Synopsis:

London, 1955: Grace Monroe is a young newlywed, eager to make a success of her marriage. However, with her intellectual curiosity and her unladylike talent for advanced mathematics, she finds the routine of elegant luncheons and exclusive parties among post-war London’ s social set more tiresome than exciting.

When Grace receives an unexpected inheritance from a woman she’s never met, she finds herself suddenly in Paris, embarking upon a journey to discover not only the identity of her mysterious benefactor but also the hidden secrets of her own past.

In a story that takes us from New York in the 1920s to mid-century Monte Carlo, Paris and London, Grace discovers a world filled with the evocative, intoxicating power of perfume; an obsessive, desperate love between muse and artist; and a trail of dark memories that may mean she isn’ t the person she thinks she is at all.

My Review:

I have not read any of Kathleen Tessaro’s book, prior to this one, so I read this book without any expectations of a particular writing style.  From the beautiful book cover, to the first pages, I was hooked.  I was a little confused at first, so I did have to flip back to the first pages to see who I was reading about.  It starts with Eva and at the tail end of her disease, with the next chapter beginning with Grace-a socialite, who seems quite disconnected from her husband and social circle.  It isn’t until Grace receives an airplane ticket with news of her being the sole beneficiary, that she finally has some direction and decides to embark on an adventure.

While Grace leaves knowing her husband is having an affair, she somehow blames herself because of an unfortunate incident that happens to her.  While there isn’t a lot of interaction and dialogue between her and her husband, the author does a superb job in showing what happens to Grace as she learns who  Eva is.

It is quite obvious that the author did extensive research, prior to writing, but it doesn’t come off with more information and less interaction.  Rather, it enhances the reader’s overall experience with this book.  There is so much detail, and Eva certainly has an extraordinary (while difficult, too) life.  I was mesmerized by the beauty of the story, loved the characters, and admired the way Eva broke all conventions by her role as a maid to later being a shopgirl…with other roles in between!

This is an absolutely fantastic historical book, that readers will love from page 1.  Readers will want to know who Eva is, how she can smoke in the face of death, and how she bypasses barriers men and society place on women…certainly not meant for likes of Eva! My only desire is that the author would have included a little perfume collection to accompany this book

*This book was provided by TLC Book Tours, in exchange for an honest review.

 About Kathleen Tessaro:

Born in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, Kathleen attended the University of Pittsburgh before entering the drama program of Carnegie Mellon University. In the middle of her sophomore year, she went to study in London for three months and stayed for the next twenty-three years. She began writing at the suggestion of a friend and was an early member of the Wimpole Street Writer’s Workshop. Her debut novel, Elegance, became a bestseller in hardback and paperback. All of Kathleen’s novels including Innocence, The Flirt, The Debutante, and most recently, The Perfume Collector have been translated into many languages and sold all over the world. She returned to Pittsburgh in 2009, where she now lives with her husband and son.

  For more information about Kathleen Tessaro, please visit her website or find her on Facebook.

Follow the rest of the blog tour to read what other bloggers are saying about this book!

Related articles

• Hand Yelling The Perfume Collector by Kathleen Tessaro (mjroseblog.typepad.com)
• Kathleen Tessaro Shares World of Fragrance in Delightful Drama of Family Secrets Out May 16th! (gabixlerreviews-bookreadersheaven.blogspot.com)
• Look At What’s Coming Soon (mauriceonbooks.wordpress.com)
• Teachers Embrace Technology to Encourage Summer Reading (prweb.com)
• TLC Blog Tour: Dual Inheritance by Joanna Hershon Review + Giveaway (US Only) (literallyjen.com)

Having OCD certainly helped me graduate with honors in my graduate program at UHCL.  When the majority of my work consisted of writing papers, which sometimes became mini-books, and doing tons of research, I’d say it should be a requirement to have OCD to survive graduate school…for sure!  However, all this social media has just driven someone like me, with OCD, to a track of madness!  Honestly, I can’t keep up with it all and I don’t really want to.  I do have a life outside the computer screen and I do want to enjoy the small, sweet moments of life with my family.  Having a son, who will be graduating from high school next year, certainly puts life into perspective because it all goes by way too fast!!

So, I’ve compartmentalized social media within my life. It’s a small piece of my life, and I like it that way.  However,within that small area, there is a lot going on.  I started this blog by a series of events that happened in my life. It all started with me staying home with my little girl and not working.  To keep my brain busy, I took up reading and when that wasn’t enough, I joined a book club.  Well, because somehow I carry a sign above my head that reads, “PICK ME!”, I somehow took over the reigns of the book club and became the organizer for it.  During that time, I would look at book blogger sites to get ideas on which books to suggest for a book club pick.  Then, I decided, “well, why don’t I just start a blog, too?”.  I figured it would be a great way to write about my thoughts on books I’d read (that were not book club picks), meet authors and other book bloggers who love the literary world, and recommend books (as I am often asked what I suggest).

I found this whole new world out in cyberspace!!  Book bloggers, moms with similar interests, authors who wanted to be connected with readers, and so much more!  But, I found that I was so overwhelmed with how to keep up with it all.  There was Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and recently Pinterest and Tumbler…among many others I’m sure!  I like to keep my life very private, but I also want to be a part of the blogging world and found that I shared different parts of my life with them, too.  So, it’s been great having different forms of social media to help manage my hobby, joy, and loves of family, reading, and friends.

  With different forms of media, it has become quite easy to keep things separated. I don’t like inundating my friends with all my book reviews, giveaways, and other “bloggy” items. I also made a pact with my sons that I would respect their wishes and not blast pictures of them all over the internet, especially on Facebook with my friends and family.  I also like that I don’t bog down those who read my blog with too many personal things going on in my life that are trivial and something only a close friend could appreciate.  I mean, who wants to see countless pictures of my daughter finding little garden critters???  LOL!  After all, people read book blogs and subscribe to them to read about books, find out about soon to be released books, find out a little more about authors, and win a book occasionally.

With Twitter, Facebook, Goodreads, Library Thing, and now Pinterest, it can be difficult for me to keep everything separate.  So, there are times I share family stories on Twitter, political/social topics I find interesting, and all my celebrity tv I love to watch!  Goodreads and Library Things has my complete book list, and reviews are posted, too.  I love Pinterest because I can merge both my personal and blogging hobby all in one place.  I love all the different boards I have been making and my friends and blog followers can choose which boards to follow, by their choice, and not be inundated with non-important items.  So, Pinterest is my favorite by far!!

Whew, I get tired just writing about all the different forms of social media!!  So, if you enjoy my blog, but want to know a little more about the happenings outside of books, feel free to follow me on Twitter or Pinterest. I also have a Facebook page that I use solely for listing my blog posts and free books available at Barnes and Noble. So, if that interests you, be sure and follow me there, too!

And, these are the ones I currently use!! I used to be on Instagram and felt it was redundant. I also have no desire to be on Tumbler.  However, I also never thought I’d be on Twitter, Facebook, and certainly not on Pinterest.  So, never say never!!

Confused yet???  Well basically, I use my book blog for just book stuff.  I use Twitter for social/political/celebrity, mixed in with book posts and updates on giveaways.  I use Facebook for listing free books available on Nook, in addition to updates on my blog.  Finally, I use Pinterest to list books I recommend, book quotes, movies I love, and other non-book topics.

If you’re a book blogger, I sure would love to know how you’ve used social media to help your life.  If you aren’t a blogger, but use these forms of social media, I’d love to know how it’s helped and /or complicated your life!! I find that I am still learning all this, so any suggestions and ideas you have, I’d love to hear!

Enter the book giveaway! Click here.

Related articles

• Friendship Friday – Movies (create-with-joy.com)
• Publishing & Social Media (novelnook.wordpress.com)
• The Power of Social Media (ivyleagueopinions.wordpress.com)
• Social Media Users – Infographically (mainemarketing.co.uk)
• 4 Rules Of Influencer and Blogger Outreach (socialmediatoday.com)

Some of the best surprises I can get are little paperbacks in the mail. These are books I received over the past 2 weeks, and I can’t wait to read and review them! I had started reading , The Tiger Baby Strikes Back, but found there were so many references to ,Battle Hymn of the Tiger Mother. So, I checked out Amy Chua’s book and just finished it a couple of days ago. I plan on writing a review on both books in one blog post, so keep an eye out!

Another book I’m excited about is Chocolates For Breakfast! That book is mentioned and has a significant part in the book, The House on Hope Street.. So, I can’t wait to read some of the passages that significantly impacted Alba, and why.

Yesterday, I visited a local Indie bookstore, nestled in this little small town, between a high school and a realtor’s office. When I first walked in, my OCD kicked in and I immediately wanted to start organizing all the books. It’s a book hoarder’s paradise. However, once I found the children’s section, my daughter and I were hooked! Books galore, cozy atmosphere, very laid back owner, and we just had a blast. It was so much fun finding books that were old, but in great condition. I will definitely be back!

So, have you purchased or received any books lately? I’d love to hear from you!

Have a great Saturday!

• Print Length: 304 pages
• Publisher: Viking Adult (April 4, 2013)
• Sold by: Penguin Publishing
• Genre:  Contemporary Fiction

Synopsis:

A magical debut about an enchanted house that offers refuge to women in their time of need

Distraught that her academic career has stalled, Alba is walking through her hometown of Cambridge, England, when she finds herself in front of a house she’s never seen before, 11 Hope Street. A beautiful older woman named Peggy greets her and invites her to stay, on the house’s usual conditions: she has ninety-nine nights to turn her life around. With nothing left to lose, Alba takes a chance and moves in.

She soon discovers that this is no ordinary house. Past residents have included Virginia Woolf and Dorothy Parker, who, after receiving the assistance they needed, hung around to help newcomers—literally, in talking portraits on the wall. As she escapes into this new world, Alba begins a journey that will heal her wounds—and maybe even save her life.

Filled with a colorful and unforgettable cast of literary figures, The House at the End of Hope Street is a charming, whimsical novel of hope and feminine wisdom that is sure to appeal to fans of Jasper Forde and especially Sarah Addison Allen.

My Review:

I was drawn to read this book based on some real life people, who make cameos in the book.  Virginia Woolf, Sylvia Plath, Dorothy Parker…just to name a few.  When I first opened the book and started to read the first few pages, I didn’t think I would enjoy the book. It seemed a little hokey, and I don’t read paranormal, sci-fi, or fantasy kind of books.  Okay, with the exception of Twilight…

So, I put the book away and read a few other books before going back to it.  Then, I allowed myself to slip into the whimsical and magic world, where women go to find themselves and uncover past issues that are preventing the person from moving forward.  Once, I let go, I loved it!

The house is quite magical.  Built in 1811, it is managed only by Abbot women, who have a sixth sense.  Peggy welcomes Alba to the home that has mysteriously appears out of nowhere.  Alba is quite surprised to see that someone is up so late at night and is expecting her, without having known herself where she would end up.  You see, the house will only appear to those who are in need of shelter.  It is on that particular evening, Peggy announces she is having a birthday the following day.  At the ripe age of 82, Peggy has seen many women come through that home.  As Alba walks through the home, she sees the faces of many of those: Virginia Woolf, Daphne du Maurier, and Agatha Christie, among others.  Alba has a bit of a sixth sense, which comes in the forms of seeing colors that represent different emotions : anger, hope, sorrow, deception, love, etc.  As Peggy leads her to the guest room, Alba swears she sees the faces move and acknowledge her, almost as if they are also greeting her.

Every guest that stays at the home is granted only 99 days to get their life back on track.  What the guests don’t realize is that the house will be doing some little magic to help create movement, help the guest face some truths, and ultimately help change the path the person is on.  All guests are women, all are lured to the home, and all uncover hidden truths in their own time.

While there are 2 other women living in the home, Alba is the primary character.  Of course, Peggy has her own sort of issues and she has to face some major decisions the house has made on her behalf.  Peggy is an 82 year old woman, but don’t let that age fool you! She has lots of sass, has a lover, and is quite confident about what she wants.  Question is…can she have it?

Alba has her own family secrets that she is not even privy to.  It is through this time that she is at the hope house, where Alba learns about her family history, comes to terms with her own sexuality, and begins a relationship with her father.  In the meantime, the other two guests (Carmen and Greer), also experience some life changes, too.

There is so much that happens in the little story and lots of incidents happen at the house on Hope Street, too.  Pull off your reality hat, kick up your feet, and let yourself go down the rabbit hole to Hope Street.  You won’t be disappointed and you’ll enjoy some of the whimsical things that happen, too!

* This book was provided through Netgalley. No forms of monetary compensation was given.

Related articles

• Does Your House Give You What You Need? THE HOUSE AT THE END OF HOPE STREET (fangswandsandfairydust.blogspot.com)
• April reading roundup #2 (katieleigh.wordpress.com)
• Only recording of Virginia Woolf describes the craftsmanship of writing…of course (holykaw.alltop.com)
• Modern and Post Modern – Virginia Woolf (louisecharente.wordpress.com)

Book Information:

• Print Length: 316 pages
• Page Numbers Source ISBN: 1481258672
• Publisher: CreateSpace Independent Publishing Platform; 1 edition (April 2, 2013)
• Genre:  Historical Fiction
• Click here to purchase.

Synopsis:

Margaret Sullivan dines with politicians, rebels, and spies. She is an admired journalist with the Chicago Tribune publishing under a male nom de plume.
Her unscrupulous husband is a prominent attorney and power broker with aspirations of his own. They are well-connected members of Chicago’s 1880′s Irish elite.

On her trip to Ireland to do research for a book she is writing, Margaret meets a charming one-armed Irish rebel named Michael and finds herself attracted to him and his ideas for liberating Ireland.

While traveling through the stone-walled back roads of the island, Margaret sees for herself how the poor are treated. She breaks her vow never to get involved, and soon questions if she can ever go back to her old superficial life in Chicago again. Overcome with her new found emotions and strong desire to help, Margaret finds herself easily convinced by Mrs. Delia Parnell that women can be just as crucial in the fight for Ireland’s independence as men.

Back home in Chicago Margaret publishes articles hoping to gain support in America for Michael’s cause. That is until he is arrested. Desperate, she turns to her jealous, devious husband for help…but he has a hidden agenda of his own.

Torn between her career as a journalist and compassion for those overseas, she finds herself trapped by her own aspirations. Soon things spin out of control both at home and abroad, and Margaret has to decide how much she is willing sacrifice for Micheal and her love for Ireland.

For The Love of Ireland is a historical novel of love and loyalty, deception and honesty. It is about women fighting against traditional roles and gender discrimination during the 1880s. For The Love of Ireland is a work of fiction woven around actual events of the Irish Land League, a Chicago couple and the covert activities of the Clan na Gael.

My Review:

I read this book in about 2 days. I’m a fan of historical fiction, so couple that with a little romance, and I’m in!  There were quite a few scenes that happened on a boat, taking Margaret back and forth form the States to Ireland, which was a bit reminiscent of the Titanic. While Margaret is no Rose and Michael is not Jack, I found them to be endearing together.  The one HUGE issues was that Margaret was married and it truthfully bothered me that she wasn’t focusing on her marriage or ending it. I really have strong opinions about affairs, but Judy Leslie balances this with some grace and shows the darker side to Margaret’s husband…which we need to be a little okay with an emotional affair, right?!?  Margaret and Michael don’t have any sexual contact, but the author is able to show how much their hearts ached for each other and how they both showed their love for one another through their mutual support of liberating Ireland from England.

I was absolutely intrigued with Margaret and her reporting style. I can’t imagine the secrecy and great effort it took for her to investigate the happenings in Ireland and its people, as well as writing about it under a pseudonym.  Working as a reporter for the newspaper, she traveled extensively and met many people who were in support of freeing Ireland.  She also had to balance that with her role as a wife and supporter of her husband, who was a public figure and also head of a liberation party in the United States.  

There is so much contained in this book with lots of characters, storylines, and some twists and turns. I loved the style of writing, the way everyone in someway was connected to one another, and the history of what Ireland’s people endured during a difficult and tumultuous period.  I was even more amazed to learn that this story was loosely based on real people and their work.  I highly suggest this book to anyone that loves a great historical fiction book!  This book has all the ingredients for a great story: a little romance, some mystery, and some real life characters!!

*This book was provided by Judy Leslie, through the Goodreads program.  No forms of compensation was given for this review.

About the Author

Judy Leslie has studied both literary and popular fiction at the University of Washington. For The Love of Ireland is her debut novel. Inspired by her days as owner of an antique shop in the historical town of Bellingham, Washington, she decided to focus her writing on historical fiction.

She discovered that throughout history people held onto a variety items just for sentimental reasons: a lock of hair or a ribbon from a loved one, even old lace and hat pins. That’s how she came up with the idea of having Margaret collect buttons in her novel For the Love of Ireland.

Surrounding herself with antiques also moved her to think about women and how far they had come, as well as all the unsung female heroes who had risked their lives, so she could enjoy the freedoms that she does now. She wrote For the Love of Ireland about the life of one these women, Margaret Sullivan the unknown woman journalist behind many popular articles in the New York Times and Chicago Tribune during the 1880s.

Judy believes that today women are still wrestling with the same issues of finding love, happiness and meaning in the world, just as their great-grandmothers did over a hundred years ago.

To learn more about Judy Leslie and the characters in her story go to her website at http://www.for-the-love-of-ireland.com.

Connect with the Author:

Website

Enter to win the paperback:

For the Love of Ireland by Judy Leslie

Giveaway ends May 20, 2013

*Simply fill out the form and I will select a random winner.  The winner will be notified by email.

[contact-form]

Related articles

• Book Review: Deenie by Judy Blume (adelesymonds.wordpress.com)
• A Review on The Pope’s Stone by Marc Kuhn + A Giveaway! (prisailurophileblog.wordpress.com)
• Maggi Petton – the historical romance fiction author :- (maggipettondotcom.wordpress.com)
• Biographer insists Margaret Thatcher hated terrorists not Irish ‘liars’ (irishcentral.com)
• March 2013 Roundup: Historical Fiction (australianwomenwriters.com)
• Where to Take Visitors in Ireland (isastudentblog.wordpress.com)
• ‘She did not hate the Irish, she hated the terrorists,’ says Thatcher’s official biographer (irishtimes.com)

Now a major motion picture starring George Clooney and directed by Alexander Payne.
Fortunes have changed for the King family, descendants of Hawaiian royalty and one of the state’s largest landowners. Matthew King’s daughters—Scottie, a feisty ten-year-old, and Alex, a seventeen-year-old recovering drug addict—are out of control, and their charismatic, thrill-seeking mother, Joanie, lies in a coma after a boat-racing accident. She will soon be taken off life support. As Matt gathers his wife’s friends and family to say their final goodbyes, a difficult situation is made worse by the sudden discovery that there’s one person who hasn’t been told: the man with whom Joanie had been having an affair. Forced to examine what they owe not only to the living but to the dead, Matt, Scottie, and Alex take to the road to find Joanie’s lover, on a memorable journey that leads to unforeseen humor, growth, and profound revelations.

My Review:

I am probably the only person on earth that does not think George Clooney is eye candy.  I find him quite aloof and have never been a fan. Naturally, I didn’t watch this movie at the theaters or on DVD.  I came across this book while searching on overdrive.com for a book.  I am reviewing another book, Tiger Baby Strikes Back by Kim Wong Keltner, and wanted to read the book Kim writes in reference to: Battle  Hymn of the Tiger Mother by Amy Chua.  When The Descendants popped up on my screen, I read the synopsis and was actually intrigued by the storyline.

I have to admit, the story quickly drew me in.  Told through Matt’s point of view, I was able to experience his journey of stepping up in his role of father, coming to terms with the imminent death of his wife, and accepting choices his family makes.  It was really challenging to like Matt’s character. As a lawyer and wealthy descendant of a Princess, he seemed quite weak, very passive, aloof (hmmmm…sounds like an actor I also associate that word with), who was just too difficult to like or feel sorry for.

Because of his lack of assertiveness and willingness to look the other way with his wife’s infidelity and the choices both his daughters made, I was surprised he was an attorney. I assume that as an attorney, he will want to know everything about his family, be more focused, and not so aloof. It seemed that before the accident, he really was an absentee father and husband.  Faced with the impending decision to take his wife off of life support, he begins to visit all their friends to let them know Joanie is dying and if they want to, to go by and visit and pay their respects.

I did like the fact that the story is set on one of the islands of Hawaii.  I’ve been there and it’s absolutely gorgeous and I could just live there and be so content.  But, this book shows that even on the prettiest islands, some of the saddest and hardest things happen to everyday people.  Also, there were a few moments I laughed, but for the most part, I really just didn’t care for the character of Matt. Because of his lack of involvement with his family, his daughter is sent to boarding school, his young daughter copies a friend-Reina, and his wife tries to get his lover a huge money making deal that indirectly involves Matt.  In the end, Matt does find closure, steps up to the plate as a father, and the 3 of them become the family they all wanted to be.

So, I’m thinking this may be one of those exceptions where the movie is better than the book??  I haven’t seen the movie, but I’m curious to see how it is interpreted on screen!

Related articles

• Family matters (patebooks.wordpress.com)
• Alexander Payne the Descendants 2011 Nyff Closing Night Gala Main Slate Announced (binsidetv.net)
• Archive Review – “The Descendants” (Director: Alexander Payne) (thewanderingbookworm.wordpress.com)

Book Details:

• Print Length: 202 pages
• Page Numbers Source ISBN: 1571310967
• Publisher: Milkweed Editions (April 2, 2013)
• Genre:  Women’s Literature/Contemporary Fiction

Synopsis:

A wonderful fiction debut, Being Esther gives voice to Esther Lustig, an extraordinary woman who has lived a conventional life, in this touching exploration of aging and its accompanied search for meaning.

In spare, refreshingly unsentimental prose, Miriam Karmel has given us one of literature’s finest portraits of the last months of a woman’s life. At once sad and amusing, unpretentious and ambitious, Karmel’s fiction debut brings understanding and tremendous empathy to the character of Esther Lustig, a woman readers will recognize and embrace.

Born to parents who fled the shtetl, Esther Lustig has led a seemingly conventional life—marriage, two children, a life in suburban Chicago. Now, at the age of eighty-five, her husband is deceased, her children have families of their own, and most of her friends are gone. Even in this diminished condition, life has its moments of richness, as well as its memorable characters. Being Esther is an exploration of aging, a search for meaning, and about the need, as Esther puts it, for better roadmaps for growing old.

My Review:

I’ve read books like, “Still Alice”, where an adult woman experiences the onset of alzheimer’s and how her mind slowly betrays her.  However, this is a new twist.  This is a story about Esther, an elderly Jewish woman, who is quite coherent and present.  After losing her husband and friends, she and her dear friend call each other every day to make sure they never die without someone knowing.  The way it works, is they each take turns calling each other everyday. They both agree that if one doesn’t answer one day, then to make sure their family knows and to fulfill their wishes.

What truly is sad and heartwarming at the same time, is how time does fly by and how quickly one ages.  What happens when you are alone, have a poor relationship with your child, have a life filled with special moments and some regrets?  Through Esther’s journey, you will see how the simple acts of doing something each day and normal routine are still remarkable moments in life.  Most importantly, that everyone has a story, deserves a listening ear, and a little bit of your time.

Related articles

• I See You, Know You, And Love You (writerwithacause.wordpress.com)
• Worth the wait (loveandsuchblogs.wordpress.com)
• April 5 Devotional (cherokeebaptistmemphis.wordpress.com)
• The Bell Jar (booksandreviews.wordpress.com)
• Life is a Dance (donnagiftnew.wordpress.com)

We went to a local art festival on Saturday.  This is a local artist drawing the Mona Lisa freehand!!  With only a picture to go by, she had created some gorgeous pieces!

Here she painted Frida Kahlo.  You can see the picture she is using as a reference.  She was absolutely brilliant. I wanted to give her a tip, but she was talking to some people during a break and she had no hat or box for people to leave tips.  I was in awe of her work and so appreciated her gift to all of us walking by.

I wish I would have taken more pictures, but I didn’t.  I didn’t want the artists to think I was stealing their work.  However, I admired all of the artwork, jewelry, and music.  My daughter had a fantastic time! She was most mesmerized by a rolly-polly, than anything else around her. So, we bought her a little box to put her new pet in.  Her name is Sunny-Sunny Rainbow.  She takes it with her everywhere!!

I thought the name of this truck was genius!! I ordered my son a burrito from there and he thought it tasted delicious!!  I’m calorie counting, so no truck food for me. -(

I hope everyone has a great Sunday!

Synopsis:

In Instant Mom, Nia Vardalos, writer and star of My Big Fat Greek Wedding, tells her hilarious and poignant road-to-parenting story that eventually leads to her daughter and prompts her to become a major advocate for adoption.

Moments after Nia Vardalos finds out she has been nominated for an Oscar for the screenplay for My Big Fat Greek Wedding, she is alone and en route to a fertility clinic, trying yet again for a chance at motherhood.

Vardalos chronicles her attempts to have a baby, and how she tries everything—from drinking jugs of green mud tea, to acupuncture, to working with two surrogates. Finally, she and her husband, actor Ian Gomez, decide to try adoption and discover a free service: Foster Family Agencies. Then one day, the social workers “match” her with an almost-three-year-old girl, who she knows, instantly, is her daughter.

With her signature wit and candor, Nia Vardalos reveals what really came next—the truth of how she and her husband transitioned a preschooler into their home. Vardalos opens up about the bawling-tears and belly-laughter that all make up what it means to be…a parent.

My Review:

If you are a mom of a foster child, have ever contemplated adoption, or have friends that have adopted, then YOU need to read this book!! If you are a mom, want to be a mom, are a woman…then you will want to read this book, too!  This book is hilarious, and is filled with moments where you will cry, and you will be highlighting and taking notes, and wanting to try some of the zany things she does for her daughter.

I love the ease of writing, how the stories just flowed, and the way Nia was able to write about her journey as a mom without exploiting her daughter, or revealing too many personal identifying factors about her.  As a mom of a foster child, I value the way she managed that delicate balance.  I loved that she agreed, being a mom isn’t about being pregnant…it’s when you actually take the time to love, nurture, and spend quality time with your child.  While I was a mom of 2 sons, we completed our family when she arrived!

Nia adopted her little girl at 3 years old and brings up great points: how can we love an abused and abandoned animal that we adopt, but feel that a child is less of value and is damaged goods???  Granted, not every person is called to adopt, but every child deserves a forever home.  Nia shares her journey with unsuccessful fertility treatments and how emotionally overwhelming it all was.  After so many years of trying to have a biological child, she decided to venture into the world of adoption.  She chronicles her journey of looking at the various types of adoption: international, private, and foster care adoption.  She gives a staggering number of children available in the U.S., who are available for adoption and who are in foster homes waiting for their forever homes.

If you’ve personally adopted or know of someone who has, you will have heard the same story: the moment you and your child first see each other, the world stops still and your heart expands more than you knew capable.  It’s not much different to when a mom has a natural birth and after she delivers, she and her baby make eye contact for the first time.  It’s a special moment, one that I remember for each of my children (bio and adopted) and it is a surreal, forever imprinted memory in a mom’s mind.

Nia describes the bonding process, developing attachment with her little girl, and describes the way she and her husband became a family the day her daughter entered their lives.  I loved some of the funny moments Nia shares, too!!  I also loved that she shared her personal experiences with creating a bedtime ritual, having family time when out and about the community (paparazzi stories), and adjusting to preschool.  Nia creates this funny game to develop bonding (baking, anyone?), and just their crazy, fun way of playing at home.  I also loved the story Nia tells her daughter about how she prayed and wanted a little girl and how they became a family.

When we were going through the adoption process, it would have been great to have read this book!! I love the very easy, simple to use ideas that she did and shares with her readers, and I love the resources she gives at the end of the book.  Overall, this was an excellent read and I hope that Nia will consider writing more!!

Related articles

• Nia Vardalos: Motherhood (Not Pregnancy) Was My Priority (celebritybabies.people.com)
• Nia Vardalos hopes to dispel myths about adopting foster children in new book about becoming an ‘Instant Mom’ (news.nationalpost.com)
• Nia Vardalos Talks About Her New Book, “Instant Mom” (losangelesstory.blogspot.com)
• Don’t call it “My Big Fat Greek Baby” (cnn.com)