Black Heels to Tractor Wheels

I have to preface this review by saying that I am a fan of Ree and her blog at The Pioneer Woman. I think she is funny and someone I would want to be friends with. That being said I liked this book. This is a whimsical story of how Ree and her husband (known as the Marlboro Man) met and began their family.

The author is a city girl (Black Heels) and falls for the Rancher (tractor wheels). The writing is good. It is not thing superb or overly technical. It is a quick and fun read.

Through out the book there is tales of Ranch life mishaps, family history and love. Ree explains in detail how and why she fell in love with the Marlboro Man. The book is light hearted until you reach the last few chapters where you find sorrow and hard times. Still Ree puts a spin on these tales that make you know, they do not last forever.

This is a fun book. It is not a serious read and should be looked at as light hearted romance novel. Every girl wants to be swept off her feet and Ree was lucky enough to find the man to do it. I would suggest it for a light read. Perfect for a vacation or sitting on a front porch with an iced tea!

Read April 2011

Stori Telling

As a fan of 90210 I thought about reading Tori's book for a while. She was never my favorite character on the show and I couldn't name anything else she had been in other than Troop Beverly Hills. (Anyone remember that movie?) I picked it up at the library and decided that I was going to give it a shot.
With in the first chapter I was hooked. This book is funny! Tori's life has always been documented in the tabloids and Entertainment News shows. I have had envy for the Manor that she lived in and wondered what it was like to have 'that much money'. This book summed it up for me- it was her parents money, she saw little of it and she had a hard relationship with her mother.
Tori talks about the life she lead and people in her life. There is her first (and second) husband, her Nanny, immediate family, 90210 co-stars, bad boyfriends and friends. Tori takes the blame and admits where she made mistakes and seems to lay it all out on the table.
I really liked this book. It was funny, interesting and a quick read. I am going to definitely be reading her follow up books.
Read April 2011

Believe it, Be it

I am a big fan of the TV show The Biggest Loser. I did not watch all of the season that featured Ali the author. I have seen her in person and loved her spunk.
Ali and her mother were part of the Biggest Losers (BL) cast of 2008. She was sent home, but in a BL twist of fate she lost the most during her stint at home and came back. Ali went on to win the season and was the first female BL.
Ali starts and finishes this book with her struggle. Ali realizes that she was not at her highest weight because she just ate bad food, but because she had her own inner struggle. I love that Ali speaks from the heart in all that she does. Believe it, Be it touches on weight loss and dealing with inner battles and is not a "how to" for weight loss. There are plenty of tips and ideas for living and learning to be a healthier person. Ali believes in finding the inner you and not letting it hid behind barriers of fat.
I liked this book. I do not believe it is something I would recommend for anyone. BL fans and people on a weight loss journey would enjoy it. It is overall a self help book and a guideline for healthier living.
Read March 2011