Mailbox Monday

Mailbox Monday is where we share which books made their way into our homes the previous week. Originally hosted by Marcia at The Printed Page, Mailbox Monday is on tour. This month our host is Rose City Reader. Read on, but be warned: Mailbox Monday can lead to TBR mountains and out-of-control wish lists!

I'm a little (but only a little) embarrased to admit how many books made their way into my home last week, either through the mail or through the magic of eBooks. Last week's arrivals were:

Hard Copy Additions:

Breakfast at Stephanie's by Sue Margolis
This arrived in my mailbox courtesy of the wonderful Melissa A. over at Chick Lit Central: The Blog who believes in sharing the book love. Thanks Melissa!

Moonface: A True Romance by Angela Balcita
Thanks to the publisher and TLC Book Tours for sending me this one for an upcoming tour!

One Bird's Choice by Iain Reid
Once again, thanks to the publisher and TLC Book Tours for sending this to me.

The Last Will of Moira Leahy by Therese Walsh
This one arrived courtesy of the author via a contest on the I Bet We Can Make These Books Bestsellers group on Facebook.

The Weird Sisters by Eleanor Brown
This was a contest win from the wonderful The Divining Wand blog, and Larramie was kind enough to express ship it to me when I told her how badly I wanted to read this. Thanks Larramie, I am loving it as much as you said I would!

eBook additions:

There's Cake in my Future by Kim Gruenenfelder
I bought this one with a gift card (and a 35% off coupon!) because I heard about it on Chick Lit Central and it was promptly added to my wish list. Yay! My first eBook purchase (vs. getting it for free).

Elder Wonder Comes of Age by Jaron Summers
This one was free with a coupon code, and I hope to get to it in the future. Want your own free copy? Check out my post here.

Ivory Joe by Martyn Burke
Another free download from Bev Editions. Get your own copy here!

No Cure For the Broken Hearted by Kenneth Rosenberg
This copy came courtesy of the author for review at a future date. Thank-you!

I believe that's it, and I apologize if you sent me a book this past week and I neglected to mention it. Now if only I didn't have kids, a job, and a house to clean- I would be able to read a lot faster! What was in your mailbox last week?

Winner of "Arranged" by Catherine McKenzie

Congratulations to

dothetwist

who has won a copy of Catherine McKenzie's Arranged. I can say with certainty that you'll love it! Please check your e-mail for an e-mail from me. Thank-you to everyone who entered!

Free E-Books for a Limited Time

It's a lazy Saturday, and snowing quite steadily here in Ontario. It's pretty, but is anyone besides me quite sick of the snow and ready for the lazy days of summer? So, what else is there to do right now than read? If you are lucky enough to be in possession of an eReader, or if you enjoy reading books in your desktop or on your cell phone, Bev Editions is offering three of their eBooks free with coupon code for a limited time. Getting them is as simple as opening a free Smashwords account, and using the coupon code to get them for free in the format of your choice. Books on offer right now are:

Dreaming in a Digital World by Blanche Howard
Description: Gen Varley, a PhD in computer science has ambitions for career and love. Virginal in the ways of office politics and the human heart, Gen is shocked by her boss's deceit, her boring boyfriend's secret life, and her affair with a married co-worker that reduces her to subtle stalker. Allies include a mentor who turns fairy godmother with surprising consequences. A delightful romp by a major writer.
Coupon Code: ZN22S

Elder Wonder Come of Age by Jaron Summers
Description: A young man's hilarious quest for sex and God. In 1962, Jerry Wonder is a 19-year-old Mormon missionary who leaves South Dakota to save souls in New Zealand. But Elder Wonder is flawed. He is a compulsive masturbator, or in Mormon parlance, a "self-pollinator." Within its comic frame, the novel is revealing of the ways older men stifle and control young men.
Coupon Code: QS59K

Ivory Joe by Martyn Burke
Description: First published by Bantam Books and hailed by critics, this is the rollicking love story of Leo and Tina Klein in 1950s New York. He is a charming rogue with ties to the mob. She is a leftist activist and manager of “Ivory Joe” Coulter, a heart-busting black musician. Burke weaves a deft plot involving the attempted theft of one of Joe's songs, to give us a joyous tale of energy and soul.
Coupon Code: BK78Z

All coupons expire on April 11, 2011. Enjoy!

Review" "Women on the Verge of a Nervous Breakthrough" by Ruth Pennebaker

Three generations of women, Ivy, Joanie, and Caroline, are stuck together under one roof. Ivy, Joanie's mother, watched her savings whittle away as the economy turned bad and she was forced to move in with her daughter. Joanie is divorced and has just found out that her ex-husband is having a baby with his much younger girlfriend, and she is attempting to re-enter the working world in order to support herself. Caroline is Joanie's only daughter, teenaged and sullen, trying to find a place for herself in the halls of her highschool while dealing with her annoying mother and embarrasing father. These three women will have to learn to live together- or at least try not to kill one another.

Women on the Verge of a Nervous Breakthrough was a fun read. Despite the fact that this is Pennebaker's debut fiction novel, she perfectly captures the voices of the three women whose stories she tells. Ivy was my favourite, she's crotchety and fiesty, and she's determined not to let new technology get the best of her. Underneath it all she has this vulnerable side, though, and at times we're reminded that she is an elderly woman with hopes and dreams and hurts and fears of her own. I also really enjoyed Caroline's voice. She's a moody, confused teenager, not quite pretty enough to be popular, but not completely an outcast either. I remember this well from my days as a teenager and could appreciate her portions of the story.

Pennebaker writes with a light hand and incorporates plenty of quick humour into these pages, making it an enjoyable read. I especially appreciated the fact that the conclusion was left open-ended- it allowed me lots of room to come up with my own ending to the story. For more on Ruth Pennebaker and Women on the Verge of a Nervous Breakthrough please visit her website.

Rating: 3.5 stars out of 5
Challenges: 2011 100+ Reading Challenge,

Thank-you to Trish at TLC Book Tours and the author for a copy of this book.



CSN Stores Giveaway

Since the CSN Stores giveaway that I hosted back in November went so well I'm thrilled to be able to host another one!

This time I have a $55 gift certificate to give away to one lucky entrant in the US or Canada. You can use this gift card to purchase absolutely anything from CSN's 200+ stores, the sky's the limit! You can buy a new bookshelf or a luggage set, cookwear or adjustable bar stools. If you're the winner, the choice is yours.

All you have left to do is enter! To enter:

1. *Mandatory Entry* Tell me what you would buy from CSN stores if you won. There are no right or wrong answers, I just love seeing what you would buy! I've spent hours browsing on this site. Please include your 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 in a separate comment that you already follow.

3. *Bonus Entry* Spread the word about this contest in some way. Facebook it, Tweet it, or add it to your sidebar. It doesn't matter how you choose to do it, but please leave me a separate comment to let me know what you did.

It's that simple! This contest is open to Canadian and US residents only, and runs until February 10, 2011 at midnight. The winner will be notified by e-mail after this time. The $55 gift certificate does not cover shipping or international fees, but many items offer free shipping. Good luck!

Mailbox Monday

Welcome to Mailbox Monday! Each Monday we share which books we found in our mailboxes the week before, but be warned: Mailbox Monday can lead to towering TBR piles and out-of-control wish lists! This month our host is Rose City Reader. Thanks!

Last week was a great week in books for me, with lots of exciting new arrivals. In my mailbox I found:

A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to Her Brother's Shotgun Wedding by Noreen Riley: Love the title!

Wither by Lauren DeStefano: As I wrote about in my Sunday Salon post, this one is out of my comfort zone, but I'm excited to give it a try!

Born Under a Lucky Moon by Dana Precious: For an upcoming tour, book releasing on Feburary 8, 2011.

Walking With Elephants by Karen S. Bell: Also for an upcoming TLC book tour.

Skipping a Beat by Sarah Pekkanen: I was insanely excited to find this in my mailbox after work on Friday night. I'm about halfway through, and yes, it is as good as the reviewers have been saying!

The Bird House by Kelly Simmons: A bonus in the package with Sarah Pekkanen's book. I'm excited to give it a try!

That's it for me for last week! What was in your mailbox?

The Sunday Salon

Last week one of the publishers that I work with sent me an unexpected book in the mail: Wither by Lauren DeStefano, the first book in the Chemical Garden Trilogy. My first instinct was to put it aside without a glance. Yup, the cover is really nice, but it is so out of my reading comfort zone. I gravitate towards well-writted chick lit, women's fiction, contemporary fiction, and the odd romance that toes the line of chick lit. I've accepted the fact that I read primarily for pleasure, so I may as well find what I read pleasurable. I don't do vampires or werewolves, I don't read a lot of historical fiction (although I do pick up the odd one and tend to enjoy it), and I dont do bodice-ripping romances. In general, I don't read YA. Or dystopian fiction.

So you can see why I would be inclined to toss this one aside. It has two strikes against it for me- it's both YA and dystopian fiction. But then I started to really consider the book. Sure, it's out of my comfort zone, but sometimes the best reads, the ones that stick with me for along time after I've finished the last page, are the ones that don't fall within my usual guidelines. I remember picking up the first Harry Potter book for a class that I was taking in University. I was skeptical. However, once I had devoured the book I quickly found myself tracking down the next three in the series. And yes, I was one of those chicks that pre-ordered the subsequent releases and then promptly devoured them. I was a Harry Potter convert, and only because I had to read the first book. If I hadn't picked it up, then I would have missed out on the magic of the series.

Perhaps by being close-minded at times when it comes to my reading I've been missing out. I haven't read The Hunger Games series, or The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo trilogy. I've heard great things about both, but haven't been enticed to pick them up yet. In a way I feel that I should stick to what I love to read, so that reading remains a pleasure for me, but in another way I feel that I should occasionally step outside of my reading comfort zone to experience something new. For this reason, I'm going to give Wither a try. Who knows? It could become my new favourite series.

Review: "Go Small or Go Home" by Heather Wardell

When I first received my Sony eReader for Christmas I have to admit that the thing that I was most excited about was the fact that I could now read all of Heather Wardell's novels (which are now all available in paperback- go figure!). Heather is one of my favourite women's fiction authors, and she's Canadian, which is of course a bonus. She kindly sent me a copy of each of her books that I haven't read yet, including Go Small or Go Home and her upcoming release Stir Until Thoroughly Confused. I couldn't wait to devour both, but Heather suggested that I start with Go Small or Go Home since some of the characters make a reappearance in Stir Until Thoroughly Confused.

This story is about Tess, a massage therapist whose passion is making miniature art in her spare time. When she's hired as a private masseuse for Forrest, a hockey player with injuries that go deeper than the outside, she has no idea what she's getting herself in to. As Forrest starts to heal, externally at least, Tess begins to focus on her art, which she hopes to make a career out of. When Forrest introduces her to his art- gallery- owning mother, it's Tess' dream come true. She has a shot of making a career out of her passion. But when Forrest's mother starts imposing rules and restrictions on her work, can Tess find the passion for it that she once had? And what will she do with the feelings that she finds she has for Forrest?

I'm going to go out on a limb here, since I still have two more of her books to read, but I'm going to say that Go Small or Go Home is my favourite book by Heather Wardell so far. The chemistry was so palpable that I expected my eReader to burst into flame at any moment. And Forrest. Well, swoon. He was the perfect man that you love to love. He's damaged, but underneath it all the fact that he's a genuinely good guy with feelings for Tess clearly comes through.

Heather Wardell is the queen of believable dialogue. One of my biggest bookish pet peeves is when dialogue is choppy or awkward, but the voices of Tess and Forrest and all of the secondary characters were realistic. While I was reading I could almost hear their voices in my head.

Go Small or Go Home also has laugh-out-loud funny scenes and its share of heart-pounding moments, making this one the complete package. It's available in a variety of electronic formats for only $0.99, so what are you waiting for? This one's a must-read for any women's fiction fan.

Rating: 5 stars out of 5
Challenges: 2011 100+ Reading Challenge, 2011 E-Book Challenge, The Canadian Book Challenge 4

Mailbox Monday

Welcome to Mailbox Monday! Each week we share which books made their way into our homes, but be warned: Mailbox Monday can lead to towering TBR piles and out-of-control wish lists! Originally hosted by Marcia at The Printed Page, Mailbox Monday is on tour and this month is being hosted by Rose City Reader. Thanks!

Two new arrivals made their way into my mailbox last week, and they arrived on the same day! (Go figure). In my mailbox on Wednesday was a copy of Remedies by Kate Ledger, who was kind enough to send me a signed copy when I mentioned on Facebook that her book was on my wish list. A big thank-you to Kate for taking the time to send me such a nice gift!

Also in my mailbox was a copy of Women on the Verge of a Nervous Breakthrough by Ruth Pennebaker, for an upcoming TLC Book Tour. I've already started this one about three generations of women living under the same roof and I'm enjoying it so far!

Not in my physical mailbox, but in my e-mail inbox last week was an advanced copy of Kristan Higgins' upcoming release, My One and Only, via Netgalley and courtesy of the publisher. I really loved her book All I Ever Wanted, and I'm about halfway through this one and loving it as well.

That's what was in my mailbox. What was in yours?

Q&A and Giveaway with Catherine McKenzie, author of "Arranged"

Please join me in welcoming Catherine McKenzie, author of the newly released Arranged (my review) and the recently re-released Spin to The Book Chick today! Catherine has been a guest here before, right after her debut novel was released, and I'm thrilled to have her back today. She has graciously agreed to answer a few questions for me:

The Book Chick: What was your inspiration for Arranged?

Catherine McKenzie: My inspiration came from various sources. I’m actually acquainted with two men who had “traditional” arranged marriages. And then of course there is the plethora of dating shows (The Bachelor, etc.) that I’ve sometimes been sucked into. I’m not sure what tipped the scales, but I do remember the premise—what would lead someone to use an arranged marriage service if something like that existed?—plopping into my brain and being immediately really excited by it.

TBC: How long did it take you to write it?

CM: I’d say the first draft took about 6 months (I wasn’t really keeping track back then) from the fall of 2006 to the spring of 2007. Since then I’ve been through many, many drafts of the book, along with periods when I wasn’t working on it all.

TBC: You are the founder of the online movement "I bet we can make these books bestsellers" (on Facebook), which encourages people to purchase a specific book that you feel hasn't gotten enough attention. What are your plans for the group for the new year?

CM: My plans for the new year are to introduce some new books! Up till now I’ve been focused on two books by Shawn Klomparens – Jessica Z. and Two Years, No Rain – which I obviously love and highly recommend. I’m going to keep those books up on the site, but add new ones as I come across them, hopefully about once a month. The next two books I’ll be promoting are The Day the Falls Stood Still by Cathy Marie Buchanan, and The Last Will of Moira Leahy, by Therese Walsh. You can check out the Facebook page here.

TBC: What books are on your nightstand right now?

CM: Too many! As I write this I’m reading The Accidental Billionaires about the founding of Facebook, and the ARC of Tim Sandlin’s latest book, Lydia. I’m also about half way through a dozen other books including Mary Roach’s Packing for Mars and The Complete Sherlock Holmes.
 
TBC: Do you have a new book in the works? If so, would you like to share a little about it?

CM: I do have a new book that I’m working on, but since my agent is about to take it to market, I have to keep the premise close to the vest right now, sorry. If I’m lucky enough to sell it, I’ll tell you all about it.
 
TBC: Well I, for one, can't wait to read whatever you come out with next. Thanks for stopping by Catherine!
 
Now for the giveaway: Courtesy of HarperCollins Canada I have one copy of Arranged to give away. Due to publisher's restrictions, this one is open to Canadian residents only. Sorry, my American and international friends! To enter:
 
1. *Mandatory Entry* What are your thoughts on arranged marriage? Would you do it yourself, or encourage a friend to do it? Leave me a comment on this post with your thoughts and include your 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. Already a follower? Thanks! Leave me a comment to let me know that you already follow this blog.
 
3. *Bonus Entry* Spread the word about this contest in some way. Blog about it, post it on your sidebar, Tweet it or Facebook it, just leave me a separate comment to let me know how you chose to spread the word.
 
This contest runs until January 28, 2011 at midnight. The winner will be contacted by e-mail and will have 48 hours to respond. The publisher will be sending out the prize.This contest is open to Canadian residents only. Good luck!

Swagbucks- The Easy Way To Earn Amazon Gift Cards!

Three and a half years ago, when I was on maternity leave with my youngest son, my husband and I made a scary decision: we decided that when my maternity leave was over I would quit my full-time job (complete with a two hour daily commute) and work part-time so that I could be home with our three boys. It was frightening, but I was lucky and I was able to find a job where I could take my kids along for the three hours a day that I am working. However, with a part-time job comes a part-time income, and I'm always looking for ways that I can supplement my income. I clip coupons and am always looking for companies willing to let me try their products for free, I do surveys online, and recently, through another blogger, I found out about Swagbucks.

The concept for Swagbucks is simple: search using their site and you'll earn "Swagbucks". Save up enough of these and redeem for great prizes or cash. A really popular option (and my favourite) is Amazon gift cards. The great thing about them is they offer them for Amazon.com, Amazon.ca, and Amazon.co.uk so that people around the world can earn and enjoy Swagbucks. I waited until I had used the site a bit before I decided to post about it (I wanted to make sure that it was legit and all that) but I'm happy to say that I have been using the site for a little over a month now and have already redeemed for $15 in Amazon.ca gift cards. It works! I'm excited because essentially using the Swagbucks site will buy me an extra book every month, and it is as simple as searching for the things that you would be searching for anyways. Let me tell you how I earn with them:

• I have Swagbucks set as my homepage. Every morning when I log on to my computer I search for the e-mail sites that I would be visiting anyways and usually win Swagbucks on the first couple of searches. I search for the sites that I'm visiting using Swagbucks all day and usually win Swagbucks three times a day or so. Fridays are Mega Swagbucks days, so the chances of winning big are better!
• I have also chosen to use their toolbar (optional) and I win 1 Swagbuck daily for using that. Partipating in the Daily Poll (only one question) and viewing their NOSO (no obligation special offers) earns me 1 Swagbuck per activity. It doesn't seem like much, but it adds up!
• Refer people to Swagbucks. Every time one of your referrals wins by searching, you are credited the same amount, up to 1000 Swagbucks!
• Watch Swagbucks TV when you get a chance. It's interesting to watch and you earn 5 Swagbucks for about every half hour you watch (it doesn't need to be consecutive).
• Keep your eyes peeled for Swagcodes. These will be posted in the blog, on their Facebook page, on their Twitter, or on the Toolbar. I literally just redeemed one minutes ago worth 15 Swagbucks!

There are tons of other ways to earn, including surveys, special offers, and the newly added games section, but the ways above are what I do on a daily basis. It's easy, there's no pressure, you don't need to search for something specific to win (just search for what you would regularly search for) and like I mentioned above, I've earned $15 in Amazon.ca Gift Cards in a little over a month!

Plus, join today (yes, that is my referral link) and you'll receive 30 Swagbucks just for joining (the regular deal) PLUS you'll get 20 additional Swagbucks for using the code GameTime (you'll see the box to input a code on the right hand side. It says "Gimme"). This code is only available for use by new members. Essentially, join today and get 50 Swagbucks just for joining. Since a $5 Amazon.com or Amazon.ca gift card are only 450 Swagbucks, you'll have a great start!

I'm genuinely recommending this site to you (I'm not being compensated for this post, although if you join using my referral link I will receive Swagbucks when you win Swagbucks for searching). I'm enjoying the gift cards, and it's a great way to earn them with little or no effort on your part. Let me know how you like it or if you want to exchange tips for earning!

Review: "From Here to Paternity" by Matt Dunn

When my sister-in-law brought over several books for me to borrow, I was thrilled to see From Here to Paternity by Matt Dunn in the pile. I read my first Matt Dunn book in 2010, and I laughed the whole way through The Ex-Boyfriend's Handbook (my review). I'm eagerly anticipating the sequel to it, The Accidental Proposal, and I couldn't wait to get my next Matt Dunn fix.

From Here to Paternity tells the story of Will Jackson, a decent single guy who just can't wait to be a father. Tired of his single-guy lifestyle he really puts himself out there to women who may potentially make good mothers. He allows himself to be set up on blind dates, he tries his hand at Internet dating, and he even auctions himself on eBay. Despite his best efforts he seems to be scaring off potential mothers, rather than attracting them, and Will starts to think that he may never become a doting dad. That is, until Emma walks in. The mysterious Starbucks employee steals Will's heart but will she always remain at an elusive distance?

I had high hopes for this one, but it fell a bit flat for me. I guess that I had the hardest time believing that there is a man out there who would give up his single-guy lifestyle to become a dad, to the point where he barely cares what the mother of his child is like aside from the fact that she will be a good mother. I know that there are men out there who are desperate to become fathers, but Will seemed to undergo this complete personality shift and does some pretty unbelievable stuff.

I probably would have been able to suspend my belief on all of that but From Here to Paternity wasn't all that funny. And it didn't offer the same insight into the male mind that The Ex-Boyfriend's Handbook did. It was a good read, but not a great one, and even though this in no way discourages me from reading more Matt Dunn in the future, if you're new to him I would suggest starting with a different one of his books.

Rating: 3 stars out of 5
Challenges: 2011 100+ Reading Challenge, 2011 RYOB Challenge

Mailbox Monday

Welcome to Mailbox Monday! Each week we share what arrived in our mailboxes last week. Originally created by Marcia at The Printed Page, MM is on tour. This month's host is Rose City Reader. Anyone can join in!

Last week brought two new arrivals into my mailbox, both from Penguin. In my mailbox was:

Dreaming in English by Laura Fitzgerald

and

Haunting Jasmine by Anjali Banerjee.

I'm so excited to read both of these, and I have to say that the covers are even more beautiful in person! I also downloaded a few galleys from Netgalley. I think I'm a little eBook happy right now, heeheehee.

That's it for my mailbox, what was in yours?

The Post in Which I Eat My Words

An embarassingly short time ago I ranted against eReaders in general, stating that it was highly unlikely that I would ever own one of the devices. And if I did, it wouldn't be for a long time. Well, I'm eating my words now. After some serious comparison shopping, my husband picked me out an eReader for Christmas. He got me the Sony Reader, Pocket Edition (5" screen) and I absolutely love it.

First and foremost, I love how user friendly the Sony is. It's a touch screen, allowing me to navigate easily between books or functions. I can read eBooks on it, I can listen to music or audiobooks, and I can store my own pictures to use as screensavers. I can take notes with the stylus in my own handwriting, or I can highlight passages to be referred to later. I especially love that I can look up any unfamiliar words by double tapping them, and I can choose from several dictionaries.

The Sony allows the reader to go into "sleep" mode when not in use with the simple flick of a switch at the top. So if I'm reading a book on it and need to go and do something else, I put it to "sleep" and wake it up by sliding the same button. I don't have to reload anything, and it goes right to the page that I was at. The battery stays charged for about 7,500 continuous page turns (approximately 2 weeks), and the unit stores about 1,200 books.

I find the screen and its eInk technology easy on my eyes, and this weekend hubby is going to buy me a case with a light for when I want to read in dim light (they were out of stock at Christmas). I also love that the text size is adjustable and that the Reader remembers which text size you prefer for which book.

My favourite feature? The Sony reads both PDF files (great for review copies) and ePub formats, as well as several additional formats. I've already taken advantage of my library's e-lending program to borrow an eBook. I don't have to drive there to pick up a book, and when I'm done it returns itself- no late fees! I've also been using NetGalley and have loaded my Reader with some exciting titles! Books in seconds: a great way to feed my addiction.

There are a few drawbacks to it, the main one being that I can't bring it into the bathtub with me, which is my favourite place to read. I also have to be careful when reading outside in inclement weather, which happens. It's also far more fragile than a paperback (although the construction is impressive) and I'm a little afraid of breaking my new toy. And of course, it's not possible to lend a friend a book with the Sony yet.

Overall, the Sony Reader is a great addition to my library. Do I think that I will ever give up hard copies? No, definitely not. I'll still continue to add to my physical library through bookstore and used bookstore purchases, as well as those enticing review copies. But as an additional way to read and review books? I'm hooked. And now, I will officially eat my words.

Review: "To Have Not" by Frances Lefkowitz

Frances Lefkowitz grew up as one of the "have nots" meaning that she grew up not having enough: living space, food, even affection. Born to parents who were truly too young emotionally to have children, they are still trying to figure out their place in the world when they suddenly, almost inexplicably, become parents to three small children. In To Have Not, Frances tries to make sense of her childhood, the frequent moves, the grimy, too-small apartments, and the lack of childhood comforts, so that she can bring awareness to the issue, but mainly so that she can gain insight into her own life.

I enjoyed this memoir, this remembrance of growing up without so many of the things that we all can take for granted. At some times I could relate to her; although my family is not one of the "have nots" we were certainly not one of the "haves" either. I grew up somewhere in the middle, with parents who both worked and who cared about our whereabouts, but where sometimes there was just not enough money to go around. At other times I could not relate to the story personally, but rather read with a sense of awe, awe that Frances had survived so much hardship in her young years, to go on to become successful, with health insurance and goals in life.

At times towards the end I grew annoyed with the tone, the "woe is me" tone. I can certainly agree with the fact that she often had to go without, especially as a child, but in her adult years she seems to be doing well on the outside and I was hoping that what was going on in the inside would follow suit. As an adult she has managed to do things that I have not yet been able to do, she's travelled, seen some of the world, attended an Ivy League school, so at that point I felt that she should have been able to move on from her childhood in some ways. However, I can also understand that emotional scars run deep, and that who we are as children can certainly affect who we are as adults.

What I took from the book, beyond the fact that this is Frances' personal story, is that we as people, regardless of our personal circumstances, should learn to treat those around us the same as everyone else, regardless of income or upbringing. I appreciated that underlying message and will certainly try to take that wisdom with me as I travel this path called life.

Well-written and interesting, with a subtle message that we should all take to heart, To Have Not is an interesting read for memoir fans.

Rating: 3.5 stars out of 5
Challenges: 2011 100+ Reading Challenge

Winner of "Learn, Laugh, Cook"

Thank-you to everyone for your cooking horror stories! You all made me laugh out loud, so thank-you for that! Random.org chose the winner, so congratulations to:

Melissa from Chick Lit Central: The Blog

Melissa wins a copy of Learn, Laugh, Cook by Mandy Fernandez. Melissa, I've e-mailed you for your address.

Review: "One Day" by David Nicholls

*Please Note: Review May Contain Minor Spoilers*

After getting my new Sony Reader for Christmas (thanks again to my wonderful hubby!) I was dying to try it out and read a whole book on it. After all, I can play around with the Reader and love it, but who knows if I like reading a book on it until I try, right? I was thrilled to find out that my public library is one of the ones that is now carrying eBooks and since I had heard such a wide range of opinions about One Day, I checked it out online.

One Day tells the story of Emma and Dexter, who meet for the first time on the day of their college graduation, July 15, 1988. The two have a romantic liaison that night but end up becoming good friends instead of lovers. The two are so different from one another, Emma is reserved and a little down on herself and Dexter is stuck-up and self-assured, but the chemistry between the two is palpable. We check in on them once a year for 20 years, each time on July 15th, and we find out what happens to them as they live their lives.

I'm cowering behind a bookshelf as I write this, but I liked this book (okay, Meg, you're not allowed to throw things at me!). I don't think that it will change my life, and yes, the ending was abrupt and came out of nowhere, but I did enjoy it. I loved the chemistry that existed between Emma and Dexter. I swear that it fizzled at times. It reminded me a little of the chemistry between Jim and Pam from The Office before they got together (of course, now that they are together, the show is boring!). And the relationship near misses? Ahh! They drove me crazy, but in a good way. That chemistry, along with the fact that Nicholls can write, kept me interested and reading frantically the whole time.

What I took from the book as a whole, what I took as its message, was that life is short. Don't squander your talents and intelligence like Emma, don't hide inside of a bottle like Dex, don't ignore a person that is so clearly perfect for you just because life gets in the way. Live life to the fullest, live every moment as if it is your last. Sure, it sounds cheesy, especially when you put it together like that, but it's a fact that we could all use an occasional reminder of. I sometimes get so caught up, or dragged down, by the moment, by the little stuff, that I forget that we only have one life it live, and we need to make the most of it.

Sure I can see why some people didn't like One Day; I went in with lower expectations than some because of reviews that I had read. I found the ending exasperating, and the characters grated on me at times (especially Dex and his smugness), but overall I loved this clever, surprising, and well-written novel.

Rating: 4 stars out of 5
Challenges: 2011 100+ Reading Challenge, 2011 Support Your Local Library Challenge, 2011 E-Book Challenge

Fantastic Giveaways Going On Right Now!

So, didn't get what you wanted from Santa? Burnt out from the Christmas season? Treat yourself to something awesome! Here are some truly amazing contests going on right now, and all you have to do is enter to win:

Kindle/Kobo Giveaway for Arranged and Spin Weekend

Catherine McKenzie, author of Spin and the newly released Arranged is giving away copies of her books, Harper Weekend Travel Blankets, and to one lucky grand prize winner, their choice of a Kindle or a Kobo! The contest is open to US and Canadian residents and it runs until January 31st. There are four simple ways to enter, so get over there!

Chick Lit Central 1000 Member Giveaway

Chick Lit Central is celebrating the fact that they now have 1000 members on Facebook with a massive giveaway! They are giving away too many awesome books to note them all here, but if you like chick lit, trust me, you need to check it out. To enter, join the group Chick Lit Central on Facebook, click on the "events" tab, and click that you will be "attending" the giveaway. Some books will ship to US/Canadian members only, while others are available internationally. See the post for details. The contest runs until January 24th.

"I Bet That We Can Make These Books Bestsellers" Giveaway

One more fantastic book giveaway to share! The "I Bet We Can Make These Books Bestsellers" group on Facebook is giving away 30 books when they hit 3000 members or on January 31st, whichever comes first. Books given away are Jessica Z., Two Years No Rain, The Last Will of Moira Leahy and The Day the Falls Stood Still. Enter by joining the Facebook group and commenting on this post.

Good luck everyone!

Review: "The Lake of Dreams" by Kim Edwards

From the author of The Memory Keeper's Daughter comes a new story, a story of a woman drifting through her life, unsure of her place in the world. Lucy Jarrett is living in Japan with her boyfriend, Yoshi, when she hears that her mother has been in a car accident. Although her mother has not been badly hurt, Lucy feels that she needs to go home for a bit to figure some things out. Lucy heads home to The Lake of Dreams, New York and when she arrives she finds that much has changed in her absence. Lucy finds herself forced to confront the unresolved issues that she has about her father's death a decade before, and she also finds herself in the midst of an old family mystery, which may be able to help her face some facts about herself.

I really enjoyed this carefully crafted, lyrically written story. There were so many different facets to the story that it will appeal to a wide range of readers. There's a little bit of romance when Lucy comes face-to-face with her childhood sweetheart, Keegan. There's family drama. There's the mystery surrounding a female relative that has remained conspicuously absent from Lucy's family history, and there's beautiful art. Kim Edwards manages to balance all of these different aspects of the story without overwhelming the reader.

The story itself is fast-paced and interesting, yet detailed enough that we become attached to Lucy and her family and all of the other minor characters that come into play. I especially appreciated Yoshi, Lucy's boyfriend, who manages to stay in the background throughout the story yet remains a calm and rational presence.

There's a quote that I found particularly lovely (I'm unable to give a page number because my copy is an ARC, but I couldn't help but share):

Rows and rows of books lined the shelves and I let my eyes linger on the sturdy spines, thinking how human books were, so full of ideas and images, worlds imagined, worlds perceived; full of fingerprints and sudden laughter and the sighs of readers, too.

My only complaint about this book, and it's a small one, is that I found that the ending dragged a little bit. I have absolutely no problem with how Kim Edwards chose to end The Lake of Dreams, and in fact I loved the ending, but it was about ten pages too long for me. I could have gone for a shorter wrap-up.

The Lake of Dreams was a beautiful, interesting book and I predict that it will be on many "Best of 2011" lists.

Rating: 4 stars out of 5
Challenges: 2011 100+ Reading Challenge

Review: "Arranged" by Catherine McKenzie

Anne Blythe is content. She has a brand new book contract, a magazine job that she enjoys, and a loyal best friend. She has no problem finding a man, but unfortunately none of them want to stick around. As she watches her friends and colleagues meet people, fall in love, and get married, she starts to feel left out from the group. When she finds a mysterious business card for Blythe & Company lying in the street and it happens to belong to an discreet arranged marriage company, Anne figures that she has nothing to lose and everything to gain.

Enter Jack. He's handsome enough, a writer, and according to Blythe & Company, he's her perfect match. The two meet up and make the decision to marry, but there's more to Jack, and more to Blythe & Company, than first appears.

I really enjoyed this fun, quirky novel, and I found the subject matter especially interesting. Arranged marriage isn't prominent in North America, yet it is still present, and it is prevalent in other countries. People in North America often marry for love, yet we have one of the highest divorce rates around. It seems these days that people shed their spouses like they do clothing, like relationships are something that need regular upgrading. Arranged marriage seems to carry a stigma, as in the only people who do it are desperate or culturally obligated, but isn't it important to be friends with your spouse as well?

I liked Anne, our main character, and could understand why she would be willing to have a marriage arranged for her as those around her seemed to pair off. I didn't get as attatched to Jack. He seems to keep Anne at a distance and in doing so the reader remains distanced as well.

Arranged is another winner from Catherine McKenzie. It's light reading, but with enough substance to keep the reader interested and wanting more. I was able to connect with the character of Anne and the ending made me smile. I strongly recommend this to readers who enjoy women's fiction. Want to check it out for yourself? Browse inside Arranged here and check out the other stops on the HarperCollins Canada's Savvy Reader site here.

Rating: 4 stars out of 5
Challenges: 2011 100+ Reading Challenge, The Canadian Book Challenge 4

Mailbox Monday

Welcome to Mailbox Monday! Originally hosted by Marcia at The Printed Page, MM is on tour. This month our host is Rose City Reader, and each week we share which books made their way into our homes. Due to the holidays last week, Canada Post only delivered mail for three days, and I only received one book in the mail.

My Book Blogger Secret Santa had sent me the third book in a series by Sinead Moriarty. Since I had already read the first one, I decided to treat myself and ordered the second book in the series from The Book Depository. So, my only mailbox arrival was The Right Fit by Sinead Moriarty.

However, I did receive a new arrival in my inbox! Author Heather Wardell, after hearing of the arrival of my new Sony Reader, sent me two of her books for review, Go Small or Go Home and a copy of her new, upcoming book. Thanks, Heather!

My sister-in-law, Mandy, came and visited for New Year's Eve, and she brought me books to read! I'm especially excited about From Here to Paternity by Matt Dunn. It has been on my wishlist since I read his hilarious The Ex-Boyfriend's Handbook.

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

Review: "Left Neglected" by Lisa Genova

Considering  how much I loved Lisa Genova's Still Alice, I can admit that I was a little hesitant to read her latest, Left Neglected. I was excited, but yet I was a little worried that it wouldn't live up to my expectations.

My worries were unfounded. Left Neglected was excellent, similar to Still Alice in some ways but different in a way that gave the book its own unique flavour. Left Neglected tells the story of Sarah Nickerson, a busy working mother who is always on the go. Every day she makes choices between her work and her family, every day she chooses which one will come out on top. Her husband, Bob, is equally as busy and the family functions by juggling the moments of their lives day by day.

Everything changes when Sarah, while trying to multitask while driving one day, gets in a serious accident which causes her brain damage. She is diagnosed with Left Neglect, which essentially means that her brain refuses to acknowledge that the left side of her body, and the world, exists. Suddenly she can't read or see the words on the left side of the page, her left arm refuses to respond to the signals that Sarah tries to send it, and her world is completely absent of things that are on the left.

With her insurance unwilling to cover more than the most basic of care for her recovery and with her life turned completely upside-down, Sarah must learn to cope with her new disability while trying to keep her life together.

Left Neglected is about more than just Left Neglect. It's about a woman trying to have it all: a career, a husband, a family, and essentially failing. Sure, she has all of the elements in place, but when she focuses on one thing, something from another aspect of her life seems to fall apart. I think that women now are expected to be able to "do it all", and Left Neglected gives one view on what could happen when one person simply cannot do it all to perfection. While I appreciated the insight into a form of brain damage that I previously knew nothing about, what I appreciated the most was Sarah's realizations about herself and her family when she is forced to take some downtime.

This book was well written and engrossing. In my opinion, Genova's observations about parenting in general were spot-on and I was able to relate to the story as a whole. The characters were ones that you couldn't help but care about from the beginning and I have a feeling that I won't be the only person who loves this book this year.

Rating: 5 stars out of 5
Challenges: 2011 100+ Reading Challenge

Thank-you to Simon & Schuster Canada for this review copy.