Henry's Sisters

Henry's Sisters by Cathy Lamb

My rating: 4 of 5 stars


What does a mom do, left with 3 young daughters and a special-needs son, when her beloved husband walks away after waking up to his hands strangling her neck. (Vietnam flashbacks) No education, no training, and too proud to take a handout, she dances and turns tricks to unsuccessfully feed her children. Meet the dysfunctional Bommarito family - you will fall in love, laugh, and cry with these crazy, quirky, gritty, characters who try to forget their traumatic childhood.



Characters:

Sweet, lovable, Henry, you will want to claim as your own.

Fraternal twins, Isabelle - nymphomaniac and Cecelia - self-destructive.

Janie - obsessive/compulsive recluse, taps and counts to cope.

River - Mother Bommarito, unable to give and share love, except to her son, Henry.

Grandma - believes she is Amelia Earhart.



Heavy use of profanity and violence.



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Chocolates and Confections

Chocolates and Confections at Home with the Culinary Institute of America by Peter P. Greweling

My rating: 5 of 5 stars


What a delicious, yummy book of chocolates, fudge, sponge candy, bark temptations - I could go on and on. Wonderful recipes with extra tips and techniques. My personal favs are Peanut Brittle, page 113; Sponge Candy, page 189, and Caramel Corn, page 229. Just looking at the photos will make you drool!



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Maybe This Time

Maybe This Time by Jennifer Crusie

My rating: 4 of 5 stars


Maybe This Time was my first read of Jennifer Crusie. I wasn't sure what to expect even after reading the book jacket. Laugh-out-loud humor mixed with romance and paranormal activities kept me turning the pages. Crusie has a gift for writing about off the wall, crazy, zany characters and there are quite a few - Lively, outspoken Andromeda "Andie" Miller is ready to cut the ties with her staid, ex-husband North and prepares to do battle. North, in the showdown, bribes her with a large sum of money if she can "fix" the two, young and very odd children of his late cousin, who live in Southern Ohio in a creepy, ancient three story stone house, complete with a moat. Oddly enough Andie agrees and all kind of wild paranormal events happen when she show up at "The House of Archer."



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Two Wars: One Hero's Fight on Two Fronts--Abroad and Within

Two Wars: One Hero's Fight on Two Fronts--Abroad and Within by Nate Self

My rating: 4 of 5 stars


I brought this book home for my 14 year old son, Eli to read. I thought the combination of loyalty and honor to one's family and country would be a great read for him. It didn't take long for him to finish it, so I picked it up. The open, revealing story of Nate Self, a Captain in the famous Army Rangers who fought for his country and with his men on the Robert's Ridge rescue in Afghanistan. Brutally candid, Self bares his thoughts before, during, and after the rescue that leaves him fighting Post Traumatic Stress Disorder. Now that I'm finished, my husband has picked it up to read!



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Two Wars: One Hero's Fight on Two Fronts--Abroad and Within

Two Wars: One Hero's Fight on Two Fronts--Abroad and Within by Nate Self

My rating: 4 of 5 stars


I brought this book home for my 14 year old son, Eli to read. I thought the combination of loyalty and honor to one's family and country would be a great read for him. It didn't take long for him to finish it, so I picked it up. The open, revealing story of Nate Self, a Captain in the famous Army Rangers who fought for his country and with his men on the Robert's Ridge rescue in Afghanistan. Brutally candid, Self bares his thoughts before, during, and after the rescue that leaves him fighting Post Traumatic Stress Disorder. Now that I'm finished, my husband has picked it up to read!



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Please read!!

Little Princes: One Man's Promise to Bring Home the Lost Children of Nepal by Conor Grennan

My rating: 5 of 5 stars


In the beginning of his jaunt, 20-something Conor Grennan never would have thought that he would be saving Nepalese children from human traffickers. Conor was going off on a lark, something to tell the girls back home in the U.S., "Ah yes, I worked with orphans for three months." But along the way he fell in love with the children of The Little Princes Children's Home in a small village near Kathmandu, Nepal. Promising the children to come back, after his three month stint and a trip around the world, Conor settles back in the United States and works on a way to save more Napalese children. An amazing, heartrending, honest account, written with Conor's hilarious take on things, this book is a gem. Please read - it could be heart changing. One person can really make a difference in the world!



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Heartwood

Heartwood by Belva Plain

My rating: 4 of 5 stars


Laura is the daughter everyone wants - reliable, loving, kind, and loyal. But Laura's marriage is in trouble - her loving support of her brilliant, but weak husband, Robbie, is waning. She puts her own talents and gifts down to build him up. Her mother, Iris, a professor and her father, Theo - a doctor, will not understand if steadfast Laura allows her marriage to fail. Unknown to either woman, Theo holds a secret that could hurt either one. A book about 4 generations of women who learn to cope with disappointment, lost love, and the crises that life always seems to hand out.

Belva Plain's final novel - Mom and I will miss her writings of family and relationships.



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The Other Mothers' Club

The Other Mothers' Club by Samantha Baker

My rating: 4 of 5 stars


Eve has a new man in her life, a widower, but what she is afraid of, is meeting his three children. Clare is a single mom, raising a daughter whose Dad has suddenly decided to drop into her life. Lily, Clare's sister, and Liam are trying to raise Rosie, with tons of interference from Liam's ex. Mandy is a stay-at-home mom trying to balance the demands of her children and stepchildren. Melanie has wonderful man in her life, but has not met his daughter yet. Meet these women, who decide to start their club at Starbucks. Over many cups of coffee, problems are resolved, discussed and cried over. Although this is a fictional novel, the tales of each of the women are so realistic, eye opening, and personal.



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Love Letters

Love Letters by Katie Fforde

My rating: 5 of 5 stars


Romantic. Hilarious. Absurd. Witty. I love Katie Fforde's novel - always guaranteed many giggles and laughs. Shy Laura had a wonderful job at the local bookshop, didn't pay much, but she loved her job. As the bookshop prepares to close, to tide her over until she finds a new job, Laura uncharacteristically, agrees to chair a literary festival. There was one author, a sexy, reclusive Irish writer named Dermot Flynn whose works Laura loved since her college days, and Laura is hopeful that he will lead the festival. So she takes off for Ireland to try and persuade Dermot, while keeping her romantic thoughts and wits about her. The events that follow are bound to make you laugh out loud.



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Cheat Sheet: 10 Tips and Tricks for Microsoft Word

Cheat Sheet: 10 Tips and Tricks for Microsoft Word