Category: Challenges (past)

Hindsight: What You Need to Know Before You Drop Your Drawers!

Posted on by Cindy


PUB DATE: March 24, 2009

I have to send a big thank you to Alicia for contacting me about the book and thank you to Maryanne for signing it and for sending it too me.

I am sure at one point in our lives we have had the knack for attracting Mr. Wrong(s). (Or we are in the process of being with a Mr Wrong.) I was told that when it comes to relationships that timing is everything and if you wait it will happen. If you rush into a relationship then you will regret it and end up with a heartache and wasted time.

If we only knew what we know after the fact, I think it would help to know what we need to know before we “drop your drawers” so that it can save us from tons of heartache and wasted time.

Have you ever wondered how it can be so stressful in finding a man for you and then you see others where it seems like it just falls into their laps? I have been the one who would stress and wonder if I would ever find a man for me and then see friends that would get a guy. I always thought it was so unfair. It would turn out that those relationships never worked because they had found the Mr Wrong.

The book HINDSIGHT: WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW BEFORE YOU DROP YOUR DRAWERS will guide you through the challenges of dating. It will offer you solutions on how to find the right guy for you, how to get him, and how to keep him.

Maryanne reveals the six tools you need to know to create the perfect guy. The six tools she talks about is the mirror, the magnet, the stud finder, the flashlight, the compass and the hammer. Maryanne teaches the reader about the tools and how we can turn them into lifelong skills. There are a few quizzes you can take in the chapters as well. One of the exercises I enjoyed was making a list of guys you dated and what you liked about them and then you had to write why the relationship ended and from there you could see a little pattern developing.

I have to admit I normally don’t read these kinds of books but once I started to read it I was enjoying it. There was even parts of the book where I was laughing out loud. The best was her first public speaking appearance. To be a fly on that wall and I wonder what Veronica was thinking at first.

You can check out Maryanne’s site here: http://www.MaryanneLive.com

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.

**An Offer You Can’t Refuse Review

Posted on by Cindy


I have to apologize for the late delay in posting my review for this book. I am only getting back into reviewing books since I had burned my hand a few weeks ago.

I have to admit that I have never heard of Jill Mansell until Danielle at Source Books emailed me to ask if I would be interested in reading An Offer You Can’t Refuse. She is dubbed as the next Sophie Kinsella. Hearing that made me want to read this book. I am a huge Sophie Kinsella fan. I have read all her books and love them.

Jill Mansell is really big in the UK and she is finally making her debut in the US. I think she will be a huge success here. Needless to say I am really excited to read more by her and I am hoping that Sourcebooks will be putting out more of her books here. Coming this summer is Miranda’s Big Mistake.

As you can see I loved the book. Its a great chick lit book which I love.

An Offer You Can’t Refuse is about a seventeen year old girl named Lola Malone and she is madly in love with Dougie Tennant. The problem is Dougie’s mother, Adele. She doesn’t like Lola and she wants her out of Dougie’s life. She offers Lola 10,000 pounds to break up with Dougie and stay out of his life forever. Lola is horrified that his mother would make an offer like that. She goes home upset and discovers her step father is packing up and planning on leaving cause he has a huge gambling debt and doesn’t want her or her mother to suffer but they would if he leaves so Lola calls Adele and accepts the offer but instead of 10,000 pounds its twelve and a half pounds and Dougie is not to know. So that her step father will stay.

Fast forward ten years and Lola is back in Britain. She has gone into Kingsley’s bookstore to look around. I just loved this part of the book. Loved the descriptions.

“She craved a proper bookshop like an addict craves a fix. There wasn’t much that could beat that gorgeous new-book smell, touching the covers and turning the pages of a book whose pages had, just possibly, never been turned before.” Does anyone else get like this? I just love the smell of new books.

“So many books, so little time.” I can relate with that quote. As I am sure you all can relate to that quote too?

While she is in Kingsley’s she is mistaken for a “working girl” and is asked to leave but Lola refuses to go and continues to pick up books to buy. When she gets to the counter to complain to the manager about what had happened, the manager offers her apologies. Lola asks about the job that is being offered and is hired.

I think Jill did a great job on choosing the right job for Lola to have. I was laughing at all the customers she had to deal with. This struck a cord with me because I can totally relate to the book at this point. I use to work in a bookstore and I swear I had customers just like the ones in the book. Its nice to know that it happens in other parts of the world and not just here.

One night while Lola is out with friends she decides to head home. On the way she interrupts a mugging that is happening with no idea who the woman is she just wants to help out. Both women end up in the hospital and the husband comes to invite Lola to a party. It is only at this party that she finds out who the woman is. Its no other then Adele. Adele is not happy with seeing Lola again. Then Lola suddenly meets Dougie again at this party and discovers upon seeing him that she is still madly attracted to him, she hopes that maybe, just maybe….it could possibly work this time around. But then Dougie over hears about the payoff and he wants nothing to do with her. She promised to never reveal the reason she needed the money, but how is she going to win Dougie back when he thinks she is nothing but money hungry?

When a man comes into the store playing a customer looking for book sugggestions from Lola, what will happen when Lola’s finds out that its her real dad and he has shown up after twenty something years?

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 Professors’ Wives Club Review

Posted on by Cindy


PUB DATE: September 2008

The Professors’ Wives Club is about four women; Mary, Sofia, Hannah and Ashleigh. Its done it alternating perspectives. Each chapter is by each of the characters.

Even though these women share the faculty housing garden and see each other in the garden they are all strangers until news that the garden is set to be demolished. They unite to save the garden.

Mary is the oldest of the women. She is married to dean Jack Havemeyer and has a daughter that is getting married. She is an outspoken author and professor at the university but when she is around her husband she is very quiet. We discover that Jack hits her when he is angry.

Sofia is pregnant when we first meet her. She is a stay at home mom and has a young daughter She is also married to a professor at the university. She was once a successful Hollywood agent. She left her career to be a mother.

Hannah was once a model and is married to a professor at the university too. She left her modelling career to pursue her love of being an artist. She is going back to school and has a thing for her professor.

Ashleigh is a young lawyer and works in the family law firm. She is keeping a huge secret that could probably devastate her family. She is keeping her true identity from them.

Jack is on a campaign to demolish the faculty garden and turn it into a parking lot. The women soon discover that there is a hidden agenda to Jack’s plan and it has something to do with Edgar Allan Poe’s manuscript. The women are on a mission to find out what the reason is and will stop and nothing to uncover and expose Jack for what he really is.

One Sunday I was at the library with Michael taking him to an activity that the library was hosting and I saw this book on the new release shelf. I was excited to read it because I had read a few good reviews on the book and it was on my to buy list for awhile.

I managed to read this book in two sittings and really enjoyed it. Its a great book about friendship. There was enough action that kept me interested in the book and I had a hard time to put it down. The characters were all believable. The descriptions made you feel like you were there.

This is the first book by Joanne Rendell. I am really excited to read her next book which is set to be released this year.

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 Next Big Thing Review

Posted on by Cindy


PUB DATE: March 2005

This is the first time I read something by Johanna Edwards. I have to say that I really enjoyed this book. In fact so much that I read it all in a day. This was how I spent my Saturday. Once I started reading it I couldn’t put it down.

The Next Big Thing is about a girl named Kat. She is 231 pounds. She works in a PR firm and has an Internet boyfriend, Nick. Nick lives in England. He is tall, dark and handsome. He works for a British magazine. The met online several months ago and correspond by email and phone calls. Nick has sent Kat pics and Kat sent an older photoshopped version of herself. Nick thinks that Kat is a size 4.

One morning at work her best friend, Donna slides the newspaper to Kat pointing out and article that is announcing a new reality show looking for people to take part in. The show is called From Fat To Fabulous. With only days to get her audition package in Kat decides to go for it she figures she has nothing to loose except the weight. She figures that when she looses the weight she will agree to finally meet Nick who really wants to meet Kat. Kat has been finding all kinds of excuses to get out of meeting him.

Kat goes through the audition process and gets accepted and is relieved cause Nick is sending Kat a package and she is worried it is really Nick. So off to LA Kat goes to have her struggles filmed for everyone to see. She is one of six contestants who will live in a LA mansion. In the third month there is a twist to the game and Nick ends up in the house. He is upset with Kat for the lies she told and ignores her. Then one night she kisses Jagger the show’s host. He has been flirting with Kat. Things only get worse for Kat. Jagger is there for Kat. Although she doesn’t win the show she does discover what kind of guy Nick really is and in the end she does get her happy ending.

Looking forward to reading more from Johanna.

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.

**Kitty Goes to Washington Review

Posted on by Cindy


This is the second book in the Kitty series.

Kitty has taken her show on the road. She broadcasts her show live on Friday nights from a different city each week. As Kitty is on her cross country journey she talks to her lawyer who tells her that she has been called to appear before a Senate hearing in regards to the Center for the Study of Paranatural biology.

As Kitty enters Washington she comes upon a road block thinking its an accident at first but then realizes that they were looking for her. The Vampire Mistress, Alette, has offered Kitty protection. Kitty is unsure at first why she would be offering to protect Kitty. When she meets with Alette she informs Kitty that its not safe for her and that she must always be with a body guard. We know Kitty and know that she won’t go for it she will rebel. Which she does of course. There would be no story if she did.

Kitty’s first night in Washington she has been invited to an Art Exhibit. She is forced to bring Leo with her. At the gallery she leaves to go to the bathroom and bumps into Luis who is a hot Brazilian were-jaguar. They manage to escape Leo and he brings Kitty to Crescent. Crescent is a place were all were-animals gather. She meets Ahmed who is the leader and speaking with him she realizes he does things differently then what she is use too.

Kitty is hoping to talk more with Dr Flemming and find out more about Elijah Smith. She is a little surprised when she finds out he has been called to testify at the hearing. What is Elijah’s story and can he really cure the supernatural?

It was really nice to see that Carrie mentioned some well known Washington landmarks in the book and that Kitty wanted to see all the tourists spots. This showed the human aspect of Kitty.

Thank you to Miriam at Hachette for sending me this book. I am really enjoying the series so far and I am happy that I decided to step outside my comfort zone to read them. This is a genre of books that I normally wouldn’t have read on my own. Thank you again.

For another review of the book you can check out Donna’s blog.

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.

Its A Green Thing: Diary of a Teenage Girl Review

Posted on by Cindy


PUB DATE: February 17,2009

This is the second book in the series. Maya is one year older in this book. She still wants a normal life. Maya is dealing with the difficulties of being a Christian, trying to live a normal life, living with her uncle and cousin, having a boyfriend and a rebelous friend Marissa.

We find out that Shannon, Maya’s mother is in prison for possession. Her father is touring in Europe with his band. Living with her uncle and cousin, Maya is beginning to feel as though she is a normal teenager. Things feel as though they are coming together for Maya. She is still thinking about the emancipation cause she is worried about when Shannon gets out of prison.

Maya begins her summer vacation and her art teacher has suggested that Maya paint a mural. She agrees to do it and enlists the help of Marissa who is going to help out as part of her community service hours. Realizing she needs more help she asks Caitlin if she could ask around the church so Caitlin gets four kids from youth group to help out.

Things are going good for Maya. She is working and her father bought her a hybrid car so that she is able to get around. Just as things are looking up for Maya she discovers she is being sued by Brooke and her family. Brooke fell while she was helping with the mural. From the fall she got up and said she was okay and refused to go to the hospital. When she discovers who Maya’s father is she fakes her injuries. While Maya find out that Brooke is faking her injuries?

After the mural is done Maya and Dominic beginning dating and Maya feels that things are getting serious fast so she panics and breaks up with Dominic. Will Maya regret breaking up with Dominic?

Marissa is Maya’s best friend and she is the party girl who likes to have fun and drink. Up until now Marissa has always been lucky but her luck as run out she is in a serious car accident. She almost dies from her head injuries. Will Marissa survive this and finally see that its wrong to drink and drive?

Maya uncle is really impressed with Maya and her going green that he offers her a spot in the paper to write a Green column and before she knows it she is offered a spot on tv. Will Maya decide to do it?

I am really looking forward to book three in this series, if there is a book three. I checked Melody’s site and there is no mention of a new book..yet! I enjoyed this book and there was more going green tips at the end of each chapter.

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.

A Not So Simple Life Review

Posted on by Cindy


PUB DATE: July 2008

This is another great start of a series for Melody Carlson. I am really enjoying reading Melody Carlson’s books. What I really liked about this book was the green tips Maya offered at the end of each chapter on what to do to make your living environment greener.

For me I am thankful to live in an area where last summer we were provide bins to compost food, grass etc. I never realized how much we threw in the garbage until I started composting. Instead of throwing about 4 bags of garbage out weekly I am down to one small bag. Plus I am a big time recycler.

A Not So Simple Life is book one in the series of Diary of a Teenage Girl. Its about Maya Stark. She is a 15 year old girl who appears to have it all, famous parents, money, and a Beverly Hills lifestyle. Her dad was a 80s pop star who is making a comeback. (Does that sound familiar? It seems so many popstars seem to be making a comeback these days doesn’t it?)

When you really look into Maya’s life you realize its not as perfect as it appears. Maya is not happy. She is trying to get emancipated from her parents. More so her mother. Her parents are divorced. Her dad is away on tour and has very little time for Maya. Her mother drinks and does drugs. So any money Maya’s father sends her mother takes it to support her habit. Her mother will vanish for days on end leaving Maya alone to fend for herself sadly Maya is use to it and manages to get along just fine. Maya is mature beyond her years.

Realizing that in order to get emancipated Maya needs to make sure she has money in her bank account to show a judge she will be able to support herself. Maya gets a job at a chic boutique on Rodeo Drive. While working there she is approached by a woman who works at a Ralph Lauren store. From there she is told she could model. Realizing she could make money she decides to go ahead and begins to work as a model. Maya saves about ten thousand dollars and its all in her account until one day she goes to deposite a check when she realizes there is a mistake. Maya has only about a thousand left. Her mother took the money. Maya is furious. She goes home, her mother is gone and she starts looking around. She realizes that her mother found the paper work on the emancipation.

Maya is furious so she calls her father and tells him everything. She tells him she is going to kill herself but she doesn’t really. When Maya’s mother finally comes home Maya confronts her about stealing the money and her mother is like its our money not just yours. This angers Maya so they start fighting. Thankfully before it can get to physical her dad storms in. Her dad tells her to pack her things cause she is going with him. Things are fun on the tour until Maya realizes its getting old fast.

Figuring out what to do they come up with the plan for Maya to go live with her uncle Allen and cousin Kim. Her father will send money for her to live in and she likes that idea.

This story continues in book 2 Its A Green Thing: Diary of a teenage girl.

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.