"Same Kind of Different As Me"-Ron Hall & Denver Moore

Book Title: Same Kind of Different As Me: A Modern-Day Slave, an International Art Dealer, and the Unlikely Woman Who Brought Them Together
Authors: Ron Hall, Denver Moore & Lynn Vincent
Version: Paperback
ISBN: 9780849919107
Voice: Two First Person Narrators
Published: March 11th, 2008
First Published: June 1st, 2006
Publisher: Thomas Nelson Publishers
Number of Pages: 244
Genre: Religious Non-Fiction


SYNOPSIS: Denver Moore grew up a modern-day slave. It was all he ever knew and though he went to school for a couple of years he never learned to read or write properly. After a fire burned down his house and his whole family was killed he was sent to live with an aunt and uncle in Red River Parish, Louisiana, his aunt and uncle were sharecroppers and so they put him to work right away. After working for many years as a sharecropper, even getting his own tract of land when he grew, he decided he'd had enough and in 1960 hopped a train out of Louisiana. After spending sometime as a prisoner, for being a vagrant, he made his way to Fort Worth, Texas where he lived for years on the streets.

Ron Hall was the opposite of Denver Moore, he had a loving family around him, grew up going to school with friends and graduated from college. It was in college that he met Debbie Short who eventually became his wife and the love of his life. When they moved to Fort Worth Ron found himself changing careers to become an art dealer. Although his business was slow to start it eventually became the smartest business decision Ron ever made. Debbie meanwhile was on a crusade, in her new found love for God, to help the homeless of Fort Worth. When they decided to start volunteering at the homeless shelter in one of the worst parts of town Ron was a bit skeptical at first. Especially when they encounter a homeless man that everyone else was afraid of, Denver Moore. What began as an occasional charitable trip eventually turned into a friendship of a lifetime.

As Ron and Debbie found themselves getting closer to Denver and Denver found himself trusting Miss Debbie, as Denver called her, and getting closer to the both of them they all started spending more time together. Miss Debbie and Ron taught Denver about God and the Bible and all that entails, and so when Miss Debbie was diagnosed with cancer Denver knew what he had to do. The homeless men and women at the shelter came to love Miss Debbie and Mr. Ron. When they hear that she is sick they begin praying for her everyday. When Ron witnessed it he is touched beyond words, but when he saw that Denver was nowhere in sight he became angered. Thinking that Denver was being disrespectful Ron started demanding to know where Denver was and shouting about how ungrateful he must be. One of the homeless men stopped Ron and told him that Denver was in his room sleeping. That the reason he was there was because he had been up all night praying for Miss Debbie. That Denver figured that since someone should be praying for Miss Debbie 24 hours a day he took it upon himself to take on the night shift.

Although Miss Debbie doesn't survive the cancer Ron and Denver's friendship continues on for years. Miss Debbie's love and faith in God brought the unlikely family of Denver and Ron together. It is a family and friendship that has continued on until today.

REVIEW: I was lent this book by one of my, now ex, roommates. We shared a love of reading and she thought that I would enjoy an inspiring read such as "Same Kind of Different As Me." And I enjoyed parts of it, found a lot of it beautifully crafted. Sure some of it was even inspiring. But to be honest I don't really believe in God as 'He' was seen in the book. I am not religious in the least so all the Bible and God stuff was a bit much for me. It was hard for me to stomach a lot of it.

I do however respect other people's beliefs in God and religion so I could appreciate the story. It was beautifully crafted and flowed well. Because Denver learned late how to read and write, and not all that well, his chapters were written the way he spoke and I think that it gave those chapters a certain charm. It was Denver through and through, no apologies and I enjoyed that a lot. With Ron's chapters I found his unconditional love for Debbie to be breathtaking. Reading about his journey with her was like looking into the relationship that we all hope for someday. It was a truly beautiful thing, and because it was so true and so heartfelt watching Debbie die through his eyes was heartbreaking. I admit it I cried when she finally died. It's hard to watch someone lose the person they love the most in all the world. Denver felt that loss too, in different ways, but he was still broken down by it. The only comfort that either of them had was the knowledge that Miss Debbie was now in heaven with God, whom she loved.

It's a moving story and I really did like parts of it. It's not my cup of tea but it's a great read for those out there that are looking for a religious boost. If what you want out of a book is a beautiful true story about three people's love for each other and God this is the book to search for. It's a good read, something that you won't regret reading by any means and on that may even lift your spirits in the process.

  

"Then Came You"-Jennifer Weiner

Book Title: Then Came You
Author: Jennifer Weiner
Version: ebook (Nook)
ISBN: 9781451617
Voice: Four Narrators First Person
Published: July 2011
Publisher: Atria Books
Number of ebook pages: 296
Genre: Contemporary Fiction


SYNOPSIS: Meet Jules, Annie, India, and Bettina, four women who live very different lives, so different in fact that if not for one very small connection, none of them would have met. The small connection? They have a baby together. Jules is a Princeton senior struggling with a past so dark and unforgiving that she is willing to do just about anything to erase it. Annie is a mother of two, living in a farm house with her high school sweetheart and trying desperately to figure out a way to help out financially without upsetting her very traditional husband. India is a woman who has finally found everything that she has ever wanted. A rich husband that adores her, and thinks she is still 38, a successful business, and a giant apartment that overlooks Central Park and spans two floors. What she doesn't seem to have is the ability to make a baby. Bettina, young privileged, slightly stuck up and the daughter of the man that India is married to. As soon as Bettina meets India she begins investigating her because she distrusts everything she about her.

When Jules is approached about selling her eggs to the Princeton Fertility Clinic she is at first hesitant not sure exactly how she would feel about it. When he mentions that she could easily walk away with twenty thousand dollars Jules pauses and begins to imagine just what she would do with that money. Get her dad into rehab, help him start a whole new life, and maybe even pay off some student loans. Annie, who wants to help her family financially, finds herself secretly applying to be a surrogate. The idea that not only would she be making money for her family but she would be helping another couple make a family makes her giddy. When India decides to go the surrogate route her and her husband spend hours picking the eggs and surrogate that they feel will make the best baby for them. Bettina, meanwhile, is doing everything in her power to oust India from her place as the stepmother. As everything begins to take shape with India's dreams of having a baby, things begin to fall apart for the other women involved.

Jules is struggling with her sexuality, and the fact that her dad will always be just an addict. Annie pregnant and still taking care of her two kids is trying to hold her marriage together. India finds herself, despite all her precautions, falling in love with her husband and trying desperately to get Bettina to stop her crusade against her. Bettina, still plowing ahead, is finding herself more and more alone in the "I hate India" club, with her brothers, and even her private detective crush, trying to get her to drop her cause. When a sudden tragedy brings these women together they all have to redefine what they believe family is.

REVIEW: I have loved Jennifer Weiner's books ever since I accidentally found a copy of "Good in Bed" in a bookstore in my hometown. When I saw that she had a new book out called "Then Came You," I immediately put it on my 'to read' list on goodreads.com. Being financially strapped I decided to fore go the pleasure of buying it right away and wait until I could afford the book. When I saw that it finally came out in paperback I was excited, but now I had a different problem a lack of space problem (I do live in New York,) and so I went with the ebook version. Thankfully I had my handy dandy Nook Tablet to read such a version on.

I was really excited going into it, I always find that Jennifer Weiner begins a book in such a way that it grabs me right away and I can't put it down. It wasn't so with this book. I was feeling slightly disappointed in it at first, it was slow going or something that kind of turned me off. But then something happened and I couldn't wait to see what happened next. I got caught up in the lives of these four women and started loving them and rooting for them. They are all amazing women and they all had their very own 'crazy' to work through. I liked that they weren't perfect, and though Bettina was by far my least favorite, I even enjoyed that she was so single minded on her path. They are great characters, rich, full of life, as well as strong and weak in totally human ways.

Her writing was, as always, fantastic. At times dark and tragic, at others full of life and hope. The way Ms. Weiner was able to write each of these women so uniquely and shape them so perfectly is just further testament, in my humble opinion, to just how great a writer she is. She is poetry and prose in equally perfectly balanced measure and it is a mixture that I find no end of enjoyment in. Jennifer Weiner's "Then Came You" is a book that is sure to stick with you in all the best ways. It's a book full of sacrifice, love, and family in all it's many forms. A book that shouldn't be missed, especially for the women in the world who are mothers, whatever that means to you.  

Author Interview-Stephanie Kate Strohm

I am pleased to present my very first author interview with the very lovely and kind Stephanie Kate Strohm. Since I posted a review yesterday on her debut novel find it here, http://girlinthetinyhat.blogspot.com/2012/05/pilgirms-dont-wear-pink-stephanie-kate.html, I am not going to re-review it today. But read on to see a glimpse behind the scenes of Pilgrims Don't Wear Pink, and learn a bit about the woman that created the story and characters you are sure to love. I want to personally thank Stephanie for her time and patience in sitting down to answer the questions I sent her. So thank you Stephanie, I look forward to many more books and many more interviews.

1, What inspired you to write Pilgrims Don't Wear Pink?

One summer when I was in college, I interned at a living history museum in CT.  While I was there, there was a rumor that one of the ships was haunted.  Nothing really happened with that, but I always was intrigued by the ghost – probably because I was obsessed with Nancy Drew and Scooby Doo as a kid.   Pilgrims was a product of my love of history and my inner Nancy Drew. 

2, Are you Libby Kelting, your heroine?

Libby and I have a lot of shared interests – short, blonde, too many shoes, prolific bakers, lovers of history and Jane Austen – but we’re different people underneath.  I’m a lot more like Dev. 

3, I heard a story that when you wrote "Pilgrims..." you bought a gallon of ice cream and locked yourself in and just wrote. Is this how it was done?

Pretty much.  It took twelve days, and the flavor was Strawberry Cheesecake.  I woke up one day with the idea for Pilgrims and it just poured out of me in this unstoppable mess.  Needless to say, it required some rewrites. 

4, Being that the setting is a living history museum (and everything seems pretty historically accurate) how much research did you put into the book?

 Most of the research came from working at a living history museum, some of it came from the week I lived in a foc’s’le on a 19^th century schooner in high school, and the remainder was random factoids acquired from a lifetime of history nerd-dom and my American History major at Middlebury College.  The most research I did specifically for the book was about colonial fashion – thank you, Colonial Williamsburg website!

5. What made you want to become a writer?

Jo March from Little Women – that was where it all began.  In 4^th grade I was obsessed with Jo and thought she was just the coolest, so I’d write these 7 page novels on yellow lined paper.  By the time I headed off to college to pursue a joint major in theater and history, I never thought writing would be a career.  (I guess a joint major in theater and history prepares you for a career in…renaissance faires?)  I started writing again when I was on a children’s theater tour of the Midwest and ran out of books, so I thought I’d entertain myself by writing my own.  I was surprised by how much I fell in love with writing. 

6. What does "Young Adult" fiction mean to you? What turns it from YA to just plain adult fiction? To put it another way what do you think the lines are that an author can't cross?

   I think the big distinction is that the protagonists are young adults – sounds simple, but that’s the real difference between YA and adult fiction.  If the MC is in high school, it’s YA.   Aside from that, I’m not totally sure there are any real taboos.   A lot of dark, very “adult” stuff happens in YA novels. 

7. Do you have a favorite YA author? 

 

 I love L. A. Meyer and the Bloody Jack series.  Pirate Queen Jacky Faber swashbuckles her away through many of my favorite historical eras – this series is a history nerd’s dream!  Plenty of romance, too. 

8. What authors have been your inspiration?

Lauren Willig – I love the way she blends history and humor in the Pink Carnation series.  Meg Cabot is my contemporary YA style inspiration.  And although I don’t read a lot of paranormal YA, Stephenie Meyer inspired me to just go for it and send my manuscript out there, even though I didn’t have a lot of formal creative writing training. 

9. Is there another Libby Kelting adventure in the works?

 

There is!  Confederates Don’t Wear Couture comes out April 2013.   Libby and her BFF Dev head down South to sell ball gowns at Civil War reenactments.  Hoopskirts, hard tack, and handsome boys in uniform! 

10. With your next books, will they all be YA?

 Never say never, but that’s the plan for right now.  It’s a genre I really enjoy writing.  At some point I might move to adult chick-lit, but I’m really happy writing YA right now. 

11. What was it like when you found out that you were going to be a published author?

It was the most overwhelming, surreal, exciting feeling imaginable.  I was so shocked, and so overjoyed.  There may have been some squealing.  Ok, a lot of squealing. 

12. And finally, being a history buff if you could live in any period of time when would you live? Why? Would you still want to write?

The Wild West – the American frontier in the late 19^th century.  I love the lawlessness (anything could happen!  That Calamity Jane was crazy), the mythology of the golden west (the freedom!  The lone cowboy hero!), and, of course, the corsets and bustles.  Of course it was a rather gritty time, but that’s part of what makes it interesting.  And would I still want to write…well, there was this movie I was obsessed with where Alyssa Milano moved to Alaska during the Gold Rush and worked for the newspaper, and I remember as a kid being frustrated that she refused to work at the saloon.  I wanted to shake her and scream “there’s better outfits at the saloon!”    Not very enlightened of me, I know.  So that incident makes me doubt how seriously I would pursue a writing career. 

"Pilgirms Don't Wear Pink"-Stephanie Kate Strohm

Book Title: Pilgrims Don't Wear Pink
Author: Stephanie Kate Strohm
Version: Paperback
ISBN: 9780547564593
Voice: First Person
Published: May 8th, 2012
Publisher: Houghton Mifflin Harcourt
Number of pages: 204
Genre: Young Adult Fiction

SYNOPSIS: Meet Libby Kelting, history buff, fashionista, best friend extrordinaire and slightly romanitcally challenged. She is 17 and this summer she is planning on spending the whole summer in the year of our lord 1791, dressing in adorable Colonial outfits, wearing the perfect shoes and lipgloss to match. The only tie to the modern world will be her cell phone which she will carry with her everywhere so that she can call and text her best friend Dev. Dev, gay, fabulous, and her fashion guru will be spending the summer a million miles, and a couple of centuries away, interning for Teen Mode the ultra hip fashion guide for teens. Both think the other completely crazy for what they consider to be summer fun.

When Libby arrives in Camden Harbour, where it is always 1791, she is filled with excitment and lofty dreams of just what this summer will bring. When she meets one of her new roommates, Ashling, she gets a nasty feeling that just because Ashling loves cats she's not all that cute and cuddly. Especially when Ashling begins to mutter nasty things about Libby under her breath, just loud enough for others to hear. Libby gets another jolt into reality when at the first intern meeting of the summer, the intern director tells them that make-up, street clothes and cell phones are off limits. When not in costume the interns must wear the official Camden Harbour uniform at all times, this includes a blue polo with the Camden Harbour logo and khaki bottoms. Libby begins to see the fantastic summer she had planned slipping away.

As Libby and her two new roommates make their way to the costume shack to be fitted they spot a group of gorgeously tanned, perfectly muscled men and Libby thinks to herself 'maybe it won't be all that bad.' Libby gets fitted for three adorable and historically accurate dresses and then goes to her very first day of training. She will be spending her summer with young girls at Bromleigh Homestead where she will be teaching them to bake, clean and do crafts the way they did in the good ol' days. Although Ashling, who has turned her nasty remarks to death wishes, thinks that all Libby is doing is babysitting Libby is actually excited about her job...minus the lard. Things just get better when the hottest of the hotties from the green, Cam, comes up to her and immediately begins to flirt. She feels that her first encounter with him goes much better then her first encounter with nerdy, annoying Garrett, who not only is going to be around all summer doing a piece for the Camden Crier, but also (due to unforseen circumstances) ends up being Libby's roommate for the rest of their time there.

While Libby begins to enjoy herself and the attention she is getting from Cam, Garrett begins to search for the mysterious ghost that haunts one of the ships. And Dev, in New York, between getting coffee and answering phones, seems to have pissed the wrong people off and is now going into hidding. Libby tries to juggle being a supportive, loving best friend, a great Colonial camp counselor, a member of the very small 'Scooby Gang' and an interesting love interest to Cam. Thinking that this is the summer that all her romance dreams are coming true Libby lets herself believe that Cam is the one for her. As the summer slowly begins to wind down Libby starts finding that perfect endings, and perfect guys are best left to the pages of Jane Austen novels and that things aren't always as they seem.

REVIEW: I don't usually read YA fiction, I have nothing against it I just never the think about it. It's not something that is on my must read list or anything but every now and again someone will suggest something to me and I'll pick it up. With "Pilgrims Don't Wear Pink," I happen to work with the author's boyfriend and one day he said 'hey my girlfriend's book was just published, you should read it.' My reaction? 'HOLY MOLEY A PERSON I KNOW KNOWS A PERSON THAT IS A PUBLISHED AUTHOR! HOW COOL!' And so I went and bought a copy, an autographed copy as it happens, and read through it in a couple of days. And honestly I thought it was great. 

It was a fun, upbeat story with lots of good history thrown in. Libby Kelting is a witty, loveable character that kind of jumps off the page. Though it was a typical girl meets hot guy, and nerdy guy and falls for the hot guy but gets her heart broken story it was told with a literally fresh voice. Ms. Strohm is a new author with a storytelling way that is sure to take her far. Setting a YA fiction in a living history museum is something that isn't seen much and I really appreciated that. It helped keep the story fresh and vastly interesting.

The writing was fun, well put together without being overly perfect. It was a book that actually had me laughing out loud at a couple of parts. And I don't laugh out loud with books all that much. It was an easy read, being YA I figured it wouldn't be too dense, and it was one that I really enjoyed. Libby's quirks were a big part of why I enjoyed the book so much, a lot of the time characters are too perfect, but Libby had little imperfections that made her just delightful to read about. Stephanie Kate Strohm is a writer that is sure to go far as long as she remembers to keep her characters as fresh, lively, and enjoyable as Libby Kelting.

I recommend "Pilgrims Don't Wear Pink" if you are looking for a fun, lighthearted, young read that is sure to bring a smile to your face. It's a tale that sucks you in, makes you thourghly enjoy the ride and leaves you feeling refreshed and a little feisty afterwards. It's a tale full of smiles, good lessons and for great measure a bit of Jane Austen thrown in. I mean what's not to love about a fun filled adventure with a witty, enjoyable heroine and a touch of Jane Austen?   

"One Fifth Avenue"-Candace Bushnell

Book Title: One Fifth Avenue
Author: Candace Bushnell
Version: Hardcover
ISBN: 9781401301613
Published: September 22, 2008
First Published: January 1st, 2008
Publisher: Hyperion
Number of Pages: 448
Genre: Fiction, 'Chick-Lit'


SYNOPSIS: Welcome to "One Fifth Avenue" the most prestigious of prestigious addresses in Manhattan. The only way to get one of the highly coveted, and highly expensive, apartments here is to have moved in sometime in the early 1900's and just stayed, married into it, inherited it, or seduce your way in. Although this elite group of Manhattanites are revered by all they are truly their very own brand of crazy. From the aging gossip columnist, to the wildly successful screenwriter, the grumpy, resentful, housewife turned blogger and the sweet mild mannered hedgefunder's wife this mix of people is a non-stop soap opera.

When the 'sort of' matriarch of one fifth passes away and her glorious penthouse apartment becomes available, the formerly staid apartment building turns into a frenzy trying to figure out exactly who deserves to be admitted to their very exclusive club. When Mindy Gooch, the head of the co-op board (and slightly resentful of the fact that her and her novelist husband and their son live in the 'worst' apartment,) makes a quick decision and invites Paul and Annalisa Rice to move in. They seem like the perfect couple, married, madly in love and he's a wildly successful mathematician who has moved to New York to help develop a secret financial software. She is a wildly successful lawyer turned housewife. To shake things up even more Enid's (the gossip columnist) nephew Phillip (the 'successful' screenwriter) starts sleeping with a 22-year-old woman with lofty dreams about what she believes she deserves. To top all the drama off Phillip's ex-girlfriend, and possible love of his life, Schiffer Diamond (an actress recently returned from LA) moves back into her apartment.

What starts off as a simple, yet very prestigious, apartment building in the mythical land of New York turns into a bee hive of never ending ups and downs. The ultimate address ends up costing everyone the ultimate price and all of the characters must figure out a way to pay it without losing everything.

REVIEW: Ever since the first time I saw "Sex & the City" I was utterly curious about who Candace Bushnell was. And so I found and read a copy of her book of the same name. I liked it, I didn't love it but I liked it enough to continue reading her fiction. This of course how I found myself reading "One Fifth Avenue." I was looking forward to it because I had enjoyed the previous books I had read. And I wasn't too disappointed in it. Sure all the different characters, and the many story lines, are a little difficult to really get into and the fact that although they all live together the stories rarely intertwine. Yes the story is probably supposed to be more about the building but that didn't really come through.

When it came to the characters they were all mostly people that you couldn't root for at all. They all were self involved and neurotic and hard to really get behind. But that was part of the charm of them in a weird way. They all felt as if they were the ones that should be living in this grand palace of a place in one of the most grand places in the world. I kind of liked that they were all as snobby and pretentious as you would imagine they would be. The fact that they were so unlikeable kind of made me like them.

The writing was classic Candace Bushnell, light, fun, witty and full of charm. It's never overdone or more then it should be. She has a fun voice that I truly enjoy reading. Her books aren't going to become true classics or something that people talk about for years in the future but they are fun. And this one was no exception, I like to recommend it to people as a really great beach/vacation read. Because that's what it is, a simple light hearted read. The writing was simple, easy to read, and it even made me giggle a time or two.

I stick to my earlier statement that this is a great beach read. And a fantastic vacation read. So I recommend it to all those out there going on a vacation to the beach and are looking for a light easy read to kind of veg out to. This is that book. Go find yourself a copy somewhere and enter the world of the most sought after and exclusive address in Manhattan.

"In The Garden of Beasts"-Erik Larson

Book Title: In The Garden of Beasts
Author: Erik Larson
Version: ebook (nook)
Publisher: Crown Publishing Group
Published: May 10th, 2011
Number of NOOK book pages: 461
Genre: Historical Non-fiction, World War II


SYNOPSIS: The year is 1933 and quiet, mild-mannered professor William E. Dodd is appointed ambassador to the new Germany. It's a Germany that is slowly turning over the reins to a charismatic man trying to make a name for himself in the political world, a man named Adolf Hitler. Moving to Germany, along with his wife, son, and wild daughter, Dodd believes that this could be perfect for him. He is hoping that this new job will be the relaxing opportunity he has been waiting for in order to finish his history book. This turns out to be increasingly difficult as Dodd tries to keep up with the parties, and appearances that he is expected to make. The only writing that he ends up doing is drafting memo after memo about the increasing persecution of the Jews and his growing dislike and mistrust for Hitler and his Third Reich.

Dodd's daughter, Martha, on the other hand loves her new life in Germany. Being young and feeling free Martha finds herself swept up in the parties and new ideas that the young and powerful men of the Third Reich provide. Throwing all caution to the wind Martha has several affairs including one with the first chief of the Gestapo Rudolf Diels. Although few of her affairs end up meaning much more than just a few fun parties and nights spent at beautiful homes Martha finds that at first this is exactly the life for her.

Despite the adventure and joy that the Dodd's first experience when they intially arrive in Germany the Dodd's quickly become nervous and uncomfortable with the way the tide is turning. When they begin noticing the attacks on Jews, as well as on those who refuse to salute the Nazis as they pass by, and the news that is being censored and the new laws that are being passed. As things get uglier and more restricted the Dodd's find that this new Germany isn't what they were expecting or hoping for.

REVIEW: For those who have been following my reviews for awhile you may remember when I reviewed Erik Larson's other book "The Devil in the White City" you can check it out here http://girlinthetinyhat.blogspot.com/search?q=devil+in+the+white+city. I loved it, I thought that it was literally the perfect blend of story and facts. I was hoping that this book would be as good, if not better. Also I was excited because World War II has always been one of my favorite areas of study. Simply because I am so baffled by the idea that one group of people could just systematically kill another group of people. Anyway I was excited all around by the idea of this book. I was sorely disappointed though.

Athough Larson's attention to detail and obvious skill at research were as present as ever his storytelling was lacking a bit. The book seemed to jump between what Dodd was doing and what Martha was doing way too much. And though I know that it is non-fiction and it wouldn't be able to have the same flow as a ficiton book, I felt as though there was no flow at all. I've read non-fiction that flows extrememly well and "The Devil in the White City" flowed beautifully. But I just felt as if this was too choppy. Just as I was beginning to understand what was happening in Dodd's world Larson switched to Martha and all the fun she was having. I felt as if Larson was writing two books simultaneously and decided at the last minute to jam them together. This certainly added length to the book but was not necessarily an asset to the story telling.

The writing, while well done in many ways, was very staccato. I honestly felt as if I was reading the outline of what Larson wanted the book to be rather then a fully fleshed out book. It was like reading bullet points and where's the fun in that? To be honest as much as I respect Erik Larson for his impeccable research this was a big disappointment! I can't say with any true conviction that I recommend this book. In fact I think this is one that could easily be passed by. If you want to read a good WWII historical non-fiction stay away from "In The Garden of Beasts" by Erik Larson. However coming soon: a review about an amazing non-ficition book about WWII. To those who are patient good things shall come...shortly.  

"Good in Bed"-Jennifer Weiner

Book Title: Good in Bed
Author: Jennifer Weiner
Version: Paperback
ISBN: 9780743418171
Voice: First Person
Publisher: Washington Square Press
Published: April 2, 2002
First Published: January 1, 2001
Number of Pages: 376
Genre: Fiction

SYNOPSIS: Candace "Cannie" Shapiro has pretty much everything she wanted in life. Plus a few extras: a mom freshly out of the closet, an adorable rat terriar Nifkin, a job as the entertainment expert at The Philedelphia Examiner, and a few extra unwanted pounds. To top it all off Cannie has just read an article in a magazine,  entitled "Loving A Larger Woman" by her almost ex-boyfriend Bruce. Crushed and feeling betrayed Cannie confronts Bruce who tells her he thinks that they should go their seperate ways. Devastated Cannie does her best to try and forget about Bruce, this becomes especially difficult when she learns that Bruce's father has died. Deciding that this might be her chance to show Bruce how great a girlfriend she can be Cannie goes to the funeral and helps out at the wake afterward. While comforting Bruce Cannie finds herself in bed with him. Happy and hopeful that this might be the turning point they need, Cannie goes into the next day feeling like she is on top of the world. However this quickly changes when she gets a call from Bruce explaining that he doesn't think that they should see each other anymore because he has a new girlfriend.

Feeling as if the air was let out of her world Cannie eagerly accepts an assignment that takes her to New York to interview celebrity Maxi Rider. Becoming friends with Maxi Cannie decides to start turning her life around, step one giving Maxi the screenplay she has been working on. Returning home Cannie decides that she has had enough of feeling overweight and ashamed so she tries to join a new weight loss program run by the handsome Dr. K. When he tells her that she is not eligible to participate in the program because she is pregnant Cannie is shocked.

What follows is an adventure that Cannie never expected, of course it has it's ups, downs and more surprises than a fun house but it's an adventure that Cannie enjoys. She finds that although life can sometimes throw a few curve balls a lot of the time it's exactly what is needed to begin a whole new chapter.

REVIEW: I thourghly enjoyed this book. I just liked it! I enjoyed the the way that Jennifer Weiner made the characters so real, Cannie isn't all that glamorous she's just this woman. And I find that pretty awesome. All the characters have something that makes them more human in a way, it makes reading about them so interesting. It's like spying on a world that is normally off limits.

The writing, for a debut, is excellent. It's fresh and simple without being boring or amateurish. Jennifer Weiner's writing is fun and well thought out. The way she portrays Cannie is intricate and three dimensional, as the reader I really felt that I was following along with what Cannie was going through. Jennifer Weiner makes Cannie relateable and that is a brilliant thing for a debut.

I highly recommend this book!! I think that it's a fun read full of love and new adventures. There is just something about the story that makes this a quick read that you will want to pick up again and again. It's a great book. So go for it!

A Piece of 'History'-A Review of "Helen of Troy"

Book Title: Helen of Troy
Author: Margaret George
Version: Paperback
ISBN: 9780143038993
Voice: First Person
Publisher: Penguin
Published: May 29th, 2007
First Published: August 3rd, 2006
Number of Pages: 638
Genre: Historical Fiction


SYNOPSIS: Hers was the face that launched a thousand ships starting a war that lasted 10 years. She was called the world's greatest beauty, the envy of goddesses, daughter of a god, and the love of a man. All her life Helen believed that she was the daughter of the King and Queen of Sparta. Growing up she was hidden from the world, kept inside the walls of the palace and when she had to go into the streets she was made to wear a veil. Despite the percautions to hide her beauty the rumors of who her father really was flew through the countryside. The tale was that Helen's mother was sitting on the banks of a river when a great white swan approached her and there they made love. For the great swan was actually the father of gods, Zeus, whose true form would be too great for mortal eyes and so must disguise himself for his human conquests.

As Helen grows her beauty becomes even more pronounced and she finally learns the truth of her father. When it comes time to find her a husband her father puts the word out and the amount of suitors that show up shock Helen. The festivities go on for days, each suitor has to present his case and offer his bride gift. When Agememnon presents the case for his brother Menelaus she is intrigued, remembering the man that had come as a companion for his brother years ago when his brother came to court Helen's sister. Helen tasks Menelaus to run to her from his little rocky kingdom and he accepts the challenge. When Menelaus finally shows up exhausted and barely able to stand Helen realizes how much he must want her as his wife and chooses him to wed.

Because of Helen's beauty and the tendency for warrior suitors to get jealous Helen's father made all the suitors swear that no matter who Helen chooses all the suitors would back her choice and go against any who disrupt that decision. Although there is some grumbling when Menelaus is chosen the suitors stick to the agreement and go on their way. On her wedding night Helen finds herself unattracted to Menelaus, thinking that it was just first time jitters Helen goes into her next love making with Menelaus hopeful. Again the marriage bed wasn't what Helen was expecting, it was passionless and unsatisfying, and it was the same again and again. Finally Helen resigns herself to a passionless life, but a happy one for Menelaus was kind to her and gave her a daughter. And then Helen meets the young Paris from Troy and suddenly a whole new world is opened up. 

At first she holds Paris off and denies that she is attracted to him wanting to stay faithful to Menelaus and stay a good role model for her daughter. But when Helen discovers that Menelaus is sleeping with another woman and that she has become pregnant. Helen is furious and feeling betrayed and so gives in to the love she feels for Paris and they run away together. Thus beginning a war that continues on for ten years, the gods, loving games of their own, help and hinder in equal measure.

REVIEW: I loved this book, I really did. I have been a fan of Margaret George for awhile now and Greek Mythology has always been a favorite area of study for me. Put the two together and it is a book that I am sure to love. To top it off it was a well put together story, very well written, and well researched. It was a fast, great read that I literally couldn't put down. Having Helen be the first person narrator was a brilliant move on Margaret George's part because it's such an iconic story, one that was told brilliantly by Homer, but this put a new twist on the whole thing.

With Helen as the narrator we finally get to see what it was like for her, how trapped she felt in her marriage, how she couldn't help falling in love with the beautiful Paris. As the reader we get to see what it was like to sit in wait while all those she loved were out somewhere fighting. It's a nice way to see Helen as a human woman with human emotions. I loved seeing what Helen was like and how Margaret George saw her.

Even though what Margaret George writes is historical fiction (and so her characters' personalities are often imagined) she has a beautiful way of getting into a character's head, into their mindset. With Helen you felt as if Margaret George not only truly researched her but also really understood what she was all about. I just loved the whole thing so much. This is a great book for anyone who wants a great historical fiction, or a great version of Helen of Troy or just an introduction to Margaret George's writing. I highly recommend this book to anyone and everyone because it's just an all around great read! Go forth, buy it, read and enjoy! 

First Time-A Review of "Love Only Once"

Book Title: Love Only Once
Author: Johanna Lindsey
Version: ebook
ISBN: 9780062106575
Voice: Third Person
Publisher: Avon
First Published: December 1985
Number of ebook pages: 254
Genre: Romance

SYNOPSIS: It is 1817 in London and Regina Ashton goes to stay with her Uncle the Lord Edward Malory and his wife Lady Charlotte and their children. Regina, a young stunning, head strong woman who has been raised by her four uncles since she was orphaned, has come to London to find a husband. Tired of looking for the husband that will suit all of her uncles Regina comes up with a plan to let her uncles pick one for her. On the night of the much anticipated ball Regina decides to visit her Uncle Anthony and tell him of her plan. Borrowing Selena Eddington's carriage she makes her way to her uncle's home.

Dashing Nicholas Eden, who is a rogue of the highest order, happens to be Selena's lover sees the carriage and decides to play a little trick. Figuring he would punish Selena for trying to make him jealous, Nicholas swoops up on the woman getting into the carriage and carries her off on his horse and takes her as prisoner to his house. Knowing how important the ball was to Selena Nicholas locks her in a room and heads to the ball. Imagine his surprise when he sees that Selena is happy and dancing, free in the world. Realizing his mistake he rushes home to find a very beautiful, very amused Regina Ashton waiting for him. Once they figure things out, Nicholas decides that he must bed Regina, right around the time that Regina realizes the only way out of the scandal is that she must wed Nicholas.

The whole thing is made worse when Nicholas flat out refuses to marry Regina claiming that he will never marry, all because of a dark secret from his past. When he is ambushed by Regina's family as well as his aunt and grandmother he finally consents to the engagement. While at a party celebrating their new engagement Nicholas finally gets his way and has sex with Regina in the garden. Afterward thinking that things have finally turned in her favor Regina heads toward their wedding happy and feeling on top of the world, despite Nicholas's threats that he will find a way out of the marriage. The wedding goes over without a hitch and on their wedding night Nicholas takes Regina to his estate in the country where his evil mother lives and then proceeds to leave her there alone.

Although there are many adventures that take place through out the story the real question that is dominent is will Nicholas and Regina make it as a loving couple? Will Nicholas's secret be revealed? If it is will it be enough to push Regina away?

REVIEW: This marks the first ever plain old romance that I have read. No vampires, no werewolves, no shapeshifters, no magic and nothing paranormal. Just plain old damsal in distress, rogueish handsome man taking away her virtue type of plot. Simple, easy to read, and really not worth it. It is the beginning of a series that for some reason has become hugely popular. Maybe I am a reading snob but this is just not my cup of tea. The story was boring and way predictable, there really wasn't even anything that made the story stand out from a lot of other english novels, romance or not. The only difference between this novel and many of the other english victorian era, zipped up but not really, style novels is that this one has a sex scene or two in it.

The writing was pretty mediocre as well, there were phrases in there that actually hurt me to read. It was pedestrian and disappointing, even the secret mystery about some of the characters wasn't very mysterious. It was as if Johanna Lindsey was trying hard to jumble together every type of writing possible. And she just tried way to hard. "Love Only Once" is not anything that I would recommend. I have a friend that loves this series and reads everything by Johanna Lindsey but this is not anything that I can get on board with.

I was disappointed in the whole thing and rather surprised that I actually finished the book. I don't need Tolstoy-esque writing in everything I read and I don't need Austenian level plot but there needs to be something to latch onto for a book to capture my interest. A good story, or a good character to root for, great writing that covers a poor story. Something, anything that can make the read worth the while. But this was poor story on top of poor writing, on top of annoying characters. There was nothing redeeming about it. So this is not a good review, this is not a review for your next book it is instead a review for the next book to be avoided. This should not be the book you pick up if you are looking for a good romance. Stick to the paranormal kind, at least that way you get a little bit of fighting and silly creatures thrown in the mix.