Waiting On Wednesday

Waiting on Wednesday is a weekly meme hosted by Breaking the Spine, for book bloggers to share which upcoming releases they are eagerly anticipating. Here is my pick this week:

Alone in the Classroom by Elizabeth Hay

Release Date: 26 April 2011

In 1930, a school principal in Saskatchewan is suspected of abusing a student. Seven years later, on the other side of the country, a girl picking wild cherries meets a violent end. These are only two of the mysteries in the life of the narrator's charismatic aunt, Connie Flood.

As the narrator Anne pieces together her aunt's lifelong attachment to her former student Michael Graves, and her obsession with Parley Burns, the inscrutable principal implicated in the assault of Michael's younger sister. Her own story becomes connected with that of the past, and the triangle of principal, teacher, student opens out into other emotional triangles - aunt, niece, love, mother, daughter, granddaughter - until a sudden, capsizing love changes Anne's life.

I picked up Elizabeth Hay's Giller Prize winning book Late Nights on Air in my attempt to read more Canadian literature and I really enjoyed the book. She is a wonderful writer and I'm really looking forward to this one, I'm sure the mystery will draw me in!

"Gunn's Golden Rules" by Tim Gunn

Tim Gunn is well known in the fashion world for his no-nonsense mentorship to young designers on Project Runway as well as his honest and spot on fashion advice in many arenas. Now he is dishing out advice on everything life in his book Gunn's Golden Rules: Life's Little Lessons For Making It Work.

In addition to advice like "the world owes you…nothing," "never underestimate karma," and "be a good guest or stay home," Gunn dishes on the designers of Project Runway, shares stories of his personal life and calls out the behaviour of some of fashions biggest divas!

I am a big fan of Tim Gunn's. I'm big on manners and I enjoy seeing people handle themselves with poise and class, qualities I often feel are missing these days (and I do admit to my own slip-ups from time to time!) I definitely did not need the audiobook for this one because the entire time I was reading the book, I heard it in Gunn's voice in my head.

This is a quick read but there is tons of great advice. Gunn isn't afraid to point out peoples bad behaviour, he admits to his own, and has tons of real life examples to back up everything he is saying. The stories he has of the famous personal offenders are delightfully dishy, though I did find myself wondering just how "proper" it was to be spreading the gossip! But he does it anyway, and it's very enjoyable!

It's Monday, What Are You Reading?

It's Monday, What Are you Reading? is a weekly meme hosted by Sheila at Book Journey. I love this meme because it always gets me organized for the week ahead!

What I Read Last Week

Gunn's Golden Rules by Tim Gunn

Doing Dangerously Well - Carole Enahoro

Personally I Blame My Fairy Godmother - Claudia Carroll

What I'm Reading Now

Apocalypse for Beginners by Nicolas Dickner

What I Plan To Read Next

A Tiny Bit Marvellous by Dawn French

This Cake Is For The Party by Sarah Selecky

How is your reading going?

"We Ain't the Brontes" by Rosalyn McMillan

Sisters Charity Evans and Lynzee Lavender bring new meaning to the term "sibling rivalry." Lynzee is a New York Times best-selling science fiction author, earning top dollar and enjoying all the benefits that come with success. Younger sister Charity Evans is a published author as well, but she hasn't enjoyed the success that Lynzee has, and Lynzee takes pleasure in that.

When Charity tries to get her latest novel published she is met with silence by the publishing industry. As she struggles to pay her bills and faces losing her house and marriage Charity begins to wonder if Lynzee has had her blacklisted.

Then Lynzee drops a bomb on her. 34 years ago, Lynzee gave up a child for adoption and Charity's husband Jett is the father. Not only that, but Charity has to be the one to tell Jett. As her life unravels, Charity comes up with the perfect way to get back at Lynzee and find success in the publishing industry. Will these two sisters ever be able to mend their relationship, or will their successes forever be built on the misery of the other?

There is only one word to describe We Ain't the Brontes by Rosalyn McMillan - drama. Not even with a capital D, but caps lock DRAMA. The amount of anger, hatred, back-stabbing and revenge in this book is crazy! This is one of those books that you cannot put down because you will always be wondering what could possibly happen next. Add to that the fact that Rosalyn is the sister of another best-selling author and you'll be wondering what from the book is fact and what is fiction.

There are some negative aspects of the book. The writing and dialogue at times seems very stunted. It definitely gets better in the second half, but the flow is pretty choppy throughout the book. I can handle a few curse words and mild sex scenes but there was an overload of both in this book. There is definitely a lot to the plot of this book but it results in many storylines being underdeveloped and, in the case of the plane crash, pretty much unbelievable.

While I wouldn't proclaim this book to be a work of literary magic, if you are looking for a juicy drama to help you escape from the real world then We Ain't the Brontes is the book for you.

Thank you to Tywebbin Creations for providing me with a copy of this book. The opinions expressed above are purely my own and I received no compensation for this review.

Book Blogger Hop!

Welcome to my stop on the Book Blogger Hop! If you haven't checked it out before it's a weekly meme hosted by Crazy For Books where book bloggers come together to party!

This weeks question is: If you could physically put yourself into a book or series...which one would it be and why?

My answer is The No. 1 Ladies Detective Agency by Alexander McCall Smith. I love this series! It just presents a way of life that is so different from mine. It sounds so laid-back and that is something I would love! Plus, the idea of being a detective sounds really cool, especially with the mysteries that Mma Ramotswe is solving!

"The Sky is Falling" by Caroline Adderson

One morning, Jane Z. opens the newspaper to see a face staring back at her that she hasn't seen in 20 years. She learns that her university housemate Sonia has been released from prison after serving her sentence for a terrorist attack.

Seeing Sonia's face returns Jane to 1983 when she rents a room in a house with Sonia and two others and is thrust into their world, one in which paranoia and fear of nuclear war lead them to form a non-violent anti-nuclear group called NAG.

As Jane and her roommates try stop the end of the world, while also completing their studies, a teenage runaway shows up at their home, and the group finds themselves propelled into taking the most daring action of their lives. When one of their own bombs unintentionally goes off they are forced to come face to face with reality.

The Sky is Falling is an incredible novel. I was drawn into this book right away and couldn't get my mind off of it. The book easily slips back and forth between the past and present to skillfully illustrate to the reader the naivete of the group members, especially Jane.

The book deals with universal themes such as social acceptance, fear, and the loss of innocence in a way that is both serious and humorous, as well as identifiable to the reader. From the moment you begin reading the characters may not be easy to identify with, but they draw you in, thanks to Caroline Adderson's beautiful writing.

The Sky is Falling may be about the past, but it parallels our post 9/11 world so wonderfully that it will have your mind working well past when you've turned the final page. I highly recommend this book and am sure that this will be one of my favourites of the year.

Waiting on Wednesday

Waiting on Wednesday is a weekly meme hosted at Breaking the Spine. It's a way for book bloggers to share which upcoming releases they are eagerly anticipating. My choice this week comes from an incredible Canadian writer.

Irma Voth by Miriam Toews

Release Date: 5 April 2011

Miriam Toews new novel brings us to a Mennonite community in the Mexican desert.

The stifling, reclusive Mennonite life of nineteen-year-old Irma Voth - newly married and newly deserted - is irrevocably changed when a film crew moves in to make a movie about the community. She embraces the absurdity, creative passion and warmth of their world but her intractable and domineering father is determined to keep her from it at all costs. The confrontation between them sets her on an irrevocable path towards something that feels like freedom as she and her young sister Aggie, wise beyond her teenage years, flee to the city, upheld only by their love for each other and their smart wit, even as they begin to understand the tragedy that has their family in its grip.

I love Miriam Toews writing, it's heartwarming and funny. I will be getting my hands on this one as soon as I can.

What are you waiting on this Wednesday?

"Man Enough For Me" by Rhonda Bowen

Jules Jackson is leading a hectic life, but she's got it all under control. She's holding down two busy public relations jobs, a group of crazy but loyal friends, and a very difficult mother. It's little wonder she doesn't need to be dealing with the stress a man in her life could bring.

Then Germaine Williams walks into her life and turns it upside down. He owns his own business, goes to church, and is extremely handsome. Of course Jules falls for him hard.

But Jules soon learns that not everything is as it seems and Germaine is keeping a very big secret from her. One that is too big for Jules to look the other way. Will she run from her feelings and go back to handling things for herself? Or will she finally learn to trust God and let His will be done in her life?

Man Enough For Me is Rhonda Bowen's debut novel and I have to say straight away that I can't believe this is her first novel. It has the polish, the sizzle, and the faith that you find in the writings of seasoned and well-established Urban Christian authors.

The book moves along at just the right pace and doesn't let you put it down. The characters are real and relatable. From the moment you start reading you feel as though you have known all of the characters for years. And I personally love the way my beautiful city of Toronto was represented in the book.

Man Enough For Me also has the right amount of faith. It doesn't get in your face but it does speak to you. The lessons that Ms. Bowen has included in her book about trust and endurance in God will hit home and have you reflecting on your own life.

I cannot wait to see what else Ms. Bowen has to offer. With Man Enough For Me she has established herself in the Christian Fiction world. If you're looking for romance and drama tied together with faith you will find everything you are looking for, and more, right here in this book.

Thank you to Tywebbin Creations for providing me with a copy of this book. The opinions expressed above are purely my own.

It's Monday What Are You Reading?

It's Monday! March Break is over so my husband and daughter are back to school and the time to relax is over! It's Monday What Are You Reading is a weekly meme hosted by Sheila at Book Journey.

What I Read Last Week:

The Sky is Falling - Caroline Adderson

Man Enough For Me - Rhonda Bowen

We Ain't the Brontes - Rosalyn McMillan

What I'm Reading Now:

Doing Dangerously Well - Carole Enahoro (had to put this one aside last week to read some books that needed reviewing. Still loving it!)

Gunn's Golden Rules - Tim Gunn

What I'm Reading Next:

Apocalypse for Beginners - Nicolas Dickner

Personally I Blame my Fairy Godmother - Claudia Carroll

What are you reading this week?

"Read This Next" by Sandra Newman and Howard Mittelmark

We have all had it happen to us. We see a book with a pretty cover, pick it up and flip it over to read the blurb. It sounds great, just the book we want to read. But when we bring the book home and begin to read we find it's nothing like the cover or blurb led us to believe it would be.

Read This Next by Sandra Newman and Howard Mittelmark will prevent this from ever happening to you again (provided you follow their recommendations!) In this book are what they say are 500 of the best books you will ever read, arranged into thematic lists.

The book covers every genre you can think of and ones you may not have known even existed. Each recommendation comes with discussions for book clubs that will make you laugh and think. This book takes reading seriously but does so in smart and funny way.

This is the ultimate book for readers. It includes classics, recent releases and some little-known books. It is pretty much a guarantee that everyone will come away from this book with a much longer to read list.

Book Blogger Hop!

Happy belated birthday to the Book Blogger Hop! For the past year, over 200 book bloggers have been joining in the fun at Crazy For Books. If you haven't participated before, do check it out!

This weeks question is: Do you read only one book at a time or do you have several going at once?

I generally only read one book at a time, but on occasion I have do have more than one going. I can have one fiction and one non-fiction book going at a time, but anything more than that, the storylines get all muddled up for me!

How about you?

Blog Tour: "Man Enough For Me" by Rhonda Bowen

About the Book

Twenty-something public relations gem Jules Jackson has everything in her life under control, and that's exactly the way she likes it. She's got no problem handling two jobs, her crazy friends, and her difficult mother. But she's just about given up on men - until she meets fine Germaine Williams...

Straight-up catch Germaine is eager to prove his worth to Jules, and she falls hard. But it’s soon clear Germaine’s keeping at least one big secret. And the deeper Jules digs, the more her balancing act, and her romance, begins to crumble. Now Jules can either turn to her faith and open her heart to love—or risk getting it broken…

About the Author

Rhonda Bowen is a writer and event planner living in Toronto. When not stressing over her job, she can be found at church stressing over the kids she teaches in youth class. She enjoys spending time with her family, trying on shoes she can’t afford, and enjoying life’s unexpected twists and turns.

Visit her online at http://www.rhondabowen.com

Watch the book trailer online

"Bird Eat Bird" by Katrina Best

A mentally ill woman who spends a day off of her medication. A young grocery store cashier who happens to be a vegetarian and struggles to scan a package of meat. A 30 year old woman on a second date who eagerly anticipates a third date with the man, something that rarely happens to her. A worn out mother on vacation with her family who is swept out in the ocean and faces her life head on. A young retail worker who is deep in debt and alone at the cash register. And a pelican in a crowded London park who has decided to eat a pigeon.

These are all subjects of the tales in Katrina Best's debut book of short stories, Bird Eat Bird. Quirky and humorous, Best's book brings together an eclectic group of characters in a collection of social commentaries. Bird Eat Bird captures daily life from a unique angle. The stories are dark but funny and full of off-beat but realistic characters.

I've never been much of a fan of short stories. I'm not sure why but it's something I have never felt inclined to pick up. But I grabbed this one after seeing that it had made the 2011 Commonwealth Prize shortlist for Canada and Caribbean Best First Book. Not only did it make the shortlist but it was recently announced that as the the regional winner.

I really enjoyed these stories. They were easy to read and there were quite a few points that had me laughing out loud. This book has definitely inspired me to try out more collections of short stories. Katrina Best did an excellent job of capturing the daily intricacies of life.

Waiting On Wednesday

Waiting On Wednesday is a weekly meme at Breaking the Spine. It's where book bloggers share the upcoming releases they are eagerly anticipating. My selection this week is:

Summer and the City

by Candace Bushnell

Release Date: 26 April 2011

Summer is a magical time in New York City and Carrie is in love with all of the crazy characters in her neighbourhood, the vintage-clothing boutiques, the wild parties, and the glamourous man who has swept her off her feet. Best of all, she's finally in a real writing class, taking her first steps toward fulfilling her dream.

This sequel to The Carrie Diaries brings surprising revelations as Carrie learns to navigate her way around the Big Apple, going from being a country "sparrow" as Samantha Jones dubs her to the person she always wanted to be. But as it becomes increasingly difficult to reconcile her past with her future, Carrie realizes that making it in New York is much more complicated than she ever imagined.

With her signature wit and sparkling humour, Candace Bushnell reveals the irresistible story of how Carrie met Samantha and Miranda, and what turned a small-town girl into one of New York City's most unforgettable icons, Carrie Bradshaw.

I was such a big fan of Sex and the City when it was on television, having already read the book, and when The Carrie Diaries came out of course I had to read it. I don't read much YA, but I did enjoy the book and I'm looking forward to the sequel, especially now that we'll get to see how the girls became friends!

What are you waiting on?

"While the World Watched" by Carolyn Maull McKinstry

On September 15, 1963 a bomb planted by the Ku Klux Klan at the Sixteenth Street Baptist Church in Birmingham, Alabama exploded, killing four young girls. Only minutes earlier 15 year old Carolyn Maull had said spoken to those four girls and then walked away. For decades, Carolyn tried to put that day and the troubling days that followed behind her. But she no longer feels that she can stay silent about the tragedy and injustice she witnessed as a young girl growing up in the civil rights era.

While The World Watched is Carolyn Maull McKinstry's eye-witness account of what life was like for Black residents of Birmingham, Alabama when Jim Crow laws ruled the South. It is a moving description of how far Americans have come in terms of race relations, and how far they still need to go.

This is an incredible book that brings to life the civil rights movement of 1960's America. This book has a unique place in the writings of civil rights history as it comes straight from a young Black girl who was witness to one of its most tragic events. Carolyn Maull McKinstry has battled the prevailing notions of her day head on, struggled with its aftermath and emerged as a strong voice for those who fought and still fight for equality for all Americans.

Throughout the book, Maull McKinstry has included excerpts from famous speeches of the day in addition to her own words. She provides historical detail to compliment her own story, giving the book a wide scope on the civil rights movement.

This is a subject that I took great interest in while studying history in school and this book is a welcome addition to that information. It is incredible to read the story of a woman who was front and centre for a major moment in history. By reading her thoughts, concerns and triumphs, I believe the reader will be deeply touched and moved by the struggle that many lived through to bring us the world we live in today.

In addition to the historical information, this book is a touching journey of forgiveness. Carolyn Maull McKinstry shares her deepest feelings about the difficulty of forgiving those who have wronged you, especially in such heinous ways, but how doing so is what will ultimately free you.

I received this book for free as part of Tyndale's blogger program. The opinions expressed above are purely my own.

It's Monday What Are You Reading?

After a couple weeks off, I'm happy to be participating again in It's Monday, What Are You Reading? hosted by Sheila at Book Journey. I haven't participated in the past few weeks because my answers would have been blank! I just didn't have good reading weeks for a while there. But now I'm back into the swing of things, and it's March Break this week so hopefully I'll be able to get a lot of reading done, even though everyone is home.

What I Read Last Week:

While the World Watched by Carolyn Maull McKinstry

Bird Eat Bird by Katrina Best

What I'm Reading Now:

Doing Dangerously Well by Carole Enahoro

(Loving it!)

What I Plan to Read Next:

Apocalypse for Beginners by Nicolas Dickner

The Sky is Falling by Caroline Adderson

Definitely a lot of Canadian reading for me lately!

How is your week looking?

Book Blogger Hop!

Happy Friday! It's been a bit of a rough week here, with lots of rainy weather and one child getting sick. But today is the start of March Break so things are definitely looking up! It will be nice to have the whole family home for the week.

The Book Blogger Hop is hosted by Jennifer at Crazy For Books. It's a weekly gathering of over 200 book bloggers and a great way to find new books and blogs to read.

This week's question is: If I gave you $80 and sent you into a bookshop right now, what would be in your basket when you finally stagger to the till?

Ok, so first, what an awesome question. There are definitely a lot of books sitting in my online cart right now waiting for me to get enough money!

Global Soccer Mom by Shayne Moore

Songs of Deliverance by Marilynn Griffith

The Cause Within You by Matthew Barnett

Little Princes by Conor Grennan

A Tiny Bit Marvellous by Dawn French

Celebrity Shopper and New York Valentine by Carmen Reid

A very eclectic choice and I'm pretty sure I'd have to add some of my own money to get them all!

What would you pick up if you were given $80?

Have a great weekend!

"The Sentimentalists" by Johanna Skibsrud

As he nears the end of his life, Napoleon Haskell has left his trailer in Fargo, North Dakota and moved to a small Ontario town. There he lives with Henry, the father of a fallen Vietnam comrade, on the shore of a manmade lake, under which is the wreckage of the town Henry was raised in. Once there, Napoleon hopes to leave behind the memories of the Vietnam War that he has kept secret for years.

When Napoleon's daughter arrives, she finds that her father is at that moment in life where memory becomes fragile. Out of love and curiosity she begins to ask her father about his life and though disjointed at times, the truth of his past begins to emerge.

The Sentimentalists is Johanna Skibsrud's first novel (she has previously published poetry) and it took many by surprise when it won the 2010 Giller Prize, Canada's most prestigious literary prize. Based on her own father's time in Vietnam, the novel explores our memories, their unreliability and their fragility.

While there isn't much to the plot, this book requires some seriously attentive reading. It jumps over time and place and the writing style hints at Skibsrud's poetic background. The Vietnam war memories, which one would think make up the book, actually take up little of the book and the rest is dedicated to setting up the story.

One place where I do have to give a lot of credit to Ms. Skibsrud is that while reading the book I honestly felt I was being told a story. Often when I read novels I hear them in my own voice, but with this book I felt as though I was sitting and listening to someone else tell me a story.

Having read quite a few of the Giller longlist this past season, I must admit I'm surprised that this book is the winner. When I first heard it had won I thought maybe a mistake was made. As I began reading I thought that my original opinion was wrong but unfortunately the book didn't grab me the way I had expected to it. And so, I am still surprised that this was the winner.

Blog Tour: "We Ain't The Brontes" by Rosalyn McMillan

Today is my stop on the We Ain't The Brontes blog tour, the new book from best-selling author Rosalyn McMillan. Unfortunately, thanks to the Post, I haven't received my book yet. So check back very soon for my review of the book!

About the Book

The relationship between Charity Evans and her sister Lynzee Lavender brings new meaning to the term “sibling rivalry.” Lynzee writes science fiction, and her New York Times bestseller status gets her into A-list parties and fattens her bank account. She can’t stand the fact that Charity is a published author too, though she swears that Charity is nowhere near as good.

It seems like the publishing industry might agree, because Charity is having trouble getting her contract renewed. Is it possible that Lynzee has had her blacklisted? With her savings dwindling, Charity struggles to pay her bills, and the pressure is putting incredible strain on her marriage. Things only get worse when Lynzee drops a bomb: she reveals that Charity’s husband is the father of a child she gave up for adoption years ago.

Charity’s life goes into a tailspin as she struggles with the shocking news. Should she tell her husband about the child he never knew he had, or would that be more drama than their already fragile marriage can handle? Charity chooses to fight back against her sister in a very creative way, but the fallout from all this drama might leave plenty of casualties in its wake.

Bestselling author Rosalyn McMillan narrates the tale of two literary sisters that will make readers ask: How much of this is based on actual events?

About the Author

Rosalyn McMillan is a dedicated wife and devoted mother of four, and grandmother of five, who is currently surviving both rheumatoid arthritis and Alopecia Totalis, a disease that causes bodily hair loss. Rosalyn worked as a sewing machine operator at Ford Motor Company for nineteen years before medically retiring. She used the challenges in her own life as inspiration to become a successful novelist. Rosalyn loves to research newsworthy stories and use them as sub-plots in her real-life novels.

Her first novel, Knowing, debuted as a highly successful initial achievement. Knowing sold over 70,000 hardcover copies and over 400,000 paperbacks. It was a national best-seller and charted admirably on many book lists.

Rosalyn then followed the success of her first book with One Better, then Blue Collar Blues, The Flip Side of Sin. This Side of Eternity was Rosalyn’s fifth novel; the plot centered around the sanitation workers strike in 1968.

Rosalyn remains a loyal student of her profession by reading two to three hundred books a year. She feels that it’s imperative for an author to keep abreast of the New York Times best-sellers as well as fresh voices of fiction.

Currently, she lives in Memphis, TN, with her husband, John, where they relax fishing in their stocked pond.

Some of her favorite authors are John Sanford, Alice Walker, Maya Angelou, John Grisham, Toni Morrison, Eric Jerome Dickey, Kimberla Lawson-Roby and Terry McMillan.

Visit Rosalyn online at rosalynmcmillan.com

"A Billion Reasons Why" by Kristin Billerbeck

Katie McKenna has a billion reasons why she should marry her current boyfriend Dexter. He's stable, a Christian and will make a good father. He is everything she has wanted in a husband.

But a blast from the past is about to put those feelings in jeopardy. After being apart for eight years, her ex-boyfriend Luc DeForges has walked back into her life. Not only is he ready to commit to Katie, but he's not backing down.

Will Katie be able to put their past, which includes a humiliating public breakup, behind her where it belongs? Or will she allow Luc to sweep her off her feet? Is God's desire for Katie a safe and predictable marriage or a heart full of life that only Luc can offer her?

A Billion Reasons Why by Kristin Billerbeck is inspirational chick lit at its finest. Ms. Billerbeck has done it again. The main characters love of the 1940's and the beautiful locale of New Orleans give the book a few fresh twists. The characters are all endearing and have "real world" qualities.

The only negative of the book that I had was what felt like gaps in the story. At times it felt like the plot was rushed. But this is a general concern I have with inspirational fiction and chick lit, and it doesn't ruin the book in this case.

The backstory of Katie and Luc is held in suspense like many novels of this type. But Kristin Billerbeck has weaved it into the book masterfully, and reveals all necessary details at just the right time.

If you are a fan of Kristin Billerbeck's you will not be disappointed in this book. And if you have never read a book of hers you should definitely pick this one up. It has the perfect amount of romance, inspiration and faith and this is definitely a lovely read.

I received this book courtesy of Thomas Nelson and the BookSneeze program. The opinions expressed above are purely my own.

The Life Ready Giveaway Winner!

I had two entries for the giveaway for this book and since I have two copies of the book, I've decided to send a copy to each of the entrants. Congrats Jen and Yo, I hope you enjoy the book!

Book Blogger Hop

Happy Friday! After a very busy weekend last week I am definitely looking forward to a relaxing weekend. The problem is, every time I expect a relaxing weekend it ends up being the complete opposite! But this weekend I'm determined to just relax and read. Last week was too busy and there was very little time for reading.

The Book Blogger Hop is hosted by Jennifer at Crazy For Books. It's a great place for book bloggers to come together, network, and share great reads.

This weeks question is: Who is your all-time favourite book villain?

Wow, I really have to think about this. I hate to not give an answer but I honestly cannot think of any book I've read that I've actually liked the villain. Maybe it's that I don't read a lot of books with that have strong villain characters, maybe it's just too early in the morning for me. Sorry!

What villains do you like? Recommend some books for me so that I can have an answer to this question!

Have a great weekend!

"If It Takes a Village Build One" by Malaak Compton-Rock

As the wife of comedian Chris Rock, Malaak Compton-Rock leads a life full of wealth, travel and fame. And while she enjoys the life that her husbands fame is bringing, her heart remains in the public service sector where she finds life's most meaningful rewards.

In If It Takes a Village, Build One she shares her personal journey starting with a childhood permeated by giving back, to working as in public relations for UNICEF and on to starting her own non-profit Journey For Change: Empowering Youth Through Global Service, an organization that takes at-risk kids to South Africa for volunteer service.

This book is a wonderful read for anyone who is interested in getting involved in charitable work. Compton-Rock shares the impact her own volunteer experience and charitable career has made in her life and the lives of others. She also provides readers with a guide to getting involved, whether it is donating money, finding somewhere to volunteer or starting your own non-profit.

There are many great ideas in this book for leading a life that involves service. If you are looking for an in depth guide to running your own non-profit, this book won't provide you with it but it definitely gives you a starting point to help you develop your ideas.