Wednesday, August 13, 2014

Lucky Me - A Must Read!!


~ I received a copy of this book from the publisher or author to facilitate this review.  I received no compensation and opinions are 100% my own or my family. ~




Synopsis (from Amazon): After breaking a chain letter, can superstitious Megan find a way to turn her luck around?

Meghan McGlinchey is the most superstitious girl in her family—and probably in the entire state of Delaware. When she receives a chain letter from a stranger in Ireland, Meghan immediately passes it on, taking only a tiny shortcut in the directions.

But after a disastrous day, made complete by losing the election for class president and embarrassing herself in front of the entire school, Meghan realizes that tiny shortcut was a big mistake. Thankfully, her family was already headed to Ireland on spring break, and Meghan makes it her mission to find the original sender and break her extremely unlucky streak.

With the help of an eccentric cast of characters—and one very cute Irish boy—can Meghan figure out a way to stop her bad luck? Or is she cursed forever?



One (or more) Sentence Summary:  My Mom and I read Lucky Me together and I am not sure who liked in more; me or her.  It doesn't really matter because we both LOVED it.  

I had never heard of a chain letter (of course my mom did), but I would love to start one now.  My mom said she use to get them all the time as a kid.   How cool is getting mail, right?

Megan is absolutely hilarious, as are her sisters.  The book is 100% funny.  

Favorite Character(s):  Megan, Finn and Carissa were the best.  I think Mrs. Buck was so funny.  She would make an awesome grandmother!

Setting:  Mostly in Ireland traveling the country side trying to find the links to the chain letter.  Ireland is one of my top 5 countries I would LOVE to go visit. It is in my Mom's top two!

Fast read/slow read:  I couldn't wait for my Mom to get home from work so we could read together for 20 minutes.  We often went way past the 20 minutes, since we both loved the story.

Cover:  I just love Megan's shirt.  I have one very similar.  The cover is perfect for the story.

Would I Read Other Books by the Author:  My Mom has read Lost in London (click here for the review).  My Mom and I would both love to read more books by Cindy Callaghan.



Cindy Callaghan grew up in New Jersey and attended college at the University of Southern California before earning her BA in English and French, and MBA from the University of Delaware (Megan in the book is from Delaware!).

She is the author of three tween novels all published by Simon & Schuster, JUST ADD MAGIC (2010), LOST IN LONDON (2013) and LUCKY ME (2014). The ebook JUST ADD A FAMOUS TV CHEF is available for download from www.cindycallaghan.com.


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I have to share my two cents….Lucky Me is just too cute for words.  It is perfect for 5th grade up.  It is clean and a very funny story.  Hard to find these days!  It reminded me of Meg Cabot/Sophia Kinsella for kids.  Absolutely adorable with so much humor!  Well done Cindy, well done!

Friday, August 1, 2014

The Other Life

~ I received a copy of this book from the publisher or author to facilitate this review.  I received no compensation and opinions are 100% my own or my family. ~


Synopsis (from Amazon):  If you could return to the road not taken...would you?

Quinn Braverman has a perfect life, with a loving husband, an adorable son, and another baby on the way.

Quinn also has an ominous secret: she knows that another version of her life exists...one in which she made totally different life choices. But she's never been tempted to switch lives-until a shocking turn of events pushes her to cross over, and she discovers the one person she thought she'd lost forever: Her mother.

But Quinn can't have both lives. Soon, she must decide which she really wants-the one she has...or the other life...

One (or more) Sentence Summary:  What a powerful question, eh? If you could return to the road not takenwould you?  The Other Life, drummed up a lot of questions for me.  Which of those road not taken would I go back and possible take?  Quinn takes us on such a journey and it is one you won't forget.

The part I really liked, was her going back to her mother and being able to ask questions and talk with her.  What I wouldn't give for that to be able to happen.  The Other Life will leave thinking that is for sure.  Also, watch out for the ending, I never saw it coming…what a shocker!

Favorite Character(s):  Quinn's neighbor is pretty funny and adds some humor to this otherwise serious page turner!

Fast read/slow read:  Average read, you are left wanting more.

What Others Are Saying (from Amazon):  
"Gripping! A truly fascinating story of love, loss, and a magical place in between."
– Beth Harbison, New York Times bestselling author of Hope In A Jar

"The Other Life is a provocative and unique tale of the road not taken. Ellen Meister puts a magical, masterful spin on one of my favorite questions: "What if?" What if you took both roads? You won't want to miss this one!"
– Sarah Addison Allen, New York Times bestselling author of The Girl Who Chased the Moon

"Ellen Meister makes a big leap toward the literary in The Other Life, a book where "What if" becomes the most powerful question in the world. This is the thinking woman's beach read, a love story to the modern family, written with a deep and lovely understanding of mothers and daughters and the sacrifices they'll make for each other."
– Joshilyn Jackson, New York Times bestselling author of The Girl Who Stopped Swimming

Would I Read Other Books by the Author: Sign me up!


Ellen Meister has written five novels: DOROTHY PARKER DRANK HERE (Putnam 2015), FAREWELL, DOROTHY PARKER (Putnam 2013), THE OTHER LIFE (Putnam 2011), THE SMART ONE (HarperCollins 2008) and SECRET CONFESSIONS OF THE APPLEWOOD PTA (HarperCollins 2006). She has also published short stories and essays, and one novelette, THE WISHING CAKE. She teaches creative writing at Hofstra University Continuing Education, and does public speaking about her books and other writing-related issues. Ellen runs a popular Dorothy Parker page on Facebook at www.facebook.com/DorothyParkerQuotes. For more information visit www.ellenmeister.com.