MY OWN PERSONAL SOAP OPERA by Libby Malin

by ⋅ Leave a Comment
MY OWN PERSONAL SOAP OPERA
Author: Libby Malin
* I received this book free of charge in exchange for an honest review*
  • Paperback: 336 pages
  • Publisher: Sourcebooks Landmark (April 1, 2010)
  • Language: English
  • ISBN-10: 1402229429
  • ISBN-13: 978-1402229428
SYNOPSIS:
Is life stranger than fiction, or vice versa?

Frankie McNally has found the perfect solution for life’s perplexing problems: as head writer for the daytime soap Lust for Life, she works them out on the air!

Meanwhile, Frankie’s being courted simultaneously by the dashing older man sent in to save the show’s sagging ratings and by the soap’s totally hot leading man. And just when Frankie thinks the plot couldn’t get more complicated, a jewel thief starts copying the show’s storyline-a development that could send the show’s ratings soaring, if it doesn’t get Frankie arrested first…
MY THOUGHTS:
I admit that I used to be a soap opera addict.  I would stay home sick from school and be forced to listen to the soaps on TV because my mom was determined to watch them.  They grew on me very quickly. As I became an adult, I still watched them. I would get the kids to school, do the housework, and sit and enjoy my soaps. I even read the Soap Opera Digest weekly.  Then I found books again and I recovered from one addiction and started another. Oops!
Well, I will say that this fun chick lit read was entertaining. I liked the characters, even if some of them were dull at times.  The witty dialogue was fun and the story moved along okay.  If you have watched soap operas you know they can be cheesy at times. Well so can a book about them.  I took it in stride though and enjoyed a nice little read by Libby Malin.  
Overall a great book for the lighthearted readers and would make great reading when you are sitting on the beach wondering what is happening on your soaps!
MY RATING:



Very Good! Worth Spending Your Money on!

BEAUTIFUL PEOPLE by Wendy Holden

by ⋅ Leave a Comment
BEAUTIFUL PEOPLE
Author: Wendy Holden
* I received this book free of charge in exchange for an honest review*
  • Paperback: 432 pages
  • Publisher: Sourcebooks Landmark (April 1, 2010)
  • Language: English
  • ISBN-10: 1402237154
  • ISBN-13: 978-1402237157
SYNOPSIS:
A witty, utterly addictive novel from bestselling author Wendy Holden, Beautiful People is a tale wicked in its observations yet buoyant at its heart: an irresistible confection you’ll want to devour immediately.
Darcy—a struggling English rose actress when The Call comes from L.A. An Oscar-tastic director. A movie to make her famous. The hunkiest costar in Hollywood. So why doesn’t she want to go?
Belle—a size-zero film star but she’s in big, fat trouble. Hotter than the earth’s core a year ago, she’s now Tinseltown toast after her last film bombed. Can she get back to the big time?
Emma—a down-to-earth, down-on-her-luck nanny trying to weather London’s cutthroat childcare scene and celebrity mom whirlwinds. What will it take for her to get back in control of her own life?
Jet to London, Hollywood, and Italy; toss in a passionate star chef, a kindhearted paparazzo, and a reluctant male supermodel; and find Wendy Holden at her best—a smash international hit.
MY THOUGHTS:
Is it me or does this cover remind you of a self help book? I like the cover so don’t get me wrong.  It is just not something that really sparks my interest. 
While the cover is confusing, the rest of the book is not.  I enjoyed some parts of this book, but the rest of it fell flat for me.  There were a lot of loose ends and the characters were not interesting to me.  The author did have some great moments though in the book. The author did a great job of detailing who is who in the book.  You will quickly decide who you will like and who you will despise. My problem is that I despised more characters than I liked.  It made me lose interest in the book quickly because I didn’t care what happened to them because I didn’t care about them. 
Overall, I would say it is an okay read to have on hand when nothing else sparks your interest.  It is not something I would normally buy, and it certainly is not one I would read again. 
MY RATING:

 
I did not enjoy this book.

 

A CERTAIN WOLFISH CHARM by Lydia Dare

by ⋅ 3 Comments
A CERTAIN WOLFISH CHARM
Author: Lydia Dare
Source: Publisher
* I received this book free of charge in exchange of honest review*
  • Mass Market Paperback: 384 pages
  • Publisher: Sourcebooks Casablanca (April 6, 2010)
  • Language: English
  • ISBN-10: 1402236948
  • ISBN-13: 978-1402236945
SYNOPSIS:

In Lydia dare’s debut trilogy, Regency England has gone to the wolves!
He gets crankier and crankier as the moon gets full…
The rules of Society can be beastly-especially when you’re a werewolf and it’s that irritating time of the month. Simon Westfield, the Duke of Blackmoor, is rich, powerful, and sinfully handsome, and has spent his entire life creating scandal and mayhem. It doesn’t help his wolfish temper at all that Miss Lily Rutledge seems not the least bit afraid of him, and in fact, may be as untamable as he is…
A woman whose charm is stronger than the moon…
When Lily’s beloved nephew’s behavior becomes inexplicably wild, she turns to Simon, the boy’s cousin and guardian, for help. But Simon’s idea of assistance is far different than hers, and Lily finds herself ensconced in his house and engaged to the rogue.
They both may have bitten off more than they can chew when each begins to discover the other’s darkest secrets…
MY THOUGHTS:
This was a great book for a first in the series.  I really enjoyed each of the characters and their personalities.  Lily was strong and determined, which she needed to be when dealing with Simon.  He was stubborn and a spit fire with everything rubbing him the wrong way.  You can’t even help laughing when all the characters are fighting with each other. 
The writing was great and the dialogue flowed nicely.  I devoured this book from beginning to end, and I was still hungry for more of the series!  A great book to sink your teeth into!
MY RATING:

Outstanding Book That Will Stay On My Bookshelf
For Rereading!

 

UPCOMING BOOKS IN THE SERIES:

A Certain Wolfish Charm- April 6, 2010
Tall, Dark and Wolfish- May 4, 2010
The Wolf Next Door- June 1, 2010
The Taming of the Wolf- Nov 2, 2010

RICK & BUBBA’S BIG HONKIN’ BOOK OF GRUB

by ⋅ 1 Comment
RICK & BUBBA’S BIG HONKIN’ BOOK OF GRUB
Author: Rick Burgess & Bill Bussey
Source: BookSneeze
* I received this book free of charge in exchange for an honest review*
  • Paperback: 288 pages
  • Publisher: Thomas Nelson (March 30, 2010)
  • Language: English
  • ISBN-10: 1401604021
  • ISBN-13: 978-1401604028
SYNOPSIS:
In Rick and Bubba’s Big Honkin’ Book of Grub, America’s sexiest fat men share wise observations and stories about grub as only they can tell them.
Rick and Bubba’s Big Honkin’ Book of Grub is exactly what a diet/recipe book should be—full of hilarious stories, good eating, and not a single mention of calories! New York Times bestselling authors Rick and Bubba are not ashamed to admit they eat for one reason and one reason only: they like the way food tastes. With family recipes from their wives Sherri and Betty (who have been keeping these two in grub for years) as well as the winning recipes from Rick and Bubba’s Big Honkin’ Recipe Contest, this book is a keeper. So pull up a chair, grab a fork, and enjoy!
MY THOUGHTS:
My first impression of this book, when looking at the cover, is look at all that great food on the front!  I thought I was going to learn how to make me some good ole fashioned BBQ grub!  Well, granted, there are about 12 recipes in all in this book, but most of it is just the comical humor from the authors who just happen to also be radio show hosts.
While I enjoyed the funny dialogue in the book, I was disappointed in the fact that there weren’t many recipes.  I thought this was going to be a cookbook that would have me anxious to start the BBQ in the middle of winter.  I loved the humor that the authors wrote. Who doesn’t like to make fun about SPAM or potluck food? I laughed several times while reading this.
Overall, if you are thinking this is a cookbook, there isn’t that many recipes to try.  If you are looking for some humor while you cook, then this is the book. This would make a good Father’s Day book though for the cooking and BBQing Dad though!
MY RATING:



Very Good! Worth Spending Your Money on!

WINNER!

by ⋅ 3 Comments
I used Random.org to pick the winner for the SHADOWS OF MYTH AND LEGENDS GIFT PACK contest.  The winner is:
Congrats!  Please send me your mailing address to djsfoxylady@gmail.com so I can get this out to you this week. 
Be sure to enter the weekly contest if you haven’t had a chance yet. Thanks to all who entered!