What would happen if you and your family crowded aboard a converted bus for a year-long cross-country vacation? That’s exactly what Doreen Orion and her husband, Tim, did. She recounts the story in her book, Queenof the Road: The True Tale of 47 States, 22,000 Miles, 200 Shoes, 2Cats, 1 Poodle, a Husband, and a Bus with a Will of Its Own.
The book’s premise was interesting -
Apart from the fact that they are both psychiatrists, Doreen and her husband Tim are polar opposites. He loves hiking and the great outdoors; she enjoys sitting in bed all day eating bon bons watching Oprah. In fact, she is damn proud of her record: 118 hours straight without leaving the house. So when Tim proposes they take a break from their careers and embark on a year-long trip across the country in a converted bus, Doreen immediately protests. Why can’t Tim be like every other normal husband and live out his mid-life crisis by having an affair or buying a shiny new Corvette!? But Tim works his magic and before long Doreen is packing up her things and moving into a 340-square-foot converted bus with a husband, two cats, a Standard Poodle, and one burning question: Can this marriage of opposites survive (perhaps even thrive) living together in such close quarters for an entire year?
I love to read, so I thought I’d give it a try. I had no idea what a good time was in store for me.
By page 7, I was enrapt and totally recognizing myself. Let’s just say that Doreen and I seem to have a lot in common.
Even if you don’t think youre Doreen Orion’s long lost twin, you are going to love her book. Queen of the Roadis riotously funny and totally ridiculous (in a good way). Anyone wholoves or hates to travel or camp is going to love this book. Anyone wholikes to read will love it, as will anyone who likes to laugh, needs toescape from reality, or likes a good adventure.
The New York Post called Queen of the Road “ACharles Kuralt-Albert Brooks-style romp where [Doreen & Tim] meetup with nudists, robbers and more. Required Reading.” I think that sumsit up nicely.
Trust me: you are going to laugh atDoreen’s predicaments. You’ll smile until your cheeks hurt and laughuntil tears are streaming down your face. You’ll go looking for someoneto read it aloud to because it’s just that funny.
Oh, wait. That’s what I did. Sorry about that.
One last thing: you know how I love my recipes, and Queen of the Road has a bunch! Every chapter includes a lovely little cocktail recipe. Happy drinking, Type-A Moms!
You can buy Queen of the Road here.
Doreen has a blog, which you can read here, and Queen of the Road has a website all of its own. Additionally, Type-A Mom is just one stop on Queen of the Road’s Blog Tour.
In addition to the reviewer contest,there is a Reader contest! By commenting at Feels like Home, you’ll beentered in a drawing to win a prize pack valued at over $130! The prizepack includes:
- Mom Logic Tote bag, eye brightener and mouse pad from momlogic.com
- Wrist water bottle from swiggies.com $13 value
- Gift certificate for free flashcards from goosiecards.com $29 value
- Rose Pin ($10 value)
- Natural, dye-free dog tug from Purrfect Play purrfectplay.com $18 value
- Book, “Uncovered” by Mark Goldwich $13 value
- “Attitude of Gratitude” Tank Top Med from empoweringthings.com $19.39 value
- “Be Natural” tee shirt from jb-justbe.com $15 value
- Cats on Cards Pet Rescue Stickers from purrfectplay.com $7.95 value
- 2009 Park-It Guide for NYC from parkitguides.com $13 value
Total Value of Prize: $130.00+
You can enter the Reader contest by commenting at Feels like Home. To read more Queen of the Road reviews, check out the following blogs and websites:
- Type-A Mom, Capessa, BellaOnline, WishListWorthy and Examiner.
- Nov 28 Dorothy – Robyn – Louise
- Nov 29 Christine – Beckie
- Nov 30 Michelle
- Dec 1 Tara (blog 1 blog 2) – Stacie (blog 1 blog 2 blog 3) – Ginny – Kat
- Dec 2 Julie – Angela – Wendy (blog 1 blog 2) – Elizabeth
- Dec 3 Renee – Christine – Dennise
- Dec 4 Kimberly
- Dec 5 Alisa – Aimee – Toni
- Dec 6 Connie – Jackie
- Dec 7 Cathi – Sheena – Laura
- Dec 8 Maria
- Dec 9 Jane – Lisa – Yvonne (blog 1 blog 2)
- Dec 10 Kailani – Tara
Good luck! Please come back and tell me how you like Queen of the Road!
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Tara Ziegmont
Tara is a wife and mother of two small girls who left a 10-year career as a high school science teacher to be an at-home mom, professional blogger and social media consultant. She has been publishing Feels Like Home (http://FeelsLikeHomeBlog.com) since 2007, where she encourages her readers through a variety of posts: food and cooking tips, craft ideas, home management hints, and a myriad of parenting (mis)adventures that help make her readers’ lives easier – or at least make them laugh. Currently serving as an Ambassador for Similac Strong Moms and Arm & Hammer's Switch to Save program, a Blogger Advocate for Mizkan, and a member of MomAgenda's Council of Media Moms, Tara is the featured Life at Home blogger at Sonsi Living (http://SonsiLiving.com). Tara also operates an Etsy shop called Violet Elephant (http://VioletElephant.Etsy.com), a local blog called Harrisburg Area Moms (http://HarrisburgAreaMoms.com), and encourages other bloggers through speaking engagements at conferences including Type-A Parent and Bloggy Boot Camp.
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