The Cubicle Next Door

The Cubicle Next Door

Siri L. Mitchell

2006 Christy Award Nominee Author

I enjoyed this book except for the fact that I didn’t like Jackie. How can I like a book and dislike the main character? Well first the writing was good and the story was excellent. I just found Jackie annoying and I didn’t like her. It’s kind of like the co-worker that does a great job, is a team player ect, basically the perfect co-worker but you just can’t stand them personally .

Synopsis: Jackie is thirty year old self described geek. As the systems administrator at the Air Force Academy she is going through life perfectly fine until she is all of a sudden forced to share an office with the new instructor Joe. She begrudgingly divides her office into two cubicles and turns to the internet to vent. Everything is all good until her blog highlighted on the evening news and everyone including its subject Joe begins to read. Will Joe catch on that the blog is about him and will Jackie ever open her eyes to what’s right in front of her?

I mean how am I supposed to like a girl that doesn’t like football? At that point I almost put the book down for good (just kidding... kind of*). Plus all that damn environmentalism talk got on my last damn nerve. I’m all for saving, conserving recycling but I HATE when people push it down your throat. I think a lot has to do with this whole “Green is in” trend BS the media and Al Gore is feeding us. (My views can be summed up here). Also, Jackie was way to naïve for me. It was obvious that Joe was interested, but I detested the way she acted. Like when she was getting ready for the ball I wanted to shake her and say get over it. Do people really act that childish for no reason? So I didn't really like Jackie at all, she just annoyed me too much.

But here is where I believe good writing and a good story saved me. Both were so good, that I kept plunging back into the book (albeit more slowly than usual). In the end I enjoyed the story and have to give kudos to Ms. Mitchell for a creating a unique character, one you typically don’t find in chic-lit be it Christian or otherwise.

The topic and location were also interesting and different. The Air force Academy/Military- Civilian angle was cool (coming from an Army Brat). Of course there is the idea that most endeared me to the book- the blogging aspect and while it was a little underplayed for my taste and blogging expertise, I still enjoyed it. For instance the blog wasn’t really that interesting to me. Second I think that it is unbelievable to think that Jackie could start a blog and not get caught up in the blogshpehere ( especially checking stats). As a blogger for the last 3 years, the blogshpehere is addicting from reading other people’s blogs to updating your own ( sometimes obsessively) and Jackie did none of that. Part of me thinks Ms. Mitchell made it that way so those who are not as technologically savvy could still enjoy and understand the book.

So, if you are looking for an interesting, unique story from and interesting and unique point of view with a cute ending, than The Cubicle Next Door is for you.

*In my world, football is king, and the Southeastern Conference is the kingdom.

Southern girls know their religions:
Baptist
Methodist
Football

Nearlyweds

Nearlyweds
Beth Kendrick
***** (5/5)

So this was my second book by Beth Kendrick this summer. I read tried to read My Favorite Mistake, but I just couldn’t really get into it* this one however was a totally different story and I read it all in one evening.

Nearlyweds is about 3 women who have their dream wedding one weekend only to find out weeks later that the officiant died before signing the marriage certificates so they aren’t legally married. To make matters even more complicated, the honeymoon period is long over and the women are wondering if this legal loophole isn’t a blessing in disguise. One evil step-daughter an even eviler mother-in-law, a crazy dog an self-insecurity are just some of the themes that makes Nearlyweds one of my favorite books of the summer.

First, I enjoyed it because it was an extremely original idea and interesting. The characters were varied and not all the clichéd characters you usually read about in chic-lit. The story is extremely fast paced and I got so into the book that I finished it in one evening. I really couldn’t put it down without knowing what happened to the women and their men. There were ups and downs, I was excited, happy, angry and sad, and in the end I was satisfied. I spent the evening reading a great book, with a great ending.

Sometimes I did wonder in the women were acting a bit childish and running away from their problems instead of facing it, but I think ms. Kendrick did a good job with character development and their history to make us really see the women’s side of the story. But I would have really enjoyed discussing that at a book club meeting to get someone's else take on the situation(s).

If you like chic-lit you’ll definitely like this book; however, even if you don’t care for the genre too much (but still enjoy it from time to time) you’ll enjoy it as well, because in my opinion it came off as a little more than just chic-lit.

*I think I couldn’t get into My Favorite Mistake because I was also reading Flies on The Butter and they had similar storied- women who ran away and were now reluctantly returning home to face something and blah, blah, blah. I’m really tired of that story line at the current moment.

Life, Liberty & The Pursuit of Happiness

Life, Libby & The Pursuit of Happiness

Lydia Hope

**** ( 4.5/5)


Libby Marshall thought everything would come together when she received the promotion at work that she was promised 5 years ago. However, a corporate merger changes and all that and Libby is demoted to an administrative assistant. Her demotion is just the beginning of crazy things to come and suddenly Libby’s life is a big mystery, with her former boss missing and a huge secret which might be the key to her future career. Libby begins a journey to start living life in the moment AND trusting her faith.

I really enjoyed this book. Overall Libby was a great character. She wasn’t to cliché or overly anything (whiny, ECT) - just a normal girl who thought she had everything figure out, but didn’t factor in life. The themes ( faith, trusting God,) were not shoved at us but sprinkled into a few key passages that were very moving for Libby (and for me). The message and the passages felt very real, I felt as if it were my aunt giving them to me.

There were a few times, especially at the end that I rolled my eyes as how perfectly everything wrapped up. I know sometimes life is like that, but some things at the end were a bit too perfect, but overall it was a great read.

I highly recommended this cute and inspiring story.

Last Night A DJ Saved My Life

Last Night A DJ Saved My Life

Lylah Beth LeFore

Every time I think of this book I just want to sing. Anyway my sister bought this book but didn’t like it too much. I think that it’s because she is 16 and hasn’t really dealt with the issues in the book and couldn’t relate.

Destiny Day is a high powered PR/Event planner from NYC who has a list of men that keep her occupied, satisfied and most importantly uncommitted. Then she meets, Taye Crawford and suddenly everything she begins to wonder if that’s good enough. Destiny was a cool character; I enjoyed her friends, especially Ms. Josephine’s sage advice. This book was kind of like a black Sex & the City/ Chic- Lit book.

I really enjoyed this book; although it was a little slow at times, it still kept me interested. I’d be interested in reading more work from the author.

This was a bonus selection for Book Club # 1. The author was supposed to be there, but unfortunately she was injured and unable to come. Instead we got to meet Denene Milner author of Sad I missed her, but Ms. Milner was great as well. We missed out on a discussion of this book and instead, Ms. Milner read from her latest book The Vow. I've read other works ( In Love and War, Love Don't Live here anymore,A Love Story, The Sistah's Rules and my favorite- The Angry Black Woman's Guide to Life) by Ms. Milner and enjoyed them, but most of them were so long ago , I can't remember.

As far as The Vow, I think I liked it. I read it in the store cause I couldn't afford it at the time, so I read it pretty quickly

Size 12 is not Fat

Size 12 is not Fat

Meg Cabot

**** ( 4/5)

From the author of Princess Diary and the " Email books" ( Every Boys Got One and The Boy Next Door comes a new lovable "mystery, crime fighting" chick Heahter Wells. Heather Wells is a former teen- pop star a la Brittney Spears whose mother ran off with her life savings and her manager and who just caught her pop-star boy friend (a la Justin Timberlake) in bed with another pop star (Jessica perhaps?). She then finds a job as the assistant director of dorm (excuse me) Residence Hall at New York College. When two of the residents are murdered in what appear to be “accidents”, heather goes on the hunt in sear of the truth, all while battling her love of Dove Bars, and not so normal boss, an expanding waistline (size 12 is not fat, it’s the normal size for American women), an annoying, trifling ex and a crush on said ex’s estranged brother.

It was really easy for me to relate to the main character, no I’m not a washed up pop star, but I am a size 12, and I was an RA lat year and came this close to becoming an Graduate assistant director, (but thank God I came to my senses). The stories about the residents hit close to home (crazy notes and the condoms, my life is still inundated with condoms. Try explaining to people (mom) why you have more condoms stashed around than most Health Departments. And at my school the word RA was to never be used, we were Community Assistant, used to foster the idea that we were a community.

Heather is an easily likeable character- cross between Stephanie Plum and ___________ (insert favorite chick lit character here i.e. Nan, Andrea Sachs or Rebecca Bloom to name a few). Although this is not as good (or funny) as the Stephanie Plum novels (Heather’s not a sleuth, she’s just a normal girl) I could not put it down and finished it in two days.

Sometimes the writing comes off as a little juvenile, almost like you’re reading a book made for the younger set. It’s an excellent book in its own merit. The characters fun and believable, the laugh numerous and although the climax was a little lacking, it keeps you on the edge of your seat until the end.

I definitely recommend Size 12 is not Fat and I am looking forward to the forthcoming Heather Well’s mysteries in 07 and 08.

Sunday Brunch

Sunday Brunch

Norma L. Jarret

Great book, great message. This book is about a group of five friends from college and their struggles in being Christian and single. I couldn’t’ get into all the characters, I had my favorite (Lexi), I guess because I could relate to her more. I guess I’m the Lexi of all my friends. Overall this was a nice enlightening read, not too, too heavy, but just enough. The only thing I didn't like was that I thought it was too short/ quick. I wanted more.

Perfect (Christian Fiction) for a vacation. Ms. Jarrett is a great writer and I am looking forward to future works from her.

Savannah Comes Undone

Savannah Comes Undone

Denise Hildrith

** (2/5)

After reading and liking Savannah from Savannah, I was excited to go back to FCB and pick up the sequel.

Although the writing was the same, I just couldn’t get into this one. I found Savannah annoying and lacking growth or change from her previous experiences. The pace was also a little slow and the plot wasn't as interesting or fast paced as Savannah from Savannah

Just couldn’t get in to this one and apparently, according to the amazon.com reviews, I’m in the minority on this one.

Savannah from Savannah

Savannah from Savannah

Denise Hildrith

I was browsing through Family Christian Bookstore when I spotted this. It sounded interesting so I picked it up.

The stories about a girl named Savannah who is from Savannah, a recent UGA grad ( GO DAWGS) , who returns home to Savannah, Georgia after receiving her Masters and turning down a job offer from winning a publishing contest after she finds out her mother had a hand it. So she returns home with something to prove to “herself, her mother and her city”. Savannah takes a job as a human interest reporter for The Savannah Chronicle, she sets out to prove her self and navigate her own course in the world. Of course that’s a little harder when you are Savannah from Savannah- with deep roots in the city and a slightly overbearing mother. Savannah’s first assignment proves to be a little more than she bargained for as she “investigates” a "rigged" beauty pageant.

I picked up this book for several reasons- I loved that it was taking place in Savannah and I loved the Georgia/ southern focus. I also like Hildreth’s writing. It felt real easy and smooth, and it was funny. Also probably enjoyed this book, because I read it soon after graduating from college, just like Savannah and our experiences with life after college were similar. We were both on our first job and trying to prove ourselves.

At times things were a little over the top- including Savannah’s mother and I would have told some characters in this story off (forget southern hospitality) but overall this was an enjoyable chic-lit ESE book. I wouldn’t qualify this is Christian Fiction even though I did find it in the Christian Bookstore.

Verdict: Solid, funny book, full of southern charm. Savannah is a likable character and this is a great beach read/ chic-lit.

The Nanny Diaries

The Nanny Diaries

1 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

The Nanny Diaries, August 4, 2003

When i first started, I could not put the book down- i was absorbed in the life of Nanny and the X's however toward the end of the book it slowed down and I found I had a hard time finishing the book( i ended up skipping a few pages) the trip to Nantucket just moved to slow for me. Overall it was a pretty good book- the 2nd half could have been a lot better thought

One Hot Summer

Not Quite Hot, but nice and warm, July 14, 2003 I picked up this book so I would have somthing to read on the beach, and In that aspect I was not dissaopoinnted. Ms. Garcia is a talented and gifted writer and I enjoyed reading this book, and will continue to read her others. The only problem I found with this book were the constant refrenced to "Cuban Miami" and Miami in general, after the first 20refrences or so, it just got annoying. Also Ms. Garcia tended to talk give long descriptions and backgrounds that were irrelevant to the story and just held up the story line. Other