March 31, 2013

Series Sunday: Make Over: Revitalizing the Many Roles You Fill

(Modern Girl's Bible Study)


Series Sunday is a bookish meme hosted by Literary Marie of Precision Reviews. I encourage all of my fellow book bloggers and bookhearts to play along.
  • Read an installment of a series.
  • Share your review/recommendation below.
  • Include the title, author and series name.
My Series Sunday pick is Make Over: Revitalizing the Many Roles You Fill, a book in the Modern Girl's Bible Study series by Jen Hatmaker. Women are the masters of multitasking. Every day we juggle responsibilities and wear different hats. Sometimes we feel discouraged or beyond tired. But don't fret, ladies. Make Over is a spiritual guide that focuses on women from the Bible who successfully balanced their lives.

The study sessions are well-paced and easy to follow. A leader's guide is also included for study groups. All you need is a pen, paper and highlighter to accompany this book.

Jen Hatmaker has an honest, funny voice. She gives tips because she truly understands a modern girl. She breaks down Bible passages so that I can understand and apply it to my daily life. This book in particular really helps me to define, prioritize and balance the many roles I fill. I highly recommend this Bible Study series.

Happy Easter, bookhearts! Be blessed.

Title: Make Over: Revitalizing the Many Roles You Fill
Author: Jen Hatmaker
Published: June 2007
Pages: 202
Edition: Paperback
Rating: ♥♥♥♥♥

 

March 29, 2013

First Lines Friday


First Lines Friday is a bookish meme hosted by Literary Marie of Precision Reviews. I encourage all of my fellow book bloggers and bookhearts to play along.
  • Grab your current read(s).
  • Share the first line(s).
  • Include the title and author.


"If I could fit myself into this mail slot, here, I'd follow my letter all the way to Hollywood, all the way to Scott, right up to the door of our next future. We have always had a next one, after all, and there's no good reason we shouldn't start this one now. If only people could travel as easily as words."
 
~ Z: A Novel of Zelda Fitzgerald by Therese Anne Fowler

 

March 27, 2013

Mom & Me & Mom


"This is the role of the mother..." ~ p. 113

Just when I thought I knew all there was to know about my beloved Maya Angelou, she shares a personal story for the first time: her relationship with her mother. From her autobiographies, we already know that Maya Angelou, along with her brother Bailey, was sent to live with their grandmother in Stamps, Arkansas. But the reunion between Maya and Vivian Baxter has never been told...until now.

Mom & Me & Mom is a nonfiction story of respect, blending into lives and the relationship between a mother and daughter. I have an awesome relationship with my own mother, affectionately nicknamed "Chickadee." Reading about Maya Angelou's life with her mother, that she called "Lady," tugged at my heart strings. It helped me understand the woman behind the famous poems and well written autobiographies.

Mom & Me & Mom is a shorter account of her life at less than 200 pages. Nevertheless, the reader is engaged from the prologue to the last word. It may not seem like you're learning something new about Maya Angelou if you've read her bestselling autobiographies and watched interviews. This book was more of an explanatory piece that revealed certain moments spent with her mom and the effect of their relationship. Still worth the read!

If you aren't used to Maya Angelou's writing style, it may seem choppy. She jumps from memory to memory with little to no transition. It can throw your reading off. But if you are like me and have grown to appreciate Maya Angelou's writing, the book will not be hard to follow. She is unafraid to tell the events of her life and the lessons learned. Her autobiographies, in my stannish opinion, are the best example of fine literature.

DISCLAIMER: This book was received directly from the publisher for review purposes only. In no way does it influence my review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. A sincere thanks to the publisher for granting me an advance copy.

"Gluttonous and greedy negatively describe the hearty eater offered the seduction of her favorite food." ~ pg. 58

Title: Mom & Me & Mom
Author: Maya Angelou
Published:  April 2013
Pages: 128
Edition: Galley
Rating: ♥♥♥♥♥

 

March 26, 2013

The Floater


"Justice no longer existed in this day and age." ~ pg. 118

Norma Reyes is not the normal 46-year-old woman. She is a recent law school graduate supporting her elderly mother who unfortunately has dementia. After working as a summer law clerk at a prestigious law firm and taking the bar exam, Norma is confident she'll land a job immediately. But due to the recession, she is only hired as a floater. No, not the "stubborn piece of shit bobbing in the toilet" but a rotating secretary. The job is just a pit stop until the economy gets better, or so Norma hopes. Next thing you know, a smoking gun falls into Norma's hands that forces her into a legal battle.

Let's talk about the book cover first. Caught your eye, didn't it? It may seem light-hearted and maybe even comedic. But this book has way more serious moments than the cover portrays.

It is evident that the author, Sheryl Sorrentino, is a practicing attorney. While the law firm and events in the book are fictional, it is clear Sheryl knows her stuff! The well developed plot is an example of glass ceilings and legal drama. In the Author's Note, Sheryl reveals that her goal was to evoke intense reactions in readers. Well, consider the goal achieved.

I recommend The Floater for middle-aged women and book clubs. It is also a good read for those working in corporate America that may feel unappreciated. Let Norma's story give you hope.

DISCLAIMER: This book was received directly from the author for review purposes only. In no way does it influence my review. The opinions I have expressed are my own.

Title: The Floater
Author: Sheryl Sorrentino
Published: August 2012
Pages: 356
Edition: eBook
Rating: ♥♥♥

 

March 24, 2013

Series Sunday: H is for Homicide

(Kinsey Millhone Alphabet #8)

Series Sunday is a bookish meme hosted by Literary Marie of Precision Reviews. I encourage all of my fellow book bloggers and bookhearts to play along.
  • Read an installment of a series.
  • Share your review/recommendation below.
  • Include the title, author and series name.

My Series Sunday pick is H is for Homicide, the eighth book in the Kinsey Millhone alphabet series by Sue Grafton. Private Investigator Kinsey Millhone has a business deal with California Fidelity Insurance (CFI). She leases apartment space in exchange for investigating a few insurance claims. Well "bureaucratic bullshit" forces the deal to be amended.

In the meantime, Kinsey accepts one last case of possible insurance fraud. Kinsey's colleague, Parnell Perkins, is found murdered in the parking lot behind CFI. The only clue to solving the murder is one of Parnell's files on Bibianna Diaz, a lady who makes a career out of filing phony accident claims.

Even though Kinsey hasn't worked for the Police Department in years, she goes undercover. Kinsey takes a "crash" course at the Southern California College of Auto Fraud. Nice twist! But I have a like/dislike feeling about H is for Homicide. I liked how involved Kinsey was in the current investigation, but the mystery was too predictable. Could I have been a sleuth in another life? Or is the series starting to slip? Hmmm, I will read further in the series to find out.

Title: H is for Homicide
Author: Sue Grafton
Published: May 1991
Pages: 231
Edition: eBook
Rating: ♥♥♡

 

March 22, 2013

First Lines Friday





First Lines Friday is a bookish meme hosted by Literary Marie of Precision Reviews. I encourage all of my fellow book bloggers and bookhearts to play along.
  • Grab your current read(s).
  • Share the first line(s).
  • Include the title and author.
Beyoncé on April cover of SHAPE magazine

~ Behind The Scenes with Beyonce Video by Shape Magazine (April 2013 Issue)

 

March 21, 2013

March eMags

I am Living La Vida NOOK with these March eMags:


The Writer ~ The Lives of Writers

Real Simple ~ Back-to-Basics Beauty

Essence ~ Black Women in Hollywood

Ebony ~ The Real-Life Scandal Issue

MacLife ~ Apple's Next Big Thing?

Vogue ~ Queen B! Rules the World

Oxford American ~ Fiction

Marie Claire ~ Spring Fashion

Jet ~ Nia Long: Always Worth the Wait

US Weekly ~ Secrets of the Royal Baby!

Rolling Stone ~ The Spy Who Cracked Up in the Cold

Entertainment Weekly ~ Clive Davis: The Hitmaker Tells All

 

March 19, 2013

Decadence


"All had carnal desires. All had needs." ~ pg. 2

It's been a few years since Pleasure; Nia Simone Bijou is finally back. Her literary career is successful. Her love life is on hold while she explores and indulges in pleasure. Nia Simone Bijou is a member of Decadence, an adult-themed private club. Yes, THAT type of club. Sowing wild oats before settling down is an understatement. Everyone and everything is game!

Sex clubs are real and finally an author writes about this secluded world of temptation.This book is not for prudes. There is plenty sex. There are no boundaries. This is erotica pushing the limit.

There is no match to Eric Jerome Dickey's signature raw descriptive writing style. Words force you to visualize. Details leave you wanting more. Sex scenes excite you (the reader) as if you're the character. The story itself takes you to a place far from reality. An aphrodisiac of literature. This is grown folks fiction.

It still amazes me how Eric Jerome Dickey can write in female's point of view so well. Nia Simone Bijou is my favorite female character of Dickey's. Like me, it appears that nothing fazes us. Yet everything matters, we just can't afford to let it show. Plus we think too much. Even though majority of the book is erotic, there are moments where the reader can connect with Nia through her emotions. But sub-characters are not as well developed and instead seem like cameos. You may be pleased that old pals make a brief appearance in Decadence, including Driver.

Decadence will be published on April 23. Pre-order or add to your wish list for your heightened reading pleasure. Next up: Gideon and the new Four Horsemen!

DISCLAIMER: This book was received directly from the publisher for review purposes only. In no way does it influence my review. The opinions I have expressed are my own.

Title: Decadence
Author: Eric Jerome Dickey
Published: April 2013
Pages: 368
Edition: Galley
Rating: ♥♥♥♥

 

March 17, 2013

Series Sunday: G is for Gumshoe

(Kinsey Millhone Alphabet #7)

Series Sunday is a bookish meme hosted by Literary Marie of Precision Reviews. I encourage all of my fellow book bloggers and bookhearts to play along.
  • Read an installment of a series.
  • Share your review/recommendation below.
  • Include the title, author and series name.

My Series Sunday pick is G is for Gumshoe, the seventh book in the Kinsey Millhone alphabet mystery series by Sue Grafton. EEK! Kinsey is on the top of a hitman's list! A criminal that Kinsey helped put behind bars has ordered a contract murder involving Kinsey, the DA and the judge who sentenced him. After being run off the road, Kinsey hires a bodyguard, Robert Dietz. Danger never hit this close to home. Pun intended.

Kinsey is hired by Irene Gersh to locate her elderly mother Agnes. Kinsey finds Agnes in a hospital. Aside from ramblings and short-term memory loss, Agnes seems frightened. But far as Kinsey is concerned, her work is done. Until Agnes dies of homicide and Kinsey wonders if the elderly lady's ramblings were really clues.

In G is for Gumshoe, readers learn a little bit more about Kinsey's past. I like how Sue Grafton is gradually feeding us tidbits about Kinsey's personal life. It keeps the mysteries realistic and builds suspense. Kinsey is slowly becoming one of my favorite characters in a series. She uses her wits and common sense to solve a mystery. She may not have graduated from college, but is an example of a successful career woman. I look forward to reading more and catching up on this series.

Title: G is for Gumshoe
Author: Sue Grafton
Published: May 1990
Pages: 191
Edition: eBook
Rating: ♥♥♥♥♥

 

March 15, 2013

First Lines Friday


First Lines Friday is a bookish meme hosted by Literary Marie of Precision Reviews. I encourage all of my fellow book bloggers and bookhearts to play along.
  • Grab your current read(s).
  • Share the first line(s).
  • Include the title and author.

"Frequently, I have been asked how I got to be this way." 
 
~ Mom & Me & Mom by Maya Angelou

 

March 13, 2013

Six Years


"Amazing what we can self-rationalize when we really want something." ~ pg. 23

Six years ago, Natalie dumped Jake Fisher with a note. The next day he got an invitation to Natalie's wedding to another man, Todd. Even though Jake went to the wedding and witnessed with his own eyes, he never moved on. He always thought about his lost love. He even made a promise to leave Natalie and Todd alone.

So six years later when Jake comes across Todd's obituary, he cannot stay away. All bets are off, right? He goes to the funeral hoping for a glimpse of Natalie, but the widow is a completely different woman! It turns out that Todd was married to someone else for years. There is no sign or mention of Natalie. Now Jake is baffled and even more determined to find his Natalie.

This is a story of lost love as much as it is a mystery. While reading, I held out hope for Jake to reunite with Natalie. Thanks to the writing style, I got to figure out the mystery right along with Jake as he uncovered clues. As the main character, Jake is very realistic. Feeling naked without his iPhone, drawing rational conclusions, making fun of crime TV and movie exaggerations, and being completely baffled during certain turns of events. Jake is a character I couldn't help but to like and root for.

If you are looking to read a suspenseful, fast-paced novel that keeps you guessing, Six Years is it! Author Harlan Coben's standalone books are just as good as his Bolitar series. Whether you are a Coben fan or new to his writing, I recommend Six Years. And to Coben: Keep the good stories coming!
 
Six Years releases on March 19. Pre-order your copy now and get into this good mystery soon as its available. In the meantime, check out the book trailer below.



DISCLAIMER: This book was received directly from the publisher for review purposes only. In no way does it influence my review. The opinions I have expressed are my own.

Title: Six Years
Author: Harlan Coben
Published:  March 2013
Pages: 369
Edition: Galley
Rating: ♥♥♥♥♡

 

March 3, 2013

Series Sunday: Kinsey and Me: Stories


Series Sunday is a bookish meme hosted by Literary Marie of Precision Reviews. I encourage all of my fellow book bloggers and bookhearts to play along.
  • Read an installment of a series.
  • Share your review/recommendation below.
  • Include the title, author and series name.

My Series Sunday pick is Kinsey and Me: Stories, a supplemental book of the Kinsey Millhone alphabet series by Sue Grafton. Kinsey entered Sue's life, like an apparition, in 1977. Five years later, Sue introduced us to Kinsey Millhone, a thirty-something, twice divorced, female private investigator. To mark the 30th anniversary of the series, Sue Grafton published Kinsey and Me that reveals stories about Kinsey's origins and Sue's own past.

Kinsey and Me is divided into two parts. Part One is nine short fictional stories ranging from 1986-1993. Each story is a case that Kinsey was hired to investigate. Part Two is about Sue's life written in the decade after her mother died. Questions that readers may have about the series is discussed such as why Sue Grafton chose the 1980s as the setting, how the crimes are chosen, and how much of Kinsey is really fiction. Unfortunately it did not address Sue Grafton's plans after the alphabet is done.

You do not have to be up-to-date on the alphabet series to read Kinsey and Me. I'm less than halfway through the series and was not lost. If anything, it gave me more insight as to Kinsey's character and the writer behind her. Kinsey really is Sue's alter ego.

Title: Kinsey and Me: Stories
Author: Sue Grafton
Published: January 2013
Pages: 283
Edition: Hardcover
Rating: ♥♥♥

 

March 1, 2013

First Lines Friday


First Lines Friday is a bookish meme hosted by Literary Marie of Precision Reviews. I encourage all of my fellow book bloggers and bookhearts to play along.
  • Grab your current read(s).
  • Share the first line(s).
  • Include the title and author.

"I sat in the back pew and watched the only woman I would ever love marry another man."
 
~ Six Years by Harlan Coben