Books for Winter Reading

For women there are great mystery, romance and literature books that make great holiday gifts.
A mystery romance is Chasing Fire by Nora Roberts.
A new literature find is Mr. Fox by Helen Oyeyemi.
For inspiration there is 10 Mindful Minutes by Goldie Hawn.
For the busy mom there is the Great 5 Ingredient Cookbook.
For fans of True Blood there is The Julius House by Charlaine Harris.
For those who want romance The Ideal Man by Julie Garwood is sure to please.

For men there are also lots of great choices in mystery, adventure and humor.
Robert B. Parker's Killing the Blues is a detective mystery.
Shockwave by John Sandford is a scary thriller.
Son of Stone by Stuart Woods is another great detective series.
The Race by Clive Cussler is an action adventure story.

For those that love Hollywood and the limelight we have star power to give.
If You Ask Me, And Of Course You Won't is by Betty White.
Jagger: Rebel, Rock Star, Rambler, Rogue by Marc Spitz is all about Mick Jagger.
Shatner Rules is a book of humor by Willaim Shatner.

Smokin Hot Summer Reading

Hot summer days and hot summer books go hand in hand! 
Especially for those that like reading at the beach.  Our first official book review of the summer is Smokin' Seventeen: A Stephanie Plum Novel.

She's back, who can believe Stephanie Plum is staring in book seventeen, though there was no fourteen, but there were four mini Plum "holiday" books so count them how you like.  Anyway, it's hard to keep a character fresh and exciting after they appear in so many books, but I am happy to report I really enjoyed Smokin Seventeen! 

I laughed a lot throughout the book, and for those of you who know Stephanie Plum, you know to laugh at her is to love her.  For those of you not familiar with the character let's just say Stephanie Plum is a lousy bounty hunter who usually ends up surrounded by dead bodies and lucking into not getting herself killed too.

 In Smokin Seventeen Plum finds herself wanted dead by two different people and the object of a serial killers affections.  Thrown into the mix are her steady dates Morelli and Ranger, both of whom get to see some action.  Stephanie's Mom and Dad, Grandma and Lula all have great supporting roles this time.  I am very bummed though that they did not pick Neicy Nash to play Lula in the movie!  Katherine Heigl is slated to play Stephanie and I believe the movie comes out in 2012 for book one.

For readers who enjoy humor, a good thrill and a crazy cast of characters the Stephanie Plum books are super summer reads!

Share this Plum novel or choose from other great new bestsellers when you give a Book Bouquet gift basket.  Great for summer birthdays, get well gifts, retirement and bon voyage gifts.

Books for Dads

Father's Day is just around the corner and if you are ordering a gift to be shipped then you need to do that soon!  Here are some great book recommendations and gift ideas for Dad this Father's Day.

Golden Moments Gift Box with Bel-Air Dead by Stuart Woods.  This elegant gift box features gourmet foods that Dads love and your choice of a hardcover bestselling book by some of Dads favorite authors!

Our Just for Dad Gift Box includes a paperback book for Dad along with snacks.  Choose from titles like A Documentary History of the United States, Play Dead by Harlan Coben, or The Wolf at the Door by Jack Higgins.

3 Cups of Tea Controversy

Three Cups of Tea by Greg Mortenson is under fire by 60 minutes and other watchdog groups as shown on Sunday's 60 minutes and many morning news programs Monday and Tuesday morning.  Since I really enjoyed reading this book and his follow up Stones Into Schools I am into finding out what's up!

An interview I saw this morning featured Jon Krakauer, author of Into Thin Air and other non-fiction books and magazine articles.  Krakauer is a former supporter of Mortonsen who is now on the attack.  Part of the controversy over the book is that Mortenson is being blamed for getting dates and events timeline wrong as well as locations and events.  In Mortenson's defense I don't believe when he got the idea to fund these schools and start this movement he was ever thinking about writing a book.  If you asked me to go back two years and write about what happened I imagine I would get many of the dates and details confused as well.  I understand Krakauer's concern, but at the same time when he writes a book or article it's planned, and as such he is keeping notes and documenting events and working his story as it happens.  That is very different from going back in time and putting the story back together after it's already unfolded.  Even Kraukouer's book Into Thin Air had controversy with differing opinions from others that were there about what really happened.  He comments on that at the end of the book.

So that being said I can forgive Mortonsen for some messed up timelines and events.  I also know from my husband who worked in Afghanistan building roads using local contractors that sometimes money is spent on contractors who dissappear or on getting approvals from "officials", and that work is done at a pace that often reflects the word "inshallah" it will be done when it is done.  You can't apply the same mindset for doing business in Afghanistan that you would in the United States.

Building schools for girls in Afghanistan is an important mission and one that I hope will get more attention due to the controversy around Mortenson.  Mortenson so far has claimed no wrong doing, and said that indeed parts of the story were compressed to fit into the framework of a book.  I'm very interested to see how this all plays out, and sincerely hope that Mortenson is vindicated.

The Orchid Affair Book Review

The title The Orchid Affair may have you believing that this is a lurid romance novel like the infamous Harlequin romances.  Fortunately for me I found it to be a fun mystery with a touch of romance thrown in for good measure.

This is the first book by Lauren Willig that I have read so I wasn't sure what to expect.  This is a series she is writing called The Pink Carnation series.  The flowers are actually based on the names given to a group of secret spies during Napoleon's reign in France.

In The Orchid Affair we find newly annointed spy, Laura Grey (The Silver Orchid) on her first mission posing as the governess for the deputy minister of police.  Her job is to find out if the plot to get a prince of royal blood back on the throne has been discovered.  Little does she know that the deputy minister is also working to do the same thing!  As he is forced to show his hand sooner than he wanted, Laura must decide if she can trust him enough to help him.

She decides he is on her side and they are forced to flee the country with the prince and the deputy minister's family.  Since his wife has died Laura and deputy minister Andre Jaouen pose as husband and wife with a traveling theatre troupe.  During their journey out of France they find they have feelings for each other and romance ensues.

If you are looking for a fun book with a good story, interesting characters and page turning action you will enjoy reading The Orchid Affair.  You can safely give this book as a gift to Mom, Grandma, Aunts, Teachers, etc. without having to worry about the content.  No steamy pages, definitely a PG-13 rating!

Strategic Moves by Stuart Woods - Book Review

Did you like Magnum PI with Tom Selleck?

If yes, then you will enjoy the Stuart Woods, Stone Barrington novel series.  They are always fun, face paced mysteries written with a touch of humor and sarcasm.

In the latest aptly named, Strategic Moves, Barrington finds himself a pawn in a game where he doesn't have all the pieces.  There is a financial "madoff" type crisis, a terrorist escape, oh and did we mention his latest romantic interest turns up dead?

This books works because even with all the crazy twists and turns it never overcomplicates itself and never loses it's sense of humor.  And, while at times you will think Barrington is a jerk, like when he goes out to dinner after finding out the girlfriend is dead, you will admire his ability to plan his various moves for himself and his clients throughout the book. 

Author, Woods also gives Barrington some new life with some sudden financial windfalls and some interesting new characters to work with in future novels, maybe we'll see some in Bel-Air Dead his next book due out April 26th.

Tales from the Yoga Studio: A Novel - Book Review

I am not a yoga person, but I am happy to report you don't have to be to really enjoy Tales from the Yoga Studio: A Novel by Rain Mitchell.

The story revolves around the lives of a group of diverse women who come into and go out of each other's lives through the local yoga studio.  The main character, Lee is the owner of the studio and it's her story we get into the most, though I am hopeful there will be more books with these same characters in the future.

Lee, the owner of the yoga studio is married and has two kids, twins.  She runs the studio with her husband, Alan who is a wanna be musician, and has decided he needs time away to get his life in perspective.  Lee wants him back and considers selling her studio as a way to get her marriage back.

The other women characters in the novel also face their own trials and find yoga as a way to bring balance into their out of balance lives.  This is a fun read with moments of humor mixed into the dramas.  This is a gal pal fiction novel that you could happily give to your Mom, Mother-in-Law, co-worker, sister, etc. and feel good about having picked a fun book.

Book Review: The Judas Gate by Jack Higgins

The Judas Gate is a spy type thriller by Jack Higgins.  The plot is interesting, the action is good, but reading it can be like being the spouse at the high school reunion, if you have not read any of Higgin's previous books.  There are something like six main characters working together and keeping track of who is who can get confusing at times.  Plus you don't have any of the back story to help you fully appreciate who they all are.

The great news is for those of you that are fans of Daniel Silva, Tom Clancy and W.E.B. Griffin here is another author that you are going to enjoy!  Jack Higgins has written 41 other books so he'll keep you busy reading for quite awhile!  After you read The Judas Gate check out The Eagle Has Landed and then keep going from there.

In The Judas Gate it comes to light through counter terrorism chanels that there are British citizens working with Al Qaeda.  Both the US and Britain want to find out who they are and how to stop them so they assign their covert teams to discover who the leader is.  It's a book that will keep you turning the pages and for those that enjoy this genre you will enjoy this book!

The Poison Tree: A Novel

How to review The Poison Tree without getting out my poison pen?

I was so excited to read this book, because I heard great buzz about it, and maybe that was the problem.  I read the prologue and thought "Great, this is going to be another Tana French type book, can't wait".  By the time I was on chapter four I knew this was no Tana French mystery.  I tried to get into the type of book it is, but I just never could.

The Poison Tree is billed as a psychological thriller.  Let me tell you the thriller part is lacking.  This book is no more thrilling than watching the snow fall for the millionth time this winter!

As I said, the prologue is great and you want to dig right in and find out what has this woman running from her home and into the night.  Unfortunately you have to read through too many tediously told chapters to find out.  The story is told in a one chapter present day, one chapter past format. 

The main character, Karen, starts out as a promising college student in her last year who has an amazing talent for linguistics and all kinds of promise for jobs, scholarships, and leading a wonderful life.  Then fate steps in and she meets Biba who is in need of a tutor to help her learn a song in German for a play she is in.  Needless to say we are suppose to believe that Biba's wild bohemian life is so alluring that Karen chucks all her good sense out the window and gives herself over to life with Biba and her brother, who of course Karen develops a relationship with.  And there you have half the book.

The other half is spent showing everything unravel as Biba makes a fateful mistake that changes all their lives for the worse.  Without giving away the story, for those of you who are into tedious reading that's all I'll say.  My problem with the book is that we are asked to believe too many outlandish behaviors.  There is not one character that I could call a hero, though a few we can call matyrs.  I didn't find myself liking anyone in the story and therefore had a hard time caring about them through each long chapter.  The twists and turns of the book to me felt predictible and contrived.

Now, this may be a case like the Seinfeld Episode where Elaine hates The English Patient while the rest of the world loves it!  The Poison Tree has four and half stars on amazon so obviously a lot of people are enjoying this book.  So read it, if you dare, and give me your review if you loved it. 

New Year, New Authors for you to love

This week we talk with Joan Bigwood, author of the book, Co-opted, a fun read for fans of contemporary literature.

How did you decide on the book title?
The title is a play on words—co-opted, as in being forced into joining a group, and co-opted, a term I coined to mean experiencing life in a preschool co-op, which is why I wrote this book in the first place. I wondered what it would be like to wander through that gate with no idea of what a preschool co-op is all about, and to have to fit in with an entirely different world view. Thus was born Francesca Carlson, working mother from Manhattan, trying to find a place in a nursery school in her new hometown of Palo Alto, CA.

If this book were made into a movie how would we classify it and who would you pick to play the lead role?
This book would make a fun indie film, along the lines of Juno, or The Squid and the Whale. It is essentially a study of the little moments that collide with the big happenings that make up family life. I would choose an unknown actress without question. There is no reason to pay for brand awareness when the most recognizable aspects of the main character are her impulses and choices, not her face. That said, Francesca’s face is central to who she is, because her acne scarring “ruined a gorgeous face” according to an offhand remark by her mother.

How would you describe the main character of the book?  Would you want to be friends with her?
Francesca is my kind of gal. She is manipulative and resourceful, but all of her conniving is in an attempt to avoid confrontation because she can’t handle the disequilibrium discord brings.  She and I would be great friends, and best of all, we would never fight.


Is there a sequel in the works?
I had thought about writing Co-opted all over again, only this time told from the point of view of the taciturn husband. What a different story it would be! I am fascinated by how differently men and women interpret the same set of events. That said, I have wanted to tell an entirely new story, about a very different kind of family. So that’s what’s up next. That, and a musical comedy I am wrapping up this year.

Is there a funny event in the book (or a sad one) that was based on your life that you can share?
There are many funny and sad moments in this book that are based on my life. One that is absolutely verbatim is a telephone call between a friend and Francesca, about a ‘pen pal’ from Italy. I remember at the time of that call thinking this was priceless comedy. I have used it in readings, and my audiences tend to agree. More broadly, the book is a paean to my father, the late Guy M.C. Bigwood, who died three weeks ago. He suffered from Alzheimer’s and much of what happens in the book around this topic is true to life. I used the writing of this tale to work through the trauma of losing my precious father—a tiny piece of his mind at a time.

Author, Joan Bigwood

About the Author
A graduate of Smith College, Joan Bigwood has been forming sentences since the early 1960’s. Report cards from the Foote School in New Haven, Connecticut consistently pointed out her inability to control forming sentences during class time. Her compulsion to narrate has led to countless stories over many years of conversational deviance, and has produced a script for television, a musical comedy, and her first novel, Co-opted. While Ms. Bigwood is on the brink of national recognition, she is currently best known for her laugh.

Joan, thank you for sharing such great insight into your book.  I'm sure our readers are going to want to check it out for themselves.  It's always a treat to discover a new author!

New Year, New You...New Relationship with your In-Laws

Maybe your new year's resolution was to get along better with your partner's family.  Family relationships make such a difference in our general well-being and happiness it's worth the time to try to make those relationships work, or in some cases at least be civil.  If you've struggled with in-law issues you'll enjoy our interview with Kelli Cooper author of Love the Unlovable: In-Laws.

What inspired you to write this book?
I began writing this as my own personal catharsis as I dealt with the stinging pain of trauma to my marriage caused by my in-laws. As I shared my story with a few friends, I realized that I was not alone in dealing with extremely difficult in-laws. When I understood how many other marriages were being torn apart by extended families, I was encouraged to write this book with the goal of helping even one other woman find freedom from her in-laws!

How can in-laws sabbatoge your relationship?
Well, anyone who has manipulative in-laws knows the "guilt trip" well. This is a snippet from my book that discusses the issue of exaggerations and guilt-trips:

" There are [also] the exaggerations that grow slowly over years. Shortly after Mike and I met, his mom told me that she was in labor with him for twenty-two hours. A few months after Mike and I announce we were having a baby, the topic came up in conversation again. Mike's mother told me she was in labor with Mike for twenty-six hours. After we had our first child and the situation had exploded, Mike's mother sent him a birthday card laden with guilt as she said that the thirty-six hours of hard labor were worth it for her. In just three years, her labor extended fourteen hours!"

What change can people hope for after reading your book?
Most importantly, people can hope for freedom from the guilt their in-laws have laid on them. There are certainly steps to take in making a relationship with one's in-laws better; however, there are times at which a relationship with one's in-laws is not possible to have. There is freedom in knowing that loving one's in-laws and having a relationship with them are two different things and it is possible to love them without having a relationship with them.


What is your background?
I speak from a heart of experience. I am a wife and mother, with nightmare in-laws! I have spent the last eleven years trying to figure out how to make a relationship with them work and even attended counseling for it! Beyond that, I hold a bachelor of arts degree in English and a master of science in education.


Do you have a way for people to connect with you or others going through similar situations?
Yes the website is:  http://www.lovetheunlovable.org/
I love to hear from my readers! I love to answer their questions and just let them have a place to blow off steam or vent! It is a place to connect with others in similar situations and even just laugh at each other's scenarios!

New Year....New You....Books for a fresh start

January is a great time for reading because all the bad weather makes you want to stay inside!  So why not take advantage of some extra down time and do something just for you.  Here are some of our favorite books for making 2011 the year you fall back in love with you!

The 4 Hour Body is by Timothy Ferriss the same author of The 4 Hour Work Week.

He spent ten years trying every diet, excercise program and nutrition supplement out there and has drilled down the information into a concise 571 page book.  This is for the hard core person who really wants to know more about the workings of their body, who might be looking to improve their performance in a sport or is really into diet and nutrition.  Most of the reviews on Amazon.com for the book are from those kinds of people.  There is a section called "how to sleep two hours a day and feel fully rested", which is worth the price of the book alone.  Having a six month old baby at my house makes sleep a serious issue for me!

Another book that hits home for me is Suzanne Somer's, Sexy Forever How To Fight Fat After Forty.  Who would think "Chrissy" would have had the longevity and business savy to become an expert on this!  If you don't know who Chrissy is then you are not 40 and should skip this book anyway!  Suzanne is known for her belief in healthy eating and understanding what you are truly putting into your body.  She is a big "label" reader on the foods you eat, and you will learn a lot about health and nutrition in this book that might surprise you.  Sometimes, we think we are eating healthy only to learn that ingredients in our "healthy" foods are actually hurting our chances at losing weight.  Plus, she doesn't just talk about food toxins, but also toxins in our daily lives from cleaners to our shampoo.  This is a great book for women that really want to learn about living a happier, healthier life.

In these tough economic times we can't have a great 2011 without addressing personal finances.  If you have seen Dave Ramsey on TV you know he's hard core about getting out of debt.  If you want to stop worrying about money and set yourself free from debt then you need to read his book, The Total Money Makeover. 

From Booklist Review:

His seven-step plan includes paying off all debts except the home mortgage at an accelerated speed, creating a financial safety net that covers three to six months' expenses, investing 15 percent of income in a retirement fund, and saving for children's college expenses. He effectively shows how regular people can rid themselves of debt and grow their wealth using current income. 

So there are three of our favorites for 2011.  What are you reading to get your head on straight in the new year?