This was our book club selection for November - and I couldn't have been happier about that. I love, Love, LOVE this book!!! I had read it before but was more than happy to read it again. I love the story, the possibility ... all the "what if's" that are explored in this book. I think it had a great beginning, middle AND end! READ THIS BOOK ... IT ROCKS!!!
The Frog Prince is Jane Porter's first book. First off, I did like this book. It was easy to read and a good story. I feel like I got to know the characters and could feel empathy for them, especially the main character, Holly.
I liked that this story wasn't about "getting the guy." It was a story about becoming comfortable with oneself, about finding out who you are and your place in the world. I think that Jane Porter did a great job getting the message out that you are the important person in your life.
So, if you want a quick, easy, feel-good read I recommend The Frog Prince. You are your own prince (read the book and you will understand!).
For more of our reviews of Jane's books go here.
I read "Mrs. Perfect" and surprisingly I really REALLY liked the book a LOT!!! If you recall, Jerrie read the book & did NOT give it a great review which is fine ... we can't always like the same books. ☺ Based on Jerrie's review I really didn't expect to like the book at all but I'm glad I gave the book a try because it worked for me. I really LOVED reading about Taylor!!! She definitely starts out the book as a selfish, ridiculously snotty and just plain "rich bitch!" I hated that Taylor!!! When her husband lets her know that he lost his job (oh yeah, 6 months ago) and her life as she knows it starts to fall apart you see an entirely different Taylor emerge. She struggles and fails on many accounts but she overcomes & becomes SO much stronger and more independent & I really loved reading about her transformation. I really have no sympathy for the "richies" who let it all slip away but this definitely gave me another side to consider. All in all, this is still no "Flirting With Forty" which I'm sure you all know by now I truly LOVED (but have still yet to buy ... I really need to get on that) but it's a great book. Seriously! ☺
Once again Jane Porter has made me happy! I totally enjoyed "Odd Mom Out" and hated to see it end ... truly! If you scroll down to June 13th you can see Jerrie's review & I have to say, I totally agree with it. Jane does a fantastic job of writing people as they are ... wow, what a concept. If only other authors were so realistic. As someone who definitely feels left out more times than I care to count, I could totally relate to Marta. I 100% feel in ♥ with Luke (omg, he's a catch for sure) and had to laugh at Eva & all her little quirks. I very highly recommend this book!
I finished Jane Porter's Odd Mom Out. As you may recall from an earlier post I wasn't thrilled with her latest book, Mrs. Perfect, however I loved her earlier two. So, I was thrilled when Jane herself contacted me and sent me this book to read.
First let me say I wasn't disappointed in this book! It was a lot of fun. I enjoyed the characters (Marta is a hoot!) and the whole premise of the book. I can relate (slightly) to feeling a bit out of place (can't everyone?), however not quite as out of place as Marta.
Marta is a supporting character in Mrs. Perfect and I liked reading this and getting the background on her. There were a few points in the story I wanted to shake her and say "Hey! It's not all about you!" - you'll understand if you read it. I really felt for her daughter who so desperately wants to fit in, be a normal 4th grader. That is a hard time for a lot of kids and working in schools, as I do, I see the need for kids to be accepted. While I understand Marta and even agree with her keeping her individuality there is a part of me that wanted that little girl to just 'feel normal.'
I do recommend this book and I also recommend reading it prior to Mrs. Perfect. I am still not sold on Mrs. Perfect, however I do wish I read these two in the intended order. Odd Mom Out made me like Taylor and her daughter, Jemma (from Mrs. Perfect) even less - especially Jemma. In Mrs. Perfect I felt bad for Jemma and her sisters and this book made me not like her at all!
Thank you Jane Porter for another fun read. Jane's books keep me entertained and focused (usually only takes me a couple days to read) - to the dismay of my family at times (haha).
***If you haven't read Flirting with Forty yet please do it. I love that book and highly recommend it. It would be a wonderful beach read! btw: Flirting with Forty is being made into a Lifetime Original Movie starring Heather Locklear (set to premiere December 2008)! Fun!
Finally a new post. Yay!
I finished Mrs. Perfect, by Jane Porter a few weeks ago and was really not excited to blog about it. I picked this book up at Village Books - our fabulous, local independent book store - and was very excited to read it. I loved Flirting With Forty and The Frog Prince, so I was expecting to really like this one as well.
As you may be able to tell from the previous paragraph my expectations were not met. I rarely write a "bad" review mostly because I usually don't read books I don't like - I put them down if they aren't grabbing me, holding my attention. Yet, with this book, I kept reading. I think liking her other books so well I thought things would come around. They just didn't.
So, what didn't I like? Let's see:
I felt this book was very superficial. I didn't feel a connection to any of the characters - I couldn't like them or dislike them...there wasn't enough to them to create a relationship. I didn't feel a connection in this book at all. The characters weren't formed enough for me. I felt this book did a lot of telling and not a lot of showing. A constant tell of what was happening, not enough substance to make me try or want to form my own feelings toward the book. I think Jane Porter did a better job of describing the furniture and clothes than the actual people.
I know that there was a book before this one, Odd Mom Out, where Taylor (the main character) is introduced and maybe that would give more sustenance to this book...however, I didn't read it and probably won't. I will wait for Jane's next book and definitely give it a try.
Anyway. I wouldn't recommend this one, but if anyone out there in the blog-o-sphere wants to try it let me know and I will send it your way!
I finished Flirting with Forty by Jane Porter. Jane Porter is a Northwest author, originally from California now living in Seattle. When I went to her website to check her out I was suprised to find that she is the author of several Harlequin romance books. While I am not a Harlequin fan I do I recommend this book. This book is more beach-read chick lit than trashy-romance. Fun book.
I did not finish, or even really 'get into' The Sunday List of Dreams by Kris Radish. As I said before I read other books by this author and at times the stories were a 'little out there.' I put this on my nightstand in my 'to read' pile (which is growing by the day along with the 'to read' list) and will attempt it again at a later date. I will try a book twice before giving up completely. Sometimes I just am not in the right frame of mind for a particular book at a particular time, however after two attempts I usually stop. There are too many books...too little time.
Because I didn't read The Sunday List of Dreams I needed a new book to read, so I spent a little time in the Washington D.C. Barnes and Noble and picked up a few new books. I have to admit that neither of the books I picked up were deep-thinking books. They were both chick lit, which is fine. I love chick lit, there is a time and place for all types of books. I picked up A Dangerous Dress, by Julia Holden.
I have to admit I was initially drawn to this book because of the cover. It is pink (girly), has a pretty dress on the front, and as many know I love the Eiffel Tower (see the Eiffel Tower?). So, I picked this up because of the cover and read it because of the fun writing and intrigue of the dress. Now I wish I was bequested a dress that led me on such an adventure. A book about a dress. Fantastic.
While in D.C. I completed 'Flirting with Forty' by Jane Porter. This was an easy to read book with lots of emotion. I recommend it when you want a light, easy book...like a beach read. As I said, however, there is quite a bit of emotion involved. I think that any woman (divorced, single, or happily married -like myself) can relate to the main character. Good read.
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