On Tour: When Girlfriends Make Choices by Savannah Page
Savannah will be on tour April 1-22 with her novel When Girlfriends Make Choices A novel about forbidden love, the choices you make, and discovering…
Book Review: Six Years by Harlan Coben
I received a copy of SIX YEARS by Harlan Coben in exchange for an honest review.
Six Years have passed since Jake Fisher was left by the love of his life, Natalie. He sat and watched as she married another man and then left it all behind. He threw himself into a career as a college professor and attempts to move on. But, after so much time, there is still a love that burns deep down inside of him and he can’t help that he still loves Natalie. But, one fateful day brings an obituary into his view and it happens to be for Todd, who was the man who stole her away. He can’t help himself so he attends the funeral and optimistically hopes for a rare glimpse of her, but when he sees a mourning widow that claims to have been married to Todd for almost two decades, he begins to wonder what the heck really happened. He begins to question everything that he has ever none as so many things around him become a mystery. What has happened to the picture perfect memories that he has hung onto so tightly?
I am actually slightly embarrassed to admit that I’ve never read anything written by Harlan Coben before … but that is all changing now. To say the least, I am obsessed. He is such a talented writer and does an amazing job at crafting such detailed experiences that will literally blow you away. When I began reading this book, I assumed that poor Jake Fisher was just hurting from a broken heart when Natalie married another man, but this book kicked that ideal to the curb and definitely knocked me on my butt. This book is very fast paced and reads like a mystery/suspense novel – which I guess it might technically be classified as. Either way, SIX YEARS is amazing and you should definitely go out and grab yourself a copy. Plus, I just read that Hugh Jackman has signed on to star in the film adaptation. Um, yum!!
http://www.joblo.com/movie-news/hugh-jackman-set-to-star-in-adaptation-of-harlan-cobens-six-years
Rating: 5/5 stars
Book Review: Market Street by Anita Hughes
I received a copy of Market Street by Anita Hughes in exchange for an honest review. Whew, what a book! Cassie Blake is our leading lady, an heiress to San Francisco’s most exclusive department store and wife to UC Berkeley professor Aidan. She has a wonderful lifetime friend in Alexis, is madly in love with her husband, and overall feels pretty charmed in her life. When she finds out Aidan slept with one of his students her charmed existence shatters, and she runs to the safety of Alexis’s mansion to help her figure out if she can forgive Aidan and keep her marriage intact. While separated, she takes on a new project at the department store to keep her busy and that visits her first love – food. With the addition of a handsome architect at the store and consistently being away from her husband, Cassie knows she has some big decisions to make regarding her future.
Market Street is incredibly difficult to put down. I understood that Cassie loves Aidan and how tore up she is over his mistake, and I really wondered throughout the story how they would end up. I know you should cheer for the husband and wife to be together, but I just thought Aidan was slimy and overbearing from the get-go. I hate saying that I was pulling for architect James to come away the victor, but Cassie is a strong woman and knows what she wants, so she kept my interest piqued.
Since Cassie and her friend Alexis come from a world of wealth, Market Street is filled with fabulous designer clothes, posh parties, and rubbing elbows with San Fran’s elite. And I loved every minute of it! Alexis stole my heart with how deeply she cared for her friend, and her own unique drive and lifestyle that she brought to the pages. I really loved everything about the book, from the friendship dynamic, love story, and emotional decisions, this was a 5 star read for me!
5 stars
Q&A with Rory Samantha Green
When did you know writing was for you?
I have always written for as long as I can remember. When I was a little girl I collected stickers, which I used to put in special books and then invent elaborate stories based on the stickers! I can’t say when I knew writing was ‘for me’, but I always knew I was a writer.
How would you describe your book?
Playing Along is a quirky, funny, love story. It’s about harboring a fantasy, but the characters are very real and I hope I made them dimensional and relatable to. If you’ve ever had a band crush – this is the book for you! I wrote the book with the intention of making people smile. Life is hard – we all need stories to lift our spirits.
What was the inspiration for your book?
My sister went to a Keane concert and thought the lead singer had made eye contact with her repeatedly! After the show, her friend insisted that Tom had actually been making eye contact with her! I thought it would be funny and sweet to explore what the story would be if that fantasy was in fact true, and George and Lexi were born soon after! What woman hasn’t been to a concert and ‘imagined’ a few things about a lead singer?!
What was the hardest part of the writing process for you?
Discipline and self-belief. Fitting in the writing while I was also taking a masters degree in psychotherapy was challenging. Believing that my vision would translate and be embraced was sometimes a big leap of faith. I just kept going though, because I loved the characters I was creating and I had a feeling that other people would too.
What is the one thing that you want readers to know about you as an author?
I am an avid reader, so writing a book that kept other readers gripped and interested and amused was of utmost importance to me. Also, as an author, my aim is to write accessible, popular books that are still written with some depth and lyricism. I don’t believe I need to trade one for the other.
What does your daily schedule look like?
It really depends. I run reflective writing workshops from my home, and I have two kids and a dog! In between work and family. I fit in writing hours when I can. My writing schedule varies, but my characters are not unlike my kids – when they’re not getting enough attention – they let me know!
What would be your advice to aspiring writers?
My advice would be to just keep writing and really immerse yourself in the creative process before becoming too fixated on the final product. This is the main ethos of the workshops that I run. Find your own authentic writing voice and don’t try to emulate others. Write everyday, even for short periods of time, and see where your words lead you. Stay curious.
What is your favorite book? Favorite movie?
So hard to pick just one book! When I was a kid I loved reading Judy Blume. I read a passage from her book ‘Superfudge’ for a school competition when I was 11 and I won the trophy, so I would have to say I still love that book! Her characters are extremely likeable and believable. ‘The Bean Trees’ by Barbara Kingsolver is one of my favorite adult books – she initiated me into the world of wonderful storytelling.
My favorite film of all time is Merchant Ivory’s ‘A Room with a View’ which was made in the 80’s. It is just as compelling as Downton Abbey – romantic, beautifully adapted from the novel by E.M. Forster and so uplifting. After writing Playing Along, I realized I must have unconsciously chosen the name ‘George’ because that was the name of the lead in ‘A Room with a View’!
Who is your favorite literary character?
JD Salinger wrote a short story called ‘For Esme – With Love and Squalor’. Esme is one of my favorite literary characters of all time – a young girl who is feisty, honest and extremely insightful. I could read that story over and over again.
Who is your writing inspiration?
My writing inspiration is my mum, writer, Jackie Collins. Our writing styles are very different but I grew up watching her totally committed to her craft. She taught me the importance of dedication, and by example, she showed me what joy it was to love your work and be impassioned about providing readers with entertaining stories.
What is your must have beauty product?
Fresh Sugar Rose Lip Treatment. I’m not a big make-up wearer, but this is lovely and natural and tastes delicious! Think couture Chapstick!
What advice would you give yourself ten years ago? Any words of wisdom?
Ten years ago my kids were small and I was finding it hard to write. The advice I would give now would be to linger in the moments of my children’s childhood – the ones I rushed by. They are little people for such a short period of time. Creatively, I would have turned down the volume on my inner critic and been more playful and less precious with my approach.
Future Tour: Breathe by Kate Bishop
Kate will be on tour May 20-June 10 with her chick lit/romantic comedy novel Breathe Alex thought she had married the man of her dreams:…
Wedding Update!
Well, I’ve been behind on my video blogs about my wedding because the video function on my camera seems to not want to work lately! I decided to finally just give an update the old fashioned way – typing! So let’s see, what’s going on wedding-wise? My mom was in town last week from North Carolina (and the Iowa weather was not welcoming!) and we had appointments almost every day! My beautiful Maggie Sottero gown is in, and I’m happy to report that it fits and I should be ready to go when my actual fittings start coming up, which starts about 3 months before the wedding. My mom bought me my veil and the bracelet I will be wearing on my wedding day! I did a hair trial which I loved, and met once again with my officiate and florist to give them updates. We did a taste-testing for our dinner menu and made our choices, plus decided on linen colors. Whew!
What’s next you ask? Invites, invites, invites! We are currently working on the wording of the invitations, and will plan the design this coming weekend. We also have to pick out the tuxes the guys will wear, and we are making calls to secure a bus to take our wedding party from the ceremony to reception venue. We’re nearly at the five month countdown, which is just crazy! I feel like it’s creeping up faster and faster, but I’m making good work on the to-do list and am getting more excited every day 🙂 I hope to have another update for you soon, and hopefully it will be back to a vlog!
Blog Tour Sign Up: Tainted Love by Erin Cawood
For anyone in a relationship, the words ‘we need to talk’ can only mean one thing. In the last twenty-two years, the McKenzies have been through it, survived it, learned by it, and grown stronger from it, because life didn’t stop for breath when they needed it. Amongst the tears and the tragedies, the hopes and happiness, they’ve built something amazing: a happy family, a luxury lifestyle and a booming empire. Don’t they deserve to have it all?
But for the perfect wife, those four sinister words mean something entirely different. They’re a summons into a private world where what happens behind closed doors stays behind closed doors.
Faith has no doubt in Calvin’s undying love for her. It’s what kept her sane in the darkest hours. If only she could figure out what it is she does wrong… because it’s rapidly becoming apparent their tainted love is running out of time.
Beauty Review: Stila Tinted Moisturizer
I’m a big fan of tinted moisturizer, and recently I tried the one from Stila, a newer brand for me. There is SPF 15 in it which is great, and it provided a sheer coverage that gave me that extra tint so I don’t have to use so much bronzer. Overall I really like the product, but I’ve found in the winter it can severely dry out my skin. Some people think I’m crazy to use a tinted moisturizer in the winter, but I think why not? Lately I’ve been going with BB Creams such as the one from Maybelline, and found a lot of success in them. I might visit Stila again in the summer though!
4 stars
CLP Blog Tours Book Review: When Girlfriends Step Up by …
Savannah Page is now on tour with CLP Blog Tours and When Girlfriends Step Up. This book is just my cup of tea, and I’m so excited to see that there will be a series following the friends. The first introduces us to Robin, Sophie, Claire, Lara, Emily, and Jackie. We follow along with Robin, who is twenty-five and works in a small publishing house in Seattle. A colossal mistake almost cost her a friendship, but her life gets even more rocked when she finds out she is pregnant from a one-night stand. Her group of girls rally around her during the pregnancy, and she even thinks she might have found Mr. Right in a co-worker.
When Girlfriends Step Up is such a good story. I love books about good, solid friendships, and this one really hit the spot. With Robin’s mistake I almost wondered if the friendships could stay intact, and it was really refreshing to read about the forgiveness between the women, because usually it’s just the opposite. I loved reading about all the girls, and I’m excited to read the next book in the series, When Girlfriends Make Choices. I highly recommend you check out these novels from Savannah Page!
4.5 stars
