PRETTY GOOD NEWS

I got my pathology report today.  Yes, it was a melanoma.  But it's considered Stage 0 - non-invasive.  I need to have another procedure done next week to remove some surrounding tissue to be sure that all cells are gone.

I'm so relieved that this wasn't any worse than it is.  I was spared this time.  And I'm going to make sure there isn't a next time.

In case you didn't read my lecture from a few days ago, I'll repeat it.

STAY OUT OF TANNING BEDS.  USE SUNSCREEN WITH A SPF OF AT LEAST 15 AT ALL TIMES.  STAY OUT OF THE HOT SUN FROM 10 AM TO 4 PM.  DON'T BE STUPID!


This didn't just affect me - it affected by husband and daughters too.  This was a big wake-up call for all of us.  This is a cancer that can be prevented by using common sense and listening to the medical advice.  Melanoma strikes about 1 in 75.  You don't need to be the 1.

STIFF

STIFF:  The Curious Lives of Human Cadavers by Mary Roach

From the back of the book:

STIFF is an oddly compelling, often hilarious exploration of the strange lives of our bodies postmortem.  For two thousand years, cadavers - some willingly, some unwittingly - have been involved in science's boldest strides and weirdest undertakings.  In this fascinating account, Mary Roach visits the good deeds of cadavers over the centuries and tells the engrossing story of our bodies when we are no longer with them.

Believe it or not, this was a very interesting book.  And parts were funny!  The author, while pointing out humorous stories, was never disrespectful.

The author gives you an idea of what happens when a body is willed to science.  She tells of different ways bodies are obtained for research and for what different types of research they will be used.  She writes about some strange experiments that have used cadavers, such as determining if the Shroud of Turin could actually be real.

Transplants are discussed, including whole body and head transplants.  Have you ever heard of medicinal cannibalism or using human remains for compost?  It's all here.

Obviously, this book isn't for everyone.  But for those with an interest in medicine and science, this might be one to read.

A WAKE-UP CALL

I just got home from seeing a dermatologist.  I have a mole on my upper chest that needed to be seen.  That's it in the picture above - you can click to enlarge.

The doctor took a quick look and said it had to come out right then.  He said it was highly suspicious for malignant melanoma.  He numbed the area, scraped it off with a razor, cauterized the area, and sent the specimen to a pathologist.  I'll have the final report by Friday.

I've had this spot for a while - at least 6 months to a year, probably longer.  It just showed up one day.

I've been doing research on melanoma.  If a mole is asymmetrical, has uneven borders, more than one color, and is about the size of a pencil eraser or larger - see a doctor.  OK, 4 out of 4 - should have seen the doctor sooner.

Melanomas are more common in people with blonde hair (I was blonde as a child), blue eyes, fair skin, have freckles or moles over their body.  Again 4 out of 4.

Causes - being in the sun with no sunblock, tanning beds.  Yep.  Baby oil and iodine does not count as a sunblock.

So listen up.  Use sunblock with a SPF of at least 15 every time you're in the sun.  Stay out of the sun between 10 a.m. and 4 p.m.  Cover your arms and legs and wear a wide-brimmed hat.  Stay out of tanning beds.  If you want to look tan, get the kind in a bottle.  Wear dark sunglasses to protect your eyes.  (Could that freckle in my eye be melanoma?)  Check your own skin.  If you see anything - anything - that looks different, see a doctor.


Melanoma is aggressive and spreads quickly.  It's serious.  It can kill.


Don't be stupid like me.

End of lecture.

SAVING CEECEE HONEYCUTT

SAVING CEECEE HONEYCUTT by Beth Hoffman

From the book jacket:

Twelve-year-old CeeCee Honeycutt is in trouble.  For years, she has been the caretaker of her psychotic mother, Camille - the tiara-toting, lipstick-smeared laughingstock of an entire town - a woman trapped in her long-ago moment of glory as the 1951 Vidalia Onion Queen.  But when tragedy strikes, CeeCee is left to fend for herself.  To the rescue comes her previously unknown great-aunt, Tootie Caldwell.


In her vintage Packard convertible, Tootie whisks CeeCee away to Savannah's perfumed world of prosperity and Southern eccentricity, a world that seems to be run entirely by women.  From the exotic Miz Thelma Rae Goodpepper, who skinny-dips in her backyard bathtub and uses garden slugs as her secret weapon, to Tootie's all-knowing housekeeper, Oletta Jones, to Violene Hobbs, who entertains a local police officer in her canary-yellow peignoir, the women of Gaston Street keep CeeCee entertained and enthralled for an entire summer.


Laugh-out-loud funny and deeply touching, Beth Hoffman's sparkling debut hums with wacky humor and down-home heart.  It explores the indomitable strengths of female friendship and gives us the story of a young girl who loses one mother and finds many others.  Above all, it is a book full of feminine wisdom - one to cherish, remember, and share.

I'm probably the last person to read this book, but I'm glad I finally got the chance.  This was an absolutely delightful book, reminding me in many ways of THE SECRET LIFE OF BEES.

The characters are colorful and interesting.  CeeCee blossoms in her new home as she learns a lot from these women - especially Oletta - about life, love, forgiveness and letting go.  There are lessons taught here for all of us, at any age.

DOM'S NEW TOY

Dom is a little tight with money.  No, he's a lot tight with money.  Which is a good thing - sometimes.

He had given our Honda lawnmower to Susan.  We still had another one here, but it wasn't working.  He took it to Sears last week and they checked it out and said it needed about $100 worth of work.  Dom told them not to fix it - too much money.

So he's been checking Craig's List daily for a nice cheap lawnmower.  We went to see on the other day and it was a piece of doo-doo.  Dirty, rusty and didn't even start.  No thank you.

So back to Craig's List.  I told Dom to just buy a new one.  No, can't do that - too expensive.  I told him that we had enough money for him to get one, but he still resisted.  He said it pained him to sign a credit card slip for that much money.  It's like pulling teeth to get him to spend money on something he really needs.

Finally, I told him that I had no problem signing the credit card slip!  So this morning, he broke down and bought a brand new self-propelled lawn mower!    It's still in the box, so we'll be assembling it this afternoon.

Now that he realizes that the world will not end if he spends a few bucks, I think I might visit a furniture store this week.  It just might be time to replace our living room sofa and loveseat!

A RELIABLE WIFE

A RELIABLE WIFE by Robert Goolrick was read for my book club.

From the back of the book:

He placed a notice in a Chicago paper, an advertisement for a "reliable wife."  She responded, saying that she was "a simple, honest woman."  She was, of course, anything but honest, and the only simple thing about her was her single-minded determination to marry this man and then kill him, slowly and carefully, leaving herself a wealthy widow.  What Catherine Land did not realize was that the enigmatic and lonely Ralph Truitt had a plan of his own.

I don't know exactly what I thought about this book.  The characters were never really introduced - they were just there and their stories came out in bits and pieces later.  Catherine's reasons for wanting to marry and kill Ralph weren't brought out until half-way through the book, and when revealed, included a major twist to the story.  In fact, there were plot twists and turns throughout the book.  I guess it could be called a book about finding love and forgiveness.

I've read good and bad reviews of the book, and honestly, right now, I don't know where I stand.  Maybe after thinking about it for a few days, I'll land on one side of the fence or the other.  One review on Amazon.com called the book "unputdownable."  Another reviewer said:  "It was so dark and depressing that it could have been an "Oprah" selection."  In a way, both reviewers are correct.

WINTER BOWLING LEAGUE FINISHED

We finished our winter bowling league yesterday.  We made a change this year.  In the past, we actually finished the season a week before the final day.  That way, the prize money was all ready to be handed out on the last day, and bowling that day was just for fun.

This year, we had a position round on the last day (first place bowls second place, third bowls fourth, etc.), so we couldn't determine the final positions until after everyone had bowled.  Also, the individual and team awards had to wait until the end.  It was hectic trying to get all the information together at the last minute.  I had all the money in envelopes - just had to put names on them.  But we got it all done!

My team ended up 6th for the first half and 8th for the second half and won $109 per person total prize money.  Not too bad.  We're aiming for higher next year.  Along with my secretary salary, I made out quite well this year!

We always have a pot-luck luncheon on the last day.  This year, the bowling alley supplied endless pizzas - they kept bringing them out as long as we were eating them.  Each team also brought food, so we had plenty to eat.

We have our meeting for the summer league next week, then start bowling again on May 5.  My Monday league continues until May 10, and we'll get our prize money on May 17.  Our team has won first place - $153 per person!  I'm using the prize money for a little trip to Savannah on May 17 with one of my teammates.

I'm not an athlete by any stretch of the imagination, but I really do enjoy bowling.  And I'm not half-bad - I rolled a 193 yesterday, and I've brought my average up to just under 150.  It was 120 when I started 3 years ago.

DELIVER US FROM EVIL

DELIVER US FROM EVIL by David Baldacci was read for the 2010 Pub Challenge.

From the book jacket:

Evan Waller is a monster.  He has built a fortune from his willingness to buy and sell anything...and anyone.  In search of new opportunities, Waller has just begun a new business venture:  one that could lead to millions of deaths all over the globe.


On Waller's trail is Shaw, the mysterious operative from THE WHOLE TRUTH, who must prevent Waller from closing his latest deal.  Shaw's one chance to bring him down will come in the most unlikely of places:  a serene, bucolic village in Provence.


But Waller's depravity and ruthlessness go deeper than Shaw knows.  And now, there is someone else pursuing Waller in Provence:  Reggie Campion, an agent for a secret vigilante group headquartered in a musty old English estate - and she has an agenda of her own.


Hunting the same man and unaware of each other's mission, Shaw and Reggie will be caught in a deadly duel of nerve and wits.  Hitchcockian in its intimate buildup of suspense and filled with remarkable characters, breathtaking plot turns, and block-buster finale that are David Baldacci's hallmarks, DELIVER US FROM EVIL will be one of the most gripping thrillers of the year.

I LOVE David Baldacci's books!  This one had me from page one and didn't release its hold until the very last page.  Full of action, suspense, twists and turns, this is Mr. Baldacci at his best.

Read this one!

MY POOR LITTLE NEGLECTED BLOG

I really need to get back to blogging again.

I've been spending a lot of time over on Facebook, playing games.  And I've been neglecting my little blog.  It seems lately the only posts are my thoughts about books that I've read.  This isn't supposed to be just a book blog.

I've always posted things about my life and my family and what's going on with us.  There's a lot going on, just not too much I can discuss here.

Hopefully, there will be more to talk about soon.  A trip to the North Georgia mountains to go lunching and shopping with my cousin and his wife next week.  There's a trip to Savannah coming up in May and a trip to Florida in June.  And in September, my 47.5 year mini-class reunion in North Carolina with a bunch of girls from high school.  I'll have stories to tell and pictures to post.

So if anyone is still checking this blog, I promise to do better and have more interesting things coming up soon.

CONSPIRATA

CONSPIRATA by Robert Harris was read for the 2010 Pub Challenge.

From the book jacket:

On the eve of Marcus Cicero's inauguration as consul of Rome, the grisly death of a boy sends ripples of fear through a city already wracked by civil unrest, crime, and debauchery of every kind.  Felled by a hammer, his throat slit and his organs removed, the young slave appears to have been offered as a human sacrifice, forbidden as an abomination in the Roman Republic.  For Cicero, the ill forebodings of this hideous murder only increase his frustrations and the dangers he already faces as Rome's leader:  elected by the people but despised by heads of the two rival camps, the patricians and populists.


Caught in a political shell game that leaves him forever putting out fires only to have them ignite elsewhere, Cicero plays both the future of the republic and his very life.  There is a plot to assassinate Cicero, abetted by a rising young star of the Roman senate named Gaius Julius Caesar - and it will take all the embattled consul's wit, strength, and force of will to stop it and keep Rome from becoming a dictatorship.


In this second novel of his Roman trilogy, following the bestselling Imperium, Robert Harris once again weaves a compelling and historically accurate tale of intrigue told in the wise and compassionate voice of Cicero's slave and private secretary, Tiro.  In the manner of I, Claudius, Harris vividly evokes ancient Rome and its politics for today's readers, documenting a world not unlike our own - where the impulse toward dominance competes with the risk of overreach, where high-minded ideals can be a liability, and where someone is always waiting in the wings for a chance to set the world on fire.

This book was supposed to have been published last year, and I've had it on hold at our library for almost a year.  I was anxiously awaiting it, as I had read the earlier book and really enjoyed it.  But for some reason, it was a struggle to read this one.  Not that the story wasn't interesting - it was.  I liked the writing style and the story being told again by Tiro.  But the names!  It was so hard to keep them all straight - they all sounded the same and it was hard to tell the good guy from the bad guys.  Luckily there is a cast of characters in the back of the book.

I would recommend this book, along with the first in the trilogy - IMPERIUM - to anyone interested in early Roman history, or anyone who would like to learn more about that time period.  I'll be looking for the third and final book which should be published in 2011.

A GOOD MONEY DAY

Finally a good money day!

There's a big sale going on at Belk's.  I needed some new clothes for the warmer weather, so I decided to take a look-see.

I found a bunch of tops, some shorts, even a bathing suit.  So I took my loot to the cashier, presented my Belk's card, and waited for the total.  Oh no, my card was declined for lack of use.  Not to worry, said the nice cashier (whose name just happened to be Lynne!), we can just open a new account.  That done, she informs me that I get 30% off all day today for opening an account.  My total bill, which showed big savings to begin with, just took another big cut.  Nice!

So I headed out to shop the rest of the store.  I found a nice nightgown and some shirts for Dom - all on sale and with an additional 30% off.

Gotta love saving money!

WHEN WILL THEY EVER LEARN??

Speeding does not pay.  Grandmothers of young girls with no extra money who speed wind up having to pay.

This grandmother has reached the end of the line.  The Bank of Mom-Mom has closed its doors.

HOUSE RULES

HOUSE RULES by Jodie Picoult was read for the 2010 Pub Challenge.

From the book jacket:

They tell me I'm lucky to have a son who's so verbal, who is blisteringly intelligent, who can take apart the broken microwave and have it working again an hour later.  They think there is no greater hell than having a son who is locked in his own world, unaware that there's a wider one to explore.  But try having a son who is locked in his own world, and still wants to make a connection.  A son who tries to be like everyone else, but truly doesn't know how.


Jacob Hunt is a teenage boy with Asperger's syndrome.  He's hopeless at reading social cues or expressing himself well to others, and like many kids with AS, Jacob has a special focus on one subject - in his case, forensic analysis.  He's always showing up at crime scenes, thanks to the police scanner he keeps in his room, and telling the cops what they need to do...and he's usually right.  But then his town is rocked by a terrible murder and, for a change, the police have come to Jacob with questions.  All of the hallmark behaviors of Asperger's - not looking someone in the eye, stimulatory ties and twitches, flat affect - can look a lot like guilt to law enforcement personnel.  Suddenly, Jacob and his family, who only want to fit in, feel the spotlight shining directly on them.  For his mother, Emma, it's a brutal reminder of the intolerance and misunderstanding that always threaten her family.  For his brother, Theo, it's another indication of why nothing is normal because of Jacob.  And over this small family the soul-searing question looms:  Did Jacob commit murder?


Emotionally powerful from beginning to end, HOUSE RULES looks at what it means to be different in our society, how autism affects a family, and how our legal system works well for people who communicate a certain way - and fails those who don't.

I liked this book.  I've read reviews that criticize Ms. Picoult and her representation of Asperger's syndrome.  I don't know that much about Asperger's, so I can't say if she is on the money or has exaggerated the symptoms.  For me, the book seemed plausible.

I like Ms. Picoult's style of writing different chapters from the viewpoint of different characters.  I thought it was a well-written book, and I feel I learned something new by reading it. Whether or not it was a true picture of Asperger's didn't change my enjoyment of the book.  My only problem with the book was the cover.  I didn't care for the cover illustration, showing a young boy, when Jacob was eighteen years old.

I've read all of Ms. Picoult's books, and have enjoyed them all except one.  I'll be looking forward to her next book next year.

SUNDAY SOMETHING

It looks like it's going to be a nice Sunday here in Atlanta.  Sunny and warm.

I have absolutely nothing planned for today!  I don't need to do laundry for a few more days.  The house is clean (well, the kitchen floor could use a mopping, but not today!).

So I think I'm going to sit on the back porch and read - HOUSE RULES by Jodie Picoult.  Good book!

What do you have planned for today!

NOT MY DAUGHTER

NOT MY DAUGHTER by Barbara Delinsky was read for the 2010 Pub Challenge.

From the book jacket:

When Susan Tate's seventeen-year-old daughter, Lily, announces she is pregnant, Susan is stunned.  A single mother, she has struggled to do everything right.  She sees the pregnancy as an unimaginable tragedy for both Lily and herself.


Then comes word of two more pregnancies involving high school juniors (this is wrong - the girls are seniors) who happen to be Lily's best friends - and the town turns to talk of a pact.  As fingers start pointing, the most ardent criticism is directed at Susan.  As principal of the high school, she has always been viewed as a role model of hard work and core values.  Now her detractors accuse her of being a lax mother, perhaps not worthy of the job of shepherding impressionable students.  As Susan struggles with the implications of her daughter's pregnancy, her job, financial independence, and long-fought-for dreams are all at risk.


The emotional ties between mothers and daughters are stretched to breaking in this emotionally wrenching story of love and forgiveness.  Once again Barbara Delinsky has given us a powerful novel, one that asks a central question:  What does it take to be a good mother?

I'm on the fence about this book.  The story line with the mothers and the pregnant daughters rang true, but it seemed far-fetched to me that the town would have gotten so involved to the point of wanting the principal to be fired.

High  school pregnancies happen.  They happened when I was in school.  Back then, a pregnant girl was made to leave the school.  Things were kept quiet.  It was a situation that was handled by the parents of the girl - the town and the school board were not involved.

I guess things are different now.  Can pregnant girls stay in school?  Even if they are allowed, I don't feel that is a situation that concerns the school.  Even if the pregnant girl were the daughter of the principal, even if that mother were a "lax" mother - I think that should still be a problem to be handled by the family, not the town and the school board.

That so much of the book revolved around the school board's handling of the problem and the degree to which the principal's private life became public knowledge caused me to have a not-great impression of this book.

THURSDAY THOUGHTS

It's cool today and cloudy.  Rain is in the forecast, but so far just a few sprinkles.  The yellow pine pollen is covering everything and we really need a good rain to wash it away.  I read that the pollen count was over 5000 during the past few days.

I had to go to the dentist this morning for my 6-month cleaning and check-up.  Everything was good, so I'm set until October.  I got a major dizzy spell when the hygienist put the chair back, but it passed relatively quickly.

I'm bound and determined to get working again on this weight loss program.  I've been slacking off lately and the weight hasn't been moving.  I'm going to start drinking more water and walking again.  I know what to do - and the program really works when I do it - but I need to get motivated again.

I'm off to get something to drink - a cuppa tea sounds good right now - and read for a while.

Have a great rest of today!

THE PIANO TEACHER

THE  PIANO TEACHER by Lynn York was read for the What's in a Name 3 Challenge.

From the back of the book:

Miss Wilma has enough on her plate already, thank you very much.  The resident organist and piano teacher in the North Carolina hamlet of Swan's Knob, she's not only preparing the music for Lily Mae Strong's wedding extravaganza and organizing the town's annual piano recital, she's also fending off the pesterings of perennial bachelor Roy Swan, who's got himself all worked up over plans for a July Fourth celebration that's months away.


But when her prodigal daughter Sarah returns with her young granddaughter in tow, what can Miss Wilma do but enjoy the blessings of their unexpected visit?  That is, until Sarah's absentee husband Harper shows up on her front porch a few short hours after a murder shakes the small community - and just two steps ahead of Jonah Branch, the longhaired stranger from Santa Fe who's become the number one suspect in the case.  Suddenly, Miss Wilma's blessing begins to look more like a house full of trouble...

First off, this is not THE PIANO TEACHER by Janice Y. K. Lee that is on the bestseller lists right now.  This is an older book that I found in a book closeout store.

This was an OK book, but nothing special.  I had thought, from the title, that it would have a little more to do with the actual piano teaching of students.  It seems the title just refers to Miss Wilma's occupation - there was very little in the book about her classes or her students.

Miss Wilma was just an ordinary person.  She didn't have the charm of Miss Julia (from the Ann B. Ross books).  She had no real spunk until the very end of the book, and even then not much.  Bland might be a good word to describe her.  Bland also could describe the story line of this book.  I didn't find the book funny although parts could have been amusing if developed differently.  This was a book, basically, to read, put back on the shelf, and forget.

GREAT TUESDAY

So far, it's been a great Tuesday.  The weather here in Atlanta is sunny and warm with bright skies.  I was up early and got all my laundry finished.  I had a nice to-do list and managed to get everything finished except a trip to the library.  Actually, I did get there, but it wasn't open yet, so I'll have to go back.

Dom and I went out for lunch to our favorite little Mexican restaurant.  For once, I was able to stop eating the chips and salsa before I felt completely stuffed.

I've been checking on my favorite pandas - Mei Lan and Tai Shan have adapted quite well to their new homes in China.  Lun Lun and Yang Yang here in Atlanta are having fun playing in their pools.  So far no word on whether or not Mei Xiang in Washington, DC is pregnant.  I'm hoping there will be a couple of new panda cubs this year.

I'm about half-way through THE PIANO TEACHER - it's OK, not great, but interesting.  I hope to finish by tomorrow.  Bowling tomorrow afternoon - only 3 more weeks in the season.  I need to get together with the league president and start working on the prize money.

I hope everyone is enjoying their Tuesday!

MISS JULIA DELIVERS THE GOODS

MISS JULIA DELIVERS THE GOODS by Ann B. Ross

From the back of the book:

Miss Julia whisks Hazel Marie off to the doctor when the latter admits she's been feeling poorly.  The news is more than a Woman of a Certain Age should have to handle:  Hazel Marie is pregnant with twins.  Unfortunately, she's also just sent her beau, Mr. Pickens, packing.  Too proud to tell him he's going to be a father, Hazel Marie threatens to leave town - and take Little Lloyd, the apple of Miss Julia's eye, with her.  Miss Julia needs a plan - and fast.  So when Sam's house is robbed she declares that only J. D. Pickens, P.I., can get his files back.  With Hazel Marie's errant beau back in town, might Miss Julia be able to play Cupid and solve the crime?

This book is number 10 in the delightful Miss Julia series.  And another cute one.  Miss Julia is determined to get Hazel Marie and Mr. Pickens back together again.  But she made a promise not to tell Mr. Pickens about the pregnancy.  So she has to do a little bit of scheming to get them to even talk to each other.

Meanwhile, Miss Julia has to lend a hand in the investigation of the break-in at Sam's house.  There are some strange characters to interview - all with a shady past that links them together.  Miss Julia's acute observations play a big part in solving the mystery.

SATURDAY STUFF

Today looks like a pretty busy day.  It's going to be sunny and warm here in Cumming.

I need to go up to Home Depot in few minutes to return some blinds I bought yesterday.  I got the wrong length and didn't realize it until I had one set ready to hang.  I'll just exchange them and get them put up in the dining room.  The ones that are there are drooping in the center - the cords are broken.

I'm off to Kennesaw this afternoon for a much needed haircut.  My hair grows so fast.  I had reached the I-need-to-get-it-cut-NOW stage at the beginning of the week, and it was so hard not to pick up the scissors and razor and cut it myself.  It's an hour ride each way, but Mary does a fantastic job so it's worth it.

I saw on Facebook this morning that Donna is doing a zip line today.  I didn't know what that was, so I Googled it.  She's going to be strapped into a harness-thing - lying to her stomach, this thing wraps around her, and then it's hooked to some kind of rope or metal line at the top of a hill.  Then she'll fly down this hill in the air, attached to this line.  I think she's gone crazy!

I have a nice ham for Easter dinner.  Donna (if she survives the zip line!) will be coming and maybe Shelby and Mike.  I need to get a cake or pie for dessert.

Time to get moving!  Hope you all have a great Saturday.

IRREPLACEABLE

IRREPLACEABLE by Stephen Lovely

From the back of the book:

Alex Voormann, an intense, cerebral thirty-year-old archaeologist, is married to the woman of his dreams - an intelligent, ambitious botanist named Isabel.  When Isabel is killed by a reckless driver, Alex reluctantly agrees to donate her heart.


Janet Corcoran, a young mouther of two and an art teacher at an inner-city school in Chicago, is sick with heart disease.  She is on the waiting list for a transplant, but her chances are slim.  She watches the Weather Channel, secretly raying for foul weather and car crashes.  The day Isabel dies, Janet gets her wish.


So begins this extraordinary story about two families whose lives intersect forever in the aftermath of a tragic accident.

I don't know exactly how I feel about this book.  The writing was good, the characters not so well defined.  The story line just didn't work too well for me.  The idea of a transplant recipient contacting the donor's family and wanting to start some type of relationship with them just didn't ring true.  The driver of the car that killed Isabel was also involved in a very strange way.

I can understand the recipient wanting to thank the donor's family.  But I think it should end there and each family should go their respective way.  Isabel's mother seemed to want this relationship because it kept her close to her daughter.  She saw Janet, not as a separate person, but only as the receptacle for Isabel's heart.  I never could figure out Janet's reason for wanting a friendship with Isabel's family.

There was a section of the book dealing with Janet's heart disease (dilated cardiomyopathy) and the actual transplant procedure.  That was a little hard for me to read because Janet's problem was the same problem my dog Teddy had before he died.  As I read about Janet's symptoms, I relived Teddy and his problems.  The transplant procedure was very interesting, however.

I don't know whether I'd recommend this book to anyone.   I would have liked to have a clearer understanding of everyone's thoughts and ideas.  I never felt that I understood any of the characters.  A slightly disappointing book.

SECRET SISTERS

SECRET SISTERS by Tristi Pinkston was read for Tristi's book tour and also the 2010 Pub Challenge.

From the back of the book:

Ida Mae Babbitt, president of the Omni 2nd Ward Relief Society, didn't mean to become a spy.  But when visiting teaching stats are low, and she learns that one family under her care is in financial trouble, she'll do whatever it takes to make sure they have what they need.  If that includes planting surveillance cameras in their home and watching them from a parked car in the woods ... well, isn't that what any caring Relief Society president would do?


With the help of her counselors, Arlette and Tansy, Ida Mae soon learns that there's more to the situation than meets the eye.


But it's all in a day's work for the Relief Society.

This book was sent to me by Tristi and I'm the first stop on her blog book tour.

Tristi's previous books have mostly been historical fiction.  In this one, she's taken a different direction.  This one is current and cute.  Ida Mae is an "older" woman - her nephew calls her a "blue hair" - and it's her responsibility to make sure that the families in her ward are healthy and happy and not in need.  As she visits one family, she realizes they might have a financial problem.  But then, all of a sudden, the problem vanishes.  This piques Ida Mae's curiosity and she is determined to find out the true situation.  But to find out what's really going on, Ida Mae, her nephew and her friends have to step a little outside of the law.

The story follows Ida Mae and the "Secret Sisters" as they do all they can to get to the bottom of this mystery.  They're a fun group and not above a little bit of deceitfulness to do what needs to be done.

This book is such a change from so many books written today.  It's clean, wholesome and fun.  The story was light and an easy afternoon read.  I'm sure Tristi had a good time writing this book.

Oh, and the book itself - it's adorable.  It's a little hardcover - the size of those holiday books that are released late each fall.  SECRET SISTERS was just released and Tristi provided this link to the book at Amazon.

And visit Tristi at her blog - she's a fun person!