Kiss Me, I’m Irish

05/21/2013 No comments

I’m a really big fan of anthologies, because I love finding new–or at least new to me–authors. In this case, two of the three authors were new to me, but all three were very well-known. Roxanne St. Claire, Jill Shalvis, and Maureen Child all contributed to this funny contemporary that centered around Irish heros.

The first book, written by St. Claire, introduced us to a former baseball player determined to take over the family bar. While I’m not a huge fan of the Irish stereotype of either being some sort of public servant (i.e., a police officer or fire fighter) or a pub owner, this book managed to bring a funny context to this storyline. Deuce Monroe returns to his hometown to find that the family bar is now an internet cafe. To his horror, his best friend’s little sister, Kendra Locke, is now the manager. His dad, although he’s moved on after losing his wife and is finally successful with this business model change, is very conflicted about having Deuce come home and take over the business. He decides to let Deuce take over the night business (by turning the place back into a bar), and during the day keeping the place as it was. Trouble is that Kendra and Deuce have a past that might impact their ability to work together, especially sharing a business like Monroe’s.

The second book, written by Shalvis, was a funny little number. Dr. Nicole Mann is perpetually single due to her hectic work schedule. She ends up meeting the building’s renovation architect, Ty O’Grady, whose lovely Irish brogue she cannot turn away from.

The third book, written by Maureen Child, was a short story about four brothers who have a family bet going. Connor Reilly, who isn’t worried about his ability to win the bet, ends up telling his best friend, Emma Jacobsen, all about it. Emma, not one to back down from a challenge herself, decides to seduce Connor to get a little revenge for thinking she’s just one of the guys–especially when that’s not what she wants from him. You know where this story is going without me giving more details. Revenge stories are some of my favorites because you knew both are going to get their comeuppance eventually.

Despite some of the stereotypes I mentioned in the first book, this anthology was a great mix of fun, revenge, craziness, and laughter. One of the things I like best about reading romance is watching the characters come full circle by the end of the story. Although these were shorter stories than normal, they managed to pack in all the good stuff in a short amount of time. Great stuff and I will definitely be checking out these new-to-me authors, as well.

Three Sisters

05/09/2013 No comments

Susan Mallery is one of my regular favorites and this book, part of her Blackberry Island series, was recently released. It’s definitely more chic-lit than contemporary, but I really enjoyed it.

In this book, we meet Andi Gordon, fresh from being dumped at the alter. In an attempt to give her life a fresh start, Andi impulsively purchases a dilapidated home on Blackberry Island, where she hopes to open up a new pediatric practice and live on the second floor of the home. When she meets her neighbors, her problems soon look like small potatoes. One neighbor, Boston, lost a child at 6 months, while the other is battling a number of inner demons that are tearing her family apart. Together, these three learn to trust and lean on each other in their time of need.

While there were romantic elements in this book, it was definitely more of a friendship book than anything, which was what I thought of the other Blackberry Island book, Barefoot Season. I don’t want to give anything away, but one of the things that I think Mallery does so well is introduce characters with really difficult problems. That moment when you first meet a character and are not sure you’ll ever be able to sympathize with them? Give that character to Mallery, and she’ll get that character straightened out in not time!

With excellent writing, identifiable characters, and the promise of a happy ending, you seriously cannot go wrong with this author. This would definitely be a great pick for a book group looking for a light read. As I said earlier, it had elements of contemporary romance in it, but much more time is spent on the friendships between the women than specifically on the romantic elements of the plot. Excellent, excellent book.

Believe In Me

05/09/2013 No comments

Laura Moore; Ballantine Books 2011
 

I’m so glad that I was recently introduced to Laura Moore’s books through a blog I check out regularly. Her Rosewood Trilogy was fantastic–and this is saying a lot because I’m not a huge fan of dramas or horses. Moore managed to make me a fan of both by the end of the first book, Remember Me.

In this installment, we meet the second sister, Jordan Radcliffe, as she’s getting her own life back in order following the dissolution of her marriage. She’s also in the process of starting her own design business. In the process of trying to make her first pitch, Jordan is introduced to a well-known architect name Owen Gage. These two end up having some professional challenges that put them at odds with each other, but clearly there is excellent chemistry that can’t be ignored.

Owen was a fun hero. He was clearly smart and well-versed in his professional craft, but he was also interested in getting his hands a little dirty. One of his big interests turned out to be rehabbing old homes with rich architectural history. It is in this vein that he ends up getting closer to Jordan, because he purchases the home next to the Radcliffe estate, Hawk Hill, where he’s spending long days doing demo work and getting the house ready to resell.

Jordan is a little more interesting as a character. She’s clearly lived a life she thought was perfect, but turned out to be a little different than she envisioned. Her children end up being part of the reason she pulls herself together so quickly following her divorce.

As with other trilogies, Moore does an excellent job of pulling all the characters together for future novels. The youngest (half) sister, Jade, is the focus of the last book. She’s such an interesting character and one that is so dominant in all the previous books you almost cannot wait to read her story–you know it’s going to be a good one. Since I have now read it, I can tell you it did not disappoint.

If you live under a rock, as I sometimes do, you may not have heard of Laura Moore, but she’s an excellent contemporary author. Her books definitely veer more toward the dramatic, but the complex characters and fun story-lines will definitely keep readers interested. Her books are a little longer, but are quick reads. If you are in need of a new author, check this one out. Fabulous!

You’re The One

05/07/2013 No comments

I’m a big fan of Robin Kaye and have been since I first picked up one of her books a few years ago. Her writing is fun, her characters are interesting, and the plots move along really briskly. Her books also typically take place in different parts of metropolitan New York, which is always fun to read about. Because she was once a native you really feel like you are there. I received this book as an ARC and it is the second book in her Bad Boys of Red Hook series.

In this foodie-romance, we meet the second brother who was adopted into Pete Calahan’s family, Logan Blaise. Logan has made quite a name and reputation for himself in the wine community on the West Coast, but comes back to help with the family restaurant, The Crow’s Nest, while his brother Storm is on his honeymoon. Pete has had some health problems, which keeps the family a little closer than they had been the past few years, but Logan isn’t quite prepared for the number of crisis he encounters taking over for Storm and his new wife, Bree. After their cook leaves to attend to his own family emergency, Logan is forced to quickly find a chef/cook.

After living under her older brothers’ collective thumbs, Skye Maxwell is determined to step out on her own but she’s unsure the best way to do it. She takes a chance and finds a position at The Crow’s Nest on short notice, but not without the notice of the owner’s son, Logan. It turns out that while the replacement cook might have some secrets, she also happens to be an amazing at her craft. The question is can Logan keep their relationship professional?

I love, love, love foodie romance. This one wasn’t too heavy on the food part, but just enough to give you a little taste of the cooking action, while also giving you a little exposure to wine. Kaye’s characters had just the right amount of bang-your-head-against-the-wall frustration, mixed in with some killer chemistry. I really like that Kaye segues really well into future novels within this trilogy without giving too much away. One of the things that I liked best about this book was that the guys didn’t seem too good to be true, which I’ve found to happen in some of her other books. These guys were funny and good at what they did, but they weren’t good at everything and definitely had some identifiable flaws. Overall, an excellent summer read and an author I would definitely recommend checking out if you haven’t already. Perfect book for the beach or relaxing on a Saturday afternoon and a great series to keep your eye on.

Trident K9 Warriors

04/20/2013 No comments

This year, I’ve been reading books on our military in an effort to better understand the challenges and experiences of those who serve. Today’s book was written by Mike Ritland, with Gary Brozek, and is about the training of Military Working Dogs (MWD). Ritland, a former Navy SEAL, became involved in training these dogs following his service, but it’s clear from reading the book that he would have been an excellent handler had he not found this calling sooner. He currently owns and runs Trikos International, which is an organization that trains different types of working dogs.

What was really interesting about this book was how the author really demonstrated the value the dogs bring to the teams. On numerous occasions, Ritland notes that the dog and handler were given the responsibility of finding IEDs, weapons, hidden insurgents, and other obstacles that the teams might not have found as easily or might have been hurt in their search. The use of the MWD helped minimize unnecessary force, unnecessary injuries, and sometimes gather intelligence that the naked eye might have missed. Considering the potential to save the lives of our service members, I was a little surprised to find that MWD are not used more often. But I can understand the challenges, since the training for a good quality dog is quite extensive.

I found the methods of training these dogs fascinating, but even more so how much the training has changed over time. Ritland spends a large chunk of the book talking about the benefits of positive reinforcement and operant conditioning, especially for dogs that will spend a lot of time doing this important work. In addition to the rigorous training before and during service, Ritland spends some time talking about the transition out of service for the dogs and the challenges of finding the right place for them to “retire.”

If you weren’t a dog lover before this book, it definitely will make you one. This book was fantastic and I definitely have a new appreciation for both the training process, the handlers, and the services these dogs provide. Proceeds from the book benefit the Warrior Dog Foundation.

 

Don’t Let The Pigeon Stay Up Late

04/19/2013 No comments

Don't let the pigeon stay up late!
Mo Willems; Hyperion Books for Children 2006
 

I love funny picture books. We were given Don’t Let The Pigeon Drive the Bus recently, by Mo Willems, so I was pretty stoked to find out there were other books involving this funny pigeon. First off, this series is really funny and second it’s a really fun book to read with a toddler (or older) because it involves some participation on their part. And really, who doesn’t like saying “no”? The pictures and story are really cute and this particular one is a great one to read right before bed. Highly recommend.

Breakaway

04/19/2013 No comments

Just finished Deirdre Martin’s Breakaway last night, which is part of her NY Blades Series. Martin is definitely a favorite author of mine and I find myself rushing to finish her books, only to be upset that I don’t have anything else new to read by her.

For me, this book was actually read out of order, but it did not make a difference as far as the series’s plot was concerned. Erin O’Brien is the childhood girlfriend of Rory Brady, currently a professional hockey for the NY Blades. Rory was sowing his wild oats for a while and broke up with Erin, while she stayed back in Ireland with her family. But Erin never meant to stay there and is getting ready to move on with her life solo and has taken online courses to get a degree. Rory, realizing he’s made the biggest mistake of his life, returns to his hometown to try to win Erin back. She’s moved on, but cannot seem to get herself far enough away from Rory.

One of the things that I like best about Martin’s writing is that she can write an excellent contemporary romance, but you get all these other themes within her stories that go much deeper than your typically romance. Her books have covered things like sexual assault, domestic abuse, alcoholism, and unbalanced family dynamics, without leaving you feeling emotionally drained. I’m not sure if this is the sole reason that I love her writing, but it’s definitely one of the reasons that I make time to read her books when I have no extra time.

This is an excellent reconciliation romance and a book that I would recommend generally. Martin is an author that if you haven’t tried you need to give her a shot. She is excellent, the characters are complex, the stories are both funny and serious, and the arc of the story is definitely believable. This particular story takes place in Ireland and I absolutely love the way her characters interact with each other, their witty banter, and their candor with each other. Such a fun story.

 

Madeline

04/18/2013 No comments

Madeline, Reissue of 1939 edition
Ludwig Bemelmans; Viking Press 1967
 

I’ve mentioned before that I wasn’t a big reader when I was young. The more that I read with my daughter, the more I think I was just reading the wrong books. This book is a good example. It’s a classic book, written by Ludwig Bemelmans, that poetically describes a young who we find out later has Appendicitis. The pictures are excellent, the writing–even the French translation–is excellent, and the story is fun. Plus, the end of the book points out the various historical landmarks that are included in the book, as it takes place in Paris.

Hip Check

04/16/2013 No comments

My school schedule often does not allow me to read books that I really need to unwind, but every now and then I make time. Today’s book definitely fell into that category. Deirdre Martin is an author that I check out regularly because her writing is consistently excellent, her characters are interesting and complex, and I always learn something new about hockey. This book was no exception to that rule and I’m so glad that I gave this book time because it was worth every moment.

If you’ve read other books by this author, this one fell into the Blades series, which follows the fictional Blades hockey team. There are quite a number of books in this series, but reading them out of sequence doesn’t make a difference. A lot of time has passed, so this book is basically looking at a newer group of players. We meet Esa Saari, a Finnish playboy who seems to have his bachelor life set up perfectly, until his sister, Danika, passes away and he gains custody of his eight year-old niece, Nell. Nell, who is working through her grief throughout the book, is such a great character. She’s smart and fun, but her presence really throws Esa off his game. He ends up hiring a nanny and basically gives her free reign over the household. Michelle Beck doesn’t take kindly to guardians who don’t pay attention to their charges, so she pushes Esa to get to know Nell. As the two of them work through their combined grief, Esa starts to see Michelle in a different light and the two test out a relationship. But these two have a lot of issues to work out before they can really have a serious and functional relationship, and managing all that while taking care of Nell is a challenge.

One of the things that I like best about Martin’s books is that her male characters, while they can be a little alpha, really are normal people with normal problems. They aren’t mean or funny all the time–they are a good mix. Michelle’s relationship with her father and brother was also pretty interesting. Martin does such a great job of showing you real family dynamics that you truly feel like a fly on the wall. I find her dialogue to be quick and fun, too.

If you have a chance to read one of Deirdre Martin’s books, I highly recommend them. She’s a NYT bestselling author and it’s truly clear why. This series is OK to read out of order without losing too much of the backstory.

Martha Stewart’s Cooking School

04/15/2013 No comments

Martha Stewart; Clarkson Potter 2008
 

You cannot be a serious cook without at least giving a little credit to Martha Stewart for her work getting people interested in the business of cooking at home. One of Stewart’s older cookbooks, Quick Cook Menus, was one of the first books that I purchased as a new cook. Completely out of my league, it was an eye-opening experience that cooking could be much more complicated than boiling water. Fast forward a decade and I’m much more comfortable not only with my ability to boil water, but also many other helpful kitchen tasks.

Spinach Salad with Roast Beef and Cucumber Ranch Dressing

Spinach Salad with Roast Beef and Cucumber Ranch Dressing

Today’s book was a more comprehensive collection of instructions on the business of cooking at home. Just a step under professional instruction, this book has a great many beautiful pictures for you to see step-by-step instructions on how to make so many basic dishes. For example, Stewart explains how to make many types of stocks and sauces–many things that some cooks purchase for a variety of reasons. I’m not a favorite of the “weird” ingredient camp, of which this book belongs (at least a little), but Stewart does a great job of explaining why you should purchase one item over another, why you should purchase in-season items, and how you should plan out preparing a meal.

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