Friday, Dec 19, 2008

Book Review: Dating da Vinci

Living La Dolce Vita

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I have been so behind in my reading and reviewing… to be honest, I owed this book my attention over 6 weeks ago.  I finally got around to it this week and was looking forward to some good “chicklit” fun.

The premise of the book according to the back cover:

A gorgeous young Italian, with nowhere to go…

His name just happened to be Leonardo da Vinci.  When he walks into Ramona Elise’s English class, he’s a 25-year old immigrant, struggling to forge a new life in America-but, he’s lonely, has nowhere to live, and barely speaks English…

She knows she shouldn’t take him home…

Picking up the pieces of her life after the death of her beloved husband, linguist and teacher Ramona Elise can’t help but be charmed by her gorgeous new student.  And when he calls her “mona Lisa” she just about loses her heart…

The Review:

Title: Dating Da Vinci

Author: Malena Lott

Author’s Website: www.malenalott.com

Publisher: Sourcebooks Casablanca

Publisher’s Website: www.sourcebookscasablanca.com

Type: Fiction

Number of Pages: 275 Paperback

ISBN #: 978-1-4022-1393-9

This book is a woman’s journey of finding herself again.  The handsome men, like Leo da Vinci are the push that she needed to get her started on her journey.  Ramona is a widow who, after 2 years had passed since her husband’s death, is still living a life of a woman in mourning.  She clearly wasn’t ready to view herself as a sexy, young, and successful woman who would find love again.  Rather, she succombed to being a permanent widow and one who questioned her late husband’s faithfulness, at that.  Ramona, an English teacher for immigrants meets da Vinci in class.  He is, of course, a complete stud-muffin!  When he asks her for help on food, work, shelter, etc., she brings him home and rents out the studio in her backyard to him for a mere $200/month.  From what I read, this wasn’t Ramona’s typical M.O.  Rather, he was just so stunning and foxy that she couldn’t resist.

From a “crush” to “dating” they go.  Along the way, the reader gets to meet her best friend, Anh, along a host of characters.  The characters include her ridiculous sister, Rachel, who is a Blonde Ambition Tour all in herself.  Rachel is an on-air fitness guru with a penchant for devouring the male species.  Michael, her ex-husband, seems like a cool cat and a perfect match for Anh.  Then, there’s Courtland the anesthesiologist whom her mother attempted to set her up with, however ended up, a bit predictably, dating her sister.  Ramona has two boys Bradley and William, whom she seems to just dote on.   But, it is her dead husband, Joel, that I think the readers get to know the most.  And, like the rest of us, he has a past, one that Ramona cannot seem to let go of obsessing over.  Which leads us to Monica, his ex-fiance who is, of course, perfect in every way that Ramona is not.  Sounds like the makings of a good “chicklit” book and it was.

However, and there’s always that “however” with me (forgive me), this book had a bit of a slow start for me.   Around Chapter 5, I was involved in the book to the point where I wanted to know what happened.  I suppose you could say that, for me, that is when the book started getting good.  The ending is solid, albeit a bit predictable.  But, with good chicklit books, you want a happy ending and you get one with da Vinci.  I think that another obstacle I faced is that recently I have read 3 other books in which the heroine’s/protagonist’s husband has passed away.  More specifically, I just read a book of 23 women’s stories of their loss of their spouse.  So, I think that being the case, I may have had just too many of these types of books in a row. 

The premise of the book is cute and I liked Malena’s style.  You felt very at home with Ramona and as though you could understand her decisions.  I think that Malena’s website is fun and funky… plus, she’s SUPER pretty!  Lucky gal!

Favorite Quote of the Book:

“To enjoy – to love a thing for its own sake and no other.” -Leonardo da Vinci

A Little Italian:

Hello: Ciao

Goodbye: Arrivederci

Please: Per favore

I would like pasta: Vorrei pasta
I would like a glass of wine: Vorrei un bicchiere di vino
Good morning: Buongiorno
Good night: Beona notte
My name is: Mi chiamo
I really like you: Mi piaci veramente tanto
I love you: Ti amo.
Kiss me: Baciami
I want you: Ti desidero molto.

A Recipe From the Author:

Dating da Vinci’s protagonist, Ramona, has a Girls Night In with her best friend Anh and they share their woes and hopes over Flirtinis! Make pink Flirtinis for your next Girls Night In.

1 oz. raspberry vodka

2 oz. Champagne

2 oz. pineapple juice

2 oz. cranberry juice

Touch of Triple sec

Lime juice squeeze (optional)

Sugar rim (optional)

Fresh raspberries for the bottom of your glass (optional)

Makes 2 martinis or one tall highball drink. Double recipe as needed. Drink responsibly.

IDEA: Make these drinks at your next book club!  

Sher’s “Out of Ten” Scale:

For the “chicklit” genre, my rating is in comparing this read to the others that fit in the same category this year: Jane Porter, Jennifer Weiner, Maria Murnane, Bridget Asher, Anne Brashares, and Nicholas Sparks.  That being said, I think that I would give this book a rating of 7 out of 10.  I have a strong feeling, however, that Malena’s writing style will be one to watch.  I think that as she continues to publish future chicklit novels, we will see great things out of her. 

Add:  On the Library Thing & Amazon.Com Rating:  ♥♥♥ and 1/2 ♥

Where To Buy The Book:

Click here to purchase this book for $11.01 at Amazon.Com

Other Reviews:

http://bookingmama.blogspot.com/2008/11/review-dating-da-vinci.html

http://www.curledup.com/datindav.htm

http://www.clareswindlehurst.com/bookreviews/2008/12/07/book-review-dating-da-vinci-by-malena-lott/

http://cherylsbooknook.blogspot.com/2008/12/dating-da-vinci.html

http://thebookbinge.com/2008/08/review-dating-da-vinci-by-malena-lott.html

http://www.todayiread.com/dating-da-vinci-malena-lott-review/

http://www.longandshortreviews.com/LASR/1108/DatingDaVinci-ML.htm

http://luanne-abookwormsworld.blogspot.com/2008/12/dating-da-vinci-malena-lott.html

http://linussblanket.typepad.com/linuss_blanket/2008/11/dating-da-vinci.html

http://bookopolis.blogspot.com/2008/11/book-review-dating-da-vinci-by-malena.html

http://www.paperbackfrenzy.com/latest/dating-da-vinci/

P.S. A big thank you to Danielle at SourceBooks!

7 Comments

Friday, Dec 19, 2008

Current Headlines: Remains Identified as Caylee Anthony

Did you hear in the news when she was describing her child as a hinderance to her ability to go and visit her boyfriend?  She acted as if Caylee was just the biggest imposition on her life.  Oh, what this grandmother must be going through… her daughter a murderer and her granddaughter dead?  I’m going to send more prayers to her tonight.

My prayers are also for Caylee that she is warm and loved in excess in Heaven and that she’s got lots of friends to play with… and a mommy in Heaven that will love and protect her always!

4 Comments

Friday, Dec 19, 2008

Friday Fill-Ins

And…here we go!

Fill in the lyrics…with the correct ones or ones of your own Have fun with this, don’t worry if you don’t know ‘em…just make up something silly or do a silly one and a serious one! The most important part is to have fun with it.

Here we go!

1. Said the night wind to the little lamb, GO TO BED SO MOM CAN REST!
2. The first Noel, the angel did say, “IS MY HALO CROOKED?”
3. SMOG, Over the hills and everywhere. (I live in Southern California)
4. It came upon the midnight clear, A LOUD VOICE BOOMING: “GET IN BED!  WHAT ARE YOU STILL DOING UP?”
5. SARAH PALIN, Let your heart be light.
6. And the thing that will make them ring is the carol that you sing “WHOOMP, THERE IT IS!”
7. And as for the weekend, tonight I’m looking forward to OH… THAT CLOSET STILL FACES ME LIKE THE DREADED I.R.S., tomorrow my plans include GET SHOPPING AND WRAPPING DONE and Sunday, I want to DO NOTHING BUT EAT, SLEEP, AND READ!

 

 

 

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Thursday, Dec 18, 2008

Booking Through Thursday: Books as Gifts

What is the best book you ever bought for yourself?  That’s a tough answer.  I guess that would be any of the Gone With the Wind books… Gone With the Wind, Scarlett, or Rhett Butler’s People.   I think that any book that I grab for myself is a treat and love most of them pretty equally.

And, why? What made it the best? What made it so special? Gone With the Wind… well, Scarlett is just a vampy, flirty, strong-willed, dreamer of a person that I can completely relate to.  And, the depths of Rhett’s love for her is one that any woman would die for.

Do you give books as gifts?  Yes, I have.  Last Christmas I bought my brother books for Christmas.

To everyone? Or only to select people? I think that I would only give books to people that I’m close to that I know they would like the book.  For example, I bought my brother political books… he’s big into politics.

How do you feel about receiving books as gifts?  My brother gave me a Bible one year.  I love it.  And, yes… if somebody picked out a book for me, personally, that they knew I would enjoy… then I would be very touched.

8 Comments

Wednesday, Dec 17, 2008

Holiday Cheer: Fresh

Your Lips Will Sing Its Praise!

Now, what I am going to recommend to you in this post is far and away a luxury item, however within reach.  It’s a personal luxury… and I have no way to describe it other than it’s worth every penny!

My favorite skin care, fragrance and bodycare line is Fresh.  It’s so super yummy and ultra fantastic that I can’t say enough.  The best item that they make is their Sugar Lip Treatment.  All I can say, ladies, is that it’s a party for your lips.  It feels INCREDIBLE when you put it on.  It tastes great.  And, the smell…. oh, the smell!  It’s totally and completely my most cherished purse item.  If I’m cranky, the girls ask… ”do you want me to get you your Fresh?”  (I kid you not, it makes me that happy… oh, the simple things in life!) 

The Ultimate Lip Treatment

Now, it also has the SPF 15, which is good… but, it’s just the amazing texture and feel on your lips that I love love love.  I’ve given it to all my favorite girlfriends, I think.

Key Ingredients:
- Sweet and tart blackcurrant oil cushions the lips with plumping fatty acids
- Antioxidant grapeseed polyphenols and vitamins A, C & E provide extra protection

It’s $22.50… which, I know seems like a lot in this economy.  But, all I can say is that when my sister Terra gave it to me for my birthday… I think I squealed with glee!  You can buy it direct from www.Fresh.Com or from Sephora.com.

My next favorite item by Fresh is their AMAZING line of body fragrances… I’m hooked.  I bought a bottle 1 1/2 years ago and wear it at least 2-3 times per week.  I still have some!  I love the sprays.  I wear:

It smells wonderful!  Of course, they have a wonderful line of sweet, citrus, and “woodsy” fragrances.  I liked this one because it was woodsy and cirtusy.  But, it you’re a sweet girl… their sugar is amazing as is their lychee.  They recently brought back, by customer demand:

I haven’t tried it, but those ornamental tobacco flowers are just lovely and I can only imagine them with caramel.  YUM!

Now, if you are a scent driven, results-driven face product gal…. this is the ULTIMATE face wash…

A Party For Your Face

This is a great face wash and it smells AMAZING.  It’s really awesome for all skin types as it’s extra gentle.  It is cleansing enough for oily/combination… but, leaves your face smooth.  It’s wonderful, of course, for normal to dry, as well.  My tube lasted sooo long.  You only need a bit and I kept mine in the shower. 

More Holiday Cheer to Come!

 

 

 

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