Southern Fried Divorce by Judy Conner

Southern Fried Divorce by Judy Conner


My rating: 4 of 5 stars
I was all prepared for Southern Fried Divorce to be another book about a bitter, vindictive divorcee. While I am sure the actual divorce was not easy to live through, Judy Conner surprisingly shares with the reader many amusing stories about her "X", as she affectionally calls him.

"X" is a character in only the way that a resident of New Orleans can be. "X" is an owner of drinking establishment. He constantly seems to attract trouble. "X" hangs out with everyone from the highest local officials to the lowliest bum on the street. Throw in a huge amount of alcohol and the most amusing things seem to happen wherever he goes!

Judy shares mixed feelings for her "X". She cares about him, and loved their private life but couldn't stand that he was constantly embarrassing her in public. She loves the attention he lavishes on her - even after their divorce - but can't stand his skirt chasing. He clearly loves her but just can't stay on the straight and narrow. Surpringly, Judy also shares that she is not without her own faults, the main one being a mean streak.

I love a good Southern writer. Judy Conner tells her story with humor and lots of New Orleans color. She entertains us with humor and wit, and, at the same time, makes the most of a difficult situation. I am sure we will be hearing more from her in the future.


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A Spot of Bother by Mark Haddon

A Spot of Bother by Mark Haddon


My rating: 4 of 5 stars
Mark Haddon has a talent for writing about topics from an unusual point of view. In A Spot of Bother, Haddon takes a rather difficult topic - mental health - and discusses how it affects an entire family with empathy and humor.

George Hall is going crazy and trying to do it with dignity. George really does not want to be much of a bother to anyone. When a small spot appears on his hip, he goes off to visit the doctor without telling his wife. The doctor diagnosis is eczema but George obsesses about the spot and is convinced that he has cancer and the cancer is rapidly spreading to other parts of his body. George is polite to a fault and really doesn't want to worry anyone. George begins to have trouble coping and his family slowly realizes that there is something not quite right about George lately.

Throw in George's daughter's upcoming marriage to an unsuitable bridegroom, his son's homosexuality, and his wife's affair - George handles it all by avoiding the issues at hand. Things soon tumble into a mess and are sorted out again with humor and aplomb.

Mark Haddon writes about topics that touch all of our families and does it with humor and kindness without losing sight of the seriousness of the subject matter. Hats off to Haddon for a great story.

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The Morning Show Murders by Al Roker

The Morning Show Murders: A Novel by Al Roker


My rating: 4 of 5 stars
I loved this book! The first thing you notice is Al Roker's humor sprinkled throughout the story. I love Al's humor so that was a big plus to me. The story line has really nice twists and turns so it isn't predictable. The surprises last until the very end.

Billy Blessing, the main character, is a likable carbon copy of Al. Billy is a weatherman on a popular morning tv show. He is a chef and has an extensive knowledge of food and food preparation. One reason this story rang so true is that Al wrote about what he knows best - and it worked well.

The main drawback to the story is that there are so many characters to keep up with! I am sure that also plays true in Al's line of work but it was dizzying to keep up with the extensive cast of players.

Al did a great job with this book. I can't wait to see his next one.

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Friday Nights by Joanna Trollope

Friday Nights: A Novel by Joanna Trollope


My rating: 3 of 5 stars
Friday Nights is about an unlikely group of women coming together as friends. Eleanor, an older retired woman, notices two young single mothers pushing baby strollers on her street. They are always alone and look a little lost and stressed out. She invites them to come to her flat on a Friday night. The women, Lindsay and Paula, aren't quite sure of Eleanor's motivation but decide to go. They can't afford to do much of anything to get out for fun and Eleanor tells them to bring their babies with them. The three women have a pleasant evening.

Soon, three more women have joined their little group - Jules, Lindsay's younger and wilder sister, and Karen and Blaise. Karen is married to an artist that never paints anything. She has two small children. Blaise is her business partner and is single.

The six women enjoy their unlikely friendship and Friday night get togethers for a number of years. Then enters Jackson, Paula's new boyfriend. She brings him to a Friday night to introduce him to everyone. Jackson is totally at ease and fits right into the group. Then Jackson begins visiting Paula's friends without her and friendships are strained.

Although I enjoyed this book, I have to say that it was a bit average. It was an easy read and enjoyable but not terribly exciting.

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Odd Hours by Dean Koontz

Odd Hours by Dean Koontz


My rating: 4 of 5 stars
Odd Thomas is definitely added to my list of favorite characters. He is a very unusual guy. Start with his quirky sense of humor. Add in his ability to see ghosts and that he has a ghost dog as a companion. Finally, who can resist a quirky character with supernatural abilities that saves the world from certain destruction?

Odd Thomas had an unusual start to life when his parents named him Todd but a mistake on the birth certificate pronounced him as Odd. His parents never bothered to change it and he has been Odd ever since. Odd is a fry cook that drifts from one job to another as the need arises. Odd Hours finds him working for an OCD millionaire in a beach front mansion. Odd takes a walk on a pier and meets a mysterious girl and somehow gets entangled in a murderous plot to take over the world. As you think the story gets a little predictable, an unimagined twist takes over and leaves you gasping to see what will happen next.

Dean Koontz has created a memorable character in Odd Thomas. Although I started with the fourth Odd novel, I am sure I will go back and read the other three. Dean Koontz leaves you wanting more.


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Certain Girls

Certain Girls by Jennifer Weiner


My rating: 4 of 5 stars
Cannie, from Good in Bed, is back and her daughter Joy is now 12 years old. Cannie can't understand what is going on with the daughter that used to be so happy and to enjoy her mother's company. Not only does Joy have to deal with the usual trials and tribulations of growing up but now she learns that her classmates have read the bestseller that her mom wrote years ago. Joy is horrified to learn that the book was about her mother's breakup with Joy's real dad, Bruce. How much of the story is fiction - and how much is real? As Joy prepares for her own bat mitzvah, she pushes her mother away as she delves into family secrets. Joy and Cannie are on an emotional rollercoaster.

Although I would put Certain Girls in the Chic Lit category, Jennifer Weiner doesn't waste your time talking about the latest Prada fashions. She examines complex family issues and makes you aware of many sides of a matter. She makes you think. Although a bit trite, I would say that she makes me laugh; she makes me cry. I will read Jennifer Weiner again and again.

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Dedication by Emma McLaughlin

Dedication by Emma McLaughlin


My rating: 2 of 5 stars
I listened to this audio book on the way to and from work. I have to say - don't bother unless you have nothing else to do. When the story begins, you really have a lot of emphathy for the main character - Kate. She was dumped by her boyfriend in her senior year of high school. The boyfriend leaves town without telling her that he is leaving, and subsequently becomes a famous rock star. Kate needs to resolve her feelings for him. The storyline goes down from there.

I don't want to give away too much of the storyline but Kate strays so far from the way she feels about him and what he did to her emotionally that I was really disappointed in the turn the story takes. Save this book for snow days when you have run out of reading material, or hurricane days as we have in the south.

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Remember Me? by Sophie Kinsella

Remember Me? by Sophie Kinsella


My rating: 3 of 5 stars
If you need a quick read with a good storyline, pick up a Sophie Kinsella. Although I liked the book, Remember Me? did not have all the humor that the Shopaholic books contained. As the story begins, Lexi Smart is out clubbing with her friends. The next thing you know she is in the hospital three years later and has no idea what has happened in her life since that night three years ago. She doesn't remember marrying a multimillionaire. She doesn't remember becoming the boss of the company that she works for. She doesn't remember attending her father's funeral.

I won't spoil the story for you but take my word for it - the subjects covered are a little heavier than her previous books.

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The Likeness by Tana French

The Likeness: A Novel by Tana French


My rating: 4 of 5 stars
The Likeness is as well written as In the Woods. Tana French takes a long time building up to the story. The slow build up is completely worth the wait. The action builds and builds until you are rushing at breakneck speed, and on the edge of your seat. I would definitely recommend The Likeness.

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"Dead" Series by Charlaine Harris

I was not prepared to like this series, which lead to the HBO True Blood series on television. A friend got me started on them and, once I started, I couldn't put them down. I have read eight of the nine in the series and each one makes you jump right into the next. I don't believe I have ever seen humor, mystery, romance, vampire fiction, and a southern setting thrown in together in such a successful way. (Southern Bible Belt Baptists might want to steer clear.)

Of course, the mystery involves an awful lot of murders. I fact so many people meet their deaths, it does make you remember that this is definitely fiction. I think about half the people in Sookie's little Southern town have been either murdered or accused of murder by now.

This series is light reading and good fun.

Girls in Trucks by Katie Crouch

I kept looking for the humor but this book was just down right depressing. There is a glimmer of hope in the end but not enough to redeem the whole book. This girl had a train wreck of a life.