Bossypants

Bossypants by Tina Fey

I haven’t closely followed Tina Fey’s career. I do remember a few things she has created--I loved her days on the SNL Weekend Update and also when she came back to impersonate Sarah Palin.

I picked up this book and, through her life story, I really grew to like her. I enjoy her point of view on being a woman in a male dominated profession and also being a working Mom.

I have this recurring fantasy about moving to a farm and making jam. Don't judge...it’s my happy place! I had to laugh when Fey shares her version of my fantasy. She says, “I always fantasize about quitting my job. ‘We don’t need a lot of money’ I tell myself. ‘We don’t live extravagantly; we just live in an expensive city. If we moved to a little house in the middle of Pennsylvania we could live like kings for much less! And we’d all be together all day and we’ll make cupcakes and plant a garden!”

If you are a Tina fan, or even if you aren’t, this is a good read.

A Widow's Story

A Widow’s Story: A Memoir by Joyce Carol Oates

Joyce Carol Oates candidly shares her story of grief and survival after losing her husband. I found her memoir moving and brutally honest. I simply cannot imagine being with someone for so long and then losing them. A beautiful tribute to her lost love.

Hellhound on his Trail

Hellhound on his Trail: The Stalking of Martin Luther King, Jr. and the International Hunt for His Assassin by Hampton Sides

Martin Luther King, Jr. was a man willing to stand on the side of justice. If only there were more people willing to do that….I have read extensively about his life and his ideals, but very little, specifically, about his assassination.

Sides provides a well researched account of events leading up to, and following his April 4^th, 1968 assassination. Most of the detail surrounds the 65 day search for the assassin.

I was a bit put off by the alternating stories being told. One chapter is about Ray, the next about King. I found this was a bit confusing, since so much detail is being reported. I get that Sides was trying to show how they were on two paths set to converge, but it just didn’t work well, for me.

This was a little flat for me. I give points for detail, but deductions for being completely emotionless and sometimes too harsh. It was a struggle to finish, but I learned some new information, which is always a plus.

Simply Irresistable

Simply Irresistable by Jill Shalvis

Amazon.com Description:

“In one fell swoop, Maddie loses her boyfriend (her decision) and her job (so not her decision). But rather than drowning her sorrows in bags of potato chips, Maddie leaves L.A. to claim the inheritance left by her free-spirited mother-a ramshackle inn nestled in the little coastal town of Lucky Harbor, Washington.Starting over won't be easy. Yet Maddie sees the potential for a new home and a new career-if only she can convince her two half-sisters to join her in the adventure. But convincing Tara and Chloe will be difficult because the inn needs a big makeover too. The contractor Maddie hires is a tall, dark-haired hottie whose eyes-and mouth-are making it hard for her to remember that she's sworn off men. Even harder will be Maddie's struggles to overcome the past, though she's about to discover that there's no better place to call home than Lucky Harbor.”

My Thoughts:

I loved this one. Shalvis is good at creating realistic characters with strong emotion. Shalvis is a must try for all romance lovers.

Happiness Sold Separately

Happiness Sold Separately by Lolly Winston

Amazon.com Description:

“The New York Times bestseller about how marriage, love, and how sometimes falling in love with the wrong person at the wrong time can be the right thing. Elinor Mackey has lived her life in perfect order: college, law school, marriage, successful corporate career. But when she discovers that she and her podiatrist husband, Ted, can't have children, Elinor withdraws into her own world of heartbreak and anger. While Elinor falls in love with the oak tree in their front yard, sleeping under it at night, Ted begins an affair with Gina, the nutritionist at their gym. Ted, who may be the only one who can help Gina and her son, suddenly finds himself in love with two women at the same time. In the tradition of Anne Tyler, John Cheever, and Tom Perrotta, Winston's second novel looks beyond the manicured surface of suburbia to a world of loss, longing, lust, and betrayal.”

My Thoughts:

I was pretty engaged at the beginning of this book. But about a third of the way through Winston completely lost me. The characters were starting to blossom in the beginning and then they abruptly stopped being dimensional and became cliché and ultimately unrealistic. Ted was a total jerk…but painted sympathetically. He is the worst type of unfaithful husband…but it’s not really his fault, right? And then Elinor, instead of being a strong character, whittles down to an utter mess. I wanted to feel for her, but couldn’t. A good ending could have redeemed a bit, but unfortunately the ending was a complete let down. 

The Notebook

The Notebook by Nicholas Sparks

I have to admit, I’m not a fan of Nicholas Sparks. I had previously read “The Notebook” and couldn’t get through it. I decided to try again, thinking maybe I would have a different opinion. Nope. I still hated it.

I don’t enjoy his writing style. In my opinion, he creates one-dimensional characters. This book, in particular, has no depth of emotion. What it has is superficial sappiness. Yuck. 

Usually a book is always better than the movie. In this case the movie is much better.

I have tortured myself enough trying to like something by Sparks. This was my last attempt. If you like one of his books, you will probably like them all…

Cry No More

Cry No More by Linda Howard

Mila is shopping at the local market in Mexico. She is a temporary resident while her husband volunteers at a local hospital. Suddenly, her six-week old baby is ripped from her arms. She fights back furiously, clawing out one of the kidnappers eyes…but she is stabbed and left for dead. Her baby is gone.

Years later Mila is still searching for her son. She has lost everything but struggles on, led by the hope of finding him. Everyone else has moved on and her loved ones wonder why she is unable to do so.

As Mila gets closer to the truth about what happened to her son, she puts herself in danger. She meets a man who is willing to help her and they connect emotionally. I loved both of the main characters; Mila for her intense love for her son and strong determination to find him, and Diaz for his strength and support of Mila.

I really loved this one. It was a difficult, emotionally, as I could feel Mila’s anguish. As a Mother, losing a child is the worst fear. There were definitely tears shed throughout this book! But isn’t that a mark of the great author?

In my opinion, this is a must read for the romantic suspense reader. I would also recommend to the regular suspense reader, as the romance is definitely not central to the plot.