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Book Review: Where the Light Falls by Katherine Keenum
Chick Lit Review

Book Review: Where the Light Falls by Katherine Keenum

I received a copy of Where the Light Falls by Katherine Keenum in exchange for an honest review.

Where the Light Falls is set as the Belle Epoque dawns, and artists find their way heading to Paris in search of inspiration. Jeanette Palmer is no different. Growing up the daughter of a prominent family in Ohio, Jeanette leaves Vassar College after a scandal breaks loose. She finds herself in Paris, amid the city’s great bohemian neighborhoods and studios, Jeanette slowly makes friends as she finds her way. One man in particular, Edward Murer, becomes a quick friend and eventually he becomes her lover. But, things become complicated as she learns that Edward is addicted to laudanum and as she attempts to help him fight his demons, she also begins to achieve a new level of artistic success. Will Jeanette be able to make a decision between success and love? Or will she lose both trying?

I absolutely loved the historical aspect of this novel and found the details and the settings quite charming. Katherine does a wonderful job at weaving the story throughout time and creating darling characters with real thoughts and ambitions. I loved Jeanette from the get go and was rooting for her as she pursued her dreams to become an artist. Then, Katherine presents us with Edward, and although older, I can definitely tell where the attraction came from. Overall, this plot is rich with love, guts, history, conflict (both inner and outer) and most of all, creative inspiration. I thoroughly enjoyed this book and I think you will too.
Rating: 4/5

February 6, 2013
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Book Review: Caramel and Magnolias by Tess Thompson
Chick Lit Review

Book Review: Caramel and Magnolias by Tess Thompson

I received a copy of Caramel and Magnolias by Tess Thompson in exchange for an honest review. What a thrilling, keep you on the edge of your seat book! I thought the prologue really opened the story, and I enjoyed that it wasn’t until a few chapters in that I made the connection between the beginning and the rest of the content. Cleo Tanner is the main character, a woman suffering a broken heart for the past ten years, who gave up her acting dreams and now is a teacher in Seattle. Her best friend, Sylvia, is having troubles in her marriage that seem to stem from the fact that she cannot get pregnant. When Cleo is approached by an adoption agency owner, she thinks she might have figured out a way to help her friend. But when a detective starts questioning the adoption agency, Cleo wonders if she didn’t make a huge mistake. She jumps into the investigation to try to get some answers and protect Sylvia – and also help herself get over her past and be able to move on.
This is such an amazing read. There is heartbreak, romance, deception, murder, mystery – all entwined around an engaging cast of characters. I really enjoyed the friendship between Cleo and Sylvia, as it reminded me of some of my friendships, and how a friend’s happiness can be worth taking a risk. I didn’t want to put this book down, but I found myself dragging out the ending because I didn’t want the story to stop! I have also read Riversong from Thompson and highly recommend you check out both of her titles!
5 stars

February 6, 2013
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CLP Blog Tours Book Review: SkinnyTinis by Teresa Marie Howes
Chick Lit Review

CLP Blog Tours Book Review: SkinnyTinis by Teresa Marie Howes

Teresa Marie Howes is now on tour with CLP Blog Tours and Skinnytinis. Yes, I enjoy myself a cocktail every now and again. This tour came at a great time for me, as I am getting married in September and stepping up my workout game and trying to watch my diet carefully. I am attempting to cut waaay back on soda, and one area that I was a bit concerned was what to drink at the bar. I typically drink soda with my liquor, so I eagerly dove into this book for some more ideas. And I needn’t be worried – this is full of great drink ideas, tips, and insight. While there are over 70 recipe ideas for drinks, this is more than just a recipe book. Teresa includes insight on what liquors are higher in calories and even which garnishes can be high in calories! She includes workout tips as well, and this is really an all-around go-to book that I think you need to have. I printed off several recipes and have them sitting in my alcohol cabinet for when I need an idea or want to check a calorie intake. I loved it!
5 stars

February 6, 2013
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Book Review: Deceptions of the Heart by Denise Moncrief
Chick Lit Review

Book Review: Deceptions of the Heart by Denise Moncrief

I received a copy of Deceptions of the Heart by Denise Moncrief in exchange for an honest review.
Summary

What would you do if one morning you awoke in someone else’s body? Surviving as Jennifer Cristobal isn’t easy for Rhonda Prentiss. Three years ago, a sudden, fatal trauma stripped Rhonda of her middle-class, stay-at-home mom existence. A brand new shock prompts Rhonda’s essence to invade Jennifer’s soul, suppressing the other woman’s memories and replacing them with her own. When Jennifer’s heart transplant surgeon, Dr. Crane, can’t—or won’t—help her understand her unusual body-swapping dilemma, she turns to the only man she can trust. But can she fully trust Jennifer’s husband, Anson? Multiple threats from her past shake her fragile hold on mental stability. If one of her enemies succeeds, he will kill Rhonda’s soul… or Jennifer’s body… or both.
My Review:

This book was a lot of fun and I thoroughly enjoyed the twist that Denise presents on a story that is often retold. I think Denise does a wonderful job at creating very real characters with a lot of heart and I definitely felt every emotion that was the main character feels. I finished the book in a few days and I was completely enthralled in the story and couldn’t read the book fast enough. I was wrapped up in all the twists and turns and definitely surprised by the ending. Overall, this book is a quick, entertaining and very suspenseful read. It will definitely leave you rethinking things once you finish. I highly recommend this book if you are looking for a suspenseful read.

February 5, 2013
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CLP Blog Tours Book Review: Next Year I’ll be Perfect by Laura Kilmartin
Chick Lit Review

CLP Blog Tours Book Review: Next Year I’ll be …

Laura Kilmartin is on tour now with CLP Blog Tours and Next Year I’ll be Perfect. This novel is a breath of fresh, realistic, and sometimes harsh air. Sarah is feeling good about her life – until her 29th birthday and the discovery of the list. The list is something Sarah wrote at 25, outlining all the goals and expectations she expected herself to achieve by thirty. Now that the deadline is 365 days away and counting, Sarah is feeling the pressure to check things off her list – including buying a home and becoming partner at a firm. But will Sarah realize that goals can shift over the years, or will trying to check off items be Sarah’s only key to happiness?
I had such a fabulous time reading Next Year I’ll be Perfect. As a list-maker myself, I understood Sarah’s drive to be able to cross those items off her list. And she really wanted to be happier, and she thought by completing the list she would be. Her journey throughout the year was at times hilarious, at times sad, but always very realistic. There are stop-and-go romances, a best friend that will always dish it to her straight, and the story flowed with ease. This was also quite the page-turner, as I was curious up until to the end to see how Sarah’s journey would come to a close. One for your to-read list!
5 stars

February 5, 2013
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CLP Blog Tours Book Review: Love at 11 by Mari Mancusi
Chick Lit Review

CLP Blog Tours Book Review: Love at 11 by Mari Mancusi

Mari Mancusi is now on tour with CLP Blog Tours and Love at 11. This story follows Maddy, a producer for the local News 9 in San Diego. While she had high hopes for obtaining a position at Newsline, she hasn’t gotten any further than producing fluff pieces that either no one cares about or is dangerously close to not being factual. When she manages to snag a promotion and land a super-hot camera guy all in one fell swoop, Maddy wonders if her luck might turn around. But the promotion comes with an arrogant anchor, no better stories, and her hot camera guy Jamie turns out to be engaged – to a gorgeous model/actress living in LA. With her parents getting a divorce and her wild-child younger sister moving in with her, Maddy is wondering if she can keep it all together. When the chance for an exclusive exposé gets thrown into her lap, Maddy tries to get her priorities straight once again – but can she have it all?
Love at 11 is a fabulous look into a newsroom and the chaos and characters that come with. This story is very modern, fast-paced, and so realistic. Maddy makes mistakes, but she works hard on not letting them define here. There are two great stories written into one here – the issue with Maddy’s family, especially her sister Lulu, and Maddy’s career and love life, and how the two mix together. I was on the edge of my seat during many parts of this book, and I couldn’t wait to see how it ended. I don’t want to give the ending away, but I was really glad to see not everything worked out so smoothly with Jamie. Sometimes I come to expect stories that wrap up in a neat little bow, and we all know life doesn’t really work out that way. I loved this book, and give it 5 stars!
5 stars

February 4, 2013
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Book Review: The Love of My (Other) Life by Traci L. Slatton
Chick Lit Review

Book Review: The Love of My (Other) Life by Traci …

I received a copy of The Love of My (Other) Life by Traci L. Slatton in exchange for an honest review.

This book begins with an introduction to Tessa. Tessa is a struggling painter who has been left behind by her husband with tons of bills that need to be paid. Over the years she has made some serious missteps in her career but hopes to eventually turn that around. Then, we meet Brian Tennyson. He is smart and funny and he really takes a whole of her … but he claims to be from another universe. And, he says that in their universe, they’re actually married. So, what’s a girl to do? Tessa’s world gets thrown upside down as she tries to find the truth and really begins to wonder about second chances and fate vs. coincidence. Are the two in fact soul-mates?

I was so interested when I first read the synopsis for the book and slightly thought it would read like a sci-fi novel. Well, if you are worried like I was, there is no need because this book is too cute for words. I instantly felt the spark when Tessa and Brian met and although it sounds odd, I believed him when he was he was from another universe from the get-go. This book is a riot and I really enjoyed it. I loved the conversations and the heart-felt-moments between the two main characters and I thought Traci did an amazing job at creating such likeable characters. Overall, this book is a winner and a fun ride!

February 1, 2013
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Book Review: The Missing Manuscript of Jane Austen by Syrie James
Chick Lit Review

Book Review: The Missing Manuscript of Jane Austen by Syrie …

I received a copy of The Missing Manuscript of Jane Austen by Syrie James in exchange for an honest review.

The book begins as Samantha McDonough stumbles upon a letter tucked away in an uncut page of a two-hundred-year old poetry book. She instantly recognizes the salutation, the handwriting, and the content as an old piece from the infamous Jane Austen. Although the discovery is quite amazing, Samantha finally reads the letter and the content is even better – it claims that there is a missing manuscript that went missing at Greenbriar. Samantha racks her brain and can’t believe what she has just found, so she takes it upon herself and goes on a hunt for the missing MS. Afterall, it could be worth millions. Will she find it? And will it be all that she imagined?

The second I received the review request for this book, I instantly knew that I was going to love it – and I was right! A book about a missing Jane Austen manuscript? I was hooked instantly. This book was written really well and I loved the mystery and the suspense element that the author provides. I was fully invested in the hunt right along with Samantha and was so excited to see how the story unfolded. Overall, this book is a really fun ride with a great twist once you throw Anthony into the mix. I highly recommend this fun tale!

Rating: 4.5 stars

February 1, 2013
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CLP Blog Tours Book Review: SkinnyTinis by Teresa Marie Howes
Chick Lit Review

CLP Blog Tours Book Review: SkinnyTinis by Teresa Marie Howes

I received a copy of SkinnyTinis by Teresa Marie Howes from CLP Blog Tours in exchange for an honest review.

SkinnyTinis is a cocktail recipe book with more than 70 recipes. For people watching their weight, this book is perfect because Teresa has gone through drink favorites and thinified them … and now they rake in around 142 calories each. The recipes still offer the same great taste as the traditional (and full calorie) alternatives, yet you won’t have the guilt that goes along with them.

Oh boy, I was so excited when I received my SkinnyTinis in the mail. Ironically, my mother-in-law was in town and I had just purchased a few bottles of alcohol, so I had some assistance in taste testing. By far my favorite was the Skinny Cosmopolitan (which is one of my go-to-drinks when out on the town) and I absolutely loved how quick and easy all of the recipes were. Now, I am not that big of a drinker so I have only tried a few, but so far, the ones that I have tried have been delicious and light. I also really enjoyed the great photographs that accompanied each recipe and I really loved that the book was so colorful. I have already recommended this book to a few gal pals and I will continue to do so. Thank you so much Teresa for doing the research and creating skinny solutions for my favorite mixed drinks. I love this book! A new bar staple!

Rating: 5 stars

January 31, 2013
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