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Blackberry Winter by Sarah Jio
Chick Lit Review

Blackberry Winter by Sarah Jio

I received a copy of Blackberry Winter in exchange for an honest review. This book is a 5 star – a must-read. That’s all I have to say……Okay, not really, of course. But wow, what a book! I actually got up out of bed one night because I couldn’t sleep without knowing what would happen. That does not happen often. The story switches back and forth between 1933 and present day, set in Seattle, and both during a blackberry winter. In 1933, Vera Ray’s three year old son Daniel disappears one night while she is working the nightshift. Vera makes it her mission to get her heart back. In present day, reporter Claire Hanson gets assigned to write a story about the blackberry winter – a late-season snow storm. Her research takes her to the story of Vera Ray and her son Daniel, and Claire soon becomes obsessed with finding how her story ended. What happened to Vera? Was Daniel ever found?
Like I said, you must read this book. I had goosebumps almost the entire way through, and the way the writing flowed with such ease yet intensity makes this a top read of 2012, hands down. The ending left me breathless, in tears, and wanting to literally jump into the book and be with the characters and this inspiring tale. I can keep raving about this book all day, but I’m too afraid I’ll give even the slightest detail away, and I would hate doing that. Read this!
[Rating: 5]

September 26, 2012
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Home For Christmas by Cally Taylor
Chick Lit Review

Home For Christmas by Cally Taylor

I received a copy of Home For Christmas in exchange for an honest review.
Summary:
Beth Prince has always loved fairytales and now, aged twenty-four, she feels like she’s finally on the verge of her own happily ever after. She lives by the seaside, works in the Picturebox – a charming but rundown independent cinema – and has a boyfriend who’s so debonair and charming she can’t believe her luck! There’s just one problem – none of her boyfriends have ever told her they love her and it doesn’t look like Aiden’s going to say it any time soon. Desperate to hear ‘I love you’ for the first time Beth takes matters into her own hands – and instantly wishes she hadn’t. Just when it seems like her luck can’t get any worse, bad news arrives in the devilishly handsome shape of Matt Jones. Matt is the regional director of a multiplex cinema and he’s determined to get his hands on the Picturebox by Christmas. Can Beth keep her job, her man and her home or is her romantic-comedy life about to turn into a disaster movie?
My Review:
This was a charming romantic read, and I loved every minute of it! Beth is a down-to-earth, realistic heroine, and I felt like we could be BFF’s. I highly enjoyed Cally Taylor’s writing style, and will definitely seek more from her. The plot lines that connect Beth and Matt were spot-on, and I didn’t want this book to end. I enjoyed the ambition Beth showed as well, that made her even more likeable to me! I was engrossed in Home For Christmas the whole way through, and this is a 5 star worthy read – and not just a seasonal one!
[Rating: 5]

September 21, 2012
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A Promise of Safekeeping by Lisa Dale
Chick Lit Review

A Promise of Safekeeping by Lisa Dale

A Promise of Safekeeping by Lisa Dale is an eye-opening tale of redemption, a beautiful story filled with hope that will tug at heartstrings. Lauren Matthews was a fresh-paced young woman just starting her career when she got thrown on the case of a lifetime. Using her skill of “people-reading” to help lock up the case, she was the victor – and an innocent man went to jail because of her error. Arlen is now released from prison after nine years behind bars for a murder he did not commit, and Lauren seeks him out, hoping for forgiveness. She runs into his friend Will, about the only friend Arlen has left upon his release. In her quest for Arlen’s forgiveness, an unexpected friendship is formed between the person who helped Arlen go to his prison and his childhood friend.
I thought A Promise of Safekeeping was a fascinating story, and one that I could not put down. It’s impossible not to feel incredibly sad for Arlen, a man who was simply in the wrong place at the wrong time, and a legal case that got hurried along to be “solved.” It was interesting to watch how Lauren felt and how she tried to take action to make up for a past mistake. Will’s character was loyal to Arlen yet struggled with his feelings for Lauren, and he also had a secret that he was keeping hidden from everyone – family included. The story moved at a quick-enough pace for me, not real fast but it didn’t drag along, and the ending – oh the ending. No spoilers, but the ending bumped this up from a 4 to a 5 star review. One to read!

September 19, 2012
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Arcadia’s Gift by Jesi Lea Ryan
Chick Lit Review

Arcadia’s Gift by Jesi Lea Ryan

I received a copy of Arcadia’s Gift in exchange for an honest review. I have read Jesi Lea Ryan’s debut novel, Four Thousand Miles and was looking forward to her next offering. When she emailed me about reviewing it, I got even more excited because the book was taking place in my hometown of Dubuque, Iowa – and the characters even attend my high school of Dubuque Senior. When I first got to know Jesi, we both discovered we lived in Dubuque at one time, though she is now in Wisconsin and I am in Des Moines. Having that little personal connection made me eager to read the book, especially since there is a bit of a paranormal-type twist, which I love.
Arcadia “Cady” Day wakes up in the hospital with the memory of being hit by a train. But it wasn’t her that was in the accident,–– though the ache in her body and her days-long coma would beg to differ–– it was her twin sister, Lony who had lost in life in the Mines of Spain. Cady can’t believe how real it felt to her, and she also can’t believe her twin and best friend has been ripped away from her far too soon. Her family life has also been destroyed – her father is not living at home, her brother Aaron is suffering in silence, and her mom has taken to drinking and overmedicating to deal with her pain. The one bright spot is a new guy to Senior – Bryan Sullivan. Bryan helps Cady through her grief, and with the support of her close friends, Cady wonders if life is starting to head back to normal. But normal doesn’t seem to be in the cards for Cady, who starts to have more and more psychic episodes. Could she really have some sort of gift?
I loved every minute of this YA novel, and highly recommend Arcadia’s Gift! Not only was it touching and poignant with the loss of Cady, of new love, of a family dynamic through a tragedy, but Cady’s gift really made this story soar. I am very excited that this will be the first in a series, and cannot wait for book number two to come out. One to get on your must-read list!
[Rating: 5]

September 12, 2012
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The Good Woman by Jane Porter
Chick Lit Review

The Good Woman by Jane Porter

I received a copy of The Good Woman in exchange for an honest review. Jane Porter is a fabulous author, and I could not wait to pick this one up. Disappointment? Not here! I loved every second of this book, and my only regret was that I was reading it over a holiday weekend and couldn’t dive into it as often as I could. What makes me even happier is that it appears to be the first in a series about the Brennan family, and I can’t wait for the next book!
While the plot touches on each of the Brennan sisters – Meg, Kit, Sarah and Brianna, the main focus in on Meg. Mother of three, a doting wife, and a career woman, Meg has suddenly found herself unfilled with life. Her lacking passion in her marriage and the feel that she is always the one keeping the family together may have something to do with that feeling. When offered to attend a work conference in London with one her bosses, Meg accepts – and it changes everything.
Like I said, I just wish I had more time so I didn’t need to keep putting this down! I loved the family dynamic, the relationships between the sisters, and getting to know Meg. It is easy to see how conflicted she becomes, and it’s interesting to watch her make decisions and get to know her inner thoughts. Porter writes with a trait that makes her characters very genuine and very realistic, and that goes not just for Meg, but her three sisters as well. I absolutely cannot wait to read the rest in this series, and suggest you pick this one up!
[Rating: 5]

September 7, 2012
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Don’t Let Me Go by Catherine Ryan Hyde
Chick Lit Review

Don’t Let Me Go by Catherine Ryan Hyde

Catherine Ryan Hyde is currently on tour with CLP Blog Tours and Don’t Let Me Go. I was fascinated by this novel. The diverse group of characters, the range of Hyde’s writing skills, and a tightly wound plot equaled for a five-star review. The book switches back and forth between Grace and Billy, two completely opposite people. Grace is a nine year old girl with an addict mother, and Billy is a former Broadway dancer who is now an agoraphobic and has not stepped outside his apartment in years. When he keeps seeing Grace sitting alone outside the apartment building – day after day after day – he sums up the courage to at least make it to his porch and question the young girl. Her answer? “If I sit inside, then nobody will know I’m in trouble. And then nobody will help me.”
An eclectic group living in the apartment building bands together to help Grace. There is Billy, Rayleen the manicurist, older and quite lonely Ms. Hinman, bigoted Mr. Lafferty, and the kind Felipe. They take turns walking her to school, picking her up, caring for her in the evenings. At nine years old, Grace has an uncanny ability to understand that her mother is not doing the best job, especially when she is “loaded.” She clings to the stability and love her generous neighbors give her – but the situation takes a turn when the county is tipped off on what is happening, and comes poking around for answers.
Don’t Let Me Go was a heartwarming novel, and I loved every minute of it. The pages were filled with drama and love, and Grace just melted my heart. The unique relationship she formed with Billy was so beautiful, and I got tears in my eyes plenty of times while reading. This is a must-read!
[Rating: 5]

September 3, 2012
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Dewitched by EL Sarnoff
Chick Lit Review

Dewitched by EL Sarnoff

EL Sarnoff is currently on tour with CLP Blog Tours and Dewitched. Oh my word. This was one of the best books I’ve read so far this year. I loved every second of it, and will be snapping up the sequel as soon as it comes out! I was a huge fan of fairy tales and especially all the beautiful Disney princesses as a girl – and still am! From ages 21-25 I have been Cinderella, Snow White, Jasmine and Belle for Halloween, so clearly I never grew up! But enough about me, let’s get back to this book! Dewitched follows the life of the Evil Witch who tried to poison Snow White – after she did the poisoning. She gets thrown in jail for attempted murder and then to rehab – for evil addicts! The Evil Queen AKA Jane Yvel runs into Cinderella’s evil stepsisters, Captain Hook and more of the evil-goers from the beloved fairy tales in her quest to become un-evil.
I loved every second of this book. It was hilarious to read about the Queen being in rehab, and so much fun to read about the characters who would pop up – from Ariel and Ursula to Fiona from Shrek! I also loved the tweak on businesses – Barons and Noble, how awesome is that?! Sarnoff was creative with her plot, characters and overall concept – even though it is based on stories, it felt completely original to me. I cannot for Unhitched (being released October 2012) to be on sale and dive back into these fairy tales. A must-read!
[Rating: 5]

August 29, 2012
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The Sixes by Kate White
Chick Lit Review

The Sixes by Kate White

I was thrilled when I won a copy of The Sixes by Kate White in a giveaway. White is the editor-in-chief of Cosmopolitan magazine, and is a New York Times bestselling author, and I had yet to read a novel from her. So I tore into The Sixes with enthusiasm, and was engrossed in the story from the first page. Phoebe Hall finds herself in a sleepy college Pennsylvania job after her fabulous life crashes to pieces seemingly overnight. With her long-term boyfriend breaking up with her and being accused of plagiarizing her celebrity biography book, Phoebe needs a place to try to catch her breath. But she gets swept up in the mystery of a secret society on campus, one made of girls that would possibly go as far as murder. When the body of college female washes up from the river, the town’s facade is looking less and less rosy. Phoebe starts to distrust everyone in town – including the man she starts seeing, psychology professor Duncan Shaw. While she tries valiantly to find the real murderer, she doesn’t realize how close to them she may be – or how dangerous her path is.
I can’t even count how many times I got chills while reading this book. A true thriller, I was gasping and shrieking, and one time even found myself covering my eyes – something I do when watching scary movies (not as good when trying to read a book)! There is a lot going on in the story – to Phoebe’s current personal life, her past secrets, all the key players in the town, and plenty of suspense throughout the entire novel. I was thoroughly confused as to who the real killer was, and was shocked at the ending. I loved this mystery novel, suggest you read it, and can’t wait for more Kate White to land on my bookshelf!

August 17, 2012
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Bond Girl by Erin Duffy
Chick Lit Review

Bond Girl by Erin Duffy

I received a copy of Bond Girl in exchange for an honest review. First off let’s talk the cover. Loved it! Are all girls wired to just adore pictures of shoes or what? Second – loved the plot. It’s not often we get a female perspective of a “Street” worker – and by that I mean Wall Street. Alex Garrett knew from quite the young age that she wanted to follow in her father’s footsteps and conquer the illustrious Wall Street. She lands a job at Cromwell Pierce, of the best brokerage firms on the Street. Alex thinks she knows what she is in for – but quickly realizes it is much, much worse than anticipated. First off – no desk. She sits in a folding chair and peeks over the shoulders of her co-workers. She also is working in a for real boys club, answering to the name Girlie, and being the all-around slave around the place. But slowly but surely Alex starts to prove her worth – upgrading to a real desk, real responsibilities, and even people calling her given name instead of Girlie. Just when she thinks she might be catching her breath and getting used to the Street, the economy tanks and all of America is looking at the corporates on Wall Street as the cause.
Bond Girl is a real page turner. I just loved how unique the story was – not to mention a true behind the scenes look at Wall Street. I was fascinated, intrigued, and I also learned a lot throughout the book. Alex is a feisty individual, and nailed it as the MC. Smart, hard-working, but just when I thought she was wired like a dude, some emotions would break through. I didn’t want to put this book down once I started reading. It was a longer book too, but took me barely two days to get it read. I highly recommend Bond Girl, and this is one of my favorites of the year!
[Rating: 5]

August 10, 2012
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