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Happily Ever Madder by Stephanie McAfee

I recently reviewed Diary of a Mad Fat Girl by Stephanie McAfee and shared my excitement about reading the sequel. These are some seriously funny books, and chick lit fans need to snap these up! Happily Ever Madder picks up in Ace’s new town of Pelican Cove, Florida. She has left behind her native Bugtussle, Mississippi to start a new life with fiancé Mason and a new career – opening her own art gallery. She also had made a deal with herself – to get a new attitude. She is going to chuck away the straight-talking, sassy woman she once was and be a kinder, gentler version of Ace Jones. But with all the obstacles thrown her way in Pelican Cove, will the old Ace come to the surface – and can she really find true happiness at last?
I have to start with the ending – the cliffhanger literally made me shout out loud, loud enough for my fiancé to chuck his earbuds out and stare at me in shock. I am so excited to read the third book and figure out what happens to Ace. I really enjoyed the new cast of characters in this book, and how well the ones from the first book seamlessly slipped in. Ace is clearly struggling with a lot in Pelican Cove – getting on with Mason, her art gallery possibly being a bust, and a strange connection with the town player all being up there. But it’s the collision with Mrs. Lenore Kennashaw that really had me in stitches. I loved when Ace decided to chuck her nice-girl plan and finally get back at the wretched Lenore – the plan was genius! This book is written with humor but still a lot of feeling, and I have to give this sequel a big 5 stars!
[Rating: 5]

Magnolia by Carolina Garcia-Aguilera

I was curious when I was asked to review Magnolia by Caroline Garcia-Aguilera. The concept of the novel is about a twenty-two year old woman who leaves behind her family in her native Minneapolis to follow her boyfriend to Miami. The relationship doesn’t pan out, but Magnolia is too embarrassed to go home and hear “I told you so.” Fate puts her at a sports bar, where she meets Oona, a sports agent. The ladies begin chatting, and before Magnolia can figure out what is happening or why, Oona has offered Magnolia a position as an “edge” in her business. What does that mean? Magnolia is basically a high-priced call girl, ready and willing to make Oona’s athlete clientele happy at any moment. Magnolia finds herself living in a luxury apartment, driving a brand-new Mercedes, and making thousands of dollars per job. She glosses over the fact that what she is doing is illegal, and that she has to lie to family and friends – and new love interest Max – about what she is really doing in Miami.
I thought this book was interesting. I was hesitant at first to say yes to reviewing it because I was worried it was going to be a pretty explicit read, but it was not. It focuses more on Magnolia outside of her encounters with the athletes – thought there are still a few of those scenes written in. I did like Magnolia as a character; she admits freely to her flaws and openly struggles with the situation that she agreed to. It’s interesting to see how money can really factor into someone’s decision, though Magnolia did start out with good intentions. The first half of the book I was invested in, but then things started to get a bit wonky. I actually wondered if my book was formatted incorrectly because the timing didn’t make any sense. One minute Magnolia is gearing up to tell Oona she is quitting, the next there is three encounters in a row with no talk of quitting. Then suddenly she is in Japan on top of it, which really threw me. I also didn’t quite get the Max situation. Magnolia falls for him the night of Oona’s offer (where she is strictly told no boyfriends) but then he just seems to appear randomly throughout the book. I never quite got him or what he was there for. I also got frustrated at the end with Magnolia’s new business decision. She starts in Oona’s business to hopefully start a center for underprivileged kids, gives up on that because it’s too hard, wants to get out the business completely, but then starts her own business for call girls. I was just scratching my head with the second half of the book. I liked the concept, but unfortunately it just fell flat for me.
[Rating: 3]

The Baby Trap by Sibel Hodge

I received a copy of The Baby Trap in exchange for an honest review.
Summary:
Based on her own experiences with infertility and two attempts at IVF, Sibel Hodge’s latest novel The Baby Trap will have you laughing and crying at the ups and downs of modern baby-making…

When Gina turns thirty-three her body clock unexpectedly begins clanging in her ear with annoying persistence. The only problem is, having a baby isn’t as easy as she thought. Whether she’s feng shui-ing the house to death with fertility symbols, throwing out her husband’s tight boxers in favour of baggies, swapping wine and chocolate for green tea and yams, popping fertility drugs like M&M’s, or having sex so precision-timed it makes international warfare manoeuvres look unorganized, her life is turned upside down. And when nothing seems to be working, her quest for the B-word turns into an obsession.

Can Gina stay sane, get pregnant, and keep her marriage together? Or will her baby trail become a baby trap?
My Review:
What a fun read! I love books where I am nothing like the main character yet I totally get her. I think that is major kudos to the writer. I really enjoyed the energy between Gina and her husband. Gina gets a tad crazy when it comes to making a baby, but her hubs sticks by her even when she makes him lay off the alcohol and start drinking green tea. I am not on the baby train quite yet in my life, but I really got into this story. It was easy for me to connect with Gina and share in her heartache and sheer confusion on why they were not getting pregnant. The ending was super interesting, and I definitely recommend this book!
[Rating: 4.5]

The Boots My Mother Gave Me by Brooklyn James

The Boots My Mother Gave Me by Brooklyn James is a great coming of age fiction novel that anybody can relate to. Have you ever wondered what it would be like to walk through life in someone else’s shoes? Feisty tomboy, Harley LeBeau puts in the drivers seat as she puts you in the boots that her mother gave her and takes you a long for a wild ride. Although she is faced with a difficult choice, she chooses to save herself and escape an abuse childhood even though it means leaving her mother and younger sister behind. Along the way she finds her independence, spreads her wings and truly finds herself. She also learns to trust in love and in herself.

The book cover for this one threw me and to be honest, I wasn’t really looking forward to reading it based on that alone. But, that all changed once I cracked it open. The Books My Mother Gave Me is surprisingly deep and thoughtful and examines the dynamics of abuse relationships and what it takes to overcome one. I have always been one of those women who has never why a woman would stay in an abused relationship, but this book definitely opened my eyes and now I feel more compassionate. It is a tough choice especially when children are involved and this book digs deep to make you see that. I loved this story from the get go and Harley is a surprising hero as she stands up to her situation and makes some very solid decisions. Overall, a fantastic read that I highly recommend to any and all women.

And as a bonus, the author has compiled a music playlist that is also available for download. It’s very fun and definitely fits the many moods of the book. You should check it out.

[Rating: 4.5/5]

Diary of a Mad Fat Girl by Stephanie McAfee

I received a copy of Diary of a Mad Fat Girl in exchange for an honest review.
Summary:
Graciela “Ace” Jones is mad-mad at her best friend Lilly who cancels their annual trip to Panama City for mysterious reasons; at her boss Catherine for “riding her ass like a fat lady on a Rascal scooter;” at her friend Chloe’s abusive husband; and especially at Mason McKenzie, the love of her life, who has shown up with a marriage proposal one year too late. Ace is never mad, though, at her near-constant companion, an adorable chiweenie dog named Buster Loo.
Ace’s anger begins to dissipate as she takes matters into her own hands to take down Chloe’s philandering husband-and to get to the bottom of a multitude of other scandals plaguing Bugtussle, Mississippi. Then, she starts to realize that maybe Mason deserves a second chance after all.
With a sharp and distinctive voice, Stephanie McAfee delivers a hilarious and fast-paced tale about Ace Jones and her two best friends-thick as thieves and tough as nails-navigating Southern small-town politics and prejudices, finding love, and standing up for each other all the way.
My Review:
What a hoot! The concept reeled me in, the execution was flawless, and I loved all the Southern talk. I swear, I think in a past life I was a southern belle, because I am just addicted to these types of books! Ace was a hysterical main character, and I enjoyed every minute of going on an adventure with her. I loved Bugtussle, Mississippi and the characters that filled the town. And Buster Loo? I am seriously trying to persuade my fiancé to let me name our future pup after this chiweenie. (Would probably work better if we didn’t live in Iowa.) This is a must-read, and I am just as ecstatic to currently be reading the sequel, Happily Ever Madder!
[Rating: 5]

Fake Perfect Me by Cari Kamm

I received a copy of Fake Perfect Me in exchange for an honest review.
Summary:
Isabella Reynolds has the perfect life … or does she? Maybe there is a grand illusion behind all the glamour.
Isabella Reynolds seems to have it all–the former Southern belle with big dreams is the head of her own skin care company and is the self-proclaimed queen of all things beautiful in New York City. Then her world comes crashing down, and she is stripped of everything she loves–her man, the Italian litigator ”Saint” Santo; her company, and even her beloved dog, Potato. With her penchant for bingeing and purging, how can she turn her life around when she still feels the need to maintain her ”perfect” facade?
Fake Perfect Me, author Cari Kamm’s heart-warming–and often heartwrenching–tale of a successful New Yorker and her inner circle, offers an inside look at a world of excess. Isabella Reynolds may seem unlike anyone you’ve ever known, but at her core, she’s instantly recognizable. Her trials and tribulations, her ups and downs, are much the same as anyone’s. Her world may have a high price tag, but its true value comes from its losses and lesson… to love one’s self.
Review:
I had a fabulous time reading this book. Isabella and I might not be anything alike, but she didn’t turn me off at all. I thought it was fascinating to read about her lifestyle choices. She was clearly a little lost, and even though from the outside it could seem she has it all, behind closed doors it’s a different story. She battles heavily with binging and purging, and it seemed so normal for her that it took me second to realize that she actually had a serious disorder. The synopsis says that at the core Isabella is a normal person, and I definitely saw that. She was dealing with a lot of personal issues – a break up, a bust business, and who could forget her puppy Potato – awesome name by the way. I was hooked by her story and found the plot to be quite compelling. I would recommend to chick lit fans!
[Rating: 4]

Happily Ever Before by Aimee Pitta and Melissa Peterman

I received a copy of Happily Ever Before in exchange for an honest review. I had a lot of fun and a lot of laughs…

Touchable Love by Becky Due

I received a copy of Touchable Love in exchange for an honest review.

Summary:
Christy has dreams of becoming a successful photographer, but she has lived fast and wild, and fears she has contracted HIV. In an attempt to get her life back on track, she starts working for Paul, a successful, gay photographer who is dying of AIDS. He wants her to photograph his journey to death for a book to help others avoid his mistakes and encourage them to get tested.

And so begins the untraditional love story of Christy and Paul. Experiencing real love for the first time in her life, she secretly fights to keep him alive against his unflinching decision to refuse treatment for his condition. As Paul’s health deteriorates, Brian, Paul’s nurse, enters their lives—and falls in love with Christy.

Christy becomes deeply depressed and isolates herself from everyone, including Brian. The months pass until one day she sees Paul’s publisher and lawyer on TV promoting Paul’s book. She realizes that she wants to make a difference—she wants to finish what Paul and she started.

So Christy begins the work of taking her life back. She reconnects with Brian, connects with other women, and searches for the courage to face her past and get tested. HIV positive or not, she wants to begin her new life.
My Review:
I have previously reviewed another novel by Becky Due, The Dumpster, and it was not for me. I did really appreciate the author emailing me thanking me for giving her a try, and she did offer to send me another title for my thoughts. I thought this was great, because I have been blasted by authors for more favorable reviews, which is really disheartening as a book blogger. So I did appreciate Due and even though I was a bit apprehensive, I gave Touchable Love a go. I again just couldn’t get into the book. It took me almost to the end to connect with the characters, and even though there was a nice little twist ending that I caught, it was hard for me to really get into it because I struggled throughout the majority of the book. I’m bummed that it didn’t work out for me, but again, I commend Becky Due for her professionalism in this industry.

November Surprise by Laurel Osterkamp

I am reviewing November Surprise by Laurel Osterkamp for CLP Blog Tours. Clearly, this blog tour comes at the perfect time – election fever! The story talks a lot of presidential elections over the course of twenty years, each section given its own headline from that time on which election is happening. I was just a touched worried that the book was simply going to focus on politics, because while I follow the elections every four years, I don’t have a lot of knowledge in politics, and I know that it’s not always polite to talk politics (or post 8 million Facebook status on the subject!). But I quickly realized I had no need to worry – I was so focused on the love story/triangle that MC Lucy Jones has found herself in. I loved the angle between brothers Jack and Monty, one that Lucy dated back in the day, and one that Lucy thinks she could fall in love with in present time. There is also a companion book to November Surprise which is Campaign Promises, which is free on Amazon and can be read in any order.
I thought the concept and execution of this novel was spot-on. I loved the headlines of each section and how it moved from this year to that year to this year flawlessly. I think it had the danger of feeling jumpy since it was skipping four years at a time, but I have to give major kudos to Osterkamp for making me barley blink from section to section. The last few chapters had me a bit miffed with Lucy and her indecisiveness and almost self-inflicted pain, but she redeemed herself for me! I would say even if you aren’t into politics don’t be afraid to grab this book, as it’s a lovely romance read. Lucy is a democrat and her views are clearly shown, but I didn’t feel at any point I was trying to be swayed any which way politic-wise. Fab book!