Review: Campaign Widows

Campaign Widows

Aimee Agresti

This fun story follows a group of characters who work in Washington D.C. as journalists, campaigners, and socialites. The main character Cady has recently relocated to D.C. to be with her boyfriend, Jackson. The only problem, he's hardly ever around. Instead, he's with his boss out on the presidential campaign trail which leaves Cady mostly alone. Luckily, it doesn't take her long to meet new friends, not least of which is Birdie a local socialite, known for her great parties. She will be a useful ally for Cady to have as she tries to navigate her way through the cities array of prominent residents while she works for one of the cities morning television programs. When Cady finds that she has access to a potential first lady who isn't too keen to have the job her career takes off. And as she tries to work out her relationship with Jackson she relies on friends to keep her going when he isn't around.

Campaign Widows was a delight to read. It was fun, lighthearted and full of lively characters. So, if your tired of the current political scene let Agresti whisk you away to a more entertaining one.

Thanks to Graydon House Books for allowing me to read this book in exchange for an honest review.

Review: Social Creature

Social Creature

Tara Isabella Burton

As soon as Lavinia meets Louise, it's like a train wreck waiting to happen. Lavinia leads a charmed New York life full of friends, parties and all the excitement one expects from a socialite. In fact, it seems like she has it all. The only thing missing is a best friend, which Lavinia finds when she encounters Louise, who has come to tutor Cordelia, Lavinia's little sister. Louise couldn't be more different, whereas she works two or three jobs to pay the rent on her subsidized rental unit and struggles to make ends meet, Lavinia doesn't work at all, nor does she study at the moment, plus she lives in her parents' fabulous apartment.

It isn't long before Lavinia convinces Louise to move in, but it's a move that leaves Louise more and more dependent on Lavinia and her goodwill, which ultimately depends on her moods. As soon as we think we have Lavinia pegged for the toxic, ego-fueled needy friend in the relationship, something happens and we realize that Louise isn't the long-suffering friend we thought she was. In fact, with the use of social media, she deceives all her friends,which were Lavinia's friends, to begin with, until one day it all falls apart.

Burton has created a page-turner of a book that has received a lot of attention recently. This one is dark but addictive, the kind of story that pulls you along at break neck speed, to the very last page. I can't wait to see what comes next from this author.

Thanks to Double Day for allowing me to read this book in exchange for an honest review.

Review: Still Lives

Still Lives

Maria Hummel

Maggie Richter is a copy-editor at the Rocque Museum in Los Angeles. Reluctantly, she attends an opening of a new exhibition entitled Still Lives, in which the controversial artist Kim Lord appears painted as various famous female murder victims. Maggie didn't intend to make an appearance at the opening since Kim Lord is the reason for her breakup with boyfriend Greg Shaw Ferguson, but work comes first. The only problem with the exhibition is the missing artist. Kim Lord is nowhere to be found, and it isn't clear if it is a publicity stunt or if she has disappeared. When she fails to contact anyone for days, it becomes clear that something has happened to the artist.

Not long after, Greg becomes a suspect in her disappearance and Maggie is trying hard not to get swept up into events, but she finds it hard to believe that Greg could hurt anyone. It makes her think long and hard about who from the museum could be involved with Kim Lord. Of course the more involved she becomes, the more likely she is to become a target as well.

This smart, fast-paced mystery is filled with glimpses into the L.A. Art scene and the lives of those who make a living out of the creative process.

Thanks to Counterpoint Press for allowing me to read this in exchange for an honest review.

Review: Milk

Milk

Mark Kurlansky

If there is anything, you want to know about milk the answer is most likely in this book. If like me you haven't given much thought to milk other than pouring it in your coffee or over you breakfast cereal you might be surprised to find that Kurlansky has looked into the history of milk from antiquity until today and the role it plays in our modern lives. Whether he is examining old recipes in which milk was first used, exploring accounts of making milk safe for the masses, discussing the process of pasteurization and the spread of milk or just thinking about the welfare of milk herds in the industrialized world there is a wealth of information contained within this book. Not surprisingly, I learned a lot from Kurlansky's thoughtful approach, and I can honestly say that this cultural history of milk is unlike anything else I've read lately.

Thanks to Bloomsbury Publishing for allowing me to read this book in exchange for an honest review.

Review: Lands of Lost Borders

Lands of Lost Borders

Kate Harris

Kate and friend Mel set out on an epic journey which takes them across the famous silk road. Traveling from Turkey to Tibet with on a bicycle with a tent for shelter and a lot of courage and determination, Kate guides the reader along the journey with tales of previous explorers and interesting facts about some of the places along the trip.

The opening of Lands of Lost Borders focuses on the author and her journey through life up to the point where she drops out of MIT and decides to hit the open road in search of adventure. It was interesting getting to know the author and finding out more about what compelled her to embark on an exploration of her own. While I liked the book, I did feel that it dealt a lot with the past and perhaps the author's need to convey what she learned in her Master's degree of the History of Science, instead of focusing more on her current travels through some fascinating countries. I would have liked to know more about the local people and their cultures. Sometimes while reading this book, I had the feeling that I, along with the author was a million miles away from the silk road. I'm not sure what I was expecting, but I think I was waiting for more of a connection to the present. The book is, however, well written and it is clear the author put a lot of time and effort into this work.

Thanks to Goodreads and William Morrow for allowing me to read this book in exchange for an honest review.

Review: Out of Season

Out of Season

Antonio Manzini

After reading Adam's Rib by Antonio Manzini last year, I was thrilled to get an ARC of Out of Season. Deputy Chief of Police Rocco Schiavone is still working in the small town of Aosta in northern Italy after being sent there as punishment by higher-ups in the police administration. Schiavone doesn't like the city any more than the last time we saw him. He still misses his friends in Rome, and he still hates the wet and often snowy weather in Aosta. When it starts to become too much, he has to dip into the desk drawer in his office for a secret puff or two of marijuana.

In Out of Season, he and his colleagues have been called in to investigate a crash involving a cargo van with stolen number plates. While trying to find out more about the two victims of the accident he learns that a local teenage girl, Chiara Berguet has gone missing. Chiara is the daughter of a local construction company owner, and while her parents try to keep the police out of the loop, Schiavone has every intention of investigating her disappearance. Hopefully, he will be able to find her alive.

Rocco Schiavone has is own definition of justice, which doesn't always win him friends in high places but, he tries to do what he thinks is right. And when he isn't out fighting crime, he has a mess of a personal life to contend with. Manzini has created a character who is sometimes bad-tempered, dealing with ghosts of the past and complicated relationships, but likable all the same.

Thanks to LibraryThing and Harper Collins for allowing me to read this book in exchange for an honest review.

Review: Skin

Skin

Liz Earle

Skin is part skin care guide and part cookbook. It aims to help you get glowing, radiant skin in six weeks. The best thing about this book, expect the fact that it is written by one of Britain's best-known skin care specialists, is that you don't need to invest in a lot of expensive skin care products. Nor is Liz Earle promoting her brand or others in this book, instead she focuses on things you can do at home with more natural products. Except for some aromatherapy oils, you may find that you already have a lot of the items used in this book in your pantry, for example, oatmeal, honey, and salt, used for creating face masks or a relaxing bath.

The book is full of tips for pampering and caring for skin. My favorite has been the encouragement of dry brushing everyday before showering, which helps counteract cellulite and improving the smoothness of your skin. This is a tip I wish I'd had years ago. The recipes in the book focus on providing the body and skin with nutrients it needs to glow from the inside out. It recommends eating lots of healthy vegetables, fruits, and nuts. The recipes are beautifully photographed and easy to follow. So if you want to improve the condition of your skin, this is an excellent place to start.