Delicious! By Ruth Reichl

Synopsis:
Billie Breslin has traveled far from her California home to take a job at Delicious, the most iconic food magazine in New York and, thus, the world. When the publication is summarily shut down, the colorful staff, who have become an extended family for Billie, must pick up their lives and move on. Not Billie, though. She is offered a new job: staying behind in the magazine's deserted downtown mansion offices to uphold the "Delicious Guarantee"-a public relations hotline for complaints and recipe inquiries-until further notice. What she doesn't know is that this boring, lonely job will be the portal to a life-changing discovery.

Delicious! carries the reader to the colorful world of downtown New York restaurateurs and artisanal purveyors, and from the lively food shop in Little Italy where Billie works on weekends to a hidden room in the magazine's library where she discovers the letters of Lulu Swan, a plucky twelve-year-old, who wrote to the legendary chef James Beard during World War II. Lulu's letters lead Billie to a deeper understanding of history (and the history of food), but most important, Lulu's courage in the face of loss inspires Billie to come to terms with her own issues-the panic attacks that occur every time she even thinks about cooking, the truth about the big sister she adored, and her ability to open her heart to love.

Raven Hair's Review:
I loved this book - the characters, the story lines, and all the luscious food descriptions. Not surprising given who the author is. And though many might find this too light weight it held my interest and I was disappointed to finish it as I hated to say goodbye to the characters. This book captivated me, it had my emotions running when we discover the hidden stories of the characters and how,  at times, unknowingly they provide strength and healing to each other.    

Good in Bed by Jennifer Weiner

My rating: 5 of 5 stars


I highly recommend this book. When I started reading it I thought it was just a fun, comedic book - I was wrong. There is so much to love about Cannie, and the author speaks to real issues in a way that isn't too deep, but definitely deep enough. I was touched by this story, and pleasantly surprised at depth interwoven in the story.



View all my reviews

Well, it's been some time since I've last visited and written anything on my blog. I have had SO much happen between then and now. I have gone through a divorce, remarried, had another child, and moved to Hawaii! I went through a time where I was extremely busy and preoccupied with other things so I stopped reading for awhile, but I am now returning to my books! I am hoping/planning to start blogging on a regular basis. I can tell you, I've definitely missed it A LOT!!!

Tempted

Synopsis: Dark secrets and unspoken suspicions come between Zoey and Stevie Rae, putting their friendship and the House of Night at risk. After Zoey Redbird and her gang have banished Kalona and Neferet from Tulsa, you'd think they'd catch a break. But with Zoey and her sexy warrior Stark both recovering from a brush with death, and the fledgelings struggling to deal with the fallout from Neferet's reign of terror, a break is just not in the forecast. Zoey is haunted by her confusing yet elemental connection with A-ya, the ancient Cherokee maiden who was the only human able to tempt Kalona's body and soul. How will A-ya's pull on her affect Zoey's ability to resist the dangerously seductive immortal? Meanwhile, Stevie Rae, with her super red-vamp powers, always thought she could handle the stuff she's been keeping from her BFF. But the mysterious, threatening force lurking in the tunnels under the Tulsa Depot is spreading. Stevie Rae won't confide where she's been and what she's doing, and Zoey is beginning to wonder just how much she can trust the person she always thought would have her back. Will their choices destroy them and will darkness consume the House of Night?

Raven Haired Book Worm's Review: Well, I am happy to write that I have FINALLY started back up with the House of Night series (I really don't like starting a series and not finishing it). It has taken me quite a while to come back. Thankfully, the public library had the next 3 books that I needed to read available. The House of Night series in the previous books were alright but I was somewhat losing interest; well Tempted brought me back. I am looking forward to reading the next (Burned) book to see what will happen with Zoey and Stevie Ray! In this book Stevie Ray has a shocking development with one of her relationships (I won't say because I don't want to spoil it for anyone). It did take a while for me to get to the point where I couldn't stop reading because I needed to know what was going to happen but this book did deliver that for me three-quarters of the way in (better late than never). In this book I Zoey really begins to start seeing the truth about her situation and in the end it ends up a harsh reality. I was not expecting this book to end the way it did, but I think it had to happen to really, really make Zoey make a choice and see the truth.

Returning Journey,

Melissa

Hex Appeal

Synopsis: Feisty witch Jasmine Tremaine and drop-dead gorgeous vampire cop Nikolai Gregorovich have a hot thing going, but it's tough to keep it together when nightmare visions turn their passion into bickering, and it's tearing them apart. With a little help from their friends - a motley bunch of ghosts with attitude, rule-breaking witches, supernatural hotties and sinister elves - Jazz and Nick are in a race against time to uncover whoever it is that's poisoning their dreams, and their relationship.

Raven Hair's Review:

This is the second book featuring the witch, Jazz. I must say I truly enjoy these books and Jazz's adventures. This book is definitely full of magic and fun! I don't want to ruin anything but let's just say Jazz has some awesome shoes! The book is fast-paced and humorous too. Jazz keeps it real throughout all her escapades. I love Linda Wisdom's imagination. If you are looking for a fun fast paced read, I definitely recommend this one.

An imaginative, magical journey,

Mel

WICKED

Synopsis: When Dorothy triumphed over the Wicked Witch of the West in L. Frank Baum's classic tale, we heard only her side of the story. But what about her arch-nemesis, the mysterious Witch? Where did she come from? How did she become so wicked? Gregory Maguire creates a fantasy world so rich and vivid that we will never look at Oz the same way again. Wicked is about a land where animals talk and strive to be treated like first class citizens, Munchkinlanders seek the comfort of middle-class stability, and the Tin Man becomes a victim of domestic violence. And then there is the little green-skinned girl named Elphaba, who will grow up to become the infamous Wicked Witch of the West - a smart, prickly, and misunderstood creature who challenges all our preconceived notions about the nature of good and evil.

OK, so I FINALLY finished the book "Wicked". I attempted to read this book awhile ago and put it down because I just couldn't get into it. I still wanted to read it though because I have a few friends that said it was a good one. I also liked the premise of the book, the story from the perspective of the wicked witch of the west. The idea behind the book is very enticing but the deliver (in my opinion) not so much. I must say this book took me so long to finish. I would begin reading at night and fall asleep while reading but I persevered and finally finished it. There are some things that the author just never explains and you keep reading waiting to read the why. Elphaba (the main character - the wicked witch) she has an aversion to water which is brought up throughout the book, but you never find out why this is the case. I won't say this is the worst book I've read but if given the choice between this book and another, well let's just say I would choose the latter. I have heard the play is amazing and different from the book, I am still hoping one day to be able to see it. If you've read this book, I would definitely like to hear your thoughts on it.

Longest journey yet!

I finished all the House of Night books except the last two. They are pretty good reads. I definitely enjoyed the first books more though. The stories start to take a somewhat bizarre twist and it seems that the main characters keep facing the same dilemmas but just with different people. I will definitely at some point finish the entire series. If I start a series I have a need to finish the entire thing even if I am not as in love with it during the follow on books. All in all pretty good story line and I would recommend it. I will update on this particular book series in the future when I get a chance to actually read all of the books out. I have visited the website and I know that they are definitely going to write more in the series. Take care all and thanks for taking the time to read my thoughts.

Unfinished Journey,

Mel