The Ideal Wife

The Ideal Wife by Mary Balogh

What was this book about?

Miles Ripley, the Earl of Severn has been Earl for a year and since his time of morning is over – it will be expected that he choose a wife. And being the only male in his family for many years he knows that his mother and sisters will take it upon themselves to find the woman for him. He is tired of being controlled by them and he knows when they return to town they will press him for a betrothal with a woman he has no interest in. He gets it in his head that he will marry a mouse of a woman, who is silent and has no need or desire to control his life.

Meanwhile, Abigail Gardiner is fired from her job and needs a reference in order to get a new one. She stopped one of her bosses from assaulting her friend in a sexual way and he responded by accusing her of trying to seduce his son. Abigail decides she will visit her cousin, the Earl, and see if he is willing to help. She doesn’t want money – just a reference.

When Miles sees Abigail he thinks that just what he wants has dropped into his lap. She is not overly beautiful, she seems to be pretty timid. Perfect. So he proposes marriage on the spot. And for some reason not even known to her Abigail agrees.

But of course things are not that easy. Abigail has a past that Miles doesn’t know about. It could tear them apart. Add into that the ton’s gossipy ability to bring down anyone not of their class and Abigail will definitely have a hard time. Lastly, Abigail isn’t who she pretended to be. If anyone is vocal and aggressive about their opinions it is her. But maybe that is ok – maybe Miles didn’t want what he thought he wanted.

What did you think about the book?

It had been a little while since I had grabbed a historical romance and read it. And honestly I enjoyed this one quite a bit. It made me want to get many more of them. It wasn’t too heavy in any sort of crazy dangerous plot. It was about a man who wanted control of his life, made a rash decision, and ended up with something better because of it.

The characters were likeable. The book a quick read. Definitely a great book while not being incredibly thought provoking (no overwhelming themes that I had to think to hard to get – which quite honestly I liked).

What genre would you consider this?
Historical Romance

Overall:

Question for You!
Do you like historical romances that focus more on the history or more on the relationships? Do you think a book can be carried by a good story – with no historical references other then the customs of the time?

Odd Mom Out

Odd Mom Out by Jane Porter

What was this book about?

Marta Zisser moved to Seattle because her mother was ill and a job opportunity came up. When the job fell through she opened her own ad business. It was tough balancing being a single mom and owning a business that was thriving.

Her 10 year old daughter Eva is like every girl. She has moved to a new town and wants to be accepted. She loved New York and everything it represented and this is nothing like it. She will do anything to become like one of the other girls.

So to her – her mom represents something bad. The other mom’s are concerned about what car you drive and what you wear. Her mother is more into being comfortable.

Can Marta find her place in Seattle society? Does that mean giving up everything she is? Can she find love when she is least looking for it?

What did you think about the book?

I have read all of Jane Porter’s books by now and for me this was the best one. I loved it. I loved the character of the mother and the daughter (and even the love interest). The mom especially for me was a great character. She was unusual, she fought the need to be like everyone else (for her own comfort an for her daughter), it hurt when her daughter acted like a normal teenager.

Even the romance for me was believable.

What genre would you consider this?
Romance/Family Dynamics

Overall:

Question for You!
Would you ever consider artificial insemination by a random sperm donor? What would be the risks in your eyes?

A Good Woman

A Good Woman by Danielle Steel

What was this book about?

It is the early 1900’s and Annabelle Worthington is the daughter of a rich businessman. She has had everything she could ever want in terms of material possessions. She has always been intrigued by the medical field – but rich girls don’t study medicine – they volunteer.

So that is what Annabelle does. This book follows Annabelle through marriage, having a child, relationships, death, and most of all her following her dream in a time when women do not do that. Annabelle flees America and ends up in Europe during World War I. She can do much to help there.

What did you think about the book?

I love the stories of the Titanic. It is horribly sad – but it interests me in a way few events in history have. I have seen the movie more times then I can reliably say here. So for me the fact that it mentions the Titanic and has a parallel story to it (albeit short) in the beginning – was spectacular.

Danielle Steel’s books have long been more then just about a relationship between a woman and a man. But more about the events in life that lead up to that relationship and what forms you as a person – and how that affects the relationship. Very little progresses about the actual relationship – it is all about the person. Of course there are things that happen in the book that you cringe at and wish hadn’t happened. Because life itself is “cringe worthy”.

I liked this book quite a bit. I think even more then the last book I read by her – Rogue. But it is close. The history twist made it a little more exciting for me.

What genre would you consider this?
Romance/Family Dynamics

Overall:

Question for You!
Have you ever been the non-traditional person in a role? Whether you were the only (or one of the few) women in a position – or the same goes for a man. How did that affect your performance? Did it make you strive to do better? Or worse?

Flirting with Forty

Flirting with Forty by Jane Porter

What was this book about?

Jackie has just turned 40. She is alone – her husband having left her for a younger woman. She is responsible for her two children. She is just generally overwhelmed by life. She takes a birthday trip to Hawaii and meets surfer instructor Kai. He is everything she could want in a vacation romance.

The only thing is when she returns to her normal life – she can’t stop thinking about Kai. He hasn’t forgotten about her either. Can they do a long distance thing where they are hours of flight away from each other? What about her children? What about her life?

Can a 40 something mother find true love with a younger surfer?

What did you think about the book?

I wanted to like this book. I mean who wouldn’t want a woman who had been left by her husband for a younger woman – at home with two kids – to find love with a handsome younger man. It seems like a dream for most women in this situation.

I thought the book was realistic in many ways – the friends trying to talk her out of it. Her husband being upset. Even her “need” to get back to see him after the first time.

But I spent most of the book thinking her surfer boyfriend was going to turn out to be a freeloading jerk – which will facilitate her real relationship with someone more stable (and I don’t think it has to do only with his age – it also was his profession – and general demeanor that made me think this).

Anyways it made it hard for me to like him or want them to end up together. I think I would have liked to get to know him “more” in the story.

What genre would you consider this?
Romance

Overall:

Question for You!
Do you think you can convert a vacation romance into a long term relationship?

The Darkest Evening of the Year

The Darkest Evening of the Year by Dean Koontz

What was this book about?

Brian is an architect with a past. But now he is in love with Amy (who has her own interesting past) who is saves Golden Retrievers. One call sends her to the house of a woman and children who are abused by the husband. But she isn’t there to just save them – she is also there to save a very special Golden – Nicki.

Nicki isn’t just any dog – she seems to “know” things that she shouldn’t. She is able to do things that she shouldn’t be able to do. Even dogs react to her in a strange way.

Amy and Brian progress on a journey that requires each of them to confront their past and believe that the other will continue to walk with them forward. But Nicki is an important part of this equation. Can the dangerous members that Amy and Brian left behind be stopped?

What did you think about the book?

This was another one of those audio books that I listened to. It actually didn’t take me as long as some of them have. I enjoyed this book, I loved the woman reading it – she had just the right voice for me.

I started out “reading” Dean Koontz books when I was a teen/tween. My father would have the books on tape (yes – tape back then) and I would pretend to fall asleep while we would be traveling so that I could listen in. I have continued to read his books as I have grown up. Some I have really enjoyed others have been so-so. Lately, I have been trying to get my husband to try them out- but so far he hasn’t been interested.

In terms of this particular book – I enjoyed it. I swear that at some point in the past he had another book that in some ways was similar. There was a dog – who was more then a dog. But despite this similarity – I still liked the book. It definitely made me want to go out and get a golden retriever for a pet. They are so smart, so lovable, and I loved how he talked about their smiles.

So if you are looking for something that has a lot of dogs in it, a touch of a thriller, you probably will enjoy this one.

What genre would you consider this?
Thriller

Overall:

Question for You!
What type of dogs do you like best? Do you have one? What are it’s personality traits.

World Without End

World Without End by Ken Follett

What was this book about?

Four children are in Kingsbridge, a medieval town, Caris, Gwenda, Merthin, and Ralph. Ralph and Merthin are brothers, while Caris is of the wealthy class and Gwenda the poor class. They shouldn’t want to be friends but an event in the woods outside of Kingsbridge changes their lives forever. It puts them on a path that will force their lives to forever be entangled.

Follow each of them as they get older. They try for love, for fame, for wealth. Life in this time period is hard though and the intrigues of their lives will keep you interested!

What did you think about the book?

Another one of those audio books – and this one is definitely going in my husband’s to be listened to pile. It is set in olden days (which he likes) and has a bit of a epic story feel to it. It wasn’t what I expected – I expected it to be all about the mysterious letter that was found in the beginning. Instead it is more about the people that it discusses in the beginning.

Life isn’t easy for them and the paths that they took made them the people they are. They were all tied together for a lifetime. It has a touch of “real” history in it – but it is more about how life would have been lived for people back then and their relationships then about the history itself.

I haven’t ready any of Ken Follett’s other works but I definitely will now!

What genre would you consider this?
Epic

Overall:

Question for You!
What sort of research do you think is needed to write a book like this?

Merry Christmas

Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays!

The Pagan Stone

The Pagan Stone by Nora Roberts

What was this book about?

For Gage, Fox, Cal, Quinn, Layla and Cybil it is almost the 7th of July. This means that the demons that have been haunting the Hollow for the last 21 years is coming and this time it is going to be an all out war.

They have each been preparing and trying to do their part in solving this mystery of sorts. How to defeat evil. Meanwhile relationships have been formed between all of them – they are brothers, sisters, and lovers.

The last holdout for love are Gage and Cybil. They are each used to being travelers and not staying in one place. They aren’t looking for long term relationships. They just want to help out their “family” so they will stay and fight with them against this evil. Can love rule the day?

What did you think about the book?

I enjoyed this series immensely. It is a combination classic love story – combo supernatural thriller. While I love Nora Roberts in general this is just another of her classic trilogies that she has had with a paranormal twist to.

Sometimes I am just not sure how she is going to close everything out in just one novel. But she definitely does it. I would love to get more of the characters in terms of a wrap up (because how can you not want to know about life after – when you have been reading about their lives for three books).


What genre would you consider this?
Paranormal Romance

Overall:

Question for You!
What is your favorite trilogy or books in series? How do you read them – wait till they all come out and read them at once – or piece by piece?

Revelations

Revelations by Melissa De La Cruz (Blue Bloods Novel)

What was this book about?

Schuyler Van Alen is one of the Blue Bloods. But she isn’t the traditional Blue Blood as she is only half blue blood/half mortal. Her mother Allegra Van Alen/Gabrielle the Uncorrupted was a fallen angel who then mated with a red blood and had Schuyler. She has been in a coma for years.

For Schuyler it is hard to be accepted into the Blue Bloods. They have memories of their past lives, they are connected. And she is still attracted to the forbidden –Jack Force. Jack has been bonded with Mimi Force through many lifetimes. When Schuyler is forced to live with the Force’s it makes life much harder.

There is a mystery of who is good – who is bad and who is helping the Silver Bloods (corrupted Blue Bloods).

Bliss is Schuylers friend and a fellow blue blood. She wants to find the boy, Dylan who has disappeared and seems to have been used for evil purposes. Bliss has her own problems – her family is acting odd – and while she is regaining some memories – she is blacking out more and more and having odd visions. What is wrong with her?

Can Bliss and Schuyler save the race? How will Schuyler’s relationship work with Jack with Mimi in the picture?

What did you think about the book?

I have read the other two books in the Blue Blood series and enjoyed them. And I enjoyed this one as well. The only thing that I would have to say about it is that it just wasn’t progressing far enough in the story for me to be fully satisfied.

There is a lot going on in this book and I felt like that was great. We learned some things that we didn’t know about how the Blue Bloods worked and survived in society. You also find out more about what is going on. (And there is a huge reveal at the end of the book which I will try not to say anything about!) It is a good thing when a book leaves you wanting more – I am not complaining about that. But I really would like these books to get a little longer in content so that I feel like one complete part of the story is told as opposed to feeling like I just got started and it is all over and I have to wait for the next story in line.

What genre would you consider this?
Teen

Overall:

Question for You!
Do you believe in past lives?

The American Journey of Barack Obama by Life

The American Journey of Barack Obama by Life

What was this book about?

This book follows Barack Obama from childhood to the election. It is highly photographic with very interesting stories and information about the next President of the United States.

What did you think about the book?

This book is beautiful. Whether you want to read it or just display it as a coffee table book or keep it as a memento from this historic occasion it will be perfect! I have some people who commented on them thinking it would make a wonderful Christmas present when I had a drawing for this book. I totally agree.

This book is something that I will pick up many nights and just look at again and again – the photos and the stories make this a great book!

Overall:

Question for You!
Do you like these larger – highly photographic books? If so which one do you have in your home?

Thin is the New Happy

Thin is the New Happy by Valerie Frankel

What was this book about?

Valerie Frankel explores her years growing up as an overweight kid. Then it progresses into her teenage years. Finally at some point she finds ways to not be overweight but they aren’t healthy for her emotionally or physically. This yo-yo of not thin enough to being what she felt was just plain overweight was hard on her.

She didn’t want to pass this emotional wreck on to her children like it was passed on to her from her mother. So she explores what made her go back and forth with the weight. Then she starts her own sort of diet. Her goal is to stop making weight an issue. And by doing that she is able to finally control her weight in a healthy way that makes her happy.

What did you think about the book?

I think it was just coincidence (and not some subconscious thought) that I happened to randomly pick this book up off my book shelf of “to be read” books the day I decided I was tired of thinking that I looked fat in pictures and needed to do something about it. I don’t diet. I rarely exercise (I like to say I am allergic to it since I break out and itch constantly and my hands swell when I do anything physical of some sort).

Anyways I picked this up and was like “oh no” is this book going to help or hurt. In some ways I don’t identify with the main character. Growing up I didn’t have problems with my weight or issues of that sort. There were times in college, or when I was in my 20’s where I wanted to lose weight but it wasn’t something where people were telling me I wasn’t think enough (with the exception of one boyfriend who was constantly on me to lose weight – even though I was well within the healthy range).

Despite not identifying with the author in that way I really did like the book. The fact that she revisits the past and contacts someone who was always mean to her. We all have that person (or persons) that we wish we knew where they were or what they were up to.

I have to say I loved her “Not Diet”. I think what worked for her (and hopefully most people like me) isn’t the strict rules of No white bread or pasta but more a mentality. Try to go work out as much as you can. Try to eat more vegetables. Try to eat several times a day – with moderation. Don’t stress about it. Don’t worry about it. But do the things that you know are just good for you – not good for your weight.

What genre would you consider this?
Memoir

Overall:

Question for You!
So what do you do when you feel like you need to diet? Work out? Change your food? Do you think diets really work?

Gods Behaving Badly

Gods Behaving Badly by Marie Phillips

What was this book about?

Picture the gods and goddesses of legend living in modern day London. They have to have jobs and live in a sty of a house. Their powers are waning and they have no idea why.

So what would you do if you were a god with nothing else to do? Torture each other. They are constantly playing “tricks” on each other that have horrible repercussions on others. One of these ends up almost ending the world.

Artemis (goddess of hunting and chastity) finds a woman – Alice – to clean her house. What she doesn’t know is that Apollo (god of the sun and healing) and Aphrodite (goddess of beauty) have their own drama going on behind the scenes that is going to affect Alice.

Alice is an everyday girl who needs a job and feels like she must clean their house. She and Neil have a relationship that is really just starting. She likes him and he likees her but both are too shy to say anything about it.

What Alice and Neil don’t know is that these gods are starting a game that could end the world. They must be brave enough to stop it. And by the end it may be that they can all help each other.

What did you think about the book?

I was very much intrigued by the plot of this book. I haven’t read anything in a very long time (if ever) that had to do with old Greek Gods and Goddesses alive today. Set in modern day London it uses the historical stories of these gods and sets them to what it would be like if they were around.

Generally speaking I enjoyed the book. It has some interesting points in dealing with immortality and what it means to be alive forever. Add to that the problem with power. Many of these gods have good powers and bad powers and they really do need to use them both. What does that mean to the world? Can you cheer for a god that wants to produce war?

The gods in this book are really not likeable but the premise is fun.

What genre would you consider this?
Fiction

Overall:

Question for You!
What sort of supernatural thing do you find the most interesting – vampires, witches, or greek gods and goddesses?