I found this book somewhat disappointing. It lacked content, and neglected a lot of the WHYs in a blended family. I left this book feeling unfulfilled. However, _Keys to Successful Step-Mothering_ does contain some good content on coping skills and would be a good read for the busy mom or stepmother. This book is a good companion to other, more in depth, step parenting books, but I found it doesn't stand well on its own.

This fairly brief book doesn't spend a lot of time on the philosophy of stepmothering, but instead, gets right to the practical, nitty-gritty information that the reader can use immediately. The real-life stepmom stories that appear on almost every page are both enlightening and inspiring, spoken directly from the heart.

The book covers many issues, ranging from second weddings to money to the ex-wife. The "Tips for Merging New Families" aren't new, but it can help sometimes to take a very basic look at how you're approaching your role. There are also several helpful chapters on discipline.

The "Stepchild's Point of View" chapter is helpful, too, and and full of insight straight from the kids. The book also touches on holidays, vacations, stepsiblings and more. While it doesn't spend a lot of time on any one topic, the broad range it covers provides some quick guidance for the new or inexperienced stepmom.

The "Survival Tactics" are up to-the-point and a good reminder of how we're responsible for our own behavior and feelings. You'll probably also learn something from the questions and answers at the end of the book.

This is great resource for stepmothers. It has many helpful suggestions about dealing with blended families in healthy ways and the importance of keeping your marriage a priority. It dispels myths about stepparenting and encourages stepmoms to set expectations at a realistic level.

Charmaine's parents are divorced, and her older sister Cissia is coming from San Francisco to New York City for a visit. It's been seven years since Charmaine has seen Cissia. On Cissia's last visit, Cissia was a total snot and so pretty Charmaine could have thrown up! From Cissia's point of view, she is going to be stuffed in a New York apartment for two whole weeks. And the worst part for Cissia is that Charmaine has a cute boyfriend and a great best friend. Cissia is completely green with envy. Cissia's mother believes boys just try to kiss you and then break your heart, leaving you alone. Her mom also believes that friends are only snobs who try to trick you into giving them things they want. Charmaine thinks this is an extreme way of thinking. To top all of this off, a suspicious old man and a little girl might be following them. The absolute worst part is that Charmaine and Cissia are starting to become friends!

Very well written,and page-turning! I could not put it down from the beginning. Charmaine and Cissa are well formed characters. I loved this book!