Book Review: Camp Rolling Hills 2

I was given this book by Abram kids in exchange for my honest review:
The first Camp Rolling Hills book was a huge success with me and this one, Crossing Over. is just as good.
Each of the characters in this book are well-rounded and Davidowitz does a great job writing each one. I could relate to the issues that each character faced. Once again I highly recommend this book whether a child has been to camp or not. It is a great book.

Book Review: The Rejected Writers' Book Club Suzanne Kelman

 I received this book from NetGalley in exchange for my honest review.
Janet Johnson is a librarian who, reluctantly, went to a meeting of the Rejected Writers' Book Club. This group of women love looking at each others manuscripts while having tea and lemon cake. None of them actually seem truly interested in publishing their books. This group gave Janet just what she needed after moving to Southlea Bay, Washington, a nice group of friends. At one of the meetings, the ladies were preparing to celebrate the five hundredth rejection letter in the group, when they received bad news. They all decide to travel to San Francisco to look for a secret. They come across many different dangers along the way.
If you have been reading this blog for a while you know that if a book mentions books, libraries or other such deliciousness I will request to review it.
I found this charming book to be so much fun to read. It was a little slow to start but soon the craziness comes along. I know that I will pick up this book again and again when I need some zaniness in my life.


situational-humor, verbal-humor, bad-puns, family-dynamics, friendship, women-s-fiction, whispersync
This is the very book you need on a bad day or after a really lousy shift! The characters certainly are and the interactions will have you laughing in spite of yourself. The publisher's blurb gives hints but doesn't begin to prepare you for all of the fun!
situational-humor, verbal-humor, bad-puns, family-dynamics, friendship, women-s-fiction, whispersync
This is the very book you need on a bad day or after a really lousy shift! The characters certainly are and the interactions will have you laughing in spite of yourself. The publisher's blurb gives hints but doesn't begin to prepare you for all of the fun!

Book Review: Head Over Heels

I was given this book by NetGalley in exchange for my honest review.
Jessie Roscoe is an interior designer with a secret. This is about to change when the unidentified father of her son moves into the house next to hers. A father and son meeting can't be too far behind. The father, Toby Gillespie, is married to a very understanding woman, Deborah. How will this all play out?
I enjoy reading Jill Mansell books. This book was so entertaining and easy to read. I was able to read this very quickly.
The recommendation is very high for this book.

Book Review: Good in Bed by Jennifer Weiner

In the book Good in Bed, Cannie Shapiro has had a pretty good life, in spite of the fact that her mother has come out of the closet and her father is now where to be found in her life. She has wonderful friends, including Nifkin, her faithful rat terrier. She works for The Philadelphia Examiner.

One momentous day she see "Loving a Larger Woman" in a woman's magazine, written by her ex-boyfriend. Being larger, Cannie comes down to earth, but deals with the year in front of her. She travels round trip to Hollywood and begins a new life beginning to see who she is right now and who she wants to be.

I enjoyed this book, the serious and the fun parts. Weiner does such a good job writing realistic characters. In this case dealing with a size 12 woman who is viewed as large. I like how she was turned around to see what a valuable person she is.

This is a well-written book and I recommend it.
I was given this book by NetGalley in exchange for my honest review. 

This book may be found on Amazon HERE!

and on Barnes and Noble HERE!

Nicki's father, an ex-con, came to visit for an undetermined amount of time. This book tells of the funny side of life living with a father, son and boyfriend.

Nicki loves real estate but right now she appraises homes. Real estate gives her a dream of the life she would like to have with Cody, her son and Jake, her boyfriend. Somehow in her dream her father was not one of the occupants in the house.

Ronnie, her father, was released from prison when it was discovered there had been an error made in his sentencing. He spent a couple of months in a halfway house but now is ready to move in with her daughter who he has not had any communication with for years. His thoughts are Nicki is his family and family always welcomes each other.

This was such an entertaining book filled with characters that are so humorous they have to be based on real-life, and in this case they are. There was also depth throughout as Ronnie realizes the affect parents have on their children when they are young.

I felt like this was an entertaining book that goes so much further than expected. I enjoyed it.

I was given this book by NetGalley and Gallery Books in exchange for my honest review.

This book may be found at Amazon HERE
or at Barnes and Noble HERE

Book Review: Gork, the Teenage Dragon

Gork is different from other dragons. His heart is big, his horns aren't and he faints. At the WarWings Military Academy he is called Weak Sauce and he is the lowest in his class. However, he doesn't let any of this get to him. Tomorrow he is to graduate from high school and tonight he needs to ask a female to be queen. It could go one of two ways, she could say yes and they will go off together to other planets, or he could end up being a slave.

This is a combination of love story, fantasy and just so much fun. The author has such an imagination, it is hard to believe this could be a debut novel. Teens will be able to relate to it as they empathize with Gork and cheer him on.

This would be an enjoyable book for this age reader and I recommend it. I was given this book by NetGalley and Knopf Doubleday Publishing in exchange for my honest review.

This book may be purchased from Amazon HERE!

Or at Barnes and Noble HERE!

Book Review: A Hiss Before Dying

A Hiss Before Dying is a cozy mystery in the Mrs. Murphy series.

During the Autumn, while the world is going about its normal routines of cleaning and preparing for winter, the annual rabbit hunt takes place. During this event the beagles and the hunters come up with a different find of find....a dead body.

Previously a missing truck driver's corpse was found, although it could not be identified. Where these too connected? Harry Haristeen finds some clues which go back to the area right after the Revolutionary War.

Through the help of the cats, Mrs. Murphy, Pewter, and Tucker, the mystery begins to unravel.

I enjoy reading about the likeable characters and the interesting parts about the history involved. I did not want to put this book down once I started.

I was given this book by NetGalley and Bantam in exchange for my honest review.

This book may be purchased HERE!

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Book Review: Smart Girl

Well, I did it again. I picked a book from a series that I have not read. However, that did not keep me from enjoying this light-hearted, fun romance.

Miko Jin seems to like falling in love, however, the men are from books. Then she sees and falls for Liam Ashton. Liam could not be farther from Miko, in every way. Patience is the key for Miko, so she turns to her books and friends to find the way to get Liam to fall for her

Brilliant designer Miko Jin is a hopeless romantic. She’s spent most of her life falling in love over and over again…with the men she finds in the pages of her favorite novels.

For a fun, easy book to read, I recommend this, even if you haven't read the others in the series!

I received this book from NetGalley and Lake Union Publishing in exchange for an honest review. 

Book Review: My Not So Perfect Life

My daughter introduced me to Sophie Kinsella over 10 years ago. Since then, I believe I have read every book written by her. Each one is different but very enjoyable. My (not so) Perfect Life follows in that path.

This book is centered around Katie Brenner. When she looks around she see other people who have lives like she would want. This includes Demeter Farlowe, Katie's boss. Where Katie sees her own life as an uphill battle, including her home and flatmates, Demeter's life seems perfect. She has the perfect home, family and clothing.

Finally, Katie sees the light at the end of the tunnel and she is fired......by Demeter. She moves to her family home and tries to begin a new business setting the farm up as a vacation home. After doing this, who shows up but Demeter.

I love the way Kinsella writes. Her characters are so lovable, and so real. Each has flaws just like real people, which helps to make them relate-able. I am so glad to have the opportunity to read this latest book and look forward to more in the future.

I was given this book by NetGalley and Random House Publishing in exchange for my honest review.

Book Review: Shylock is my Name

First of all, I love Shakespeare, so this title attracted my attention. It is based, loosely, on the Merchant of Venice. Jacobson uses this story to address antisemitism, as it is addressed a little in the original play. His wit and eye when addressing this is right up there with Shakespeare, even though the Bard's use of these traits was not touched upon quite as much.

In this story, the main character, Strulovitch is a well-to-do gentleman who is generous. He is also a Jew who tries to stay on the periphery of the goings on in the city. This does not mean that he has no feelings about the goings on around him. He feels the anger, but he deals with it with humor and wisdom.

I cannot say that I enjoyed it as much as I did the original but it was an interesting version of the Merchant of Venice. Readers should be aware of the subjects that are addressed in the book as they may begin to feel uncomfortable. However, this was a well-written book.

I was given this book by Blogging for Books in exchange for my honest review.  

Book Review: Foster Learns a Law

Foster is a young man who wants to know the why behind everything. This includes the making of a law. After being told that nobody can do certain things, he begins to form his question. When Nobody visits him he begins to receive his answers.

This bright, easily read book is a great way to introduce children to the ins and outs of law in a fun way. I believe that this book could be appreciated by children of almost any age. The pictures are fun and bright to keep young readers' attention.

I feel this could be a great addition to any home or school library.

I was given this book by NetGalley and Charwood Publications in exchange for my honest review

Children's book Review: Oliver and the Seawigs

Oliver and the Seawigs is a fun adventurous book for young children. Oliver Crisp's parents have always been explorers, until they decide to settle down. This does not last very long as their home, which is surrounded by water, become surrounded by islands also. While exploring, they go missing along with the islands.

This book is so creative. There is a wig which is made out of the sea, a mermaid who is nearsighted, rude seaweed and monkeys galore.

This book will easily become a favorite for parents and children. Just be prepared for read-a-thons involving this story.

I was given this book by NetGalley and Random House Books for Young Readers in exchange for my honest review. 

Book review: Gummi Bears should not be organic

I love this book. I first requested this book from NetGalley because the title made me smile and the smile did not disappear throughout. The author is a blogger that finds ease in finding the humor in her everyday life raising three daughters.

It makes it easier to find the humor in a mother's everyday life. I was able to relate to the stories that she told as I caught myself laughing out loud every time I  picked this book up.

I was given this book by NetGalley in exchange for my honest review.