Book Review: Avra’s God by Ann Lee Miller
I received a copy of AVRA’S GOD by Ann Lee Miller in exchange for an honest review. Avra’s God by Ann Lee Miller tells the…
Book Review: Neurotically Yours by Bonnie Trachtenberg
I received a copy of Neurotically Yours by Bonnie Trachtenberg is exchange for an honest review.
Summary:
Smart, attractive, and ambitious, thirty-seven-year-old Dara Harrison is, nonetheless, still single—and on sabbatical from dating. Ironically Los Angeles’ most renowned relationship advice columnist, Dara has become a Southland sensation with her “tell-it-like-it-is” approach to the mating game.
Parlaying her success into a new business, Dara launches a revolutionary dating service geared for the perennially single and romantically challenged. Its no-holds-barred theme soon makes the company a roaring success, even catapulting Dara onto the national talk show scene—until, of course, it all backfires.
With her company under threat and a publicity stunt gone haywire, Dara is forced to join the ranks of her lonely heart clientele, and suddenly realizes that saving the business she cherishes, means facing her lifelong fears—and maybe even falling in love again.
Witty, poignant, and immensely engaging, this romantic comedy from the bestselling author of Wedlocked: A Novel features sparkling dialogue, colorful characters, and a story that pulls you in and never lets you go.
Review:
I loved this book! It only took me a day to read because it is fast-paced, funny, and I had to see how it ended. Dara is a great MC, a smart woman with a large vocabulary that will make you laugh, and someone that thinks she doesn’t need a man to complete. It’s quite funny that she is a relationship advice columnist, and then goes on to create an online dating service. I liked the intrigue in her relationships, and wondered how they would end. Her cat, Mallory, is such a star in this book! There is humor, love, sadness, quirky characters, and a happy ending that will make chick lit lovers highly enjoy this book. One for your shelves!
5 stars
Book Review: The Very First Bite by Cynthia Langston
I received a copy of THE VERY FIRST BITE by Cynthia Langston in exchange for an honest review.
The Very First Bite chronicles the life of Lanie Albers, who at the beginning of the novel, has ten weeks to prepare for her high school reunion. Her life isn’t quite what she envisioned it would be – she is twenty pounds overweight, in a dead-end job and she is stuck in a hopeless relationship. The idea of visiting old classmates and owning up to her less than stellar life has Lanie anxious. There are also a lot of loose ends that she needs to tie up, for instance, her first love Chad, whom she fears she will run into at the reunion. And Candace, her former best friend, who unexpectedly ended their friendship seven years ago. But, by examining her past, she slowly confronts her demons and has quite a few revelations about her self and the person that she wants to become.
I loved this book. Like Lanie, I too am on the brink of returning to high school for the first time since graduation and have thought about many of the same things. Sure, we are all carrying a few extra pounds and wish that we were “high school” skinny, but I too often think and wonder about the people that I left behind. What are they doing? What would they say if they saw me? I loved Lanie from the beginning and thought that Cynthia does a really great job at capturing all of her insecurities and created a very witty, yet vulnerable main character. Overall, this book is very heartfelt and honest, often times leaving the reader on the bring of laughter and tears. I really enjoyed this book and I think that if you are looking for a book like this, then you’ve met your match.
Book Review: Bella Summer Takes a Chance by Michele Gorman
I received a copy of Bella Summer Takes a Chance by Michele Gorman in exchange for an honest review. Gorman is one of my favorite chick lit writers and I enjoy her books. This one was no different, and it was a quick read that I laughed throughout. Bella, or B., is the main character, who breaks up with her long-time boyfriend after realizing she loves him but isn’t in love with him, and starts taking more chances in her life. She tries to revive her singer career and find her Mr. Right, all while juggling her social life and hilarious cast of friends.
Bella Summer Takes a Chance is a well-written novel that is highly entertaining from page one and throughout. I loved Bella as a heroine because she finally realizes that she needs to take chances in life and won’t let anyone or anything bring her down. Her story is empowering and I absolutely love that in my reads. This book is also big on comedy. I had a hoot with Bella’s ex, her pregnant friend, and especially the adorable Marjorie. Filled with quirky characters and a lovely wrap up at the end, this is one for chick lit fans to read!
5 stars
Book Review: You Had Me At Hello by Mhairi McFarlane
I was provided with a copy of You Had Me At Hello by Mhairi McFarlane in exchange for an honest review. You Had Me At…
Book Review: For Internal Use Only by Cari Kamm
I received a copy of For Internal Use Only by Cari Kamm in exchange for an honest review.
Summary:
Chloe Kassidy has just been accepted into one of Manhattan’s most exclusive art exhibits, Love Through Light. However, with her singular dedication to her career, she soon realizes that in sacrificing her personal life, she has never been in love. A hopeless romantic who is terrified of heartbreak, Chloe begins to enlist the help of her circle of friends to learn about love through their very different stories and experiences.
In Chloe’s emotional rollercoaster to having the greatest love story ever told, she’ll learn that like her photography she must use the negatives in life to develop and prove that she’s a strong woman who found her way to love through light.
Inspired by the notion that women grow up with ideas of true love and destiny, For Internal Use Only approaches those ideas with a decidedly twenty-first century viewpoint. A humorous love story with an edgy and dramatic twist, For Internal Use Only is a vastly entertaining novel that gives each of us a new fairy tale to look forward to: our own.
Review:
I have reviewed Fake Perfect Me from Cari Kamm and highly enjoyed that novel, so I was looking forward to reading For Internal Use Only. Again I thought there was a strong heroine that can have readers’ emotions all over the board, and it’s always a good thing to feel so much while reading a book. There is a complicated and almost dizzying relationship going on in Chloe’s life that I was constantly trying to figure out even while not reading. There is a lot of drama, questions, confusion, and heartbreak filling up the pages. I enjoyed Chloe’s supporting group of friends, especially in the end of the novel, and her passion for photography was quite interesting to read about. Sometimes I found myself a little lost here and there with the relationship and the oddity surrounding it, but overall I enjoyed this novel and will continue to look forward to reading her novels.
4 stars
CLP Blog Tours Book Review: When I See You by …
Katherine Owen is now on tour with CLP Blog Tours and When I See You. I knew I would have an immediate connection to this…
Book Review: Faith Bass Darling’s Last Garage Sale by …
THE WINNER OF THE GIVEAWAY IS TOBIN HELTON! TOBIN, I WILL EMAIL YOU DIRECTLY! 🙂 I was provided with a copy of Faith Bass Darling’s…
Book Review: Dolls Behaving Badly by Cinthia Ritchie
I received a copy of Dolls Behaving Badly by Cinthia Ritchie in exchange for an honest review.
Summary:
Carla Richards is a lot of things. She’s a waitress at Anchorage’s premier dining establishment, Mexico in an Igloo; an artist who secretly makes erotic dolls for extra income; a divorcée who can’t quite detach from her ex-husband; and a single mom trying to support her gifted eight-year-old son, her pregnant sister, and her babysitter-turned-resident-teenager.
She’s one overdue bill away from completely losing control-when inspiration strikes in the form of a TV personality. Now she’s scribbling away in a diary, flirting with an anthropologist, and making appointments with a credit counselor.
Still, getting her life and dreams back on track is difficult. Is perfection really within reach? Or will she wind up with something even better?
Review:
Dolls Behaving Badly is written from Carla’s POV, and in a diary-type style. I liked the story because Carla was a heroine I could identify with – someone who has it a bit rough but won’t let her circumstances bring her down. She is great mom, is friendly (sometimes too) with her ex-husband, has a good friend and some unique relationships with both her sister and a neighbor girl. I really enjoyed reading this book because I found it fast-paced and very entertaining, in a far out way. Sometimes I had trouble reigning in Carla and her scattered thoughts and the ending was a little too abrupt – I actually went back and re-read the last page because I was confused that we were done. If you are looking for a different story with unique characters, this is a book I think you will enjoy!
4 stars
