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Book Review: The Wedding Dress Club by Lisa T Snow

I was given this book in exchange for an honest review. 3 stars

I will admit this book took a couple of tries to read. The beginning was complex and confusing and I felt very overwhelmed with the many characters introduced right away…

After getting past that, there seemed to be more character introductions, which has thrown me again. I finally felt as if I had a control on all parties involved almost 1/2 of the way through the story…A very frustrating issue.

The story once it began is actually a fun one. It’s about several individuals from different walks of life that find themselves bonding over a love of pretty things…and when I say pretty things I say beautiful amazing wedding dresses. Because many of us have great memories of seeking out our wedding dress and finding that perfect one. These folks just take it a bit further, almost like an obsession and form a club. All of the member’s work together in an office, so perhaps it’s how they enjoy their down time. The club eventually turns into a fund raising idea and all of these once lonely people seem to bond and find friendship through their love of pretty things.

The story, once you actually get past all the introducing of characters and it gets moving is actually a fun story. I really enjoyed it and all the characters were fun.

Book Review: Then Came You by Jennifer Weiner

I received a copy of Then Came You by Jennifer Weiner in exchange for an honest review.
Summary:
An unexpected love story.

Jules Strauss is a Princeton senior with a full scholarship, acquaintances instead of friends, and a family she’s ashamed to invite to Parents’ Weekend. With the income she’ll receive from donating her “pedigree” eggs, she believes she can save her father from addiction.

Annie Barrow married her high school sweetheart and became the mother to two boys. After years of staying at home and struggling to support four people on her husband’s salary, she thinks she’s found a way to recover a sense of purpose and bring in some extra cash.

India Bishop, thirty-eight (really forty-three), has changed everything about herself: her name, her face, her past. In New York City, she falls for a wealthy older man, Marcus Croft, and decides a baby will ensure a happy ending. When her attempts at pregnancy fail, she turns to technology, and Annie and Jules, to help make her dreams come true.

But each of their plans is thrown into disarray when Marcus’ daughter Bettina, intent on protecting her father, becomes convinced that his new wife is not what she seems…

With startling tenderness and laugh-out-loud humor, Jennifer Weiner once again takes readers into the heart of women’s lives in an unforgettable, timely tale that interweaves themes of class and entitlement, surrogacy and donorship, the rights of a parent and the measure of motherhood.
Review:
Jennifer Weiner is a big favorite of mine (though that shouldn’t be a huge shock to anyone) and I always look forward to reading her books. I was especially interested in reading Then Came You, because I enjoy reading about books that deal with issues of surrogacy and parenting as of lately. This is a long book but touches on many different characters, each weaving a path that intersect with one another to create quite a compelling story. India’s character didn’t thrill me through most of the book, and I think Jules was my favorite, probably because she was the most relatable to me. This isn’t my favorite book by Weiner, but a good one that I would recommend.
4 stars

Book Review: Last Christmas by Talli Roland

I received a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
Summary:
For Lucy, the best Christmas present is forgetting the past.

Eager to banish the ghost of Christmas past – when her boyfriend dumped her on the streets of Paris – Lucy is determined to make this the best Christmas ever. She rallies friends and family for an epic celebration that just happens to fall on the same day as her ex’s festive wedding. Furious at how she’s been treated, Lucy can’t help relishing the party v wedding smackdown.

But when the wedding is threatened and only Lucy can help, can she find the spirit inside to save the day, or will this Christmas be even more disastrous than the last?
Review:
Talli Roland is one of my favorite chick lit authors, so even though I’m not crazy for novellas, I really wanted to read another offering from her! Last Christmas is quick, cute, and packs a lot of personality for such a short read. I thought Roland did a great job making sure the main characters were developed, which can lack in novellas from time to time. The storyline had great qualities, from love lost to moving on to even showing forgiveness in a big way, and of course – plenty of romance. If you need a sweet treat for the holiday season, pick up your copy of Last Christmas!
4 stars

Book Review: Synchronized Breathing by Tara Ellison

I was given this book in exchange for an honest review.

Oh the whoa’s of being not only a divorce in your 30’s, but trying to date and find a real connection in the dating world all while struggling to raise a child. Scarlett’s got some stories to tell on both fronts! Scarlett is a newly divorced mom of an adorable little man in California and finds herself just a little lost. Not only does she find herself trying to jump start her career, but she is also finding the world of dating just a little harder then she recalled from her younger days.

This is a not only funny story about the whoa’s of dating, raising a busy toddler, but also dealing with a control freak ex, and one should never forget the blunt sexually active mother she finds herself living with; but it is also a story of how Scarlett finds herself amid all this chaos.

This is a great read and not a boring typical romance, it is a story anyone that has been through a divorce and been thrown back into the crazy single world can truly relate too. Granted Scarlett mingles with movie stars and producers. Scarlett’s story will both amuse you and make you think.

This is actually a story I will be passing on to friend’s that often find themselves in similar situation’s much like Scarlett’s….dating the wrong guy over and over, for all the wrong reasons.

Book Review: White Lies by Emily Harper

I received a copy of White Lies by Emily Harper in exchange for an honest review.
Summary:
Imagine standing in line at Harvey Nichols waiting to buy the most gorgeous silk Gucci dress. The only minor problem? You can’t afford it, it’s a size smaller than you are, and you have absolutely no place to wear it.
Meet Natalie Flemming: a twenty-something woman working in London for a fabulous shoe-designing firm, but the only thing they let her touch is the company’s tax forms. She has decided to give fate a vacation and takes the task of finding the man of her dreams (or Johnny Depp if he would just return her calls…) into her own hands.
She craves adventure, spontaneity, passion- or will just settle for a decent date.
Review:
I found White Lies to be a very fun and cute chick lit read. Natalie is a bit all over the place, intelligent yet a bit flaky, but that’s what made her endearing to read about. Her search for Mr. Right was a quite hilarious and I loved the little diary notes between each chapter. Sometimes I wished she didn’t lie quite as much because I just kept wanting to smack myself with each white lie, but if she didn’t, the concept of the book wouldn’t really be there, right? All in all, I thought this was a charming little read that kept me interested throughout. I also absolutely adore the cover! I recommend!
4 stars

Book Review: Melting Ms Frost by Kat Black

Reviewer: Terry I was given this book in exchange for an honest review. Ms Frost is an uptight, tightly wound Manager of an upscale restaurant…

In My Mailbox: Week of December 8

Title: The Lies That Save Us
Author: JL Redington
Received: CLP Blog Tours
Synopsis: Alexa is beautiful, smart and alone in the world, a result of devastating losses in her life. She purchased a diner in the quiet out of the way town of Startup, Washington and hired employees to help run it. She’s just beginning to feel secure in her loneliness.
Suddenly her world is jolted awake by Cayman, a handsome young stranger that enters her diner seemingly from nowhere. Event’s happen quickly, and soon Alexa is deep into secret lives, deception and desire.
Will she figure out the riddle of her father’s death? Will she be able to resist the temptation to fall in love with Cayman in spite of her suspicions? Will she live to tell the tale?

Title: Sweet Expectations
Author: Mary Ellen Taylor
Received: Joan Schulhafer Publishing
Synopsis: Daisy McCrae knows that change can be sudden—and devastating. And while it doesn’t have to be a bad thing, change has the power to turn your whole world upside down….

Running the family bakery and living in the store’s attic might not be Daisy’s dream life, but she’s beginning to understand what being content feels like. And then she gets some unexpected news. In one moment, Daisy’s calm existence turns into chaos. Now she’s struggling to keep it together, especially with renovations at the bakery spiraling out of control.

But when a box of recipes and mementos is found hidden behind a wall in the bakery, Daisy suddenly has something to cling to—a mystery that echoes her own troubles and gives her the opportunity to figure out what she really wants out of life….

Title: Love on a Budget
Author: Norma L Jarrett
Received: Norma L Jarrett
Synopsis: Jake Jiles was always handy with tools. Despite his love for all things do-it-yourself, he went to college and majored in business to fulfill his parents’ dream. He finally got the courage to leave his corporate job and start his “Honey-Do-4-Hire” business. Less than a year in, he’s already exhausted his savings and still living at home with his mother, but he’s determined to birth his franchise. Consumed with his business and fresh off a breakup, he wasn’t in the market for Mrs. Right. But after completing a job on Valentine’s Day, his potential dream girl, Sky showed up. After a brief chat over her car dilemma, he ignored the chemistry and left without her number. But cupid and God had other plans. After a divine connection, the only thing that stood between Jake and Sky, were funds. Will Jake pursue “Love on a Budget” or miss out because the price is too high?

Title: Shy Town Girls – Ivy
Author: Kate Leimkuehler
Received: Kate Leimkuehler
Synopsis: Jake Jiles was always handy with tools. Despite his love for all things do-it-yourself, he went to college and majored in business to fulfill his parents’ dream. He finally got the courage to leave his corporate job and start his “Honey-Do-4-Hire” business. Less than a year in, he’s already exhausted his savings and still living at home with his mother, but he’s determined to birth his franchise. Consumed with his business and fresh off a breakup, he wasn’t in the market for Mrs. Right. But after completing a job on Valentine’s Day, his potential dream girl, Sky showed up. After a brief chat over her car dilemma, he ignored the chemistry and left without her number. But cupid and God had other plans. After a divine connection, the only thing that stood between Jake and Sky, were funds. Will Jake pursue “Love on a Budget” or miss out because the price is too high?

Title: A Cinderella Christmas
Author: Holly Kingston
Received: Novelicious Books
Synopsis: This laugh out loud romantic comedy is a Christmas cracker of a read!

This year’s Cinderella pantomime is the hottest production in town. What’s more, Lucy is starring alongside Ryan Aspall: famous TV actor, sex symbol and potential love of her entire life. One teeny problem – Lucy is tripping the light fantastic as … the back end of the comedy cow. Surely nothing kills a flirty moment quite like wearing a massive set of udders?

At least she has the support of glamorous (if potentially flammable) Charmaine; a reality star diva of a Cinderella, who Lucy is completely fascinated by. But behind the fame and beauty, Charmaine is not all she seems.

With more drama off the stage than on it, and everyone wanting to be star of the show, will Lucy find the confidence to make it out of the cow suit and into the spotlight this Christmas?

Book Review: Undressing Mr. Darcy by Karen Doornebos

Reviewer: Terry I was given this book in exchange for an honest review. Jane Austen Fans are going to love this tribute book!  Undressing Mr.…

Book Review: There’s More to Life than Cupcakes by …

Reviewer: Kate I received a copy of There’s More to Life than Cupcakes by Poppy Dolan in exchange for an honest review. Synopsis: Ellie Redford…