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Margaret from Maine by Joseph Monninger
Chick Lit Review

Margaret from Maine by Joseph Monninger

I was provided with a copy of Margaret from Maine by Joseph Monninger in exchange for an honest review.

This book begins with Margaret Kennedy, who lives on a dairy farm in a very rural part in Maine. Her husband Thomas, was injured in war overseas and left in a vegetative state due to his bravery. His body lived, but the spirit of the man had long ago left his physical shell. That made things very hard from Margaret as she is made to care for Thomas, as well as take care of the dairy farm and their young son. Her spirit breaks with each passing day. But, when the President signs a bill in support of wounded veterans, she hopes that things will start to change and that she will find some relief. She receives a chance invitation to the capital, and Charlie King, a handsome Foreign Service officer, takes it upon himself to escort her there. But, what happens on the trip is what makes this story special, because the two of them fall in love. But, things become difficult. With her husband still alive and breathing, although no longer really alive in every sense of the word, she is torn by the man that she once loved and her duty to him as his wife … but torn also because her heart longs to be happy with Charlie. Will the two be able to find a way to make it work? Or will their love be lost forever?

I haven’t read a book this good in such a long time. Joseph Monninger truly has a way with words and this book tugged at my heart strings the entire read. I felt for Margaret as she was faced with such a heartbreaking event when her husband was injured in war. But, she loved him and as his wife she took care of him day in and day out. But, I can only imagine what she must have felt like, or how alone she felt. Then, one fateful day brings Charlie into her life, and after six long years of selflessly caring for her injured husband, another man puts a twinklie back in her eye. Gah, what a book! I loved every second of it and was breathless as the pages dwindled down to the end. This book is seriously the most romantic book I have read in a while and I am tempted to put it right up there at the top of my all time reads. Un-put-downable!
Rating: 5 stars

January 17, 2013
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Book Review: The Forever Year by Lou Aronica
Chick Lit Review

Book Review: The Forever Year by Lou Aronica

I received a copy of The Forever Year by Lou Aronica in exchange for an honest review. I’m a big fan of this author and I enjoy books he send my way, because they take me out of my comfort zone from chick lit and women’s fiction novels. The Forever Year is a novel about father and son, and the relationship they forge when Mickey moves in with his youngest son, Jesse, after his kids decide he shouldn’t be living on his own. Mickey and Jesse never had the best relationship, as Jesse was much younger than his siblings and it always seemed Mickey just didn’t know what to do with him. But the pair begin a new relationship once Mickey moves in, and Mickey decides Jesse should hear a story that he hasn’t told anyone else.
I thought this book was very gripping, especially since Mickey’s story comes out in little pieces over time and really leaves you wondering what he will say next and when he will say it. I enjoyed watching the relationship between Mickey and Jesse get stronger as I continued reading. The supporting cast – Jesse’s siblings and girlfriend – are all unique characters and I thought they were interesting to read about as well. The love story that is told is so touching, and really made me evaluate my own relationship and understand how special it really is. I fell for this book, and I hope you will too!
[Rating: 4.5]

January 17, 2013
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Three Stages of Love: Lust by T. C. Anthony
Chick Lit Review

Three Stages of Love: Lust by T. C. Anthony

I received a coy of Three Stages of Love: Lust by T. C. Anthony in exchange for an honest review.

Three Stages of Love: Lust by T. C. Anthony begins with main character, Evangeline Chase, standing at a crossroad. Very determined and ambitious, she embarks on a new path and chooses to put her own “needs” first for once. One drunken night, she makes a move on a sexy stranger but he declines because she is intoxicated. But, ironically, he turns out to be her new boss. Torn between her ambition and her desire for the sexy, Alexander Mason, she caves and lets her desires take front stage. Alex rocks her world (in more ways than one) and she is forced to choose between her career, her “needs” and quite possibly love with Alex. But, will she be able to make the right choice even after she transforms into what she has always wanted?

Boy, when I say steamy, I mean it … and this book definitely has steam. I usually don’t read books in this genre very often because I find that the story lacks depth, but this book didn’t. The characters were developed very well (although I all too often wanted to smack Eva for being such a pain in the ass) and I loved Alex and thought that he truly was a charmer. Overall, this book is very entertaining and I absolutely loved that the character’s roles were reversed in this one. I can’t wait to see what happens in the next book.
Rating: 4 stars

January 16, 2013
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CLP Blog Tours Book Review: Bouquet Toss by Melissa Brown
Chick Lit Review

CLP Blog Tours Book Review: Bouquet Toss by Melissa Brown

Melissa Brown is on tour now with CLP Blog Tours and Bouquet Toss. Daphne Harper is someone who just wants to fall in love. Unfortunately, her first love Mason continues to haunt her and affect her current relationships. Not helping matters at all is the curse that follows her to the multiple weddings she attends for friends – always catching the bride’s bouquet. When Mason makes a sudden reappearance make into her life, Daphne wonders if she has gotten a second chance at love.
When I first started reading and read off the synopsis, I thought I was in for a love story about second chances. Bouquet Toss is actually much deeper and more intense than one might think at first glance. It will be a little tricky writing a review without giving too much of the plot away, but I found myself on a roller-coaster ride of emotions while reading Daphne’s journey. I did enjoy the story even though it wasn’t what I expected, though I thought the middle was a little long and drawn out. I enjoyed the ending very much and liked how Daphne’s story came to a close, and I would recommend this book!
4 stars

January 16, 2013
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Pursuing the Times by Lauren Baratz-Logsted
Chick Lit Review

Pursuing the Times by Lauren Baratz-Logsted

I received a copy of PURSUING THE TIMES by Lauren Baratz-Logsted in exchange for an honest review. Pursuing The Times by Lauren Baratz-Logsted follows author…

January 15, 2013
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Mad World: Epidemic by Samaire Provost
Chick Lit Review

Mad World: Epidemic by Samaire Provost

I received a copy of Mad World: Epidemic from CLP Blog Tours as an active blog participant. Mad World: Epidemic by Samaire Provost begins with…

January 14, 2013
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Book Review: How to Eat a Cupcake by Meg Donohue
Chick Lit Review

Book Review: How to Eat a Cupcake by Meg Donohue

I received a copy of How to Eat a Cupcake by Meg Donohue in exchange for an honest review.
Summary:
Free-spirited Annie Quintana and sophisticated Julia St. Clair come from two different worlds. Yet, as the daughter of the St. Clairs’ housekeeper, Annie grew up in Julia’s San Francisco mansion and they forged a bond that only two little girls oblivious to class differences could—until a life-altering betrayal destroyed their friendship.
A decade later, Annie bakes to fill the void left in her heart by her mother’s death, and a painful secret jeopardizes Julia’s engagement to the man she loves. A chance reunion prompts the unlikely duo to open a cupcakery, but when a mysterious saboteur opens up old wounds, they must finally face the truth about their past or risk losing everything.
Review:
What a home run of a book! It gives me chills when I find a book that I find irresistible from page one, and this exactly what happened with How to Eat a Cupcake. The dynamic between Annie and Julia was tense, loving, troubled, and supportive –all wrapped into one. These characters really leapt off the pages and made this impossible to put down. I loved the mystery surrounding the death of Annie’s mother and also with the cupcakery break-ins. I think I could go on and on about how much I loved this novel, but I’ll just say go read it – and grab yourself a cupcake!
Rating: 5 stars

January 14, 2013
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Torn Together by Emlyn Chand
Chick Lit Review

Torn Together by Emlyn Chand

I received a copy of TORN TOGETHER by Emlyn Chand in exchange for an honest review.

Daly has issues with trust and it’s understandable why. Whether it stems from her cheating boyfriend, her dead father or her judgemental mother, no one has ever come through for her when she needed them to. But, that all begins to melt away when she meets Kashi, a charmer who wants more for Daly than she wants for herself. Their romance blossoms and what ensues is an uplifting love that carries Daly into a positive place in her life … the only catch is that she must go to India and get the seal of approval from Kashi’s family. Meanwhile, in another world, her mother, Laine has become a widow and is struggling to cope. She attempts to flee from her life but finds her way back. Will the two find a way to mend their broken relationship? Or is it already too far gone?

This heartbreaking story about a broken relationship between a mother and her daughter is beautifully written. Although hard to summarize into words, Emlyn does a really great job developing characters and allowing them to define themselves through her writing. I loved watching the story unfold and I was really curious to see how everything would end up … and I was not disappointed. Overall, this story is a really good read. A ton of heart and I was definitely smitten with Kashi from the get go. I highly recommend this book to anyone looking for a great read.
Rating: 4.5

January 11, 2013
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CLP Blog Tours Book Review: A State of Jane by Meredith Schorr
Chick Lit Review

CLP Blog Tours Book Review: A State of Jane by …

Meredith Schorr is now on tour with CLP Blog Tours and A State of Jane. Meredith quickly made it on my Authors to Watch list, and is someone I can even credit with being a “virtual” friend. I was very much looking forward to reading A State of Jane and sure enough – it did not disappoint! Our MC is Jane Frank, someone I easily connected with right off the bat. It helps we are around the same age (twenties) and that I could understand easily what Jane was going through in her dating life. She feels like she should be settled down already, but she just can’t seem to hold on to a guy long enough to get that far. The novel follows her through her dating disasters, the flakes of New York City, and Jane trying to date like a guy.
I laughed my way through this novel. Schorr brings some fabulous comedy to the pages, but she also brings an element of empathy to her characters. I liked that Jane was not perfect, and even got a little mad at her myself while reading. But that is what makes her a real character, and I think this book will be very relatable to a lot of readers. A must-read from Meredith Schorr!
[Rating: 4.5]

January 11, 2013
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