Dolly: My Life and Other Unfinished Business by Dolly Parton

Most people look at the cover of this book and see a trampy blonde with big boobs, big hair and too much make-up. What they don’t see, and many choose never to see, is the strong, spiritual, caring, emotional, self-conscious person underneath the glitz and glamour. I once read in an interview that Dolly modeled her look after the town tramp. Again, most people take that at face value and don’t see what lies beneath. That in rural east Tennessee a tramp seems like a magical thing with her make-up, tight clothes that couldn’t possible be hand-me-downs, and big hair that must contain something other than what God gave her.

This book gives most of us a glimpse of what rough rural roads Dolly had to travel to get to where she is today. People who think she is trashy are the ones who need to read this the most. I’ve always known she had a heart of gold, but this book proved to me that it might actually be platinum.

The first movie I ever saw was “The Best Little Whorehouse in Texas,” when I was six month old, by the time I was five I could sing every word by heart. Thus began my love affair with Dolly. To anybody out there who thinks she is not a good role model, you must not have grown up in a log cabin in the foothills of the Smokey Mountains. She dug her way out of there, not many can say that, and now she give back so much to the community, even fewer can say that. If it wasn’t for Dolly lots of folks would never have had the chance to learn to read or have a job off their own farm.

It’s also nice to find out how human some celebrities are. Who knew one of Dolly’s fond memories is the same as mine, making snow-cream. For those of you confused, that’s what us poor folks make in lieu of ice cream.

Dolly was wonderfully descriptive in this book; I laughed out loud and cried in public places while reading it. I’ve always wanted to meet Dolly Parton, but after reading this book I might move Carl Dean ahead of her on my list.

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Where Are You Now? – Mary Higgins Clark

What would you do if your brother disappeared 10 years ago and only calls every year on Mother’s Day? Carolyn MacKenzie is tired of living with the constant question of her brother’s disappearance and she’s ready to do something about it.

I’ve never read a MHC book that I didn’t like. I will never forget my first… the hardback version of Remember Me, the summer I was 16 and the binding got wet at the pool and stained my beach towel. Since then I have read everything she has written and continue to look forward to her next novel.

This novel has everything we’ve come to expect from MHC; it has two mysteries and a never ending cast of characters to confuse you. Keeping up with the many characters is one of the major tasks to MHC novel; with whole chapters that can take only one page, jumping from one person’s thoughts to another can get confusing. It defiantly works at keeping you from guessing the outcome. As for the two mysteries, MHC deeps us on our toes, not only do you have to figure out who is behind the crime, but also who will the main female character fall in love with. I think that is how MHC appeals to so many women, I personally don’t want to read a romance novel, but MHC adds one or two pages at the end to get the “happily ever after” fairly tale quality that so many of us are looking for.

All in all an excellent novel by MHC; she has the winning formula: crime thriller with just a little romance. Even though I know what to expect as far as the style, the crimes are always fresh, new and a little twisted. Wonder how long we’ll have to wait for her next thriller?

EW

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Mrs. Whippy by Cecelia Ahern

Emelda is getting divorced and frankly she’s the better for it. However, how long will it take her to realize this and convince her children that she hasn’t done anything wrong and that their father is a big pile of stinking dog poo? She seems to be on a forever downward spiral, with only her ice cream to console her… until she meets Mr. Whippy.

Cecelia Ahern can write; we all know this, her first project, “P.S. I Love You,” was outstanding. I had my doubts at first, thinking she got the book deal at such a young age due to her father’s position, but she continues to prove that she deserves it. She did a wonderful job of creating an interesting, full story in only 75 pages. This book is an excellent quick read, not only because of its length, but because once you start you won’t be able to put it down.

EW

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Playing for Pizza by John Grisham

American football in Italy… who knew! Just like at the movies, a football story is rarely bad. Combine that with the writing skills of John Grisham and of course you’ll have a hit.

Following his third concussion and another humiliating game ,this time losing the Brown’s chance at the Super Bowl, third string quarterback Rick Dockery has only one job offer… to play for the Parma Panthers. At first Rick thinks Parma is in Texas, but soon learns that to continue to play and get a paycheck, small as it is, he will need to move across the Atlantic. In the end Rick’s move will transform Rick from a boy who plays football to a man who is a professional athlete.

John Grisham found something truly unique in this day and age… a group of men who still play football for the love of the game. True, coaches and two Americans get paid, but most of the team plays because they love it. He took a real thing, football Americana, and wrote truths about the game in Italy and intertwined it with a story of someone becoming a man.

I true John Grisham fashion the book is irresistible, you find yourself thinking of these characters when you are not reading and up set at the end when your short time with them is finished. The story ends and begins on the last page, with many questions unanswered in black and white.

I happened to read this book on my way to Milan and was intrigued. Not only did I want to see Italians play football, but it is free! In America even High School football costs $10 per tickets. I landed on a Sunday morning and had I not succumbed to jet lag (a.k.a. napped), I could have made the Parma Panthers vs. Milan Rhinos game in Parma Sunday afternoon (I’m still kicking myself). As the season is only 8 weeks long, I will have to plan another trip next year to see a game. However, I did make it to Quattro Mori, the restaurant that Rick goes to in Milan before the game with the Rhinos, and had a wonderful Bolognese.

EW

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Sweet Revenge by Diane Mott Davidson

Goldy Schultz is at it again, she has somehow found another dead body in the midst of a catering job. Not only that… she has seen a ghost! Sandee Brisbane is back from the dead, everyone thought she was killed in the forest fire after admitting to kill the Jerk (Goldy’s ex-husband), but it seems she has unfinished business and she has her sights set on Goldy’s golden locks. Even though the death of Drew Wellington is not not causing anyone lose sleep; he was a liar, thief and a statutory rapist, but his death did make headlines, since he once was the district attorney. Not only did Goldy find the body, but she’s also been asked by her friend, Patricia Ingersoll, to help find the murderer. Of course, Goldy gets herself into trouble, but, as always, Tom, Arch, Julian and Marla are there to help her out.

This 14th installment of the Goldy Schultz series is similar to the rest… great. Just when I thought 14 books about the same family could get stale Diane Mott Davidson delivers another thriller with some wonderful recipes. The one thing I did find lacking in this episode was Goldy’s helping out her neighbors with some frozen spinach soup (the best Goldy recipe EVER, in Death by Chocolate).

Even though I enjoyed the book, things are changing with Goldy. Arch is growing up and as a teenager he does not seem to be present as much. The victim was more removed from Goldy’s life than have been in the past, but I guess after a time all your friends, family and their families die off and the victims must come from the outside.

Overall, again, it was a good read and I not only recommend “Sweet Revenge”, but the first 13 Goldy Schultz books as well. And you must try some of the recipes, especially the spinach soup.

EW

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The Second Assistant by Clare Naylor and Mimi Hare

Typical story line… young girl (Lizzie) winds up in Los Angles with no clue as to how these strange people live. Filled with her naïve faux pas and ultimate transformation, complete with “Hollywood Honey” hair and sarcastic cynicism, this story is everything it has always been before. She moves to a town where she knows no one, finds the one “good” person in Hollywood (Lara) to be her friend, sleeps with all the wrong people (Bob) and some how not only makes it out alive, she thrives. Have you read this book before… I know I have.

OK, that is about all I can say. It was OK, I wasn’t compelled to stay up until 2am finishing it (see my review for Big Boned by Meg Cabot), but I did finish it. The book did its job, kept my mind off the fact that I was being hurled though the air with 250 strangers, at 30,000 feet, across an ocean.

The first thing that boggles my mind is how two people author a book together; I have a hard time writing a baby shower invitation with another person, much less agreeing on 321 pages of a character’s thoughts, actions and values. Because of this I think some of the detail of the character is lost. In the end Lizzie ends up being very stereotypical in her actions and views.

I started reading this book and the thought, “I’ve already read this,” cross my mind. Then it dawned on me, it’s the same as “You’ll Never Nanny in This Town Again,” only replace the word Nanny with Second Assistant. However, this Second Assistant doesn’t seem as star stuck as the nanny and in the end she seems to stick around Hollywood to become a First Assistant, a producer and to date someone “in the business”, something she vowed never to do in the beginning.

Even though the book was mediocre, the First Assistant is still on my reading list and I am looking forward to these two ladies’ screenplay, The Accidental Husband, due in theaters soon, starring Uma Thurman and Denny from Grey’s Anatomy. I’m hoping that when it comes to movies, two heads really are better than one.

EW

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The graduate students at New York College are striking, the trash cans are overflowing and Heather Wells’ new boss has just been murdered. The only good thing is that the cafeteria workers are part of a different union, so the caf will remain open… oh, and that little thing of Tad popping THE question.

The third book in the Heather Wells mysteries falls right in line with the first two… excellent. The first two books are must reads and will lead you up to this moment nicely. Heather Wells is the pop princess who, after her mom ran away with all her money, is now living with her ex-boyfriend’s brother, working for next-to-nothing at the “Death Dorm” and trying to get her undergraduate degree. As usual, the police are not heading in the right direction to find Dr. Veatch’s murder, so Heather must step in and pick up the pieces, solve the mystery and almost get killed in the process. Heather spends most the time trying to figure out how she will answer Tad’s question and avoiding him until she decides what the answer should be. In the end, the big question is who pops THE big question. Will Heather end up with Tad, her cute, vegetarian, exercise obsessed remedial math prof, Jordan her ex-boyfriend, married, father-to-be, or Cooper her PI landlord? The excitement is killing me!

Meg Cabot is awesome, bringing back all the characters we have loved from the first two Heather Wells novels. I was hoping that the Heather Wells mysteries were going to be a multi-book series, but with Big Boned, it seems that it will only be a trilogy. At the end of this novel Heather does agree to marry one of the men in her life, so, no matter who she chooses, the sexual tension is gone. We will have to wait until the next installment (if there will be one), to see if Heather choosing a suitor will cause the series to jump the shark.

Heather is a great role model, showing that even if you once had it all, you can live a down to earth life, where you work for your rent and have a real job. Maybe, Brittany Spears should read this book to see how a washed up pop princess should run her life. It’s also good to see that those of us who were once a size 6 can grow to a size 12 and still have a meaningful, fulfilling life, with friends and love. Lots of women will relate to Heather’s constant struggle between losing weight and giving up the food she loves.

A wonderfully entertaining book, combining the three things I love: murder, humor and little romance.

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“Candy Cane Murder” by Joanne Fluke

Three great writers, one good book and twelve calorie-loaded recipes. This book will definitely help you celebrate the twelve days of Christmas. Whether the candy canes leave a trail, tempt you into trouble or are found broken at the bottom of the stairs, one thing is for sure, this Christmas all candy canes lead to murder.

With Christmas going on all around you this is a good pick. Easy to put down while you baste the turkey or greet the family who just showed up, but entertaining when you get around to reading during the busy holiday season. Whether you are reading this as your Christmas installment to the Hannah Swenson, Jaine Austen or Lucy Stone series, or using this to get to know the authors, you can’t go wrong with this Christmas “brain candy.” The three authors showcased in this collection are a good fit, and every one will be able to relate to one of these amazing heroines. The stories were in a good order as well, Hannah Swenson is good, but Jaine Austen and Lucy Stone are even better. Also, don’t forget to bake at least one of the cookie recipes, I suggest trying them all.

Candy Cane Murder by Joanne Fluke

“You have got to stop doing this, Hannah Louise!” The famous words spoken from Hannah’s mother every time she finds another dead body, and she’s done it again. Hannah Swenson, owner of The Cookie Jar, can’t seem to stop finding dead bodies, inserting herself into the investigation or getting into sticky situations. In this Christmas themed short mystery Santa himself is found by Hannah, well maybe he’s just Wayne Bergstrom, owner of Bergstrom’s Department Store, dressed up as Santa. Never the less, Hannah, and her cohorts, insist on solving the mystery themselves.

In this short mystery by Joanne Fluke you will find the most of the things that seasoned Hannah Swenson fans have come accustomed to: characters speaking to each other on a 2nd grade level, a chocolate cookie fixing everyone’s problems and the tooth-achingly sweet lifestyle of every one in Lake Eden. However, some of the Hannah fans will miss The Cookie Jar’s big red truck and the description of how it must be plugged in at all times during the winter, the constant battle between Mike and Norman, and Hannah’s self discussions on which one to pick. If you can get past the boring dialog (which must be done with every Hannah Swenson book) then the mystery is intriguing and above all else, the recipes are great.

The Dangers of Candy Canes by Laura Levine

“Size Doesn’t Matter. We Do Big Jobs and Small.” That’s the slogan that Jaine Austen, no relation, wrote for Seymour Fiedler, owner of Fiedler on the Roof Roofers, and now he’s asked her to solve a murder that is being blamed on him. Just what Jaine needs, something else to do while she’s trying to prepare for Christmas with her relatives in Florida, start mentoring a motherless girl through L.A. Girlfriends and flirt with that cute boy that did the L.A. Girlfriends interview. This short mystery is a two for one, who murdered Garth Janken and will Jaine finally go on a date?

Laura Levine did a great job packing all the Jaine Austen stuff we love into a shorter story. There is Jaine’s constant battle with what she eats, the lusting after items in Nordstrom’s, the constantly empty bank account and how to discipline that cat of hers. I can relate with all of these problems, except for the cat, I have a dog and he behaves wonderfully. The only thing missing from the full length Jaine Austen mysteries is the neighbor who adds even more comedy. This one had me guessing right up to Chapter Thirteen (next to last) and I will miss Angel, I think she would have made a good addition to the regular characters.

Candy Canes of Christmas Past by Leslie Meier

Lucy Stone is remembering her first Christmas in Tinker’s Cove Maine, how her small boy got snowed on in his crib, how her husband almost blew up the house trying to fix the stove and how she solved her first murder. Lucy Stone, Bill, her husband, Toby, her son, and the little one on the way, all moved to Tinker’s Cove and left the rat race of NYC behind. Miss Tilley, the town librarian, is the first person in Tinker’s Cove to open up to Lucy and Lucy jumps at the chance to spend a few hours visiting a house with a working… anything. Lucy thanks Miss Tilley with a beautiful Christmas gift that brings up awful memories of her mother’s death. Now Lucy is determined to solve the mystery, maybe even murder of Miss Tilley’s mother and along the way she makes some friends in the small town of Tinker’s Cove.

The avid Leslie Meier readers will get to see where it all began and the rest of us will start from the beginning. The book is full of small town characters that small town dwellers already know and big city livers always dream of knowing. Leslie Meier makes me want to live in Tinker’s Cove! This story will be the beginning of a long relationship between me and Lucy Stone.