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Book Review: Summer’s Song by Lindi Peterson
Chick Lit Review

Book Review: Summer’s Song by Lindi Peterson

Reviewed by Kate E. Stephenson
I received a copy of Summer’s Song by Lindi Peterson in exchange for an honest review.
Synopsis:
All she has to do is prove that she’s changed . . . completely. Pop-star princess Summer Sinclair doesn’t know what to do with herself now that she’s cleaned-up and sober. She knows God’s been nudging her, but since God is unfamiliar territory, she feels scared and alone. Everything changes when she meets Levi Preston, a Christian musician who’s falling for Summer and wants her to be who God created her to be. But when the reality of her life takes Levi to places he’s vowed to stay clear of, will Summer’s newfound freedom be what breaks her heart as she does what is best for Levi?
Review:
Summer’s Song was a challenge for me, but in some ways a good one that allowed me to question what I believe as the norm. The novel is successfully written in alternating first person between the male and female protagonists. The reader spends most of the time in the head of the developing heroine Summer Sinclair, viewing the world through her disenchanted pop star eyes. No longer impressed by the glitz and glamour of stardom, Summer is an addict who has reached rock bottom and is slowly climbing her way precariously out of a deep ditch.
Through her self-examination of her life the reader encounters interesting commentary on the morals of the pop life and what it means to be a healthy individual. Summer tries to find her balance in life and is aided by her discovery of Christianity and a Jesus-centered life. As an individual born into a Christian family, for me parts of Summer’s journey seem impossible. Is it possible in the United States of America for anyone to avoid religion, Jesus and prayer? I grew up in a diverse atmosphere in which my friends were Christian, Jewish, Muslim, Buddhist, Hindu and non-religious. We all seemed to accept the presence of a higher power and to be aware of (at least on a superficial basis) the traditions and holy days we observe. Summer’s total isolation seems unreasonable, but I accept that may be part of Lindi Peterson’s theme, and it is absolutely part of what drives Summer’s character.
The love story that unfolds is beautiful, though at times predictable. The juxtaposition between pop and country seems a bit contrived at times. And some of the relationships in the narrative are less developed than they could be. But there is a comforting level of reality in conflicts that are not easily overcome and character flaws that are not changed overnight. All in all, Summer’s Song is a solid, easy read that makes for a good beach book. Queue up a playlist of your country pop favorites and you’re ready to go.

3.5 Stars

May 30, 2013
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Book Review: Playing the Maestro by Aubrie Dionne
Chick Lit Review

Book Review: Playing the Maestro by Aubrie Dionne

Disclaimer: I received a copy of Playing the Maestro by Aubrie Dionne in exchange for an honest review.

This book follows Melody Mires who has sworn off dating musicians. But, she is tempted when sexy European conductor Wolf Braun takes over her struggling symphony. He is very easy on the eyes, but not so much on the ears. Wolf is arrogant and stubborn and seems to be out to get Melody. And, to make things more complicated, he is her boss. But, with her job on the line, she needs to impress him whilst keeping her undeniable attraction on the sidelines. Turns out though that Wolf is attracted to Melody as well, but he has quite a few skeletons in the closet and is dealing with many issues of his own. Will they be able to turn off the spark? Or will they risk their careers at a chance of love?

This book is very, very sweet. I thought Aubrie did an amazing job at crafting such believable characters and I really loved the chemistry between the two main characters. Melody is sweet and charismatic and Wolf is … kind of a jerk. But, throughout the book we begin to see the facade crumble and realize that it is all mostly an act, and that deep down, he is a kinder, more gentile person. Overall, this book is really enjoyable and is such a quick read. If you have ever played a musical instrument or have a flare for that sort of thing, this is up your alley.
Rating: 4/5 stars

May 30, 2013
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Book Review: Domestic Affairs by Bridget Siegel
Chick Lit Review

Book Review: Domestic Affairs by Bridget Siegel

I received a copy of Domestic Affairs by Bridget Siegel in exchange for an honest review.
Summary:
When twenty-something political fundraiser Olivia Greenley is recruited by her close friend Jacob Harriston to join the Presidential campaign of Georgia Governor Landon Taylor, she is intoxicated by optimism and opportunity. Taylor’s commitment to social equality and economic responsibility in the post-housing-bubble era is palpable. Sacrificing her sleep, comfort and income are certain to help make the world a better place. Right?
Domestic Affairs: A Campaign Novel vividly captures the fervor and idealism of campaign life—as well as the disillusionment staffers feel when told to make the inevitable compromises. Leaving a meeting with foreclosure victims to hop onto a private jet is one thing, but how to justify dining at a $2,000-a-plate dinner knowing how many lunches the money could buy for at-risk kids? How far does one go when the ends appear to justify the means? And what’s a girl to do when the most charming, erudite, capable and ostensibly honorable man in the free world wants to take her to bed (but he’s married and her boss)? How does it feel to keep the biggest secret of her life from her best friend and coworker, even as the three of them spend every waking hour together? The tension between characters, right and wrong, and between success and implosion are taut.
Review:
This is the second political-based book I’ve read in the past month, and I have to say I’m really enjoying them! It’s interesting to learn about a world that I don’t know much about (politics confuse me, I’ll admit it) and then to also get a behind-the-scenes glance at all the key players. I like learning from my reading, and it was great fun to be able to chat with my fiancé over dinner and tell him about the “body guy” of a campaign and what fundraisers are like to plan. I wanted to shake my head more than once at Olivia for getting pulled into an affair with her boss that we could all see was a bad idea, but I liked the way the ending worked out. A very intriguing novel, and one I recommend!
4 stars

May 29, 2013
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Book Review: Love Octagon by Felicia Rogers
Chick Lit Review

Book Review: Love Octagon by Felicia Rogers

Disclaimer: I received a copy of LOVE OCTAGON by Felicia Rogers in exchange for an honest review.

Synopsis:

Kevin Smith is an ordinary guy. He works a plain job. Owns a normal, but disorganized home. And plays like every single man. In short, he is the average male. Until one day on vacation, he takes a run in the park and rescues a bag lady from mugging, after which his life is never the same.

The mysterious lady grants him one wish. Assuming the woman’s offer is false, Kevin returns home with thoughts of a past conversation in his mind. Later when he steps from the shower everything has changed. The disorderly home is no more. All his vacation chores have been completed. And most surprising of all he has seven wives.

Will this unexpected twist turn out to be the blessing he hoped for, or a curse he wished he’d never asked for?

Review:

Love Octagon is a really good and hilarious read. I thought Felicia did a really great job at writing a unique story that was filled with heartfelt humor and interesting situations. And as the saying goes, be careful what you wish for, just as Kevin learns. The whole book played out just like a movie and I thought that the dynamic between Kevin and all of his wives was quite hilarious. I mean, what guy wouldn’t wish for more than one woman? It is nice to see that he learns out just how complicated it would actually turn out. Overall though, this book is really great and quite an enjoyable read and I would highly recommend it to anyone looking for something light and fun this summer!
Rating: 4/5 stars

May 29, 2013
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Book Review: What Happiness Looks Like by Karen Lenfestey
Chick Lit Review

Book Review: What Happiness Looks Like by Karen Lenfestey

I received a copy of What Happiness Looks Like by Karen Lenfestey in exchange for an honest review.
Summary:
Joely Shupe had a vision of what her thirties would look like: she’d be the mother of two, finger painting with her kids during the day and cooking dinner for her loving husband at night. Instead she’s a single mother struggling to provide for her only child.

To make matters worse, her ex-fiancé, Jake, shows up–unemployed and reeling from a personal tragedy. He claims he’s ready to parent the daughter he abandoned five years ago. Joely is more interested in Dalton, a devoted father to his own son, who offers to take care of her the way no man ever has. Should Joely risk her daughter bonding with someone new or with the man who broke her heart?

Meanwhile, Joely’s sister, Kate, has the husband and the home, but no baby. After several failed attempts at fertility treatments, Kate’s husband is ready to give up. Kate believes his solution to their problems will tear them apart.

For Joely and Kate, one thing is for sure: this is not the life they expected. Is it time to adjust their idea of what happiness looks like?
Review:
I enjoyed about the first 3/4 of the book. The family dynamic between sisters Joely and Kate was interesting to read about, and I like books that have a very real feeling towards them. I like reading about women’s situations, and this story definitely fit that bill. I actually didn’t even realize this was the second book in a series until about halfway through, when Kate was talking about how her husband Mitch had left her previously. I thought something more should be said about that, then looked it up to realize it’s book two, and I’m sure that situation had been discussed in the first book. That being said, I really didn’t feel like I was missing anything by not having read A Sister’s Promise, so that’s good! Now, I said I enjoyed the first 3/4 book – the ending just fell flat to me. I got confused by the relationship Joely had with both Dalton and Jake, and Kate’s struggle with infertility had me scratching my head at points. I almost felt like maybe it was being rushed, because all of sudden everything is wrapped up and I was a bit lost. Overall a good read and I would like to check out the first book as well.
3.5 stars

May 28, 2013
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Book Review: Cinnamon Roll Murder by Joanne Fluke
Chick Lit Review

Book Review: Cinnamon Roll Murder by Joanne Fluke

I received a copy of Cinnamon Roll Murder by Joanne Fluke in exchange for an honest review.
Summary:
April is a busy time for Hannah Swensen and her bakery; the warm weather makes folks in Lake Eden, Minnesota, go wild for something sweet. When Hannah hears that the Cinnamon Roll Six jazz band will be playing at the town’s Weekend Jazz Festival, she’s more than happy to bake up a generous supply of their namesake confections to welcome the band to town.
Before the festival even begins, tragedy strikes when the tour bus overturns. Among those injured is Buddy Neiman, the band’s beloved keyboard player. Buddy’s injuries appear minor, until his condition suddenly takes a turn for the worse–as in dead. Hannah’s no doctor, but she suspects that the surgical scissors someone plunged into Buddy’s chest may have something to do with it. Hannah isn’t sure just how she’ll unravel the mystery, but one thing’s for sure: nothing’s sweeter than bringing a killer to justice. . .
Review:
While I normally enjoy a mystery novel (and baked goods!) I had trouble getting into this book. I think a large part might have been because this book is a part of a series, and I haven’t read anything else in it. I always felt like I was one step behind everyone else, or the person sitting outside the gossip circle looking in. It was also a bit predictable, which almost feels weird to say knowing that I wasn’t familiar with the characters or the previous storylines, but even then I knew what was going to happen before it did. There were some humorous parts and sections that piqued my interest, but in the end, it fell a bit flat for me.
2.5 stars

May 27, 2013
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Book Review: Asleep Without Dreaming by Barbara Forte Abate
Chick Lit Review

Book Review: Asleep Without Dreaming by Barbara Forte Abate

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.
Rating: 4 stars

May 24, 2013
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CLP Blog Tours Book Review: Cookies for Dinner by Pam Johnson-Bennett and Kae Allen
Chick Lit Review

CLP Blog Tours Book Review: Cookies for Dinner by Pam …

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!

May 24, 2013
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Book Review: My Life on Craigslist by Alexandra Ares
Chick Lit Review

Book Review: My Life on Craigslist by Alexandra Ares

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…

May 23, 2013
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