Review: "The Almost Archer Sisters" Lisa Gabriele

I've had "The Almost Archer Sisters" on hold at my local library for a long time now but thankfully it was well worth the wait! The story follows Peachy and Beth, half-sisters who have weathered their mother's suicide together when they were children and who have gone on to lead very different lives. Beth is a hot-shot fashion advisor with her own cable TV show in New York and Peachy married the first guy she slept with (who also happened to be one of Beth's many exes) and had two children with him- one of whom suffers from seizures. When Beth comes home for a visit and Peachy finds her sister having sex with her husband, she is devastated and leaves her husband, Beau, her hippy (and very lovable!) father Lou and Beth in charge of her two boys while she takes some time out for herself in New York. While Peachy contemplates the choices she's made in life, along with the choices that her sister has made she realizes some hard yet comforting truths about herself.

It will come as no surprise to anyone who reads my blog that I loved this book. I love intelligent women's fiction and this was no exception; I had a hard time putting it down to make dinner or put the kids to bed (Shhhh! Mommy's reading! LOL). The characters were all flawed in some way making them both real and lovable. I liked them all- I even felt some sympathy for Beth the husband-stealer. I encourage anyone who has ever found themselves lost in some good chick lit to pick up a copy of this one- you won't regret it!

Mailbox Wednesday!

(Hosted by The Printed Page)

I haven't been participating in Mailbox Mondays much recently because I've had a lot going on! This week I got lots of books in the mail, though, and even though it's Wednesday now I thought that I would share!

From a Chapters.Indigo.ca order (I only place an order twice a year, so this was pretty exciting, LOL!)

"The Weight of Heaven" by Thrity Umrigar

"Helping me Help Myself" by Beth Lisick

"An Offer You Can't Refuse" by Jill Mansell (a favourite author of mine!)

"Certain Girls" by Jennifer Weiner (I've previously read this one and loved it so much I had to own it!)

From our Public Library:

"The Almost Archer Sisters" by Lisa Gabriele

In the mail to review:

"The Insider" by Ava McCarthy

"Wanting" by Richard Flannigan

(Thanks to HarperCollins Canada for the review copies!)

A great week in mail, as evidenced by my bookshelf groaning with new books to read. Happy Wednesday!

Blog Tour and Giveaway: "Follow Me" Joanna Scott

From the Publisher's Website:

On a summer day in 1946 Sally Werner, the precocious young daughter of hardscrabble Pennsylvania farmers, secretly accepts her cousin's invitation to ride his new motorcycle. Like so much of what follows in Sally's life, it's an impulsive decision with dramatic and far-reaching consequences. Soon she abandons her home to begin a daring journey of self-creation, the truth of which she entrusts only with her granddaughter and namesake, six decades later. But when young Sally's father--a man she has never known--enters her life and offers another story altogether, she must uncover the truth of her grandmother's secret history. ...

My Review:

I'll admit that it took me a long time to get into this book. My biggest problem was that I didn't really like the character of Sally Werner. I couldn't imagine abandoning a child, even if it was with family, and running like that. Sally spends much of the book running- from people, from places, and mainly from herself. I thankfully loved the last third of the book when everything begins to come together (with some intriguing twists!) and we meet some incredibly likable characters. I especially loved the part written by Sally Jr.'s father- I found it compelling and impossible to stop reading. I ended up enjoying the book despite my initial misgivings and would recommend it to anyone who enjoys a thought-provoking read. You can find out more about "Follow Me" here or read an excerpt here.

I have a copy of Joanna Scott's "Follow Me" to giveaway, and the winner will also receive a copy of her book of short stories "Everybody Loves Somebody"(I haven't read this one yet, but plan to!). I'll make it simple to enter: leave me a comment with an e-mail address that I can contact you at if you're the winner, telling me why you would like to win this book. The winner will be drawn randomly from all entries on May 4, 2009. This contest is open to both Canadian and American addresses, no PO Boxes please!

For additional reviews from other book devotees participating in the blog tour please visit any (and all!) of the following:

http://luanne-abookwormsworld.blogspot.com/

http://redladysreadingroomredlady.blogspot.com/

http://mindingspot.blogspot.com/

http://thetometraveller.blogspot.com/

http://dreyslibrary.blogspot.com/

http://hiddenplace.wordpress.com/

http://stephaniesbooks.blogspot.com/

http://www.acircleofbooks.blogspot.com/

http://bananas4books.blogspot.com/

http://www.bookthoughtsbylisa.blogspot.com/

http://martasmeanderings.blogspot.com/

http://grumpydan.blogspot.com/

http://cafeofdreams.blogspot.com/

http://worducopia.blogspot.com/

http://cindysloveofbooks.blogspot.com/

http://2kidsandtiredbooks.blogspot.com/

http://www.myspace.com/darbyscloset

http://www.myfriendamysblog.com/

http://www.skrishnasbooks.com/

http://epicrat.blogspot.com/

http://www.anovelmenagerie.com/

http://danys-san.blogspot.com/

http://jennsbookshelf.blogspot.com/

http://tvandbookaddict.blogspot.com/

http://literarymenagerie.blogspot.com/

http://www.chikune.com/blog

http://book-chic.blogspot.com/

http://www.amberstults.com/

http://allisonsatticblog.blogspot.com/

http://diaryofaneccentric.blogspot.com/

http://38thavedivareaders.blogspot.com/

http://linussblanket.typepad.com/

http://www.morbid-romantic.net/

http://kylees2009.blogspot.com/

http://www.savvyverseandwit.blogspot.com/

http://exlibrisbb.blogspot.com/

http://bookinwithbingo.blogspot.com/

http://www.xanga.com/bravehsgirl

http://purplg8r-somanybooks.blogspot.com/

http://burtonreview.blogspot.com/

http://donnasbookreviews.blogspot.com/

http://www.squidoo.com/readingstaycation

http://bookingmama.blogspot.com/

A big thank-you to Miriam at Hachette Book Group for organizing this tour. I thoroughly enjoyed getting to experience a new author!

Review: "I Loved, I Lost, I Ate Spaghetti" Guilia Melucci

What do you do if you're in your late 30's, all of your relationships have failed for one reason or another, you have wit to spare and you cook a mean spaghetti? You do what Guilia Melucci did and you write a fast-paced, funny memoir chock-full of delicious recipes (most of which I can't wait to try!)

Guilia Melucci started off a little late in life in the romance department, but that doesn't stop her from meeting (and falling in love with) a host of unsuitable men throughout her 20's and 30's. There's Kit, the alcoholic who cared less about food(!), Ethan, the man who was afraid to get too close emotionally for some unfathomable reason, and Lachlan, the Scottish writer who seemed to be using Guilia for her connections to the literary world. Guilia highlights for us the details of her (mostly) disastrous love encounters while offering us mouthwatering recipes along the way.

I loved this book. Part memoir, part cookbook, this book was fast-paced and entertaining, full of wit (I laughed out loud a couple of times while reading), with delicious recipes thrown in there as a bonus. One night after reading a couple of chapters of this book I was inspired to get creative in the kitchen and I cooked a wicked meal of garlic chicken for myself and my husband (the recipe's not in the book, but I was inspired by all of her inventive ingredient pairings). A great read for anyone who's ever been in love with the wrong man, I highly suggest picking this one up. As for me, I'm keeping this one on my bookshelf for reference the next time I'm looking to cook a "Hot Pink Cake"(p.141) or "Dinner to Impress an Older Gentleman" (p.156-157)

Thanks to Hachette Book Group for this review copy!

Review: "Got You Back" by Jane Fallon

I've really been looking forward to reading this one. I've heard great things, I've seen the advertising, and the cover is absolutely beautiful (purple and silver- my favourite colours!). I had a few books that I needed to review before I got to this one but I swear that it kept winking at me from its place on the bookshelf. Well, I finally got a chance to pick this one up and I was not disappointed. Ladies, this is chick-lit for grown-ups. One of the drawbacks of growing up is that I no longer enjoy chick-lit like I once did. Jane Fallon seems to have written this for people like me- chick lit lovers looking for a little substance.

"Got You Back" explores what could happen if you found out that your husband was cheating on you with another woman and you and the other woman decide to get revenge. This is exactly what happens to Stephanie, one of the main characters in the book. She and her husband James have moved down to London so that Stephanie can get back to work after her son's birth. James is working part-time in London as a vet to the pampered pets of the area, but when they move he decides to keep his own veterinary practice in Lower Shippingham as well and spends part of the week there. What he didn't bargain for was finding a girlfriend and living a double life. James has all but moved into his girlfriend Katie's cottage, and he spends part of the week there and part of the week with his wife in London. He's living the life of two men and enjoying it, although he didn't bargain for the fact that Stephanie would find out about Katie and contact her wanting revenge on her husband. Since neither Stephanie nor Katie were previously aware of the other party they are both understandably hurt and vow to take revenge. The problem is, once they start they find it hard to stop. Eventually they must take a hard look at what they are doing and decide if they are taking things too far.

This was a great read, thoroughly enjoyable, and I can't wait to go back and read her first book "Getting Rid of Matthew" (Interesting note: the film rights for this book have been picked up by Jennifer Anniston's production company!) The story was fast-paced and interesting, the writing style was compelling, and some interesting points were raised throughout the book. The ending wasn't what I expected and that element of surprise kept me going. All in all this is well-worth picking up for anyone who enjoys well-written women's fiction. You can browse inside this book here. Thanks to HarperCollins Canada for the review copy!

Giveaway: Win a Copy of "Do-Over!" by Robin Hemley

Whew! Two giveaways in one day- I'm exhausted, LOL! Thanks to Anna at Hachette Book Group I am able to give you a chance to win 1 of 5 copies of "Do-Over!" by Robin Hemley. I haven't personally had a chance to read this one yet, but am excited to do so and I have read great reviews by fellow bloggers. From the publisher's website:

"Robin Hemley's childhood made a wedgie of his memory, leaving him sore and embarrassed for over forty years. He was the most pitiful kindergartner, the least spirited summer camper, and dateless for prom. In fact, there's nary an event from his youth that couldn't use improvement. If only he could do them all over a few decades later, with an adult's wisdom, perspective, and giant-like height...

In the spirit of cult film classics like Billy Madison and Wet Hot American Summer, in DO-OVER! Hemley reencounters paper mache, revisits his childhood home, and finally attends the prom--bringing readers the thrill of recapturing a misspent youth and discovering what's most important: simple pleasures, second chances, and the forgotten joys of recess."

To Enter:

1. E-mail your name and address to jonitathebookchick@gmail.com with "Do-Over!" in the subject line.

2. *Bonus Entry* Follow this blog and leave me a comment saying that you are a follower (if you are already a follower, just leave me a comment saying so) OR promote this giveaway on your blog and leave me a comment letting me know that you are doing so (one bonus entry per person).

This contest will run until April 30, 2009 with winners being chosen on May 1, 2009 by random.org. This contest is open to Canadian and US residents only and books cannot be shipped to PO Boxes.

Good luck!

Giveaway: Win a copy of "Girls in Trucks" by Katie Crouch!

I'm excited to be hosting my very first book giveaway! Enter to win one of five copies of "Girls in Trucks" by Katie Crouch. From the publisher's website:

"Sarah Walters, the narrator of GIRLS IN TRUCKS, is a reluctant Camellia Society debutante. She has always felt ill-fitted to the rococo ways of Southern womanhood and family, and is anxious to shake the bonds of her youth. Still, she follows the traditional path laid out for her. This is Charleston, and in this beautiful, dark, segregated town, established rules and manners mean everything.

But as Sarah grows older, she finds that her Camellia lessons fail her, particularly as she goes to college, moves North, and navigates love and life in New York. There, Sarah and her group of displaced deb sisters try to define themselves within the realities of modern life. Heartbreak, addiction, disappointing jobs and death fail to live up to the hazy, happy future promised to them by their Camellia mothers and sisters.

When some unexpected bumps in the road--an unplanned birth, a family death--lead Sarah back home, she's forced to take another long look at the fading empire of her youth. It takes a strange turn of events to finally ground Sarah enough to make some serious choices. And only then does she realize that as much as she tried to deny it, where she comes from will always affect where she ends up. The motto of her girlhood cotillion society, "Once a Camellia, always a Camellia," may turn out to have more wisdom and pull to it than she ever could have guessed."

You can read my review here (hint: I loved it!) or visit the author's website here. You can also browse inside the book here.

This giveaway will run until April 30, 2009 and the winners will be chosen by random.org and notified on May 1, 2009. This contest is open to both Canadian and U.S. addresses, books cannot be shipped to P.O. Boxes.

To enter:

1. E-mail your name and address to jonitathebookchick@gmail.com with ""Girls in Trucks" Giveaway" as the subject.

2. *Bonus Entry* Follow this blog and let me know that you're following in the comments (if you are already a follower, just leave a comment stating that you are) or link to this contest from your blog and leave a comment letting me know that you have. (Limit one bonus entry per person).

Good luck and thank-you to Valerie at the Hachette Book Group for making this contest possible!

Herbal Essences Giveaway Winners!

Thank-you to all those who entered the Herbal Essences Giveaway and congratulations to the winners:

Gerry C. London, ON
Angela S. Missisauga, ON
Lisa F. Brantford, ON
Nita K. Toronto, ON

You will receive your coupon for a full-sized bottle of Herbal Essences Hydralicious Shampoo or Conditioner within 2 weeks. Stay tuned to this blog for two book giveaways being announced later today!

"Girls in Trucks" Katie Crouch

Let me start by saying that I couldn't put this book down. I just physically lacked the power to put it away. Luckily for me, Jay was out on Saturday night leaving me with all of the time in the world to read once the kids were in bed for the night. “Girls in Trucks” follows the life of Sarah Walters, a South Carolina debutante, from the time that she is in grade 4 learning to dance for her debutante ball to when she is 35 and living in New York City.

As a Camellia, a member of one of Charleston’s oldest debutante societies, Sarah has been taught never to chase men or buses, and never to be seen riding in a truck. Sarah manages to break both of these rules quite early in life, and we follow her as she dates unsuitable men and leaves home to go to a small liberal arts College in New York. We also follow three of the girls that she was a debutante with and we discover the different paths that life can take you in, regardless of where you grow up and whether or not you are a debutante.

That, in a nutshell, is what this book is about. When you’re young you have this vision of what your adult life will be like. Some people envision marriage or kids, others envision themselves as a successful career person, and some envision themselves with it all. Life, though, doesn’t always follow the path that you think it will. It throws you curve balls; it throws unsuitable men in your path, or money trouble, or addictive substances. Life can veer off in a random and unexpected direction and you may not end up where you think that you will. Sarah Walters chases unsuitable men, makes friends, loses friends, changes jobs and makes decisions and by 35 she finds that although her life has not turned out how she used to think it would, it is somehow better because she’s found her own way. At the conclusion of the book her path has not quite been settled on, but she's okay with that, because a person’s life is always evolving and changing as we make our decisions and are presented with new opportunities.

Thanks to the Hachette Book Group for this review copy, and look out for a chance to win 1 of 5 copies of this book coming later this week!

"Slumdog Millionaire" Vikas Swarup

“Slumdog Millionaire” is the story of Ram Mohammed Thomas, a young man who wins Asia’s “Who Will Win a Billion?” (their version of “Who Wants to Be A Millionaire?”). Ram is only a poor orphan, working as a waiter, so the producers of the show (who weren’t planning on having anyone win the jackpot for several more months) have him arrested on suspicion of fraud. They can’t figure out how someone who doesn’t read the newspaper and has never been to school was able to answer all of their questions while learned professional contestants have been unable to. Ram is taken to the local police station and while being tortured in the hopes that he will sign a confession stating that he cheated, a mysterious young lawyer rescues him and asks his story.

During the course of one long night Ram recounts the stories of his life, and in the process explains how he was able to answer each of the questions. We follow him while he grows up in the slums as an orphan, lives in an orphanage, makes friends, and makes enemies.

I enjoyed the book. It was complex and thought-provoking, focusing on what it is like to be an orphan and a cast-off in an overcrowded city. It also focuses on making the best of your circumstances, whatever they may be.

The big question is, how does it compare to the movie? “Slumdog Millionaire” won many awards and was widely acclaimed by the critics and I was curious to find out how closely it followed the book. I made a point of watching it immediately after finishing the book so that I could make an accurate comparison and I have to admit that I was disappointed in how loosely it actually followed the book. Right off the bat, they change Ram Mohammed Thomas’ name. I wasn’t sure at first why they did that, but I quickly found out that it was because they changed pretty much everything else about the plot. They left out the lawyer, which was a pretty interesting part of the book and instead had him tell his story to the chief of police. Many of Ram’s stories were omitted completely or changed beyond recognition. In the book, Ram is an only child who never knew his mother, in the movie he and his brother watch their mother die (in the book the brother is actually a friend met in the orphanage). They change Salim’s (the brother/friend's) story completely. The movie is focused on his love for a certain woman; in the book the woman is not introduced formally until the last few chapters. I think that I would have enjoyed the movie more had I not read the book. I can understand why some of the changes were made, but it just made it mainstream for me- something that would appeal to the masses, and it diminished the complexity of the book, which is what drew me to it in the first place. On its own, the movie was fine, but in comparison to the book, I was disappointed.

I am glad that I had the opportunity to read the book, though. It was a beautifully written story, and well worth picking up, regardless of whether or not you’ve seen (and loved or hated) the movie. This is my seventh entry into the Warm up for Winter Reading Challenge and you can read the first pages of the book here.