Book Review: Pulled Beneath by Marni Mann
Reviewer: Samantha I was given a copy of this book from BookTrope Publishing Summary: What happens when you uncover years of secrets and find out…
Book Review: Social Death by Tatiana Boncompagni
Reviewer: Samantha I received a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. Summary: GONE GIRL meets GOSSIP GIRL in this gripping new…
CLP Blog Tours Book Review: Something Yellow by Laura Templeton
Laura Templeton is now on tour with CLP Blog Tours and Something Yellow
Summary:
It has been thirteen years since Holly’s nine-year-old sister, Rachel, disappeared without a trace.
It has been thirteen years since Holly left her hometown.
It has been thirteen years since Holly’s first love and high school boyfriend, Houston, was the only suspect.
Now another nine-year-old girl has disappeared.
Holly is back, and so is Houston—never charged and still proclaiming his innocence.
Can she trust him . . . should she trust him?
Review:
Um, wow. What a read. This book is so emotional, so gripping, that is was nearly impossible for me to put down. When I wasn’t reading I was thinking about the story, wondering about the missing little girls and Holly’s family life and the little town that has seen so much sadness. The writing is beautiful and poignant, and builds up the scenes in your mind as you frantically flip through the pages trying to find the resolution. I honestly had no idea who was behind Holly’s sister disappearance, and when the true story finally came to life, I got goosebumps all up and down my arms. A truly wonderful read, and five stars in my eyes!
5 stars
CLP Blog Tours Book Review: The Hole in the Middle …
Kate Hilton is now on tour with CLP Blog Tours and The Hole in the Middle
Summary:
Sophie Whelan is the epitome of the modern superwoman. When she operates at peak performance, she can cajole balky employees, soothe her cranky children, troubleshoot career disasters, throw a dinner party for ten and draft an upbeat Christmas letter — all in the same day.
But as Sophie’s fortieth birthday looms, her seamless life reveals disturbing web-like fractures. Conflict with her boss, blossoming jealousy of her husband’s femme fatale business partner and her feelings of hopeless inadequacy as a mother and daughter are cracking the edifice of her life.
Rescue may be at hand when Lillian Parker, a wealthy widow who befriended Sophie during her university days, makes Sophie an irresistible offer. Why, then, does Sophie hesitate? The answer is the reappearance of Lillian’s nephew, Will Shannon, the great unresolved love of Sophie’s life. As she remembers the vivid drama of their college romance, Sophie confronts the choices she has made in life and in love and looks for the one answer that has always eluded her: what does she really want?
The Hole in the Middle is a heartbreaking love story, a laugh-out loud portrayal of the twin demands of work and family and a fresh take on the hot debate about having it all.
Review:
The Hole in the Middle is an extremely well-written and thought-provoking novel. From the first pages I was already invested in Sophie’s story, and the stress she felt as a professional, a mother, and as a wife. The story from her past that was weaved in with the present was quite interesting, and I loved reading about the great Lillian that was such a force in Sophie’s life. While I was perfectly content and happy with this novel the first three-fourths through, the ending and the twist that came with it put this over the top for me. Five stars and I highly recommend. I’m so happy I got to meet this author in person as well, and I look forward to more from her!
5 stars
*Anyone who leaves a comment on the tour page will be entered to win a $20 Amazon gift card! Anyone who purchases their copy of The Hole in the Middle before January 27 and sends their receipt to Samantha (at) ChickLitPlus (dot) com will get 5 bonus entries!*
Author Bio:
Kate Hilton has worked in law, higher education, public relations, fundraising and publishing. She has an English degree from McGill University and a law degree from the University of Toronto. She holds down a day job, volunteers for community organizations, raises two boys, cooks, collects art, reads voraciously and likes her husband. In her free time, she writes. On good days, she thinks she might have it all. On bad days, she wants a nap.
The Hole in the Middle is Kate’s first book. Kate is represented by Beverley Slopen of the Beverley Slopen Literary Agency in Toronto.
Connect with Kate!
Website: www.katehilton.com
Blog: www.katehilton.com
Facebook page: Kate Hilton Author
Goodreads author page:https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/4342012.Kate_Hilton
Twitter: @katemhilton
Buy the Book!
Amazon: http://www.amazon.ca/The-Hole-In-Middle/dp/1443429538/ref=pd_rhf_gw_p_t_1_ACQW
My Top Ten of 2013
And another year is in the books! 2013 was fabulous for me – bought a house, got married, got a puppy. Marching Ink published two novels, I finished my third (to be published in February), and went to BookBuzz Toronto – check out my author blog for that experience! Also on that blog are my goals for 2014. Instead of a resolution I thought of 10 goals I would like to achieve this year. I hope to be able to check them all off! I reviewed 189 novels in 2013 on Chick Lit Plus (crazy!) and while I think that number will go down this year because of the different projects I’m doing, I still hope to review around 100. I guess we’ll see…in 2015!
Here are my ten favorite reads of 2013. Enjoy my list and Happy New Year all!
Blogger Girl – Meredith Schorr
Hush Little Baby – Suzanne Redfearn
The Girl You Left Behind – JoJo Moyes
Everybody’s Got a Story – Heather Wardell
The Life List – Chrissy Anderson
How To Eat a Cupcake – Meg Donohue
Becoming Mrs. Walsh – Jessica Gordon
Zoey & The Moment of Zen – Cat Lavoie
Caramel and Magnolias – Tess Thompson
Hard Hats and Doormats – Laura Chapman
CLP Blog Tours Book Review: Blogger Girl by Meredith Schorr
Meredith Schorr is now on tour with CLP Blog Tours and Blogger Girl
Summary:
What happens when your high school nemesis becomes the shining star in a universe you pretty much saved? Book blogger Kimberly Long is about to find out. A chick lit enthusiast since the first time she read “Bridget Jones’s Diary,” Kim, with her blog, “Pastel is the New Black,” has worked tirelessly by night to keep the genre alive, and help squash the claim that “chick lit is dead” once and for all. Not bad for a woman who by day ekes out a meager living as a pretty, and pretty-much-nameless, legal secretary in a Manhattan law firm. While Kim’s day job holds no passion for her, the handsome (and shaving challenged) associate down the hall is another story. Yet another story is that Hannah Marshak, one of her most hated high school classmates, has now popped onto the chick lit scene with a hot new book that’s turning heads—and pages—a cross the land. It’s also popped into Kim’s inbox—for review. With their ten-year high school reunion drawing near, Kim’s coming close to combustion over the hype about Hannah’s book. And as everyone around her seems to be moving on and up, she begins to question whether being a “blogger girl” makes the grade in her off-line life.
Review:
Even if Meredith Schorr wasn’t one of my favorite authors – who I got to meet in person this month – I knew I had to read this book from the moment I read about it. A book about a chick lit book blogger – um, yes please! I highly recommend every book blogger to read this, because it will be so relatable to you. I can’t even count how many times I thought, “Is this book about me? I do that too! Okay, seriously, how did Meredith jump in my head?” while reading. I loved it! It was awesome to meet her at BookBuzz Toronto so I could tell her in person how much I enjoy not only all of her books, but Blogger Girl especially. I could turn that experience into a whole separate post (which I will do, sometime!) but I’ll try to stay focused on the book. Solid writing, great editing, a fast-paced book that made me laugh, made me mad, made me hold my breath, and 5 star worthy! Now go get it!
5 stars
Book Review: Facebook Jeanie by Addison Westlake
Reviewer: Samantha
I received a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
Summary:
It’s Bridget Jones meets Groundhog Day…
Ever wonder if you made the right choice? What if you could go back and find out?
31-year-old Clara is in a steady relationship—with Facebook. Every night after her depressing bureaucratic job (so much for saving the world), after coming home to her empty apartment Clara settles down with a pint of ice cream for some good, old-fashioned Facebook stalking. It’s her college boyfriend, The One Who Got Away. He now has a perfect marriage, perfect house, perfect life—everything she could have had if she hadn’t been so, so stupid.
But, wait. Jeanie from Facebook shows up at Clara’s job. There’s a new app they’re beta-testing and Clara’s perfect for it. That night she clicks on it and… nothing happens. But the next morning when Clara wakes up at noon, hung over, listening to her roommate blow-drying her hair and singing “Gettin’ Jiggy Wit It”, she realizes she’s back in college. With the chance to do it all over again.
Back in the world of frat parties, BFFs, and long-suffering, overlooked lab partners, join Clara as she discovers what it really means to hit the reset button on life. What could possibly go wrong? And, this time, can she get it right?
Review:
What a freaking hoot of a book! I loved this one from beginning to end. The modern element and comical factor of Facebook designing a time travel app had me laughing up a storm and talking to my friends about the crazy “what if?” factor. I loved watching Clara try to get it right, and some of the new lives she is thrust into are just plain hilarious. The ending worked out as it should, but of course I won’t tell you what that means to me 😉 Read this one to find out and for a good laugh!
5 stars
GoodReads
Book Review: This Fragile Life by Kate Hewitt
I received a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
Summary:
You love your best friend. You trust her with your life. But could you give her the most precious gift of all? Alex’s life is a mess. She’s barely holding down a job, only just affording her apartment, and can’t remember when she was last in a relationship. An unexpected pregnancy is the last thing she needs. Martha’s life is on track. She’s got the highflying career, the gorgeous home and the loving husband. But one big thing is missing. Five rounds of IVF and still no baby. The solution seems simple. Alex knows that Martha can give her child everything that she can’t provide. But Martha’s world may not be as perfect as it seems, and letting go isn’t as easy as Alex expected it to be. Now they face a decision that could shatter their friendship forever. Provocative. Emotional. Affecting. Share This Fragile Life with your best friend.
Review:
I knew just from reading the synopsis that this one was going to be hard to put down, and I was right. It’s impossible not to be sucked into the worlds of Martha and Alex, two very different friends facing such a tough decision. I really had no idea how the story was going to end – would Alex change her mind and want to keep the baby? If she gave it up to Martha, would their friendship survive? I won’t give away any hints to what does happen, only that the book made me very emotional and made me think long and hard about what it means to be a mother. I think the book was written right in that we got POV’s from both women, and I really couldn’t imagine it not being that way. I finished this novel in one day, because I just had to find out how the story played out. One of my favorites of the year, and I do plan on sharing this with my girlfriends!
5 stars
CLP Blog Tours Book Review: Tiara Trouble by Lane Buckman
Lane Buckman is now on tour with CLP Blog Tours and Tiara Trouble
Summary:
What happens when Dynasty meets Honey BooBoo, they have a baby, and that baby is raised by Charlie’s Angels? You get TIARA TROUBLE, a bedazzled cozy mystery full of gritty glitz.
One foreign policy question five years ago sent Destinee Faith Miller’s dreams of being Miss American Universe up in flames and landed her back in her hometown of Phenix City, Alabama, with her tail between her legs. But like the mythological bird that her hometown is misspelled after, she rose from the ashes to create Destinee’s Dolls, a thriving pageant consulting business knee-deep in pink, prints and tulle.
A death at the local level of a national event lands her the job of pageant emcee, and Destinee dares to dream of bigger things—maybe even a reality TV show! But when judges start dropping like flies, she has her hands full keeping herself alive long enough to see those dreams come true. Contending with catfights, car bombs, and the camouflage-colored funeral of a redneck’s dream, Destinee gets a little help from her friends, family, and a pit bull named Clarabelle.
Review:
Oh my, oh my. What a hilarious book! I’m not one to normally shout out books while I’m reading them, but I had to with this one. I laughed my way through the story, and my urge to visit the South only grew. I loved the beauty pageant storyline (and as someone who used to compete in pageants, I’ve seen first-hand the weirdness that goes on with them) and of course – I’m such a mystery junkie as well! I was reading parts of the story aloud to my friends so we could get a good giggle, and this book is definitely being added to my Favorites List! If you like a light-hearted mystery and a good laugh, check this one out!
5 stars
**Everyone who leaves a comment on the tour page will be entered to win a $20 Amazon gift card! Anyone who purchases their copy of Tiara Trouble before November 18 and sends their receipt to Samantha (at) ChickLitPlus (dot) com, will get five bonus entries.**
Author Bio:
Lane Buckman is a former beauty queen from Phenix City, Alabama. Growing up, she wanted to be Miss America, a criminal lawyer, a super model, the President, a Bond girl, a brain surgeon, a journalist, a back-up singer for Duran Duran, and a college professor of Medieval Literature. In order to fulfill those dreams, she became a writer. She lives in Texas with her family, and enjoys every miserably hot second of it.
Connect with Lane!
www.lanebuckman.com
www.facebook.com/lanebuckmanauthor
www.twitter.com/lanelese
Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/18430826-tiara-trouble?from_search=true
Buy the Book!
Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/TROUBLE-Destine-Miller-Mystery-ebook/dp/B00EWSB3GG/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1382403186&sr=8-1&keywords=tiara+trouble
Barnes & Noble: http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/tiara-trouble-lane-buckman/1116793010?ean=9781939816160
