Barbara Vey

WW Ladies Book Club Blurbs

Last night I visited my sister, Chris, to watch the finale of The Biggest Loser (terrible title, terrific, positive show).  While I loved seeing the transformations that took place in a few short months, I was disappointed that Helen won.  My money was on Tara, the ex-model, who won nearly every challenge.  But, kudos to all who managed to shed hundreds of pounds while inspiring millions.

And now, here's this week's WW Ladies book blurbs:

The Diary by Eileen Goudge

Read by Heidi

Emily and Sarah discover their mother's diary and go on a journey to discover the beginnings of their parents relationship. Questions begin to surface about their mother as they get further into the stories, which in turn creates more questions in their own lives.

Digging through things in boxes reminds me of moving and garage sales. Every box I uncover and go through is another journey into the past. It's difficult to discover new things that happened when I didn't know about them to begin with. Then I question whether Icould have changed it at the time. Must be a control issue with me, always wanting to know if more could be done. The Diary is a great, evolving journey of reading.

Blue Diablo by Ann Aguirre

Read by Stacey
 
Corine Solomon thought she'd escaped life as a handler.  But when her ex-lover and former manager, Chance, walks into her Mexico City pawn shop holding the one marker she cannot resist, she realizes she hadn't.  Can she return to that life? Does she even want to?
 
An amazing cast full of secondary characters, some of whom seem larger than life (and some are adorably smaller) and a setting that emphasizes the realities of a universe filled with magical possibility, help Ann Aguirre to start a beautiful second series that lives entirely on it's own.  But it's Corine who carries this book.  She's amazing, and I love how real (complete with every day struggles and insecurities in the face of large traumas) the author is able to make her.  Once again, I cannot wait to see what happens next.



Bad to the Bone by Jeri Smith-Ready

Read by joysann

When WVMP Radio has their broadcast frequency hijacked by a mysterious hell-fire and damnation program which blocks and overrides their shows, promotions director Ciara, station manager David and the popular vampire disc jockeys (yes, they really are vampires!), see the potential loss of listeners a threat to their livelihood. As the threats to expedite damnation become more than rhetorical and endanger the living and the undead, Ciara infiltrates the fanatic cult behind the religious broadcasts to discover where the real menace lies.

The station promoted as the Lifeblood of Rock & Roll and claims their talented DJ's are vampires was introduced in Wicked Game. Jeri Smith-Ready keeps the drama, the intrigue and the music cranked in Bad to the Bone, accompanied by painful memories, enticing romance, and even eager puppy love. I love the way Jeri writes, and I'm a big fan of her other works, including the short stories posted on her site telling the history of the individual DJ's.

The Bride Price by Anne Mallory

Read by Emily
 
Sebastian Deville has known all his life that he was the bastard son of the Duke of Grandien. The King has decided to hold a competition, the prize? An immense fortune, a newly created title and a well born bride; all the things he would need for revenge against his father. Lady Caroline Martin's friend is to be the winner's bride. To help her friend, she intends to sabotage the competition so that the most promising candidate wins. But when Sebastian and Caroline meet sparks fly, and Caroline doesn't know what to do. If she helps Sebastian win the competition she won't ever have a chance to be with him, but if he doesn't win, then all his hard work will be for nothing.
 
I personally love stories with impossible situations, and this book is no different. The question going through my mind while reading this book was "how are they going to get together?" I won't spoil the details, but I will tell you that I greatly recommend this book to anyone wanting a thrilling plot, and hot and heavy love scenes.


The Ocean Inside by Janna McMahan

Read by Jan

Beautiful Pawley's Island, South Carolina is home to Lauren and Emmet Sullivan in their wonderful old (but never-ending money-sucking) Victorian that has been in his family for generations. Ainslie, their 9 year old daughter, has been diagnosed with a rare form of cancer--and their new health insurance company won't pay, citing a pre-existing condition after Emmet's company had switched insurances to save money in the struggling economy. Consumed with money woes and their daughter's health, it was so easy to overlook their older daughter Sloan getting caught up in her new boyfriend's lifestyle, one involved with  sex and drugs. Their always strong marriage finds itself on shaky ground.  
 
I have seen time and time again how adversity will either make or break a marriage. This tale will come close to home for many readers. A heartfelt, emotional read that I quickly passed on to a friend.


Fatally Flaky by Diane Mott Davidson

Listened to by joysann

Caterer Goldy Schultz grudgingly does her best to accommodate the unreasonable demands of a selfish and wealthy bride, even as she puts on her auxiliary sleuth hat to unravel the mysteries surrounding the death of her godfather's best friend. As Goldy continues her dangerously perilous career as a caterer in a small Colorado town, preparing fabulously intricate cuisine for the rich and snobby and the common folk alike (recipes included),she self-absorbedly bends rules and ignores cautions to solve the mysteries local law enforcement, including her husband Tom, cannot. 

Audio book narrator Barbara Rosenblat is exceptional as always, as she is in several of my favorite series. I love listening to her. I regret that I no longer understand the appeal of this extended mystery series (but obviously millions of others do). None the less, inspired, I volunteer to bring Rice Krispies Treats to the next event.

Tour de Force by Elizabeth White 

Read by Heidi  
 
Jacob Ferrar develops a new Christian ballet, thanks to the inspiration of soloist Gillian Kincade. Gillian's dedication to her career of ballet pushes her to the limits, with possible disastrous consequences. Gillian and Jacob's faith are put to the test no only for their careers, but for their possibility of romance.
 
Since my daughter just started ballet, I was able to have experts explain and show me the ballet terms in this book and it opened my eyes to so much more. I loved the way this story mesmerized my inner soul with dance. And it reaffirmed me to believe in miracles! BTW, the teachers at the school wanted to know what this book was that I was reading, thought it was so cool, and want to go out and get it!! How cool is that?




Bride by Command by Linda Winstead Jones

Read by Emily
 
Six bridal candidates are brought from surrounding kingdoms, and Emperor Jahn is to make his choice of bride from the candidates. Jahn sets out in disguise to bring back one of the bridal candidates. Morgana promised her mother on her deathbed, that she'd only marry for love, but when the sentinels arrive to escort her to the palace she makes one final plea to her stepfather. In a moment of rage, her stepfather decides that the next man to ask for her hand in marriage will receive it. One of the sentinels, the Emperor himself, demands her hand, and soon they are making their way back to the palace as "man and wife." On the journey, a fondness grows between them, but both are hiding secrets that threaten to destroy all that they hold dear.
 
This is the third and last book in the Emperor's Bride series. I really was entertained by this book, it isn't just a historical, but it has a little bit of magic too. I won't spoil the plot, but the magic really makes this book all that more enjoyable for me. This series should definitely be added to any TBR pile.

Bottom Line:  After watching The Biggest Loser, I'm starting to train for a 3K walk....baby steps.
  

Posted by Barbara Vey on May 13, 2009 | Comments (7)