Review: "Falling for Me: A Memoir" by Anna David

Single and childless, Anna David finds herself contemplating the decisions that she's made that have led here here: in her 30's with a successful career but with only her cats for company. She's certainly not unhappy with her life, she's accomplished a lot of great things and has had some adventures along the way, but she wonders what else is out there for her. Is that perfect guy waiting around the corner? Or is she destined to be on her own?

While seeking answers, Anna comes across the book Sex and the Single Girl, the bestseller by Helen Gurley Brown. Despite the fact that the book was written many years ago, and some of the advice is outdated, Anna decides to follow Brown's advice in an effort to venture out of her comfort zone and possibly meet a man. For the next while Anna spends time updating her decor, dating people that she never would previously have given a chance, and travelling to Seville to expand her horizons, but in the end she ends up meeting someone that she hasn't seen in a while: herself.

Despite the fact that I've been with my husband for almost a decade now, I enjoyed following along with Anna as she sets out to change her life and possibly even herself. Her journey is easy to relate to whether you're married or single. I veered off of the career path when I had my boys, and while I don't regret a single second of the time that I've spent with them, I do sometimes wonder what life would be like now if I had pursued a career instead of motherhood. Instead I find myself rapidly approaching my 30's wondering what it is that I want to be when I "grow up". Anna's revelation is similar, only the opposite. She's got the fabulous career, but is missing the man and possibly the children, so she sets out with the help of Sex and the Single Girl to see if this is something that she even wants.

Anna David is not the first person to write about persuing her goals over a set period of time, and that may be the only thing that took away from the book as a whole for me. I couldn't help but feel that I'd "been there, done that" while I was reading it. Anna David herself could not have written anything any differently that would change my mind about this, it's just simply a matter of the genre exploding over the past year or so. Despite this, I found myself enjoying and relating to this book in many ways. The writing was compelling, her story interesting, and the ending fabulous. The message is one that we can all take home with us: it's worth taking the time to fall in love with yourself regardless of what path you choose to take in life. It's a lesson that we can all take to heart and hopefully apply to our own lives in some way. Falling for Me is an enjoyable journey that you will not regret taking.

For more on Anna David and her books please visit her website, Facebook page, or her blog. You can check out the trailer for Falling for Me here. My thanks to TLC Book Tours for inviting me along!

Review: "So Near" by Liza Gyllenhaal

Cal and Jenny Horigan are reeling from the unimaginable loss of their precious daughter, thrown out of her car seat when their Jeep rolls over. Both Cal and Jenny secretly blame themselves for the events leading up to the accident and this guilt is driving them further and further apart from one another. When an outsider comes to stay in their small town both Cal and Jenny are inexplicably drawn to him. He offers them the solace that they can't give one another, but is he bringing them closer together or drawing them further apart? Can Cal and Jenny's previously solid marriage survive a loss this great?

Liza Gyllenhaal has written a compelling novel, one that is impossible to put down despite the tragic subject matter. Both Jenny and Cal are eaten up by their individual guilt related to the role that they took in the accident leading to their daughter's death. Both parents completely blame themselves for what happened and as a result the couple quickly becomes distanced from one another. When a handsome stranger comes to town both Cal and Jenny are drawn to him; to the fact that he knows nothing of them and of their daughter. Their anonymity becomes their solace in such a difficult time, and both become entangled with him, despite the fact that he is a less willing participant in their healing than they initially believe. Both are so desperate to be absolved of their guilt that they are able to overlook the fact that this handsome stranger is self-absorbed and cares little for their grief.

So Near is a sensitively written portrait of Cal and Jenny's grief, both individually and as a couple now missing an important piece of themselves. Despite the fact that the material is far from uplifting I couldn't stop reading the book as it headed towards its conclusion. So Near is well-written and the characters thoughtfully portrayed, making it easy for me to give this book a five star rating. My thanks to the publisher for sending me a review copy.

Review: "A Bump in the Road" by Maureen Lipinski

I won a copy of Maureen Lipinski's Not Ready for Mom Jeans a while ago, read it, and loved it. A Bump in the Road is the book that comes before Mom Jeans, and I just knew that I had to read it.

Clare and Jake are in their late twenties and are certainly not planning for children. In fact after enduring a plane ride in which a child on the plane with them alternates between kicking their seat and screaming loudly they are decidedly against the idea of having children in the near future. When Clare finds herself unexpectedly pregnant, they get over the initial shock only to find themselves thrown into the world of impending parenthood. In between choosing items for their little one on the way, figuring out exactly how one uses a Diaper Genie, and battling her mother-in-law about her pregnancy choices, Clare and Jake find themselves excited to meet the little one on the way. Clare's pretty sure that she's still not ready for mom jeans, though.

A Bump in the Road is an absolutely hilarious journey. Immediately after reading it I added it to my "keeper" shelf, an honor not bestowed upon many books that cross my path. It was funny and light-hearted, yet it addressed the issues that plague many moms-to-be, especially those that tend to be on the younger side. Even though it's been a while since I've been pregnant (my "baby" is almost 5) I completely related to Clare's struggles along the way, and cheered her on as she attempted to figure everything out.

I can't recommend A Bump in the Road and Not Ready for Mom Jeans highly enough. I adored both books, and they would make the perfect gift for any mom or mom-to-be that you know. In fact, they would be perfect for anyone contemplating motherhood as well. I give this book a wholehearted five out of five and thank the author for kindly sending a copy my way.

Review: "Fat Girls & Fairy Cakes" by Sue Watson

TV Producer Stella Watson is trying to keep it all together. When she's at work, she feels guilty about being away from her family and when she's at home, she's thinking about the sheer number of things that she needs to do to get ahead at work. Making matters worse is the fact that her purely evil boss, MJ, has it out for her. The only thing that makes her problems go away, if only for a little while, is baking sinful creations that might just explain the extra weight that she has piled on in the past couple of years.

When MJ finally succeeds in getting Stella fired for something insignificant, and when Stella's husband, Tom, confesses that he's leaving her for another woman, Stella can't imagine that the pieces of her life can ever be glued back together. However with a little help from her friends, as well as the courage to finally follow her dreams, there may be light at the end of the tunnel after all.

Sue Watson's debut is as charming as the cupcakes that adorn the cover. I couldn't help but root for imperfect Stella from the very beginning as she's facing the same battles that many of us face over our lifetimes. Her marriage is far from perfect, her figure is not what it used to be, and her guilt about the lack of balance between her home and work lives is overwhelming. I loved her odd assortment of friends; the outspoken Lizzie is good for comic relief and much-needed support, as are her friends Sebastian and Al. Add to this the idyllic setting and Fat Girls & Fairy Cakes is a winner.

Fat Girls & Fairy Cakes is the perfect book to curl up with on a cold day with a hot cup of tea, and I can highly recommend this to anyone looking for a light read that manages to be both fun and inspiring at the same time. This is a great (calorie free!) choice for fans of women's fiction, especially if you enjoy stories set "across the pond" as much as I do.

Rating: 4.5 stars out of 5

Thanks to both the author and the publisher for sending me this review copy.

Review: "It's a Man's World" by Polly Courtney

Alexa Harris loves a challenge and has found herself to be quite skilled at taking magazines with a declining reader base and making them profitable again. Nearing the end of her contact with a woman's magazine, she isn't surprised when she receives another offer of employment from the company that she's working for. After all, she took one magazine and made it profitable, and she knows that she can do it again. However she is surprised that they want her to head up a lad's magazine (think Playboy). The idea of wading into what is clearly a man's world intimidates her but the challenge is too much for her to resist.

Alexa's appearance at Banter is not met with enthusiasm by those who are currently employed by the magazine.  She even finds it to be a bit more of a challenge than she expected and must quickly become accustomed to the semi-nude women that grace the walls and televisions of the office. When she comes up with an idea that will increase the profit margins for the magazine she feels that the idea is foolproof, however when complications arise Alexa must consider if Banter magazine, and lad's magazines in general, are just a bit of harmless fun or if they are more damaging to women than she once imagined.

I loved It's a Man's World. Polly Courtney handles a controversial and fascinating subject with grace, presenting both sides of the story to the reader and allowing them to draw their own conclusions. After all, let's call men's magazines such as the fictional Banter what they are: soft-core pornography. I consider myself to be quite open when it comes to men and women's rights to look at whichever form of pornography they wish to (with obvious exceptions), however with the explosion of easily accessible pornography available to anyone with a computer, I start to wonder. Is this healthy, both for the women posing and the men with thousands and thousands of pornographic images at their fingertips? As the mother of three young boys I also wonder about them. Boys are exposed to pornography at such a young age now. How is that affecting their attitudes towards women? As someone is exposed to excessive amounts of pornography do women become merely objects, with little value otherwise?

I really related to the themes present in It's a Man's World. Courtney presents a well-balanced argument for both views of this issue, and she never comes across as being preachy or self-righteous. The writing is excellent and Alexa's struggles, both in the office and in her own mind, make this book compelling. I highly recommend this to women looking for more from their women's fiction. An enjoyable and thought-provoking read, and I thank the author and the publisher for sending me a complimentary copy for review.

Rating: 5 stars out of 5

Guest Post by Carol Snow & Giveaway

Please join me in welcoming Carol Snow, author of What Came First, to The Book Chick today! If you missed my review you can find it here, and be sure to scroll to the bottom of that post and enter the giveaway (2 copies, US only, ends October 26).


"On one of the thousands of afternoons when I picked my son up from the local elementary school, he said, “A kid in my class asked what it’s like to have a mother who’s an author.”

“And?”

He shrugged. “I told him I just think of you as my mother.”

For the past sixteen years (I also have an older daughter), my life has revolved all of the things that mothers’ lives revolve around: the sleeping, the eating, the illnesses, the accidents. The music lessons, the playdates, the birthday parties, the scout meetings, the sports. Oh my, God – the sports! Over the years, my kids have done soccer, basketball, baseball, golf, swimming, and gymnastics. I’m sure I’m forgetting a few. Some days, it feels like all I do is drive. In the middle of all this, I have managed to write some books: seven have been published in the past five years.

My house is very, very messy.

The other night my daughter asked for some help with a creative writing assignment. I said sure, I’d help her (making sure she understood the difference between “help” and “do”). “I know a little bit about that,” I quipped.

Her response? “Oh yeah – you took a creative writing class in college, didn’t you?” She wasn’t even joking.

While my books aren’t autobiographical in the least, as a rule, I don’t tackle any life stage till I’m far enough past it to look back with something at least vaguely resembling objectivity. Several years ago, I had an idea for a multi-perspective book about a woman searching for her son’s sperm donor. I don’t even remember where the idea came from exactly, but I’d read some articles about sperm donor children searching for their biological relatives, plus I had several single friends who were contemplating motherhood. Still, I didn’t think I could pull the book off –not because of life stage issues but because I didn’t know anything about being a single mother, and I’d never had to deal with infertility or assisted reproduction.

A couple of years ago I was trying to come up with an idea for a new book when I remembered the sperm donor idea and suddenly knew that I could write it, after all. Maybe I was at a new life stage. Maybe I was surprised that I’d had no trouble writing from a single mother’s perspective in my previous book, Just Like Me, Only Better. Or maybe I was just getting desperate. But for some reason I realized that the book that would become What Came First was, at its core, about motherhood. It doesn’t matter whether you’re a girl scout leader or a CEO; whether you got pregnant on your first try or your thousandth; or even whether your children came from your body or carry someone else’s DNA: once you become a mother, your children are the most important thing in your life, no matter how much of your day you spend with them. Period. And children don’t just change your life – they actually change who you are as a person.

I wrote What Came First in three different first-person voices (which some days left me feeling like I suffered from multiple personality disorder). Laura is a successful lawyer and single mother to Ian, an angelic eight-year-old whom she raises with the help of a devoted nanny. Wendy is a frazzled stay-at-home mom to two demonic five-year old twins. Finally, Vanessa is pushing thirty, longing for children, and stuck in a dead-end relationship.

The three main characters are all very different – and all flawed in varying degrees. But I found myself rooting for them all and forgiving them their missteps. After all, like mothers and future mothers everywhere, they’re just doing the best they can."

Thank-you so much to Carol for taking the time to stop by today, and for Penguin for providing the review copy as well as co-ordinating the guest post.

Review & Giveaway: "What Came First" by Carol Snow

Vanessa wants only one thing for her 29th birthday- a ring and the accompanying proposal from her boyfriend, Eric. When her ring turns out to be a mix CD, and when she finds out that a proposal and the resulting children will most certainly not be a part of her future with Eric, Vanessa starts exploring alternative ways to start a family.

When Wendy and her husband Darren, desperate for children, found out that they couldn't have any, they turned to a sperm donor to make their dreams possible. Five years later Wendy finds herself the mother of unruly twins, her only escape being scrapbooking and snacks, while Darren escapes into the world of computer games. Their family is so fragmented that Wendy wonders if it is even possible to put it all back together again.

Single parent Laura is eternally grateful to her anonymous sperm donor for giving her the gift of her eight-year-old son, Ian. Ian is a gifted and sweet child who asks for little, but it bothers Laura that the one thing he wants the most is something that she can't give him- a sibling.

These three women's paths cross following a surprising phone call, and all of them will come through their experiences fundamentally changed.

The last time I read a book by Carol Snow, I found myself devouring it. She writes a compelling story and at that time I found myself unable to put the book down. Of course I jumped at the chance to read What Came First, and it didn't disappoint. The topic, sperm donation and how it affects those involved, is fresh and current, and although this particular theme has been explored in other books, she brought a new angle to it. I flew through it, thoroughly enjoying getting to know the main characters and their individual stories.

My only warning to potential readers is that Carol Snow books are incredibly addictive. I read What Came First and immediately followed that up by reading her debut, which I had on my shelves but had not read yet, Been There, Done That, which was also excellent. I now have two more of her books downloaded onto my eReader. I can highly recommend this to women looking for something to read that is interesting yet light enough to read as an escape from the everyday.

Rating: 5 stars out of 5

Thanks to the publisher, Penguin, I have two copies of What Came First to give away to two lucky readers. Due to publisher's restrictions this giveaway is open to US residents only. It will run until October 26, 2011, and winners will be contacted by e-mail. To enter:

1. *Mandatory Entry* Please tell me why you are interested in winning a copy of this book and include an e-mail address so that I can contact you if you win.

2. *Bonus Entry* Become a follower through Google Friend Connect and let me know that you now follow. Current followers are eligible as well, just let me know in the comments that you already follow (+1 entry).

3. *Bonus Entry* Spread the word about this contest in some way. You can Facebook it, Tweet about it, or share it on your blog. Leave me a link to how you spread the word (+1 entry).

Entries can be combined into one comment if preferred. Good luck!!

Review: "Falling Together" by Marisa de los Santos

I've been waiting more than two years for this book. A little more than two years ago I received an advanced copy of Belong to Me by Marisa de los Santos, devoured it, and fell in love. As soon as I finished that one I tracked down a copy of her first novel, Love Walked In and I loved that one too. I've been waiting for her next release since then and was thrilled when I managed to get my hands on a review copy of it.

Falling Together tells the story of three friends from college, Pen, Will and Cat. While they were inseparable throughout their college years they went their own way soon after graduation when circumstances came between them. Pen is now the single mother to a beautiful little girl, and when she receives a mysterious e-mail from Cat asking her to meet her at their college reunion, Pen feels the pull of their former friendship impossible to ignore. Instead of reconciling with her old friend, Pen meets up with her other old friend, Will, at the reunion and the two are presented with information that brings their past and their present colliding together and sends them, along with Pen's daughter and Cat's husband, halfway across the world in search of answers.

To put it quite simply, I adored this book. The characters truly came to life on the page. I loved Pen and Will and Pen's daughter Augusta, and I even grew to appreciate Cat, who remains elusive throughout the book. De los Santos' skill with the written word shines through on every page and I just could not stop turning them.

Covering a variety of themes such as the definition of family and how friendships change and grow over time, Falling Together is a book not to be missed and one that I have added to my permanent book collection. I can highly recommend it and I thank HarperCollins Publishers for this review copy.

Rating: Easily 5 stars out of 5. I'd give 6 out of 5 if I could!