Very much like her daily columns with a little personal information added. I thought it superficial and I recognized some of the chapters from her columns. ( )

I came across Suzanne Beecher's daily email a couple of years ago, and liked the short personal anecdotes as well as the opportunity to enter a weekly contest for a free newly published Random House book. Suzanne often referred to herself as a writer, so I searched out Muffins and Mayhem, which seems to be the only published book she's written.

This book is a collection of essays combined with several of Suzanne's homey recipes and family photos. It's a sweet, short, and easy-to-read memoir that feels like a conversation with a friend over coffee and muffins. Many of the stories are humorous, some touching, most individually personal. As she writes in the final pages, not only does she write about life, but "I guess what I do is take the everyday, mundane things - the little things most people don't even notice - and bring them to life. Give them a voice so people can see the funny in a situation, or recognize the sadness they feel. I hate being preached to, so I'm not an advice-giver and I don't know all the answers. That's one of the reasons I write, so I can try to understand 'why?' "

I enjoyed this honest, homespun, and often poignant memoir of a quirky, sweet writer that will inspire you to feel better about yourself and your life. ( )

Suzanne Beecher is the very successful founder of www.DearReader.com, an on-line book club that boasts over 365,000 members. In the interest of full disclosure, I have been a member since 2000 and consider Suzanne a friend, despite the fact that I’ve never met her, though we have exchanged emails more than once.

To tell you about the book, I need to tell you about the book club. It works like this: every day, Monday-Friday, you get 5-minutes worth of reading; it’s a different book each week. By Friday you’ve read 18-25 pages, which is enough to let you know if you want to read the entire book. It’s a great marketing strategy and publishers have come around to granting permission for all manner of books to be featured. In fact, DearReader.com now has 11 or more book clubs covering various genres.

But the one thing all these have in common is Suzanne’s daily column. It usually has nothing at all to do with the book being featured, though occasionally it does. Mostly it’s like a little note your friend, sister, nephew, son, mother, uncle, or aunt would enclose with a gift. For example: I was at Joske’s yesterday and saw this sweater. It immediately reminded me of you, and that summer we went to Houston on the bus to visit Aunt Edna. I was so scared, but you were so calm. … etc There’s usually a moral or lesson to her daily blurb, but not always. Sometimes it’s just a jumping off point for fond or tender memories. Sometimes it’s just fun nonsense (like explaining how she sets up a bubble machine in her driveway to entertain passing motorists).

This book is an off-shoot of Suzanne’s daily email blurb about her life, her musings, her sorrows, her joys. As such, it’s funny, emotional, inspiring, and touching. It’s also ordinary, in that her experiences echo so many people’s. So what makes it special? I can only say that Suzanne is willing to open up her life and explore the lessons learned in a way that is refreshingly honest. This is the stuff of life, and like life there are laughs and tears. I liked the book just fine and it’s a quick read, but I think it would be better enjoyed a chapter a day (or even a week). It loses some freshness when you read it all at once. And that’s why I give it only 3 stars. ( )

"Muffins and Mayhem: Recipes for a Happy (if disorderly) Life" is a wonderful read. It's as refreshing, endearing, honest and unexpected as its delightful author, Suzanne Beecher. I don't know how she does it all, but she does it so well! Suzanne is one of your best friends that you've never met. She is like a favorite relative who adds color and light and amazing scents and flavors whenever she visits! Her book is as funny, sweet, touching and forthright as her column, "Dear Reader". The recipes are so delicious, they make one feel like Oliver Twist: "Please, Suzanne, could we have some more?" Suzanne is famous for baking and gifting her scrumptious chocolate chip cookies. She is also known for recipes such as "Skunk Beans" and "Whoops! Banana Bread". Her recipes, like her vivid personality, are colorful and interesting, and the stories that accompany the recipes are also a treat. "Company Fare Pork Chops", "Shrimp Salad", "Northern Maine Oatmeal Bread", and "Mrs. Creswick's Frosted Meatloaf" are among my favorites. Suzanne writes with real heart, and I particularly enjoy reading about her relationship with her husband. They have a true partnership. Suzanne Beecher is one-of-a-kind, and so is her fun, fabulous, fascinating book.

Review Copy Gratis Simon & Schuster ( )

I've enjoyed reading Suzanne's columns and I thoroughly enjoyed reading her book! Great stories and recipes. Suzanne shares her life's ups and downs; and her love of family and friends...and food. Like sitting down with a friend who can be inspiring, thoughtful, and witty. She's a great supporter of libraries, too! ( )