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-

The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society by Mary Ann Shaffer & Annie Barrows

Do you ever read a book and enjoy it so much that you actually feel like you know the characters? I felt this way while reading this. It's about a woman named Juliet in 1946 after the war who's trying to come up with her next book subject. She receives a letter from someone in Guernsey and begins a wonderful friendship not just with him but with this wonderful group of people all in The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society. What I loved also about the book was it was all in letters exchanged back and forth from the different characters. It was such a neat group of characters, it made me want to be part of the society. I was so sad to finish the book because I enjoyed it so much. Also felt I learned a little too because I didn't realize the Germans had taken over this part of the Channel Islands for five years and how they treated these innocent people, who had nothing to even do with the war. Just sickens me the things that happened during the war. Definitely a sweet and easy read. Check it out!

Rating: A

Where Are You Now?... by Mary Higgins Clark

I've always enjoyed Mary Higgins Clark books and once again she didn't disappoint. I haven't read a book by her for quite a while. I enjoy the fact that she always throws a bunch of different characters in the mix so you never know who to trust. Same goes for this book. In the book ten years ago Mack MacKenzie disappeared and only calls his Mom once a year on Mothers Day. He only lets her know he's ok and won't answer any other questions. His sister Carolyn tells him when he calls that she's going to find him, no matter what it takes. Then starts the search that brings up a lot of unanswered questions and opens a whole new can of worms. Suddenly it looks like Mack could be involved with missing girls... maybe even murder. I liked the characters and wondered how it was all going to come together. As always the author did a great jump wrapping everything up with a few surprises at the end.

Rating: B

Comfort Food by Kate Jacobs

The book is about Gus who just turned 50 and has a cooking show. Her show may not be renewed so the network decides to put a new twist on her show to increase ratings by adding a cohost diva. Luckily she has the help of her two daughters, who each of problems of their own, her neighbor and the new producer who turns into a love interest. I was disappointed with the book, it just didn't hold my attention as much I would have liked. I almost found her two daughters a little annoying, one is just always kind of grumpy and the other has issues with commitment. I didn't really feel the love interest with Oliver the producer, it seemed almost too quick. Of course the book ended happily. I have to say I enjoyed her other book The Friday Night knitting club a lot better. So glad I got this at the library and hadn't spent my own money.

Rating: C-

The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo by Stieg Larsson

I heard from quite a few people how great this book once so I was very disappointed that it took me over 250 pages to finally get into it. There's A LOT of information in the beginning which of course is good to have this knowledge for later in the book. But in the beginning I kept thinking, when is it going to get better. Luckily it improved a lot. The book is about a journalist named Mikael Bloomvist (another think that took some getting use to is almost everyone is referred to by their last name) who just got done with a scandal when he's asked to look into finding out what happened to Harriet Vanger, who went missing several years ago. Lisabeth Salander eventually comes to assist him in this search. I would definitely stick with it, there were a few surprises and it definitely made up for the first 250 pages. Looking forward to seeing what will happen in the next two books, since this is the first of a three book series.

Rating: B+

The Girls by Lori Lansens

A friend of mine lent me this book. It's about twin sisters who are conjoined at the head. Some people might find that wierd but the story was definitely interesting. I like the way both sisters, Rose and Ruby told their side of the story. I couldn't even image been conjoined with my sister. I had said to my husband I couldn't image not being able to just roll over at night when sleeping but he said how would you know what you're missing if you've never had it. It was a pretty easy read. I especially liked the different stories about their Aunt Lovey and Uncle Stash. I'm glad I read it but wouldn't say you HAD to read it.

Rating: B