Baby Talk – Top Five Baby Necessities
I became a new mom on May 26, 2012. Since then, my life has become quite the whirlwind and I am constantly learning new things.…
The Next Best Thing by Jennifer Weiner
Ah, a new Jennifer Weiner book. Who wouldn’t be excited to get that in the mail? This is the tenth book from the best-selling author, and one of my many favorites from her. The title is The Next Best Thing, which is also the title of a television series that Ruth Saunders wrote and is about to see on the air. Ruth moved from Massachusetts to LA at age twenty-three with her grandmother, a spit-fire lady with a killer fashion sense and who only wants to see Ruth happy. After six years of mundane jobs and pouring her heart and soul into her vision, she gets The Call. Her sitcom has been green-lighted; her dream is coming true.
Ruth quickly learns that her idyllic vision of a down-to-earth show about a young woman and her grandmother is not what TV execs want. Where Ruth wants a “normal” looking girl (not a twig, not a flawless beauty) the big-wigs want “TV-pretty” (rail thing and flawless beauty). The clashes don’t stop there, and Ruth wonders if she can survive in the cutthroat world of Hollywood and TV sitcoms.
I really enjoyed this book, and had it read in just over a day. What I thought was so interesting was that Weiner recently had her own stint with a TV sitcom; she was the co-creator and co-executive producer on the ABC sitcom State of Georgia, which aired in 2011 (and was later cancelled). So it was great for me as the reader to understand that I was truly getting a behind-the-scenes glance at how a sitcom is made. And wow – I’ve never had an urge to write a TV show, but now I really don’t! All kidding aside, the work, sweat, tears, frustrations, etc, that go into it is just mind-boggling. I found myself being mad as hell alongside Ruth, wanting to cry when she was sad, and tapping my fingers anxiously while awaiting to hear whether the show was going to continue or be axed. Beyond all that, there was also a fabulous love story both with Ruth and her grandmother, and the happy endings were well-deserved. And then there was the story of Ruth’s disfigurement from a car accident when she was a toddler. The tears dripped down my face when Ruth wrote the words I’ll never be beautiful after enduring multiple facial surgeries. There is a lot happening in this book, but the sub-plots click into place with an ease readers have come to expect from Weiner, and this book is on my Favorites List with a 5 star review!
[Rating: 5]
Construct A Couple by Talli Roland
Talli Roland quickly became one of my favorite chick lit writers with her novels such as The Hating Game, Build A Man, and Watching Willow Watts that kept me thoroughly entertained and waiting impatiently for more. Her latest, Construct A Couple, follows Serenity and Jeremy from Build A Man, as the couple tries to get on solid ground after a shaky start to a romance and Jeremy suffering a stroke. Serenity is stoked about her new job at a reputable London magazine…until she finds out that fact-checker doesn’t mean “reporter-in-the-making” it means, well, fact-checker. But when she stumbles upon a lead that could get her out of Death Row (or Fact Check Row, whichever) she can just imagine herself climbing the ranks. But when Serenity discovers that the business she is about to take down is helping fund Jeremy’s charity for stroke victims, her brilliant plan is about to blow up in her face. Can she really run a story that will ruin Jeremy’s chance at running a successful charity? Maybe it would be easier if she could just talk to her boyfriend about what was happening, but after finding out that his ex-girlfriend is the CEO of the company doing the donating, Serenity starts to doubt more than just her story. Is her relationship with Jeremy as stable as she thought, or will that backfire on her as well?
Again – loved the book! It was so fun to catch back up with Serenity, who is just a blast to read about. I also really enjoyed the new character – Lizzie – who worked with Serenity as a fact checker. I thought she really added depth to the plot. It was also nice to get some more insight on Serenity’s best friend Kirsty and her family. Kirsty was having a hard time with husband Tim in the previous book, and a pregnancy shocker had her all sorts of rattled. I was really pleased with how their story turned out. And of course, Jeremy and Serenity’s relationship had me all filled with happiness when I got to the end of the book. Such a cute couple, and hopefully now they will learn to communicate! I believe there is another book in this series, and I will wait (impatiently yet again) for that to be released. If you have yet to read something from Talli Roland – quit reading my review and get on it!
[Rating: 4.5]
Blog Tour Sign Up: Memories by Deanna Sletten
Michael DeCara came home from the Vietnam War a wounded man, both physically and emotionally. He tried putting his life back together, but found civilian life difficult after all he’d experienced in Nam. Raising his young daughter, Vanessa, by himself after his wife left, he found it difficult to commit to one job or one woman for any length of time. Then he met a young woman who made him feel good about himself again and who fell in love with Vanessa as well. But a life-changing event occurred and he had to choose between his past and the present. He chose to leave without a word to the young woman, believing he was doing what was best for her. Now, years later, she has walked back into his life and he believes they may have a second chance at love–except she hates him and he doesn’t understand why.
Danielle Westerly fell in love when she was only eighteen and her heart was broken when he left her without a word. Her heartache was increased when she made a fateful decision that would alter her future, and she blamed him for her loss. Years later, she is single and has built up a successful career when she accidently runs into the man who was responsible for her past pain. Yet, their chemistry is undeniable. Can Dani give up her anger and let go of the pain of the past and fall in love again with the man she has hated all these years?
Dani and Michael share a journey of heartache, loss and painful memories that threaten to keep them apart. Can they break past these and finally find love again?
Author Profile: Kathy Lynn Harris
Author Name: Kathy Lynn Harris Blog: http://www.kathylynnharris.com/blog/ Bio: Kathy grew up in rural South Texas — and comes from people who work hard, love the…
Confessions of a Cake Addict by Emma Kaufmann
The hilariously written Confessions of a Cake Addict follows Kate Pickles, hilarious and charming Londoner, as she hits rock bottom. She is completely unaware of what she is doing in life and can do nothing but complain to her bit sister Laurie in Australia. Kate is miserable at work and has a boss that takes advantage of her day in and day out, and a best friend who has the dating life that she would kill for … yet Kate does nothing but sit back and eat cake. She sits down and writes out all of her complaints in a series of “confessions” via letter and emails to her sister but it isn’t until her best friend convinces her to take a trip to Vienna where her life gets turned upside down. Kate falls in love and may have just stumbled upon the job of a lifetime.
Confessions of a Cake Addict brings the laughs and kicks traditional romance in the butt. This book will make you laugh out loud (which a lot of books promise but under deliver) and root for Kate to finally find happiness. Emma Kaufmann is one hell of a comedic author and she does a fabulous job at creating honest characters that you are able to laugh along with. And heck, who can go wrong with a cake addict? I’m pretty sure that I may have become addicted to cake after going on some of the dates that Kate goes on….some of those men sure were doozies! Overall, a fun read for anyone looking for a laugh.
[Rating: 4.5/5]
Matthew and Camila McConaughey Expecting Baby Three!
More exciting news from the McConaughey camp! Two weeks after tying the knot, Matthew and Camila McConaughey announced they are expecting their third child. “Happy…
Future Tour: Free Gift With Purchase by Jackie Pilossoph
Jackie will be on tour September 3-17 with her novel Free Gift With Purchase Your FREE GIFT WITH PURCHASE doesn’t always come from the department…
GIVEAWAY: Construct a Couple by Talli Roland
Is any relationship strong enough to survive a string of secrets? With a great job at a reputable magazine and a man who’s the perfect…
