Review: "Green Beauty Recipes" by Julie Gabriel

Overwhelmed by the sheer abundance of beauty products available in stores today? I know that I am- I've tried many, many different cleansers and beauty products in the past. For some reason I have yet to find one on the shelves that really works for me. Either the product is too harsh for my occasionally sensitive skin, or too mild for my occasional acne. Plus, when I'm looking for an organic skin care product, it's hard to tell which products are actually organic, and which ones just say that they are. According to Green Beauty Recipes, "Today, a company can call its products "natural," even if they contain only 0.01% of natural ingredients!" (page 2).

As a solution to this common dilemma, Julie Gabriel has put together Green Beauty Recipes, a book containing over 250 natural and organic beauty recipes. She offers insight into the process of creating organic beauty products, how to store them, and the best techniques to use them. The book includes sections on making your own cleansers, moisturizers, toners, facial masks, baby products, body products, sun care products, hair care, and even bath treatments! She even includes recipes for how to make products for the man in your life.

Julie Gabriel offers up not only recipes, but a wealth of information regarding the making of organic beauty products. She spends time explaining the basics of making organic beauty products at home, including how to sterilize your work area in an organic way, how to effectively package your product, and how to add organic preservatives if your products are being given as gifts or will be stored in a warm climate. Each section begins with information about the product and how best to use it, goes on to provide a multitude of recipes for products that will help you achieve the beauty goals that you want, and concludes with a list of very simple products that can be used on their own to provide results (ie. using sea salt as a body exfoliator, or using full-fat milk as a quickie facial cleanser).

I really enjoyed looking through the pages and pages of recipes, and marking the ones that I'm interested in trying. Some of the recipes require very specific organic ingredients, and some recipes can be made with the products that are commonly found in most household kitchens. Green Beauty Recipes can be useful in a variety of ways. I plan on trying some of these at home for my personal use, and I also plan on whipping up some of these to give as gifts at Christmas. Making several of them and putting them into pretty containers would make a great gift basket! These would also be fun to make at a girl's night in. Gather all of the recipe ingredients ahead of time, invite the girls over, and start making your own organic beauty products!

Green Beauty Recipes is available from Julie Gabriel's website, as well as Amazon.com. It will be making its way to local bookstores soon! Be sure to check back tomorrow, as I will be reviewing a product from Julie's organic beauty line, Petite Marie Organics, and I will be giving away a product from the line as well!

Recommended to: Those who are looking to make organic beauty products at home, both beginners and those with some experience
Challenges: 2010 100+ Reading Challenge, New Author Challenge 2010

Thank-you to the author for providing me with this review copy in exchange for my honest review.

Review: "YOU comma Idiot" by Doug Harris

Lee Goodstone is the perennial screw-up that everyone knows at least one of. He's a low-level hash dealer living in Montreal, his friends are all, for the most part, burnouts like him, and he's sleeping with his best friend's girlfriend. Other than his drug deals he's unemployed, living in an apartment rent-free because he does the custodial work, but everything is about to change for Lee. One of his oldest friends, Henry, becomes an overnight public figure when he is accused of kidnapping a teenage girl that none of his friends had even heard of before. He is determined to remain silent about his potential role in her kidnapping, and refuses to reveal anything that he knows. Lee finds himself a part of the media frenzy when he makes an offhand remark to a reporter who is following the case, and suddenly nothing for Lee will ever be the same.

YOU comma Idiot is unlike anything that I've ever read. For one thing it's told entirely in second person, a unique choice that certainly pays off. Although it did take me a few pages to get used to Lee being referred to as "you", it wasn't long before I had completely adjusted. For another thing, Lee is a character that you don't know if you're rooting for or not. From the outside, he's a complete loser. At the age of 28 he is more interested in getting high or drunk than anything else. He hangs out with his buddies with a regularity that is more fitting for a teenager, and he has absolutely no qualms when his best friend's girlfriend jumps into bed with him. He just goes with it, essentially abandoning the guy who took him in as a teenager for a piece of tail. I spent most of the book not really liking him, yet being utterly fascinated with the trainwreck that was his life.

Lee is not without his redeeming qualities. He has a great affection for Ack! (Zachary), the child of one of his female friends. He refuses to sell out his friend Henry to the media even when he, and all of his friends, are convinced that Henry did kidnap this teenage girl. He's a character that I didn't necessarily love, but I was unable to write him off completely.

YOU comma Idiot is not a book that you skim through. It's one that you'll want to take your time reading, especially because it is so rare to read a book written in the second person. The cover art deserves a special mention as well, because it is unique on a level on par with the uniqueness of the writing. When you open the book, the inside of the front and back covers is covered in what looks like ink drawings and sayings, much like the inside of a teenager's binder would look like. I spent a lot of time examining the quirky drawings.

Completely different from anything that I've ever read before, YOU comma Idiot is a treasure not to be missed. Doug Harris takes a lot of risks with his writing and his characters, but it pays off in the end, resulting in a strangely satisfying read.

Rating: 4 stars out of 5
Recommended to: Fans of Canadian literature, quirky fiction
Challenges: 2010 100+ Reading Challenge, New Author Challenge 2010, The Canadian Book Challenge 4

Thank-you to Goose Lane Editions for sending me a copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.

Review: "The Lovers" by Vendela Vida

Yvonne, a recent widow with grown twin children, longs for an escape from her deep sadness over the passing of her husband. She decides to return to Datca, Turkey, the place where she and her husband honeymooned 28 years ago. She reserves an expensive summer rental, hoping to treat herself to something that will help to ease her pain.

When she arrives, though, she finds that this will not be the escape that she longs for. Turkey has changed drastically since her last visit, and it is no longer the place of her memories. Her rental's landlord and his wife continually stop by unexpectedly, breaking the bliss of her vacation with their strange marital arrangement. Her memories of the past and her husband continue to haunt her.

She responds to all of this turmoil by escaping to nearby beach and making friends with the child Ahmet. She wiles away her days there, determined to communicate with Ahmet despite their language barrier and she begins to understand more about her distant adult children because of him. When a tragic accident occurs, her recovery process is thrown off course and she begins to question everything that she thought that she knew.

I was excited to read The Lovers, especially because I'd heard many raves about Vida's previous book, Let the Northern Lights Erase Your Name (I have not personally read it). I admit that I was expecting more from this book than what I got. I don't know what exactly it was about this book that disappointed me, but disappoint me it did. For the most part I felt disconnected from the characters. Anyone who reads my book reviews on a regular basis will know that I always appreciate a good connection with an intriguing character. I had a hard time connecting to Yvonne, our protagonist, and I can only guess that it was because Yvonne's deep sorrow caused her to distance herself from the world. I couldn't understand her strained relationship with her children, nor could I understand what drew her to the little boy, Ahmet. Intellectually I could understand her yearning for the past, but it didn't make me relate to her better. The people that she surrounded herself with, the landlord and his wife, Ahmet, a couple that she meets at the beach, didn't help. Each character could only be described as strange, or troubled.

When "the tragedy", mentioned in the book's description, occurs, I still found myself disconnected from the plot and the characters. If anything that should have been what made me care more about the book's characters, but it didn't.

Overall, I was disappointed, yet I can still appreciate the author's insight into the Turkey of today. The scenes that she described were hauntingly beautiful, the ending was satisfying after all of the events that occurred in the book, and the writing was exquisite, but it lacked that certain something that makes me want to rave about a book.

Browse inside The Lovers

Rating: 2.5 out of 5
Recommended to: Those who enjoy fiction, those who have enjoyed Vida's previous novels
Challenges: 2010 100+ Reading Challenge, New Author Challenge 2010

Thank-you to HarperCollins Canada for sending me this review copy in exchange for my honest opinion.

Mailbox Monday

Welcome to Mailbox Monday! Created by Marcia at The Printed Page, MM is currently on tour. This month it is being hosted by Kathy at Bermudaonion's Weblog. Each week we share which books we got in the mail, but be warned: MM can lead to toppling TBR piles and miles-long wishlists!

Last week brought two new arrivals into my mailbox.

First to arrive was She Tells All by Judah Lee Davis, courtesy of the author. I love this sultry cover!

Next to arrive was Tracy Anderson's 30- Day Method by Tracy Anderson. This book promises to whip my soft body into shape, LOL, and it even comes with a companion DVD. This copy is courtesy of a win on Goodreads.

That's what was in my mailbox last week- what was in yours?

Sunday Salon

Well, we survived J.'s first week of work at his new job. I think that "survived" isn't a good word for it, because it went surprisingly well. He feels welcomed by the people that he'll be working with, and he's fairly confident about his ability to perform his job already. Next week will be the big week for him, since he'll spend the entire week on the floor with his new team, but I have no doubt that he'll nail it (although we're expecting some soreness, the job can require some awkward positioning!). We found out the fantastic news that he is on "swing" shift, meaning that he works two weeks days, followed by two weeks of the afternoon shift. The alternative was him working straight nights (11 pm-7 am), and I much prefer what he ended up with. We've been getting up at 5 am every morning- him to get ready for work, and me to make his lunch and see him off. I tried to go back to bed those first two mornings, but found that I couldn't sleep anyways. Now I spend my time on the computer or getting things done and am appreciating all of that quiet time while the kids sleep!

Thankfully the rest of the week wasn't overly busy. I didn't work a lot (I needed certain days off so that I could be home when H., 5, got off the bus), but when I did work it was certainly busy! We went to "Meet the Teacher Night" at the boy's school on Tuesday night and it was nice to see some familiar faces there, as well as meet some new people. Last night we went and visited my in-law's for the evening, and today we plan on relaxing as much as possible since tomorrow morning comes early!

I didn't get a ton of reading done this week. I finished Juliet by Anne Fortier, and I read YOU comma Idiot by Doug Harris (review to come). I've just started reading Star Island by Carl Hiaasen (a library copy), and since I'm only a few pages in, I'll see if it grabs me or not (it probably will, I'm into celebrity culture). While at the library I also picked up Revenge by Sharon Osborne (I was suprised to see that Sharon Osborne had written a fictional novel, but after I googled it I found out that she had used an anonymous ghostwriter as well). I'm also supremely happy that I am almost all caught up with reviews. I have two more to write, and one is for the book that I finished last night, and it feels good to be almost caught up. I like to keep my pile of "books to be reviewed" at a manageable level, as I find that I write my best reviews when I have recently read the book. October is going to be a busy month (I'm participating in some fantastic book tours!) so I wanted to be caught up by the end of this month, so that I'm not overwhelmed.

That's it for me, how was your week last week?

Review: "Caroline's Sister" by Sheila O'Flanagan

Life comes easy for Caroline O'Shaughnessy. She has good looks that make those around her adore her. She's her father's favourite. When she gets pregnant the first time she sleeps with new boyfriend Damien, he marries her and they create a family together. Caroline's little sister Tess doesn't have it as easy. She lacks her sister's good looks and easy charm, and it seems that absolutely nothing comes easily for her.

When Tessa makes a monumental mistake one night she leaves Ireland and tries to make a new life for herself in London. Caroline, meanwhile, isn't having an easy time of anything at the moment. She's struggling to make her young marriage work and raising her children with little help. Suddenly it doesn't look so easy being Caroline.

I picked this book up at the recent "Friends of the Library" sale that I attended. Funnily enough, when I got home I realized that I had bought the same book, with a different cover, at the previous year's sale. Even more humourous is the fact that I realized when I was about halfway through the book that I had already read this one. Minus points for memorability.

Ultimately this one ended up being just okay for me. Perhaps it would have been better if I didn't remember what happened at the end of the book, but I did. The characters were well-done and both sisters were ones that I could root for, the ending was satisfying enough, but something about the book just didn't grab me. This doesn't discourage me from reading more from Sheila O'Flanagan (which is good, as I have two more by her on my TBR shelves), but this isn't one that I'll go out of my way to recommend. Caroline's Sister is great if you're looking for a light read, but don't expect it to stick with you in the long run.

Rating: 3 stars out of 5
Recommended to: Anyone looking for a light read
Challenges: 2010 100+ Reading Challenge, 2010 Chick Lit Challenge, RYOB Challenge 2010

Review: "Everything Lovely, Effortless, Safe" by Jenny Hollowell

Seven years ago, at the age of 22, Birdie Baker left her husband and the small town that she grew up in to pursue her dreams of becoming a Hollywood actress. Now her life is at a standstill- she hasn't achieved the level of fame that she had hoped to, she feels guilty about abandoning her husband without warning, and she misses her deeply religious parents. She seems to be on the verge of collapse, but then Lewis walks into her life. Lewis is young, handsome, and wants all of the same things from life that Birdie does. The two are well-matched but equally self-destructive, and when Birdie gets the big break that she so desperately craves she may find out that achieving her dreams wasn't all that it was cracked up to be.

Don't be fooled by the title- this book is melancholic rather than uplifting, but in a surprisingly good way. Despite the fact that my background couldn't be more different than Birdie's, I really felt like I connected to her. Jenny Hollowell has crafted a sad, funny, sympathetic character in Birdie, and when she yearns for success, for something more, I really felt those emotions. Reading this book made me pensive- I thought of everything that I longed to achieve in life but have not yet. I thought about my life so far and how it has veered from the path that I always thought that it would take, but how those detours have been both positive and negative. Birdie represents the unrealized dreams of the masses, those dreams that are hidden underneath suits and ties, diapers and mortgages. When she achieves her goals she comes to realize that sometimes achieving what it is that you wanted so badly isn't all that it was cracked up to be.

Everything Lovely, Effortless, Safe was alternately sad, melancholic, and funny, but mostly it was a vessel of truth. Jenny Hollowell writes with sharp wit and clarity and I found her debut novel to be thoroughly readable.

Rating: 3.5 stars out of 5
Recommended to: Fans of fiction, especially fiction set in Hollywood
Challenges: 2010 100+ Reading Challenge, New Author Challenge 2010

Thank-you to Henry Holt & Company for this review copy

Review: "Life After Yes" by Aidan Donnelley Rowley

Despite the fact that I'd love to, I'm not able to buy a lot of brand new books. I'm a mom of three young boys and for now I only work part-time so that I can be home with my boys. However, when Meg at Write Meg! reviewed Life After Yes a while back (her review), I knew that I had to have it. Not only is the cover beyond gorgeous, depicting a girl wearing a gorgeous wedding dress, but Meg gave it a 5 out of 5- high praise from her indeed. So, I bought the book. Days after receiving it, I sat down and read it, unable to wait any longer.
Life After Yes tells the story of newly engaged Prudence Quinn O'Malley's complicated journey down the aisle. A lawyer with a prestigious firm, Quinn knows that she should be giddy wth glee at having a ring on her finger, but she's unable to shake the feeling that marriage just may not be for her. She's still reeling from the recent and unexpected death of her father, who was having breakfast with his financial advisor on the morning of September 11, when the Twin Towers tragically fell.

As her wedding date quickly approaches, Quinn questions why she doesn't feel more. She finds herself unable to get caught up in wedding plans, she's prickly with her fiance, who is only trying to create a life for them, and she can't envision herself becoming the kind of wife who wears lingerie and cooks for her husband every night. Sage has always been the nurturer in their relationship, and Quinn is unable to picture their roles reversed.

As the wedding comes closer, Quinn must decide if she is truly ready for "Life After Yes".

I've been following Aidan Donnelley Rowley's blog, Ivy League Insecurities, for a while now and she has mentioned that she writes about the shades of grey present in our daily lives. Life After Yes has the courage to address the grey that we find when we embark on marriage, and to reflect on it. For Quinn everything is not black and white- marriage carries with it the implication that she will change into someone that she decidedly is not. She loves her finance, but finds herself unable to buy into the myth of marriage. Many of Rowley's observations, written so lyrically that you can't help but want to read her words again, are spot on. Too many brides plunge into marriage thinking only of white gowns and place settings, but Rowley dares to address what happens after the presents are all put away.

Despite the fact that the character of Quinn could have come across as melancoly, and perhaps even ungrateful for the blessings all around her, she doesn't. Instead she comes across as someone practical, someone grieving the unexpected loss of her father, and someone who intends to enter into marriage and the rest of her life with her eyes wide open. Quinn is determined to choose happiness, rather than allowing it to just come to her. Rowley has fleshed out her characters with the greatest attention to detail, and I often felt as if I was in their heads.

I can't think of one darn thing that I didn't like about this book. This is women's fiction for women who want more from their women's fiction.

Rating: 5 stars out of 5
Recommended to: Women's fiction fans and readers who appreciate good writing and a solid plot
Challenges: 2010 100+ Reading Challenge, New Author Challenge 2010, RYOB Challenge 2010

Interview with Naseem Rakha, author of "The Crying Tree"

Last week I reviewed The Crying Tree, a book that I found to be both compelling and relevant (my review). Today I have the pleasure of welcoming Naseem Rakha to The Book Chick, who was kind enough to answer a few of my burning questions.

The Book Chick: The Crying Tree deals with the difficult topic of capital punishment. Did you find yourself getting emotional while writing it?

Naseem Rakha: There are scenes in The Crying Tree that still tear at my heart. They can be simple scenes. The vagabond that Shep had come to know, pulling off his weather worn hat, and holding it to his chest as the hearse carrying Shep drives by. Bliss watching a plow dig up the earth and knowing that she had just dug up and discarded her best friend’s heart, the site of a hummingbird in a prison rec yard - a sign of beauty where no beauty is ever thought to be. When I wrote these scenes, they tugged on me, but as the characters grew and developed they developed even greater emotional weight. Some scenes still make me cry.

TBC: You mention in the "Reader's Guide" that you spoke with and interviewed people who were on death row prior to writing this book. Were there aspects of their personal stories and circumstances that you incorporated into the character of Daniel Robbins?

NR: Daniel Robbins is an amalgamation of many people I have met in prison, both death row inmates, or people who are serving life sentences. Many are artists, for example. Many care deeply about the environment, and notice things like birds flying by, or even the most subtle changes in weather. The men and women I have met in prison, so many of them, are struggling to figure out how to be better people. In this, of course, they are no different than any one else. But these people are fighting greater demons, and seem, many of them, to have achieved a higher level of self awareness than many people I have met on the outside.

TBC: Are you working on anything new? If so, can you tell us a little about it?

NR: I am, and I won’t. Sorry. In my house, I make rice in a pot. I boil the water, add salt, butter, then a nice aromatic Basmati or Jasmine. Then I cover the pot and tell everyone not to open it until it is done. “If you do”, I say, “you will let the magic out.” I use the same recipe, minus the butter, salt and rice, to write a book.

TBC: What is your typical writing routine like?

NR: I wake around 5 am, make coffee, and write. I do not read anything until after I write. I do not want any other ideas, words, or reality to break into that sublime world that exists between waking and sleeping. I write for about 15 minutes on a topic different from my novel. I consider it stretching - yoga for my brain. After that, I drink my coffee, check my email, and start my day, returning to the creative writing after I have my son off to school and the house back to myself.

TBC: What books are on your nightstand right now?

NR: Waiting for Columbus, Thomas Trofimuk. The Slap, Christos Tsiolkas, Crashers, Dana Haynes.

Thank-you so much to Naseem Rakha for stopping by. If you haven't already, please enter my giveaway for one copy of The Crying Tree. The contest is open to Canadian and US residents, no PO boxes, and runs until October 1, 2010.

Help Kaira Rouda Pick The Cover of Her New Book!

I have something fun for you to do today! Debut women's fiction author Kaira Rouda needs help choosing a cover for her new book, Here, Home, Hope, which is coming May 2011. Simply decide which one of the covers below you like the best and click here to vote on Facebook. To vote, simply leave a comment on the cover that you like the most. Hurry! Kaira will pick a winning cover 5:00 PM EST on Wednesday!

About Kaira:

Kaira is an award-winning author, entrepreneur, mom of four who lives in Malibu, CA. She was selected as one of Forbes' 30 women to follow on Twitter and Twittergrader's Most Powerful Women. Her first women's fiction novel, Here, Home, Hope,  is coming May 2011.

Visit Kaira's website, follow her on Twitter, or find her on Facebook.

I was personally drawn to the first cover shown, with the woman sitting on the porch holding what looks like hydrangeas. The colours appeal to me, and if this cover was on a book at the bookstore I would definitely pick it up for a second look. Which cover is your favourite? Vote now!

Mailbox Monday

Mailbox Monday is on tour! Originally created by Marcia at The Printed Page, this month it is being hosted by Kathy at Bermudaonion's Weblog. Each week we share which books made their way into our mailboxes, but be warned: Mailbox Monday can lead to towering TBR piles and never ending wishlists!

Three new books arrived in my mailbox last week. The first to arrive was:

Time of My Life by Allison Winn Scotch- I bought this one from The Book Depository because I read her latest and really enjoyed it. I've heard that this one is a reflection on parenting and I always appreciate an author's perspective on that!

Next to arrive was a signed copy of Mommy Prayers by Tracy Mayor, courtesy of a Facebook contest win. I plan on reading this book ('cause hey, I'm a mom!) and then passing it on to one of my new mommy friends, who will be sure to appreciate the humour involved as well.

The final arrival last week was a copy of Juliet by Anne Fortier for an upcoming book tour. I'm about 85% of the way through this one, and it is a fresh take on Shakespeare's classic, Romeo and Juliet. Very interesting!

I also picked up a few books at our local "Friends of the Library" sale. Despite the fact that I definitely do not need more books, I enjoy the thrill of the hunt for used books, and couldn't stay away. I also love the opportunity to support my local library, which has provided me with many hours of fantastic reading material. At the sale I picked up a bunch of children's books for my youngest sons, as well as some Goosebumps and Diary of a Wimpy Kid books for my oldest son. For myself I brought home:

Wives of Bath by Wendy Holden- Wendy Holden is a hit or miss for me- sometimes I love them, and sometimes I don't. I haven't read this one, and am looking forward to it.

He's Got to Go by Sheila O'Flanagan- I love my Irish chick lit, and couldn't resist.

The Thing About Jane Spring by Sharon Krum

Emily Ever After by Anne Dayton and May Vanderbilt- The cover is purple, what more can I say?

Caroline's Sister by Sheila O'Flanagan- Apparently I have a thing for Sheila!

That's it for me for last week- what was in your mailbox?

Sunday Salon

I don't always write Sunday Salon posts, usually I wait until the mood hits me (and I have the time!). Apparently I'm in the mood today! The week coming up is a big one for us- hubby starts his new job, and H. officially starts his regular Kindergarten schedule. Last week he went on Tuesday, but it was only with half of his class as part of their gradual integration program. Since Tuesday H. has been bugging me about when his next school day is. We went out shopping this morning for lunches for hubby's work lunches. It will be strange for me- he's been coming home for lunch for four years now, and I don't know what I will do with myself now that I won't have to cook him lunch at noon. The kids are generally content with a sandwich or Kraft Dinner. I'm hoping that in a week or two we'll be in some kind of a schedule, and things will go back to "normal".

Oh, and since I love nothing more than curling up on the couch after a long day and watching some TV, I'm particularly excited that this week is a week of television premieres! I am particularly excited about the return of GLEE!!!!!! Yup, I'm a Gleek and proud of it. I got "into" the show mid-season last year and was thrilled when the old episodes were re-played through the summer and I could watch the entire first season. I can't wait to see what those crazy kids are up to now, LOL. I'm also excited for the return of my favourite cooking show, Hell's Kitchen, especially since the first season of Masterchef wrapped up last week. My only problem with HK? It makes me hungry.

Given the fact that last week was crazy-busy for us, I didn't get a ton of reading done last week. I finished the wonderful Life After Yes by Aidan D. Rowley (review to come this week), and am now reading Juliet by Anne Fortier for an upcoming blog tour. Miraculously I only have three books to review until I'm caught up. This makes me incredibly happy and, once again, I am going to TRY to review books shortly after I finish reading them. I find that if I wait too long, my reviews lose something. Despite the fact that I don't need any more books, I did make sure to visit our library's annual "Friends of the Library" sale. I picked up 6 books for my oldest son (4 Goosebumps books, Diary of a Wimpy Kid #1,2) as well as 5 books for myself and a bunch for my younger kids. Since the two youngest boys were with me, they got to pick their own, and since it's only $6 for a full bag, we had a lot of fun.

Finally, congratulations to all of the winners of BBAW! I added a few new blogs to my feed reader, and enjoyed visiting some of the posts (although I just didn't have time to do them all). Next year I'm hoping to participate more actively, but I would like to mention some of my personal favourite book blogs:

Chick Lit is Not Dead- Liz and Lisa keep us entertained with regular chick lit and life-related posts
Write Meg!- a long-time favourite blog of mine, if Meg recommends it, it's being added to my wish list
Bibliophile by the Sea- Diane reviews a wide range of interesting books, and always takes the time to stop by and comment here
Chick Lit Central- The Blog- This blog is fairly new to the blogosphere, but is growing quickly. Stop by for interesting author interviews, giveaways, and chick lit reviews by the Melissa's

Have a great week, everyone!

Review & Giveaway: "The Crying Tree" by Naseem Rakha

Irene Stanley is enjoying life on the family farm in a small town in Illinois with her husband, Nate, and her two children Bliss and Shep when Nate announces that he's been offered a job as a deputy sheriff in Oregon and that the family will be moving. Irene is devstated and fights Nate on his decision, but in the end Nate insists and the family moves.

Once in Oregon, Irene tries her best to make things work for her family in their new home. She gets a job and encourages her children in school, but then the unthinkable happens. Shep, 15 at the time, is shot to death during an apparent robbery. Shep's killer, Daniel Robbins, comes forward and is arrested, and is later sent to death row.

Fast forward. It is several years later and Daniel has finally given up his appeals to live. He's slated for an October execution, but Irene has struck up an unconventional friendship with her son's killer. As his execution date looms Irene will find out about the secrets that have been hidden from her since her son's death, and she will embark on a personal journey of forgiveness.

The Crying Tree takes on a sensitive and controversial topic, capital punishment, and puts an intimate spin on it. Although parts of the book are difficult to read, considering that we are dealing with the life of a human being (albeit one that is fictional), this is a story worth reading. I appreciated all of the varied aspects of this haunting story- the question of when one human being has the right to sentence another to death, as well as how to forgive the one person who has caused you the most pain in life. Naseem Rakha writes with sensitivity and grace, despite the difficulty of the topics.

I especially appreciated Irene's journey of forgiveness. For so many years she harbours only bitterness towards her son's killer, and the will to see his death executed. She longs for it to be over, so that she can move on with her life. One letter changes her life. She writes to her son's killer in an attempt at closure, but instead she gets to know Daniel Robbins and discovers that he is an imperfect human being, and not a monster as she has previously believed.

The Crying Tree will make an excellent book club read because there is so much to contemplate while reading the story of Irene Stanley and her family. I'm not the only one who thinks this- The Crying Tree has been chosen as a book club pick by Richard & Judy's Bookclub in the UK. This poignant and emotional story is one not to be missed.

Rating: 4 stars out of 5
Recommended to: Fans of literary fiction
Challenges: 2010 100+ Reading Challenge, New Author Challenge 2010

Thanks to Sarah at Terra Communications I have one copy of this book to share with my readers. To enter:

1. *Mandatory Entry* Post a comment and let me know that you want to read this book. Please include an e-mail address so that I can contact you if you win. No e-mail = no entry!

2. *Bonus Entry* Become a follower of this blog through Google Friend Connect and let me know in a separate comment that you now follow. Current followers are eligible as well, just let me know that you already follow.

3. *Bonus Entry* Spread the word about this contest in some way. Facebook it, Tweet about it, or post about it in your blog. Leave me a separate comment to let me know how you spread the word.

This contest is open to residents of the US and Canada, no PO Boxes please. This contest runs until October 1, 2010 at midnight, and winners will be notified by e-mail. Good luck!

Review: "Mothers & Other Liars" by Amy Bourret

You'll have to forgive me my lack of book-related postings this week. I am, without a doubt, absolutely exhausted, and quite frankly a little cranky. My new job description has me getting up earlier than usual (I was up at 5:30 AM yesterday morning. There's not enough caffeine in the world for that time in the morning!). One son is in school full time and the other had his first day of Senior Kindergarten this week, so there are lunches to pack and homework to supervise. My husband has been running around like crazy trying to get everything done before he starts his new job on Monday, and since he's understandably a little stressed out right now, I have to be the calming presence. I made time to visit a friend this morning because it's her son's first day of Junior Kindergarten and she was sad to let go of her youngest. On top of that, I've had to try to keep up with all of my duties around the house- someone needs to do the laundry and clean the bathroom! So although I have a few books patiently waiting to be reviewed, I just haven't been able to bring myself to do it. It's all I can do to make it to 10:00 PM, when I can collapse in bed and catch an old episode of Glee (yup, I'm a Gleek) or The Simpsons. I hold out hope that things will be a little calmer, and a little easier, next week.

For now, though, I want to share with you an absolutely amazing book that I read last week. Mothers & Other Liars by Amy Bourret has been on my wish list since I saw it at my local drugstore. The calming cover just drew me in, and I was thrilled to see that my library had a copy. The book tells the fictional story of Ruby Leander and her daughter Lark. Since they arrived nine years ago in their little New Mexico town, Lark just a baby at the time and Ruby 19 years old and single, the two have made a life for themselves. They have friends, Ruby has a job doing nails at the local salon, and she has a loving boyfriend of 3 years, Chaz. Ruby is pregnant with Chaz's baby when she sees an article in a tabloid detailing something that happened 9 years ago. Ruby's life is ripped to shreds as she has to recall what happened to her then, and the life-altering decision that she made.

It's next to impossible to review this book without giving away spoilers, but I've decided to be deliberately vague. The events that occur in this story are part of what made it so compelling, so forgive me if I sound confusing. What I can tell you is that I was unable to put Mothers down. I was hooked. When I wasn't reading it, I thought about it. I tried to figure out how it was going to end, and truth be told, I couldn't even figure out how I wanted it to end (note: I was very happy with the ending. It wasn't wrapped up too neatly, and it made sense.). The main character, Ruby, is experiencing a moral dilemma throughout the book. She's asking herself hard questions and finding out some personal truths. I don't know how I would have reacted in her situation, and I loved that about this book. I was able to put myself in her shoes.

Mothers was alternately sad, heartbreaking, heartwarming, and shocking. It has skyrocketed onto the list of my favourites of 2010, and I'll be recommending it to everyone that will listen to me (you've been warned). I would say that this book will especially appeal to mothers in any form, but truly it has the power to affect a far larger group than that. And once you've read it? Drop me a line (jonitathebookchick(at)gmail(dot)com) and we'll discuss it. This one would make a fantastic book club pick.

Rating: 5 stars out of 5
Recommended to: Mothers, women, fans of thought-provoking women's fiction
Challenges: 2010 100+ Reading Challenge, 2010 Support Your Local Library Challenge, New Author Challenge 2010

Change: One Of My Biggest Fears

Yesterday morning my husband and I got some fantastic news- after a very intense and involved interview process, my husband has been offered a new job! He's been working for a small business for four years now (not his own), and despite the fact that he has greatly enjoyed it, the chance for advancement is very limited. His boss encouraged him to start looking for something new, as the future of the business is unstable right now, and he's unable to offer my husband any kind of guarantees that the business will be open for much longer. J. has been looking for something new for quite some time now, but unfortuately nothing has been a great fit for him. Until now. J. interviewed for this job and came home and told me that he was determined to secure a job offer. Months after his initial interviews (and quite frankly, after we had given up any hope) he received an invitation to return for further interviewing.

Last Thursday was the date of his most recent interview. I came home from work tired and stressed out. I asked him how the interview had gone and he promptly produced a bottle of champagne and poured me a glass. He had unofficially been offered the job! We had to wait for the official phone call (which came yesterday), but he had it in the bag. He hugged, we laughed, we cried. We celebrated. These past couple of months have been a series of small disappointments, one after another. First, we were outbid for a house that we had our sights on. It would have been perfect for us, but it wasn't meant to be. Next came a larger disappointment. Due to cutbacks my old job had been eliminated. I was essentially demoted, due to the fact that I was the lucky person with the least senority. My job description has changed, and not for the better. With my new position came more uncertainty, more stress, and more hours (and all for less pay). It all worked out for the better, right? We didn't know that this fantastic job offer was just around the corner.

And really, it's all good. His starting salary will be almost triple what he makes now. We finally have the opportunity to set some money aside each month and really start saving to make our dreams of owning a home a reality. We'll have a little more security. There will be a little less stress on me job-wise. My part-time income will be less relied on to pay the bills. What do I have to complain about, right?

Apparently, a lot. One of my biggest fears is change, and we'll be having a lot of those soon. J.'s job is over an hour away, so after he makes it through his probationary period we will start looking for a home a little closer to his job. We'll start looking in the spring, in the hopes of moving in the summer. I hate moving. Our home now is the only home that my youngest, J., has ever known. We've spent Christmases here, birthdays. We even got married when we lived in this house! The friends that I've spent the time making here will still be friends, but more of an effort will be required when we want to visit. With a new home and town comes a job switch for me. My job requires that I live in-area, so I'll have to transfer my skills to a similar job in the new town. My address will change. My children's school will change. With my youngest starting school next year, that will change too. I'll be home alone every other day- both happy and sad at the same time. My husband currently works next door to our house and comes home for lunch every day. If I need him I simply have to walk next door. I get to see him through the day. Not anymore! His shifts will rotate on a bi-weekly basis- days, afternoons, and then nights. I'll just get used to one shift, and it will change to the next.

I'm reading what I've written and it sounds like I'm complaining. I promise I'm not. I'm thrilled that our family will have opportunities that we didn't have before, and I'm thrilled that we're moving on to the next phase in our life. These past four years we've felt like we were treading water- getting no further behind, but getting no further ahead. I'm excited that we'll be changing things up, doing something new, moving forward. However, while I'm excited for what comes next, I'm a little sad for what we'll be leaving behind. Our home, our town, my job, schools, our friends. My safe little routine will be soon busted to smithereens. And you know what I'm going to do? Brace myself for it, and then plow ahead with a smile on my face. In a year or two, I'm sure that I'll be thankful for all of the changes.

Review: "The Recessionistas" by Alexandra Lebenthal

It's the day after Labour Day, 2008. Grigsby Somerset, a well-known socialite with an investment banker husband is busy trying to get her daughter, Bitten, into the best school in New York. Little does she know that the economy, once stable, is crumbling around her and that her fortune may soon be dissolved into rubble. She's also unaware of the fact that her husband, Blake, is about to enter into a dangerous deal with the notoriously difficult hedge fund owner John Cutter. Renee Parker, a girl from the wrong side of the tracks who has been steadily working her way towards success, gets hired as John's assistant and when she begins to suspect that something is amiss she will stop at nothing to uncover the truth.

The Recessionistas looked so promising. I know that I shouldn't judge a book by its cover, but this one was particularly clever. Look closely and you'll see that the skyline of New York is made up of purses and handbags. The plot sounded promising as well. Good vs. evil, the little guy triumphs, what's not to like?

The plot, thankfully, didn't disappoint. The story was fast-moving and interesting and I was at the edge of my seat, hoping that good would triumph in the end. Even the characters, many who were spoiled and surrounded with an air of entitlement, were entertaining. I didn't particularly like any of them (with the exception of Renee), but I had fun reading about them and their so-called "problems" (as if it's actually a problem when you have to spend hours each week grooming while nannies, maids, and cooks take care of your household).

What I couldn't get past was the fact that The Recessionistas was plagued by awkward dialogue. It felt stilted and stiff, even for this plastic New York crowd. When I read a book I want the words coming out of their mouths to feel true to the character themself. I want to be able to hear them in my head, but I just couldn't get a handle on them while reading their conversations. I especially had a problem with Renee's voice. It just seemed unnatural, and it hindered my understanding of her character.

Another problem that I had with the book, and this one is minor, is the amount of explaination about hedge funds and Wall Street that dominated parts of the first half of the book. I'm horrible with math and financial transactions, I didn't understand anything about hedge funds even after I had read these parts. I don't mean to come off as being ignorant, but I would have been happy for this information to have been left out. This will not be the case for everyone, as some people will be able to understand the technical explainations, but it was certainly the case for me.

The book had potential, but it ultimately fell flat for me. It's too bad, because there were parts in here that were enjoyable, particularly the ending.

Rating: 3 stars out of 5
Recommended to: People who enjoy books set in New York, particularly those dealing with money management
Challenges: 2010 100+ Reading Challenge, New Author Challenge 2010

I received a copy of this book courtesy of The Hachette Book Group in exchange for an honest review.

Mailbox Monday

Mailbox Monday is being hosted for the month of September by Kathy at Bermudaonion. Thanks Kathy! Each week we share what books have made their way into our mailboxes, but be warned: Mailbox Monday can lead to huge wish lists and towering TBR piles!

I didn't do a Mailbox Monday post last week because we didn't get back from our short family vacation until Monday night, and Tuesday morning was chaotic as it was back to school for two of my boys and back to work for me! This MM post will include what I received in the last two weeks.

YOU Comma Idiot by Doug Harris was my sole arrival two weeks ago. I requested this book because it is Canadian and it seems like a quirky, unique read, a combination that I love. I have to say that the cover is fascinating, as are the immediate inside pages. Covered with drawings and sayings, it has the feel of a book that someone has opened and scribbled on. I love it, and am looking forward to reading it.

My first arrival last week was Perfect Blend by Sue Margolis, a win from the fabulous Melissas (yes, there are two of them!) at Chick Lit Central. Have you checked this blog out yet? If not, I highly recommend it. I have some insider's information that these ladies have some fabulous giveaways coming up, and who couldn't use a little more well-written chick lit in their life?

Next to arrive was Life After Yes by Aidan D. Rowley. I'm particularly excited to read this one- I broke down and bought this one after I failed to win a copy in several contests. Meg at write Meg! reviewed it a while back and I've been lusting after it ever since. A couple of weeks ago someone was blogging about their self-imposed book-buying ban- I panicked at the thought of not buying any books, and promptly went out and bought two from The Book Depository. The other book is yet to arrive.

The final arrival was a brand-new, hot off the presses copy of Planning to Live by one of my new favourite Canadian authors, Heather Wardell. After reading (and loving) her book Seven Exes Are Eight Too Many, I can't wait to read this one.

That was what was in my mailbox the last two weeks- what was in yours?

Review: "Last Night At Chateau Marmont" by Lauren Weisberger

Brooke fell in love with her husband when she saw him give an impromptu performance at a dive bar that she was visiting with her best friend. Julian is sweet and gorgeous and a little shy, but they've been married for five years and she can't imagine him any other way. Brooke works two jobs as a nutritionist to support Julian as he interns with Sony and works on his debut album. He's been signed with Sony, but as a new artist has a one in a million shot at making it big.

After a series of events lands Julian as a guest on The Tonight Show, their wildest dreams start coming true. The "right" people see him and he's suddenly a musician in demand. Suddenly he has an agent, a publicist, and an image consultant. He's on big talk shows, he's opening up for Maroon 5 on their tour, and America just cannot get enough of Julian Alter. Dream come true, right? Wrong! All of a sudden Julian is never home, and when he is, their conversation is stilted. When incriminating photos appear in a national gossip rag, Brooke is devastated, and must decide if she wants to be the "nobody" wife of a celebrity.

I really related to the plot of Last Night At Chateau Marmont. My husband is a musician, and when I met him he was busy touring with his band. The members ended up parting ways for an unrelated reason, but I've always wondered what it would be like to be a rock star's wife- and I've always been secretly glad that I'm not. I like my quiet, under the radar life, and the life that is portrayed by Weisberger in this book is not one that I would desire. I appreciated her portrayal of one potential consequence of becoming an overnight celebrity, and it's not one that I feel I've missed out on.

Beyond the interesting plot, Weisberger has created an abundance of interesting and intelligent characters. My favourite was, of course, was Brooke, the supportive wife who is shoved into the background when stardom hits. Even though she was, understandably, swept up in the Hollywood glamour of being married to an overnight success, she managed to maintain her sense of normalcy. Or at least she tried to. Special mention goes to Nola, Brooke's best friend. Somehow she always seemed to know when Brooke needed a shoulder to cry on or just a really good distraction. We should all be lucky enough to have a friend like her.

Last Night At Chateau Marmont was definitely my favourite book by Lauren Weisberger since I fell in love with The Devil Wears Prada. Interesting, insightful, and as entertaining as a gossip magazine, you'll hardly be able to put it down.

Rating: 4.5 stars out of 5
Recommended to: Fans of Lauren Weisberger and women's fiction
Challenges: 2010 100+ Reading Challenge, 2010 Support Your Local Library Challenge

Mini Reviews

There comes a time in every book blogger's life when they realize that they just cannot possibly review EVERY book that they've read- well, there comes a time in this book blogger's life! As much as I love to read and review there are times when I feel overwhelmed by it all, and with the kids recently going back to school, and me going back to work, I feel that I need to simplify. I have four books that I read this summer (all of which I purchased myself) which I feel that I should at least mention, but I honestly don't have time to write a full post for each. Hence, the mini review!

Love In Translation by Wendy Nelson Tokunaga

The plot: Celeste is stuck- her boyfriend is controlling and demeaning, and her dreams of becoming a singer seem unattainable. Her mother died when she was a child, and her father is unknown, so when Celeste receives her inhertance from a long-lost aunt that leads her to Japan, she goes. With little knowledge of Japan, she manages to find friends and a place to stay and she embarks on a hunt for her father, her aunt's sister, and herself.

My thoughts: This book had an interesting plot, characters that I liked, and an endearing romance. I especially enjoyed the information on Japanese culture- it was so interesting for the armchair traveller in me!

Rating: 4 stars out of 5
Recommended to: Fans of women's fiction, armchair travellers
Challenges: 2010 100+ Reading Challenge, RYOB Challenge 2010

Bridesmaids by Jane Costello

The plot: Evie is going to be in four weddings in the next year: her friend's, her mom's, another friend's, and her frenemy's. However, Evie is unlucky in love and has yet to even have a lasting relationship. That is, until she meets Jack. Jack seems to pop up everywhere, and he's handsome, and romantic, and smart. But can Evie put aside her own insecurities long enough to have a relationship with him?

My thoughts: Who doesn't love a book about weddings? I thoroughly enjoyed Evie's roles as a bridemaid, and how different each wedding was. I especially loved Evie and Jack's relationship. It wasn't perfect, but it was heartwarming!!! There were a few twists in there, which weren't necessarily surprising, but were definitely interesting. This book is perfect for the days when you just want to relax with a book in a warm bubble bath.

Rating: 4 stars out of 5
Recommended to: Women's fiction fans, those looking for a light read
Challenges: 2010 100+ Reading Challenge, New Author Challenge 2010, 2010 Chick Lit Challenge, RYOB Challenge 2010

Queen Mum by Kate Long

The plot: Told from the perspective of Ally, Queen Mum tells the story of Juno, Ally's glamorous best friend. Juno signs up for the British version of Wife Swap, and switches families for two weeks. Ally thinks that her life is just about perfect, but switching lives with another family shows her that all is not well behind her closed doors.

My thoughts: I was expecting something a little lighter than what I got here, which wasn't necessarily a bad thing. I didn't enjoy watching Juno's life fall apart, but I did enjoy reading about how things ultimately worked out in the end. This was an interesting look at reality TV as well.

Rating: 3 stars out of 5
Recommended to: Fans of women's fiction, British lit
Challenges: 2010 100+ Reading Challenge, New Author Challenge 2010, RYOB Challenge 2010

Conversations With the Fat Girl by Liza Palmer

The plot: Maggie is stuck in life. Despite her College degree, she works in a coffee shop with an arse for a boss and harbours a painful crush on a co-worker. Making matters worse, she's supposed to be the maid of honour at her best friend's wedding, but her best friend has changed into someone that Maggie doesn't even recognize anymore.

My thoughts: I bought this book after I read The Field Guide to Burying Your Parents, which I loved. I was disappointed with this one, though. I found Maggie to be whiny- she complained about her life, but she refused to do anything about it. She constantly referred to herself as fat, when I suspect that she was just "curvy", and in a beautiful way. Olivia, her former best friend, was a shrew and I couldn't like her at all. What I did enjoy about the book was the way that body image issues were addressed- every woman has them, and it was brave of Palmer to address them.

Rating: 3 stars out of 5
Recommended to: Women's fiction fans
Challenges: 2010 100+ Reading Challenge, RYOB Challenge 2010

Review: "The Myth of You and Me" by Leah Stewart

Perhaps you've heard me raving about Husband and Wife by Leah Stewart- one of my favourite books of 2010 to date. On the other hand, perhaps you haven't, in which case I'll recap for you. I loved it. I felt like Leah Stewart got into my head and wrote about what it's like to be a wife and a mother and a woman. When I was seeking out books to take with me on my recent vacation, I was determined to choose books that weren't "review books". I was on vacation, and I was choosing to read just for me. Granted, I finished The Recessionistas by Alexandra Lebenthal during part of the 5- hour drive to get there (a review copy), but I had started it before we left, and I just cannot leave a book that I've started unfinished. Anyways, while at the library I chose to bring a copy of The Myth of You and Me by Leah Stewart home, along with a copy of Jennifer Weiner's latest, Fly Away Home.

The Myth of You and Me tells the story of the friendship between Cameron and Sonia. The two met at the age of 14, when Sonia, for no apparent reason, chose Cameron to share her true self with. Over the next several years the girls shared many things- high school, sleepovers, first kisses and college. When the book opens, the girls have had a falling out many years ago and are estranged. Cameron is working for an elderly historian, Oliver, whom she is a companion to, and whom she loves as one would love a parent. When a letter arrives for Cameron from Sonia, after many years of being out of touch, Oliver insists that Cameron finds Sonia and tries to fix whatever it is that is keeping them apart. Cameron is reluctant, she's a wanderer and is hesitant to form any lasting bonds in her adult life, but Oliver orchestrates something so that Cameron will have no choice but to do as he says.

As Cameron gets closer to finding Sonia, who has mysteriously made herself absent from both her home and her hometown, she reveals what it is that happened between them so many years ago, and she must decide if she is ready to put the past behind her and finally set down some roots.

I really lost myself in this book, but in a good way. Stewart reveals portions of the mystery surrounding Cameron and Sonia and what happened between them many years ago slowly, so that everything can sink in before the next piece of the puzzle is revealed. She brings the characters of Cameron and Sonia, both as children and as adults, to life. Cameron, who is obviously hurt by what happened in the past and is reluctant to put down roots of her own, was the character that I sympathized with the most. When Cameron begins to make her realizations about the past and about herself is was almost like reading a coming-of-age story, the story of Cameron coming into herself.

What I found really interesting is the contrasts between The Myth of You and Me and Stewart's latest book, Husband and Wife. I didn't really compare them while reading them, but after reading the last page of TMOYAM, I found myself thinking about how the two books were similar, and how they were different. One thing that I found different was the writing style. The words in Husband and Wife were lyrical, almost poetic in how they tumbled one after the other. That's one of the things that I adored about it. I wanted to read them aloud, I wanted to savour each one. TMOYAM was written in what I would consider a more "traditional" style, a style that you would expect general fiction to be written in. In both books the character's emotions shine through, and are what makes the books so relatable- that raw emotion is on every page. What I find funny is that if you read one right after the other, with the author's name erased, I don't know if you would be able to tell that they were by the same person. I enjoyed them both so much, but for different reasons, and I liked that! It brings me to the conclusion that Stewart's writing style has changed and evolved, and I like it when an author is not static. You can recognize some authors simply by reading a page or two- others continue to change and grow, just as we do as people.

I highly recommend The Myth of You and Me- to anyone who has ever had a lifelong friend, and to anyone who has ever mourned the end of a great friendship. And when you're done reading this one? Make sure you read Husband and Wife, another book bound to have you frantically turning the pages.

Rating: 4.5 stars out of 5
Recommended to: Fans of Leah Stewart and contemporary fiction
Challenges: 2010 100+ Reading Challenge, 2010 Support Your Local Library Challenge

Review: "Fly Away Home" by Jennifer Weiner

I was so excited when the library called me to let me know that my reserved copy of Fly Away Home by Jennifer Weiner was in, the day before I was going to leave to go on a short vacation with my family. I love buying books, and do so when I can, but this book blogger's on a budget! The library is the next best place to read all of the books that I've been lusting after, despite the extra time it can sometimes take to get my hands on a copy.

I was a little anxious about reading this one, despite the great reviews that it has been getting from my fellow bloggers. I adored Good in Bed, Certain Girls, and In Her Shoes, but I was disappointed by her last book, Best Friends Forever. I didn't want to be disappointed again, and I'm glad that I wasn't!

Fly Away Home is the story of the Woodruff family. Richard, the father, is a politician with aspirations to become the president. Sylvie is Richard's wife. She's molded herself into the perfect politician's wife- thinnish and average, so as not to attract the attention of nasty reporters and bloggers. Diana is the high-achieving oldest daughter. She's married with a little boy, Milo, and is a doctor who works in a local emergency room. Lizzie, the youngest, is pretty and soft and a former drug addict, now in recovery.

Everything falls apart for the Woodruff's when it's revealed on the news that Richard has had an affair with a young intern (hmmm...where have we heard this story before?). Suddenly nobody is safe from doubt and turmoil- Richard is repentant and regretful, Sylvie wonders why she's molded herself into someone that she's not for so long, Diana is taking her own dangerous path, and Lizzie is struggling to keep it all together. They must all decide who they really are, and where they want life to take them.

Fly Away Home was a highly enjoyable book, despite the fact that the plot felt like it had been done before (perhaps because of the prevelance of stories like this on the news). I enjoyed the fact that the story was told from the points of view of the three Woodruff women, all three of them with distinct voices. I couldn't help but love watching Sylvie come into her own as she escapes to the family's beach house to heal and to figure out what to do next. Diana was all sharp edges, but even she gets to a point where she softens. Lizzie was my favourite character of all. She was so afriad of screwing up again, yet her hope for the future and for better things was contagious and she made it incredibly easy for me to root for her.

All in all this was an enjoyable, heartwarming read, as we follow these three women struggling to put the piece of the Woodruff family back together. I highly recommend this one to anyone who has enjoyed Weiner's previous books, as well as to those looking for an intelligent contemporary fiction read.

Rating: 4 stars out of 5
Recommended to: Jennifer Weiner fans, fiction lovers
Challenges: 2010 100+ Reading Challenge, 2010 Support Your Local Library Challenge

Review: "Pretty in Plaid" by Jen Lancaster

Jen Lancaster has shared with us about her time on the unemployment line (Bitter is the New Black), her time as a little fish in a big pond (Bright Lights, Big Ass), and her struggles with weight loss (Such a Pretty Fat). Recently I reviewed her latest, My Fair Lazy, and loved the fact that she's as honest as they come and says exactly what she's thinking. We could use more people like Jen! I was at the library with my boys the other day (yay for the summer reading program!) and I picked up a copy of her book Pretty In Plaid.

Pretty in Plaid covers the time periods not covered in her previous books. We get glimpses into her childhood, teenage years, college years, and then her early years of working life. Although her trademark wit and charm are present in spades, this wasn't my favourite of her books so far. There are laughs to be had, but the middle dragged for me a bit. When she recounts her days as Rush Chairman of her sorority I had to stifle a few yawns, because her list of rules for her sorority sisters spanned pages.

That being said, there were parts that I found interesting. I enjoyed reading about the early days of her relationship with (her now husband) Fletch. I enjoyed reading about the ups and downs of her first job "in the real world", and I enjoyed the fact that she doesn't censor herself- she tells us about getting herself into debt as openly as she tells us about her triumphant graduation from College. I also enjoyed her various clothing descriptions, and I may or may not have bought a new purse after reading the description of her new Coach bag (no, I didn't buy a Coach purse, yes, I bought an inexpensive knockoff, and yes, I'm enjoying the latest addition to my purse collection).

The fact that this one didn't entirely do it for me hasn't turned me off of reading her other books. Jen Lancaster's books are great for both a laugh and a reality check, and I still have Bitter is the New Black and Such a Pretty Fat on my wishlist!

Rating: 3.5 out of 5
Recommended to: Readers who love their memoirs chock-full of humour
Challenges: 2010 100+ Reading Challenge, 2010 Support Your Local Library Challenge

Review: "Still The One" by Robin Wells

Katie Charmaine is still mourning the loss of her husband, who was killed in Iraq, when her past comes back to haunt her. Zach Ferguson, a one-time summer love, returns to her town with their 16-year-old daughter, Gracie, in tow. Katie is shocked. She gave Gracie up for adoption when she was born, and Zach didn't even know about her existance. Zach explains that Gracie sought him out after her adoptive parents were killed in a car accident, and now Gracie needs both of their help. She's pregnant and hurting, and could use a woman's touch.

While Zach and Katie struggle to learn the difficult business of co-parenting, Gracie struggles to accept these two people as more than just a ticket to a better life for her and her baby. She's filled with resentment over the fact that Katie gave her up as a baby. Katie herself is unprepared for the rush of emotion that she feels towards Zach, emotions that she thought were buried a long time ago, as well as what it's like to have her daughter back in her life.

Still The One was just okay for me. I found that the multitude of problems that surround Katie, Zach, and Gracie are overwhelming. I could have handled most of it (unplanned pregnancy, adoption, the child returning pregnant herself) but the fact that Katie had a rough childhood, Zach had a rough childhood, Katie's husband had died, and Gracie's parents had died was just too much for me. While dealing with the issues of adoption, abuse, alcholism, teenage pregnancy, and more, it became too much for me, and it became unbelievable. It's as if every trick in the book was pulled out to make this one a tearjerker but it worked the opposite way for me. I finished it, but didn't find it particularly satisfying.

That being said, I did come to like the characters in the book. They were well-developed and it was easy to be sympathetic towards them as they worked towards a common goal. The developing romance between Katie and Zach was enjoyable and believable as well, and the conclusion was satisfying.

I wouldn't go out of my way to recommend this one, but it would be worth picking up if you're looking for characters that you can't help but like despite the troubles that life is continually throwing their way.

Rating: 2.5 out of 5
Challenges: 2010 100+ Reading Challenge, New Author Challenge 2010

Thank-you to the Hachette Book Group, who sent this in exchange for my honest opinion.