Future Tour: Hijack in Abstract by Larissa Reinhart
Larissa will be on tour November 4-25 with her mystery novel Hijack in Abstract With a classical series sold and a portrait commissioned, Cherry Tucker’s art…
Book Review: Love and Happiness by Galt Niederhoffer
Summary:
Jean Banks won’t give up on love. It’s the prism through which she sees the world, the stuff of the independent movies she produces in New York City, and it created the son and daughter she shares with her director husband, Sam. But the course of love doesn’t run smooth for a harried woman in her mid-thirties who feel her choices and responsibilities solidifying around her, becoming permanent. And what’s wrong with keeping alive a private connection to love by remembering the paths not taken, the men not engaged with?
Love and Happiness tackles the eternal, essential subjects of love and commitment through one woman’s struggle to sort out her romantic life. How will Jean resolve the emotional chaos raised in her heart by her attractions to her husband, a former flame and a mysterious but tantalizing stranger? Is it possible to love more than one man fully? Set partly in the illogical world of independent movies—a world author Galt Niederhoffer knows well—and in New York City and Los Angeles, Love and Happiness is a rich, intense story of love and attraction, choice and consequence.
Review:
Let me start by saying that I enjoy light romances where I can escape the real world for a while. Due to my desire to escape and enjoy light and happy stories, this was a difficult read for me. The story never really grabbed me and I did not connect with the main character, Jean, at all. Although, I understood that she was confused and dissatisfied with her life, I did not like to reading about her dating another man and drafting emails to an exboyfriend.
A side from the infidelity and betrayal, I did like the way the book was written. There were witty remarks and great metaphors. It also provoked some deep thoughts about relationships and marriage.
I thought the book was realistic and I could see someone actually behaving like Jean. The lengths she went through to find out Benjamin Kraft’s past were like that of a stalker and again, realistic.
There were a lot of descriptions about the making of an independent film that didn’t particularly interest me.
Overall, Love and Happiness touched on many questions, decisions, and consequences that people face in life and was full of drama.
I’d recommend this book to the people that want to read gritty, realistic dramas.
3 stars
Book Review and Giveaway: Sophie’s Encore by Nicky Wells
Its’ time to Rock And Roll in earnest! Yes, Nicky Wells is here to celebrate the launch of Sophie’s Encore. Three cheers for the third book in her Rock Star Romance Trilogy!!!
Says Nicky,
“I’m so excited to share with you, finally, this third installment in Sophie and Dan’s epic romance! Thank you for coming to celebrate with me. Read on for:
The blurb!
Samantha’s Review
The fantabulous giveaway!
But most of all, enjoy yourself and party hard! Are you ready?”
Sophie’s Encore — The Blurb
Her rock star is waiting in the wings, but will he get a second chance?
It’s all change for Sophie Jones—only this time, there is more at stake than just her happiness.
Rock star extraordinaire, Dan Hunter, has been her patient and caring friend through the highs and lows since her wedding day, but now he figures it is time for her to start over. By stealth, the rock singer draws Sophie into the behind-the-scenes work for his band’s latest album. Through the days and weeks spent together at the mixing desk, Sophie discovers whole new horizons for her life, yet before she can even begin to explore them, she faces the very real threat of losing her rock star for good.
Join Sophie and Dan in Sophie’s Encore to find out how their journey will end…
Review:
I received a copy of Sophie’s Encore in exchange for an honest review.
I’ve been having a blast with the series, and I was so anxious to get to the third and final book. What an emotional roller coaster we go through right at the beginning! I don’t like giving away too much in my reviews, so I have a feeling this might be difficult to write. What I will say – fabulous conclusion to Sophie’s journey. It was terrific to see her get a happy ending. Dan is such a blast to read about, especially this version of a more mature Dan. It’s impossible not to root for Sophie and if you haven’t read any of her books yet – get on it! Such a wonderful trilogy.
4.5 stars
Amazon.co.uk Kindle: http://www.amazon.co.uk/Sophies-Encore-Rock-Romance-ebook/dp/B00EXXDVF6/
Amazon.com Kindle: http://www.amazon.com/Sophies-Encore-Rock-Romance-ebook/dp/B00EXXDVF6/
Nook: http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/sophies-encore-nicky-wells/1116668869?ean=2940148368359&itm=1&usri=sophie%27s+encore
Amazon.co.uk Paperback: http://www.amazon.co.uk/Sophies-Encore-Nicky-Wells/dp/1938404653/
Amazon.com Paperback: http://www.amazon.com/Sophies-Encore-Nicky-Wells/dp/1938404653/
Barnes & Noble Paperback: http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/sophies-encore-nicky-wells/1116668869?ean=9781938404658
Party Time — The GIVEAWAY!!!
1 x signed Sophie’s Encore Poster
2 x Sophie’s Encore Mugs
1 x Sophie’s Run Mug
1 x $10 Amazon Gift Voucher (or equivalent currency)
2 x Sophie’s Encore Key Ring
1 x Sophie’s Run Key Ring
2 x “Swag Pack” featuring 2 postcards (1 signed) each for all three Rock Star Romance books, and 2 bookmarks each for Sophie’s Turn and Sophie’s Run
ENTER HERE: a Rafflecopter giveaway
The giveaway closes 30 September at 12 midnight BST.
Entrants must be 18 or over. Giveaway is open internationally
About Nicky Wells
Nicky Wells is your ultimate rock chick author. Signed to US Publisher, Sapphire Star Publishing, Nicky writes Romance That Rocks Your World, featuring the rock star and the girl next door.
Nicky’s books offer glitzy, glamorous contemporary romance with a rock theme ~ imagine Bridget Jones ROCKS Notting Hill!
Born in Germany, Nicky moved to the United Kingdom in 1993 and currently lives in Lincoln. In a previous professional life, Nicky worked as a researcher and project manager for an international Human Resources research firm based in London and Washington, D.C. Like her leading lady, Sophie, Nicky loves listening to rock music, dancing, and eating lobsters. When she’s not writing, she’s a wife, mother, occasional knitter, and regular contributor to The Midweek Drive show on Lincoln’s Siren 107.3 FM. Rock on!
Blog | Twitter | Facebook | Romantic Novelists’ Association | Sapphire Star Publishing | Amazon | Goodreads| Pinterest
*Nicky waves*
Whoa! What a party! I hope you enjoyed yourself. Thank you again for stopping by Chick Lit Plus today to help me celebrate. Happy reading and rock on! And don’t forget to say ‘hi’, I’d love to hear from you and I will come back to chat later!
On Tour: Lowcountry Bombshell by Susan M. Boyer
**Everyone who leaves a comment below will be entered to win a $20 Amazon gift card! Anyone who purchases their copy of Lowcountry Bombshell before October 7 and sends their receipt to Samantha (at) ChickLitPlus (dot) com, will get five bonus entries.**
Blog Tour Sign Up: Zoey and the Moment of Zen …
Cat will be on tour in November with her chick lit novel Zoey and the Moment of Zen. I am looking for book bloggers to…
Book Review: Maybe I Will by Laurie Gray
I received a copy of this book for an honest opinion.
As the story opens up, Sandy is a well adjusted teen with two great friends, Cassie and Troy, friends from preschool days. Family life is good, school is good and Sandy is happy. One night while hanging out at Cassie’s house things gets out of hand and Cassie’s boyfriend Aaron gets physical with Sandy. Sandy is talking up a new sport and Aaron wants to show Sandy just what he knows. Aaron rapes Sandy. Sandy is thrown into a whirlwind of emotions and the immediate escape is alcohol. It’s a downward spiral, spinning Sandy further down into depression and hatred. Sandy tries to climb out but life gets to be too hard and despair seems to be the easier way out. Facing reality and finding out exactly who are Sandy’s real friends are just part of the challenges ahead for Sandy on the road to recovery. The power of poetry and Shakespeare are significant skills that Sandy’s possesses that can help Sandy move ahead if and when Sandy wants to take the steps.
Its 10:30 pm, I was just finishing up the Author’s Notes at the end of the novel regarding Maybe I Will and I was left speechless. Sure, I remembered that the book was about rape and its effect on a young teen but the other twist I had completely, I mean totally completely forgotten about that. So that is why I woke up my husband spilling out the entire book’s storyline to him while he was barely able to hold open his eyes the other night. This twist had to do with gender identity. The main character is Sandy and I guess since my name is also Sandy, I assumed this character was a girl but there is no reference to that in the whole book. The author clarifies that in the Author’s Notes which totally threw me for a loop and a shocker. As I was reading this book, the author uses the word “I” a lot referring to Sandy which really bothered me as I was reading. I wondered why there were no other pronouns used and I understand that now. I have to applaud the author for such great writing skills as she left the gender open for the reader. Looking back at the story now, it’s like you choose your own main character, is it a girl or a boy? For what is rape? For every state, rape is defined differently but a broad definition of rape is a form of unwanted sexual behavior that is imposed on someone. Rape is about power but gender identity, it is not immune to.
4 Stars.
Book Review: Kiss Me in Paris by Kimberly Kinrade and …
“Does true love really exist outside of movies and romance novels?”
Despite reading the synopsis, this book was a pleasant little surprise, and not what I thought it was going to be about. Winter is a NY native aspiring writer. Cade is a Texan cowboy, ambitious to become an architect. Both are running from their pasts, their demons and their secrets. Both of them are trying to find a way to make amends with their families and their own lives. Their pasts have been filled with hurt and pain, but somehow they both wind up in Paris. Both hopeful that this trip will lead them to their future endeavors, instead they find friendship, love, and freedom from their fears. While I enjoyed the story between Cade and Winter, I felt the book went very much into detail about writing/authors and architecture. For me this lost my interest. I also found that the cover did not translate with the story. However, if you separate out the personal story between two peoples’ lives, their families, and the changes they make, than this is an amusing, little read! 4 out of 5 stars.
Blog Tour Sign Up: Tripped Up Love by Julie Farley
Heather Meadows lost the only love she’s ever known. Her perfect, yet ordinary life was turned upside down the day her 38-year-old husband died. Her happily ever after was gone in the blink of an eye. Heather’s life becomes the subject of scrutiny and pity as she tries to pick up the pieces of her shattered world and raise her three children on her own. In the midst of suburbia and gossipy neighbors, Heather tries to re-build a normal life. Little does she know she’s about to trip into a new adventure. An adventure she could never have imagined. Where will her misstep take her and how will Heather handle the prying eyes of those around her?
Book Review: Desperately Seeking Heaven by Jill Steeples
Alice Fletcher is driving home from work one Friday night – a Friday the 13th – when she comes upon a car accident. She finds the driver on the side of the road, quite shaken and behaving a little strangely. He refuses to call the police or get medical help. Alice feels drawn to the man, who seems familiar to her. As it turns out, he’s none other than Jimmy Mack, a very popular television personality.
An immediately smitten Alice agrees to take him to her place to recuperate. While watching the television together, they learn that Jimmie has been killed in a car accident. What? How can that be? He’s in her apartment! Is she losing her mind? It turns out that Alice is the only one who can see Jimmy. The two come to the conclusion that Jimmy can’t cross to the other side without settling some unfinished business. Jimmy needs Alice’s help, because he’s not certain what that business is.
Jimmy and Alice work together, attending the funeral and visiting his family and friends, to look for clues. Eventually a reality show personality comes out of the woodwork with a story that sullies the reputation of the deceased and it’s up to Alice to set the record straight. Her task becomes all the more crucial when she realizes she’s falling for Jimmy – a ghost.
The storyline is unique and I was both intrigued by the paranormal aspects and curious to see how it would all play out. I did have some issues though. First, the reasons for Jimmie’s inability to cross over were vague and really not momentous enough to keep him in an afterlife limbo. Also, the author’s description of Jimmy’s ghostly presence was at times weak. Only Alice could see him, but she could also feel him, which means that there was physical interaction, hugging and dancing, sometimes in public. It’s not plausible that this didn’t attract the attentions of others. I don’t know about you, but if I saw someone hugging or slow dancing with the air, I’d run the other way! The storyline of Jimmy and Alice falling in love felt a bit rushed. It’s hard to get invested in a couple that you know will never be together. I did like the ending though, which was sweet and appropriately handled. The author has a great voice and she was able to make a situation that should have been maudlin, rather fun to read.
3 stars
