Book Review: Secrets to Happiness by Sara Dunn

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Holly Frick just went through the worst kind of divorce: the kind where you’re still in love with the person divorcing you. Alex had left her on January 3rd, like a benevolent CEO who holds off the pink slips until after the holidays. Holly is left to wonder if she’ll everfind happiness again. Like Jane Austen’s Emma Woodhouse, Holly is intimately involved in the lives of those around her, and she’s compelled to give advice with unwavering moral certainty. And, like Emma, she is often completely off the mark. Soon, her advice will get her in over her head, and she’ll find herself playing therapist to her ex-boyfriend’s new girlfriend while at the same time falling for her married friend’s lover. Smart and touching, SECRETS TO HAPPINESS is a hilarious look at the funny things people do to be happy.


I heard about this book on the today show, it was touted as one of the must reads of the summer. So I was looking forward to reading it and was lucky enough to get a copy of it from Hachette Book group. And the cover is just really cute. Unfortunately that is where the pleasantness ends on Secrets to happiness. The book was hard for me to get through if I am completely honest. I almost stopped reading but by that point I was half way through and so decided not to give up.

I am not sure how the book can be put into the chic lit genre as over all it is rather depressing. I can understand that it is a gritty look at Manhattan love. But when I read chic lit I expect it to be well more like a romantic comedy. Perhaps that’s just me. The plot itself is boring; the characters are just flat on the page and not that likeable.

The most likeable thing about the book? The dogs. They are the saving grace over all. I could leave the rest of the book and not feel like I have missed anything. There truly are no secrets to be revealed in the Secrets to Happiness. This hit’s the skip it shelf on my list of books. And if you do feel like plugging through I wish you luck.

Giveaway: The Night Gardener by George Pelecanos

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Another Fantastic Giveaway brought to you from Hatchette. They are so great!

From Publishers Weekly

Starred Review. Pelecanos (Drama City) delivers a dignified, character-driven epic that succeeds as both literary novel and page-turner. In 1985, the body of a 14-year-old girl turns up in a Washington, D.C., park, the latest in a series of murders by a killer the media dub “The Night Gardener.” T.C. Cook, the aging detective on the case, works with a quiet, almost monomaniacal, focus. Also involved are two young uniformed cops, Gus Ramone, who’s diligent, conscientious and unimpressed by heroics, and Dan “Doc” Holiday, an adrenaline junkie who’s decidedly less straight.

Fast forward 20 years. Detective Ramone, now married with kids of his own, investigates the murder of one of his teenage son’s friends. The homicide closely resembles the earlier unsolved Night Gardener murders. Holiday, now an alcoholic chauffeur and bodyguard, follows the case on his own and tracks down Cook, long retired but still obsessed with the original murders. While the three work together toward a suspenseful ending, Pelecanos emphasizes the fallacy of “solving” a murder and explores the ripple effects of violent crime on society.




Thanks to Hatchette book Group we have 5, yes 5 copies to giveaway. So we will have 5 winners for this great book! Do not miss out on this one!



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Book Review: Washington’s Lady by Nancy Moser

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She dreams of a quiet life with her beloved George, but war looms…

Though still a young woman, Martha Custis is a widow. But she is not without means and has no desire to remarry. Not, that is, until a striking war hero steps into her life and she realizes she is ready to love again. Yet she wonders whether this man, accustomed to courageous military exploits, can settle down to a simple life of farming and being a father to her children. Even as she longs for domestic bliss, Martha soon realizes she will have to risk everything dear to her and find the courage to get behind a dream much larger than her own. Known for moving first-person novels of Nannerl Mozart and Jane Austen, Nancy Moser now brings to life the loves and trials of the First First Lady of the United States.

Nancy Moser does it again. Washington’s Lady is an absolute masterpiece. And a fine tribute to the lady who stood alongside Americas first president, our reluctant and yet dutiful hero. All those who know me know how much I adore this time of American History and this book lives up to my passion for it. Admittedly I do not know as much about George Washington and Martha as I would like, as I am a Jefferson girl (can you guess) But is books like this that make me crave to learn more about him and his Martha.

In this book we follow Martha’s story we meet her at the time of the death of her first husband and how she will move forward from there. Married only 7 years to that first husband, she was left the wealthiest widow in Virginia. She rejects many suitors, as she hasn’t found one who can capture her heart or inkling like that. Enter Colonel George Washington. Their match truly was a love match, and Martha stayed beside George through it all.

There were times when Martha did not wish the path that George took, but she was still by his side. She may have disagreed with her old man but she always supported him. The book does make a point at the very end to say that many say without George Washington we would not have America, which is very true. And the book than goes onto say, Without Martha Washington there would be no George. And this comment is also true. Behind every great man is a great woman. This book has taken place as the best book that I have read this year. I highly encourage anyone and everyone to pick it up, and read it.

Friday Finds #15

- Ambrosia 1 Comment

I am a day late. but here is a book I heard about this morning.

Dad Said

Ollestad, we can do it all. . . .

Why do you make me do this?

Because it’s beautiful when it all comes together.

I don’t think it’s ever beautiful.

One day.

Never.

We’ll see, my father said. Vamanos.

From the age of three, Norman Ollestad was thrust into the world of surfing and competitive downhill skiing by the intense, charismatic father he both idolized and resented. While his friends were riding bikes, playing ball, and going to birthday parties, young Norman was whisked away in pursuit of wild and demanding adventures. Yet it were these exhilarating tests of skill that prepared “Boy Wonder,” as his father called him, to become a fearless champion–and ultimately saved his life.

Flying to a ski championship ceremony in February 1979, the chartered Cessna carrying Norman, his father, his father’s girlfriend, and the pilot crashed into the San Gabriel Mountains and was suspended at 8,200 feet, engulfed in a blizzard. “Dad and I were a team, and he was Superman,” Ollestad writes. But now Norman’s father was dead, and the devastated eleven-year-old had to descend the treacherous, icy mountain alone.

Set amid the spontaneous, uninhibited surf culture of Malibu and Mexico in the late 1970s, this riveting memoir, written in crisp Hemingwayesque prose, recalls Ollestad’s childhood and the magnetic man whose determination and love infuriated and inspired him–and also taught him to overcome the indomitable. As it illuminates the complicated bond between an extraordinary father and his son, Ollestad’s powerful and unforgettable true story offers remarkable insight for us all.

Book Review: Chemical Cowboys by Lisa Sweetingham

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For nearly a decade, Ecstasy kingpin Oded Tuito was the mastermind behind a drug ring that used strippers and Hassidic teenagers to mule millions of pills from Holland to the party triangle–Los Angeles, New York, and Miami.

Chemical Cowboys is a thrilling journey through the groundbreaking undercover investigations that led to the toppling of a billion-dollar Ecstasy trafficking network–starting in 1995 when New York DEA Agent Robert Gagne infiltrated club land to uncover a thriving drug scene supported by two cultures: pill-popping club kids and Israeli dealers.

Gagne’s obsessive mission to take down Tuito’s network met unexpected challenges and personal discoveries that almost crippled his own family. Weaved into the narrative are the stories of Tuito’s underlings who struggled with addiction as they ran from the law, and the compelling experiences of a veteran Israeli police officer who aided Gagne while chasing after his own target–a violent Mob boss who saw the riches to be made in Ecstasy and began to import his own pills and turf warfare to the U.S.

Chemical Cowboys offers a taut, behind-the-scenes glimpse into an international criminal enterprise as daring as it is deadly.

I used to be huge into the true crime genre, and I had read them all. But than I lost interest. I am not sure why, but for the most part I just decided they all kind of started to sound the same. No offense to any of those authors, but they did. So it is a rare book that can pull me back into my thoughts about true crime being decent. In the last year only one book has done it. Until now. Chemical Cowboys is a stunning masterpiece of a Crime Novel.

Lisa Sweetingham weaves such a wicked web about this king pin, with characters that you will remember. Some of them you will love and some of them you will love to hate. I really can not think of to many words that would do this book justice. Other than it is grippingly good.

You will get into the underbelly of the beast, and follow the scum as they go. It’s graphic and descriptive and you can picture yourself there in the action. So if you’re a lover of action, and Crime this is a book for you. Even if your not I recommend you pick it up and take a look at this book. I am so glad I was given the chance to read Chemical Cowboys. It was a refreshing breath of new air into a genre I have missed.


Booking Through Thursday – Niche

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There are certain types of books that I more or less assume all readers read. (Novels, for example.)

But then there are books that only YOU read. Instructional manuals for fly-fishing. How-to books for spinning yarn. How to cook the perfect souffle. Rebuilding car engines in three easy steps. Dog training for dummies. Rewiring your house without electrocuting yourself. Tips on how to build a NASCAR course in your backyard. Stuff like that.

What niche books do YOU read?

My niche book is book’s about clicker training. For horse’s and dog’s.

Waiting on Wednesday #2

- Ambrosia 1 Comment


July 1st 2009

Product Description
In 1860s Seattle, a man with a wife could secure himself 640 acres of timberland. But because of his wife’s untimely death, Joe Denton finds himself about to lose half of his claim. Still in mourning, his best solution is to buy one of those Mercer girls arriving from the East. A woman he’ll marry in name but keep around mostly as a cook. Anna Ivey’s journey west with Asa Mercer’s girls is an escape from the griefs of her past. She’s not supposed to be a bride, though, just a cook for the girls. But when they land, she’s handed to Joe Denton and the two find themselves in a knotty situation. She refuses to wed him and he’s about to lose his land. With only a few months left, can Joe convince this provoking–but beguiling–easterner to be his bride?

From the Inside Flap
From A Bride in the Bargain Mr. Asa Mercer placed his pen back in its holder and looked at Anna. “A cook, you say?” “Yes. I prepared the menu and all courses for the morning, noon, and evening meals, having only Sundays off.” Mercer leaned back in his chair. “Well. We aren’t taking any passengers on credit, but there is one man who wanted a br–, err, a woman who could feed the men who work for him.” She straightened. “Well, I daresay he’d be very pleased with me.” Mercer gave her a quick appraisal. “I daresay he would.” “How many men does he employ?” “He’s a lumberjack. I’m not sure how many men are involved in his operation. No more than a dozen, I’d say, if that.” A lumberjack. The word conjured up visions of pine forests, fresh air and wilderness–something far removed from the bustling city, the aftermath of the war. “Goodness,” she said, a flicker of anticipation whisking through her. “I could feed a dozen men with one hand tied behind my back.” He rubbed his hands against his legs. “Well, he was very specific that he would pay for the fare. You would then have to work off your debt for him.” “I’m agreeable to those terms, if he is.” Mercer said nothing. She could see his inner struggle. Was he worried she wouldn’t measure up to her new employer? Sitting a little straighter, she forced herself to not squirm. Finally, he turned again to his desk and retrieved his pen. “Very well, Miss Ivey. I will draw up your papers and award you passage to the Washington Territory on the S.S. Continental.”

Wicked Wednesday #8

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Wicked Wednesday a place to be wicked to other book readers and make them get those TBR piles growing. The concept is simple. Pick a book or two and tell s about them. If its one you read tell us what you liked. If its one you found tell us about that to. Than leave a comment to let us know where to find your Wicked Wednesday titles. Make sure to link back in your posts for other people to follow Wicked Wednesday.


She dreams of a quiet life with her beloved George, but war looms…

Though still a young woman, Martha Custis is a widow. But she is not without means and has no desire to remarry. Not, that is, until a striking war hero steps into her life and she realizes she is ready to love again. Yet she wonders whether this man, accustomed to courageous military exploits, can settle down to a simple life of farming and being a father to her children. Even as she longs for domestic bliss, Martha soon realizes she will have to risk everything dear to her and find the courage to get behind a dream much larger than her own. Known for moving first-person novels of Nannerl Mozart and Jane Austen, Nancy Moser now brings to life the loves and trials of the First First Lady of the United States.

Author Interview: Candice Hern

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Another fantastic Author took some time out of her busy schedule and answered a few questions for me. I enjoy Candice Hern’s work immensely, and I have to say my favorite so far has been the Merry Widow Series. I hope everyone enjoys the replies as much as I did!

AJ: What drew you to Historical Romance as a Genre?

CH: I’m a history person. Always have been. Even before I discovered historical romance (rather late in life, I confess) I read a lot of straight historical fiction. Not to mention lots of history and biography. I guess I am just fascinated by the past, or at least certain specific periods, eg ancient Egypt, Tudor England, Revolutionary France, Regency England, and early Hollywood.

As for what drew me to write historical romance as opposed to some other genre … I’d have to say that it’s the characters. I’m more interested in character than plot (as a writer), and romances are by nature character-driven stories. Plus, I love a happy ending. So romance was the logical choice for me as a writer. I love reading mysteries and thrillers, but I wasn’t born with the plot gene and I can’t imagine coming up with an intricate mystery plot. I have enough trouble coming up with my simple romance plots!

AJ: When did you begin to really study the history aspect of the genre?

CH: I was into history well before I read a historical romance. I had a solid grounding in English history before I began to write romance. But once I started writing, I found there was much more I needed to know. The detail stuff, like carriages and fashion etc. I never stop researching. There’s always something new I need to know more about for each book.

AJ: How old were you when you wrote your very first book (even if it wasn’t published) ?

CH: I vaguely recall writing short book, with pictures, when I was about 10. I remember it was about a boy named Ernest Higgenbotham. And that’s all I can remember about it. 🙂

AJ: What attracted you to writing was it through school, or some other avenue like fan fiction?

CH: I didn’t start out wanting to be a writer. I’ve always been a voracious reader and had a love of language. Over the years I did a lot of writing at work — proposals, newsletters, etc. But fiction never occurred to me until quite late in life. I had just discovered Regency romances and was reading dozens and dozens of old copies discovered at used bookstores. I already knew a lot of the Regency period, and one day a friend said that since I knew the history so well, I should write my own Regency romance. And all at once ten ideas popped into my head. I sat down and started to write. And 15 books later, I’m still writing.

AJ: Of all of your works who is your favorite character?

CH: This question is always so hard. I love them all! But if you put a gun to my head and forced me to name a favorite, I’d have to say Edwina from ONCE A SCOUNDREL. I like her because she is a strong woman, very self-possessed. And though she is not the typical Regency heroine, she is very much a woman of her time. Her character was inspired by several real women of the late 18th century who believed in the ideals of the French Revolution, and whose lives were not dictated by social convention.

AJ: And along that same trend, which character is the most like you?

CH:I suppose there is a bit of me in every heroine and even every hero. But I honestly can’t think of one character who embodies all of me. Just a bit here and a bit there. As an example, I gave the hero in JUST ONE OF THOSE FLINGS a love of Indian sculpture, which happens to be one of my loves, too.

AJ: What attracted you to the Regency time period? Why have you chosen that for your main period for your settings?

CH: As I mentioned, it was a period I already knew well, even before I read a romance novel. I suppose it is all tied to Jane Austen. Her books led me to other books of the period, and then to a lot of general history books to help ground my understanding of the period. Also, I collected antiques from the English Regency (as you can see on my website, here: http://www.candicehern.com/collections/index.htm) and like any serious collector, I needed historical and social context for the items I collect. So, besides the general history, I had a knowledge of a few specific areas, like jewelry and scent bottles and fashion plates, etc. I was only natural that I would write about the Regency. Fortunately for me, that happens to be a very popular setting!

AJ:What your feelings about love,and romasnce, and how much of it should be shown and how much inferred?

CH: Nothing satisfies me so much as a good love story. That’s what drew me to romance … all those hopeful, happy endings. Romance is so universal. I think we all need it. As to the second part of your question, I assume you are asking about how explicit the love scene should be. Right? Well, I think it’s great that there are all levels of sensuality available in romance, something for everyone’s taste. I am personally not much of an erotic romance reader, and will never write erotica because that’s just not me. But I don’t want to have the bedroom door closed in my face. I find that I miss the sex scenes when I read a book without them. Sex is an integral part of a romantic relationship, so I definitely want to see that part of the romance as it develops. But I don’t need all the graphic details. I’m more interested in what the two people involved are thinking and feeling, before, during and after sex.

But that’s just me. I think each writer has to approach a story’s sensuality in her own way, in her own voice, in whatever level of explicitness is comfortable for her, and is right for the story.

AJ: And lastly because you mentioned you just moved to the lovely state of Minnesota from California, How did you enjoy your first brutal Minnesota Winter? We had a tough one this year.

CH: If this was a tough one, then I’m going to be fine. I didn’t think it was so bad. In fact, I quite enjoyed it. Most people think I’m nuts when I say that, but I came from California and had never lived through a real winter in my life. So it was all a grand new adventure for me. Ask me in a few more years, though, and see if I still love it. 🙂

Asbestos the Bad.

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Asbestos was one of the most common industrial materials put to use in the twentieth century. It has also proven to be one of the most lethal, as inhaling asbestos fibers can lead to a wide range of pulmonary problems such as asthma and asbestosis – and can also be the direct cause of mesothelioma.
What is mesothelioma? It is a lethal cancer that attacks the membranes around the lungs, the heart and the abdominal cavity. Mesothelioma cancer of the lungs is by far the most common form. Perhaps its most unusual characteristic is that mesothelioma diagnosis usually occurs decades after the initial exposure to asbestos.
It takes years for the asbestos fibers to work their way into those membranes; after an extended presence they begin to cause fluid accumulation and tumor development. However the first mesothelioma symptoms are such afflictions as a persistent cough or shortness of breath – symptoms that are often mistaken for evidence of more common lung problems, which delays the mesothelioma diagnosis even further.

We as people need to be aware, and keep ourselves knowing about this deadly cancer. We need to donate, to show we care for research. Help those who are afflicted. Don’t let those who have this terrible affliction be left behind thinking no one cares. Only we as a people can help.

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