Sunday, June 26, 2011

Little Miss Teacher - Cassandra O'Sullivan Sachar

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Pages: 265

Published: 2011

Date Finished: 27th June 2011

Rating: 3.5 Stars

Told through the eyes of Candace Turner, a high school English teacher straight out of college, Little Miss Teacher details one woman’s struggles through the important initial stages of her career and her life as a grown-up. While teaching her students about writing and literature, Candace learns her own lessons about life. As she worries about fitting in with the faculty and conquering piles of essays to grade, Candace also pursues an old crush only to have her heart broken. Through her endless attempts to succeed in both her job and life, she has many adventures within and outside of her classroom walls. Ultimately, Candace hopes to finish the school year with a feeling of triumph at having touched the lives of her students… and having survived.

In the vein of both Emma McLaughlin and Nicola Kraus’s The Nanny Diaries and Lauren Weisberger’s The Devil Wears Prada, Little Miss Teacher is a story about a young woman dealing with the ups and downs of work and life. In experiences that are sometimes amusing and sometimes sad, Candace endures everything from chaperoning the prom to helping a friend deal with a problem. In her earnest, self-conscious, conversational manner, Candace gives a voice and an all-access pass to the often embarrassing life of a young educator – Good Reads Synopsis -

I can honestly say that this novel didn’t immediately spark my attention. I am not a great fan of school settings, neither that of gossiping teachers and womanizing males. The premise drew me in and I really wanted to fall into step easily with Little Miss Teacher, but introductions fell flat for me and I found myself putting the book down, not really interested in the characters or their lives.

The novel starts out with [Candi] Candace pondering the minds of her sexually vocal student and sleaze ball colleagues to maneuver onwards to even more dull minded men. Facing off as a confident character, I didn’t really find much substance to her from the get go and felt even the more minor characters had more character then she did.

I’m not much for a daily grind novel, I think mainly because when I get stuck into a book by page thirty I want to have a decent grasp on the main characters personality and because to me she lacked that intense personality I am used to and desire in a character. I was frustrated with the lack of progress and wanted her to get into life outside the prison of the education system.

I gladly tip my hat to anyone who can put a smile on their face and work passionately against the daily turbulence that teaching must create.

As the novel progressed I found myself unable to hold back my laughter and started to enjoy it for what it was rather than what it wasn’t. It picked up around the 50 page mark and I couldn’t wait to curl up in bed with a hot cuppa and really delight in the journey of the characters. I began to appreciate teachers a lot more and the effort they made and even reminisced about my own teachers and the effort they had made, despite the unwillingness of some students.

Some of the situations she had to go through really hit me hard and made me consider her position much more deeply. I never even considered some of the harder points of teaching and I fell more in love with Candace as a character because of the hardships she had endured as well as the good times, reminding me that life goes on and regardless you have to make time for fun and relaxation. I even questioned my own career intentions wondering if I had the balls to do what she did every day. However I think I’ll stick to my study for the time being.

Overall I really did enjoy this novel. Her writing style was easy and such a joy to read despite the awkward start. Definitely pick it up for sure. Thank you Cassandra for letting me read and review Little Miss Teacher.

You can find Little Miss Teacher on Good Reads : http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/10639770-little-miss-teacher

Blog Tour Link:

http://chicklitplusblogtours.wordpress.com/2011/03/30/little-miss-teacher-by-cassandra-osullivan-sachar/

Tuesday, June 21, 2011

July Reading Challenge- In with the Old...

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I have decided that July [being my birthday month] that I would mix up my reading a little and relive some of my favorite books from the past. I have chosen four books that I have kept in my collection and while I really wanted to add some Enid Blyton books I don't really have them on hand at the moment, but would still recommend them.

So stay tuned, because these next four books will be featuring for review in July.

Review Book : Love Struck- Chantel Simmons

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Pages: 272

Published: 2010

Date Finished: 21st June 2011

Rating: 3 Stars

A funny, heartfelt story about losing the perfect life–and finding a real one.

When twenty-seven-year-old image consultant Poppy Ross discovers that her handsome and seemingly devoted husband Parker is having an affair, she is dumbfounded. Before she has chance to confront him, however, he is struck by lightning. When he regains consciousness, he has lost his short-term memory—including that of the affair. Given a chance to erase history and possibly save her marriage, Poppy decides to remake herself in the mistress’s image, so that Parker might never be tempted to stray again. Her quest to become his perfect woman has disastrous and hilarious results—and just might turn out to be the worst thing possible for their relationship – Good Reads Synopsis.

Review:

When Samantha at Chick Lit Plus asked me if I wanted to be part of the ‘Love Struck’ Blog tour I had to jump on the wagon and give it a ride to chick-lit town, after reading the synopsis emailed to me I couldn’t wait until the book arrived and when I did I was overwhelmed with excitement [it being my first physical review book]. The premise was promising and with only a few days to get stuck into it in May I knew I was sad when I know I wouldn’t be able to get it read in time for the tour. None the less I read it eagerly, determined to get stuck into it. However there was one overruling factor in the novel that made the reading experience for me less enjoyable, and that was the main character - Poppy.

Don’t get me wrong. A woman scorned is a connection I can make as I myself have gone through the experience of a cheating partner, it wasn’t even that though. It was the way she handle being cheated on and how she forced herself to be someone she truly was not. In my experience if someone didn’t like you for what you were before they sure aren’t going to like you for the cosmetic things- like for insane nails and skin. I wanted to enjoy Poppy so much, but for the majority of the novel she annoyed me.

Love Struck was definitely a riot in the humour department and while I cringed at a lot of Poppy’s attempts to ‘revamp herself’ I found myself laughing throughout the whole novel. It was freaking hilarious.

What I liked about the novel was the underling messages. That communication is really a major part of a relationship and without it a lot can get lost in translation. It made me think a lot about my relationship and its past and how one misunderstanding can really be embellished to make it much worse than it really is. And staying true to yourself. It is so easy to get lost in what you think everyone expects you to be and honestly does take more effort. Sometimes we need to stay true to ourselves because there are people who truly do love and appreciate us for who we are.

While I didn’t really enjoy the novels progression or the characters, I took a lot from it and for me that made it a more enjoyable read in the end.

Friday, June 10, 2011

The Angel Therapy Handbook –Doreen Virtue

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Pages: 256

Published: 2011 Hay House - http://www.hayhouse.com.au

Date Finished: 10th June 2011

Recommend it: Yes, for certain. Loved it.

Doreen Virtue has taught her Angel Therapy Practitioner course since 1997, helping thousands to learn the skills of spiritual healing and psychic readings in concert with the angels and archangels. Now, she has amassed the tools, secrets, and exercises that she teaches her students in a comprehensive handbook. Whether you’re a professional healer, or just want to polish your natural spiritual gifts, this handbook is a vital reference tool that you can refer to again and again. – Good Reads Synopsis - http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/7944358-the-angel-therapy-handbook

I love this woman and her down to earth, right to the point guidance when it comes to Angels. Teaching from her experiences, Doreen shares her knowledge and divine faith in this handbook aimed at teaching those who want to work with spirits and Angels the right way to protect yourself and promote yourself. Seeing it from all angles, each chapter goes into detail from the guiding reason she started her journey with the Angels to owning and running your own business and following a passionate career as a light worker. Bringing healing and love to those who wish to seek it.

Not only is this book beautiful and so easy to follow, but I loved the step-by-step approach to conducting my own readings for myself and others and the guided sessions to contact loved ones and Angels.

You don’t have to have a specific religion to enjoy Doreen’s books and while she mentions God throughout the book, she clearly reiterates that this book is for everyone, whatever religion or faith and that while the both are linked, you can come from strong backgrounds or no religious background and still apply the same principles to your daily lives.

I always learn something from Doreen’s books and this was no exception, if by far this would be my favourite of the books I have read so far. Time and time again her learning has inspired me into taking a more spiritual road and while I myself know I have a lot more to learn. I know within myself that I can do anything I want, if I can dream it and this book is a brilliant reminder of that.


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You can find my forthcoming Small Business here - Feel Free to contact me if you are interested. Inspired by Doreen's The Angel Therapy Handbook.


http://traintoinspirationstation.blogspot.com/

xoxo Blair

Keys to the Repository - Blue Bloods Companion

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Pages: 240

Published: 2010 Atom

Date Finished: June 2011

Rating: 3.5 Stars

Lavish parties. Passionate meetings in the night. Bone-chilling murders. Midterms. The day-to-day life of Schuyler Van Alen and her Blue Bloods friends (and enemies) is never boring. But there's oh-so-much more to know about these beautiful and powerful teens. Below the streets of Manhattan, within the walls of the Repository, exists a wealth of revealing information about the vampire elite that dates back before the Mayflower. In a series of short stories, journal entries, and never-before-seen letters, New York Times bestselling author Melissa de la Cruz gives her hungry fans the keys to the Repository and an even more in-depth look into the secret world of the Blue Bloods. Won't you come inside? – Good Reads Synopsis - http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/7703889-keys-to-the-repository

Review:

Another companion book to the series that I enjoyed immensely. This little gem was packed with articles, character profiles, short stories and background story that not only rekindled the novels I have read, but made me super excited about the forthcoming novels in the series as well as planned spin-off the series. I loved getting to know each character in depth and reminiscing my favourite moments of the series so far, definitely, a short, fantastic read for those who have enjoyed the story so far.