I like Carole Matthews as an author. “Welcome To The Real World” wasn’t terribly realistic, but then again, it wasn’t meant to be. Fern is a down on her luck wannabe singer who magically lands a job as an assistant to a world famous opera singer. Naturally there is an attraction, but will she ever tell him of her dreams? Read the rest of this entry »

There are a million fitness books in the world and it’s hard to find a good one. My doctor recommends “Body for Life” by Bill Phillips, which offers a 12 week program for people willing to be SERIOUS about diet and exercise. If you’re not quite that hard core, I’d suggest, “Fit to Live” by Dr. Pamela Peeke. Read the rest of this entry »

You surely know someone who has diabetes. If it’s a close relative or friend (or if it’s you), you should absolutely read Dan Hurley’s book “Diabetes Rising: How a Rare Disease Became a Modern Pandemic, and What to Do About It“. Not only does Hurley’s book cover some of the suspected causes of diabetes (can you believe that scientists still don’t know EXACTLY what causes it?) it also probes into treatments and cures. Read the rest of this entry »

I’ve looked at a lot of baby related books, many of which are full of conflicting information. “What to Expect When You’re Expecting” and “The Girlfriends’ Guide to Pregnancy” are probably the two most popular. If you’re buying for a friend, I would recommend “YOU: Having a Baby” or “Baby Bargains“. Read the rest of this entry »

I cry at everything, so a book like “The Kommandant’s Girl” by Pam Jenoff is guarenteed to make me cry. If you’re going to read one historical novel about the holocaust in Poland, I would recommend “The Zookeeper’s Wife“, which was really phenomenal AND based on true facts. “The Book Thief” is another great fiction choice. Read the rest of this entry »

I’m a big fan of Nelson DeMille’s, so it was no surprise that I enjoyed reading “The Gatehouse”. I thought it was a bit steamier than some of his past novels, but perhaps a bit less suspenseful. As always, he gets huge credit for writing characters even more clever and sarcastic than myself. Read the rest of this entry »