THE STORK REALITY

Author: Manlena Lott ISBN: 0843957255 6/2006 CHICK LIT Publisher: DORCHESTER/Making It

The Birth of a Mother 8 weeks So they tell me I can expect to gain 20-35 pounds in the next 9 months, and I don’t even get a chocolate martini to wash down the news? This wasn’t exactly part of our 5-year plan. First, Jake was supposed to make partner in his law firm, I would stop traveling so much for the ad agency and somehow we’d get our life settled. 20 weeks Some of those maternity clothes are cute. Who knew? These days it’s hard to tell whether the flutter in my stomach is the baby or nerves. I’m a bit awed at the miracle growing inside my ever-bulging belly, but I can’t help wondering: How am I going to keep working? What will this do to our marriage? And the real kicker (so to speak): Will I be a good mom? 32 weeks Ready or not, only one month left to go. Time to face THE STORK REALITY.

RRAH's THOUGHTS AND PONDERINGS:

THE STORK REALITY is a must read book for anyone who is a mother, thinking of becoming a mother or for anyone who has a mother. There is something (most likely several somethings) that every woman can relate to in this book: mothering, career, childhood, marriage, body image and friendships.

Taylor is such a well written character that I found myself crying when she cried, laughing out loud at her irrational (but very real) fears and empathizing with her over where she's been and where she's going. She is a strong and confident woman, who suddenly has her weaknesses thrust in front of her due to a surprise pregnancy. However, after thirty baby pounds and a lot of soul searching, she emerges stronger and more self assured than she ever thought possible.

Lott has even refreshingly written of real life romance. You get to experience Taylor and her husband, Jake, moving beyond passion into the kind of love that continues to grow and last a lifetime. The story is so compelling, vibrant and realistic that you can't help being drawn into the heart of it all.

Amanda Rutherford