Review & Giveaway: "Julia's Child" by Sarah Pinneo

Julia Bailey is the mom to two beautiful little boys- and a mompreneur. After having her boys she realized that she didn't want to stuff them full of over-processed foods and preservatives and she started cooking organic for her children. Rather than hiding their vegetables she encourages them to embrace them, but she does try to make them palatable for little taste buds. While cooking for her own children she realizes that she's not the only mom who wants to provide her children with nutritious and organic food and her business Julia's Child is born.

Having invested her and her husband's savings into the business, Julia is determined not to let it fail. What she didn't predict is that she knows next to nothing about business and packaging, and that failure is more of an option than she ever thought possible. When Julia lands a TV appearance as well as a potentially huge client she suddenly finds that she needs to be set up on a much larger scale. But when her faithful assistant, Marta, threatens to quit because it all becomes too much, and when her boys start spending more time with the sitter than with her, Julia must decide if she willing to let her dream, and her savings, go.

I really enjoyed Julia's Child, despite the fact that I'm not quite as earth-hugging as Julia Bailey is. I mean, I do understand the whole organic movement and I do enjoy finding healthy recipes to cook for my family, but I will throw the odd preservative-laden meal on the table. The reality can be that, unless you have a bulging bank account (and who of us does?), feeding your family only organic foods can become very expensive, very quickly.

Luckily there's a lot to love about Julia's Child. It's not just about organic vs. preservatives, it's about motherhood in general and the choices that we make every day. It's about striving for a certain standard and trying to be everything to everyone, until you realize that it is just not possible. Julia struggles with leaving her children home in the care of her sitter, despite the fact that she is a good one. She misses her boys, and her family misses her. Her dilemma- does she choose to spend more time at home and allow her business to potentially fail, or does she work all of the time and sacrifice it all?- had threads of truth woven in there that any mother can relate to in some way. I work part-time, and am home more than I'm working, and I often feel guilty that I am not bringing more money home. However, I'm sure that when I return to work full-time I will feel guilty that I'm not there with my boys.

My only issue with this book is that things seemed to come together too neatly. I could tell that the author was trying not to allow that to happen, but I still found that parts of the ending were too perfect.

This is a great read for any mother who has ever wondered if she's doing the right thing for herself and for her family. It's an easily readable book that examines common issues about motherhood that I'm sure many women will be able to relate to it.

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I have one copy of Julia's Child to give away to a lucky US reader! To enter:

1. *Mandatory Entry* Leave me a comment letting me know that you would like to be entered to win this book. Please leave me an e-mail address so that I can contact you if you win!

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This contest will run until February 14th 2012 at midnight. The winner will be drawn after this time and will be e-mailed. Once e-mailed they will have 48 hours to respond or a new winner will be chosen. Due to publisher's shipping restrictions this contest is open to US residents only. All entries may be combined into one comment. Good luck!