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Category: Gift Ideas

Review: Keep the Change by Steve Dublanica

[ 8 ] October 12, 2011

Reviewed by Jill Elizabeth

Don’t you love it when you learn something and are vastly entertained at the same time? I certainly do, and Steve Dublanica’s latest – Keep the Change – is my new favorite exemplar of this. The book, a follow-up to his 2008 hit Waiter Rant, is a fascinating exploration of the service industry and tipping. Read it – you’ll love it and I guarantee you will never look at a waiter, taxi driver, valet, or any other service worker the same way again…

The book opens with a trip to Vegas to learn about stripper tipping – and it only gets better from there. And just to cover this right up front, he does it in an entirely non- skeevy way, even though much of the tipping does border on – if not downright enter – some potentially skeeve-worthy territory. Because yes, his exploration of “personal services” tipping includes how to compensate strippers, prostitutes, dominatrixes (or is it dominatrices? who knows?), and phone sex operators for their time, as well as the more conventional waiters, bellhops, concierges, and cab drivers.

The history of tipping is oddly fascinating, as is the compensatory schemata for all the various service-providing professionals covered in the book. In fact, the information on how all these different jobs pay (or more accurately fail to pay) their practitioners is almost more interesting than the information on how we, the consuming public, are supposed to tip them. I was quite surprised to learn how many ridiculous ways employers screw service personnel out of minimum wage (and sometimes even out of the tips they actually manage to earn) – and once I had read through them all, I found myself a lot more sympathetic as far as tipping is concerned…

Dublanica’s writing style is conversational and extremely engaging. He pulls you right along with him on his tip-exploring adventures, and I dare you to not find him to be a fun companion.

Rating: 5/5

A former corporate attorney and government relations/health policy executive, Jill-Elizabeth walked away from that world (well, skipped actually) and toward a more literary life (equally challenging, but infinitely more enjoyable). If you enjoyed this review, please visit her at Jill-Elizabeth.com, the official home of All Things Jill-Elizabeth – that is, all of the teehees, musings, rants, book reviews, writing exercises, and witticisms of her burgeoning writing career.

Review copy was provided free of any obligation by Ecco. No monetary or any other form of compensation was received.

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Review: Baby Medbasics by Luke & Tara Hermann

[ 4 ] September 27, 2011

Reviewed by Alyssa Katanic

Baby Medbasics, by Luke Hermann, M.D. and Tara Summers Hermann, R.N., B.S.N., is a compact reference book that gives “Emergency Action Steps” in an easy to use format. It is 5”x6.5”, spiral bound, with a hardcover, making it portable (i.e. diaper bag worthy) and easy to handle. The subject tabs, great color and graphic design makes it easy to navigate quickly, and it gives clear instruction on what to do and when in cases of an emergency – including when to seek medical attention. Not only do the Hermanns give steps to handle emergencies, but they also list preventatives steps, as well, in such areas as allergies, bites & stings, fever, rash, and so on.

Baby Medbasics would make a great baby shower gift, as well as a great guide for babysitters and other caregivers. There is a page for recording family and emergency contact numbers in the front, and a list of international Emergency numbers for those who travel inside the back cover.

I suggest giving it a read over, so that you are familiar with the content, and then keeping it on hand for review in case of emergencies. It is concise and can be read in less than an hour. Either way, it is easy to follow, much like a 911 operator in book format.

Rating: 4/5

Alyssa is a wife and stay at home, homeschooling mother of five, with two boxers, two cats, a soft shelled turtle named after Bob the Builder, and 7 frogs (admittedly a homeschooling project gone froggy). In all her spare time, she loves to read and believes that there is no such thing as having too many books!

Review copy was provided free of any obligation by FSB Associates. No monetary or any other form of compensation was received.

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Review: Complete Book of Knife Skills by Jeffrey Elliot & James DeWan

[ 7 ] August 14, 2011

Reviewed by Jen Kulman

I have always considered myself to be fairly competent with my knives in the kitchen. At least, that’s what I thought, until I was faced with exactly how little I actually know about knives and kitchen techniques. The Complete Book of Knife Skills is a compilation of a truly amazing amount of information. This is an excellent guide that really will help you become more knowledgeable and skilled with your knives.

The first chapter, titled “Everything You Need to Know About Knives” is a basic primer that I found invaluable. Here, you will learn how knives are put together, differentiate the different parts of a knife, understand the various blade styles and their intended use. Best of all is the section on types of knives, which includes a photo of each type and a detailed explanation. I have always felt overwhelmed by the types of knives available and never confident about buying the knives I need, without spending too much. I also enjoyed the explanations (with photos) on the proper ways to hone and sharpen your knives. Chapter two is equally useful, demonstrating basic knife safety measures, and how to hold a chef’s knife, as well as explaining other knife grips.

The next eight chapters focus on how to cut specific foods, separated by food type. Learn how to make basic vegetable cuts, plus how to peel, pit, and slice some of the trickier fruits. What make this book so wonderful are the number of quality photographs that accompany each step. The instructions on coring a pineapple contains five action photos so that you are absolutely sure you’re on track. The poultry and meat chapters give directions on boning and slicing all sorts of large, raw meats. I’ll admit I flipped through these as quickly as possible – I would never make it as a butcher. Similarly, the fish and shellfish chapters give directions on scaling and filleting fish and preparing seafood. The last chapter is how to make creative garnishes: create fluted mushroom caps, strawberry fans or apple swans to add decorative flair to your dishes.

Overall, Complete Book of Knife Skills is just an incredibly helpful book for the kitchen. The spiral binding allows you to lay the book out flat and follow along step by step. Tons of photos make it easy to attempt a recipe that you may have shied away from in the past. Good knife skills really add to the presentation value of your dishes and will increase your confidence in the kitchen!

Rating: 4/5

Jen lives in Michigan with her husband and six year old son. She writes reviews of children’s books on her blog, FIRR-Kids and loves filling her own shelves with cookbooks.

Review copy was provided free of any obligation by The Lisa Ekus Group. No monetary or any other form of compensation was received.

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Review: Rules of Civility by Amor Towles

[ 11 ] August 11, 2011

Reviewed by Lauren Kirk

It has been a long time since I have been so stirred and enamored by a novel. I could not put Rules of Civility down and when the book ended, I wanted more. Amor Towles throws the reader into New York City society of the 1930’s and beyond in a manner that makes you feel as if you are right at the table with the characters, having your own gin and tonic. The metaphors in the novel are simply beautiful, and the story flows at an easy, enjoyable pace.

Katey Kontent is a quick-witted, smart and fun working girl trying to get by in the city. With her friend Eve, the two take the city by storm and even when they have no more than three dollars to their names, they still manage to have a great time in the dives of New York. When the two meet Tinker Grey, their world suddenly includes the upper tiers of New York society and all of the secrets that lie within that realm. The relationships and encounters change as the novel progresses, but Katey remains true to herself and she continues to thrive. She is a warm and easy to like as a main character and her ambition and good humor make her an ideal leading lady.

Rules of Civility drew me right in and I think that the fantastic character development paired with the flowing story really made this novel fly.

Amor Towles not only made me want to become best friends with Katey, he made me want to sip gin and tonics while enjoying life after a long day at work. I firmly believe that there are books that remind us that in life, beauty and interest lie all around us even if we ignore them while we are caught in our mundane routines. These books remind us of a simpler, yet more elegant times and teach us a lot about ourselves in the process. Rules of Civility was certainly one of those books.

Rating: 5/5

Lauren Kirk is a graduate student, freelance writer, wine lover, and avid reader. Random musings can be found over at www.goldiesays.com.

Review copy was provided free of any obligation by Viking Adult. No monetary or any other form of compensation was received.

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Review: The Lady of the Butterflies by Fiona Mountain

[ 8 ] August 11, 2011

Reviewed by Claudia Robinson

“I had all that I had ever desired, and yet it felt that something vital was still missing from my life. It lacked some purpose. It lacked that sense of adventure and discovery that had always been so necessary to me. Stop being greedy, Eleanor. Do not ask for too much, or you might lose all that you already have. ” – Eleanor, The Lady of the Butterflies, Fiona Mountain.

Eleanor Goodricke is the daughter of a 17th C. Puritan nobleman with a keen desire to fuse science with Christianity, God’s most miraculous moments dissected by and for faith. His unorthodox methods, puritanical ideals, as well as the methods used in raising his daughter, who shares his passion for science, keep him on the outskirts of society, who understand nothing of his ways. When he passes away, a victim of ague, like his wife and first daughter, before him, Eleanor is commanded in to the care of the stern and ever disapproving William Merrick. Left, for the most part, to her own devices, Eleanor pursues her desire to see the metamorphosis of a butterfly, the symbol of rebirth, proof, according to her Father, of life after death, with renewed vigor.

Tickenham Court’s land has been coveted and pursued for the land reclamation proposal, refused, for years, by the Goodricke family. The proposal will bring great wealth to all involved, except for the inhabitants whose very livelihoods depend upon it’s current state and the flora and fauna that abide there, all which will be eradicated with the drainage of it’s moors and marshes. As the heiress of Tickenham Court, Merrick makes a point of finding a Eleanor a suitable match for marriage. She hopes for a Lord to reside once more over its affairs instead of it falling into the hands of a ‘flighty’ young girl, with a whimsical and eccentric perspective of life.

Eleanor’s first love, Edmund, and subsequent marriage and children, seems like the perfect union, until Eleanor meets Richard, the flamboyant, dark and dangerously handsome best friend, igniting a lust within her, that threatens to devour and destroy everything she has, if pursued. When Edmund succumbs to the ague, Eleanor’s life is torn apart, her loyalties tested. Secrets, deception, lies and love weave themselves together to form a cocoon of mystery, fatalistic dreams and skewed perceptions. What happens next can only be described as a maelstrom of missed opportunities, misconceptions and misunderstandings that tumble and turn, one over the other, until the reader is left holding their breath with the turn of each page.

The Lady of the Butterflies is rife with emotion, passion, and one woman’s determination to be her own person, while ensuring that no harm comes to her family because of her actions, a task easier said than done. Detailed, alternately heart breaking and heart pounding, tense, high-strung, intimately portrayed, Eleanor’s tale of a woman seeking to find a place in a man’s world where she is both lusted after and abhorred, combines wanton lust with calculated intellect to deliver a tale that jumps off the pages and demands the reader’s undivided attention.

The Lady of the Butterflies is perfection. Immaculately researched, lush, vivid and alive, it tests the reader’s mind, heart and spirit with every new twist and turn. Characters are strong, real, and invoke visceral, passionate internal responses. Based on true accounts, but pieced together with the writer’s own research and fleshed out with her opinions, this book is, to any historical fiction fan, what the bible is to any Christian, or a microscope to a scholar. Superb and sublime and completely and utterly unforgettable.

Rating: 5/5

Claudia lives on beautiful Cape Cod with her husband and two children.

The review copy of this book was provided free of any obligation by Berkley Trade. No monetary or any other form of compensation was received.

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Review: Alice Bliss by Laura Harrington

[ 10 ] August 8, 2011

Reviewed by Colleen Turner

Alice Bliss is in many ways a typical fifteen year old: she argues with her mother, tries hard to take care of her little, precocious sister and is a daddy’s girl of the highest caliber. She has spent her life following her father around, learning how to garden, building things in his workshop and going with him on roofing jobs. He has also taught her to be meticulous, gracious and to never let her fears get the best of her. She loves her father beyond all others and has always tried hard to make him proud.

When Matt Bliss decides to enlist in the military, his family is devastated. Alice’s mother tries to convince him that this was not part of the plan but has to relent when he makes up his mind that this is something he needs to do. Matt works hard to instill in Alice and her sister, Ellie, all the life lessons he can before shipping out to Iraq, just in case they are needed. He tries hard to convince everyone that he will be home before they know it but also needs to make sure that they will be okay no matter what.

When he leaves, a huge hole opens up in the Bliss family. The glue that so often bound them together and mediated when they began to unravel has been taken away and no one knows quite what to do. As Alice tries hard to pick up the slack of chores, cooking and keeping Ellie from falling apart, she isn’t quite sure what to do with her feelings of loss, anger and emptiness. She begins to run track which seems, for a fraction of the time, to clear her mind and make her feel normal. When her feet stop running, though, the pain floods in.

While Matt is away Alice continues to bloom into her own, fighting it tooth and nail and waiting for her father to come home and stop missing out. She learns to drive and begins the tenuous steps of first love. She wants desperately to share all of this with her father but the letters and phone calls are becoming few and far between and she is left to navigate her newly developing world by the good sense her father gave her and his whispered voice in her head. She wants to be strong for Matt and help hold the family together so when he gets home everything – her mother and sister, his workshop, their garden – is as he left it. Can she hold her family, and herself, together until and if that happens?

Warning: do not read Alice Bliss without tissues! It has been awhile since a book moved me to tears, but here I am. Alice Bliss is so tender and such a raw story of growing up amidst war that I have a new appreciation for the loved ones left behind. With all the awkwardness that being a teenager entails, this heaped on top seems too much for anyone to bear. But strong, smart, brave Alice Bliss is a testament to how to move through the pain, the loss and the sadness when the one you love most isn’t there.

Rating: 4.5/5

Colleen lives in Tampa, Florida with her husband, son and pet fish. When not working or taking care of her family she has her nose stuck in a book (and, let’s face it, often when she is working or taking care of her family as well). Nothing excites her more than discovering a new author to obsess over or a hidden jewel of a book to worship.

Review copy was provided free of any obligation by Pamela Dorman Books. No monetary or any other form of compensation was received.

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Review: What to Wear for the Rest of Your Life by Kim Jonhson Gross

[ 11 ] August 5, 2011

Reviewed by Carly Lane

For a lot of people, the idea of being “fashionable” is rather intangible. It’s this nice thing that you might try every now and then, but truly fashionable people seem to live in far off places, drinking martinis and lounging around on the decks of their yachts. I, for one, read the occasional Vogue magazine and get from cover to cover without seeing a single thing that I could incorporate into my everyday suburban life. It’s all just a lot of pretty pictures.

So, you can imagine how delighted I was to find out that What to Wear for the Rest of Your Life: Ageless Secrets of Style by Kim Johnson Gross is actually a fashion guide for the rest of us. The book gives loads of practical tips, such as how to dress for your height and when to wear those scarves you bought on vacation last year. The instructions are simple, the examples are understandable, and I really felt like the author had gone into my closet and given it new life.

My favorite part of the book was the chapter on shopping sensibly. It broke down the process of shopping on a budget and explained that you didn’t have to compromise your style, regardless of your weight or what you have to spend. The simple tips were interspersed with quotes from real women about the post-shopping messes they had found themselves in and the clever tricks that worked for them. Best of all, the author passed on some great sources for finding stylish clothes online at a fraction of the price they would be in high-end department stores.

I own a few other books about fashion, including the books from the editors of Lucky and InStyle magazine. I have to say,What to Wear for the Rest of Your Life blew them out of the water. It was a fun, quick read and I’ve definitely thought twice about what outfits I’m putting together before heading out since I finished the book, even if I’m just going to the grocery store. In short, this book made fashion fun again! I’d highly recommend it.

Rating: 5/5

Carly lives in Salt Lake City, Utah, with her husband and their two cats. Her favorite thing to do is to curl up by a window with a library book. When she isn’t reading, she’s usually writing on her blog at www.beingcarly.com.

The review copy of this book was provided free of any obligation by Springboard Press. No monetary or any other form of compensation was received.

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Review: Iron House by John Hart

[ 7 ] August 4, 2011

Reviewed by Jodi Horsley

Michael and Julian are brothers, abandoned as infants and put in an orphanage – the Iron House. An orphanage that is more of a prison then a home, has no authority and is run by the bullies. Those who live at the Iron House either become strong and learn how to survive, or fall victim to the bullies.

Just as Michael and Julian are about to get adopted into a new life by the Senator’s wife, someone is murdered and Michael takes the blame. Michael runs away from the Iron House while Julian gets adopted and lives a life of wealth and privilege, and torment. Michael learns how to survive on the streets and is ultimately brought under the wing of a major Mob boss – who becomes a “father” to him and teaches Michael how to be a ruthless killer.

Just before the mob boss dies, Michael is given the okay by his “father” to quit the mob and live a “normal” life with his pregnant girlfriend Elena. Unfortunately, the mob boss’ family has other plans for Michel and they won’t let him just walk away – he knows too much. They want Michael dead and will do anything to get him – even go after Elena and her unborn child and Julian.

The threat against Julian now brings Michael back to his brother…only to find that he has been going through some problems of his own. The past rears its ugly head and brings them back once again to the Iron House.

Iron House is a riveting novel with many twists and turns, and plots all woven together. There is such intensity and emotion throughout this book. This story shows amazing love between two brothers and how the past can effect the present. Iron House is a must read.

Rating: 5/5

Jodi lives in the western suburbs of Illinois with her husband, her elementary school daughter, and preschool boy/girl twins. She is an avid reader and loves losing herself in a good book. She has a Master’s in Information Technology and has been a WAHM mom for 4 years now.

The review copy of this book was provided free of any obligation by Thomas Dunne Books. No monetary or any other form of compensation was received.

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