My favorite books of 2008

And now.. my Favorite Books of 2008! this where the books that I have read and where published in 2008. All the books that I have read where great but some books where just above good..here they come:

1. Suite Scarlett by Maureen Johnson

2. The Juliet Club by Suzanne Harper

3. Rumors by Anna Godbersen


4. Good Enough by Paula Yoo


5. Princess Mia by Meg Cabot

6. The year my sister got lucky by Aimee Friedman


7. Notes from the backseat by Jody Gehrman


8. First Daughter; White House Rules by Mitali Perkins

9. Holly Would Dream by Karen Quinn

10. Audrey, wait! by Robin Benway


I also want to name a few favorite books that I have read already but wich will be published in 2009, their reviewed will be posted in 2009 on this blog or on www.abc.nl/blog , they are: Forever Princess by Meg Cabot, Very Valentine by Adriana Trigiani, Ransom my heart by Mia Thermopolis , Love and other natural disasters by Hollys Shumas.
What where your favorite books of 2008?
I am looking forward to a new great year of reading and reviewing books!

You know you love me,(Gossip Girl#2)by Cecily von Ziegesar

In You Know You Love Me, the sequel to Gossip Girl, it's b Blair Waldorf's seventeenth birthday, and she knows exactly what she wants--Nate, her studly troubles boyfriend of three years. But Blair's been too busy filling out Ivy League college applications to notice that Nate has found himself another playmate.
Serena is still busy with her movie contest project for school. Will she win the contest or will Vanessa?
Blair's goal is to be accepted at Yale, and she only will apply there. But what will happen now she has flunked the application interview?

I also liked this second novel of Gossip Girl. It goes further on the same foot where book #1 ends. It is not very different from book 1, but it was good.More reviews of Gossip Girl are coming up for review in the future : )

Gossip Gir(book #1) by Cecily von Ziegesar

Welcome to the Upper East Side of New York City where Blair Waldorf and Serena van der Woodsen are the ruling It girls.
When Serene van der Woodsen returns to the Clarence private school for girls after being kicked out of bourding school in France, the rumour and gossip begins. Why was she kicked out? No way Blair Waldorf, Serena and she used to be best friends in the past, will accept that Serena will take everyone's attention away from her!
And then there are the boys Nate and Chuck. Who did it with who in the past and what are the plans for now..read and find out..
In between the chapters about the fabulous and privileged lives of Blair and Serena, there is the anonymous blogger who calls herself Gossip Girl. She knows everything about what is happening in the lives of the privileged private school young adults who are living across the Metropolitan Museum of art. But who is Gossip Girl and how can she know everything?
I still hadn't read any of the Gossip Girl novels but I was curious about it after seeing the tv series and after I had read The Luxe Novels by Anna Godbersen(wich is the same style as Gossip Girl, but then set in New York in 1899).
Before I began reading I had put all my expectations aside, I have heard various things about Gossip Girl, positive and negative.And I must confess I had my thoughts if I wouldlike it after reading this big piece about Gossip Girl in the New York Times. So I started just blank.
In one day I had finished book 1 and I have to be honest: I have a new book series addiction. It was totally The Luxe-like! Cecily von Ziegesar did a great job, the characters are a bit unrealistic(how overly overly spoiled can you be??)but that is just the most great and funny thing. The chapters are short and that makes it sharp and a quick read. I have the second novel also on my bookshelf, wich I will start reading right now.

Five things I can't live without by Holly Shumas

On paper, Nora's life looks perfect. She's moving in with her boyfriend Dan, she has a stable job and a great group of friends. But she's stuck in what she refers to as "meta-life," the plight of overthinking and secondguessing to the point of self-sabotage. One day at work, Nora decides to thwart her meta-life by following her instincts. In what feels like a moment of revelation, she quits her job. Immediately, her meta-life goes into overdrive: What on earth was she thinking--and what is she going to do now? Fortunately, when a friend asks Nora to rewrite her Internet dating profile, she realizes that not only is she good at it, but she really enjoys it. Billing herself as a Cyrano de Bergerac for the lovelorn, Nora finally begins to find professional success. But soon, Nora's meta-life has latched onto the question she's asked so many clients: What are the five things she can't live without? Is her flourishing business one of them? Is Dan? With each new client and each step she takes in her own relationship, she must confront her biggest demon--her self-sabotaging "meta-life." But will she be able to slay it forever?

This is the debut novel of Holly Shumas. I was really excited to read another novel by her hand after reading Love and other natural disasters(this review comes up in januari for the Hachette Early Birds Blog Tour). I truly liked this book, but it was just a bit too long and the story had no real further development. But it was enjoyable to read(I loved that it was set in San Francisco) and I am really curious what the next novel of Holly Shumas will be.

Picture Perfect by Catherine Clark

Every few years, Emily's dad is planning a reunion for his old college friends and their families. The last reunion was three years ago, so she hasn't seen her friends Heather, Spencer and Adam since then! Emily still has feelings for Spencer, will they finally are going to date? And who is that hottie neighbour boy that Emily discovers the day of arrival?
Heather''s plan is that she and Emily must find the perfect summer fling before they will head of to college .Will they find their summer fling, or are the summer flings closer to them then they think?
Catherine Clark has written a perfect summer read with Picture Perfect. It is a light and funny book and you immediately want to be friend with the group of friends in this book. The only thing that I missed while reading this book was a large strawberry milkshake for the complete summer vibe ; ).

Meg Cabot

I have found a great interview with my favorite author Meg Cabot on youtube, hope you like it too, enjoy!

officially spoiled..blush

Hope you are having great holidays!
I am so spoiled yesterday...blush..blush..blush..
Just wanted to share it with you..
Because this present that I got reminded me of the kind of books that I read.
This are the mug and plate that I got yesterday from my twinbrother and his girlfriend.
Don't you like the sunny Monte Carlo theme on it?
It reminded me of my holiday in Stresa, Italy last summer and of Genovia (the location where the books and movie of the princess diaries are ) and of this book:
I also have got an black and white Audrey Hepburn umbrella (thanks mom, kiss!)
and my twinbrother and girlfriend also gave me the dvd of the movie La Vie En Rose, about the life of singer Edith Piaf.
Thank you sweet family!
I also bought myself something last week wich is really funny. I saw thie very funny looking tiny booklight at Waterstones. You canclip it at the back flap of your book so you can read in the dark!This is the purple one I have bought:


And now I am going to figure out what I can do with my new Waterstones card, and rest a bit from yesterday. (my health is still not 100%, I want to thank here all the sweet and lovely people who mailed and supported since I had a bit of a breakdown, you really know who your friends are when you need them!)
We are going to a bowling alley this afternoon and eat at my sister's place.
But I am too tired to looking forward to it..

Cupcake by Rachel Cohn

When Cyd Charisse moves from San Francisco to start a new life in New York City, she leaves behind her family -- and her true love, Shrimp.

She wants to find a cool job, the city's best caffeination and most perfect cupcake, and a hot new love. But the reality of CC's new life hits some unexpected obstacles, including a broken leg that renders her immobile; the joy and aggravation of sharing an apartment with a roommate who's also an older brother; and a tasty selection of guys -- none of whom measure up to Shrimp.

Then, just when CC starts to get her new life on track, her old love returns. Shrimp has given up on his plans to live and surf in New Zealand and arrives in NYC with nothing to do other than to be with CC. And this time CC is determined that she and Shrimp will not repeat their old mistakes.
And repeat is the word that comes to mind when I look back at this book. The story was beginning good, but then it became a repeating of itself. And that made it a very long and a bit dreadfull book. I had truky expected more of this book. Cyd keeps dragging about her boyfriend Shrimp over and over and over again, but she takes no action. And that was something that was lacking this book too: action and a real storyline.

Spin Control by Niki Burnham

Valerie Winslow never thought life in the tiny country of Schwerinborg could be so great.
But then she never thought she would be dating the prince of Schwerinborg either! Georg, a real prince, is also her first real boyfriend.
And then everything falls apart. Georg's decided they need to cool off for a while and her dad's sending her back to Virginia to visit her mom.At her mom's house, she has to deal with the fact that her mom is into a new relationship...with a woman.
Valerie's bummed -- until she decides to go out with her old crush, David Anderson. David may not be a prince, but maybe he'll take her mind off of Georg -- or will he?
There where so many of the Simonsays Romantic Comedies at the american book store where I always go to buy new books. And I have picked Spin Control. It was cute and funny, not very spectacular, and I must say I have read better books in the Romantic Comedies series by SimonSays. But it was not bad. Just a good in between books, nothing more, nothing less.

HAPPY HOLIDAYS!!

HAPPY HOLIDAYS!!

Hope you all have a very merry christmas, or a wonderful Hanukkah!

Envy, new book in the The Luxe series comes out 27/1

The newest book in the The Luxe series by author Anna Godbersen will be published the 27th pf Januari!! Yeah, I just can't wait to read what's going to happen next!
It is called Envy and the cover looks like this, gorgeous as always!

You can read a teaser of Envy here

We have a holiday winner!

Sorry that I didn't have named a Holiday Book Giveaway winner yet, readers!
I still have very limited computer acces. Today I got the news that my home computer (wich is from the prehistoric, in computer therms anyway, 2004) . So I have to go on hunt for a laptop tomorrow! I hope I will post tomorrow from my brand new laptop!

Anyway..to the point!
I put all the names who entered in a hat and tossed and my brother has picked a name!
and the name on the card that my brother picked out of the hat was...

Keri!

Please mail me your mailing adress and I will pop the book in the mail for you!

I also have bought a bunch of new books yesterday!
A few books new on the To Review list are:
Princess Gossip by Sabrina Bryan
Gossip Girl 1+2 by Cecily von Ziegesar
Picture Perfect by Catherine Clark
Cupcake by Rachel Cohn
Spin Control by Niki Burnham
Alice In The Know by Phyllis Reynolds Naylor
Five things I can't live without by Holly Shumas
Violet By Design by Melissa Walker
Missing You by Meg Cabot
Orange is the new pink by Nina Malkin
Perfect Chemistry by Simone Elkeles


So I have a lot to read already!

Oh..a year after it came out (yeah I am behind haha) I finally have seen the movie Enchanted!
I have it on dvd now...isn't it the perfect time to watch movies like this?

The Hindi Bindi Club by Monica Pradhan

For decades they have remained close, sharing treasured recipes, honored customs, and the challenges of women shaped by ancient ways yet living modern lives. They are the Hindi-Bindi Club, a nickname given by their American daughters to the mothers who left India to start anew—daughters now grown and facing struggles of their own.

For Kiran, Preity, and Rani, adulthood bears the indelible stamp of their upbringing, from the ways they tweak their mothers’ cooking to suit their Western lifestyles to the ways they reject their mothers’ most fervent beliefs. Now, bearing the disappointments and successes of their chosen paths, these daughters are drawn inexorably home.

Kiran, divorced, will seek a new beginning—this time requesting the aid of an ancient tradition she once dismissed. Preity will confront an old heartbreak—and a hidden shame. And Rani will face her demons as an artist and a wife. All will question whether they have the courage of the Hindi-Bindi Club, to hold on to their dreams—or to create new ones.

I always like books that gives insight in other cultures, soI had high expectations of Hindi Bindi Club. But unfortunately, I didn't like this book that much.
It keep stuck to much in dialogues, dialogues and oh..dialogues. The chapters are all from the view of a different person, and that makes it a really confusing book with lack of any kind of action.
Besides that it is a book with great Indian recipes between the chapters!
Three stars
For a picture and more info about this book, visit http://www.hindi-bindi.com/

Don't forget to enter for the holiday giveaway! You can comment an win an arc of Let it snow by Maureen Johnson, John Green and Lauren Myracle. Scroll down for more info! (I've only got to entries this far, and it is closing on the 20th of dec!)

Currently reading for Hachette Early Birds Blog Tour: Love and other natural disasters by Holly Shumas . a great book that will be published Januari 2009 (I can tell you; it is GOOD!)http://www.hollyshumas.com/

UPS delivery fun..

Many times(this morning also) a UPS delivery car and man are delivering books from the USA at my house.
This always makes me laugh. Not only because the facts that I get new review copies of books to review here, but also because I am watching a sitcom every evening; The King of Queens. For who not knows this sitcom: The main character is a deliveryman(Doug) at IPS (as in UPS). The daily struggles with his wife Carrie and her living in father Arthur are always fun! They are living in Queens, New York.
One of the funniest moments of the series is when Doug has composed a song about him and Carrie..

Hollywood Hills by Aimee Friedman

In this third book of the Jersey friends Holly Jacobson and Alexa St. Laurent, we spent the summer in Hollywood. The girls are invited by celebrity Margaux Eklundstrom’s to attend her wedding. They will stay at her brother Jonah's guesthouse. Alexa and Jonah are having a great time during their stay, but will they be true lovers?
Holly is havin troubles with her boyfriend Tyler: she is worried that they will not will attend the same college after summer. And is Tyler maybe worried that Holly is dating Hollywood guys?

Make your winter look like summer and go read Hollywood Hills.(or South Beach of French Kiss, also by author Aimee Friedman.
The story is as always sunny, shiny and fun!
I hope there will be more books of this series, so I have something to look forward to to read next summer in my beach/pool/backyard/ chair!
Five stars

The final princess diaries book..sniff..

In Januari, the final book in the Princess Diaries book by Meg Cabot will be published!
I already have read and reviewed it for the blog of the American Book center (the review will be on their blog in Januari) and it was AWESOME!
A book to look forward to!

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What will happen in this final book?
Will Mia be crowned Queen of Genovia, as in the movie??

Ransom my heart, a novel by Mia Thermopolis, Princess of Genovia

In january, the debut novel of Mia Thermopolis, Princess of genovia, (the main character in the princess diaries) will be published!
I also read and reviewed this one last month for the blog of www.abc.nl , even as brilliant as princess diaries 10!

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A girl's guide to witchcraft by Mindy Klasky

Which is more unlikely?
Meeting a single, straight, reasonably attractive, willing-to-commit man?
Or discovering a secret cache of magic books?
For good girl Jane Madison, neither has a shot in hell of coming true--until the day she finds a hidden room….
Now she's done a bit of experimenting and found a spell that makes her irresistible to men--even those who have previously ignored her. And another that turns a cat into her witch's familiar (a snarky, critical, self-absorbed man--pretty much a typical male). Though her impulsive acts of magic have brought a warder (sexy, grouchy, elusive and determined to stop her from using magic) down on her, Jane's not willing to let go of this fantastic new life.
Though she wonders about having things that aren't "real," she's having too much fun to stop. After all, no one ever said being a witch was easy..

Last week I received all the three Jane Madison books by Mindy Klasky (thanks Mindy and Harlequin for the review copies : )
This is the first one I have read of i. I thought it was a very funny story about how to put a spell on the man of your dreams, as in many of this stories, this works not as planned for the girl in the book. I have a new fav author on my list with Mindy Klasky and I am very curious to the next book.. Sorcery and the single girl!
Four stars

Winners, and a new giveaway!

Sorry its been quiet here the last days. i can not post decent reviews and interviews with pictures and everything. My home computer is stil away for maintenance. I am checking in frequently at my library!)

And now the random drawed winners of the Jane Porter giveaway!!Drumroll please...
Allison and Theresa N!
Please mail your mailing info to marjoleinbookblog@gmail.com!!!

And now..time for a holiday giveaway!I am giving away an advanced reader copy of Let It Snow. A holiday novel with three romance stories by Maureen Johnson. John Green and Lauren Myracle! (see my. old now. Currently reading pic on the left menu on my blog, I am reading The Other Boleyn Girl right now!)
How to enter:Leave a comment and tell me your plans for the holidays!The contest is open till the 20th of december good luck!

And now..just a rerun of a vlog author Melissa Walker has made for me!

A Mile From Sunday by Jo Kadlecek

Sometimes wolves pray in sheep’s clothing.
The perfect hair product is out there for girls with uncontrollably frizzy curls. So is the perfect piece of chocolate. So is the perfect man. And so is a good, warm, fuzzy, inspirational lead story. Jonna Lightfoot McLaughlin, religion reporter for the Denver Dispatch knows, in her heart, all this to be true. She just can’t find proof. For any of it.
Then one day, a series of mysterious messages appear on her voicemail and she is thrown headlong into a story that may drastically affect her career, and, if she’s not careful, her life. Clues from untraceable sources collide with duplicitous ministers, ambiguous monks, and one exceptionally good-looking community center director. With the help of her supportive editor, her savvy, fellow chocoholic colleague and the protection of her big brother, she might break the biggest story of the year and find some of that inspiration after all.

This is the second book in the Lightfoot series that I've read (the third one is going up for a review soon!) and I really liked it. This chick-lit was a kind of Christian Chick lit. It is also a mystery novel and it keeps you hooked till the end !
Four stars

Strange Relations by Sonia Levitin

A summer in paradise. That's all Marne wants. That's all she can think of when she asks her parents permission to spend the summer in Hawaii with Aunt Carole and her family.But Marne quickly realizes her visit isn't going to be just about learning to surf and morning runs along the beach, despite the cute surfer boy she keeps bumping into. For one thing, Aunt Carole isn't even Aunt Carole anymore—she's Aunt Chaya, married to a Chasidic rabbi and deeply rooted in her religious community. Nothing could be more foreign to Marne, and fitting into this new culture—and house full of kids—is a challenge. But as she settles into her newfound family's daily routine, she begins to think about spirituality, identity, and finding a place in the world in a way she never has before.This rich novel is a window into a different life and gets to the very heart of faith, identity, and family ties.

Wow, this was such a great book! It was very original and the author gives a view how it is to spend a summer vacation in a family of Hasidic Jews. It reminded me a bit of How to ruin a summer vacation by Simone Elkeles, another book that I really liked!
Five stars!

Death by Latte by Linda Gerber

It was only a few weeks ago that Aphra Connolly's life changed completely. She had been living a quiet existence on her father's secluded island resort, until Seth Mulo turned up and stole her heart . . . and provided information that led her to find her mom in Seattle. But the reunion isn't quite what she expected. Aphra's mom, Natalie, doesn't seem happy to see Aphra, and Natalie's boyfriend, Joe, insists that Aphra go home. Even worse, Seth shows up, only to ask her to return the ring he gave her the previous summer. At least Natalie's hunky neighbor is sympathetic. But when Joe is found dead at a nearby coffee shop, Aphra discovers her whole trip to Seattle has been based on a lie. And now someone just might be trying to kill her. . . .

I finished this book in one day. It was a little while ago that I finished Death by bikini, so I had to remind myself what it was about and who was who. I liked death by Latte, but I wasn't satisfied when I finished it. Death by bikini had a better story , Death by Latte was in my opinion only a boojk where Aphra(and her mom and Seth where running for something. But I am curious for Death by denim!
ranking :****

Interview with ya author Aimee Friedman!

Today, Marjoleinbookblog is having an interview with author Aimee Friedman!!
Aimee is well known in the YA book world for her books South Beach,French Kiss, Hollywood Hill, A Novel Idea and Mistletoe. Aimee lives and works in Brooklyn, New York.
For more about her and her books visit her site here

When did you start writing for young adults and why did you choose to write for young adults? I've written my whole life--as soon as I learned how to write, I was off and running, filling up notebooks with long stories that I called "novels." When I was ten and eleven and twelve I wrote the most, and I wrote about girls my own age--girls who were having problems with their friends, with boys, with their families. So in some ways, these were my first "young adult novels." :) Once I was in college, I planned on writing literary adult fiction, but then I took a job in children's publishing, and fell in love with young adult literature anew. My first novel for teens, SOUTH BEACH, was published in 2005, and I can't believe I've just finished my seventh novel for teens, SEA CHANGE, which will be out this summer. I love writing for teens, not just because it harkens back to a time when I myself was discovering my passion for writing and not just because the subject matter is so rich and complex and fun, but because teen readers are so wonderfully invested in books--they care so much about the characters and the stories, and hearing from my fans is endlessly rewarding

Where do you get your inspiration for your books and characters?
I will very often draw from my own life when coming up with book ideas. My novel THE YEAR MY SISTER GOT LUCKY was based very closely on the relationship I have with my sister, who, like Michaela in the book, was an enormously talented ballet dancer. The character of Michaela is a lot like my sister, and I am a great deal like the protagonist, Katie. I liked the idea of exploring the sister bond, and all the competitiveness and love and tangled emotions that come with it. Other books, like my newest book, SEA CHANGE, grow out of a topic that has fascinated me for a long time. I've always been obsessed with mermaids and sea legends, and I liked the notion of wedding that to a teen love story. And the characters who populate my books are often inspired by friends or family, or just people who pass through my life and catch my imagination in some way.

What book or project is coming out or has to come out that you'd like to tell us about?
Well, I've already talked a little bit about it, but I'm very excited about SEA CHANGE! It will be out this June. It's a sweeping, lush love story about a girl who spends a summer on a mysterious island off the coast of Savannah, Georgia, and she meets a boy who challenges everything she thought she knew about reality...and I'll leave it at that!

In your books, the reader travels to many places: Paris, Hollywood, Miami..do you visit the places you write about ? ( i loved French Kiss, as i visited Paris a few days before reading it!)
I'm so glad you loved French Kiss--Paris is probably one of my favorite cities in the world! Yes, I've been lucky enough to have traveled to the places I wrote about in the Alexa and Holly trilogy, because I wanted to do some research and soak up the atmosphere of those places. I think it's perfectly possible to write about a place without having ever been there, but knowing a place--its smells, its sounds, its sights, its vibe--I think lends an authenticity and richness to a story. Plus, I simply love traveling (though, like Holly in SOUTH BEACH, I don't like to fly...!) so that's a nice bonus aspect of the writing job!

What is the first thing you do when you begin a new book?
I have a lot of trouble with beginnings. I'll often write several--sometimes up to ten or twenty--different openings to a book until I hit upon one that feels right. This is usually a very stressful time for me (and for my friends, family, and boyfriend!) but once I get over that hump, I usually feel good about the writing and can go full steam ahead from there. I also like to draft a rough outline that I follow as a sort of guide--but I don't stick to it precisely, because I like to let the story and characters guide me on their own.

Can you give us a view into a typical day of your writing life?
6) I don't have a typical writer's life because I also work full-time as a book editor (a job I adore). So I squeeze in my writing whenever and however I can--mostly late at night and on weekends. It's not easy, but I wouldn't have it any other way. On, say, a weekend, though, when I have a full day to write, I'll get up, pack up my laptop (this is key), go out and get myself a big iced latte and muffin, and head to the library to write write write. It is very difficult for me to work from home (the distractions of the bed, TV, and fridge are too powerful!) so I will often hunker down in coffee shops or libraries if I want to get a lot of work done. Of course a big part of my writing day is also frustration, procrastination, and doubt. But that's all worth it for those moments when the work is going well, and you are excited about the story you're telling.

Do you have a dream for the future of your writing, something you would love to accomplish?
What I truly hope to accomplish--and what I hope I in some ways already have--is to get young people reading, and loving books and loving stories. When I get an email from a reader who says she didn't like to read until she got hooked on my books, there is nothing--nothing--more rewarding. I want to entertain my readers, to carry them out of their lives for a little while, and to let their imaginations roam. That is what I set out to do with my writing, and it is what I hope I can continue to do in the future.

Many thanks Aimee!

IMPORTANT NOTE!

My computer is taken away for a few days to be cleaned and fixed up, so it will take longer for me to check and update my blog and emails.
I will go online weekly at my library!

Readergirlz chat with Meg Cabot!!

Head over to the forum of Readergirlz! On their myspace forum, you can chat this month with the one and only Meg Cabot! Her book How to be popular is book pick of the month!
you can ask Meg questions an discuss her books right here
Oh, and don't forget to vote to make the dutch edition of Meg's book Size 14 is not fat either (in dutch: houd je hoofd koel! wich means keep your head cool!)book of the year 2008 on chicklit.nl

movie review:The Other Boleyn Girl

The movie The Other Boleyn girl is based on the book by Philippa Gregory (wich I still have to read). It tells the story of the two sisters Anne and Mary Boleyn.
Mary is bedazzled when she mets King Henry VIII for the first time. They But real soon it becomes clear that Mary is just a check piece in the hard ambitions of her parents.
When Henry's attention to Mary melts away, her sister Anne is picked to entertain te king. And Anne has succes, and Mary has to watch by how her sister is turning Henry into her husband... it is a stoy of love, betray,and adultery.
The movie is just a terrific costume drama. All the details are perfect. Mary and Anne Boleyn are played by Scarlett Johanson and Natalie Portman. Somtimes I find it difficult to watch historic movies, but this one was a good example of a clear storyline and you don't get lost in th historic crowd.

I just ordered the book of The Other Boleyn Girl,soon to be reviewed!

Flirting with forty by Jane Porter

Hachette Early Birds Blog Tour: Flirting with Forty by Jane Porter

Jackie and her husband are divorced. And now she is a single mom who is turning 40 soon.She lives in Seattle with her two kids. Willam and Jessica
With a friend she plans a trip to Hawaii, but when Jackie arrives on Seatlle airport, her friend cancels and Jackie is forced to go to Hawaii on her own.
In Hawaii she meets surfer Kai, and the wild passionate frling they have becomes the suprise of her life. How will this long distance romance work out when Jackie returns to her home and kids in Seattle?

Back home in Seattle, Jackie has to struggle with single parenthood and her memories. Kai hasn't forgotten her, yet thousands of miles of ocean and an age difference that feels even bigger lie between them. And, of course, Jackie's friends disapprove. When a choice must be made, can she, will she risk everything for her chance at happiness?

Flirting with forty is just another wonderfull romance/chicklit novel by Jane Porter. Previously I have read and reviewed her books Odd Mom Out and The frog Prince wich I thought where great, so I had high expectations of Flirting with Forty.
And I can say my high expectations of this book where true: I could not put it down.
It has so many recognizable points, even when you are younger than Jackie. I could totally relate to her feelings and what she was going through. That is really the strongest point and power of this novel. I am really looking forward to read and review Mrs. Perfect soon. I have again high expectations of it and think that books will also be as perfect as Flirting with Forty.


Flirting with forty is also made into a Lifetime movie, starring Heather Locklear!



Would you like to win a copy of Odd Mom Out or The Frog Prince by Jane Porter?
I am giving away a copy of each!!
Comment below and you are entered!
the contest closes on the 14th of December!

My sisters' voices by Iris Jacob

My sisters' voices is a short story and poem collection. All the writers are teenage girls of African American, Hispanic, Asian American, Native American, and biracial backgrounds. Ethnicity is the key word of this book. The more than one hundred stories and poems are telling about their lifes. Inspiring stories about family, friendship,love, loss and opression.
I really liked the honesty and open-mindedness of the authors and their stories. The stories are a bit short and that made it a very ver fast read. And to be honest, I expected more of this book.
But it is must read in our global community and everyone interested in other cultures.