Book Review: Lies You Wanted to Hear by James Whitfield …
Reviewer: Terry This book was given to me in exchange for an honest review. Often when I read a book, I read the notes the…
CLP Blog Tours Book Review: Dandy Day by Annie Wood
Annie Wood is now on tour with CLP Blog Tours and Dandy Day
Summary:
Dandy Day is a thirty-five year old free-spirited, commitment-phobic, Venice Boardwalk roller skating waitress. When Dandy is suddenly dumped by her therapist, right when they were on the brink of figuring out why her relationships last only a whopping three months, Dandy decides to take her relationship issues into her own hands. With the reluctant help of her lifelong best friend, Simon, Dandy tracks down her exes one by one and does a relationship autopsy on each of them in order to get to the bottom of her relationship challenged life.
A short novel about love, friendship and grown ups (sort of) growing up (sort of).
Review:
What a fun book! This novel is short and to the point, filled with laughs and relatable characters. From reading the synopsis I thought this would be a book for me, and I was right! I read it on my recent plane rides and I hoped I didn’t disturb my neighbors too much with my snorts of laughter from certain scenes of the “relationship autopsies.” If you’re looking for a quick romantic comedy, check out Dandy Day.
4.5 stars
Animated Excerpt: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nuRylE-2C3E
Pinterest Board: http://www.pinterest.com/gypsywood/dandy-day-a-novella-by-annie-wood/
Author Bio:
Annie was born in Hollywood, raised in the valley. She avoided the valley girl accent by speaking backwards for the first 15 years of her life. As an actress she has guest starred on several TV shows. You may remember her best in her recurring role onBecker with Ted Danson, Lara in Good Luck Chuck and as the host of her own nationally syndicated dating show, BZZZ! which she also co-produced. As a writer, she is a produced and published playwright and recently had a comedic scene in the NBC/UNIVERSAL showcase. Her web-series, Karma’s a B*tch
http://anniewood.com/karma.htm was chosen by Virgin America as BEST OF
THE WEB and season 2 is now in the works. Her books of comedic scenes, Snapshots! & Act Up & Make a Scene have been performed on Hollywood stages and is available on Amazon. She lives in Los Angeles with her charming, Italian husband and her equally charming, Jewish/Buddhist/Italian dog, Lucy.
Connect with Annie!
Website: www.anniewood.com
Blog: I only occasionally blog at SheWrites:
http://www.shewrites.com/profiles/blog/list?user=1ljhao55bfiup
And my dog, Lucy, blog’s when we travel each year to Italy, where my husband is from.
http://thelucyadventures.blogspot.it/
Facebook page:
https://www.facebook.com/welcometoanniewood?ref=ts&fref=ts
Goodreads:
http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/7131722.Annie_Wood
Twitter:
https://twitter.com/anniewood
Buy the Book!
http://www.amazon.com/Annie-Wood/e/B002BMFM1C
Book Review: Facebook Jeanie by Addison Westlake
Reviewer: Samantha
I received a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
Summary:
It’s Bridget Jones meets Groundhog Day…
Ever wonder if you made the right choice? What if you could go back and find out?
31-year-old Clara is in a steady relationship—with Facebook. Every night after her depressing bureaucratic job (so much for saving the world), after coming home to her empty apartment Clara settles down with a pint of ice cream for some good, old-fashioned Facebook stalking. It’s her college boyfriend, The One Who Got Away. He now has a perfect marriage, perfect house, perfect life—everything she could have had if she hadn’t been so, so stupid.
But, wait. Jeanie from Facebook shows up at Clara’s job. There’s a new app they’re beta-testing and Clara’s perfect for it. That night she clicks on it and… nothing happens. But the next morning when Clara wakes up at noon, hung over, listening to her roommate blow-drying her hair and singing “Gettin’ Jiggy Wit It”, she realizes she’s back in college. With the chance to do it all over again.
Back in the world of frat parties, BFFs, and long-suffering, overlooked lab partners, join Clara as she discovers what it really means to hit the reset button on life. What could possibly go wrong? And, this time, can she get it right?
Review:
What a freaking hoot of a book! I loved this one from beginning to end. The modern element and comical factor of Facebook designing a time travel app had me laughing up a storm and talking to my friends about the crazy “what if?” factor. I loved watching Clara try to get it right, and some of the new lives she is thrust into are just plain hilarious. The ending worked out as it should, but of course I won’t tell you what that means to me 😉 Read this one to find out and for a good laugh!
5 stars
GoodReads
Book Review: Is This Love? by Sue Moorcroft
Reviewer: Terry I was given this book in exchange for an honest review. This is such an amazing story about the true love that a…
Book Review: The Vintage Teacup Club by Vanessa Greene
I received a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
Summary:
Three women’s lives are about to change because of a few delicate pieces of china…
When Jenny Davis comes across a beautiful vintage tea set at an outdoor market in the English countryside, she’s convinced it’s fate. A young bride on a budget, she has her heart set on a vintage tea-party theme for her wedding—and the gorgeous gold-rimmed china before her is perfect. There’s only one problem. Two other women have fallen in love with it, too. So they come up with a solution: They’ll share it.
They establish a sisterhood, sharing the ups and downs of their lives—from broken hearts and weddings, to family drama and career dreams. When a figure from Jenny’s past threatens to ruin her big day, Alison’s teenage daughter pushes her to the limit, and Maggie’s romantic life is thrown into turmoil, the members of the Vintage Teacup Club band together—proving their newfound friendship will last a lifetime.
Review:
I thought The Vintage Teacup Club was a charming novel, with unexpected friendships and lots of heart. I enjoyed following each woman’s story and what the teacups meant for them, and I really don’t think I preferred one woman over another. You know how sometimes when you get multiple POV’s and you tend to lean towards one, always eager to read her part? I had the same enthusiasm for Jenny, Maggie, and Alison, and that made the book a lot of fun to read and also quite quick. This story is a great women’s fiction read, with relationship talk, learning how to start over, and of course – a great tale of friendships.
4 stars
Book Review: The Secrets She Carried by Barbara Davis
Reviewer: Andrea I received a copy of this novel in exchange for an honest review. The summary: Though Peak Plantation has been in her…
Book Review: This Fragile Life by Kate Hewitt
I received a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
Summary:
You love your best friend. You trust her with your life. But could you give her the most precious gift of all? Alex’s life is a mess. She’s barely holding down a job, only just affording her apartment, and can’t remember when she was last in a relationship. An unexpected pregnancy is the last thing she needs. Martha’s life is on track. She’s got the highflying career, the gorgeous home and the loving husband. But one big thing is missing. Five rounds of IVF and still no baby. The solution seems simple. Alex knows that Martha can give her child everything that she can’t provide. But Martha’s world may not be as perfect as it seems, and letting go isn’t as easy as Alex expected it to be. Now they face a decision that could shatter their friendship forever. Provocative. Emotional. Affecting. Share This Fragile Life with your best friend.
Review:
I knew just from reading the synopsis that this one was going to be hard to put down, and I was right. It’s impossible not to be sucked into the worlds of Martha and Alex, two very different friends facing such a tough decision. I really had no idea how the story was going to end – would Alex change her mind and want to keep the baby? If she gave it up to Martha, would their friendship survive? I won’t give away any hints to what does happen, only that the book made me very emotional and made me think long and hard about what it means to be a mother. I think the book was written right in that we got POV’s from both women, and I really couldn’t imagine it not being that way. I finished this novel in one day, because I just had to find out how the story played out. One of my favorites of the year, and I do plan on sharing this with my girlfriends!
5 stars
CLP Blog Tours Book Review: Tripped Up Love by Julie …
Reviewer: Samantha Julie Farley is now on tour with CLP Blog Tours and Tripped Up Love Summary: Heather Meadows lost the only love she’s ever…
CLP Blog Tours Book Review: Won’t Last Long by …
Heidi Joy Tretheway is now on tour with CLP Blog Tours and Won’t Last Long
Summary:
Can two people who are totally wrong for each other ever be right?
She’s a feisty, sly marketing exec intent on hiding her small-town roots. He’s a laid-back engineer with a shaggy mutt and a pushy ex.
When Joshua asks Melina out, she asks what kind of car he drives. She’ll do drinks, not dinner. She’s always in control. But with Joshua’s easy confidence and sharp wit, Melina is soon breaking the dating rules she made for herself.
Opposites attract—but friends think Melina and Joshua can’t possibly last. When crisis throws their world off its axis, Melina must confront her childhood family, the people she’s come to care about, and the destruction of her pristine image.
Review:
I was a tad worried when I first started this story, because it started slow for me. I think one thing that was distracting me from the book was the overuse of the character’s name. For example, in one short paragraph Melina was used three times, and with that writing style it can make the book in a more of a telling mode than showing. I was relieved as the plot started to pick up the pace, and during the meat of the story I actually didn’t want to put it down. I didn’t love the second half, particularly the last few chapters, as much, because the characters were going on top speed and there was one section in particular that made me kind of scratch my head and wonder where in the world the story was taking us (when Richard re-enters briefly). So you can see my review is a touch all over the place, but for the most part I did like the book, because I enjoyed the characters and watching their love story play out. And I’m in love with the cover. There were aspects that I thought could have been tightened up, but if you enjoy sweet romantic stories, check this one out!
3.5 stars
Author bio:
Heidi Joy lives in Happy Valley off Sunnyside Road. She swears she did not make that up.
Heidi’s obsessed with storytelling. Her career includes marketing, journalism, and a delicious few years as a food columnist. Media passes took her backstage with several rock bands, where she learned that sometimes a wardrobe malfunction is exactly what the rock star intends.
You’ll most often find Heidi Joy with her husband and two small kids cooking, fishing, exploring the Northwest, and building epic forts in their living room.
She loves to hear from readers via messages at facebook.com/author.heidi.
Find Heidi here:
• Website: heidijoytretheway.com
• Facebook.com/author.heidi
• Amazon.com/author/heidi
• Goodreads.com/heidi.tretheway
• Twitter.com/heiditretheway
