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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

Book Review: Divorce for Beginners by Sophie King

I received a copy of DIVORCE FOR BEGINNERS by Sophie King in exchange for an honest review.

Divorce for Beginners begins with Alison and David. Now that their youngest has flown the nest, Alison is looking forward to something calm and quiet, but it seems as though David has something else in mind. Then we meet Karen, who on the verge of busting at the seams after leaving her husband Paul, many years prior. She becomes the ideal candidate to start the “How to Survive Divorce” club. Then we meet Ed, who seems to be the sole person left that believes in marriage. Well, to be frank, he believes in it a little too easily because he has already done it three times. Throw in a woman named Lizzie and we have quite the group.

This book is quite the tale and ironically, even though I am happily married, I quite enjoyed myself. There are quite a few mysterious and secretive things going on behind the scenes and I thought that really added to the appeal. Then throw in some sibling issues, life with kids, parents, aging, dating and sex, and you have quite a recipe for an entertaining book. I really enjoyed getting to know each character on a personal level but I enjoyed them as a foursome even more. Overall, this story is very entertaining although it is often times quite sad. But, Sophie makes up for it in full with some great laughs and a lot of heartfelt moments.
Rating: 4/5

Book Review: The Lion Is In by Delia Ephron

I was provided with a copy of THE LION IS IN by Delia Ephron in exchange for an honest review.

The Lion Is In tells the tale of three gals. Tracee is a runaway bride and kleptomaniac. Lana’s is beautiful but also a recovering alcoholic. Rita is a holy-roller minister’s wife, who is tired and wants out of her marriage. One warm summer night brings the three ladies together and they go on the lam together. During the ride down a rural highway in the great state of North Carolina, their car breaks down and they are forced to seek shelter. They end up finding refuge in an abandoned nightclub. And, unexpectedly, they run into Marcel, who just happens to be a lion. This change encounter changes everything for the three ladies.

This book is absolutely unforgettable and I loved every second of THE LION IS IN. When I first received the review request, I read the title and thought that the lion was symbolic of something – but no, I was wrong. – because there is actually a lion in this book. Delia does an amazing job at crafting three wonderful female characters that are witty and beautiful in their own respective ways. I loved their journeys to self discovery and I loved Marcel’s role in helping the women. This book is truly great and so very smart! I highly recommend it!
Rating: 5 stars