Book Review: "Window on the Bay" By Debbie Macomber

Two single women ready to open their hearts and minds to the thoughts of dating when life gets in the way and takes them on a soul searching journey.

Here we have Jenna and bestie Maureen who were college pals but now with their own kids in college life takes on a different feel.

Singlehood is quite the adventure in and of itself but who knew both women would find what they need in unsuspecting ways.

Jenna with another surgeon after divorcing one from 20 yrs earlier and Maureen with a contractor.

What I didn't care for was the feel that something was off and perhaps the discussion on men was a bit off key but I also felt that I wasn't sucked into the story as in prior works.

This one had the flavor but not the execution to deliver and while I wanted to indulge I felt confined.

Book Review: "The Doll Factory" By Elizabeth MacNeal

Two people meet up during the 1800's in London yet for all intense purposes it's not a meeting of the minds as it becomes dark rather quickly.

Iris is an attractive young artist who runs into Silas a man with an obsessive streak.
When Iris is approached to model she is surprised but elated as her only request is to learn how to paint.

Her world is growing leaps and bounds but she has no idea that evil and darkness lurks nearby.

Rose and Iris are of course sisters who worked for Madame Salter however she never thought she'd fall in love with Louis the man teaching her to paint much to the dismay of Silas who kidnaps the ladies.

For me the entire book was very odd in providing that feeling that you're unsure whether what you read was correct or misunderstood.

So for that reason I gave it a lower score as even in the ending with the epilogue I still was unsure of their rescue.

Book Review: Everything Below The Waist By Jennifer Block

"An eye-opening, investigative account of the dismal state of women's healthcare in the U.S."

As a woman who has suffered from chronic back pain which was finally diagnosed 30 yrs later as spinal canal stenosis, DDD, Bilateral Facet Atrophy, and severe foraminal narrowing requiring surgery I can tell you this, never trust doctors when they note that's normal wear and tear, that taking steroids or drugs is common place, that it is not significant or that as the physical therapist told me once they can find anyone with my problem off the street.

I've suffered since I was a teen and learned recently that I tore a disk, have multiple disk bulges/herniation, and such severe foraminal narrowing on left side that's pinching on the nerve and causing temp leg paralysis which I've complained about claudication from nerve damage in my legs for years only to have a doctor tell me he couldn't find anything wrong.

This novel is exactly what needed to be said about women's health care. 

We are not crazy. We are intelligent beings who need answers not drugs!

I wish I had this book with me years ago...

Book Review: "Nobody's Victim" By Carrie Goldberg

Don't get bitter get better!

For me this showed just how damaging releasing trust into the world can become and how to fight fire with fire to get revenge.

Sure many of these relationships were quickly consumed.
The relationships were often centered upon sexual abuse in general, sexual photos placed online w/o consent, and sexual abuse cases.

As a survivor of abuse while I applaud the author for taking these cases to get relief for clients, I'm dismayed at the anger portrayed throughout the book, and feel there is some residual tension there from her own past experiences which may not have been fully processed.

Believe me having been left bankrupt, homeless w three kids, having no income to support them as child support was in 15k arrears I can relate to the pain.

What I'm afraid of is the notion that you can just be BOLD and not follow the law.

It's not about revenge as it's about ending the injustices against women.

I hope this book will if nothing else create discussion about the loopholes that exists especially with regard to sexting and utilization of sexual photos and or videos without consent online.

Book Review: "All That's Bright and Gone" By Eliza Nellums

It's a story told through the eyes of a child that captivates audiences from around the world.

In this case the young girl is questioning the whereabouts of her brother Theo after he mother (Siobhan) went into the hospital suffering from 'confusion' and her Uncle Donny has been raising her.

Aoife with the help of her neighbor Hannah search for clues as to whether or not her brother is truly gone as she constantly questions when she can see him again.
The adults in this story seem to be telling her a variety of different stories and she simply wants the truth!

Children are impressionable, vulnerable, and often complacent when it comes to fully grasping a concept in its entirety.

Mental illness is debilitating and so tragic that it breaks my heart to see it portrayed here in All That's Bright and Gone.

The immaturity, the hopelessness, the feelings of insecurities was powerful to experience as a reader following alongside 6 yo Aiofe in this powerful journey of reasoning.

Book Review: "What Does It Feel Like To Die" By Jennie Dear

Who would ever think I'd be here reviewing a book about dying 2 days before I take on this journey with major back surgery but life is funny and always comes full circle.

Ok, well "People die the way they lived" and for me this book touched on many important topics including the administering of the 'knock out drugs' and those meant to prevent further suffering in their final times such as morphine and the amounts to be given that are often hard to distinguish for professionals in a medical setting.

It reminds you that mistakes can happen, that everything doesn't just transfer over, and that life always continues on.

Life is precious and to be around loved ones is the greatest blessing in our final stages and if you're lucky to have that than it makes going to another place easier.

The entire hospice viewpoints, the care provided, the challenges that are faced, the medical terminology utilized and processed, the families concerns for their loved ones all of it was written in an easy to read insightful loving way.

It always makes for a smooth transition after getting that final diagnosis of terminal that one can find compassion, empathy, and support. 

So this was in a way that 'comfort' blanket we could all use!

Book Review: "City of Girls" By Elizabeth Gilbert

"I've longed to write a novel about promiscuous girls whose lives are not destroyed by their sexual desires" , then she introduces Vivian Morris, who's our narrator and the main character of this book. 

And Gilbert says: "My goal was to write a book that would go down like a champagne cocktail- light and bright, crisp and fun."

I absolutely adore Elizabeth much like Oprah Winfrey for everything she possesses and more.

To know her is to love her boldness, her clarity, her visions, her talent!
Here's a clip of what this new book is all about from the Atlantic: https://www.theatlantic.com/entertain...


City of Girls is set in a pre WWII (1890) Theatre district of NY in which young naive women embarked for fun, sex, and entertainment. The spread of venereal diseases and abortions in the 40's was on the rise in NY at that time.

Vivian is our stage actress/show girl/dancer who at 95 years old is recalling those times with direct and impulsive memories after she moved to NY with her Aunt Peg. She was John Wayne's girlfriend, she had many lovers, she spoke w/o regret towards the 5 abortions she procured. She never married nor had kids and once received a car from Milton Berle.

"I promise that I will try my best in these pages not to go on and on about how much better everything was back in my day. I always hated hearing old people yammering on like this when I was young. (Nobody cares! Nobody cares about your Golden Age, you blathering goat!) And I do want to assure you: I'm aware that many things were not better in the 1940s. Underarm deodorants, air-conditioning were woefully inadequate, for instance, so everybody stank like crazy, especially in the summer, and also we had Hitler."

In a larger much deeper picture it's more than just chasing a dream it's about chasing one's deepest sexual desires and not being afraid of your body or your mind. However, in chasing one's sexual promiscuity one must make advances that enhance growth and maturity for which this book seemed to miss.

"I was long and tall, that's all there was to it. And if it sounds like I'm about to tell you the story of an ugly duckling who goes to the city and finds out that she's pretty, after all-don't worry, that is not that story. I was always pretty, Angela. What's more, I always knew it."
One thing worth noting here is this is a two part story with the rich Vivian having her every desire fulfilled by servants in her early twenties while the second half sets up later in life roughly 15-20 yrs later and it's at this latter stage I exited stage right.

I enjoyed for the most part the 1st half but the second half didn't seem to jive for me and left me longing for more. The sexual prowess for me was a bit much considering I'm born and raised strict Catholic so all of the 'come n get it' flavor wasn't my cup of tea but I don't base books on my views but rather based on writing content, plot, setting, and the overall message in how it left me feeling.

As a feminist this hit many buttons in a negative way but you could say the same for the devotion to boldness, her desire to explore, her need to want more out of life as a 'go-getter.'

So all roads lead back to this notion: You either love it or hate it but either way I'm not sure Elizabeth will ever lose sleep over others reviews.