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Book Review: The Publicist by Christina George
Chick Lit Review

Book Review: The Publicist by Christina George

I received a copy of The Publicist by Christina George in exchange for an honest review.
Summary:
Can one woman change an age-old institution like publishing? Probably not, but Kate Mitchell sure wants to try. As a publicist with a large, respected New York publishing house, Kate finds herself at the mercy of a broken publishing system, books that don’t sell, and author egos that are often, well, as big as the island of Manhattan.

Enter the star editor, MacDermott Ellis: Tall, handsome, charismatic, married, and ready to save the day. Then there’s Allan Lavigne, once a revered author—now as forgotten as last year’s bestsellers and his nephew Nick: Tall, gorgeous, sweet, single, and ready to sweep Kate off her feet. Kate wants to do the right thing but her hormones seem to be driving her decisions.

As Kate tries to navigate the landmine of publicity, over-the-top author expectations, and the careful dance of “I’m sorry, your book isn’t on the bestseller list this week,” she also finds authors who are painfully overlooked by a publisher wanting more sex, more celebrities, and more scandal.

Welcome to the world of publishing. The ego has landed.
Review:
I’m having a bit of a struggle writing this review. I was of course looking forward to reading about the behind the scenes of a publishing house, and those parts of the story did intrigue me. There is a love triangle going on which was interesting as well, and a few sub-plots that kept the story moving along. The first half of the book I highly enjoyed but the second part…It seemed to me like someone got bored with the story and just rushed it. There were little snippets here and there and some stories ended abruptly and some characters came in that didn’t really need to be there. Getting back to the love triangle, the second romance started and possibly ended so quickly that I wasn’t entirely sure what happened. The editing also took quite a nosedive in the second half of the book. The story ends on a cliffhanger and I do have the second book coming up on my shelf so I’ll be curious to see how that pans out.
3 stars

August 15, 2013
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CLP Blog Tours Book Review: Between Friends by Amanda Cowen
Chick Lit Review

CLP Blog Tours Book Review: Between Friends by Amanda Cowen

Amanda Cowen is now on tour with CLP Blog Tours and Between Friends
Summary:
The only way to have a friend is to be one…especially between the sheets…

When neurotically challenged and unlucky in love Megan Daniels is propositioned by her life-long friend Ben Romano with a coin toss (heads, they sleep together, tails, they don’t) the night before they are about to attend a destination wedding, she drunkenly accepts his challenge. But when Megan wakes up the next morning with a bad hang-over and Ben in her bed, she is more than mortified. It isn’t until the tropical heat begins to ignite emotions Megan never believed or thought she could possibly have, when she starts to question if risking their friendship is the answer to finding true love.

A cute and contemporary debut novel, BETWEEN FRIENDS faces one girl’s struggle between the fine lines of friendship and love and the risk of opening up her heart to the possibility of forever.
Review:
Since my upcoming wedding is just weeks away, I’ve been a big fan of books that are about weddings or really just have a wedding in them – which Between Friends does! The wedding scenes were a lot of fun to read about-especially the actual wedding when a lot of drama goes down – but of course the real story is about Megan and Ben, longtime friends that decide to cross that friendship line into something more. With a lot of twists and turns along the way – including one big twist that I didn’t see coming – Megan and Ben try to decide if being together is the right thing and if not – can their friendship survive them sleeping together? I know the storyline might seem pretty predictable, but there was plenty of good plot twists thrown in there to keep it fresh and fun. I didn’t love all of the supporting cast, in particular Megan’s girlfriends, but I don’t think enough time was spent on their friendship to help readers understand why all these very different females were friends. Overall I thought this was cute and quick read, perfect for the beach while enjoying a drink!
4 stars

August 15, 2013
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Book Review: Lake Como by Anita Hughes
Chick Lit Review

Book Review: Lake Como by Anita Hughes

I received a copy of Lake Como by Anita Hughes in exchange for an honest review.
Summary:
Hallie Elliot has a perfect life. She is an up-and-coming interior designer in one of San Francisco’s most sought after firms, and has just recently become engaged to Peter, a brilliant young journalist. But when she stumbles upon Peter and her boss in what seems to be a compromising position, her trust in her perfect life is shaken.
So Hallie escapes to Lake Como, Italy to spend time with her half-sister, Portia Tesoro, an Italian blueblood dealing with the scandal of a public estrangement from her cheating husband. While staying in the Tesoro villa, Hallie falls in love with the splendor and beauty of Lake Como, and finds work designing the lakeside estate of a reclusive American tech mogul. The caretaker of this beautiful estate is a handsome man named Angus, and Hallie finds herself drawn to his charm and kindness, despite hints of a dark secret in his past.
But just as Hallie is beginning to find her footing on Italian soil, she uncovers a family secret that upends all the truths she’s believed about herself, and calls into question the new life she’s built in Lake Como.
Sisterhood, family, career, and sumptuous descriptions of Italian life fill the pages of this newest offering by Anita Hughes. Lake Como is a heartbreaking and heartwarming story of love, self-discovery, and the quest for truth.
Love, sisterhood, and sumptuous descriptions of la dolce vita fill the pages of Anita Hughes’ Lake Como, a heartwarming story of romance, self-discovery, and the quest for truth.

Review:
What a fabulous read that had me wishing I had cocktail in hand and a pair of heels on my feet while reading! Lake Como whisked me away and wrapped me up in Hallie’s story, beginning with her suddenly rocky relationship with Peter and ending with a touching love story. In between we have royalty and family secrets and the intrigue and mystery surrounding the Tesoro family had me unable to put this book down. Hughes writes with a grace and elegance that had me devouring this story and I highly recommend this book!
5 stars

August 14, 2013
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Book Review: All My Restless Life to Live by Dee DeTarsio
Chick Lit Review

Book Review: All My Restless Life to Live by Dee …

I received a copy of All My Life to Live by Dee DeTarsio in exchange for an honest review.
Summary:
Life is a soap opera, especially for Elle Miller, who writes for one. (Ellen dropped the “n” in her name in hopes of finding a better ending for herself.) When her laptop crashes, she borrows her recently deceased dad’s computer and gets way more than she bargained for.

Elle unravels mysterious communications from his computer, while her mom decides to give Internet dating a try. As Elle tries to save her career at I’d Rather Be Loved with a storyline featuring a trip through Atlantis, she takes a trip to the Emmys, and finds herself in the middle of a romance between a real doctor and a hunk who just plays one on TV. Friends, family, and clues from “the other side” all help Elle figure out the difference between living the good life and living a good life.

Fans of Marian Keyes and Jennifer Weiner will delight in Dee DeTarsio’s sparkling prose and lively dialogue as she takes readers into the heart of women’s lives. Filled with friendship, love, loss, betrayal, and challenges that force her characters to find their place in the universe, Dee’s novels give us that hopefully-ever-after we’re searching for.
Review:
I have been a big fan of DeTarsio’s for a while now, and I’m always excited to read her books. I love the fantasy aspect that she brings to each one, and this was no different. Elle, a writer for a soap opera, is still struggling with the death of her dad. When she “borrows” his computer from her mother, she starts to see signs from the beyond. She thinks her dad is trying to help her through her complicated love life and trials from her job. I enjoy opening my mind to new ideas, such as getting these signs from the other side. It was fun to read her story, and the supporting cast was really a hoot. From her mother and her boyfriend to her best friend to her boss, all the characters were interesting and really pretty comical. I liked the romance aspect and the sort of tug a war she gets into between a doctor and the actor who plays a doctor. The ending was very sweet and a good way to wrap up the mystery of her father. If you haven’t read any of her books yet, I highly recommend you start!
4 stars

August 13, 2013
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Book Review: When Girlfriends Chase Dreams by Savannah Page
Chick Lit Review

Book Review: When Girlfriends Chase Dreams by Savannah Page

I received a copy of When Girlfriends Chase Dreams by Savannah Page in exchange for an honest review.

Summary:

Claire Linley is finally a bride! After nearly ten years with her college freshman sweetheart, Claire is going to become Mrs. Conner Whitley. She’s got her bridal magazines, is the biggest Martha Stewart fan, and subscribes to all the major wedding blogs. She’s been dreaming of this moment for years! How could planning her dream wedding be anything but perfect?

The easy-going and bubbly type, Claire will obviously have a blast planning, and with her fantastic group of girlfriends-made-bridesmaids she just can’t go wrong. Whether it’s wedding gown shopping, makeup trials, or cake-tasting, Claire’s friends are there in a pinch.

But how big does the pinch get? All Claire wants to do is get married, but at every turn something seems to go awry and she’s starting to lose it. How is a girl supposed to remain cool and collected when the pricey dream wedding planner isn’t turning out to be so dreamy? When DIY projects and the perfect venue are going up in smoke? How is Claire supposed to marry Conner when the special day that’s supposed to join them together, forever, is slowly tearing them apart?

This is the charming story about how sometimes the biggest events in life are defined by the smallest acts of kindness and love. It’s a love story about dreaming large, loving deeply, and, in the end, truly having the happiest day of your life, no matter what happens (or doesn’t). About what happens when girlfriends chase dreams.

Review:

I’ve been a big fan of Savannah Page and her lovely books for quite sometime and am so honored that she allowed me to read and review her latest, When Girlfriends Chase Dreams. Needless to say, I had pretty big expectations with this book given how much I loved her previous ones, and I am glad to say that it doesn’t disappoint. This book is about what it takes to follow your dreams and finally settle down and live your love story, instead of always imagining what it will be like. I think Savannah paints a realistic picture about love and what it means to be a wife and as a happily married woman, I couldn’t have appreciated her honesty any more. Overall, this book is a great read and might actually be my favorite of the series!
Rating: 4.5/5 stars

August 9, 2013
2 Comments
CLP Blog Tours Book Review: Thirty-Two Going on Spinster by Becky Monson
Chick Lit Review

CLP Blog Tours Book Review: Thirty-Two Going on Spinster by …

Becky Monson is now on tour with CLP Blog Tours and Thirty-Two Going on Spinster
Summary:

Julia Dorning is in a rut. She has lived in her parent’s basement for ten years, been at the same mundane boring job for ten years and she has no self confidence.
When handsome hunky Jared Moody is hired in HR at her company, her life begins to change in ways she never saw coming. Is Jared the catapult to get her moving again?

Review:
Oh my gosh, what a hilarious book! The cover drew me in right away (I am not one to resist anything pink!) and the story flew by in a fit of giggles and smacking of my lips. Julia is hysterical, so concerned about becoming a spinster because she’s single and living in her parent’s basement. I love how she gets it – she understands that she needs to make a change, shake things up a little, but she just can’t pull the trigger. It made her human. I love all the baking talk though I was constantly hungry while reading, and I thought the relationship between Julia and her sister Anna really added a depth to the story. Of course the romance is there as well – and how mysterious it was! I knew something was off about Jared when he was first introduced, and I enjoyed all the intrigue around him. This really is not a chick lit book to miss!
4.5 stars

August 9, 2013
8 Comments
Book Review: Justice for Sara by Erica Spindler
Chick Lit Review

Book Review: Justice for Sara by Erica Spindler

 Reviewer: Kate I received a copy of Justice for Sara by Erica Spindler in exchange for an honest review. Synopsis: When seventeen-year-old Katherine McCall awakened one…

August 8, 2013
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Book Review: Shake Down the Stars by Renee Swindle
Chick Lit Review

Book Review: Shake Down the Stars by Renee Swindle

I received a copy of Shake Down the Stars by Renee Swindle in exchange for an honest review.
Summary:
When you’re in trouble and sinking fast, whom do you call?

Piper Nelson is stuck. She can’t quite stay away from the husband she divorced. She isn’t always attentive to the high school students she teaches. And even she admits that she’s been drinking too much and seeking out unsuitable men. Piper’s mother, married to a celebrity evangelist, and her sister, who’s immersed in plans to wed a professional football player and star in a reality TV show, are both too self-absorbed to sympathize with Piper’s angst. They tell her to get a grip. But how can Piper ever really recover from the blow she suffered five years ago, when a car accident took the life of her young daughter?

When Piper’s ex-husband announces that his new girlfriend is pregnant, Piper is forced to take stock. Realizing that it’s time for a change is one thing, but actually making it happen is quite another. And despite what she thinks, Piper can’t do it alone Lucky for her, a couple of crazy, funny new friends are ready to step in when she needs them most and show her how to live and laugh again.
Review:
Whew, this book is quite the read! When I first started reading I didn’t realize how deep and intense Piper’s journey would be. Losing her daughter in a car accident has clearly scarred her, her divorce from her husband took an emotional toll, and not being able to connect with her mother and sister really impacts her life. We see Piper turn to alcohol and men to fill the void, and the story only becomes more absorbing as it continues. It is easy to empathize with Piper, easy to see how she fell into such a self-destructive path, and it’s impossible not to cheer once she finally realizes how she has been destroying her life and works to make it better. The love interest is a great angle because he seems to be such an unlikely candidate (and unlikely love story really) and I thought that made the story even more fresh and relatable. One I highly recommend.
4 stars

August 7, 2013
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Book Review: Feeling Lucky by Kathy Bryson
Chick Lit Review

Book Review: Feeling Lucky by Kathy Bryson

Reviewer: Terry I received a copy of Feeling Lucky by Kathy Bryson in exchange for an honest review. Oh who wouldn’t like to capture a…

August 6, 2013
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