In Review: The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants by Ann Brashares

ABOUT THE BOOK:
Carmen got the jeans at a thrift shop. They didn’t look all that great: they were worn, dirty, and speckled with bleach. On the night before she and her friends part for the summer, Carmen decides to toss them. But Tibby says they’re great. She'd love to have them. Lena and Bridget also think they’re fabulous. Lena decides that they should all try them on. Whoever they fit best will get them. Nobody knows why, but the pants fit everyone perfectly. Even Carmen (who never thinks she looks good in anything) thinks she looks good in the pants. Over a few bags of cheese puffs, they decide to form a sisterhood and take the vow of the Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants … the next morning, they say good-bye. And then the journey of the pants — and the most memorable summer of their lives — begins.

MEET THE AUTHOR:
Ann Brashares grew up in Chevy Chase, Maryland, with three brothers and attended a Quaker school in the D.C. area called Sidwell Friends. She studied Philosophy at Barnard College, part of Columbia University in New York City. Expecting to continue studying philosophy in graduate school, Ann took a year off after college to work as an editor, hoping to save money for school. Loving her job, she never went to graduate school, and instead, remained in New York City and worked as an editor for many years. Ann made the transition from editor to full-time writer with her first novel, The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants.

In Review With Penelope Anne:
Take 4 teenagers, a pair of thrift store jeans, one summer of adventure, and a little sprinkle of belief in magic and you have the makings of a great story. Brashares creates here what Judy Blume created for the tweens and teens of my era with Are You There God? It's Me Margaret, a book that touches on the things that the girls of the day are really dealing with in life. Each of her wonderfully developed characters faces her own type of crisis from deeply emotional to spiritual during the summer of the traveling pants. How do these pants fit in one might ask? They are the little bit of magic, a pair of thrift store jeans that fits each girl just right even though they are each very different in body, mind and soul. One must truly read the book to get to know Carmen, Lena, Bee, and Tibby as my daughter Cheyla (13) and I did, and we highly recommend that any gal from 10-100 would love this book. We cannot wait to read the next in the series, and the next, and the next, and the next, and then the new series.

Until next time...
Keep Reading!

Are You Ready for This?

Howdy folks, it has been a long time. The real world has monopolized my life in so many ways that I haven't even looked at the computer for a few months but I am now back and ready to return to my old wild ways.
Which means...
The book reviews are about to return, coming this week you will see the return of the reviews and I have been reading quite a bit lately so I have a bunch to share with you.
I have stopped working with the professional promotion groups and am back to reading for myself BUT...
authors, publishers I am still willing to read your books and review them, just contact me at sassylucylootoo@yahoo.com with your query.

Remember I read an eclectic blend of books from all genre so you never know what kind of review you may find when you stop by.

Until my first review...Keep Reading!

No Sanctuary: A Dark Oak Mystery by F.M. Meredith

About the Book:
Two churches, two ministers, two wives, one murder. While on patrol in the central California foothills near Rocky Bluff, Officer Stacey Wilbur spots a car crashed into a giant oak tree. A woman is slumped against the steering wheel, blood pooling on the floor mats. Stacey calls the incident in to her colleague and special friend, Detective Doug Milligan, then secures the scene and waits for emergency crews. The rescue squad confirms Wilbur s judgment. The woman is dead, but it s soon apparent the crash had little to do with her death. There is a bullet hole behind her ear. The car belongs to the minister of a local church with an upscale congregation, and the dead woman on the front seat is his wife. When Wilbur gives the minister the bad news, it is met with aloofness bordering on unconcern. The typical suspect the spouse first theory ratchets up a few ticks in Stacey Wilbur s analytical mind. Before that jells, however, Wilbur learns there is a potential other woman in the mix. As she sorts through the elements of the case, Stacey tries to find enough time to explore her feelings for Doug Milligan.

About the Author:
Marilyn Meredith is an award winning author of mysteries, psychological and Christian horror. She is a popular speaker and instructor for writing conferences, mystery conventions and festivals, book fairs, and other similar venues, including the Maui Writers Retreat. She is a member of Sisters in Crime, Mystery Writers of America, Public Safety Writers Association, California Writers Club and Mystery Writers of America. Learn more about Marilyn at Fiction For You

The Review:
What grabbed me most about this book and makes me want to go back and read the other Rocky Bluff tales is the fabulous cast of characters that Meredith has developed for the reader to get to know. As a writer she has a way of putting the reader in the character's shoes so that they feel like they are part of the very intriguing storyline that plays out.
I know just when I thought I had figured it out I was surprised to find I was wrong and cheering for the lead character Stacey as she came to the dramatic conclusions.
If you are a mystery buff this is a must read series to look for.

PUMP Up YOUR Book Promotions

The Sunken Kingdom 1: Ghost Ship by Kim Wilkins

About the Book:
Asa and Rollo are royal children. Their parents, King Sigurd and the Star Queen, are dead. Flood, the evil court magician, has taken over and used his powers to drown the kingdom. Asa and Rollo are the only hope remaining for the people of the Star Lands.
In Ghost Ship, a loyal family friend gives Asa and Rollo an enchanted ship so they can rescue their infant sister, Una, from their parents’ killers. But first they must outrun Emperor Flood’s sky patrols.

About the Author:
Kim Wilkins was born in London, and grew up at the seaside north of Brisbane, Australia. She has degrees in literature and creative writing, and teaches at the University of Queensland and in the community. Her first novel, The Infernal, a supernatural thriller was published in 1997. Since then, she has published across many genres and for many different age groups. Her latest books, contemporary epic romances, are published under the pseudonym Kimberley Freeman. Kim has won many awards and is published all over the world. She lives in Brisbane with her husband and two small children.

The Review:
While this well written book is earmarked for Young Adults I think it is equally readable as a Chapter Book for children ages 8-12 as well. The characters are lovable and the story attractive that it will capture the heart of the young reader and make them want to read the other books in the series easily.

Keys to Living Joyfully by Sheri Kaye Hoff

About the Book:
Keys to Living Joyfully is an inspirational book on experiencing joy, peace, passion, and energy in daily life. It is designed to demonstrate the powerful roles of thoughts, action, and faith. The book is a merging of Sheri Kaye Hoff's spiritual life and lifelong interests in leadership and motivation. The ideas presented in the book are techniques and processes that have worked for the author and clients. Foreword is written by Michele Caron, creator of MyLifeCoach.com
The book, Keys to Living Joyfully, was born out of a heartfelt desire to share the keys that lead to living a transformational life. Ms. Hoff is a personal and executive coach working with individuals, small businesses, and corporations. Her words on faith are derived from her own Christian walk and spiritual self-discoveries. Her action steps are a mix of faith. love, leadership skills, and management experience. Chapters include topics such as: Is your heart thinking right? And how to tap into intrinsic motivation. This book, Keys to Living Joyfully, offers the techniques and insights that move people towards more peace, joy, energy, and passion in everyday life.

About the Author:
Sheri Kaye Hoff resides in Parker, CO with her husband and three children. She is a Life Coach and owner of the Sheri K Hoff International Coaching Company. She teaches college classes as an adjunct faculty member and has earned her Master of Arts in Organizational Management. Her new book, Keys to Living Joyfully, offers a way of living a meaningful, successful and joy filled life.
Ms. Hoff is a personal and executive life coach. Spirituality is a vital part of her life’s work. Prayer and meditation are integral pieces of her daily ritual, which enables her to pursue her life’s passions and live a truly joyful life.
Her words on faith are derived from her own Christian walk and spiritual self-discoveries. Her action steps mix faith and years of leadership training, mentoring, and management. Sheri Kaye Hoff suffered the tragic death of her younger brother when she was a teenager and struggled for years to rediscover the capacity to feel joy and to enjoy her successes. She has a heart felt desire to pass on her knowledge and discoveries that have led to a truly transformational life. Ms. Hoff publishes a free weekly inspiration newsletter, Coach Sheri’s Weekly Inspiration Tips.
You can visit her website at www.lifeisjoyful.org.

The Review:
As one who has long suffered from anxiety and depression books like this are often in my reading pile in the hopes that I can find a path to peace and happiness that isn't 100% reliant upon doctors and medications.
In my first read through I find that the message that Mrs. Hoff is presenting is positive and filled with an energetic spark that makes it a workbook worth utilizing and not just tucking away. Using her advice I plan to now take the time to read the book through again and utilize the exercises to help work towards joyful living. Will this book be the one that does the trick? I cannot be sure, but I believe it has a high potential to be very helpful to many people.

Book Club Survey

What are book clubs reading? How often do they meet? Do they enjoy speaking with authors? We're going to find out the answers to these questions and more with the 2009 ReadingGroupGuides.com survey --- and we'd like your help reaching out to book club members. The goal is to identify trends and topics that are of interest to book groups. The information will be shared with publishers and authors so they can provide the resources needed to enhance book group meetings and discussions. The survey is only open to readers who are in book clubs.

The survey can be found at http://www.surveymonkey.com/s.aspx?sm=JZxioOza4dvM_2byCHuqQb0A_3d_3d

We estimate that the survey will take about 12-15 minutes to complete. As a token of their appreciation for filling it out, ReadingGroupGuides.com will award all participants (U.S. and Canadian residents only) with a free book, generously provided by our publishing colleagues. See the full list of 28 titles, each of which is perfect for a book group discussion, at: http://www.readinggroupguides.com/surveys/2009-reader-survey.asp.

The survey will close on April 30th, or as soon as 2,500 prizes have been awarded, so visit http://www.surveymonkey.com/s.aspx?sm=JZxioOza4dvM_2byCHuqQb0A_3d_3d to answer the survey now!

You Can Lead an Atheist to Evidence but You Can't Make Him Think by Ray Comfort

About the Book:
To be an atheist is to play Russian roulette with all the barrels loaded. An atheist just can't win. Of course, he feels and acts like a big player, until the trigger is pulled.
The issue isn't the existence of God. The atheist is wrong and there is a Creator, then he was wrong. He gambled and he lost; no big deal. The real gamble is that there's no hell. That's what makes the player sweat, just a little. "What if?" is the deep and nagging doubt. He believes it's worth the excitement of the game. Yet atheism isn't a mind game; it is intellectual suicide.
Join best-selling author Ray Comfort as he "talks to the atheists," revealing not just the weakness of the atheist argument but the solid foundation upon which the Christian stands.

About the Author:
Ray Comfort is the author of more than 60 books, including, God Doesn’t Believe in Atheists, How to Know God Exists, Evolution: The Fairy Tale for Grownups, You Can Lead an Atheist to Evidence, but You Can’t Make Him Think, and The Evidence Bible. He was a platform speaker at the 2001 27th convention of “American Atheists,” and in 2007, he appeared on ABC’s Nightline (with actor Kirk Cameron) debating “The Existence of God.” He also co-hosts an award-winning television program, and has a daily blog called “Atheist Central.”
For more about Ray and his work, please visit Living Waters and Ray’s blog at Atheist Central.

The Review:
Religious books are always a risky review, as you never quite know how wild it may get when you are reading them. This book was one I was truly looking forward to, feeling that maybe it would be filled with great discussions. Alas, it is filled with the same arguments over and over again, and thus poor Ray is left repeating himself so often, that you feel that the only message he can give is repent before it is too late. Is this his fault? Nope, it is the naive questions/statements that he is responding to that leave him with only one path to follow.
Ultimately I found the book gave some good answers, but it did become repetitive for the reader. I do have one major gripe and that was the use of comparisons with Boy Scouts, forgive a Scouting mom for not enjoying that tiny detail.
Mr. Comfort is a well educated man with a message to offer, but if the reader is not willing to hear it, it will go over their head and be lost in the atmosphere. I think only you can decide if this is a book that meets your reading desires.