing how she learned to express herself through her music.

All of the characters in this story were just terrific,and I think kids will recognize traits from the children they know from school. There was the cute, nice guy that Zee had a crush on; and there was her best guy friend Ally who moved to Paris. In addition, there were also the "mean" girls that almost every tween girl will relate to knowing. I especially liked Zee's best friends Jasper and Chloe who both added some humor to the story as well as a vehicle for Zee to learn some valuable lessons.

This book was not only entertaining, but it also teaches kids some important things. Zee's friend Jasper was very interested in finding ways to make their school "green;" and Zee herself was a little embarrassed that her father drove a big gas-guzzling SUV. I appreciated the author's attempt of bringing the environmental issues to the forefront; however, I really appreciated the moral lessons that Zee learns in this book. When her diary goes missing, she suspects and eventually blames her two best friends. By the end of this book, she learns the value of friendship and how to give and accept apologies. I don't know about you, but I think those lessons are especially important for young girls in today's society!

MACKENZIE BLUE is the first book in a series, and I have a feeling that many girls are going to be wanting more. The second book MACKENZIE BLUE: THE SECRET CRUSH will be available in late 2009; and there is a little excerpt in the back of MACKENZIE BLUE which gives a few teasers. In the next book, the kids in the music class will be making their very own band. It sounds like the next book picks up right where the first one ended!

There is just the cutest website for the book MACKENZIE BLUE, and I thought it captured the essence of the book perfectly. There are so many fun things for young girls to do including: visiting Kathi's closet and dressing her for a photo shoot, learning some green tips with Jasper, identifying which character you are most like, and learning money tips with Marcus. There is also a site on YouTube where young girls can make their own video telling why they are "the real Mackenzie Blue." The buzz around this book is just wonderful and I think middle grade girls are just going to love not only the book but all the hype surrounding it!

Here are Booking Daughter's thoughts:

I thought MACKENZIE BLUE was good because Mackenzie was really funny. I think Tina Wells put Mackenzie in a lot of hard situations like losing her diary and having her best friend move away. I liked how the book ended and how Mackenzie learned to trust her new friends.

I am so excited that I have an autographed copy of MACKENZIE BLUE to share with one lucky reader! If you'd like to win, just leave a comment with your e-mail address telling me one of your favorite books that you read as a child. To double or triple your chances, you can blog and/or tweet about this giveaway with a link back this post. This contest is open until July 15th at 11:59 p.m .EST, and I will notify the winner the following day. This contest is open to those of you with U.S. or Canada mailing addresses only. Good luck!

A big thanks to Kathleen from Buzz Marketing Group for sending me a copy of this book.

Make sure you check out the Mackenzie Blue website for lots of fun activities!

Everything Austen Challenge

Ever since I heard that Stephanie at Stephanie's Written Word was hosting an Everything Austen Challenge, I've wanted to sign up. I have only read one Jane Austen novel, one Austen inspired novel; and I've never seen any movies based on her works. It's rather embarrassing since I consider myself a book lover! And, I have a feeling that I would really enjoy all of them.

So, I've been toying with the idea; and I'm finally taking the plunge.

Here are the details! The Everything Austen Challenge will run for six months (July 1, 2009 – January 1, 2010)! All you need to do is pick out what six Austen-themed things you want to finish to complete the challenge.

I haven't worked out exactly what six Austen-themed things I'm going to do over the next six months. But here are a few ideas I'm toying with -- please realize that these are subject to change based on my whims!

JANE AUSTEN RUINED MY LIFE by Beth Pattillo

THE LOST MEMOIRS OF JANE AUSTEN by Syrie James

THE JANE AUSTEN BOOK CLUB - movie

RUDE AWAKENINGS OF A JANE AUSTEN ADDICT by Laurie Viera Rigler

BECOMING JANE - movie

SENSE AND SENSIBILITY by Jane Austen

AUSTENLAND by Shannon Hale

I realize I listed seven items, and there are still quite a few more that I was tempted to put down! These are just my initial thoughts. I'll probably change this list quite a few times in the next six months. If you have any "must read" or "must watch" Austen-themed things, please let me know it the comments!

OMG - A Booking Mama Quote & Giveaway

Just last week, Miriam from Hachette Book Group tweeted that a quote from my review of A SUMMER AFFAIR by Elin Hilderbrand was printed in the front of the trade paperback edition! I was thrilled beyond belief, and Booking Daughter and I were actually doing the happy dance. The book arrived yesterday and I could barely open the package because of all the excitement.

Here's the blurb:

To me, this book represents pure escapism -- it will make a great book to take on vacation with you. There are lots of juicy storylines including ones dealing with adultery, addictions, and criminal behavior. The book is filled with enough scandals that it should appeal to the voyeur in all of us!

Most of you probably know that I think the world of Kathy at Bermudaonion's Weblog. She is such a terrific friend that she actually texted me from Target earlier this week when she saw the book and the quote. She actually said that she was showing off the book to other people in the store -- to the point of embarrassing her son! She is just the best to want to share in my happiness!

And just to let you know that this hasn't gone straight to my head, my husband has managed to keep me grounded. When my daughter and I told him that I had a "blurb" in the front of a book, he said, "What's a blurb?"

Would you like to win a copy of A SUMMER AFFAIR? I have three copies to giveaway courtesy of Hachette! Just leave a comment with your e-mail telling me your favorite summertime beverage. To double or triple your chances, you can blog and/or tweet about this contest with a link back to this post. This contest will be open until July 8th at 11:59 p.m. EST; and I will notify the winners the following day. This contest is open to those of you with U.S. or Canada mailing addresses only -- no p.o. boxes please. Good luck!

Guest Blogger: Susan Gregg Gilmore & Giveaway

Yesterday, I reviewed a terrific new novel called LOOKING FOR SALVATION AT THE DAIRY QUEEN. I am very happy that the author of this book, Susan Gregg Gilmore, has written a guest post for Booking Mama. I just love her essay because it's so heartfelt -- just like her novel!

It’s time to come clean. Looking for Salvation at the Dairy Queen, is much more autobiographical than I first thought or was willing to admit. Yep, I had a grandfather that sold moonshine and ran on the wrong side of the law till he went to a revival and started preaching himself. Yep, I had an aunt Gloria Jean that was a very striking young woman with deep auburn hair and married five times -- well maybe six -- there is still some family debate since there’s rumor she married one man twice. And yep, I spent a lot of time at the Dairy Queen eating Dilly Bars of course.

But that was where the similarities between my life and Catherine Grace Cline’s ended -- or so I thought. I grew up in a big town, i.e., Nashville, Tennessee. Catherine Grace grew up in a small-town, i.e., Ringgold, Georgia. I have a great mama. She, well, not so much. My daddy sold insurance. Hers sold salvation.

A couple of months ago, I was at a bookstore and taking questions from the audience as I always do at the end of a reading. A woman asked if the book was autobiographical. And yes, I have been asked this question many, many times. But for some reason, I looked this woman square in the eyes and said, “yes, I think it may be.”

What I realized in that moment was that even though Catherine Grace and I may have lived very different lives, we had always wanted the same thing. We both just wanted to know more, see more, touch more. We wanted to know what was out there in this big, big world of ours. And I think we both realized, somewhere along the way, that as trite and corny as this may sound, that after a whole lot of looking, the very best things can be found right here at home.

I absolutely adored Ms. Gilmore's debut novel LOOKING FOR SALVATION AT THE DAIRY QUEEN! I am so excited that I have five copies to giveaway. To enter, leave a comment with your e-mail address telling me what you're favorite Dairy Queen treat is. To double or even triple your chances, you can blog and/or tweet about this contest with a link back to this post. I will accept entries until Wednesday, July 8th at 11:59 p.m. EST; and I will notify the winners the following day. This contest is open to those of you with U.S. or Canada mailing addresses only -- no p.o. boxes please. Good Luck!

Review: Looking for Salvation at the Dairy Queen

Summary: Sometimes you have to return to the place where you began, to arrive at the place where you belong.

It’s the early 1970s. The town of Ringgold, Georgia, has a population of 1,923, one traffic light, one Dairy Queen, and one Catherine Grace Cline. The daughter of Ringgold’s third-generation Baptist preacher, Catherine Grace is quick-witted, more than a little stubborn, and dying to escape her small-town life.

Every Saturday afternoon, she sits at the Dairy Queen, eating Dilly Bars and plotting her getaway to Atlanta. And when, with the help of a family friend, the dream becomes a reality, she immediately packs her bags, leaving her family and the boy she loves to claim the life she’s always imagined. But before things have even begun to get off the ground in Atlanta, tragedy brings Catherine Grace back home. As a series of extraordinary events alter her perspective–and sweeping changes come to Ringgold itself–Catherine Grace begins to wonder if her place in the world may actually be, against all odds, right where she began. Intelligent, charming, and utterly readable, Looking for Salvation at the Dairy Queen marks the debut of a talented new literary voice. -- Three Rivers Press

I am a huge sucker for good Southern fiction! Even though I now live in Central, PA, I did spend the majority of my childhood living in the South; and maybe that's one of the reasons that I enjoy these types of books so much. When I read the praise for LOOKING FOR SALVATION AT THE DAIRY QUEEN by Susan Gregg Gilmore and saw that this novel was being compared to Fannie Flagg's books, I just knew I had to read it. I absolutely love some of Ms. Flagg's novels and especially her characters, and I can definitely say that LOOKING FOR SALVATION AT THE DAIRY QUEEN did not disappoint me (even given that big build-up). I treasured each and every page of this book!

I read this book in almost one sitting (which you know is hard if you are a stay-at-home mother of two.) There are just so many things that I loved about this novel, but I think what I appreciated the most were the characters -- and especially Catherine Grace. This book is really a coming-of age novel about Catherine Grace growing up in the South in the 1970s, and she is just one of those characters that you can't help but fall in love with. She was smart, sassy, stubborn and even a little vulnerable; and reading about her actions both as a child and an adult were just so much fun. I loved seeing how Catherine Grace handled the various challenges in her life, and I enjoyed seeing her mature into an amazing young woman as a result of them.

The supporting characters in this book were wonderful too from Catherine Grace's sister, father, and even the various citizens of Ringgold. I especially loved Catherine Grace's colorful neighbor Gloria Jean who provided the much-needed woman's touch in Catherine Grace's life. Not only did Gloria Jean teach her about boys, clothes, and nail polish, but she also taught her so many wonderful life lessons about acceptance and forgiveness. Her support of Catherine Grace, even when Catherine Grace wasn't always appreciative, was such a heart-warming form of kindness.

Another thing I really liked about this book were the many messages about life that Catherine Grace learned while growing up. Many of these messages seem obvious to me now, but I can remember being young like Catherine Grace and not yet being able to see the bigger picture. There were also many lessons in this story that I still haven't quite figured out, and seeing how Catherine Grace was able to forgive the people in her life that harmed her really caused me to take a step back and think. I love it when I can take messages from books and apply them to my real life!

I am so impressed that this book was Ms. Gilmore's debut novel. Ms. Gilmore has written articles for numerous newspapers as well as a weekly column on parenting in the South; however, I am very glad that she decided to apply her writing talents to a novel. I loved her writing style -- it was so real to me; and I think the characters she created are very memorable. And while this book deeply touched me, I also found myself laughing out loud at certain parts -- it was a great blend of storytelling and humor. If you think you might be interested in reading some of Ms. Gilmore's work, you should definitely check out this excerpt of the book or even her personal blog.

I highly recommend LOOKING FOR SALVATION AT THE DAIRY QUEEN! It's just a very sweet book that is guaranteed to make you smile; however, it also contains some pretty substantial and thought-provoking themes. I think this novel would make for a terrific book club selection because there is just so much to talk about; and I was very happy to see that there is a reading guide available with some very interesting questions. Some topics for discussion include parent/child relationships, sisterhood, redemption, death, religion, happiness, salvation, escapism, and especially forgiveness. Food was also a huge recurring theme throughout this novel, and I can only imagine how fun it would be to serve (and eat) some of the foods mentioned in this story like strawberry jam and dilly bars. Check out some of the fun ideas this book club had for a LOOKING FOR SALVATION AT THE DAIRY QUEEN meeting.

I do have to warn you that reading this book will make you crave ice cream and especially a dilly bar or chocolate dipped cone. I can pretty much promise that you'll want to make a trip to Dairy Queen before you are done!

Make sure you come back tomorrow because Ms. Gilmore will be stopping by with a fantastic guest post and I just might have some copies of this book to share!

A big thanks to Priya and Three Rivers Press for sending me a copy of this book.

Review: The Host

Summary: The author of the Twilight series of # 1 bestsellers delivers her brilliant first novel for adults: a gripping story of love and betrayal in a future with the fate of humanity at stake.

Melanie Stryder refuses to fade away. The earth has been invaded by a species that take over the minds of their human hosts while leaving their bodies intact, and most of humanity has succumbed.

Wanderer, the invading "soul" who has been given Melanie's body, knew about the challenges of living inside a human: the overwhelming emotions, the too vivid memories. But there was one difficulty Wanderer didn't expect: the former tenant of her body refusing to relinquish possession of her mind.

Melanie fills Wanderer's thoughts with visions of the man Melanie loves-Jared, a human who still lives in hiding. Unable to separate herself from her body's desires, Wanderer yearns for a man she's never met. As outside forces make Wanderer and Melanie unwilling allies, they set off to search for the man they both love.

Featuring what may be the first love triangle involving only two bodies, THE HOST is a riveting and unforgettable novel that will bring a vast new readership to one of the most compelling writers of our time. -- Little, Brown & Company

I am one of those rare individuals who has not read any of the TWILIGHT books -- GASP! I guess I'm interested in reading them, but I think it's only because I don't want to feel left out. Having said that, I've had plenty of opportunities to read them and still haven't picked them up. I'm not sure that they even appeal to me -- I just feel as if I should read them to know what all the fuss is about.

So, when the opportunity came to read THE HOST by Stephenie Meyer, I thought it would be the perfect opportunity for me to give Ms. Meyer a try. I have to admit that the premise of this book did interest me more than teenage vampires, and I had heard from many fellow bloggers that this was definitely her "best" book. I was a little intimidated though, because this book is pretty darn big and weighs a lot -- it's over 600 pages. I had been assured by many not to worry because THE HOST is a quick read. After finishing this book, I agree with them -- but only to a certain extent.

I did end up enjoying THE HOST; and the more I reflect on it, I find that I like it better and better. However, I had a heck of a time getting into the story! It could be that I had other things going on in my personal life that kept distracting me, but it took me about 150 pages to become involved with this novel. I really appreciated the storyline and the characters, but I just felt as if the first quarter of the book took entirely too long to develop. After I finally got into the story, I really enjoyed reading it and found myself caught up in the characters' lives. And then I understood what everyone was talking about -- THE HOST actually was a very quick read.

I have a huge appreciation for the story that Ms. Meyer created within the pages of THE HOST. I am not a big fan of science fiction, and I was a little worried that I wouldn't be able to get past that; however, I didn't have that problem at all. In fact, I thought this book dealt with so many relationship issues and social commentary that I didn't even really consider it "science fiction." I loved how Ms. Meyer created the concept of a soul living inside a human host; and I thought the twist on the story that the human mind didn't just disappear when it was invaded was wonderful. Having the interactions between the human host Melanie and the soul Wanderer made for terrific reading as well as presenting many ethical dilemmas.

This book actually contained a lot of adventure and action as the humans struggled to hide from the Seekers and stay safe. I think these stories definitely intrigued me and kept my interest, but I think I really liked all the characters' interactions and personal relationships even more. I was amazed by how much thinking I did about human nature while reading this book (and even when I wasn't.) I especially enjoyed seeing how humans were perceived by the hosts. This book definitely pointed out to me many of our "human" characteristics -- some good and others not so good!

I actually think THE HOST would make a wonderful discussion book for book clubs. I was pleasantly surprised by how deep this book was and the serious subject matters that it addressed. I also found myself wanting to talk about it with friends as I read it just to get some feedback on my ideas. There are many themes to delve into including: basic human nature, maternal bonds, romantic love, free will/choice, sacrifice, and loads of ethical issues. It is a fascinating book on so many levels.

THE HOST is currently on tour for the entire month of June so you can see lots of opinions about this novel. Yesterday, Marta at Marta's Meanderings reviewed THE HOST; and tomorrow you can see a review at Wrighty's Reads. You can also read an excerpt of THE HOST.

A big thanks goes out to Miriam from Hachette Book Group for allowing me to participate in this tour.

Guest Review: Are You Kidding Me?

This might be a little something that you don't know about me -- I love to watch golf. I can't play golf for squat (in fact, golf was one of my lowest grades in college), but I will watch it on television for hours on the weekends. Recently, I've associated golf with Father's Day because for the past two years I've spent Father's Day watching the U.S. Open. In 2007, my husband and I were fortunate enough to attend the U.S. Open when it was held at Oakmont -- it was one of the most thrilling experiences of my life; and last year, my family was visiting my parents and we all sat by the television and watched an incredible round of golf. Because there was a tie, we actually spent all day Monday watching Rocco Mediate and Tiger Woods play an exciting (and historic) historic sudden death round.

So when I saw that Rocco Mediate and John Feinstein had written a book called ARE YOU KIDDING ME?: THE STORY OF ROCCO MEDIATES'S EXTRAORDINARY BATTLE WITH TIGER WOODS AT THE U.S. OPEN about the 2008 U.S. Open, I knew that it was the perfect book for my dad to review. Here's what Booking Pap Pap thought about it:

As a fan of all sports I looked forward to reviewing ARE YOU KIDDING ME? by Rocco Mediate and John Feinstein. The writing of the book was motivated by the exciting 2008 U.S Open in which Rocco Mediate, a 45 year-old journeyman golfer battled Tiger Woods through 72 holes of regulation golf and a 18 hole playoff before losing in the first hole of sudden death. The book not only relives these exciting 91 holes of golf but recounts the golf life of Rocco Mediate from early childhood through the 2008 Open.

The reader gets a good glimpse of Mediate’s first interest in golf, his college golf experience, his time in Qualifying School and his injury riddled professional career. Mediate left school before graduating to try his game on the pro tour. This is not uncommon and follows the path taken by such golf greats as Jack Nicklaus and Tiger Woods.

Mediate’s back injuries relegated him to “middle-of-the-road” professional, often very close to losing his eligibility to remain on the professional tour. Even then, it is quite surprising how much money Mediate was able to earn as a golfer.

The book gives the reader a good idea of how the professional golfing world works but falls a little short regarding the personal life of Mediate. The authors talk about how little time Rocco had for his family and that he took up with his therapist while on tour but they never address how these issues impacted his career.

Even though Mediate is often described as easy going and talkative, the book shows another side of his personality. Mediate gave the impression that his battle with Woods entitled him to certain considerations and he was more than disappointed when he wasn’t selected to the Ryder Cup Team or invited to Tiger Woods’ pre-Christmas tournament after the 2008 season.

The reader is given a good comparison between golfers of the caliber of Mediate and golfers like Tiger Woods. These comparisons are not always the most complimentary to Woods.

ARE YOU KIDDING ME? is a well written and enjoyable book and is a good read for golf-minded individuals, particularly those who want to relive the 2008 U.S. Open.

A big thanks to Miriam from Hachette Book Group for sending me a copy of this book and to Booking Pap Pap for a terrific review.

Review: Alvin Ho: Allergic to Camping, Hiking, and Other Natural Disasters

Summary: Alvin Ho is back, and this time he’s facing his biggest fear: The Great Outdoors.

Alvin Ho is back and his worst fear has come true: he has to go camping. What will he do exposed in the wilderness with bears and darkness and . . . pit toilets? Luckily, he’s got his night-vision goggles and water purifying tablets and super-duper heavy-duty flashlight to keep him safe. And he’s got his dad, too. Lenore Look’s touching, drop-dead-funny chapter book about an Asian-American second grader—with illustrations by New York Times bestselling illustrator LeUyen Pham—is perfect for beginning and reluctant readers alike, and has tons of boy appeal. -- Schwartz and Wade Books

I am so glad that I'm getting to relive my youth through my daughter! Don't take that wrong because I'm not one of those parents....I just love reading books that are geared towards her age range. What I love even more is when we both read the same book and then discuss it! That is the case with ALVIN HO: ALLERGIC TO CAMPING, HIKING, AND OTHER NATURAL DISASTERS by Lenore Look and pictures by LeUyen Pham. I just don't remember there being this many good middle-grade books out there when I was ten years old.

My daughter is probably a little on the older side for this book because it is really aimed for children ages 6 through 10; however, I still think many 10 year olds will enjoy the book as a quick, funny read. Alvin Ho is absolutely hilarious as a young boy who is afraid of almost everything. In this book, his father wants to take him camping and poor Alvin is just terrified of everything that could possibly go wrong. Maybe one of the reason that I liked this book so much is that I can so relate to his feelings about the great outdoors!

This book is really perfect for those kids who are ready to read chapter books, yet aren't quite ready for a book with a lot of pages. This book is a little over 150 pages, but the print is large and there is lots of white space on each page. There are also a few very cute (and funny) illustrations thrown into the body of the chapters. I especially liked that there is a glossary (Alvin Ho's Very Scary Glossary) at the back of the book with definitions of some possibly "new" words.

Kids are going to love Alvin and his adventures. I thought his paranoia was so funny, and I found myself laughing a lot at his insecurities. Even if your child isn't quite ready to read this book on his or her own, it's also a great book to read with your child. This book is being sold as "ideal for any father and son to read together before braving the untamed wilderness. Or, a perfectly manicured trail." Each chapter is just about the perfect length for a bedtime story.

I really thought Alvin Ho was a great character, and I want to go back and read the first novel in the series ALVIN HO: ALLERGIC TO GIRLS, SCHOOLS, AND OTHER SCARY THINGS. If it's anything like this book, I'm sure Booking Daughter and I will both enjoy it! I am looking forward to more Alvin Ho books, and I'm betting that Booking Son is going to love them in a few years.

A big thanks to Random House Kids for sending me an ARC of this book.

Great Gift Idea (and a Discount!)

Are you looking for the perfect last-minute gift idea for Father's Day? If so, I think I might have just the answer for you -- GiftLit!

GiftLit is an online retailer of monthly gifts of books sold in 3, 6 and 12-month subscriptions for children, teens, adults and families. The books are chosen by a unique advisory board of literary experts and are grouped into convenient collections by recipient (e.g. women, men, couples), by interest (e.g. history, fantasy, food & wine), and by age (for children’s books). Subscriptions can be customized by the purchaser or the recipient.

Last fall, I was fortunate enough to receive a 3-month subscription to GiftLit; and I absolutely loved it! I think books always make the perfect gift. And even if you've already finished your Father's Day shopping, I'm sure you can think of someone who would appreciate the gift of books!

Right now, GiftLit is featuring their new Summer Reading Collections for all age groups. To help celebrate these new collections, they are offering a "Summer Reading Promotion" for readers of Booking Mama. From now through July, you can get 10% off any of their products (although the discount doesn't apply to shipping and taxes) if you use the code MAMA609.

Guest Blogger: Frankie the Walk 'n Roll Dog

Yesterday, I reviewed a very touching picture book called FRANKIE THE WALK 'N ROLL DOG by Barbara Gail Techel and illustrated by Victoria Kay Lieffring. I thought this book contained some wonderful messages about overcoming obstacles. I am so excited to welcome this very inspirational dog to Booking Mama. So without further ado, here's Frankie:

Hot diggity dog, Julie! Thank you for having me as a guest on your blog today. I’m a happy tail-waggin’ dawg to be here to share my story with your readers.

I am a dachshund, or as I am better known, a wiener dog. But what I am even better known as is the “Walk ‘N Roll Dog!”

That is because on Easter Sunday three years ago I did a not-so-smart thing. I tried to jump up onto a container and it tipped over. When I hit the ground I felt my back legs tingle, and then all of a sudden I could not feel them at all.

I was really scared. I was staying at a kennel when I hurt myself. My mom and papa were on vacation in Florida. My aunt Lori came to pick me up and take me to the vet’s office. Big bummer. I remember the vet, Dr. Q, calling my mom to tell her I was in bad shape. I then heard my mom crying. I didn’t mean to make her cry.

My aunt Lori took me to a hospital in a big city where I had surgery. It wasn’t so bad. It was like I was sleeping and dreaming about all my favorite things.

When I woke up there were lots of strangers around, but they were very nice. They took very good care of me. Two days later my mom came to get me. I was soooo happpyyyyy!

I know my mom really wanted me to walk again on my own. I tried really, really hard, but it just was not meant to be. I remember one day my mom started crying. She was feeling sorry for me. So I put my best paw forward and showed her I was still me. I had not changed one bit. I just would need a little extra help. That’s all.

Then a few days later my mom was crying again! I looked sadly at her. She smiled the biggest smile ever, and said, “This is a happy day, Frankie! Your wheelchair just arrived and I can’t wait for you to try it out.”

Mom took me outside and I cooperated as she put me in the wheelchair. Hmmm, I wondered. Now what do I do? I thought maybe there was a motor with my wheels, and it would take me down the road. I looked behind me. Nope, no motor.

Then my mom said, “Run free Frankie, I know you can do it!” “You mean I have to operate this thing?” I thought to myself.

I have a bit of stubbornness in me. It must be because I am German. At any rate, mom ran in the house. The next thing I see is Mom placing my favorite treats down the sidewalk! Why is she doing that, I wondered.

I just couldn’t let those treats sit there! Hey, wait a minute, I’m moving! This thing I am in really does work!

From that day on nothing has stopped me from doing all the same things I did before. I chase bunnies, tease squirrels, try to jump for butterflies, bark at the neighbor dogs, and go on walks with my big lab sister, Kylie. I can even take a nap on my favorite bed while I have my wheels on.

One of my FAVORITE things to do is visit schools where I live! I never got to do that before I had my wheels. I show kids how I can twirl around in my cart and how I am still me even though I have tires to help me get around. They think I’m pretty cool. I also became a therapy dog! I visit a senior assisted facility, the hospital and hospice patients.

So, that is how I got my title, “The Walk ‘N Roll Dog.” It is one of the best things that have ever happened to me! I’ve met so many kind and compassionate people by sharing my story. The best part is everyday mom gives me at least 1,000 kisses and tons of hugs. She is very proud of me.

I must say, I’m proud to be “The Walk ‘N Roll Dog” and show others that anything is possible. So never give up hope!

And oh, one more thing! In February 2009 I was inducted into the Wisconsin Pet Hall of Fame. I was chosen because my mom and I are bringing a positive face and voice to animals with disabilities. Now that makes my heart smile. ARF-A-ROO!!

A big thanks goes out to Frankie and his mom Barbara Gail Techel for providing me with this very inspiring guest post!

Review: Frankie the Walk 'N Roll Dog

Summary: Frankie, the Walk ‘N Roll Dog is a true, inspirational story about a dachshund whose life started out like any other dog walking on all four paws. For the first six years Frankie’s life was pretty normal. She played with her chocolate lab sister, Cassie and rode in a special basket on her mom’s bike visiting the local farmer’s market every Saturday in the summer.

On Easter Sunday 2006, Frankie’s life changed forever when she ruptured a disk in her lower back. She endured physical therapy and acupuncture, but after three months it was determined she would not walk again. Frankie was then custom fit for a dog cart, similar to a wheelchair for people. With just a few dog biscuits to entice her, she was soon moving down the road, holding her head high and rolling along with pride.

The story is told in Frankie’s voice which instantly forms a friendship between Frankie and the reader. Frankie’s zest for life will have you cheering and she will give you hope that all things are possible. She will leave an everlasting and loving paw print on your heart. A book for all ages to teach overcoming challenges and also compassion for the physically challenged. --Joyful Paw Prints

FRANKIE THE WALK 'N ROLL DOG by Barbara Gail Techel and illustrated by Victoria Kay Lieffring is a true story about a miniature dachshund who becomes paralyzed and learns to walk again with the help of a cart with wheels. It is a very heart-warming read, and kids will fall in love with Frankie. This book has already won numerous awards including a National Best Book Award by USA Book News, an Indie Excellence Awards Finalist, and an Editors Choice Award from Allbooks Review.

Since the story is told by the dog Frankie, I think children will especially like getting Frankie's insight into her life. The book begins when Frankie is just a puppy and gets adopted by her Mom Barbara. Frankie shows the children how normal her life was prior to the accident that left her crippled. Frankie then explains how she got hurt, her attempts at rehabilitation, and eventually her ability to lead a normal life again!

I really like the positive messages in this story. Frankie's story tells us that good things can come out of bad. Even though Frankie was paralyzed, her owners found a creative way to give her a normal and happy life. I think this story will also give children a better understanding of disabilities and hopefully give them more compassion to those who are less fortunate. In addition, I liked that the book showed how hard Frankie had to work in therapy while trying to recover from her injuries. This book definitely gives children and parents (or teachers) some wonderful things to discuss.

Late last year, Frankie and her owner became a registered therapy dog team. They work with the elderly, hospital and hospice patients. I think it's absolutely wonderful that they are helping to improve people's lives while also sharing their message. I wouldn't be surprised if Frankie decides to "write" another book about her new experiences as a therapy dog.

There is a fantastic website devoted to Frankie. You can order the book or even an activity book; and you can sign up free gifts. While you are there, you can also find resources that will tell you more about living with handicapped pets. There are also links to Ms. Techel's blog as well as lots of media information.

While I really liked the overall messages in this book, I wish that this book would have been a little shorter. I think my son who is almost five is the perfect age for this book; however, it ran on the long side for him. This picture book was almost 50 pages and there was a lot of text on each page. He wasn't able to sit through the book in one sitting and I even found him losing interest on the pages with lots of words. It's possible that my little guy is the only kid who had these issues, but I would have liked to have seen a book that was better suited for reading aloud in the classroom because I do think this book has so many valuable lessons.

When I asked my son to tell me what happened in the book, he did understand the entire story. He loved that Frankie "got wheels" and was able to play again; and he also laughed at a few of the stories about Frankie (especially the ones about potty training.) Without a doubt, his favorite thing about this book was the postcard that came inside of it. This postcard had a picture of Frankie dressed up as a hot dog for Halloween -- with his wheels, he was an actual Weiner-mobile! My son could not stop laughing!

I definitely recommend FRANKIE THE WALK 'N ROLL DOG if you are looking for a book that explains disabilities and how to overcome them. It is a cute story that will also touch your heart.

A big thanks to Stephanie from Promo 101 Virtual Blog Tours for arranging this book blog tour.

Sookie Stackhouse Reading Challenge

I've officially caved! I must admit that when I first read that Beth Fish Reads was hosting the Sookie Stackhouse Reading Challenge, I thought it was a great idea but I wasn't really interested. I am somewhat familiar with this series, but I wasn't sure that they were for me -- if you know what I mean.

Then, I caught wind of all the excitement on Twitter and wanted to be a part of all the fun. A little friendly peer pressure didn't hurt either!

So here are the details:

Between July 1, 2009, and June 30, 2010, catch up on Charlaine Harris's Southern Vampire series. No matter if you're starting with book 1 or book 8, you have a year to read all about Sookie. Read Sookie in print, listen to the audio, read an eBook -- format is not an issue.

The Books:

Dead Until Dark
Living Dead in Dallas
Club Dead
Dead to the World
Dead as a Doornail
Definitely Dead
All Together Dead
From Dead to Worse
Dead and Gone

Sound fun? Then join me and head on over to Beth Fish Reads and sign up! I think it's going to be a blast!

Guest Blogger: Sally Koslow

Yesterday, I reviewed a great new book called THE LATE, LAMENTED MOLLY MARX by Sally Koslow. In my review, I mentioned that I found the characters and their interactions very interesting. I thought it was wonderful how Ms. Koslow created such flawed, and yet, very real characters; and I even found myself relating to Molly on certain levels.

So when she sent me this guest post about how so many of her readers relate to Molly, I knew I wasn't alone. In this essay, Ms. Koslow explains how she comes up with her books' characters and their stories -- I hope you enjoy reading this guest post as much as I did!

Whenever I discover that another woman loves books as much as I do, I feel as if she’s my instant friend, someone whose brain I want to pick for what to read next. I thank Julie for inviting me to guest-blog today after yesterday’s review, because I know that every Booking Mama reader must be someone who shares our mutual passion for fiction. I wish I could meet you all, face to face.

My second novel, The Late, Lamented Molly Marx, arrived in bookstores in May. It’s been a wonderful high to see my book-baby published, but the tiptop of the experience is that readers almost always say they connect to the main character in some way. No one seems to mind that Molly happens to be dead, looking back on her loved ones from an afterlife location I refer to as The Duration. Perhaps the relate-ability to Molly comes from the fact that as she herself admits, she had flaws. Many flaws.

“I liked to gossip” she says.” I didn’t always rejoice at others’ successes. I occasionally forgot birthdays and relied way too much on takeout food. I texted at Mommy and Me classes. I never voted in primaries and ate dark chocolate far in excess of the 6.3 grams that might have lowered my high blood pressure. I don’t even know what 6.3 grams are. I should have lost five pounds Ok, eight. I failed to polish my shoes, which I allowed to run down at the heels.

“I didn’t wash my hairbrushes and sometimes went to bed without removing my makeup. E-mail chain letters terminated on my watch and I never looked at friends’ Internet photo galleries. I subscribed to two cheesy celebrity magazines. I could never complete a crosswords puzzle (not even the easy one on Mondays) or understand football. My abs were going to hell because I did crunches only sporadically. I whodunit movies, I could never follow the plot."

When I started writing fiction I used to wonder, where do characters like Molly Marx come from, flaws and all, arriving uninvited like second-cousins once removed on my father’s side? They invade my brain, assume a physical shape, and start prattling away. Soon enough, I feel as if I’m simply taking dictation at their behest. Sometimes, there are too friggin’ many of them and—sorry, guys-- to make sense of my story, some of these imaginary people have to get the boot.

I’ve grown to realize that every character is a mosaic-- of my friends, of my family, of parts of me and most of all, of my secret self, my imagination. Recently, two high school friends from my hometown of Fargo, North Dakota, visited New York, where I live now, bearing a tee-shirt that says “Careful, or you’ll end up in my novel.” I wear this gift with pride, because its message is accurate. Since I started writing fiction, whatever I experience or remember, no matter how bizarre or painful, gets recycled. Sooner or later, it smirks back at me from the page.

For my first novel, Little Pink Slips, I didn’t have to look far for inspiration. At the time I wrote it, I’d recently completed eight years of having one of the universe’s best jobs, being the editor-in-chief of McCall’s Magazine. Even if you don’t remember McCall’s, your mom, grandmother, great-grandmother or great-great grandmother probably does or did, since the magazine was founded shortly after the Civil War and it was still going strong until the comedienne Rosie O’Donnell came knocking at the door of the owner. Faster than I could say “oh, crap,” I was kicked upstairs, replaced by Rosie, who literally moved into my office (for nine months—her magazine had a short life.). I lived to tell the tale by writing a novel about a magazine editor-in-chief who gets replaced by a—ahem--colorful celebrity.

My current novel, The Late, Lamented Molly Marx, begins at a funeral. It was at a real funeral when the idea for the story came to me. From what I could tell that day, the over-the-top eulogies for the woman we were mourning didn’t square with the person I, at least, had known. My mind began to drift. I wondered what the deceased might have thought of these tributes, had she been able to hear them, and from there I moved on to how it’s a fundamental fantasy to wish to know what would be said about us after we die. I walked away from the funeral realizing I’d gotten a gift from my imagination, the concept for a book which I would build around a mystery. I went home and hit the computer to immediately started drafting The Late, Lamented Molly Marx. The first five words I wrote were the title.

Writing fiction sometimes feels like trying to blast through solid stone. But to finish the ultimate product, a novel that tells a complicated story about people who start to feel real, is a feeling like none other!

Happy Reading,
Sally Koslow

p.s. I’m delighted that Julie recommended The Late, Lamented Molly Marx for book clubs. If you visit my website: www.sallykoslow.com, you can click through to a discussion guide with all sorts of questions.

Review: The Late, Lamented Molly Marx

Summary: The circumstances of Molly Marx’s death may be suspicious, but she hasn’t lost her joie de vivre. Newly arrived in the hereafter, aka the Duration, Molly, thirty-five years old, is delighted to discover that she can still keep tabs on those she left behind: Annabel, her beloved four-year-old daughter; Lucy, her combustible twin sister; Kitty, her piece-of-work mother-in-law; Brie, her beautiful and steadfast best friend; and, of course, her husband, Barry, a plastic surgeon with more than a professional interest in many of his female patients. As a bonus, Molly quickly realizes that the afterlife comes with a finely tuned bullshit detector.

As Molly looks on, her loved ones try to discern whether her death was an accident, suicide, or murder. She was last seen alive leaving for a bike ride through New York City’s Riverside Park; her body was found lying on the bank of the Hudson River. Did a stranger lure Molly to danger? Did she plan to meet someone she thought she could trust? Could she have ended her own life for mysterious reasons, or did she simply lose control of her bike? As the police question her circle of intimates, Molly relives the years and days that led up to her sudden end: her marriage, troubled yet tender; her charmed work life as a magazine decorating editor; and the irresistible colleague to whom she was drawn.

More than anything, Molly finds herself watching over Annabel–and realizing how motherhood helped to bring out her very best self. As the investigation into her death proceeds, Molly will relive her most precious moments–and take responsibility for the choices in her life.

Exploring the bonds of fidelity, family, and friendship, and narrated by a memorable and endearing character, The Late, Lamented Molly Marx is a hilarious, deeply moving, and thought-provoking novel that is part mystery, part love story, and all heart. -- Ballantine

I absolutely loved the premise behind the new novel THE LATE, LAMENTED MOLLY MARX by Sally Koslow. The idea that an entire book was going to be told from a dead woman's point-of-view was just too tempting for me to resist. I had a feeling that I was going to really enjoy this story, but I was actually surprised by this novel. While my first impression of this book was that it was going to be a light, funny read; after just a few chapters, I realized that it this novel was going to be much deeper and more complex than I first thought (although it was still a very funny read!)

I thoroughly enjoyed THE LATE, LAMENTED MOLLY MARX for a variety of reasons, but I think one of the best things about this novel was how the author told the story. A dead Molly narrated the story, both in present and with flashbacks into her past. I enjoyed "seeing" Molly's life, and I think the back and forth between the chapters worked very well. I liked that I could see how Molly's family and friends were dealing with her death (through Molly's eyes), and I also thought it was very interesting what Molly was able to see and not see while she was in "The Duration." I thought the author's concept of death and an afterlife were very unique!

What I found special about this book was that I'm not sure that I really "liked" any of the characters; yet I still really enjoyed this novel. I know that sounds harsh and it's probably not entirely true -- I liked some of the characters, I just didn't really love any of them. Many of the characters in this book were often times shallow and focused on their own personal pleasures. Even Molly, whom I did somewhat like, was a very human and flawed character. I did like that all of the characters' flaws made their interactions very complicated and intriguing; and subsequently, the book did mange to keep my attention throughout.

Even though this novel was laugh out loud funny in some parts, I still was touched by parts of this story. The idea that a young mother and wife was dead at far too young an age naturally bothered me, but I was also affected by her how death affected her parents, her sister and especially her daughter. The scenes where Molly flashed back to her childhood and where she gave birth to her daughter were things that I could definitely relate to. I also appreciated that the author did make some "good" eventually come from the awful event of Molly's death.

One thing that I enjoyed about this novel was the mystery aspect to it. In fact, I actually wouldn't have minded having more details about Molly's death and a better understanding of what occurred. The novel begins with Molly describing her funeral and the reader knows right away that her death was not at all a natural one. I like that every once in awhile some little clue was given about the possibility of her death; and I especially liked that I kept wondering not only whether Molly was actually murdered, but who would have taken her life.

I think Ms. Koslow is a wonderful writer. I appreciated her storytelling, but I especially enjoyed how smart and witty her writing is. Ms. Koslow is the author of a previous novel LITTLE PINK SLIPS and has written essays for many major magazines. In addition, she was editor-in-chief of McCalls and Lifetime and was an editor at Mademoiselle and Women's Day. If you'd like to get an idea of her writing, you can read an excerpt from THE LATE, LAMENTED MOLLY MARX. There is also a very insightful interview with her about this novel.

THE LATE, LAMENTED MOLLY MARX would make a great book club discussion book, and I was happy to see that Ms. Koslow has a discussion guide on her website. I think my book club would enjoy this book on many levels. Not only is it a very entertaining read because the narrator is rather funny, but this book does go deeper and causes you to reflect on all sorts of relationships -- marriage, friendship, sisterhood, parenthood and even romantic love. In addition, I think this book allows you to examine your own life and how you'd be perceived if you died young and unexpectedly. I think this novel could make for a very interesting discussion between friends.

Thanks to the author and the folks at Ballantine Books for sending me an ARC of this novel! Make sure you come back and visit tomorrow because Ms. Koslow will be stopping by with a terrific guest post.

Review: A Passion Denied

Summary: Has she fallen in love with a man who cannot love her back?

Elizabeth O'Connor has been like the little sister John Brady always wanted, sharing his love of literature and his thirst for God. But in the throes of the reckless Roaring Twenties, Lizzie has grown up. Suddenly she wants more from the man who has been her friend since she was a child. When this shy little bookworm blossoms into a beautiful young woman bent on loving John, she discovers that his past won't let him return that love. But Lizzie refuses to give up--until his shocking secrets push her away.

Can true love survive the betrayal and deceitful of a painful past . . . or will it be shattered like the fairy-tale dreams of a girl in love?

Brimming with romance, longing, and redemption, A Passion Denied, will quicken your pulse and gladden your heart with a riveting story of the true power of love. -- Baker

Julie Lessman has done it again! A PASSION DENIED is the third book in The Daughters of Boston series, and it doesn't disappoint. I think that this novel definitely lives up to the first two books in the series -- A PASSION MOST PURE (my review) and A PASSION REDEEMED (my review). And while it wasn't my absolute favorite one (that honor goes to A PASSION REDEEMED), it still was a fantastic book that featured the characters I've grown to love.

I am so not a romance reader, but when Amy from My Friend Amy recommended these books; I thought I'd give the first one a try. I was shocked how much I enjoyed it, and I was immediately caught up in the characters' lives. I honestly couldn't put the book down (as was eventually the case with all three books.) After finishing the third book, my initial feelings are still true -- I just love the messages that these books deliver.

In A PASSION DENIED, the story focused on the third daughter in the O'Connor family, Lizzie, who is very much in love with John Brady. It's obvious to everyone that he has the same feelings; but for some mysterious reason, he won't act on his feelings. I have to admit that I was so curious about what had happened in his past that made him repress all his feelings toward the opposite sex. The author gave a few hints along the way, but the entire story didn't unfold until the end of the book. I thought Ms. Lessman did a fantastic job of drawing me into Lizzie and Brady's story, and I could hardly wait to learn what was so awful about Brady's past. Like all of the books in this series, there were lots of ups and downs and misunderstandings between the characters that caused a whole lot of tension.

Besides the main story of Lizzie, there were lots of side stories about the O'Connor family. Charity, the daughter featured in A PASSION REDEEMED, is pregnant and feeling that her husband no longer desires her. Faith, the daughter featured in A PASSION MOST PURE, isn't sure that's she ready to get pregnant and give up her job while her husband desperately wants her to start having babies. And, the girls' father realizes that his wife wasn't entirely honest when she married him; and the O'Connor marriage has major issues that might be irreparable. What I loved about these side stories is the universal theme that they all touched on -- love and marriage. So often people in today's society look at marriage as an end to happy and carefree times -- they think that when they get married that all the fun is over. I liked that this novel showed that marriage is full of ups and downs and no marriage is perfect. What I liked even more, though, was that the married couples in this book were passionately in love and still knew how to have fun with each other. I found this to be such a refreshing message!

I think one of the reasons that I enjoy The Daughters of Boston series so much is that I really appreciate Ms. Lessman's writing style. I don't know how she does it, but she writes inspirational books with great messages without being the slightest bit preachy. She also creates characters that I just love (sometimes, I think I'm weird because I feel like I know them.) Last year, I was fortunate enough to have Ms. Lessman write a guest post for Booking Mama that I found very moving. Not only is she a wonderful writer, but she also seems like a genuinely beautiful person.

Recently, I've been hearing more and more about book clubs that read Christian fiction. I think it's a great idea because there are obviously a ton of inspirational books out there that deserve to be read and discussed. Since I enjoyed A PASSION DENIED so much, I was so happy to see that there is already a reading guide available for this novel (and there is also one for A PASSION MOST PURE.) I'm hoping that more book clubs will select good, clean books with healthy messages about love and marriage.

A big thanks to Revell/Baker Publishing Group for sending me a copy of this novel.

Review: Into the Beautiful North

Summary: Nineteen-year-old Nayeli works at a taco shop in her Mexican village and dreams about her father, who journeyed to the US to find work. Recently, it has dawned on her that he isn't the only man who has left town. In fact, there are almost no men in the village--they've all gone north. While watching The Magnificent Seven, Nayeli decides to go north herself and recruit seven men--her own "Siete Magníficos"--to repopulate her hometown and protect it from the bandidos who plan on taking it over.

Filled with unforgettable characters and prose as radiant as the Sinaloan sun, INTO THE BEAUTIFUL NORTH is the story of an irresistible young woman's quest to find herself on both sides of the fence. -- Little, Brown & Company

This month, my on-line book club decided to read INTO THE BEAUTIFUL NORTH by Luis Alberto Urrea. I've been looking forward to reading it ever since I received an ARC a few months ago; and ever since I had to opportunity to meet the author and his lovely wife at BEA, I just couldn't wait! Meeting Mr. Urrea was actually one of my BEA highlights. Both he and his wife are incredibly nice and so fun to talk to. (In fact, his wife even took some pictures of us so we could all be in the pictures.) I have to admit that I'm a little concerned about writing a review of this book because I don't feel that I'm worthy. So this "review" is probably just going to be me rambling about why I thought this novel was so good.

When I read the description, the first thing I thought was "Wow! What a great (and very unique) idea for a book. And, I have to say that I did love this story. The idea that a young woman decides to head north to the United States to bring back men to repopulate her village is just a great idea for a book. And, the entire journey from this small coastal village to the heartland of the United States does make for some interesting scenes. I felt as if I got an authentic view of Mexico (both the good parts and the not-so-good parts) as well as the entire ordeal of trying to illegally enter the United States. Reading this novel was definitely an eye-opener for me.

But there were just so many other wonderful things about this book in addition to the storyline -- the plot was just the foundation for a fantastic novel. INTO THE BEAUTIFUL NORTH is just so well-written and this book is just a pleasure to read. It shouldn't be surprising that Mr. Urrea's prose is beautiful because he is a critically acclaimed author whose awards include a Lannan Literary Award, a Christopher Award, and American Book Award, and a Western States Book Award.

He tells this story in such a special way -- he just captured my attention and drew me into these characters' lives. I realize that I'm not doing a good job of telling you why this book touched me like it did, but it was definitely Mr. Urrea's writing style. His prose was poetic at times, yet it was also filled with brutal honesty; and his descriptions are just picture-perfect. I swear I could see this entire book running through my mind while I read it. What even amazed me more about this novel (and actually surprised me a great deal) was the amount of humor in this story. There is no doubt that this book deals with some very serious issues, yet Mr. Urrea included so many entertaining scenes and characters into this story.

Another thing I absolutely adored about this book were the characters. Mr. Urrea created some very memorable characters that managed to capture my heart. I couldn't help but adore Nayeli and her attempts to save her village -- she was so determined and yet so naive. Her composure and determination throughout all of the setbacks were just so honorable and even inspiring to me. I loved how she managed to never give up and always kept her wits about her. I also adored her three sidekicks, especially her gay friend Tacho because he was just an absolute hoot. And, I really appreciated Nayeli's Aunt Irma and what she represented -- pride in her village and country.

After reading INTO THE BEAUTIFUL NORTH, I definitely want to read more of Mr. Urrea's books. I think I'm going to become a huge fan! Check out this very interesting video in which the author talks about some of the inspiration for his latest novel:



I think INTO THE BEAUTIFUL NORTH will make for a wonderful discussion when my on-line group meets later today to talk about it. The story alone is entertaining, but the writing is absolutely beautiful too. I think we will have such a good time discussing the characters as well as the overall themes in this novel. Some of the things that I'm most looking forward to discussing are: the issues with immigration, the strength and resilience of women, and what it means to be a hero. I also think it will be very interesting to talk about the various characters and their personality traits. This is one novel that I just can't wait to share with my friends!

Review: The Sleepy Little Alphabet

Summary: A fun read-aloud for little ones who are learning their ABCs.

It's sleepy time in Alphabet Town. But the twenty-six little letters of the alphabet all have something they need—or want—to do before big-letter moms and dads tuck them in. Not since the classic Chicka Chicka Boom Boom has there been such an appealing way to teach the youngest child the ABCs while providing a one-minute goodnight story. Of course, Melissa Sweet’s animated watercolor, pencil, and collage illustrations may beg for a little more time to match up all the toys with the right letters, and Judy Sierra’s rollicking rhymed story will want to be heard again and again. Okay, so maybe it’s a three-minute story! -- Knopf

I'm not sure who liked this book better, me or my son! THE SLEEPY LITTLE ALPHABET by Judy Sierra and illustrated by Melissa Sweet is just the cutest darn book that I've seen in a long time. I couldn't wait to read it to my son; and as soon as we finished the book, we went back and looked at all of the pictures again. I'm certain that it's going to be a new favorite for us.

THE SLEEPY LITTLE ALPHABET is an ideal bedtime book. The basic idea is that each of the letters in the alphabet are getting ready to go to bed. For example, the letter B "still has a bath to take" and the letter T "tucks in her teddy bear." The story goes through each letter in the alphabet until all of the letters are sound asleep in their own beds. It is just too adorable. I think the book will help to get your child into the mindset of sleep (as much as any book can.)

This book is a quick read and I can almost promise that your child will stay interested the entire time. There story is pretty catchy since it does rhyme, and there are just a few big words on each page. What really makes this book extra-special are the illustrations -- they are just beautiful. I don't know if you can tell with the small picture of the book at the beginning of this review, but each letter has a funny-little face and lots of colors and patterns. Every page in this book is cuter than the next, and I love how the illustrator even managed to capture facial expressions on the little letters. There is a lot going on in each picture and I think children will keep noticing new things every time they pick up the book.

As a mother, I absolutely loved the story, but I also thought it was terrific that this book teaches children their ABCs. I thought it was just so cute that the children letters were lowercase, and the parent letters were the capitals. What I especially liked is that the text in the book referenced the letters in their lowercase form which are often times more difficult for children to learn. This story is so entertaining that kids might not even realize that you are working on their letters with them.

In fact when my son and I read this book, I make him say the letters that appear in the text -- it's kind of like a read-a-long for us. He likes participating and I like that he is practicing his lowercase letters. He thought this book was terrific and he laughed a lot when I read it the first time. Of course, his favorite parts were the letter U who "takes off his underwear" and the letters O and P who "upset the potty" (he is a boy for sure because anything potty related is hilarious.) He also liked the letter Q who is "quiet as a bunny." I was shocked when we talked about this story how much he remembered about the various letters and their bedtime activities.

I can't recommend this book enough. It is absolutely perfect for the toddler or preschooler in your life. It has already been named the winner of the 20209 Oppenheim Toy Portfolio. This book is available on June 9th, so make sure you order your copy today. You and your child will not be disappointed!

A big thanks to Random House for sending me a copy of THE SLEEPY LITTLE ALPHABET.

Review: Princess Pig

Summary: Princess? Pig? Both? A crown may not be the perfect accessory for an adorable pig.

One day a sash from a local beauty pageant blows across the farm and lands right on Pig, who takes it as a sign. “I must be a princess,” she squeals. Pony disagrees, but all the other animals in the barnyard are happy to recognize her new title. Pig is delighted to learn that princesses are treated to pretty princess pies, decadent bubble baths, fluffy pillows, and soothing bedtime lullabies. But there is a cost to the grandeur. There are many things that princesses aren’t allowed to do—like sleep late, or roll in the mud, or attend parties in the barn hosted by the common folk. Maybe Pony was right when he said, “It’s a fine thing to be a pig, if a pig is what you are.” -- Knopf Books for Young Readers

It seems like I have been running across a lot of wonderful children's books lately; and PRINCESS PIG, written by Eileen Spinelli and illustrated by Tim Bowers, is another great read for preschoolers. Reading this book to my son was definitely a treat for me!

There is no doubt that this story about a pig who thinks she is a princess is just adorable. I absolutely loved the pig's reaction to "discovering" that she is a princess as well as how the other animals reacted to her. I especially liked how the pony kept giving the pig a reality check -- it was too cute. My favorite thing about this book, however, is the beautiful illustrations. The colors are just so vibrant and each page has lots for little ones to look at. The pictures capture the feel of the story perfectly, and children and parents alike will appreciate the animals and their facial expressions.

My son enjoyed this book too, but he did say it was a little girly for him. I totally disagreed with him and found myself arguing with a four year old. I think I finally got through to him that just because the book said the word "princess" does not make it a girly book. When we talked about the story in more detail, he did admit that he liked the pony who kept telling the pig that she wasn't a princess. And, I found him laughing on almost every page at either the pictures or what the animals were saying to the pig.

As a mother, I definitely recommend this book -- it has already been awarded as winner of the 2009 Oppenheim Toy Portfolio. Not only is the story cute and the pictures just amazing, but this book has a wonderful message. The pig realizes that while she gets a lot of "princess" treatments like bubble baths, she can't do the normal pig things like roll in mud or participate in the barn animals' parties. I love how the pig finally realizes that she is happiest just being herself -- a regular old pig! I think this book gives a terrific message to children that it's always best to accept yourself for what you really are.

Review: Secrets to Happiness & Giveaway

Summary: Holly Frick has just endured the worst kind of breakup: the kind where you're still in love with the person leaving you. While her wounds are still dangerously close to the surface, her happily married best friend confesses over a bottle of wine that she is this close to having an affair. And another woman comes to Holly for advice about her love life--with Holly's ex!

Holly decides that if everyone around her can take pleasure wherever they find it, so will she. As any self-respecting 30ish New York woman would do, she brings two males into her life: a flawed but endearing dog, and a good natured, much younger lover. She's soon entangled in a web of emails, chance meetings, and misguided good intentions and must forge an entirely new path to Nirvana.

From the author of The Big Love, Secrets to Happiness is a big-hearted, knife-sharp, and hilariously entertaining story about the perils of love and friendship, sex and betrayal--and a thoroughly modern take on our struggle to be happy. -- Little, Brown & Company

I think I wanted to read SECRETS TO HAPPINESS by Sarah Dunn based on the cover alone. I mean, who can resist this adorable little puppy who looks so contest? I also had heard some good things about the author and her prior novel THE BIG LOVE; and I thought this novel sounded like the perfect, light read for the summer!

When I read the description for this book, I was thinking that this book would be more of a chick-lit book or at least a mature chick-lit type book. In a few ways, it did have some of the features that I've grown to expect in chick-lit books such as humor, a quirky main character, and romance troubles; however, I can say that SECRETS TO HAPPINESS was a deeper and more thought-provoking book than normal chick lit fare!

I thought Holly was an endearing character, although she certainly came with a lot of baggage. I was impressed with how Ms. Dunn developed her character, and I loved how complex she made her. I wasn't surprised to find that Holly had a lot of issues with men; however, I was surprised to see that the author included some conflict for Holly concerning her spiritual beliefs. I actually found myself examining Holly and her outlook on God, and I kept thinking about her insecurities and how they might be different if she just approached her life differently.

While I really liked Holly, there were lots of other characters who I didn't really appreciate quite as much. I think that their side stories definitely enhanced the novel and complemented Holly; and they did give me a lot to think about though. I think the author did a nice job of showing how different all of the characters were and how they were all ultimately looking to find happiness in their lives -- each in their own way. I think there is a really big message in this novel that each person needs different things to be happy and people have to chose to be happy -- it doesn't just happen. (Having said that, I didn't always find myself agreeing with all of the characters' choices.)

I was happy to see that there is a companion reading guide available for book clubs. The more I think about this book, the more I realize that it is a perfect summer book to discuss with your friends. It is a light, fun read while also touching on some deeper issues such as faith/religion, marriage, infidelity, friendship, and (of course) finding happiness. I think you will find a great deal to discuss, and I think it would be very interesting to hear my book club's thoughts about Holly and her friends.

Thanks to Miriam from Hachette for allowing me to participate in this book blog tour. Check out these other blogs participating in this tour:

http://nevernotreading.blogspot.com/
http://www.writeforareader.blogspot.com/
http://www.acircleofbooks.blogspot.com/
http://abookishmom.blogspot.com
http://bfishreads.blogspot.com/
http://zensanity.blogspot.com/
http://scribevibe.blogspot.com/
http://thereviewfromhere.wordpress.com/
http://www.iheartmonster.com/
http://peekingbetweenthepages.blogspot.com/
http://hiddenplace.wordpress.com/
http://books-movies-chinesefood.blogspot.com/
http://thisbookforfree.com/
http://bookopolis.blogspot.com/
http://mindingspot.blogspot.com/
http://www.amberstults.com/
http://bookingmama.blogspot.com/
http://confessionsofaromancebookaddict.wordpress.com/
http://bookslovejessicamarie.blogspot.com
http://chikune.com/blog
http://luanne-abookwormsworld.blogspot.com/
http://www.foreigncircuslibrary.blogspot.com/
http://cafeofdreams.blogspot.com/
http://purplg8r-somanybooks.blogspot.com/
http://www.squidoo.com/bookcase
http://www.readingwithmonie.com/
http://enroutetolife.blogspot.com/
http://www.bookthoughtsbylisa.blogspot.com/
http://cindysloveofbooks.blogspot.com/
http://danys-san.blogspot.com
http://www.myspace.com/darbyscloset
http://epicrat.blogspot.com/
http://thetometraveller.blogspot.com/
http://jennsbookshelf.blogspot.com/
http://www.linussblanket.com
http://dreyslibrary.blogspot.com/
http://wendisbookcorner.blogspot.com/
http://booksiesblog.blogspot.com/
http://savvyverseandwit.blogspot.com/
http://bookinwithbingo.blogspot.com
http://everydayiwritethebook.typepad.com
http://booksandneedlepoint.blogspot.com
http://www.bookwormygirl.blogspot.com

I have an extra copy of SECRETS TO HAPPINESS to share with one lucky reader. To enter this giveaway, please leave a comment with your e-mail address telling me why this book looks good to you. To double or triple your chances, just spread the word by either blogging or tweeting about this contest with a link back to this post. I will accept entries until Friday, June 26th at 11:59 p.m. EST, and I will notify the winner the following day. This contest is open to those of you in the U.S. or Canada only. Good Luck!

BlogTalk Radio Show with Mary Kay Andrews & Giveaway

A few weeks ago, I was so excited to receive an ARC of THE FIXER-UPPER by Mary Kay Andrews. I have enjoyed a few of her novels and I think she's a fantastic writer of fun Southern fiction.

On Tuesday, June 16th, at 3:00 p.m. EST, Ms. Andrews will be appearing on BlogTalk Radio. You can set a reminder for the show here. I've listened to one of her shows in the past and I thought she was very entertaining. Here's a brief summary of this show:

Virginia Stanley, Director of Library Marketing at Harper Collins interviews New York Times bestselling author Mary Kay Andrews who will discuss her latest publication, THE FIXER UPPER. This is a stand-along novel about a woman whose professional fall from grace lands her back in a hometown she never knew, amongst a gothic Southern family she’s never met, and taking on a task she never imagined. This is a sassy and once-in-a-while poignant look at small town Southern life, as only Mary Kay Andrews can tell it.

Harper Collins we will now be giving away 25 books to readers who write into the show or e-mail them with a question for Mary Kay Andrews. Questions can either be submitted via phone or email. Winner will be selected randomly, and the giveaway ends on June 16th.

Here's how it works:

If you want to ask a question by phone:

Listeners need to go to the webpage: http://www.blogtalkradio.com/LibraryLoveFest where they will see the call-in number displayed: (347) 826-9690. You can simply call that number to ask a question. When you’re on the air, remember to turn down the volume on your computer.

Or, if you'd rather ask a question via e-mail:

You need to type it in the "Chat" section which will appear on the lower left-hand side of the screen. To send questions via the chat, you need to register first on the site www.blogtalkradio.com prior to the show. (Do not enter questions into the "comments" section because that section is for comments after the show.)

Review: Dragonbreath

Summary: It’s not easy for Danny Dragonbreath to be the sole mythical creature in a school for reptiles and amphibians—especially because he can’t breathe fire like other dragons (as the school bully loves to remind him). But having a unique family comes in handy sometimes, like when his sea-serpent cousin takes Danny and his best iguana friend on a mindboggling underwater tour, complete with vomiting sea cucumbers and giant squid. It sure beats reading the encyclopedia to research his ocean report . . .

Using a hybrid of comic-book panels and text, Ursula Vernon introduces an irresistible set of characters with a penchant for getting themselves into sticky situations. It’s perfect for both the classroom and the Wimpy Kid set. -- Dial

Since I have a nine-year old daughter, I'm always anxious to see what's new in Middle Grade books. The latest book that I've read is DRAGONBREATH written and illustrated by Ursula Vernon. I'm not sure that I'm the best judge of middle-grade books because they aren't really geared towards me, but I have to say that I really liked DRAGONBREATH. I thought the characters were cute, the story was interesting, and the book was really funny -- I think it's just perfect for middle grade readers!

What I really liked about this book was that it was a mix of a comic book and a regular old book. I think the comic panels are very well done, and kids are going to really like switching between the pictures and the normal text. I thought the drawings definitely enhanced the fantasy aspect of the story, and I loved the pictures of the characters on their under-sea adventure. Even the most reluctant of readers should appreciate this story given that it has many comic panels and fairly large text.

I found DRAGONBREATH to be a very cute and entertaining story, yet it also had parts that were actually educational. I think kids will not only laugh a lot at this story and the characters (namely Wendell whom I found to be just adorable), but they will also love the bits of science that are thrown in. I especially enjoyed reading about Danny and Wendell's tour of the ocean and also learning about the various sea creatures. I also liked that the author included some positive messages about bullying, self-confidence, and perseverence.

DRAGONBREATH is the first book in a series, and I wouldn't hesitate to read more stories about Danny and his crazy adventures. I think that these books are going to be a big hit with young boys, especially those around 8 to 10 years old; however, I also think there are plenty of girls who are going to love these characters too. I really liked that the end of this book gave a few teasers about the next book in the series, namely that there will be ninja frogs. And what kid can resist an adventure with a dragon and iguana that includes ninja frogs?

Here are some of Booking Daughter's thoughts about DRAGONBREATH:

I really liked the parts of the book that took place underwater. Some things really made me laugh like when the characters took "breath" mints so they could breathe underwater and when they kept running into scary sea creatures. I thought Danny's friend Wendell was really funny especially when he was underwater because he was always nervous.

Thanks to Dial Books for sending me a copy of DRAGONBREATH.

Review: 20 Boy Summer

Summary: According to her best friend Frankie, twenty days in Zanzibar Bay is the perfect opportunity to have a summer fling, and if they meet one boy ever day, there's a pretty good chance Anna will find her first summer romance. Anna lightheartedly agrees to the game, but there's something she hasn't told Frankie---she's already had that kind of romance, and it was with Frankie's older brother, Matt, just before his tragic death one year ago. Beautifully written and emotionally honest, this is a debut novel that explores what it truly means to love someone and what it means to grieve, and ultimately, how to make the most of every single moment this world has to offer. -- Little, Brown and Company

TWENTY BOY SUMMER by Sarah Ockler seems to be everywhere right now and so are the glowing reviews for it. In fact, I don't remember reading even one less than positive review. I actually read this novel a few weeks ago while I was with my family at the swimming pool, and I swore that I was going to come home right away and write my review. Famous last words because life has just gotten in the way (and a little old thing called BEA.)

So now, I'm writing my review about two weeks after finishing this book which I really don't like to do because I tend to forget details after a few days. However, this one time I think it's going to be okay. TWENTY BOY SUMMER is one of those books that has actually stuck with me -- I can remember this book like I just read it and the characters keep popping up in my mind. I think that says a great deal about the quality of this novel.

TWENTY BOY SUMMER is Sarah Ockler's debut novel, and I have to admit that I'm a little surprised by this. I found her writing to be so polished and real that it just seemed as if she's been writing books for a long time. Her prose and descriptions are just beautiful, but I also really appreciated how authentic her dialogue was. I can't say enough about how she developed the characters in this story, especially Anna; and I think she captured the devastating effects of loss on a family so very well. I really think Ms. Ockler is going to have a wonderful writing career ahead of her, and I'm looking forward to her future books.

Although I really, really liked this book (and maybe even loved it) I have to mention that I was a little surprised that the back cover of the ARC says that this novel is for ages 12 and up. My daughter is almost 10 years old and I realize that there is a lot of growing up between the ages of 10 and 12, but I don't think that I would let me daughter read this book until she is quite a bit older than 12. TWENTY BOY SUMMER deals with some mature issues including teenage sexuality. In fact, one of the major story lines is about Anna's attempt to meet twenty boys over the summer and lose her virginity to one of them -- they actually refer to it as "Anna's Albatross." I felt as if losing one's virginity was taken very casually in this story, and I kept hoping that there would be a big moral lesson at the end of the book. I realize that this casual approach might be reflecting reality in today's society, but I don't want my daughter reading about these things until she's much more mature.

Having said that, there are so many wonderful things about TWENTY BOY SUMMER and I do recommend it (just to adults or older teenagers.) I can not rave enough about how the author portrayed grief and loss as themes in this novel. My heart went out to all of the characters, but especially Anna. Not only did she lose one of her best friends in the death of Matt, but she also lost her first love. In addition, Frankie, who was her best girl friend, was dealing with the loss of her brother and the effects that had on her entire family. It was almost as if Anna lost both of her friends with Matt's death. And since Anna wasn't talking about her feelings for Matt with anyone, I think it made it even more painful for her to deal with this loss. My heart went out to her on so many levels.

I also think the author did a wonderful job of showing how Matt's death affected his entire family. Frankie's reaction to his death and her eventual acting-out seemed to be very realistic to me (albeit unfortunate.) However, I also thought Frankie's parents' actions seemed genuine. Even though the story was told through Anna's eyes, the reader could still see how devastating the loss of a child can be on a marriage and a family.

TWENTY BOY SUMMER is a terrific book that I highly recommend reading. If you are looking for a beautifully told story that deals with loss and grief, then you should really take a look at this novel.

A big thanks to Caitlin at FSB Associates for sending me a copy of this book.

Review: Bella Sara Royalty Cards & Giveaway

About Bella Sara: Welcome to the wonderful world of Bella Sara, a trading card game that's complemented by the magical online land of North of North -- home to the beautiful horses pictured on Bella Sara trading cards. Bella Sara has captured the hearts of young girls across the country, offering positive, inspirational messages and selling more than 83 million cards to date.

This June, Bella Sara is expanding its line of trading cards for girls with Royalty, the ninth series in the popular brand. For the first time ever, Sara, herself, is introduced and the series feature even more horses and more fun than ever before -- all with just one code!

I was pleasantly surprised when Team Mom sent me two packs of Bella Sara Royalty cards to review -- they are so cute. These trading cards are geared towards little girls ages 5 and up, so my daughter (who is almost 10) is definitely on the older side of appreciating them. She's also not a big horse lover or into fantasy anymore, so I thought these cards wouldn't really interest her. However, I was wrong -- we both had fun playing with them, and I think little girls are going to love Bella Sara.

Each pack of Royalty cards include 5 cards, 1 ticket card, 1 tattoo card, and 1 sticker card. Each card has a beautiful picture of a horse along with some information about the character. There is also a ticket card with a code which allows to to get horses, horseshoes and more at bellasara.com. And the tattoo and stickers cards are just adorable too!

When I went to bellasara.com, I registered and was immediately given a present which contained some horseshoes (very cute!) My daughter heard the music and suddenly became interested. She had a fun time choosing a foal to take care of and naming her. She then entered the codes from the trading cards and immediately got additional horses and horseshoes. The first thing she did was start taking care of her foal -- petting her, feeding her, and cleaning her stable. She also visited her journal, played some of the games, and went shopping for items for her horse.

I was very impressed with all that is available at bellasara.com. There are royalty-themed activities, noble stories about the magical realms, jigsaw puzzles, downloadable wallpapers and a variety of printable activities. Little girls, ages 5 and up, will have no problem finding activities to stretch their imagination.

As a parent, I liked that this website has parental controls -- you have the discretion to decide your child’s appropriate level of interaction with the Bella Sara World. In addition, I thought it was terrific that there are uplifting messages and stories on the website.

The new Royalty packs are now available for $2.99 at Target, Wal-Mart, Amazon, BellaSara.com, Toys "R" Us, Barnes & Noble, Borders, Kmart, as well as regional chains, booksellers and toy, hobby and equestrian shops. If you have a little girl who loves horses and castles, then you should really check out Bella Sara.

Team Mom is allowing me to give away one set of Bella Sara Prize Pack featuring Royalty (1 pack), Miniatures (1 pack) and Treasures (1 pack) collections. If you are interested, please leave a comment with your e-mail address. To double or triple your chances, you can spread the word by blogging or tweeting about this giveaway. This contest is open until Wednesday, June 24th at 11:59 p.m. EST. I will notify the winner the following day. This contest is open to those of you in the U.S. or Canada only. Good Luck!

June 2009 Book Club Meeting

Summary: Set in the Minnesota countryside and North Dakota Badlands of the early 1960s, Peace Like a River is a moving, engrossing, beautifully told story about one family's quest to retrieve its most wayward member. Reuben Land, the novel's asthmatic and self-effacing eleven-year-old narrator, recounts an unforgettable journey riddled with outlaw tales, heartfelt insights, and bona fide miracles. Born without air in his lungs, Reuben is keenly aware of the gift of breath-and, by extension, the gift of life. Time and again, both gifts are bestowed on Reuben by his father, a gentlemanly soul who works as a school janitor and has the power-and faith-to bestow true miracles. But when Davy (Reuben's brother) kills two intruders who break into the Land home with evil intent, and then escapes from prison while his trial is in progress, events seem to have worsened beyond the aid of miracles. Or have they? For, once Reuben and his family set out to find Davy, the reader eventually witnesses rivers, plains, and city lights unseen by mortal eyes.

Equal parts tragedy, romance, adventure yarn, and meditation, Peace Like a River is an inspired story of family love, religious faith, and the lifelong work and trust required of both. Leif Enger's first novel is a work of easy generosity and uncommon wisdom, a book to be shared with friends and loved ones. -- Grove Atlantic

Most of us really enjoyed this month's selection PEACE LIKE A RIVER by Leif Enger; however, it did take us quite awhile to actually get around to talking about the book. Of course, we found the need to catch up on everything since last month's meeting; and I had to fill in everyone about my trip to New York City and BEA. After an hour and a half, we finally settled down and began discussing PEACE LIKE A RIVER.

I thought this book was just amazing and so well-written, and I think a few people agreed with me. I loved hearing every one's opinions about the religious symbolism in the story -- we all had our own interpretations. It was also very interesting to discuss the various characters and their actions. Overall, I think it was an excellent discussion about the book -- our meeting ended up going almost four hours! One of our members mentioned at the start that she didn't really enjoy this book; however, after we discussed it, she said that she actually liked the book better. I always consider it a successful meeting when one of us gains a better appreciation of the book.

We ended our discussion talking about middle-grade and YA books that might appeal to our children. There were tons of ideas thrown around and even a few websites were mentioned that might give us some summer reading ideas.

For July, we will be reading PEOPLE OF THE BOOK by Geraldine Brooks. I am a pretty big fan of Ms. Brooks' books so I already read this novel when it first came out awhile back. I remember enjoying this book and thinking that it would make a good discussion book. I haven't decided if I'm going to re-read it or if I remember enough of it to participate in our discussion.

Summary: In 1996, Hanna Heath, an Australian rare-book expert, is offered the job of a lifetime: analysis and conservation of the famed Sarajevo Haggadah, which has been rescued from Serb shelling during the Bosnian war. Priceless and beautiful, the book is one of the earliest Jewish volumes ever to be illuminated with images. When Hanna, a caustic loner with a passion for her work, discovers a series of tiny artifacts in its ancient binding—an insect wing fragment, wine stains, salt crystals, a white hair—she begins to unlock the book's mysteries. The reader is ushered into an exquisitely detailed and atmospheric past, tracing the book's journey from its salvation back to its creation.

In Bosnia during World War II, a Muslim risks his life to protect it from the Nazis. In the hedonistic salons of fin-de-siele Vienna, the book becomes a pawn in the struggle against the city's rising anti-Semitism. In inquisition- era Venice, a Catholic priest saves it from burning. In Barcelona in 1492, the scribe who wrote the text sees his family destroyed by the agonies of enforced exile. And in Seville in 1480, the reason for the Haggadah's extraordinary illuminations is finally disclosed. Hanna's investigation unexpectedly plunges her into the intrigues of fine art forgers and ultra- nationalist fanatics. Her experiences will test her belief in herself and the man she has come to love. -- Penguin

Guest Blogger: Rachel Renee Russell & Giveaway

Yesterday, Booking Daughter and I reviewed a terrific new middle grade book called DORK DIARIES: TALES FROM A NOT-SO-FABULOUS LIFE by Rachel Renee Russell. We both really enjoyed this book, and I have a feeling that lots of middle-grade girls are going to love this story.

I am so honored that the author of this book, Rachel Renee Russell, is joining me today. She has given me a very special guest post -- it's actually an entry from Nikki's diary that she has re-written to include Booking Daughter and me! The diary entry below is one of Booking Daughter's favorite scenes from DORK DIARIES:

FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 13TH

I was pretty SICK and TIRED of hearing about MacKenzie and her STUPID little party! But, since she is in my geometry class and I sit right behind her, I knew I was just going to have to suck it up and deal with it. I was trying my best to ignore her when she turned around, smiled at me and did the STRANGEST thing!



She handed ME a bright pink invitation tied with a big, white satin bow!

I gasped and almost fell out of my chair.

My brain was like OMG! OMG! OMG!

It was the most beautiful thing I had ever seen, other than maybe that new iPhone I wanted.

Who would have thought that I would get an invitation to THE party of the year?!

Then it dawned on me that this might be some kind of really cruel JOKE.

I looked around the room for a hidden camera, half expecting Ashton Kutcher (I can’t believe he’s married to a woman older than my mom) to jump out of the closet and yell…

“YOU JUST GOT PUNKED!”

Then, I realized that most of the other girls in my class were staring at me with envy and disbelief.

It was really weird because suddenly I noticed I had tiny lint balls all over my favorite hoodie.

And, it made me feel self-conscious, so I tried to pick a few of them off.

None of MacKenzie’s friends would be caught dead in a “Not-From-The-Mall,” hoodie with lint balls on it.

So, I made a mental note…

BURN CURRENT WARDROBE!!



MacKenzie was still smiling at me like I was her new BFF or something. “Hey, Hon! I was just wondering if you would—?”

But, I was SO excited I jumped right in before she could even finish her sentence.

“MacKenzie, I would LOVE to!” I gushed. “Thanks for asking me…Hon!”

Okay. So, I actually called her “Hon” even though I always thought that word sounded super phony.

And, yes, I was totally GEEKED and as HAPPY as Vanessa Anne Hudgens when she found out she was NOT getting kicked off High School Musical 3!

But, mostly I was in SHOCK. I could hardly believe I was actually going to MacKenzie’s party! Soon, I was going to have really cool friends, a social life and maybe even a boyfriend.

I was starting to believe my THAT’S SO HOT!! magazine was right. Maybe the key to happiness really was friends, fun, fashion, and flirting!!

It’s like I was floating on air, amid sunshine, rainbows, twinkling stars, and pink cotton candy clouds, passionately clutching my invitation to MacKenzie’s party over my heart!!



My hands were shaking as I untied the ribbon and tore open the envelope.

Suddenly, MacKenzie narrowed her eyes at me and scowled like I was something smeared on the bottom of her shoe.

“You IDIOT!” she hissed, “WHAT are you doing?!”

“Umm, opening m-my invitation?” I stammered.

I was already starting to have a really bad feeling about this whole party thing.

“Like I would invite you?!” she sneered, flipping her blond tresses and batting her long lashes at me in disgust. “Aren’t you the new girl who hangs around my locker all the time like some kind of creepy stalker?”

“Well, yes… I mean, NO! Actually, my locker is right next to yours,” I muttered.

“Are you sure?” she said looking me up and down like I was lying to her or something. I couldn’t believe she was actually pretending like she didn’t know me. I’ve only had a locker next to hers like FOREVER!

“I’m VERY sure!” I said.

Then MacKenzie took out her Lip Luv lip gloss and applied like 3 extra-thick layers. After gazing at herself in her little compact mirror for two whole minutes (she is SO STUCK on herself!) she snapped it shut and glared at me.

“Before you so RUDELY interrupted me, I was simply asking if you would PASS my invitation to JESSICA! How was I supposed to know you were going to rip it open like some uncivilized GORILLA?” Mackenzie spat.



Then everyone in the class turned around and stared at me.

I could NOT believe my ears!

How dare that girl actually call me, UNCIVILIZED!!

“Oh. Okay. MY BAD!” I said, trying to sound coolly nonchalant about the whole thing while blinking back my tears, “Um, who’s Jessica?”

Suddenly I felt a sharp tap on my shoulder.

I turned around to face the girl sitting in the desk behind me.

She had long blonde hair and was wearing pink, glitter lip gloss, a pink sweater, a pink mini skirt, and a headband trimmed with fake pink diamonds.

If I had spotted her in at Toys-R-US, I swear I would have probably mistaken her for a new fashion doll:

TOTALLY TICKED-OFF JESSICA



“I’m Jessica,” she announced, rolling her eyes at me. “I can’t believe you opened MY invitation!”

I was desperately trying to tie the satin ribbon back on when she snatched the invitation from my hand so violently, I almost got a paper cut.

I felt like a TOTAL RETARD! And, to make matters worse, I heard a few of the kids around me snickering.

This was absolutely THE most EMBARRASSING moment of my PATHETIC little life!!

And, I had no doubt that in just a matter of minutes, everyone in the ENTIRE school was going to be text-messaging gossip about me.

I was relieved when our math teacher, Mrs. Sprague, finally started class. She spent the entire hour at the board reviewing how to calculate the volume of a cylinder, sphere and cone for our upcoming test.

But, I was too freaked out to concentrate on math formulas and was totally NOT listening. I just sat there staring at the back of MacKenzie’s head wishing I could disappear.

I guess I must have been really upset because a tear rolled down my cheek and splattered my math notebook.

But, I wiped it up with the sleeve of my “Not-From-the-Mall-Hoodie-With-Lint-Balls-All-Over-It” before anyone saw it.

Even though I was totally bummed about all of the DRAMA about the invitation, I really wasn’t that mad at MacKenzie.

I’M SUCH A LOSER!! If I was having a party, I WOULDN’T invite myself either!



In spite of the horrible day I was having, I spent an hour during library reading really cool book reviews at this blog called, “Booking Mama.” Unlike that snob, MacKenzie, Booking Mama and Booking Daughter are totally awesome!

As if this guest post wasn't enough fun, I have something even more exciting! Ms. Russell is offering one of my readers the chance to win a copy of DORK DIARIES: TALES FROM A NOT-SO-FABULOUS LIFE! Not only will the winner receive a copy of the book, but he/she will also win a precious "Nikki's Purse" gift pack. Initially, we received just the ARC of the book because we received it directly from the publisher, but Dar from Peeking Between the Pages graciously sent Booking Daughter her prize pack! I can definitely say that any middle grade girl would love this gift. There is an adorable purse filled with loads of goodies like candy, gum, perfume, lip gloss, a pen, pins, etc. Trust me when I say that I even wanted one for myself!!

Here's how to enter (you can do any one or all of these options):

1) Leave a comment with your e-mail address telling me why you want to win DORK DIARIES and the prize pack.

2) Blog about this giveaway with a link back to this post.

3) Tweet about this giveaway with a link back to this post.

This giveaway is open until June 23rd at 11:59 p.m. EST, and I will notify the winner the following day. Only those of you with U.S. or Canada mailing addresses are eligible -- no p.o. boxes please. Good Luck!

Review: Peace Like a River

Summary: Set in the Minnesota countryside and North Dakota Badlands of the early 1960s, Peace Like a River is a moving, engrossing, beautifully told story about one family's quest to retrieve its most wayward member. Reuben Land, the novel's asthmatic and self-effacing eleven-year-old narrator, recounts an unforgettable journey riddled with outlaw tales, heartfelt insights, and bona fide miracles. Born without air in his lungs, Reuben is keenly aware of the gift of breath-and, by extension, the gift of life. Time and again, both gifts are bestowed on Reuben by his father, a gentlemanly soul who works as a school janitor and has the power-and faith-to bestow true miracles. But when Davy (Reuben's brother) kills two intruders who break into the Land home with evil intent, and then escapes from prison while his trial is in progress, events seem to have worsened beyond the aid of miracles. Or have they? For, once Reuben and his family set out to find Davy, the reader eventually witnesses rivers, plains, and city lights unseen by mortal eyes.

Equal parts tragedy, romance, adventure yarn, and meditation, Peace Like a River is an inspired story of family love, religious faith, and the lifelong work and trust required of both. Leif Enger's first novel is a work of easy generosity and uncommon wisdom, a book to be shared with friends and loved ones. -- Grove Atlantic

When one of the members of my book club selected PEACE LIKE A RIVER by Leif Enger, I was actually pretty excited. I had heard good things about the book when it came out around eight years ago, and I knew it had won a load of awards. Check out this very impressive list: A Book Sense Reading Group Suggestion, Book Sense—Book of the Year for Adult Fiction, Book Sense—76 Selection, Time Magazine—Best Books of 2001, The Los Angeles Times—Best Books of 2001, New York Times—Paperback Best Seller, Los Angeles Times—Best Seller, Boston Globe—Best Seller, San Francisco Chronicle—Best Seller, Denver Post—Best Seller, Publishers Weekly—Best Seller. I had a feeling that I was going to be in for a treat.

There are so many wonderful things about this book that I don't know where to start. I guess the most obvious one for me, though, is Leif Enger's writing style. This book is just incredible well-written, and I can't believe how much the author accomplished in this story. The characters are extremely well developed and memorable; and the story captures your attention and keeps your interest throughout. However, the real beauty of this novel to me was how the author incorporated so many themes and so much symbolism into the story. I just loved Mr. Enger's prose, and I definitely intend to read his next novel SO BRAVE, YOUNG AND HANDSOME. Leif Enger is one very gifted writer! If you'd like to learn a little more about the author, check out this interview with him where he discusses writing about PEACE LIKE A RIVER.

One of the themes that really hit home for me was the theme about breathing or lack of breathing. Like Reuben, I have asthma; but unlike Reuben, I can treat mine with medicine not just steam and baking soda. Many times throughout this story, the author described in amazing detail the struggle Reuben had to take each breath. I swear I could almost feel Reuben's concentrated effort to breathe. There are so many references to breathing (and the difficulty in breathing) that these references begin to take on a bigger meaning and actually represent living and life. I thought the author did a wonderful job with this symbolism -- he got the point across yet it was still subtle.

Another thing that I really appreciated about PEACE LIKE A RIVER were the characters. Often times when I read a novel, I only relate to one or two characters (and I'm actually happy with that.) In this book, however, there are just so many terrific characters. I became very attached to the entire Land family, and I felt that each character added so much to this story -- each in their own way. It is impossible not to love Reuben, the young boy who narrates this novel, as well as his father, a man who is driven by his faith and love of his family. I also found myself falling for Reuben's little sister Swede who spend much of her time writing poems about a character from the wild-west. I even liked the arrival of Roxanna and what she came to represent in the children's lives. I can pretty much assure you that you, too, will adore these characters and that they will make a lasting impression on your heart.

I also really liked how the author wrote this novel using so many literary illusions, bible stories, and other mentions of historical information. I have to admit that I am kind of in awe of how he incorporated all of these things into this story in what appeared an effortless manner. These smaller stories served to point out things occurring in the larger story, but they didn't detract from it. I also really enjoyed reading about Swede's obsession with the Wild West as well as the poems she wrote about this time. I loved how Swede's poems not only told the story of Sunny Sundown but also represented the personal journey that the Land family was on.

I am really looking forward to our meeting this evening because I think there will be a lot to discuss. I am so glad that there is a reading guide for this novel because I think our group is going to need some pre-made questions to stay on track (if you know what I mean.) When I read these questions, I was actually surprised by some of them -- I knew the book was deep, but these questions really give you some things to think about. Not only do I think it will be interesting to discuss the various characters in this story, but I also think that it's going to be fascinating to delve into some of the themes in this book including life and death, religion, faith, family, ethics, and good versus evil. In addition, I'll be curious to hear what the others in my group think about all of the literary allusions and bible stories that the author wove into this story. It should be a great evening with loads of "literary" things to talk about. I'll be sure to write a brief recap and post it after our meeting.

Review: Dork Diaries

Summary: Dork Diaries follows eighth grader Nikki Maxwell as she chronicles through text and sketches her move to a snooty new school; her epic battle with her mom for an iPhone; her enthusiasm for drawing and art; and a love/hate fascination with the new school's queen bee, a girl named Mackenzie, who becomes Nikki's rival in a schoolwide art competition. Nikki writes about friendships, crushes, popularity, and family with a unique and fresh voice that still conveys a universal authenticity. Nikki's sketches throughout her diary add humor and spunk to the book, a surefire hit with tween girl readers. -- Aladdin

I can't believe how much I enjoyed the new middle grade book DORK DIARIES: TALES FROM A NOT-SO-FABULOUS LIFE by Rachel Renee Russell. I guess you could say I was pleasantly surprised by my reaction to this book -- basically, I didn't want to put it down. It was just so much fun to read, and I absolutely couldn't wait to hear what my nine year old daughter thought.

I just adored this book. I loved the character of Nikki and felt that almost all young girls are going to be able to relate to her. She has the "normal" middle school insecurities such as the desire to be popular, wondering who she can trust as a friend, and fear of being laughed at. It's been a long time since I was in eighth grade, but I could definitely relate to being the new girl in school -- it's very hard at that age!

While there were certainly times that I felt Nikki's pain, I'd say for the most part this book was a hoot! Nikki was a terrific character who had a great perspective on her life. I found myself laughing hysterically at her attempts to get an iPhone, and I also thought the scenes with her little sister to be fantastic. (Like Nikki, I had a sister who was a good bit younger.) And her parents....well, as a parent I probably shouldn't have thought they were so funny, but the way Nikki described their actions was hilarious. I can't even begin to tell you how many times I laughed out loud while reading this story.

Since DORK DIARIES is supposed to read like Nikki's actual diary, the book had a really cool format with interesting fonts and amazing illustrations. I loved the look of this book and thought that Nikki's drawings really enhanced the story and allowed the reader to better understand Nikki. Ms. Russell is not only a fantastic writer but also a terrific artist! The various pictures of Nikki's life were just adorable while also being extremely funny. DORK DIARIES is very easy to read with the font and pictures, and I think this book will appeal to even the most reluctant reader. I am sincerly hoping that it's going to be the first in a series. I definitely want to see more of Nikki and her family and friends.

I have a feeling that this book is going to be a big hit with middle grade girls. When my daughter took this book to school, the girls were all over it -- asking her questions like "where did you get it?," "how did you get it?," "can I borrow it?," etc. I think the cover alone will attract many young girls because it is just so cute.

I definitely recommend this book for any middle grade girl in your life, although I have to admit that I enjoyed it a great deal too! The messages in this book are fantastic -- ones that young girls need to hear over and over again. I like that the book focused on what's really important in our lives such as family and friends. This book also showed that it's normal to feel insecure at this age, but I'm hoping that young girls will see how Nikki coped and learn from her. In fact, my daughter thought Nikki was great and didn't understand why she thought she was a "dork." I jumped at this opportunity and told her that maybe some people would say the exact same thing about her! (I think it's sometimes easier to see things in others.) I also liked the message that girls who seem to have it all, sometimes don't; and that it does pay to be a nice girl and a good friend.

I wasn't surprised when Booking Daughter absolutely devoured this book. I don't think we saw her face the entire time she was reading DORK DIARIES because she had her nose buried in the pages. Here are some of her thoughts:

I liked DORK DIARIES because it was really made me laugh. It was kind of sad too in parts of the story, but it was still funny. I liked Nikki because she is really funny. I liked her drawings of the characters. I sometimes feel geeky and nerdy at school, so I understood how Nikki felt.

Thanks to Aladdin and The Picnic Basket for giving me the opportunity to review this book!

Make sure you stop by tomorrow because I will be posting a guest post from the author as well a very special giveaway!

Mother Daughter Book Club Meeting #12

Summary: While trying to locate a missing dancer who is about to gain a large inheritance, Nancy Drew finds a clue leading to the solution of yet another mystery. -- Barnes and Noble

Last evening, our Mother Daughter Book Club met to discuss THE CLUE IN THE CRUMBLING WALL by Carolyn Keene. Booking Daughter wasn't too thrilled to read a Nancy Drew mystery because she had tried one last summer and didn't really like it. I know, I know...how can't she like Nancy Drew books? I remember not only reading the books, but watching the television show, and even playing Nancy Drew with my friends.

Needless to say, the past few weeks my heart was breaking because I love Nancy Drew books and I thought my daughter would feel the same way (I'm sure there's a lesson in here somewhere.) A few years ago, I even read GIRL SLEUTH: NANCY DREW AND THE WOMEN WHO CREATED HER to learn more about series. I am a big Nancy Drew fan -- so much so that I bought my daughter the entire series (all 56 books) for her 9th birthday.

As the date to our meeting was quickly approaching and the book was still unread, I explained to my daughter that she belongs to a book club and has a responsibility to read every book -- even when she doesn't really like the book. Once she stopped all the complaining and procrastinating, she found that she really enjoyed THE CLUE IN THE CRUMBLING WALL; and she even picked up another Nancy Drew mystery to read right away. Thank goodness -- I was beginning to doubt if she really was my daughter!

I was a little worried about what the girls would discuss at our meeting, but I shouldn't have given it a second thought. The girls ran their own meeting and the hostess even gave a little bit of background on the author Carolyn Keene (she was very well prepared). She explained to the girls that there wasn't really an actual woman named Carolyn Keene; rather, a few different people penned the series. The girls also discussed what they thought would happen in the story as well as which character they could most relate to.

I think the meeting was a big success, and I'm so glad that the Nancy Drew books were introduced to our girls. I have very fond memories of reading these books when I was a girl, and I'm hoping that my daughter will develop a similar appreciation of Nancy Drew.

For our next meeting, the moms and daughters will be reading THE TAIL OF EMILY WINDSNAP by Liz Kessler and illustrated by Sarah Gibb. I wasn't familiar with this book, but a few of the girls and moms are. I think it sounds like a book that nine and ten year old girls are going to love especially given that there are mermaids in this story. It definitely sounds like a perfect read for the summer.

Summary: For as long as she can remember, twelve-year-old Emily Windsnap has lived on a boat. And, oddly enough, for just as long, her mother has seemed anxious to keep her away from the water. But when Mom finally agrees to let her take swimming lessons, Emily makes a startling discovery - about her own identity, the mysterious father she’s never met, and the thrilling possibilities and perils shimmering deep below the water’s surface. With a sure sense of suspense and richly imaginative details, first-time author Liz Kessler lures us into a glorious undersea world where mermaids study shipwrecks at school and Neptune rules with an iron trident - an enchanting fantasy about family secrets, loyal friendship, and the convention-defying power of love. -- Candlewick

Guest Blogger: Marisa de los Santos & Giveaway

I am just so happy that Marisa de los Santos, author of BELONG TO ME, is stopping by today with a fantastic guest post. I absolutely loved her latest novel (my review), and I really thought it was interesting to learn how she developed the character of Lyssa. I hope you'll enjoy this post as much as I did!

While I’ve been a writer of some sort for years and years, I still feel like a relative newcomer to the novel writing gig, a little wide-eyed and wet behind the ears. I just haven’t been doing it for very long. Until early in 2004, when I wrote the first sentence of what would become my first novel Love Walked In, I hadn’t written a word of fiction, at least not in my adult life. A lot of poems, some book reviews, a couple of screenplays that will never see the light of day, a few personal essays, but no short stories and, certainly, no novels.

Naturally, the process has been, and continues to be, richly surprising, and one of the most startling surprises—and one I never quite get used to—is how little I get to be in charge. Of course, intellectually, I know that writing is a process of decision-making and that since I’m the only person in the room while the writing happens (well, occasionally, there are other people in the room, sometimes loud, jumpy people, but while they might be asking for snacks or telling me stories or showing me caterpillars or art projects, they’re not actually helping me write), I must be the one making the decisions. But, much of the time, that’s not how I experience it.

For instance, sometimes, characters just show up, out of nowhere and completely uninvited. In Belong to Me, there is a character named Lyssa Sorensen. She is sixteen-years old, blonde, and when we first meet her, she is sitting next to my character Dev in his Advanced Biology class. I knew from the beginning that Dev would have friends. I planned for him to have friends, but I planned for him to have just one friend who would be a full-fledged, fleshed-out character, and that friend, Aidan Weeks, a loquacious, biracial, high school soccer star and entrepreneur, was already in the book. I didn’t plan on two full-fledged character friends, and I certainly didn’t plan on Lyssa because, upon meeting her, what became immediately clear to me was that she has Obsessive Compulsive Disorder.

I know quite a bit about certain psychological disorders. Manic-depression, for example. Depression. Anorexia. Bulemia. Body dysmorphic disorder. ADD. ADHD. But while I had bits and pieces of information about OCD, I hadn’t read much about it and didn’t have a close friend or family member who had been diagnosed with it. Definitely, I didn’t know enough to write a character with OCD, and I was on a roll with the writing. I had no plans to stop and do research. So I looked at the character of Lyssa and said, “OK, you’re here. Fine. Stay. But no OCD.”

After all, the OCD was not all that defined Lyssa. She is bossy, judgmental, funny, sarcastic, lonely. I could see some reasons for her having a psychological disorder of some sort because so many such disorders involve secret keeping, and I understood that what would bind her to Dev was the fact that he would figure out her secret and would keep it to himself. But anorexia fit the bill. Bulimia, too. It didn’t have to be OCD.

Except that, somehow, it did. Nothing else seemed to work. Lyssa was who she was, insisted on being who she was, no matter how difficult on inconvenient, so I sighed and went with it. I did the research. I read through books; I went to online chat rooms to read what people with OCD or parents of children with OCD said about their lives. At the time, I could not have articulated why it needed to be that particular disorder, but I decided to listen to my character, to put aside my own plans and put my faith in the demands of my story.

It’s something I had done before, would do again, and expect to have to do as long as I’m writing novels, which I hope will be a very long time: to acknowledge that the novel writing process is organic, with its own inner, inscrutable logic; to go on instinct; to trust my book, and to hope that it will all make sense in the end.

In Lyssa’s case, it did. After I finished writing Belong to Me, I realized how Lyssa’s OCD fits in. Lyssa’s rituals are complicated, fueled by fear, and they interfere with her ability to live a healthy, happy life. But what I came to understand, as I looked back at my book as a whole, is that in her own extreme way, she is doing exactly the same thing that all of the characters are doing: trying to keep the universe in order, to keep bad things from happening, to keep chaos at bay, trying and, very often, failing. She fits. The book, the process knew this, even when I had no idea. Lyssa knew it.

Thanks, Lyssa.

A big thanks to Marisa de los Santos for writing this guest post!

As you can see, Marisa de los Santos is a beautiful writer; and I think BELONG TO ME is just a great book. I just happen to have three copies courtesy of Harper Collins to giveaway.

There are lots of ways to gain entries:

1) Leave a comment with your e-mail address telling me why you want to read this book.

2) Blog about this giveaway with a link back to this post.

3) Tweet about this giveaway with a link back to this post.

This giveaway is open until June 21st at 11:59 p.m. EST, and I will notify the winners the following day. Only those of you with U.S. or Canada mailing addresses are eligible -- no p.o. boxes please. Good Luck!

Review: Ecostore USA Products & Giveaway

Some of you might not know this about me, but I like to clean. Well, I don't really like to clean (come on, who does?), but I like to have a clean house! Every Thursday and Friday morning, without fail, I clean my entire house. I'm don't consider myself an expert on cleaning, but I am a pretty big consumer of cleaning products. So when Ecostore USA contacted me about trying out some of their cleaning products, I jumped at the chance.

First, I'd like to give you a little information about Ecostore USA. They are an extension of a 20 year old New Zealand company which makes plant based , non-toxic Household Cleaning, Baby and Personal Care Products that contain "No Nasty Chemicals(tm)". They have lots of wonderful cleaning products and even some pet care, personal and baby care items; and their products are currently available at all 185 Meijer stores. For those of you who don't live near any Meijer stores (like me), you can order from their website and there is always free shipping on orders over $25. If you want to learn more, you can visit their website or their blog.

I was fortunate enough to receive three cleaning items -- the Citrus Spray Cleaner, the Laundry Liquid, and the Toilet Cleaner.

Citrus Spray Cleaner - The Citrus Spray Cleaner is a wonderful all-purpose cleaner. It's anti-bacterial so it's good for kitchens and bathrooms, plus it's refillable. I liked the smell too -- very fresh and citrusy!

Laundry Liquid - The Laudry Liquid is probably my favorite of the three products. You don't have to use much of it per load -- it's super-concentrated, and I love that it didn't bother our skin. It's very gentle and you only need 1 1/2 to 3 tbsp. for front load washers and 3 to 5 tbsp for top loaders.

Toilet Cleaner - The Toilet Cleaner smells great -- it's a very clean, fresh smell; and it does a great job of cleaning the toilets. I thought it was cool that it could also be used on stainless steel.

I really liked all three of the products, and I definitely recommend all of them. They do cost a little more than the regular, old cleaners; however, I think they are well worth the extra money -- they are safe for you and the earth! I have found that in some cases (like the laundry detergent), I actually use less of the product and it actually goes farther -- thereby making it very cost effective. I especially love that he products don't contain any "nasty chemicals" and they are all non-toxic. As someone who has asthma, allergies and eczema (and who has a child with these exact same issues), this is very important to me.

I am so excited that Ecostore USA is allowing me to giveaway a $25 gift certificate to one lucky reader. To enter this contest, please leave a comment with a valid e-mail address telling me what Ecostore USA product you most want to try! You can click here to see all of their products. To double or even triple your chances, you can blog or tweet about this giveaway with a link back to this post. You can also leave a comment about what store you would like to see carry Ecostore USA's products for another entry. That means you can get up to four entries for this giveaway! This contest is open until Sunday, June 21st at 11:59 p.m. EST. I will notify the winner the following day, and Ecostore USA will send the winner the $25 gift certificate via e-mail. Good Luck and Happy Cleaning!

Review: Belong to Me

Summary: Cornelia Brown surprised herself when she was gripped by the sudden, inescapable desire to move to the suburbs with her husband. Her mettle is quickly tested by her impeccably dressed, overly judgmental neighbor Piper Truitt—the embodiment of everything Cornelia feared she'd find in suburbia. With Lake, another recent arrival, Cornelia shares a love of literature and old movies—as she forms an instant bond with this warm yet elusive woman and her perceptive, brilliant young son Dev.

Acclaimed bestselling author Marisa de los Santos's literary talents shine in the complex interactions she creates between three unforgettable women, deftly entangling her characters in a web of trust, betrayal, love, and loss that challenges them in ways they never imagined.-- Harper

Probably the first thing that attracted me to BELONG TO ME by Marisa de los Santos was the cover artwork. I think it's just adorable with all the rain boots lined up! However, after I read the book's description, I knew I wanted to read this novel because it is just the type of book I seem to enjoy. You know what I mean? Good women's fiction with real characters.

My only hesitation (and it was a slight one) was that I hadn't read Ms. de los Santos' prior novel LOVE WALKED IN which features some of the same characters. I wasn't sure if that would affect my enjoyment of BELONG TO ME; but after reading this novel, I definitely think it stands alone. That's not to say that I'm not going to go back and read LOVE WALKED IN because I loved the characters in this novel and want to learn more about them.

I found the main character in this story, Cornelia, to be very interesting; and while I didn't have a whole lot in common with her, I found myself relating to her especially when she moved to the suburbs. I think a lot of women will sympathize with Cornelia and how she felt around Piper, the "perfect-little" mom and wife. As I read this novel, I began liking Cornelia more and more; and I loved that the author made her so complex and flawed. And while I'm not sure I agreed with her initial reactions to her husband near the end of the book, I absolutely could understand her feelings and anger towards him. I felt that the portrayal of Cornelia was very real.

I also really appreciated how Ms. de los Santos created the character of Piper -- she was just so interesting and at times funny. I probably should have disliked her and her shallowness; however, I found myself really liking her (eventually) and wanting her to find some sense of peace and happiness. I loved watching her discover things about herself and change for the better.

Actually, Cornelia and Piper weren't the only characters that I found interesting, Almost all of the characters in this book had something important to add to this story. As a reader, I think I learned something from each of them; and that's one of the things that I loved most about this book. I walked away from reading BELONG TO ME thinking about myself, my marriage, and my friendships. I love it when a book makes me think!

I liked the characters and the story, but I think I really appreciated the author's writing style. Ms. de los Santos' writing definitely brought this book to another level for me when compared with other contemporary women's fiction. BELONG TO ME was just so incredibly easy to read for me, and I was immediately drawn into the characters' lives. I thought the dialogue was extremely natural and Ms. de los Santos' descriptions were almost poetic. It is evident to me that Ms. de los Santos is a gifted writer. In fact, she is actually an award-winning poet with a Ph.D. in literature and creative writing.

I absolutely adored BELONG TO ME and will be recommending it to all of my friends. I also think this novel would make a fantastic book club selection because there are just so many wonderful characters to analyze and interesting themes to discuss. There is a ten question reading guide available in the back of the book which will help focus your discussion, but I truly believe that there is a great deal to talk about even without it.

Please stop by tomorrow because Ms. de los Santos will be stopping by with a wonderful guest post about writing this novel and how one very special character came to her! There also might be an added incentive to visit -- if you know what I mean!

Review: Last Night in Montreal

Summary: Lilia Albert has been leaving people behind for her entire life. She spends her childhood and adolescence traveling constantly and changing identities. In adulthood, she finds it impossible to stop. Haunted by an inability to remember her early childhood, she moves restlessly from city to city, abandoning lovers along with way, possibly still followed by a private detective who has pursued her for years. Then her latest lover follows her from New York to Montreal, determined to learn her secrets and make sure she’s safe. Last Night in Montreal is a story of love, amnesia, compulsive travel, the depths and the limits of family bonds, and the nature of obsession. In this extraordinary debut, Emily St. John Mandel casts a powerful spell that captures the reader in a gritty, youthful world—charged with an atmosphere of mystery, promise and foreboding—where small revelations continuously change our understanding of the truth and lead to desperate consequences. Mandel’s characters will resonate with you long after the final page is turned. -- Unbridled

I know many of you agree with me that it is always a treat to read a book published by Unbridled Books. They always seem to have the most gorgeous artwork on their covers, and their books just always seem to be a little "special." I recently read one of their latest releases LAST NIGHT IN MONTREAL by Emily St. John Mandel, and I thought this book was just wonderful. Once again, Unbridled does not disappoint!

I have actually been procrastinating about writing this review because I don't think I'm articulate enough to capture my feelings about this novel. I found this book to be completely engrossing, and there are just so many good things to say about it. I'll start with the writing because I think that's the thing that has stayed with me the most. Ms. Mandel's style of storytelling is really something special. The story alternates between the lives of the different characters, and it also goes back and forth between present day and the past. I was very much impressed with how the author managed to juggle all this -- it really was just so well done and the transitions were flawless. In addition, I just loved how the book flowed; and it seemed as if each word in this book was there for a particular reason -- whether it was to give the reader a better understanding of the characters or to evoke a certain feeling.

I also truly appreciated the characters in this novel as well as how Ms. Mandel developed them. The story basically covers the lives of four main characters, and each one was deeply complex and flawed. I love how the author gradually unfolded the pasts of the characters so that the reader was able to gain an understanding of their current situations. These characters are just so memorable and have remained in my thoughts even after I finished reading the story.

Not only did I appreciate the characters, but I also thought the basic storyline of this novel was very interesting. I know that part of the reason I enjoyed this story so much was the characters and how the author told the story, but I was also very intrigued by the mystery angle of the book. I was desperate to understand what occurred in the past to set this entire chain of events into motion. I couldn't read fast enough to learn about the characters' lives, and I was fascinated by the effect that their individual actions had on each of the other characters.

LAST NIGHT IN MONTREAL is Emily St. John Mandel's debut novel, and I have to say that I was just blown away. Her prose is absolutely beautiful and her characters are so well-developed. I found myself hesitating to set this book down because the author just drew me into the story. You just have to check out the Chapter 1 excerpt that is available on her website to see what I mean about her writing. I am hoping that the author has another novel in the works because I will definitely be reading it!

A little aside: Emily St. John Mandel was at BEA, and I'm so disappointed that I didn't get to meet her. I would have loved to have the chance to tell her how wonderful I think she is in person. To make matters even worse, I found out that we were both at the BEA Tweetup Party on Friday night and I didn't even know it!

LAST NIGHT IN MONTREAL would make an incredible selection for book clubs. I highly recommend it as a discussion book or just a fantastic summer read. Either way, there are so many things that will be running through your head while reading this novel; and I can pretty much guarantee that you'll want to discuss it with someone. Some of the topics for discussion include abuse, family dynamics, escapism, sacrifice, abandonment, and (my favorite) obsession to name just a few. This novel just offers so much food for thought!

Thanks to Caitlyn from Unbridled Books for sending me a copy of LAST NIGHT IN MONTREAL.

Guest Blogger: Mary Carter & Giveaway

Yesterday, I reviewed a very entertaining book called SUNNYSIDE BLUES. I am so excited that the author Mary Carter agreed to write a guest post for me; and I love that she the "inspiration" behind the post was based on something I said in my review! Talk about a customized guest post!

Where Were You When You Read. . . .

First I’d like to thank Julie of Booking Mama, for reading and reviewing my novel, and giving me the opportunity to participate in this guest blog.

When Julie mentioned she read my novel, Sunnyside Blues, on the train on her way to BEA, it made me think about some of the books I’ve read in my lifetime, and the places where I’ve read them.

And although a good book is meant to take you away, allow you to escape into another world, certain books are intrinsically linked in my memory with a time and a place all my own.

I will always think of my Aunt Bessie’s house in Steubenville Ohio, when I think of Jack Finney’s, “Time and Again”. Besides pulling the book from her shelf, I read it at her kitchen table, close to the jar of sugar cookies, and the refrigerator stocked with coke. (We had neither at my home). And although it didn’t take long for the house to fall away around me as I read, and be replaced with New York City in the 1800’s, when I think back on the book, I, like the character in the story, travel back in time, not only to New York City in the 1800’s, but to Aunt Bessie’s, where her house, those sugar cookies, and the view out her kitchen window linger like a welcoming mist.

I read Ayn Rand’s, “The Fountainhead”, while house sitting in upstate New York. It was an ideal setting to read a good book, a large log cabin surrounded by twenty-odd private acres. I sat near a large pond, book in hand. It was the same week I ordered some kind of miracle lose-weight-by-breathing book, the same week I finally dared to take off all my clothes and walk around in the nude, because there were no humans around, and from what I could tell the dogs did not care. (The losing weight while breathing was a bust by the way). But I will forever associate my introduction to Howard Roarke and his unwavering ideals with that pond, that house, those woods. I was simultaneously at the quarry where Dominique is arrested by the sight of him, and on the warm grass near the pond, with the dogs resting comfortably a few feet away. And I can’t help but wonder if I would have felt injected with the same degree of passion for the book, had I read it, say, while at the dentist, gyno, or in line at the DMV. I think not. I think a Dean Koontz or Stephen King novel is best for the dentist and the DMV. At the gyno, however, you might want to lighten things up with, “Women Who Love too Much and the Men Who Send Them Running for an Unscheduled Visit to the Gynecologist”--

But, I digress. . .

I like to read suspense, thrillers, or chick-lit in airports and on the plane. And for some reason I just can’t do it without a bag of Skittles or Reese’s Pieces, the calories do not count if you buy them at the airport, in a bookstore.

Sometimes, you can love a book so much, you purposefully incorporate it into your life. When I was a kid I read a book about a mailbox a little boy kept in a tree that would somehow fill with magical letters. So I took an old mailbox—a clunky silver thing with a red flag—and I stuck it up in a tree in my backyard. The next day there was a letter in it. Of course I recognized my mother’s handwriting, but I was thrilled (and probably expected) her to indulge my effort to infuse the life of the story with my life.

I asked my sister, who is a screen and television writer, and fellow avid reader, if certain books she read were forever linked to certain places in her mind. She said she read Nancy Drew in the summer time in our basement (oh we loved Nancy, yellow hard-back books still give me a thrill to this day), because she had allergies, and somehow the cool basement lessened their severity. She said she brought a folding chair down there and mom would bring her lemonade. I don’t remember this, where was I? Probably sticking a mailbox up a tree. . .

She went on to say she read “Eat, Pray, Love”, in Barbados, and “To Kill A Mockingbird” in a hammock in France. After that I just couldn’t listen to her anymore—totally heard nothing but “France” and “Barbados”-- she should have stopped with the basement.

I read “Anna Karenina”, and “Tess of the d’Ubervilles”, in a van on the road when I was a traveling actress, perhaps their arduous journeys made me feel less panicked about my own arduous journey-- nine months stuck in a van with three other actors.

I’m always nosing into what other people are reading too. On the 7 train one night, on my way back to Queens, there were three men sitting across from me, reading, in order: “In Cold Blood”, “How I Play Golf” (Tiger Woods), and “Help A Bear is Eating Me”. I don’t know if any of them will think fondly of the 7 train when they look back on the book, (or a woman staring intently at them from across the way), but I will now think of them whenever I see these books. We can’t help it, our brains are built to make connections, to take things in, to make things personal.

Books, above all else, are personal.

And unlike my sister, who’s come a long way from a folding chair in the basement, you can take a good book anywhere, and when you’re done, you might just find you’ve left a little piece of yourself in there as well.

If you’re able to pick up a copy of “Sunnyside Blues”, (or any other good book), I wish you happy reading in happy places. I’d love to hear your book-place stories, feel free to contact me, and as Julie mentioned there will be a give-away of “Sunnyside Blues” on this site, as well as a contest on my website.

Summer is coming, ripe with opportunities for reading, be it on a folding chair in the basement, or on a beach in Barbados, your next adventure awaits, maybe even in a mailbox, up a tree near you.

Mary Carter
Marycarterbooks.com

I think you can see from this guest post that Ms. Carter is a great writer with a wonderful sense of humor! If you'd like to win your very own copy of SUNNYSIDE BLUES, then you are in the right place. Here are the ways that you can get up to three entries into this giveaway:

1) Leave a comment with your e-mail address telling me the name of a book and the place you remember reading it.

2) Blog about this giveaway with a link back to this post.

3) Tweet about this giveaway with a link back to this post.

This giveaway is open until June 17th at 11:59 p.m. EST, and I will notify the winner the following day. Only those of you with U.S. or Canada mailing addresses are eligible -- no p.o. boxes please. Good Luck!

BEA Recap #3

By Saturday, I think I was running on pure adrenaline -- I was having the time of my life! Kathy (aka Bermuda Onion) and I agreed to meet in the hotel lobby at 7:15 to head over to BEA for the Saturday Book and Author Breakfast which featured Craig Ferguson, Tracy Kidder, Jeannette Walls and Ben Mezrich.

At the Author Breakfast, we met up with Amy (aka My Friend Amy), Natasha (aka Maw Books), and Candace (aka Beth Fish Reads). I thoroughly enjoyed this event, and I was especially impressed with Jeannette Walls, author of GLASS CASTLE. She has a new book coming out called HALF BROKE HORSES about her grandmother's life which is being sold as a "Real-Life Novel."

The rest of the day is kind of a blur, but I thought I'd take a different approach than I did on Friday. Because I had already waited in a lot of lines and met a lot of authors at the autographing booths, I wanted to spend more time looking around the publishers' booths. While there were tons of book signings in the autograph area downstairs, there were also authors signing books at the various publishers' booths.

Of course, the ultimate highlight of BEA for me was the Today's Buzz Builder Panel on Saturday afternoon. I admit that I was pretty nervous about being part of this panel because I felt a little out of my league considering the other amazing women who were participating -- Natasha of Maw Books, Stephanie of Stephanie's Written Word, Amy of My Friend Amy and Dawn of She is Too Fond of Books, Candace of Beth Fish Reads. The panel, which was moderated by the wonderful Jennifer of Book Club Girl, intended to explore the relationships between bloggers, publishers, authors, and booksellers, and discuss ways we can improve these relationships to best provide information about books.

A few of the panel members were a little concerned about the turnout since the panel was not mentioned in the BEA "bible" -- the book that tells you everything need to know about the show; however, we were happy to see that it was mentioned in the Saturday edition of the Publishers Weekly BEA show magazine. When I got to the room, I was shocked to see that it seated around 300 people. We placed the goodie bags (provided by Book Club Girl) on the 100 seats closest to the dais so the attendees would be nearer to us. My worries were for nothing because we had an great turnout. I was just amazed by the number of people who came to see our panel -- it was pretty much standing room only! Naturally, between the number of attendees and the microphones on the table, I was terrified.

Pictured from left to right: Julie/Booking Mama, Natasha/Maw Books, Jennifer/Book Club Girl, Stephanie/Stephanie's Written Word, Candace/Beth Fish Reads, Dawn/She is Too Fond of Books, and Amy/My Friend Amy.

I think the panel discussion was a big hit. I was honored just to be there with everyone, and I hope we represented the blogger community well. I think it was a great sign that so many of the audience members asked questions and that the panel ended up being very interactive. Dawn (aka She is Too Fond of Books) wrote a fantastic summary. You should definitely head on over to her site if you are interested in learning about some of the specific issues. You can also listen to the panel discussion in its entirely on BlogTalkRadio.

I have to mention that I was just blown away by the support of the book blogging community! I felt myself tearing up when I saw all my "new" friends coming into the room to listen to our panel. A huge thanks goes out to those of you who were twittering live from the event especially Kathy of Bermuda Onion, Jenn of Jenn's Bookshelf, and Trish of Hey Lady!

I was sad to see my BEA 2009 experience come to an end! I headed back to my hotel around 5:00 carrying two heavy bags of books. Kathy was a true friend and carried another bag for me. That way, I didn't have to ship any of my books home -- I could just load them up in our car. (My poor kids were surrounded by books the entire drive home because our luggage filled the trunk of the car.) Once I was at the hotel, I became very excited to see my children whom I hadn't seen since Thursday morning. Unfortunately, they were taking a bus tour of the city and got held up in traffic. I had just enough time to rest my feet before heading out for dinner with them.

We went to Ellen's Stardust Diner for dinner because we thought the kids would enjoy the singing and entertainment. We had been there a few years ago and thought it was fun watching the servers break out in song and dance between taking orders and serving food, but I think my kids were a little too hot and tired to appreciate it that night. I ended up leaving dinner early and walking around Times Square with my little guy (although he begged to be carried because his feet hurt.)

After dinner, we decided to visit some touristy "kid-oriented" stores like the M&M and Hershey's store (not like we don't live 20 miles from the real Hershey.) Then, we headed over to Toys 'R Us where each of the kids got to spend a little of their own money. IT WAS A MADHOUSE!!!! President Obama just happened to be in New York Saturday night to see a Broadway show. They closed off streets surrounding the theater, and the main entrance to Toys 'R Us was locked. My husband, who is 6'2", could actually see President Obama over the crowds of people, and he was able to lift the kids up so they could see; but little ole 5'4" Julie couldn't see anything except the backs of people's heads. Instead, I was crushed against buildings desperately trying to hold onto both kids. I HATE CROWDS like that!

We got back to the hotel around 10:30 and just crashed!

That about wraps up my BEA 2009 experience. I am so glad that I was able to attend this wonderful event; but most of all, I'll treasure meeting so many wonderful people!

Review: Sunnyside Blues

Summary: In this funny, surprising, and heartfelt novel, Mary Carter explores the people and places that shape us—for good, for bad, and forever.

Twenty-five-year-old Andes Lane has spent nine years moving restlessly from place to place as she searches for somewhere that feels right. In the little blue houseboat bobbing on a Seattle lake, she thinks she’s found it. But Andes has barely had a chance to settle in before her new life is upended by her landlord, Jay, and his ten-year-old son, Chase.

Smart, secretive, and precocious, Chase touches a chord with Andes even as he plays on her last nerve. When Jay needs someone to take care of Chase temporarily, Andes agrees to accompany the boy to Sunnyside, Queens, on a quest she’s sure will prove fruitless. But in this new, strange, unexpectedly welcoming city, Andes will confront the secrets she tried to leave behind and the lies that have kept her running. And against all odds, she’ll discover a place, a man, and a newfound peace of mind that feel very much like home… -- Kensington

I was so happy that I had the chance to read SUNNYSIDE BLUES by Mary Carter last week on my train ride to New York for BEA. I could pretty much read it uninterrupted, and if you are a mom you know how nice that is! The first thing that struck me about this book was the cover -- I think it's just fantastic and really attracted me to the book. I think a lot of people are going to pick up this book when they see it in the stores based on the cover alone.

SUNNYSIDE BLUES was a story that I found interesting, and there were just enough secrets to keep me guessing until the end. There was a lot going on in this novel; and as is the case in books with many side stories and characters, I was definitely interested in some more so than others. I have to admit that I was a little curious about finding out who was setting all the fires, but I was really more interested in finding out the identity of Chases' father and especially Andes' past. I think the author did a good job of telling this story and giving away little clues here and there that will keep readers interested as well as guessing.

I found that I enjoyed the story in SUNNYSIDE BLUES; however, for me the best part of this book was how the author developed the character of Andes. Don't get me wrong, I thought Andes was more than a little out-there, but I did think she had a huge heart and I couldn't help but like her. The reader realizes early on that Andes has a lot of baggage from her childhood, and I was extremely interested in discovering why she was so damaged. I don't want to give too much away about her past and her family, but I found myself really enjoying those chapters that gave me insight into Andes' parents and their religious beliefs. I also liked seeing how her character changed throughout the course of the novel. I especially liked how she matured and eventually confronted the demons from her past.

While I liked this book and the very quirky characters, I'm not sure that this book is for everyone. As I read this book, I kept thinking that there were just so many coincidences and random meetings especially given that the story took place in two big cities. In addition, I found some of the characters' actions to be kind of far-fetched and even unbelievable at times. When I read this book, I was just looking to escape and be entertained so I could get past the parts of the story that seemed unrealistic; however, I can see that some readers might have a hard time making the stretch.

I have not read any of Mary Carter's prior books to SUNNYSIDE BLUES, and I have to admit that I wasn't even familiar with her prior to this book. When I visited her website, I checked out her other books and thought quite a few of them looked like light, fun reads. Ms. Carter is extremely accessible and is interested in meeting with book groups in the New York area. You can learn more about how to contact her regarding her books, the reading guides, etc. here. Ms. Carter also has a contest running on her website (through August 1st) for a copy of SUNNYSIDE BLUES and a $25 Barnes and Noble gift certificate.

SUNNYSIDE BLUES will be available on June 30, 2009. You might want to consider it as a future book club selection. You can read an excerpt from Chapter 1 here to get an idea of the author's writing style. There is also a very complete reading guide (23 questions) included in the back of the book to help facilitate your discussion. Some of the topics included in the guide are family relationships, friendships, secrets, and abuse so you can see that there are a lot of terrific things to talk about. I have a feeling that this book might stimulate a lot of differing opinions and feelings in your group, and I think your meeting could be very interesting.

Thanks to Mary Carter for sending me a copy of her book. Make sure you come back tomorrow because Ms. Carter will be stopping by with a guest post and a chance to win your very own copy of SUNNYSIDE BLUES.

BEA Recap #2

Friday, Day 2, of BEA was just incredible (and exhausting.) Amy and I woke up at 4:00 so we could get in line early for tickets for the author signings. It was still dark when we headed out to the Javits Center with Lenore (aka Presenting Lenore) around 5:15. It was only a matter of minutes before the skies opened up and it started pouring. Fortunately, I had my umbrella with me; however, I still managed to get soaked. I did learn a valuable lesson though -- do not wear cream pants or heels at BEA!

Within a few minutes of arriving at the convention center, loads of fellow bloggers showed up -- it was like a mini blind date (Book Club Girl's words.) I can't express how excited I was to meet everyone; and, it's definitely true that everyone is exactly how you think they would be -- only better. I was especially excited to meet Kathy (aka Bermuda Onion.) Even though we had not met and have only corresponded via e-mail, blog comments and twitter, I consider her one of my best friends!

After scoring tickets to some author signings, it was still only 6:30 so I had some time to kill before the Childrens Book and Author Breakfast which featured Julie Andrews, Meg Cabot, Tomie de Paola, and Amy Krouse Rosenthal. Amy and I had to wait in a huge line to attend the breakfast, and when we finally got into the room, they were out of some of the books like Meg Cabot's ALLIE FINKLE'S RULES FOR GIRLS BOOK 4: STAGE FRIGHT -- the only book I absolutely promised to bring home for Booking Daughter. One of the highlights of this breakfast for me was getting to see Julie Andrews. In addition, I loved listening to Meg Cabot -- she was a hoot to put it mildly; and it was kind of cool to hear Peter Yarrow sing Puff the Magic Dragon.

After the breakfast, Amy and I tore out of there in search of some author signings. I intended on getting Julie Andrews' autograph first thing (I even had the ticket required); but when I saw the line, I changed my mind -- there was just too much to see and do at BEA. I did get to see her, though, when I was waiting in a nearby line, and she's just "lovely."

The day was so incredibly hectic and full of activity that I'm not sure what happened in what order, so I'm just going to list the highlights:

CATCHING FIRE! -- Scholastic announced that they were giving away 100 ARCs of CATCHING FIRE by Suzanne Collins at 10:00 both Friday and Saturday morning. Amy and I decided not to wait in the long line since we had tickets to the author signing later in the day; however, we just happened to walk by and score our very own copies. Needless to say, we were kind of doing the happy dance!

Adriana Trigiani --Ms. Trigiani is one of my all-time favorite authors and she was there signing ARCs of her new YA novel VIOLA IN REEL LIFE. As she approached the signing area, she stopped and talked to each person in line -- I even got a hug. She is just amazing and remembers everyone she meets. I think I embarrassed Amy a little because I was just so in awe of her!



Emeril Lagasse -- I had a ticket to see Emeril Lagasse who was signing copies of his latest cookbook EMERIL AT THE GRILL. Since my husband loves to cook and grill, I thought I'd earn a few brownie points by getting the book inscribed to him with Emeril's autograph. In one of my finer moments, when I got up to meet him and he asked who to make the book out to, I said "Julie." It dawned on me right away and then I asked him to and my husband's name too. Can you say "star struck?"

Anne Byrn "The Cake Doctor" -- I am a huge fan of The Cake Doctor cookbooks, and I was so excited actually meet Anne Byrn. She has a new cookbook coming out in the fall that looks gorgeous called THE CAKE MIX DOCTOR RETURNS which I know I'll be buying! I was fortunate enough to get the last signed copy of WHAT CAN I BRING? COOKBOOK, the only cookbook by her that I didn't already own.

Books for Booking Daughter -- After not getting the Allie Finkle book in the morning, I was a little panicked because I didn't want to let Booking Daughter down. As I was complaining for the hundredth time that day, a woman in line for coffee gave me a copy of hers. I have no idea who she was, but I will be forever grateful to the kindness of this stranger! In addition to this book, I was also able to get a signed copy of the new American Girl book MEET REBECCA; and Katerine Paterson's book THE DAY OF THE PELICAN. I also brought some new middle-grade books for her too. She was so excited and is already reading her third book.

At the end of Friday, Amy and I were scheduled to spend one hour at the Firebrand Booth signing autographs. We even had our own trading cards which were absolutely adorable -- they looked like baseball cards with all of our stats on the back like favorite books, blogs, etc. I was worried that no one would show up to see us, but I was happy that we had a pretty constant flow of people. Of course, the vast majority were bloggers that we already knew; however, there were a few people that we got to meet in person that we had only known through e-mails. This is also when Amy and I were interviewed by Publishers' Perspective.

As tired as I was, the night was still young! I met my husband at the hotel, and we headed out for a nice dinner at McCormick and Schmicks. Then we took a cab to the Greenhouse for the BEA Tweetup Party. It was very loud and very crowded, but it was also a lot of fun! I loved getting to meet so many more bloggers, and I was so happy that Trish (aka Hey Lady!) won a Kindle.

And that brings Day 2 at BEA to a close. I still feel like I'm leaving a lot of important stuff out, so please pipe in if I forgot something that should be here.

Video: My Friend Amy and Booking Mama on E-books

Last Friday at BEA, Amy from My Friend Amy and I were interviewed by Publishers' Perspective about e-books! I was so excited to see that it was posted on YouTube, but I have to admit that it's very hard to watch myself. Please know that my hair and my make-up usually don't look quite that bad (I had been up since 4:00 and got caught in the rain.)



I know we were speaking for ourselves, but I hope we conveyed some of the same ideas that you have concerning e-readers. Please leave a comment with your thoughts about e-books and e-readers.

Review: Miranda's Big Mistake

Summary: Jill Mansell is one of the UK's premiere contemporary authors, with her 19th title coming out in January 2009. She has sold nearly 4 million copies of her books in the UK.

Miranda is thrilled with Greg. He's gorgeous, funny, and practically perfect. Greg thinks Miranda is great, but he hasn't told her everything about himself. After all, even the sweetest girl is likely to be put off by a man who's left his newly pregnant wife. But there's now way she'll ever find out... is there?

When Greg inevitably breaks Miranda's heart, her friend Danny is there to cheer her up, and they quickly wreaks an unforgettable revenge. Miranda's now ready to move on to another affair - but will Danny get a chance to tell her he's in love with her himself... -- Sourcebooks

Awhile back, I began to wonder if I were getting too old to appreciate chick lit. I mean, I still knew that enjoyed the new "mom-lit" type books, but I thought maybe true chick lit had passed me by (or should I say I passed it by). Well, I know that is definitely not the case ever since I discovered Jill Mansell. A few months ago, I read and reviewed AN OFFER YOU CAN'T REFUSE; and I really liked it. Well now I've read another one of her books MIRANDA'S BIG MISTAKE, and I think I enjoyed it even more.

I couldn't get enough of MIRANDA'S BIG MISTAKE and characters; and I didn't want the book to end. After reading two of her books, I now consider myself a huge fan of Ms. Mansell's; and I am glad that Sourcebooks is releasing more of her books in the next few months. I can't put my finger on exactly why I enjoy her books so much, but I think it has something to do with the way she writes them. She comes up with an entertaining story, creates memorable and likable characters, and then writes her books with lots of humor thrown in. Whatever it is, it's a formula that definitely works for me!

There were so many great characters in this story. Of course, Miranda was terrific and I couldn't help but like her (even when I knew she was being rather thick-headed.) But I actually liked some of Miranda's friends (and housemates) even more. I absolutely loved Chloe, the woman whose husband left her when he found out she was pregnant; and I also loved Florence, the older woman with whom Miranda lived. I even really liked Miranda's hot boss Fenn and her best friend at work Bev. All of the characters, even the minor ones, were interesting and made the story better; and they all complimented Miranda perfectly.

In addition to the characters, I thought this story was terrific. There were quite a few twists and turns and even some confusion between the characters that caused some awkward (yet hilarious) moments. And while I was expecting this book to be very funny, I have to admit that I was surprised by the serious turn the story took. I can say that I was actually shocked at one point in this book, and I found myself appreciating the story on a whole new level. Don't get me wrong: MIRANDA'S BIG MISTAKE is an overall fun read and perfect for the summer, but there were a few pages that did make me a little sad.

As was the case in the last Mansell book I read, there are a lot of characters and a lot of side storylines going on in MIRANDA'S BIG MISTAKE. In fact, this book is pretty long compared to your typical chick-lit book -- it's around 475 pages; however, the book is a very light, fun read and it's not at all hard to follow all of the characters and their stories. I know this sounds sappy, but I loved that all of the characters (well, the likable ones) eventually discover love and happiness. I guess that is the reason that I read these types of books -- for the happy endings.

Thanks to Danielle from Sourcebooks for sending me an ARC of this novel.

Author Interview: Paula Froelich

Yesterday, I reviewed a great book called MERCURY IN RETROGRADE that many of you will just love. It really is the ideal book to read this summer! I am so excited that the author Paula Froelich agreed to take time from her very busy life to answer a few of my questions.

Booking Mama: Besides writing MERCURY IN RETROGRADE, you also work as the New York Post Page Six gossip columnist. When did you find the time to write a novel and do your “day” job?

Ms. Froelich: I woke up REALLY early! heh. I'd wake up at 6 or 7 and walk my dog Karl then write for a few hours before going to work (I get to work at 10:30). I also wrote for 7 hours every day on the weekends!

Booking Mama: I can only imagine the things you’ve seen as a Page Six columnist! What has been the most interesting thing that has happened to you (or that you have learned) while working in this job?

Ms. Froelich: Girl, if I told you I'd have to kill you! Haha. Just Kidding. But there have been some CRAZY moments! I have been threatened by Puffy, almost beaten up by Kimora Lee Simmons, Had to calm down Tara Reid, dealt with sitting next to Lindsay Lohan on a (VERY LONG) six hour flight, been on vacation with Star Jones, Almost been peed on by Pete Yorn, went on a date with Heavy D (yes, the overweight lover)... and oh, so much more!

Booking Mama: Some of the characters in your novel sound a bit like real-life celebrities. Do you have to be careful when you base characters on actual people? I know your book hasn’t been officially released yet, but have you had any negative reactions about the characters?
Ms. Froelich: Not really. I think Lizzie Grubman was upset that I had a character loosely based on her that had an accident in the Hamptons -- but we're old friends and she loved the book! But, after 9.5 years at Page Six, I know how to write a blind item!

Booking Mama: Besides writing MERCURY IN RETROGRADE, you have also written a non-fiction book called 9 Secrets of the Rich and Famous That’ll Take You to the Top. Did you find it more difficult to write a self-help type book or a novel?

Ms. Froelich: I had the most fun I have ever had writing the novel! The self-help became tedious.

Booking Mama: As I read this novel, I couldn’t help but think it would make a fantastic movie with the entertaining (and very funny) storyline, wonderful characters, and gorgeous fashion. Has there been any talk about bringing your book to the big screen? Do you see any particular actresses or actors as the characters in the novel?

Ms. Froelich: Ha! there has been some talk, but nothing concrete yet. I think it's more of a TV series though... I'd love for Penelope to be played by Anna Faris, Lipstick: not sure and Dana: Ellen Page.

Booking Mama: This is your debut novel and there is a lot of fantastic buzz about MERCURY IN RETROGRADE especially from some big-time women’s fiction authors. What is next for you in your writing career? Are there any plans for another novel?

Ms. Froelich: Thank you! I was so surprised when they all wrote me quotes, I almost cried. Erica Jong took me out to dinner last night and again said how much she liked the book and that she thought I was a great writer and I did cry! As for plans: Am working on several things. I have YA novel called GRITS I'm working on -- about my high school experience in Cincinnati Ohio and Northern Kentucky (I transferred from a huge public school to a convent in KY where I was the only Jew and almost only virgin in my graduating class) -- I'd love to make that a series like Gossip Girl... AND I have two more adult novels I want to publish: a sequel to MERCURY IN RETROGRADE, called MERCURY RISING and another one called THE GATEWAY GIRLFRIEND.

Booking Mama: I am always very interested in this question -- I think I’m just nosy about what others are reading. Who are some of your favorite authors and what are some of your favorite books? What are you reading right now?

Ms. Froelich: I love love love Bridget Jones, Sex and the City, Fear of Flying, Good in Bed, Gossip Girl etc... anything by the authors who gave me plugs for my book! Haha. I also love PJ O'Rourke, Tim O'Brien and George Saunders. I just finished (again) Supreme Courtship, Unaccustomed Earth and am pluggin away on the Helen Gurley Brown bio (Bad Girls go Everywhere) -- she's amazing!!!

I hope you enjoyed this interview as much as I did! Make sure you check out MERCURY IN RETROGRADE -- it's available today, June 2nd!

HUGE Dads and Grads Giveaway

I am so excited to offer you another fantastic giveaway courtesy of Hachette Book Group USA. This time, I have three sets of eight books that are just perfect for the dad or grad in your life.

Check out these fantastic titles:

The Nine Lessons By Kevin Milne
Do-Over! By Robin Hemley
The Man's Book By Thomas Fink
BoneMan's Daughters By Ted Dekker
An Honorable German By Charles McCain
The Richest Man in Town By W. Randall Jones
Lincoln on Leadership By Donald Phillips
Outliers By Malcolm Gladwell

There are lots of ways to gain entries for this giveaway:

1) Leave a comment with your e-mail address telling me something special about the dad or grad in your life.

2) Blog about this giveaway with a link back to this post.

3) Tweet about this giveaway with a link back to this post.

4) Subscribe to my blog either through a reader or e-mail.

You can accumulate up to four entries for this contest!!! This giveaway is open until June 30th at 11:59 p.m. EST, and I will notify the winners the following day. Only those of you with U.S. or Canada mailing addresses are eligible -- no p.o. boxes please. Good Luck!

Awesome Summer Beach Bag Reads Giveaway

Summer is almost officially here, and I am just thrilled to have the opportunity to host a Summer Beach Bag Books Giveaway courtesy of Hachette Book Group USA. I will be choosing three lucky winners!

Here are the awesome books included:

The Secret Speech By Tom Smith

Julie and Julia By Julie Powell

Swimsuit By James Patterson , Maxine Paetro

Obama's BlackBerry By Kasper Hauser

A Summer Affair By Elin Hilderbrand

When You Are Engulfed in Flames By David Sedaris

Any Minute By Joyce Meyer , Deborah Bedford

The Book of Lies By Brad Meltzer

Kill for Me By Karen Rose

Miscarriage of Justice By "Kip" Gayden

There are lots of ways to gain entries for this giveaway:

1) Leave a comment with your e-mail address telling me one of your favorite summer reads.

2) Blog about this giveaway with a link back to this post.

3) Tweet about this giveaway with a link back to this post.

4) Subscribe to my blog either through a reader or e-mail.

You can accumulate up to four entries for this contest!!! This giveaway is open until August 15th at 11:59 p.m. EST, and I will notify the winners the following day. Only those of you with U.S. or Canada mailing addresses are eligible -- no p.o. boxes please. Good Luck!

BEA Recap #1

I'm back from BEA and it was the most amazing experience. I HAD THE BEST TIME!!!! Of course, now I'm freaking out about everything I need to do both on the blog front and the home front! This is going to sound weird, but I am still flying high from getting to meet all my "fake" friends (as my husband refers to you guys.) At the same time, I am exhausted and sore from carrying so many books. Last night, I thought I'd crash, but I actually couldn't sleep because my mind is just racing!

I don't want to bore you with lots of my trip details, but I'm just so excited!

As many of you know, last Wednesday my grandmother fell down her cellar stairs and broke her leg in two places. Needless to say, that put a damper on my plans because I was so worried about her. In addition, I found myself scrambling around trying to find babysitting coverage for my kids just in case my parents had to rush to her side. Fortunately, there were no additional emergencies and my parents were able to watch my kids until my husband got home from his out-of-town business trip.

I took the train up to Penn Station and it was terrific. It was my first time on a train and I loved it! I had over three hours of uninterrupted reading time -- you know how special that is when you're a mom. It's a good thing I read the entire time because I didn't pick up a book again for four days!

I arrived at the Jacob Javits Center around 1:30 on Thursday and got the lay of the land. Since I have absolutely no sense of direction (just ask Dawn (aka She is Too Fond of Books) and Stephanie (aka The Written Word), I don't know how much I really absorbed, but it was fun just the same. This convention center is HUGE and the architecture is amazing -- lots of steel and glass. I immediately called Stephanie so I could meet up with her and Dawn. About an hour or so later, they arrived and I met my first "fake" friends. Let me tell you... these two women are amazing and even nicer and more fun in person. I am so lucky that we had a few hours together and could really just talk before things got crazy.

The three of us first attended the Editors Buzz Panel where we heard about six "hot" new books that are coming out in the near future. I thought it was extremely interesting and I (of course) added some more books to my TBR list! Then, we headed over to the Opening Night Keynote where we got to see (get ready for it) Clarence Clemons and Steven Tyler!!!! Clarence Clemons played his saxophone for us which was very cool, and Steven Tyler actually sang a little song about the planets. I thought both of these men were extremely interesting and very entertaining!

Then Dawn, Stephanie and I decided to take the bus to The New Yorker where we could meet up with Amy (aka My Friend Amy.) Since it was raining and Dawn was worried about keeping her books dry, she decided to take a clean trash bag out of the trash can at the Javits Center and wrap her books up in that. For some reason, the thought of Dawn walking around with her huge trash bag still brings a smile to my face. The bus wasn't coming quickly enough for the three of us so we cabbed it to the hotel.

We got out of the cab and immediately started looking for Amy -- my roommate for the night. I could barely wait to meet her because I think she's such a terrific person. We all found her on the street in front of the hotel where there was lots of hugging! She is not only one of the sweetest people that I've ever met in my life, but she's also just adorable.

Then we all headed to Arno's for dinner with Miriam, Valerie, Kelly, and Brianne from Hachette, Steph (aka Reviewer X),Lenore (aka Presenting Lenore) and more. Unfortunately, Trish's (aka Hey Lady!) and Jenn's (Jenn's Bookshelf) planes were both delayed so they didn't make it in time. It was so nice to meet all of these people and I think I can say that we all had a wonderful time.

I don't know about Amy, but I had the best time talking with her Thursday night (into Friday morning.) We didn't fall asleep until 2:00 a.m. because we both had so much to say to each other (just one more thing...you know how it is.) We should have known better because we set the alarm for 4:00. We wanted an early start so we could head on over to BEA and get in line for tickets for the author signings!

I hope I didn't bore you, but that was my Day 1. More to follow!


Kathy (aka Bermuda Onion) sent me this picture of Amy and me from Saturday at BEA. Amy looks adorable and I look very tired! I'm really not that short -- I'm just hunching over for the picture.

Review: Mercury in Retrograde

Summary: When Mercury is in retrograde, the only guarantee is anything that can go wrong, will.

Penelope Mercury, an intrepid reporter at the New York Telegraph, has pounded the pavement for five years from city borough to borough, carrying out her boss's eccentric orders to break stories that seem inconsequential to everyone but him. Finally, she is inches away from being promoted to her dream job -- covering courtroom drama for the paper -- but after one spectacularly disastrous day, she is fired instead.

Lena "Lipstick Carcrash" Lipp encrass has a pretty fabulous life, even by a socialite's standards, as a top editor at the high fashion magazine Y. Long lunches with her girlfriends and afternoons spent shopping at Bergdorf's are all in a day's work. But when Lena's always indulgent parents abruptly cut off her cash flow and kick her out of her beloved West Village duplex for refusing to work for the family business, she is forced to confront the reality of what it takes to pay the bills.

Dana Gluck, a workaholic lawyer, had been married for two years to a man who was perfect on paper but increasingly critical in reality. She hoped that her dreams of motherhood would be fulfilled soon, which surely would also fix their marriage problems. Instead, her husband leaves her for an exchange student/model who, to make matters worse, promptly gets pregnant.

When fate conspires to have these three very different women move into the same SoHo apartment building, they soon discover that having their carefully planned lives fall to pieces might be the best thing that could have ever happened to them. -- Atria

About this time of the year, I always start looking for books that I think I'd enjoy reading over the summer. You know what I'm talking about...those books that you can read while you're sitting by the pool or at the beach -- books that you can just sit back and enjoy. Well, I've just finished one that I can definitely recommend as a terrific summer read -- MERCURY IN RETROGRADE by Paula Froelich.

I had a feeling that I was going to enjoy this book when I read the front cover of the ARC. It was just filled with bright-colored praise from some highly respected authors like Candace Bushnell, Jennifer Weiner (one of my favorites), Gigi Levangie Grazer, and Sloane Crosley. I actually love the types of books that they write so their comments mean a great deal to me. A few of the words that they mentioned to describe this novel that I thought were especially true were: humor, charm, clever, zippy, and entertaining. MERCURY IN RETROGRADE was just an all-out great story!

Basically, MERCURY IN RETROGRADE follows the lives of three women who live and work in New York City. At the beginning of the novel, all three women face very different personal and career issues that throw their lives into turmoil - thus the reference to Mercury in retrograde. While I found Penelope's "bad day" to be the most entertaining and definitely the funniest, I did feel some compassion towards Dana and her situation; and I even felt a little bad for Lipstick because she was just so darn clueless. Despite the drastic differences in their lives, all three of the women end up living in the same building and eventually becoming friends with each.

It wasn't always easy to like these characters because they were definitely focused on themselves and their careers; however, I will say that by the end of the novel, I loved all of them and wanted them to find happiness. Probably the character who changed the most was Lipstick -- a high society young woman who spent much of her time looking at websites which rated her popularity. At first, I found her incredibly shallow but then I felt a little pity for her because she had never really known any other life. I really thought Ms. Froelich did a good job of developing Lipstick's character and allowing her to grow and find out who she truly was.

Another thing that I appreciated about this book was how the author moved back and forth between the characters' lives. It was done almost effortlessly and it was extremely easy for the reader to follow. I also like how she began each character's section. In keeping with the theme of "Mercury in Retrograde," she wrote a brief horoscope for each of the characters that alluded to what was going to happen to them in the upcoming pages. I thought it was such a cute idea and perfect for the tone of this story.

Ms. Froelich writes this novel with an insider's view of New York and the people who live there. While I couldn't be farther from fitting into this lifestyle, I absolutely love reading about these people, their houses, their parties, and their clothes. It is evident that Ms. Froelich knows New York very well -- both the city and the people; and she is great at describing it in this novel. For those of you who aren't familiar with Ms. Froelich, she is the New York Post Page Six gossip columnist -- does that sound like a great job or what? I love how she developed not only the characters in this story, but how she made the city into a character of its own.

MERCURY IN RETROGRADE is a very funny book to read which also has memorable characters. I guarantee you will find yourself laughing (a lot) while reading about the adventures of these three women. If you want to get an idea of the story or even Ms. Froelich's writing style, you read this excerpt from Chapter 1. I have a feeling that you are going to be hearing a lot more about this book and this author in the next few months!

Make sure you come back tomorrow because Paula Froelich will be stopping by with a guest post!

Thanks to the author and Atria for sending me an ARC of this book.

Hello...You Won The Mother's Day Giveaways

I am so thrilled to be giving away three sets of the following books:

MIRACLES OF MOTHERHOOD: PRAYERS AND POEMS FOR A NEW MOTHER, ODD MOM OUT By Jane Porter, MOMMY GRACE By Sheila Schuller Coleman, BEGINNER'S GREEK By James-Collins, and THE ROAD HOME By Rose Tremain

The winners are:

Michele

Marie Burton

LoveMyCoffee

Make sure you check your e-mail and send me your name and address within three days! I hope you enjoy these terrific books!

Thanks to Hachette for sponsoring this giveaway!