Friday Fill-ins #135

1. It's time for school to begin again.

2. Couch; it's not a bad place for taking a nap!

3. I must be on a bad luck streak-everything keeps going wrong with my house!

4. Chocolate is the best thing I have ever known.

5. My humor is simply irresistible:)

6. The last time I laughed really loudly was with Amy & Alli at their house. (Alli is 4 & a hoot!)

7. And as for the weekend, tonight I'm looking forward to reading, tomorrow my plans include plumbers installing a new gas line and Sunday, I want to relax!

Best Friends Forever

LibraryThing book review...

Best Friends Forever

by Jennifer Weiner

As a girl, Addie is overweight and friendless...until Valerie moves in next door. Valerie is everything Addie is not; skinny, confident, and indifferent to what others think of her. They soon become great friends. In high school, Val becomes popular and they grow apart. An incident at a party during their senior year irrevocably breaks their friendship and they don't see each other until fifteen years later after a high school reunion.

I enjoyed the character of Addie and felt for her. I found her to be quite believable. I also enjoyed Val who was the complete opposite from Addie. I just didn't find the story that interesting. I also felt the big search for Dan, Val, and Addie very strange considering there was never a dead body. What law enforcement member begins a murder investigation without a body, only with a belt and a little blood? Not my favorite Jennifer Weiner book.

Friday Fill-ins #134

1. Another problem with my house is not the end of the world.

2. Sitting here, listening to the sound of rain falling, I LOVE it!!!

3. Food shared with good friends tastes so good!

4. Sometimes, putting others first is hard, but always worth it.

5. Alaska is breathtaking, really.

6. Well, maybe there is a chance for happiness...

7. And as for the weekend, tonight I'm looking forward to chilling, tomorrow my plans include some housework and Sunday, I want to read all day long!

Monique and the Mango Rains

LibraryThing book review...
Monique and the Mango Rains
By Kris Holloway

Kris Holloway travels to Mali, West Africa as a Peace Corps volunteer. She is assigned to work in Nampossela (a remote village) assisting Monique Dembele, the area's midwife. Kris works with Monique as she births babies, and as she attempts to educate Mali's women about nutrition, pregnancy, and general healthcare. They do all this without electricity, running water, or doctors. Kris spends two years in Mali and during this time not only do they become friends, they become family.

I found this book very interesting and quite informative. It really makes you appreciate all the things we take for granted in the United States, like running water and electricity. It also opens your eyes to the hardships that women, especially, face in countries such as Africa. I loved learning about Monique, her work and her people. The only thing I would have liked is more information about Kris Holloway and John Bidwell, not much was mentioned about their own personal lives. This is a book to cherish always.

Swimsuit

LibraryThing book review...
Swimsuit
by James Patterson

Swimsuit is the terrifying story of Henri Benoit, a serial killer. He isn't just any old serial killer either...he makes his living filming his murders for his wealthy clients. Ben Hawkins, a reporter for the L.A Times, gets tangled in Henri's web and has to figure a way out. Henri forces Ben to write his story and Ben really has no other choice but to do so, or does he?

The things I like about this book...it is a quick read. Each chapter ends in a way that makes you want to read the next chapter and the next...I liked the idea of the story, and I thought Henri was chilling. It is pretty violent and graphic, but I didn't think it was too much. I pretty much enjoyed the whole thing until I came to the end. It left things, well, I will just shut up now...

Friday Fill-ins #133

1. Pasta and parmesan cheese make a quick and easy dinner.

2. Plea of Insanity by Jillian Hoffman is the book I'm reading right now.

3. July brings back memories of a summer vacation in Alaska with my brother & his family:)
4. The ending was obvious.

5. They say if you tell your dreams they won't come true...not sure if I believe that!

6. My parents would say to think it over.

7. And as for the weekend, tonight I'm looking forward to catching up on some reading, tomorrow my plans include a little housecleaning and Sunday, I want to read some more!

Sunnyside Blues

LibraryThing book review...
Sunnyside Blues
bu Mary Carter

Andes is looking for a place to live and she think she has found it in a houseboat that is for rent. She meets the boat's owner, Jay and his son, Chase. They really don't hit it off at first and it looks like she might have to look for another place to live. Some unusual things happen...Jay gets arrested and Andes somehow gets stuck with Chase. Andes and Chase end up in Sunnyside, Queens and then things get really complicated...

Some parts of this book I really loved and other parts I found totally unbelievable. I really enjoyed Andes-her story and her struggles. I had a hard time believing ANYBODY would agree to take care of Chase for any length of time. He is just a mess, but I guess that is why Andes felt for him. I didn't love the ending, didn't hate it either, but it was a bit disappointing.

Monday Crazy Questions...

1. Do you have a tattoo...?? if so What and where is it?? If not do you have a secret desire to have one? No, I don't have a tattoo. I kind have a secret desire to have one, but I can't imagine shedding my clothes to actually have it done. Probably won't happen...

2. You have been offered a free botox treatment...where do you have them put it? Somewhere on my face, for sure!

3. Do you have a good luck charm? what is it?Do you think it works? No, no good luck charms.
4. When was the last time that you said something to someone that you REALLY wished you hadn't said? It was probably at work, probably a certain teacher I can't stand, I probably shouldn't have said anything...

5. The bath water is running, the phone is ringing, the dog is barking and there is someone at the door.....what do you do? I would ignore all & get in the bathtub!
6. Your best friend from high school just popped in from out of town. do you offer them a place to stay or suggest a hotel? Oh, she could stay here, for sure:)
7. Have you ever seen a ghost? No, don't really believe in ghosts.
8. Someone is driving in front of you rather erratically and slowing you way down...now you see that they are talking on a cell phone and checking themselves out in the mirror. The other lane is blocked off so you can not go around them. What do you do?? I would probably cuss a little...

Dog on It

LibraryThing book review...
Dog on It
by Spencer Quinn

Bernie is a private investigator and Chet is his loyal sidekick. Chet is also his partner in solving crimes. Bernie is hired to investigate the disappearance of a teenage girl, Madison. Madison's father is a real estate developer who smells like cat and Chet takes an instant dislike to him. Her father states that she is a runaway, but clues tell the team otherwise.

Two great detectives working as a team! I really liked this book so much. I love Chet as a PI helping his partner, Bernie, solve crimes. The charactors are engaging, the mystery is intriguing, and the look at the world from a dog's point of view is a nice change. I hope there will be more from this fun team...

Friday Fill-ins #132

Graphic courtesy of Tonya!

And...here we go!

1. The last thing I ate was a fajita, chips, and queso from Rosa's.

2. A lovely new water heater is something I recently bought:(

3. When it rains, it is a great time to curl up and read a good book!
4. Quincy was the first person I talked to today.

5. Hugs are awesome.

6. My dogs give me lots of love and extra comfort.

7. And as for the weekend, tonight I'm looking forward to having one plumbing problem fixed, tomorrow my plans include sleeping in and Sunday, I want to get some serious reading done!

Handbags and Homicide

Bookreporter.com review...
Handbags and Homicide
by Dorothy Howell

Haley and Marcie love purses. They are best friends who share the obssession of purse shopping. Haley took a second job at Holt's Department Store to help pay off her credit cards. During the day, she works at the law firm of Pike Warner in accounts payable. Haley doesn't like working at Holt's and spends lots of time chilling in the stockroom...where she finds Richard, the assistant store manager, dead. She then gets put on administrative leave at Pike Warner for irrugularities in her work. Haley has two mysteries to solve...Who murdered Richard? Who framed her for embezzlement at Pike Warner?

Haley is truly a ditzy blond-it is hard to take her seriously. This was a fun read, a good story, and I did laugh a few times throughout the story. However, I did get tired of Haley and her drama. She is just a bit too much for me. She is self-absorbed, thoughtless, and inconsiderate. I did like the book, I just wish it was a bit more believable.

The Neighbor

LibraryThing book review...
The Neighbor
by Lisa Gardner

Jason Jones comes home to find his young wife missing and his 4-year-old daughter alone in their home. He immediately becomes the prime suspect along with a convicted sex offender living close by, a student his wife worked with, and his wife's father. There is lots going on with Jason Jones and his wife, Sandra. Both seem to have many secrets and this adds to the mystery.

This is one creepy story. It starts out creepy and stays creepy! It is a fascinating read with quite a few surprises along the way. I was, however, disappointed by the ending. It just didn't seem plausible and didn't work with the rest of a great story.

We have winners!!!

We have our winners for the James Patterson Swimsuit giveaway! They are...

CherylS22

Secret Life of a WAHM

A Reader

Congratulations! I will forward your information to Anna @ Hachette. Please e-mail me your addresses. Thanks:)