This is another book that I finished in 2010. I just wanted to post a quick review, and I am not even going to put a blurb about the book.
This was a fun escape read about the famous and wealthy in Manhattan. Those are always enjoyable reads to me, and this one was no different. I liked that the ending was not one where everything was wrapped up in a nice and neat package, but that there was a realistic edge to it. I give it an A-.
I believe I have read this author before, but it was a long time ago. I will keep her name in my mind for future reads!
Showing posts with label chick lit. Show all posts
Showing posts with label chick lit. Show all posts
Friday, December 31, 2010
Sunday, December 26, 2010
107. Keep Your Mouth Shut and Wear Beige by Kathleen Gilles Seidel
I found this book by browsing on Amazon, I believe. I think it was one of those recommendations based on my previous browsing and my library had it in, so I gave it a chance. It was a cute, enjoyable read and I give it a B+.
From Amazon:
Darcy Van Aiken is doing just fine, thank you. She's an ICU nurse with an "amicable" divorce from her ex-husband, Mike, two great kids, and a prescription for Ritalin. Then her older son, Jeremy, gets engaged to Cami Zander-Brown---daughter of a very wealthy New York family- and her world gets turned upside down. The source of her trouble, much to Darcy's surprise, is not the form of Rose Zander-Brown, Cami's elegant and accomplished mother. Nor is it in the form of Guy Zander-Brown, Cami's charismatic and wildly successful literary agent father. Instead, lurking in the shadows of Mike's new life is the beautifully dressed Claudia, a self-described "managed perfectionist."
The Zander-Browns have money. Lots of money. the plans for their daughter's dream wedding grow more fabulous by the day, and loving every minute is Claudia. With her perfect taste, Claudia can't help thinking she would make a much better mother of the groom than Darcy. This wedding is her chance to entrench herself in Mike's life- and take credit for the two sons Darcy has worked so hard to raise right.
This was a cute book and an easy read. While nothing that is life shattering or extremely remarkable about the book, I still enjoyed it. As a matter of fact, I checked out more books by Ms. Seidel and am reading one right now and enjoying it. It was refreshing to read that the wealthy people were not the problem and I liked seeing people stand up for what is right and what isn't. If you like pleasant, heartwarming book candy, I would recommend Ms. Seidel's books, including Keep Your Mouth Shut.
From Amazon:
Darcy Van Aiken is doing just fine, thank you. She's an ICU nurse with an "amicable" divorce from her ex-husband, Mike, two great kids, and a prescription for Ritalin. Then her older son, Jeremy, gets engaged to Cami Zander-Brown---daughter of a very wealthy New York family- and her world gets turned upside down. The source of her trouble, much to Darcy's surprise, is not the form of Rose Zander-Brown, Cami's elegant and accomplished mother. Nor is it in the form of Guy Zander-Brown, Cami's charismatic and wildly successful literary agent father. Instead, lurking in the shadows of Mike's new life is the beautifully dressed Claudia, a self-described "managed perfectionist."
The Zander-Browns have money. Lots of money. the plans for their daughter's dream wedding grow more fabulous by the day, and loving every minute is Claudia. With her perfect taste, Claudia can't help thinking she would make a much better mother of the groom than Darcy. This wedding is her chance to entrench herself in Mike's life- and take credit for the two sons Darcy has worked so hard to raise right.
This was a cute book and an easy read. While nothing that is life shattering or extremely remarkable about the book, I still enjoyed it. As a matter of fact, I checked out more books by Ms. Seidel and am reading one right now and enjoying it. It was refreshing to read that the wealthy people were not the problem and I liked seeing people stand up for what is right and what isn't. If you like pleasant, heartwarming book candy, I would recommend Ms. Seidel's books, including Keep Your Mouth Shut.
106. Whacked by Jules Asner
Whacked was a total impulse grab from the library while I was browsing for other books. While I didn't love it, or the main character, I kept reading and finished this book very quickly. I give it a B.
From Amazon:
She has an almost-perfect boyfriend named Dave and a dream job writing for the TV crime series Flesh and Bone that allows her to indulge her macabre forensic passions. But something isn't quite right with her relationship, and Dani- a wily and inventive snoop- learns that Dave's real creative talents are (1) lying and (2) cheating on her. Soon she is plunged into the world of Los Angeles singledom, enduring a battalion of bad dateswith men whose peccadiloes would drive a lesser woman to kill. At her wit's end, Dani is driven to a dramatic extreme that is as shocking as it is sensible in the girl-eat-girl world of Hollywood.
I really, really did not like Dani. I thought she was a total bitch to everyone. There was a ton of her rolling her eyes at people, being really mean to her mom, and even one time where she went to an open house and stole some prescription meds from the medicine cabinets. All of that doesn't even start to mention her snooping on other people! For some reason though, I continued to read. I guess I can see why the book was written that way, but it still got on my nerves. If you enjoy chick lit but with a little edge, I think you might enjoy this book.
From Amazon:
She has an almost-perfect boyfriend named Dave and a dream job writing for the TV crime series Flesh and Bone that allows her to indulge her macabre forensic passions. But something isn't quite right with her relationship, and Dani- a wily and inventive snoop- learns that Dave's real creative talents are (1) lying and (2) cheating on her. Soon she is plunged into the world of Los Angeles singledom, enduring a battalion of bad dateswith men whose peccadiloes would drive a lesser woman to kill. At her wit's end, Dani is driven to a dramatic extreme that is as shocking as it is sensible in the girl-eat-girl world of Hollywood.
I really, really did not like Dani. I thought she was a total bitch to everyone. There was a ton of her rolling her eyes at people, being really mean to her mom, and even one time where she went to an open house and stole some prescription meds from the medicine cabinets. All of that doesn't even start to mention her snooping on other people! For some reason though, I continued to read. I guess I can see why the book was written that way, but it still got on my nerves. If you enjoy chick lit but with a little edge, I think you might enjoy this book.
Monday, November 22, 2010
100. Happiness Sold Separately by Lolly Winston
I picked up this book sheerly by accident. I was just browsing around at my library and I can't even remember what drew me to the book. Whatever it was I am glad that I gave it a try because it was a great book. I give it an A-.
From Amazon:
Elinor Mackey has lived her life in perfect order: college, law school, marriage, successful corporate career. But suddenly her world is falling apart. In her late 30s, she's discovered that she and her podiatrist husband, Ted, can't have children. When Elinor withdraws from Ted into an interior world of heartbreak and anger, Ted begins an affair with Gina, the nutritionist at their gym--a young woman with an oddball son who adores Ted. Meanwhile, Elinor falls in love with the oak tree in her front yard, spreading out her sleeping bag to sleep under the stars. Gina's jealous ex-boyfriend--a charming alcoholic with a mean streak--becomes a dark presence as his passion turns to violence. Ted, who may be the only one who can help Gina and her son, suddenly finds himself in love with two women at the same time. In the tradition of Anne Tyler, John Cheever, and Tom Perotta, Winston's second novel looks beyond the manicured surface of suburbia to a world of loss, longing, lust, and betrayal.
While you would think that some of the characters would be really difficult to like, that wasn't the case. Ms. Winston does an excellent job of allowing the reader to see and explore the inner workings off all of the characters and their motivation for their actions. This story also hit a spot close to home with, infertility, and it has allowed me to be happier and more comfortable with my decision there. This was an enjoyable read that allowed for some laughs. despite the tough subjects. It was a very quick read and will have me checking out more by Ms. Winston in the future.
From Amazon:
Elinor Mackey has lived her life in perfect order: college, law school, marriage, successful corporate career. But suddenly her world is falling apart. In her late 30s, she's discovered that she and her podiatrist husband, Ted, can't have children. When Elinor withdraws from Ted into an interior world of heartbreak and anger, Ted begins an affair with Gina, the nutritionist at their gym--a young woman with an oddball son who adores Ted. Meanwhile, Elinor falls in love with the oak tree in her front yard, spreading out her sleeping bag to sleep under the stars. Gina's jealous ex-boyfriend--a charming alcoholic with a mean streak--becomes a dark presence as his passion turns to violence. Ted, who may be the only one who can help Gina and her son, suddenly finds himself in love with two women at the same time. In the tradition of Anne Tyler, John Cheever, and Tom Perotta, Winston's second novel looks beyond the manicured surface of suburbia to a world of loss, longing, lust, and betrayal.
While you would think that some of the characters would be really difficult to like, that wasn't the case. Ms. Winston does an excellent job of allowing the reader to see and explore the inner workings off all of the characters and their motivation for their actions. This story also hit a spot close to home with, infertility, and it has allowed me to be happier and more comfortable with my decision there. This was an enjoyable read that allowed for some laughs. despite the tough subjects. It was a very quick read and will have me checking out more by Ms. Winston in the future.
Thursday, September 16, 2010
85. Holly's Inbox by Holly Denham
I have seen and read about Holly's Inbox on what like it seems everyone's books blogs but wasn't really interested. While picking up some other books at the library, I came across Holly's Inbox and decided to give it a try. It was an enjoyable and light read, and I give it a B+.
From Amazon:
Dear Holly,
Are you sure you know what you're getting into…?
***
System alert: Inbox full of scandal, romance, and office hilarity!
Meet Holly Denham. It's her first day as a receptionist at a London investment bank and inexperienced Holly is struggling. Take a peek at her email and you'll see why: Holly's inbox is a daily source of drama. An affair with a sexy VP heats things up at the office, but when Holly's first flame (who, she thinks, left her in the lurch) gets a job at the same company, complications abound.
How's a working girl supposed to have a love life with a demanding job, crazy friends, a dysfunctional family, and gossipy colleagues? Not to mention that Holly's been keeping a secret from everyone - and the past is about to catch up with her.
Written entirely in emails, this compulsively readable UK smash hit will keep you laughing and turning the pages all the way to its surprising and deeply satisfying ending.
Repeatedly compared to Bridget Jones' Diary, hollysinbox.com became a website phenomenon, with thousands of daily visitors from all over the world. This novel tells Holly's story in full, and also includes exclusive extra material not available on the site.
Until reading that Amazon description, I had no idea the book started from the website. I have to admit that I enjoyed the way the story was told, through all emails, and feel like I have read another book written like that in the past. It was a typical chick lit story, filled with humor and romance. I won't write much more about this one, other than it was the perfect book to pick and read when I had a few minutes.
From Amazon:
Dear Holly,
Are you sure you know what you're getting into…?
***
System alert: Inbox full of scandal, romance, and office hilarity!
Meet Holly Denham. It's her first day as a receptionist at a London investment bank and inexperienced Holly is struggling. Take a peek at her email and you'll see why: Holly's inbox is a daily source of drama. An affair with a sexy VP heats things up at the office, but when Holly's first flame (who, she thinks, left her in the lurch) gets a job at the same company, complications abound.
How's a working girl supposed to have a love life with a demanding job, crazy friends, a dysfunctional family, and gossipy colleagues? Not to mention that Holly's been keeping a secret from everyone - and the past is about to catch up with her.
Written entirely in emails, this compulsively readable UK smash hit will keep you laughing and turning the pages all the way to its surprising and deeply satisfying ending.
Repeatedly compared to Bridget Jones' Diary, hollysinbox.com became a website phenomenon, with thousands of daily visitors from all over the world. This novel tells Holly's story in full, and also includes exclusive extra material not available on the site.
Until reading that Amazon description, I had no idea the book started from the website. I have to admit that I enjoyed the way the story was told, through all emails, and feel like I have read another book written like that in the past. It was a typical chick lit story, filled with humor and romance. I won't write much more about this one, other than it was the perfect book to pick and read when I had a few minutes.
Tuesday, July 6, 2010
51. Diary of a Manhattan Call Girl
I picked up Diary of a Manhattan Call Girl while browsing at my local library. While not the type of book I would normally go for, the cover caught my eye and I decided to give it a try. It was different, and a bit annoying, but still enjoyable. I give it a B.
From Amazon:
Diary of a Manhattan Call Girl is a wonderfully intelligent, sexually frank, rollicking novel that introduces us to Nancy Chan, a turn-of-the-millennium call girl who lives and works on the Upper East Side of Manhattan. Nancy is full of contradictory desires; she frequently has to choose between making love and making money. On good days, she gets to do both. Surrounded by devoted, wealthy, and powerful johns, some of whom want more than just sex, and caught between two all-consuming call girl friends who complicate her life, Nancy navigates the tricky currents of the world’s oldest profession. With one foot in the bedrooms of her rich and demanding clients and one in the straight world of her unwitting fiancé, who has started to apartment-hunt and arrange a wedding, Nancy keeps her two worlds from colliding in her inimitable style.
The part of the book that annoyed me was the total and complete overuse of italics and exclamation points. They were used so much that it actually distracted me from the reading and had me counting the number on each page instead of focusing on the story. With that being said, the story was different and weird, but enjoyable. I am glad there wasn't a lot of actual descriptions of the sexual acts because when there were, they were quite graphic, and that the story focuses more on Nancy and trying to keep her two lives seperate. While I see there's a sequel out there, my library doesn't have it, so unless I come across it at used book store, I probably won't read it.
From Amazon:
Diary of a Manhattan Call Girl is a wonderfully intelligent, sexually frank, rollicking novel that introduces us to Nancy Chan, a turn-of-the-millennium call girl who lives and works on the Upper East Side of Manhattan. Nancy is full of contradictory desires; she frequently has to choose between making love and making money. On good days, she gets to do both. Surrounded by devoted, wealthy, and powerful johns, some of whom want more than just sex, and caught between two all-consuming call girl friends who complicate her life, Nancy navigates the tricky currents of the world’s oldest profession. With one foot in the bedrooms of her rich and demanding clients and one in the straight world of her unwitting fiancé, who has started to apartment-hunt and arrange a wedding, Nancy keeps her two worlds from colliding in her inimitable style.
The part of the book that annoyed me was the total and complete overuse of italics and exclamation points. They were used so much that it actually distracted me from the reading and had me counting the number on each page instead of focusing on the story. With that being said, the story was different and weird, but enjoyable. I am glad there wasn't a lot of actual descriptions of the sexual acts because when there were, they were quite graphic, and that the story focuses more on Nancy and trying to keep her two lives seperate. While I see there's a sequel out there, my library doesn't have it, so unless I come across it at used book store, I probably won't read it.
Wednesday, June 23, 2010
45. Mercury in Retrograde by Paula Froelich
I read about Mercury in Retrograde in some magazine I was reading (I have been checking a ton of old issues out of my local library lately. Sometimes I go years without reading a magazine and then I get stuck on reading them). It sounded cute so I checked it out of my local library. It was cute and I give it a B+.
From Amazon:
Penelope Mercury, an intrepid reporter at the New York Telegraph, has pounded the pavement for five years from city borough to borough, carrying out her boss's eccentric orders to break stories that seem inconsequential to everyone but him. Finally, she is inches away from being promoted to her dream job -- covering courtroom drama for the paper -- but after one spectacularly disastrous day, she is fired instead.
Lena "Lipstick Carcrash" Lipp encrass has a pretty fabulous life, even by a socialite's standards, as a top editor at the high fashion magazine Y. Long lunches with her girlfriends and afternoons spent shopping at Bergdorf's are all in a day's work. But when Lena's always indulgent parents abruptly cut off her cash flow and kick her out of her beloved West Village duplex for refusing to work for the family business, she is forced to confront the reality of what it takes to pay the bills.
Dana Gluck, a workaholic lawyer, had been married for two years to a man who was perfect on paper but increasingly critical in reality. She hoped that her dreams of motherhood would be fulfilled soon, which surely would also fix their marriage problems. Instead, her husband leaves her for an exchange student/model who, to make matters worse, promptly gets pregnant.
When fate conspires to have these three very different women move into the same SoHo apartment building, they soon discover that having their carefully planned lives fall to pieces might be the best thing that could have ever happened to them.
While parts of the story seem to follow a formula a bit, it was still a breezy, easy read for the summer. I loved all of the characters, though I wish there would have been more of Dana. She was a character that I thought a lot of people could probably relate to. And no, my hubby hasn't left me, but her life decisions she makes are a good lesson to us all. I used to read nothing but chick lit and have left most of it behind, but on a hot summer day, sometimes chick lit is the perfect way to cool down and relax. This would probably be classified as the perfect beach read.
From Amazon:
Penelope Mercury, an intrepid reporter at the New York Telegraph, has pounded the pavement for five years from city borough to borough, carrying out her boss's eccentric orders to break stories that seem inconsequential to everyone but him. Finally, she is inches away from being promoted to her dream job -- covering courtroom drama for the paper -- but after one spectacularly disastrous day, she is fired instead.
Lena "Lipstick Carcrash" Lipp encrass has a pretty fabulous life, even by a socialite's standards, as a top editor at the high fashion magazine Y. Long lunches with her girlfriends and afternoons spent shopping at Bergdorf's are all in a day's work. But when Lena's always indulgent parents abruptly cut off her cash flow and kick her out of her beloved West Village duplex for refusing to work for the family business, she is forced to confront the reality of what it takes to pay the bills.
Dana Gluck, a workaholic lawyer, had been married for two years to a man who was perfect on paper but increasingly critical in reality. She hoped that her dreams of motherhood would be fulfilled soon, which surely would also fix their marriage problems. Instead, her husband leaves her for an exchange student/model who, to make matters worse, promptly gets pregnant.
When fate conspires to have these three very different women move into the same SoHo apartment building, they soon discover that having their carefully planned lives fall to pieces might be the best thing that could have ever happened to them.
While parts of the story seem to follow a formula a bit, it was still a breezy, easy read for the summer. I loved all of the characters, though I wish there would have been more of Dana. She was a character that I thought a lot of people could probably relate to. And no, my hubby hasn't left me, but her life decisions she makes are a good lesson to us all. I used to read nothing but chick lit and have left most of it behind, but on a hot summer day, sometimes chick lit is the perfect way to cool down and relax. This would probably be classified as the perfect beach read.
Saturday, May 1, 2010
33. Prospect Park West by Amy Sohn
I found out about Prospect Park West while looking around Amazon. I placed a hold on it through my library and read it fairly quickly. While it was a good book, the ending disappointed me a bit so I give it a B.
From Amazon:
From Amazon:
In Amy Sohn’s smart, sexy, satirical peek into the bedrooms and hearts of Prospect Park West, the lives of for women come together during one long, hot Brooklyn summer. Frustrated Oscar-winning actress Melora Leigh eager to relieve the pressures of raising her adopted toddler, feels the seductive pull of kleptomania; Rebecca Rose, missing her formerly robust sex life, begins a dangerous flirtation with handsome neighborhood celebrity Lizzi O’Donnell, former lesbian (or "hasbian"), wonders what draws her to women despite her sexy husband and adorable baby; and Karen Bryan Shapiro consumes herself with a powerful obsession—snagging the ultimate three-bedroom apartment in a well-maintained, P.S. 321–zoned co-op building. As the women’s paths intertwined (an sometimes collide), each must struggle to keep her man, her sanity . . and her playdates.
I always enjoy reading about New York and moms, so Prospect Park West was right up my alley. I felt for all of the characters in at least one way and was able to relate. There were some laugh out loud moments and it was a nice escape from the usual mysteries I read. The ending was somewhat aburpt though, and I thought that the book could have a few more chapters. I will probably be looking out for more by Amy Sohn in the future.
I still don't think I have my blog mojo back, but I hope to keep up with at least recording my reads and a few small thoughts on each book. Please excuse me if I don't comment as much as I use to or visit as many blogs as I used to, for some reason. Happy Reading!
Monday, April 26, 2010
32. I'm So Happy for You by Lucinda Rosenfield
I'm So Happy For You was found by browsing Amazon one day and sounded like something I could totally relate to. I got it from the library and read it quickly, within one day. It was good and I give it a B+.
From Amazon:
What if your best friend, whom you've always counted on to flounder in life and love (making your own modest accomplishments look not so bad), suddenly starts to surpass you in every way? Wendy's best friend, Daphne, has always been dependably prone to catastrophe. And Wendy has always been there to help. If Daphne veers from suicidal to madly in love, Wendy offers encouragement. But when Daphne is suddenly engaged, pregnant, and decorating a fabulous town house in no time at all, Wendy is...not so happy for her. Caught between wanting to be the best friend she prides herself on being and crippling jealousy of flighty Daphne, Wendy takes things to the extreme, waging a full-scale attack on her best friend-all the while wearing her best, I'm-so-happy-for-you smile-and ends up in way over her head.
I thought that there was so much truth in the book and really got me thinking of how I treat others around me. I've been trying to get pregnant for over a year now and my best friend (who already has 2 kids) decided she wanted to try and again, and BAM! one month later, she is pregnant. I admit, at times, it is hard to be happy for those we are supposed to love and get over our own feelings. I think this book opened my eyes to some of my not so great moments (though I think I do a good job of hiding my feelings). Anyways, a pleasant read and while chick-lit, it did have some thought provoking moments.
From Amazon:
What if your best friend, whom you've always counted on to flounder in life and love (making your own modest accomplishments look not so bad), suddenly starts to surpass you in every way? Wendy's best friend, Daphne, has always been dependably prone to catastrophe. And Wendy has always been there to help. If Daphne veers from suicidal to madly in love, Wendy offers encouragement. But when Daphne is suddenly engaged, pregnant, and decorating a fabulous town house in no time at all, Wendy is...not so happy for her. Caught between wanting to be the best friend she prides herself on being and crippling jealousy of flighty Daphne, Wendy takes things to the extreme, waging a full-scale attack on her best friend-all the while wearing her best, I'm-so-happy-for-you smile-and ends up in way over her head.
I thought that there was so much truth in the book and really got me thinking of how I treat others around me. I've been trying to get pregnant for over a year now and my best friend (who already has 2 kids) decided she wanted to try and again, and BAM! one month later, she is pregnant. I admit, at times, it is hard to be happy for those we are supposed to love and get over our own feelings. I think this book opened my eyes to some of my not so great moments (though I think I do a good job of hiding my feelings). Anyways, a pleasant read and while chick-lit, it did have some thought provoking moments.
Wednesday, February 17, 2010
15. The Deubtante Divorcee by Plum Sykes
To continue with the brain candy I've been feeding myself lately, I decided to read The Debutante Divorcee. I had enjoyed Ms. Sykes' previous novel, The Bergdorf Blondes and thought it was time to give the next one a chance. I enjoyed it and it was pleasant read, one that I mark a B+.
Back cover:
Lauren Blount’s life is beautifully arranged: she’s very rich, very young, very thin, very pretty -- and very, very divorced. She is the most reckless and glamorous of Manhattan’s Debutante Divorcée set. Lauren captivates Sylvia Mortimer, the group’s token newlywed. But while Lauren sets out on a morality-lite, orgasm-heavy "Make Out Challenge," Sylvia discovers her marriage isn’t exactly an Eternity ad -- especially when the city’s most notorious Husband Huntress zeros in on her spouse.
Navigating a world of Divorce Showers and Power Christenings, Socialite Babies, Professional Friends, Gorgeous West Village Wives, and Un-Googleable Men, Sylvia fears her husband is straying and starts asking, as Lauren says, "Who needs a husband anyway?"
Like I mentioned above, this is pure brain candy, but sometimes you need a break from the heavy and dark stuff. Sylvia is the somewhat more down-to-earth character among the crazies and one that you want to root for. There is your usual mix-up among the love interests and a predictible ending, but it was still enjoyable. Even the outrageously rich characters were not that annoying this go around, and I liked the character of Lauren and could even imagine myself hanging out with them all. If you sometimes like to get lost in the pages of Cosmo or reality tv, I would recommend The Debutante Divorcees to you.
I am now taking a break from my library books to read one of my own. It's one I started sometime last year and put down, and I decided to give it a go this last half of break. It's a long one, coming in at 559 pages, but if I keep up my pace of reading, I should have it done by the weekend! Happy Reading all!
Back cover:
Lauren Blount’s life is beautifully arranged: she’s very rich, very young, very thin, very pretty -- and very, very divorced. She is the most reckless and glamorous of Manhattan’s Debutante Divorcée set. Lauren captivates Sylvia Mortimer, the group’s token newlywed. But while Lauren sets out on a morality-lite, orgasm-heavy "Make Out Challenge," Sylvia discovers her marriage isn’t exactly an Eternity ad -- especially when the city’s most notorious Husband Huntress zeros in on her spouse.
Navigating a world of Divorce Showers and Power Christenings, Socialite Babies, Professional Friends, Gorgeous West Village Wives, and Un-Googleable Men, Sylvia fears her husband is straying and starts asking, as Lauren says, "Who needs a husband anyway?"
Like I mentioned above, this is pure brain candy, but sometimes you need a break from the heavy and dark stuff. Sylvia is the somewhat more down-to-earth character among the crazies and one that you want to root for. There is your usual mix-up among the love interests and a predictible ending, but it was still enjoyable. Even the outrageously rich characters were not that annoying this go around, and I liked the character of Lauren and could even imagine myself hanging out with them all. If you sometimes like to get lost in the pages of Cosmo or reality tv, I would recommend The Debutante Divorcees to you.
I am now taking a break from my library books to read one of my own. It's one I started sometime last year and put down, and I decided to give it a go this last half of break. It's a long one, coming in at 559 pages, but if I keep up my pace of reading, I should have it done by the weekend! Happy Reading all!
Tuesday, February 16, 2010
14. Momzillas by Jill Kargman
I've read previous books by Ms. Kargman and enjoyed them, so I decided to check out Momzillas. It was a quick read and I finished it in one day. It was enjoyable, if not a bit predictible, and I give it a B.
From Amazon:
The mothers on Manhattan’s chic Upper East Side are highly educated, extremely wealthy, and very competitive. They throw themselves and all of their energy and resources into full-time child rearing, turning their kids into the unwitting pawns in a game where success is measured in precocious achievements, jam-packed schedules, and elite private-school pedigrees.Hannah Allen has recently moved to the neighborhood with her New York City–bred investment banker husband and their two-year-old daughter, Violet. She’s immediately inundated by an outpouring of advice from her not-so-well-intentioned new friends and her overbearing, socially conscious mother-in-law, who coach her on matters ranging from where to buy the must-have $300 baby dress to how to get into the only pre-pre-preschool that counts. Despite her better instincts and common sense, Hannah soon finds herself caught up in the competitive whirl of high-stakes mothering.
I always like reading these books about the wealthy and get a good chuckle out of the worries and personalities. The scary thing is, I am sure it goes on. I mean calling a preschool for an application as soon as the pregnancy test turns up positive? Seems a little crazy to me... but these chick-lit novels are always an enjoyable break from the norm. Hannah was a refreshing character, especially when you consider who she was associating with. While the ending was a bit predictible, I enjoyed the book and may consider reading more by the author.
Well, I am off. I have had a migraine all day and have worked too much through it, so I am going to jump in a hot shower and go to bed. Happy Reading all!
From Amazon:
The mothers on Manhattan’s chic Upper East Side are highly educated, extremely wealthy, and very competitive. They throw themselves and all of their energy and resources into full-time child rearing, turning their kids into the unwitting pawns in a game where success is measured in precocious achievements, jam-packed schedules, and elite private-school pedigrees.Hannah Allen has recently moved to the neighborhood with her New York City–bred investment banker husband and their two-year-old daughter, Violet. She’s immediately inundated by an outpouring of advice from her not-so-well-intentioned new friends and her overbearing, socially conscious mother-in-law, who coach her on matters ranging from where to buy the must-have $300 baby dress to how to get into the only pre-pre-preschool that counts. Despite her better instincts and common sense, Hannah soon finds herself caught up in the competitive whirl of high-stakes mothering.
I always like reading these books about the wealthy and get a good chuckle out of the worries and personalities. The scary thing is, I am sure it goes on. I mean calling a preschool for an application as soon as the pregnancy test turns up positive? Seems a little crazy to me... but these chick-lit novels are always an enjoyable break from the norm. Hannah was a refreshing character, especially when you consider who she was associating with. While the ending was a bit predictible, I enjoyed the book and may consider reading more by the author.
Well, I am off. I have had a migraine all day and have worked too much through it, so I am going to jump in a hot shower and go to bed. Happy Reading all!
Tuesday, December 8, 2009
Mortal Friends by Jane Stanton Hitchcock
I fell in love with Ms. Hitchcock's works a couple of years ago and was thrilled when I found out she had a new book out. It came in quickly from the library and I started reading it Sunday evening. I was immediately sucked in and finished it today between extending DEAR time at school and then while getting ready this evening. I give it an A-.
Inside cover:
When the latest victim of the "Beltway Basher" is found in the woods of Montrose Park, Reven Lynch's favorite jogging spot, her crime-loving antenna goes up. The murder makes Reven and her best friend, Violet Bolton, reconsider their running route- but that's not the only change in Reven's routine. Her chic Georgetown neighborhood isn't accustomed to brutal slayings, and when the smooth, enigmatic Detective Gunner shows up in her antique shop, asking pointed questions, Reven's left wondering how close to home the killings are.
Gunner is convinced the murderer is a society bigshot hiding in plain sight. But he is out of his element in the rarefied world of embassy dinners and symphony balls, and Reven is perfectly positioned to feed him the inside information he needs. She throws herself into her role as the detective's "ersatz Mata Hari", only to discover the skirt-chasing businessman for whom she's fallen tops Gunner's shortlist of suspects. And that's not the half of it, a philanthropic bombshell named Cynthia Rinehart has taken the city by storm, and Violet's steady marriage is suddenly encountering some major turbulence...
I loved this book! Ms. Hitchcock has done a fantastic job intertwining the high society, big shots of Washington D.C. with a pretty good mystery. Her previous books were somewhat like this as well and as I've mentioned numerous times before, I love reading about the wealthy and "famous". The book was the perfect mix of mystery and chick lit which isn't always the easiest thing to do. I loved Reven and her friends and all of the backstabbing that happened throughout the story, though I guess it shows that sometimes, some people never really leave high school behind. I would love to see another story featuring Reven and hope that Ms. Hitchcock is busy at work right now!
I am not sure what I am going to read next, though it will probably be another library book. I have a few checked out that are due Monday and I don't think I can renew them. I'm also on my way out the door for a Christmas dinner thingy tonight and need to grab a book to bring with me just in case so I won't have time to scour my shelves. I hope everyone is enjoying their reading! Happy Reading!
Inside cover:
When the latest victim of the "Beltway Basher" is found in the woods of Montrose Park, Reven Lynch's favorite jogging spot, her crime-loving antenna goes up. The murder makes Reven and her best friend, Violet Bolton, reconsider their running route- but that's not the only change in Reven's routine. Her chic Georgetown neighborhood isn't accustomed to brutal slayings, and when the smooth, enigmatic Detective Gunner shows up in her antique shop, asking pointed questions, Reven's left wondering how close to home the killings are.
Gunner is convinced the murderer is a society bigshot hiding in plain sight. But he is out of his element in the rarefied world of embassy dinners and symphony balls, and Reven is perfectly positioned to feed him the inside information he needs. She throws herself into her role as the detective's "ersatz Mata Hari", only to discover the skirt-chasing businessman for whom she's fallen tops Gunner's shortlist of suspects. And that's not the half of it, a philanthropic bombshell named Cynthia Rinehart has taken the city by storm, and Violet's steady marriage is suddenly encountering some major turbulence...
I loved this book! Ms. Hitchcock has done a fantastic job intertwining the high society, big shots of Washington D.C. with a pretty good mystery. Her previous books were somewhat like this as well and as I've mentioned numerous times before, I love reading about the wealthy and "famous". The book was the perfect mix of mystery and chick lit which isn't always the easiest thing to do. I loved Reven and her friends and all of the backstabbing that happened throughout the story, though I guess it shows that sometimes, some people never really leave high school behind. I would love to see another story featuring Reven and hope that Ms. Hitchcock is busy at work right now!
I am not sure what I am going to read next, though it will probably be another library book. I have a few checked out that are due Monday and I don't think I can renew them. I'm also on my way out the door for a Christmas dinner thingy tonight and need to grab a book to bring with me just in case so I won't have time to scour my shelves. I hope everyone is enjoying their reading! Happy Reading!
Wednesday, July 22, 2009
The Right Address by Carrie Karasyov and Jill Kargman
The Right Address is a book I have had on my TBR shelves forever. I think I bought it years ago when I was going through a chick-lit phase and it just sat there forever, waiting to be read. Deciding I wanted something light and fluffy and somewhat of a "summer read" I picked it up to read and loved it. I give it a B+.
Back cover:
The Right Address sears through the upper crust of New York's glittering Park Avenue scene to dish the dirt on the ladies who lunch, the gents who club, and the desperate climbers who will still stop at nothing to join the backstabbing, champagne-sipping, socialite-eat-socialite stratosphere.
When Melanie Saronsky, wily Floridian flight attendant, snares a billonaire divorce Arthur "The Coffin King" Korn, she is catapulted into the creme de la creme of Park Avenue society. But Melanie quickly discovers that in the world of the rich and idle, malicious gossip is as de rigueur as owning twenty pairs of Manolo Blahniks. And despite her frenzied plunge into the charity circuit and the right dinner reservations, her neighbors are Givenchy-clad vultures who see her as nothing more than a reinvented trailer trollop. To make matters worse, when a snide society-rag journalist takes her over the coals, Melanie's reputation is toast.
Meanwhile, Melanie is not the only billionaire in the neighborhood coming unhinged. Kleptomania, adultrey, plagarism, and a grisly Harlem sex murder are just a few of the secrets swirling under the pedigreed patina of furs and emeralds on Park Avenue.
The behaviors of some of these women in the story where absolutely horrid, but unfortunetly, not unbelieveable. There are two women in the story, named Wendy and Joan, who constantly arrive early to the lunches, parties, and charity dances to secure the best seats to stare and gossip about all of their "friends" as they arrive and socialize. The authors compare Wendy and Joan to the two theatre critics from the Muppets who sit in the balcony. I laughed quite a bit over this, as it was the perfect comparision. They are so catty and snide and they and the whole story transported me back to high school and all of the cliques. Melanie, the main character, is at first very annoying, but she slowly changes and grows into a very likeable person. While not the most believable story, it was still a fun and brief vacation to one of my favorite cities and getting to join the ladies who lunch scene. This is the perfect beach/summer read!
Up next is the book called Money Shot which is part of the Hard Case Crime series. I've read one book in this series before and loved it and after reading a review for this one, decided it sounded like a lot of fun. I also got a mini notebook to keep by laptop so whenever I come across a book on a blog that sounds interesting to me, I can record whose blog I read about it on. This way I can give credit to those who keep my library books flowing through my house. Happy Reading everyone!
Back cover:
The Right Address sears through the upper crust of New York's glittering Park Avenue scene to dish the dirt on the ladies who lunch, the gents who club, and the desperate climbers who will still stop at nothing to join the backstabbing, champagne-sipping, socialite-eat-socialite stratosphere.
When Melanie Saronsky, wily Floridian flight attendant, snares a billonaire divorce Arthur "The Coffin King" Korn, she is catapulted into the creme de la creme of Park Avenue society. But Melanie quickly discovers that in the world of the rich and idle, malicious gossip is as de rigueur as owning twenty pairs of Manolo Blahniks. And despite her frenzied plunge into the charity circuit and the right dinner reservations, her neighbors are Givenchy-clad vultures who see her as nothing more than a reinvented trailer trollop. To make matters worse, when a snide society-rag journalist takes her over the coals, Melanie's reputation is toast.
Meanwhile, Melanie is not the only billionaire in the neighborhood coming unhinged. Kleptomania, adultrey, plagarism, and a grisly Harlem sex murder are just a few of the secrets swirling under the pedigreed patina of furs and emeralds on Park Avenue.
The behaviors of some of these women in the story where absolutely horrid, but unfortunetly, not unbelieveable. There are two women in the story, named Wendy and Joan, who constantly arrive early to the lunches, parties, and charity dances to secure the best seats to stare and gossip about all of their "friends" as they arrive and socialize. The authors compare Wendy and Joan to the two theatre critics from the Muppets who sit in the balcony. I laughed quite a bit over this, as it was the perfect comparision. They are so catty and snide and they and the whole story transported me back to high school and all of the cliques. Melanie, the main character, is at first very annoying, but she slowly changes and grows into a very likeable person. While not the most believable story, it was still a fun and brief vacation to one of my favorite cities and getting to join the ladies who lunch scene. This is the perfect beach/summer read!
Up next is the book called Money Shot which is part of the Hard Case Crime series. I've read one book in this series before and loved it and after reading a review for this one, decided it sounded like a lot of fun. I also got a mini notebook to keep by laptop so whenever I come across a book on a blog that sounds interesting to me, I can record whose blog I read about it on. This way I can give credit to those who keep my library books flowing through my house. Happy Reading everyone!
Saturday, June 20, 2009
Hedge Fund Wives by Tatiana Boncompagni
Hedge Fund Wives is a book I read about on a couple blogs and it really interested me. Reading about rich, spoiled (sometimes), socialite wives sitting around? Perfect summer reading if you ask me. I started it last night, and as it was a very fast read, I finished it this afternoon. I really liked it and give it a B+.
Back cover:
When her husband, John, is recruited to be a big-time hedge fund manager, Marcy Emerson gives up her job, uproots her life, and moves from Chicago to New York City. But try as she might, Marcy is never going to fit into one of the supposed seven categories of Hedge Fund Wives- the Accidental, the Westminster, the Stephanie Seymour, the Former Secretary, the Socalite, the Workaholic, or the Breeder- especially when behind every smile may lurk a stab in the back.
In a perfect world, John would have been there to help her navigate the waters, but in this volitale financial market. relationships have a way of nosediving faster than the Dow, and Marcy quickly finds herself tossed aside for a thinner, blonder model. But while living out of a suitcase and drowning her sorrows in cocktails, Marcy realizes it's time to get back up on her own two feet again... and fight for those things in her life that are far more important than money.
I loved Marcy and found her to be a real, down-to-earth character and found myself cheering for her throughout the story. I really liked how the author didn't make her this perfect person, who is all sweet and kind all of the time. While at times she acts like the fact that her husband makes over $100 million a year doesn't change her, she is able to self-reflect on herself and her actions and learn from them. It was heartwarming and refreshing to see this in a story and I enjoyed seeing Marcy grow and learn. The author also does a fantastic job explaining what, exactly, a hedge fund is, and shows how those in big leagues in NYC are affected by the recession and economy that we are all going through right now. More than chick lit, this was an enjoyable fiction read I will be looking for more of Ms. Boncompagni's books in the future.
I am not sure what is up next, though it will be another library book. I don't anticipate having much more reading time this weekend as tonight I meeting my mom and brother for dinner this evening and tomorrow we are going to the Detroit Tiger's game with my dad and his wife before going to my in-laws' house. Fun times ahead (this is sarcasm)... but Monday I will be back to my blessed time off and reading time. Happy Reading everyone!
Back cover:
When her husband, John, is recruited to be a big-time hedge fund manager, Marcy Emerson gives up her job, uproots her life, and moves from Chicago to New York City. But try as she might, Marcy is never going to fit into one of the supposed seven categories of Hedge Fund Wives- the Accidental, the Westminster, the Stephanie Seymour, the Former Secretary, the Socalite, the Workaholic, or the Breeder- especially when behind every smile may lurk a stab in the back.
In a perfect world, John would have been there to help her navigate the waters, but in this volitale financial market. relationships have a way of nosediving faster than the Dow, and Marcy quickly finds herself tossed aside for a thinner, blonder model. But while living out of a suitcase and drowning her sorrows in cocktails, Marcy realizes it's time to get back up on her own two feet again... and fight for those things in her life that are far more important than money.
I loved Marcy and found her to be a real, down-to-earth character and found myself cheering for her throughout the story. I really liked how the author didn't make her this perfect person, who is all sweet and kind all of the time. While at times she acts like the fact that her husband makes over $100 million a year doesn't change her, she is able to self-reflect on herself and her actions and learn from them. It was heartwarming and refreshing to see this in a story and I enjoyed seeing Marcy grow and learn. The author also does a fantastic job explaining what, exactly, a hedge fund is, and shows how those in big leagues in NYC are affected by the recession and economy that we are all going through right now. More than chick lit, this was an enjoyable fiction read I will be looking for more of Ms. Boncompagni's books in the future.
I am not sure what is up next, though it will be another library book. I don't anticipate having much more reading time this weekend as tonight I meeting my mom and brother for dinner this evening and tomorrow we are going to the Detroit Tiger's game with my dad and his wife before going to my in-laws' house. Fun times ahead (this is sarcasm)... but Monday I will be back to my blessed time off and reading time. Happy Reading everyone!
Tuesday, December 2, 2008
The Lost Girls by Lin Hendler
I got The Lost Girls from one of the library book sales I went to earlier this year. It sounded interesting and I grabbed it off of my shelves when I was looking for something to read, however, I was pretty disappointed. I give it a C.
From Amazon:
For anyone who's ever felt lost in an angst-filled world, The Lost Girls offers a moving account of several young women estranged from the society around them. Ranging from urban Los Angeles to small-town America to England, the book follows the adolescence of Hannah and Becky, two best friends who must discover themselves amidst high school pressure, drugs, and confusion. The book also chronicles the travails of Laurel and Alexis, two girls who have opulent homes and an upscale high school but still submit to the drug culture that can't be separated from their lives.
I am not sure what to say about this book. If it was any longer, I wouldn't have finished it but it was only 142 pages long so I felt compelled to finish it. I was so confused when reading it, though. It jumped between characters and it was hard to find connections between chapters and I was constantly looking back to determine who was who. It was just a very confusing read and I guess I was just expecting more. I was looking forward to reading it but was very disappointed. I am not even sure how to classify this book.
I am not sure what I am going to read next but I think it will be a good suspense. Happy Reading everyone!
From Amazon:
For anyone who's ever felt lost in an angst-filled world, The Lost Girls offers a moving account of several young women estranged from the society around them. Ranging from urban Los Angeles to small-town America to England, the book follows the adolescence of Hannah and Becky, two best friends who must discover themselves amidst high school pressure, drugs, and confusion. The book also chronicles the travails of Laurel and Alexis, two girls who have opulent homes and an upscale high school but still submit to the drug culture that can't be separated from their lives.
I am not sure what to say about this book. If it was any longer, I wouldn't have finished it but it was only 142 pages long so I felt compelled to finish it. I was so confused when reading it, though. It jumped between characters and it was hard to find connections between chapters and I was constantly looking back to determine who was who. It was just a very confusing read and I guess I was just expecting more. I was looking forward to reading it but was very disappointed. I am not even sure how to classify this book.
I am not sure what I am going to read next but I think it will be a good suspense. Happy Reading everyone!
Monday, October 6, 2008
One Fifth Avenue by Candace Bushnell
I wasn't a huge fan of Ms. Bushnell's previous books, including Sex and the City. While I liked the tv show, I didn't love the book (which is rare for me... I normally like the book better). However, I saw this book while I was in New York and it sounded like something I really enjoy, and it was. I give it an A-.
From Amazon:
One Fifth Avenue, the Art Deco beauty towering over one of Manhattan's oldest and most historically hip neighborhoods, is a one-of-a-kind address, the sort of building you have to earn your way into--one way or another. For the women in Candace Bushnell's new novel, One Fifth Avenue, this edifice is essential to the lives they've carefully established--or hope to establish. From the hedge fund king's wife to the aging gossip columnist to the free-spirited actress (a recent refugee from L.A.), each person's game plan for a rich life comes together under the soaring roof of this landmark building. Acutely observed and mercilessly witty, One Fifth Avenue is a modern-day story of old and new money, that same combustible mix that Edith Wharton mastered in her novels about New York's Gilded Age and F. Scott Fitzgerald illuminated in his Jazz Age tales. Many decades later, Bushnell's New Yorkers suffer the same passions as those fictional Manhattanites from eras past: They thirst for power, for social prominence, and for marriages that are successful--at least to the public eye. But Bushnell is an original, and One Fifth Avenue is so fresh that it reads as if sexual politics, real estate theft, and fortunes lost in a day have never happened before. From Sex and the City through four successive novels, Bushnell has revealed a gift for tapping into the zeitgeist of any New York minute and, as one critic put it, staying uncannily "just the slightest bit ahead of the curve." And with each book, she has deepened her range, but with a light touch that makes her complex literary accomplishments look easy. Her stories progress so nimbly and ring so true that it can seem as if anyone might write them--when, in fact, no one writes novels quite like Candace Bushnell. Fortunately for us, with One Fifth Avenue, she has done it again.
I love reading about New York society, and seeing how the "other half" lives. I find it quite humorous in what some of these people think are real problems that are worthy of worrying and being all stressed out about. What $8,000 pair of shoes they should wear to the next event, for example. However I will admit that I do fantasize about what it would be like to live like that. I loved the characters in this book, and while there were quite a few, they were easy to keep straight. Ms. Bushnell delves into each character enough that the reader gets the oppourtinity to know what is going on in their heads. I also love New York, so reading about it is a great pleasure. The only negative thing I can say about the book is that the ending felt rushed. I read some other reviews on Ms. Bushnell's books and those reviewers all said the same thing. That being said, it was a good read and much better than I expected.
Up next is my last library book I have. I feel like I haven't read one of my own books in forever, so I am looking forward to getting through it. I don't have the book in front of me, but I know it is by Jennifer MacMahon, I believe. I hope to get into it right now. Our fridge broke sometime yesterday and we had to throw away everything. This is putting a damper on my mood and as I wait for the repairman to give me a call, I hope a good book will be able to booster my mood. Happy Reading!
From Amazon:
One Fifth Avenue, the Art Deco beauty towering over one of Manhattan's oldest and most historically hip neighborhoods, is a one-of-a-kind address, the sort of building you have to earn your way into--one way or another. For the women in Candace Bushnell's new novel, One Fifth Avenue, this edifice is essential to the lives they've carefully established--or hope to establish. From the hedge fund king's wife to the aging gossip columnist to the free-spirited actress (a recent refugee from L.A.), each person's game plan for a rich life comes together under the soaring roof of this landmark building. Acutely observed and mercilessly witty, One Fifth Avenue is a modern-day story of old and new money, that same combustible mix that Edith Wharton mastered in her novels about New York's Gilded Age and F. Scott Fitzgerald illuminated in his Jazz Age tales. Many decades later, Bushnell's New Yorkers suffer the same passions as those fictional Manhattanites from eras past: They thirst for power, for social prominence, and for marriages that are successful--at least to the public eye. But Bushnell is an original, and One Fifth Avenue is so fresh that it reads as if sexual politics, real estate theft, and fortunes lost in a day have never happened before. From Sex and the City through four successive novels, Bushnell has revealed a gift for tapping into the zeitgeist of any New York minute and, as one critic put it, staying uncannily "just the slightest bit ahead of the curve." And with each book, she has deepened her range, but with a light touch that makes her complex literary accomplishments look easy. Her stories progress so nimbly and ring so true that it can seem as if anyone might write them--when, in fact, no one writes novels quite like Candace Bushnell. Fortunately for us, with One Fifth Avenue, she has done it again.
I love reading about New York society, and seeing how the "other half" lives. I find it quite humorous in what some of these people think are real problems that are worthy of worrying and being all stressed out about. What $8,000 pair of shoes they should wear to the next event, for example. However I will admit that I do fantasize about what it would be like to live like that. I loved the characters in this book, and while there were quite a few, they were easy to keep straight. Ms. Bushnell delves into each character enough that the reader gets the oppourtinity to know what is going on in their heads. I also love New York, so reading about it is a great pleasure. The only negative thing I can say about the book is that the ending felt rushed. I read some other reviews on Ms. Bushnell's books and those reviewers all said the same thing. That being said, it was a good read and much better than I expected.
Up next is my last library book I have. I feel like I haven't read one of my own books in forever, so I am looking forward to getting through it. I don't have the book in front of me, but I know it is by Jennifer MacMahon, I believe. I hope to get into it right now. Our fridge broke sometime yesterday and we had to throw away everything. This is putting a damper on my mood and as I wait for the repairman to give me a call, I hope a good book will be able to booster my mood. Happy Reading!
Tuesday, September 30, 2008
Slightly Suburban by Wendy Markham
I fell in love with Tracey and her crazy antics with the first book, Slightly Single, over four years ago. I remember laughing out loud and even discussed part of the book with the author about how wonderful and crazy the characters were. While I still do enjoy the books, the humor has toned down and there are fewer crazy antics. However, I felt that Slightly Suburban was heartwarming and I give it a B.
From Amazon:
It seemed exciting at first, but after two and a half years in New York, Tracey has to admit her life…well, sucks. Sure, she makes a decent living as a copywriter, but Blaire Barnett Advertising is a cutthroat world that basically swallows her life. If she does manage to get home before nine, she's usually greeted by husband Jack's best bud, an almost—permanent fixture in their tiny, unaffordable apartment. Add the circus freaks stomping around upstairs, and Tracey decides it's time to move.
After quitting her job, she and Jack take the plunge into the nearby suburbs of Westchester and quickly discover they're in way over their heads. Their fixer-upper is unfixable, the stay-at-home yoga moms are a bore and Tracey yearns for her old friends—she even misses work!
So which life does she really want? Other than Jack's wife, who is she? If Tracey merely has to find her own Slightly Suburban niche, it had better be just around the corner, because there're no subways here!
The book was fairly predictiable, but it was an easy read and perfect for those five minute intervals I had to sneak a bit in. This product description is wrong, however, because Tracey does not quit her job and this plays a part in the story. I think the biggest difference between this book and the previous ones is that Tracey has grown up quite a bit and the focus is more on her and not her and her friends. Her friends were a great sense of humor, and I think that played out a bit of my not total love for the book. However, I am not disappointed and am glad that I read the book.
Up next is Say Goodbye by Lisa Gardner. I always enjoy her books and am kind of in the mood for a creepy thriller. It is raining and the weather has turned a bit chilly. Fall is definitely here and I have been feeling a bit down and I am sure it is directly related to the weather. I hate the change of the seasons and have struggled with depression for the past year and a half. I know my moods fluctuate due to the colder weather, staying inside and the less time of sunlight. I feel a bit hopeless and helpless as I look towards the long cold winters Detroit always has and it really gets me down. I really need to move south where I can get warmer weather year round. Well, I don't mean to get everyone else down, so I will say goodnight and get to reading. Happy Reading!
From Amazon:
It seemed exciting at first, but after two and a half years in New York, Tracey has to admit her life…well, sucks. Sure, she makes a decent living as a copywriter, but Blaire Barnett Advertising is a cutthroat world that basically swallows her life. If she does manage to get home before nine, she's usually greeted by husband Jack's best bud, an almost—permanent fixture in their tiny, unaffordable apartment. Add the circus freaks stomping around upstairs, and Tracey decides it's time to move.
After quitting her job, she and Jack take the plunge into the nearby suburbs of Westchester and quickly discover they're in way over their heads. Their fixer-upper is unfixable, the stay-at-home yoga moms are a bore and Tracey yearns for her old friends—she even misses work!
So which life does she really want? Other than Jack's wife, who is she? If Tracey merely has to find her own Slightly Suburban niche, it had better be just around the corner, because there're no subways here!
The book was fairly predictiable, but it was an easy read and perfect for those five minute intervals I had to sneak a bit in. This product description is wrong, however, because Tracey does not quit her job and this plays a part in the story. I think the biggest difference between this book and the previous ones is that Tracey has grown up quite a bit and the focus is more on her and not her and her friends. Her friends were a great sense of humor, and I think that played out a bit of my not total love for the book. However, I am not disappointed and am glad that I read the book.
Up next is Say Goodbye by Lisa Gardner. I always enjoy her books and am kind of in the mood for a creepy thriller. It is raining and the weather has turned a bit chilly. Fall is definitely here and I have been feeling a bit down and I am sure it is directly related to the weather. I hate the change of the seasons and have struggled with depression for the past year and a half. I know my moods fluctuate due to the colder weather, staying inside and the less time of sunlight. I feel a bit hopeless and helpless as I look towards the long cold winters Detroit always has and it really gets me down. I really need to move south where I can get warmer weather year round. Well, I don't mean to get everyone else down, so I will say goodnight and get to reading. Happy Reading!
Tuesday, August 5, 2008
Queen of Babble Gets Hitched by Meg Cabot
I have read this series since it began and am always looking forward to the newest addition. I know what to expect from the series, a light-hearted, easy read. I wasn't disappointed this time and it was a pleasant, B read.
From Amazon:
Big mouth. Big heart.
Big wedding. Big problems.
It's the wedding of the century!
Things are looking up at last for Lizzie Nichols. She has a career she loves in the field of her choice (wedding gown restoration), and the love of her life, Jean-Luc, has finally proposed. Life's become a dizzying whirl of wedding gown fittings—not necessarily her own—as Lizzie prepares for her dream wedding at her fiancé's château in the south of France.
But the dream soon becomes a nightmare as the best man—whom Lizzie might once have accidentally slept with . . . no, really, just slept—announces his total lack of support for the couple, a sentiment the maid of honor happens to second; Lizzie's Midwestern family can't understand why she doesn't want to have her wedding in the family backyard; her future, oh-so-proper French in-laws seem to be slowly trying to lure the groom away from medical school and back into investment banking; and Lizzie finds herself wondering if her Prince Charming really is as charming as she once believed.
Is Lizzie really ready to embrace her new role as wife and mistress of Château Mirac? Or is she destined to fall into another man's arms . . . and into the trap of becoming a Bad Girl instead?
This book wasn't anything special or spectacular and will not stick with me for very long, I am sure. But it was a nice read and a good distraction from some of the things going on in my life. I could relate to how Lizzie was feeling and all that was going on in her life. When reading one of Meg Cabot's books, the only expectations I have is something cute and that is exactly what I got. I probably would have enjoyed this book a bit more a few years ago when I was really into chick lit, but now I really don't read this genre. I do think that Ms. Cabot has a wonderful voice and really shows how people feel and their motivations for their actions, which is always refreshing.
Yesterday I went to the library to pick up a book for my mom and ended up grabbing two more for myself. It is a sickness, I tell you. So I will be reading another library book next, Good Intentions by Patricia O'Brien, another new to me author. I hope it is good. It is really hot out right now and I think I will just jump right back in to the next book. Happy Reading!
From Amazon:
Big mouth. Big heart.
Big wedding. Big problems.
It's the wedding of the century!
Things are looking up at last for Lizzie Nichols. She has a career she loves in the field of her choice (wedding gown restoration), and the love of her life, Jean-Luc, has finally proposed. Life's become a dizzying whirl of wedding gown fittings—not necessarily her own—as Lizzie prepares for her dream wedding at her fiancé's château in the south of France.
But the dream soon becomes a nightmare as the best man—whom Lizzie might once have accidentally slept with . . . no, really, just slept—announces his total lack of support for the couple, a sentiment the maid of honor happens to second; Lizzie's Midwestern family can't understand why she doesn't want to have her wedding in the family backyard; her future, oh-so-proper French in-laws seem to be slowly trying to lure the groom away from medical school and back into investment banking; and Lizzie finds herself wondering if her Prince Charming really is as charming as she once believed.
Is Lizzie really ready to embrace her new role as wife and mistress of Château Mirac? Or is she destined to fall into another man's arms . . . and into the trap of becoming a Bad Girl instead?
This book wasn't anything special or spectacular and will not stick with me for very long, I am sure. But it was a nice read and a good distraction from some of the things going on in my life. I could relate to how Lizzie was feeling and all that was going on in her life. When reading one of Meg Cabot's books, the only expectations I have is something cute and that is exactly what I got. I probably would have enjoyed this book a bit more a few years ago when I was really into chick lit, but now I really don't read this genre. I do think that Ms. Cabot has a wonderful voice and really shows how people feel and their motivations for their actions, which is always refreshing.
Yesterday I went to the library to pick up a book for my mom and ended up grabbing two more for myself. It is a sickness, I tell you. So I will be reading another library book next, Good Intentions by Patricia O'Brien, another new to me author. I hope it is good. It is really hot out right now and I think I will just jump right back in to the next book. Happy Reading!
Friday, January 11, 2008
Killer Riff by Sheryl J. Anderson
I have been reading this series since it first came out several years ago. These books have always been a fun, light read but for some reason this book didn't do anything for me. I would give it a C.
From Amazon:
Glossy mag advice columnist Molly Forrester has been working her tail off to get recognized as an investigative journalist and has even solved a few murders along the way, but none of that matters to her editor, who’s more than happy to keep Molly tied down to her Dear Abby roots. Thankfully, though, her publisher has taken notice and has a lot more faith: Molly’s been promoted, and her first assignment as a full-time feature writer should be a cinch. It’s a profile of Russell Elliott, the legendary rock manager/producer who just died of an accidental overdose. The rock ’n roll world is pretty accustomed to seeing its brightest stars burn out early, and jaded as it sounds, no one is shocked by Elliot’s death---no one except his daughter, that is, who is convinced that it was no accident. All Molly has to do to keep her new job, pump up newsstand sales, and win back reluctant beau NYPD homicide detective Kyle Edwards is give Elliot a once-over like a devoted fan, without looking too deeply at anything that smacks of murder, like his infamous family, his infighting protégés, or the rumor about his long-lost bootleg tapes. What could be easier for Zeitgeist magazine’s newest star? Almost anything.
This book just didn't do anything for me. I don't know if it is because I am kind of the chick-lit phase or if it is just the timing right now, but I couldn't get into it. It took me close to two days just to get 100 pages in and then I felt like I had spent this much time in reading it and I couldn't just give it up. Some of the good things include the fact that I like Molly and her friends and they have a really tight friendship. Her boyfriend Kyle is all right too. The mystery was kind of hard to follow and I felt that there were too many characters to keep track of. I also didn't like how one minute Molly is in one location and then the next sentence they are somewhere else. No page break, different chapter or even a different paragraph. It just irritated me and I had to concentrate more than I like to in a chick lit book.
Up next is another one of my library books. I picked up two more books and currently have six library books to read. I had so many on hold for awhile and then all of the sudden had them all come in. The next one I am going to read is Smash Cut by Steven Womack. This is the same author that wrote By Blood Written that I loved so much. This book is fairly old published in 1991, but I hope it is enjoyable. Everyone have a great weekend and Happy Reading!
From Amazon:
Glossy mag advice columnist Molly Forrester has been working her tail off to get recognized as an investigative journalist and has even solved a few murders along the way, but none of that matters to her editor, who’s more than happy to keep Molly tied down to her Dear Abby roots. Thankfully, though, her publisher has taken notice and has a lot more faith: Molly’s been promoted, and her first assignment as a full-time feature writer should be a cinch. It’s a profile of Russell Elliott, the legendary rock manager/producer who just died of an accidental overdose. The rock ’n roll world is pretty accustomed to seeing its brightest stars burn out early, and jaded as it sounds, no one is shocked by Elliot’s death---no one except his daughter, that is, who is convinced that it was no accident. All Molly has to do to keep her new job, pump up newsstand sales, and win back reluctant beau NYPD homicide detective Kyle Edwards is give Elliot a once-over like a devoted fan, without looking too deeply at anything that smacks of murder, like his infamous family, his infighting protégés, or the rumor about his long-lost bootleg tapes. What could be easier for Zeitgeist magazine’s newest star? Almost anything.
This book just didn't do anything for me. I don't know if it is because I am kind of the chick-lit phase or if it is just the timing right now, but I couldn't get into it. It took me close to two days just to get 100 pages in and then I felt like I had spent this much time in reading it and I couldn't just give it up. Some of the good things include the fact that I like Molly and her friends and they have a really tight friendship. Her boyfriend Kyle is all right too. The mystery was kind of hard to follow and I felt that there were too many characters to keep track of. I also didn't like how one minute Molly is in one location and then the next sentence they are somewhere else. No page break, different chapter or even a different paragraph. It just irritated me and I had to concentrate more than I like to in a chick lit book.
Up next is another one of my library books. I picked up two more books and currently have six library books to read. I had so many on hold for awhile and then all of the sudden had them all come in. The next one I am going to read is Smash Cut by Steven Womack. This is the same author that wrote By Blood Written that I loved so much. This book is fairly old published in 1991, but I hope it is enjoyable. Everyone have a great weekend and Happy Reading!
Wednesday, August 1, 2007
Slightly Married by Wendy Markham
As I mentioned in the previous post, I absolutely adore all of Ms. Markham's work, especially her suspense novels. I read the first book in this series, Slightly Single, and it had me laughing the entire time. I have continued to read the series, though I have stopped buying them because I just read them so fast. I do buy her suspense novels, but they aren't at trade prices. Anyways, this was a great addition in the series and it was a great way to pass an afternoon. This was a fun A-.
All Tracey wants is to get hitched without a hitch- but as the calendar marches towards her late-October wedding date, suddenly she and her fiance can't agree on anything. From where to get married (New York City or Buffalo?) to how many attendants they're going to have (she's already asked eight; he was just thinking of a best man). Meanwhile, Tracey's friends are caught up in their own drama. There's newlywed Raphael, who's just had his gay wedding; newly pregnant Kate, who is trying to adjust to impending motherhood; and Buckley, who is acting inexplicably strange. When Buckley unexpectedly breaks off his own engagement, all but leaving his fiancee at the altar, Tracey is stunned to learn that he may be in love with her.
With plenty of snafus to keep them distracted, is being Slightly Married to road to happily ever after, after all?
This book was just so well written. All of the ups and downs that Tracey feels and experiences while planning her wedding were so true to life and I found myself nodding my head along in a lot of places. Throughout the story, we see that Tracey really does love Jack, but there are doubts that I believe every bride-to-be faces and deals with. It is handled well and there are, of course, plently of laughs throughout. There was a little bit of foreshadowing as to what we may see in the next book. I know from her website, that there is at least one more Tracey book to be published, probably next year. I will continue to read it and recommend it to anyone looking for a fun and entertaining read. If you are not familiar with the series, I do suggest you start with the first book so you can see how Tracey evolves. If you are getting married, I also think it is a must read.
Up next is Electric Blue, which is the second in a series by Nancy Bush. The first book was titled Candy Apple Red and was a lot of fun for cozy mystery. Ms. Bush is the sister of Lisa Jackson who writes great suspense books. Well everyone stay cool (it is 96 degrees here today... without the humidity!) and Happy Reading!
All Tracey wants is to get hitched without a hitch- but as the calendar marches towards her late-October wedding date, suddenly she and her fiance can't agree on anything. From where to get married (New York City or Buffalo?) to how many attendants they're going to have (she's already asked eight; he was just thinking of a best man). Meanwhile, Tracey's friends are caught up in their own drama. There's newlywed Raphael, who's just had his gay wedding; newly pregnant Kate, who is trying to adjust to impending motherhood; and Buckley, who is acting inexplicably strange. When Buckley unexpectedly breaks off his own engagement, all but leaving his fiancee at the altar, Tracey is stunned to learn that he may be in love with her.
With plenty of snafus to keep them distracted, is being Slightly Married to road to happily ever after, after all?
This book was just so well written. All of the ups and downs that Tracey feels and experiences while planning her wedding were so true to life and I found myself nodding my head along in a lot of places. Throughout the story, we see that Tracey really does love Jack, but there are doubts that I believe every bride-to-be faces and deals with. It is handled well and there are, of course, plently of laughs throughout. There was a little bit of foreshadowing as to what we may see in the next book. I know from her website, that there is at least one more Tracey book to be published, probably next year. I will continue to read it and recommend it to anyone looking for a fun and entertaining read. If you are not familiar with the series, I do suggest you start with the first book so you can see how Tracey evolves. If you are getting married, I also think it is a must read.
Up next is Electric Blue, which is the second in a series by Nancy Bush. The first book was titled Candy Apple Red and was a lot of fun for cozy mystery. Ms. Bush is the sister of Lisa Jackson who writes great suspense books. Well everyone stay cool (it is 96 degrees here today... without the humidity!) and Happy Reading!
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