REVIEW for Lux's Practical Erotica Adventure

Thank you Danielle at Sourcebooks Inc. for kindly sending me this book!

TITLE: Lux's Practical Erotica Aventure

AUTHOR: Lisa Beth Kovetz

GENRE: Chick lit

RATING: 3 Stars

I believe that there is another book in this series, which would explain why I had a few problems oritenting myself in the first few pages of this novel, however, once I had everyone sorted out, I was okay.

First off, I have to say that I do not read erotica, but what attracted me to this book is the fact that it IS a chick lit book - I am soooo there. Author Lisa Beth Kovetz has written a good novel about 4 women, who for the most part, are quite different and probably would not necessarily come together all that well - except that they share a common thread - the love of erotica novels. I have often found, myself, with my own friends that we always end up sharing a common thread, in my case its the love of reading and blogging about it, so I was totally there with the author and her four characters.

This story, while featuring 4 women -does focus on one in particular - Lux who is the de facto leaader of the group and who also has the most interesting backstory/lifestory within the book. Although I did enjoy reading the experiences of all the women since all of them live quite different lives - which somehow end up sharing the same type of problems - this is something else that always amazes me about women and friendship -no matter how different we are - we share common problems and are there for each other.

Anyway, back to the storyline. For those who may be concerned about the "erotica" part of this book - don't be - this type of erotica is more of the Fabio - pirates/damsels in distress type, which does not really appeal to me but does to the "Tuesday Erotica Club". There are alot of these type of entries into the book and I ended up skipping over many of them - they kind of slowed the story down a little.

Overall, this was a good read because a) its a good chick lit and b) its a wonderful story of friendship and "can do" attitude. I enjoyed it.

I THINK I AM TAKING ON A NEW CHALLENGE FOR 2010

I am a bit of a chicken when it comes to taking challenges. I am always a little weary that these challenges will start feeling like "chores" and I never want my love of reading to start feeling like a chore.

Having said that - I think this challenge might be interesting AND something I can do. Last year, I decided to list how many YA and CHICK Lit I read in 2009 and I can't believe how many books I have read in those genres so far this year. So, for 2010, I want to do

THE STORY SIREN challenge for 2010 YA debut authors.

http://www.thestorysiren.com/2009/11/2010-debut-author-challenge-buttons.html

Wish me luck :)

Here is my small (for now) list which I will add to:

The Cinderella Society by Kay Cassidy

The Lonely Hearts Club by Elizabeth Eulberg***

Princess for Hire by Lindsey Leavitt

A Match Made in High School by Kristin Walker

Vinyl Princess by Yvonne Prinz

*** Indicates that I have an ARC or finished copy of the book to read and review.

REVIEW for Queene of Light

Once again, a big thank you goes out to Adam at Harlequin.







TITLE: Queene of Light

AUTHOR: Jennifer Armintrout

GENRE: Fantasy

RATING: 4 Stars



I don't really read this genre as a rule, however, I received a copy of this book and I have to say that I was immediately intrigued. This book has far more to offer than just a novel take on the "paranormal" world.

Author Jennifer Armintrout has created a world, without a world in this new novel and I thought it was imaginative. It actually made me sit back and think about how our own world was created and if there is, in fact, always a need for a dark side in any world that exists. The basis of this book is clever - fairies in all their forms are starting to live side to side with humans - however, the humans don't want this so they banish the ferries to the underground - however, as the fairies create their own world - they discover there is a dark side and now, both worlds will be forcced to battle it out.

As I mentioned, I thought this was both clever and highly thought provoking. The writing was also wonderful and overall, I did enjoy this book even if it is not my usual cup of tea.

REVIEW for The Bicycle Diaries

Thank you goes out to Penguin Group Canada for sending me this charming and wonderful book!






TITLE: Bicycle Diaries

AUTHOR: David Byrne

GENRE: Memoir/Travel

RATING: 4 Stars



When I lost my job last April and found myself with a whole summer ahead of me, I decided to do something that I had been thinking about for a while! I bought myself a bike ( a little blue one actually) and ever since then, I discovered the joys of riding my bike everywhere! This is why the Bicycle Diaries caught my eye and I was eager to read it.

What a little gem of a book! I had vaguely heard of David Byrne but he was never really someone that interested me - until I discovered just how artistic and sensitive he actually is. The Bicycle Diaries is a loving memoir about enjoying the freedom (for the most part) of bicycling - what a joy to be able to pedal your way through different towns and cities and to discover some of their secrets, cultures and little quirks - all the while getting some healthy exercise AND not ruining the environment. Byrne explores many, many cities (the good the bad and the ugly) in this loving memoir of what it is like to discover a new place.

His writing is sensitive, funny and always, always poignant. You can tell that this was a labor of love for him. I also loved the pictures that are (black and white) throughout the book (how that house can still stand is beyond me!).

I enjoyed David's thoughtful comments - his perspectives and his spiritual look (in some cases) at the heart and soul of the cities and towns he visited.

Loved this book.

REVIEW for Destroy All Cars

A huge, huge thank you goes out to Nikole at Scholastic Books Canada for sending me this great book!

TITLE: Destroy all Cars

AUTHOR: Blake Nelson

GENRE: YA

RATING: 4 Stars

Okay, I had no idea what to expect with this book - except for the fact that I am a big fan of "no cars" as much as possible. Yes, this YA is about banning, or trying to, ban cars, but its alot more than that - its really the thoughts, emotions and (at times) somewhat slithly silly musings of a young man who seems to have lots of thoughts but a lot less willingness to put it all into action.

The book is a mixture of manifesto and journal entries, sprinkled with conversations and although I was a tad worried about the various formats merging well together, author Nelson does a great job of making it all seamless. What we end up getting is a funny, sometimes touching picture of a young man who has a cause and isn't afraid to rant about it.

However, the most interesting part of this book for me is the message behind the entries - which make me feel as though this book is about much more than just the obvious - but is rather of a young man who is insecure, unsure of himself and chooses to express himself in this somewhat odd manner. Although some might think this book is militant, it really isn't - because most of the entires are either funny or a tad sad and touching. I especially loved the entry about bowling - when James explains why he dropped the ball....."my ball holes were sticky".... loved it!

I thoroughly enjoyed this book and would highly recommend it.

REVIEW for I Want

A big thank you goes out to the author Jane Velez-Mitchell for sending me a copy of her book!







TITLE: I Want

AUTHOR: Jane Velez-Mitchell

GENRE: Memoir/Addiction/Recovery

RATING: 4 Stars



First of all, I would like to comment on the title of this book - for any addict the words "I Want" are usually our downfall - so I was immediately caught up with this title and thought how appropriate for a memoir on addiction and recovery.

I did not know who Jane Velez-Mitchell was, however, I love reading books on addiction and recovery and I Want sounded like a story that I needed to hear. I have read quite a few books of this type and I have to say that I Want was probably one of the most honest, down to the nitty gritty books in the genre.

Mitchell obviously pulls no punches as she details her progression to her addiction and makes no apologies about believing that the 12 step program saved her life. I loved reading this book because sprinkled throughout are little nuggets of wisdom - all the while 12 step "speak" and beliefs can be found.

I also must applaud Mitchell's willingness to open herself up so much - this book is quite raw at times and it is obvious that the author firmly believes in program - and she has no qualms in putting herself out there for all to read.

I loved reading this memoir and I congratulate Mitchell and wish her only the best in her continued sobriety - one day at a time.

REVIEW for Dying Scream

Thank you to Joan Schulhafer at Joan Schulhafer Publishing for sending me a copy of this book.



TITLE: Dying Scream

AUTHOR: Mary Burton

GENRE: Thriller

RATING: 4 Stars



When I owned my bookstore 4 years ago, Mary Burton was a very popular seller - but for some reason, I always thought that her books were kind of tame, although I had never read one before.

I could not have been more wrong as I soon discovered by reading Dying Scream. Burton has now instantly become a favorite author of the genre.

In Dying Scream, I found a wonderful plot, full of horrible murders and a more horrible man, all of it entertwined with dirty secrets that have been kept by a family that has as many secrets as they have money.

I thought I had the whole "whodunnit" figured out a few times, while reading this one, but I kept getting it wrong - Burton totally was manipulating me :0) and I loved it.

This one is great - wonderful pace and a bunch of dead bodies - just what a good thriller needs.

MAILBOX and all the gory, gory details about my package deliveries

I was surfing the net looking for cute mailbox pictures to attach to this post when I saw this one!!! Kind of fits the season, so, here it is!!!!

I have to say that I was really lucky this week and got lots of great, great stuff. Since I am back working full time, my various mail delivery guys all have their instructions from me (one of the great things about being off this summer was that I got to know each of them pretty well - considering how often they delivered items at my house). So, when I went back to work, I made sure to give them detailed instructions - specifically since I live in an apartment building, they should always try to leave my packages with my janitor, who is very nice and does not mind receiving my 10 packages a week! So, for the UPS delivery guy, the FedEx and Purolator guys and the Canpar guy, they pretty well know to leave my packages with my janitor.


My regular delivery guy from Canada Post (don't even get me started on Canada Post)- his name is Terry - I have asked him to try to "squeeze" all my packages into my tiny little mailbox. Some days, I come home and he has somehow managed to squeeze 2 - 3 books in there (let me tell you that is no easy task) and I have to yank the packages out. I have threatened him and told him that if I have to trek to the post office to get my package (because of him), I will NOT be happy - so he knows that its in his best interest to shove those books in there :) He keeps teasing me and saying that I read more books in a week than he has in his entire lifetime.


Recently, there was a big scandal in my building - one of the tenants never got their passport and apparently, the envelope had been left my janitor. It was such a big thing that the post office told both Terry (the regular mailman) and the mailman that drives the truck (with the big items that can't fit into the mailbox) that from now on they can no longer leave packages with the janitor.

I had to laugh because when Terry informed my janitor about this "decision" taken from our local Canada Post office, he told my janitor "Tina is going to have a fit over this". Anyway, needless to say that I was NOT happy about this decision and made a point of telling my post office. The bad news :( the guy who drives the Canada Post delivery trucks (big items) still refuses to leave my packages with the janitor sooooooo, last week, I came home to find 3 separate little notification cards telling me that I have items to pick up at the post office (grrrr!!!). I decided to wait out the week and accumulate these darling cards and then head to the post office only once a week - except that I came home with a ton of heavy packages. However, the good news is that I got some great, great stuff!!!

Here is the breakdown (sorry, can't quite remember the days I got them on):

Destroy All Cars,
The Lonely Hearts Club
How To Say Goodbye in Robot
Scarlett Fever
My Invisible Boyfriend
Tangled (this one I had been waiting for - and I read it in one sitting)
The 13Th Hour
Falling Apart in One Piece
UnSweetened (this one was a great read also)
Tumbleweed Skies
The Present Tense of Prinny Murphy

Jumping Into Puddles
Sila's Revenge
Little Death( I love PJ Parrish and this is their new one to be released in 2010 - I am saving this read for my "over the Christmas holidays read")





Although this is NOT book related, I have also been asked to review this product:

Vaseline Sheer Infusion Body Lotion. Can't wait to try that
one!!!!

REVIEW for Snow Job

A big thank you goes out to Jess at Random House Canada for sending this book to me!

TITLE: Snow Job

AUTHOR: William Deverell

GENRE: Mystery

RATING: 4 Stars

http://www.randomhouse.com/catalog/display.pperl?isbn=9780771027222

Well, Arthur Beauchamp is bored - he is now living in Ottawa with his wife who is the leader of a up and coming political party - he has suddenly become, what he feels, is his wive's shadow. Just as he is about to go just a tad mad, good news! Some politician's have been blown up and suddnely Beauchamp is called upon to investigate in his own unique way!

Deverell has written another funny and somewhat sarcastic (love the dry humour) mystery. I am always amazed at the weird situations Deverell comes up with and in Snow Job, he has outdone himself. Beauchamp is a likeable character (although i do take some issue with the male chauvinist view in this novel - but just a little) - because it does actually move the storyline forward - so its all good.

As usual, the writing is top notch and I have to say that I rarely laugh when I read mysteries, but Deverell does it to me every time! Bonus that this book is based in Canada - loved it.

REVIEW for Fall to Pieces

A big thank you goes out to Harper Collins Canada and Deanna for sending me this book!






TITLE: Fall to Pieces

AUTHOR: Mary Forsberg Weiland

GENRE: Memoir

RATING: 4 Stars


http://www.harpercollins.ca/books/9780061719158/Fall_to_Pieces/index.aspx
http://browseinside.harpercollins.ca/index.aspx?isbn13=9780061719158

Unfortunately, we live in a time where addiction is an all too common shared experience. One of the positive things to come out of it, I believe, is the fact that some people who struggle through this hell, somehow find the strength to overcome their demons and have the courage to put it all down on paper – so that other people who are suffering can read their words and maybe, feel as though they are not alone.

Fall to Pieces was exactly that type of book. I love the fact that I had no idea who the author was. This actually happens to me quite often. I see a book on addiction and recovery and I pick it up, only to discover that it was written by someone who is somehow in the spotlight – either directly or indirectly. As it turns out, I had no idea who Mary Weiland was and since I am not a huge music fan, I was pretty clueless about her husband as well.

However, as soon as I started reading this memoir, I instantly connected with Mary and found myself getting completely involved in her story.

Sometimes, when I read a memoir of this type, you can actually see the “addict in the making” and this was definitely the case with Mary. As I was reading, I kept thinking “wow, what were the chances she would come out of that childhood without an addiction?” Nobody really knows why one sibling will become addicted and the other(s) don’t – but from Mary’s description of her childhood, she sounded so incredibly sad and lost that it made me want to cry.

Weiland is brutally honest about her part in this story and, frankly, she certainly went out of her way to make her life as complicated as possible and makes no excuses for herself. As fate would have it, she would also end up hooking up with both a) the love of her life and b) the man who would end up being a destructive force in her life. I could not help but think that Weiland was, on some level, perhaps looking for a man who represented her father? However, this is MY theory and I could be 100% wrong.

From the moment Mary hooks up with Scott – you can actually feel both the love and the hell that each of them was falling into – and this was, to me, the most fascinating aspect of the “addiction” part of this story. It amazed me to see how two humans could love each other, yet, be so destructive to themselves and each other and Weiland does not shy away from giving us the often gory and always sad details of their lives as both spoiled superstars and stark raving drug addicts. I wanted to hate both of these people – but although they were so obviously off the charts, there was something touching and poignant about them that kept reminding me that addiction takes no prisoners.
The obvious love and struggles that Mary goes through as she realizes that she can no longer live this life, but is in love with a man who somehow “must” continue on this path was heartbreaking. I cheered for Mary as she desperately struggles to find her “true” recovery – and in the end knowing that if she chooses this route, she will end up loosing the man she loves.

I also loved the fact that Weiland NEVER speaks blames all of her woes on Scott – in fact, throughout the story, I have to say that Weiland pretty much always took the high road and chose to tell HER story

REVIEW for Less Is More

A big, big thank you goes out to the great people at New Society Publishers (www.newsociety.com) for sending me this wonderful book!


TITLE: Less is More

AUTHORS: Cecile Andrews &Wanda Urbanska

GENRE: Non fiction

RATING: 4 Stars

I have been contemplating over the last few years how it is that I somehow seems to have gotten caught up in the "more, more, more" attitude that alot of society seems to have and more importantly, I have been attempting to get myself out of that frame of mind (not to mention that frame of spending). Enter Less is More - Embracing Simplicity - which is really an absolutely perfect title that says it all.

Authors Cecile Andres and Wanda Urbanska have written an illuminated, concise and highly interesting and inspiring read about what life (your life and mine) can be, how fulfulled we can be with a more simple life - that will benefit everyone around us - and as a bonus, help the environment. I think this book is extremely a propos right now - as life has proven to us that excesses cannot be sustained without paying a high price.

Less is More explores our obsessive pursuit of money and success and challenges us - with well formed arguments and research to think outside of the box a little bit - and I feel up to the challenge.

Written for everyone - I found myself devouring this book - feeling inspired at the end of it.

REVIEW for The Secret of Joy

In full disclosure mode, I have to say a big, big thank you to author Melissa Senate for sending me a copy of her new book!

TITLE: The Secret of Joy

AUTHOR: Melissa Senate

GENRE: Contemporary Fiction

RATING: 4 Stars

Author Melissa Senate is one of MY absolute favorite authors. I have been reading her books for some time and I do mean ALL of them and I have yet to find one that I did not love. I first discovered Melissa through the Red Dress Ink series and have followed her career ever since.

Senate writes beautifully sentimental and poignant books and while I must admit that I STILL love her chick lit books the most, I absolutely adored The Secret of Joy which is a contemporary fiction, but not a chick lit.

In The Secret of Love, we discover two wonderfully strong, different and appealing main characters - at first they are strangers to each other, but they will unite through a shocking secret - they are half-sisters and immediately from the beginning of the novel - we get a very strong idea of just how different these two "sisters" are. This only adds another layer of complexity in a novel that offers us layer after layer of secrets, sentimentality and most of all of discovery.

Rebecca is the "all together one" - until her dad tells her a secret on his death bed - "you have a half sister and I need you to deliver these letters to her". Rebecca, ever the good daughter is stunned but agrees - except that Joy is anything but thrilled, yet the two sisters manage to find some kind of middle ground to try to build on. However, surprisingly, Rebecca will discover where (and with whom) her true destiny lies - thanks to Joy. Who knew that her father's secret would turn out to be a blessing in her life?

Touching, sentimental and absolutely riveting. As I write this, I am rethinking of some of the passages and they make me teary eyed.

I recommend this book very, very highly!

and I have a personal plea to the author...Melissa, how about another chick lit?????? please, pretty please with a lot of sugar on top???

REVIEW for I, Alex Cross

Thank you ! thank you! to Miriam and the Hachette group for sending me this book - Patterson is one of my favorite authors!!!!!!!!!!


TITLE: I, Alex Cross

AUTHOR: James Patterson

GENRE: Thriller

RATING: 4 Stars


I am a huge, huge Alex Cross/James Patterson fan! and I was thrilled beyond belief to read this newest "Alex Cross" book.

The story opens with Alex celebrating a birthday at home with his family and girlfriend Bree (this is something I never quite understood - the need for the author go ALWAYS give Cross a girlfriend). Unfortunately, Alex gets "one of those calls" during his party and finds out that his niece (daughter of a brother he had not be close to in adulthood) has been found dead. When Alex arrives at the scene, he is told that they only have "remains", that his niece was actually killed and then put through a grinder of sorts - Alex is stunned and vows to find the killer.

As it turns out, Alex's niece was a high price call girl who happened to be at the wrong place at the wrong time - meeting the wrong person. We discover that Alex's niece worked for a high end and exclusive brothel, located in an out of the way location and managed by a man without a conscience.

In the midst of all this, Alex's beloved Nana falls very ill and must be rushed to the hospital. Alex now finds himself torn between being at his Nana's side AND finding his niece's killer.

Alex will spend much of the storyline playing catch up. It seems that although he does have some leads, the killer is always one step ahead, somehow untouchable and as the storyline develops we will soon find out why this killer is so protected.

This book is good and the suspense is pretty consistent. I like that Alex does not miraculously get all the answers quickly in this one and I like that he is highly conflicted for the most part. This is well written - using Patterson's usual quick and easy chapters. Alex is well written and for fans of Alex Cross, this one makes me feel as though I understand him just a little bit more than the last book.

What does not work for me is the emphasis on Nana in all of the books, but particularly this one. I mean, Alex seems surprised when Nana gets ill and may die - all I can say is "Alex, she is 90!!!! maybe its time you came to realize that she will not live forever". I find that Alex's constant protecting and worrying about Nana is getting a little old. I can truly understand the importance she has for him, but this book is 50% about her and frankly, it got a little boring after a while. I keep trying to figure out why Patterson feels the need to always give Cross a crutch (he calls it family support, but it does not feel that way to me). Between his Nana and his round of girlfriends, Alex does not seem to be able to rely on himself for anything!

Still, this book is about the main storyline of mayhew and murder and, as always, Patterson does a great job! I have to say that the "discovering of the murderer" was a tad of a letdown - after building up the story - Patterson just kind of announces who the murderer is (I never suspected until the very end) and that's it. There is no huge confrontations between Cross and the murderer and it felt a little flat.

I still love Patterson and Alex Cross and this book is well written and is a thrilling read. I am still not sure why Patterson chose to call this one I, Alex Cross, but who cares? Its an Alex Cross book and I am thankful.

REVIEW for Lit

Thank you so much to Deanna from HarperCollins Canada for sending me this great, great memoir on addiction and recovery!

http://browseinside.harpercollins.ca/index.aspx?isbn13=9780060596989

TITLE: LIT

AUTHOR: Mary Karr

GENRE: Memoir

RATING: 4 Stars


I always know when a memoir on addiction (and hopefully) recovery touches me because I start feeling a) teary eyed and b) very, very uncomfortable. Well, Lit fulfilled both criteria and then some. I had never even heard of Mary Karr before, but you can be sure that I am going to work my way back and read everything she has written.

Lit is different from most of the memoirs that I have read on the subject, mainly because the tone of the writing is not what I am use to. I usually like my memoirs to be told in a more day to day voice, with as little verse as possible. Mary Karr does not write this way - her voice and her story are full of poetry, verse and this, for me, was a bit odd in the first pages of her story. I kept thinking "how can you tell your story honestly if you are going to do it in some melodic tones" - however, I need not have been worried.

Somehow, Karr manages to write a beautiful, flowy and absolutely perfectly toned story, while at the same time, giving us, in honest and frank detail all the good the bad and the ugly - without once sugar coating it. This was quite a feat!!! and I loved it. Karr's story is difficult to read, especially if you have yourself lived in the hell that is addiction. You can easily see the addict in the making as Karr describes her young family life with a mother that was so self-centered and so self-serving you can't help but wonder how Karr actually made it out alive! Having to deal with the death of her dad, "the good parent" thrown into the mix (and touches me on a personal level) added to the burden of her childhood. Karr goes on to describe her descent into addiction and some of her experiences were extremely scary and harrowing.

However, as always, what I love best is her story of walking (sometimes) crawling to sobriety AND hopefully to something better. Of course, with the help of the wonderful AA program and with alot of hope, spirit and integrity, Karr shows us her path as we slowly (at times ever so slowly) see her grow towards becoming the person she wants to be.

This memoir is touching, frank and perfect. (I am attaching the link to a brief video which I think is worth watching).

http://link.brightcove.com/services/player/bcpid31987679001?bctid=45180771001

REVIEW for Fan Mail

Thank you, thank Adam at Harlequin for sending me this book.

TITLE: Fan Mail

AUTHOR: P.D. Martin

GENRE: Thriller

RATING; 4 Stars

I had never read anything by author PD Martin but the first thing that immediately attracted me to this novel is the humour. I love that the author decided to give the main character Sophie a bit of a sense of humour - which although not overtly demonstrated is still there in the description and dialogues. Sophie is moving on, but not before she gets to meet Loretta who is a novelist looking for some "hands on" experiences of the FBI and their Behavioral Analysis Unit or as they say in the TV show Criminal Minds BAU (must easier to say and write).

However, shortly afer Sophie and Loretta's tour, Sophie learns that Loretta was brutally murdered and that she received a very odd piece of fan mail prior to her death - as a matter of fact this letter is appearing next to each murdered author as the work of a serial killer focusing on authors. Sophie must invetigate and in the middle of the investigation, she will end up discovering some scary information that will put her smack in the middle of the serial killer's path.

Although i can't say that this book reaches the peaks of "whodunnit", it nonetheless managed to keep me absolutely glued to the book until I found out who the killer was and WHY they did it. The pacing was very good and the writing was a lot of fun to read.

Although the author does give us some background on the FBI BAU unit, its kept too a minimum as is much of the "procedural" information which I am grateful for.

This book was alot of fun to read and I found myself a little annoyed that it ended.

REVIEW for The Rules of Popularity

A big, big thank you goes out to Arrow Books for sending me a copy of The Popularity Rules.

TITLE: The Popularity Rules

AUTHOR: Abby McDonald

GENRE: Chick Lit

RATING: 4 Stars

The Popularity Rules is a fun, chick lit read. I basically zipped through it in two evenings and thoroughly enjoyed it. This book starts off with a fun list of "if you want to be popular rules" - which made me laugh because, honestly, this list pretty well says it like it really is! if you want to be popular you can't be nice. This is the spring board for the rest of the book.

Featuring two main characters - Lauren and Kate - who have many things in common, but have taken different paths - with very different views of what life should be (based on "the" rules).

This novel really does explore (beneath all the fun writiing) the topic of "fitting in" -vs- being your own person and this is a theme that you will through the entire book.

I really enjoyed this chick lit with a message and thought the author did a great job!

REVIEW for Stretch Marks

Thank you goes out to author Kimberley Stuart for sending me a copy of her book.






TITLE: Stretch Marks

AUTHOR: Kimberley Stuart

GENRE: Chick Lit

RATING: 3 Stars



Mia and Lars are the perfect, childless couple - until Mia finds herself pregrant and Lars finds himself leaving Dodge - as he has no intention of being with a pregnant woman (even if the child is his). Mia is heartbroken and scared, but she is not alone - her best friend is there for her and so is her estranged mother as well as a whole bunch of supportive and definitely odd neighbours. Somehow this is not all that comforting to Mia. Still Mia and her mom decide to raise Mia's child - except that Babs has her own distinct view on child raising and this causes no end of argements and minor (and some not so minor) blips in the child rearing department.

I love chick lit and this book can definitely be filed into this category. I like that the main character is, for the most part, fun and intelligent and I actually really like th storyline -its funny and touching at the same time. What I had more of a problem with was the writing or more speficially the speed of the story. The pacing is slow and I am not sure if its because of some of the writing or if the storyline itself just moved too slowly, especially in the beginning. For example, the first exchange between Frankie and Mia, discussing Frankie's hair is just sooooooo long and frankly, felt very boring to me - there was just something missing and I cannot quite put my finger on it.

Overall, this was a good book, but there was something missing in it for me

REVIEW for Cold Case

A big thank you goes out to one of my favorite "book" people - Adam at Harlequin Books.







TITLE: Cold Case

AUTHOR: Kate Wilhelm

GENRE: Thriller

RATING: 4 Stars




I use to read Kate Wilhelm all the time and for some unkown reason, I stopped reading her. I am glad that I picked up Cold Case because this book features Wilhelm at her best. In Cold Case, we find Barbara Holloway is back again. I really like this character as I always found her to be extremely savy and smart and quite entertaining at the same time! So, she is always a joy to read.

Cold Case takes a look at a case that was extremely delicate - 22 years ago - hence the title Cold Case. Holloway finds herself with a new murder on her hands - except that the victim was once accused of murder himself - Holloway will find herself caught up in the middle of both the Cold Case and the new murder and must beat the clock in order to save the accused who may or may not be guilty. I loved the fact that the author did such a great job of joining the past and the present - and she does it in a clever way - without making it feel as though it is "forced" or plot oriented.

Great pacing as always - this is never a problem with Wilhelm's novels - she is a master at keeping the story moving.

I really, really enjoyed this one

THIS AND THAT and THE BOOKS I RECEIVED THIS WEEK

I always enjoy reading the posts of other bloggers who blog about the books they received during the week. I had started doing this for a while and then stopped, but I thought I would try to get back into posting this every Saturday. So, here is what I received in the mail this week:

Monday:

Confessions of a Reluctant Recessionista by Amy Silver (this was an Ebay purchase);

L.M. Montgomery by Jane Urquhart (for review from Penguin Canada)

The Bicycle Diaries by David Byrne (for review from Penguin Canada)

Tuesday:

Checkout A life on the Tills by Anna Sam (Brit memoir) (for review from the author)

Lux's Practical Erotica Adventures (for review from the publisher)

Wednesday:

Nothing

Thursday:

The Canadian Weather Trivia Calendar - this is a full size 2010 calendar

(for review from the publisher)

Living Outside the Lines by Lesley Choyce (Canadian author) (for review from the publisher)

Love Under Cover by Jessica Brody (for review from the publisher and the author)

Lit a memoir by Mary Karr (for review by the publisher)

Death Message by Mark Billingham (I think this one came from a Shelf-Awareness offer)

Friday:

The Shoe Princess Guide to the Galaxy by Emma Bowd (British Chick Lit) (for review from the publisher).

A BIG thank you goes out to all the publishers and the authors who are sooooo thoughtful. I am grateful.

As you can see, I received lots and lots of great stuff this week which kind of makes up for the last month or so where things have been very dead. I am thrilled because I now have my "holiday" books to read.

As some of you may know, I started a new job in September at McGill University (yes folks! the number 1 rated University in Canada according to McLean's magazine AND the 12th highest (and only Canadian university) in the world as rated by Times Higher-QS! we can go toe to toe with Harvard, Yale and Oxford ANY DAY :) anyway, the University is closed between Christmas and New Years (my first time ever working for an employer who will be closed during this time so I had to stock up on good reading material.

Having said that, I was looking around my house and noticed how the books have been having book babies again! These books just somehow seem to multiply without me realizing it! Here is a picture of my work area (and yes, it does look like that all the time - the only thing I can squeeze on my desk is a cup of tea or coffee - which, by the way, is quite dangerous as I have seen many a cups of coffee fly off the desk and crash to the floor by a falling book!

I also took a picture of my library - which is STILL overflowing with Archies that I bought this summer at a flea market AND all my other books. I know that to some, this may not seem like a lot, but I am a true Virgo and I hate clutter and having too many piles around - so I try to keep my piles contained in one library, but as you can see its starting to spill over!!!! BUT I LOVE BOOKS WHAT CAN I DO????

I am also excited! The weekend of November 14th and 15th, Chapters and Indigo our two major (and really only) bookstores are offering all books at 25% off (yes folks, THAT IS a big event in the book world in Montreal as these sales come about once every 3 years or so). I already have a list of about 4 books that I want to buy (sigh!).

Well, that's all I have for now, feel free to post your comments, I love to read them!!! Thanks!

REVIEW for The Trump Card

Thank you Michelle at Simon & Schuster for sending me this book.

TITLE: The Trump Card

AUTHOR: Ivanka Trump

GENRE: Biography/Business

RATING: 3 Stars

Okay, I have never been impressed by any of the Trumps, but I have to say that I was kind of curious about Ivanka Trump - I really wanted to know how she got where she is and was, frankly, seriously thinking that she was simply riding daddy's bandwagon. Therefore, I was kind of interested in reading The Trump Card.

First, I have to say that I was actually surprised at the education that Trump got. I was ready to give odds that she simply asked daddy for a job with a big salary and got it - but apparently that was not the case. This book is partly biography and partly business book. While the advice is okay, the really fascinating part to me was just how much Ivanka Trump thinks of Ivanka Trump. I mean this girl is not in need of any self-confidence courses. At one point, she opens the paragraph by saying "I always knew that I was beautiful..." yikes! she is definitely her father's daughter.

I was glad to see that she appears bright and intelligent and does send a positive message to young women, so based on this, I thought this book rated a 3 stars.

Her story is somewhat interesting and kept me reading, although at times I found myself serious shaking my head at some of her somewhat inflated comments....

REVIEW for Love to Love you Bradys

A big thank you goes out to Jennifer at ECW Press for sending me this book!

TITLE: Love to Love You Bradys

AUTHORS: Ted Nicholson, Susan Olsen and

Lisa Sutton

GENRE: Coffee table

RATING: 3 stars

For some reason, although I am of the right age, I never really got on the Brady Bunch bandwagon when I was growing up. However, there has been such fascination with the show and such a cult following that I have been curious to find out more about it.

Love to Love You Bradys is partly coffee table book and partly memoir (for Susan Olsen anyway). This book is a mixture of photos (lots of great color shots) and insider information (mainly on the part of Olsen who played Cindy) on the Brady Bunch Variety Show. This book does cover ONLY this part of the "Brady" saga and, in itself, is actually quite interesting.

Its fun to cringe at all the horrid costumes and frankly, at the whole Brady Bunch Variety Show as a whole.

Olsen does a good job of giving us lots of tidbits about everyone on the show, while at the same time remaining highly respectful of everyone involved (I am sure that there must have been lots and lots of dirt she could have told us about).

This book is a fun look at this period of television, but otherwise is kind of blah. I think this is best aimed at an audience that is somewhat fanatical (and I know there are many of you out there) about all things Bradys.

For the rest of us, the book is a fun walk down memory lane - but kind of quickly forgotten.

REVIEW for The Girl on Legare Street

Thank you to Joan Schulhafer for sending me this book to read and review!

TITLE: The Girl on Legare Street

AUTHOR: Karen White

GENRE: Contemporary Fiction

RATING: 3 Stars

I received a copy of this book and was instantly intrigued by the premise. While I am not a huge fan of contemporary fiction (I much prefer chick lit), this book sounded very interesting. The Girl on Legare Street is actually a follow up to another book entitled The House on Tradd Street - which I have never read and frankly, I think would have helped me understand the backstory of Melanie - the main character of both books.

Nonetheless, I meet Melanie who has gone through some difficult times in The House on Tradd Street. As Melanie enters the second book in the series, she is trying to get her act together as well as her career as a real estate broker. Just as she thinks her life is back on track, she will come face to face with her long lost mother, who is back in town and wants to meet her as well as make a bid on their old "family" home a three story Georgian double-house. Although Melanie does not want to meet her mother, nor help her restore the house, her mother prevails - by telling Melanie that she has been having deadly visions of Melanie and they involve the house.

Working together, although reluctantly, mother and daughter will get to know each other despite each other and may have to come face to face with an evil spirit - who lives on the supernatural side (or maybe not?).

This book is a tad slow moving - kind of gets bogged down with too many details at one point, however, the book pace seriously picks up once we get into the house and our main characters end up face to face with a dark force.

The writing is good, but again, a little too detailed in some places. It also took me a while to connect with Ginette or Melanie - never quite certain about Ginette's true intentions and trusting nobody.

This book was good because of the paranormal aspect of it, which is weird, because usually that is the aspect that turns me off - but this was sufficiently creepy enough to keep me engaged.

REVIEW FOR Dark tiger

A big than you goes out to Simon and Schuster for sending this wonderful book to me!





TITLE: Dark Tiger

AUTHOR: William Tapply

GENRE: Thriller

RATING: 4 Stars




I am a huge, huge William Tapply fan and I am extremely sad to found out that he recently passed away. I am, however, glad that he wrote some final installments in his series of novels - specifically the Stoney Calhoun novels) AND the absolutely, wonderful Brady Coyne series (which is definitely the best).

In Dark Tiger, we find Stoney Calhoun - still as broody and determined as ever - however, this time, Stoney will find himself the victim of a man who is trying to get him to do something - all of which will be tied back to Stoney's presence at a VA hospital almost a decade before - at which time, he had lost all of his memories.

Dark Tiger is much edgier and darker than Tapply's previous two entries in the series. This novel focuses alot more on Calhoun's past which will end up colliding with his present and will go a long way in explaining some of the mystery that surrounds him (and will explain a little bit about why he is the way he is). As Calhoun acts as fishing guide at the lodge, he will find himself immersed in a mystery which will lead to violence and perhaps some answers that have been long ago buried.

Tapply goes above his usual brand of simmering "whodunnit" in this one and really branches out the Calhoun character and I read through this thing at the speed of light. LOVED IT!!!!!!

REVIEW FOR Katie and the Spanish Princess

A big thank you goes out to HarperCollins for sending this wonderful book to me!!

TITLE: Katie and the Spanish Princess

AUTHOR: James Mayhew

GENRE: Children's Book

RATING: 4 Stars




As soon as I saw this book, I fell in love with it. It is absolutely beautiful - the illustrations are wonderful and the storyline is adorable. I sat down with my little niece and we read through the book as a bedtime story - twice.

Katie and the Spanish Princess is a sweet story about Katie is going to celebrate her birthday - but she needs a fancy dress! where better to be inspired than visiting an art gallery where Katie will get to explore and live in 5 paintings. Not only is the story extremely clever, it is also educational (although I did not mention that to my niece).

As I mentioned the illustrations are beautiful and it makes you want to slowly turn the pages and explore each illustration in great detail absolutely enchanting.

I loved, loved this book.