What’s Your Number? by Karyn Bosnak

While I haven’t seen this movie, when I received a copy of the book I was looking forward to it. I had seen the previews and I thought Anna Farris (one of my favorite actresses) made this movie look hilarious! Well, I might have to watch the movie now after reading the novel, because it didn’t do much for me. The story is based on Delilah Darling, who is horrified after reading in the New York Post that the average person has 10.5 sex partners – and she’s just notched number twenty. On the brink of thirty, recently unemployed and now convinced she’s a mondo slut – Delilah is determined to find those past twenty guys and see which one is Mr. Right for her. She can’t get to twenty-one, that is just wrong. Someone in her past is the one for her – she just has to find him.

What’s Your Number? by Karyn Bosnak follows Delilah as she goes on a cross-country road trip searching for ex-boyfriends, old flames, and one-night stands. While parts were funny, the humor just wasn’t there for me. Delilah was loveable enough as a heroine, but for the most part I was just thinking she was missing a screw – no pun intended! The book was a really slow read for me, and I eventually starting skimming pages to keep it moving. I think I will still check out the movie sometime, but the novel definitely fell flat for me.

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Taking Shots by Toni Aleo

Toni Aleo is on tour with CLP Blog Tours and Taking Shots, the first novel in her hockey series. I was excited to read a book that focused on hockey. Something different, and something that interested me. I was a big hockey fan in middle school and high school, and attended many games for the local team in my hometown. So I was looking forward to reading!

Elli Fisher can’t get over that she is going to be the photographer for the Nashville Assassins, her favorite NHL team. While shooting, she meets her biggest crush- the captain, Shea Adler. When sparks fly between Elli and Shea, Elli can’t quite believe it. Why would someone like Shea – who can have any girl he wants – be interested in her? She struggles with self-confidence and self-worth, but after a string of dates with Shea, she slowly begins to feel more comfortable with herself. But can Elli really let go of all the insecurities that have been haunting her for so many years? Will she find her happily ever after with Shea, or miss her shot at love?

I struggled a bit with Taking Shots simply because it was too long. At over 400 pages, that’s just too long for a full-length novel, and there were a lot of scenes, characters, and even just words (‘basically’ appeared way too much) that could have been cut. Looking past that, I liked the story and the romance between Elli and Shea. This is a romance novel for a reason – there are a lot of sizzling sex scenes between the two. It was nice to see a growth through Elli and even her best friend Harper, who added a lot of humor to the book. Going back to the length, I also think a few of the scenarios where Elli seemingly gives up on Shea could have been cut as well. It started to get frustrating after so many times. I will be looking forward to book number two though and a new cast of characters to meet.

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The Summer of Secrets by Alison Lucy

The Summer of Secrets by Alison Lucy starts off in Mexico in 1989, following newlyweds Danny and Harriet on their honeymoon. Days letter, Harriet realizes that her heart isn’t in it and returns home, leaving Danny behind in Mexico. He finds comfort in the arms of two separate women, and nine months later, three baby girls are born. The story follows the three women as they grow up and in 2010, set off on their own respective adventures to uncover the secrets surrounding their father whom they’ve never met. What they find instead is a past filled with mystery and intrigue and one that may take them to places they never thought possible.

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Taking Charge by Mandy Baggot

Taking Charge by Mandy Baggot follows Robyn Matthers as she goes back home to Michigan when she learns that her father is ill. With him in the hospital, the world he has created is falling to pieces. With his roadhouse in ruins and the hockey team in the dumps, things haven’t looked worse. So, Robyn takes the helm and takes charge and unexpectedly falls into the arms of Cole Ryan, hunky hockey player. With everything going down in flames around her, does Robyn have it in her to take on a relationship on top of everything else on her plate? Will she survive all of the new responsibilities? Will she be able to revive the life that she left behind?

Taking Charge is a very cute novel about going back to the place you grew up in. In a way, I was slightly reminded of the movie Sweet Home Alabama in all of its hick-glory and painful memories from the past. Robyn obviously escaped this place once already, and I can only imagine how difficult it was for her to return. But, with her dad in the hospital and things looking grim, she had no choice. I really enjoyed this novel and thought it was great fun. Plus- I thought Cole was the perfect guy to come in and rock her world…and that is exactly what he did.

Overall, a fun, light read.

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Point Click Love by Molly Shapiro

A new one for the Favorites list! I adored Point, Click, Love, the debut from Molly Shapiro. I started this book one night while curled up in my chair, and after what felt like ten minutes I decided it was time for bed – and realized I was 61% finished with the book! This is an absolute gem, and one for your must-read list.

The story follows four friends as they deal with some tough issues. Katie is a divorced mother of two who uses the internet to get back in the dating game. She has decided she is over relationships and love, she just want some casual sex and companionship.  But it Kate really ready for the world of online dating – and does she really in heart want to stay single? Annie has come to Kansas City from New York to get away and do something different from all her classmates – who are now all crazy successful – and has decided she is going to have a baby on her own.  But when the sperm donor she wants isn’t giving the goods anymore, she takes matters in her own hands. Maxine has the perfect marriage – or so everyone on the outside thinks. She hasn’t even shared with her best friends that she and her husband have stopped having sex and she thinks he is having an affair. She turns to gossip sites and immerses herself in the celebrity world – until a wakeup call outside of Jennifer Aniston’s house brings her back to her own reality. And Claudia has become over-the-top angry with her husband, who has seemed to lose any motivation to try to find a job and is obsessed with sharing too many details of his life on Facebook. When a relationship with a co-worker goes too far, Claudia has to decide what she really wants from her marriage.

I thought this debut was fabulous. I loved each character and reading about how they went through their troubles, how they thought they could fix them, and what their end results were. I will say I didn’t think of them as friends so much, there was very little interaction between them, but I enjoyed their stories none the less. It was refreshing to have a novel set somewhere else than New York or LA, and this was set in Kansas City, which I loved. Annie’s story turned just a bit unbelievable with the sperm donor, but I still can’t give this any less than 5 stars. A great read that showcases powerful women, and a very modern tale about the times we live in now.

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Stiletto Safari by Kate Metz

Stiletto Safari by Kate Metz follows glamorous and gorgeous, Zara Hamilton. Zara has it all: a sexy boyfriend, a gorgeous apartment, two fabulous girlfriends, and a job with a prestigious law firm in New York city. But one day, that all comes crashing to a stop when she gets a call in to see her boss, where he informs her that she must take a leave of absence because Nick (the love of her life) is being accused of insider trading. Lost and confused, she turns to the aid of her girlfriends, and somewhere along the way, they convince her to take advantage and do some “good” with her situation and suggest she volunteer in Africa. Soon enough, she finds herself in Namibia, which couldn’t be further from home. Tempted to flee and return home, Zara decides to give it a real shot and try her hand as a volunteer. Soon enough, she makes friends and meets the British Hunk Hamish and begins to fall for him.

I found Stiletto Safari absolutely delightful. Kate Metz creates an endearing character in Zara and you can’t help but to root for her as the book goes along. I was a little disappointed that things didn’t work out with Nick in the beginning (he actually sounded like he really loved her and just got caught in a bad situation), but I was glad to watch her grow and give into her heart again with Hamish. Overall, this book was so much fun that I had a hard time putting it down. I would highly recommend it to anyone looking for a fun, light read with a sassy, quick-witted main character.

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Flipping by Mary Ellenton

Flipping by Mary Ellenton is the scandalous story of young mortgage broker, Fay Famaghetti, as she becomes an unstoppable real-estate agent by capitalizing on needy individuals. Lured by money, Fay steps into the sub-prime lending culture moments before the real estate bubble bursts, and in doing so, she makes a lot of money at the misfortune of others, loses her husband in the process due to an steamy affair with a co-worker, and puts her fate (and freedom) at risk. She faces ethical and moral dilemmas left and right and we watch first hand as they impact her life. Was it worth it? You will have to read to find out.

As many Americans know by now, anything dealing with the “housing crisis” or the “financial crisis” is no joke. We all know someone greatly impacted and have curiously thought about those selfish individuals behind the catastrophe. In Flipping, we meet Fay and watch as she (and her co-workers) cleverly try to beat the system. At first, I was appalled by Fay and her behavior, whether it be because of her role in the housing crisis or because of her outrageous affair, I’m not sure … but I was quite surprised as I watched her actively attempt to change her life and get out before things got even more out of hand.

Overall, Ellenton provides very realistic details about the creative financial “loopholes” and about the lending market. And oddly, does so with a woman at the helm (instead of the stereotypical older male). I was quite surprised that I enjoyed this book so much.

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I Couldn’t Love You More by Jillian Medoff

Honest and smart, I Couldn’t Love You More by Jillian Medoff, follows Eliot Gordon and her life as a 38-year old working mother of three (two of whom are from her husband’s previous marriage). Married to Grant Delaney, her life is simple yet fulfilling at the same time. The only hiccups she faces are everyday life kind of problems…that is until Finn Montgomery, Eliot’s first love from years before resurfaces and threatens the calm world that she has created for herself. A shocking chain of events happens and Eliot is left making split second decisions that will effect her life in ways she never imagined.

This story is truly one of a kind. I Couldn’t Love You More has it all …. an honest marriage, a family composed of non-traditional members, the resurfacing of a long lost love, truthful interactions amongst siblings, and heart-wrenching decisions.  There are some major twists and turns that keep the reader enthralled in the material and often times, you will find yourself on the brink of tears. Yet, Jillian does a brilliant job of balancing her work and also incorporates hilarious and witty characters who are realistic in every sense of the word. Overall, this book is fantastic. I Couldn’t Love You More makes you think about the choices that you have made in your life, and whether or not you would make the same choices that Eliot must make. The book also makes you dive into the depths of your hearts as you examine Eliot’s portrayal as a step-mother and what all that means to her, and what it means to you. Overall, an absolute must read.

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Nothing But Trouble by Rachel Gibson

Chelsea Ross, a former B-list actress whose acting career is pretty much at a standstill, knows she needs a new job. Mark Bressler is a former superstar hockey player, but a brutal car accident left this bad boy simply reliving his glory days. When Chelsea begins working as Mark’s personal assistant, all hell breaks loose. Mark is notorious for having his assistants quit within days, but Chelsea needs the money and is determined not to let Mark get to her. Through the fights, a sexual tension between the two starts to develop…and soon the two are in nothing but trouble.

I had a lot of fun reading Nothing But Trouble by Rachel Gibson. It was fast-paced, fun, and hot! The romance between Chelsea and Mark was sizzling from day one, and it was interesting to see how the two always managed to push each other’s buttons. Both characters were special in their own ways, and even though Mark was this bad guy, I still really enjoyed reading about him. There was a deeper issue under the fights and sex, and that was Mark trying to recover from his accident, and how the love from Chelsea helped that process. A really fun read, and one for both chick lit and romance lovers!

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Prosper in Love by Deborah Michel

Prosper in Love is the debut novel by Deborah Michel, and I thought it was a sweet romantic gem. The story focuses on Lynn and Jamie Prosper, the perfect couple. They fell in love at first sight and are happily married, creating their new lives together. But cracks start to show when an old college friend of Lynn’s, FX, shows up and begins to stir up trouble. Before Lynn can get a handle on her fight with Jamie, she finds herself calling a divorce lawyer – only to learn Jamie has called first. The story follows the couple through their separation and impending divorce, and asks the question: is love really enough to make a marriage work?

While I thought Prosper in Love was an interesting book that explored a deep topic of marriage, love, family, there were a few flaws for me. The hardest part for me was never really understanding Jamie’s character, and how Lynn loved him so much. He seemed very controlling and it was like Lynn tried to do everything to make him happy, and seemed to forget about herself. That made it hard for me to connect with the book, but I was able to look past it because I found the story itself really fascinating. It made me talk to people about the characters and their situation, and I found myself having impromptu discussions about the book at work, home – even in the gym! That is what I love about a book. It was a little hard to understand why Lynn and Jamie were headed for a divorce without even saying really a word to each other about it, but that is something that I thought was really interesting. They were letting others – family, friends, mere acquaintances, take control of their lives. Overall, I was really intrigued by this novel, and definitely recommend this intelligent debut.

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