Reader's Report: "All We Ever Wanted Was Everything"

When it comes to the Fine Arts, I am an incredible critical person.
I go see a ballet performance and think, "Really? THAT's your best pirouette?"
I go to a school play and judge the backdrop, "That's the best sun that your art teacher could come up with?"
I read a book and judge, "You can get this piece of crap published but an editor won't call me back?"

I had moments like this while I was reading Janelle Brown's "All We Ever Wanted Was Everything".
When I went to visit my local library, I saw a cover that was familiar from my days at B&N. I decided to pick it up and scratch off another book from my incredibly long wish list of books.

Now, let me preface this review by saying that there's a chance I'm biased when it comes to this book. There were many, many similarities between "AWEWWE" and "The Weird Sisters" which I had just finished reading two days beforehand:

--An unexpected pregnancy
--A family who had lost their love and was trying desperately to put the pieces back together
--A sister in debt
--A father misunderstood


We all know how much I loved "The Weird Sisters" and to find it's second-rate cousin was not a pleasant experience.

Through this book, I discovered the real meaning of "a beach read." I had heard that category title plenty, but never understood. Yes, it's a light and fluffy tale that is superficial at best, but is still enjoyable. However, it's new meaning is "A book that you won't cry if the waves wash it away, because you can guess the ending anyhow. If the wind catches a few pages, you won't be missing anything."

Overall, I give it two out of five stars.

This was Ms. Brown's first novel and it shows. I see potential in her, however, here is my biggest concern...

Don't write what you don't know.

I don't think that Ms. Brown has a sister. I also don't know when the last time she stepped into a reputable church was. The bond of sisterhood and the seeking of religious truths are two of the biggest themes in the book. Neither of which Ms. Brown seems to be a decent source.
It's one thing to write about a medical procedure after consulting a surgeon on the proper steps to completion. It's another to write about two of our lives most sacred bonds without a first-hand account. I also don't think it's fair to take the Bible and tweak it to fit your agenda. It says what it says for a reason...and Ms. Brown, what you think it says, is incorrect. Read it from cover to cover before you start passing judgment.

If you're heading on vacation and see a discount copy of this on the shelf, feel free to pick it up. If you're looking for something to swallow you whole by the fire this holiday season, don't waste your time.

Reader Report: Two Kisses for Maddy

I read all the time. And I am not joking when I say allllll the time.

Working at Barnes & Noble does not slow this down. If anything, it helps me out find the new must-read.

That being said, after a recommendation by a customer, I picked up a newly released book called "Two Kisses for Maddy." Written by a guy named Matt Logelin, it chronicles the birth of his daughter, Maddy, and then 27 hours later, the death of his wife, Liz. The book shares how the couple met and then how he moves on with Maddy after that tragedy struck their new little family.

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I could not put it down. I say this with the most sincere authenticity: I could not put it down.

I was afraid that it was going to hurt to read this book. I was afraid that I was going to mourn and feel pain because of Matt's writing and the loss that he was writing about. I have suffered a similar unwanted loss, and I was afraid that this piece of literature was going to put me in some black hole of emotion that would take time and processing to crawl out of. It addresses two of my biggest fears: losing my soulmate, and leaving behind a child. I just didn't know if I could handle reading a book that contains two very harsh nightmares.

However, one review got me to pick it up (unfortunately I couldn't find the real one on the web, so I'm paraphrasing):

"You hurt for him, but you cheer for him from beginning to end. Such sorrow and sweetness have never met. This is what true love looks like."

So, I decided to check it out and have a go at it.

I read it in two days.

Beautiful. Absolutely beautiful.

Matt's language is very...um, flowery. Very colorful. Very...well, he uses the f word a lot. So, let me warn you about that. But other than that, I have no complaints about it.

At the end of the book I kept thinking: But I need to know that Maddy is ok! I need to know that their life goes on after the pages of this book!

You love Matt, Liz, and Madeline just like you do your own family by the end of this book. Thanks to modern technology, I do get to watch Madeline grow up from afar and see that she and Matt are still thriving and happy through Matt's blog. It's now been added to my list of daily reads and I have loved scouring through it for the past few days. It's amazing to me how much Maddy looks like Liz (I can tell thanks to the pictures from the book as well on Matt's blog). Matt even comments on "how much she looks, and acts just like Liz even though Liz never got to hold her." 1

I give it five out of five stars for sincerity, honesty, genuine love, and just a good read.

Fellow readers: Keep the tissues near and the pages turning. Just when you think your heart is going to break for Matt, the story does go on.

Just like life.

It's funny how things work out.