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Book Review: Before I Met You by Lisa Jewell
Chick Lit Review

Book Review: Before I Met You by Lisa Jewell

I received a copy of Before I Met You by Lisa Jewell in exchange for an honest review.
Summary:
Having grown up on the quiet island of Guernsey, Betty Dean can’t wait to start her new life in London. On a mission to find Clara Pickle – the mysterious beneficiary in her grandmother’s will – she arrives in grungy, 1990s Soho, ready for whatever life has to throw at her. Or so she thinks…

In 1920s bohemian London, Arlette – Betty’s grandmother – is starting her new life in a time of post-war change. Beautiful and charismatic, Arlette is soon drawn into the hedonistic world of the Bright Young People. But less than two years later, tragedy strikes and she flees back to Guernsey for the rest of her life.

As Betty searches for Clara, she is taken on a journey through Arlette’s extraordinary time in London, uncovering a tale of love, loss and heartbreak. Will the secrets of Arlette’s past help Betty on her path to happiness?
Review:
There was a lot I liked about this book, and just little that I didn’t so much love. The mystery aspect – who is this Clara Pickle, how does she tie in with Arlette, will Betty be able to find her? – was a lot of fun to read about. I’m also a sucker for books that flip back and forth between past and present, and my favorite era happens to be the ‘20’s, so I of course was quite happy with that! Betty also has some interesting characters enter her life while she is on the search for Clara, and they made a nice (and sometimes comical) addition to the story. I became entranced near the end of the book when you realized all the answers were going to be revealed, but I was also a little let-down towards the end. We follow Betty through her quest, but then when a huge chunk of the Arlette’s past is found out, we don’t get to see it through Betty’s eye. Someone else tells her and the chapter cuts away and we miss Betty’s reaction, which is something I was really looking forward to. It was almost anti-climatic in a way. But overall, I thought this book was really charming, and I would recommend.
4 stars

May 9, 2013
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Book Review: Wind Chime Point by Sherryl Woods
Chick Lit Review

Book Review: Wind Chime Point by Sherryl Woods

I received a copy of Wind Chime Point by Sherryl Woods in exchange for an honest review.

In the second book of the series, ambitious and driven Gabriella Castle finds herself facing a personal crisis, so she returns home. Everything that she has worked for over the last few years have been yanked out from under her when she finds out that she is pregnant, but she feels safe at her grandmother’s home in North Carolina. She is looking for time to reflect and make difficult decisions about her future, but what she finds instead is love. Wade Johnson fell for Gabi the moment he saw her. Will he be enough to keep her home though? Will she finally find her knight in shining armor?

As I mentioned in my review yesterday, I am such a huge fan of Sherryl Woods and her work. She does such an amazing job at crafting believable characters with real emotions, and this book is no exception. I was completely smitten with Wade and really pulled for him and Gabi to find love. Also, now that I think of it, Sherryl always finds a way to create such loving, kind and heartfelt male characters, and I absolutely love that about her books. Sure, maybe I should get my head out of the clouds, but that is why we read books, right? Anywho, this story is really sweet and definitely conveys the necessity of family and love. I think you will really enjoy it.

Rating: 4.5 stars

May 8, 2013
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CLP Blog Tours Book Review: Flirting with Magick by Leigh Bennett
Chick Lit Review

CLP Blog Tours Book Review: Flirting with Magick by Leigh …

Leigh Bennett is on tour now with CLP Blog Tours and Flirting with Magick.
Summary:

When a new-age remedy fixes Abby Williams’ career rut, the twenty-five year old figures a spell could heal her broken heart too…

Suddenly, she’s having hot sex with an even hotter musician, which might work as long as she doesn’t get in the way of his rock stardom. Her work colleague is flirty and fun, but could he be keeping something from her? And now, the guy who broke her heart wants to rekindle their relationship. Can she trust him enough to give it another shot?

So far, it seems Abby’s spell hasn’t worked. Or then again, perhaps it has?
Review:
This is a book that is just too hard to put down! Bennett did a fabulous job at making her characters jump right off the pages and into my world. They were so realistic and relatable, and that pull was what kept me drawn into the story from the first page to the last. I love a little magic twist in my books, and this one wasn’t quite as super-natural or voodoo-y as one might expect, but that made me like it just a tad more. A mix between chick lit and romance, I thought the two genres were blended together well and that this is a book you should check out!
4.5 stars

May 8, 2013
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Book Review: Sand Castle Bay by Sherryl Woods
Chick Lit Review

Book Review: Sand Castle Bay by Sherryl Woods

I received a copy of Sand Castle Bay by Sherryl Woods in exchange for an honest review.

Sand Castle Bay is the first in the Ocean Breeze trilogy which revolve around the Castle Sisters and their dear, sweet Grandmother, Cora Jane. Emily Castle left home years ago to become an interior designer. The baby of the trio, she desperately wants to prove herself, even if that means leaving behind Boone, the man who stole her heart. But when fate steps in and takes her back home after a hurricane hits too close to home, she finds herself back right where she left off. She helps her sweet grandmother rebuild her restaurant but she doesn’t expect to run into Boone. Things aren’t quite what they seem though as things are complicated with Boone because he is a widower with a young son now and in-laws who will stop at nothing. Although things are tumultuous, Emily and Boone feel the spark between them, even after all of these years. But, will that be enough to see them through a second chance at love? Or is their relationship forever doomed?

Whoa! This book was a ton of fun and I instantly fell in love with the writing and the characters. Emily and Boone have so much chemistry and sexual tension that it practically jumps off the page. First of all, I love stories like this where the characters are granted a second chance at something and this love story is no exception. I absolutely loved Boone and thought that he was handed the rough end of the stick but I was rooting for him the whole time. I desperately wanted him to find his happily ever after. I must say that I have been a fan of Sherryl Woods for a while though, so I wasn’t surprised that I loved the book so much. But, needless to say, I am so very excited that I have the next two books sitting at home, waiting for me.

Rating: 4.5 stars

May 7, 2013
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CLP Blog Tours Book Review: Appetites by Karen Frankola
Chick Lit Review

CLP Blog Tours Book Review: Appetites by Karen Frankola

Karen Frankola is on tour now with Appetites and CLP Blog Tours. The novel follows the lives of Sarah and Max, two sisters leading very dysfunctional lives. Each are struggling with their own addiction – Sarah is a binge eater who is overweight, and Max is an alcoholic that can’t say to drinking or drugs. When Sarah hears from Harry, an ex-fiancé , she decides it’s time to change her life – and she needs to take drastic measures. The sisters sign an agreement stating Sarah will live in Max’s basement and follow a diet plan of delivered meals. But there’s more – Sarah will be locked in the basement and not allowed out for months, forcing her to stick with the diet plan and not binge eat. But Max’s drinking causes her to forget about Sarah and Sarah figures a way out of the basement. Not only does Sarah slip a few times when she is out on her own, but she also forms an obsession with Max’s on and off boyfriend. The sister’s relationship, already rocky, only worsens with their new living situation. Will Sarah and Max be able to get the help they need to live a healthy lifestyle?
This was a highly interesting to read. To be able to get into the mind of not only an over-eater but an alcoholic made me learn a lot about the diseases and how truly awful they can be. The dynamic between Sarah and Max was fascinating. Sometimes I truly wondered if they would come to blows, but in the next moment they seemed to genuinely care for one other. I think Frankola captured a real picture of sisterhood and how one can know exactly which buttons to push to get results, when you’ve gone too far, and how you know that no matter what, your sister will always be by your side. I will say this book is not for everyone, with strong language, drug use, and a lot of graphic sex scenes, but I thought it was a great read. This was a very well-written and thought-provoking novel, and I highly recommend.
4.5 stars

May 6, 2013
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Book Review: The Adoption by Anne Berry
Chick Lit Review

Book Review: The Adoption by Anne Berry

I received a copy of THE ADOPTION by Anne Berry in exchange for an honest review.

The Adoption revolves around the story of a woman who finds herself pregnant by a German POW after the second WW. When Bethan discovers that she is pregnant and against her better judgement, she decides to give the baby away. Sweet Lucille ends up in a home with Harriet and her husband who have no idea how to love a child. Lucille has a rough childhood but once she finds out about the adoption, she starts to feel slightly optimistic. She decides to contact Bethan in her late forties and the story really builds from there. The three main women in this story take turns narrating and you get to see and really become Lucille, Harriet and Bethan.

This story absolutely broke my heart. Anne Berry does an amazing job writing this tale in a way that sticks with you long after you’ve read it. I wept for Bethan early on, and then Lucille as I continued through the story. Although the characters are far from perfect, the raw emotion that they convey is what makes them so … real. I really enjoyed getting to read about their faults and although this book is definitely not wrapped tightly in a pretty bow, it is real and honest and through Anne Berry, you get to read about the emotions that each of them felt. This book is haunting and will hold you tightly as a reader. So, word to the wise, if you are looking for a happy ending, this book is not for you. But, if you are looking for a gritty and raw book filled with emotion, then give this one a try.

Rating: 4 stars

May 3, 2013
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Book Review: Too Close by Elizabeth Krall
Chick Lit Review

Book Review: Too Close by Elizabeth Krall

I received a copy of TOO CLOSE by Elizabeth Krall in exchange for an honest review.

Summary:

What rules would you break for the one you love? What lies would you tell?
Three weeks before their wedding day, Nicola and Greg discover that they may have the same mother. They met when Greg joined the San Francisco newspaper where Nicola is the travel editor. After six months, eager to start a life together and raise a family, they decide to marry. When Nicola finally meets his family in Seattle, and mentions the circumstances of her adoption, Greg’s horrified mother is forced to reveal the shameful secret she has kept for 36 years. As they struggle to deal with her revelation, their relationship is challenged and strained. If his mother’s suspicions are true, they will be forced into a devastating choice: break all of society’s rules and fight for their love, or break their hearts and give each other up. It will be the greatest test their newfound love has faced – and their love may not survive.

My Thoughts:

The premise of this book is both disturbing and intriguing. It has been a while since I’ve had both of those emotions evoked while reading a book and for some reason, I couldn’t put the book down. Needless to say, Elizabeth does a really good job at drawing the reader in and keeping them intrigued throughout the whole book. The book starts off just like most typical romance novels do, but that quickly changes as you find out what is really going on. I really enjoyed both Greg and Nicole and thought that Elizabeth did an amazing job at crafting such real characters with honest and raw emotions. I kept thinking, “what if this happened to me?” the entire time I was reading. Needless to say, the topic is quite sensitive, but I think it was handled very tastefully with great respect and tact. So, I must tip my hat because this book is a job well done.
Rating: 4 stars

May 2, 2013
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Book Review: The Wanderer by Robyn Carr
Chick Lit Review

Book Review: The Wanderer by Robyn Carr

I received a copy of THE WANDERER by Robyn Carr in exchange for an honest review.

This story takes place in Thunder Point, a small and remote community nestled on the Orange Coast in Oregon. We met Hank Cooper (or Cooper) right away and he is the type of man who doesn’t stay in one place very long, but he heads to Thunder Point after his friend Ben dies and leaves him a piece of property on the beach. Once he gets there, he falls for the town and realizes that it is at risk of becoming developed and ironically, he holds the key in his hands with the property that Ben left. And, to top it off, he meets Sarah, a beautiful and very complicated woman full of charm. They seem like a very unlikely pair but one can not deny their chemistry. Will an emotionally unavailable man and an an emotionally scarred woman be able to overlook their past to make their love work? Or are they destined for failure? And what will Cooper do about the land and the potential threat from developers?

I really, really enjoyed The Wanderer and thought Robyn did an amazing job at crafting such amazing, honest and real characters. This story takes place in a very small town and the author does a really good job at creating a visually appealing novel so that you often times feel as though you are right there with the characters. The story opens with a mystery and I thought it did a really good job at peaking my interest early on but I found that my interest was held pretty much throughout the novel. My only complaint is that we had to wait so long to meet Sarah, but I do understand that timing is everything. Overall though, this book is a really enjoyable read and I think you will enjoy it.
Rating: 4.5/5 stars

May 2, 2013
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Book Review: Field of Schemes by Jennifer Coburn
Chick Lit Review

Book Review: Field of Schemes by Jennifer Coburn

I received a copy of FIELD OF SCHEMES by Jennifer Coburn in exchange for an honest review. Field of Schemes follows newly widowed Claire Emmett…

May 1, 2013
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