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Loving David by Gina Hummer
Chick Lit Review

Loving David by Gina Hummer

I received a copy of Loving David in exchange for an honest review. I will say off the bat that I really enjoyed this novel, and was engrossed throughout the two days it took me to read it. The MC is Charlotte, a forty-something romance writer who is content to be independent. She caught her husband in an affair, and shortly after he and his girlfriend were killed in a car accident. David King, a thirty year-old heartthrob actor, jumps into Charlotte’s vehicle one day while trying to escape the paparazzi. Charlotte helps him escape the photogs, and the two quickly fall in love. Even though they have many obvious differences – age and lifestyle topping that list – the pair are quickly jet-setting around the country, moving in together, and tying the knot. Charlotte thinks she has it all, but her fairy-tale comes to a heartbreaking end.
When I first picked up the book, I’ll admit that I thought both the title and cover were just a tad on the safe side. Once I started getting into the story, I understood where the title was coming from and even more so the cover, and I quickly got over the qualm! For the actual story, I thought it was really beautiful, even though sometimes I thought the dialogue was too stuffy. Charlotte and David made such a wonderful couple, and seeing their relationship grow was special to me as a reader. Gina Hummer has a great talent for building unique characters and scenes. One thing I will say – I don’t think the synopsis fully covers what this story is about. After I read the back cover, I thought it would be a celebrity/non-celebrity relationship that deals with Hollywood. It’s really nothing like that. Not a whole lot gets touched on Hollywood or the celebrity part of David’s life. The ending is incredibly sad, and I was crying when I finished the book. I just wanted to be sure to include that part so readers aren’t so thrown off like I was. There is also a lot of romance between the pages and very detailed sex scenes. Overall, I really enjoyed this novel and hope you read it!
[Rating: 4.5]

July 4, 2012
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Sorority Sisters by Claudia Welch
Chick Lit Review

Sorority Sisters by Claudia Welch

The heartfelt and charming, Sorority Sisters by Claudia Welch, begins in 1975 and follows four young Beta Pi pledges (Karen, Ellen, Laurie, and Diane) who are trying to find their place in college. The story follows them through their four years at university … and although they start off as mere strangers, the four girls forge a friendship that follows them for the rest of their lives. Through thick and thin and the ups and downs of life, the four girls become like sisters, truly creating an unbreakable bond.

I absolutely adored Sorority Sisters by Claudia Welch and truly admire what the book stands for. It’s a story about true friendship, one that spans over many years, and those types of books don’t come along very often. I absolutely loved all four of the girls (each with their very own wit and charm) and often found myself thinking about my best girlfriends and all of the memories that we have shared over the years. I loved the altering view points of each chapter and how we really got to know the characters through EVERY aspect of their lives. All too often, stories are told during the best part of a characters life, but we get to really know these girls through it all. Honest and real, Sorority Girls is a wonderful piece of story telling. I would highly recommend this book to anyone looking for a one of a kind book about love and friendship.

[Rating: 5/5]

July 3, 2012
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Down At The Golden Coin by Kim Strickland
Chick Lit Review

Down At The Golden Coin by Kim Strickland

Down at the Golden Coin by Kim Strickland follows former pilot Annie Mullard, as she sinks to a new low in life and must go to run-down Laundromat, conveniently named The Golden Coin, to do her laundry. As if her luck couldn’t get any worse, the washing machine breaks down. But, it is fate stepping in and it is here that she meets Violet, a Messiah of sorts.

Down at The Golden Coin by Kim Strickland was not at all what I expected when I first started reading it. In my opinion, the name gives it quite the spin and I can’t help but to think of it being about an adventure of some type. Well, don’t be fooled like me … this book is more along the lines of a self-help book and about improving your overall outlook on life. Now, don’t run away just yet. It isn’t your typical self help book- this book is filled with wit and humor and it makes you really ponder the life that you are living. Kim does a fabulous job of making you think and making you see things in a different light. Overall, a great read and I would highly recommend it for anyone looking for a little pick me up.

[Rating: 4/5]

July 2, 2012
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Clean Break by David Klein
Chick Lit Review

Clean Break by David Klein

The intense and sharply written novel, Clean Break by David Klein, follows Celeste Vanek as she asks her gambling husband for a divorce. She hopes to make a clean break (hence the title of the book) but that becomes a very unlikely scenario when her husband demands his family back … and does so in a very violent way. Jake Atwood witnesses the shockingly violent scene between the husband and wife, which ties in the second portion of the story. As if Jake hasn’t seen enough, we quickly learn that he has his own issues and is taking part in an affair with Sara, a married police detective. All of the characters and their story lines are interwoven together and they soon learn how that one crime will change their lives forever.

Psychological, suspenseful, engrossing, powerful, gripping …. there just aren’t enough words to describe Clean Break by David Klein. I was pulled in instantly from the opening paragraphs and read it in one day. David Klein creates very believable characters and very REAL emotions when describing a broken marriage and a family that has seen better days. There are several key moments throughout the book that make you question whether or not you would make the same choices and this book makes you think. Definitely not a happyily-ever-after kind of book, but overall, very thought provoking and a great, suspenseful read. I definitely finished the book grateful for my husband and our happy marriage.

[Rating: 4.5/5]

June 29, 2012
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Falling Uphill by Wendy Nelson Tokunaga
Chick Lit Review

Falling Uphill by Wendy Nelson Tokunaga

Falling Uphill by Wendy Nelson Tokunaga follows main character Candace Grey, an anthropology teacher at a small college in Michigan, as she receives an alarming message on her phone from San Francisco stating that “Ruth Fenton is dead.” Ironically, she is set to leave for California (Los Angeles) to conduct research on 1960’s TV star Pamela Parrish for her thesis at the same time. Instead she heads off to San Francisco after she discovers that Ruth Fenton is a long lost relative … only to meet a woman at the memorial service who claims that the subject of her thesis (Pamela Parrish) didn’t die quite like everyone claims, and that she was murdered instead of supposedly commiting suicide. This news invokes the inner mystery solver in Candace, and she knows that she must get to the bottom of it, plus, it would be a break through for her paper. While attempting to get to the bottom of the mystery, Candance begins to suspect her boyfriend back home of cheating, and also begins a small romance with a painter. What will happen with Candace? Will she be able to solve the mystery? Or will her life go up in flames?

Light hearted and moving, Falling Uphill is the perfect mix of romance and mystery. The whole time I felt like I was right there with Candace trying to solve the mystery, as well as live vicariously through her as she struggles in the romance department. Wendy Nelson Tokunaga does a good job at creating honest characters that go through the real ups and downs of love and life, whilst also uncovering a few shadows in the closet. My biggest complaint is that the book starts off a slow in the beginning. I almost gave up, but kept with it, and am glad that I did. Overall, a pretty good read.

[Rating: 3.5/5]

June 28, 2012
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Ocean Beach by Wendy Wax
Chick Lit Review

Ocean Beach by Wendy Wax

I received a copy of Ocean Beach in exchange for an honest review. This was the first book I read from Wendy Wax, and I was excited to tear into it. The story followed characters from her previous novel Ten Beach Road ¬- Madeline, Avery and Nicole. After renovating Bella Flora, the women get an opportunity to fix up another home – this time in South Beach and while shooting a pilot for a television show called Do Over. What they didn’t realize is that the TV show about renovating old homes has actually turned into a reality show. Maddie’s daughter Kyra had an affair with a much-married famous actor that produced a son, and the producers are dead-set on having the baby a feature in the show. Avery’s mother Deirdre is also along for the ride, and trying to mend their broken relationship. Deirdre left Avery when she was a young girl to pursue her career, and Avery is unsure she can ever get past that betrayal. Nicole is trying to overcome a scandal her money-hungry brother put her through and get her matchmaking business back on track, and Maddie is trying to save her own marriage. The women invade the house and meet the sweet old man who owns it, Max. Together, the entire group try to put the once lively house back together – but an air of mystery surrounds why Max is so insistent on getting it “ready” for someone from the past.
I will say, I think you need to read Ten Beach Road before Ocean Beach. When I got the book, I didn’t realize it was a continuation from a previous novel, but I could easily tell right from the beginning that was clearly the case. I just felt like I had missed a huge chunk of storyline, and that feeling never went away. While I enjoyed the story and the characters, I most definitely recommend you read Ten Beach Road first. I really enjoyed the mystery aspect of Max and Millie’s missing son, though I will say that it wasn’t too much of a mystery. I had it figured out right away, and in my eyes it was fairly obvious as to who the child abductor was. Krya drove me a bit batty with her decisions, which were also obvious that they were going to backfire on her, but I enjoyed the dynamic between her and her mom Maddie. One thing that confused me – and this is a really small detail – was the back and forth between Nicole and Nikki. At first, I thought they were two separate people, and I got a bit lost. But Nicole and other characters refer to her as both, and I just didn’t understand the constant switching. Max was such a sweet character, I loved how jovial he was and the love story that happened between him and his late wife Millie was so enchanting. Overall, I liked the book and would recommend – after Ten Beach Road of course!
[Rating: 4]

June 27, 2012
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Offbeat Love Stories and More by Jennifer Lafferty
Chick Lit Review

Offbeat Love Stories and More by Jennifer Lafferty

Offbeat Love Stories and More by Jennifer Lafferty is a collection of short stories, often times centered around love. The pieces are very, very different in comparison to one another and there is no common theme or characters to string them together, but they are fun nonetheless. The plot of each story is unique in its own way, and the characters are believable and real, struggling with the same types of issues that most people do. My favorite tale by far was “The Prom Date,” which is a cute tale about young people coming to age and trying to figure it all out.

I wasn’t sure what to expect when I started reading Offbeat Love Stories and More, but I am glad that I gave it a shot. I am so used to having short stories weave together and eventually incorporate the same few characters or so, but Lafferty has done something very unique here with hers. I also really enjoyed that each of the stories are told from a completely different point of view (whether it be age, gender, race, etc). Overall, I would recommend this to anyone looking for something a little different. The material is fresh and original. Well done Jennifer!

[Rating: 4/5]

June 26, 2012
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Kissing the Cotton Clouds by Michela O’Brien
Chick Lit Review

Kissing the Cotton Clouds by Michela O’Brien

Kissing the Cotton Clouds by Michaela O’Brien follows three friends: Livy, Seth and Aidan. The book follows the trio through twenty five years of life, starting when they were teenagers all the way deep into adulthood. Having gone through life and its successes, failures, heartaches, and great loves … they realize that life is rarely what you imagined, or what you hoped for at fifteen – and sometimes things don’t turn out quite like you think. As the author takes us through time, we witness how they each take on their own lives.

The novel is separated by year and I found the transition to be fairly easy to follow. Michela created characters that are well developed and you feel for each of them as they journey through life, but I felt that I was often times distracted from the main story by the backdrop of the issues of the times. While it definitely enhances the story and makes it feel more authentic, I felt like I never really got to know the characters because of it. My other major complaint is that I had a hard time relating to the language in the book because Michela uses a lot of British slang in the book, and although it feels very realistic, it is hard for an outsider like myself to understand. Other than that, the book as a whole was well written (besides these two minor points) and I enjoyed the book a fair amount. However, it did take me quite sometime to get through seeing as how I was often distracted by everything else going on instead of the story itself.

[Rating: 3/5]

June 25, 2012
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Between You and Me by Emma McLaughlin and Nicola Kraus
Chick Lit Review

Between You and Me by Emma McLaughlin and Nicola Kraus

Between You and Me by Emma McLaughlin and Nicola Kraus follows Logan Wade and her somewhat normal existence … that is until she gets a call from her famous cousin Kelsey saying that she needs a new assistant. Usually, business between family members if a bad idea, but what happens when your family member happens to be a world renowned pop sensation and Fortune Magazine’s most powerful celebrity? Logan dives in when Kelsey makes her an offer that she can’t refuse, but their relationship is quickly but to the limits when tensions rise on tour and Logan has to be the middle man between Kelsey and her parents. Anxious for some normalcy, Kelsey tries to break away from it all, but she ends up making mistake after mistake. Kelsey continues to unravel in the public eye and it is only a matter of time until Logan must make a choice between saving herself, and saving her cousin.

When I was first contacted about reviewing Between You and Me, I instantly said yes. I’ve been a big fan of both authors for quite sometime now and was anxious to see their latest joint venture in paper back, and I was thoroughly impressed with this book. If you are a fan of Britney Spears (who isn’t right?!?), then you will really enjoy this book because it closesly mirrors her life the last couple of years as she fell from pop princess to absolute train wreck. The authors wrote Kelsey in a perfect comparison to Miss Britney and she plays the role perfectly. She is unpredictable and dying for attention, even though she vows that she wants nothing less. The book is fast paced, entertaining, and a perfect piece of fictional pop culture. I could definitely see Kelsey plastered on the front pages of our gossip magazines with some of the stunts that she pulls in the book. Overall, a perfect summer time read – a true escape and a wild ride.

[Rating: 5/5]

June 22, 2012
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