Product Description

Meet Izzy Rose–a hilarious and chic new stepmom trying to come to terms with the package deal. A single “middle-class socialite” living in San Francisco, Izzy loved her career as a successful, Emmy Award-winning TV producer and she was fine with the fact that she was unmarried and kid-less at thirty-five. But, then she fell in love with an irresistible Southern man named Hank and her Izzy-centric lifestyle turned upside down.

In short order, Izzy finds herself saying I DO to becoming a wife and “instant mom” to Hank’s two sons and packing her bags for a new life in Austin, Texas. There, Izzy struggles to hold on to a bit of her professional identity while reinventing the stepmother role in her sassy, stylish, but also loving and vulnerable way. Honest and daring, The Package Deal is a toast to the richness of her new life and a tribute to any woman whose ever fallen in love and then asked, What exactly did I get myself into?

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #33146 in Books
• Published on: 2009-05-05
• Released on: 2009-05-05
• Original language: English
• Number of items: 1
• Dimensions: .70" h x 5.20" w x 8.00" l, .49 pounds
• Binding: Paperback
• 288 pages

Features

• ISBN13: 9780307454331
• Condition: NEW
• Notes: Brand New from Publisher. No Remainder Mark.
• Click here to view our Condition Guide and Shipping Prices

Review
"Here's to Izzy Rose and The Package Deal: clearly, she's turning into not only a Fairly Good Mother (the most any of us can really hope for)­but even more important­a Fine Southerner as well! Her 'jump-on-off-that-cliff' bravery and her 'might-as-well-laugh' attitude are all the proof I need." ­Jill Conner Browne, THE Sweet Potato Queen

"In her sweet, funny, and immensely engaging book, Izzy Rose reminds us what it means to be a true family. I wonder if she'd adopt me." ­Cathy Alter, author of Up for Renewal: What Magazines Taught Me About Love, Sex, and Starting Over

"A laugh out loud memoir packed with good advice--a much needed resource for the fledgling or soon to be stepmother." ­Sally Bjornsen, author of The Single Girl's Guide to Marrying a Man, His Ex-Wife and His Kids

"If you are a stepmom, are about to become one or know one, you simply must read this hilarious and heartfelt memoir. Even if you're not a stepmom you'll enjoy it thoroughly, it's that good. The Package Deal by Izzy Rose offers a glimpse into the brave heart of a woman who takes on another woman's children with courage, honesty, and humor. Pour a glass of red wine, dish up a slice of gourmet cheese, and curl up with The Package Deal - the perfect tonic for any stepmother's soul." ­Jacquelyn B. Fletcher, award-winning author of A Career Girl's Guide to Becoming a Stepmom

"Izzy Rose nails how it is and what it feels like to be a new stepmom. There's nothing like that shocking first year! She moved from an exciting career in a perfect location with built in best friends to WHAT? -a strange place with no friends, no family and the expectation of raising someone else's half grown kids. Like many of us, Izzy was uprooted by love, and she portrays beautifully the strong love between her and her fiancé. It's that force that propels them to the next level of connection and confidence that makes it all worthwhile." ­Susan Wisdom, author of Stepcoupling

About the Author
IZZY ROSE is an Emmy Award-winning TV producer and founder of StepmothersMilk.com.

Customer Reviews

This is for the sisterhood of stepmothers....
Izzy Rose has written a delightful book: The Package Deal about her journey from independent career woman to taking on an instant family with two teenage boys! The role she finds herself in is peppered with "Rules" she is learning along the way and some great recipes for coping - check out Gram's Rum Cake. Izzy combines warmth, humor and the hopes and dreams of most women who decide to take on this challenge for the man they love. From the time she makes her decision to move across the country, away from career, family and friends for love, you are in the struggle with her. The Rules that evolve along the way are rules so many in steplife learn, and usually the hard way: Rule #10: Surrender your expectations; Rule #12: When the Kids have a "tude, suck it up and don't take it personally; Rule #16: Compromise but don't sacrifice yourself. Wisdom she is gaining as she moves through the process.

Hank and Izzy's relationship is what stands out though because with a good partnership, the bumps and grinds, stresses and hurts are bearable, even when they seem unbearable. Early on they developed their House Rules, which included the rules the whole family follows and the couples' expectations of the kids; the entire family signed it (kids and parents) and both parents enforced the rules, establishing themselves as the parental heads of the household. Hank is also a partner who realizes the sacrifice she is making to be with him and supports her; he pays attention to date nights, to showing appreciation and to letting her go when she needed to go . Their relationship is one of openness with another, an openness that allows for honest communication, honest expression of feelings and paying attention to one another's needs. So when the turbulence comes, which it always, always does, they are learning to navigate it together and to weather the storms.

Wishing Izzy and Hank a long and happy marriage and I suggest that you pick up this book, laugh with her, cry with her, get yourself some good girlfriends (or at least l) who is a stepmom and poor your hearts out to one another. I know my girlfriends have helped me survive it all!

A timeless love story re: a new stepfamily
Izzy Rose has given us a delightful story about being a new stepmother. She tells it like it is. She amuses us with her funny,and/or painfully honest stepfamily situations. It's from those stories the reader can gain valuable information and wisdom...as well as hope

Hers is a timeless and touching tale. There's nothing like that shocking first year in a new stepfamily! Like many of us, Izzy was uprooted by love. She moved from an exciting career in a perfect locaton with built in best friends to WHAT? - a strange place with no friends, no family, and the expectation of raising someone else's half grown children. She goes back and forth from cocky confidence to feelings of failure and fear of being miserably stuck.

My favorite part of The Package Deal is how beautifully she portrays the strong love between her and her fiance. It's that force that propels them to the next level of connection, communication and confidence that makes it all worthwhile.

Thank you Izzy Rose for this great contribution to the latest stepmother and stepfamily literature. Your story is thoroughly enjoyable.

Susan Wisdom, LPC
Author of Stepcoupling

it's all in the book...
food
recipes
friends
family
in-laws
step-parents
Step- MOM
basically the Mom
step-kids
marriage
career
location
a California girl
and a Memphis gospel choir

oh yes, and the cats

It sounds like the makings of a good southern novel, or a county music song.

A few minutes ago, I read the last page of "The Package Deal - My (not-so) Glamorous Transition from Single Gal to Instant Mom" by Izzy Rose. Who of us cannot find ourselves some place in that mix-of-words title?

Here's the link to the book on Amazon and here's the link to the short video promotion of the book.

This book is Izzy's memoir. I have had the honor of watching this life story unfold from prior to the birth of 'the Tall One.' You see, I'm a friend of the 'mother-in-law.' Have you ever had the opportunity to read a book about the life of someone you know - someone you really know? It's a strange feeling, seeing life written on the page. We read fiction, we read biographies, we read autobiographies, but how often do we read about real people with whom we talk and laugh and cry and hug and interact?

Izzy's style of writing keeps the reader engrossed in the page. I couldn't put the book down. I'm sure part of that was because I wanted to see how she would tell the family saga. But, her use of words had me laughing out loud (sitting in a room alone; that's a strange feeling to laugh out loud when no one is around) one moment, and wiping tears from my eyes the next. And I knew the basic story line! I knew what was coming next. And I still cried!

I think I gave Hank and Izzy a cake stand as a wedding gift. It was one of those pastel stands from Williams Sonoma. I hope it was pink; I just don't remember the color. Perhaps it has had the honor of displaying Gram's Rum Cake (page 202).

You have to read the book. Whether you are interested in the recipe for Gram's Rum Cake or the 21 Stepmom rules, there's something in the book for everyone.

Izzy, what's next? I'm (im)patiently awaiting your next book...

(from my blog post: http://bakingpictures.blogspot.com/2009/05/its-all-in-book.html)