Brava, Valentine by Adriana Trigiani

This is the second book in a three book series about Valentine, her funny family and her shoe company. The book starts out with her grandma, Teodora getting married to her long time love Dominic who lives in Italy. Valentine is losing her business partner since Teodora is moving to Italy but finds out her new partner in the business Angelini Shoes will be her brother Alfred, someone she doesn't get along with at all. Don't forget about Gianluca, the man she started to fall for in the last book and who she starts exchanging love letters with since he too lives in Italy. Plus she uncovers a family secret. Overall, great book... enjoyed refreshing my memory with her family and the growing relationship with Gianluca. It left me wanting more. Can't wait for the third book.

Rating: A-

Two not so good reads back to back...

I'm sorry to say the last two books I've read have been not so good. For my book club we had to read Bag of Bones by Stephen King. I read this book over ten years ago and remember some of it. Needless to say it's not a book I would normally want to re-read. It's about an author Mike who's wife suddenly dies. Four years later still dealing with her loss and writers block, he decides to go back to their summer home. He gets himself involved with a custody battle and dealing with ghosts at the summer home. I just didn't enjoy it very much. At times I thought hmmm... maybe it will get better but it's just not my style of book I normally read or enjoyed. Rating: C- (Sorry Amanda, I know you love him)
As for my other book... Eat Pray Love by Elizabeth Gilbert. I wanted to read this book before watching the movie. I've now decided that I don't want to see the movie and couldn't even get through the book. It was just too much bouncing around for me. One day she's depressed the next she's happy in Italy then a flashback of her dealing with her divorce then back to learning Italian in Italy. I finally finish the Italy section and barely started India when I just couldn't do it anymore. It was definitely diffcult for me to decide because I really don't like giving up on a book but I found myself almost dreading picking it up when I know I have so many other great books just waiting to be read. Unfortunately I'm afraid to rate this but will be honest. Rating: D-