Tempting Fate by Jane Green

I have read several other books by this author including Family Pictures, Another Piece of My Heart and Promises to Keep.   I like her style of writing and the topics of her books are interesting. 

That said,  I'll talk about her latest entry.  Gabby and Elliott are a happily married couple and the parents of two girls.  Elliott is a gastroenterologist and Gabby is a stay-at-home mom who takes great joy in finding items in dumpsters and renovating them into something more.

Gabby plans a night out with her girlfriends at a local establishment.  While there she  meets an attractive young man at the bar and they strike up a conversation.  One thing leads to another and they engage in e-mail correspondence.  They meet up a second time and lightning strikes.  Gabby makes a decision that is life altering and ultimately affects her entire family.

Although this book was a quick read and I suspect it will become fairly popular,  I'd be remiss if I didn't say that I could not embrace the concept of the novel.  There is a subtext on the cover that states "sometimes it's worth it to play with fire....".  I disagree in this case.  The story line reminded me of the movie "Unfaithful" starring Diane Lane and Richard Gere.  Why anyone in their right mind would risk the love and respect they have in a committed relationship to explore "fire" is beyond me.

In both the movie and this book, the wife in the marriage decided it was worth the possible demise of her family and marriage to explore a lustful fling.  Both ultimately regret their decision .  I wonder if they had considered the consequences more thoroughly, they may not have pursued their decisions.  But ah, then there would not have been a movie or a book.  Nuff said!

I'll more than likely read another book by this author.  I do like her writing.

Ladybookbug!

The Shoemaker's Wife by Adriana Trigiani

Enza and Ciro are destined to be star-crossed lovers.  Unfortunately life gets in the way a bit and the road to happiness becomes long and winding.

We are introduced to this couple in the hills of northern Italy prior to WWI.  They are both residents of villages just miles apart.  Ciro is being raised by nuns in a convent and Enza is the eldest daughter in a family of six children.  Ciro is thrown out of the convent after he discovers the priest in a compromising position.  Enza's family faces financial disaster and must make the decision to move to America.

A heart-warming story filled with detailed descriptions of each setting.  This novel invites the reader into the story and when you are finished, you may feel as if you just spend a vacation with your family.

A wonderful book to read on a rainy or snowy day or just when you want to escape for a while.

Ladybookbug!

Lydia's Party by Margaret Hawkins

What might have made me pick up this title?  Was it the sunflower bouquet in the middle of the table?  Was it the fact that the table was set, waiting for the diners or was it the title?  Perhaps all of these contributed to my choice.  Maybe it was just one of a few new (January) titles left on the library shelves.  After all, when it snows out in the suburbs it is often difficult to get out of the driveway and reading is a wonderful option for a cold, snowy day.

I don't believe I have read any of this author's previous novels but you might have.  They are A Year of Cats and Dogs and How to Survive a Natural Disaster.  She has also written a memoir and wrote a weekly art column for the Chicago-Sun Times.

Lydia's Party is about a woman named Lydia--of course!  She throws an annual mid-winter bash for her closest friends.  Each year they meet and share food and good times.  However, this year she must
tell them she is dying.  The reader is introduced to each friend by a chapter devoted to them.  The day of the party comes and Lydia procrastinates about telling them her news.  A snow storm keeps all the friends overnight and Lydia ends up telling them her news.  There is a funeral and just when you think it's over, there's a suprise twist.

Not the most uplifting novel I've read, it still was a good read for a snowy winter day.

Ladybookbug!