Heads in Beds: A Reckless Memoir of Hotels, Hustles, and So-Called Hospitality: Jacob Tomsky

Jacob Tomsky has worked in the hotel/hospitality industry since just out of college. Starting out as a Valet he moves his way up through housekeeping and ends up landing at the front desk, though he can tell you about all the other departments of a hotel.

A memories that says that it will give you insight into hospitality and how to get what you want at a hotel. Personally, that isn't really what I found or was interested in at the end of this book. I will tell you really want it all boils down to now, it is tipping. Drop a tip to the front desk person and you will be taken care of, at least according to Tomsky.

One of the reasons I was compelled to pickup this book is that for my day job I am a travel agent. Maybe, that is why I couldn't relate to working a front desk and how they can help you more than others in the industry. The other reason is that I like memories and I though this would be an interesting different perspective to read about. I liked it for the second aspect and appreciated Tomsky story about his personal experiences. I personally would lose all respect for the hospitality industry if I saw all of what he talked about going on and saw it everyday. But, I suppose that is what a tell all and peek into behind the scenes is about. I do believe it goes a little more extreme then most situations, but that is what makes it a fun and interesting read.

So, I would suggest this book to others as an interesting read, but take the advice in it worth a grain of salt, not forgetting your $20 of course. 3 Stars, but not something I would go back to again and again.

Helping Baby Sleep: The Science and Practice of Gentle Bedtime Parenting: Anni Gethin and Beth Macgregor

So, I know that this is a bit different then my usual reviews. But, I do read other types of books. Plus, I am not sure if I talked about it here yet, but I am 8.5 month pregnant right now. So, I am reading some parenting books and such to try and get ready for one of the biggest challenges of my life. I ordered a few books from the library and this was a place I started.

This book started out with why they suggest the version that they do and research they have again the opposite of what they suggest. What it seemed to come down to me is that the crying it out idea, letting babies just self sooth can cause issues for the kids later in life, and how hard it can really be for parents and children mentally. Then on how parents really need to be there for kids, listen and follow the clues the kids offer to you and what the clues are. Then different things that have worked for them and that they suggest or other things you can try.

There are some ideas that I will keep in mind from this book. But, it didn't really have a system to try, but that you should be sure to listen to your child and gave you kind of directions to go in. I think if I do run into specific obstacles this is something that you could go back to that would be helpful.

I did find myself feel at time in reading this, with wow there are a lot of things a parent can do that messes my kid up, which were more scary then reassuring so we shall see how that goes. I am glad I read it, but it just reminded me that I need to keep learning, especially when it comes to children there is always more to learn about.

I don't know if I would necessarily suggest this book and seek it out again, but am glad I read it and did glean some insight from it. 2.5 stars and I usually just round up, so 3.

When It Happens to You: Molly Ringwald

A collection of short stories that remind me a bit of Love Actually. Greta and Phillip are college sweethearts that have a daughter Charlotte. Greta is desperate for more, but she is not sure so much about Phillip anymore. They fall apart as a couple. The rest of the books follow people that float in and out of their lives over the next year as they try to figure out what they want and are, separated, apart or together. Each builds on their own and stands as a short story on their own, but you like seeing the familiar characters as they past through touching the others lives.

i enjoyed this book and the characters. I was frustrated by their actions at times, ways I couldn't relate to them. But, yet I still found myself looking for them in each of the next story. Wanting to know more. Wanting to be able to fill in the the blanks that were missing between stories or what was going to happen to each of them next. I even wanted to know more about the characters that weren't main characters, ones that just happened to be a supporting characters in one of the stories, that were just mentioned off hand in other stories. It all just let me wanting to know more about each of the characters.

I would give this book 4 stars in that I really enjoyed the book and couldn't put it down. I wanted to keep devouring the next story, but it did leave you wanting more with the holes that were left in the characters.  It makes you think. I am actually still processing it, as I just finished this book. But, I guess it comes down to I would say that Ringwald is someone to watch if she comes out with more books and an author's who's work is worth picking up.

The Runaway Princess: Hester Browne

Amy's parents back in the country are haunted by skeletons in their closest from their past and Amy feels she has to protect them even though all she wants to do is move on. Making sure to go home for holidays Amy spends most of her time in London, where she is trying to make her own way. With a successful Gardening business and a flatmate who keeps her on the edge of social circle Amy is happy with where she is at. A party crasher at one Jo's, of her roommate, parties sets things off though.

Leo's idea of fun is not really chasing down and fixing the issues that his playboy brother causes. But, one evening cleaning up Rolph's mess he meets Amy. Sparks fly between the prince Leo and Amy the gardener. But, one of the reasons Leo likes Amy is that she is a normal girl and has a basically normal life. But will that fit into the mold that his family and their royal lineage will expect and accept.

Thrust into the spot light for the Love that she has found Amy and Leo have to come to terms with what they want and expectations that others hold for them. While continuing to protect what they love and want for themselves and each other.

I had been in a bit of a reading slump. Once I opened this book and got a little ways into it that was over. I got to the point where I couldn't put this book down. I just wanted to keep going. Things were being alluded to that you didn't know what was really going on and you just had to keep going to figure it out. I felt for Amy and the emotions that she was going through. I felt like I could relate to her more than any of the other character and a few times I wished that I could get inside one of the other characters, but that is just me wanting to know more.

I would highly recommend this book, like I do most of Browne's book. The characters are well built and relatable. They have things together enough that you don't think they are idiots, but accident prone/character flawed enough that they are relatable. I would give this book 4 stars in it really kept my interest and is defiantly one of my favorites of the year.

The Happiness Project: Gretchen Rubin

    Again, late to the game here. This was published a few years ago and has gained momentum since though I know a lot of people who are just reading it now, so maybe not to far behind the curve. Besides, I can now go put and buy a used copy for a little less and still have it to refer to (this copy was from the library).

    Gretchen has a realization moment on the bus that life is just passing by and it's not that she is unhappy, but she could be happier.  She points out that she is not depressed, just that she could be happier. I actually appreciated that , in there are those (me at times) who really are depressed and you may needed help (prescriptions or something else) and that is a real illness. But, beyond depression we could all work on elements to just be happier with our lives. So, she made a list of things she wanted to work in goals to achieve and took a year to work on those items.

    Each chapter follows a month and what she worked on that month. She has commandments that she tries to remember as she works on her goals and figure out what she wants for herself.

    I personally enjoyed this book. I got it from the library and I am thinking of getting my own copy to mark up. I know there is some controversies about this book, many people have seem to have a problem with the authors personal life background and how she shouldn't be having issues with all the other stuff she has. Personally, I try not to judge books by the authors background. I enjoyed what was a written here and how I could relate to it. But, I am in my late 20's so maybe, it is something that I can relate to better than people at other parts of their lives.

    I personally found this book made me think. It made me think how I could use or how I react in some of the same situations and how my own situations are different. It stopped and made me think and I enjoyed that. I am going to keep thinking on things that I read here and may go back to review.

    This might not be everyone's cup of tea, but I enjoyed it and would give it 4 stars.  Plus it seems fitting to post this the day after Thanksgiving.

Where We Belong: Emily Giffin

Marian appears to have it all together. Living in NYC with her own TV show and a relationship that she is happy with. One evening after a rare fight with her boyfriend she comes home to find Kirby on her door step.
Kirby adopted has never really felt like she fit in with her family. At 18 she takes the opportunity to learn who her birth Mother is. Without telling her family, she leaves to find the family where maybe she belongs. But, things aren't always as easy as they might seem they could be at 18.

The story show the effects each of the women have on each other. Learning about themselves and each other as secrets and memories that have been pushed away have to be revisited.  Each of them learning and growing from each other.

The back story of Marian's past and what lead to Kirby is woven in with the story and Marian and Kirby getting to know each other and try to figure out where they fit into each other lives and really where they want to go with their own lives now.

The chapters her alternate in voices from Marian to Kirby's, with sections woven in of Marian at 18. The information is given to the reader as we need it and the characters remember, having the reader piece the present and past together and see how they relate to each other.

I enjoyed reading about Mariam and Kirby. Seeing them learn about theme selves as they got to know each other. I would give this book 3 stars as it was enjoyable. It is not my favorite Giffin book though. The characters were there and their was some depth to them, but I personally didn't feel connected to them, so the plot didn't speak to me as much as many of Giffin's other books do. I would still suggest it to other and think that if you had experience like these characters you might be enjoy the book more than I did. But, even without the emotional connection it is worth a read.

Ten Girls To Watch: Charity Shumway

Dawn is determined to make it in NYC and not go back to the small town that she left. Even if it means writing lawn care columns that she paid by the word to make ends meet. At a party that she is invited to by her ex boyfriend, that she can't seem to stop seeing and can't help but kind of like her his new girlfriend, she manages to land a job with Charm magazine working on their 10th anniversary of "Ten Girls to Watch" contest. It is short term gig, but she spends the next few months following up on each of the winners from the past ten years. She is just assigned to get basic info, but Dawn can't just find out contact and what they are doing now. She finds the women opening up her and learning from each of them. She is still trying to work out her personal life, but she is learning so much from these women maybe they are starting to effect her personal life. Maybe, she needs to follow the examples that she is seeing around her and accept what she wants.

I really felt like I could relate to Dawn. She made choices and faced with some personal things in her life that I could relate to. She was built to be real and would start to grow, but would come across more obstacles that would put her back and she would have to accept and/or learn from.

There were moments were I wish that we had been able to read more of Dawns writings. Have seen some of the profiles she was writing I think could have really helped or expanded the plot, more than just the short paragraphs at the start of chapters.

Overall I would give this book three stars in that the main character was really relatable. But, you couldn't get behind other characters besides the main one, even though she was really relatable. The plot was well developed and well wrapped up, though leaving you wanting just a little more about the characters. I would read more by Charity and would defiantly recommend this book to others.

Getting Over Mr. Right: Chrissie Manby

Ashleigh has been dating Michael for two years plus, and she figures it is just a matter of time before Michael gives her the more commitment that she is looking for. Even if he is just using his current promotion to expand his bachelor image, an upgraded bachelor pad, new sports car, new wardrobe. But, it is just a matter of time right. That is until she checks her Facebook in the middle of the day and finds that Michael is now single and then proceeds to unfriend her.

Processing it all Ashleigh realizes (or is confirmed by friends) that she has just been dumped via Facebook. Unfortunately, Ashleigh just can't accept it. Breaking every rule of how to get over a break up. She goes to his apartment and sneaks in, stalking his new girlfriend, lets all thoughts and what she can do take over her life, racks up credit card bills trying to find ways to win him back, calls a phone psychic and tries voodoo. Having alienating friends, losing her job, ending up have to move back home, and multiple people telling her she needs professional help. Ashleigh finally realizes that maybe she dose need some new perspective, but will it be late and what if Michael starts to talk to her again.

British chick lit that can cross cultural lines, that is relatable. Ashleigh was built as a character that just about any female could relate to, having done or wanted to do something like she does in the book. Ashleigh does take it to an extreme and finally realizing that is what helps her slowly breakout of parts of it. I think it does get to a point where it does get harder to relate to Ashleigh since you really just want to tell her, no you didn't do that or just stop, but she kept going. Or she would start to change and you though she got behind some growth and then back again. I appreciated how the character had grown at the end, but getting there was tough at times.

I would give it three stars as it 3 stars. It is a good read and flew by, but didn't have much substance. It was a fun read and fun to think what would happen if you did some or any of the vengeful thing in this plot, but at the end of the day it isn't deep.

The Wedding Beat: Dean Sipher

Gavin is a wedding writter for The Paper, as well as a hopeless romantic. Yet, he still finds himself single in his thirty's, attending weddings every weeken for work. With his Best Friend at a New Years party he meets the girl of his dreams, who he allows to get away without getting her number. He spends the next few months covering weddings looking for her and learning what he needs to do or should have done.

That is until he finds himself covering Melinda's, the girl who got away, wedding. With his job in balance and his heart on the line Gavin has some choices to make. What is the line he is willing to walk or cross and can he really do it.

Gavin in this piece is a bit like, James Marsden's character in 27 Dresses with Katherine Heigl. Which is actually refered to in the plot of this book. And in that comparison being made the character uses it learn about himself, which I could appriciate in using something that many characters in other movies would bring them down. He uses it to grow himself, without the self wallowing that wasn't needed.

For the most part for me this book felt like everything happened a little fast, like everything was on fastforward. Couples would get together and engaged in just a few days, married in just a few months. I personally don't know of any relationships going this fast, most people I know (and my own personal one) have been in relationships for years or at least a year before moving on to another step. I suppose to each their own, but this juts didn't seem beliveable to me.

I would give this book 3 stars. It was ok and I am glad that I took the time to read it. The character did grow through out the book. Overall, I don't feel I got much out of it more than an enjoyable read though.

The Next Best Thing: Jennifer Weiner

Ruth has lived with her Grandmother for most of her life, ever since the accident that cost Ruth her parents and left her scared for life. Graduating from college, she decides to move to Hollywood to pursue her dream of being a writer. With her grandmother along for the ride they set out. Grandma thrives working as an extra, with a boyfriend, and friends in the community center. While Ruth works, as an assistant, she writes hoping to get her own show on TV.

With hard work, a broken heart, and trying to find her way in a society obsessed with beauty with a scared appearance Ruth attempts to  find her happiness in Hollywood. She thinks she is getting her dream when her show is picked up. But, she just has to realize how much she may have to compromise or give up in order to actually live her dream.

Personally, I enjoyed this book more than some of Weiner's other recent stories. I enjoyed how she concentrated on one plot line and primarily on one character, with the supporting characters around Ruth. Instead of spreading the plot around multiple main characters and all the others that surrounded around each of the different characters. You had just one person to get behind and follow, that I felt I could really get behind more, while sometimes I get overwhelmed with having to follow and care about multiple characters. I enjoyed her other books, but going back to focusing on one person and the world that surrounds her lets me get behind that one person better. I am glad that this is more back to the roots of Weiner's early works.
If you had a chance to pickup Weiner's kindle novella Swim earlier this year, it was the inspiration for this novel and introduces us to Ruth. There were elements in this novella that weren't in The Next Best Thing, that I missed a bit, but having read both of them I was able to see all the elements, but wish if there was going to be some overlap that it all could have been there.

I am going to give this book 4 stars as it a great Weiner work and had characters that you could get behind and appreciate. But, it did still leaving you wanting a little more. I appreciated how it reflected Weiner's personal experience of having had a TV show picked up and dropped last season and I will miss The Great State of Georgia which I had tried to catch on hulu as I don't have cable. As always I look forward to more from Weiner as I always do and hope she keeps building more characters that we as readers can get behind and relate too.

The Unfinished Work of Elizabeth D.: Nichole Bernier

Elizabeth dies in a plane crash that is overshadowed with September 11th, the one that changed the world we all live it, occurred soon after. But, her friends can't forget her and how she died as well as the others.

Kate stops on her way to a summer on an island to get away from the world to pick up Elizabeth's journals that she left her in the will. Kate decides she is going to spend the summer learning about her friend. The more she learns about Elizabeth and the friendship she thought she had the more she questions, about Elizabeth and her own life.  While Elizabeth's husband is pushing Kate to share what she learned and that is a decision Kate isn't sure she is ready to make.

Written between Elizabeth's past journal entries and growing up and Kate in the present reading the journals and considering what she is learning. Questioning choice she has made, her marriage, what she knew about her friend, and what she might want to do in the future.  Through out the plot you get to see both characters grow and change.

I enjoyed how the plot of this book deals with difficult issues, making the reader think about the choice they make, what they think they know about their friends and how they judge people or how they might be judged by the others around them.

I thought one great growing point that Kate could have done through this book that she didn't is she talked about how she enjoyed reading Elizabeth's journal and she wished that she had a journal or something to show how she grown to her husband, but she never did journal or try to write or anything. I wish that she would have tried, but see how that could have made the plot more complicated too.

I haven't ready any of other books by Bernier (this may be a debut novel not sure) and I would pick up more by her. I think she has a great writing style and provides a different view of how to look at things. I would suggest this book to others. It reminds me a bit of early other authors I enjoy, Emily Giffin, Jennifer Weiner and other recognizable names.

I would give it 4 stars.

These Girls: Sarah Pekkanen

Cate and Renee are roommates in NYC, their third is leaving though. Cate in her new job as features editor at Gloss, is trying to prove that she really does deserve the job she has and still protect her secrets. Renee's debt is piling up and she is wondering if she should go home, especially as her parents are having a crisis of their own and she is their only child. But, with the beauty editor position being open puts more pressure on her and she has to remember that beauty is more than just skin deep. 
Filling the empty spot is Abby, who's brother Trey works with Cate and Renee and is kind of the heart throb of the office. Abby has secrets of her own that she is running away from. She runs to Trey the only member of her family who she trusts and he in trusts her to Cate and Renee to help pull her out of her depression and help her move on from the past. 
This book focuses on the girls secrets and how they learn to trust each other and support each other through learning to accept their secrets. And how they can each move on with their lives. 

I really enjoyed this book. Really didn't want to put it down at times and keep wanting to kind of read ahead to see what was going to happened. By the end of the book I really wanted more about the characters, I wanted to know how they kept going with the growth that they each had all just accepted by the end of the book. My favorite part of this book was the charter growth that all of the main characters went through. I feel like that is one of Sarah's strengths, in establishing the characters. I personally can't say that I have a favorite of any of the Girls and I liked that since due to that I could relate to all of them.

Sarah is one of my favorite authors ever since I discovered her first books, The Opposite of Me and Skipping a Beat. I am looking forward to more of her works. 

I would give this book 4 stars, just because I find it hard to give 5 stars and I wanted more from it, so there was more that could be there it wasn't perfect but very close. 

Stephanie Plum reviews

Two for the Dough: Stephanie Plum #2: Janet Evanovich

Stephanie Plum is still a bounty hunter, and still learning the ropes and making mistakes. This time she is after Kenn Mancuso, who shot his best friend in the knee and happened to be caught. Being that he is a relative of Joe Morelli and his family has asked him to look into it things get a little complicated. Add missing guns and funeral homes, things get complicated and more than Stephanie might be in danger this time.

Three to get Deadly: Stephanie Plum #3: Janet Evanovich

Stephanie thought she got an easy bond, with the guy who ran the candy store. What she didn't count on him being MIA and everyone judging her for asking around. Turns out that  the guy everyone thinks of as a grandfather in the neighborhood might not be as innocent as people think. And as neighbors take the law into their own hands things get dangerous for Stephanie again. As usual Joe Morelli is there saving Stephanie and getting in the way and Stephanie is not sure which she prefers.

I've Got Your Number: Sophie Kinsella

Poppy Wyatt has misplaced her engagement ring, a family heirloom for her fiance, and in her search for it she finds more than she expected. Her phone is stolen while searching for her ring and she conveniently finds a abandoned cell phone in the waste bin. She takes the phone on as her own in her search for the ring.  Sam, who's PA happens to be the one who abandoned the phone and her job, is not so keen on Poppy having the phone though. 

As Poppy keeps the phone and is forwarding Sam's emails onto him, their relationship expands and they form something that could be seen as a friendship. They talk to each other about the lost ring, problems Sam is having at work, Poppy planning her wedding and the issues she is having with her future family. Until, it all comes to a head on both side and they find that they both need each other, but how can they help each other and will they really trust each other when they need to. All over a lost and found phone. 

Much like many of Kinsella's books in my opinions this is superior to her shopaholic books, but still it not my favorite of her works. This book started a bit slow to me, then when it picked up it really picked up and I couldn't put it down. I just wanted to keep reading towards the end, especially the last 3/4 of the book. I liked how Poppy learned a grew some in the book but still stayed true to herself. The other characters grew and were there, but were not very deep too, so it was hard only have one or two characters to relate too. 

I gave this book 3 starts, since I enjoyed it. But, it was not one of my favorites, I guess you could say it felt kind of average to me. I would suggest this to others invested in the genre and it was worth reading, but not Kinsella best piece or a good into to the genre. 

Second Time Around: Beth Kendrick

Five college friends meet up every summer to catch up and are usually bemoaning their jobs and talking about the dreams. When one of the group Arden, dies of an ongoing illness she leaves a million dollars to be split between the remaining 4. The only catch to the money is that she tells them to use it to pursue their dream. The rest of the plot follows them as they work out what to do with the money and how to pursue their dreams.

The first to use the money is Brooke, who works at the alumni office at the college they all graduated from. With the windfall and an old dorm just being put up for sale from the college, she jumps on the chance to try and run a Bed and Breakfast in the small college town with their past. The others gather around her as she tries to get the B and B up and running and finds that the house which holds their memories and her dream now might not be in the condition she thought it was and her dream requires more work then she might be able to do.

Jamie follows her to the B and B as she quit her job in order to go to Arden's funeral. With three failed weddings under her belt she can't imagine that it is that hard to plan weddings and events for other that actually succeed. What she doesn't count on is ghosts from her past visiting that make it hard for her to take Arden's money and making her question what she wants and can do.

Cait is a professor of literature, but prefers to read romance novels. She blows off work as her ex tries to manipulate her and heads to the B and B to pursue her dream of writing. With a blast from the past with one of the girls past professors she may realize what her real dream is and what she wants to write as well as find out about herself and her own courage.

The last to join them is Anna, who has been trying to get pregnant and all they are gaining is debt. It is straining her marriage too. She joins the girls at the B and B when she is needed for a crisis, but stays when her marriage needs the space. Anna, has always found comfort in baking, so she starts baking for parties. The other Baker in town challenges her, but they may find that they both need each other.

Different parts of the story focuses on each of the girls. Since it was covering so many character I personal feel like too much was covered in the plot and in such a short period of time that the book took place. But, I did enjoy reading all the characters story, I would have just like more and deeper connections at times. Also, I think that characters relationships were speed up in the time frame also..

One of my favorite parts of the book was how information/secrets about the characters were revealed. We were given hints that something specific would be going on , but just enough to know that it has an influence, but not what specifically happened or is going on until we really need the information and at that point the character grows and can forgive or learn from the revelation of the secret.

I would give this book 3 starts in that it was a very enjoyable read, but there are draw backs to the book so I couldn't give it more than that. I liked the writing style and will check out other books by Kendrick, I appreciate how she built the characters and hope to see more like that.

The Secret Life of Marilyn Monroe: J. Randy Taraborrelli

Every now and then I get in the mood to read a biography or and autobiography and this is what I choose to read this time.  In my opinion/experience there are two kinds of biographies. The one that make the life into a story and are almost more like autobiographies in they lead you through a life like someone living it would or might describe it. Or one that is more a collection of facts, put them into a chronological order for the reader, this is more informative and truths or what might be rumored about a famous person, but is not confirmed with that part noted.

My personal preference is for the first kind, probably why I usually read more autobiographies then biographies.  I think it is because I enjoy the stories of how people know each other and interact, the stories they tell. But, hearing it from one persons side I feel like you can relate to all of the people in the stories better.

Back to this book. Marilyn seems to be coming up in culture again right now and maybe, that is why I picked up the book right now.  I enjoyed the first 300 or so pages of this book. The paced moved well and more was explored then just what is kind of known about Marilyn. When it came to her childhood it was covered, but not over dwelled on (like some biographies can do in my opinion). I like how it rumors or possible untruths were presented and then how they could be true or weren't were handled. Most of this book felt like the first type of book for me. It had stories and gave me insight, but there were moments where it was just facts listed off.

I did finally make it through to the end of the book. Part of it could be that everyone knew she was fading at the end, and the build up was hard to read. But, then it was anticlimactic at the end. It was just kind of an inevitable thing.

Overall, I am glad that I read the book and do feel like I got some insight into who Marilyn Monroe was as a person. I wouldn't go back to it again though. So, I would give it three stars.

Fly Me to the Moon: Alyson Noel

Hailey Lane wakes up the morning of her birthday thinking she is going to have to work to fly her way home so she can celebrate with her boyfriend, who she thinks is going to propose by the end of the evening. Instead of having to work she gets to fly straight home and the surprise awaiting her is not exactly what she expected. Now, single, with no where to live, she remembers what she dose have. A manuscript that she hasn't looked at in years and a job that takes her all over the world to exotic locations and friends who care about here.
The rest of the plot follows Hailey as she works on her manuscript. Goes to exotic locations meeting men, while working to figure out who she is and what she wants for once too.

I enjoyed reading about Hailey and seeing her grow through the book. Things did seem a bit to easy and convenient, even for a chick lit book, but I could still get behind things falling to place since it was a novel. And the mistakes the character made did help her to grow, she didn't just throw away the good things that happened to her.

I would suggest this book to others who enjoy chick lit, but I would warn someone that this wouldn't be the best introduction to chick lit. It is not deep, but is a fun easy fast read. Three stars is what I would give it.

Then Came You: A Novel: Jennifer Weiner

This novels is told from four different female voices. Jules, a college student, ends up selling her eggs after she is recruited thinking the money will help her save her father. Annie, a young mother who married her high school sweetheart, with two young boys, a family stretching to make ends meet. India is 43, but tells everyone 38 and why not when she can pass for it, recently married to Marcus Croft, a wealth business man, and she is convinced the way to stay happy in their new marriage is to have a baby. But, Bettina, Marcus' daughter, doesn't trust India she might not be ready for the truth though.

India and Marcus hirer Annie to carry their baby and have chosen Jules egg, though they don't know that as it was an anonymous donation. While Bettina doesn't trust her new step mother and in learning about her past really isn't sure what to do with the information. While that is going on the plot follows how Jules uses the money and is growing after graduating from college. How Annie is deal with having the money for her family, but her Husband not being comfortable with her growing belly.

I really have enjoyed all of Weiner's work that I have read and this one is no exception. She builds strong characters and ties them all together, while giving each of them their own storyline which I enjoy. The plot flows easily as we learn about the past of the characters and how that effects them. She also builds amazing strong female characters that I appreciate. Yes, they are usually flawed in some way, which I think makes them relatable to the reader, but they have a strength you can admire too.

I give this book 4 stars and am eagerly waiting for Weiners next book.

Disengaged: Beth Orsoff

As Allie's boyfriend of two years, Brad, proposes everything seems to be falling into place and going along as it should. So, why is she suddenly not so sure about Brad anymore. Weight is just falling off her, she is picking fights with Brad, and is just not comfortable in her skin at times. And she is only excited to do wedding planning sometimes, yet she is still finding herself turn into a bridezilla at times. Could be that he Future Mother in Law is all over the wedding details and not listening to Allie (the Brides) opinion.  And why isn't Brad helping her stand up for herself and their wedding. It might be time for Allie to reassess and it might be just more than her relationship with Brad that needs consideration.

As someone who has recently planned a wedding I could relate to Allie at times and things  she was dealing with. She has future in law influences on the wedding, friends and family who didn't agree with the relationship, and is trying to figure out what she wants and if she is losing herself. I liked how the character grew through out the plot. All of the male characters came off as extremes, to either sides of being perfect for her or not relatable to her at all. That worked in the plot and you were still able to relate to them like real people though.

Over all, I give this book four stars. The plot flows well. The main character is relatable and though it deals with a tough issue in a simple way, the conflict is seen and makes sense.

Mommywood: Tori Spelling

Picking up around where sTori Telling ends. This book talks about the challenge that Tori faces trying to be a normal mother and raise her children in Hollywood and the expectations that are set up for her. How to be a working mother in the industry she works in and to raise her children without letting that effect them.

Again, I could relate to Tori in the voice used in this book. But, I do have to say that I didn't enjoy it as much as  sTori Telling, though I will still read her next one. In this plot it felt a bit like she expected her readers to already know about her and her life. That they were already following her television show, and didn't give some details that might be nice to ones who weren't watching the TV show or following all of her works.

I feel like this book just skimmed the surface, there was more underneath that you could almost feel like wanted to be shared but, Tori was censoring herself more in this one and that came across to me. I would get it 2 and a half stars probably, so will round it up to three right now. Defiantly, not the strongest piece she has written or shared stories in writing.