A Bad Bride's Tale by Polly Williams

Publishers Copy:

Right time. Right dress. Right man?

The author of The Yummy Mummy returns with a sparkling, hilarious look at what happens when you meet the wrong man at the right time.

Two weeks before her wedding, Stevie Jonson, a successful graphic designer in her mid-thirties, has got serious jitters. Is she finally growing up, or compromising horribly? In love or in denial? By the time Stevie steps into her 1930s vintage wedding dress for the last fitting, her life is coming apart at the seams. Her best friend, Lara, is moving to New York City, fulfilling Stevie's long-held dream of moving there herself; her parents' marriage is heading for the rocks; her teenage crush (The One That Got Away) is back in town, a reminder of everything her fiancé isn't; and that niggling little voice in her head is getting louder all the time. As the clock ticks, a shocking secret threatens to bring Stevie's future crashing down around her.

A Bad Bride's Tale is a grown-up love story about marrying, mating, compromising . . . and how love doesn't have a timetable.

My Review:

A Bad Bride's Tale is differentiates itself from other chick lit with more interesting side stories, but you can call the ending a mile away.

One thing that really stuck out for me in this book is that people from England fly to New York seemingly at will and very often.  I would think international flights would be too expensive for the way they kept hopping the pond.  I guess it's a small complaint, but it's one that stretched it's credibility too far for me.

On the plus side, A Bad Bride's Tale kept me reading till the end, but on the minus side, I kind of felt like I wasted my time.

The Attitude Girl, Interview With Author Mila Bernadkin

Publishers Copy:
Everyone thinks Vicky has an attitude problem, but in her eyes, she's simply being realistic and honest about what she thinks and feels. If people can't handle it, well... it's their problem.

The novel recounts a young woman's coming of age, with a little bit of sassiness and a lot of heart. Jam-packed with emotional conflict, trials and tribulations, romance and humor, this winner of 8 literary awards follows outspoken, materialistic 17-year-old Victoria Benson on her rocky road to adulthood as she struggles with financial setbacks, bullying, first love, idealism, loss and forgiveness along the way.

Raising children has never been easy... And guiding them through adolescence in our tumultuous modern world? Maddening! Today's teens want entertainment! What they need, however, is a little bit of guidance, especially given the challenges of the current US economy. Written for young adults, ages 15 and up, and their parents, The Attitude Girl is an inspirational, award-winning timely book that gives them both...

Selected as the Best Young Adult Novel of the Year by the 2010 Premier Book Awards, The Attitude Girl also placed as a Finalist of the 2010 National Indie Excellence Awards, was named a First-place Winner in the Young Adult/Teenage category at the 2009 London Book Festival and in the Arizona Authors Association Annual Literary Awards contest (Novels), and additionally received four Honorable Mentions in 2009/2010 literary competitions.

My Review:

Well I could relate to Vicky.  As a person who speaks their mind, sometimes to my own detriment, I can surely empathize with a teen who adults think have an attitude problem.

This book is touchingly real and up-front about the issues that confront teen girls today, and it will resonate with all of us who remembers our high school years.

Author Interview~
Mila, let’s start with your inspiration for The Attitude Girl, how long were the characters rumbling around in your head before you put them on paper?

I started the book when I was a student at the Institute of Children’s Literature. My assignment was to write three chapters, the beginning of the book, if I were to write one. I was inspired by my experience as an ex-teacher and the mother of an ex-teenager. I got an idea for a coming-of-age story about five teen girls, close friends. The characters were just popping up in my head. I created their personalities, imagined what they looked like, and named them. And then, I started to hear them speak. I knew what they were thinking and feeling. I lived and breathed along with them. It was like a movie playing in my head. Naturally, after the course was over, I just kept on writing. I couldn’t stop.

I think part of the reason that I loved this book so much was because of all of the real life trials and tribulations that Vicky and her friends had to go through. Was that your plan from the beginning?

I was writing a realistic contemporary story. So I tried to be as close to real life as possible. There are so many problems in the world today! My plan was to illustrate how teenagers deal with issues they have to face on the road to becoming adults such as bullying, first love, teen pregnancy, and relationships with parents. My goal was to deliver a message: life is not all black and white; it’s mostly grey, so deal with it! I wanted to make young adults and their parents understand that although it’s extremely hard to raise a child, being a teenager is not that easy, either.

Being that you are originally from Ukraine, you seemed to really have a grasp on American teens and their struggles, how did you get into their frame of mind so well?

I’ve been in the United States for many years. I watch TV and read. There are always news reports. I’ve heard stories from other parents about their kids being bullied. As I mentioned before, I infused many of my own traits into my protagonist. Some of her thoughts and questions are actually mine, and her authentic voice is often my own voice. And I’ll tell you a little secret: I’m awfully young at heart!

This book has won so many awards, which can only be attributed to your great writing, were you surprised that your first book did so well?

I’m very proud that my book won the total of 8 literary awards. Thanks! When my manuscript for The Attitude Girl won first place in the Arizona Authors Association Annual Literary Awards contest and a publishing contract with Five Star Publications as a prize, I was extremely surprised, even shocked – I couldn’t believe it! And when the novel was named a first-place winner in the Young Adult/Teenage category at the 2009 London Book Festival, I thought to myself, It must be good. They can’t be wrong twice, can they? Later, I received four Honorable Mentions in 2009/2010 literary competitions, and the book became a finalist of the 2010 National Indie Excellence Awards. And, finally, last September, The Attitude Girl was selected (I was told, unanimously) the Best Young Adult Novel of the Year at the 2010 Premier Book Awards. It’s overwhelming! But it’s a great feeling…

I didn’t feel like Vicky had such a terrible attitude problem, I could really relate to her honesty and outspokenness. Have you gotten a lot of feedback from girls who see themselves in these characters?

You are absolutely right! The problem with Vicky’s attitude is just that she doesn’t want to be or to think positive when she doesn’t feel like it. Considering Vicky’s honesty and outspokenness, it’s understandable where she’s coming from. Those are my own traits, infused into my main character. I, just like Vicky, always stand by my principals and fight for what I believe in.

Actually, I’m getting a lot of feedback from teen girls and moms. They say things like, “Finally, there’s someone who gets me!” or “It’s a book about me and many of my friends – same issues, same problems. Who doesn’t have attitude at this age? It’s like seeing myself in a mirror.” Moms identify with Vicky’s mother and start to understand young adults better. Many mothers and daughters read the novel together when they reviewed it, and they told me it was a great bonding experience. That means so much!

Is there a follow up to The Attitude Girl in the works?


I’m not planning a follow-up to The Attitude Girl. To be honest, I don’t believe in sequels – they usually are not as good as originals. But… you know… Never say never.

What new things do you have coming on the horizon?

I’ve been writing articles on parenthood and young adults. A couple of them were published in Power Women Magazine, MORE magazine, BOLD magazine, and the National Gallery of Writing. I’m a contributor to AuthorsDen.com, DivaToolBox.com and Weenc.com (Women Embracing Every New Challenge) – they publish my articles as well. I have several short stories for middle graders and young adults that need “polishing.” I started two books for kids ages 5 – 10, and I have a few ideas for books for adults that I have to develop.

Well I can't wait to see what comes next, thank you so much for taking the time to talk to me!

You are very welcome, Mimi. It’s my pleasure!

For The Attitude Girl website, click here, and to click directly over to Amazon to buy it click here!

Under The Overpass, Mike Yankoski

Mike Yankoski’s Under the Overpass, which allows for an inside look at homelessness and the way they are perceived, is truly insightful. Most everyone can relate to the panhandler on the corner or the disheveled individual walking down the street or sleeping on a city bench. I, for one, am guilty of averting my gaze as I walk past or anxiously await the red light to turn green.

What is extremely eye-opening is that these individuals are shunned, even by many who consider themselves part of the Christian community. It causes one to pause and be introspective to ponder the question of whether we are following God’s command to love our neighbor as ourselves.

Yankoski gives names to the homeless so that we can see them as fellow human beings and not just a filthy person placed in our path to create annoyance or an uncomfortable feeling. By acknowledging that these individuals are NOT less than human, we are forced to reconcile if we are treating them as an equal. The fact that even the Christian community, which I count myself a part of, tends to stay as far removed from the reality that there are millions of suffering individuals whose everyday existence is comprised of finding a meal and a safe place to sleep, is sad. It’s strange that we feel satisfied when we sponsor mission trips but avoid the simple act of buying a meal for the “bum” we pass on the way to work every day.

Yes, it’s important to congregate with other Christians in fellowship to worship the Creator but we are completely missing the point if our actions don’t follow through. As I Corinthians 13 states, If I speak in the tongues of men or of angels, but do not have love, I am only a resounding gong or a clanging cymbal. You have the choice, take up the call and act or give lip service to the Lord!

Never Been Kissed, Melody Carlson

Publishers Copy:
All Elise wants is to have her first kiss before she turns sixteen. Is that so bad? But when a friend's poor advice and the powers of electronic technology combine, Elise heads down a dangerous road. She is accused of "sexting" and gets kicked out of school. But is she really the one to blame?


This powerful and realistic story from beloved author Melody Carlson shows teen girls the impact of their choices when it comes to respecting themselves and their integrity. Honest and relevant, Never Been Kissed will make girls laugh, cry . . . and think.

My Review:
This great book was a slight departure from most Christian Young Adult books.  Covering issue like "sexting" it pushes the envelope in a way that is both relevant and spot on for today's youth.

You can see where Elise is making wrong turns & want to stop her, but like the youth of today, it's often too much, too soon.

Melody Carlson stands out in a field of YA authors, nailing the language of today's youth and the struggles they face in this book.  As a reader, she always leaves you wanting more.

Pick this one up for your teen or yourself today!

Chunneling Through Forty, Anne McAneny

Welcome back to the few of you who might be reading Read, Review, Repeat!

I wrote a couple of months ago about how reading had become something that I couldn't do anymore, but I have crossed that hurdle, and am back to my reading self.  Hooray!

Santa brought me a Kindle for Christmas and Chunneling Through Forty is the first book I downloaded.  The Kindle takes some getting used to & it won't ever replace real books for me totally, but I love it.
Publisher's Copy:

A woman’s 40th birthday comes on like a tsunami, especially when life's biggest excitement means finding a wad of fudge in a half gallon of ice cream. For Susanna O’Leary, the day prompts her to set five goals. They don’t include the invention of personal jet packs or finding the cure for cancer, but for a bored mother, they might as well. As she takes a stab at each goal, she encounters hilarious and heartening complications that reap unexpected results, including an attraction to her daughter’s history teacher. An unpredictable cast of characters buoys her along the way, and in the end, her goal list remains incomplete but at least attempted. She has faced the tsunami head-on and emerged on the other side ready to chunnel through the next forty years with gusto.

My opinion:

I was sick when I read this book & honestly enjoyed it except for the infidelity storyline that was just thrown in from left field to try and make the stakes feel higher, perhaps?  It was like a really good song that an orchestra is playing where someone keeps hitting the wrong note, just as you start to enjoy the music again.

I'd still read it, but this one could have been so much better.

Jane In Bloom, Deborah Lytton

Publishers copy:
Jane's big sister, Lizzie, has always been the center of attention.  No one ever pays attention to boring, plain Jane.  But Jane's twelfth birthday markd the beginning of Lizzie's final descent into a fatal eating disorder, and Jane discovers that the only thing harder than living in her big sister's shadow is living without her...

In the wak of tragedy, Jane learns to look through her camera lnes and frame life differently, embracing her broken family and understanding that every girl has her season to blossom.

My review:
This book is described as spare and vulnerable and I think that those are two very apt adjectives.  This little book packs a bigger punch than the reader sees coming and the subject of losing and then finding one's family is handled masterfully.

Someone Will Be With You Shortly, Lisa Kogan

Hmm, Lisa Kogan works for Oprah Winfrey, has a marriage where she & her husband live on 2 different continents and this book does not reflect this level of excitement for me.

It's the small mundane things of her everyday life, which are interesting, but I want to know how the hell her marriage works!

People have compared her favorably to David Sedaris, Nora Ephron or Erma Bombeck.  Way too high of praise in my opinion.

It's worth reading, but doesn't really stay with you or leave you wanting more.

Booky Wook 2, Russell Brand

Back cover quote:

"I was born to be famous, but it took decades for me to convey this entitlement to an indifferent world and suspicious job centers - both presumed me a nitwit, possibly with good reason as I was brilliantly disguised as a scruff-bag."

I love Russell Brand.  Yes the former drug, alcohol and sex addicted comic from Britian with the silly hair and the swagger. 

The fact is, that the man is brilliant & the only way you may ever reveal his brilliance to yourself is to read his books.  I suggest you start with Booky Wook, before moving on to Booky Wook 2, you woulnd't want to find yourself lost in the story.

Christmas At Harringtons, Melody Carlson

Publishers Copy:

Christmas is approaching, and Lena Markham finds herself penniless, friendless, and nearly hopeless. She is trying to restart her life after false accusations landed her in prison, but job opportunities are practically nonexistent. When a secondhand red coat unexpectedly lands her a job as Mrs. Santa at a department store, Lena finally thinks her luck is changing. But can she keep her past a secret?

My Review:

Full of the Christmas spirit, this book had me humming Christmas carols in October!  This book is slim, but full of charm.  Hard times are found in her small town, just as they are all over the country today, but Lena is trying to keep a secret, a big one.

Big secret, small town, yeah, you can see where this is going.  What's different about Christmas at Harringtons is that it's a feel good book, that really does make you feel good.  Redemption is available if you know where to look.  I'm hoping Melody Carson will revisit Lena Markham in a future book.
If you're feeling a bit "bah humbug", pick up Christmas At Harringtons, you won't be sorry!

Thumbing Through Thoreau, Compiled by Kenny Luck

Publishers Copy:

Author Kenny Luck has thumbed through Thoreau’s voluminous journals, correspondences and other publications to make this the most comprehensive collection of Thoreau aphorisms available.


Illustrators Jay Luke and Ren Adams lend their talents to artistically interpret Thoreau's vision. Each quote is accompanied by an original drawing.

A collaboration of three individuals breathes new life into the immortal words of Henry David Thoreau.

My Review:

This was the first time I have been sent a book to review in PDF format.  Even though this wasn't a book I could hold in my hands, I can tell you that this is a beautiful book of quotes and illustrations.

Flip to any of the over 300 pages and you will find something that inspires you, moves you, or just makes you think.

This coffee table style book would make an excellent gift for any reader or thinker.  Tribute Books really has a winner on it's hands with this one.

As an added bonus for Read, Review, Repeat readers, Tribute Books have offered free e-copies of this book.  Please leave a comment with your e-mail address if you are interested in this offer.

I Can't Read Anymore

My entire life, reading has been my refuge.  As an only child I would read my summers away as we camped all over Michigan.

Reading is what I threw myslef into when my ex-husband left, how I got thru my hospital stays, and how I passed the time when I was too scared to step into the world.

Now my medications have been adjusted, helping to keep my bi-polar in check, but I can't read anymore.  I can't read for more than 3 or 4 minutes before I have to jump to something else.

I'm going to talk to my Dr. tomorrow about this tomorrow morning.  I need my reading back.

First Comes Love, Then Comes Malaria, Eve Brown-Waite

Publishers Copy:

Eve Brown's dream is to join the Peace Corps…and maybe solve world hunger and win a Nobel Peace Prize along the way. But she secretly fears she isn't tough enough to survive the bug-infested jungle, much less live without toilet paper and decaf cappuccino. Then she falls head-over-little-black-heels in love with John – a dashing Peace Corps recruiter whose do-gooder passions outshine her own. She becomes more determined than ever to get into the Peace Corps – and to win John's heart in the process.


Assigned to Ecuador, she years for warm showers and cold beers (instead of the other way around!). And though she occasionally finds herself overwhelmed by her work reuniting homeless children with their families, she learns to delight in small successes. But a year into her service, a tragedy befalls one of her fellow volunteers, which unearths troubling memories from Eve's past and causes her to return, rather unceremoniously, to the United States. Back home, Eve attempts to settle down with John and get reacquainted with the joys of sushi and supermarkets. But faster than she can say "Pass the malaria pills," John accepts a job with CARE in a remote corner of Africa, and Eve gets a second chance to test her mettle in the Third World.

With uproarious wit and candor, Eve Brown-Waite details the (mis)adventures that ensue. From intestinal parasites and guerrilla warfare to culture clashes and unexpected friendships. FIRST COMES LOVE, THEN COMES MALARIA captures the thrills and absurdities of global humanitarian life in a story that any globetrotter - armchair or otherwise - will love.

Review:
This was the best book I've read in a long time.  Brown-Waite is so honest and so relatable.  She doesn't gloss over her failures or make foreign service seem like a cake walk.

What she does do is bring it to a level where you could acutally imagine yourself in her shoes.  The danger of living in Africa are handled with honesty and candor.  Getting used to having staff, communicating with family only rarely and living without a working telephone are the small things compared to her illness and pregnancy struggles.

This is a great book, check it out for yourself.

My Fake Wedding, Mina Ford

Publisher's Copy:

When Katie Simpson discovers her boyfriend boffing "Fishpants Fraser," she vows to eat toenail clippings before getting involved again. Life as "the ginger spinster of Pelham Parish" will be lonely, but bearable as long as she shags lots of strangers and hangs tight with her friends.

Unfortunately, Katie has the unerring ability to hit on the only gay man at the party (not again!). And her pals are somewhat preoccupied. Mover-and-shaker Janice has started scoping funerals for doddering sugar daddies. George, Katie's gorgeous, flamingly gay best friend (yes, she's tried it), is madly in love with an Aussie heartbreaker (struck out there, too) who needs some speedy nuptials to stay in the country. What better opportunity to plan a fake wedding more elaborate than a ten-tier cake?

My Review:

Light & fluffy like good frosting, this is somewhat of a throwaway read - not one that you will remember too much when you finish it, but fun none the less.

A smart little book that ends up with all the pieces falling into place, you'll enjoy Katie's journey with all of her quirky friends. This is pretty close to a perfect beach read, well maybe a watch-the-leaves-fall read, so pick it up.

Clearing The Aisle, Karen Schwartz

Publisher's Copy:

They're getting hitched.

When Rachel Silverstein and her longtime boyfriend Dan Gershon decide to get engaged, they hardly expect that planning a wedding will be more difficult than any life changes they've braved in the five years they've been dating. After all, they already live together. But suddenly everyone from parents to friends to cousins to caterers seems to be losing their minds completely. Surely it can't all be in Rachel's head. Can it?

My Review:

I didn't get it. This book took me nowhere. I kept waiting for it to be worth my time, but it never got there. Don't bother!

Mennonite In A Little Black Dress, Rhoda Janzen

Publisher's Copy:

Not long after Rhoda Janzen turned forty, her world turned upside down. It was bad enough that her husband of fifteen years left her for Bob, a guy he met on Gay.com, but that same week a car accident left her injured. Needing a place to rest and pick up the pieces of her life, Rhoda packed her bags, crossed the country, and returned to her quirky Mennonite family's home, where she was welcomed back with open arms and offbeat advice. (Rhoda's good-natured mother suggested she get over her heartbreak by dating her first cousin—he owned a tractor, see.)

Written with wry humor and huge personality—and tackling faith, love, family, and aging—Mennonite in a Little Black Dress is an immensely moving memoir of healing, certain to touch anyone who has ever had to look homeward in order to move ahead.

My Review:

I had trouble understanding why this woman who moved so far away from the Mennonite faith of her youth, yet put up with an abusive husband, but this memoir is worth the read.

Reading about how Janzen went back to her family, who are big-wigs in the Mennonite faith, after her life fell apart leads her to re-examine the faith she left behind. He results are surprising and I found them really interesting.

I love a good biography with a twist & this one has several. Pick it up!

This is available for Kindle for only $9.99 (I don't have a Kindle, but I figure maybe enough of you out there do!)

Honey, Baby, Sweetheart, Deb Caletti

Publisher's Copy:

Ruby McQueen is a sixteen-year-old high school student with the name, she thinks, of a rodeo cowgirl porn star, or, maybe worse, a Texas beauty queen runner-up. Ruby, ordinarily dubbed the Quiet Girl, finds herself hanging out with gorgeous, rich, thrill-seeking Travis Becker. With Travis, Ruby can be someone she’s never been before: Fearless. Powerful. But Ruby is in over her head, and finds herself risking more and more…



My Review:

As usual, Deb Caletti does not dissapoint her YA readers.  These are characters you can relate to with situations that seem like they could really happen.

All My Patients Have Tales, Jeff Wells, D.V.M

Publisher's Copy:

All My Patients Have Tales is a charming, funny, and engaging collection of stories in the great tradition of James Herriout's All Creatures Great And Small.

Jeff Wells describes the first scary cases he takes on at the start of his career, right after graduating from the Iowa State University College of Veterinary Medicine, and as he becomes a seasoned and beloved vet, we watch him grow and flourish over the years. Wells works in a "mixed practice," treating farm animals and house pets, with the occasional exotic thrown in.

The many life-altering, life-threatening, uplifting, and hilarious episodes Wells relates feature a turkey attack, a pregnant male cat, porcupine-quill-covered terriers, a heavy-metal Chihuahua with road burn, an ornery pygmy donkey, a giant hog, a constipated cow, and many others.

Each of these cases reveals not only Wells's wisdom and great sense of humor - without which he surely couldn't do his job - but his sensitive and caring approach to both his charges and their owners.

This perfect little gem of a book will appeal to animal lovers, "pet parents," and anyone who has ever toyed with the idea of becoming a vet.

My Review:

This book of animal stories just didn't do it for me.

Even though I'm an animal lover (my schnauzer has his own blog, for Pete's sake) I found most of these stories a little flat & just kind of boring.

My opinion is this one is only for vet-wannabes and those who really like pet stories.

See by Mary Beth Chapman, co-authored by Ellen Vaughn

I was contacted by Revell books and sent a copy of the amazing book Choosing to SEE: A Journey of Struggle and Hope by Mary Beth Chapman and Ellen Vaughn.

Here's what Revell has to say about it.

Choosing to SEE: A Journey of Struggle and Hope by Mary Beth Chapman, wife of Christian music artist Steven Curtis Chapman, and co-authored by Ellen Vaughn. In this compelling book, Mary Beth shares a clear message of hope, in spite of her struggles with disappointment, tragedy and grief. Mary Beth’s first-hand story will have you alternately laughing and crying and wishing you lived next-door to the Chapmans.

This book is not an easy book to read, yet I didn't set it down until I had finished it in one setting.  We have very close friends who lost their daughter 2 years ago and as a mother myself the sheer honesty about the raw pain they felt is stunning.  I read most of this book through tears, but it is just an amazing book. 

Not only did the Chapmans lose their daugter, but it was in an accident involving their teenage son, who was driving. 

The faith the Chapman family has and the way they have loved each other & been loved by the Christian community is awe inspiring. 

I really don't think I can honestly convey how moving this book is, I'm actually somewhat at a loss for words on how good it was.  How much anyone who lives in God, doubts God or is unsure of God can actually see faith revealed on the pages of this book. There but for the Grace of God go I.

But this is not just a book of tragedy, it is also a book of celebration of life, family & God.  Head out & pick this one up, you will not be sorry.

America's Boy: A Memoir, Wade Rouse

Publisher's Copy:

Growing up in the Missouri Ozarks in the 1960s and ’70s, Wade Rouse was always a bit of an outsider. While some of his roughneck peers wore Wrangler jeans and had stylish crew cuts, Wade feathered his golden hair and sported a handmade leatherwork belt bearing his unfortunate childhood nickname, Wee-Pooh.

Taunted by his classmates, Wade finds comfort in his offbeat but lovable family, but when a tragic motorcycle accident takes his brother’s life, Wade buries his sexuality along with his brother, vowing to be the son he believes his family wants.

America’s Boy is Wade Rouse’s tale of self-denial and self-discovery, and a tender tribute to the eccentric family that carried him through it all. Wade’s battle with himself—and the long road back to self-acceptance—forms the heart of America’s Boy, an arresting and utterly moving memoir about a boy learning to live (and love) in his own skin. Told with humor, courage, and boundless joy, America’s Boy is a love letter to a singular time in America’s heartland, to family, and to the growing pains that accompany self-discovery.

My Review:

Since I read one of his later books first, At Least In The City Someone Would Hear Me Scream, this book was not quite as good, but still full of great stories.

Realizing that he is a homosexual in a small Missouri town is hard enough, but when his brother dies tragically as a teen, Rouse feels that he can't let his family down by admitting the truth about himself. He eats through his pain and avoids relationships all together until he's in his 30's. Finding true love & coming out to his family saves him.

This book is set up in small chapters of individual stories, some only a page or two long, making it an easy book to set down & pick up again later. This book of self discovery and homey memories is worth your time.

Driving Sideways, Jess Riley

Publisher's Copy:

Driving Sideways tells the story of Leigh Fielding, a twenty-eight year-old kidney transplant recipient who—six years, hundreds of dialysis sessions, and a million bad poems after being diagnosed with Polycystic Kidney Disease—finally feels strong enough to pursue a few lofty goals she’s been mulling for years: find herself, her kidney donor’s family, and the mother that abandoned her over twenty years ago. And what better way to do just that than a solitary road trip across the country? Well, maybe not entirely solitary, because Leigh suspects she may have inherited more than just an organ from her deceased donor. It’s this sneaking suspicion that takes her trip down some unexpected detours—and the juvenile delinquent who blackmails Leigh into giving her a ride is only the beginning.

My Review:

Let me say unconditionally that I loved this book! Jess Riley has a great way with words and everytime I thought that this story was about to zig it zagged, and in a good way.
I find that so many times when I read a book you can telegraph what is coming a mile away, but this one kept me guessing, laughing, and entertained the whole time. One of those books that you don't want to end.
This book was published in 2008 and according to www.JessRiley.com she doesn't have anymore out yet or even on the way, which is a disappointment.
With lines like "Maybe he's roasting in hell with Goebbels, Pol Pot, and Falco, who ended up there for unleashing 'Rock Me Amadaeus' on an unsuspecting public" and "I'm playing Marco Polo with normalcy" the writing really had me.
I have several books waiting to be posted, but I loved this one so much I wanted to publish this one right away.
It's available from Kindle for $9.29 and probably can be ordered through your local library network.
Don't miss this one, it's a gem.