The winner of THE LOVE GODDESS’ COOKING SCHOOL is….
Babs
Congratulations! Please email me at carrie@thebookgirl.net with your address.
Reminder – Winner has seven days to claim book!!
Review: Desiree by Annemarie Selinko
From the back of the book:
A sweeping novel of passion, intrigue, and unrequited love, Desiree tells the story of Napoleon’s first love, Desiree Clary. When a young, impoverished Napoleon meets the French merchant’s daughter, the smitten pair is swiftly engaged. But the ambitious Napoleon dashes off to war, leaving fourteen-year-old pining and lonely. When her desire drives her to track down the general in Paris, she finds the formidable Josephine.
A love story, but so much more, Desiree honesly explores the landscape of a heart torn in two, revealing the true story of an unlikely young girl who played a vibrant role in an astonishing bit of history and rose to unexpected heights.
An epic bestseller that has earned both critical acclaim and mass adoration, Desiree is at once a novel of the rise and fall of empires, the blush and fade of love, and the heart and soul of a woman.
What a fantastic story about an amazing woman! This historical fiction novel was originally written in 1953 and is being re-released by Sourcebooks. Written in diary form it tells the story of Desiree Clary, her love Napoleon, and her rise from merchants daughter to the Queen of Sweden. I really liked that it was written in diary form, but felt that Desiree’s voice should have changed more as she grew and matured. I’m a history buff and learned a lot about Napoleon and that time in history.
the book girl gives Desiree a 4/5
to find the book:
Fabulous Friday!
This week’s giveaway is for a copy of THE LOVE GODDESS’ COOKING SCHOOL by Melissa Senate. Check out yesterday’s post for the book’s synopsis. To enter leave a comment on this post. Extra entries are earned by leaving comments on other posts. Contest will run through 10/31/10 at 5pm cst. I’ll announce the winner on 10/31/10. Make sure you check back to see if you are the winner – I don’t notify winners. US address only, please.
THE LOVE GODDESS’ COOKING SCHOOL by Melissa Senate
From the back of the book:
Holly Maguire’s grandmother Camilla was the Love Goddess of Blue Crab Island, Maine – a Milanese fortune-teller who could predict the right man for you, and whose Italian cooking was rumored to save marriages. Holly has been waiting years for her unlikely fortune: her true love will like sa cordula, and unappetizing old-world delicacy. But Holly can’t make a decent marinara sauce, let alone sa cordula. Maybe that’s why the man she hopes to marry breaks her heart. So when Holly inherits Camilla’s Cucinotta, she’s determined to forget about fortunes and love and becomes an Italian cooking teacher worthy of her grandmother’s legacy.
But Holly’s four students are seeking much more than how to make Camilla’s chicken alla Milanese. Simon, a single father, hopes to cook his way back into his daughter’s heart. Juliet, Holly’s childhood friend, hides a painful secret. Tamara, a serial dater, can’t find the love she longs for. And twelve-year-old Mia thinks learning to cook will stop her dad, Liam, from marrying his phony lasagna-queen girlfriend. As the class gathers each week, adding Camilla’s essential ingredients of wishes and memories in every pot and pan, unexpected friendships and romances are formed – and tested. Especially when Holly falls hard for Liam…and learns a thing or two about find her own recipe for happiness.
I was supposed to get a copy of this book for a blog tour review, but it hasn’t come yet. I can’t wait to get my hands on THE LOVE GODDESS’ COOKING SCHOOL. I’m a big fan of Melissa Senate’s previous book SEE JANE DATE. I’ll post my review when/if my copy comes. I’m giving it another week before I just buy my own copy. Tomorrow I’ll be giving away a copy of this book to one lucky commenter!
More about the book:
Whatcha Reading Wednesday
I’m trying to get ahead on my November/December reviews. I’m reading EDGE OF SIGHT by Roxanne St. Claire. I am totally in love with the hero! I’ve also started HONKY TONK CHRISTMAS by Carolyn Brown.
What are you reading?
Review: FOUR PLAY by Maya Banks and Shayla Black
From the back of the book:
“PILLOW TALK” by Maya Banks…Zoe Michaels may be in a committed relationship with her boyfriend, Chase, but there’s no lack of heat between her and her other two roommates, Brody and Tate. after all, the three guys are all firefighters. Then one night, chase reveals his number one fantasy: for Zoe to perform an everything-goes striptease in front of his buddies. A turn-on for them means a turn-on for him. And for Zoe? It proves to be even more, and it opens the door for a secret desire of her own to come true.
“HER FANTASY MEN” by Shayla Black… Kelsy Rena is an enigma. She’s a girlie-girl who’s wild for football, craves action movies, and loves knocking back a cold beer with her three best friends – all male. She’s a puzzle, too, when it comes to sex. These are three hot guys always ready and within reach, but she never seems interested. So who is lucky mystery man satisfying this girl of their secret dreams? The three pals plan to find out. And when they do, they’ll see a side of Kelsey they’ve only dared to fantasize about.
These two stories have two things in common – both are very hot and full of alpha males. ”Pillow Talk” was my favorite of the two stories. I liked that Zoe and Chase were already an established couple. The characters had a connection to each other that was very deep. Chase and Zoe were already in love and the other two were their best friends. There were a few places that I thought went a little too far. The addition of a fifth person was one to many. The way the couple was working to fulfill each others fantasies set the scene for this plot to seem realistic. There was a lot of emotion between all of the members involved in the foursome. (This has nothing to do with this story really, but I loved seeing the characters from one of my favorite Maya Banks books – SEDUCING SIMON)
Shayla Black’s story lacked the emotional that made the Banks’ story great. The three men had nothing in common, other than Kelsey, and they fought a lot. Through most of the story they are trying to top each other and “win” Kelsey. It didn’t feel like love, but lust. Kelsey is wishy-washy and although she says she loves all three men, it seems like more of an excuse to not have to pick one man.
the book girl gives “Pillow Talk” a 4/5 and “Her Fantasy Men” a 2/5
to find the book:
Mailbox Monday
Another great week for books!
Books received for review:
THE LADY MOST LIKELY… – Julia Quinn, Eloisa James, Connie Brockway
CONFESSIONS OF A VAMPIRE GIRLFRIEND – Katie MacAlister writing as Katie Maxwell
WINTER BLOOM - Tara Heavey
THE LOVE GODDESS’ COOKING SCHOOL - Melissa Senate
THE PEANUTS COLLECTION – Nat Gertler
Purchased:
BEWITCHED – Lori Foster
RULES OF AN ENGAGEMENT – Suzanne Enoch
THE YEAR OF LIVING SCANDALOUSLY – Julia London
Taking the weekend off…
Yesterday our dog was hit by a car. She had escaped from the backyard while we were out shopping. She managed to make her way home, but was too injured to be saved. We had to put her down and it was one of the hardest decisions my husband and I have ever had to make. We got Ellie Belly when she was a puppy right after we were married 9 years ago. My 7yo is just brokenhearted and cried most of the night. He just can’t imagine not having her at home. I’m going to take a break from the computer and focus on my family. I’ll be back on Monday with new posts.
Here’s a recent picture of our sweet girl:
Whatcha Reading Wednesday
I am reading the Victoria Dahl novella in the book MIDNIGHT KISS that releases next week. I love everything she rights and am thoroughly enjoying this story!
What are you reading?
