GIVEAWAY: Living in Glass Houses by Zoe McNight
Living in Glass Houses is a contemporary story about three friends, all at a crossroads after discovering that even the best laid plans don’t always…
Eat, Drink, and Be Married by Rebecca Bloom
I received a copy of Eat, Drink, and Be Married in exchange for an honest review. I’ve been having a lot of fun reading books that focus on weddings, as I am in the midst of planning my own. I definitely related with Hannah, the bride, who has become a bit of a bridezilla as her wedding day draws closer. I get the stress! Hannah is also dealing with not having her mother, who has passed away, there for the biggest day of her life. She does have her girlfriends rallying around her, but each woman is dealing with her own issue. There is Nina, who is pregnant and while her husband is ecstatic over the baby news, Nina is struggling with her own motherly issues. Zoe is refusing to admit she is in love with best friend Graham, and Kate is trying to find who she was before an abusive relationship sucked her soul. Through all their own issues and the stress of Hannah’s wedding, the friends come together in an ending fit for chick lit!
I liked this book and each of the girls. I thought their stories were touched on enough but didn’t feel like anyone got the shaft, and I got to know each character equally. I enjoy books that focus on great friendships between woman, and this book did just that. Why I am not giving the book four stars is because I didn’t understand some of the writing. It was almost like this was written as a screenplay. For example, instead of saying something like “Zoe was angry again with what he was saying,” it was written as “Angry again.” I didn’t quite get the clipped descriptions in a novel, and that was a bit distracting for me throughout. But other than that, a fun chick lit novel that I enjoyed reading.
[Rating: 3.5]
Future Tour: Pass the Hot Stuff by Dana Page
Dana will be on tour December 3-17 with her novel Pass the Hot Stuff The safe guy or the sexy guy? The answer is always…Pass…
Wedding Post #2 – Dress and Engagement Pictures!
I am excited to share my second post with everyone, as I have some big news to share – I found my wedding dress! I…
Guest Post from Emily Shaffer
Thanks to Emily Shaffer for sharing this post, courtesy of CLP Blog Tours! Visit her That Time of the Month tour page for more information and a…
Guest Post from Wendy Wax
Top 10 Reasons to Spend Time at TEN BEACH ROAD in October
TEN BEACH ROAD is hitting the shelves anew this month as part of National Breast Cancer Awareness Month and Penguin Group’s READ PINK® program.
The READ PINK® program was created by my publisher, Penguin Group (USA) to promote public awareness of breast cancer and breast cancer research and to support and recognize the contributions of the Breast Cancer Research Foundation®(BCRF) by connecting the cause to books written by, for and about women.
For the past two years, Penguin’s Read Pink donation has sponsored 500 hours of research time and I’m incredibly proud and honored to have my book on the shelves with the Read Pink Seal on the cover and information about BCRF in the back of the book.
But… it’s October! My books usually hit the stores when temperatures are rising, school is out and we’re either headed to the beach or at least daydreaming about sand, surf and sun. So this got me thinking about what makes a book a beach book, and why we should throw caution to the wind and read them all year long. After all, if some fashionista somewhere can decree that white pants are acceptable all year long, then why can’t we do the same with beach books?
Not convinced? Well, let me share my “Top 10 Reasons to Spend Time at TEN BEACH ROAD in October” list with you and see if we can get on the same page. (Pun fully intended!)
1. Since school is back in session, it’s important to set a good example for your kids by reading. If you pick up TEN BEACH ROAD, you’ll be enjoying a sweat-soaked summer with Maddie, Nicole, and Avery as they rehab a dilapidated beachfront mansion in Pass-a-Grille, Florida. Your kids will just think you are very smart and studious.
2. If you need something to warm you up, the men of TEN BEACH ROAD are hot.
3. Now that I think about it, I’m not sure why books that really take you away are necessary in the summer. What better time for a good mental escape to the beach than a cold, rainy day in October?
4. When you’re looking ahead to long cold months with the sun setting earlier and earlier each day, you can at least feel good that you have not lost everything in a Madoff-style Ponzi scheme like the women of TEN BEACH ROAD.
5. If your neighborhood is getting too cold and windy for DIY projects, you can read about Maddie, Nicole and Avery’s work on Bella Flora and just tell your hubby that you’re in the “planning stages” for next spring and summer.
6. Did I mention that there are some hot guys in TEN BEACH ROAD?
7. Reading beach books in the summer can make you feel bad about not being quite bikini ready… but in October, you can pull out a big cozy sweater and some chocolate cake and know you have months before you have to worry about that again!
8. If beach vacations are not just for summer, then beach books shouldn’t be either. October is actually a good time to head to the beaches in Florida. The crowds have thinned and the temperatures are still warm. You could leave the kids with Dad, grab your girlfriends, a few copies of TEN BEACH ROAD and call it a book club weekend!
9. Friendships are timeless, and so are troubles. TEN BEACH ROAD is the story of three women who are thrown together when they lose everything. It could be set in Aspen in March, Boston in December or Dubuque in May. The story is about the women, their lives, and their bond. So reading it in October wherever you live will work. I promise.
10. I think I have mentioned that there are some hot guys in the book, but it bears repeating! If you’re looking for a way to warm up, there’s nothing better than picturing Joe Giraldi running shirtless on the beach. (Not sure who Joe is? Pick up the READ PINK® edition of TEN BEACH ROAD to find out)!
So, show the world the kind of woman you really are: brave, fearless, and bold. Wear white pants after Labor Day, drink a Piña Colada in December and proudly show off your copy of TEN BEACH ROAD in October. You’ll be the envy of the neighborhood, and you can be proud knowing you’re supporting a great cause!
Future Tour: Bouquet Toss by Melissa Brown
Melissa will be on tour January 14-21 with her novel Bouquet Toss Ever since Daphne Harper graduated from college, all of her friends have fallen…
Mary Indiana by Anneke Campbell
I am happy to be kicking of Anneke Campbell’s CLP Blog Tour for Mary Indiana! I found a lot of humor in this book, and kept thinking what a genius Campbell was for this plot concept. I wondered if it would be kind of a cheesy read, trying to teach the story of Mary and the virgin birth of Jesus, but it wasn’t that way at all. It was a very modern tale of young girl who gets pregnant somehow even though she is a virgin, and the people who decide to help her. Some wonder if this is the new Mary, if the second coming is truly on the brink of happening. Others wonder if it’s a sign that 2012 will bring the end of the world as we know it. Others simply call it a miracle. But what is the true story behind the girl dubbed Mary and her stunning situation – a true miracle – or something else?
Again, I found this book to be very funny, nothing real religious or cheesy that I thought it could be, and a very interesting plot that had me thinking (and laughing) after I closed the book. I compared it to how the media seems to run our world – how they can take a story and just run with it (cough, A-Rod not playing in the playoffs, this Honey Boo Boo phenom, cough). News of Mary spread fast and everyone had their own take on it. Parents came forward trying to claim Mary as their child, the possibility of aliens in the midst was there, and the use of blogs and social media heightened this “miracle.” I think this is a book to check out so you can form your own opinion on Mary’s story, and hopefully get a few chuckles!
[Rating: 4]
Sex, Lies & Hot Tubs by Elissa Ambrose
Elissa Ambrose is now on tour with CLP Blog Tours and Sex, Lies & Hot Tubs. What a book! You know you are engrossed in a story when you have your Kindle balanced on your laptop so you can sneak in sentences while working! I think that is the definition of “not being able to put a book down.” I had a great time with this book and the characters that filled the pages. Ellen Dunwell is our MC, a mother, a wife, a friend, and a high school teacher. She stumbled upon her husband’s – a dermatology doctor- affair in the past with his receptionist, and now she has a suspicion that he is back to his usual ways. When he goes missing, the mystery is amped. Did her really take off with a new girlfriend? What about his shady new side business Ellen thinks he got involved in – could something have taken a wrong turn in that aspect? Ellen is also dealing with a hormone-charged, angst-ridden teenage daughter calling for attention, as well as her students, her friends, and a Peeping Tom neighbor.
There is a lot going on in this book, but I never felt confused or unable to get into a sub-plot. Ambrose gives readers mystery, humor, suspense, sex, and a quick-pace that made me finish this within two days. I really don’t want to give anything away because there is plenty of shock-able moments, but I can’t recommend this book more. A big 5 star review for me, and another to add to my Favorites List!
[Rating: 5]
