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Book Review: Changing Lanes by Kathleen Long
Chick Lit Review

Book Review: Changing Lanes by Kathleen Long

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

May 23, 2013
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Book Review: The Apple Orchard by Susan Wiggs
Chick Lit Review

Book Review: The Apple Orchard by Susan Wiggs

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

May 22, 2013
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Book Review: A Stitch In Time by Amanda James
Chick Lit Review

Book Review: A Stitch In Time by Amanda James

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.

Rating: 4 stars

May 22, 2013
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CLP Blog Tours Book Review: Identity Break by Stifyn Emrys
Chick Lit Review

CLP Blog Tours Book Review: Identity Break by Stifyn Emrys

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…

May 22, 2013
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Book Review: Girl Three by Tracy March
Chick Lit Review

Book Review: Girl Three by Tracy March

I received a copy of Girl Three by Tracy March in exchange for an honest review. Summary: Dr. Jessica Croft has avoided the players, the…

May 21, 2013
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Book Review: The Comedy Diva Diaries by Kirsten Van Ritzen
Chick Lit Review

Book Review: The Comedy Diva Diaries by Kirsten Van Ritzen

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

May 21, 2013
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CLP Blog Tours Book Review: Breathe by Kate Bishop
Chick Lit Review

CLP Blog Tours Book Review: Breathe by Kate Bishop

Connect with Kate!

Website: www.breathebykatebishop.com

Facebook page: http://www.facebook.com/pages/Breathe-by-Kate-Bishop/426391450773740
Goodreads author page: http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/3978620.Kate_Bishop
Twitter: https://twitter.com/thekatebishop3
Publisher: Diversion Books

May 20, 2013
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Book Review: Somewhere Between Black and White by Shelly Hickman
Chick Lit Review

Book Review: Somewhere Between Black and White by Shelly Hickman

I received a copy of Somewhere Between Black and White by Shelly Hickman in exchange for an honest review.

Summary:

Romance, humor, family drama, with a touch of Buddhism. Sound interesting?
When approaching life’s problems, Sophie sees in black and white. That is, when they’re someone else’s problems. So when it comes to her sister, Sophie is sure she has all the answers, and offers them without hesitation. If only her sister would listen. When, through a series of chance encounters, she meets Sam, who is witty, kind, and downright unflappable. Sophie has the overwhelming sense that she’s known him before, and as a relationship builds between them, odd visions invade her mind. Though she tries to dismiss them, their persistence will not allow it. As someone who is quick to judge others, she is intrigued by Sam’s ability to accept people as they are. She begins to see him as a role model, but try as she may, his accepting nature is difficult to emulate. Will Sophie ever be able to put her hasty judgments aside and realize not every problem has a simple solution?

Review:

This book is a very easy read that I enjoyed. The author does a really good job at crafting realistic characters who are very likeable and easy to relate to. The book is also really funny and I found myself laughing out loud at a few parts. Like I said previously, the characters are very relateable, as is the situation. Like most things in life, it is easy to look and judge a situation from the outside when you aren’t personally invested in what is going on, nor do you know the ins or the outs. And that is Sophie’s problem here. She is quick to judge and doesn’t see that sometimes there is a gray area. Well, after she meets Sam, she is intrigued by his accepting personality. Things aren’t as simple as she once thought and things only get complicated from there. Overall, this book is a really solid read and I thought it read and flowed very easily.
Rating: 4 stars

May 17, 2013
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Book Review: The Blasphemy Box by Mandy Behbehani
Chick Lit Review

Book Review: The Blasphemy Box by Mandy Behbehani

I received a copy of The Blasphemy Box by Mandy Behbehani in exchange for an honest review.
Summary:
“You know that nightmare you’ve always had? The one where you wake up one day to find yourself fat, frumpy, fifty and alone? I’m living it.”
Maddy Nelson has an idyllic existence: a handsome husband, great kids, a comfortable lifestyle. One morning soon after she turns fifty, however, she wakes up in her San Francisco home to find her husband Steven announcing that he’s leaving her for a woman half her age. And a third of her size.
Ouch!
Feeling totally unmoored and grieving for her married life and husband, Maddy finds herself thrust into an unfamiliar and uncomfortable world of middle-aged singledom. There, she must come to terms with her situation and embark on her new life: divorce proceedings, single parenting, internet dating, and trying to earn a living. It’s enough to drive her over the brink.
To help her cope, she shares her struggles in a smart, wry blog named The Blasphemy Box, after her ex-husband’s obnoxious habit of having her drop a quarter into a wooden box every time she said something off color. Her madcap middle-aged adventures find her devoted readers who identify with her challenges.
In time, Maddy creates herself and finds happiness in the arms of a good man, and a fulfilling new career as a novelist.
Review:
When I saw this book involved blogging, I knew it was one for me to read. Sometimes blogs can get a bad rep, but I fully believe in them – but I have blogging now for 4 years! It’s great to create a new community, a new group of “virtual” friends, especially because they more than likely will have the same interests in you – because that’s why they found your blog in the first place! But the book isn’t just about a blog, no, it’s about why Maddy started her blog in the first place. Divorce. Ah, the ugly D-word. Maddy is fifty and has just been left by her husband of twenty years for a twenty-five year old. Ouch. With three kids, a lawsuit battle, and a bank account running dry, Maddy needs an outlet for all her anger, sadness, betrayal and rage. The Blasphemy Box (also the name of her blog) helps fulfill some needs for Maddy, and the comments she receives helps her continue to move on. I thought this was a very entertaining read, even though I didn’t have much in common with Maddy. She was easy to relate to, the blogging kept me hooked, and I think this is a great women’s read!
4 stars

May 17, 2013
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