“The perfect little book for anyone who wants to fulfill her own Bombshell aspirations. Just grab your favorite baby doll pajamas, a glass of champagne, and sink right in!” -Marisa Tomei

I spotted The Bombshell Manual of Style by Lauren Stover in a Waldo’s Bookstore, years ago. I was pulled to the book, and even when my practical friend insisted we leave (without the book) I lingered with the book in my hands until I woman-ed up and bought it. I was in high school at this point, so buying random books wasn’t a luxury I could usually afford. But I was in too-deep, already a loyal subscriber to the ways of Grace Kelly and Veronica Lake. And luckily, I wasn’t disappointed by this book. To this day I’m glad I have it in my personal library. It’s not the kind of book you just want to read, it’s the kind you want to own.

Jean Harlow

When I brought the book home, my little sister would sneak it away into her room constantly. It was just that kind of book. The kind that girly girls couldn’t get enough of. It’s full of quotes, lists, and amazing illustrations. (The Bombshell Manual of Style @ Amazon)

“By Laren Stover, it offers advice to all women, brunettes and redheads included, on how to detonate the inner bombshell.” — New York Times

Fabulous vintage completely beaded bodice, off the shoulder and white tulle designer wedding dress by the Etsy Shop CreativeGatherings.

Vintage Inspired Ruched Draped One Shoulder Gown – Custom Made to Order by the Etsy Shop GlossVegas.

Designer 30′s Egyptian revival Gown by Debra cake at the Etsy Shop TheEnchantedAttic

My personal book list recommendations:

Keeping the House by Ellen Baker. I think this is a wickedly compelling novel steeped in nostalgia and a little bit of mystery.
Between the Tides by Patti Callahan Henry. This is a book I picked up at the library because I liked the title and cover. And I turned out to really enjoy reading it. I love being immersed in the seaside life presented in the novel. There is a lot to devour in this book.
Transformation Soup: Healing for the Splendidly Imperfect by Sark. A self-help book that does not resemble a self-help book. Bright, vibrant, and something worth owning.
Ella Minnow Pea by Mark Dunn. The most lovely novel, highly recommended!
The Best Loved Poems of Jacqueline Kennedy Onasis. Poetry is meant to be owned and loved.

Amazon Editor’s book recommendations I think are worth reading and have added to my own ‘to read’ lists:

Let the Great World Spin: A Novel (Hardcover) – Colum McCann. I really like the idea of seeing things from several different perspectives. This seems like the kind of book you’d have to own just to rediscover it anew with every read. The kind of book that has words you simply must own.

Beautiful Creatures (Hardcover) -Kami Garcia and Margaret Stohl. I was going to easily write this off as a book with a pretty cover but nothing more. A modern day fairytale about outcasts? That worries me, because Twilight was a horrible book to read. But the reviews for this book sound very promising. Holly Black (NYT Bestselling author of Tithe: A Modern Faerie Tale) says, “A lush Southern gothic whose memorable, eccentric characters draw you into their captivating world.” Boom, I’m sold. I want to give this book a read.

Crazy for the Storm: A Memoir of Survival (Hardcover) by Norman Ollestad. Whatever this book is, the fact that it’s a memoir of survival seems to speak of a hopeful outlook. Which is nice. We all need more hope. Reading the customer reviews convinces me that I’d want to read this book.

Stitches: A Memoir (Hardcover) by David Small. It’s hard to believe this is a memoir. David Small had parents who gave him cancer by having a radiologist father who put him under x-rays for no reason, and never took care of the problem. That’s unfamilar terrain for most of us (or hopefully all of us) but reading this book is supposed to remind of of how your own child-eye’s memories feel. They’re sketched, mostly wordless. “Early memories (and difficult ones, too) often seem less like words than pictures we play back to ourselves. That is what’s recognizable and, somehow, ultimately delightful in the midst of this deeply sad story: it reminds us of our memories, not just what they are, but what they look like.” – Amazon. I can’t tell you how many of my early childhood memories are simply images that flash in my mind and are full of emotions, colors and feelings – but seem to diminish with words.