I've always found Cristina Ferrare on television to have charm, warmth, humor. She's also endearingly insecure, conscientious and doesn't take herself too seriously. She's also someone whose figure is never fully in control, so it's always piqued my interest to see what she looks like now - and when she's plump (a rare sight on television at any time), she looks far more appealing than other plump women.

Yet I think the most striking characteristic about her is her ambition - largely by marketing herself. There's nothing wrong with this - but it's something of a strange and American (largely West Coast, I think) phenomenon that is largely limited to women. (It would be strange to find a male celebrity of similar provenance hawking a new book about how he'd recovered from his wife's departure, noting his new line of highball glasses, writing of his bout with drug addiction, or appearing on television to sell his new line of after-shaves or blazers).

Yet one can turn on television at any time of day and see women famous in one area now seeking to earn some money in another. Why, there's Mariette Hartley talking about how laser surgery helped her - or Victoria Principal talking about skin care - or Suzanne Somers talking about her special diets - or Phyllis George selling quilts - or Stefanie Powers or Mary Ann Mobley or Connie Sellaca or Marilu Henner or Kathleen Sullivan or Kathy Ireland ... thousands and thousands of women celebrities selling, selling, selling.

Models and actresses selling diet books, exercise books, books about recovery from eating disorders, incest, child abuse, divorce, alcoholism, menopause, breast cancer, drug addiction, etc. - to sell products for hands and face or the wall or the bed, ways to entertain or meet that special man or keep that special man or raise better children ...

written or designed by people initially famous NOT for being themselves (and certainly not for that marketing niche) but for assuming other identities, whether as models or actresses.

We are informed that these particular subjects are ones that greatly involve the author. Yet when we sense from reading this book that Cristina Ferrare:

now apparently feels embarrassed at being associated with a loss of libido (now that her book on the subject has been out some years) ("I seem to have become the poster child..."). And we should know that it's "a problem from which I quickly recovered" - I guess it wasn't that serious; or that

The Home Show, to which so many fans were devoted (and for which at the time she expressed boundless enthusiasm, and created a very active webpage with a very active chat room among her fans) is one we have "probably never heard of" because "it wasn't the big time"; or that

Ms. Ferrare will always be battling her weight even though we see in the ads and website for Oxycise that she experienced "amazing results" with it - though no mention of Oxycise is in this book so I guess it isn't THAT amazing--

-- you have to wonder about the transcience of her enthusiasms - and their connection with whatever seems a good idea at the time.

Similarly, to see Ms. Ferrare selling her book on the Christian Broadcasting Network by speaking of her deep spirituality, her precious feeling about marriage, about family - and yet to scarcely find mention in this book of her first marriage - but instead to read of her two later marriages with the wealthy chairman of DeLorean Motor Co. and the wealthy former chairman of American Broadcasting Company - again makes one wonder about the durability of Ms. Ferrare's passions (and to hum, "If I were a carpenter ...").

I'm sure she's very attached to her current husband and children - but then wasn't she devoted to her first husband? After all, she writes here of how firmly she believed in the permanence of each marriage -- at the time - it's just that things happened, I guess.

Well, a gal's gotta sell.

And if beyond reading about "Style: How to Have It In Every Part of Your Life" (in which as other reviewers note, she describes her "fabulous" marriage to John DeLorean), "Cristina Ferrare's Family Entertaining", and "Okay, So I Don't Have a Headache" (in which she describes the loss of libido from which she quickly recovered), you want to read about how to recover from disappointments while in your third marriage to a corporate chairman, you're obviously welcome to do so.

But gee, didn't I read something like this from Suzanne Somers? Didn't I just read one by Deborah Norville (the crushing blow of unpopularity after taking over from Jane Pauley, the staggering effect of being fired from her interview program, the weight gain, the ... and of how we must learn to take things in stride, see the simple things that matter ...).

It's good advice - and it's given by the dozens of these books being published.

Still and all, if you find Cristina Ferrare appealing, as I do, you'll enjoy this slight book. I did. AS I wrote above, she IS warm and humorous and insecure ...

And don't worry, she'll probably have another out soon -- in fact, one day in the future, I expect that she'll have one published about how to market yourself -- even in your 80s.

Wow. Just finished reading this book! Can we just call Christina the Renaissance Woman of the YEAR!! Between her passion for her work and then her family.....so relatable...so real! Her book is incredible and I will gladly take the time to say so! Buy it, you will not be dissapointed!!

You are a spokeswoman for all WOMEN!!

This book is fabulous! I really enjoyed reading it! Thank you, Cristina Ferrare, for such a great read.

An amazingly written, laugh-out-loud portrayal of family struggles and life lessons. I bought three more copies of this book to give to friends who share the same opinion. Everyone can relate to Christina's stories. She has an endless passion and vigor for life, a very admirable quality.

Your writing always hits home with me!!!

God Bless!