Give books!

Can you believe it?  It's almost holiday time!  The malls are starting to play Christmas music, and I've already started buying Hanukkah gifts for my kids.

Every year I puzzle over what to get friends and family.  I love to get people things that they wouldn't normally get themselves, things they would really love.  So, what better thing to give than books?  I love to read, love books, and every time I gift someone with a book, it's always a hit.

We've got a fantastic group of writers here on the Girlfriends Book Club blog, so here are a few of my favorites:

I loved Laura Spinella's PERFECT TIMING.  I even reviewed it over on Brenda's Book Briefs, my monthly column for LI Woman Magazine.  It's the story of Isabel Lang, a woman trying to hide from her past at the local radio station where she works, and Aiden Royce, the one who got away, who's now the world's largest rock star.  

Fans of romance will gobble this one up in one sitting.

I love everything Ellen Meister writes, but I think I have a new favorite in FAREWELL, DOROTHY PARKER.  It's the story of timid movie reviewer Violet Epps, who gets an otherworldly visit from her idol, the great wit Dorothy Parker.  With Mrs. Parker in her life, Violet soon has the courage to speak up and get what she wants, and she even rubs off a bit on her sprit friend.  Booklist called it "magical fun" and I can't help but agree.

Fans of women's fiction and humor will love this book.

I can't believe it took me so long to read something by Jess Riley.  I had a copy of her debut novel, DRIVING SIDEWAYS, on my TBR pile for ages.  I started with her short story, CLOSER THAN THEY APPEAR, and I read it in one sitting.  The story of two people destined to meet-- the characters were real, and smart, and funny.  It didn't take me long to then tear through the entire Jess Riley oeuvre.

Fans of quirky, smart stories will absolutely fall in love with Jess Riley's writing.  All of it!

But really, all of our girlfriends are truly amazing.  I love reading the work of my fellow girlfriends-- it's such an honor to be with such a talented group.  Also loaded up on my Kindle and reading for reading:

SEARCHING FOR TINA TURNER by Jackie Luckett (for fans of Terry McMillan), A SEMESTER ABROAD by Ariella Papa (for those of us who traveled abroad in college-- or just wish we had), and LITTLE WOMEN AND ME by Lauren Baratz-Logsted (for fans of the classics).

So, what are you waiting for?  Start buying!!

I’m the author of SCOT ON THE ROCKS and JACK WITH A TWIST. My third novel, RECIPE FOR A HAPPY LIFE, was published by St. Martin's on July 2, 2013. My fourth novel, THE LONELY HEARTS CLUB, will be published by Polis Books in January 2013.

My work’s also appeared in the New York Post and Publisher’s Weekly. You can find me at brendajanowitz.com or on Twitter at @BrendaJanowitz.