On Tour: Tainted Love by Erin Cawood
Erin will be on tour June 17-28 with her novel Tainted Love Is it possible for a heart to survive twenty five years of abuse…
Book Review: Tattered Innocence by Ann Lee Miller
I received a copy of Tattered Innocence by Ann Lee Miller in exchange for an honest review.
Summary:
A tale of passions indulged, denied, and ultimately forgiven:
On the verge of bagging the two things he wants most—a sailing charter business and marrying old money—Jake Murray’s fiancée/sole crew member dumps him. Salvation comes in the form of dyslexic, basketball toting Rachel Martin, the only one to apply for the first mate position he slapped on craigslist.
On a dead run from an affair with a married man, Rachel’s salvation is shoving ocean between her and temptation.
Rapid fire dialogue and romantic tension sail Jake’s biker-chick of a boat through hurricanes, real and figurative. A cast of wannabe sailors, Rachel’s ex, Jake’s, a baby—go along for the ride.
The many-layered story weaves together disparate strands into a seamless cord. Mother and daughter look eerily alike—down to their lusts. Their symbiotic bond, forged in the blood of childbirth on the kitchen floor and cemented by their secrets, must be cracked open. A son must go home. Sin must be expunged.
Tattered Innocence is for anyone who’s ever woken up sealed in a fifty-gallon drum of their guilt.
My Thoughts:
Over the past year, I have become a big fan of Miller and her writing, and this book is no exception. In short, this book is about forgiveness and I absolutely loved the way the story conveyed such a powerful message to the reader. Jake is a torn character and I really enjoyed watching him grow and come to. This story is layered and complex and definitely isn’t as simple as you might imagine while reading the synopsis. I thoroughly enjoyed it and really appreciated the value of forgiveness that it conveys, especially because it is not only an aspect applied to others but to ourselves as well. Overall, very well done! I can’t wait to see what Ann Lee Miller comes out with next!
Rating: 4 stars
CLP Blog Tours Book Review: Eleusis by Genevieve Fairbrother
Genevieve Fairbrother is now on tour with CLP Blog Tours and Eleusis
Summary:
Macy needs a break to sort out her life. Her parents are dead and now a moody trespasser has set up camp on the property she has inherited. When the stranger confesses himself to be an ageless sea-god and tells Macy she has been guarding a secret she never knew existed, her simple life takes a drastic turn. Just when she thinks it can’t get any stranger, a back door to the Underworld opens up and it’s time to run like hell.
This fast-paced adventure romance novel explodes as the dark forces tracking Macy surface to capture her. In the transatlantic chase that follows, she learns of her forgotten past and an ancient connection to the sea-god who helps her escape.
As events challenge Macy, she must come to grips with her past, determine what she wants in life, and become a force in her own right. Family betrayal, sinister plot twists, and unlikely friends fill this exhilarating story of one woman’s journey to forge her own path as she learns her true identity.
She soon realizes that to gain real freedom and become legend, she must reject her assigned place in history and risk everything in the process.
Review:
I like stories that seem unique and original, and that is why I was drawn to Eleusis. Clearly there is a lot of plot points and story to work through, and I think if you read this book with an open mind you can really enjoy it. There are some beautiful descriptions in the book, along with an interesting love story, a fantasy twist, and a strong heroine with a chance to be a legend. Sometimes the dialogue was a bit choppy almost and there were parts I had to re-read to make sure I was understanding everything, but intriguing concept for a book overall!
4 stars
Wedding Update: Three Months Away!
Well, I’m sad to report that my camera with the handy little video option has died. I haven’t been able to figure out how to prop my phone up long enough for me record a video on there, so I’m just going to have to resort to the old-fashioned way to talk about my wedding – writing! I am now just under 3 months away from becoming Mrs. Janning, and plans are starting to overtake my life. What am I working on now? We just picked up our invites the other day, so next on my list is buying a zillion stamps, stuffing the envelopes, printing our mailing labels, and getting to the post office. We are also trying to finalize our ceremony, and I’m very happy that I have finally picked out all the music. It was a lot harder than I thought finding songs for the wedding party to walk down the aisle to, myself walk down the aisle to, and then recessional, but I finally got that crossed off my list!
We are still working with our male wedding party to get them in and get fitted for their tuxes! Yes –we went with Vera Wang tuxes and I’m jealous of them! We have until August to get it done and I’m sure it will be just fine, but men are quite difficult to finagle I tell you! The guys are wearing grey tuxes and black bowties, and I can’t wait to see them 🙂
My dress fittings are going to start next month, so I’ve been on the hunt for shoes. My dress is the perfect length … for flats. No heels for me on my wedding day, and I’m actually okay with that. I’m afraid I would be so nervous I would trip or do something equally stupid, but it’s been quite the task trying to find cute flats that go with a wedding dress. My mother was so generous and purchased my bridal jewelry and veil so I’ll have those items with me for my fittings, but I need SHOES!!
Taking a deep breath. September 7 is going to be here in the blink of an eye, and I’ll be so excited to share as much as I can on the big day and then of course after 🙂 Thank you everyone for your kind words and emails that I am getting. I can’t wait to be a bride!
Book Review: The Hypnotist’s Love Story by Liane Moriarty
I received a copy of The Hypnotist’s Love Story by Liane Moriarty in exchange for an honest review.
Summary:
Ellen O’Farrell is an expert when it comes to human frailties. She’s a hypnotherapist who helps her clients deal with everything from addictions to life-long phobias. So when she falls in love with a man who is being stalked by his ex-girlfriend she’s more intrigued than frightened. What makes a supposedly smart, professional woman behave this way? She’d love to meet her!
What she doesn’t know is that she already has. Saskia has been masquerading as a client, and their lives are set to collide in ways Ellen could never have predicted.
This wonderfully perceptive new novel from Liane Moriarty is about the lines we’ll cross for love. It’s about the murky areas between right and wrong, and the complexities of modern relationships.
Review:
I was really intrigued by the synopsis of this book, and I’m happy to report that I wasn’t disappointed by the story. I liked learning about hypnosis, as I know a few people who have done it for reasons as to stop over-eating and quit smoking, that sort of thing. It was really the dynamics between the characters that made this book hard to put down. Saskia was truly fascinating to read about, as you are never quite sure what she will scheme up next. I think this is a unique storyline, and one that people could really enjoy!
4 stars
Book Review: The Love Wars by L. Alison Heller
I received a copy of The Love Wars by L. Alison Heller in exchange for an honest review.
Summary:
Breaking up is hard to do. At least the first few times.
Even though Molly Grant has only a handful of relationships behind her, she’s already been through more divorces than she can count.
At the premier Manhattan law firm where she’s a matrimonial attorney, the hours are long, the bosses tyrannical, and the bonuses stratospheric. Her clients are rich, famous, and used to getting their way. Molly’s job—and primary concern in life—is to work as hard as possible to make sure they do. Until she meets the client who changes everything….
Fern Walker is the desperate former wife of a ruthless media mogul. Her powerful ex is slowly pushing her out of her young children’s lives, and she fears losing them forever. Molly—haunted by an incident from her own past—finds herself unable to walk away from Fern and sets out to help her. She just needs to do it without her bosses finding out.
Now, as complications both professional and personal stack up, Molly can only hope that her own wits, heart, and instincts are enough—both in and out of court.
Review:
What an incredible book! I love a smart chick lit book, and I think that is just what The Love Wars is. Molly Grant is a strong heroine, and her story was a blast to follow. It was interesting how much I learned from the book, mainly about law and the processes that go on during a divorce and the dynamics of a law firm. There’s a bit of romance thrown in between the pages, but that is not the focal part of the story, and I really enjoyed that. I zipped through this book in just over a day, and had to keep tweeting the author to let her know how much I was loving it. Another favorite to add to the list!
5 stars
On Tour: Crime & Passion by Chantel Rhondeau
Chantel will be on tour June 17-24 with her novel Crime & Passion A decorated police officer, more intent on justice than following the letter…
Book Review: Love Rehab by Jo Piazza
I received a copy of Love Rehab: A Novel in Twelve Steps in exchange for an honest review.
Summary:
Cyber-stalking, drive-bys, drunken text messaging, creating fake email accounts . . . gonna have to face it, you’re addicted to love.Sophie isn’t dealing with her breakup well.Dumped by her boyfriend, Eric, for his sexting, D-cupped, twenty-three-year-old Floozy McSecretary, Sophie lands back in her hometown, crushed and pajama-bound, blaming herself and begging her ex for a second chance. When her best friend, Annie, gets in trouble for driving drunk and is forced to go to an Alcoholics Anonymous meeting, something clicks in Sophie’s strung-out mind. Women need rehab, love rehab, she realizes, to fix the craziness that comes along with falling for someone.If you start it, they will come. When Sophie opens up her home to the obsessed and lovelorn, she finds a way to help every woman out there who’s overdosed on the wrong man—and she saves herself in the process.Love is a drug and the only things that can save us are the steps, rules, and one another. Step one: Admit you have a problem, and keep the hell away from Facebook.
Review:
I was totally engrossed from start to finish! Love Rehab had some very believable, hilarious scenarios of heartbroken women doing things that I’m sure have been done in reality. I laughed out loud in the middle of the night since I couldn’t put the book down. There were situations that I could relate to and all of the characters were likeable, even Dave. This book is for anyone who has been wronged, dumped, cheated on, or had an addiction. Virtually everyone can relate to the problems of the lovely women of LAA. The concept of very different women living together and helping each other to heal and stay strong was nice.
There were terms in the book that I had never heard before that I found amusing.
I would recommend this book to anyone who wants a good laugh or to know that they are not alone when it comes to needing love, feeling insecure and stalking an ex on social media sites!
5 stars.
Book Review: Ctrl Z by Danika Stone
I received a copy of Ctrl Z by Danika Stone in exchange for an honest review.
Summary:
Indigo Sykes has spent years trying to forget where she came from. She has a degree, a new life, and a quiet existence. Everything she ever wanted… But all of this comes to a screeching halt when an unexpected meeting with computer hacker, Jude Alden, changes her plans. Romance blooms between the mismatched duo, even while entanglements from Indigo’s past threaten to pull the two of them apart.
Dogged by a history of running, Indigo’s hard-won security is shattered when Jude’s illegal activity drags both of them into a dangerous game. As the net of hacking and underworld crime tightens around Jude and Indigo’s dark history is exposed, the two of them must find a way out or risk bringing the consequences down on them both.
Review:
I was a little worried when I first started this book because I didn’t seem to be following the plot in the beginning. There’s a lot going on, a lot of lingo, and honestly…a lot of odd names to learn. But I’m so glad I stuck with it, because after about the fourth chapter I wasn’t able to put it down! It becomes extremely fast-paced, the mob plot-line had me chatting to my fiancé like I was a part of the organized crime, and the ending was awesome. There’s romance and mystery and intrigue and murder, and Ctrl Z was just so much fun to read. I definitely recommend to those who enjoy romantic suspense novels!
4.5 stars
