Review: Redesigning Rose

I am SO excited to share my review of Redesigning Rose with you today. Some of you know that I also write reviews for the site Novel Escapes and have been doing so since the end of 2011. Since then, I've come to think of Lydia Laceby, the owner of the site, as a friend. I am thrilled to announce that she is now officially a published author! I was lucky enough to get a sneak peek at the first few chapters early on in the editing process but knew things had changed quite a bit between then and the final product being released. I was excited to read the full novel and I wasn't disappointed. Lydia has written a wonderful novel - one that I devoured in one sitting.

Here's the synopsis:

Rose Parker's husband has been lying. About everything.
When a conversation with her husband triggers questions, Rose Parker uncovers alarming answers that shatter her perfect life. But it is only when she shoves her belongings in her SUV and drives off that Rose realizes just how far from perfect her life actually was. She has nowhere to turn.
While debating between distressing sleeping arrangements-her mother’s house full of questions or a hotel room with too much solitude-Rose bumps into an acquaintance from her gardening class and allows bubbly, exuberant Becky to indulge her in a wild night full of whiskey, weeping, and whispered confidences. Suddenly, Rose has a new friend, a roof over her head, and two gorgeous men moving her out of her marital home.
As Rose struggles to settle into her new life, she remains determined to comprehend her past. And with time and distance and especially wine, comes knowledge. Frank wasn’t the only one lying to her. Rose was lying to herself.

We find out right away that Rose's husband, Frank, is up to no good. I immediately felt connected with and protective of Rose. Having a lying, and possibly cheating, husband is pretty awful and poor Rose was completely taken by surprise. I also quickly figured out that Rose has a spark inside her, one that's been hidden since she married Frank, and that helped me like her even more. I loved seeing how Rose grew into the woman she was always meant to be.

Becky came into Rose's life at just the right moment. Actually, you could say that Rose showed up in Becky's life at the perfect time, too. They complemented each other and they were able to learn from each other as well. Rose needed to have a social life (even if it was forced upon her...and I loved the scene when she realizes her friends are planning evenings for her so she's not alone) and Becky was able to provide that. Becky, in turn, needed to learn some things about herself as well. I don't want to say too much but Becky's story took a really interesting turn and I liked how it fit into the overall plot and how it was resolved.

The gorgeous men mentioned in the synopsis are Becky's brother Scott and his friend Adam and they provided an excellent storyline as well. It wouldn't be a chick lit or women's fiction novel without at least a touch of romance and I adored the love story in this book. Sure, I was a bit frustrated that no one was saying how they really felt or allowing themselves to act on those feelings but I knew there were huge obstacles to overcome. In the end, though, I loved how everything worked out for all the characters.

Overall, Redesigning Rose was a fabulous read. There were a few instances where there needed to be just a few more connections but it wasn't anything that really took away from my overall enjoyment of the novel. I definitely recommend Lydia Laceby's novel to chick lit and women's fiction lovers. If you don't want to buy it on Amazon.ca, Amazon.com, or Kobo (but I think you should) and if you have a Goodreads account you still have some time to enter to win a copy here. Hurry, it ends on the 30th! But seriously, get yourself a copy of Rose's story. You won't be disappointed.

Happy reading :)

*A copy of this novel was provided by the author in exchange for an honest review.*