One Summer

I have very little to say about this book. I read it for my book club and hated it. The writing was boring, the story line was OVERLY predictable and it seemed like a romance novel gone bad. 

I would not recommend it to anyone. Ha!

Read September 2011

The Island

Another book about the Cape from Hilderbrand. I think this book was interesting. There were twist and plot changes that I just was not expecting. The author makes you like and hate each of the four main characters during different points through out the book.
Birdie and India are the older set of sisters. Birdie is newly divorced with 2 daughters, Tate and Chess. Tate is a successful single computer programmer and Chess a editor for a food magazine just broke off her engagement. India is now widowed but successful in the art / teaching world. India is finding herself later in life and battling some demons.
The reader finds out many fun family facts and secrets. We learn why all the women decided it was the time to return to the Island after 13 years of not going to their summer home. Of course the book ends with everyone happy and doing better than when the book started
This book, like most of Hilderbrands books are good summer reads.

Read August 2011

The Baby Planner

I am going to come right out and say I loved this book! There are a few reasons why including being currently pregnant it made me laugh at some of the stories of Katie's (the main characters) clients.
Katie a child safety advocate finds herself out of a job and falls into being a baby planner by luck and a push from her twin sisters. Katie is married to a man who does not want children but she desperately does.
The story was a bit predictable, but really enjoyable. We learn about Katie and her tactics to have a baby that would leave her husband blindsided, such as pricking condoms with needles. Of course their relationship is not on sturdy ground and Katie is ignoring all those signs.
Katie is a savior to all the women that she works for. She is a friend and go to person for all baby needs. The reader learns a lot about Katie's own family dynamics. I think the book was a perfect chick lit novel. Great for a beach read!
Read August 2011

Witches of East End

I had a hard time getting into this book, however in the end I liked it. The book is based around a Mother and her 2 daughters. All of them are witches although not allowed to use their powers. They live in a fictional town on the East End of Long Island. That is what made me pick up the book.
The women, one by one start to use their powers and we are brought into a modern day witch trial. The book was full of romance and mystical tales. We learn that they have a much bigger family then we originally saw in the beginning and why they were not supposed to be using their powers. There are a lot of light hearted and fun moments in the story, but there is a very rich tale of betrayal and love. This book is #1 of a series and I am not sure that I will read the follow ups.
I don't think I would recommend it to anyone unless they were a big fan of science fiction and soft maybe light porn. LOL
Read August 2011

Queen of Babble in the Big City

This is the 2nd installment of the Queen of Babble. I read the first book a few months back and liked it for the fluff and chick lit that it was. This book was still chick lit, but a little more 'real'. Real except for the part of living almost rent free in a 5th Avenue apartment with your Prince boyfriend who wants to be a doctor.
Lizzie the main character moved in with her boyfriend Luke and is on the hunt for a job in the retro clothing or wedding gown industry, but for now she is working at a law firm as a receptionist. We learn a lot about Lizzie and her dating life in this book as well as her new discovery of her best friend being Bi.
I liked the book. It was an easy read, some what predictable and a few twist thrown in!
Read August 2011

A Summer Affair

This is the 4th book by Hilderbrand that I am reading. As an author I feel like her stories are all the same, BUT I like it! The book takes place in Nantucket as do all the other books I have read by the author.

This book centers around a summer charity event that Claire who in my opinion was whiny and did not deserve the life she had. She was placed on the committee for this event and becomes involved with a married man in their small town. Their affair was made of lust and desire and was bound to come crashing down and ruining lives... but it never does. It just ends

The book is mostly told in Claire's 'voice' but then switches and we read through multiple other people, like Claire's 1st love, her Sister in Law, her lover and other committee members. The book does have some hot and steamy moments but not as good as a summer beach read could be. I did like the book. I think they are perfect for relaxing poolside!

Read July 2011

Mommywood

After reading Tori Spellings first book in April 2011 I was excited to read this second one. With out a doubt I can say I enjoyed the Stori Telling more.
In this book we learn about Tori and Dean your average suburban parents... or maybe not. Their family moved to a small block where block party and 4th of July parties are planned and where people don't like big changes in their little close knit block. Tori tries hard to be the best neighbor and mom possible, but like everyone else she makes mistakes and learns lessons.
Tori speaks frequently about her relationship with her mother and her side of the story. I think that I could have done with that. We learned how 'awful' her mother is in the first book. We also read about Tori's loss of her dear Pug Mimi. I admit it, I cried when she wrote about that.
I would still suggest this book. It is interesting with lots of fun parenting / home stories and Hollywood gossip.
Read July 2011