Book Review - The Buggy List

Ok so know how I am always talking about you can't go wrong with the $2.99 or under Amazon books, well I found one that was not really hot on my list, perhaps some cheesy tv might have been better, although nothing could be as bad as some of the reality tv out there. I'm only putting it on here to save others the time of skipping over this one.

Book Title: The Buggy List by Courtney Rice Gager

Book Summary (From Amazon): Drew and Libby Sullivan have spent the past six years building the perfect life together. They have a beautiful home, flourishing careers, and they’re finally ready to take the plunge into parenthood. Well, almost. Despite the endless prodding from family, friends, and even strangers, there still seems to be something holding the couple back from starting a family. Perhaps that’s why they decide to take the advice of Libby’s older sister and make a list of everything they want to do before they have a baby. Making their baby bucket list, or as they call it, “The Buggy List”, buys them just a little more time to be Drew and Libby, who sleep in until noon on Saturdays and eat Chinese takeout for dinner on the couch. Besides, it gives Libby the opportunity to pull straight-laced Drew out of his comfort zone and do something fun for once; like go undercover as singles to a speed dating event with their friend, Tom; or finally take the honeymoon they never had. Drew and Libby each write down five items that they must complete before having a baby. But what starts out as a little harmless fun quickly becomes more than this couple bargained for. When secrets, little white lies, and competing desires threaten to pull them apart for good, Libby and Drew must rediscover why they fell in love in the first place.

Book Review:  I thought this would have been a cute little read, something perhaps I could even relate to since being in that same boat as the main character  But alas it was just cheesy the lists the main characters end up making is just plain stupid. The antics that she gets herself into for her job are also just dumb. I don't know how it got as many high reviews as it did on Amazon, but it was no five star prize to me. I'd probably give it a 2 out of 5, still better than the awful reality tv shows out there but less than average if you ask me.

How Far We've Come Book Club

I'll make this a quick one, no fun pictures or anything, but I thought it was worth mentioning. Exactly 18 months ago this month I met two strangers for the first time to discuss a book. None of us had ever met before or had any mutual connections, just shared a love of books. It's amazing to think that we have met once a month for the last year and a half. And sometimes we met twice a month, we've added monthly wine tastings to our events. At least two of us have met every single month with maybe one exception, I think Christmas of last year.

It's hard to believe that 3 girls who were complete strangers have turned into so much more. I look forward to our adventures every single month, always trying fantastic new restaurants that were hidden gems to us before, and when possible tying it into our book that month. From meeting for Indian food, a new excursion for me, to fantastic mojitos, French wine and more, each month has brought a new adventure and always great company!

This month instead of wine tasting they had a craft beer tasting so we invited the husbands along as well. This was the first time all of us were meeting together as a group of 6. We wanted the boys to know who were spending all our time with every month. I'm happy to say we of course had a great time and it was so much fun to get together with friends that have now become such a big part of my life. I just thought it was worth mentioning before our next book club adventure which I already can't wait for, French wine in the city again!

Book Review - Love Regifted

As with everything else I'm behind on my recent book updates as well. Although I certainly haven't been reading at the rate I was last year, but I've still been enjoying a book here or there. I recently finished, Love Re-gifted which was another one of those quick $2.99 reads. I'm telling good or bad you really can't go wrong with the $3 and under books. This one does fall into the win category though.

Book Title: Love Regifted by Stephanie Haddad

Book Summary (from Amazon): What if everything you knew about your life turned out to be a lie? Ava Sullivan thought her biggest problems were a cheating boyfriend, a devious step-sister, and a weakness for designer handbags. But when a mysterious caller leaves her a message for her birthday, Ava’s curiosity leads her to uncover her parents’ best kept secret. Feeling betrayed, Ava begins to question every relationship in her life, especially that of the hot new guy she can’t seem to stop thinking about. Jay Matthews, on the other hand, knows all about regrets, especially when it comes to families. He also knows what he wants, and Ava sits at the top of that list. Getting her attention is easy. Getting her to learn how to trust again? That will take a miracle.

Book Review: I really enjoyed this book, although it was nothing crazy or out of the ordinary, it ended up sucking me in. I've read two other books by this author and I remember both of them started off slow and then I ended up loving the main character, which happened in this case as well. I found the end to be really touching and also left me with a big smile. I know it's cliche but in this case I didn't want the book to end there, I wish it could have kept going!

Book Review - A Week in Winter

Ok one more book review to go! I swear it's not like I have been reading that much lately, it's more like I am that behind on updating my blog. And I was behind on actually reading this book in time for last months book club. This was last months book club selection however when it came time for us to meet, for the 2nd time in over a year I had yet to actually finish the book. I was about 2/3 of the way through, but still had another 100 pages to go. It was enough for us to be able to chat about the book, after all we're really in it for the food and drinks anyway.

Speaking of, for this months book club we went to the beer garden in Hoboken and man was it was good!!! And not just the beer. We started off with probably the most amazing pretzel of my entire life. It could have been the butter on top of it but man was it good. It also had these awesome dipping sauces or cheese of some sorts, I could really go for one of those pretzels right now. Then because last month worked out so well with sharing dishes we decided to order three meals and just split them so we'd all have the best of all 3 words, it was the perfect trio. We had chicken, beef and pasta, how could you go wrong with that? The spatzel served with cheese, caramelized onions and bacon though had to be my favorite, it was like grown up grilled cheese delicious-ness. Although the apple strudel for dessert didn't hurt either. I have to say I think I like the food part of book club even more than the actual book part....

Book Title: A Week in Winter by Maeve Binchy

Book Summary: Stoneybridge is a small town on the west coast of Ireland where all the families know one another. When Chicky Starr decides to take an old, decaying mansion set high on the cliffs overlooking the windswept Atlantic Ocean and turn it into a restful place for a holiday by the sea, everyone thinks she is crazy. Helped by Rigger (a bad boy turned good who is handy around the house) and Orla, her niece (a whiz at business), Chicky is finally ready to welcome the first guests to Stone House’s big warm kitchen, log fires, and understated elegant bedrooms. John, the American movie star, thinks he has arrived incognito; Winnie and Lillian are forced into taking a holiday together; Nicola and Henry, husband and wife, have been shaken by seeing too much death practicing medicine; Anders hates his father’s business, but has a real talent for music; Miss Nell Howe, a retired schoolteacher, criticizes everything and leaves a day early, much to everyone’s relief; the Walls are disappointed to have won this second-prize holiday in a contest where first prize was Paris; and Freda, the librarian, is afraid of her own psychic visions. Sharing a week with this unlikely cast of characters is pure joy, full of Maeve’s trademark warmth and humor. Once again, she embraces us with her grand storytelling.

Book Review: Having never read a Maeve Binchy book before I think it definitely had different meaning for me than for others that absolutely love her books. Apparently the characters in the book are all referenced in other story lines but I wasn't familiar with those stories. It was hard for me to follow at times and put two and two together because as the story went on it seemed as though everyone was connected in one way, shape or form, and it was hard for me to keep it all straight, especially not being familiar with them. In the end I don't think my lack of familiarity with the characters took away from the story, I was still able to keep up and put everything together. One thing I found throughout the book was, was it really necessary for almost every single character to have an illegitimate child? I felt like 9 out of the 10 stories in the book dealt with that in one way. Anyway, while the characters story lines did all come together in the end, it would have been nice to see it more throughout the book. While I was reading it I kept feeling like it was just separate short stories. In the end I enjoyed the book overall, it was a nice read I'll say. Would I rush out to read it again or rave about it, probably not, but I would still recommend it if you're looking for something to read.

Book Review - Last Bite

Ok I'm not doing what I did with my last post and I'm writing this one right away. Considering I just finished the book 2 nights ago I should be ok.... This is another awesome Kindle Daily Deal find for a whopping $1.99 price. Granted most days I don't end up purchasing the daily deal the ones that I have gotten have certainly worked out in my favor. It actually took me a while to get through the book, not because it was bad, but just because I started reading other books in the meantime and put this one on the back burner. So I definitely read it in separate sittings, but it was pretty easy to remember the storyline and pick up where I left off.

Book Title: Last Bite: A Novel of Culinary Romance by Nancy Verde Barr

Book Summary (From Amazon): After ending a bad relationship, Casey Costello, an executive chef at a morning television show, swears off men. Who has the time anyway? She's busy overseeing a rambunctious food-prep crew in a kitchen the size of a closet; trying to please high-maintenance celebrity guest chefs; and dealing with her large extended Italian American family, who believe that the solutions to life's problems involve food. And in the midst of her high-energy, stress-inducing career—punctuated by a steady stream of parties and restaurant openings that must not be missed—she's trying to uncover why Sally Woods, a grand old dame of the culinary world and regular on the television show, is suddenly ready to jump ship and find a new station and a new executive chef.

When Danny O'Shea, a handsome chef from one of New York's hottest new restaurants, makes a guest appearance on the show, Casey smells trouble. But feelings ignite faster than a flambé dessert, especially when Danny whips up a few surprises during a television shoot in Italy. Narrated in Casey's smart and refreshingly disarming voice, Last Bite is an irresistible culinary caper, with characters whose appetites are as big as their personalities.

Book Review: I thought this book was really cute. It was your typical chick romance book in terms of Casey and her "love" interest Danny who she is determined not to have be her love interest. In the middle of their love story was also an interesting story line about her work as a chef and also working for a morning news shows. And in the end there were a few other surprises as well in terms of her friend and celebrity chef Sally. I enjoyed how it all came together. I definitely enjoyed it for what it was a cute, light, chick lit book read with some fun characters. And I enjoyed the scenery of their trip to Italy as well!

Book Review - Before I Go To Sleep

I hate when I don't write my book reviews right away, because quite honestly I forget pretty quickly what my feelings were towards a book. Sad isn't it? And this is just at 30. I can't imagine what happens in another 30 years from now. In any case I do remember I bought this book for two reasons, one first and foremost it was a kindle daily deal at only $2.99. Secondly a former coworker who also loves to read had mentioned this book, so when it came up on a kindle daily deal (see reason number 1) I jumped on it. I really am a sucker for those daily deals, any book for $3 is worth it to me, especially if it comes recommended. It's cheaper than a gallon of gas these days.

Book Title: Before I Go To Sleep by SJ Watson

Book Summary (From Amazon): Every day Christine wakes up not knowing where she is. Her memories disappear every time she falls asleep. Her husband, Ben, is a stranger to her, and he's obligated to explain their life together on a daily basis--all the result of a mysterious accident that made Christine an amnesiac. With the encouragement of her doctor, Christine starts a journal to help jog her memory every day. One morning, she opens it and sees that she's written three unexpected and terrifying words: "Don't trust Ben." Suddenly everything her husband has told her falls under suspicion. What kind of accident caused her condition? Who can she trust? Why is Ben lying to her? And, for the reader: Can Christine’s story be trusted? At the heart of S. J. Watson's Before I Go To Sleep is the petrifying question: How can anyone function when they can't even trust themselves? Suspenseful from start to finish, the strength of Watson's writing allows Before I Go to Sleep to transcend the basic premise and present profound questions about memory and identity.

Book Review: From what I remember (although it was no more than 2 months ago tops) I definitely enjoyed the book. It reminded me somewhat of Girl Gone, although I think I preferred that one a little bit more. It was certainly interesting to see how Christine (the main character) pieces together parts of her life, and why it is that she shouldn't trust him. I don't think it had quite the same effect on me as say a Walk Across the Sun, which parts of that I just couldn't shake and get out of my head. This was somewhat forgettable  small details. The ending was a bit unexpected from when I had started the book. But I like the way that it all came together in the end. It would probably make for an interesting movie adaptation (which it looks like is already in the works staring Nicole Kidman). I thought overall it was a good mystery book and certainly worth the mere $3 I spent on it.

Book Review - A Walk Across the Sun

Yet another absolutely fabulous book club selection and dinner!!! My friend Maura had recommended this book and said it was a great read, she was not kidding. I loved that for this month, it was easy to pick what type of food we would go out for, Indian food. I've probably had Indian food twice in my life, and it was close to a decade ago, and it was not the best experience. I went with my Mom and Bridget and I seem to recall not enjoying it and picking things that were too spicy and not to our liking and I've never had Indian food since. It's certainly not Mike's thing so the two of us have never been. But I was really excited to try it again and experience something new, hoping that this would be a better experience and it was!

After the original restaurant we picked to meet at we found out was closed for renovations we headed over to this small little place, Tandoori Chef, not far away. We decided it would be fun to split a couple of different items from the menu. For our dinner we had:

• Vegetable Samosa - Crisp deep-fried turnovers filled with seasoned potatoes and green peas
• Samosa Chat - Samosa topped with chickpeas, yogurt, and onions
• Chicken Tikka Masala - Boneless marinated chicken broiled in the tandoor clay oven and then smothered in creamy tomato sauce with onions and peppers
• Chana Masala - Chickpeas, onions, and ginger cooked in with Indian spices and tomato sauce.
• Basmati Rice 
• Garlic Naan - White flour bread topped with fresh garlic
• Kulfi - Homemade pistachio ice cream with saffron and cardamom

I have to say I loved all of it. It was so different from what I was used to but everything was delicious. I really enjoyed the vegetarian chick pea dishes and the vegetable samosa's were awesome, and you definitely can't go wrong with the garlic naan. Maybe I can go back with my Mom and Bridget again and give it another shot since it's been 10 years since our last try. I was so excited to get to try all this new food along with the great company!

Book Title: A Walk Across the Sun by Corban Addison

Book Summary (From Amazon): When a tsunami rages through their coastal town in India, 17-year-old Ahalya Ghai and her 15-year-old sister Sita are left orphaned and homeless. With almost everyone they know suddenly erased from the face of the earth, the girls set out for the convent where they attend school. They are abducted almost immediately and sold to a Mumbai brothel owner, beginning a hellish descent into the bowels of the sex trade.

Halfway across the world, Washington, D.C., attorney Thomas Clarke faces his own personal and professional crisis-and makes the fateful decision to pursue a pro bono sabbatical working in India for an NGO that prosecutes the subcontinent's human traffickers. There, his conscience awakens as he sees firsthand the horrors of the trade in human flesh, and the corrupt judicial system that fosters it. Learning of the fate of Ahalya and Sita, Clarke makes it his personal mission to rescue them, setting the stage for a riveting showdown with an international network of ruthless criminals.

Book Review: Wow, what a powerful book, this book had so many emotions and layers to it. At times I was so angry for what these girls went through and to think that this actually goes on. The terrible things that these innocent children were put through. It was amazing to just learn about this topic and know that this is going on in the world today. The chapters were so short I just kept reading on, I found it took no time at all to read this book. I wanted to read on to make sure these girls were ok. The author also did a good job of weaving in the other story line of the Lawyer that was helping with the case and trying to find the girls, of describing his own hardship and the story of him and his wife. The book was very well written and made you feel for all of the characters in the story. Although it is not a light hearted read, it was a very good read, educational to say the least!

Book Review - Beautiful Creatures

I must admit when I saw the first movie trailer for this book last year I had no desire to see it, let alone read it. Yet here I am reviewing the book. What can I say, it came up an Amazon Daily Deal for $1.99 and I couldn't resist. It now has close to 3,000 reviews on Amazon at 4 1/2 stars. I think it must have been my President's Day off that I spent reading the whole book. It was a quick read, I'll give it that much. Think of it as Twilight meets Discovery of Witches, I don't mind that sort of thing.

Book Title: Beautiful Creatures by Kami Garcia

Book Summary (From Amazon): Ethan Wate, a high school sophomore, plans to escape his small Southern town as soon as he can. Life has been difficult since his mother died; his father, a writer, has withdrawn into his study. Then Lena Duchannes arrives, and this strange new girl is the very one who has been occupying his dreams. She and her kin are Casters, beings who have supernatural powers. Getting to know her exposes Ethan to time travel, mortal danger, and love. The teens can hardly bear to be apart, but Lena's 16th birthday, when she will be Claimed for dark or light, is only 6 months away. To save her, they fight supernatural powers and the prejudice of closed-minded people. Yet, good and evil are not clearly delineated, nor are they necessarily at odds. In the Gothic tradition of Anne Rice, the authors evoke a dark, supernatural world in a seemingly simple town obsessed with Civil War reenactments and deeply loyal to its Confederate past. The intensity of Ethan and Lena's need to be together is palpable, the detailed descriptions create a vivid, authentic world, and the allure of this story is the power of love.

Book Review: So I liked the book, but I hated the ending, that overshadowed it for me. It was clearly written to have a sequel to it, but the way it ended was just so flat to me. I felt like so much had been left out of what could have been. There was all this build up for 500 pages and then it just went dull, I had to reread it to see if I missed something (which I'll admit I do sometimes).

Overall, I thought it was a good story premise, but I did feel like there was even more they could have done with parts and added to it even more. Don't get me wrong what was written I really enjoyed and found myself wanting to continually read on to see what was going to happen next. When I finished it after I got over the, "that's all," I didn't find myself going to buy the next installment (in fact I still haven't), so that is kind of telling to me. If you're into the Young Adult books with the forbidden love story then this book will be right up your alley.

I definitely plan to see the movie when it comes out on DVD. Although I'm sure it won't be the same as the book, which in this case may be a good thing, maybe the movie will have a little bit more at the end. I'll be curious to see. If nothing else I think the scenery will be great to see on film!

Book Review - Love Saves the Day

With the Holidays and then getting back into the swing of things, we missed meeting in January for our little book club. Unfortunately we had also missed December, for the same reasons. We were trying to get the guys to come with us in December to go to dinner and a movie and go see the Hobbit, but it never ended up working out with everyone's schedules. 

We finally got to meet in early February to talk about our latest book and enjoy another great dinner. We try to pick a cuisine that goes with the book, whenever possible but sometimes there's no 'theme' to go along with the book, in that case we just pick a small local joint (our only rule is no chain food restaurants). For this dinner we ended up at La Havana 59, a small Cuban restaurant. Well I must say, sometimes the local hidden gems are the best, because that's exactly what this place was. 

Nicole and I ate at the bar and had a fabulous dinner from start to finish. Starting with the mojito's, which I don't even like rum, they were delicious cocktails. We had a passion fruit mojito which was awesome, and it was something ridiculous like $5 or even cheaper. Let me tell you it was $5 well spent.  We also got some appetizers to start off with which included some fried plantain chips with garlic sauce, they were so good, again for only like $3.50! And we had some delicious empanadas with them as well, no joke they were only $2.50, what a bargin. If that wasn't enough we had the most delicious roja vieja for dinner with a huge mound of white rice, yea that was only $8.50. I think we ended up paying like $20 each with tip for a delicious meal, this is exactly why we go searching for those local gems, we're already talking about going back again for when Joanna can come with us. 

The book was good too :-) Another gem if you will, that I probably never would have found. Joanna and Nicole both have cats so this book was perfect, but even as a dog lover I still appreciated the story being told from the perspective of the cat. It really was cute, but especially perfect for any cat lover out there! 

Book Title: Love Saves the Day by Gwen Cooper

Book Summary (From Amazon): Humans best understand the truth of things if they come at it indirectly. Like how sometimes the best way to catch a mouse that’s right in front of you is to back up before you pounce. So notes Prudence, the irresistible brown tabby at the center of Gwen Cooper’s tender, joyful, utterly unforgettable novel, which is mostly told through the eyes of this curious (and occasionally cranky) feline.

When five-week-old Prudence meets a woman named Sarah in a deserted construction site on Manhattan’s Lower East Side, she knows she’s found the human she was meant to adopt. For three years their lives are filled with laughter, tuna, catnaps, music, and the unchanging routines Prudence craves. Then one day Sarah doesn’t come home. From Prudence’s perch on the windowsill she sees Laura, the daughter who hardly ever comes to visit Sarah, arrive with her new husband. They’re carrying boxes. Before they even get to the front door, Prudence realizes that her life has changed forever.

Suddenly Prudence finds herself living in a strange apartment with humans she barely knows. It could take years to train them in the feline courtesies and customs (for example, a cat should always be fed before the humans, and at the same exact time every day) that Sarah understood so well. Prudence clings to the hope that Sarah will come back for her while Laura, a rising young corporate attorney, tries to push away memories of her mother and the tumultuous childhood spent in her mother’s dusty downtown record store. But the secret joys, past hurts, and life-changing moments that make every mother-daughter relationship special will come to the surface. With Prudence’s help Laura will learn that the past, like a mother’s love, never dies.

Poignant, insightful, and laugh-out-loud funny in the ways only a cat can be, Love Saves the Day is a story of hope, healing, and how the love of an animal can make all of us better humans. It’s the story of a mother and daughter divided by the turmoil of bohemian New York, and the opinionated, irrepressible feline who will become the bridge between them. It’s a novel for anyone who’s ever lost a loved one, wondered what their cat was really thinking, or fallen asleep with a purring feline nestled in their arms. Prudence, a cat like no other, is sure to steal your heart.

Book Review: The book was so much more than I was originally expecting being told from the perspective of a cat. It worked into the story so perfectly but it was also the story of human bonds, about a mother and a daughter and what they went through, which was based on a true story. That part of the story alone was heartbreaking and upsetting to read about that this actually happened (I don't want to give away too much). Yes the parts told from the perspective of the cat were also cute, like the monster, I mean the vacuum that comes out to get her. This was a really cute book that I would def recommend to even the non cat lovers out there!

Book Review - I've Got Your Number

Second book of the new year, although I don't think I'll come close to reading as many books this year as I read last year, with getting home from work and the gym late, showering and getting ready for the next day there's not as much time at night to read as before when I didn't have much of a routine to get ready for. This was another library ebook loan, although this one had a very long wait list for, I think I waited several months for my number to come up, but not like I was waiting on pins and needles for it and had nothing to read in the meantime. I can see now why it was so popular and was well worth the wait.

Book Title: I've Got Your Number by Sophie Kinsella

Book Summary (From Amazon): Poppy Wyatt has never felt luckier. She is about to marry her ideal man, Magnus Tavish, but in one afternoon her “happily ever after” begins to fall apart. Not only has she lost her engagement ring in a hotel fire drill but in the panic that follows, her phone is stolen. As she paces shakily around the lobby, she spots an abandoned phone in a trash can. Finders keepers! Now she can leave a number for the hotel to contact her when they find her ring. Perfect!

Well, perfect except that the phone’s owner, businessman Sam Roxton, doesn’t agree. He wants his phone back and doesn’t appreciate Poppy reading his messages and wading into his personal life.

What ensues is a hilarious and unpredictable turn of events as Poppy and Sam increasingly upend each other’s lives through emails and text messages. As Poppy juggles wedding preparations, mysterious phone calls, and hiding her left hand from Magnus and his parents . . . she soon realizes that she is in for the biggest surprise of her life

Book Review: This book was adorable, as far as chick lit goes, it gets an A in my book. It was fun to read and honestly was slightly different from what I was expecting. The author made what could be a pretty far fetched storyline into something that felt natural and eased into the progression of the relationship. I enjoy Stophie Kinsella's writing style and think it was really cute. I was highly entertained and engaged with the book throughout the entire story and found myself wanting to read on to see what the next adventure was going to be for Poppy. Definitely a fun chick lit read I would recommend!

Book Review - 30 Things...

Call it cliche but in commemoration of turning 30, when I saw this book, yes I wanted to read it. Now one thing I didn't do was pay for it, which I really don't think for the price is worth it ($9.50 for the e-book or $13 for the hardcover). Although you wouldn't have thought it was a highly sought after book I did have to wait a couple months to check this out and it wound up coming to me a month after my 30th birthday not that I needed to read it on my birthday.

Book Title: 30 Things Every Woman Should Have and Should Know by the Time She's 30 by Pamela Redmond Satran, the Editors of Glamour

Book Summary (from Amazon): Featuring advice, wisdom, and observations from an array of prominent and beloved women, 30 Things is an essential guide (and perfect gift) for women on the brink of thirty—and for those who are already there!

Fifteen years ago, Glamour published a list of distinctive yet universally true must-haves and must-knows for women on the cusp of and beyond the age of thirty titled, “30 Things Every Woman Should Have and Should Know by the Time She’s 30.” It became a phenomenon.

Originally penned by Glamour columnist Pamela Redmond Satran, The List found a second life when women began to forward it to one another online, millions of times. It became a viral sensation, misattributed to everyone from Maya Angelou to Hillary Clinton—but there’s only one original list, and it stands the test of time. Quirky and profound, The List defines the absolute must-haves (#11: “A set of screwdrivers, a cordless drill, and a black lace bra”) and must-knows (#1: “How to fall in love without losing yourself”) for grown-up female happiness.

Now, Glamour magazine has gathered together its editors and an incredible group of notable women to expand on each of the items on The List in wise, thoughtful, and intimate essays. Kathy Griffin meditates on knowing when to try harder and when to walk away. Lisa Ling explores the idea that your childhood may not have been perfect, but it’s over, and Lauren Conrad shares what she has learned about what she would and wouldn’t do for money or love. Other personal insights come from Maya Angelou, Rachel Zoe, Taylor Swift, Katie Couric, Portia de Rossi, Kelly Corrigan, ZZ Packer, Bobbi Brown, Padma Lakshmi, Angie Harmon, and many more.

Along with essays based on The List, writers share their feelings about what the milestone of turning thirty meant to them. 30 Things is the one book women of all ages will turn to for timely and timeless wisdom.

Book Review: For what it is I thought it was a quick, fun, enjoyable read. I read the whole book in two short sittings, maybe about 2 hours total, an hour on each section, if that. It was a compilation of short little stories (esssays) from various celebraties on their experiences with turning 30 and how it related to the different items on the list. I personally did not learn anything from this book, but I also wasn't looking for some insightful meaning of life type of discovery. I thought there were a couple cute little stories from women on their life experiences. There were some good stories, or tibits from some respectable women from Suzi Orman who wrote a chapter on finances to Maya Angelou. I def wouldn't put Lauren Conrad or Taylor Swift in that category but there were some good stories in there. My parting words on this one would be if you have two hours you want to pass the time reading some short stories on other women as they turned 30 and you can get a free copy of the book from the library then I say go for it. And as the list on, I have to say so far I agree that life begins at 30!

As for the list itself that each chapter is based on here it is:


By 30, you should have:

1. One old boyfriend you can imagine going back to and one who reminds you of how far you’ve come.
2. A decent piece of furniture not previously owned by anyone else in your family.
3. Something perfect to wear if the employer or man of your dreams wants to see you in an hour.
4. A purse, a suitcase, and an umbrella you’re not ashamed to be seen carrying.
5. A youth you’re content to move beyond.
6. A past juicy enough that you’re looking forward to retelling it in your old age.
7. The realization that you are actually going to have an old age—and some money set aside to help fund it.
8. An email address, a voice mailbox, and a bank account—all of which nobody has access to but you. 
9. A résumé that is not even the slightest bit padded. 
10. One friend who always makes you laugh and one who lets you cry. 
11. A set of screwdrivers, a cordless drill, and a black lace bra. 
12. Something ridiculously expensive that you bought for yourself, just because you deserve it. 
13. The belief that you deserve it. 
14. A skin-care regimen, an exercise routine, and a plan for dealing with those few facets of life that don’t get better after 30. 
15. A solid start on a satisfying career, a satisfying relationship, and all those other facets of life that do get better.

By 30, you should know:

1. How to fall in love without losing yourself. 
2. How you feel about having kids. 
3. How to quit a job, break up with a man, and confront a friend with-out ruining the friendship. 
4. When to try harder and when to walk away. 
5. How to kiss in a way that communicates perfectly what you would and wouldn’t like to happen next. 
6. The names of the secretary of state, your great-grandmothers, and the best tailor in town. 
7. How to live alone, even if you don’t like to. 
8. Where to go—be it your best friend’s kitchen table or a yoga mat—when your soul needs soothing. 
9. That you can’t change the length of your legs, the width of your hips, or the nature of your parents. 
10. That your childhood may not have been perfect, but it’s over.
11. What you would and wouldn’t do for money or love. 
12. That nobody gets away with smoking, drinking, doing drugs, or not flossing for very long. 
13. Who you can trust, who you can’t, and why you shouldn’t take it personally. 
14. Not to apologize for something that isn’t your fault. 
15. Why they say life begins at 30!

Book Review - The Light Between Oceans

For my birthday I was lucky enough to get a gift card to Barnes & Noble! Our dear family friend Barbra knows me well, and knows how much I love to read! Since I also just got my Samsung Galaxy Note, I wanted to try out reading a book on my new note, which worked out perfectly since it came loaded with the Barnes & Noble Nook app. So for my first read I decided to purchase a book I stumbled on that was highly rated and looked interesting.

In terms of reading on the Galaxy Note versus my Kindle, I def prefer my kindle. It was much easier on my eyes than it was on the note. Even with adjusting the brightness I still found it like reading a computer screen versus the kindle which feels much more like a book. The draw back to my kindle is the lack of light, even with the light on the case, it's not perfect. I'm interested to see the new kindle paperwhite and how that compares. It may warrant an upgrade!

Book Title: The Light Between Oceans by ML Stedman

Book Summary (from Amazon): After four harrowing years on the Western Front, Tom Sherbourne returns to Australia and takes a job as the lighthouse keeper on Janus Rock, nearly half a day’s journey from the coast. To this isolated island, where the supply boat comes once a season and shore leaves are granted every other year at best, Tom brings a young, bold, and loving wife, Isabel. Years later, after two miscarriages and one stillbirth, the grieving Isabel hears a baby’s cries on the wind. A boat has washed up onshore carrying a dead man and a living baby.

Tom, whose records as a lighthouse keeper are meticulous and whose moral principles have withstood a horrific war, wants to report the man and infant immediately. But Isabel has taken the tiny baby to her breast. Against Tom’s judgment, they claim her as their own and name her Lucy. When she is two, Tom and Isabel return to the mainland and are reminded that there are other people in the world. Their choice has devastated one of them.

M. L. Stedman’s mesmerizing, beautifully written novel seduces us into accommodating Isabel’s decision to keep this “gift from God.” And we are swept into a story about extraordinarily compelling characters seeking to find their North Star in a world where there is no right answer, where justice for one person is another’s tragic loss.

Book Review: I found the first 100-200 pages to be a bit slow, while it was interesting there wasn't a great deal that happened that really drew me into the book however it kept me interested enough to continue reading. The third part of the book was where things really picked up and that was def the best part of the book. For that alone I think it was worth the read. I think it was easy to feel the pain that each of the characters were going through as a result of the decisions they made and how they have to come to live with them. Overall I would recommend the book, I did enjoy it, and found myself wanting to read on to see the final outcome of the story.

Book Review - Let's Pretend This Never Happened

Ok I'm not going to lie this was the first month I did not get to finish our book club selection. With going back to work I just did not have the time or motivation to read at night, I ran out of time. But none the less we still had a great time as always. I actually don't think either one of the other two girls finished the book either this month, life and time just got away from us. However that didn't stop us from meeting.

Small change in plans, although it worked out for the better if you ask me, we ended up going to wine tasting again at Amazing Grapes, the local wine store near our house and held our book club there instead of dinner. Can't beat a night out with the girls for book club and throw in some wine tasting as well. I really do enjoy the wine tasting events they hold there, and it's great to have some friends to go with as well!

Book Title: Let's Pretend This Never Happened by Jenny Lawson

Book Summary (From Amazon):  For fans of Tina Fey and David Sedaris—Internet star Jenny Lawson, aka The Bloggess, makes her literary debut.

Jenny Lawson realized that the most mortifying moments of our lives—the ones we’d like to pretend never happened—are in fact the ones that define us. In the #1 New York Times bestseller, Let’s Pretend This Never Happened, Lawson takes readers on a hilarious journey recalling her bizarre upbringing in rural Texas, her devastatingly awkward high school years, and her relationship with her long-suffering husband, Victor. Chapters include: “Stanley the Magical, Talking Squirrel”; “A Series of Angry Post-It Notes to My Husband”; “My Vagina Is Fine. Thanks for Asking”; “And Then I Snuck a Dead Cuban Alligator on an Airplane.” Pictures with captions (no one would believe these things without proof) accompany the text.

Book Review: One of the major reasons for choosing this book was based on the blog post the author wrote, Beyonce The Chicken. That post had me laughing out loud so hard I was crying, I was cracking up, the other girls agreed as well and thus we we chose the book. If you haven't read that post, you really need to, and then come back and tell me if you didn't find it amusing. We also was also chose the book due to last months book club and our whole conversation surrounding HR People, since the author is also in HR.

I'm not going to lie the book is pretty vulgar language and also some really random stories the author had growing up in her childhood. There was a really funny chapter though on HR and I could totally relate to that. If nothing else it was worth reading that chapter alone. I think there was some funny, and totally random little anecdotes in the book. I wouldn't rush out to read this book but it's a good way to kill some time, of course I still have to go back and read the rest of it, but I'm sure I'll get to it at some point....

Book Review - Hotel on the Corner of Bitter & Sweet

I read this book solely based off the recommendation of our very dear family friend Barbra. When Barbra was over for Thanksgiving we were discussing and sharing book recommendations and this was one of the books she absolutely raved about and said I must read it. She was so right. I loved this book. I read it in under a week and loved every minute of it. I was so excited knowing I would get to see her for my birthday and could tell her how much I loved the book and was so glad she recommended it. And to put the icing on the cake the book was available through my library e-books and there was no wait for it so it was available to download immediately. I can't believe there was not a wait, it was so good.

Book Title: Hotel on the Corner of Bitter & Sweet by Jamie Ford

Book Summary (From Amazon): Henry Lee is a 12-year-old Chinese boy who falls in love with Keiko Okabe, a 12-year-old Japanese girl, while they are scholarship students at a prestigious private school in World War II Seattle. Henry hides the relationship from his parents, who would disown him if they knew he had a Japanese friend. His father insists that Henry wear an "I am Chinese" button everywhere he goes because Japanese residents of Seattle have begun to be shipped off by the thousands to relocation centers. This is an old-fashioned historical novel that alternates between the early 1940s and 1984, after Henry's wife Ethel has died of cancer. A particularly appealing aspect of the story is young Henry's fascination with jazz and his friendship with Sheldon, an older black saxophonist just making a name for himself in the many jazz venues near Henry's home. Other aspects of the story are more typical of the genre: the bullies that plague Henry, his lack of connection with his father, and later with his own son. Readers will care about Henry as he is forced to make decisions and accept circumstances that separate him from both his family and the love of his life.

Book Review: I loved this book for so many reasons. I loved the way the story alternated between the past and present and both stories kept me wanting more to see what was going to happen. I think it addressed a topic that is seldom talked about. I can remember learning about this during school but at that age never thought anything more of it. But to imagine our own government only 60 years ago rounding up its own citizens and placing them into camps is unbelievable. This story put such a face to what went on then. I also loved reading about young Henry's story of the cultural issues he was impacted by as a young Chinese American during the time period. And of course the budding love story of two young children and how they were also impacted by these events. This book was such an enjoyable read for me, I would def recommend it!

Book Review - Insurgent

What do you do when there's no power and nothing to do? Read! Not that I don't read when there is power, lights, tv and internet but since there really was nothing else to do I just read and read. This was my first book of the power outage. I had just finished divergent the week before and as soon as I finished I did download the second part of the trilogy (the third won't be available until next year). I did have the strong desire to see what happened next in the series. I actually couldn't sleep the night of the hurricane, totally unrelated to the storm, I think it was the wine that I had, it makes me not sleep well sometimes. I was up half the night and just read most of the story...

Book Title: Insurgent by Veronica Roth

Book Summary (From Amazon): One choice can transform you—or it can destroy you. But every choice has consequences, and as unrest surges in the factions all around her, Tris Prior must continue trying to save those she loves—and herself—while grappling with haunting questions of grief and forgiveness, identity and loyalty, politics and love.

Tris's initiation day should have been marked by celebration and victory with her chosen faction; instead, the day ended with unspeakable horrors. War now looms as conflict between the factions and their ideologies grows. And in times of war, sides must be chosen, secrets will emerge, and choices will become even more irrevocable—and even more powerful. Transformed by her own decisions but also by haunting grief and guilt, radical new discoveries, and shifting relationships, Tris must fully embrace her Divergence, even if she does not know what she may lose by doing so.

Book Review: I have mixed feelings on this book. Again I did enjoy it and had no problem getting through the material. I wanted to keep reading to see what happened. I just don't think it was as good as it could have been. I think it likely suffers from the second book slump. Let's face it most of the trilogy's I've read or even the movies they're never as good as the first or third books or movies. It was a lot of filler material again at 500 pages. Do I regret reading it, no? Would I read it again and still recommend it, probably, I did like it, I just wouldn't say that I absolutely loved it and would rush out to read it again.

I still felt like a lot of details were left out about the society. Yes some things did come to light finally and started to fill in the gaps, which I did certainly appreciate, but I think there could be more. I am hoping that the third book will tie everything together and wrap it all up. I don't want to divulge too much with my review, although quite honestly I don't even know that there was a whole lot that even happened to give away in a review for the majority of the book. In the end I still feel it was worth the read, it's an easy book to get through. I'll be interested to see how the author pulls it all together in the third installment next year, before they make it into a movie, because you know they are cashing in on that.

Book Review - It's a Waverly Life

Continuing on the theme of the week and that was no power and only thing to do was read books, this was my 3rd book last week during the power outage. A few weeks ago I read the first book in this 'series' called Perfect on Paper: The (Mis)Adventures of Waverly Bryson. This book was the second book and picked up right where the first left off.

Book Title: It's a Waverly Life by Maria Murnane

Book Summary (From Amazon): Readers first met the irrepressible Waverly Bryson in Perfect on Paper, and now the woman dubbed by fans as “the American Bridget Jones” is back in a sequel packed with friendship, heartache, and romance. In It’s a Waverly Life, the formerly heartbroken singleton is now happily enmeshed in a new relationship, a new job, and a new decade. Her career as an advice columnist is taking off, and the future of her fledgling greeting-card line is bright. Of course, where Waverly goes, drama is sure to follow, and this time is no exception. Her broken engagement to former fiancé Aaron Vaughn has left her gun-shy when it comes to love, putting strain on her long-distance relationship with handsome Jake McIntyre. And when her best friends McKenna and Andie both make life-changing announcements, Waverly fears she is being left behind by the ones she loves most. In true Waverly fashion, things must get comically worse before they can get better. But in the end, she discovers that though life (before and after thirty) may be messy and unpredictable, friendship and love make it all worthwhile.

Book Review: I enjoyed this book. I thought it was a cute, light read, your typical chick lit type of book. For the cheap price of $2.99 for the Kindle it's absolutely worth it. It helped me pass the time while there was no power. I enjoyed the further character development of Waverly as she continued to grow up and face more of life's challenges but how she managed to overcome them. There was a moment or two where I did smack my head and say in my head "Waverly why on earth did you do that" but it kept me going with the story. It was fun to see where it took her and the relationships that she continued and developed. All in all an enjoyable story and fun read to pass the time!

Book Review - Blackberry Winter

During the power outage last week I had a lot of free time on my hands and absolutely nothing to do. Not like there were many options other than sit around and do nothing due to the lack of power. So I found myself reading my kindle, which thankfully I had just charged and have the case with the light so I could see, while Mike sad on the other side of the couch listening to his sports radio on his phone.

This was book 2 of the power outage for me. If I had something else to do I probably wouldn't have read this or might have given up at one point. I had bought it a couple days earlier when it was one of the featured daily deals so I only paid $1.99 for the book. It was ok, I most definitely would not pay the normal price of $9.99 to read the book that's for sure. But since I only paid $1.99 and I had nothing else to do it wasn't a total loss.

Book Title: Blackberry Winter by Sarah Jio

Book Summary (From Amazon): Seattle, 1933. Vera Ray kisses her three-year-old son, Daniel, goodnight and reluctantly leaves for work. She hates the nightshift, but it’s the only way she can earn enough to keep destitution at bay. In the morning—even though it’s the second of May—a heavy snow is falling. Vera rushes to wake Daniel, but his bed is empty. His teddy bear lies outside in the snow.

Seattle, present day. On the second of May, Seattle Times reporter, Claire Hanson, awakens to another late-season snowstorm. Assigned to cover this “blackberry winter” and its predecessor decades earlier, Claire learns of Daniel’s unsolved abduction and vows to unearth the truth—only to discover that she and Vera are linked in unexpected ways.

Book Review: I guess I was expecting more, I expected it to be more of a "Sarah's Key." It had the same premise. One story in the present tense and one story being told in flashbacks and the chapters alternated. Early on, I got kind of annoyed and found myself rolling my eyes at the amount of coincidences that the author had written in. I know what she was trying to do, but it was just too many for my liking and it continued like that throughout the book. Like oh look this happened to the older character and now here the current character is in the same restaurant eating the same exact sandwich. The other thing was that I found the story to be extremely predictable, and there wasn't much of a mystery. I kept feeling like all the clues to solving the story of what happened to the missing little boy just kept appearing for her, she didn't have to go searching for anything. The premise of the story was good but I think there could have more to it or more development and perhaps taken out some of the obvious predicability.

I was genuinely surprised at how many 5 star reviews the book received on Amazon. That people absolutely loved the story. For me, it ended up passing a long boring afternoon and I read it in the one day but I would not rush out to go read it again or rave about it and recommend it to others unless you find yourself without power and nothing to do like I was.

Book Review - Divergent

This was another book club book that I might not have picked up. I'd heard of the title before but knew absolutely nothing about it and the book synopsis didn't really do much to reel me in either. It's another dystopian, post apocalyptic story about a 16 year old girl. Sound familiar? That's because it's got such a similar storyline to that of Hunger Games, I think the author was trying to cash in on the popularity of that trilogy but she did a pretty good job of recreating a storyline that pulls you right in. Of course they've already signed a movie deal for this trilogy to be made into a movie as well....

As for 'book club' itself we had another fabulous time, almost too much fun. We went to this tiny little BYOB restaurant in Ridgewood. It was pretty empty and I think we brought the entertainment the entire restaurant. We had so much fun, although could have been the extra wine we had this month. There was this one woman that was right behind us and started bad mouthing people in HR, me and one of the other girls heard this and burst out laughing, it was too funny what she was saying about HR. I think though it was one of those moments you had to be there for and was funny to us. I tried to explain it to Mike when I got home but he wasn't seeing the humor in my explanation.

Book Title: Divergent by Veronica Roth

Book Summary (From Amazon): In Beatrice Prior’s dystopian Chicago world, society is divided into five factions, each dedicated to the cultivation of a particular virtue—Candor (the honest), Abnegation (the selfless), Dauntless (the brave), Amity (the peaceful), and Erudite (the intelligent). On an appointed day of every year, all sixteen-year-olds must select the faction to which they will devote the rest of their lives. For Beatrice, the decision is between staying with her family and being who she really is—she can’t have both. So she makes a choice that surprises everyone, including herself.

During the highly competitive initiation that follows, Beatrice renames herself Tris and struggles alongside her fellow initiates to live out the choice they have made. Together they must undergo extreme physical tests of endurance and intense psychological simulations, some with devastating consequences. As initiation transforms them all, Tris must determine who her friends really are—and where, exactly, a romance with a sometimes fascinating, sometimes exasperating boy fits into the life she's chosen. But Tris also has a secret, one she's kept hidden from everyone because she's been warned it can mean death. And as she discovers unrest and growing conflict that threaten to unravel her seemingly perfect society, she also learns that her secret might help her save those she loves . . . or it might destroy her.

Debut author Veronica Roth bursts onto the YA scene with the first book in the Divergent series—dystopian thrillers filled with electrifying decisions, heartbreaking betrayals, stunning consequences, and unexpected romance.

Book Review: Overall I loved this book, considering it was over 500 pages, it def didn't feel like it and went by so quickly. The chapters were also short so it was easy to want to keep reading to see what happened next. As much as I loved the book, I do have a couple of qualms about the storyline. I think what I loved most was the character. It was easy to get pulled into the main character, Tris's story, and want to keep rooting for her. However what I didn't like about the book was the lack of information about the underlying society and why things are the way they are. I felt like a lot of information was left out of that part of the equation. From a purely character point I loved the book, I loved seeing Tris and her struggle to get through as well as how some of her relationships develop.

As soon as I finished the book I already downloaded the second part, Insurgent, to see where the story picks up. These are the first two books in the planned trilogy. The bad part is that the third book has yet to be written, so I will be waiting almost a year for the story to conclude. I am hoping that the second book fills in some more gaps regarding the society and gives more information to pull it all together. In any case I've enjoyed the character aspect of the books and will continue to read them. I found it to be highly entertaining and I think there can/hopefully be even more to the trilogy.

Book Review - Perfect on Paper: The (Mis)Adventures of Waverly Bryson

This one wins the prize for longest title of a book that I've reviewed so far. Chalk it up to another one of my $1.99 purchases I couldn't resist even though I still had a ton of books already downloaded on my kindle, I went and got this one too, but I'm so glad I did. This book is absolutely worth the $1.99 price and then some. I really do love the quick light reads, its so easy to get into these types of books and keep reading along to see what the characters get into next.

Book Title: Perfect on Paper: The (Mis)Adventures of Waverly Bryson by Maria Murnane

Book Summary (From Amazon): Waverly Bryson is a successful businesswoman in her late 20s who almost has it all: a dream job in sports PR, two best friends, and a bar where everybody knows her name. What she doesn’t have is a ring on her finger. And after being ditched at the altar, she’s in no hurry to get one. Besides, plenty of other issues keep her busy, including her wayward father, a new rival at work, and an ever-nagging fear that her life is not turning out as she thought it would . . . or should. To stay sane, Waverly makes a habit of jotting down “Honey Notes,” self-deprecating bits of single-girl humor that she hopes to one day develop into a line of greeting cards. Can’t face the dating scene after a bad breakup? Honey, hit the bar, and hit it hard. Beer goggles are the lonely girl’s Cupid. As Waverly stumbles back into the dating scene (no stalkers or jean shorts, please), her personal and professional lives threaten to collide. Perfect on Paper reminds listeners that everyone has had a bad date (or twelve), and that everyone needs a best friend to tell them, “Honey, you are not alone.”

Book Review: I thought this book was really cute to see all the adventures that Waverly got herself into. There were plenty of bad dates to talk about with her two best friends, who are always there to pick her up and to laugh at all her antics. I loved her line when she would do something stupid and she'd say to her friends, "Hello I'm Waverly have we met?" I could picture me saying something exactly like that to my friends.

I'm not going to lie was it the most realistic book I've ever read, no, in terms of her greeting cards and where that goes. But it doesn't need to be realistic to get lost in a book to enjoy the adventures that Waverly finds herself in and how she gets herself out of each mess, usually though with some type of funny but embarrassing moment. It was cute to read about her story and it flowed together nicely.  I loved the ending, predictable  yes, but still enjoyable non the less. I already bought the second book in this series and can't wait to read it!

Book Review - Slim to None

I bought this book when it was one of the daily deals on Amazon for only $1.99 but even at it's full retail price which is still only $4.99 I'd still highly recommend it and would buy it again at that price. I read this book in under 3 days, it was another great fun, quick, light read. I find I do love those books to read on a Sunday when Mike is engrossed in watching football and I can sit on the couch and zone out and get lost in a book. I don't really like something too heavy that requires a lot of thought and this book fit the bill perfectly.

Book Title: Slim to None by Jenny Gardiner

Book Summary: Abbie Jennings is Manhattan's top food critic until her expanding waistline makes staying incognito at restaurants impossible. Her cover blown on Page Six of the New York Post, her editor has no choice but to bench her—and suggest she use the time off to bench-press her way back to anonymity. Abbie’s life has been built around her career, and therefore around celebrating food. Forced to drop the pounds if she wants her primo gig back, Abbie must peel back the layers of her past and confront the fears that have led to her current life.

Book Review: This book wound up being so much more than I was expecting. It far exceeded my expectations, now granted I wasn't looking for much out of it, but it was so enjoyable. The main character is going through her own personal issues, of course the underlying premise is that she is too overweight for her job so she must take a break from her job while she possibly loses weight but it was so much more self discovery during that time. There were fun little side plots about the person that replaces her and the things that she does, but there were also things about her family issues that she must tackle.

The one side plot about the homeless man that she brings food too was a little far fetched but it did fit in perfectly and also provided a way of wrapping things up nicely. One of the other fun parts about the book as well were the recipes the author included at the end of several chapters and many of them sounded delicious, I want to go back and try some of them. Coming back to the main issue at hand, it was fun to see Abbie tackle some of her demons, both personal and weight-wise. It was a cute, fun little storyline which I would def recommend for a light read!