Review: A Life That Fits by Heather Wardell

Publisher: Self-Published
Release Date: June 1, 2011
Format: E-book
Pages: 240
Source: Author

From Goodreads: Twenty-eight-year-old Andrea returns home from a business trip to find Alex, her boyfriend of fourteen years, nervously waiting for her. Assuming he's finally going to propose, Andrea's instead horrified to learn he's been cheating on her and is leaving to be with the other woman, who he calls Andrea's opposite.

At first Andrea's paralyzed by shock and sadness, but the business analyst soon forms a plan: change every last detail of her life and become her opposite so Alex will come back to her.

It's a challenge at first, but soon Andrea's loving the changes she's making, the new activities she's doing, and the new people in her life. But will she change enough to get Alex back? And if she does, will he fit into the wonderful new life she's creating for herself?

My review: This is a story about growth and self discovery, reminding the reader that teens aren’t the only ones figuring out who they are. When Andrea’s long-time boyfriend leaves she is suddenly alone…and lost. She wallows in her heartbreak and along the way realizes that she doesn’t know who she is anymore. She sets out on a plan to win her boyfriend back by becoming the opposite of who she was with him.

Along the way she truly discovers herself and it is such a wonderful transformation to witness. It wasn’t easy, nor was it without tears. She struggled with her decisions and made a few wrong moves but she puts herself out there in a quest to find herself. I loved how daring she forces herself to be – jumping into conversations with strangers on the subway, joining a multitude of hobby classes and picking up a piece of her she left in band class in high school.

I think everyone has wanted to do something as exotic as this – doing exactly the opposite of what you would normally do. Most of us don’t have the means or opportunity to shelve our responsibilities, spouses, children and the other many items relying on us to be our normal selves. I lived vicariously through Andrea as she went through this journey - sending her encouragement when she was nervous and yelling at her for her mistakes.

A story of romance, of self-discovery and of new beginnings, this is a wonderful book full of hope.

Tot Tuesday: Swim, Little Wombat, Swim! by Charles Fuge

Welcome to Tot Tuesday – a weekly feature where I review and share a children’s book. Children’s books are such a big part of my life now that I want to share them for other parents, grandparents or anyone who buys a child a book with the hope of instilling a lifelong love of reading.

The books I review and share are generally books from my daughter’s bookshelves and her library selections. She generally selects library books by a very technical method of grabbing every book in her reach and shoving them into the bag we bring with us. Thus, each week will be a surprising post.


Swim, Little Wombat, Swim! by Charles Fuge - This is an adorable book about friendship, as well as an intro to swimming. If a child is a bit timid of the water or swimming this would be a great story to read before heading to the pool, lake or ocean. The wombat learns how to swim from a new friend - demonstrating friendship, learning new skills and how much fun the water can be.

Review: A Lion Called Christian: The True Story of the Remarkable Bond between Two Friends and a Lion by Anthony Bourke, John Rendall

Publisher: Broadway
Release Date: March 3, 2009
Format: E-book
Pages: 224
Source: Library

From Goodreads: In 2008 an extraordinary two-minute film clip appeared on YouTube and immediately became an international phenomenon. It captures the moving reunion of two young men and their pet lion Christian, after they had left him in Africa with Born Free’s George Adamson to introduce him into his rightful home in the wild.

A Lion Called Christian tells the remarkable story of how Anthony “Ace” Bourke and John Rendall, visitors to London from Australia in 1969, bought the boisterous lion cub in the pet department of Harrods. For several months, the three of them shared a flat above a furniture shop on London’s King’s Road, where the charismatic and intelligent Christian quickly became a local celebrity, cruising the streets in the back of a Bentley, popping in for lunch at a local restaurant, even posing for a fashion advertisement. But the lion cub was growing up—fast—and soon even the walled church garden where he went for exercise wasn’t large enough for him. How could Ace and John avoid having to send Christian to a zoo for the rest of his life? A coincidental meeting with English actors Virginia McKenna and Bill Travers, stars of the hit film Born Free, led to Christian being flown to Kenya and placed under the expert care of “the father of lions” George Adamson. Incredibly, when Ace and John returned to Kenya to see Christian a year later, they received a loving welcome from their lion, who was by then fully integrated into Africa and a life with other lions.

Originally published in 1971, and now fully revised and updated with more than 50 photographs of Christian from cuddly cub in London to magnificent lion in Africa, A Lion Called Christian is a touching and uplifting true story of an indelible human-animal bond. It is is destined to become one of the great classics of animal literature.

My review: I am not really sure where I saw this book recommended at but I added it to my list many moons ago. My hold finally came up via FLIP but I was surprised to see how short this book was. It was less of a book and more of a long report really.

I did enjoy the story though – it was full of heart and love for Christian. I never really forgot that he was a lion and how scary they could be, but for some of the story I could understand how they could snuggle and connect with Christian. I understood they were trying to keep Christian out of a zoo and captivity but it seemed almost as equally wrong for them to “own” him and keep him captivity within a city. Yes, they tried to make sure he had enough food, attention and space to roam but he was still living in captivity. To move past this line of thought, I had to keep in mind that this was many years ago. Things have changed since then and I can’t imagine someone buying a lion from a department store now. I think zoos have come a long way in that time period too.

I did enjoy the last portion of the book that walked through his release into the wild. It was a fascinating look into wild animal culture and behaviors. This is a quick read (I read it in one sitting) but was interesting – worth a read especially if you are an animal lover.

In My Mailbox - June 26, 2011

In My Mailbox is a weekly meme hosted by The Story Siren. It is an opportunity to share any books I have received this week in my mailbox, on my nook or in my hands.

For Review (thank you Harper!!):

Season to Taste: How I Lost My Sense of Smell and Found My Way by Molly Birnbaum

The Good Muslim: A Novel by Tahmima Anam

The Wild Life of Our Bodies: Predators, Parasites, and Partners That Shape Who We Are Today by Rob Dunn

Blood of the Reich: A Novel by William Dietrich

Review: The Struggle (The Vampire Diaries #2) by L.J. Smith

Publisher: HarperTeen
Release Date: September 1, 2009
Format: Paperback
Pages: 256
Source: Won from publisher on Twitter


From Goodreads: In this second volume in the popular series, Damon is determined to make pretty Elena Gilbert his queen of darkness. He would even kill his own brother to possess her. But Stefan, desperate for the power to destroy Damon, succumbs to his unquenchable thirst for human blood

My review: I finished the first book in this series with a complete annoyance in Damon. I didn’t really get what made him attractive or even interesting in the plot at all. I finished this novel with a bit more interest, but not much. I guess I wanted more drama between the brother’s – more hurtful words and memories.

The level of suspense was ramped up in this book, including the theft of a very important book. This book is of utmost importance to Elena and one that could cause great harm to her social standings and even greater harm to Stefan. This aspect of the plot was perfect for the high school setting, but combined the dangerous vampire world as well. The plot got faster paced and more interesting, leading me into the third book.

The first book was ok but I wasn’t in a rush to read on. I ended up picking this up the day after I finished the first book just because I needed a quick read. After finishing the second, I moved the third up on my TBR list.

Review: The Awakening (The Vampire Diaries #1) by L.J. Smith

Publisher: HarperTeen
Release Date: September 1, 2009
Format: Paperback
Pages: 272
Source: Won from Publisher on Twitter contest


From Goodreads: Elena Gilbert is a pretty, popular teen who was orphaned when her parents were killed in an accident. Despite the tragedy, her life has always been normal and wholesome. Until the beginning of the school year, when two new vampire brothers show up to shake the peaceful universe at Robert E. Lee High.

My review: This was a short book, but not uncommon for the beginning of a series. It set up the vampire world and Elena’s high school world nicely while still carrying the plot towards the next book. I have read enough vampire novels that I had to make a conscious effort not to compare them or look for similarities. It’s very hard though and a few times I huffed at some of the similar plot lines or characteristics of Elena and Stefan versus other human/vampire stories.

The town that Elena has grown up in is not immune from heartache – she herself has lost her parents but it is more focused on the typical high school senior drama than of bloodlust and unending thirst. Her previous friend, Caroline, is now becoming an annoyance and potentially a huge liability in Elena’s social circle but Elena is determined to make the most of her senior year, including with the boys. When Stefan’s head doesn’t turn as she walks by it becomes a quest that Elena must catch his eye and so begins the chase.

I am continuing the series for now since I own most of the series, but I am not sure I will continue past those books unless the story gets more unique or suspenseful.

Tot Tuesday: Hooray for Fish! by Lucy Cousins

Welcome to Tot Tuesday – a weekly feature where I review and share a children’s book. Children’s books are such a big part of my life now that I want to share them for other parents, grandparents or anyone who buys a child a book with the hope of instilling a lifelong love of reading.

The books I review and share are generally books from my daughter’s bookshelves and her library selections. She generally selects library books by a very technical method of grabbing every book in her reach and shoving them into the bag we bring with us. Thus, each week will be a surprising post.

Hooray for Fish! by Lucy Cousins - I believe Sammie picked this book off the shelf at our library and I fully believe it is because the bright colors caught her eye. This book is huge with color! The text is humorous and childish - rhyming and creative labels for fish. A shy fish hiding behind a plant and a fly fish with fins like airplane wings. A great read aloud book that will guarantee both children and adult laughs!

Review: The Case for the Only Child: Your Essential Guide by Susan Newman

Publisher: HCI
Release Date: June 1, 2011
Format: Paperback
Pages: 288
Source: Publisher

From Goodreads: What's really wrong with having one child? Is one enough for you? For your partner? What constitutes a complete, happy family? Will your only child be lonely, spoiled, bossy, selfish? Read this book and find out.

Despite the personal distress and pressure to have a second baby, the number of women having an only child has more than doubled in the last two decades. What most people don't realize is that one-child families outnumber families with two children and have for more than two decades. In major metropolitan areas like New York, 30 percent of families have a singleton. Throughout the country people are following suit. And it's no wonder why:

• The worrisome biological clock (secondary infertility; older mothers)
• Downtrodden job markets
• How mothers working affects everyone in the family
• Finances and housing and costs of education

These are only the few things that parents today (and parents to be) contend with when deciding to start a family and determining whether or not to stop after one. The time is right for a book that addresses the emerging type of nuclear family, one that consists of a solo child. Popular Psychology Today blogger and parenting author of fifteen books, including the groundbreaking Parenting the Only Child, Susan Newman, Ph.D., grew impatient with the pervasiveness of only-child folklore masquerading as fact and offers the latest findings about the long-term effects of being raised as a singleton. In The Case for the Only Child, Newman walks parents (and future parents) through the long list of factors working for and against them as well as highlights the many positive aspects of raising and being a singleton. The aim of this book is to ease and guide parents through the process of determining what they want. Although each situation is unique, the profound confusion surrounding having a second child is similar. It is one of the most difficult and life-altering choices parents face. Adding to one's family dramatically changes one's life and the life of one's firstborn forever. What will a person give up in time, money, freedom, intimacy, and job advancement with another child in the household? What will they gain? The Case for the Only Child helps explore and resolve these perplexing questions.  

My review: When I saw this book available for TLC’s book tour, I jumped at the chance to read it. Brett and I are 99% sure we are done having children and that Sammie will be our only child. Parenthood has been wonderful for us but Sammie has had a lot of health issues that required a lot of time, energy and money. Most of all though, our family feels complete just the three of us. I decided to participate in this tour to read the book because I feel a lot of residual guilt over not having more children because I feel like we are supposed to have at least two – I don’t know I feel this way, but I do.

With this book targeted at one-child families it is to be expected that it was biased towards this borderline to a fault. At times it felt so pro one-child that it almost mocked and/or disrespected those who have more than one child. I understand that being pro anything can make it hard to not appear anti the opposite. For the most part, this book read more that it is ok to only have one child rather than pro one child but a few chapters blurred that a bit.

However, if you are considering being a one-child family, this book is a good read. It does evaluate the benefits and drawbacks of this type of family unit. It also discusses a few of the studies that have been published relating to health and social skills for the only child versus siblings. I thought this was interesting, even though we haven’t really looked at studies for our reasons for leaning towards our one-child family. In all, this book didn’t sell me on only having one child, but it did lower my level of guilt and my feeling of being an oddity. If you are considering only having one child, this book is worth a read.

I am giving away one copy of this book - enter in the form below!

 Check out a few other stops on this book tour:


Wednesday, June 8th:  Chaotic Compendiums
Thursday, June 9th:  Life in Review
Monday, June 13th:  Redheaded Book Child
Thursday, June 16th:  Patricia’s Wisdom
Monday, June 20th:  Life is Short. Read Fast
Tuesday, June 21st:  I’m Booking It
Monday, June 27th:  Helen’s Book Blog
Tuesday, June 28th:  Girls Gone Reading
Thursday, June 30th:  Stacy’s Books
Tuesday, July 5th:  Overstuffed

In My Mailbox - June 19, 2011

In My Mailbox is a weekly meme hosted by The Story Siren. It is an opportunity to share any books I have received this week in my mailbox, on my nook or in my hands.

This week was a library week for me, plus a book I won!

Divergent (Divergent #1) by Veronica Roth - I won this one from Jessica and can't wait to read it.

The Beach Trees by Karen White

The Vespertine (Vespertine #1) by Saundra Mitchell

Stork by Wendy Delsol

The Tea Rose (The Tea Rose #1) by Jennifer Donnelly

The Winter Rose (The Tea Rose #2) by Jennifer Donnelly

What did you get in your mailbox this week?

Review: State of Wonder by Ann Patchett

Publisher: Harper
Release Date: June 7, 2011
Format: Paperback ARC
Pages: 368
Source: Publisher

From Goodreads: Dr. Marina Singh, a research scientist with a Minnesota pharmaceutical company, is sent to Brazil to track down her former mentor, Dr. Annick Swenson, who seems to have all but disappeared in the Amazon while working on what is destined to be an extremely valuable new drug, the development of which has already cost the company a fortune. Nothing about Marina's assignment is easy: not only does no one know where Dr. Swenson is, but the last person who was sent to find her, Marina's research partner Anders Eckman, died before he could complete his mission. Plagued by trepidation, Marina embarks on an odyssey into the insect-infested jungle in hopes of finding her former mentor as well as answers to several troubling questions about her friend's death, the state of her company's future, and her own past.

Once found, Dr. Swenson, now in her seventies, is as ruthless and uncompromising as she ever was back in the days of Grand Rounds at Johns Hopkins. With a combination of science and subterfuge, she dominates her research team and the natives she is studying with the force of an imperial ruler. But while she is as threatening as anything the jungle has to offer, the greatest sacrifices to be made are the ones Dr. Swenson asks of herself, and will ultimately ask of Marina, who finds she may still be unable to live up to her teacher's expectations.

In a narrative replete with poison arrows, devouring snakes, and a neighboring tribe of cannibals, State of Wonder is a world unto itself, where unlikely beauty stands beside unimaginable loss. It is a tale that leads the reader into the very heart of darkness, and then shows us what lies on the other side.

My review: This book begins with a death and ends with loss of a different kind, but the middle is full of hope, heart and understanding. Written as a mystery covered in medical lingo and combined with indigenous people – this book was beautiful. The writing was beautiful, the characters and location were beautiful – but not in a traditional sense. The locations were full of huge trees, plants and bugs – but they are a beautiful and important part of that locale, and of the story.

Marina seems to develop during her time away from civilization, almost as much as the aging women physically change during their pregnancies. Her worst fears are faced, her deepest emotions are unfolded in front of her and she begins to see her surroundings through different eyes. I enjoyed this development most about the novel – it was real and felt very honest and ugly. Compared with the beauty of the writing and location this ugly was even more pronounced which made the ending even more perfect in my eyes.

My only remaining desire after finishing was that the relationship of Marina and Mr. Fox would have been covered more throughout the plot. It was a big portion before Marina left and a small portion towards the end of the book, but not much in between. I’m not sure if it was meant that way to convey the lack of true depth, which would make sense, but I just felt the middle was missing.

Review: The Bird Sisters by Rebecca Rasmussen

Publisher: Crown
Release Date: April 12, 2011
Format: Hardcover
Pages: 304
Source: Library

From Goodreads: When a bird flies into a window in Spring Green, Wisconsin, sisters Milly and Twiss get a visit. Twiss listens to the birds' heartbeats, assessing what she can fix and what she can't, while Milly listens to the heartaches of the people who've brought them. These spinster sisters have spent their lives nursing people and birds back to health.

But back in the summer of 1947, Milly and Twiss knew nothing about trying to mend what had been accidentally broken. Milly was known as a great beauty with emerald eyes and Twiss was a brazen wild child who never wore a dress or did what she was told. That was the summer their golf pro father got into an accident that cost him both his swing and his charm, and their mother, the daughter of a wealthy jeweler, finally admitted their hardscrabble lives wouldn't change. It was the summer their priest, Father Rice, announced that God didn't exist and ran off to Mexico, and a boy named Asa finally caught Milly's eye. And, most unforgettably, it was the summer their cousin Bett came down from a town called Deadwater and changed the course of their lives forever.

Rebecca Rasmussen's masterfully written debut novel is full of hope and beauty, heartbreak and sacrifice, love and the power of sisterhood, and offers wonderful surprises at every turn.

My review: This novel is told in the present and in flashbacks to Twiss and Milly’s childhood. I really enjoyed this style as it tied thoughts and emotions they sister’s were feeling as old ladies back to their past. Their poor Midwest upbringing is full of upheaval, loss and that gray area childhood is famous for. They were very close until their cousin arrived to stay a summer with and with her she brought more life experiences to their doorstep than they ever imagined.

What sticks in my mind after finishing this book is the emotional upheaval that occurs in the last third of the story. I cried, bordering on sobbing, at the sacrifice one sister makes – I’m not sure I could have made the same choice she did. The sisters remained close, living out their shared life in their home – content. Yet, I couldn’t help but wonder what might have been for each of them had they spread their own wings instead of just repairing the injured birds that found their way to the sisters. I ached for the unknown and unrealized potential even while I understood how circumstances pushed Milly and Twiss.

This book reads like a Southern novel – drama served with sugar-laced cookies.

Tot Tuesday: A Father's Song by Janet Lawler

Welcome to Tot Tuesday – a weekly feature where I review and share a children’s book. Children’s books are such a big part of my life now that I want to share them for other parents, grandparents or anyone who buys a child a book with the hope of instilling a lifelong love of reading.

The books I review and share are generally books from my daughter’s bookshelves and her library selections. She generally selects library books by a very technical method of grabbing every book in her reach and shoving them into the bag we bring with us. Thus, each week will be a surprising post.

A Father's Song by Janet Lawler - With Father's Day coming up this weekend this book is perfect to celebrate how important Father's are to their children. This book shows a Father and his child playing, running, reading and singing together. It is full of fun, imaginative text, beautiful illustrations and the bond between Father and child!

Review: Clara and Mr. Tiffany by Susan Vreeland

Publisher: Random House
Release Date: January 11th 2011
Format: Hardcover
Pages: 432
Source: Library

From Goodreads: Against the unforgettable backdrop of New York near the turn of the twentieth century, from the Gilded Age world of formal balls and opera to the immigrant poverty of the Lower East Side, bestselling author Susan Vreeland again breathes life into a work of art in this extraordinary novel, which brings a woman once lost in the shadows into vivid color.

It’s 1893, and at the Chicago World’s Fair, Louis Comfort Tiffany makes his debut with a luminous exhibition of innovative stained-glass windows, which he hopes will honor his family business and earn him a place on the international artistic stage. But behind the scenes in his New York studio is the freethinking Clara Driscoll, head of his women’s division. Publicly unrecognized by Tiffany, Clara conceives of and designs nearly all of the iconic leaded-glass lamps for which he is long remembered.

Clara struggles with her desire for artistic recognition and the seemingly insurmountable challenges that she faces as a professional woman, which ultimately force her to protest against the company she has worked so hard to cultivate. She also yearns for love and companionship, and is devoted in different ways to five men, including Tiffany, who enforces to a strict policy: he does not hire married women, and any who do marry while under his employ must resign immediately. Eventually, like many women, Clara must decide what makes her happiest—the professional world of her hands or the personal world of her heart.

My review: I saw this historical novel on my libraries website and immediately put a hold on it. I love the Tiffany lamps and someday hope to have one (more likely a knock off, if I am honest) in a home library someday in my future. Add to that my current obsession with historical fiction novels and I just had to read this one.

I was not let down by this novel. It was full of reach descriptions of New York and the surrounding areas complete with life in an adult boarding house. Women’s rights in the workplace was a foremost part of the plot, which I loved and brought to mind all the women that have come before me. There was a mysterious disappearance, money woes, love found, love lost and death. This book has it all – including a powerful cast of characters. Everyone of them seemed real and tangible in my mind. I envisioned the dinners at the boarding house and the beauty of creating works of art from glass.

The artistic skills and glass creation methods were beautifully explained, simple enough to understand but deep enough to inspire deep colors and rich designs. This is a colorful book in plot, descriptions and characters. I recommend it to any fans of historical fiction novels or anyone with a creative side.

In My Mailbox - June 12, 2011

In My Mailbox is a weekly meme hosted by The Story Siren. It is an opportunity to share any books I have received this week in my mailbox, on my nook or in my hands.

This week was a slow week in my house but that's ok with me. My TBR shelf has been a little overwhelming as of late anyway!

I have already read this book, but had gotten it from the library at that time. Since I started the Presidential Challenge, I wanted to have a copy on my shelf so I could have a copy of all the biographies I read for the challenge.

American Lion: Andrew Jackson in the White House by Jon Meacham


What was in your mailbox this week?

Review: Sex with the Queen: 900 Years of Vile Kings, Virile Lovers, and Passionate Politics (P.S.) by Eleanor Herman

Publisher: William Morrow
Release Date: April 1, 2006
Format: Hardcover
Pages: 336
Source: Library

From Goodreads: In royal courts bristling with testosterone—swashbuckling generals, polished courtiers, and virile cardinals—how did repressed regal ladies find happiness?

Anne Boleyn flirted with courtiers; Catherine Howard slept with one. Henry VIII had both of them beheaded.

Catherine the Great had her idiot husband murdered and ruled the Russian empire with a long list of sexy young favorites.

Marie Antoinette fell in love with the handsome Swedish count Axel Fersen, who tried valiantly to rescue her from the guillotine.

Princess Diana gave up her palace bodyguard to enjoy countless love affairs, which tragically led to her early death.

In this impeccably researched, scandalously readable follow-up to her New York Times bestseller Sex with Kings, Eleanor Herman reveals the truth about what has historically gone on behind the closed door of the queen's boudoir.

My review: With Queens – This book is more of a rambling narration of the affairs of Queen’s throughout time than an in-depth catalog of such events. I rather preferred this format as it flowed from year-to-year, reign-to-reign. What I enjoyed most of this book was the passion surrounding these Queens. In many cases they were starved of attention, their children and love in general but rather than become bitter and lost within their own minds, they risked everything to seek out love and a warm embrace.

The complete hypocrisy of Kings having mistresses and being acceptable but Queen’s having their own lovers being so unacceptable is well-known, but hard to read nonetheless. Yet, there were some surprises in the form of a few Kings allowing the Queen to have lovers, and in some cases, even welcoming lovers. I found that to be an interesting twist from my expectations.

Even though this is non-fiction for anyone who likes historical fiction – this book is for you.

Review: Queen Hereafter: A Novel of Margaret of Scotland by Susan Fraser King

Publisher: Crown
Release Date: December 7, 2011
Format: Hardcover
Pages: 336
Source: Purchased

From Goodreads: Refugee. Queen. Saint. In eleventh-century Scotland, a young woman strives to fulfill her destiny despite the risks . . .

Shipwrecked on the Scottish coast, a young Saxon princess and her family—including the outlawed Edgar of England—ask sanctuary of the warrior-king Malcolm Canmore, who shrewdly sees the political advantage. He promises to aid Edgar and the Saxon cause in return for the hand of Edgar’s sister, Margaret, in marriage.

A foreign queen in a strange land, Margaret adapts to life among the barbarian Scots, bears princes, and shapes the fierce warrior Malcolm into a sophisticated ruler. Yet even as the king and queen build a passionate and tempestuous partnership, the Scots distrust her. When her husband brings Eva, a Celtic bard, to court as a hostage for the good behavior of the formidable Lady Macbeth, Margaret expects trouble. Instead, an unlikely friendship grows between the queen and her bard, though one has a wild Celtic nature and the other follows the demanding path of obligation.
Torn between old and new loyalties, Eva is bound by a vow to betray the king and his Saxon queen. Soon imprisoned and charged with witchcraft and treason, Eva learns that Queen Margaret—counseled by the furious king and his powerful priests—will decide her fate and that of her kinswoman Lady Macbeth. But can the proud queen forgive such deep treachery?

Impeccably researched, a dramatic page-turner, Queen Hereafter is an unforgettable story of shifting alliances and the tension between fear and trust as a young woman finds her way in a dangerous world.

My review: I picked this up at my local Borders store closing a few months ago because I love historical fiction and it sounded intriguing. I have never read anything about the Scottish Royalty before this but plan to add a few more to my wish list soon. I really enjoyed this story. More than about Royal drama, it seemed about love, friendship and loyalty - 3 things that are most often missing in a Royal Court. I love how Margaret and Malcolm's relationship blossom's into real love and devotion. They begin to understand their own faults and the faults of their spouse, all while remaining soft and open to each other.

The story of Eva and Margaret is one of friendship - it goes through trials and moments of doubt like every other relationship. Even given their vast difference in their individual relationships with the King, they become close allowing each other an outlet for support and trust. Margaret's growth throughout the novel is inspiring - she starts as a scared, bound for the convent woman and ends as a regal Queen.

Beautifully written and full of text that painted pictures in my mind of the hills of Scotland, this is a novel to be lost in.

Review: The Countess and the King: A Novel of the Countess of Dorchester and King James II by Susan Holloway Scott

Publisher: NAL Trade
Release Date: September 7, 2010
Format: Paperback
Pages: 400
Source: Library

From Goodreads: Katherine Sedley lived by her own rules and loved who she pleased- until she became the infamous mistress of King James II...

London, 1675: Born to wealth and privilege, Katherine is introduced to the decadent court of King Charles II, and quickly becomes a favorite from the palace to the bawdy playhouses. She gleefully snubs respectable marriage to become the Duke of York's mistress.

But Katherine's life of carefree pleasure ends when Charles II dies, and her lover becomes King James II. Suddenly she is cast into a tangle of political intrigue, religious dissent, and ever-shifting alliances, where a wrong step can mean treason, exile, or death at the executioner's block. As the risks rise, Katherine is forced to make the most perilous of choices: to remain loyal to the king, or to England.

My review: This book was full of spunk - Katherine was raised to be outspoken and one of the guys, rather than a straight-laced lady of the court. Her Father never dreamed that could be the undoing of all his years of dreaming of a high society marriage match for her but, it was her direct manor that caught the eye of a soon-to-be King. The story was well-written but it was really Katherine's personality that brought me into the story the most. She wasn't a horrible person, just a person who followed her heart without allowing her mind to have much input. This put her in some very scandalous situations but with her upbringing she knew she wasn't the only one in her shoes.

I really enjoyed seeing this other side of the Court. The books that I have read involving Royal Courts are told from the Queen's point of view, or of someone trying to become the Queen. This was not the case in this novel - just a woman following her heart and lust into the arms of another woman's husband. It was dangerous, thrilling great read with a surprising amount of real love and romance between the covers!

Tot Tuesday: Brush, Brush, Brush! (Rookie Toddler) by Alicia Padrón, Childrens Press

Welcome to Tot Tuesday – a weekly feature where I review and share a children’s book. Children’s books are such a big part of my life now that I want to share them for other parents, grandparents or anyone who buys a child a book with the hope of instilling a lifelong love of reading.

The books I review and share are generally books from my daughter’s bookshelves and her library selections. She generally selects library books by a very technical method of grabbing every book in her reach and shoving them into the bag we bring with us. Thus, each week will be a surprising post.

Brush, Brush, Brush! (Rookie Toddler) by Alicia Padrón, Childrens Press – Every toddler I know goes through phases in things they love and things they hate. In an effort to coax my daughter back into the loving side of tooth brushing we picked this up at the library. It is an adorable book with the intent to engage children in the fun of brushing their teeth. Fingers crossed it does the trick for my kid!

What's in Your Beach Bag? AKA: Summer Reading Link Up!

The weather is warming up, the pools are opening and the sun is finally shining! All of these things together mean that Summer is almost here!! I love summertime – it is sunny with the trees full and color everywhere you turn! I look forward to a lot of time spent outside, playing in the water with my daughter and evenings on the deck with the hubby with a book in my hand!

When the weather turns warmer, I tend to read more flirty, fun and fluffy books – something to do with the bounce in my step and sun on my face I guess. Kelly at Reading with Martinis and I are co-hosting a little link-up party to celebrate the warm weather and books we plan to read this summer! And we have goodies to giveaway!!! These goodies up for grabs include Lament and Balled signed by Maggie Stiefvater from her upcoming visit to my local indie store next month! Kelly is handling the adult genre with an ARC of Chevy Stevens’ Never Knowing!

Want to join in? Here's what to do:

• Create a post entitled What’s In Your Beach Bag? and tell all or some of what you are looking forward to reading this summer. You can make a simple list of book names, you can include images, you can tell people why you are so stoked about a specific book…whatever you want! Are there so many books in your beach bag that you need to break it into multiple posts? That’s OK, too! Just be sure to link each post. Be creative and have fun with it! That’s the point of What’s In Your Beach Bag – FUN!
• Leave a link to the actual What’s In Your Beach Bag post (not your main site, the actual post) in the linky
• Check out posts by other people to see what’s in their beach bag!

To enter:

• You must be 13 years of age or older to enter
• You must create a What’s In Your Beach Bag post (or Goodreads list if you do not have a blog) and leave the post in the linky
• You cannot enter through the comments
• You must fill out the form
• You only need to fill out the form once. The form here is the same form that is linked at Reading with Martinis

This event runs from Monday, June 6, 2011, through August 21, 2011. Winners will be drawn at random. Kelly and I are very excited to see what everyone else is reading this summer...and hopefully we will find a few new books to add to our neverending TBR piles! :)


To celebrate the coming of Summer and to the pages turned by the pool, beach or in a hammock here are some of the books I am looking forward to diving into this summer!

Nora Roberts – Bride Quartet Series – There is nothing more appropriate than a romance series about brides for the summer. Summer was practically invented just for wedding season.

Continuing my Presidential Challenge books – A good dose of Revolutionary War to remind myself how thankful I am for the Founding Fathers’ dedication and devotion to this country.

Vanish (Firelight #2) by Sophie Jordan – I can’t wait to dive into the next in this series and find out what Jacinda is up to after the cliffhanger of an ending to Firelight.

Forever (The Wolves of Mercy Falls #3) by Maggie Stiefvater – Wolves seem to me to be more of a winter animal, but I will not be able to wait that long to read this final book in the trilogy.

Supernaturally (Paranormalcy #2) by Kiersten White – Evie is a crack up and this series is the perfect blend of drama, fun and laughter for a poolside book.

Life's a Beach by Claire Cook - It has the word beach in it and the cover shows sand and flip-flops - need I say more?