Are You There, Vodka? It's Me, Chelsea - Chelsea Handler

TITLE: Are You There, Vodka? It's Me, Chelsea

AUTHOR: Chelsea Handler

SUMMARY: THE EAGERLY AWAITED COLLECTION OF PERSONAL ESSAYS FROM THE BESTSELLING AUTHOR OF MY HORIZONTAL LIFE

When Chelsea Handler needs to get a few things off her chest, she appeals to a higher power -- vodka. You would too if you found out that your boyfriend was having an affair with a Peekapoo or if you had to pretend to be honeymooning with your father in order to upgrade to first class. Welcome to Chelsea''s world -- a place where absurdity reigns supreme and a quick wit is the best line of defense.

In this hilarious, deliciously skewed collection, Chelsea mines her past for stories about her family, relationships, and career that are at once singular and ridiculous. Whether she''s convincing her third-grade class that she has been tapped to play Goldie Hawn''s daughter in the sequel to Private Benjamin, deciding to be more egalitarian by dating a redhead, or looking out for a foulmouthed, rum-swilling little person who looks just like her...only smaller, Chelsea has a knack for getting herself into the most outrageous situations. Are You There, Vodka? It''s Me, Chelsea showcases the candor and irresistible turns of phrase that have made her one of the freshest voices in comedy today. - From Publisher

REVIEW: If you are looking for a humorous read, then this is the book for you. I don't regularly watch Chelsea Lately and I still loved this read. I started it today and couldn't put the book down until I was finished.

Yes, there were a few chapters that I didn't find particularly interesting but on a whole I thoroughly enjoyed this book. I will definitely picking up more books written by Chelsea and looking forward to reading them!

RATING: ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥

Kardashian Konfidential - Kim Kardashian, Kourtney Kardashian, Khloe Kardashian

TITLE: Kardashian Konfidential

AUTHOR: Kim Kardashian, Kourtney Kardashian, Khloe Kardashian

SUMMARY: Confessions of life as a Kardashian sister-stuffed with family stories, advice, beauty tips and exclusive gorgeous full color photos, personal snapshots and the inside scoop on their life growing up into the gorgeous Dash DollsThe stars of not one but two #1 reality television shows, and frequent cover girls on all the weekly celebrity magazines, Kourtney, Kim & Khloé Kardashian live large and glamorous lives. But not everything is on the screen-how they really live, get along (and feud) as sisters is the subject of the Kardashians' very first book. Kardashian Konfidential is their sisterhood autobiography, full of fun facts about their childhoods (guess who was the ugly duckling?), their beauty and style secrets, the wisdom they learned from their beloved father, and the street smarts they got from their mother that sustain them in life and in business. Kardashian Konfidential is bursting at the seams with photos, memorabilia, diary entries, datebook pages, and old Valentines the girls sent to each other, as well as many other artifacts put together just for their book. As glamorous, fun and fashionable as the girls themselves, this is the perfect buy-one-for-me-buy-three-for-friends fan's book. - From Publisher

REVIEW: I am addicted to the Kardashian's, I find them so enjoyable and such an easy/mindless show to watch. I have to say though, that this book doesn't really give you TOO much into their worlds. You get some history but a lot I had known either through the show or through Wikipedia. Still, it was fun seeing the pictures and all that. They do give some excellent styling tips and some fun recipes I wouldn't mind trying. Mostly, as a fan, I just enjoyed reading it.

Was a very fast read and it does make for a cute coffee table book.

RATING: ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥

unchartered terriTORI - Tori Spelling

TITLE: uncharted terriTORI

AUTHOR: Tori Spelling

SUMMARY: Welcome to Los Angeles, birthplace and residence of Tori Spelling.

It's not every Hollywood starlet whose name greets you on a Virgin Airways flight into la-la land. But Tori Spelling has come to accept that her life is a spectacle. Her name is her brand, and business is booming. Too bad when your job is to be yourself, you can't exactly take a break.

Tori finally has everything she thought she wanted-a loving family and a successful career-but trying to live a normal life in Hollywood is a little weird. With the irresistible wit, attitude, and humor that fans have come to love, the New York Times bestselling author of sTORI telling and Mommywood is back with more hilarious, heartwarming, and candid stories of juggling work, marriage, motherhood, and reality television cameras.

Tori comes clean about doing her time on jury duty, stalking herself on Twitter, discovering her former 90210 castmates' "I Hate Tori" club, contracting swine flu, and contacting Farrah Fawcett from the dead. Like many mothers, she struggles to find balance (Stars, they're just like us!)-only most women don't have to battle it out with paparazzi at the grocery store. She talks openly about the darker side of life in the spotlight: media scrutiny over her weight and her marriage to Dean McDermott, her controversial relationship with Dean's ex-wife, and her unfolding reconciliation with her mother.

Having it all isn't always easy-especially when you're a perfectionist-but with the help of her unconventional family and friends, an underwear-clad spiritual cleansing or two, and faith in herself, she's learning to find her happy ending. Because when you're Tori Spelling, every day brings uncharted terriTORI.***

Just when you thought sTORI time was over, the beloved Hollywood starlet has so much more to say. ***"My life has changed dramatically in the past several years. I married Dean; we moved several times; we had two children; we created a show that has gone into its fifth season on the air. I have love. I have a family. I have a home. I have work. It's all I ever wished for. But trying to be a perfect wife, mother, and mini-mogul has its challenges, especially if, like me, you want to be perfect at all of them at the same time." -from uncharted terriTORI - From Publisher

REVIEW: I can't seem to get enough of this girl. I find her writing so amusing and I adore how honest she is. It's funny to read about the missteps she's made and that she's okay with sharing them.

The tone of this book is very different from the tone of the first one. You can tell that her popularity has spiked with doing the show and her various projects she's dived into. It's not often that a married celebrity couple admits to faults and rifts between them. I liked that she didn't try to project that they had a perfect marriage, of course at the same time portions of this will fuel the paparazzi but at least she's being honest with her fans. Marriage is hard and it is work and after having kids and diving into projects it can put a strain on the marriage, in fact more often it does than not. However, she still has a positive attitude and it's real. It felt like talking to a friend. Having a girls night out and just dishing and venting and being able to walk away knowing that I'm not the only one.

All around another enjoyable book from her and I'm looking forward to more.

RATING: ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥

American on Purpose - Craig Ferguson

TITLE: American on Purpose

AUTHOR: Craig Ferguson

SUMMARY: In American on Purpose, Craig Ferguson delivers a moving and achingly funny memoir of living the American dream as he journeys from the mean streets of Glasgow, Scotland, to the comedic promised land of Hollywood. Along the way he stumbles through several attempts to make his mark-as a punk rock musician, a construction worker, a bouncer, and, tragically, a modern dancer.

To numb the pain of failure, Ferguson found comfort in drugs and alcohol, addictions that eventually led to an aborted suicide attempt. (He forgot to do it when someone offered him a glass of sherry.) But his story has a happy ending: success on the hit sitcom The Drew Carey Show, and later as the host of CBS's Late Late Show. By far Ferguson's greatest triumph was his decision to become a U.S. citizen, a milestone he achieved in early 2008.

In American on Purpose, Craig Ferguson talks a red, white, and blue streak about everything our Founding Fathers feared. - From Publisher

REVIEW: "Alright, my cheeky little monkeys!"

I adore Ferguson. I think he's a gem among the late night talk shows and is hands down my favorite among them. I knew the moment I watched his monologue about Britney Spears that he was different. I loved that he shared his story and was willing to be real with the viewers.



That made reading his story that much better. I knew he was talented and had struggles but in this book he was honest and real. I cried and laughed and was filled with joy that this man who had been so lost had been saved.

While diving into his dark and hazing from booze past I found Ferguson to be refreshing. Yes, he was telling us his story but never did it feel like a look what I've accomplished, I'm so amazing! Never did it get self-important. It was simply his story, with humorous portions, hitting the bottom of the barrel (I know I shouldn't laugh at the killer ducks but my mental comedy picture of it just causes me to chuckle) and painful ones. Probably the most honest biography I've read that didn't seem like a neon sign of "I'm Awesome".

For those that like his show you must read this book!

RATING: ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥

A Little Bit Wicked: Life, Love, and Faith in Stages - Kristen Chenoweth

TITLE:
A Little Bit Wicked: Life, Love, and Faith in Stages

AUTHOR: Kristen Chenoweth

SUMMARY: A lively, laugh-out-loud journey from Oklahoma beauty queen to show biz sensation."Life's too short. I'm not."You might know her as a Tony Award-winning Broadway star who originated the role of Galinda the Good Witch in the smash musical Wicked. Or you may recognize her from her starring roles on TV-The West Wing, Pushing Daisies, and Sesame Street. At four foot eleven, Kristin Chenoweth is an immense talent in a petite but powerful package. Through a combination of talent, hard work, and (she's quick to add) the grace of God, Kristin took Broadway and Hollywood by storm. But of course, into every storm, the occasional drizzle of disaster must fall, and Kristin reflects on how faith and family have kept her grounded, even in tough times.Filled with wit, wisdom, and backstage insight, A Little Bit Wicked is long on love and short on sleep. It's essential reading for Kristin's legions of fans and an uplifting story for anyone seeking motivation to follow his or her dreams-over the rainbow and beyond.FEATURING CHENOLICIOUS RECIPES, KRISTIN'S ADVICE FOR YOUNG ACTORS, AND MUCH MORE! - From Publisher

REVIEW: Chenoweth is adorable and this book is adorable. Her writing voice and style is just like her personality and it made it a joy to read.

I loved the little insights of her life and how open she was about everything. I think what endeared me to her was that while she has her beliefs she's not judging others. I find that refreshing.

All around a good book. For those that love her you'll enjoy this biography.

RATING: ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥

Kiss and Tell - Shannon Tweed

TITLE: Kiss and Tell

AUTHOR: Shannon Tweed

SUMMARY: "By the time I was 24, I was pretty jaded--I thought I''d seen and done it all. Then I met Gene. My life is divided into two sections: PG (well... maybe R) and AG (after Gene)." Shannon Tweed--model, actress, - From Publisher

REVIEW: Tweed bares all (and in the case of some of the pictures I mean literally) in this humorous and exposing biography.

I enjoy the show Family Jewels I find the various antics that the family goes through humorous and the interviews with Nick (their son & oldest child) are always a sure bet for some laughter. This book was a really in-depth look into Shannon's life. I loved the way she wrote her childhood, which was funny but informative without getting stuck on the small details. After reading it I feel like I know lots about her childhood but it didn't take 300 pages to get there. Her days in the Mansion with Hef was insane. I never knew she was actually one of Hef's girlfriends and while I've watched the Playboy Bunnies Reality TV show I got more info from this book. Life at the Mansion is definitely in its own genre.

Some of my favorite portions of the book was when Gene entered her life. Those two amuse me. And again, I learned so much about him and their life, which is really the point in reading biographies.

All around I thoroughly enjoyed this bare all biography.

RATING: ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥

You Can Run But You Cant Hide: The Life and Times of Dog the Bounty Hunter - Duane 'The Dog' Chapman

TITLE: You Can Run But You Cant Hide: The Life and Times of Dog the Bounty Hunter

AUTHOR: Duane 'The Dog' Chapman

SUMMARY: Duane Chapman, aka Dog the Bounty Hunter, has had an amazing life. He had a troubled and trying upbringing, which led to an early life of crime, including numerous arrests for armed robbery and a murder conviction. While Dog claims to be innocent of the murder rap, he maintains that the 5 years he served for the crime changed his life. With a new-found respect for the law, Dog vowed to become a force for change and good. This inspired him to pursue a career in bounty hunting. Dog is now the owner of Da Kine Bail Bonds in Honolulu and self-proclaimed "Greatest Bounty Hunter in the World." Six thousand-plus captures over the past two decades have earned this highly intense, charismatic ex-con and born-again Christian such a distinction. He is also a devoted father of 12, and some of his older children work with him as bounty hunters, along with his equally charismatic new wife Beth. In YOU CAN RUN BUT YOU CAN'T HIDE, Dog details all this and more, giving his legion of fans all the details they've been waiting for. - From Publisher

REVIEW: I have a not so guilty love for this family and the show. Sure at times it's a bit crazy dramatic and over the top but isn't that sorta what makes all 'reality tv shows'? Who's the sluttiest? Who can have the most kids? How many lies can you tell on a little island? The crazier, the more people love. Of course my love for this family stems from a few areas and one is from the Stephanie Plum series. I easily picture the character Ranger being a Leland sort of guy. With that said, yes, I do realize that I at times live in a fantasy world of books. However, so do you, to a degree if you're reading this.

This book is filled with details from Dog's life that I sorta assumed but never realized how far he was down that rabbit hole until I read this. The guys life has been interesting and colorful to say the least. I love that he didn't hold anything back. You either love him or hate him and he's okay with whichever you chose.

I'm not a big fan of biographies that are ladled with straight facts. I enjoy having the subjects life told to me like a story. As if I'm sitting there and they are almost predicting what my next question will be. Dog wrote this book just like that. It kept me interested while still being very informative.

So, for those of you that hunker down and watch Dog the Bounty Hunter marathons on A&E you'll definitely want to pick this up to read, bra.

RATING: ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥

sTori Telling - Tori Spelling

TITLE: STori Telling

AUTHOR: Tori Spelling

SUMMARY: She was television''s most famous virgin -- and, as Aaron Spelling''s daughter, arguably its most famous case of nepotism. Portraying Donna Martin on Beverly Hills, 90210, Tori Spelling became one of the most recognizable young actresses of her generation, with a not-so-private personal life every bit as fascinating as her character''s exploits. Yet years later the name Tori Spelling too often closed -- and sometimes slammed -- the same doors it had opened.

sTORI telling is Tori''s chance to finally tell her side of the tabloid-worthy life she''s led, and she talks about it all: her decadent childhood birthday parties, her nose job, her fairy-tale wedding to the wrong man, her so-called feud with her mother. Tori has already revealed her flair for brilliant, self-effacing satire on her VH1 show So NoTORIous and Oxygen''s Tori & Dean: Inn Love, but her memoir goes deeper, into the real life behind the rumors: her complicated relationship with her parents; her struggles as an actress after 90210; her accident-prone love life; and, ultimately, her quest to define herself on her own terms.

From her over-the-top first wedding to finding new love to her much-publicized -- and misunderstood -- "disinheritance," sTORI telling is a juicy, eye-opening, enthralling look at what it really means to be Tori Spelling. - From Publisher

REVIEW: Let me start off by saying, "Donna Martin Graduates!". There. I feel much better.

I never found Tori Spelling to be all that engaging until a.) later 90210 episodes where we got more from her character and b.) watching reruns of her Tori & Dean reality shows. I am that proverbial cat where curiosity generally gets me every time, so I had to pick up this book. I'm glad that curiosity was once again my friend and I didn't end up cursing my inquisitive nature. I ate through this in one reading and pretty much hit all the emotions on the wheel, yes I did get teary eyed and perhaps a tear was shed... or two.

I remember watching an episode of her reality show where she's at a book signing for her second book and fans are saying that she's just so real and normal. I rolled my eyes but after reading this book I wish you could retract past eye rolls because they were right. She is rather normal for having the upbringing that she did.

For all you Spelling haters out here, I can't say this book will change your view point on this Hollywood blonde but it's certainly entertaining. She has a refreshing voice and it read honest and real. I feel, after reading this, that perhaps she's a bit misunderstood and truly funny. Tori's got a way of sharing a story that makes you feel like you're in her inner circle of friends, having a few drinks on a roof top hotel bar while another Tori powwow is had. I didn't find her pretentious or snobby, the book was far more down to earth; with her taking blame, admitting wrongs and sharing her heart.

Guiltily I have to admit all the 90210 information (Luke Perry starting a fist fight at her families annual Christmas party) made me delighted. I fully admit to having a behind the scenes addiction and this book gave me lots of goodies.

All around I loved this book and will be picking up her second and third book. "sTori Telling" made me a bit of a fan of this quirky blonde.

RATING: ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥