Thursday, October 27, 2016

Along the Infinite Sea

~ I received no compensation and opinions are 100% my own or my family. ~



Synopsis (from Amazon):   An epic story of star-crossed lovers in pre-war Europe collides with a woman on the run in the swinging '60s, in another riveting novel of the Schuyler sisters from the New York Times bestselling author of Tiny Little Thing.

In the autumn of 1966, Pepper Schuyler's problems are in a class of their own. To find a way to take care of herself and the baby she carries—the result of an affair with a married, legendary politician—she fixes up a beautiful and rare vintage Mercedes and sells it at auction.  

But the car's new owner, the glamorous Annabelle Dommerich, has her own secrets: a Nazi husband, a Jewish lover, a flight from Europe, and a love so profound it transcends decades. As the many threads of Annabelle's life before the Second World War stretch out to entangle Pepper in 1960s America, and the father of her unborn baby tracks her down to a remote town in coastal Georgia, the two women must come together to face down the shadows of their complicated pasts.




One (or more) Sentence Summary: This is a very difficult review for me to write.  I know so many wonderful reviews of Along the Infinite Sea and every one I know has recommended.  However, it wasn't for me.  I can't really pinpoint why....it was enjoyable, but I was not left wanting more.  Please look at other reviews, because I know so many people that have really enjoyed the book.  

I had a hard time going back and forth between Annabelle and Pepper.  I also couldn't get past the encounter between Annabelle and Pepper and thought it was a bit unrealistic.  I did enjoy Annabelle's story, I just had a hard time weaving Pepper into present day.  


Would I Read Other Books by the Author: I would like to read Overseas and A Hundred Summers.


A graduate of Stanford University with an MBA from Columbia, Beatriz spent several years in New York and London hiding her early attempts at fiction, first on company laptops as a corporate and communications strategy consultant, and then as an at-home producer of small persons.  She now lives with her husband and four children near the Connecticut shore, where she divides her time between writing and laundry.

Visit her online at www.beatrizwilliams.com, on Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/beatrizwilliamsauthor, and on Twitter at @bcwilliamsbooks.


Tuesday, October 25, 2016

Football Widows

~ I received no compensation and opinions are 100% my own or my family. ~



Synopsis (from Amazon): A glimpse into the secret and unique lives of the women behind NFL coaches—game day takes on a whole new meaning as these lonely women turn up the heat off the field. 


During football season, when NFL coaches gear up for war on the gridiron, their wives are left to fend for themselves. NFL wife B.J. Almond has had enough. When she walks in to find her head coach husband in bed with one of his assistant coaches’ wives, she is livid. But what really sets her off is when she discovers the other wives knew about the affair all along. Now she’s furious and hungry for revenge. And what better way to exact that revenge than to air everyone’s dirty laundry in a juicy tell-all book! 

B.J. knows where all the bodies are buried, and she’s digging up all the dirt. But before she starts writing, she’s running up the score with a lawsuit against her husband and his mistress. Armed with flight records, copies of naughty emails, phone records, and pictures, B.J. isn’t holding back. And neither are the other football wives, who will stop at nothing to keep their dirty secrets from going public.


One (or more) Sentence Summary: Perfect story as football season has kicked off!  I love books that incorporate sports (football, baseball and hockey are my favorite).  Football Widows is filled with all sorts of dirty secrets.  Those coaches wives are too wild to keep up with and has left me wondering how much of the book is really fiction.  Is Pat Tucker of NFL  the equivalent of Jackie Collins of Hollywood? They are so crazy you won't be left "deflated." Okay, bad joke, I know.  Great book anytime of year, but perfect fall read!

Would I Read Other Books by the Author: Sign me up for all of them.  


By day, Pat Tucker works as a radio news director in Houston, Texas. By night, she is a talented writer with a knack for telling page-turning stories. She is the author of Somebody Has to PayThe Cocktail Club, Sideline Scandals, Party Girl, Daddy’s Maybe, Football Widows (soon to be a movie), Daddy by Default, and Lachez (an original e-short). She is the coauthor with Earl Sewell of Loyalty Among Friends and A Social Affair and has participated in three anthologies, including New York Times bestselling author Zane’s Caramel Flava. A graduate of San Jose State University, Pat is a member of the National and Houston Association of Black Journalists and Sigma Gamma Rho Sorority, Inc. She is married with two children.

Thursday, October 20, 2016

Prom and Prejudice




Synopsis (from Amazon):  From the much-buzzed-about author of THE LONELY HEARTS CLUB (already blurbed by Stephenie Meyer, Lauren Myracle, and Jen Calonita), a prom-season delight of Jane Austen proportions.


It is a truth universally acknowledged, that a single girl of high standing at Longbourn Academy must be in want of a prom date.
After winter break, the girls at the very prestigious Longbourn Academy become obsessed with the prom. Lizzie Bennet, who attends Longbourn on a scholarship, isn't interested in designer dresses and expensive shoes, but her best friend, Jane, might be - especially now that Charles Bingley is back from a semester in London.
Lizzie is happy about her friend's burgeoning romance but less than impressed by Charles's friend, Will Darcy, who's snobby and pretentious. Darcy doesn't seem to like Lizzie either, but she assumes it's because her family doesn't have money. Clearly, Will Darcy is a pompous jerk - so why does Lizzie find herself drawn to him anyway?




One (or more) Sentence Summary: What a nice story.  First let me give a shout out on the fact that this was a clean, nice language, great lessons learned type of book.  I bought this book at my middle schoolers book fair.  I read it first to ensure it was "clean."  Also, there are great messages throughout the book.  Don't judge a book by its cover (or people), work hard and you will be rewarded, be kind to others, girls can be very mean, and look out for the bad boys!  Now I will let my 7th graders read it and I know they will like it just as much.

Would I Read Other Books by the Author:  I would like to read The Lonely Hearts Club!



Elizabeth Eulberg was born and raised in Wisconsin before heading off to college at Syracuse University and making a career in the New York City book biz. Now a full-time writer, she is the author of The Lonely Hearts Club, Prom & Prejudice, Take a Bow, Revenge of the Girl with the Great Personality, Better Off Friends, and We Can Work it Out. The Great Shelby Holmes, the first book in her debut middle-grade series, comes out on September 6, 2016. She lives outside of Manhattan with her three guitars, two keyboards, and one drumstick.



Tuesday, October 18, 2016

The Death of Bees



Synopsis:   A riveting, brilliantly written debut novel, The Death of Bees is a coming-of-age story in which two young sisters attempt to hold the world at bay after the mysterious death of their parents.
Marnie and Nelly, left on their own in Glasgow's Hazlehurst housing estate, attempt to avoid suspicion until Marnie can become a legal guardian for her younger sister.
Written with fierce sympathy and beautiful precision, and told in alternating voices, The Death of Bees by Lisa O’Donnell is an enchanting, grimly comic tale of lost souls who, unable to answer for themselves, can answer only for each other.





One (or more) Sentence Summary:  Two sisters trying to survive in the world they didn't ask for, but ended up being their reality.  Alternating chapters between the two sisters and a neighbor, it is one crazy twisted journey.



Sophie Kinsella is a writer and former financial journalist. She is the number one bestselling author of Can You Keep a Secret?, The Undomestic Goddess, Remember Me?, Twenties Girl, I’ve Got Your Number and Wedding Night, the hugely popular Shopaholic novels and the Young Adult novel Finding Audrey. She lives in London with her husband and family. She is also the author of several bestselling novels under the name of Madeleine Wickham. Visit her website at www.sophiekinsella.co.uk.


Saturday, October 15, 2016

Christmas in Paris

~ I received no compensation and opinions are 100% my own or my family. ~



Synopsis (from Amazon): Anita Hughes's Christmas in Paris is a moving and heartwarming story about love, trust, and self-discovery. Set during the most magical week of the year, the glorious foods and fashions of the most romantic city in the world are sure to take your breath away.


Isabel Lawson is standing on the balcony of her suite at the Hotel de Crillon as she gazes at the twinkling lights of the Champs-Élysées and wonders if she’s made a terrible mistake. She was supposed to be visiting the Christmas tree in the Place de la Concorde, and eating escargots and macaroons with her new husband on their honeymoon. But a week before the wedding, she called it off. Isabel is an ambitious Philadelphia finance woman, and Neil suddenly decided to take over his grandparents' farm. Isabel wasn't ready to trade her briefcase for a pair of rubber boots and a saddle.
When Neil suggested she use their honeymoon tickets for herself, she thought it would give her a chance to clear her head. That is until she locks herself out on the balcony in the middle of winter. Thankfully her neighbor Alec, a French children’s illustrator, comes to her rescue. He too is nursing a broken heart at the Crillon for the holidays. With a new friend by her side, Isabel is determined to use her time in the "city of lights" wisely. After a chance encounter with a fortune teller, and a close call with a taxi, she starts to question everything she thought was important.



One (or more) Sentence Summary: Christmas in Paris makes me want to reserve a hotel suite and buy a plane ticket on the first flight to Pairs.  While very predictiable, there is enough little turns that keeps it interesting.   There were such great descriptions of events and places to see in Paris that I could imagine myself there. I loved how Isabel and Alec meet and the store develops between the two of them and yet we learn about each person individually as well. 

Would I Read Other Books by the Author:  I felt like I have read some thing by Anita before, and finally realized it was Market Street.  Check out my review here


ANITA HUGHES is the author of Monarch BeachMarket Street, Lake Como, French Coast, Rome in Love, Island in the Sea, Santorini Sunsets, and Christmas in Paris. She attended UC Berkeley's Masters in Creative Writing Program, and lives in Dana Point, California, where she is at work on her next novel.

Thursday, October 13, 2016

Sleeping Arrangements


Synopsis:   Chloe needs a holiday. She's sick of making wedding dresses, her partner Philip has troubles at work, and the whole family wants a break. Her wealthy friend Gerard has offered the loan of his luxury villa in Spain--perfect. 

     Hugh is not a happy man. His immaculate wife Amanda seems more interested in her new kitchen than in him, and he works so hard to pay for it, he barely has time for his children. Maybe he'll have a chance to bond with them on holiday. His old friend Gerard has lent them a luxury villa in Spain--perfect. 

     Both families arrive at the villa and realize the awful truth--Gerard has double-booked. What no one else realizes is that Chloe and Hugh have a history; and as tensions rise within the two families, old passions resurface. It seems that Gerard's 'accidental' double booking may not be an accident after all...




One (or more) Sentence Summary:  A vacation full of funny drama! Typical outrageously crazy, funny, Wickham/Kinsella style book. 

Would I Read Other Books by the Author:  I have a few books on my TBR shelf already!  Madeleine Wickham is really Sophia Kinsella.  


Sophie Kinsella is a writer and former financial journalist. She is the number one bestselling author of Can You Keep a Secret?, The Undomestic Goddess, Remember Me?, Twenties Girl, I’ve Got Your Number and Wedding Night, the hugely popular Shopaholic novels and the Young Adult novel Finding Audrey. She lives in London with her husband and family. She is also the author of several bestselling novels under the name of Madeleine Wickham. Visit her website at www.sophiekinsella.co.uk.

Tuesday, October 11, 2016

Milkrun




Synopsis (from Amazon): When Jackie's boyfriend announces, out of the blue, that he's outgrown coupledom and is off to Thailand 'to find himself' (and a leggy Claudia Schiffer look-alike), Jackie is struck by a bizarre irony - her (almost) glittering career is devoted to editing romance novels; yet here she is, single again, without even a hint of a meaningful relationship - other than with her TV remote and pizza delivery boy. Undaunted, Jackie does what any smart, self-respecting twentysomething would do - transforms herself into a sex kitten in knee-high black leather boots, and goes looking for Mr. Wrong! Astonishingly, Jackie finds she has a talent for being single in the city. Ditching inhibitions along with her sensible wardrobe, she braves Boston's hippest bars and discovers her true self - and a whole lot more...



One (or more) Sentence Summary: Another great book by Sarah Mlynowski.  Jackie is too funny and love the humor throughout the book. The best part is she finds out what she wants in life and goes for it.  You will laugh a lot while reading this book.  I listened to the book via Audible....the narrator was perfect for the story.


Would I Read Other Books by the Author: I have read so many of Sarah Mlynowski's books.  I don't care if they are middle school, young adult or adult books.  I love them all.  Can't wait for the next one.


Sarah is the author of both the WHATEVER AFTER and MAGIC IN MANHATTAN series, as well as DON'T EVEN THINK ABOUT IT (March 2014), MILKRUN, FISHBOWL, AS SEEN ON TV, MONKEY BUSINESS, GIMME A CALL, TEN THINGS WE DID (AND PROBABLY SHOULDN'T HAVE) and HOW TO BE BAD (along with E.Lockhart and Lauren Myracle). Sarah's short stories and novellas include A LITTLE BIT BROKEN, A NICE FLING IS HARD TO FIND, KNOW IT ALL and CRUISIN'. Sarah also co-edited the bestselling chick-lit collections GIRLS' NIGHT IN and GIRLS' NIGHT OUT and co-wrote the first ever guide to writing chick lit, SEE JANE WRITE. 

Sarah's books have been translated into twenty-one languages and optioned to Hollywood. She was born in Montreal but now lives and writes in New York City.

Monday, October 10, 2016

My Pancakes Taste Different Today!

~ I received no compensation and opinions are 100% my own or my family. ~


Synopsis (from Amazon):  Could a Pancake have the power to shape a child's view of their world? It was a surprise to Ethan that his favorite breakfast, a stack of steaming hot pancakes, would reveal many ways that nature and people work together. He discovered that everyone has a hand in taking care of nature. Ethan would have never guessed that his simple, innocent act of tossing an oil can into the lake, just to make a big splash for fun, could change his whole wide world. The slippery journey of the oily OOZE leaking from the can, across the lake, down the river to the beaver ponds, and into the fields of grain brought all of Ethan's friends together. Everyone pitched in to clean up the OOZE from the lake, the fish, and the fields, to get rid of the mess around the lake they all loved. They celebrated with a party and plenty of pancakes.



One (or more) Sentence Summary:  My Pancakes Test Different Today! would be a great book to read to children near earth day.  I would suggest reading the book schools, local libraries and community events.  It has a great message, which means so much when selecting a book for young children.


Here is a question and answer with Heather and Bruce Galpert authors of My Pancakes Taste Different Today!

What inspired the idea behind this book?
 As a young father with two sons, I read a lot to my kids...I also spent most Sundays cooking pancakes with and for them--I ate quite a few myself! Trying to teach my kids life lessons, recycling and protecting the environment were also concepts that were important, but difficult to teach to young kids. I always felt that it was hard for children to grasp how their actions could impact the environment positively or negatively. The idea of My Pancakes Taste Different Today! came out of that quest.

What was the most rewarding moment you experienced while writing this book? 
Seeing the beautiful artwork that Barbara Cate did, and how it worked in harmony with the writing to really tell the story. Heather and I have had such a wonderful time working on this together –it’s our baby.

Where did your interest in writing children’s books begin?
I have always had my favorite books...The 4 Chinese Brothers, Ferdinand the Bull, A Fly Went By, A Fish out of Water, Go Dog Go...many of these were based on cause and effect...progressive events. I am also a cartoon addict, still to this day I spend more time watching cartoons than any other medium. My son Evan is a brilliant voice over artist and my dream is to see him as a character in an animated film.

What are some ways to get young people interested in the environment and what foods they eat?
Farmer’s Markets, natural groceries, growing seeds from a packet at home. I think getting kids to engage with nature is the best way...sadly this is so hard for many kids around the world. I had the fortune to live in both Japan and the Philippines as a child and young adult, and the differences in the way each of those cultures reveres and cares for their environment is vast. It really begins culturally at a very young age.

How should kids be taught about personal responsibility and their role in sustainability? By their parents, actions speak the loudest.

How would you describe the importance of investing in our children? 
They are all we have for the future, a dollar invested in them is worth many more dollars in return down the road. You are seeing this in action today with all of the technology innovations from well-educated Millennials

How do you like to eat your pancakes?
I like putting chopped apples in the batter, adding cinnamon, and then topping with a blend of butter, syrup, and raspberry jam! Don’t forget to sprinkle powdered sugar on at the last minute.

What do you hope readers take away from My Pancakes Taste Different Today!?
I hope that parents read the book to their kids and that the book is also used as an early reader. This will be the best way to teach children how their actions impact their world.

What future projects are you working on?
We have two books in the hopper that we are both very excited about. One thing at a time I am told by my wife, but creativity has no timeline!


Heather and Bruce Galpert authors of
My Pancakes Taste Different Toda
y!
1.
What inspired the idea behind this book?
BRUCE: As a young father with two sons, I read a lot t
o my kids
...
I also spent most
Sundays cooking pancakes with and for them
--
I ate quite a few myself! Trying to teach
my kids life lessons, recycling and protecting the environm
ent were also concepts that
were important, but difficult to teach to young kids.
I always felt that it was hard for
children to grasp how their actions could impact the en
vironment positively or negatively.
The idea of My Pancakes Taste Different Today! came out o
f that quest.


Bruce is 56 years old, lives with his wife Heather in Santa Fe, New Mexico where Bruce has lived for 27 years. Bruce attended the University of Dallas studying International Finance and Economics. Bruce has two adult sons, Matthew and Evan, and has two grandchildren, Ethan age 3 and Avery age 1. Growing up, Bruce lived in the Philippine Islands and Japan, and enjoys traveling, writing, skiing, chess, playing guitar, cooking and entertaining, playing tennis and golf. As a professional, Bruce has been an investment advisor for 32 years, and recommends that the best investment is an investment in our children. 

Heather is 44 years old, and lives with her husband Bruce in Santa Fe, New Mexico. Heather has worked most of her professional career in Special Events and Fund Raising for non profit organizations such as the Museum of New Mexico Foundation, The Santa Fe Community Foundation, The Santa Fe Botanical Garden. She is a graduate of Evergreen State College with a Liberal Arts Degree. Heather enjoys traveling, is a gourmet cook, and enjoys playing tennis and golf. Santa Fe artist Barbara Cate is an illustrator of books and has a card line which may be seen at mesamooncards.com and at GardenandSoul.com. My Pancakes Taste Different Today! is her latest book. Barbara has lived in Hawaii and enjoys teaching children.

Check out their website at http://www.thepancakesbook.com/


Buy links:








Thursday, October 6, 2016

Just Add Magic

~ I received no compensation and opinions are 100% my own or my family. ~



Synopsis (from Amazon): Take three friends. Add an old cookbook. Combine with cute boys and a pinch of magic…and see what kind of chaos ensues! When Kelly Quinn and her two BFFs discover a dusty old cookbook while cleaning out the attic, the girls decide to try a few of the mysterious and supposedly magical recipes that are inside. To their surprise, the Keep ’Em Quiet Cobbler actually silences Kelly’s pesky little brother and the Hexberry Tart puts a curse on mean girl Charlotte. Is it possible that the recipes really are magic? Who wrote them and where did they come from? And most importantly of all, when boys get involved, what kind of trouble are the girls stirring up for themselves?



One (or more) Sentence Summary: I read Just Add Magic because I loved Lucky Me (now called Lost in Ireland, click here for review) by the same author.  I really like to cook, especially with my Grandma Pat (my mom can't cooks and burns EVERYTHING).  I did like Just Add Magic, but I didn't think it was as funny as Lucky Me.  

Would I Read Other Books by the Author: Yes, I want to read Lost in Hollywood that came out in August. 


Cindy Callaghan is the author of the middle grade novels Just Add MagicLost in LondonLost in ParisLost in Rome, and Lost in Ireland (formerly titled Lucky Me) all with Aladdin M!X. She lives in Wilmington, Delaware.


Amazon 
Thanks for reading my review

Wednesday, October 5, 2016

On the Rocks

~ I received no compensation and opinions are 100% my own or my family. ~



Synopsis (from Amazon): Ever since she was a little girl, Abby Wilkes has dreamed of her wedding, the day when she'd wear a pretty white dress and look like a princess. . . .


That was before her life fell apart in front of the whole world. Her longtime boyfriend-turned-fiancé, Ben, unceremoniously dumped her—by changing his status to single on Facebook—while she was trying on the most gorgeous Vera Wang dress for the big day.
Worried, her best friend, Grace, devises the perfect plan to get Abby back on her game. The two of them are going to escape sweltering Boston and its constant reminders of Ben and head to Newport for the summer. In a quaint rented cottage by the sea, Grace is confident the girls will enjoy cool breezes, cocktails, and crowds of gorgeous men.
But Abby and Grace discover that in this era of social media there is no real escape. Dating has never been easy. But now that the rules have changed and the boundaries are blurred beyond recognition, will they ever find true love? And if they do, how can romance stand a chance when a girl's every word and move can go viral with a single click?
As the summer winds down to Labor Day, Abby will make some surprising discoveries—about love, men, friendship . . . and, most important, herself.



One (or more) Sentence Summary: While I thought On the Rocks was a good, what I liked bested about it was the transformation Abby made.  I liked the person she became over the summer after her finance called off the wedding via Facebook. I listened to On the Rocks and it kept me entertained during my commute.

Would I Read Other Books by the Author: Yes, l LOVED Bond Girl (click here for review).  I would like to read Lost Along the Way.  


Erin Duffy graduated from Georgetown University in 2000 with a B.A. in English and went on to spend more than a decade working in fixed income sales on Wall Street. Bond Girl is her first novel.