March 28, 2010

Leadership Building Blocks by Dawn McCoy

I was given Leadership Building Blocks: An Insider's Guide to Success to review as part of the Women's History Month blog tour for Dawn McCoy. The book couldn't have come at a more perfect time for me since I started a new role at work right about when this book ended up in my mailbox. And the tips and stories in it really made me think about the best ways to lead in work and outside of work.

As the back cover says, "Leadership Building Blocks is a step-by-step guide for achieving success and becoming a better advocate for your cause and for your purpose." Throughout the book McCoy tells stories and examples of how she learned to be a great leader in her role as a political leader in her community. Since I have no interest in being any type of political or community leader, I read those but nothing really stuck. The things that stuck were the universal tips for being a better leader thrown into each chapter (noted by cute little icons throughout the book). Some examples:


  • Be sure to send a note of gratitude to those who support you along the way.
  • Focus on details to be prepared and organized.
  • Get set up to manage the weekly "paper trail" that finds its way into your office. Bring your creative ideas to develop a system that works for you.

And so on. She really does give a lot of great ideas that are universal for any job, especially one that has any type of leadership whether it be a political leader, community leader, or even just a project leader like me. I would recommend this book to anyone with ambitions to take on the role of a business or political reader. It's a give read and full of a lot of good information. 4 stars.

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Reviewed by Playful Professional at 11:07 PM 0 comments
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Speak Softly, She Can Hear; By Pam Lewis

Hi Book Nook fans!

I'm A Super Girl (no really, I am!) and I'm a new reviewer here at the Nook. I eagerly volunteered when Playful Professional asked and I'm excited to share some of the books that I read with you.

So, on to my first review!

I've had this book on my shelf ever since I stole it from my mom's shelf a few months back. The title intrigued me, as did the plot.

Basically, two young girls make a pact to lose their virginity before they graduate high school. They find a boy eager to help them in their quest and steal away for a week to do the deed. However, things go horribly wrong and the book takes you through the next 10+ years as the three characters try to move on with the common secret they share.

The book didn't disappoint my expectations and I enjoyed it. You can't help but keep reading after the first chapter -- which includes a rather alarming and rather sexual opening scene. While it is over the top, it provides the backbone from which the rest of the story falls.

To avoid becoming a rambling reviewer, I've decided to focus my reviews into three categories to give you a taste of the book. These are the three things I look for when judging a good book, and I imagine you do as well.

Characters: For me, character development is key. Pam Lewis did a decent job of developing her characters in this novel, but they weren't the deepest I've ever read. I so wanted to know more of the main character, Carole, and her intimate thoughts. The reader gets a bit of that, but not enough. There were a few characters that I also would've like to know more about, but they were secondary to the plot so I understand why Lewis set them aside.

Plot: The plot was great. Reviewers call the book a "psychological thriller". I don't know that I'd put it in the thriller category, it was more of a slow burn. No page turning shock and awe, but enough to keep me reading all the way through. The book took place in the 1960s and 1970s and it was difficult for me to remember that. I kept thinking it was present-day and then I'd read a passage that made me remember the decade. Regardless of my own forgetfulness, I think the time period was a great backdrop for the story and added to the mystery and believability.

Structure: I like short chapters and a structure that's easy to follow. This wasn't the hardest structure I've ever read, and the chapters were an OK length. I will admit that it took me awhile to get into the third person narration. Perhaps I've been reading too many first person books, but I really wished that Lewis would have written it from the main character's perspective. I also think that would have helped further develop the characters.

All in all a good, quick read. 3.5 stars.


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Reviewed by A Super Girl at 2:50 PM 4 comments
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March 22, 2010

Here Burns My Candle by Liz Curtis Higgs

I received a free review copy of Here Burns My Candle from the publisher. Though I haven't read much historical fiction in recent years, it was always my favorite in my teenage years.

Sadly, though, I wasn't able to get in this one. Somewhere between the Scottish words and the many characters, I was lost. Though I've read many books written in this time period (18th century), I couldn't follow this one set in that time.

I'm willing to give Higgs the benefit of the doubt and say that it was me. Anyway, if you're interest in Scotland in that time period, this is worth a shot.

Watch this trailer if you're interested:



I also have a copy of Here Burns My Candle to give away. This giveaway is open to residents of the US and Canada. Please leave a comment on this post (with your email address) by 5 PM Eastern Friday, March 26th.

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Reviewed by Ronnica at 2:05 PM 5 comments
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March 19, 2010

Devil's Food Cake by Josi Kilpack

It's been years since author Thom Mortenson has been back to Garrison, Colorado. As part of the library fundraising committee, who invited him to speak, Sadie Hoffmiller wants everything to be perfect—right down to the homemade Devil’s Food Cake she made herself. Murder, however, was not on the menu. Sadie's detective boyfriend doesn't "need" Sadie's help with the investigation so she starts one of her own.

The best part about Devil's Food Cake is that it's written as a "culinary mystery." Rather than just a hilarious story with laugh out loud characters, you get recipes for the delicious dishes that Sadie is serving to the suspects. So right after Sadie describes the decadent devil's food cake they are eating at the fundraiser, you get to turn the page and make it yourself. And I am definitely planning to make some of them myself because they all sounded delicious. I originally thought that adding the recipes into the book would be somewhat distracting, but it's actually perfect and an idea I wish I would've thought of myself. It's a way for you to connect more with the novel and get into Sadie's head. Not that you really need any help because her character fits the ever present busybody small town middle-aged woman.

Overall, I really enjoyed this book. The mystery kept me guessing, and the writing kept me laughing. I'd say it was a delicious combination and would recommend this one to anyone really. Just be prepared to crave sweets after. 4 stars

**I was given this book to review by Pump Up Your Book Promotions. This is my honest opinion.
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Reviewed by Playful Professional at 12:00 AM 1 comments
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March 8, 2010

The White Horse King (The Life of Alfred the Great) by Benjamin Merkle

The White Horse King is a book written about the life of Alfred the Great as he led the kingdoms of Britain in a battle against the vikings and then afterward as "he sparked a literary renaissance, restructured Britain's roadways, revised the legal codes, and revived Christian learning and worship." In other words, it's a historical fiction book written about an underdog king who beat out the Vikings and overhauled the British ways of learning and worship.

When I picked up this book I thought it was going to be an adventure story mingled with history like other historical fiction novels I've read. The problem for me was that the writing was in more of a histortical format than a compelling storyline, and really I just got bored. After the fifth chapter of the wars between the Brits and vikings, I just wanted to stop reading because Alfred's life is nowhere near as exciting as say Cleopatra. The author did do a good job of portraying Alfred the Great in an "underdog" type of feel, a man who came up against all odds and with the help of God was able to overcome great obstacles.

If you like history, then this book might be for you. It wasn't for me because of the subject matter, but the writing was easy enough to read and understand. 3 stars.
Note: I received this book for free to review through the Book Sneeze blogger program. This review is my honest opinion on the book.


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Reviewed by Playful Professional at 5:17 PM 0 comments
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March 4, 2010

Mr. Darcy Broke My Heart by Beth Pattillo

I bought this book for my mom in anticipation of Mother's Day, and then I very carefully read it, barely cracked open so as not to damage the spine. I have to admire any writers willing to tackle anything related to Jane Austen. Few writers have as dedicated a fan base as Austen, and those fans are purists. Don't mess with my Jane! You think you can write like her? Psh. Go ahead and try. Remember this one?

Patillo is more clever. She knows she can't write like Austen, but she needs Austen's voice for this story. The solution is a long lost manuscript by a very young immature Jane Austen who had not yet developed the voice her fans are familiar with today. This manuscript is still not quite up to par in my opinion, but I have to concede that Pattillo had the dual challenge of trying to fit said manuscript into her own novel without turning it into a doorstopper. Note to Ms. Pattillo: I love doorstoppers! But I understand, your editor probably doesn't.

Mr. Darcy Broke My Heart is the story of a 30 year old woman who is familiar with Austen but not obsessed, and finds herself attending a seminar on Austen at Oxford to present a paper on her sister's behalf. She is at a crossroads in her life: with a boyfriend who barely looks at her, a job loss, a lack of education, and a little sister that doesn't need her anymore. She's hoping to use the week in Oxford to sort out the rest of her life. But two new acquaintances make this difficult. Harriet, the local eccentric, who has been hiding Austen's forgotten manuscript, and a dreamboat Mr. Darcy clone who seems oddly infatuated with her.

I think this book could have been better. In fact it may have been better, I can just imagine Pattillo being told over and over to cut and cut and cut some more! She had a lot to cram into only 250 pages. If it wasn't for that, I think the book could have had a lot more body to it, the kind of body that made Jane Austen's books so great. Instead she has to constantly throw her characters into each others' paths and rush things along at the speed of light. I think this happens a lot with Austen fan books. I wish the agents / publishers / editors / writers would realize that we Austen fans love the intricacy of her writing, the details and minutiae exquisitely penned with delicious fat words. Instead they always turn it into something light and fluffy at the sixth grade reading level.

Also the seminar the main character attends has only 6 people? I've never been to an Austen seminar at Oxford, but I'd think there'd be several hundred at least.

However, I really loved what Pattillo did with the Mr. Darcy phenomenon. Women LOVE Mr. Darcy. He really is the ultimate romantic hero. No real man can ever measure up. And so Pattillo's character learns. The Mr. Darcy clone makes her head spin, but she comes to realize than spinning can make you dizzy and dizziness is not conducive to the kind of changes she needs to make in her life. It's long been a theory of mine that romantic novels give women unrealistic expectation in their own lives, making relationships difficult. We have a standard that no man can live up to (thanks a lot Jane!), which causes us to be disappointed with our mates at every turn. I think Pattillo does a great job of addressing this issue.

I recommend this book for any Austen fan looking for a light read and will look for her previous novel, Jane Austen Ruined My Life.

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Reviewed by Memarie Lane at 12:01 PM 2 comments
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March 3, 2010

Where Do You Get Your Books?

I figure since this is a book blog, you would probably be the best people to answer this question - where do you get the majority of your books? Do you buy them? Borrow them from the library? Somewhere else? I went on a walk to the library this weekend, and they were at the very end of their quarterly sale, which means they were selling books $1 a bag (and a bag means however many you can take). So of course rather than paying my $11 fine to check-out more books, I just bought ten for $1. And the best part is that I can probably swap most of these on paperbackswap.com for books that I really would like to read.

Does anyone know if any of these are any good or not worth reading? For ten cents each, I figured it couldn't hurt to pick them up.



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Reviewed by Playful Professional at 10:09 PM 3 comments

March 2, 2010

Secrets by Robin Jones Gunn

I read Secrets by Robin Jones Gunn on the heels of a truly awful Christian fiction book, so I must admit that I had very low expectations for this book.

Thankfully, refreshingly, it's nothing like the other. If I hadn't known it was Christian fiction, I wouldn't have realized it until halfway through the book, and only then by the conversations the characters were having. While this is not the best book that I've read, it was enjoyable and makes me want to continue reading in the series.

Secrets is the story of Jessica, who moves to a small town to escape from her unrevealed past. What she didn't count on was how difficult it would be to keep her past a secret. (okay, that sounds cheesy, but I did enjoy it)

If you enjoy a like read, consider picking this one up.

I received a free review copy of this book from the publisher.

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Reviewed by Ronnica at 1:20 PM 0 comments
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