Wishin' and Hopin'...a Novel by Wally Lamb

When you read an author for the first time and you fall in love, you feel as if you hit the author jackpot. Well, if you're anything like me you do. There are so many authors out there today and when I find one whose name I remember I know that they must be good.


That describes Wally Lamb to me. An author who can wrap me into his words, his stories, his pages. The first novel that I read by him was She's Come Undone. It was fabulous and I still remember it to this day--I can't tell you how many years ago that I read this book, but for me to remember it today? That is saying something about Wally Lamb as an author.


I am now reading Wally Lamb's novel Wishin' and Hopin'. This book sucked me in from the moment I started reading the first chapter titled Flight.  Love, love, love it! He has an amazing way with words. Such an amazing way that you are drawn in to the book. I have no doubt that I will have the book finished by next week.


Wishin' and Hopin' is about a fifth grade boy growing up in 1964. Ten year old Felix is trying his best to navigate himself through the fifth grade which he finds somewhat hard to do considering that he gets nightmares from scary movies and he bears a striking resemblance to a certain adorable cartoon boy. There are, however, things that young Felix can depend on: the birds and bees are as puzzling as ever, television is magical, and this will be one Christmas that he will never forget.


In the beginning the book starts out by being narrated from the adult Felix. He tells of how in the fifth grade he is the reason for Sister Dymphna's nervous breakdown. I started laughing at his description of her melt down and how she had been mopey since morning prayer. Maybe it's the Catholic in me, but it made laugh even imagining!


I highly recommend this book if you are wanting something festive to get you in the Christmas spirit and if you ever sit and reminisce about holidays from your past. You know the ones you remember--the one where you got that beloved toy, the one where you got a bike, the one where you had strep throat. I think that that is one part of why Christmas is so magical to me, just being able to sit and soak in all of the memories.


If you do decide to check out Wishin' and Hopin' I don't think you will be disappointed one bit. Let me know if you decide to check it out!

Wally Lamb is also the author of many successful novels such as She's Come Undone and I Know This Much is True, both of which made it to the New York Time's bestsellers list and Oprah picked them both for her Book Club. He resides in Connecticut with his family.

Bird in Hand

I've been addicted to books my entire life. From curling up in a cozy chair, to hiding under my covers with a flashlight, some of my happiest memories from childhood involve a good read that takes me away to another place with new lives to get to know and different worlds to discover.

The newest book on my nightstand? Bird in Hand by Christina Baker Kline. I was hooked from the moment I began to read Bird in Hand--I can always tell if I'll love a book by the first page or two.

I was immediately drawn in once I started reading and turning the pages. I felt like I could relate to her characters as if I were there with them during their lives and the changes that started unraveling before their very eyes.

Bird in Hand is based around two couples: Alison and Charlie, Claire and Ben. They have been close friends for ten years. Alison and Charlie moved to the suburbs and had two children. Claire and Ben stayed put in New York City and were focused on their careers.

Although their lives have changed since initially becoming friends, they have tried to remain as close as possible--which we all know that is hard enough once someone moves away, one couple has children and the other couple does not.

Then a horrible, tragic event happened on a rainy evening in New Jersey after leaving a party in the city. In that very instance lives are changed forever--for all four characters. And once this event takes place everything is unraveled and they must start truly examining their own lives, who they are, who they aspire to be.

Here is an excerpt that I want to share--and that I believe may have you hooked, too:

The accident was just that — an accident. It was dark, it was raining, Alison had two drinks in her, and the other car ran the stop sign. She just didn’t get out of the way fast enough. But now a little boy — not her own — is dead, and Alison finds herself trapped under the twin burdens of grief and guilt, and feeling increasingly estranged from her husband . 

That is all I want to tell you about the book without giving too much away--I definitely do not want to spoil any secrets from Bird in Hand--I love surprises and definitely do not want to ruin it for any of my blog readers!

Christina Baker Kline is a novelist, non-fiction writer and editor. Residing in New Jersey with her husband and three boys, they enjoy spending their summers in Maine. She has three other novels that include The Way Life Should Be, Desire Lines and Sweet Water.

She is also available to follow on Twitter and Facebook--I have joined in her following and hope you will, too!

I'll definitely be reading her other novels since reading Bird in Hand. I highly recommend this book to all of my readers--I've been raving about it to my Mom ever since I started to read it. I loved it!

Thank you to TLC Book Tours and Christina Baker Kline for the opportunity to read Bird in Hand.  I loved the book so much!

The Cougar Club {A Winey Mommy Book Review & Giveaway}

For as long as I can remember I've loved a great book. Just going to the local bookstore and browsing through the sea of books is a much needed stress reliever. The book covers, the smell of the new book, a coffee in hand. That's heaven to me.

I recently read a wonderful book, The Cougar Club. When I first saw the title and the cover I was interested. When I read a blurb about the book I knew it was right up my alley. Life, romance, life crises--definitely my style! Here is  what the book is about from the author, Susan McBride:

Meet three women who aren’t about to run and hide, just because the world says they should be on the shelf and out of circulation: 

Kat Maguire: her life seems perfect until she loses her high-powered advertising job and catches her live-in lover in a compromising position—with his computer! 

Carla Moss: this sexy TV news anchor is in danger of being replaced by a twenty-something blond bimbo. Wasn’t it just yesterday that she was the up and coming star? 

Elise Randolph: a married dermatologist, Elise thinks her plastic surgeon husband is playing doctor with someone else. 

You know when you start a book only to realize that there is no way you'll ever want to finish it? That was not the case with The Cougar Club. I was hooked from the first page--reading into the nite while everyone else was asleep and using my trusty book light. While reading the beginning of the book I really felt like I was there with Kat--from her getting fired, to her in disbelief she was getting fired, to her jerk of a boyfriend. Susan McBride is an amazing author. Her writing style is easy flowing and believable. I know I that will read her other books which include anything from Young Adult such as The Debs or a good mystery book such as The Good Girl's Guide to Murder.

I would give this book two thumbs up--and I definitely recommend it to all of my readers who enjoy a great read and just need to escape for awhile.

***Win It!***

The author of The Cougar Club, Susan McBride, has graciously offered to give one lucky reader a signed copy of The Cougar Club!

***How to Win***

Make sure you leave a separate comment per entry. If it says 2 entries leave 2 comments.

{mandatory entry} Visit Susan McBride's website and tell me which book {besides the mentioned books} you would like to read.

{3 entries} Become a fan of The Cougar Club on Facebook

{2 entries for each} Follow my blog on Google Friend connect, subscribe via a Reader and/or email

{2 entries} Follow The Winey Mommy on Twitter

{1 entry per tweet} Tweet this giveaway! Leave your tweet link in your comment. Can tweet 1x per hour.

{2 entries} Grab my button and place on your blog. Leave me a link to where I can find it

{10 entries} Blog about this giveaway linking back to this post. Leave your post link in your comment.

***Rules***

 This giveaway will end on Feb18th @ NOON CST. Open to all US residents 18+. To to be eligible to win you must do mandatory entry. If you do not follow that rule all entries will be void. Leave a valid email address in comment or available on profile. Winner will be drawn via Random.org and will have 48 hours to respond to notification email. If winner does not contact back w/full name/address a new winner will be 

picked. All winners will be posted on blog when picked.

I was provided a copy of  The Cougar Club in order to read the book and give an honest review. Thank you to TLC Book Tours and Susan McBride for making this possible! No other compensation was given.