My Big Greek Family

Synopsis: A warm-hearted, humorous, family saga where traditions are challenged as three sisters embark on a journey of self-discovery in the quest for happiness and love.

Georgina Andreou is at a crossroad in her life; professionally she is successful, but her personal life is unfulfilled and lacking. As the family descend to celebrate her thirtieth birthday, Georgina finds it a struggle to wear the cloak of I'm-doing-just-fine. Still at home with her parents and siblings she is torn between the traditional Greek values she has been raised with and a more liberated, adventurous future. The time has finally come for Georgina to make some serious changes, if she is to lead the life she wants to lead as opposed to the life she is expected to lead. An encounter with Jake O'Sullivan finds her ready to take a chance on romance, but will she stumble at the first obstacle?

Georgina is not the only sibling in the Andreou household having to take stock of her life; Katherina is forced to face a secret she has kept buried for many years as feelings emerge for a new colleague, despite her resolve to make a go of a relationship with a suitor introduced by the family. Meanwhile, Sophia, the youngest of the sisters, and the most rebellious, discovers a new spiritual direction in her life.

A last-minute holiday to Greece strengthens the sisters' bond as secrets unravel and hidden emotions finally surface on the veranda of their holiday retreat ...

Author Interview:  I am thrilled to talk to with author Maria Constantine!  Maria Constantine was born and raised in Muswell Hill, North London, and currently lives in Southgate, Barnet.  Her parents emigrated to the UK from Cyprus in the 1960s.  Maria has fulfilled her life-long ambition to write; she’s a true example of a modern author-entrepreneur, having studied proofreading and editing at her local college. Maria is a keen cook and shares some of her many authentic Greek recipes, which have been passed down to her by her mother, both in the novel and on her website. She is currently working on a sequel.

Did you write My Big Greek Family from experience?

The characters and events in My Big Greek Family are fictional, but I did draw on my Greek-Cypriot origins for inspiration.

I have been really lucky to have travelled to Greece. Can I assume you have been before? What is your place?

I have been on holiday to mainland Greece and to some of the islands. My first visit was to Athens and Zakynthos.  Over the years I have travelled to northern Greece, Skiathos, Skopolos and Mykonos. I coincided a holiday to Greece with making notes for some of the chapters in My Big Greek Family and on another occasion I visited the Acropolis with the knowledge that I was taking two of my characters with me. It was a wonderful experience to find quiet spots to scribble away in my notebook as I pictured my characters, Georgina and Sophia, exploring the ancient site.

What is your favorite Greek food?

I love eating mezethes, where one dish is followed by another and you spend hours enjoying a meal with family and friends.

What is your favorite Greek drink?

I enjoy a glass of ouzo after mezethes, a frappe at the beach and tea brewed with cinnamon and cloves in the winter.

What is your favorite thing to do in Greece?

I love swimming in the sea, particularly when the mountains and forests form the backdrop.

What is your favorite writing spot?

My study, overlooking the garden – but facing the window can be distracting as I often stare up at the sky daydreaming.

Do you have a writing routine?

I try and get my writing done during the day when the house is quiet and I can focus on my work, but I do have to alter the routine during school holidays.

Who are some of your favorite authors?

It is difficult to pick because over the years I have enjoyed reading so many books. Jane Austen has always remained a firm favourite, as has Roald Dahl, particularly his collection of short stories. John Grisham’s books had me hooked for years and I am also a big fan of Marian Keyes.

Can you read other books while writing your own?

Yes, definitely. I don’t find it distracting at all.

What are you currently reading.

Love Letters by Katie Fforde – it was recommended by a friend and Laura, the protagonist, is a character the reader is drawn to follow as she grows in confidence and comes out of her shell. 

Favorites:

Genre

I read a lot of women’s fiction and sometimes mystery/crime.

Color

Red in the winter, particularly at Christmas time, yellow in spring and white, pink and sky blue in the summer.

Food

Food has always been a big part of family life; my mum is a great cook and I enjoy cooking too. I don’t have a favourite dish, but I do have a penchant for deserts and cannot resist a crème brûllée.

Animal

I would have to say dogs. But our guinea pigs, Paws and Rocky, are very special too: they are intelligent, inquisitive and very healthy eaters – they eat all their greens!

Which would you pick:

Pedi/mani

In the summer a pedicure and any other time of year, probably a manicure.

Ice cream sundae/ice cream cone

Flake ice creams have been a favourite from childhood.

Going to movies/watching DVD at home

I’m a real film buff and grew up watching all the classics. I love watching movies and going to the cinema.

Ocean/beach or pool

I would choose the ocean unless it was an area where there had been shark sightings – then I would go for the pool!

Coffee/tea

Tea to relax, coffee to wake up and work.

Fruit/candy

In the summer – fruits; I love peaches, watermelon and berries. In the winter I would go for candy.

A book/eBook

Both, but I tend to prefer eBooks when I am travelling.

Computer/tablet/smart phone.

Definitely computer; I’ve recently started using a smart phone.

Camping/hoteling

Hoteling.

Driving/flying

Flying, if I am in a rush to reach my destination, or if it is too far to drive, otherwise I enjoy driving. I find the change in landscape fascinating as we drive from one European country to another – I just have to remember which language is spoken when we stop off for a break.

Connect:  You can connect with Maria online at her website, Facebook, Twitter and Goodreads. 

Purchase:  You can purchase My Big Greek Family online at Amazon for $2.99!  Fantastic deal!

I Take You - TLC Book Tours

~ 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): From internationally bestselling author Nikki Gemmell comes a tantalizing story of love within marriage—and alongside it.

Under her Chanel suit and designer lingerie, Connie Carven is no longer the typical banker's wife. When Cliff's horrible skiing accident shifts the balance of their relationship, Connie becomes a willing submissive to her husband's every desire. Cliff is eager to explore new, and troubling, avenues of passion. Connie, ever the dutiful wife, follows wherever he leads. While at first she enjoys a perverse sense of freedom within the ever-tightening bonds of her marriage, Cliff's dark desires soon consume her entirely. She finds herself surrendering to an act that will forever remind her that she belongs to her husband alone—to be unlocked only by him, whenever he pleases.

But it is also this act that awakens Connie from the numbness that has taken over her life. And when she encounters someone new in the communal garden of her Notting Hill home, she discovers the thrill of true intimacy . . . and the price of risking everything for it.

The author of the bestselling phenomenon The Bride Stripped Bare and the exquisite With My Body, Nikki Gemmell brings erotic writing into the twenty-first century. In I Take You she looks to the classic Lady Chatterley's Lover for inspiration, reimagining D. H. Lawrence's celebrated tale as a brutally honest and deeply sensual modern love story.

My Review: 

One (or more) Sentence Summary: As I started reading, I Take You, I wasn't sure where the story was going or if I was going to like being taken there.  I really liked how the story twisted and turned and revealed a very strong character.  She always seemed to put everyone else needs, especially her husband, before her own needs.  When she is finally pushed too far, she starts realizing she needs to put herself first.  We are taken through her transformation, self discovery....her escape.  I was cheering her on all the way.

Favorite Character(s):  Connie was my favorite character.  At first I wasn't sure what I thought of her.....weak, devote, erotic. As I kept reading, I realized she was a very strong person.  Cliff was my least favorite character.  He was controlling and uncaring.

Fast read/slow read:  I Take You moves along quickly. 

Cover:  The cover works so perfect with the storyline.

What Others Are Saying:  Check out the other reviews on the TLC Book Tours. 

Tuesday, January 7th: Conceptual Reception

Wednesday, January 8th: Seaside Book Nook

Thursday, January 9th: Mom in Love With Fiction

Monday, January 13th: From the TBR Pile

Tuesday, January 14th: The Ludic Reader

Wednesday, January 15th: Seductive Musings

Thursday, January 16th: Cupcake on Books

Monday, January 20th: Cruising Susan Reviews

Tuesday, January 21st: Sara’s Organized Chaos

Wednesday, January 22nd: Lovely Reads

Would I Read Other Books by the Author: I would and I have (see my review here). I just can't read two in a row. They are pretty intense.

Meet the Author: Nikki Gemmell is the internationally bestselling author of The Bride Stripped Bare and With My Body, as well as Shiver, Alice Springs, and The Book of Rapture. She lives in Sydney, Australia with her family.

Connect: You can connect with Niiki online at her website, Twitter and Facebook.

Purchase it:  You can purchase I Take You on line at Amazon for $14.99 ($9.99 Kindle).

Wedding Night

Synopsis (from Amazon): #1 New York Times bestselling author Sophie Kinsella returns with her trademark blend of sparkling wit and playful romance in this page-turning story of a wedding to remember—and a honeymoon to forget.

Lottie just knows that her boyfriend is going to propose, but then his big question involves a trip abroad—not a trip down the aisle. Completely crushed, Lottie reconnects with an old flame, and they decide to take drastic action. No dates, no moving in together, they’ll just get married . . . right now. Her sister, Fliss, thinks Lottie is making a terrible mistake, and will do anything to stop her. But Lottie is determined to say “I do,” for better, or for worse.

My Review: 

One (or more) Sentence Summary: ABSOLUTELY LOVED IT!  Sophie Kinsella did it again.  I want more of Lottie......now!  Just like all her other books, I hope/and can't wait for the next one.  The book is told from two different views - Lottie and her older sister Fliss.  There is also Ben and Lorcan to round out the story.  Fliss and Lorcan are a mission to stop the marriage between Lottie and Ben.  When that fails, they must stop them from consummating their vows. This leads to just one hilarious adventure after another. 

Favorite Character(s):  Its a tie between Lottie and Fliss.  They feed off each other.  Lottie is the typical character that I love in Kinsella's books....always find herself in those usually situations.  Fliss is the practical, always thinking straight character that feeds into the "usually situations" without even realizing it.

Setting:  England and Ikonos, but it really doesn't matter where Kinsella's story take place....they are just too funny.  It is more about the crazy characters and their mishaps, not where they take place.

Fast read/slow read:  Extremely fast....just my kind of book.

Cover:  It is okay, but I love this one.

What Others Are Saying:  “Sophie Kinsella is beloved by millions—her books are properly mood-altering. Wedding Night is funny, fast, and farcical. I loved it.”—JoJo Moyes, bestselling author ofMe Before You

“[A] fun novel that’s as light and bubbly as a glass of wedding champagne.”—USA Today

“Filled with laugh-out-loud moments, this is Sophie Kinsella at her wittiest. . . . An engrossing novel.”—Bookreporter

“You won’t be able to stop reading. . . . The narrative gallops along with humorous scenes and great one-liners.”—The Daily Mail

“A fast-paced, hilarious comedy [with] a charming cast of characters.”—Kirkus Reviews
Would I Read Other Books by the Author: Would I? Is the ocean filled with sea shells?  Of course I would.  Sophie Kinsella is one of those authors that I can't wait for the next book to come out.  She just doesn't write fast enough for me!

Meet the Author: Sophie Kinsella is the author of the bestselling Shopaholic series as well as the novels Can You Keep a Secret?, The Undomestic Goddess, Remember Me?, Twenties Girl, I've Got Your Number, and Wedding Night. She lives in England.

Connect: Join Sophie's on Facebook and sign up for her newsletter, 

Purchase it:  You can purchase Wedding Night online at Amazon for $12.95 (kindle version $10.91)

2013 Favorite Reads

Happy New Year to You All.

I have been traveling since December 26th, so I wasn't able to post my favorite reads of 2013.  I have been in Canada for the Wayne Gretzky hockey tournament.  My son's team lost in the second rounds of the playoffs - to make it to the playoffs is huge for a USA team in Canada!  We had a blast and was very proud of him and the whole team.

After the tournament the kids and I headed to Michigan to see my family.  It was great seeing my siblings and nieces and nephews.  My son and I were lucky enough to go the Winter Classic (go Wings!).

Even though it was 13 degrees without the wind chill, snowed the entire game, took over 2 hours to get out of Ann Arbor, and the Red Wings lost in a shoot out we had a BLAST!

We got see our favorite team, sit in the BIG HOUSE!, experience a Red Wings game at home (Go Detroit!! - we have only seen the Red Wings at away games), be part of the winter classic fun, got souvenir cups and a free winter classic seat cushions!

We said we would do it all over again (after I thaw)!

Take off of Google Imagines

We drove home yesterday in the snow.  During our last hour, the Governor of NY declared our area in a state of emergency and we were suppose to be getting another 6 inches on top of the 14 we got in the past two days.  The temperature with wind chill was -20 (you read it right, negative 20).  I took 11 hours, which is double the normal driving time.  We saw over 50 cars/trucks off the road, a 15 car pile up on the other side of the road, a 4 car pile up right in front of us, which we were thankful to miss it (barely).  It was nuts.  The road were actually the best in NY.  I am just very thankful we made it home safely.

Some of my favorite reads in 2013!

Reread in 2013 from 2012:   Souviens  

New Author:  Lessons From a Kindred Sister 

ROC Bookclub: Kitchen House

TLC Book Tours: First Phone Call From Heaven

Newberry Honor:  Inside Out and Back Again

Sports: Chin Music

Patrick's Favorite: The Chronicles of Egg 

Fantasy: Faerieground: Wish

HAPPY NEW YEAR!

The Rules of Civility

~ 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):  The New York Times bestselling novel that "enchants on first reading and only improves on the second" (The Philadelphia Inquirer)

This sophisticated and entertaining first novel presents the story of a young woman whose life is on the brink of transformation. On the last night of 1937, twenty-five-year-old Katey Kontent is in a second-rate Greenwich Village jazz bar when Tinker Grey, a handsome banker, happens to sit down at the neighboring table. This chance encounter and its startling consequences propel Katey on a year-long journey into the upper echelons of New York society—where she will have little to rely upon other than a bracing wit and her own brand of cool nerve. With its sparkling depiction of New York’s social strata, its intricate imagery and themes, and its immensely appealing characters, Rules of Civility won the hearts of readers and critics alike.

My Review: 

One (or more) Sentence Summary: My book club picked Rules of Civility a few months ago.  We all loved it and it sparked lots of conversation.  I really enjoyed the book and all the twists and turns of the book.  I could picture every moment of the book, the scenes, outfits, drinks, food, emotions, etc.  I was just sucked into the book.  I don't want to give away to much of the book and spoil it, but you won't be disappointed.  Every time I thought I knew the directions it was headed, it changed....never expected the outcomes.  

Favorite Character(s):  This is really hard to pin point it to just one character.  I liked them all.  The book wouldn't be complete without them all, Katey, Tinker, Eve, and Wallace.

Setting:  NYC in the late 1930's - take me back anytime!  I absolutely loved it; the music, clothing, glamour, lower-side vs. upper-side, etc.  Take me back to the 30's (or the 50's) anytime. 

Fast read/slow read:  Pretty fast.

Cover:  Loved it.  

What Others Are Saying:  “An irresistible and astonishingly assured debut about working class-women and world-weary WASPs in 1930s New York…in the crisp, noirish prose of the era, Towles portrays complex relationships in a city that is at once melting pot and elitist enclave – and a thoroughly modern heroine who fearlessly claims her place in it.” —O, the Oprah Magazine

 

“With this snappy period piece, Towles resurrects the cinematic black-and-white Manhattan of the golden age…[his] characters are youthful Americans in tricky times, trying to create authentic lives.” —The New York Times Book Review

 

“This very good first novel about striving and surviving in Depression-era Manhattan deserves attention…The great strength of Rules of Civility is in the sharp, sure-handed evocation of Manhattan in the late ‘30s.” —Wall Street Journal

 

“Put on some Billie Holiday, pour a dry martini and immerse yourself in the eventful life of Katey Kontent…[Towles] clearly knows the privileged world he’s writing about, as well as the vivid, sometimes reckless characters who inhabit it.” —People

Would I Read Other Books by the Author: Absolutely!

Meet the Author: Amor Towles was born and raised just outside Boston, Massachusetts. He graduated from Yale University and received an MA in English from Stanford University, where he was a Scowcroft Fellow. After working more than twenty years as an investment professional, Towles now writes full time. He is also the author of the novella Eve in Hollywood, available as an e-book. He lives in Manhattan with his wife and two children.

Purchase it:  You can purchase Rules of Civility online at Amazon for $16.00 ($9.76 kindle version).

The LEGO Adventure Book: Spaceships, Pirates, Dragons & More!

~ 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 No Starch): Join Megs and Brickbot on another exciting tour of LEGO® building in this second volume of The LEGO Adventure Book series. As they track the Destructor and rebuild the models he destroys, you'll follow along and meet some of the world's best builders. Learn to create sleek spaceships, exotic pirate hideaways, fire-breathing dragons, fast cars, and much more. With nearly 40 step-by-step breakdowns and 100 example models, The LEGO Adventure Book is sure to spark your imagination and keep you building!

My Review:  Another home run by No Starch Press and their LEGO authors.  My kids really loved the "comic" style writing in this book.  It is different from the other LEGO books we have reviewed.  

Isn't this shipwreck island cool?  I just can't believe all the things that can be made with LEGOs.

This shows what type and number of pieces you need to make the Market Cart.  

All the instructions throughout the LEGO Adventure Book are just like this.  Very easy to follow along.

Brick Friends was my favorite section/chapter.  The bridge with the ducks is the best.  Look below and you will see cows in the field.  I want to build that for my dad "the farmer!"  The health club is awesome too.  There is a guy bench pressing, treadmills, juice bar and a locker room.  Seriously, how do they do it!

Thumbs up all around at my house for the The LEGO Adventure: Spaceships, Pirates, Dragons & More!

Meet the Author:  Megan Rothrock is a former set designer for the LEGO Group whose models have been displayed at ComicCon and at LEGO events across Europe. Rothrock enjoys meeting builders at LEGO fan events and hopes that her book will inspire the LEGO builders of tomorrow. Originally from California, she currently lives in Denmark where she works as a freelance toy designer.

Connect: You can connect with No Starch Press online at their blog, Facebook and Twitter.

Purchase it:  You can purchase LEGO Adventure Book online at No Starch Press ($24.95 for hard cover and free ebook; $19.95 ebook) or Amazon ($24.95 hardcover; $11.99 Kindle version).

LEGO Space - Building the Future

~ 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 No Starch Press): Come explore an incredible LEGO® universe in LEGO Space: Building the Future. Spaceships, orbital outposts, and new worlds come to life in this unique vision of the future, built completely from LEGO bricks.

A selection of step-by-step building instructions will have you constructing your own cosmic creations to play with at home. Marvel at interstellar battlecruisers, space pirates, charming robots, and other stunning builds from an amazing future!

My Review: As you may remember, we love LEGOs at my house and LEGO Space - Building the Future book is no exception.  It is a very cool book and my kids all agree. My kids loved the step-by-step instructions on how to construct all the space ships and robots.  I liked the story (reading) that went along with the book.  It is an extra bonus when I can add fun to reading!

Read all about the Robots!

Step-by-step instructions (including the type and number of pieces you need-look out LEGO store, here we come!)

Once again, No Starch Press out did themselves with beautiful illustrations.  

Isn't he too cute!

 Read all about the pilots

I just love the photos!

What Others Are Saying: "LEGO and space, a match made in heaven." —CNET

"LEGO, is there nothing it can’t do? A bricky final frontier." —SFX

"One small brick for man, one giant brick for mankind." —BuzzFeed

Meet the Authors: Peter Reid has been a fan of LEGO since childhood. He is a contributor to The LEGO Play Book, his work appeared in The LEGO Book, and he has attended design workshops with the LEGO Group in Billund. His incredible LEGO Exo Suit, featured in this book, has been chosen by LEGO for mass production in 2014, as LEGO CUUSOO #006, Exo Suit. He lives near London with his fiancee, Yvonne.

Tim Goddard is a contributor to the New York Times-bestselling The LEGO Ideas Book and The LEGO Play Book. He has also participated in product development with the LEGO Group. He works as a laboratory manager and lives with his wife, Sharon, in the UK.

Connect: You can connect with No Starch Press online at their blog, Facebook and Twitter.

Purchase it:  You can purchase LEGO Space Building the Future online at No Starch Press ($24.95 for hard cover and free ebook; $19.95 ebook) or Amazon ($24.95 hardcover; $9.99 Kindle version).