Category: Books Read-2009

Dear Jo Review

Posted on by Cindy

PUB DATE: May 2007

I heard about this book and I was curious to read it. I was lucky enough to find this at my library. I was surprised to find it in their new release section.

The book is written as a journal/dairy entries. It made for a quick and easy read. The book is about Maxine and her struggle to overcome the lose of her best friend, Leah.

Maxine is a 12 years old girl. She has five best friends, Leah (who is her best best friend), Lexi, Emma, Kelsey and Amanda.

Leah and Maxine have discovered the internet and the darker side of it. They are going into chat rooms and flirting with boys. The girls think that the boys they are flirting with are their age. But before long the girls are getting love letters from them.

Maxine gets caught with the emails and she is grounded from the computer. Leah’s parents don’t say anything to her and she continues her contact with the boy. He then convinces Leah to meet him. Leah thinks he is who he said he was and agrees to meet him. The only thing is we all know that most people aren’t who they say they are and Leah goes missing.

Maxine is heartbroken and realizes that it could have been her. When the police ask her for her help will she agree? Can they catch this guy in time or will it be to late?

One thing I really thought was important and it was brought up in the book was that you should never give out any real info about yourself. I try to be careful about what I put out there and who I give info too.

This is a great book that all young adults should read. I really think as parents we need to monitor our children’s Internet activity. We have to remind them that not everyone you chat with online will be who they say they are.

We need to be careful as this really hit home for me last year when a guy I went to high school with was arrested in the US and is now sitting in a US jail for child pornography and arranging to meeting a minor. He has over 100 charges against him and if he is convicted he will basically be spending the rest of his life behind bars.

copyright 2010, Cindy (Cindy’s Love Of Books)
If you are reading this on a blog or website other than Cindy’s Love Of Books or via a feedreader, this content has been stolen and used without permission.

The Sinful Life of Lucy Burns Review

Posted on by Cindy

PUB DATE: June 2009

Thank you to Harrison and Bruce from Bancroft Press for sending me this great book to read and review. I loved the book and it was such a fun and quick read.

This is Elizabeth’s first novel and she has a total of three under her belt and is working on a fourth one.

When Lucy was almost eleven years old, Ellen, her sister was was hit by a truck while riding her bike one evening in October. Ellen lay in a coma and the chances of her surviving weren’t that good. What the family needed was a miracle.

In their backyard was a kids mailbox that Ellen and Lucy would use and pretend that it was magical. Lucky wrote a letter:

“To Whom It May Concern:
I know I’ve asked for things in the past that I said were really important, but this time I’m not lying. I swear I’ll never ask for anything else if you make this one wish come true. Make Ellen wake up and I’ll be forever in your debt.

Sincerely,
Lucy Burns”

The next morning the family got good news that Ellen was awake. Lucy went outside to destroy the letter. The letter was gone but there was a reply saying “Its a deal. Happy Birthday. I’ll be in touch. Sincerely To Whom It May concern”

From that day Lucy basically sold her sole to the devil. So be careful what you ask for you never know what can happen.

Lucy is now an adult and is working for the devil himself. She is a facilitator to hell. Her basement is one gateway to hell. There are more all over the place. She is given names that she must bring into her home and show them the basement. Meaning she shows them to hell.

She finally realizes that she is tired of her job and not being able to have a real relationship. Working with the devil is rough as he wants undivided attention among his employees.

When she gets to meet her idol Teddy Nightingale. He realizes who she really is and offers to help her out. He tells her the three steps she needs to learn so that she can give her notice to the devil. He tells her it won’t be easy and its not at first. She figures she will try it out and basically has nothing to loose.

She is willing to risk it all for Luke who is a professor at the university. Will she be able quit working with the Devil or will he make it hard for her to leave?

This was a funny and charming quick read and I loved it. There were so many spots that I laughed at (her getting totally drunk on Halloween at a Pampered Chef’s party she is hosting). I loved Lucy. She came off sweet and innocent but yet she knew what she was doing and knew how to get the job done.

I plan on looking into getting her other two books and can’t wait for the fourth one to come out.

copyright 2010, Cindy (Cindy’s Love Of Books)
If you are reading this on a blog or website other than Cindy’s Love Of Books or via a feedreader, this content has been stolen and used without permission.

Miranda’s Big Mistake Review

Posted on by Cindy

PUB DATE: June 2009

I have to send a huge Thank You to Danielle at Sourcebooks for sending me this book. She has introduced me to a fantastic UK author that I probably would never had read otherwise.

I loved this book and I can’t wait to read her Millie’s Fling.

I have to say right off that there is alot of characters in the book. There is Miranda, Chloe, Bev, Fenn, Florence, Danny, Greg, Bruce, Miles, Johnnie and a bunch of other characters which all have small parts in the book. Even though there is alot of characters and story lines happening, it was really nice to see that they all play a part in Miranda’s life and they all came together in the end.

Miranda is a young trainee at a hair salon. Her boss is the famous Fenn Lomax. She’s constantly late and always has the greatest excuses for being late which Fenn never believes. Miranda is a sweet and kind person who goes out of her way to make everyone around her happy. She even makes it a point to give half her lunch to a homeless guy and brings him gloves (which she takes from the salon after a customer left them behind) Then she discovers that the homeless guy (Danny) really isn’t homeless but that he is a making a documentary about life on the street and they want Miranda to okay her part. She is mad at first but then they become friends and perhaps more?

Chloe is married to Greg and works at Bruce’s store. Greg and Chloe seem to have the perfect relationship until Chloe tells Greg that she is pregnant. He isn’t happy and he lets her know. He leaves her because it hates the fact that Chloe broke their wedding promise about not having kids. Chloe decides that she will have the baby. When money becomes tight she decided to look for another place. Thankfully Bruce’s mother Florence tells Chloe that she can move in with her tell she gets on her feet again.

Greg takes tickets that Chloe had for a celebrity event and goes with his friend to the event in hopes to meet Daisy. Its at this party that Miranda and Greg meet. They hit it off instantly and quickly become a couple and then engaged. Greg hasn’t told Miranda about Chloe and swears he never will.

Now as any good book would go of course we know that fate plays a part and the paths of Miranda and Chloe cross. They are now housemates with Florence. How will this play out in the book? Will Chloe realize who the man in Miranda’s life really is?

I loved Miranda and I felt bad for her when she found out about Greg and what he did to her. He got what he deserved in my opinion. Then when she found Miles (the race car driver who was at Grand Prix in Montreal) It was sad to see that didn’t work out and it wasn’t by choice. Then there is Danny will he be able to win Miranda’s heart in the end?

There was alot of love happening in the book. Florence got her man in the end and even Chloe got hit with the love bug while she was having her baby.

These are two cover images I found online for the books. I really like the one with the drawings on it. Which one do you like?

The next book set to be released this fall in North America is Millie’s Fling. I am really excited and can’t wait to read it. I am sure it will be fantastic. I love reading chick lit and I am loving Jill’s books. If you haven’t read anything by Jill yet then you really need to pick it up.

copyright 2010, Cindy (Cindy’s Love Of Books)
If you are reading this on a blog or website other than Cindy’s Love Of Books or via a feedreader, this content has been stolen and used without permission.

Secrets to Happiness Review & Early Bird Blog Tour

Posted on by Cindy


PUB DATE: March 2009

Thank you to Miriam at Hachette for sending me this book to read and review. This is part of the Early Bird Blog Tour.

Here is a list of some of the participating blogs touring the book today:
Participating Blogs:
http://www.writeforareader.blogspot.com/
http://bfishreads.blogspot.com/
http://peekingbetweenthepages.blogspot.com/
http://bookopolis.blogspot.com/
http://bookingmama.blogspot.com/
http://luanne-abookwormsworld.blogspot.com/
http://cafeofdreams.blogspot.com/
http://www.readingwithmonie.com/
http://www.myspace.com/darbyscloset
http://epicrat.blogspot.com/
http://thetometraveller.blogspot.com/
http://jennsbookshelf.blogspot.com/
http://wendisbookcorner.blogspot.com/
http://booksiesblog.blogspot.com/
http://bookinwithbingo.blogspot.com

My Review of the book:

Sarah Dunn is the author of The Big love which I haven’t read yet.

First I have to tell you my favorite part of the book. It was this passage on page 109.

“So, on this particular Sunday afternoon, before she has so much as walked through the bookstore’s front doors, Holly had made a few rules for herself: (1)she could only buy books she actually intended to read; (2)they had to be light enough that she could take the subway home; and (3) she couldn’t spend more the thirty bucks.”

I could relate to this in so many ways as I am always saying something like that before I walk into a bookstore. Thankfully the second works really well if I go downtown to the bookstore as I am busing it and then the metro. Needless to say and I admit I don’t follow the rules. What fun would it be to do that?

Secrets to Happiness is about Holly Frick who is a divorced (she is still in love with her ex, Alex)television writer. Her career is slowly dwindling. She’s written a novel called Hello, Mr Heartache but it sold less than 500 copies. Not your typical best seller.

Trying to get over Alex has been hard for Holly. She is still hoping that they will get back together. She still loves him. When Holly attends a baby shower given by her old friend Betsy she meets Betsy’s 22 year old brother Lucas and begins an affair with him. She figures she should have some fun if Alex is.

Amanda is Holly’s best friend and she’s married to Mark. They have a thirteen month old son named Jacob. Amanda tells Holly about her affair with Jack. She tells Holly that she has to meet him. When Holly agrees to meet him she doesn’t like him. Then a chance meeting she sees him and they agree to go out for coffee.

Amanda ends her affair with Jack when she realizes she doesn’t want to loose what she has. Amanda insists that Holly contact him. Really what kind of person would do that? I don’t think I could do that, could you?

Holly and Jack begin to date. Dating Jack, Holly ends her affair with Lucas. Shortly after Amanda and Jack decide to continue their affair and realizing he still cares about Amanda he breaks up with Holly.

I should also mention that in the beginning of the book Holly decides she is going to adopt a dog. She goes to the animal shelter to adopt a dog. There is one that catches her eye a dog named Chester. Chester has a brain tumor she finds this out after being drawn to him. His owners brought him to the shelter cause they couldn’t afford the operation. A vet has offered to do the operation so that Chester will live. I think this was a great thing that Holly did to adopt a sick dog.

There is alot going on in the book and at times it can be confusing. I know at times I had to flip back a few pages. Over all I enjoyed it. I was even laughing out loud at a few spots.

copyright 2010, Cindy (Cindy’s Love Of Books)
If you are reading this on a blog or website other than Cindy’s Love Of Books or via a feedreader, this content has been stolen and used without permission.

**Last Night in Montreal Review

Posted on by Cindy


PUB DATE: June 2009

Thanks to Caitlin at Unbridled Books for sending me this book to read and review and to be apart of the tour for this book. Honestly with a title like ” Last Night In Montreal” how could I turn this book down? I love to read books with a setting that I know all about. The details were right on and it felt like I was there.

Isn’t the cover great? I love the cover and I really love it when it relates to the book as this one does. There is a reference in the book to the broken plate and pomegranate juice in the first chapter.

“She came out dressed all in black and carrying the three pieces of a plate that had fallen off the bed the night before; it was a light shade of blue, and sticky with pomegranate juice.”

The book is told in various view points from the characters involved: Lilia, Eli, Christopher and Michaela. The book moves back and forth from present to past in alternating chapters. I usually don’t like books like this because of the flip but this worked well with the book and made you want to find out why Lilia’s father had abducted her.

The story is about Lilia and her disapperance from her small Quebec town when she was seven years old. The town is between St Jean and the American border which is several hours from Montreal. Her father has taken her across the American border in various cities and states in the US. They have been travelling her whole life and they never stay in the same city for long because they are afraid of getting caught by the police and Lilia being forced back to her mother.

Eventually her father meets a woman and he decides he is done running and wants to be with her. For Lilia she can’t settle down and moves on. Her father still sends her money in case she needs it and works to get some. She never stays long in one place and as soon as it seems she is making friends she leaves them without them knowing until its too late.

This is what happened to Eli. He has become obsessed with her living and wants to know why so when he gets a postcard one day saying the Lilia is in Montreal and they will help Eli find her. He jumps at the chance and goes from Brooklyn to Montreal and spends his life savings trying to find her.

As I was reading the book I kept wondering why did Michaela dislike Lilia so much? What was the accident that Michaela kept obsessing about wanting answers to? Also if Christopher was always so close why didn’t he do more? Why was he so obsessed over this case?

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:
Emily St. John Mandel was born on the west coast of British Columbia, Canada, in 1979.She studied dance at The School of Toronto Dance Theatre and lived briefly in Montreal before relocating to New York. She lives in Brooklyn.

You can check out Emily’s website here

copyright 2010, Cindy (Cindy’s Love Of Books)
If you are reading this on a blog or website other than Cindy’s Love Of Books or via a feedreader, this content has been stolen and used without permission.

Holly’s Inbox Review

Posted on by Cindy


PUB DATE: June 1, 2009

Have you ever wanted to read someone else’s emails? I am sure deep down you wanted to or perhaps you have. We are curious by nature. Remember that old saying about curiosity killed the cat?

Well in case you ever wanted to read someone else’s inbox now you have the chance. You need to pick up this book, you won’t be disappointed.

Holly’s Inbox is about Holly Denham and she is a 29 year old, (inexperienced) receptionist working at Huerst and Wright. They are a huge financial Institute.

The book is written in email form. The emails are between Holly and a wide range of characters that are family, friends and coworkers. There is always a section with emails from Trish and Toby. Trish is her coworker and Toby is an ex boyfriend.

The emails span over a 5 month period while Holly is adjusting to a new job, a secret love affair with a VP, the return of her ex, family problems and a backstabbing coworker.

Out of all the characters in the book I truly loved her grandmother. The grandmother just got set up with a computer and learning about the web. She emails Holly and before Holly knows it her grandmother is signing her up for cheap flights (so that Holly will visit more) and to dating sites. Can you imagine your grandmother doing that to you? Thankfully I don’t have to worry about that.

The only thing the book lacked was when they mentioned attachments they didn’t include that in the book but you can check out hhtp://www.hollysinbox.com to see them.

Before the book there was a website http://www.hollysinbox.com and it became a huge it with thousands of people logging on to read what was happening next as it was done on a daily bases. It became so popular that they made it into this book. The emails were collected and printed.

You can also see Holly’s MySpace page here http://www.myspace.com/Hollysinbox

Thank you to Danielle at Sourcebooks for sending me this book to read. I am so happy that I did. I am loving British chicklit more and more. When I first got the book I was a little nervous wondering how would I ever read this because its 665 pages. Don’t let that fool you because once you start reading it, the book is a breeze. Its a little and fun read. Be prepared for some laughing moments.

Also Thanks again to Bill for doing the interview with me and for stopping by to comment on the interview. Can’t wait to see what happens next to Holly.

copyright 2010, Cindy (Cindy’s Love Of Books)
If you are reading this on a blog or website other than Cindy’s Love Of Books or via a feedreader, this content has been stolen and used without permission.

Tattoo Heaven Review

Posted on by Cindy

PUB DATE: December 2005

This is Lori’s third book. Another one that takes place in Montreal. With mention of Verdun and Lachine. Areas that I am familiar with. Verdun is where we have our monthly meet ups at.

Jackie is only two days into her summer vacation when her father comes into her bedroom telling her he is leaving and that he can’t do it anymore. Jackie has seen the clues that things weren’t right with her parents for the past year. There was no conversation between them, her father was doing his own laundry and he was even sleeping on the couch. Jackie asks her mother what happened and all she said is that they grew apart. They have no reason to suspect another woman is involved.

After her father leaves Jackie talks to her best friend, Katie what she thinks but Katie is so wrapped up in packing because she is going to her aunts in Nova Scotia for the summer and tells Jackie that she needs to lighten up and get use to the changes happening. Even her boyfriend tells Jackie the same thing.

Once Jackie’s father is completely moved out of the house her mother has put up ads around the neighborhood offering her services of housekeeping so that they can get some money. I think her mother thinks that her husband won’t give her anything. When her mother is asked to clean a neighbor across the street her mother is excited. The neighbor has a sick daughter, Theresa. Jackie always looks away when she sees Theresa. Its because Jackie doesn’t like being around sick people.

Her mother is happy and tells Jackie she should visit Theresa. Jackie is reluctant at first but then agrees to go over the once to make her mother happy. She begins to realize that Theresa isn’t that bad and apart from being sick she is like every other girl out there.

Jackie sees her dad on Sundays. On the first Sunday she is with him, he introduces her to Nicole. Nicole is much younger then her father and she is tall, thin and pretty compared to her mother. Nicole is a tattoo artist. Every time he drops Jackie back at home he gives her money to give her mother. Jackie is a little upset at first when she realizes how long her father and Nicole have been going out.

When Jackie’s mother tells Jackie that Theresa needs a bone marrow she tells Jackie she is going to get tested this annoys Jackie and the following Sunday she rebels and tells Nicole she wants that tattoo now. If her mother knew about it she would be furious.

Once the tattoo is done she shows Theresa and she loves it. Seeing that Theresa loves the tattoo she asks Nicole about temporary ones and tells Jackie to take what ever she wants and she does. The next day she goes over to see Theresa and tells her to pick out one she wants and that she will put it on. With a tattoo on Theresa’s arm her mother is furious when she walks in and sees it. She is furious because she had no control on the situation. She is always over protecting Theresa. Knowing she did something her mother didn’t approve of Theresa is happy and she seems to be getting better.

Jackie realizes how much of a friend Theresa really is compared to that of Alex and Katie. She is even happy when her mother announces she wants to go back to school to take some nursing courses.

I enjoyed the book and was hoping that Jackie would over come her feelings about being around sick people. For some reason I knew that Jackie and Theresa would end up friends and that Katie would end up on the side.

copyright 2010, Cindy (Cindy’s Love Of Books)
If you are reading this on a blog or website other than Cindy’s Love Of Books or via a feedreader, this content has been stolen and used without permission.