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Dog Days by Elsa Watson
Chick Lit Review

Dog Days by Elsa Watson

Sometimes, I get so excited about a cover of a book that I don’t bother to read the synopsis. This was the case in Dog Days by Elsa Watson. I saw a cover with a dog on it, saw a title with the word “dog” and knew I had to read it. I am slightly obsessed with dogs – and I’m not even a dog owner. So when I sat down to read, I started as usual with the back cover blurb and learned the story is about a human (Jessica) and a dog (Zoe) that get struck by lightning and change places, Freaky Friday style. Hmmm. I wasn’t so sure about it at that moment. BUT – I loved it! I could not put this down for anything, and had it completed within two days. A 5 star book and a new addition to my Favorites List!
Jessica, a café co-owner, is deathly afraid of dogs. Which is a bit of trouble since the town she lives in loves their canines. They even host an annual event, Woofinstock, a festival celebrating all things dogs. When Jessica switches bodies with Zoe, an abandoned dog, she learns more about the creatures she feared for so long. It doesn’t take much for Jessica and Zoe to become fast friends, but they really need to switch bodies. Zoe can’t stop eating dog food in front of people, and Jessica has a business to run – and a sexy vet to date.
I laughed so hard throughout this entire book. My favorite line: “I guess I should have gone outside and looked for a dead bird to put on top, like I thought about doing.” This is from Zoe’s POV (in Jessica’s human body) after she mixes a raw steak with peanut butter, eggs, cheese and honey, and presents it as a gift to Jessica’s best friend and partner Kerrie. So hilarious. Most definitely one for your to-read list!
[Rating: 5]

June 1, 2012
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Must Love Dogs by Claire Cook
Chick Lit Review

Must Love Dogs by Claire Cook

Must Love Dogs by Claire Cook follows forty-year-old Sarah Hurlihy, a recently divorced preschool teacher who struggles with getting back out there into the dating market. Her sister sets up a personal ad for her and soon enough, Sarah is forced into the world of first time dating and awkward messages on her phone. Sarah is joined in the book by her hilarious cast of family, many of whom struggle as well in the dating world, as well as a few significant men in her new dating world.

Warm and charming, I found Must Love Dogs to be a must read and I’m glad that I finally had the opportunity to sink my teeth into it. I found Sarah’s journey post-divorce to be an honest portrayal of someone who hasn’t completely lost hope but is taking it incredibly cautious. The book is filled with witty observations about men and marriage and the heartache of dating. Honest and often times humorous, this book is an absolute must read.

[Rating 4.5-5]

June 1, 2012
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Willow Pond by Carol Tibaldi
Chick Lit Review

Willow Pond by Carol Tibaldi

Carol Tibaldi is currently on tour with CLP Blog Tours and Willow Pond. I was really curious about this book as it is set just after the Roaring Twenties, an era that I am in love with. Seriously, I can’t tell you how many times I have dressed up as a flapper for Halloween or costume parties. I love it! The story revolves around the kidnapping of Laura’s infant son, Todd. Snatched out from under the nanny’s nose, Todd’s kidnapping makes headline news because his father is a famous movie star and Laura is a popular author. Laura’s Aunt Virginia is also infamous as one of New York’s toughest and most successful speakeasy owners, and is known to be flourishing in the bootlegging business. After Todd is taken, eyes turn to Virginia, who may know more about the abduction than she is letting on. A new romance in Laura’s life also shakes things up in her world, but her most important quest is getting Todd back. Will she ever be reunited with her son?
The story started off a bit slow for me. There was a lot of changing of POV’s, which threw me for a loop. I think a few could have been eliminated, and it could have been much easier to follow. I did really enjoy the ending though. A lot of action started happening and I found myself flipping pages quickly to try to keep up with the storyline. I think the writing could have been a bit tighter as a whole, and there were a few scenarios that could have been cut out completely, letting the story move along quickly throughout, but a good debut novel nonetheless.
[Rating: 3.5]

May 30, 2012
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The Making of Us by Lisa Jewell
Chick Lit Review

The Making of Us by Lisa Jewell

The Making of Us by Lisa Jewell begins with Daniel, a man facing his last days of life. His friend Maggie sits with him as he tells the story of his life and reminisces both his regrets and secrets- one of the biggest being the children he has never met and more than likely never will. The three children all have very different lives and the novel picks up with each of them- Lydia, Dean, and Robyn. We learn quickly about the challenges that each of them faces and the way not knowing their father has changed them. Their respective lives all come to a hault and they find themselves looking for something … little do they know that they will find their way into each other’s lives. Will they find what they are looking for? Will having siblings be the missing pieces to their lives?

Endearing yet poignant, The Making of Us definitely has it all. I was very excited to get my hands on this one when I received the review request and I am glad to say that I was not dissappointed. I loved the character development and felt that the novel had a ton of heart. I found myself rooting for Lydia, Dean, and Robyn as they ventured into their pasts individually and their futures together. An absolutely fantastic book with a story line unlike anything I’ve ever read before. Lisa Jewell has just added another reader to her list of fans!

[Rating: 4.5/5]

May 30, 2012
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A Contented Mind by Samantha Hoffman
Chick Lit Review

A Contented Mind by Samantha Hoffman

Samantha Hoffman is currently on tour with A Contented Mind and CLP Blog Tours. First, let me say I love the cover of this book. It immediately drew me in and I stared at for a few seconds just relishing the beauty. Mmm, good covers. Okay, moving on! Meg Scott, a bestselling author who keeps her writing identity under wraps, is forced to move after someone found out her identity and broke into her secluded home. She packs up everything and moves to a beachfront house on the West Coast with her faithful Irish setter, Bob. Meg is also a talented violin player, and when a world renowned rock band begins a search for a violinist to accompany them on an acoustic tour, Meg reluctantly goes to an audition. It is there she meets Jadon Hastings, the band’s drummer, and a love story begins.
I enjoyed the love story between Meg and Jadon. Meg isn’t aware that Jadon is her neighbor, and the two share a musical bond when she plays the violin and he plays the piano, the two combining to make beautiful music. Meg already feels a connection with her mysterious neighbor, not aware she talks to him on a daily basis. Jadon knows he is in love with Meg, but assumptions keep him from admitting his feelings. After a while, I would have liked to see Meg and Jadon move forward in their relationship. Most of the book is them seeming to not like each other, while only their inner dialogue tells a different story. Also, some of the skipping around from different POV’s got to be a bit distracting. I thought the novel could have been just as good with only letting readers in to Meg and Jadon’s thoughts. There were some very intense moments along the way, and those scenes really helped keep me invested in the journey from beginning to end. Overall, a good debut from Samantha Hoffman, and one I would recommend to women fiction fans.
[Rating: 3.5]

May 29, 2012
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Vivid by Andrea Murray
Chick Lit Review

Vivid by Andrea Murray

Andrea Murray is currently on tour with CLP Blog Tours and Vivid. I have been reading more YA books, and more YA fantasy/paranormal novels as well, which this book fell into that category. The story follows sixteen year old Vivian Cartwright, who has the power to control energy. Her mother was killed when she was five, and her Aunt Charlotte took Vivian and went on the run to protect her from the people who killed her mom. Vivian tries living a normal life- being bullied in high school, fighting with friends, falling in love, but everything changes when she starts using her powers more. Soon, those who killed her mom find Vivian, and takes Aunt Charlotte hostage to lure Vivian to them.
Vivid definitely features a cliff-hanger, but the sequel, Vicious, is now out and I cannot wait to see what happens! This book moved very fast for me, and I really couldn’t believe when it was over so soon. The ending had me reading very quickly, eager to know what would happen to Vivian. I loved the romance element in the book and also the bullying. It made Vivian very real to me despite her power, and I was interested in her story throughout. One I would recommend if you enjoy YA material.
[Rating: 4]

May 28, 2012
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Better Off Without Him by Dee Ernst
Chick Lit Review

Better Off Without Him by Dee Ernst

Mona Berman, a best-selling romance author, knows how to write a fabulous happily-ever-after story. But her own world gets an unwelcome rewrite when her husband of twenty years leaves her for a much younger, thinner and French….girl. Her three teenagers daughters convince Mona she needs to give dating another shot, and spending the summer down at the Jersey Shore seems to be the perfect place for her to get back in the swing of things. But can Mona concentrate on her dates (the majority being blazing failures) when she can only think of Ben – the sexy plumber back at home that inspires her steamiest love scenes? Mona gets the idea for a new novel that features the heroine finding true happiness after being dumped. But will her writing reflect her own life?
I thought Better Off Without Him by Dee Ernst was a perfectly pleasant novel. I really connected with Mona regardless of our age difference, and I loved the romance between her and Ben. I thought some of the dates she went on while at the Shore were hilarious, and the cast of supporting characters really helped this book give it that extra oomph. I love books that feature atypical characters, and I definitely think that is where Better Off Without Him falls. A very enjoyable read that I would recommend to chick lit fans.
[Rating: 4]

May 25, 2012
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I Never Promised You A Goodie Bag by Jennifer Gilbert
Chick Lit Review

I Never Promised You A Goodie Bag by Jennifer Gilbert

I Never Promised You A Goodie Bag is a memoir that follows the life of successful party-planner, Jennifer Gilbert. Fresh out of college, Jennifer is eager and looking optimistically forward to a bright, successful future … but that all changes one afternoon when she is brutally attacked by a man with a screw-driver. It takes months for the physical scars to heal, but the emotional ones don’t go away quite so quickly. Determined to keep living her life and moving forward, Jennifer bravely launches an event planning business where she focuses on helping others celebrate life’s biggest moments because she isn’t convinced that she will ever be able to celebrate her own. The road isn’t easy, but Jennifer eventually begins to feel life stirring inside of her. She survives each bump and keeps moving forward- and in the end, it turns out to all be worth it.

Honest and vulnerable, I Never Promised You A Goodie Bag is an unforgettable memoir of survival, strength, courage, and self-redemption. To be quite honest, Jennifer is a fabulous writer. Her words flow seamlessly together as she takes you through her life, more often than not onto the next bump in the road … but she does so in such an easy and effortless way that it makes you feel like she were telling you over coffee as a girlfriend.

I laughed, I cried- and even sometimes did them both simultaneously. Overall, this is a wonderful read and I recommend it to anyone who is looking for a great portrait of personal healing, strength, and survival. It’s a tale about sucking it up and learning to let go of the things that are out of our control and forging forward, creating who we want to be instead of letting past events control us.

May 25, 2012
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Blame It on the Fame by Tracie Banister
Chick Lit Review

Blame It on the Fame by Tracie Banister

I was so excited to read Blame it on the Fame from my fellow author friend Tracie Banister. You got celebrities, award shows, glitz and glamour, backstabbing, romance, frenemies – and a bit of love and true friendship underneath it all. From the moment I started reading I could not put it down. This is one of the best chick lit books I’ve read this year, and a new addition to my Favorites list!
The story follows the lives of the five women nominated in the Best Actress category for the Oscars. You have the sweet-as-pie from the outside seasoned actress who is the biggest bitch behind closed doors, an ex-model turned actress who can’t stay away from the drugs and alcohol – or keep her pants on, an indie queen who tends to stay away from the limelight, a has-been making a comeback, and the outsider from the UK who no one knows in America. This insane cast of characters, along with some delectable supporting characters – make up Blame it on the Fame and make this an irresistible read!
The book moves at a fast pace, starting with the day the Oscar nominees are announced and give readers a glimpse into each of their lives. The peek into Hollywood made this book read like a juicy, juicy celebrity tell-all book, and I was actually holding my breath when it came down to announcing the winner. I loved the wrap-up at the end on what happened after that Oscar night to the leading ladies, and some stories had me laughing out loud. It got just a tad unbelievable at the end, as I’ve never really seen a celebrity drop bombs like what happened on the Oscar stage, but hey – could happen, right? Still a 5 star novel in my opinion!
[Rating: 5]

May 23, 2012
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