CLP Blog Tours: Meeting Miss Mollie

Today is my stop on the CLP Blog Tour for Di Jones' latest novel, Meeting Miss Mollie. I read Jones' debut novel, Transplanting Holly Oakwood, awhile back (check out my full review here if you missed it) and while I didn't loooove it, it entertained me and had me looking forward to this next book. Meeting Miss Mollie was cute and funny but I found it a little lacking.

Here's the synopsis:

She’s the Agony Aunt who has it all. Except for one small problem – her life is a disaster.
Annabelle is a hard nosed writer with a good marriage, a nice flat, a thriving career at Adorn magazine and a busy social life. She has only one ambition – to be the best known Agony Aunt in the UK.
When her world is turned upside down by her husband’s infidelity she strikes out on her own and goes flatting with a jet setting businessman. But things in her new house aren’t quite what they seem and her problems mount.
Through her ups and downs, Annabelle forges a relationship with the strangest of friends and discovers the best things in life are those she always avoided.

The thing that bugged me the most about this novel was that it was told from multiple perspectives. This is not normally a big deal for me but in the case of Meeting Miss Mollie, there were just too many characters. I can deal with three, at most. This one had the three main characters (including the dog, Mollie, which was actually quite cute), as well as Annabelle's boss, Christian's ex-fiancee, and Annabelle's dad (I feel like I'm missing one but I didn't write them down). It was a little much. Jones did do a good job of making sure most events were covered and there wasn't any duplication of scenes. However, I think the multiple perspectives thing lost a little something at the end because I have no idea what happened between the last scene and the epilogue (I think it was an epilogue...must start writing these things down...also, needing to check things like this is why paper books are better than ereaders). I don't want to give anything away but I needed way more links and connections than I was given. Instead of being happy for the ending, I was left scratching my head.

Enough negative talk. I did have fun reading this book. It was a fairly quick read, as I don't think it quite hit 200 pages, and it was easy to sink into over the course of a weekend afternoon. The story was cute and had a lot of elements that kept it from being too typical. The fact that Mollie got to narrate parts of the book and share her own thoughts was highly entertaining.

Finally, I have to say that I really like the covers for Jones' novels. They're bright and simple but really fitting for the story. 

Overall, Meeting Miss Mollie was a nice read but it won't be making any favourite lists for me. That being said, I will keep an eye out for Di Jones' next work. Third time's the charm?

Happy reading :)

CLP Blog Tour: The Green Ticket

I cannot tell you guys how excited I was to read The Green Ticket. This is the second novel from the fabulous Samantha March - author and book blogger extraordinaire (she runs the popular site Chick Lit Plus). I read and loved her debut novel, Destined to Fail late last year (check out my review here if you missed it). So, did her second novel live up to the expectations I had? Oh yeah. I loved it.

Here's the synopsis:

College junior Alex Abrams scores her dream job at the ripe age of twenty – manager to a successful salon and spa. Thrilled to finally have a real adult job, Alex enthusiastically jumps into the world of schedules, conference calls, and getting a massage when interviewing prospective employees. What she doesn’t expect are the very grown-up issues that comes with a demanding boss. Kevin Dohlman quickly becomes Alex’s worse nightmare – covering up his affairs, dealing with his enormous ego, and trying to protect her female staff from him becomes a full-time job in its own right. Alex has also befriended Kevin’s wife and co-owner, Dani, and is trying to keep Kevin’s secrets hidden from her. The situation only worsens when Kevin starts paying Alex off to make sure she keeps her insider knowledge to herself. 

While struggling to keep her wits and stay happy with her new grown-up job, Alex is juggling college courses, a new love interest, and keeping up with her close group of girlfriends. When her roommate and best friend Lila gets offered an opportunity to move to Los Angeles and sign with an agent, Alex realizes her life truly is changing, and everyone around her – including herself – is growing up. Knowing she is faced with some hard decisions ahead, Alex struggles with keeping her job at Blissful. But does she really want to throw away what she dreamed of as a career – or will the secret-keeping for Kevin become too much to handle? The Green Ticket is a story about morals versus money, and how one young woman navigates the shaky line between the two.

One of the things I remember liking about Destined to Fail was that I could really relate to the characters. The girls were college students and it hasn't been that long since I graduated from university. The Green Ticket was just the same way. I could completely relate to Alex's lifestyle at school. She and her girlfriends all lived in the same dorm at their college. That brought back fond memories of my dorm in first year and then living with some of my closest friends for the next three years. It was so much easier to hang out when they were just upstairs or down the hall - instead of 3 hours or 6 hours or...apparently Google can't calculate the directions from where I live now to where one of my old roomies is in Nunavut. OK, a ridiculously long way away. Point is, I miss the days when my friends lived close enough that I didn't have to put on real shoes to see them (something Alex mentions in the book). I really liked that aspect and I think March does a great job of writing some really real friendships - so much so that I wish I could be one Alex's friends, too!

What I also liked about this book was that the romance wasn't the central storyline. This is a minor spoiler as you'll notice that it's not even mentioned in the synopsis. Now, don't get me wrong, I love that there was a (wonderfully written) romance with Alex and Henry but I'm glad it wasn't the main focus. I do think that they are an adorable couple and am glad they found each other.

The only negative I found with this book was that there was a chunk of time that was just skipped over - from Thanksgiving to New Year's Eve. March caught me up and let me know what happened during that period of time but I just found it odd that over a month was just bounced over.

I couldn't believe the...well...crap, that Alex had to put up with at Blissful. I don't know what I would have done if I had been in her position. Though, I doubt I'd ever be in her position because there's no way that I would have had enough confidence in myself to run a spa when I was in my third year of university. I really admired Alex and I thought she was a fabulous main character.

I'm sure I could continue gushing about The Green Ticket, but I won't. Instead, I'll urge you all to buy a copy of it so you can see for yourselves how fabulous it is. I'm so glad I was able to take place in this tour and I'm happy to let you know that I'll have a guest post from author Samantha March herself, as well as an interview coming up later in the week. While you're waiting, hop on over to the main tour page and check out some of the other reviews. Maybe they'll help convince you to buy this book!

Happy reading :)

CLP Blog Tour: Picture Perfect

Welcome to a stop on the Picture Perfect tour hosted by CLP Blog Tours! I was excited to take part in this tour because I had heard so many great things about author Lucie Simone's work. Confession: I've had a copy of her novel Hollywood Ending on my shelf for awhile and I just haven't gotten around to reading it. After reading, and loving!, Picture Perfect I can't wait to read more from Lucie!

Here's the synopsis of Lucie's latest novel:

For Lauren Tate, a high-powered TV producer, sex, lies, and scandal make for a great movie-of-the-week, but when she becomes the target of a smear campaign, even the most salacious of Hollywood’s tales can’t compare to her real life drama. With her soon-to-be-ex-husband leading the effort to sully her reputation, and her former assistant threatening to snatch her hard-earned position at Timeless Television out of her hands, Lauren’s perfectly planned life quickly begins to unravel at the seams.

Clawing her way back to the top of the TV food chain is no easy task, especially in an industry where backstabbing is a sport and gossip is a full time business. But Lauren learns just how cut-throat showbiz can truly be when the hottest scandal in Tinsel Town turns deadly and the Hollywood hunk who’s stolen her heart is missing in action. Can she salvage her career, her reputation, and her love life? Or will Hollywood be the death of her?

By the time I started the book it had been awhile since I had read the synopsis so I couldn't remember a thing about what this novel was about. I was expecting your typical chick lit but what I got was so much more! I loved the mystery aspect to this book. Lauren has to try to clear her name in a murder investigation and it is heartbreaking, tense, and even a little amusing. Lucie does a great job of pushing the limit when it comes to Lauren channelling her inner Nancy Drew. There's a great scene when Lauren and her best friend, Justine, visit the scene of the crime looking for some evidence. If it wasn't so well written it would have been more hokey than entertaining. The mystery part of the novel had tons of twists and turns and Lucie kept me guessing for the entire story. The final outcome was a surprise for me and that was so much better than knowing "whodunit" right from the start.

Lauren is a fabulous character. She thinks she has her life completely sorted out when, suddenly, everything goes to hell. Some women would fall apart. In a way, Lauren does. But she also realizes that she can't fall to pieces if she wants to get past everything. She showed amazing strength while also showing her vulnerable side. I thought it was interesting that Lucie made mention on a few occasions that Lauren uses food, sweets in particular, as a crutch when she's stressed. It was just enough to make me, as the reader, realize that she had little issues and insecurities just like everyone else but it wasn't so much that it took over the rest of the story. I would love to read more about Lauren and find out what happened with her after Picture Perfect ended.

There was a fun and supportive cast of characters surrounding Lauren as well. I loved Justine. I think she and Lauren complimented each other exactly like best friends should. Jack, the new Hollywood It Boy Lauren hooks up with, kept me guessing and I alternated between wondering if he was hiding something or if he was too good to be true. Both Justine and Jack stood by Lauren - in very different ways - as she went through the hardest time of her life.

I started this book on an hour train ride. I was so engrossed in the novel that the trip (both there and back) just flew by. In fact, I almost wished it was longer so I could keep reading! Picture Perfect is well written, sweet, and humorous - even when dealing with a Hollywood murder.  I wholeheartedly recommend Lucie Simone's latest novel to all readers, whether you normally read chick lit or not.

Make sure you check back on Sunday when Lucie stops by with a lovely guest post!

Happy reading :)

Guest Post: Sarah Bridgeton

I want to thank author Sarah Bridgeton for stopping by Books Etc. today! Earlier this week I reviewed her novella The Undiscovered Novelist as part of a CLP Blog Tour. (If you missed it you can check out my review here). I was curious to find out what Sarah's inspiration was for both writing in general and for her story ideas. Below is her response. I really enjoyed learning more about her process and I hope you all do too!

My own experiences inspire me. The good, the bad and the humiliating! Despite my best intentions to keep it impersonal, I always start with my own agenda. Eventually, I get sick of writing about myself and my imagination takes over. The process goes like this. First, take an event, usually something deeply personal, and use it for a story idea. Once I have an idea, my imagination spews it into a story.   

The Undiscovered Novelist is about a naive writer trying to break into the publishing industry. As a writer, I could definitely relate to it. I was totally clueless about how the business worked when I set out to find a publisher for my first manuscript. Once I figured it out, I thought it would be a great setting. And the best part was I could give it a different ending. It left plenty of room for my imagination.

Then I created my heroine.  

At first, she was just like me—an ordinary stay-at-home mom. But that became old rather fast. Who was my heroine? Well, she was definitely a mom. Motherhood is a major theme in my story. So I had the beginnings of my heroine, but she still needed some backstory and a personality. I had such fun imagining a young, stylish, former New Yorker who loves books and literature. Jordyn is a delicious character. Ambitious and hard-headed, she’s the girl I wish I had been when I was twenty-seven.  

I am also inspired by the places I write about. New York was my inspiration for The Undiscovered Novelist. With many publishers based in New York, it only seemed appropriate to use it for a backdrop. I live in Tampa. Can you get any different? I’m used to quiet beaches. Not city streets or crowded subways. I fell in love with New York while writing this story.

About Sarah:

Sarah Bridgeton never thought she would become a novelist. She has always loved books, but in college she majored in Economics. After college, she held a variety of jobs in the insurance and health care industries. She left the workforce to be a stay-at-home mom when her daughter was born. When her daughter started preschool, she decided to write a novel.

She currently resides in Tampa with her husband, daughter, and two cats. When she’s not reading, writing, or taking care of her family, she likes to exercise. 

CLP Blog Tour: Rum Punch Regrets

How much fun is this cover? As much fun as the story inside it, let me tell you! The brightly coloured cover wasn't what convinced me to sign up for this CLP Blog Tour but it certainly didn't hurt :) Rum Punch Regrets by Anne Kemp was entertaining and sweet, and I really liked reading it.

Here's the synopsis:

In just a few short weeks, thirty something Abby George has endured the death of her mother, was dumped by her fiancé, and got laid off from her job. 

Stunned and seeking a shoulder to cry on, she turns to her perfect older sister, Leigh. But instead of comfort, Abby receives a surprise: Leigh needs her in the Caribbean to help with some mysterious personal business. 

While assisting in the sale and repair of a bed-and-breakfast, Abby uncovers a few huge family secrets as she juggles an unexpected roommate, quirky locals, and nasty centipedes. 

Abby's world is further complicated when two potential suitors enter her life. Can Abby get beyond her own pyscho drama long enough to open her heart to someone new? Or will she neurotically make her romantic life worse? 

Packing nothing but her suitcases and a sense of humor, Abby George travels down an unfamiliar road, but it's all she can do to hang on for the ride... 

Or will she wake up with "Rum Punch Regrets?"

Rum Punch Regrets is actually the second book in the Abby George series. The first, All Fruits Ripe, is a novella and, as far as I can tell, explains a bit further how Abby gets herself in this crazy situation. While it wasn't exactly necessary for me to read the novella first, I sort of wish I had. Not because I felt like there was much missing but because I don't want to go back to the beginning of Abby's story now, I want to keep going with it. Does that make sense? I am looking forward to the next Abby book that Anne told me (via Twitter) is due out in September!

This doesn't have much bearing on what I thought of the book overall, but I could not see why Abby was so quick to help out Leigh. She does not treat her well at all. Leigh still sees Abby as the little, irresponsible, and immature sister, even though I couldn't find any evidence to support the fact that Abby's never done what she said she's going to get done. I also think it was kind of harsh for Leigh's husband to be so upset about what she kept from everyone. If anyone wanted to kick Leigh out of the house, I'd think it would be Abby. And the other person involved in the mystery (didn't think you'd get it out of me, did you? Silly.) Anyway, all this didn't really change my opinion of the book overall but I just needed to talk about it!

There were a couple of big twists in this book and I loved how Kemp kept me guessing. She dropped a few hints and I was almost able to figure out the one out but I didn't realize the depth of the secret. The other one I did figure out pretty early on - but that was ok by me. I just had to keep waiting for the other shoe to drop and for Abby to clue in as well!

I'm really looking forward to the sequel because I'm so curious to find out what happens next in Abby's life. I need to know what she learns from a character that I can't tell you about because that would ruin one of the surprises in the book. As well as what happens with the two men in her life!

Rum Punch Regrets is a great, quick, fun read and I definitely suggest Anne Kemp's novel to others. It's got a good mix of humour, romance, and family drama - all set on a gorgeous Caribbean island! What's not to love?

Happy reading :)

August Chick Lit Challenge Read: Barefoot

There's no better time to read a novel set at the beach than in the summer, am I right? I confess to having Elin Hilderbrand's The Island on my bookshelf where it's been for about a year. Her novel intrigued me so when my boss offered to lend me her copy of Barefoot I gladly accepted it. And subsequently devoured it over the August long weekend. :) It turns out this is an office novel as my other co-worker just finished reading this one a few weeks ago - and also really enjoyed it. This was my August read for the Chick Lit Challenge hosted by Chick Lit Plus, which I'm loving. It's giving me a chance to read those books I've been meaning to get to that aren't a part of all the tours I'm participating in! 

Here's the synopsis:

It's summer on Nantucket, and as the season begins, three women arrive at the local airport, observed by Josh, a local boy, home from college. Burdened with small children, unwieldy straw hats, and some obvious emotional issues, the women--two sisters and one friend--make their way to the sisters' tiny cottage, inherited from an aunt. They're all trying to escape from something: Melanie, after seven failed in-vitro attempts, discovered her husband's infidelity and then her own pregnancy; Brenda embarked on a passionate affair with an older student that got her fired from her prestigious job as a professor in New York; and her sister Vickie, mother to two small boys, has been diagnosed with cancer. Soon Josh is part of the chaotic household, acting as babysitter, confidant, and, eventually, something more, while the women confront their pasts and map out their futures.

I fell in love with this story from the start. I was just as intrigued as Josh when the three women came off the plane in Nantucket. Who were they and what were they doing there? I was really happy that Josh played more of a role than I initially thought. I knew he would have to be involved somehow but I wasn't expecting him to become the babysitter. (No, I didn't read the synopsis before reading this one.) It was so sweet to see him in that role and embrace looking after two little people for a summer. Maybe I was a little in awe of him, too. There's no way I would have agreed to babysit a toddler and a baby for a summer - no matter how intriguing I found their family! :) It was great seeing Josh grow as a character, and a man, through the course of the book.

What I liked about this book was the relationship between the three women and how they were all dealing with their own problems - they were huge problems, too. It was interesting to see how they adjusted to each other over the course of the summer and how they helped each other, even when they weren't meaning to.

I didn't really find myself as interested in one of the women as much as Josh. I wonder if it had to do with the fact that I was reading as though I was in Josh's position - observing the women and feeling what he was feeling as opposed to being in the women's shoes. Does that make sense? That's not to say they weren't good characters, because they were. I guess I just liked watching and learning about Vickie, Brenda, and Melanie instead of trying to put myself in their lives.

I admit that I did find myself tearing up in a couple of parts. This was an emotional story and I was really worried about the outcome to everyone's story. I don't want to give specifics away but here comes a general spoiler-esque comment - there are happy endings.

I'm really glad I got the chance to read Barefoot by Elin Hilderbrand and I will definitely be checking out her other novels!

CLP Blog Tour: Viewer Discretion Advised

Welcome to a stop on the CLP Blog Tour for Viewer Discretion Advised by Cindy Roesel! I found this novel to be an entertaining read.

Here's the synopsis:

LIVE FROM MIAMI! The sensationalism shown on television can only be topped by the drama that happens behind the camera! After being fired from her job in Los Angeles, Charlene "Charley" Thomas moves to sizzling Miami and begins working as news director at a local television station. While getting used to her new gig, Charley wakes up to the fact that her station manager, Jonathan Lefton, is the boss from hell who will do anything for a story no matter who gets hurt in the process. When nude pictures of noon anchor, Miranda Andrews, are discovered in the men's room of a Key West bar, all hell breaks loose. They end up on Lefton's desk and he promotes her over the main anchor, sparking off a firestorm. Miranda's quickly thrown into the mix and assigned special reports. Charley finds herself overseeing an investigation that could shine light on the guilt of a dirty cop. Real life begins to mimic the drama of broadcast news when station personalities face life and death all for rating and Emmys! VIEWER DISCRETION ADVISED is a modern day "Sex and the City" meets "Broadcast News."

I've read other novels that take place in the newsroom so I was interested to see how Charley's story played out. I found the behind the scenes look pretty interesting. I liked seeing how the anchors treated each other and what that competition could be like. It was also amusing to see how the reporters (the "real" journalists) treated the anchors (the "talent"). I liked reading about the dynamic between all of the staff and seeing how breaking news would play out. I knew that Roesel knew what she was talking about as she's an Emmy award winning journalist so that definitely helped the realism factor in the newsroom.

I liked Charley but I have to say that I wasn't as invested in her as I would have liked. That being said, there's a stressful situation at the end and I was definitely twisted into knots as I was reading because I was worried about what would happen to her. I think I was just missing a little something with Charley...or perhaps her personal story was being overshadowed by the crazy drama happening elsewhere in the newsroom. I found that there was maybe too much going on and links between stories weren't as strong as I would have liked. Also, some of the minor characters were not as developed as they could have been and the relationship between them and Charley were hard to really understand. I was particularly thrown off with Charley and Oz's relationship.

I do have to say that Charley does show awesome character when she gets fired. She doesn't spend any time feeling sorry for herself and immediately starts working her contacts to find another job. Happily, it does work out for her. I loved that she was a strong female and stayed in control of her situations. That was really great to read.

Overall, I was interested in the Charley's story but I think I wanted just a little bit more from Viewer Discretion Advised. I'll definitely check out what else Cindy Roesel writes in the future.

Guest Post: Shelly Bell

This week I reviewed A Year to Remember by Shelly Bell (you can check out my review here if you missed it). Shelly was kind enough to stop by Books Etc. with a guest post as part of the CLP Blog Tour. This is the question I had for her:

Your novel has some autobiographical parts to it. Was that easy or hard for you to write? Did you want to include as many references to your own life as possible or did you decide to just use the basics and let the character's own story come through?

Thank you to Shelly for writing this post for my blog! I hope you all enjoy it as much as I did.

I was on my way to see a documentary about primates at the Henry Ford Museum when the story for A Year to Remember downloaded in my head. That’s literally what it was like. By the time we got to the theater, I told my family to go on ahead while I jotted down an outline in the lobby. An hour later, I had a skeleton synopsis, including character names, events, and the ending.  It wasn’t something I had considered writing.  But once I started, I couldn’t stop and I temporarily shelved the paranormal romance I had been working on.
They say an author’s first book is the most autobiographical. Mine is no exception. The process of writing it went rather quickly; I think it took less than three months to write because the voice of Sara was so loud and insistent. There are pieces of me in the main character, Sara, as well as her best friend, Missy. Sara and I are both compulsive overeaters, and when I was twenty-nine, I was “in the food.” Writing the book helped me process some of the events that transpired in my twenties and see it from a different perspective. For example, my younger brother did marry before me. I was in my late twenties and when I gave my toast, I had a slip of the tongue and admitted I was jealous! At the core of my book is not just my story, but the story of women I know. My friend Miriam and I went on several disastrous blind dates. Most were too horrific to even make the book.  Sara’s dates are a combination of dates that Miriam and I suffered through in our late twenties.  Like Sara, I spent a year throwing everything I had into finding a husband. I spent a thousand dollars on a dating service, tried speed dating, and went on several dates with men I met through JDate. Most of time, there wasn’t a second date. Adam and Caleb are completely made-up characters. But the issues that Sara faces in regards to religion and marriage were issues that Miriam and I both faced. Without giving the book away, the real outcome of those issues differed.
After I gave up my search, I met my husband through a different Jewish online dating site.  He emailed me on a Friday, we met on Sunday, got engaged four months later, and married six months after that. I knew the moment I read his name on the email that I’d marry him.
The hard part of writing a book is having people read it and assuming everything is autobiographical. It’s fiction!  I had to convince my mom that I never had a crush on any of my brother’s friends. And no matter how many times I tell her Sara is not me, she maintains she knows too much about my sex life.  I would never put such personal information down on paper for the world to read. What happens in my bedroom stays in my bedroom.
Yes, Sara and I are a lot alike. I used the book to try and educate people on compulsive overeating in an entertaining way. I hope that at the minimum, the reader gets a couple of chuckles from it!

CLP Blog Tour: A Year to Remember

Welcome to a stop on the A Year to Remember tour hosted by CLP Blog Tours. I started out loving Shelly Bell's novel but then...well...we'll get to that.

First, here's the synopsis:

When her younger brother marries on her twenty-ninth birthday, food addict Sara Friedman drunkenly vows to three hundred wedding guests to find and marry her soul mate within the year.
After her humiliating toast becomes a YouTube sensation, she permits a national morning show to chronicle her search. With the help of best friend, Missy, she plunges head first into the shallow end of the dating pool.
Her journey leads her to question the true meaning of soul mates, as she decides between fulfilling her vow to marry before her thirtieth birthday and following her heart’s desire. But before she can make the biggest decision of her life, Sara must begin to take her first steps toward recovery from her addiction to food.

Have you ever started reading a book, fell in love with it, and then ended up being just a little bit disenchanted by the end? This is what happened to me with this novel. When I started A Year to Remember, I was hooked. I found the concept interesting - trying to marry within the year - and even though the year deadline seems like something that's been written to death, it was fresh to me. What was the problem then? Well...a couple of bizarre errors that should have been caught in the editing stages didn't help matters. I could overlook Zac Efron's name being spelled incorrectly (she added an h) but to switch POV? That's a little crazy. I was reading along and enjoying the first person point of view when all of a sudden I got very confused because I was now reading from the third person POV, then, BAM, back to first person. Unfortunate.

The other thing that didn't thrill me was that Sara's story started getting...well...sort of preachy. I don't think that's quite the word I want but I can't think of how else to describe it. She realizes what she needs to do to fix her issues, and I love that, but suddenly it's all about the "higher power" and it was hard for me to stay interested. Don't get me wrong, I like stories that focus on more than just the romance and I like when characters go on personal journeys, but something just wasn't sitting well with me. I don't think the vast majority of people would feel the same as me so I urge you to check out the other reviews during this tour to get a better idea if you'd like this one. Deal? Deal.

Enough negatives. Like I said, I really liked the idea for this novel. Lots of great stories seem to start at a wedding. Add in a drunken toast and you've got a winner. I'm glad that Sara's YouTube video didn't harm her but instead helped her.

I had a feeling I knew who Sara would end up with and even though I was right, I really enjoyed the romantic twists and turns. It was a bit bothersome when she couldn't see that some of the guys were so incredibly wrong for her because she seemed perfectly content to settle. Happily, she found her way and had a happily ever after ending.

So, overall, even though I started out wanting to give A Year to Remember by Shelly Bell five stars, I ended up only awarding it three. I think I'd still recommend it because, like I said, other people may not have the same issues I did. It's worth a look because Sara's story is uplifting and I think a lot of people could identify with her. The end result of the romance storyline was really sweet as well.

Happy reading :)

June Chick Lit Challenge Read: The First Husband

I had heard about The First Husband by Laura Dave awhile ago but it took me some time to finally get around to reading it. I'm so glad I did! It was fun, sweet, and had some wonderful characters. I decided to review this one for my June read of the Chick Lit Plus Challenge.

Here's what this novel is all about:

Annie Adams is days away from her thirty-second birthday and thinks she has finally found some happiness. She visits the world's most interesting places for her syndicated travel column and she's happily cohabiting with her movie director boyfriend Nick in Los Angeles. But when Nick comes home from a meeting with his therapist (aka "futures counselor") and announces that he's taking a break from their relationship so he can pursue a woman from his past, the place Annie had come to call home is shattered. Reeling, Annie stumbles into her neighborhood bar and finds Griffin-a grounded, charming chef who seems to be everything Annie didn't know she was looking for. Within three months, Griffin is Annie's husband and Annie finds herself trying to restart her life in rural Massachusetts.

The synopsis makes Annie and the story seem a little...crazy. Marry someone three months after meeting them? Almost everyone would think that's a little quick. But, when you're reading about Annie and Griffin and their relationship it just makes sense.

I was so wrapped up in Annie's story that my heart hurt for her when she was realizing she had to make a very difficult choice. I could see that she wanted the one outcome but was not emotionally able to make that happen. So, even though I wish she hadn't decided to do what she did, I'm still glad she did as it led her to the outcome I wanted for her to begin with. Confused? I know it's vague but I don't want to give anything away! Point is, Annie has to make a lot of tough choices and since she doesn't think she can make the choice she does what she does best - relocates.

I've mentioned before that travel writers as heroines seem to have the best built in drama. They "obviously" have commitment issues since they never stay in one place for very long (but it's for work, they'll say). I really liked how Dave played with Annie's issues and her job. It seems to be the reason she's never really settled but is that really it or is she using it as a crutch? It was interesting to see how Annie evolved and learned about herself.

I really liked Griffin. He was funny, sweet, caring, and a real guy. Bonus: he's a chef. Who wouldn't want to marry a chef? The romance between Griffin and Annie started out so smoothly but quickly ran into some problems. They both had some issues to work out and I enjoyed reading about their journey.

Overall, I think all chick lit lovers would enjoy The First Husband. I plan on checking out some of Laura Dave's previous works and I look forward to what she comes out with next.

Happy reading :)

Guest Post: Lauren Clark

This week I reviewed Lauren Clark's second novel Dancing Naked in Dixie for the CLP blog tour (check out the review here if you missed it). Lauren was kind enough to provide a guest post for Books Etc. In the post she gives us a play list for her novel! There are some great songs in here and I hope you enjoy the list as I did :) 

Dancing Naked in Dixie Top Ten Playlist

There's nothing like a little music to get a party started, and there's plenty to celebrate in Dancing Naked in Dixie.

From sultry slow-burns to five-alarm infernos, there's a song for every situation in the story--and I think that my Top Ten fits perfectly! So, grab this playlist, turn up the volume, and cozy up with a copy of Dancing Naked in Dixie to enjoy this countdown of seductive, heart-pounding, pulse-racing, blood-pumping songs.

DIXIE TOP TEN Playlist

1. Montgomery Gentry - My Town - Showcases the true pride people feel about their hometown. This song is so raw, honest, and heartfelt.

2. Zac Brown Band - Chicken Fried - There is nothing like the harmony on this song and the funky, funny lyrics that explain what Southerners love about the South.

3. Thompson Square - Are You Gonna Kiss Me or Not? - Another great song by a girl-guy duo. It's all about the heady anticipation of a first kiss -- great stuff!  Thompson Square has toured with Macon, Georgia's Jason Aldean.                                                                                                                                       

4. Sugarland a/Matt Nathanson - Run - Did you see this video from the 2011 CMA Awards? Amazing performance, amazing song. Great Chemistry between MN and Jennifer Nettles.

You turn, turn, turn, turning me on


Like a slow fire burn 


I know that it's wrong


Still I run, run, run, run right into you


5. Lady Antebellum - Just a Kiss - This makes me think about Shug and Julia ... with her leaving to go back to New York ... and both of them wrestling with admitting that they are "right" for each other.

6. The Band Perry - All Your Life - Everyone's heard "If I Die Young," but All Your Life is all about what people do for love. So romantic. The lyrics talk about "I don't want the whole world ... I just want to be the only girl you love all your life."

7. Blake Shelton - Drink On It - Okay, I included this one because Blake Shelton is awfully cute and I loved hearing him joke around on The Voice. The lyrics are adorable and have that sexy suggestion of getting together ... later.

8. Keith Urban - Somebody Like You­ - I had a hard time choosing from all of his great songs. I've seen Keith Urban in concert and he is so talented.

9. Jason Aldean & Kelly Clarkson - Don't You Want to Stay - I've loved Jason Aldean since he came onto the music scene a few years ago. He's best known for his country-rock songs, but his ballads are lovely and ache with feeling. Kelly Clarkson, of course, has a fabulous voice. Performed at the 2012 CMAs.

10. Lynyrd Skynard - Sweet Home Alabama - You can't get any better Southern Rock than this. You just can't.

What do you think? Any other great Southern songs to include on the DIXIE soundtrack?

Chick Lit Plus Blog Tour: Unlocked

Welcome to a stop on the Unlocked blog tour hosted by CLP Blog Tours! Through this tour I got the chance to read Rachael O'Bryan's novel. This review's going to be a tough one so I'm just going to dive into the synopsis and then we'll go from there.

In Unlocked the main character Rebecca takes the reader on a journey through a collection of short stories concerning nine guys she met while being a tutor in college for the football team. She recounts her struggles with love, friendship, self-confidence, trust, acceptance, and heartache. The stories indicate how people and relationships can really shape a person's life. 

I have to be totally and completely honest and tell you that I didn't really like this book. The biggest issue for me is that the writing really needed to be polished. There were awkward sentences and missing words and I think it could have benefited from more/better editing.

I did end up liking the way this book was laid out. It was interesting to get Rebecca's current situation, a flashback, and then her reflection on what happened and how she was going to move forward. It was a wee bit repetitive but I did enjoy that each story focused on a different guy and her relationship with them, past and present.

Speaking of her relationships with these guys - I've had crushes on multiple guys before (way back in high school which I graduated from seven years ago but it was also the last time I was single) but I didn't consider myself to be madly in love with any of them, let alone a few of them at the same time, like Rebecca did when she was in college. I couldn't quite grasp who it was that she really wanted to be with. Of course, that may not have been the goal and she really could have been "in love" with several of them at once. My point is that it didn't ring true to me and I had a bit of an issue with that.

Overall, I can't quite recommend this one. There are probably people out there who would like it but, unfortunately, I just wasn't one of them. Want to hear what others thought? Check out the tour's main page over at CLP Blog Tours.

Happy reading :)

May Chick Lit Challenge Read: One Day in May

One Day in May by Catherine Alliott may be one of my favourite chick lit reads of the year so far! I decided to read it for this month's Chick Lit Plus Challenge read because it's May and since the book has "May" in the title I found it fitting. It's been sitting on my shelf for awhile but I'm glad I finally got around to reading it because I really enjoyed it!

Here's the synopsis:

One fine day in May, Hattie's life changes for ever... Single mother Hattie has plenty of reasons to be happy. Her antiques business is flourishing, her teenage son is settled at boarding school and she’s enjoying a fling with a younger, very sexy man. But when her job takes her back to the idyllic village of Little Crandon, painful memories of her first love - Dominic Forbes, the married politician she worked for years ago, the man who changed the course of her life – come flooding back... Things come to a head when Hattie bumps into Dominic’s widow and his gorgeous younger brother, Hal, in the village and she finds her world turned upside down. Will Hattie come clean about what really happened with Dominic all those years ago? And, if she does, is she ready to face the consequences? Whatever happens, Hattie comes to realize that you can’t keep running from your mistakes. It’s time to move on and maybe, just maybe, let herself fall in love again…

I'm a huge fan of British/Irish chick lit. I have some favourites - Matthews, O'Flanagan, Ahern - and I think Alliott may end up on this list as well. I read A Crowded Marriage ages ago and liked it. I recently reviewed Rural Affair over at Novel Escapes but unfortunately that one didn't do much for me (you can read the review here). I still wanted to give One Day in May a try (it was waiting patiently on my shelf, after all) and I found it to be Brit chick lit at it's finest. I'm not sure why I love these kinds of books so much. It could be because the setting and language is just a little bit different from what I know here in Canada. Some chick lit books are just so generic in their location so it's nice to be plopped in the English countryside and be able to take a quick jaunt over to France for a few scenes. It's something different than NYC or LA and I really appreciate that.

There was a lot going on in this novel but I never felt lost or that there was too much happening. There's a flashback portion at the beginning as we learn about how Hattie came to adopt Seffy and go into business with Maggie. And of course, we also learn the details of the very brief affair with Dominic. Everything was woven together well and even though my co-worker (who had borrowed my copy last month to read on vacay and loved it too) warned me that it started slow, I didn't find that to be the case.

There are many delightful characters in this novel. Hattie has a large but lovely family - son, parents, brother, sister, brother-in-law, two nieces, and a nephew. She also has Maggie, her slightly abrasive but well meaning BFF, long time friend Christian, and boy toy Ivan. It is so clear that Hattie cares deeply for everyone in her life and they, in turn, care for her. The family dynamic is so great in this novel and is one of my favourite parts of the book.

I'm usually able to figure out the end result of most chick lit novels but One Day in May totally threw me for a loop. There were a couple of things that I did NOT see coming at all and I loved that. And that's all you'll get out of me on that. No spoilers here! :)

I always know a book is really good when I HAVE to pass along the book to my mom as soon as I'm finished. Catherine Alliot's One Day in May is one of those books and it will be heading home with me for the long weekend. It was a fun, sweet, and moving story and I definitely recommend it to all chick lit lovers!

Happy reading :)

Excerpt: Kiss Me, Dancer

Authors Alicia and Roy Street are currently on tour with CLP Blog Tours with their novel Kiss Me, Dancer. I haven't read this book myself but after checking out this excerpt I think I might have to! Hope you all enjoy it as well :)

Casey Richardson stopped correcting the drooping hands and unpointed feet of her nine and ten-year-old students doing ronde de jambes at the barre when a man barged into her sunny mirrored studio, interrupting her Saturday morning ballet class.
A man who just happened to resemble a Greek god walking the earth in jeans and silky black tee. She ignored the flush of heat going through her at the sight of this hunk and said, “Excuse me, sir, but we have a class in session.” He shot Casey an impatient glance, stunning her with teal blue eyes. Grabbed little Josh by the arm and tugged him toward the lobby.
She’d seen Josh’s parents at the last dance recital, and this guy definitely was not one of them. “Wait a second,” Casey said, trying to cut him off as he made his way from the studio. “What do you think you’re doing?”
He stepped past her.
The classroom of students fell silent. Casey turned to them. “Same drill. Ronde de jambes. Let’s go.” She nodded to Jiao at the piano. Her accompanist went into Chopin’s Waltz in C-sharp minor.
Casey raced out to the lobby after the man (trying not to notice he had the most splendid back she’d ever seen). Timid Josh gave him no resistance, but looked like he was about to cry.
“Lisa, block the door.” The eighteen-year-old intern at the desk just sat there wide-eyed, unprepared for the sudden call to arms.
But Casey wasn’t about to let some pervert make off with one of her precious flock. As the hunk reached for the door handle she slipped in front of him, her back to the door, her palms pressed like stop signs against his chest. She told herself she didn’t notice the hard curve of muscle beneath her hands. Or that his face looked even better up close.
“Hold it or I’ll call the police. Who are you, and what do you want with Josh?”

            

April Chick Lit Challenge Read: What Stays in Vegas

Welcome to my April Chick Lit Challenge review! I actually read What Stays in Vegas by Beth Labonte way back in February but I've been so incredibly busy with moving and starting a new job that I am only just now able to get a review up. That being said, please forgive me if you find this review a little lacking - I read this ages ago and didn't make good enough notes! I was on a cruise, can you blame me? :) It was a great vacay read because it was funny, cute, and entertaining.

Here's the synopsis for this novel:

Bored administrative assistant, Tessa Golden, is trapped in a life of lousy weather, irritating bosses, and mind-numbing secretarial work. Her dreams of being an artist have rapidly deteriorated into building things out of paperclips while on hold with tech support. To make matters even worse, the love of her life has gone off and married another woman.
So when Tessa is suddenly transferred to the Las Vegas branch of her company - playing wingwoman to her freshly divorced boss, juggling a client from hell, and catching the eye of one very eligible coworker - will her life finally be shaken up enough to straighten itself out?

This was one of those books where I was always thinking about the story and the characters even when I wasn't reading it. The story kept me entertained and wondering what was going to happen to Tessa and her friends. There were some mildly outrageous escapades but it seemed to work for me - perhaps because it was taking place in Vegas and everything about Vegas seems outrageous to me! There were a couple of times I wanted to yell "What are you doing?!?" but I was invested in Tessa and her life, not annoyed by it. Overall, I thought she was a great character.

The romantic storyline in this book was fun and kept me guessing. I thought I had figured out how the ending was going to play out early on but Labonte threw in enough curveballs to make things interesting. And Chris? Sigh...I absolutely love him. That's all I'm going to say about that - read the book yourself to see how things unfold!

I thought the ending was great. I knew something had to totally blow up but the pieces ended up falling back into place perfectly. I'm so happy with the way Tessa's life turned out.

One of the things I liked about this book was that it provided a character who was able to go after what she wanted. She's working a boring job that is just a paycheque, it's not what she really wants to do. Like a lot of people, Tessa figured she would always have to work some sort of job and do her art on the side, as a hobby. It was nice to see her evolution and realization that she can turn her passion into a full time career.

I'm really hoping this review results in at least a few more people reading this book. I really enjoyed it and think many others will too. Plus, if you have a Kindle it's only $0.99! (If you want to buy it, click on the Amazon link below) A big thank you to Beth for sending me a copy of her novel to review. I'm so glad I got the chance to read this one. I encourage you all to give this book a try - and then let me know what you think!

Happy reading! :)

March Chick Lit Challenge Read: The D Word

I am going to start off this review with a simple statement:

I love chick lit.

Of course, if you're a regular reader of Books Etc. you'll already know that. And, if you took a look at the title of this post you'll realize that I read The D Word by Liz Fenton and Lisa Steinke for a chick lit challenge (hosted by the amazing Chick Lit Plus).

One of the first sites I found when I first fell into this wonderful world of book blogs a few years ago was Chick Lit is not Dead. Many of you will know that site as well (and if you don't, get your butt over there and check it out!) Liz and Lisa have all sorts of good stuff on their site - author interviews, reviews, giveaways. Not only do they run a rockin' website but, as it turns out, they're pretty stellar authors themselves. I really enjoyed reading their novel The D Word.

Want to know what this great book's all about? Here's the synopsis:

Jordan Daniels and Elle Ryan thought their lives would become less complicated when they walked away from their respective relationships one year ago. But instead, they find themselves vying for a relationship with the same divorced man.
As a spiritual counselor, newly single mother Jordan Daniels makes her living predicting other people’s futures. If only she could foresee her own. A year after filing for divorce from her husband, Kevin, he seems to be the one moving on effortlessly, while Jordan still can't bring herself to fill his old underwear drawer. But it’s not until Jordan’s polar opposite, Elle steals Kevin’s heart, that Jordan becomes convinced she’ll be replaced both as a wife and a mother to her five-year-old son, Max.
When Elle met Kevin, the last thing she wanted was another relationship. Especially not with a man with baggage-she already had enough of her own. She left her fiancé, Chase right before their wedding to avoid the imminent D word, something she’s convinced runs in her family like a disease. But a year later, she’s no closer to becoming less skeptical about marriage. And despite her attachment to Kevin and his son, when Elle sees just how far Jordan’s willing to go to win Kevin back, Elle starts to question if she should have left Chase in the first place.
In The D Word you’ll walk in the shoes of Jordan and Elle as they discover that sometimes you’re not that different from the person who makes you feel the most insecure.

I was expecting a good book but I found myself a great one. I wasn't sure how I was going to feel about the whole divorce thing but it ended up being a non-issue. You know when there are seemingly huge roadblocks thrown in the way of characters and you can tell they're just put there by the author to have some conflict and they really don't work with the story? Well, that doesn't happen with this novel. Jordan and Kevin's divorce added all the conflict needed for the novel which meant that there weren't any crazy antics created solely to amp up the tension.

I was hoping for a particular conclusion for pretty much the entire novel but I ended up having an ah-ha moment at the same time as Jordan and Elle. I knew, as they did, that things were going to turn out differently. And I was more than ok with that, just as they were. I found that interesting because I kept thinking about the possibility of another outcome and I didn't think I was going to like it. Fenton and Steinke managed to create a conclusion that totally satisfied me and I applaud them for that.

The multiple perspectives was a smart idea for this book. I loved being able to get into the minds of the two women. I also liked that every once and awhile we got an inside look at some of the other characters as well - if I remember correctly, that included Elle's mom, and Kevin, to name two. This was helpful because it allowed me to be unbiased and get both sides of the story. All of this helped me love Elle and Jordan even more. I was really invested in both of their lives and stories and loving a character is almost always necessary for me to love a novel.

I really liked reading The D Word and am really excited to get to the other novel written by these lovely ladies, I'll Have Who She's Having. It would be a safe bet to expect a review of that one later on this year for the challenge! Take note, fellow chick lit lovers. You should definitely add this book to your to be read list!

Happy reading :)

Excerpt: Children of the Gods

Good news everyone! I finally have internet at home so you'll be hearing from me a little more regularly - yay! Nothing like surgery, a vacation, a move, starting a new job, and over a week without internet (during which I was busy unpacking and trying not to lose my mind) all within a couple of months. Helping me get back into the swing of things is hosting a stop on the CLP Blog Tour for Monica Millard's novel Children of the Gods. If you think the following excerpt sounds interesting, make sure you  keep checking the reviews on the CLP site to see what others thought of the book.

Happy reading! :)


A hush fell over the crowd, but that was not what jarred me back into the present. I felt it when the Halorans stepped from their glowing pedestal onto our soil. It was like the earth was warning me, sending a current of energy up through my feet. It had never happened before. 
I wiped this and all other thoughts from my mind. I imagined dried corn, sterile fields, and barren deserts. Then I tried to become one; unwelcoming and inhospitable as I could be. 
The Halorans had come to us hundreds of years before, when our City was just a village. They promised life free of hunger and poverty to a starving people. In exchange, the offering of a few healthy teens every twenty or thirty years, so a God might inhabit and co-exist inside their body, did not seem such a high price. Back then, they thought starvation was the worst thing anyone ever had to endure. 
In the years before the first Choosing, under the protection and care of the Halorans, our meager village blossomed into a thriving city, their city. It became known to all as The City of the Gods, and anyone who lived within came to be known as The Children of the Gods. 
After the first Choosing, the Halorans closed our borders. Generations later, we are captives of a choice we ourselves did not get to make. 
I am not sure who I was more angry with, our elders for bartering their children’s and our lives so easily or the Halorans themselves. 
Quickly, I forced my mind to return to the images of the desert and my skin being covered over by the hostile winds of my own private sand storm. No one would choose such an unfavorable host body. I hoped.
I looked at my bare toes as they approached. After a long moment, I could feel the tension of every held breath. Not even the wind seemed to be blowing. I looked up to see that the Halorans were stopped in front of my row, the Sari looking expectant. A smile teased the corners of his lips as he made eye contact. In anyone else, his actions might seem flirtatious. But he was not anyone else. 
With his guards not standing next to him, I was struck by just how tall this Sari really was. His young features belied his extensive years. If I did not know better, I could believe he belonged in line next to Niko. The innocence associated with their perpetually youthful appearance may also have been what led to our ancestor’s easy trust of them. When they began to move again, I did not let the breath I was holding free. I was not safe. In fact, I was probably in more danger than before. The Halorans thrived on the dramatic. They also chose each of their mates new hosts. If the Sari was choosing, and it appeared he was, then it was no longer Niko I had to worry about. 
My head began to swim. It would do me no good to faint. Fainting would not stop them if I was Chosen. It had happened before. The guard just collected the girl, tossed her over his shoulder and carried her to the pedestal. My breath was like the wind, dancing in the hair of the girl before me as I exhaled. Oddly, her swirling golden hair sounded like wind chimes. It took me a moment to realize the chimes I was hearing were from the decision bell. I knew before I looked up. 
A single finger pointed in my direction. The guard stood by the girl in front of me. The Sari shook his head and the guard brushed her aside. The Sari’s white teeth gleamed in the sunlight as a smile spread across his horrid face. “This one?” The guard gestured at me. 
He nodded. 
The Luna, his mate, looked almost sympathetic. It could not be. She must be too sick to smile. They felt no sympathy for the lives they stole. If anything, the Choosing was high entertainment for them. 
Several guards came close, surrounding me. I bowed my head, showing my acceptance. The Sari turned and walked away. The guards all tensed. The Halorans no longer turned their backs on us after choosing. Not since a girl plunged a dagger in the back of her Sari. 
We all knew they were not really gods as they claimed. In the beginning, everyone was eager to be Chosen. They were told, by allowing a god to inhabit their body, they would also become gods.  After the first generation of Chosen came back to choose, the truth was obvious. But it was not until a generation ago, when a girl, Lennie, stabbed the Sari who chose her, that we knew they could die. 
The guards took a step forward. I held my hands out to show I did not have any weapons. I was searched thoroughly before entering the courtyard, but if a person wanted it enough, they could find a way to bring a weapon in. The guards relaxed, but not by much. I took a step forward, my eyes searched for Niko as I turned to make the walk. He caught my eye and raised his hand like he was reaching out for me. Mercifully, those around him restrained him. It was an unfair thing I had done to him.

Author Post: Kathleen Kole

Welcome to another stop on the CLP blog tour for Kathleen Kole's novel Favorable Conditions. I reviewed it earlier in the week and absolutely loved it (you can check out the review here).

Kathleen was kind enough to write a post for Books Etc. that talks a little bit about what made her decide to finally start focusing on her writing. I hope you enjoy it as much as I did!

The catalyst to my taking the plunge and paddling toward becoming a published author.

I believe the catalyst that prompted me to finally take the plunge and give this writer/author path a “go” was a simple one:  Timing.  And by that I mean, I’d come to a point in my life where circumstances had lined up in a manner that allowed for the time and attention I would have to give to this journey. 


What were those circumstances?  First, and most importantly, my young family was no longer quite so young.  As a stay-at-home Mom, that was a big deal.  I actually had a solid pocket of my day where I could focus upon my novel/s and not feel I was taking time and attention away from where it was more needed.  Again, a big deal. 


And, second, I believe within that sweet spot of timing I hit a “now or never” moment.  I knew I had the dream to create my own novels and it was time to find out if I could.  I felt I’d had enough life and learning under my belt to have something to say and it was time to find out if the dream was one worth pursuing...  Or time to move on and discover other goals and dreams. 


I’m grateful every day that I gave it a “go” and found out.  Now I’m just traveling the path and enjoying the moments; present minded and present focused. 
------------------------ 
A quick thank you, Kaley, for inviting me to add a guest post to your blog.  As well, a smile of gratitude for giving of your time to my latest book/blog tour.  Cheers!

Chick Lit Plus Blog Tour: Mad About the Boy

It's another stop on a CLP Blog Tour! Welcome to my review of Mad About the Boy by Suzan Battah. When you're all done reading my reviews, make sure you head over to the CLP Tour page to see what other bloggers had to say about this novel.

Now, without further ado, here's the synopsis of the book:

Julia Mendoza is driven by the success of her business. Since her husband Carlos passed away at such a young age, her business By Design is her number one priority. In her late twenties she works too hard and doesn’t take time out for fun. Annoyance with a pesky ex-friend has her begging one of the local surfer’s with a cheeky smile in the grocery store to pretend he’s her boyfriend. Suddenly, life takes a sudden detour from her business plan; much to the delight of her boisterous Latin American family.
Christophe Augustine is groomed to take over his father’s successful chain of luxurious hotels. With a wealthy French-American background, Chris has been given privileges that not many have. He works hard, plays harder but seeks approval and recognition above all else. Family is a top priority for him as he fights for custody of his young brother. His parent’s divorce has not diminished his faith in romance. When a gorgeous Latino woman changes one boring morning into an interesting game of role play, though reluctant to help at first, he soon realises she’s not like the string of other women he’s known.
A romantic first date ending dramatically doesn’t stop Chris from wanting to know Julia more. And for Julia, she’s all for a bit of fun but when things get too serious she’s running the other way. Too alike, in some ways and complete opposites, in others ways, Julia and Chris fumble through fun moments, annoying confrontations, passionate times and heartbreaking revelations.
Love has no boundaries when soul-mates meet but when one is ready to love and the other one isn’t...

This was one of those books that was fun to read but wasn't quite amazing enough for me to put it on my "must recommend" list. I think a large part of that comes from the way the book was written. There were a few times that I found myself mentally editing the book and I wished that it had been cleaned up just a little bit more. For me it was mostly a flow issue. Sometimes events occurred that seemed a little bit out of order or totally out of the blue. I could sort of make the connections but I wanted more background or explanation to what had happened.

Julia had a great support system of friends and family. She goes through a lot in this novel and everyone is there for her every step of the way. I particularly loved Randy and Boric. They were so completely outrageous and amazing. I really liked when Boric and Julia were spying on Chris at the monkey jungle. I actually burst out laughing when Boric said they were looking for the blonde monkey. I know that won't make much sense to those who haven't read this book but trust me, it was funny :)

Even with the few writing issues, I still found myself invested in Julia and her journey with Chris. I sometimes wondered what the heck she was thinking by not revealing all of her past to him but I could tell that she was really struggling with her feelings and that really came through as I was reading. This definitely wasn't an easy romance as many curve balls are thrown at the couple along the way but I liked that. It wasn't predictable and I looked forward to seeing how Battah wrapped things up.

Overall, I had fun reading Mad About the Boy even though I didn't love it. I think I'll still try to check out what Suzan Batthah comes out with in the future because this story grabbed me even if the writing didn't. I'd recommend this one for a summer read - it'd be a great beach read!

Happy reading :)

Author Guest Post: Romi Moondi

A big thank you to Romi Moondi for stopping by to chat about what she's up to this year. If you missed it, I reviewed her novel Year of the Chick on Tuesday as part of a CLP Blog Tour (you can read my review here). I hope you enjoy this guest post as much as I did!

"Sequel-ing" in 2012

Hi Kaley, thanks for giving me a chance to talk about what "writing life" will be in 2012!


Well…


…In 2009, writing my "Year of the Chick" blog into an edgy chick-lit novel was THE most exciting concept ever.


As 2012 begins, the thrill of writing the sequel trumps the first.


Perhaps it's because like in "Year of the Chick," an "inspired by real life" story continues, with a plot for book two that means the world to me.


It could also be the fact that I already wrote the sequel.


Last year.


As a screenplay.


I know that sounds like a topsy-turvy thing, since you only ever hear of books written first then adapted into screenplays after. Besides which, I'd never even written a screenplay in my whole frickin' life!


Needless to say, in March 2011, it was not in my plans to write a screenplay.


But I didn't really have a choice.


Now let me be clear, I was not chained to a typewriter by some over-zealous director who was forcing me to pump out the word count. Instead it was little ol' me, this freshly broken-hearted girl, who thought to herself "the last six months felt exactly like a movie…so why not write one?"


And then it began…the books I bought on how to write screenplays, the reading of free screenplays that were available online…I was obsessed. Two months, many late nights, and several writing sessions at Starbucks later, I had done it.


A fictional screenplay called "Best Before," somewhat inspired by real life.


Once I was finished, I had no idea what to do with it. I just knew that I'd obeyed the muse, so I was happy. So happy in fact, that I forked over some cash to enter international screenplay competitions.


Just for fun.


To my surprise, I advanced in seven screenplay contests in 2011. From finalist showings, to semi-finals, to top 5%, to top 15, I was overjoyed. The results made it clear that my sequel to "Year of the Chick" had just been written without my knowing.


And it all began on a whim in March 2011.


Huh.


So here I am, ready to roll up my sleeves, and turn a screenplay that means so much to me into the sequel of "Year of the Chick." I am proud to add a second installment to the "Year of the Chick" series, since that very first novel was the first full-length thing that meant the world to me.


I hope this series will mean something to a lot of readers too.


Thanks,


Romi