Boo Review: Asleep Without Dreaming by Barbara Forte Abate
May 24, 2013 by Sara
Filed under Chick Lit Review
I received a copy of Asleep Without Dreaming by Barbara Forte Abate in exchange for an honest review.
Summary:
Fourteen year old Willa Burkett has been waiting her whole life to leave Hoosick Falls, a nowhere place that fails to hold even a single good memory. But, when a series of vengeful incidents stir Willa’s mother Stella to impulsively pack-up and go, it is only to find themselves stranded in yet another ugly, near extinct town, only now, with a broken down car and no ready way out. Unable to move on until an alternate plan shows itself, they accept a job working for Omega Pearl Bodie, proprietress of the Moonglow motel, a long forgotten, steadily decaying relic, where mostly nothing happens, except now, when everything does. It is here in this place of desperate loneliness and restless boredom that Willa will have her world rocked to the core in ways she doesn’t immediately comprehend. The craziness of the life she’s left behind all but eclipsed by the dark turn of the here and now, as Willa attempts to keep one step ahead of the ever-twisting whims of a mother prone to keeping secrets and telling lies, a murderous arsonist returned to the scene of his earlier crimes to dole out revenge one fiery victim at a time, and Jesse Truman. An unknowable boy with indigo eyes that Omega Pearl has hired as handyman at the Moonglow, who Willa longs to save, if only she understood what it is he needs saving from.
Review:
Barbara Forte Abate does an amazing job at creating such intriguing characters that she draws you in from the very beginning. This book is very eerie and at times I was a little spooked by Willa’s mother because she was full of lies and secrets . Oddly enough, this book vaguely reminded me of the movie Psycho for some reason … like I said, it was a little eerie when I was reading it and with good reason. I loved Willa’s character and it absolutely broke my heart that she couldn’t have a better mother than Stella, but this story is complex and very intriguing. Overall, if you like a book that is a little darker than this one is for you.
4 stars
CLP Blog Tours Book Review: Cookies for Dinner by Pam Johnson-Bennett and Kae Allen
May 24, 2013 by Samantha
Filed under Chick Lit Review
Pam Johnson-Bennett and Kae Allen are now on tour with CLP Blog Tours and Cookies for Dinner
Summary:
Pam and Kae are good friends but total opposites. Pam is a worrying germophobe and Kae stands by the philosophy that everyone will eat a pound of dirt in their lifetime. In this collection of humorous essays, Pam and Kae come clean on motherhood…
- No one tells you that your breasts will be treated like a fast food take-out window or that a ravenous infant can create more suction than industrial-grade vacuum cleaners.
- I went into labor with my first child four months after my soon-to-be ex-husband moved out to live with his girlfriend, six months after my 20th birthday and precisely the morning that I was having my house tended for ticks. Yes, ticks.
- Jumping off the cliff into potty training makes you realize that you didn’t truly appreciate the diaper years. Once you begin potty training, a toddler’s backside becomes a loaded gun, ready to launch its missile in whatever direction it happens to be pointing.
- No matter how we got on this ride, at some point we all end up standing on the checkout line at Walmart, totally unaware of the fact that we’re still wearing our pajama top.
Pam and Kae are living proof that even though every mother is different, we’re all on this roller coaster without a seatbelt. Scary? You bet, but it’s the ride of our lives.
Review:
I was worried for a hot second that I might not be able to connect with this book since I have yet to enjoy motherhood for myself. But that doubt flew out the window immediately. Pam and Kae take readers on a journey of their own experience, talking about the good, the bad, and the real ugly site of parenting. Their stories made me laugh out loud, text my girlfriends with the ‘OMG do you think this will happen to us?’ moments, and I whipped through book. Definitely one for mothers, future mothers, or really anyone who wants to get inside a mom’s head for a while. I will definitely think twice about shooting a mother a dirty look in the grocery store if their kid is bawling in the cart, for fear of her following me around the store in revenge 
Terrific read!
4.5 stars
**Everyone who leaves a comment on the tour page will be entered to win a $20 Amazon gift card! Anyone who purchases their copy of Cookies for Dinner before May 27 and sends their receipt to Samantha (at) ChickLitPlus (dot) com, will get five bonus entries.**
Author Bios:
Kae Allen
Connect with Pam & Kae!
our website: http://www.twoloonsandabook
Buy the Book!
Book Review: My Life on Craigslist by Alexandra Ares
May 23, 2013 by Sara
Filed under Chick Lit Review
I received a copy of My Life on Craigslist by Alexandra Ares in exchange for an honest review.
This book begins with Emily Thompson. She is 35, quirky and wholesome and has a mean eye for contemporary art. One year after she moves from Buffalo to the trendy and artsy Easy Village, where she lands a job in an art gallery and an artist boyfriend, her life is turned upside town when she loses everything. Lost and confused … and broke … she turns to Craigslist in hopes to find all that she needs. She soon discovers the crazy world online and things only get crazier when she discovers that her roommate is an escort.
I am always so intrigued by things that people do or discover on Craigslist. I’m telling you, there is a whole other world out there with lots of really strange people, and this book brings those people to light. The author does a great job at being witty and I absolutely loved her dry humor. I really enjoyed the art aspect in the beginning and I loved the descriptions that are used throughout the book. The book is fast paced and I read it in one sitting because I enjoyed it so much. This book is definitely a quirky read, but interesting nonetheless.
4 stars
Book Review: Changing Lanes by Kathleen Long
May 23, 2013 by Samantha
Filed under Chick Lit Review
I received a copy of Changing Lanes by Kathleen Long in exchange for an honest review.
Summary:
Abby Halladay has the perfect life. Or, rather, she will…as long as everything goes exactly according to plan. Abby never leaves anything to chance—not her job as a syndicated columnist, not her engagement to her fiancé, Fred, and certainly not her impending wedding in Paris (New Jersey, that is).
Unfortunately for Abby, even the best-laid plans often go awry—like when Fred runs away to Paris (France, that is), her column is canned, and her dream home is diagnosed with termites. Forced to move back in with her parents and drive her dad’s cab, Abby’s perfect life has now officially become the perfect disaster.
Then a funny thing happens. Slowly but surely, Abby begins letting go of her dreams of perfection. As she does, the messy, imperfect life she thought she never wanted starts to feel exactly like the one she needs.
Poignant and heartfelt, Changing Lanes celebrates the unexpected joys of everyday life—and the enduring promise of second chances.
Review:
I have also read Chasing Rainbows by Kathleen Long, and absolutely adored it. I was looking forward to reading another offering from her, and am pleased to say I highly enjoyed Changing Lanes as well. I thought it was interesting that we never get a clear picture of her relationship with fiancé Fred. We learn right off the bat that he’s fled to Paris, France claiming “boredom” and Abby doesn’t go into a lot of details about him, or have flashbacks of their relationship. I liked that because I think it kept the story moving without having a lot of back story for readers to grasp. Sometimes I almost forgot that Abby was engaged and weeks away from walking down the aisle, but I still thought that part of plot was well-orchestrated. I loved the family dynamics in the story, from her parents and her dad’s well-kept secret, her grandmother who is also trying to move on, and her sisters – especially Frankie – who give an oomph to the story. I appreciate that the story is about second chances and truly living the life you want to live, and I would recommend this book!
4 stars
Book Review: The Apple Orchard by Susan Wiggs
May 22, 2013 by Samantha
Filed under Chick Lit Review
I received a copy of The Apple Orchard by Susan Wiggs in exchange for an honest review.
Summary:
Tess Delaney makes a living restoring stolen treasures to their rightful owners. People like Annelise Winther, who refuses to sell her long-gone mother’s beloved necklace—despite Tess’s advice. To Annelise, the jewel’s value is in its memories.
But Tess’s own history is filled with gaps: a father she never met, a mother who spent more time traveling than with her daughter. So Tess is shocked when she discovers the grandfather she never knew is in a coma. And that she has been named in his will to inherit half of Bella Vista, a hundred-acre apple orchard in the magical Sonoma town called Archangel.
The rest is willed to Isabel Johansen. A half sister she’s never heard of. Against the rich landscape of Bella Vista, Tess begins to discover a world filled with the simple pleasures of food and family, of the warm earth beneath her bare feet. A world where family comes first and the roots of history run deep.
And in a season filled with new experiences, Tess begins to see the truth in something Annelise once told her: if you don’t believe memories are worth more than money, then perhaps you’ve not made the right kind of memories.
Summary:
Tess Delaney was a really fascinating character to read about. At only twenty-nine she has fallen in love with her career – and is also highly successful with it! It was so interesting to read about her line of work and I’ll be honest – I really didn’t even know finding stolen objects and connecting them with their rightful owners was a thing! There is a lot of history and charm to this book, but then there is also drama. Tess’s family life has a lot of holes included and as she starts to sew pieces together, even more drama plays out. This book is captivating from beginning to end, and I highly recommend!
4 stars
Book Review: A Stitch In Time by Amanda James
May 22, 2013 by Sara
Filed under Chick Lit Review
I received a copy of A Stitch In Time by Amanda James in exchange for a review.
When I first received a review request for this book, I wasn’t exactly sure what to expect. But, as I got reading, I was very impressed. In a quick and easy ready, this modern-day romance follows Sarah, a middle aged divorcee who happens to be a teacher. Struggling to find her niche at work and feel satisfied, and also struggling to get over the divorce from her ex-husband, she is in dire need of something new and exciting. And she definitely gets that, and more when John Needler shows up into her world. He is larger than life and very attractive but things aren’t quite right with him. He confesses that he’s involved with time travel and tells Sarah that she has been chosen to help go back in time to fix some things. Her background as a history teacher comes in handy as she is whizzed from time to time in history. But, things get complicated as she starts to feel things for John but doesn’t really trust herself to fall in love again. This story is filled with a lot of historical detail and that is something that I really enjoyed. In the end, you see that Sarah is happy that she is a history teacher because it finally came in handy and the author keeps you guessing until the very end as to what will happen between Sarah and John. Will they? Won’t they? You have to read to find out.
4 stars
CLP Blog Tours Book Review: Identity Break by Stifyn Emrys
May 22, 2013 by Samantha
Filed under Chick Lit Review, Samantha's Favorites
Stifyn Emrys is now on tour with CLP Blog Tours and Identity Break
Summary:
How far would you go to find yourself?
Imagine everything you thought you knew about yourself turned out to be a lie, and you didn’t know who was telling the truth. Imagine you possessed a secret so dangerous that, if it were exposed, it would reshape the entire world.
What would you do if that secret were your very identity?
In almost every way, Palo Vista seems like a typical California city, with office buildings, schools, and homes sprawled out across suburbia, filled with families making a life for themselves at the dawn of the new millennium.
But two seniors at Mt. MacMurray High are about to find out that nothing is as it seems. Jason Nix is a star athlete and honors student who can’t seem to remember anything about his childhood. Elyse Van Auten is a budding artist from a broken home whose father left her mother two years ago – or so she’s been led to believe.
Like most teens entering adulthood, Elyse and Jason just want to find out who they really are. For them, however, the stakes go far beyond their own personal quest. Join them on a journey of self-discovery that becomes a desperate fight for survival against enemies determined to conceal the truth … and find out what happens when that fight becomes personal.
Review:
This book is near impossible to put down. While the genre isn’t my go-to, I was fascinated by this story and hooked right from the beginning. Emrys builds up a post-apocalyptic world that had me saying “what if” to my friends, and the characters were so intriguing to read about. I know there is a sequel coming, and I can’t wait to see how the story continues. Identity Break is definitely worthy of a 5-star review!
5 stars
Connect with Stifyn!
Book Review: Girl Three by Tracy March
May 21, 2013 by Samantha
Filed under Chick Lit Review, Mystery Lit Review
I received a copy of Girl Three by Tracy March in exchange for an honest review.
Summary:
Jessie and Michael must unravel a mystery rife with political agendas, deceit, and betrayal. When confidential papers reveal a fertility scandal surrounding the enigmatic Girl Three, the two realize the danger of exposing the truth. Who is Girl Three? And will the murderer kill again to keep a secret?
Review:
If it’s one thing that I don’t understand but still find myself fascinated with, it’s politics. So when this blog tour request came through my inbox, I had to accept – and I’m glad I did! Girl Three is a fast-paced thriller novel that involves some complicated love triangles, plenty of political scandals, romance, and head-scratching family dynamics. Jessica Croft made for a fabulous MC, and I easily connected with her from the first page. There are plenty of plot twists that get thrown in the way while reading, and it took me pretty close to the end to figure out who was behind Jessica’s sister murder. But even then the twists don’t stop coming! A very tough book to put down and if you enjoy a little mystery in your reading, this one is for you!
4.5 stars
Award-winning author Tracy March writes romantic thrillers influenced by her career in the pharmaceutical field, and her interest in science and politics. She also writes lighthearted romances inspired by her real-life happily ever after.
Always up for travel and adventure, Tracy has flown in a stunt plane, snowmobiled on the Continental Divide, ziplined in the Swiss Alps, and been chased by a bull in the mountains of St. Lucia. She loves Nationals baseball, Saturday date nights, and Dairy Queen Blizzards—and rarely goes a day without Diet Coke and Cheez-Its.
Find Tracy March at:
Website: http://www.tracymarch.com
Goodreads: http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/4575285.Tracy_March
Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/Tracy_March
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/pages/Tracy-March/151834621538910
Find Girl Three on:
Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/Girl-Three-Tracy-March/dp/1620612895/
Goodreads: http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/16100943-girl-three?ac=1
Barnes & Noble: http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/girl-three-tracy-march/1108930785?ean=9781620612897
Book Depository: http://www.bookdepository.com/Girl-Three-Tracy-March/9781620612897
Book Review: The Comedy Diva Diaries by Kirsten Van Ritzen
May 21, 2013 by Samantha
Filed under Chick Lit Review
I received a copy of The Comedy Diva Diaries in exchange for an honest review.
Summary:
The Comedy Diva Diaries is the tale of a twenty-nine year old comedienne who gives herself an ultimatum: achieve success before her next birthday, or die trying.
Our sassy, deluded and insecure heroine endures disastrous stand-up gigs and humiliating TV commercial auditions. Her rich boyfriend, pampered pooch, flamboyant agent, dysfunctional family and back-stabbing rivals aren’t much help. On the brink of emotional collapse, Diva finds inspiration in a self help book, and makes the fateful decision to move across the continent in pursuit of the Hollywood dream.
Will Diva admit defeat? Or will she find fame and fortune before turning thirty?
Review:
This book is written in a diary-like format almost, with different entries making up the chapters. I struggled a bit with Diva. While I thought she was funny (I mean, she was a comedienne!), snarky, and at times seeming to be a bit of an air head, she could also come across quite rude, crass, and selfish. About halfway through the book I started to lose steam with her story. She didn’t seem to want to take the blame for anything going wrong in her life, she didn’t treat her boyfriend with any sort of respect, and her antics just got a bit old. I’ll point out again that I did enjoy parts of the story, but the struggle do connect with the main character was my downfall.
2.5 stars
CLP Blog Tours Book Review: Breathe by Kate Bishop
May 20, 2013 by Samantha
Filed under Chick Lit Review
Kate Bishop is now on tour with CLP Blog Tours and Breathe
Summary:
Alex thought she had married the man of her dreams: successful, gorgeous, and delighted by her small-town charm. When he walks out six months later, proclaiming to have ‘found himself’ (with the help of a stunning yoga teacher), she ‘finds herself’ alone in an unfamiliar city, vengefully drinking through his prized wine collection, living on takeout, and refusing to answer the door. When this fails to cure her broken heart and bruised ego, she reluctantly allows her new friends to intervene. Slowly, Alex learns to define success on her own terms; she discovers the secret to love in all its forms, and the perfect flying crow pose, one breath at a time.
Review:
As a yoga practicer myself, I knew I would be able to connect with this book. I am also close in age to Alex, our main character, and she was so relatable that it was easy to get sucked into her story. Breathe is quite the page-turner, and it took me just over a day to finish this read. After Alex’s husband walks out on her and her evil mother-in-law callously evicts her from their home, Alex feels lost and confused. I loved that she is from a small Oregon town, and could understand how she seemed to lose her way after meeting and marrying Tripp so quickly. It was great fun to watch her get back to herself and follow her along the way. I’m very impressed that three authors wrote this book, because the writing stays smooth throughout, no hiccups along the way. One I highly recommend!
4.5 stars
