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Book Review: The School Gates by Nicola May
Chick Lit Review

Book Review: The School Gates by Nicola May

I received a copy of The School Gates by Nicola May in exchange for an honest review.
Summary:
At 3.10pm every weekday, parents gather at Featherstone Primary in Denbury to collect their children.

For a special few, the friendships forged at the school gates will see them through lives filled with drama, secrets and sorrows. When Yummy Mummy Alana reveals the identity of her love-child’s father, she doesn’t expect the consequences to be quite so extreme. Ex Czech au-pair Earth Mummy Dana finds happiness in her secret sideline, but really all she longs for is another child. Slummy Mummy Mo’s wife-beating husband leads her down a path she never thought possible, and Supper Mummy Joan has to cope when life deals her a devastating blow.

And what of Gay Daddy Gordon? Will he be able to juggle parenthood and cope with his broken heart at the same time?

Four very different mothers. One adorable dad. And the intertwining trials and tribulations that a year at the primary school gates brings.
My Review:
Oh, this book had me laughing out loud at times! There are so many families and key players to this book, and the pages are filled with love, deceit, friendship and betrayal. They are all brought together because of their children, who attend Featherstone Primary. Some have true friendships. Some are frenemies. Some are sleeping together – even those who shouldn’t be. The trials and tribulations of The School Gates kept me interested and happily reading, even though sometimes I had trouble keeping up with the plethora of characters we meet. A fun chick lit read!
3.5 stars

March 12, 2013
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CLP Blog Tours Book Review: Love in Translation by Sara Palacios
Chick Lit Review

CLP Blog Tours Book Review: Love in Translation by Sara …

Sara Palacios is on tour now with CLP Blog Tours and Love in Translation. I was excited to read this novel because Sara is someone…

March 12, 2013
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CLP Blog Tours Book Review: The Wisdom of Hair by Kim Boykin
Chick Lit Review

CLP Blog Tours Book Review: The Wisdom of Hair by …

Kim Boykin is now on tour with CLP Blog Tours and The Wisdom of Hair. What a charming little read! The book is set in 1983 and follows the life of Zora Adams, who leaves her home in the mountains on her nineteenth birthday to escape her man-loving alcoholic of a mother. A teacher helps her get enrolled at the Davenport School of Beauty and her own place to live. Zora befriends the boisterous Sara Jane Farquhar almost immediately, and is accepted in Sara’s prestigious family as one of their own. She also falls hard for Winston Sawyer, a young widower who is forgetting all the pain with his excessive drinking. Zora learns lessons during her time at the Davenport School of Beauty not only about hair – but about love, friendship, family … and forgiveness.
The Wisdom of Hair was a cute read but also deeply explored the subject of self-discovery. Readers meet Zora when she is pretty low in her life, and watch her as she slowly becomes less and less shy and finds her backbone. The beauty school sections were a hoot to read about, and the whole novel really embodied what I envisioned the ‘80’s to be like. I adored the friendship between Zora and Sara, and Sara’s character in general was so fun to journey with. Sometimes I felt a little disengaged with the characters, in particular with Zora and Winston’s relationship, I think just because it is so very complicated. Sometimes I just wondered what in the world she saw in the man – but I guess we can’t choose who we love, can we? Overall, a very fun and spirited chick lit book!
4 stars

March 11, 2013
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Book Review: The Ruth Valley Missing by Amber West
Chick Lit Review

Book Review: The Ruth Valley Missing by Amber West

I was provided with a copy of THE RUTH VALLEY MISSING by Amber West in exchange for an honest review.

Jameson Quinn is sick of trying to find herself in the big city. After a gallery opening ends in a trip to the ER and an argument with her self-involved boyfriend, she decides to take off for the peace and quiet of a small town — Ruth Valley. The small town has everything Brooklyn lacked: simple people, peaceful surroundings, and a feeling of safety. Jameson even finds the perfect house to rent from the town’s most eligible bachelor, Sheriff Jack. Life is finally headed in a promising direction. But something isn’t right. A young man is mysteriously injured, then disappears — and Jameson finds he isn’t the only person to suddenly vanish. The suspicious behavior of an abrasive nun and a creepy priest set her off on an investigation of what’s really happening. Will she figure out the secrets of Ruth Valley before she’s the next to go missing?

I had so much fun reading THE RUTH VALLEY MISSING and I thought that Amber did such an amazing job at crafting real characters and settings. I loved the tale of Jameson adjusting to life back in the small town after being in the big city for a while. But, it seems to be exactly what she needs … until it isn’t. The pace was quick in this book and I am thankful because I was eager to find out what the heck was actually going on. The creepy priest had me on the edge and I couldn’t handle it. Just another example of great writing by Amber. Overall, this book is very entertaining and definitely not like something I would normally read, but I am so glad that I gave it a chance. I think you will be glad too.

Rating: 4/5 stars

March 8, 2013
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CLP Blog Tours Book Review: Fashion Victim by GT Herren
Chick Lit Review

CLP Blog Tours Book Review: Fashion Victim by GT Herren

GT Herren is now on tour with CLP Blog Tours and Fashion Victim. First, I just get a kick out of the cover! So fun and cute. I’m also a big fan of chick lit mysteries, so I was in for a treat this one! The main character is Paige Tourneur, a reporter living in New Orleans who gets assigned a personality profile on fashion designer Marigny Mercereau – who winds up dead. Paige takes it upon herself to figure out Marigny’s death while keeping her job and love interest interested in her.
Fashion Victim is a fast-paced and quick read into the life and mind of the quick-thinking and smart-mouthed Paige. She cracked me up with some of her antics, and it was fun to follow along with her journey into finding the murderer. This book really zipped past for me, I finished reading it in one day, and I almost wish it could have stretched on a bit longer because I was having so much fun with it. I definitely want to check into other books from Herren, as it sounds like this isn’t the first appearance Paige makes in his stories. One to check out!
4 stars

March 8, 2013
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Book Review: The Good Daughter by Jane Porter
Chick Lit Review

Book Review: The Good Daughter by Jane Porter

I received a copy of The Good Daughter by Jane Porter in exchange for an honest review. I fell in love with the first book in the Brennan Sisters series, The Good Woman, and was anxiously awaiting this book to land in my mailbox. This novel focuses on Kit Brennan, a Catholic school English teacher who has recently broken up with her boyfriend of ten years to find true happiness. With her fortieth birthday looming on the calendar and no man in sight (after some horrendous online dating attempts) Kit evaluates what she really wants in life – a child of her own. But will her close-knit family be open to Kit going it by herself? When Kit is on a girls’ weekend she meets Mr. Wrong – but for some reason can’t push him out of her head. When a situation at school thrusts him back into her life, Kit wonders if her normally safe route is about to be shattered.
Another 5 star book! Just like with the first, I hated each time I had to put this down. I found myself literally breathless from time to time while reading, wondering what was in store for the characters. The Brennan family is so fascinating to read about, but it was heartbreaking to watch the mother struggle in her fight with cancer. It looks like Sarah’s story is coming next with the release of The Good Wife in September 2013, and once again I will be on pins and needles waiting for that one!
5 stars

March 8, 2013
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Book Review: The Paparazzi Project by Kristina M. Springer
Chick Lit Review

Book Review: The Paparazzi Project by Kristina M. Springer

I received a copy of THE PAPARAZZI PROJECT by Kristina M. Springer in exchange for an honest review.

The Paparazzi Project begins as Livvie Peterson signs up for Interpersonal Communications, thinking that it would be an easy grade. Turns out, as their first assignment is handed out, her world flips upside down. She is assigned the role of Paparazzi and she is matched up with class hottie, Chas Montgomery as her Tabloid boss. Together they make one killer team and their skills really shine through. But, when Livvie decides to launch an anonymous blog that leaks photos and stories from her fellow classmates online, things start to get interesting. She becomes addicted to constantly checking her follower numbers and becomes dangerously close to crossing the line. Will she be able to reel herself back into reality? Or will she be forever lost into the new world that she has created?

I had so much fun reading this book and I was very upset when it ended. As an avid former watcher of Gossip Girl, this book was right up my alley and I instantly fell for Livvie Peterson. She is a very enjoyable character and I was so intrigued when the assignment was first handed out. At first, I thought that things would stay tame … but I was so wrong. This book is witty and hilarious and is also an excellent example of how rumors start. Honestly, I felt like I was back in high school and I can only imagine what would have happened if my school had a similar project to this back in the day. It wouldn’t have been pretty. Overall though, this book is a great read and I was very impressed.
Rating: 5 stars

March 7, 2013
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Book Review: Buyer, Beware by Diane Vallere
Chick Lit Review

Book Review: Buyer, Beware by Diane Vallere

I was excited to pick back up with Samantha Kidd after Designer Dirty Laundry and Buyer, Beware did not disappoint! Vallere once again brings her…

March 7, 2013
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Book Review: Why Can’t I Be You by Allie Larkin
Chick Lit Review

Book Review: Why Can’t I Be You by Allie …

I received a copy of Why Can’t I Be You by Allie Larkin in exchange for an honest review. How many times do you wish you were someone else, even if for just a few days? Jenny Shaw is about to get the chance to actually be someone else when she hears “Jessie!” being called out across a hotel lobby. Not knowing why, she responds, and is thrust into the life of Jessie Morgan, who’s high school is hosting a reunion at the same location of Jenny’s work conference. Jenny transforms into Jessie and is welcomed into her old clique, and finally feels a sense of belonging that she never got from her own life. But how long can she pretend to be someone else – and what will happen when the friends find out the truth?
I thought Why Can’t I Be You was a really interesting read, because it made me think while I was following Jenny’s journey. Would I take a chance to become someone else? Who? How would I finally spill the beans? Larkin gives readers a short and sweet story that I anxiously followed along, wondering at each turn when Jenny would be busted for not being Jessie. Sometimes I wondered how the friends could not possibly see it – but then, sometimes we are too blind to realize what we don’t want to see. The romance in the story was what really left me questioning, and I’m almost glad we don’t get the full conclusion at the end – I liked leaving that up to my imagination, and I definitely kept thinking about Jenny after I was done reading. An entertaining story, and one for chick lit fans to check out!
4 stars

March 6, 2013
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