TBR Tuesday

TBR Tuesdays was created by Dana at Let's Book It. It's a place to share books that have been on our to-be-read (TBR) list for a while and also to possibly add yet another book to the list by visiting participating blogs!

Face it, we all have lists of books that we would love to read and if you are anything like me, you likely have the pile of books to prove it. There are so many ways to track book lists, whether you choose to use an online library like Goodreads or LibraryThing or perhaps even an Excel spreadsheet or notebook in your purse, having books to buy is the biggest part of being a book lover.

Together with my Book of the Month (where I am attempting to shorten the TBR list, one book at a time), TBR Tuesdays will be a place that I am going to share one book from my list. It may be a new book, it may be an old book, it may even be a book that isn't out yet... either way, a book will be shared.

If you would like to get in on the action, please add your name to the linky below and link up your TBR Tuesday post. Also make sure you head on over to Let's Book It to see others who are also sharing this week!

Without further adieu, here is this week's book:

The Postmistress by Sarah Blake

I remember seeing this book on the sheves at Chapters when it first came out and thinking how amazingly beautiful the cover was. At the time, I wasn't into 'older' stories but after reading The Guernsey Literary And Potato Peel Pie Society for my book club last year, I went out and bought The Postmistress. It has, however, sat on my bookshelf ever since.

Summary (from chapters.ca):

In 1940, Iris James is the postmistress in coastal Franklin, Massachusetts. Iris knows more about the townspeople than she will ever say, and believes her job is to deliver secrets. Yet one day she does the unthinkable: slips a letter into her pocket, reads it, and doesn't deliver it.

Meanwhile, Frankie Bard broadcasts from overseas with Edward R. Murrow. Her dispatches beg listeners to pay heed as the Nazis bomb London nightly. Most of the townspeople of Franklin think the war can't touch them. But both Iris and Frankie know better...

The Postmistress is a tale of two worlds - one shattered by violence, the other willfully naïve - and of two women whose job is to deliver the news, yet who find themselves unable to do so. Through their eyes, and the eyes of everyday people caught in history's tide, it examines how stories are told, and how the fact of war is borne even through everyday life.


What books are on your TBR list this week?

Review: Princess of Park Avenue

It's a tour day!


Today, I am participating in the CLP Blog Tour for Princess of Park Avenue by Daniella Brodsky.




Princess of Park Avenue by Daniella Brodsky

Format: ebook
Size: 1131 KB
Published: January 12, 2012
Publisher: DB Co.
Genre: Fiction, Chick Lit

My Rating: 3/5

Summary (from amazon.com):
How far would you go to forget Mr. Wrong?

Anyone can see Lorraine Machuchi is no ordinary Brooklyn girl. Anyone except for Lorraine, that is. She’s been too busy obsessing over Tommy Lupo to notice. Living day to day on his confusing midnight phone calls and big-haired memories of their relationship in the early nineties, she’s given up any opportunity of leaving Brooklyn. And though she never saw the home she loves as a failure, there are lots of folks she’s pissed off by staying put — her mother, her dead grandmother’s ghost, not to mention the old Italian ladies who shake their heads at her in the pork store. And what’s worse, the very guy she tossed everything away for just told her he’ll never wind up with her — a girl who’s not going anywhere.

Okay, so you might disapprove of her motive — changing for a guy. But then you probably haven’t seen Tommy with three shirt buttons undone. Besides, when Lorraine crosses the bridge to Manhattan she begins to realize she’s got a lot to offer. She starts coloring hair at a swank salon where they actually appreciate a little talent, even if you have to bend some rules to use it. She gets a fabulous Park Avenue sublet, even if it does involve chasing around a dog/horse named Pooh-Pooh. She meets a guy who’s actually... perfect, even if she might be too hung up on Mr. Wrong to notice. She’s asked to become the newest member of the Princesses, an elite group of Park Avenue’s most powerful socialites, even if the reasoning behind it might be a little fishy. Sure, their $400 cashmere sweaters, charity balls for poor girls with small boobs, and ‘sexy’ yoga are a bit over-the-top, but a Brooklyn girl can learn a lot by discovering her own inner princess...

Review:

**NOTE: A copy of this book was provided by the author. However, no compensations were made and this review reflects my honest thoughts and feelings.**

"Jenny from the block" is a perfect song to listen to while reading Princess of Park Avenue. A girl from the 'other side of the tracks' making her way to the big city with nothing but hope and a prayer.

We have all been there, snubbed by someone who we have put our everything into, someone we invested more than just blood, sweat and tears. Lorraine is not the first girl who has run away from her problems and shown them who's boss. This was one of my favourite parts of the novel. I loved how strong (even though sometimes wavering) Lorraine was. To pick up and start fresh in the 'unknown' just seems so scary. To see her move up the ranks to the upper-crust of Manhattan was a journey made of dreams.

Putting Lorraine aside, I found the characters in this novel to be a bit over-the-top. A group of almost thirty-somethings still hanging out at the school? Guido, the owner of an amazing salon who just 'lets' a newbie take over and rise to the top. The 'Princesses' drove me bonkers... I wanted to punch them in the face everytime they were mentioned. But no character made me as mad as Tommy. That boy makes the stuff on the bottom of my shoes look good. All-in-all, it felt a lot like an episode of Jersey Shore gone bad.

Overall, the whole story felt a bit too long, I felt that this book has a lot of promise and with some refining, it could become a definite must-read.

In My Mailbox #33

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 wasn't kidding folks... I'm not buying books (other than one a month, as per my hubby's household budget agreement). So, it's not a HUGE mailbox this week... it is, however, a mailbox and I was lucky enough to receive some great books from some great people!!

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

Review copy from Kathleen Kole (for a CLP Blog Tour):












A generous gift from a co-worker who knows I am on a budget and some freebies from Amazon (aren't they nice?!):












What was in your mailbox this week?

Review: Deliciously G-Free

Deliciously G-Free by Elisabeth Hasselbeck

Format: Hardcover
Pages: 288
Published: January 3, 2012
Publisher: Random House Canada
Genre: Food & Entertainment, Non-Fiction

My Rating: YUMMY

Summary (from amazon.com):

Growing up in a family where everyone came together at the dinner table, Elizabeth Hasselbeck savored the signature meatball, lasagna, and ziti dishes of her grandmother and great-grandmother, and the pierogies of her father’s heritage. But a decade ago, the Emmy Award–winning co-host of The View, New York Times bestselling author, and mother of three was diagnosed with celiac disease, and the family recipes she grew up suddenly became strictly off-limits. Or so she thought.

Getting rid of gluten, however, doesn’t have to mean giving up taste. Deliciously G-Free combines Hasselbeck’s knowledge for healthy living and passion for tasty food to bring you 100 delectable, easy-to-make, and family-friendly gluten-free recipes. By adding a variety of other ingredients to the fridge and pantry, she’s perfected scrumptious zero-gluten versions of old standards and new creations that would make her relatives proud, including

• Breakfasts to Remember: Egg Sandwiches, Coconut Raspberry Muffins, French Toast with Caramel Rum Banana, Biscuits, Frittata
• All-Star Appetizers: Pork Pot Stickers, Stuffed Mushrooms, Smoked Salmon on Corn Fritters, Crab Cakes with Homemade Tartar Sauce, and Hot Artichoke Dip
• Mouth-Watering Main Meals: Chicken Enchiladas, Quinoa Cornbread, Mac and Cheese, Lasagna, Pad Thai, Chimichurri Flank Steak, and Buttermilk Chicken
• Deliciously Irresistible Desserts: Chocolista Chocolate Cupcakes, Blueberry Raspberry Cobbler, Chocolate Chip Cookies, Tiramisu, Birthday Cakes, and Double Chocolate Brownies

Loaded with gorgeous color photos, Deliciously G-Free also satisfies your taste buds with ideas for gourmet entertaining, kid-friendly concoctions, cool-weather comfort foods, and “Get Fit” G-Free recipes. Plus, Hasselbeck opens up about her own gluten-free journey—from getting diagnosed to getting her family on board—and shares tips for how to stock your kitchen, prevent cross-contamination, and whip up G-Free flour mixes that literally take the cake.

Looking great and feeling good from the inside-out is just one Deliciously G-Free meal away!

Review:

**NOTE: A copy of this book was provided by the publisher. However, no compensations were made and this review reflects my honest thoughts and feelings.**

I'm going to start this off by saying that I am NOT a cook. There isn't one stitch in me that knows how to do much besides put a pot on to boil. However, I have been known to have the skill to follow a well laid out recipe. As part of my 'Fit for 2012' resolution, I thought it would be a good time to put the pedal to the metal (or the apron to the momma) and learn a thing or two in the kitchen.

Again, not an issue in my house with anything food related... we are junk-food junkies. So when I say Elisabeth Hasselbeck's new cookbook, I decided to snatch up a copy because I love Survivor and The View and not because I am a glutten free chick.

When it comes to reviewing a cookbook, I have a few criteria that I like to stick by:

1) Are there recipes that I would actually cook?
2) Are they easy to follow?
3) Are the ingredients easy to find?
4) Is the cookbook pretty?

Here are my thoughts on Deliciously G-Free...

1) Are there recipes that I would actually cook?
Absolutely! The recipes in this book are awesome. Who knew that being glutten free still allowed you so much 'freedom' with food choices? This book has some of our household staples in it - Spaghetti and Meatballs, Veggie Pad Thai and Devil's Food cupcakes. What's not to love!!

2) Are they easy to follow?
Fairly simple steps were required to complete the recipes that I chose to make. While I was not familiar with every technique used, a simple call to my mother (the resident family cooking guru) things like blanched became common. Also, being a HUGE fan of Food Network TV can also be a big asset in the kitchen. Rachel Ray who?!?!

3) Are the ingredients easy to find?
Here is where I had some issues. If you do your regular grocery shopping in a store that has 'specialty' food, then chances are you won't have issues. I, on the other hand, do not. My grocery shopping trips generally take place at the Superstore Wal-Mart because really, who doesn't love getting books, clothes, toys and more while picking up this week's diet staples? However, the local (read: high end) grocery store does carry a wide variety of glutten free cooking/baking items. I had NO idea it was so complicated!! So, as long as you don't big box shop like I do, you may just be okay. However, the ingredients... they are killer expensive!!

4) Is the cookbook pretty?
Umm, have you seen this cookbook? Possibly the nicest looking one I have EVER seen! This one will become a display staple in my kitchen whether I would be using or not... it's awesome!!

Overall, if you have glutten issues, I would say that this book would be very well used. If you don't, still a great cookbook but a bit of extra work.

Review: Room

Room by Emma Donoghue

Format: Hardcover
Pages: 312
Published: August 30, 2010
Publisher: HarperCollins
Genre: Fiction

My Rating: 4/5

Summary (from chapters.ca):

To five-year-old Jack, Room is the entire world. It's where he was born and where he and his Ma eat and play and learn. At night, Ma puts him safely to sleep in the wardrobe, in case Old Nick comes.

Room is home to Jack, but to Ma, it's the prison where Old Nick has kept her for seven years, since she was nineteen. Through ingenuity and determination, Ma has created a life for herself and her son, but she knows it's not enough for either of them. Jack's curiosity is building alongside Ma's desperation - and Room can't contain either of them for much longer...

Review:

Imagine living in an 11 x 11 foot room that in your kitchen, your bathroom and your bedroom. There are no windows and the only door is locked from both the inside and the out. Then imagine it being the only thing you have ever known.

Room has taken everything I know and turned it all around. Even though I know that it is a fictional novel, it makes me think of Jaycee Lee Dugard and how these things are all too possible.

Emma Donoghue's decision to write Room from the perspective of Jack, a 5-year-old boy, was brilliant. While it took time to get used to the 'simple' language, seeing the world through Jack's eyes really enabled the reader to understand what life was like inside Room. The very fact that she stuck true to that throughout the entire novel was great as it would have been very easy to slip into the role of another character and in fact, I was expecting that to happen at some point.

As Jack learns that there is a world outside of Room, we are led on a journey of firsts. The first glimpse of the sun, the first embrace from another person, the first car ride. Simple things that seem so everyday to us, become a magical and scary world to Jack who struggles with being scave (a word sandwich).

Overall, a very powerful, well written novel that will be with me for a long time to come. The perfect novel to read and discuss with a book club!

Review: Blank Slate Kate

It's tour time...

Today I am participating in the CLP Blog Tour for Blank Slate Kate by Heather Wardell.




Blank Slate Kate by Heather Wardell

Format: ebook
Pages/Size: 234/441 KB
Published: November 24, 2011
Publisher: CreateSpace
Genre: Fiction

My Rating: 4/5

Summary (from authors website):

Waking up with a strange man is scary. Realizing you lost fifteen years of your life overnight? That's terrifying.

With her memories from seventeen to thirty-two gone, Kate has no idea who she is and where she belongs. As she begins to fall for the man who found her, she wonders if she forgot those years for a reason. Should she keep trying to retrieve her original self, or start a new life?

Review:

**NOTE: A copy of this book was provided by the author. However, no compensations were made and this review reflects my honest thoughts and feelings.**

This book was not what I expected... it was so much more!

Imagine waking in the morning and having no idea where you are, who you are with or even what day it is. After a bar-fight, Kate finds herself in Jake (the bartender)'s apartment with a sore head and believing that she is only seventeen years old.

As Kate, Jake and a whole slew of supporting characters work out the answers to what has happened; an unforgettable story develops.

Being a proud Canadian, I loved that Blank Slate Kate took place, not only in my country, but my hometown of Toronto. The description of the city was bang on and knowing that, really allowed me to get lost in the story. The characters were very well developed and made you feel like they could have been someone you know if your real life. I found myself cheering for Kate throughout the entire journey and while I wanted her to find out what happened to those lost years, a small part (maybe big) wanted her to just start fresh.

Heather Wardell did an amazing job of keeping the story straight. As things begin to work themselves out, it would have been very easy to lose the readers as there were so many elements at play but she didn't. Instead, I found that I was anxiously awaiting the next development.

Overall, this was a well written, well developed story that left me hanging on the edge of my seat.

Cover Crazy #29

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:

Unbreak My Heart by Melissa Walker

What I love about this cover:

It's gorgeous.

I don't know a single thing about this story but by looking at the cover, I am assuming it's a romance and there will be something to do with the water. It is such a romantic cover, the heart surrounding the girl on the boat, who seems so lonely, leads me to believe that she is pining for her love. She is sad and there is an air of mystery as well.

The colours of this cover are so soft and yet so striking that I am instantly draw to it. This is a prime example of a book cover that would make me pick it up and read it!

What cover took your breath away this week?

TBR Tuesday

TBR Tuesdays was created by Dana at Let's Book It. It's a place to share books that have been on our to-be-read (TBR) list for a while and also to possibly add yet another book to the list by visiting participating blogs!

Face it, we all have lists of books that we would love to read and if you are anything like me, you likely have the pile of books to prove it. There are so many ways to track book lists, whether you choose to use an online library like Goodreads or LibraryThing or perhaps even an Excel spreadsheet or notebook in your purse, having books to buy is the biggest part of being a book lover.

Together with my Book of the Month (where I am attempting to shorten the TBR list, one book at a time), TBR Tuesdays will be a place that I am going to share one book from my list. It may be a new book, it may be an old book, it may even be a book that isn't out yet... either way, a book will be shared.

If you would like to get in on the action, please add your name to the linky below and link up your TBR Tuesday post. Also make sure you head on over to Let's Book It to see others who are also sharing this week!

Without further adieu, here is this week's book:

Lone Wolf by Jodi Picoult

My mom first recommended Jodi Picoult to me when she read Nineteen Minutes. From that moment on, I have read every single book of hers and add her books to my TBR list the moment I learn about them. Lone Wolf isn't out until the end of February but it is already marked as my book-to-buy for that month!!

Summary (from chapters.ca):

A life hanging in the balance... a family torn apart.

In the wild, when a wolf knows its time is over, when it knows it is of no more use to its pack, it may sometimes choose to slip away. Dying apart from its family, it stays proud and true to its nature. Humans aren't so lucky.

Luke Warren has spent his life researching wolves. He has written about them, studied their habits intensively, and even lived with them for extended periods of time. In many ways, Luke understands wolf dynamics better than those of his own family. His wife, Georgie, has left him, finally giving up on their lonely marriage. His son, Edward, twenty-four, fled six years ago, leaving behind a shattered relationship with his father. Edward understands that some things cannot be fixed, though memories of his domineering father still inflict pain. Then comes a frantic phone call: Luke has been gravely injured in a car accident with Edward's younger sister, Cara.

Suddenly everything changes: Edward must return home to face the father he walked out on at age eighteen. He and Cara have to decide their father's fate together. Though there's no easy answer, questions abound: What secrets have Edward and his sister kept from each other? What hidden motives inform their need to let their father die... or to try to keep him alive? What would Luke himself want? How can any family member make such a decision in the face of guilt, pain, or both? And most importantly, to what extent have they all forgotten what a wolf never forgets: that each member of a pack needs the others, and that sometimes survival means sacrifice?


What book is on your TBR this week?

Review: Mockingjay

Mockingjay by Suzanne Collins

Format: Hardcover
Pages: 389
Published: August 24, 2010
Publisher: Scholastic Inc
Genre: Fiction, Young Adult

My Rating: 4/5

Summary (from chapters.ca):

Against all odds, Katniss Everdeen has survived the Hunger Games twice. But now that she's made it out of the bloody arena alive, she's still not safe.

The Capitol is angry.

The Capitol wants revenge.

Who do they think should pay for the unrest? Katniss. And what's worse, President Snow has made it clear that no one else is safe either. Not Katniss's family, not her friends, not the people of District 12.

Review:

It's over right, like really over? I keep waiting for a fourth book to show up but it doesn't appear that was ever in the cards.

After the action in The Hunger Games and Catching Fire, I was expecting a lot from Mockingjay. Two battles to the death in Capitol arenas, two 'wins' and two times making President Snow (and the Capitol) look bad meant that the final book of this trilogy would be an epic battle to the end. While I was not disappointed in the amount of action, I was a little let down in the overall end of the story.

As with the other two books, all of the beloved characters are back but the main characters of Katniss, Peeta, Gale and Haymitch are the ones that I felt the most connected with. How is it possible to function on any level after what they have just been through? Even being a fan of reality TV, I found myself wondering what would have ever made the 'Capitol' want to watch people kill each other. How do you move on after spending time fighting for your life... do you just go back to how things were before... will it ever be the same?

Mockingjay finds a totally changed world from where Catching Fire left off and for the first of the three books, the battle will not be taking place in an arena. However, the training, the mission and the fighting are all the same. Only the goal this time; to take control of the country and to kill President Snow once and for all.

Where I found fault was the end of the book. I know that the story had to be wrapped up in a neat little bundle with no loose ends but for some reason, I just can't get there. I have questions that were unanswered (regarding certain characters and what they were doing) and am hoping that the movies, once out will add another look and maybe leave me feeling differently.

Overall, this was a fantastic series and I am very anxious for the movies...

In My Mailbox #32

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.

That's it folks... the Christmas money is all but gone and I have no more books to buy (HAHAHA, right). I am now onto my New Year's resolution of not buying books, other than one a month. It's going to be hard but as long as I stay away from the mall, I should be good! *scared*

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

Review copy from Jolyn Palliata (CLP Blog Tour):












The last of the Christmas purchases:











What was in your mailbox this week?

Review: Catching Fire

Catching Fire by Suzanne Collins

Format: Hardcover
Pages: 391
Published: September 1, 2009
Publisher: Scholastic Inc
Genre: Fiction, Young Adult

My Rating: 4/5

Summary (from chapters.ca):

Against all odds, Katniss Everdeen has won the annual Hunger Games with fellow district tribute Peeta Mellark. But it was a victory won by defiance of the Capitol and their harsh rules. Katniss and Peeta should be happy. After all, they have just won for themselves and their families a life of safety and plenty. But there are rumors of rebellion among the subjects, and Katniss and Peeta, to their horror, are the faces of that rebellion.

The Capitol is angry.

The Capitol wants revenge.

Review:

Jumping right into the second book of a series always starts off as a downer. It took me a while to remember that the books weren't released together and that the recap was necessary but when I read finished Hunger Games on such a high and immediately picked up Catching Fire, I found the start slow.

However, it definitely did not stay slow.

With the Quarter Quell (the 75th anniversary of the Hunger Games) coming up, the Capitol sets out to exact it's revenge on those it sees as its enemies. When they announce how the Games will be played, I was blown off my seat as it was so unexpected.

Once again, Katniss and Peeta are in the forefront of the story but the new supporting characters are just as important to the progression of the story. Finnick, the victor from District 4, becomes one of my new favourites. His vanity is over the top and made me laugh out loud.

Overall, a great follow-up to The Hunger Games. I can't imagine how the story will end and to be honest, I am sort of sad to think that Mockingjay is the end of the story.