In My Mailbox #7

In My Mailbox was created by Kristi over at The Story Siren. The general idea is to share the books that you have purchased, that you have borrowed, or that you have found.

I am a little early this week but that doesn't matter... my mailbox still came through this week and I am, once again, over-joyed! There really is nothing better than opening the mailbox and seeing a package with my name on it. In a week filled with birthday's(none of which were mine), I was starting lose hope that a package would, ever again, have my name attached. But...

Without further adieu, here is this week's edition of 'In My Mailbox':

Review copies from Doubleday Publishing Group, Random House Canada, Mandy Baggot, Jemma Forte, Sally Clements, and Ingrid Michaels:












What was in your mailbox this week?

Mommy Reading: Super Heroes

If you have a boy at home - of any age really - then chances are, you too, have been through the Super Hero phase.

Being the oldest of two girls in my family, I never had any desire to play with super heroes... at all. Luckily, through the crazy abundance of superhero movie blockbusters, I have been able to learn enough that I can keep my 'mommy' badge proudly displayed.

Our past few library trips have involved many hours browsing the endless supply of books aimed at fans of Superman, Spiderman, Batman, etc... However, it really makes me sad that so many of these books, even the ones aimed at young readers, are violent. Why can't there be books that are somewhere between the board books for babies and the novels for tweens that deals with a nice, happy-go-lucky, superhero who just does nice things and doesn't beat and torture the bad guys?

Well, thanks to the 'Step into Reading' books by Random House, I have found exactly what I was looking for.

**NOTE: Future 'Mommy Reading' post on Step into Reading books will be in August**

DC Super Friends - Flying High

My son received this book for his fourth birthday last week and we have read it so many times that I could tell you the story with my eyes closed. He LOVES it! It is the perfect mix of superhero and villain. The graphics are wonderful and the story easy to read. My son spends a lot of time looking at each picture and picking out his favourite character, making up side stories as we go. It is such a joy to see him taking two of his favourite things to do - play with superheroes and reading - and mesh them into one activity. It has made bedtime stories a pure treat in our house!

So, if you haven't already looked into this, but are tired of the violent books for children, this may just be up your alley!

Happy Reading!

Review: Marrying Cade

Marrying Cade by Sally Clements

Size: 250KB (approx 176 pgs)
Format: Kindle
Published: July 12, 2011
Publisher: The Wild Rose Press; Champagne Rose edition
Genre: Fiction, Romance

My Rating: 4/5

Summary (from Amazon.com):

Capable financial advisor Melo Bellucci always knew when it came to organising her sister’s wedding she’d be in charge. After all, her sister Rosa is notoriously scatterbrained. But there’s a silver lining in the form of the Best Man, Melo’s childhood crush, Cade West.

When Cade returns to the Tuscan island, Isola dei Fiori, he’s prepared to mix business with pleasure, especially when he meets Melo again. The confident, sexy woman is a world away from the lanky tomboy he remembers, and attraction burns between them instantly.

But when he discovers that the perfect site for his hotel, idyllic Paradise Beach, belongs to Melo rather than her father, can their relationship survive, when there are two plans for Paradise?

Review:

**NOTE: A review copy of this book was provided by the author. No compensation was made and this review reflects my honest feelings and thoughts on the book **

Let me start by saying I am mourning the end of this book... I was not ready to let go of my personal - or at least that's how it felt - relationship with Cade and Melo.

Romance novels rarely top my 'to-be-read' list because they tend to be too touchy-feely, full of over-the-top romance and sex scenes that make me squirm. Marrying Cade was nothing like I expected. It had the perfect mix of everything - romantic gestures, sizzling sex scenes, family troubles and even a page turning mystery.

We all have that certain someone from our youth that makes us swoon - whether it be a real person or a fictional character - there is always someone there. Just imagine your childhood sweetheart coming back home after a decade and into one of the most idyllic settings around - Paradise Beach. Even just the description makes my heart start pounding a little harder. From the very moment that Melo and Cade's eyes connected, I was hooked. Sally Clements used the perfect combination of words to describe everything in this novel that it was like watching a movie.

While I could have predicted the ending, it was still a very enjoyable read and one that I will be thinking about for days to come.

Overall, a great introduction to Sally Clements and I can only hope that there is more of Cade and Melo in my future - hint hint! :)

Author Spotlight: Nicola May

It has been an honour getting to know Nicola May, author of Working It Out ~ a hilarious novel about one girl's quest to work twelve different jobs in twelve months in order to find her dream career.

Nicola May

Nicola May lives in Ascot in Berkshire. Her hobbies include watching films that involve a lot of swooning, crabbing in South Devon, eating flapjacks and enjoying a flutter on the horses. Inspired by her favourite authors Milly Johnson and Carole Matthews, Nicola is looking forward to sharing her charming, heartfelt and funny books with you.

Nicola on Working It Out:

1. With Working It Out, you hit right in the heart of every chick-lit fan. Was this a genre that you always saw yourself writing in?

I didn't actually set out to write chick-lit as such, but the fact it is the genre I do seem to read the most made it a natural choice, I guess.

2. In Working It Out, Ruby undertakes an incredible feat by taking on twelve jobs in just twelve months. What did you draw on, from your own experience, when choosing the jobs she lands?

Let's say I have had a fairly colourful job history and have experienced, in some form or another, a little piece of each of her jobs, whether it be working at them or via association. I find I take a lot of real life and turn it slightly on its head when writing. I always carry a notebook to write down anything I see, hear or think of that would equate to being appropriate or funny for one of my novels.

3. Is there one of Ruby's jobs in particular that you could see yourself doing and enjoying?

I have always wanted to be an actress. Writing is drama to me, I love taking my characters to where I want them to go.

4. Along with Ruby, Working It Out has an amazing cast of supporting characters. Many of the names are similar to those you thank at the end of the book. Did you use anyone is your real life as inspiration for these characters?

Oh yes! The one's who need to know, know who they are; the one's who don't, hopefully won't ever find out! A lot of my characters are a mixture of people I have met along the way.

5. Working It Out seems like it would do great at the box office. When you set out to write it, did you ever imagine you would see it on the Silver Screen?

Yes, when I was writing it I also envisaged it as a film. I want it to have the massive appeal that Bridget Jones has, book and film wise and from the response I am getting, I can see that happening. How marvellous would that be!

6. Given your choice, who would play each of the main characters?

It's funny, every time I watch TV drama or films these days, I look out for suitable actors for Ruby and George. Brenda Blethyn would have to play Margaret and Bill Nighty, Lucas Steadburton.

7. Where can we find Nicola these days and what can we look for in the future?

I have 15 signings coming up at various Waterstones around the South East of England, plus I am beavering away at home promoting Working It Out. Novel no. 2 will be out before Christmas and I am half way through novel no. 4 at the moment. So, don't worry - there's plenty more to come.

Special thanks to Nicola for taking time out of her crazy schedule to spend time at Turning the Pages. Make sure you grab a copy of Working It Out, available at Amazon.

Cover Crazy #5

Cover Crazy was created by The Bookworms. It's a great way to share a book cover that took your breath away!

To me, there is NOTHING better than a cover of a book. One of my favourite places, in the world, is a book store. I can walk around them for hours just looking at covers of books. I am well aware of the saying "You can't judge a book by its cover", I just don't believe it!

When I find a book cover that I love, I will always read the back and then make my purchasing decision, but... WOW... there is just something amazing about a gorgeous cover! So, moving forward, I am going to share those covers that just made me want to escape and read a book instantly!

Without further adieu, here is the cover I am crazy about this week:

Girls in White Dresses by Jennifer Close

What this cover said to me:

Fun, frilly and right up my alley. I instantly assumed this was a wedding book and by reading the description, I was not mistaken.

What I love most about this cover is its simplicity. I like the small use of colour, keeping it simple and not overwhelming; the way every wedding should be. Seeing a short, white dress, I think 'fun'. As the dress is white, it would lead me to believe that it is the brides and not the bridesmaids. From watching my favourite show, 'Say Yes to the Dress', I have learned that fun, happy-go-lucky, daring brides wear short dresses and that makes me want to get to know this character immediately.

While this book isn't available until mid-August, I will definitely be adding it to my 'to-be-read' list and scooping up a copy ASAP!

What cover took your breath away this week?

Review: Then Came You

Then Came You by Jennifer Weiner

Pages: 352
Published: July 12, 2011
Publisher: Simon & Schuster
Genre: Fiction, Family Dynamics

My Rating: 3.5/5

Summary (from chapters.ca):

An unexpected love story...

Jules Strauss is a Princeton senior with a full scholarship, acquaintances instead of friends, and a family she's ashamed to invite to Parents' Weekend. With the income she'll receive from donating her "pedigree" eggs, she believes she can save her father from addiction.

Annie Barrow married her high school sweetheart and became the mother to two boys. After years of staying at home and struggling to support four people on her husband's salary, she thinks she's found a way to recover a sense of purpose and bring in some extra cash.

India Bishop, thirty-eight (really forty-three), has changed everything about herself: her name, her face, her past. In New York City, she falls for a wealthy older man, Marcus Croft, and decided a baby will ensure a happy ending. When her attempts at pregnancy fail, she turns to technology, and Annie and Jules, to help make her dreams come true.

But each of their plans is thrown into disarray when Marcus' daughter Bettina, intent on protecting her father, becomes convinced that his new wife is not what she seems...

With startling tenderness and laugh-out-loud humor, Jennifer Weiner once again takes readers into the heart of women's lives in an unforgettable, timely tale that interweaves themes of class and entitlement, surrogacy and donorship, the rights of a parent and the measure of motherhood.

Review:

The premise of this book had me hooked from the get-go. Having struggled with fertility myself, I found it interesting to read from three different aspects; the donor, the surrogate and the mother-to-be.

Jennifer Weiner's books are always a must-read for me but this one left me wanting more. After getting over my instant desire to call the nearest fertility clinic and sign up for some egg donation of my own, I found the read a bit of a struggle. Whether it was the fact that I was reading two books at once or the fact that my sister had a baby 8-weeks early while I was reading, something just didn't feel right. I enjoyed the characters of Jules, Annie, and India well enough but just felt they were very stereotypical. A snotty spoiled step-daughter, investigating her gold digging step-mother. A daughter who does all she can to help her father get through his addiction and a wife, struggling in a down-turned economy, making money for her family in the most unusual way. It just felt that these characters could have been in any book and that is not typical of Jennifer Weiner's novels.

The story line was also a bit of a struggle. I found it very hard to figure out how much time had passed between each of the story lines. One second, Jules was donating an egg and the next, India was meeting Annie. It was all very confusing.

Overall, a good book with an interesting concept. One that I was happy to be reading but felt left wanting more when I finished.

In My Mailbox #6

In My Mailbox was created by Kristi over at The Story Siren. The general idea is to share the books that you have purchased, that you have borrowed, or that you have found.

It really doesn't take a lot to make this girl happy but one days when I open my 'mailbox' and discover a neatly wrapped package that contains a new book, I am over-the-moon!! While I don't expect future weeks to ever be as busy as last week, it is still a JOY to get a new book.

Without further adieu, here is this week's edition of 'In My Mailbox':

Review copy from Patricia Sands:











What's in your mailbox this week?

PS. A HAPPY Birthday to my wonderful husband!!

Check It Out: The Aunt's Book

Even though my husband's siblings have multiple children (read 5 total) and I have been an aunt, through marriage, for years and years now; my sister just had a baby. Born at 32 weeks 5 days, weighing 4lbs 13oz, baby Emma Joy joined us at 8:02am TODAY! BIG Congratulations to my sister and her hubby!

To become the best auntie that I can, I thought it would be good to check out The Aunt's Book. This is a book, as it states right on the front, for the Aunt who is best at everything. Well, if that doesn't describe me to a T, then I don't know what does :)

The Aunt's Book: For the Aunt Who's Best at Everything by Caroline Hughes

Brimming with humorous tales and pithy quotes, this is the perfect gift for the aunt who's best at everything

Packed with vital information, this light-hearted book demonstrates how to become the coolest aunt around. It includes inspirational tips for fun things to do with nieces and nephews and contains a quiz to determine which type of aunt you are girly, trendy, cozy, outdoorsy, or party aunt. Also included are tips on how to buy the best presents for nieces and nephews of all ages, advice for dealing with your little loved ones serious life questions, recipes for delicious cookies and cakes, as well as proverbs, quotes, and anecdotes about real-life aunts around the world. This wise and witty book is sure to captivate aunts of all ages.



Personally, I think I am an 'all-of-the-above' aunt... girly, trendy, cozy, outdoorsy and party - okay, maybe not so outdoorsy. Either way, I am over-the-moon excited as we welcome this new addition to our family.

Review: Sometimes It Happens

Sometimes It Happens by Pauline Barclay

Size: 408 KB
Available: Amazon Kindle
Sold By: Amazon Digital Services
Genre: Fiction

My Rating: 3.5/5

Summary (from amazon.com):

Winning the lottery was just the beginning for Doreen Wilkinson. Nothing prepared Doreen for her holiday at Villas Bonitas and nothing prepared Villas Bonitas for Doreen Wilkinson.

Sometimes It Happens... is about secrets, deception, lies, love and laughter. Tears will flow because this is one holiday that will never ever be forgotten by many!

Review:

**NOTE: a copy of this book was provided by the author, Pauline Barclay for review. However, no compensation was made and this review reflects my true thoughts and feelings**

Never have I won a free ticket in the lottery, let alone the whole shebang! It was a breath of fresh air to see what happens to 'real' people, who live 'real' lives, and work 'real' jobs, when they win the lottery. For Doreen Wilkinson, it was like diving into the deep end of a pool and never really coming up for a full-breath.

From the get-go, I enjoyed the eclectic mix of characters. Even though they all lived different lives outside the Villa, once inside, they became like a dysfunctional family. There were characters that you would expect to see at any resort (Bob, Carmen, Frau Heck), some that you would cross the street to avoid (Sheila, Jack), and some that you would pull up a stool beside at the bar (Doreen, Pat, Antonio).

The one character that grated on my nerves from her first word was Doreen. While I completely understand that she was from a 'poor' upbringing, her accent - or the way her accent was written - made it really hard to read. It may have been a cross-border translation (me being in Canada, the author from the UK) but having to stop on every single word made the flow of conversation very hard to follow. I also couldn't understand why her daughter, who came from the same up-bringing, didn't have the same dialect?!?

Overall, the story was very well written. I enjoyed each of the storylines and how, at the end, everything was brought together into one, neat, little package. It has made me wish that, after a little speech therapy, Doreen will be back in a second novel.

Pauline Barclay is definitely one to keep an eye on!

Facebook Bound

It's hard not to be everywhere these days, isn't it? We all want ourselves to be noticed in every possible way.

Well, Turning the Pages is no different! :) All efforts are being made to bring as much awareness to the site as possible. So, without further adieu, we are Facebook bound!

That's right! Turning the Pages is now a searchable group on Facebook and by clicking the icon in this post, you can be directed to the link. Simply request to join the group and, moving forward, you will get all the latest and greatest news, reviews, and author interviews. Anything happening in my 'book' life will be there for you to see.

So, please join me as I continue to spread the love of reading to everyone that I can! Recommend me to your friends as well as all love is appreciated :)

Cover Crazy #4

Cover Crazy was created by The Bookworms. It's a great way to share a book cover that took your breath away!

To me, there is NOTHING better than a cover of a book. One of my favourite places, in the world, is a book store. I can walk around them for hours just looking at covers of books. I am well aware of the saying "You can't judge a book by its cover", I just don't believe it!

When I find a book cover that I love, I will always read the back and then make my purchasing decision, but... WOW... there is just something amazing about a gorgeous cover! So, moving forward, I am going to share those covers that just made me want to escape and read a book instantly!

Here is this week's edition of 'Cover Crazy':

Bad Taste in Boys by Carris Harris

What does this cover say to me?

Okay, okay... I have been trying hard to pick covers that aren't overly popular. Bring books to the attention of everyone who may not have seen them before. BUT, this (very popular) cover is everywhere these days and I LOVE it!

For some reason, the lips on this book make me think of a martini glass (?!?!). It must be something about the sugar/salt that is on them... reminding me of the salted rim. Yumm... a perfect summer patio drink. I am also a pink freak. As you may or may not have learned through this blog, I love chick-lit books and the majority of those covers are pink and frilly. The colour combination on this cover are so appealing to me.

Taking just the title and cover into account, I would assume this book was a romance of some sort but likely not one of the 'normal' variety. Who knew that would be such an accurate statement. This book is actually a ZOMBIE book... not my usual cup-o-tea, but I may just have to pick it up and give it a whirl!

What cover took your breath away this week?

Review: Working It Out

Working It Out by Nicola May

Pages: 336
Published: March 2011
Publisher: Nowell Publishing
Genre: Fiction, Chick-lit

My Rating: 4/5

Summary (from nicolamay.com):

Ruby Matthews has a plan. Twelve jobs in twelve months, until she finds the one of her dreams.

After an unexpected redundancy, Ruby begins to question her priorities. Inspired by a quote from Kahlil Gibran about loving your work, she launches her mission to find the ideal job.

Her year of gainful (and sometimes painful!) employment includes nannying for clients in the South of France; dealing with embarrassing ailments in a Harley Street clinic; waiting tables in a buzzy Soho cafe; and meeting the celebs of years gone by in a home for retired actors. And even though love is no longer top of her list, relationships just seem to start happening along the way - which sees her handing out some P45s of her own!

But will any of the jobs, or men she meets, see her dreams come true? Or will Ruby just end up back where she started?

Review:

**NOTE: a signed copy of this book was provided by the author, Nicola May, but at no compensation to me. This review reflects my true thoughts and feeling about the book**

What an amazing concept... one that I wish I had thought of myself, before hubby and kids got in the way. How fun would it be to work at twelve different jobs in twelve months and then sit down at the end and discover where you were truly meant to be? That would be, in a word, AWESOME!

From page 1, word 1; I knew that Ruby and I were kindred spirits. I laughed when she laughed; cried when she cried; and yelled when she did - or at least should have. How she made it through some of the jobs - some of the days - she did, just boggles my mind.

As a main character, Ruby is fabulous. Chick-lit is a genre that appeals to so many but none more than young impressionable women. Having a main character that shows such diversity is fantastic. Ruby is strong, funny, caring, compassionate, humble, and most of all, a great friend. She really is someone that I would love to be.

The cast of characters in Working It Out were hilarious. Being a huge fan of British humour, I found myself laughing out loud (much to the strange looks of those around me) at many of the lines written ~ 'what's it like to shag a wrinkly' ~. From Gorgeous George, to Fi, to Margaret, right on down to strange, but loveable, Bert, all of the characters had a place in the book and each and every one of them was perfect for that role.

Overall, this was a very well written book with great characters and a unique story line. A must read for anyone who enjoys a laugh-out-loud chick-lit book!

Nicola May is a definite up-and-comer in this genre and I look forward to reading many more of her novels!

In My Mailbox #5

In My Mailbox was created by Kristi over at The Story Siren. The general idea is to share the books that you have purchased, that you have borrowed, or that you have found.

WHAT?!?! You shouldn't judge... it's not nice! :)

Once again, I am shocked at the speed in which books keep arriving 'In My Mailbox'. That being said, I promise that I am not spending money on these but am, in fact, the happy recipient of some late birthday gifts (pre-orders finally out) and some e-book sharing!

Without further adieu, here is this week's edition of 'In My Mailbox':

Happy Birthday pre-orders:











E-books received via Goodreads friend/fellow reader:












E-book series received via Goodreads friend/fellow reader:












Review copys from Pauline Barclay, Nicola May, Sally Clements, Grand Central Publishing, and Hope Collier:












What's in your mailbox this week?

PS. A HUGE Happy Birthday to my little man who turns 4 today! :)