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Posts from the ‘Read’ Category

Jun 6

MyHeart4Him-something-borowed-emily-giffen-review

Something Borrowed by Emily Giffin REVIEW #6

As the weather is getting hotter and hotter (after all, I live in FL), I craved chic lit.  I purchased Something Borrowed at our local grocery store (which as a fabulous book section).   I was unsure, but happily surprised.  

something-borrowed

Buy the book from Amazon: 

From Amazon.

The smash-hit debut novel for every woman who has ever had a complicated love-hate friendship.
 
Rachel White is the consummate good girl. A hard-working attorney at a large Manhattan law firm and a diligent maid of honor to her charmed best friend Darcy, Rachel has always played by all the rules. Since grade school, she has watched Darcy shine, quietly accepting the sidekick role in their lopsided friendship. But that suddenly changes the night of her thirtieth birthday when Rachel finally confesses her feelings to Darcy’s fiance, and is both horrified and thrilled to discover that he feels the same way. As the wedding date draws near, events spiral out of control, and Rachel knows she must make a choice between her heart and conscience. In so doing, she discovers that the lines between right and wrong can be blurry, endings aren’t always neat, and sometimes you have to risk everything to be true to yourself.
 
This new tie-in edition will coincide with the release of the film, starring Kate Hudson, Ginnifer Goodwin and John Krasinski.
 
I am so glad I read this.  After reading the book cover, I wasn’t so sure.  Afterall, who wants to read about someone cheating on someone else?  evidentially, I do.  the main character, Rachel, is so likeable and her best friend, “the engaged before 30 ” Darcy is so…. unlikable.  Before long, I was hoping Rachel would end up with the love of her life.  There were many laugh out loud moments.  I can’t wait to see the movie (but PLEASE read the book first.  The book is ALWAYS better!!!  If you haven’t yet read Something Borrowed, read it now.
 
 
 
 

 

May 11

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The Lincoln Lawyer REVIEW #5

I picked up this paperback at the grocery store.  I really enjoy reading the book, before I see the movie.  When I saw the huge Lincoln Towncar on the cover, I knew I would want to see the movie.  I love the old style Lincoln’s.  My Lincoln was my favorite car – EVER. 

The Lincoln lawyer

Buy the book from Amazon: 

From Amazon.

This #1 bestselling legal thriller from Michael Connelly is a stunning display of novelistic mastery – as human, as gripping, and as whiplash-surprising as any novel yet from the writer Publishers Weekly has called “today’s Dostoevsky of crime literature.”

Mickey Haller is a Lincoln Lawyer, a criminal defense attorney who operates out of the backseat of his Lincoln Town Car, traveling between the far-flung courthouses of Los Angeles to defend clients of every kind. Bikers, con artists, drunk drivers, drug dealers – they’re all on Mickey Haller’s client list. For him, the law is rarely about guilt or innocence, it’s about negotiation and manipulation. Sometimes it’s even about justice.

A Beverly Hills playboy arrested for attacking a woman he picked up in a bar chooses Haller to defend him, and Mickey has his first high-paying client in years. It is a defense attorney’s dream, what they call a franchise case. And as the evidence stacks up, Haller comes to believe this may be the easiest case of his career. Then someone close to him is murdered and Haller discovers that his search for innocence has brought him face-to-face with evil as pure as a flame. To escape without being burned, he must deploy every tactic, feint, and instinct in his arsenal – this time to save his own life.

I have to admit, I really got into the book.  I was interested from the first page.  The main character, Michael Haller, is very likeable (I think casting nailed it when they cast Matthew McConaughey).  I couldn’t put it down.  if you haven’t seen the movie yet, grab a copy.  You will not be disappointed (especially with the surprise ending).

Apr 9

Hollys Inbox

Holly’s Inbox: Scandal in the City by Holly Denham REVIEW #4

Title:  Holly’s Inbox:  Scandal in the City

Author:  Holly Denham (Bill Hutton-Surie)

Author Information:  Website 

544 pages, Publisher: Sourcebooks Casablanca

Buy the book @ Amazon. 

Product Description:

Dear Holly, isn’t it shocking…?

Things are finally going Holly Denham’s way: she’s in love, she’s getting the recognition she deserves at work, and her friends and family have graciously opted to avoid disaster for the moment.

Just when Holly is starting to settle into her new life, scandal erupts and Holly finds herself-and her in box-at the center of a gossip whirlwind that threatens everything she’s worked so hard for.

Written entirely in emails, this follow-up to the UK smash hit Holly’s Inbox will keep you glued to its pages as the scandal running rampant in the city threatens to ruin Holly’s hard-earned and long-awaited happiness.

I read the first novel almost as soon as it came out, and loved it.  When I saw the sequel, I snatched it up.  Well…. it’s not as good as the first one (Did i expect it to be? No.).  Should you read it?  Maybe.  Did you read the first one?  If so, read the sequel.  If not, skip it.  Don’t expect to be blown away.  But, if you are laying on the beach and sipping a girly drink….

Feb 28

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Remember Me? by Sophie Kinsella REVIEW #3

I enjoyed the last Sophie Kinsella novel, Can you Keep a Secret?, so I was anxious to read another.  I picked up Remember Me? at our local book store.

I read it this past week while we were on vacation.  I highly recommend this for light (think car or beach) reading.  The story is cute.  Sure, it’s unrealistic – but it’s a fun read. 

Lexi Smart had a terrible day, no bonus, her boyfriend stood her up, it’s raining.  She falls while running for a cab.  She awakens 3 years later to learn she’s been in  a car accident a few days before and she has amnesia.  She can’t remember any of her life for the past three years.

She awakens to a new body (nicely toned), new teeth (capped), a new job (the Boss!!), no friends (what happened??!)  and a rich husband (selling “Loft-style Living). 

As she unravels her life (like learning about the Mont Blanc)  to try to find out how she got where she is (and she is in a pickle), the story is endearing.  Can she find true love with her husband (who she JUST MET)?

I would like to read another Sophie Kinsella novel, but I need to work on my reading list.

Feb 17

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Can you keep a secret? by Sophie Kinsella REVIEW #2

Driving home from Blissdom, I needed some help staying awake, so I stopped at a bookstore in Birmingham and selected a book on CD.  I selected Can you keep a secret? by Sophia Kinsella.  I’ve never listened to a book on tape, but I was desperate.

Within minutes, I was involved in the story.  The book begins with a bumpy, very  turbulent airplane ride where Emma tells all her secrets to the stranger sitting next to her.  Lo and behold, the next day her new boss appears at her office…. and it’s the stranger from the plane. 

I very much enjoyed this book on cd and I have no doubt I would have enjoyed it in print.  In fact, I enjoyed it so much, I am sure I will read all of Sophia Kinsella’s novels. 

I have a long car ride this weekend.  Our family is headed to Gatlinburg.  I am wishing I had another book on tape.

Jan 21

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Sam’s Letters to Jennifer by James Patterson REVIEW #1

I’m off to a good start with my once a book reading resolution for 2011.  I started one book, but gave myself permission to not read it any longer.  I hated the dialog and the story line was giving me nightmares.  (Eight Days to Live by Iris Johansen – she lost me when the bad guy said to the beautiful nake blonde, “Shut your mouth and open your legs.”).

Desperate for something to read, I rumamged around in my nightstand and found Sam’s Letters to Jennifer.  My MIL passed along this book to me after she read it.  In the back, she wrote (very good).  I agree, Gloria, very good.

Sam's Letters to Jennifer

http://www.amazon.com/Sams-Letters-Jennifer-James-Patterson/dp/0446613347/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1295624847&sr=8-1

I love books writen in diary and letter form, called epistolary novels.  (think Bridget Jones’s Diary (loved it and recently re-released with illustrations!!!), Diet Girl (loved it), Holly’s Inbox (loved it))  This short novel is two love stories intertwined.  While Jennifer reads the letters from her grandmother, while her grandmother is in the hospital with a coma.  As Jennifer waits for her grandmother to awaken, she develops a relationship with her neighbor and old childhood friend, who has a devestating secret.  As their love blosssoms, he finally confides.  But, it is too late to back away and protect her heart. Jennifer is hoplessly in love with Brenden, and she is there for him in sickness and in health. 

This novel is a quick read.  I read in three nights, just before bed (I needed a break from my Suduku obsession!).  I highly recommend this book for a quick, light read.

Jan 5

Book Review – Fearless by Max Lucado

Fear is something I know about.  I’m afraid of crossing bridges in my car (but only if my kids are with me – otherwise I am good), muggers, spiders, carjackers, huge Florida roaches, home invaders, snakes, the economy and clowns.  So, I was very interested in how to be Fearless.

I wasn’t very familiar with Max Lucado before reading this book.  I had heard his name, reviewed a cartoon DVD by him, but I really didn’t know much about Max.  He is a prolific and accomplished Christian writer from Texas.  You can learn more about him here. 

In this book, the author tackles a major source of fear in the american lifestyle.  Several chapters spoke directly to me, such as:

  • God’s Ticked off at me – nuff said
  • I’m sinking fast - see above
  • My child is in danger – a big source of anxiety in my life
  • Make-believe money – economy, job, nuff said

I enjoyed this read.  It helped me to battle my fears, even overcome my fears.  If you suffer anxiety and fearful thoughts, you will benefit from reading this book.

May 13

The American Patriot’s Bible, NKJV – REVIEW

I requested this book from the Thomas Nelson Review site, because I was intrigued.  I have all the bibles I could ever use in a lifetime.  But, seeing a bible intertwined with US History – now that is cool.  I was not disappointed when the bible arrived.

The American Patriot’s Bible is a New King James Version (NKJV) and is edited by Dr. Richard G. Lee.  This hard back book is much larger than I expected.  It is quite substantial and impressive.  I don’t think I will ever carry this to church, but it does look nice on my night stand.  The print is large (as it is a large print bible), but it is not embarrassingly large.  The illustrations are beautiful and of a patriotic slant. 

Throughout the book, there are 48 full-color insert pages presented in 12 for-page sections discussing different point in U.S. History.   My favorite is about Patrick Henry.  On March 23, 1775 he uttered, “Give me liberty or give me death.”  From reading this tidbit of info, I learned that one of the watchword for the American revolution was “No King but King Jesus.”  I certainly didn’t learn that in school. 

The front of the bible includes a family record sections, as this bible is intended to be a family bible.  The bible also includes illustrations, 2color Bible pages, 254 articles, 66 book introductions, an index, a Concordance and several color maps. 

I have been very impressed by the books I’ve received from Thomas Nelson and this one is no different.  If I stumbled upon this in our local book store, I would buy it.  I humbly recommend you purchase this book for your home library.

Apr 20

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Inthe Footsteps of Paul Book Review

I review books for Thomas Nelson Publishers.   When I went to the site to select a book, my eyes quickly went to this book:

In the Footsteps of Paul

In the Footsteps of Paul by Ken Duncan. 

My husband once took a “Last Voyage of Paul” cruise to Greece, Turkey, and Malta , so I knew he would enjoy this book.

When the book arrived, hubby and I both devoured it. Neither of us could get enough of it.

What I found most amazing is when Paul was blinded for 3 days and the Lord sent Ananias to the the Street called Straight.  Guess what?  Straight Street is still a street TODAY.  Wow!!!

The book is a wealth of knowledge, both photographic and written.  Really, the photos make the book.  I an unable to travel to the Mediterranean, so this is the next best thing.

Jan 13

National Security Mom Book Review & Comment Contest

NSM_COVER
The Wyatt-MacKenzie Publishing company recently honored me (OK, so they stroked my ego), by sending me an advance copy of National Security Mom to review on my blog.  I am an avid reader, interested in politics (Christian Conservative) and national security (Yep, I watch 24 – don’t you?), so the book title immediately appealed to me.  As a matter of a fact, based on the title alone, I probably have purchased National Security Mom in a bookstore.

I immediately busted it open and started reading.  The author, Gina Bennet, is a very interested person.  She is the mother of 5 and works a very high stress job in the Intelligence Community for the CIA.  Wow!  Can you imagine meeting Gina at PTA and asking, “Do you work outside the home?”  “As a matter of a fact, I do.  I am tracking down Osama Bin Laden for the CIA.  How about you?”   “Um, well, Um, geez. Well, I’m a technical writer….”

Gina (because we are friends, now) book is divided into three parts.  Part one describe rules parents try to live by and how the rules correlate to our nations strength and security.  For example, An ounce of prevention… or Actions speak louder….

Part Two discusses how the lessons we teach our children correlate to the traits we need in our nation’s leaders.  For example – TELL THE TRUTH or Clean up after yourself.

Part Three compares famous quotes to parenting and governing a nation.  For example, A Mother’s work is never done (I agree!).  In this chapter, Gina discusses how her husband became a Work at Home Dad and the primary caregiver for their son.  This occurred way before the Work at Home trend.  I love Dads to enter the trenches of motherhood. 

Overall, I enjoyed the book, but I have to admit, this book is more of a parenting book, than a national security book.  I would have preferred a much more hard hitting national security discussion.  There are tons of parenting books on the market, but not many national security books written my mothers (or as I like to call them, My Peers).  As I read it, I felt a little “dumbed down.”  Maybe it was just me, but I think the American people (and maybe other high powered, successful women) feel other women (or mother’s) aren’t smart and can’t handle the truth (to quote a favorite movie).  Sad but true.

What are your thoughts?  I encourage you to read National Secuirty Mom and decide for yourself. You will find good parenting advice here.

The publisher was kind enough to provide me with Three Giveaways for kids.  To win for your child, all you have to do is post a comment to this blog post.  The comment contest ends on January 24.  I will randomly select 3 comment posters, then send the winner a web address containing downloadable children’s pages, online activities, printable posters and more contests.

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