Friday Fill-Ins: Friday Fill-Ins #72

Friday Fill-Ins: Friday Fill-Ins #72



1. There is absolutely NO way you can get me to jump out of a plane!

2. Hot weather reminds me that summer is almost here!

3. I cannot live without my computer!


4. There is nothing i can think of that I'd like to try.

5. When life hands you lemons obviously you make lemonaide. Sorry!

6. Summer time is my favorite childhood memory.

7. And as for the weekend, Friday night I looked forward to reading and some quiet time, Saturday my plans included visiting a friend for lunch in Oceanside, shopping for a Father's day gift and Sunday, I ended up seeing IRON MAN with my husband!

#25 EVERY SECRET THING by Ann Tatlock

Number of Book #25
Date Began and Finished 4/23 - 4/25 2008
Genre - Christian Fiction
Year It Was Published - October 2007
Publisher - Bethany House
Number of Pages 364
Trade Paperback
Reason for reading: Review for Curled Up
Rating 4/5 stars

Blurb or Synopsis: Elizabeth Gunnar is going back to the school she attended many years ago. She's returning to Seaton Preparatory School as an English teacher, and she has a lot of misgivings about it. Still, she finds that she enjoys teaching there, but there are memories that are making this return somewhat uncomfortable for her.

When she was a student at Seaton, she and her friends admired and loved an English teacher named Mr Dutton, a Vietnam Vet that seemed well-adjusted after the war, but was still probably harboring a lot of the trauma in his mind. it was during one night that Elizabeth and her friends lose Mr Dutton, but the school officials cover up the story and tells the student body that Mr Dutton is recovering from a heart attack and is not going to return to their school. Elizabeth and her friends believe that Mr Dutton is dead, but they do not have any real proof except what the saw that one night when their lives were changed forever.

In the meantime, Elizabeth catches up again with some of the old gang from her Seaton days, including Ray, who she once was involved during their time when their days were filled with Mr Dutton's words. Ray has two children from a marriage that didn't work out, and Elizabeth and Ray decide to renew their relationship and see where it leads them. She questions Ray about Mr Dutton, but Ray doesn't want to have anything to do with that past. He refuses to talk to her about it, and wants to move on.

A student of Elizabeth's, Satchel Queen, is having a hard time in school and for some reason Elizabeth feels compelled to know the girl better. Elizabeth sees that Satchel has a talent for writing, and soon she takes the troubled teen under her wings.

There are a few major spoilers that I want to write but will not, but they are the key to this story and help resolve the story of Mr Dutton as well as Satchel's. There's a lot of drama in this book with the mystery behind Mr Dutton's disappearance, as well as Elizabeth's need to find out the truth behind him. Her relationship with Satchel is another primary story line, and that inevitably links up with Mr Dutton's story. I think this was one of Ann Tatlock's better novels, and I recommend it.

(For those who are not readers of Christian fiction, I feel that this is a book that all readers can enjoy. Elizabeth does have a religious faith that she has neglected, and that is mentioned in the story, but over all the emphasis on Christian fiction is downplayed, and only brought up minimally towards the last half of the book.

#24 MEMORIES OF MY MELANCHOLY WHORES by Gabriel Garcia Marquez

Number of Book #24
Date Began and Finished 4/20 - 4/23 2008
Genre - Literature
Year It Was Published - 2005
Publisher - Knopf
Number of Pages 115
Small size Hardcover
Reason for reading: TBR
Rating 3.5/5 stars

Blurb or Synopsis: I really wanted to LOVE this book, but I think again my problem with Gabriel Garcia Marquez (this being the 3rd piece of work that I've read by him) is that I am either not focused on the writing,or I'm simply not getting it. When I enjoy a book, I close the book after the last page with a WOW feeling, or I'm crying, or I wish the book hadn't ended. With MEMORIES OF MY MELANCHOLY WHORES, I didn't have any of these reactions. Yes, I loved this writing - he has a gift for details, and he doesn't hold back. He seems to enjoy writing about illness and bodily fluids, and I'm always laughing out loud during these passages. But when I finished the book, I didn't have the "wow" sensation I expected to have.

The main character, who remains nameless, is about to celebrate his 90th birthday, and wants to give himself a present in the form of a virginal prostitute. He has had prostitutes, hundreds of them, but this time he wants something special. She needs to be untouched and young. His old friend, a madam he has gone to for years, promises to obtain what he wants, and she brings him a young girl, virginal, for his birthday. However, for some reason, he never deflowers her. He instead leaves her untouched (as she gives him the sign that she is frightened) and marvels at her body.

At the same time, he turns to his memories and his long life, his career as a journalist, and the fact that he never married. And night after night, he does not touch this virginal girl, and the one thing he has never had happen to him has happened - he falls in love.

I love reading Gabriel Garcia Marquez because his words are so beautiful. But again, I felt that I couldn't grasp what he really wanted to say in his book. I am disappointed that I don't have the capacity to really appreciate his works, and this will be the last time I will attempt to read a fiction book of his. However, I will read his autobiography, which I hope will be a fascinating read.

#23 THE LAND OF MANGO SUNSETS by Dorothea Benton Frank

Number of Book #23
Date Began and Finished 4/13 - 4/20 2008
Genre - Women's Fiction
Year It Was Published - May 2007
Publisher - Avon
Number of Pages 354
Mass Market Paperback
Reason for reading: Review for Love Romances and More
Rating 4.5/5 stars

Blurb or Synopsis: I haven't read many of Dorothea Benton Frank's books, but each time I do they get better and better. A few years ago I had reviewed a book of hers, and she wrote me and said that I "got it", and that not many people do. She also mentioned that she just had a death in the family, and that she will turn this into a book. I truly believe that book is THE LAND OF MANGO SUNSETS, and that the death she referred to was her mother.The book is dedicated to her, and the story in part revolves around a woman and her relationship with her elderly mother.

Miriam Elizabeth Swanson lives in New York. She's divorced, and rents out her apartment to help make ends meet. Her good for nothing husband had run off with another woman, much younger, and good riddance to him! Miriam's best friend is her gay renter Kevin, who is the only man in her life that she can trust and depend on. At the start of the story, she is trying to find another renter, to replace the one that had recently died. After much interviewing, they eventually agree on a young woman from Alabama, Liz, who they feel will fit right in.

Miriam's personality is that of a very stuffy southern belle. When I first started reading the book, I had assumed she was elderly. Part of the story line has Miriam writing thank you notes as obsessively and diligently as one can do. She writes these thank you notes for almost everything, and most of them have to do with the social groups she participates in, groups that at one time held her in high regard. but since the divorce, her standing has fallen. Her husband had the money and evidently once the money left she was now considered a nobody.

Miriam's heart however belongs in the south, in the Low Country. When she goes home to visit her mother, she feels her troubles melt away. And when the new renter Liz encounters troubles of her own, Miriam takes Liz home with her to recuperate and to get some mothering from her own mother.

While visiting home, Miriam meets her mother's boyfriend, a much younger man named Harrison Ford (true!). Miriam notices her mother's changed lifestyle, too. She's eating organic, raising her own chicken for eggs, and basically she's a transformed woman. this southern-bred woman is now a hippie, thinks Miriam. her mother must be crazy or it could be just age.

With encouragement from her mother and Harrison, Miriam goes out with a man that Harrison knew, Manny, who brings out the wild side in Miriam, and she even accepts a new nickname, Mellie, which fits just fine. Mellie loosens up her hair so to speak, and to the surprise of everyone becomes a much less stodgy person and a more relaxed woman. But while she's having fun with Manny, she actually has her eyes on Harrison, but she knows Harrison is off limits.

Closer to home, Miriam regrets not having a strong close relationship with her two sons. She had a falling out with one son due to the awful names he had given to his two children, and the other son Miriam wrote off because he moved in with a woman of color who also happened to be boring, and she wasn't even from this country! But something happens to change Miriam's view on life. She vows to change and to not waste her time regretting the past. To prove that she's changed, when Miriam's son Charlie announces that he and Priscilla are finally getting married, she gives him the shock of his life by congratulating him and his fiance, and opens up her arms and heart to both of them. Thus starts their adventures as they plan the wedding,and Miriam hopes that this wedding will be celebrated by the entire family, including her estranged son.

Ultimately, however, THE LAND OF MANGO SUNSETS is about Miriam (Mellie), who starts off as a person that many people find harsh and stuck up and not very fun, and transforms to a totally different person. Her struggles to unite her family will strike a chord with many people, just as her relationship with her mother will bring out the tissues. I am going to say,without having read all of her books, that THE LAND OF MANGO SUNSETS is one of her best books yet. A review of this book cannot really describe the wonderful journey the reader will take as they start from the first page and end on that last happy, albeit sentimental, paragraph. THE LAND OF MANGO SUNSETS is highly recommended.

#22 HELLO, DOGGY! by Elaine Fox

Number of Book #22
Date Began and Finished 4/10 - 4/13 2008
Genre - Romance
Year It Was Published - January 2008
Publisher - Avon
Number of Pages 371
Mass Market Paperback
Reason for reading: Review for CURLED UP
Rating 4/5 stars

Blurb or Synopsis: This book was fun! At the center of the story is Keenan James. He is currently a guru to women everywhere, in that he gives advice on relationships. He's done quite well and is quite the celebrity. Tory Hoffstra is an insecure psychologist who despises people like Keenan, people who will take advantage of the average consumer and pretend they are experts for a quick buck. Tory has been asked by her publisher to co-write a book with the famous Keenan James, because they want credibility from her but Keenan will bring in the big bucks and guarantee a best seller. Tory is appalled, and says that she wants to check him out first in action.

Keenan leads a weekly group of women to meet and discuss their relationships, and Tory manages to get a spot in his group, but disguises herself as the luscious Vicky Smith. Coincidentally enough, Keenan has just moved into the same building as Tory's s ex-boyfriend Stewart (although they still seem to be in this relationship going nowhere fast), and she runs into him while he is walking his mother's dog (which he has taken on unwillingly to help out his mother). Tory is deathly afraid of dogs, especially the cute golden doodle named Barbara Streisand.

There are a lot of laughs between the antics of this uncontrollable dog and Tory's disguised moments as Vicky Smith at the round table. Tory uses her own relationship with the ex-boyfriend to use for the round table, and eventually it's apparent that she's taking a lot of her own real life; she is no longer making things up. And while Tory at first despised the idea of dressing up, putting on makeup, and making herself look attractive to the opposite sex, she notices the affect she has on men. The scenes with Tory and the two ladies who help make her up every day at the cosmetic counter are pretty funny in themselves.

On top of the main story line with Keenan and "Vicky", we are also introduced to Keenan's family - his brother who seems to be reluctant to see their aging mother who now lives in a home, and of course their mother who loves both her sons and wants them both to be happy. Claudia, Tory's sister, is mistaken for a friend of Tory's, because there is no way Keenan would believe they are related to begin with. Claudia is the opposite of Tory - glamorous, has a lot of friends, and seems to be their mother's favorite. And Tory doesn't like her, but what i found amazing was how Claudia's true self comes out and Elaine Fox did a great job with creating such a fully dimensional character, first allowing the reader to see her through Tory's eyes, and then watch the transformation as Tory begins to understand what her sister is all about.

I think you could classify HELLO, DOGGY partly as a Cinderella story, because Tory goes from ugly duckling to someone very attractive. But it's also a very funny and entertaining book and well written too. I will definitely read more by Elaine Fox.

Friday Fill-Ins: Friday Fill In #71

Friday Fill-Ins: Friday Fill In #71

1. The loaf of bread had an extra secret ingredient; it was nutmeg! (I just baked an oatmeal spice bread this week, and it had all sorts of ingredients including nutmeg)
2. I love to look out through my window.
3. Right now, I need money.
4. Nowhere is where I went Thursday night; it was nice to be home.
5. Why does love hurt so much?
6. All I can think of is the lack of money.
7. And as for the weekend, tonight I'm looking forward to catching up on books and book reviews, tomorrow my plans include goofing off and Sunday, I want to no, i'm PLANNING to see my father for Mother's day. We'll have brunch with him, then go to the cemetery to leave flowers for my mother!

#21 BUBBLES BETROTHED by Sarah Strohmeyer

Number of Book #21
Date Began and Finished 4/7 - 4/10 2008
Genre - Mystery/humor
Year It Was Published - 2005
Publisher - Dutton
Number of Pages 289
Hardcover
Reason for reading: Tbr, trade with friend
Rating 4/5 stars

Blurb or Synopsis: The BUBBLES series has always been fun. They are very similar to the Stephanie Plum books by Janet Evanovich (the two authors are friends, which is not surprising) and while you can see the influence, there are differences. both are humorous takes on the whodunit, but i think Stephanie Plum is by far the more outrageous of the two characters, often times reaching out into the bizarre. Bubbles Yablonsky is a little more down to earth, although inept in many ways. But that's what endears her to the readers, I believe.

For those who haven't read any of the Bubbles books, Bubbles Yablonsky was a hairdresser (she still hangs out at the House of Beauty), then went to get her degree at a community college that used to be a shopping mall, now known as TWO GUYS COMMUNITY COLLEGE to become a journalist. Bubbles now works for the local paper, and has a hot boyfriend (Stiletto) who is an award winning photographer.

In this book, Bubbles tries to seek an interview with a woman who is accused of murder, and ends up witnessing the accused own death. Crazy Popeye was in jail for murdering Principal Schmidt, but Bubbles learns from Popeye that she's innocent. Of course no one believes it, but Bubbles does, and her mission is now to clear up Popeye's name and the real killer.

In the mean time Stiletto needs a favor from Bubbles. He needs to show that he's engaged in order to avoid a job transfer overseas. Bubbles would rather it be the real thing, but agrees to pose as his fiance for his career. Unfortunately, her mother and others see the "rock" on her finger, and it's not small. Word spreads that Stiletto and Bubbles are about to be married.

Bubbles' ex husband Dan is still in the picture, and there is a twist in his story that changes Bubble's life. It doesn't look like Bubbles is going to get her happily ever after.

I made the mistake of reading the books out of order (I thought for sure this was the last in the series) and instead, I found out what happens in THIS book because I had read the next book first! but regardless, I was still able to enjoy the book. The story line of Principal Schmidt's murder i thought was pretty good, and figuring out who was the real murderer was fun. It is better to read these books in order, because there is continuity throughout the series, but hopefully if you do make the mistake of reading one before the other, I think they are still enjoyable. BUBBLES BETROTHED is recommended and is a great beach read.

#20 WATER FOR ELEPHANTS by Sara Gruen

Number of Book #20
Date Began and Finished 4/4 - 4/7 2008
Genre - Fiction
Year It Was Published - 2006
Publisher - Algonquin Books of Chapel Hill
Number of Pages 331
Hardcover
Reason for reading: Tbr, Group Read
Rating 4.5/5 stars

Blurb or Synopsis: This book had a lot of hype the year it came out, and I usually don't like to read books like that until the fuss has died down a bit. A friend sent this to me and I finally found the time to read it (it was also a group read). The book definitely does live up to its reputation, and I will most likely put it down as one of my favorite reads in 2008.

WATER FOR ELEPHANTS is the story of a man, who now in his golden years, is reminiscing about his past and his days in the circus. The book goes back and forth between the two time periods, the present and the past (Depression era), and I think it was done quite nicely. Jacob Jankowski is the narrator and old man that is looking back on the eccentric life he had in the circus, about the people he met and knew, and the woman that changed his life. While Jacob sits in the old folks home, his mind wanders back to those days, often confusing the present with the past.

His past takes us to his story of how he ended up with the circus, just a few exams short of a degree. His future was that of a veterinarian, but that dream was cut short when his parents die suddenly, and he doesn't have the focus to continue. He loses the family home, loses his bright future, and has nowhere to go. Luck brings him to the train that carries the circus from one town to another. He hitches a ride, and thus begins the adventure of a lifetime.

The reader will discover that this book is not really about the circus. Yes, most of the story line does take place behind the scenes of a circus, but what WATER FOR ELEPHANTS is really all about is loyalty, and friendship and love, and the relationships that Jacob develops during these years in the circus. I think while comparing Jacob's current life in the Seniors home to what he had in the circus, is almost akin to that of a caged animal locked up. Jacob's time in this Seniors home is stagnating him, and he continues to look back at his younger years with longing. He remembers all that had transpired, his relationship with his fellow circus entertainers and workers, the circus ringmaster, a cruel and dangerous man who had his gentle side, and the ringmaster's wife, Marlena, who is in a way imprisoned in a marriage that she can't get out of. In the middle of it all is a gentle elephant named Rosie, who becomes an integral part of the circus and an animal that Jacob takes under his wing. It is Rosie's relationship with several of the main characters that helps tell the story of these people, leading back to Jacob's present state and where his last remaining days on earth will take him.

I highly recommend WATER FOR ELEPHANTS. It's an insightful story about people, in an unusual setting.

#19 IF LOVE IS GOOD TO ME by Francine Craft

Number of Book #19
Date Began and Finished 4/1 - 4/4 2008
Genre - African American Contemporary Romance
Year It Was Published - October 2007
Publisher - Kimani Romance #14
number of Pages 296
Mass Market Paperback
Reason for reading: Tbr
Rating 2.5/5 stars

Blurb or Synopsis: I decided to pick this book up because I had just read another book by the same author, and since that other book was still fresh in my mind, i wanted to see if i had the same feelings for this book as well. If so, i wouldn't' be reading her again...

The title IF LOVE IS GOOD TO ME comes from a song that is written by one of the main characters, and that seems to be the only connection to the book. The book takes us to Tenerife, Spain, because Dosha Steele is trying to escape the memories of a former love. In the prologue, Dosha and her new love Christian Montero, a man of mix racial ancestry, have just had their cards read and the results show a rather dark future. This is supposedly telling the reader that something bad is going to happen.

I'm not going to go into the plot. I felt a lot of this was not very structured, but what was really annoying was the dialog and way the book was written. I felt like i was reading an old fashioned harlequin from the 60's, and the use of a lot of dated lingo was also very grating on my nerves. After reading a few reviews on this book, I realized it wasn't just me. For some reason this book reads like it was written by someone who does not know modern lingo and I did not get the impression that Dosha was black. I also felt cheated by Christian's character, because he was supposed to be one of many descendants of African Americans called "Brown Babies", babies that were born as a result of American G.I's stationed in Europe. Yes, i got the sense that he was very Spanish, but there really wasn't any hint of the history of these people, except for the occasional reference to them.

I do not recommend this book, as I felt almost embarrassed reading it. I cannot imagine all her books are as bad as this, because she's published so many romances in her writing career. I am just hoping this is one of the few novels she's written that were not worth reading.

#18 START LIVING, START LOSING - Weight Watchers

Number of Book #18
Date Began and Finished 3/28 - 4/1 2008
Genre - Non Fiction
Year It Was Published - January 2008
Publisher - Wiley
Number of Pages 232
hardcover
Reason for reading: Review Amazon Vine
Rating 4/5 stars

Blurb or Synopsis: START LIVING, START LOSING is a series of short inspirational pieces written by people who have had success with Weight Watchers and lost and kept off weight. What I especially liked about this book is that it gave me ideas on what i was doing wrong with my own weight loss program, as well as help motivate me to change my current eating habits and try something different. Stories came from 'average every day people' to celebrities such as the Duchess of York, and the amount of weight loss varied from 10 lbs to hundreds of pounds.

I recommend START LIVING, START LOSING to anyone trying to make a life change and wanting to lose some weight. There's a lot of great ideas in this book. It's fast reading, too, so for those who aren't big readers shouldn't be intimidated by this book.

Friday Fill-Ins: Friday Fill-In #70

Friday Fill-Ins: Friday Fill-In #70

1. Two of my favorite ingredients in a drink are water and coffee (sorry, i don't do alchoholic beverages anymore)!

2. Life often amazes me.

3. You can keep doing that forever, the dog is stupid.


4. Gather your ingredients, mix it all together and voila! You have a slow cooker meal!.


5. If I had a yard with a garden, I would love to grow an english garden.


6. Making love is best au naturel.

7. And as for the weekend, tonight I'm looking forward to a quiet evening on the computer to work on reviews, tomorrow my plans include possibly going out to dinner and Sunday, I want to go to a coffee house and read my book!

Booking through Thursday 5-1-2008

Quick! It’s an emergency! You just got an urgent call about a family emergency and had to rush to the airport with barely time to grab your wallet and your passport. But now, you’re stuck at the airport with nothing to read. What do you do??

And, no, you did NOT have time to grab your bookbag, or the book next to your bed. You were . . . grocery shopping when you got the call and have nothing with you but your wallet and your passport (which you fortuitously brought with you in case they asked for ID in the ethnic food aisle). This is hypothetical, remember….



hell, i buy a book!!! Are you kidding me? I forget to grab a book, i buy one! I haven't bought a book at an airport in years, though, since I do always remember to bring one with me.. but still....... i will always find time to buy a book if needed...

Ratmammy's March 2008 Reads

Here are the books I read in March 2008
(rating based on 5 Stars being the best)
#13 MADNESS by Marya Hornbacher Pgs 320 - 4/5 stars
#14 ONE MORE SUNRISE by Michael Landon Jr and Tracie Peterson Pgs 358 - 3.5/5 stars #15 PLEASURE by Eric Jerome Dickey Pgs 442- 4/5 stars
#16 DESIGNED FOR PASSION by Francine Craft Pgs 248 - 3/5 stars
#17 REMEMBER ME? by Sophie Kinsella Pgs 389 -4/5 stars

My favorite book this month was a tie between MADNESS and REMEMBER ME. Both are different types of books, but both books were ones that I had a hard time putting down.

My least favorite book was DESIGNED FOR PASSION. I didn't think the writing was as good as it could have been, but gave it a 3 for it's subject matter (beauty in the body of a large woman). I'm actually reading another book by the same author, and I think this will be the last time I read this author. Something about her writing is off, like she's writing for a totally different time period...

Average 56.67 pages per day

Average pages per book: 351.4

I'm spending less time reading, but the books are growing longer...

Of the 5 books I read this month, all were either books for Review Or requests from the author/publisher--

MADNESS - review for Curled up
ONE MORE SUNRISE - review for Love Romances
PLEASURE - review for Bookreporter.com
DESIGNED FOR PASSION - review request by author for Love romances
REMEMBER ME - review for Love Romances

This was an interesting reading month, since I read a diverse set of books. One was a psychological memoir, another was African American romance, another was African American erotic, another was Christian fiction, and one was chick lit!

Now that I'm off work again, I hope to fit in more reading time, but so far I haven't been too successful.

#17 REMEMBER ME? by Sophie Kinsella

Number of Book #17
Date Began and Finished 3/26- 3/28 2008
Genre - chick Lit
Year It Was Published - March 4, 2008
Publisher - Dial Press
Number of Pages 389
hardcover
Reason for reading: Review for Love Romances and More
Rating 4/5 stars

Blurb or Synopsis: I've only read the Shopaholic series by Kinsella so wasn't sure if one of her standalones would be worth reading. But REMEMBER ME? was a very delightful book, so I'm looking forward to reading more by this author.

The story starts with the main character, Lexi Smart, having drinks with friends in a bar. As they leave the place, she falls and hits her head. Next thing she finds herself in hospital and is told it's now 3 years later? She is flabbergasted! She has lost her memory and all that had happened to her in the last 3 years. Her last memory was of the drinks she had with her best friends Carolyn, Debs, and Fi. She was slightly over weight, and was called Snaggletooth by loved ones. But, upon looking at herself now, 3 years later, she's got really nice nails, her hair has been nicely done, she's got very expensive clothes and handbag, and she's lost a lot of weight. Furthermore, she's no longer Snaggletooth. Her teeth had been straightened out! What the hell happened?

REMEMBER ME is Lexi's journey as she tries to put together the puzzle of the last 3 years. She cannot understand how she had changed so much, and why she married a very wealthy man who doesn't seem to be a good fit for her, at least for the old Lexi Smart. She has new best friends, her new job is being the head of the department she used to work for (Flooring), and lives in a very wealthy home in a very wealthy neighborhood. And, she's been told, she was on television. She finds her way as she "meets" her new friends and old, and asks questions that slowly bring her back to where she left off. The ultimate question, though, is why?

I found this a very fun read, reminiscent of the Shopaholic books but the main character is not as aggravating as I know many readers found Becky Bloomwood, the shopaholic. Lexi is a lot smarter than Becky, as is shown from her track record from just another flunky in flooring, to a director who has saved the company from ruin. But REMEMBER ME? is Lexi's quest to find her real self, to try to remember who she was and where she came from, and where she should be going, whether it be with her new wonderful husband Eric, or someone else entirely.

#16 DESIGNED FOR PASSION by Francine Craft

Number of Book #16
Date Began and Finished 3/21- 3/26 2008
Genre - African American contemporary romance
Year It Was Published - March, 2008
Publisher - Kimani romance #082
Number of Pages 282
Mass market paperback
Reason for reading: Review by Author's request (Love romances)
Rating 3/5 stars

Blurb or Synopsis: Melodye Carter has always been over weight, and her sister and mother never let her forget it! Despite her sister and mother's cruel behavior, Melodye has always been her own person and has done quite well for herself. She's got a successful boutique for plus-sized women and had been married until her husband died in a shooting. She's conflicted over her feelings for her deceased husband, because their marriage wasn't as perfect as it could have been.

Detective Jim Ryman is helping out with the case of Melodye's husband's murder,and while he gets to know Melodye better, he feels drawn to her. There are sparks flying between them, but to start anything now would be inappropriate. Still, he looks forward to spending time with her and her two children. His mother helps Melodye out by baby sitting the kids, and through the children he's gotten to know Melodye too.
Jim has his own history. His wife had also passed away and he's not ready to start fresh. But if he ever did love a woman again it would be someone like Melodye.

While part of the focus of DESIGNED FOR PASSION is the find the person who killed Melodye's husband Rafael, the core story centers on Melodye's blossoming relationship with the detective assigned to the case, Jim Ryman. He proves to her that larger woman are beautiful too, and one of the main themes of the book is to show that you don't have to be thin to be beautiful. Melodye has a successful career despite her mother's disinterest and lack of moral support. Despite the type of environment she grew up in, Melodye made a name for herself.

Melodye's sister and mother are portrayed as two very mean-spirited people, but by the end of the book it is explained why they became the people they were, and why they treated Melodye the way they did. Nothing excuses that type of behavior, but I found it interesting and was also relieved to discover there was a reason for this bad behavior, and not just an element of the book to make it more interesting.

I had some issues with the writing; I wish I had written these down but there were moments in the book that the language didn't ring true; "who talks like that??" is what I wanted to say. Because of that I'm only giving this book a 3 star rating. I think the moral of the book is important, but the story could have been written much better. I plan on reading another book by this author soon to see how it compares to this most recent one. She's written a number of books and I can't believe someone with bad writing skills would be contracted to write more for one publisher.

TMI Tuesday #133

1. Early bird or night owl? Early Bird

2. Where was the first place you ever had sex? a bed

3. On a scale of 1-10, how happy are you? (1 is lowest, 10 is highest) 8

4. Are you more submissive or dominant? dominant

5. Do you believe in love at first sight? yes!

Bonus (as in optional): Describe your bed time habits. What side do you sleep on? What do you usual wear? Any night time rituals?


I sleep on the right side, wear a HUGE tshirt (size XXXL) and i like to read a bit before going to sleep. I also journal for the day - my eating habits, weight, good things of the day...

Friday Fill-Ins: Friday Fill-In #69

Friday Fill-Ins: Friday Fill-In #69





1. When I fell in love I knew it would be "the one"!
2. I get allergies when the flowers bloom and it heats up outside!
3. Oh no! The internet connection is down, and I'm really pissed off!!!.
4. SURREAL LIFE is the craziest tv show ever.
5. Cheese and crackers make a great meal!
6. The perfect house has a garden.
7. And as for the weekend, tonight I'm looking forward to My cousin's wedding in Japan (we just got home today) , tomorrow my plans included shopping in Shinjuku, and Sunday, I want to rest after the wedding!

#15 PLEASURE by Eric Jerome Dickey

Number of Book #15
Date Began and Finished 3/12- 3/21 2008
Genre - Erotic Fiction
Year It Was Published - April 1, 2008
Publisher - Dutton
Number of Pages 442
Hardcover
Reason for reading: Review for Bookreporter.com
Rating 4/5 stars

Blurb or Synopsis: While I'm a big fan of Eric Jerome Dickey, I was a bit hesitant when I heard that this book was erotic fiction. I have always imagined erotic fiction to be plot-less stories with non-stop sex scenes. And when I started reading the book, it did seem to be just that. But as the reader progresses with PLEASURE, one will find out that there is more to this book than just plain sex. Yes, Nia Simone Bijou makes her living as a writer who dabbles in erotic fiction and yes, she admires the writings of Anais Nin, famous for her erotica. But there is a plot!

The book opens with Nia having an erotic fantasy. But when it ends, she finds a text message waiting from her ex-boyfriend Logan. The reader soon learns that Logan is pretty much stalking her. He can't accept that their relationship is over. He cannot accept that she's moved to a different state to get rid of him. He continues to pursue her, which gets Nia angrier every time he tries to contact her. Thank God he doesn't know where she lives...

Move to a scene with Nia running up a hill and she encounters a really fine looking black man. She wants to get to know him better. Surprise! She finds out he's one of two identical twin brothers, and that their meeting is the first of many future encounters that opens up a new world of sexual delights. The two men are twins but they are different. One is married, and he's the one that touches Nia's soul. She relates to him and wants to get to know him. The other brother has a rougher edge; he's single but he's got a past that still haunts him. A tattoo of KENYA is his secret, and she's a woman that he cannot let go.

A good part of the novel is sex. The three of them experiment and bring Nia to new highs. She meets a friend of theirs, Kiki Sunshine, who models for Karl, the single brother who is a professional photographer. Nia is attracted to Kiki's beauty, and eventually the three of them get together for more sex. But it's a one on one encounter between Kiki and Nia that gets Nia excited. She cannot get Kiki off her mind.

The book continues with the sexual encounters, but then another person enters the equation - Mark's wife is an unknown person to Nia, but she finds out by accident who the wife is. Mark happens to be married to the most famous person in Atlanta, a morning show reporter that is beloved by all, Jewell Stewark. On TV Jewell appears as a very classy and sophisticated woman, a professional. But when Nia encounters Jewell by accident as Nia and Karl are driving to his condo, Jewell appears and it's not pretty. There is a lot of hate and anger in Jewell when she sees Karl, and Nia cannot figure out why this is happening.

For long time Eric Jerome Dickey fans, PLEASURE is his wildest book yet. Dickey has been slowly drifting towards a more erotic form of novel with his past few books, getting away from the urban tales he's had centered around Los Angeles and Southern California. The few sex scenes he's had in past books, however, showed that he is good at writing them. Not all writers can get away with writing sex scenes, but Dickey knows how to do it right. PLEASURE is filled with hot, sexy, over the top scenes. If this were a movie, it would be rated XXX. But it's not all about sex. PLEASURE is a woman's search for happiness as she explores her sexual side, while at the same time coming to terms with a relationship that went wrong. The subplot involving the twins and their story of tangled love and the mess they made is just as tawdry as it sounds. I didn't think I'd like this book as much as I have his older books, but I was surprised and found that once again Eric Jerome Dickey has done it again. He's written a fast moving book that the reader will not be able to put down.

#14 ONE MORE SUNRISE by Michael Landon Jr and Tracie Peterson

Number of Book #14
Date Began and Finished 3/6/- 3/12 2008
Genre - Christian fiction
Year It Was Published - Jan 1, 2008
Publisher - Bethany House
Number of Pages 358
Trade paperback
Reason for reading: Review for Love Romances and More
Rating 3.5/5 stars

Blurb or Synopsis: Michael Landon Jr's debut novel, ONE MORE SUNRISE falls under the Christian Fiction category and centers on a man, Joe Daley, whose life did not follow the route that he had mapped out as a young man. The book opens in August of 1941, and young seventeen-year old Joe is intent on sneaking out of the house in order to meet his girlfriend Meg. He is in love and wants to surprise her with a plane ride and a marriage proposal. it is a romantic scene out of the movies, and at this point in his life, Joe feels that he has the world to look forward to, a future bride, and a promising future.

Chapter two jumps forward to the summer of 1958, and Meg is looking through some old papers and books from high school, and remembers the joy she felt before she and Joe were married. However, the years since have been difficult, as one thing or another happened to change the happy future the newlyweds were looking forward to. Meg rarely sees Joe now, and when she does they argue. Joe spends most of his time either at work or in the bars, and all he can think about is how pitiful his life has become. He feels sorry for himself, and lets this attitude take over. Meg does her best to keep the family together, but the longer this goes on, the more frustrated and unhappy she becomes.

Out of the blue, several people enter their lives that alters their futures in a big way. First off, an high school admirer shows up back in town, a boy who had to leave before finishing high school because of something his father had done. Now, Luke Ramsey has returned, claiming that he wanted to make up for what his father had done to the townspeople years ago. Luke works for a corporation that is buying out the local farmers and making life "better" for everyone. He proposes to help out Joe and Meg by hiring Joe as one of the company's pilots. Joe doesn't want anything to do with Luke, but he eventually gives in.

Another person to show up is Meg's old friend Norma, who shows up in town with three foster children and no husband. They want to start a new life working the farmland she had inherited, and wants to come back to her roots. Luke's company needs her land, but Norma doesn't want to sell.

Then, Joe has a life altering experience while flying his plane one day. He loses control of his plane when something hits it (probably a bird) and he promises God to change his ways if he lives. Joe finds it hard to keep this promise, and unfortunately Meg doesn't believe he will keep that promise to mend his ways. She knows he's an alcoholic, and she wants nothing more to do with him.

ONE MORE SUNRISE is about a man, Joe, who has lost faith in God and in life, and has given up. But it is with the help of a stranger that appears to him after a near fatal plane accident that changes his life and steers him in the right direction. It is not easy,and Joe makes many wrong moves because he gets back on track. And even when he thinks he's back on track, he isn't sure his wife will take him back after disappointing her too many times. For those who enjoy Christian fiction and a story about a man's search for his lost faith in God, this is it. While I felt the writing was a little weak, it is still an uplifting story that follows in the family tradition that the Landon's have created over the past decades, family fare that has a lesson or moral and at the same time is enjoyable.

#13 MADNESS by Marya Hornbacher

Number of Book #13
Date Began and Finished 2/29- 3/6 2008
Genre - Memoir
Year It Was Published - April 9 2008
Publisher - Houghton Mifflin
Number of Pages 320
Hardcover
Reason for reading: Review for Curled Up
Rating 4/5 stars

Blurb or Synopsis: MADNESS was the memoir of a woman suffering from bipolar disorder, and the journey she took to get to where she is today. A very candid and blunt view of a typical life of person afflicted with bipolar I, the more severe of the two forms of bipolar disorder. Symptoms include weight issues, runaway money issues and spending sprees, memory losses, manic highs and depressive lows, and mixed episodes which can lead to suicide. Other symptoms include various forms of self-mutilation, excesses with alcohol, drugs, and sex. Marya Hornbacher had all these symptoms, and more, but was not diagnosed until much later in life.

Marya Hornbacher is a gifted writer, as evidenced by this book. What is remarkable about her is her courage, and the strength she had to write down her experiences and make her condition known to all. She tried to hide her disorder through most of her life, "pretending" to be normal and to now acknowledge her problems, so that she never really dealt with her problems for a very long time. But her candid observations on her life and how she went from one phase of her disorder to another is what i think helped her in the long run. Despite long periods of memory loss, where she doesn't' even remember what happened during those periods, she was able to write down the many different episodes and events that marked her disorder, and finally acknowledge the fact that she is indeed "not normal", and that she needed help. I truly appreciated Hornbacher's candid writing, and applaud her bravery in divulging what she has gone through for most of her life.

MADNESS is a book that I think is an eyeopener to those who know nothing about bipolar disorder, and at the same time can be used as a "guide" to those who live with or have family that are afflicted with bipolar disorder. It certainly has helped me understand some of my friends who are afflicted with it. MADNESS should be a "must read" for all who are dealing with bipolar disorder and those who have loved ones who are living with it.