Wordless Wednesday

My sweet niece Emma all comfy and reading in her own little world.  

Check out my sister's blog at Underestimated Mom.

Review: The Magic Room by Jeffrey Zaslow

The Magic Room by Jeffrey Zaslow 

Publisher: Penguin Group 

Pages: 336

Format: book 

Buy the Book: Amazon  

Goodreads:  You may not have heard of Fowler, Michigan, much less Becker's Bridal. But for the thousands of women who have stepped inside, Becker's is the site of some of the most important moments of their lives-moments that speak to us all. Housed in a former bank, the boutique owners transformed the vault into a "magic room," with soft church lighting, a circular pedestal, and mirrors that make lifelong dreams come true.

Illuminating the poignant aspects of a woman's journey to the altar, The Magic Room tells the stories of memorable women on the brink of commitment. Run by the same family for years, Becker's has witnessed transformations in how America views the institution of marriage; some of the shop's clientele are becoming stepmothers, or starting married life for a second time. In The Girls from Ames, beloved author Jeffrey Zaslow used friendships to explore the emotional lives of women. In The Magic Room, he turns his perceptive eye to weddings and weaves together secrets, memories and family tales to explore the hopes and dreams we have for our daughters.

Kritters Thoughts:  A book full of stories that made me laugh, cry and hope for the future. Taking place in a coveted room inside a family owned bridal boutique that has been open for many decades and many generations have found their all important wedding dress.  Grandmothers are now accompanying their grand daughters on this special shopping trip.  Author of The Girls From Ames, Jeffrey Zaslow gets to the heart of how the relationships between women, whether it be mother/daughter, grandmother/granddaughter, or bride/friend; the art of shopping for the wedding dress has changed over the year and the quest for the dress is as important as many of the other wedding decisions that are made.


This act is something that I have dreamed about for years with my mom, sister and those I hold close to me.  I can't wait to try on a few dresses and get some honest opinions from, the big butt to utter perfection - these are what dreams are made of!  Zaslow highlights different brides that have entered through their doors and what brought them to this special decision.  Not only does he chronicle the history of the store, but the family behind this landmark in Fowler, Michigan.  


Such a great book for women of all ages - young and old and in between will enjoy this book as they remember their own shopping adventures or have had a few dreams about their upcoming shopping adventures.

Rating: absolutely loved it and want a sequel


Disclosure of Material Connection:  I received one copy of this book free of charge from the author and Crazy Book Tours.  I was not required to write a positive review in exchange for receipt of the book; rather, the opinions expressed in this review are my own.

Review: Jackpot by Jackie Pilossoph

Jackpot by Jackie Pilossoph

Publisher: CreateSpace 

Pages: 322 

Format: ebook 

Buy the Book: Amazon

Goodreads: If your mother offered you 8 million dollars to have a baby, would you do it??

Jamie Jacobson doesn't have a lot of faith in love, except when it comes to her Jimmy Choo shoes. Her brother Danny has two loves; his barely existent acting career and his ability to pick up women. But life is about to take a wild turn for these two dysfunctional but lovable siblings now that their mother has just won the lottery.

Frankie, a longtime widow has wanted grandchildren for years. Now she's prepared to pay cash for them. When Frankie presents her son and daughter each with a contract promising $8 million dollars if he or she can produce a child in the next twelve months (DNA tested, of course), Jamie and Danny each begin a frantic search for a person to help them reproduce.

Come along on their desperate, outrageous and hilarious journeys where fake seductions, ovulation kits and a tarot-card reader are replacing condoms, the pill and fun, meaningless hook-ups. They hit a couple big bumps in the road that have nothing to do with their lack of diaper changing experience, but a lot to do with their hearts.

Now they face the choice of their lives. Give in to love? Or go for the JACKPOT?


Kritters Thoughts:  A hilariously fun book that is written in two different fonts, one reserved for the daughter of our main character and the other for the son.  The font change made for easy reading and I loved being able to hear about their own lives from themselves.


A wanna-be grandmother wins the lottery and is ready for her two children, 34 and 32 years old, who are both failing at their love lives.  She wins the lottery and holds a part hostage with a contract that they may receive it if they can provide her a grandchild.  The perfect premise to see how love and money interact and what is ultimately more important and everlasting.  There is more to this story with a great twist at the end that of course I can not share because it completes the story.


I am quite glad I am not put in this predicament because I am definitely not in the mindset for childbearing.  I am now more thankful than ever that my mom treats our pup just as a grandchild or grand fur baby as she likes to say!     


Rating:  absolutely loved it and want a sequel

GR Cover Challenge 2012: Primary Colors

Disclosure of Material Connection:  I received one copy of this book free of charge from the author.  I was not required to write a positive review in exchange for receipt of the book; rather, the opinions expressed in this review are my own.

It's Monday, What are you Reading? (54)

It has been an interesting week in reading from non fiction to both humor in a mommy book and YA.  I finished quite a good many that may keep me on track for my goal of 202 in 2012!


A meme hosted by Sheila at BookJourney.


Finished this past week:
Falling Fast by Lucy Kevin
Adventures in Funeral Crashing by Milda Harris
Jackpot by Jackie Pilossoph
Ketchup is a Vegetable by Robin O'Bryant
Quiet, Susan Cain


Currently Reading:
Smitten by Assorted Authors
Holly's Inbox by Holly Denham


Next off the TBR pile:
Lovesick by Spencer Seidel
The Priest and the Peaches by Larry Peterson

In My Mailbox (58)

A great week in terms of bookish things with book club meetings and a schedule for 2012 and some time with my mom.  We went on a fun date - Beauty and the Beast in 3D, dinner and books were exchanged.  It is always a good time hanging out with my mom.


A meme hosted by Kristi at The Story Siren.

Swapping:
For Better or For Worse by Diann Hunt  (Goodreads   Amazon)
The Devil You Know by Louise Bagshawe  (Goodreads  Amazon)



Review:
Nobody's Child by Austin Boyd  (Goodreads  Amazon)
Gods and Fathers by James LePore  (Goodreads  Amazon)


Barnes & Noble Christmas Gift Card Purchases:
The Secret Sisters by Joni Rodgers  (Goodreads  Amazon)
Unbearable Lightness by Portia De Rossi  (Goodreads  Amazon)
Last Night at Chateau Marmont by Lauren Weisberger  (Goodreads  Amazon)
Girls in Trucks by Katie Crouch  (Goodreads  Amazon)
Secrets to Happiness by Sarah Dunn  (Goodreads  Amazon)
The Heroines by Eileen Favorite  (Goodreads  Amazon)
The Day I Shot Cupid by Jennifer Love Hewitt  (Goodreads  Amazon)
A Field Guide to Burying Your Parents by Liza Palmer  (Goodreads  Amazon)

The Ramble: Friday the 13th

Happy Friday the 13th!!

As 13 is my favorite number, I celebrate Friday the 13ths because good things always happen on the 13th of the month!


Today is a bittersweet day.  The boy is back on night shift and this is his first weekend back taking care of our streets during the night hours.  


SO I scheduled a date night with my mom.  A little old school Disney Beauty and the Beast in the theatre and some dinner.  Potentially a drink or two!  


Do you do anything special on Friday the 13th?

Review: A Life of My Own by Denise Skelton

A Life of My Own by Denise Skelton

Publisher: First Chance Publishing 

Pages: 320 

Format: book 

Buy the Book: Amazon  

Goodreads:  Two unappreciative teens, a verbally abusive husband, and an aggressive and interfering ex-wife is a “normal” part of her life. One Saturday morning when Liz’s husband barks at her to, “Git your ass to the store and git my beer, woman,”. She literally ran into someone who gave her unexpected but much needed advice. Liz decides it’s time to get a life of her own. Traveling from Pennsylvania, to Michigan, to Washington State, she learns about friendship, happiness and love. Moreover Liz discovers who she really is.




Kritters Thoughts:  A great chick lit for our older crowd with the main character, Liz who has endured an abusive relationship decides after a chance encounter with a stranger to leave the relationship.  A book that ends up being a road trip of sorts to enable Liz to find out who she really is and what she really wants out of life.  


I absolutely loved taking the road trip with her and meeting all the people she encountered.  In each small town she makes friends, finds a temporary job and makes a temporary home.  This trip felt real and her interactions with these people were so genuine - I felt her growth with every new city.  She had some ups and downs, but it was fun to be the reader and be along for the ride.


A book that I would definitely recommend to fans of the chick lit genre.  


Rating: absolutely loved it and want a sequel


Disclosure of Material Connection:  I received one copy of this book free of charge from the author.  I was not required to write a positive review in exchange for receipt of the book; rather, the opinions expressed in this review are my own.

Review: All in Good Time by Tara and Mandi

All in Good Time by Tara Kucvykowski and Mandi Ehman

Publisher: Penguin Group  

Pages: 304 

Format: book 

Buy the Book: Amazon  

Goodreads:  A few dollars wasted here, a few minutes lost there...it all adds up, and soon you're stretched thin, stressed out, and wishing you had more free time and financial resources for the important things, like your family-and yourself. These authors know-as busy moms with nine children between them, they've been there! It's time to get your house- and schedule-in order. The secret to streamlining your life is in the timing: knowing exactly when to do, buy, travel, or try...

FIND OUT THE SMARTEST TIMING FOR getting a haircut * flipping a mattress * buying a grill * taking a family vacation * filling the gas tank * buying (and applying) sunscreen * stocking a gift closet * seeing the dentist * getting a mammogram * buying a bike (and learning to ride) * filling a prescription * and much more

Kritters Thoughts:  What a great reference book for those who own a home and need a few more ways to save money around the house and even beyond the home.  Going room by room was a perfect set up to allow for ease of reading and quick reference back when you are wanting to hunt down a particular tip.  As a blogger, I loved that these women used their experiences online to help fill out the book with others opinions and suggestions.  


The one part that I may have glossed over were the parts about children - the chores in the home, the ways to save money in regards to toys, clothes and so on.  As me and the boy count our pup as the only child in the house, these great tips didn't quite hit close to home for us.  But for those who have children in their home, this book would be perfect to keep on the shelf for pointers.


This will be a book that I keep around for inspiration on saving money in many different creative ways.  I will also gift this book to others as a great housewarming gift, especially for those friends who may have kiddies running around their homes!  

Rating:  definitely a good read, but can't read two in a row


Disclosure of Material Connection:  I received one copy of this book free of charge from Penguin Group.  I was not required to write a positive review in exchange for receipt of the book; rather, the opinions expressed in this review are my own.

Guest Post and Giveaway: Elizabeth Ann West

Today, I have a treat to share - a guest post from Elizabeth Ann West, author of Cancelled which was reviewed here at Kritters Ramblings.

“I Don't Read”

By: Elizabeth Ann West

“I don't like to read.”

“I just don't have time to read.”

How many times do we readers hear this from our family and friends? Funny thing is we WANT them to read, so we have someone to talk about books with...in person! In my own life, I live with a self-professed non-reader. He's 11. But he'll “forget” his reading time requirement (20 minutes per day) when I hand him my Nook.

How should we handle people who assure us they just don't read? Easy. Become a reading ambassador. Chances are very strong the person in question was never even asked what kinds of books he or she wanted to read as kid or young adult. Reading was always assigned. To them, we are nerds still giving ourselves homework!

Instead of asking your friend why he or she doesn't read, try asking what they like to read. Still coming up empty? Ask about TV shows or movies they like to watch. Try to find a book version to suggest. For example, did you know the popular Showtime series Dexter is based on the series of books by Jeff Lindsay? Introduce them to the online sample on their computer. They don't even have to step foot in a book store to browse titles!

What many non-readers don't realize is how rich the experience of reading is outside of being assigned. It's an entertainment form that educates in a very subtle way. By finding entertainment in stories, the reader picks up new vocabulary and other information, even from fiction! Don't give up on your non-reader friends. Help them. Help them find the materials they can enjoy, whether it's a favorite TV series' fan fiction or classics their teacher failed to put on the syllabus.

Today's digital libraries offer the greatest versatility in reading genres, cross-overs, and story lengths. Thre is a niche for every reader! The short story and novella formats, great for readers short on time, are making a massive comeback on ereaders. This is due in no little part by the work of independent authors. There's no reason a friend reclaiming reading as a past time should feel daunted by hundreds and hundreds of pages.

And never be afraid to be the training wheels! Why not try reading your non-reading friend's choice...together! You find a great new book to share together right here on Kritter's Ramblings. Her reviews are unique because they focus on the fun of reading the stories she selects, not just typical literary analysis. Her blog is a perfect catalog of titles to “shop” from!

Please reach out to someone you know who “hates to read.” You never know what kind of reading monster you'll unleash! :) Share your experiences below in helping a friend or family member to enjoy the world of books below! We can all learn from each other how to help literacy spread like wildfire!

As a special thank you for inviting me once again to Kritter's Ramblings, I have a special gift for all of the other reading junkies out there: a free, signed copy of my debut novel's ebook, CANCELLED.

If you would like a signed copy, just sign up for my newsletter and the preferred ereader you list is the format I will send. I write a handwritten note for each reader and scan it into the file, so your ebook is 100% unique. My newsletter goes out only once per month on the 25th and covers my latest writing projects, books I've read and can personally recommend, and technology tips for our busy online lives.

I am also daring one name each week from the newsletter subscribers and that winner receives a free signed and annotated paperback copy of CANCELLED straight to their door! I will ship internationally.


To enter - comment on this post with your email address.  This giveaway ends January 20th.

Review: Deadly Reunion by Amy Manemann

Deadly Reunion by Amy Manemann 

Publisher: CreateSpace 

Pages: 298 

Format: eARC 

Buy the Book: Amazon

Goodreads:  Smart mouthed Taci Andrews is an investigative reporter for the Riverdale Times with a lot on her plate. Between receiving a dreaded invitation to her ten year high school reunion, her best friend's divorce drama and her own solitary dating status her fun meter is pretty much pegged. When Taci's partner goes missing while covering a missing child feature she is suddenly thrown into the story of her career, which oddly enough delves into a past she would rather forget. She soon finds herself squaring off against a malicious class Barbie Doll, the High School Quarterback and a steamy Fireman from her past whose deep blue eyes are still enough to curl her toes. 


Concerned about the disappearance of his friend's daughter, Firefighter Tony Parsons returns to his hometown of Riverdale to see what is being done with the case. Using his connections with the police force he pulls in a few favors, running into former classmate Taci Andrews in the process. His last memory of Taci was back in high school when she'd given him a black eye for feeling up her shirt. He had to admit the grown up version of Taci was even better than the adolescent version and when he learns she's covering the story for the Times he decides to tag along. Despite babysitting three hyped up children, having a disastrous date night, receiving an ominous warning and nearly getting blown up the sparks that quickly ignite between Tony and Taci are hard to ignore, despite their best efforts. 


As they delve deeper to uncover the deadly truths surrounding the sleepy town of Riverdale, the old feud that rested between them for ages begins to give way to an unexpected passion. But new feelings for one another or not they both have a job to do and a missing child to find. Can they put their feelings aside to solve the case or will they be next on the missing person's list?




Kritters Thoughts:  A little mystery and a little romance made for a perfect combination to read during a winter weekend.  As a reader, it is key to get connected with the main character and from page one, I wanted to get to know Taci and find out what led her to be thrown from a fiery building.  As an invitation to her upcoming high school reunion arrives, she ends up reconnecting to those who stayed in her home town through the mystery of a high school rival's missing child.  


With a former high school fling back in town working in the fire department, the romance was a good distraction to the mystery that she is trying to research for her job as a news reporter.  I think their "relationship" was a nice addition to the story and didn't take away from the main story of the book.  


With some definite twists and turns, this book when in a direction that I wasn't expecting but still loved.  One may think that the missing child is the only mystery and you turn a corner and there is more to it - of course, I can't share because you must go get this one and see what all is going on behind the scenes in this small town in Iowa.


Rating:  absolutely loved it and want a sequel


Disclosure of Material Connection:  I received one copy of this book free of charge from the author.  I was not required to write a positive review in exchange for receipt of the book; rather, the opinions expressed in this review are my own.

It's Monday, What Are You Reading (53)

A great week in reading!  It was a great start to the new year and I am excited for what all I have planned in my reading for 2012.  A few books to movies and I am going to read some series - definitely should be a good one. 

A meme hosted by Sheila at BookJourney.


Finished this past week:
In One Year and Out the Other (short story collection)
The Secret of Lies by Barbara Forte Abate
The Crown by Nancy Bilyeau
Extremely Loud & Incredibly Close by Jonathan Safran Foer
Currently Reading:
Falling Fast by Lucy Kevin
Jackpot by Jackie Pilossoph

Next off the TBR pile:
Lovesick by Spencer Seidel

In My Mailbox (57)

Another week with some fun things, a series complete and ready to read and some good reviews for tours that I am definitely excited about.  I always enjoy making these videos to share what has come across my way in the past week, but I am just intrigued with this new year if anyone enjoys these videos?


A meme hosted by Kristi at The Story Siren.


Swapping:
Size 14 is Not Either by Meg Cabot  (Goodreads  Amazon)
Passion, Betrayal and Killer Highlights by Kyra Davis  (Goodreads  Amazon)

Size 12 is Not Fat by Meg Cabot  (Goodreads  Amazon)


Review:
Voices of the Dead by Peter Leonard  (Goodreads  Amazon)
Jackpot by Jackie Pilossoph  (Goodreads  Amazon)


From the mom:
Holding Her Breath by Nicole Green  (Goodreads  Amazon)

The Ramble: A Week into 2012

Ok - so we are a week into the new year and I have made many personal goals and things, but it is the bookish things that I really want to share.  So short and simple, here is where I want in 2012.


Total Reading: I want to read over 202 books.  I read 186 books last year, so let's see if we can up the anty just a little.


Challenges:  I have signed up for three challenges, two of which I am really motivated to finishing this year.  The other is the map that I just want to consistently keep up with again this year.


Goodreads Challenges:  There are a few challenges within my Red Dress Ink Fans group, so I hope to do these challenges again this year - they are always a lot of fun and add a few reads to my list.


Branch Out:  This past year I branched out a little in regards to trying new genres, I am really hoping to continue to read books that are not in my usual genres.


What are you wanting to do with 2012?  

Review: In One Year and Out the Other by Assortment of Authors

In One Year and Out the Other by Assortment of Authors

Publisher: Pocket 

Pages: 384

Format: book 

Buy the Book: Amazon  

Goodreads: Out with the old, in with the new, and on with the party!

Maybe it's just another midnight...or maybe there really is magic in the air when December 31st becomes January 1st, and confetti kisses and champagne toasts kick off a new year, a new romance, a new look, a new attitude.

Celebrate the start of something new with In One Year and Out the Other...a sparkling collection of all new stories by today's rising fiction stars.

Kritters Thoughts:  A wonderful collection of great chick lit stories that was perfect to read over the New Years holiday weekend.  With many different characters at the center of varying stories from women who are married to women who have been single for quite some time and are ready to celebrate a New Years with someone special.  


I fell in love with each story and wanted more when I was finished with each one.  It was also perfect to make a list of authors to follow and check out.  


I would absolutely recommend this collection of stories to all fans of chick lit.  Whether you are a fan of short stories or not, this book is great if you need to read one or two stories and put it down and pick it back up later.  




Rating: absolutely loved it and want a sequel


Off the Shelf 2012: 1 out of 50


GR Cover Challenge 2012: Holidays