Guest Review: 31 Bond Street

Summary: Who killed Dr. Harvey Burdell?

Though there are no witnesses and no clues, fingers point to Emma Cunningham, the refined, pale-skinned widow who managed Burdell’s house and his servants. Rumored to be a black-hearted gold digger with designs on the doctor’s name and fortune, Emma is immediately put under house arrest during a murder investigation. A swift conviction is sure to catapult flamboyant district attorney Abraham Oakey Hall into the mayor’s seat. But one formidable obstacle stands in his way: the defense attorney Henry Clinton. Committed to justice and the law, Clinton will aid the vulnerable widow in her desperate fight to save herself from the gallows.

Set in 1857 New York, this gripping mystery is also a richly detailed excavation of a lost age. Horan vividly re-creates a tumultuous era characterized by a sensationalist press, aggressive new wealth, a booming real-estate market, corruption, racial conflict, economic inequality between men and women, and the erosion of the old codes of behavior. A tale of murder, sex, greed, and politics, this spellbinding narrative transports readers to a time that eerily echoes our own. -- Harper

I have seen so many wonderful reviews for 31 BOND STREET by Ellen Horan in the blogosphere! I definitely intend to read it because I just know I'd love it; but in the meantime, I gave the book to my dad -- Booking Pap Pap. I had a feeling that he'd enjoy this novel which includes elements of mystery, intrigue, and history! Here are his thoughts:

31 BOND STREET by Ellen Horan is her first novel and a very good start to her writing career. Horan’s fictional crime mystery novel is based on a sensational nineteenth-century true-life crime story in which dentist Harvey Burdell is found brutally murdered in his Manhattan home. There are no witnesses and Emma Cunningham, his attractive housekeeper, is charged with the murder. Emma and her two teenage daughters are left destitute by her late husband and Harry Burdell takes Emma in as his house mistress with the promise of marriage. According to the ambitious District Attorney Abraham Oakey Hall this is a strong motive for the murder and considers a conviction as a stepping stone to become mayor of New York. Emma is defended by Henry Clinton, who is fired by his law firm for taking the case. The first three parts of the book are taken up with the murder investigation and trial while a forth section deals with the aftermath of the trial.

31 BOND STREET is a wonderful blend of truth and fiction with a story line that revolves around four main characters that played major roles in the original crime. Her use of techniques such as actual newspaper stories brings a sense of reality to the novel. The author weaves her storyline with its many subplots into 1857 New York society replete with greed and corruption. She gives the reader a good picture of the low status of women, the influence of Tammany Hall, the condition of free Blacks and runaway slaves and the exploitation of Native Indians during this pre-Civil War period. These conditions play a large role in Horan’s imaginary version of the crime. Horan utilizes an interesting writing technique alternating between past and present periods to set up her version of the crime without giving away the end prematurely.

Horan could have ended the novel with the pronouncement of the verdict but elected to speculate on a possible alternative motive for the crime. I thought the book became a little less fluid at this point as Horan created a reason for the crime based more on society ills and created additional key characters that were not developed adequately earlier in the novel. The author also added an interesting section at the end book where she summarizes the real post-trial lives of Abraham Oakey Hall, Henry Clinton and Elizabeth Cunningham.

All in all 31 BOND STREET is a very good novel that will keep the reader engaged until the very end. I recommend it for anyone who enjoys a good historical crime mystery.

Thanks to Booking Pap Pap for his insightful review and to the publisher for providing a review copy of this book.

Review: How Dolly Parton Saved My Life

Summary: Dolly Parton once said," If you don't like the road you're walking, start paving another one." In the bustling city of Atlanta, four very different ladies take her advice to heart and open a catering business that will cater to them—successful, independent women who put their families first.

But flouting the traditions and expectations of Southern society turns out to be more complicated than they ever anticipated. Even as the pressure of running a business bonds them together, the realities of managing real life threaten to tear the whole thing apart. As financial woes, personal hurts, and family troubles test the strength of their business and their friendship, they discover that sisterly support and lots of heartfelt prayer just might be the only way to survive.

Full of sass, grit, and good old-fashioned faith, How Dolly Parton Saved My Life is a hilarious and poignant look at friendship with a distinctly Southern flair. -- Broadway

My on-line book club wanted to read something a little lighter for the month of August, so we decided to go with HOW DOLLY PARTON SAVED MY LIFE: A NOVEL OF THE JELLY JAR SISTERHOOD by Charlotte Connors. Unfortunately, I missed our meeting because my family was celebrating my kids' birthdays, but I'm not sure that this book was really an "ideal" pick for the women in our group anyway.

I don't regret reading this book, but I thought it was just okay. Parts of the story entertained me for a few hours, but I really don't think that I'll remember much about this book in a few weeks. It was part Southern fiction, part women's fiction, part chick lit, and (a big) part Christian fiction. Usually I would be drawn to a book that incorporates all of these components, but I'm sorry to say that HOW DOLLY PARTON SAVED MY LIFE fell a little short for me.

HOW DOLLY PARTON SAVED MY LIFE is the story of four women who join together to start a catering business. The chapters alternate between each of the women so the reader gets to know and understand each one of them. All four women have their fair share of personal issues from problems with their love life/husbands to issues with their children and their church. By the end of the story, each of the women discover things about themselves while at the same time developing friendships with the others.

I wasn't aware of this when I started the book, but there is also a pretty heavy Christian theme running throughout the novel. In fact, I definitely would classify HOW DOLLY PARTON SAVED MY LIFE as Christian fiction. I don't read a lot of Christian fiction so I'm probably not the best judge, but I thought this book was almost heavy-handed at times. However, I did think that parts of this book were cute and it was a feel-good book about the strength of women and their friendships -- it's just not one that resonated with me as a whole.

The author did attempt to make this story multi-dimensional. She threw in some twists and surprises for the characters; however, I still found much of the story (and the characters) to be kind of predictable. I can't say that I minded reading the book, but there was nothing that kept me truly hooked on the story or the characters. Having said that, I did appreciate the basic messages that the author was trying to convey about motherhood, friendship, and faith.

There was one thing that did stand out to me in this book. I thought the quotations from Dolly Parton that were included were hilarious I can't really say that I know many Dolly Parton songs or lyrics (the extent of my knowledge is pretty much Dolly Parton night on American Idol), but I loved how funny and insightful many of the quotes were. I have to say my absolute favorite was the one at the end of the book:

"If you want the rainbow, you gotta put up with the rain."

I'm not sure that our book group had much to talk about, but there is a reader's guide available. Some of the themes that appear in the book include friendship, love, secrets, spiritual growth, mother-daughter relationships, self awareness, perseverance, the dilemmas of working moms, guilt, and trust to name a few. This book might work really well for a book group made of up young Christian moms.

Despite all of this, I do think that there is an audience for this novel. I can see that fans of very light Christian fiction might enjoy HOW DOLLY PARTON SAVED MY LIFE. Unfortunately, it just wasn't the right novel for me.

Thanks to the publisher for sending me a copy of this novel.

Wondrous Words Wednesday - August 4, 2010

Wondrous Words Wednesday is a weekly meme hosted by Kathy aka Bermuda Onion where we share new (to us) words that we’ve encountered in our reading. Feel free to join in the fun.

THE DOCTOR AND THE DIVA by Adrienne McDonnell

fellahin - On that bridge very motley mode of transportation could be seen: camels, wagons, fellahin on foot, fashionable French motorcars. (p. 301)

fellahin: a native peasant or laborer in Egypt, Syria, etc.

What new words did you discover this week?

Contest: Name the Pig in Fixer Upper

I am so excited about this very fun contest. Malena Lott, author of DATING DA VINCI (my review) and Book End Babe extraordinaire, has written a new book called FIXER UPPER! Well...actually it's in the final edits right now and will be an e-book exclusive starting with Kindle.

To celebrate the release of FIXER UPPER, we are having a "name that pig" contest! The piglet on the cover (isn't she just adorable?) is an actual character in the novel and speaks to the theme of the book which is deciding what kind of life you want to lead and gathering the courage to do it. Malena has asked for Booking Mama readers to "name that pig!"

So come up with a great name for a great pig! If your name is selected, it will be used in the book! Plus, you will win a copy of the FIXER UPPER e-book as well as a pink tool kit!

Please fill out the form below to enter. Comments on this post will not be counted. This contest is open until Monday, August 9th at 11:59 p.m. ET. US addresses only. Good luck!

Review: Georgia's Kitchen

Summary: At thirty-three, talented chef Georgia Gray has everything a woman could want—the top job at one of Manhattan's best restaurants; a posse of smart and savvy gal pals who never let her down; and a platinum-set, cushion-cut diamond engagement ring courtesy of Glenn, the handsome entertainment lawyer who Georgia's overbearing mother can't wait for her to marry. The table is set for the ambitious bride-to-be until a scathing restaurant review destroys her reputation. To add salt to her wounds, Glenn suddenly calls off the wedding.

Brokenhearted, Georgia escapes to the Italian countryside, where she sharpens her skills at a trattoria run by a world-class chef who seems to have it all—a devoted lover, a magnificent villa, and most important, a kitchen of her own. Georgia quells her longings with Italy's delectable offerings: fine wine, luscious cheeses, cerulean blue skies, and irresistible Gianni—an expert in the vineyard and the bedroom. So when Gianni tempts Georgia to stay in Italy with an offer no sane top chef could refuse, why can't she say yes?

An appetite for something more looms large in Georgia's heart – the desire to run her own restaurant in the city she loves. But having left New York with her career in flames, she'll need to stir up more than just courage if she's to realize her dreams and find her way home. -- Gallery

Three things I absolutely love are food, New York and Italy, so I admit to being drawn to GEORGIA'S KITCHEN by Jenny Nelson because it was a book about a chef who lives in New York and visits Italy. To make things even better, I thought the basic premise of GEORGIA'S KITCHEN sounded kind of cute -- almost a coming-of-age story for a woman in her 30s. A woman who seems to have it all -- a great job, supportive friends, and a dream job -- finds that her entire world falls apart when she receives a horrific newspaper review of her cooking. To add insult to injury, on the exact same day as the review, her fiance decides that he doesn't want to marry her. GEORGIA'S KITCHEN tells the story of how Georgia manages to bounce back from these events and truly realize what she wants out of her life.

I thought GEORGIA'S KITCHEN was a light, fun read. It had many elements of chick lit (not that there's anything wrong with that!) but there were a few themes that made it a more serious read. It definitely kept me entertained for a few hours, but I wouldn't go so far as to say that I loved it. I felt like the story and the characters were kind of predictable, but that's not a huge problem to me in a book like this. Overall, I'd say that I thought GEORGIA'S KITCHEN was a cute summer read, and I think many women will enjoy this story.

GEORGIA'S KITCHEN does include a lot of elements that define today's chick lit as well as current women's fiction. There is a likable (and relatively well-developed) character in Georgia, colorful supporting characters, romance, and even wonderful descriptions of food! However, there were some special things about GEORGIA'S KITCHEN that did make it stand out to me.

I really enjoyed that the book's setting alternated between New York City and Italy. I felt as if the author did a good job of capturing the essence of both places, I definitely liked all of the descriptions of the Italian countryside and the Italian delicacies. But what I most appreciated was how Georgia's character really began to shine (and mature) during her time in Italy.

Georgia is just a character that I think many women will relate to. (Even if you don't relate to her yourself, you will definitely see someone you do know in her character.) She is young and talented and seems to know what she wants out of life, but she is also somewhat unsure and even a little bit insecure. I couldn't help but feel sympathy for her, although at the same time, I was glad that her life turned upside down because I think it made her a better woman. She eventually learned, with the help of her wonderful friends, what she really wanted out of life. I felt as if GEORGIA'S KITCHEN demonstrated not only the resilience of women (and Georgia in particular), but also the importance of having loved ones' support in our lives.

There is a reading group guide available for GEORGIA'S KITCHEN, and I do think it would be a fun book to discuss with friends (especially if your group is looking for a lighter read.) Since such a big part of the story is about food and Italy, imagine how creative you could get at the meeting! Some of the themes in this novel besides food! are love, relationships, friendships, self-awareness, mother/daughter relationships, acceptance, perseverance, and living your dreams.

If you are a fan of light women's fiction or books about food and Italy, then I recommend giving GEORGIA'S KITCHEN a try!

Thanks to BookSparks PR for providing me with a copy of this novel.

Contest alert: Author Jenny Nelson is running a fabulous giveaway in concert with the release of GEORGIA'S KITCHEN. Click here for details.

When you order Georgia’s Kitchen the week of the book’s release and email your receipt to jennynelsonauthor@gmail.com, you’ll be entered to win this fantastic giveaway. Send in your receipt and you could win a basket full of books, magazines and foodie goodies, including:

Everyday Italian by Giada DeLaurentiis
After You by Julie Buxbaum
Super in the City by Daphne Uviller
She’s Gone Country and Flirting with Forty by Jane Porter
Girls in Trucks and Men and Dogs by Katie Crouch
I Loved, I Lost, I Made Spaghetti by Giulia Melucci
Eat, Pray, Love by Elizabeth Gilbert
A one-year subscription to either: Food and Wine, Bon Appetit, Fine Cooking or Everyday with Rachael Ray
A $50 gift certificate to Crate & Barrel

Review: The Stuff that Never Happened

Summary: Annabelle McKay knows she shouldn’t have any complaints. She’s been in a stable marriage that’s lasted almost three decades and has provided her with two wonderful children, thousands of family dinners around a sturdy oak table, and a husband so devoted that he schedules lovemaking into his calendar every Wednesday morning. Other wives envy the fact that Grant is not the type of man who would ever cheat on her or leave her for a younger woman. The trouble is Annabelle isn’t sure she wants to be married to Grant anymore. The trouble is she’s still in love with someone else.

In the early tumultuous years of her marriage, Annabelle carried on a clandestine affair with the one person whose betrayal would hurt her husband the most. When it ended, she and Grant found their way back together and made a pact that they would never speak of that time again. But now years later, with her children grown and gone, and an ominous distance opening between them, she can’t help but remember those glorious, passionate days and wonder if she chose the right man.

Then, when called to New York City to help care for her pregnant daughter, Annabelle bumps into her old lover. Offered a second chance at an unforgettable love, she must decide between the man who possesses her heart and the husband who has stood squarely by her side. A journey into the what-ifs that haunt us all,

The Stuff That Never Happened is an intricate, heartfelt examination of modern marriage that brims with truths about the nature of romantic love. -- Shaye Areheart Books

A few months ago on Twitter, I caught wind of a soon-to-be-released book called THE STUFF THAT NEVER HAPPENED by Maddie Dawson. The publicist was raving about this novel, and (lucky for me) she graciously offered to send me a copy. I put it away in my beach bag because I just knew I wanted to save it for my vacation!

So I am happy to say that I did read THE STUFF THAN NEVER HAPPENED while soaking up some rays. I enjoyed it, but I don't think I can go so far as to say that I loved it. Keep in mind that my expectations were extremely high so that might have played a part in it. While I did think the writing and character development were very good, I admit that I had some issues with the main character Annabelle -- I just couldn't relate to her for much of the novel.

Having said that, I realize that I don't have to "love" a character to appreciate a book. And that's very true. I did enjoy this novel and I definitely appreciated so much of what the author set out to do. I'm just saying that Annabelle made rash decisions and then pitied herself for many years in her life. It's true that she did "suffer" the consequences of her decisions, but I found myself annoyed with her much of the time. I think if I had felt more of an affinity with Annabelle, the book might have reached that next level to me.

Enough about my issue with the book because I do think it's my issue and many readers will feel differently about Annabelle's character. THE STUFF THAT NEVER HAPPENED is, at its heart, Annabelle's story over a twenty-six year period; and I do think it is very well done. I was hooked on this novel -- it's very readable -- and I didn't want to put it down. There really were so many positive things about this novel. For starters, the writing was fantastic. This book is Maddie Dawson's first, and I think it's a wonderful start. I was extremely impressed with the quality of her prose and her character development; and I won't hesitate to read her future novels.

However, I think what I enjoyed the most about this novel might also be what "bothered" me the most -- Annabelle's character. I love that this book evoked strong feelings in me, even if they were pretty negative at times. I appreciated that Annabelle was a heavily flawed character and that she was so complex. I found her emotions to be very realistic and believable, and I thought Ms. Dawson did a great job of showing the maturation of Annabelle's character throughout the story. I also enjoyed that THE STUFF THAT NEVER HAPPENED delved so deeply into all sorts of relationships -- love and romance, parent/child, and even friendship.

I think THE STUFF THAT NEVER HAPPENED would make a marvelous book club pick. Any book that can evoke those kind of feelings in a reader always make for an interesting discussion. While I couldn't really relate to Annabelle, I have a feeling that many other women will see parts of themselves in her. I wasn't able to find a reader's guide at the present time, but I'm sure there will be one in the near future. Some of the themes you might want to discuss include love, romance, passion, relationships, commitments, regrets, parent/child relationships, forgiveness and redemption. I truly believe that a group could talk abut Annabelle and her behaviors for hours.

I definitely recommend THE STUFF THAT NEVER HAPPENED to women who enjoy literary fiction. If you've already read this book, I'm extremely curious to hear your opinion about Annabelle!

Thanks to the publisher for sending me a copy of this book.

Review: The I Hate to Cook Book

Summary: "There are two kinds of people in this world: the ones who don't cook out of and have NEVER cooked out of THE I HATE TO COOK BOOK, and the other kind...The I HATE TO COOK people consist mainly of those who find other things more interesting and less fattening, and so they do it as seldom as possible. Today there is an Annual Culinary Olympics, with hundreds of cooks from many countries ardently competing. But we who hate to cook have had our own Olympics for years, seeing who can get out of the kitchen the fastest and stay out the longest."

- Peg Bracken Philosopher's Chowder. Skinny Meatloaf. Fat Man's Shrimp. Immediate Fudge Cake. These are just a few of the beloved recipes from Peg Bracken's classic I HATE TO COOK BOOK. Written in a time when women were expected to have full, delicious meals on the table for their families every night, Peg Bracken offered women who didn't revel in this obligation an alternative: quick, simple meals that took minimal effort but would still satisfy.

50 years later, times have certainly changed - but the appeal of THE I HATE TO COOK BOOK hasn't.

This book is for everyone, men and women alike, who wants to get from cooking hour to cocktail hour in as little time as possible. -- Grand Central Publishing

When I found out that THE I HATE TO COOK BOOK: 50TH ANNIVERSARY EDITION by Peg Bracken was being reissued, I just knew I had to see it. I had heard about this book and knew it kind of revolutionized quick and easy cooking. I admit to being a little curious about the recipes and I wanted to see if they stand the test of time.

I have to say that I thought this cookbook was a lot of fun, and I really appreciated reading the updated forward by the author's daughter. It's evident that Peg Bracken had a terrific sense of humor and really wrote a cookbook for women who hate to cook. In fact, I probably enjoyed reading the beginnings of the chapters and her witty comments as much, if not more, than the actual recipes.

Even though I joke that I hate to cook, I'm not sure that's entirely true. What I do hate is having to cook something in between all of our after-school activities. If I'm being entirely honest, there weren't a ton of main dish recipes that I wanted to try. Even though this cookbook does have a lot of quick and easy recipes, there aren't ones that would necessarily appeal to my family. Many of the ingredients use cans of soup, and frankly, I don't cook that way anymore. Having said that, there were some recipes that included fresh ingredients, and the updated cookbook does include "healthy" substitutions.

The book is divided into some great chapters -- 30 Day-by-day Entrees or The Rock Pile; The Leftover or Every Family Needs a Dog; Vegetables, Salads, Salad Dressings or This Side of Beriberi; Spuds and Other Starches or Ballast is a Girl's Best Friend; Potluck Suppers or How to Bring the Water for the Lemonade; Company's Coming or Your Back's to the Wall; Luncheon for the Girls or Wait Till You Taste Maybelle's Peanut Butter Aspic; Canapes and Heartburn Specials or Who Started This Business?; Desserts or People are Too Fat Anyway; Little Kids' Parties or They Only Came for the Balloons; Last-Minute Suppers or This is the Story of Your Life; Household Hints or What to Do When Your Churn Paddle Sticks; Good Cooksmanship or How to Talk a Good Fight; and Equivalents, Et Cetera or Dreary Details That You Certainly Have No Intention of Remembering. You can tell by the names alone the tone of this cookbook and what a great sense of humor the author has.

I read an article in USA Today that the author's daughter's favorite recipe was Chicken-Rice Roger which basically is a chicken and rice casserole with some mushrooms. So I decided I should start with the best recipe, right? I actually modified the recipe to use chicken breasts (which was given as an option) and I substituted dairy-free margarine for the butter because my son can't have dairy. I also used low-salt bouillon cubes. The recipe was extremely easy, but we thought it was only okay. It didn't have much taste, but I'm willing to take the fall for that since I used the low-salt bouillon cubes and margarine!

There is another recipe in the dessert section that is a huge winner in our house! The author calls it a Cockeyed Cake, but you might know it as a Navy Cake or a Wacky Cake. It takes about five minutes to make and it's a dark, dense, moist chocolate cake. You even mix and bake it in the same pan! I have always loved making this cake (especially when I was a kid), but I know appreciate it because it's an egg-free, dairy-free chocolate cake which is perfect for my allergy-ridden son!

I do think a lot of people will benefit from this cookbook especially those who are just starting out. It would have been perfect for me when I was heading out to college or when I got my first apartment because I definitely wasn't comfortable in the kitchen. Even if you don't "hate to cook," you should still take a peek at this book because it's quite entertaining!

Thanks to the publisher for sending me a copy of this cookbook.

Weekend Cooking is hosted by Beth Fish Reads and is open to anyone who has any kind of food-related post to share: Book (novel, nonfiction) reviews, cookbook reviews, movie reviews, recipes, random thoughts, gadgets, fabulous quotations, photographs. If your post is even vaguely foodie, feel free to grab the button and link up anytime over the weekend. Please link to your specific post, not your blog's home page. For more information, see the welcome post.