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Book Review: This Could Have Been Our Song! by Danielle-Claude …

I received a copy of This Could Have Been Our Song! by Danielle-Claude Ngontang Mba in exchange for an honest review.

The book begins with Lucia Mpobo-Riddell, who could have been a dancer like the rest of women of her family but instead of going down that path, she chose to pursue music. In the same sentiment, Marcus Grant could have been a doctor like the rest of his family but chose music instead too. Lucia falls for Marcus on the night of her birthday and together they create a series of “shoulda, coulda, woulda” that propels them into their future. After Marcus declines to reveal the real reason for being in Toronto that one fateful night, the duo now have to deal with the consequences, and boy are they major. This then creates a major tug of war in their lives and things get complicated. Will their relationship be able to survive?

When I first received a copy of this book and read the synopsis, it sounded like there would be so much going on that I wouldn’t be able to wrap my head around it all. But, luckily Danielle does a really good job at pacing throughout the book so that the reader is not overwhelmed with all of the activity that goes on. Although I am not really into singing or dancing, I really enjoyed the descriptions and that aspect of the book. I also really enjoyed the relationship and the dynamic between Lucia and Marcus. Now, if only they could figure out a way to make their lives a little less stressful! Overall though, this book is enjoyable and a good read.
Rating: 4 stars

Blog Tour Sign Up: Crisis of Identity by Denise Moncrief

Tess Copeland is an operator. Her motto? Necessity is the mother of a good a con. When Hurricane Irving slams into the Texas Gulf coast, Tess seizes the opportunity to escape her past by hijacking a dead woman’s life, but Shelby Coleman’s was the wrong identity to steal. And the cop that trails her? He’s a U.S. Marshall with the Fugitive Task Force for the northern district of Illinois. Tess left Chicago because the criminal justice system gave her no choice. Now she’s on the run from ghosts of misdeeds past—both hers and Shelby’s.
Enter Trevor Smith, a pseudo-cowboy from Houston, Texas, with good looks, a quick tongue, and testosterone poisoning. Will Tess succumb to his questionable charms and become his damsel in distress? She doesn’t have to faint at his feet—she’s capable of handling just about anything. But will she choose to let Trevor be the man? When Tess kidnaps her niece, her life changes. She must make some hard decisions. Does she trust the lawman that promises her redemption, or does she trust the cowboy that promises her nothing but himself?

On Tour: Nobody’s Damsel by E.M. Tippetts

E.M. Tippetts will be on tour April 29-May 20 with her novel Nobody’s Damsel Chloe has finished her masters degree and taken a job as…

Book Review: The Sunshine When She’s Gone by Thea …

I received a copy of The Sunshine When She’s Gone by Thea Goodman in exchange for an honest review.
Synopsis:

A fresh, funny, and wisely observed debut novel about marriage—about the love, longing and ambivalence exposed when a husband takes the baby on a highly unusual outing

When Veronica Reed wakes up one frigid January morning, two things are “off”—first of all, she has had a good night’s sleep, which hasn’t happened in months, and second, both her husband and her baby are gone. Grateful for the much-needed rest, Veronica doesn’t, at first, seriously question her husband’s trip out to breakfast with baby Clara. Little does she know, her spouse has fled lower Manhattan, with Clara, for some R&R in the Caribbean.

Told through alternating points of view, The Sunshine When She’s Gone explores the life-changing impact of parenthood on a couple as individuals and as partners. Thea Goodman brings us into intimacies made tense by sleep-deprivation and to losses and gains made more real by acknowledging them. Here is the story of a couple pushed to the edge and a desperate father’s attempt give them both space to breathe.
Synopsis:

As a new mom myself, this book was definitely right up my alley. Goodman does an amazing job at giving us the real deal when it comes to these parents. Some new parents think of their baby a certain way and it just so happens that these characters are flawed and very, very honest and raw. Like I said before, I too am a new mom and I can definitely relate to the sleep deprived stupor that happens with a newborn and although I found the parents actions to be somewhat selfish, I think it is definitely understandable. Goodman fills the book with great detail and and tons of insight that will lead you to very unexpected places in your thoughts. Overall though, this book was a very good read. But, be warned to those of you who are expecting a typical chick-lit, this book was not written that way. But, you may still enjoy it because it was written very solidly.
Rating: 4 stars

Book Review: Outside the Men’s Room by Rose Gonsoulin

I received a copy of Outside the Men’s Room by Rose Gonsoulin in exchange for an honest review.
Summary:
Who hasn’t wanted to tell the boss he’s a jerk and quit on the spot? It’s the principle, right? Yet most people never do it. They swallow their pride and either suck it up or find another job. Except Sidney Sinclair, a hard-working but naïve young engineer entering the work place when college educated women were still a novelty item. It was a time when they were graduating in droves, like a bumper crop of ripe corn, flooding the market with their career aspirations. But can girls raised on Chatty Cathy and the Dating Game succeed in a man’s world?

After facing blatant discrimination, Sidney resorts to deception to break into the good ole boy’s club of engineering and construction. Once inside she’s thwarted at every turn—open hostility, intentional sabotage, and worse, an attraction to the man who holds the reins to her career. Was Sidney chasing a dream, or just running from her fears? Can she survive the traps and land mines waiting for her in a man’s world, or will she succumb to the goons who want her out of the way?

Set in the early 1980’s in Houston this retro chick lit novel has all the native nuances of living in the Bayou City at a time when many young women were caught between two worlds—Work and Love.
Review:
I was looking forward to reading this book because it was described as retro chick lit, and I thought that was pretty cool; something different. I struggled to get into the story though, and had a hard time connecting with any of the characters. I almost wonder if the story would have started with Sidney and focused more on her throughout the way if my reading experience would have been better, as I just could not identify with the men. Maybe it didn’t help that I’m not from the era either, even though I thought it would be interesting to read about. I’m bummed that I couldn’t make a connection to this book, but sometimes one is just not for you!
2.5 stars

On Tour: Unexpecting by Lori Verni-Fogarsi

Lori will be on tour April 29-May 13 with her novel Unexpecting Shelley and David are a couple of almost-empty-nesters preparing to embark on the…

Book Excerpt: Surrender Your Love by Jessica Reed

A penetrating ringing noise woke me up too soon. I groaned and covered my ears with my pillow, silently begging whoever was making such ungodly noise to shut it. It took me a moment to realize it was my alarm clock. I rolled on my side and knocked it over in the process. A male voice let out an amused snort. I sat up, instantly awake. My gaze settled on the guy on the left side of my bed, and I felt the telltale heat of a major blush rushing to my face. He was propped up on one elbow, one arm tucked beneath his head; his chiseled chest with dark hair trailing down his flat abdomen was on full display. The sheet covering his modesty left nothing to the imagination. In fact, it only managed to stir an unwelcome pull between my legs.
Not only was he strikingly good looking, he was also well endowed. A heady—yet dangerous combination—in a man. My tongue flicked over my suddenly dry lips as I pried my gaze away from the bulge that was evident beneath the thin sheet.
What was he doing in my bed? And why was he naked?
What do you think, stupid? It doesn’t take a genius to figure it out. Just look at his smug grin.
I peered at his face. In the bright morning light falling through the window he looked younger than last night, but just as arrogant. His gorgeous lips curled into the most stunning smile I had ever seen. A panty-dropping smile, as Sylvie would have called it. I paled at the realization. Had I dropped my panties for him?
He regarded me with mild amusement in his smoldering eyes—the color of dark moss covered by a thin layer of opal mist. The way he looked at me, I felt as though he saw through my body and directly into my soul. No one had ever made me feel like that before. Then again, I had never met someone so electrically good-looking, but there’s a first time for everything.
“Are you ready for Round Two?” His voice dripped with insinuation. I had heard that hoarse voice before, but where? My brain fought to make a connection through the alcohol infused haziness clouding my memory retrieval system. And then it dawned on me.
“You were at The Black Rose. I was supposed to meet with Mayfield, but he sent you instead.”
His grin widened, revealing two strings of pearl white, even teeth.
Beautiful, strong teeth that nibbled on my neck and grazed the sensitive skin on my thighs.
Whoa, where did that come from? I shook my head lightly and tried to cling to the memory before my eyes, but it was gone already.
“Did we—” I gestured at his naked chest. My heart stopped beating for a moment as I waited for his assurance that it was all a misunderstanding, that I didn’t bang a stranger, because one-night stands weren’t my thing. Besides, I was in a relationship, albeit an open one, but cheating wasn’t my thing either. I wasn’t turning into Sylvie, was I? And I probably wasn’t so stupid to have banged the guy.
Mystery Guy opened his mouth to say something, closed it again, and in that instant I knew.
I was cheap, not least because I couldn’t even remember his name.
“Oh, God.” I jumped out of bed, vaguely realizing I wasn’t wearing anything, not even my panties—probably courtesy of his panty-dropping smile. Mortified, I pulled the sheet from him and covered my naked body, then scooped up what I assumed were his jeans from the pile of clothes scattering the floor and tossed them toward Mystery Guy. He caught them in midair but didn’t hurry to put them on. Well, he obviously was comfortable with his private parts on full display. Good for him.

Book Review: Speaking of Love by Ophelia London

I received a copy of Speaking of Love by Ophelia London in exchange for an honest review.
Summary:
Speech teacher and successful matchmaker Mackenzie Simms decides to find a woman for her friend, handsome newspaper tycoon Rick Duffy. Though they’ve been each other’s go-to dates for the past month, Mac and Rick couldn’t be more different: she is outspoken, sarcastic, and completely loathes his privileged lifestyle. He’s laid-back, unassuming, and seems comfortable at an upper-class charity function. So why can’t she stop thinking about him?
Rick knows he and the opinionated-though-adorable Mackenzie are better off as friends, so he agrees to the double-date getaway Mac plans at his family cabin. But seeing Mac cuddle up with her “friendly” date rankles Rick beyond reason, and Mac regrets her matchmaking scheme the minute she sees the way her beauty-queen cousin looks at Rick. Can Mac ‘fess up to what’s really in her heart, when speaking her mind puts everything at risk?
Review:
This book is a part of the Perfect Kisses series, which I have not read any previous books. If I had, I might have enjoyed this better. The story is basically of Mac and Rick knowing they belong together but all the hoops they must jump through. I know a lot of romance and chick lit books have an obvious couple, but so many are fun to read about their journey and some can even really leave readers guessing. This one wasn’t like that. I was bored easily and didn’t understand why Mac knows she has such intense feelings for Rick but tries to hook him up with her cousin, then feeling guilty towards the cousin because she wants to be with him. Again, maybe if I had read the previous books and already had a connection with the characters I would have liked this one more, but it just wasn’t my cup of tea.
3 stars

CLP Blog Tours: Excerpt from A Good Kind of Knowing …

http://www.clpblogtours.com/2013/03/a-good-kind-of-knowing-by-kathy-lynn.html