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Book Review: Totlandia: The Onesies, Book 2

I received a copy of Totlandia: The Onesies, Book 2 in exchange for an honest review. I gave 5 stars to the first book in this series, and was more than happy to dive into the second. The story picks right back up and finally answered the burning question of who Madame Ovary is. More secrets are uncovered along the way, as the probationary moms (and dad!) try to win their spot in the coveted Pacific Heights Moms & Tots Club. Some of what is revealed had my jaw hitting the floor, and I was once again riveted by this tale of scandal, friendship, and parenthood from Josie Brown. I hope book three in the series is here soon!
[Rating: 5]

Blog Tour Sign Up: Transplanting Holly Oakwood by Di Jones

Finding her lover in bed with her best friend was the worst thing ever, but leaving London for Los Angeles pushed trouble to a whole new level.

Holly Oakwood’s cosy life is shattered when her boyfriend has an affair with her best friend. Determined to mend her broken heart by throwing herself into her career, but unable to hide her contempt for her new boss, she loses her job as well.

She lands a dream job in a Consulate in LA, but that’s when her troubles really begin. She struggles to settle, loneliness begins to bite, and everyone around her is thin and shallow. She loses her confidence, makes a fool of herself once too often, and her new boss hates her. Can she salvage anything from the train wreck of her new life, or should she return to England?

What ensues is a comically entertaining series of events that catapult Holly into new friendships, the promise of romance and the realization that home is where the heart is.

About Di

Born in Liverpool, I started my working life as a librarian, and have worked in a variety of jobs since, but none were as much fun as the one that allowed me to write and get paid for it. That was a few years ago, and each year it’s become more and more apparent what I want to do is write full time, a dream that first occurred to me at seventeen.

Like my characters, I love my family and friends, beautiful shoes, anything sparkly, the ‘occasional’ drink, parties, and a good belly laugh. I’m addicted to shopping, chocolate, bubble bath and anything else that smells nice, and the sort of TV programmes you’d never publicly admit to watching.

I’ve lived in England, Canada, the Unites States, but now call New Zealand home. I live in a lovingly renovated home overlooking Auckland’s beautiful Waitemata Harbour, with my trusted friends Bronson Boxer and Dolce Dane. They keep me fit and exercised, scare the burglars away, sit loyally by my side throughout my late night writing sessions, and hang on my every word when I read final drafts aloud. They truly are my biggest fans, and I theirs!

I love my life, but not so much that there’s not room to live a load of other lives, through the hearts and minds of my characters, all of whom I adore, and some of whom I’m fortunate enough to call friend.

2012 Favorite Reads: Samantha’s Picks

Sad Desk Salad Jessica Grose 5 stars Sarah’s Key Tatiana de Rosnay 5 stars  Blackberry Winter Sarah Jio 5 stars  Don’t Let Me Go Catherine…

Book Review: The Seven Steps to Closure by Donna Joy …

Donna Joy Usher is on tour now with CLP Blog Tours and The Seven Steps to Closure. Tara Babcock is our leading lady, a thirty year-old whose marriage was broken up by another women – her own cousin, Tash. Even worse – her ex and Tash are now set to be married, and Tara just can’t seem to pick up the pieces and move on. When her best friends offer up a magazine article with the title Closure in Seven Easy Steps, Tara decides (after much cajoling) to give it a shot. She never expects the journey that is presented to her – or the closure that it will offer.
I had a blast reading The Seven Steps to Closure! The writing is fun and light and the plot moves along seamlessly from scene to scene. Tara and her friends are a hoot to read about, and I enjoyed that each lady had her own minor plot point to add a little extra to the story. There is a very heart-felt tone the author brings to her writing, yet the book is full of humor and plenty of laugh-out-loud moments to enjoy. One for your reading list!
[Rating: 4.5]

Future Tour: Love at 11 by Mari Mancusi

Mari will be on tour February 4-25 with her chick lit novel Love at 11. When Maddy graduated from Columbia University, she was ready to…

Book Review: A Girl’s Guide to Fairy Tales by …

I received a copy of A Girl’s Guide to Fairy Tales by Laurey Buckland in exchange for an honest review. I am sucker for all things fairy tales, I love Disney princesses, so even though the book wasn’t quite in that realm, the title and cover still sparked my appeal. The novel follows four friends – daydreamer Maddie, obsessive compulsive Clare, over dramatic Isobel, and happy-go-lucky Sophie. I know everyone thinks Sex and the City when you hear about four girlfriends, but I really didn’t think that for a second while reading. I thought the plot and the characters were very unique, as well as the author’s voice. I liked each individual character and that she got her own time in the spotlight. I found myself leaning on Sophie more because she had a lot of drama with her live-in boyfriend that I thought was really intriguing. I do wish there would have been some sort of heading when the POV’s changed, because it took me a while to get in the sync of things and that would have helped me out personally. But overall, a cute chick lit read from a new author that I very much enjoyed.
[Rating: 4]

Blog Tour Sign Up: When Girlfriends Step Up by Savannah …

A novel about love and support, and learning that with enduring friendships, no woman is ever alone.

Robin Sinclair is young, determined, and has a promising career at a small publishing house in Seattle. Even though she considers herself unlucky in love, Robin still dreams of eventually meeting Mr. Right and having a happily-ever-after kind of life. And at twenty-five, the world of opportunity is wide. But it’s been a difficult year filled with trials…and it’s only just begun.

While long-time friendships are finally on the mend, and things are starting to look up again, Robin is faced with her biggest challenge yet. She’s single and pregnant.

Uncertain now of her future and scared of being alone, Robin must re-examine her life and choices, and summon the courage to step up.

With the love and support of her best girlfriends from college, especially her best friend and roommate, Lara, Robin will learn that when the going gets tough, the best of friends become family. And, perhaps, with their encouragement, Robin can mature and gain the confidence needed to become a single mother. And, who knows about being unlucky in love. Things are suddenly getting interesting with Robin’s attractive co-worker, Bobby.

This is an endearing story about maturity and perseverance. It’s a story about friends coming together as family, about finding the strength within and around, and about writing your own happily-ever-after. About what happens when girlfriends step up.

150 Pounds by Kate Rockland

I received a copy of 150 Pounds in exchange for an honest review.
Summary:
In the fast paced life of blogging, two women stand out: Alexis Allbright, of Skinny Chick, and Shoshana Weiner, who writes Fat and Fabulous. Both have over five million loyal readers. Both are hungry for success. But the similarities stop there.
With over 100 pounds on the scale separating them, weight isn’t their only difference. Alexis is a loner who is so bitchy the only person who can stand her company is her gay best friend Billy. She gives neurotic New Yorkers a run for their money with her strict daily workout routine, and weighing of food. Shoshana is Alexis’s opposite. Living in Jersey with rowdy roommates, she is someone who “collects friends,” as her mother puts it; and treasures a life of expanding circles…and waistlines.
When both appear as panelists on a popular talk show, their lives intersect in ways neither could have imagined. In turns comedic, heartwarming–and familiar to any woman who’s ever stepped on a scale–Alexis and Shoshana realize they have far more in common than either could have possibly imagined, and more importantly, something to offer.
My Review:
What a fabulous read! On first glance I fell in love with the cover, and after reading the blurb, I knew this was a must-read for me. And now I am making it a must-read for you! I love the term smart chick lit, and I feel that 150 Pounds is definitely that. Kate Rockland has a terrific voice and writing style, and as a blogger myself, I could immediately identify with her characters. I thought it was fascinating to get inside both Alexis and Shoshana’s minds and see why they think the way they do and what is behind their actions. I thought this novel brought humor, a resounding message, and a way for women to have more confidence after reading. I loved it!
[Rating: 5]

Sad Desk Salad by Jessica Grose

I received a copy of Sad Desk Salad in exchange for an honest review. I thought I was going to love this novel from the description and the beyond-hilarious cover. I knew I was going to love this novel from the first page. But seriously – how was I not going to fall in love with a main character who blogs at a women’s lifestyle website called Chick Habit? I was immediately transplanted into the story and stayed in Alex’s world until the last page. Alex is starting to lose focus with herself as she continues blogging at Chick Habit, being encouraged to write more vindictive and scandalous articles to raise her traffic and avoid getting the sack. But when a salacious story gets put in Alex’s lap via an anonymous tipster, she struggles with morals versus traffic views and saving her job.
As someone who lives a lot of her time in the web world, I had no trouble connecting right off the bat with Alex. I loved the story Jessica Grose built and found her to be fresh, funny, and a modern new voice to fiction. Even though the book is light-hearted, there are a lot of deep issues to think about throughout. Who is granted privacy online? Why are we so obsessed with not only celebrities, but hearing about other people’s misfortunes and pitfalls? And of course, a big reason why I love this book so much is because it’s an enjoyable chick lit read that comes with a message. This is a definite favorite of mine, and one I recommend you to check out ASAP!
[Rating: 5]