The Mother's Group - Fionna Higgins

Pages: 312

Published: 2012 Allen and Urwin

Genre: Contemporary /Women’s Fiction

Format: Large Paperback

Acquired: Local Collins bookstore

Date Finished: April 11^th 2012

Synopsis:

The Mother’s Group tells the story of six very different women who agree to meet regularly after the births of their respective babies. It tracks their individual journeys during that first crucial year—and the group’s collective one—as they navigate motherhood and the shifting ground of their relationships with their partners. Each woman struggles in her own way to become the mother she wants to be, and finds herself becoming increasingly reliant on the friendship and support of the mother’s group members. Until one day, when an unthinkably shocking event changes everything. The Mother’s Group is an unflinching and compelling portrait of love, sex, marriage and parenting in an increasingly complicated world. Moving, provocative, tender and utterly gripping, it will draw you in and never let you go.

Review/Thoughts

From page one I fell hard for this book. It appealed to me on so many levels but fundamentally my desire to be a mother overcome me and the risky cost involved in picking up this book, cost aside I want to run out and buy this for every mother and potential mother I know, and tell them to sit down and devour the book because I certainly did.

The story was one of many emotions and perspectives, each character fresh and full with their own trials and triumphs throughout the novel. The way that each story was interwoven made me hooked with every flick of the page. There was never a dull moment in any of the characters lives and the pacing was constantly enjoyable.

I had my favorites and it was almost like I was sitting there with them, together with my imaginary bundle bouncing on my lap as I picked and judged and drew closer towards those women who I could connect with and those who would challenge me. This is one of the many things I loved about The Mothers group – the constant questioning and challenging of my own morals and for-thoughts of pregnancy and motherhood.

Not only do we gain insight into each woman’s lives, but that of the father and family. It certainly raised a lot of questions I pressed to my partner and it made me thankful at times for having someone willing to be so supporting in my journey. Fiona Higgins has a way of capturing the human spirit throughout every word making you feel, making you a part of something so natural and yet at times the sensation of being disconnected. It was an unflinching fictional look at what a mother feels and goes through and while it did not go into the graphic nature of birth, it did fulfill the knowledge that it is a beautiful experience and that there are pros and cons.

The biggest part of this story was the building friendships and the back-story into each characters life and pre-pregnancy – these two elements made the novel and drove it forward with compassion and realism. This was not one of those stories that is a transition book, each background story built up to the present day was just as emotionally charging as the present day story. I loved it.

Nearing the mid way mark my heart started to churn, my chest tight. I did not want to put this down. The world around me disappeared and tears- oh the tears and the onslaught of overwhelming feelings. I just wanted to talk about this book. I wanted to start it over again and re-read it.

The Mother’s Group was it was set in Sydney, Australia and in modern times where technology is the new social acceptance. But this novel seemed to surpass this thankfully into good old fashioned one on one get together’s and support. Something I greatly appreciated.

I would recommend this book to anyone, woman or man. I am certainly going to give this to my partner to read, for the sheer experience and what he could learn about women and birth and the life after. There is so much fear built up, in a lot of books fiction and non-fiction but The Mother’s Group combines everything so beautifully it left me feeling satisfied and I hope you to enjoy it if you choose to pick it up.

Read if you like: Monica McInerney

Rating: ★★★★★

March Madness - Will it ever end ?

As most of you know and for those who don’t I had a meeting this month and several doctors’ appointments which resulted in a somewhat relieving prognoses that is treatable. However to treat it and to prepare my body for pregnancy [ which we hope is not too far in the future] I have had to spend some serious dedicated time to planning, exercising, food management and stress management on top of trying to find a house, house training a dog, and both looking for full time employment. The overall biggest lifestyle change is I have to lose 24 kilos [not sure how many pounds that is] and for the longest time I thought that maybe that might mean that I have to take a break from reading, my blog and reviewing but I’ve decided to do what I can when I can and after all …

READING IS MEANT TO BE FUN- NOT A CHORE !!!

So this month and maybe next month are going to be really hard and rewarding and one thing that I see has suffered is reading – my own books and books for reviews. I aim to at least read two from this month’s planned reading and two from next month’s to be realistic. If I read more than that is fabulous, if you would like to remove me from any further acceptances that is totally fine I do understand as it is a huge responsibility and I am honored to have been given the chance to read so many books. But I need to look at the bigger picture which for me is enjoyment in reading and the bigger stomach [hehe Baby Bump]

Please note this is not for lack of being interested or trying to get through some, but to be honest my attention span at the moment when it comes to anything other than getting my health on track has been poor and it is straining due to the overwhelming stress that I worry about how to go about review books.

First and foremost the list of review books for March and April are as follows: [Still to read, finish and review]

· First Time Forever

· Gentleman Prefer Nerds

· Croak

· Juicy joy

· Hearts that Survive

April [Upcoming Reviews Due]

· Always the Designer Never the Bride

· Grave Mercy

· Caring is Creepy

· Royal Street

· Ada Rules

I also have a few of my own to FINISH plus two left over from February:

· Interrupted – I am enjoying this one it is a little sad though.

· Halflings – I am enjoying this one it is like a cross between Mundahlia and Twilight sorta.

· Something Borrowed – I am so into this, love the writing style. I just got distracted.

· The Iron Witch – Still trying to navigate my way though this one.

· P.S I Love You – This book is so freaking heavy to hold, but I like it.

· Rainbow Boys – love me some Alex Sanchez, just not in the mood at the moment.

So there you have it ladies and gentleman. I don’t think I have been this stuck in a good long while and this exhausted. But it will pick up and as I learned today the secret is not hoping- it is doing.

Please note that while I am struggling to read fiction at the moment I am interested in Non-Fiction. If you are looking for someone to review any books on Pregnancy, conception, Natural Health or New Age Non-Fiction please do not hesitate to contact be as I am keen to get my hands on some. I am also interested in Baby Chick-lit, or contemporary fiction. [For some reason my brain can handle it.]

Now for some sexyness XD - Blair

Forbidden Fantasies- Jodie Griffin

Roughly 27,000 words

Published: 5^th March 2012

Genre: BDSM/ Erotica/ Adult

Format: Ebook [Courtesy of Carina Press]

Date Finished: 5^th March 2012

Synopsis:

After fifteen years of marriage, Jessica Meyers's sex life is, well, a little predictable. Her handsome husband turns her on, but missionary style once or twice a week? It just can't compare to the hot new world she discovers in the pages of erotic romances. Her fantasies fuel the fire of her desire, adding a new spark to her and Alex's lovemaking. But Jess is afraid to tell her husband what she really wants in bed—and her secrets start coming between them.

State trooper Alex Meyers is a master at uncovering the truth—except when it comes to his sweet, shy wife. She's clearly keeping something from him. An affair? She wants out? When he finally confronts Jess, he's shocked to learn she wants to turn her forbidden fantasies into nightly realities. But when he takes her to a unique B and B—Bondage and Breakfast—catering to couples and multiples, Alex is about to find out just how far he'll go.

Review/ Thoughts:

Don’t get me wrong. There are days when like most people I want to read the raunchiest erotica available. Something with no plot and that is more pornographic than romantic, but going into Forbidden Fantasies I was soon delighted to know that I could enjoy both aspects in a way that would leave me feeling sated [erotically] and yet romantically satisfied as well.

I am a big fan of progression and growth and you don’t get to read a lot of adult fiction where the couple is married and who truly love one another to the point that they would try and do anything. Forbidden fantasies hits close to home and is relatable and hilarious with warmth and sensuality and yet there were so many emotional layers that made me enjoy this story so much more. Jodie touches on the key elements of a relationship and explores them, opening a chest of possibilities and a world to her characters and to her readers.

Forbidden Fantasies was one of the best novella’s I have read. I loved the gradual learning between the two main characters Jess and Alex and the understanding that comes from experiencing their fantasies together. It truly is a beautiful and believable story. There were times when it was so hot and I was so emotionally engaged with the plot that I had to put it down for a few hours just to calm myself.

Jodie’s writing style is easy and it flows with every page full anticipation and delight. Will I be reading anything by this author again: Hell yes anything I can get my hands on and if you aren’t afraid to dip your toe into some dark water or are already a fan of BDSM with realistic emotions than you will be sure to love Forbidden Fantasies.

★★★★.5