Book Review: While Beauty Slept by Elizabeth Blackwell
Reviewer: Kate I received a copy of While Beauty Slept by Elizabeth Blackwell in exchange for an honest review. Synopsis: I am not the sort…
Book Review: Weightless by Michele Gorman
I received a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review
Summary:
Sometimes looks can be deceiving
Annabel’s not surprised when nobody recognizes her at her 10 year reunion. The spotty fat teen nicknamed AnnaBall by the school bullies is long gone. But standing on the edge of the popular crowd, she still feels like that girl. That is, until Jack, her teen crush, starts flirting with her. Much to her amusement, he has mistaken her for Christy Blake, Annabel’s chief tormenter before she moved to France in their last year.
It’s just a bit of fun at first, letting Jack believe she’s Christy. After all, he was nuts about her before she said au revoir to England. And when he asks Annabel out, the fun becomes something even more interesting. The more they date the deeper they fall for each other. So what if Annabel has to fib a little to keep up the façade?
As the lies start compounding, and she realizes that they’re falling in love, she has to tell him who she really is. But she’ll lose the love of her life if she does.
Review:
I’m a big fan of Michele Gorman. I’m not a big fan of novellas. That being said, I think I enjoyed Weightless enough. It’s only about 40 pages, and maybe took me a half hour to read in one sitting. The story itself was cute, though sometimes I struggled to believe it, but if you let yourself just flow along with the characters you can try to put that factor out of your mind. Again, since it’s so short it’s tough for me to say I was really invested or hooked, because by the time I was really getting into Annabel’s story it was over. I do think Gorman did a good job building the characters and giving readers enough plot to get interested in. I liked that we got to know a client of Annabel’s and some back story on her time in college. For a novella, I think this is a good one, and I highly recommend Michele Gorman to chick lit readers. I just wish I liked short stories more!
3.5 stars
Book Review: Fallen Beauty by Erika Robuck
Reviewer: Kate I received a copy of Fallen Beauty by Erika Robuck in exchange for an honest review. Synopsis: Upstate New York, 1928. Laura Kelley…
Book Review: Lost Lake by Sarah Addison Allen
In the aftermath of her husband’s death, Kate’s grief has caused her to sleepwalk through life. While she grieves, Kate’s controlling mother-in-law, Cricket, helps care for her daughter, Devon. When her grief begins to subside and she “wakes up,” Kate discovers that Cricket has taken over her life. Cricket has sold Kate’s house and business and enrolled Devon in private school. While packing up, in preparation to move into Cricket’s home, Kate discovers a long lost postcard from her Great Aunt Eby. Kate and Devon impulsively decide to visit Eby at Lost Lake, GA, where Kate had experienced her “last best summer” when she was twelve.
Eby owns a quaint lakeside resort, frequented by an odd cast of characters each summer. Motivated by financial issues and a desire to travel, Eby agrees to sell Lost Lake. Once word of the pending sale spreads, the community rallies to show appreciation for all Eby has done. Kate also gets reacquainted with Wes, whom she met when she was twelve. Eby, Kate and Wes, like many other guests at Lost Lake, have broken hearts and harbor secrets from their pasts.
I don’t think I’ve ever read a book quite like this. The characters were all a bit odd, yet they’re likable and relatable. Grief is a central theme of the book, but so is healing. Allen’s writing is very effective in conveying that – “When your cup is empty, you do not mourn what is gone. Because if you do, you will miss the opportunity to fill it again.”
The writing is very descriptive, which is of course, a good thing. I struggled a bit though, because the scenery she created was very realistic, but not necessarily appealing to me. I wasn’t quite sure why everyone loved Lost Lake so much. There’s a bit of mystery surrounding everyone, but I had no idea that one mystery in particular would be so pivotal. The plot of the story is a slow boil, building to an unexpected climax – I can honestly say I was shocked by a “big surprise.” There are some unusual paranormal elements in the story: a talking alligator, ghostly visions and magical charms, which give the story its unique magical allure – you’ll need to forsake reality to appreciate the symbolism of these elements.
4 stars
Book Review: Done With Men by Shuchi Singh Kalra
Reviewer: Samantha I received a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review Summary: Travel journo, Kairavi Krishna (Kay) has had it with…
Book Review: Souls Adrift in the Windy City by JoAnn …
Everyone we meet is destined to touch our lives in some way. Whether it’s for a lifetime of love, or merely a stepping stone to get to the right person, each person who steps into your life does so for a reason. And that is what this story is about.
The book starts with two people meeting and having an instant connection and then losing themselves in their lives for 13 years. It was a fun story that showed how easy it is for two people to live in the same city and constantly miss each other by often time’s mere moments. It also shows how we often truly become lost in life and our true course because we focus on surviving instead of living. This was a fun unique love story and the ending leaves you wondering if there will be more to come for all the characters in the book.
One unique part of this book is the narration by the powers to be helping the story along. It’s a fun idea and they truly added to the story with all their behind the scenes involvement.
Book Review: Impossible Things by Kate Johnson
Reviewer: Andrea I received a copy of this novel in exchange for an honest review. The Summary: Kael Vapensigsson is one of the elite Chosen—a…
Book Review: To Tempt a Viking by Michelle Willingham
Reviewer: Andrea I received a copy of this novel in exchange for an honest review. The Summary: She’s Testing His Resolve! Warrior Viking Ragnar Olafsson…
Book Review: The Dr. Pepper Prophecies by Jennifer Gilby Roberts
I was given this book in exchange for an honest review. 4 stars
This book is a fun read! If you are looking for a light, funny read this is the one! From the very start you can just tell that Mel is going to keep you laughing til the end! Poor Mel seems to find trouble where ever she goes! But then she also seems to create a lot of her misery as well. From dating worthless guys, to trying to fix up everyone she meets or even just sternly steer her friends in the direction that she feels they should be. She means well, but often times each of these “fixes” end in total disaster. Especially so the ad dates she sets her roommate up with!
Poor Mel seems to be doomed to be stuck in a bad job dealing with her ex that seems to have it out for her in a bad way. She has a rocky sad relationship with her family, and to boot her best friend is dating a woman that hates her. She really does have it pretty bad!
This was seriously one of the funniest books I have read in a long time. I giggled through the whole thing and I really did not think she would ever turn anything around. I too am a chocolate lover so I loved that Mel used chocolate as a way to deal with her problems, albeit she was a little excessive with her chocolate, but hey who doesn’t overdo it sometimes?
