Review: A Sister's Place

I've read (almost) all of Savannah Page's When Girlfriends series and loved them (you can find my reviews here). So when I learned Page had a new stand alone women's fiction novel, I knew I needed to read it. I could not put A Sister's Place down. It's a Must Read.

Here's the synopsis:

Sisters Gracie and Juliette Bennett used to be the best of friends. But over the years, time and distance have worn the ties of sisterhood that once bound them together. Each has been following her own life's path, growing further apart.
When their beloved grandmother Mimi passes the Bennett sisters are set to inherit her house--the charming Santa Barbara Craftsman, a family heirloom three generations old.
But there's a catch: In order to inherit their home away from home Gracie and Juliette must live at 1402 Laguna Lane for one year...together.
Now, in an unexpected and peculiar way, their paths intertwine. Gracie and Juliette have a chance to come together and reexamine their relationship, perhaps even become the kinds of friends only sisters can be. Because as they'll learn over the course of the trying year ahead, Mimi's clever plan is about more than preserving a piece of family history.
Differences will be embraced, pasts confronted, loyalties tested, and secrets revealed. And in their darkest hours Gracie and Juliette will have to decide if a sister's love is what they need to get through the year. If a unique friendship between sisters is what they've needed all along.

This book will really resonate with you if you have a sister (but you'll still love it even if you don't). My advice though? Make sure you read it when you know you're able to see or at least text your sis. My own little sister is off working on a cruise ship right now and thank goodness I'll see her soon otherwise it'd be hard to make it through the book. Page nails the sister relationship and I adored it. It's just so authentic and I don't think the book would have been as good had Gracie and Juliette's relationship not been so real.

I liked that each sister was very much her own person but you could still see the similarities between the two women. I think the fact that Gracie and Juliette had such distinct personalities made for a more interesting read. The chapters alternate between the sisters and their voices were fresh and different enough that I looked forward to the change in perspective. I liked getting to know each sister and finding out what made them tick, what their jobs were like, and who they were dating.

I really loved the actual story. It's so sad that the sisters' grandmother has died but her passing led to something amazing - the women finally reconnecting and remembering why they were once so close. Besides, Mimi actually has quite the presence in this novel. Between the letters she wrote to the girls for each season and the fact that they're living in her house, the reader really gets to know the grandmother Gracie and Juliette so adored. She actually reminded me a bit of my own amazing grandmother...though I don't think my grandma will leave her house to my sister and I and make us live together for a year. :) The story could seem a little far-fetched but Page manages to bring it all together in a way that makes perfect sense.

A Sister's Place will be one of my 2015 books I'll remember for awhile. Savannah Page's novel struck all the right chords for me and I think it will do the same for many others. It's sweet, sad, funny, and dramatic - just like real life. I highly recommend it!

*A copy of this novel was provided by the author for a CLP Blog Tour. All opinions are honest and my own.*

Top Ten Tuesday: Fall TBR

Top Ten Tuesday is weekly meme created by the lovely folks at The Broke and the Bookish. They created it because they're "particularly fond of lists" and since I also enjoy lists, I've decided to participate in this fun feature.

Tomorrow is the first official day of fall! Can you believe it? As much as I love fall clothing, I am not looking forward to cooler weather and Canadian winter! The books I've included in this week's Top Ten Tuesday are a mix of titles. Some of them are not released yet so I'm looking forward to reading them as soon as they're released. Others are for events, book clubs, blog tours, or just because. What are you looking forward to reading this fall?

Racing the Sun - Karina Halle
This is a bit of a cheat as I just started it yesterday but I need to have it done before the weekend so I can pass it (and another of Halle's) onto a friend I'm seeing on Sunday!

Surviving Ice - K.A. Tucker (publication date: October 27)
I'm so excited for this last book in the Burying Water series! More than I thought I would be, actually. I'll admit that I'm still not sure if I'll love reading about Ivy but I love Tucker so I know it'll be a good story.

The Girl on the Train - Paula Hawkins
This is a book I've been thinking about reading and I always decide not to because it's so not my usual fare. However, the time has come for me to dive in because I'll be leading the discussion for next month's Beer and Books event the library I work at holds every month. Can't run a meeting without reading the book first!

Avelynn - Marissa Campbell
This will be a read for the magazine I review for. Apparently it will appeal to fans of Outlander!

Smoke - Catherine McKenzie (publication date: October 20)
Catherine is one of my favourite authors. I actually have a signed ARC from BEA that I've been holding off on reading. I think I just wanted to wait until closer to the publication date (it feels like a fall book) plus I know as soon as I read it I'll have to start waiting all over again for her next book!

Anne of Ingleside - L.M. Montgomery
I've gotten back into the swing of things with the Green Gables Readalong. This one is October's read.

Poles Apart - Terry Fallis (publication date: October 20)
I've still only read one of Fallis' novels but I'm going to rectify that soon with his upcoming book. I have an ARC (that the boyfriend has already devoured) that I'm really looking forward to reading!

A Sister's Place - Savannah Page
I've read and loved Page's other works (the When Girlfriends... series) so I'm excited about this one. I have to have it read before November for a blog tour.

The Nightingale - Kristin Hannah
This one will be next month's book club pick. I just had my first meeting last night and put the book on reserve at my library. 23 holds. Gulp.

The Vintage Guide to Love and Romance - Kirsty Greenwood
I've received a few books from publishers in the last little while and this is the one I'm most looking forward to diving into. It seems like it'll be really different and fun!

Blog Tour: When Girlfriends Find Love

I can't believe Savannah Page's When Girlfriends series is over! I've read all but the first so when I saw CLP Blog Tours was hosting a tour for When Girlfriends Find Love I immediately signed up. I've grown to love the six friends featured in this series and I knew I had to see how their stories would be wrapped up in the seventh and final book.

Here's the synopsis:

Sophie Wharton is in control. Whether life is going according to plan or throwing her for a loop, Sophie is determined to remain calm and in charge. It's no wonder she's the successful owner of one of Seattle's most charming cafés, The Cup and the Cake. Her lemon meringue cupcakes, petite French treats, and cappuccinos always leave customers coming back for more. Naturally, her camaraderie of college girlfriends are still thick as thieves a decade later. And it should come as no surprise that she has her own cozy apartment in the hip part of town and grand goals for her future.
Of course Sophie has had her share of rough times, and recently some unexpected surprises have emerged. Her best friend Claire has moved across the state, the demands of her café are mounting, and some major changes among her circle of friends are shaking things up. But it's nothing Sophie can't handle.
When it comes to her love life, however, Single Sophie's at a loss. She approaches it the way she does nearly everything in life--by trying to call all the shots. But love doesn't work that way, and as Sophie examines her past relationships--thinking back on romantic trysts in Paris; college mistakes; the relationship responsible for the Year of Heartbreak--she must come to accept that love is an unpredictable, untamable, and often unexpected force.
This is the witty and heartwarming conclusion of the When Girlfriends collection, a novel about examining the past, moving forward, and following your heart. It's a story about friendship, relationships, acceptance, and learning to love again. About what happens when girlfriends find love.

Because I've read (most of) the other books in the series, I already had a feeling I knew who Sophie would end up with. I didn't have a problem with that, exactly. My annoyance came from Sophie herself. She was resisting her feelings so much and I wanted to reach through the pages and shake her! I think my issue was that I couldn't understand why she was so hesitant to get into a relationship that she so clearly wanted. They were in their late twenties and by this point you should be able to talk about your feelings. (I can say this as someone in her late twenties.) This wasn't exactly a huge deal but I kind of did have the "ok, let's get this show on the road" feeling and may have turned the pages a bit too fast so I could just get to the conclusion. I was actually really happy with the romantic conclusion for Sophie (and Lara too!) and there was a twist thrown in that I was only sort of expecting. Yay, Sophie! :)

What I did really have a problem with was that Page seemed to repeat herself. A lot. I lost count of the number of times Sophie mentioned how she and Robin had had the hardest friendship test but Sophie forgave Robin because their friendship was worth more to her than her past romantic relationship with Brandon (quick recap: Brandon and Robin slept together when he was still with Sophie and Robin got pregnant.) There were other instances where Page told the same information again and again (and not in any new ways), plus Sophie was a broken record in regards to her feelings because she couldn't possible make a relationship with him work! Bah. I think this was a case of the novel needing one more edit and, unfortunately, it negatively coloured my feelings on the overall story.

All that being said, I did enjoy reading this book! I read it in one day (essentially in one sitting, actually!) because I was so into and invested in the story. I really like "hanging out" with these characters because they're all around my age and I can relate quite well to their stories and issues. I have to commend Page on really nailing the inner workings of the minds of late twentysomethings. 

As I said, I can't quite believe When Girlfriends Find Love is the final book in the When Girlfriends series. I really came to love the girls in this series (some more than others, of course) and it was hard to say goodbye. It was made better, however, because I really felt that Savannah Page wrapped things up exactly as they should have been. Check out this series if you haven't yet!

*A copy of this novel was provided by CLP Blog Tours in exchange for a review. All opinions are honest and my own.*

Make sure you check out the reviews by the other bloggers taking part in this blog tour. And don't forget to enter the giveaway (link here, widget below).

About the Author

Savannah Page is the author of the seven-novel When Girlfriends collection, heartfelt women's fiction that celebrates friendship, love, and life sprinkled with drama and humor. When she isn't writing, Savannah enjoys a good book with a latte and jazz tunes, Pilates, and exploring her home of Berlin as an American expat.

Connect with Savannah Page

Website & Blog

Facebook

Instagram

Twitter

Buy Links:

Amazon.com

Amazon.co.uk

Nook

Kobo (US)

iBooks

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Blog Tour: When Girlfriends Let Go

I've read almost every other book in Savannah Page's When Girlfriends... series so when CLP Blog Tours asked for hosts for the upcoming tour for When Girlfriends Let Go, book six in the seven part series, I eagerly signed up. I was really looking forward to see what my favourite Seattle based girlfriends were up to!

Here's the synopsis:

A novel about love, self-discovery, and realizing sometimes you have to let go.
Jackie Kittredge is the consummate drama queen living the charmed life. She’s enthusiastic, outspoken, and is always looking for a good time. At twenty-seven she’s got a swanky Seattle townhouse, a wealthy husband, a designer wardrobe, the best of girlfriends, and a calendar filled not with meetings and deadlines, but spa appointments and happy hour reminders. On the outside, she’s got it all.
On the inside, though, Jackie’s charmed life isn’t as it seems. She’s seeing a therapist, battling the demons of coming from a broken home and a past of promiscuity and heavy drinking. She can be selfish and demanding, sometimes even wearing her best friends thin. And now her marriage—what she thought could be her solid foundation—is on the rocks. Her husband Andrew spends nearly all his time at the office (and possibly with his secretary), and apologizes for his absence with lavish gifts and empty promises.
Miserable and desperate, Jackie questions if her marriage is worth fighting for. Then a string of events begins to put things into perspective…into a perspective she didn’t quite anticipate. With her best friends by her side and some tough love, Jackie finds herself not only asking if she’s where she belongs, but if she’s who she’s supposed to be.
This is a passionate story about having to answer some of life’s most important and difficult questions. It’s a story about fear, courage, and personal growth. About what happens when girlfriends let go. 

I knew this book was going to be about Jackie and I'm not going to lie and say that I was looking forward to it. Jackie was never my favourite of the girlfriends. She always seemed so immature and selfish and...sort of broken. While I wouldn't say I'm a huge fan of hers even now, I'm glad I got the chance to read about her life from her perspective. Even though she drove me up the wall. I couldn't believe how whiny and, well, stupid she was being for so much of the novel. I found myself desperately begging her to grow up before she ruined absolutely everything. I'm happy with how things worked out for her in the end, of course, but, boy, it was rough getting to that point.

And it took forever to get to the point. My biggest complaint about this novel is that is was way. too. long. It was over 400 pages! Ack! You all know I love my chick lit and I really don't mind large novels. But big books that have absolutely no reason for being that big? Frustrating. I feel like I would have enjoyed this novel a hell of a lot more if it had been 200 pages shorter. The more I read the more I got to thinking about which sections I would cut. It was really repetitive in a way...Jackie acting the same and having the same fights with her husband. It needed to be shorter, simple as that.

Don't get me wrong, I did enjoy the book. As with the others, I loved that the girls are all (for the most part) twentysomething women living fabulously everyday lives. Each one is at a slightly different point in her life (some are married, one has children, one owns a business, and so on) but I love that they could be my group of friends. Actually, I wish they were. That would mean my friends and I would be much more successful than we are (sorry...that might be the "my contract job is over next week and I don't know what I'm going to do with my life" talking!). But seriously. I adore reading about a fun group of girlfriends and Page's most recent When Girlfriends... book delivered that.

I was a little surprised to learn that there's going to be a seventh book (actually, When Girlfriends Find Love is already released) but it makes sense. Page set up her series to work in a bit of a circle. The books started with Sophie and they'll end with her, too. Even though I didn't adore this one, I still want, no, need to find out what happens to all the girls. Do they all get their perfect happily ever afters? I hope so!

Overall, When Girlfriends Let Go sort of disappointed me but it's by no means a bad book. I think I wanted more from it because I had enjoyed Savannah Page's other novels so much. It's still definitely worth the read if you've checked out the rest of the series but just be aware that you'll be in this one for the long haul. Perhaps it's perfect for a nice, long weekend!

Blog Tour: When Girlfriends Take Chances

It's finally my stop on the CLP Blog Tour for When Girlfriends Take Chances by Savannah Page! I've been reading and really enjoying this series for awhile and was so happy to be able to take part in the latest tour for the When Girlfriends... series. Even though there was a little something lacking for me, I was so happy to get back into the world of Emily and her five best friends!

Here's the synopsis:

A novel about exploring love and life's path, and taking chances along the way.
Emily Saunders has never thought twice about grabbing her passport, rucksack, and camera and trekking across the globe. If there's an NGO, a study abroad program, or simply the travel itch, Emily's on the first plane out. Free-spirited, open-minded, and eager to explore, it's no wonder Emily's hardly in one spot (or relationship) for long.
For the past year and a half, though, Emily's found herself planted in her college hometown of Seattle. She's surrounded by her best friends, has steady work as a photographer and at her friend Sophie's café, and is certainly kept busy by the wild antics of her BFF Jackie. Life's enjoyable, but Emily's looking for something more. She's ready for a change, for adventure!
But when Emily tells her girlfriends she's ready for something new she does not expect Operation Blind Date!
Sure, Emily's single. Sure, she hopes to some day find true love. But being thrown into an insane challenge like this is not exactly the adventure she had in mind! Couldn't she just travel and focus on her photography? Or volunteer in Africa? Will a string of eligible bachelors lined up by her friends--a shot at finding a real and lasting love--really be that change she's searching for?
This is a spirited story about seeking adventure while being true to yourself, wherever you are in life. It's a story about love, risk, and self-discovery. About what happens when girlfriends take chances.

Like I said, I was excited to read about these girlfriends again. The friendship is, by far, my favourite thing about the series (even if I do think there are too many friends and that it gets confusing sometimes). The girls are about my age which makes things even better since I can really relate to their lives. They're at the same place in their lives as my friends and I and they do the same things I would do with my friends. It's so much fun to read about.

Of course, some girls I could relate to more than others. Emily was one of the friends who I didn't really connect with in the other books - mostly because she wasn't really around. Emily is a traveler, a wanderer, a free spirit. I was happy she got her own book so I could learn more about her and how passionate she is about traveling and giving back. I was also reminded that she's a trustfund baby which I think helps her lead her laidback lifestyle. The thing about Emily is that you cannot be jealous of her massive amounts of money because she's so down to earth and lovely.

One of the little things that bugged me was that I realized that every book has the same voice. I get that friends would sound similar but I don't think that every book should have the same tone because each book is narrated by a different friend. Think of your group of girlfriends...if each of you told your story it would sound a little different, right?

I loved that Emily was so open to Operation Blind Date. It was a lot of fun to read about all of her various dates. If she had been anti-dating it would have been a totally different scenario. She loves her friends and, deep down, really does want to find that man to love completely so why not indulge them in a little bit of matchmaking fun? I'm happy with how things ended up and am glad that she didn't end up dating any real jerks (though there were a couple that were no picnic) or have her heartbroken.

I'm finding that I'm not loving these books as much as the first few but When Girlfriends Take Chances is still a really fun novel that I think chick lit fans would enjoy. Savannah Page has created a great group of girlfriends! I'm really not sure what to expect with, what I assume will be, the last book in the series - When Girlfriends Let Go. I've never been a fan of Jackie but I desperately want to find out how the rest of the girls are doing. If you want to see what other bloggers thought of this book, head over to the CLP Blog Tour main page. And don't forget to check out a Rafflecopter giveaway!

Author Interview: Savannah Page

Today is my third and final stop on the When Girlfriends Chase Dreams CLP Blog Tour. It's been so much fun taking part in this tour because I just love the When Girlfriends... series by Savannah Page. Today's post is a Q&A with Savannah. I hope you enjoy it!

Books Etc.: What drew you to writing a series about a group of girlfriends?

Savannah Page: I have a dear group of girlfriends from college, and even over the years, as the physical distance grows (we’re all spreading out—I’m all the way in Berlin now!), and no matter how eclectic a group we are, our friendship is really amazing and strong. I was thinking about this special friendship one day when I was drawing up the theme for my When Girlfriends… collection. I thought, How neat would it be to have a group of women, each with their own, unique story, come together throughout a collection of novels? I wanted to write about female friendship and how strong the ties that bind can be no matter the challenges, the differences, etc.

BE: What did you like about writing a series?

SP: Getting to work with the same characters over and over—really allowing myself to get to know them intimately—is the best part! Honestly, I feel like Sophie, Robin, Lara, Claire, Emily, and Jackie are all real women.

BE: Do you ever find characteristics of yourself or your friends and family creeping into your characters?

SP: Naturally, as the writer, I think characteristics of myself sneak in there. It’s unavoidable. But I always stress that while I may be inspired by actual events and experiences, my fiction is fiction. However, I can definitely say that Sophie’s need for organization, or Emily’s penchant for travel, or Claire’s sugary sweet nature, or some of my male characters’ traits or actions were definitely created with some particular people in mind.

BE: What kind of writing schedule do you have? Do you like to write at a certain time of day or in a certain place?

SP: I write during the weekdays, and usually throughout the afternoon in my home office. I prefer writing between lunch and dinner because that’s a large swathe of quiet time I can just plot and pound away on the keys.

BE: What do you like to do when you’re not writing?

SP: Reading’s probably my number one hobby. In line at the grocery store, riding the subway, on the treadmill, before bed…I can’t read enough. I also like Pilates, watching far too much TV-on-DVD, traveling, crafting, and doing wedding flower blogging (my other day job).

BE: What’s your favourite genre to read? Is it the same as your favourite genre to write?

SP: Chick lit’s got to be the winner. It’s definitely my favorite to write. I like to read just about anything, though. Right now I’m reading a memoir, a travelogue, a chick lit, a sci-fi, and an Austen classic.

BE: What inspired you to become an author?

SP: I’ve aspired to be a writer since I was a little girl, and today, one of the things that keeps me writing is the desire to write the book I really want to read. I’ve got so many story ideas that I want to share and further explore, so many characters I want to get to know and places I want to visit. Writing’s a perfect outlet and I adore getting to share my stories with others.

Guest Post: Savannah Page

Welcome to my second stop on the CLP Blog Tour for When Girlfriends Chase Dreams! Today author Savannah Page has been kind enough to write a guest post for Books Etc. When I was reading the series I wondered what drew her to writing a series about such a dynamic group of friends so I sent along this prompt/question: Each book in the When Girlfriends… series features a different girlfriend. Did you always plan to alternate perspectives? And did you find that you had favourites? (I know that’s probably like asking a mother which child is her favourite!). I hope you enjoy Savannah's response!

In the earliest conceptualization stages of my When Girlfriends… collection I knew two things without a shadow of a doubt: 1) That I wanted a group of best friends from college to star in a friendship-themed set of novels, and 2) That each girlfriend would get her own story (and maybe, just maybe, two).

I wanted to alternate perspectives because I knew right away that each girl would grow on me and would have her own fab story to tell—they all just had to have their own novel. But I also did it as a way to flex my pen and better hone my craft. I had the main theme of friendship, and I had a solid set of characters, so with those things fixed I felt like I had a good chance to play with things that could be changed from book to book, like voice, tense, and POV. I knew before I even started that I didn’t want every single novel to have the same exact style. Similar, yes, so they can all be tied together as a family, but some differences here and there so I could show and practice versatility.

One of the toughest things, five novels in, has been to keep to my own distinct chick lit author voice, while at the same time have each character stand out as her own person and have her own way of telling her story. With each When Girlfriends… novel I want readers to feel like they’re still reading within the series/from the same author, but that they’re getting something new. Like they’re picking up a new diary.

As for a favorite girlfriend/novel? That’s a tough one! Definitely like asking a mother which child is her favorite. I really enjoyed writing When Girlfriends Chase Dreams because my day job is wedding-related (I blog for a wedding florist), and it was my NaNoWriMo baby. It was a blast to write, and Claire’s an endearing character. She’s full of so much energy and she’s just a sweetie (when she isn’t freaking out over planning her big day).

My latest release, When Girlfriends Take Chances, just might be my favorite. Emily is definitely an adventurer and free-spirited character. She inspires me and even reminds me to live each day to its fullest—take chances.

But, having said that, I still think that I’m most proud of When Girlfriends Make Choices. That novel made me push the envelope a bit and do something in both theme, style, and tense that I’ve never done. It took me longer than usual to write that one and I think the amount of time I invested, the constant rewrites, and the fact that I really wrote the book that was in my heart, make …Make Choices one of my absolute faves. Funnily, though, my favorite character just might be Sophie (When Girlfriends Break Hearts), but probably because I’ve been gathering ideas for her second book for a long while now. She’s been on my mind a lot!

Thanks for inviting me to guest post today, Kaley. I’m glad you could be a part of the tour!

Readers, don’t forget to enter the fabulous CLP When Girlfriends Chase Dreams Tour Giveaway. One lucky reader will win a 1 year subscription to the “Martha Stewart Weddings” or “Martha Stewart Living” magazine (print or digital). Details are at the CLP tour page.

CLP Blog Tour: When Girlfriends Chase Dreams

Today is my first stop on the CLP Blog Tour for When Girlfriends Chase Dreams by Savannah Page. I was so excited to take part in this tour because I loved the previous When Girlfriends... books that I had read (see my other reviews here and here) and looked forward to reading Claire's story. I ended up not loving this one quite as much as the others but it was still a really fun read.

Here's the synopsis:

Claire Linley is finally a bride! After nearly ten years with her college freshman sweetheart, Claire is going to become Mrs. Conner Whitley. She's got her bridal magazines, is the biggest Martha Stewart fan, and subscribes to all the major wedding blogs. She's been dreaming of this moment for years! How could planning her dream wedding be anything but perfect?
The easy-going and bubbly type, Claire will obviously have a blast planning, and with her fantastic group of girlfriends-made-bridesmaids she just can't go wrong. Whether it's wedding gown shopping, makeup trials, or cake-tasting, Claire's friends are there in a pinch.
But how big does the pinch get? All Claire wants to do is get married, but at every turn something seems to go awry and she's starting to lose it. How is a girl supposed to remain cool and collected when the pricey dream wedding planner isn't turning out to be so dreamy? When DIY projects and the perfect venue are going up in smoke? How is Claire supposed to marry Conner when the special day that's supposed to join them together, forever, is slowly tearing them apart?
This is the charming story about how sometimes the biggest events in life are defined by the smallest acts of kindness and love. It's a love story about dreaming large, loving deeply, and, in the end, truly having the happiest day of your life, no matter what happens (or doesn't). About what happens when girlfriends chase dreams.

I've probably said it before but I'll say it again...wedding stories make for great chick lit novels. There's so much going on and so many elements to a wedding, and planning for one, that can really make for an entertaining story. I was thrilled that Claire was finally getting married (she had been nagging her boyfriend for awhile) and wondered what sorts of things could happen in the planning process. Little did I realize that Claire was going to have one hell of a time trying to plan her wedding. I felt so sorry for the poor girl! I swear, everything that could have went wrong, did. Disagreements with her parents (who are paying for the wedding...lucky girl), DIY disasters (oh the hilarious imagery in a scene with her dog), constant fighting with the groom, dress issues, a car that's constantly having problems (not really a wedding issue but it was a problem that came up way too often), and a wedding planner who's more interested in looking flashy than actually doing any work. And therein lies my issue with the book. There were just too many things going wrong. I understand a few hiccups here and there but I think there were just too many issues Claire had to face that really took away from the story.

Claire herself was another little nuisance for me. I couldn't understand why she was putting so much stress on herself about certain things, especially when it came to all the crafts she just had to do for the wedding. Full disclosure: I've never planned a wedding so I don't know exactly what it's like but after reading this book I'm considering eloping when it's eventually my turn (and if my boyfriend is reading this: keep breathing and focus on the word eventually!). There were also times when she seemed to be completely clueless to the needs of Conner, her fiance, and nags at him instead of trying to find ways for him to be involved. She also constantly bothered Sophie, one of her girlfriends and also her maid of honour, about Chad, Conner's best man and friend to all the girls. The two had hooked up years ago and Claire just couldn't stop pestering Sophie about whether or not they were getting back together. I mean, I do think they eventually will once the series is concluded but to always bring it up to one of your best friends who clearly doesn't want to talk about it? Irritating. Claire really is a sweetheart though and I was rooting for her even when she was annoying me - a lot like how I feel about Sophie Kinsella's characters.

One of my favourite parts of this book actually didn't have much to do with Claire. I was so happy to read that Sophie was finally opening her own cafe. The scenes that took place in The Cup in the Cake helped me feel like I was really there. What also helped was the fact that all the design elements were detailed as the decisions were being made - paint colour, china patterns, seating, and so on. Now I really want to find a little cafe like this in my city!

I know it may seem like I wasn't overly thrilled with When Girlfriends Chase Dreams but I did like reading Claire's story and getting to know all the girls a little bit more. I'm excited that Savannah Page will be writing Emily's story next because her story could take us places other than Seattle. So much potential! If you're looking for a good and fun series about a group of fabulous girlfriends, make sure you check out book one (unlike me who unknowingly read book two first), When Girlfriends Break Hearts!

Check back on Thursday for a guest post from Savannah, and Friday for the Q&A I did with her.

Happy reading :)

CLP Blog Tour: When Girlfriends Make Choices

When Girlfriends Make Choices is the third book in the When Girlfriends… series by Savannah Page. After reading book two, When Girlfriends Step Up, which I loved, (read the review here if you missed it) I was really looking forward to the next book in the series. I'm glad CLP Blog Tours was hosting a tour for both books back to back so I could read them in quick succession!

Here's the synopsis:

A novel about forbidden love, the choices you make, and discovering what’s important in life.
Lara Kearns has it all. She has her MBA, a successful career in advertising in Seattle, and she’s even living with her best friend and single mom, Robin. Reliable, dedicated, and eager, Lara is the resident go-to-girl, and she wouldn’t have it any other way.
Lara's that girl who has everything going for her…everything, that is, except for true love. With the big 3-0 on its way and no man in sight, Lara wonders if she’ll always be married to her career, or her cat, and never find the One.
But then, when she least expects it, a handsome and suave executive at her firm, Paul Mackenzie, makes a pass at her. Hesitant at first about striking up an office romance, Lara eventually finds herself falling for her charming colleague. And the best part? Paul is falling in love with Lara, too!
What happens, though, when the man of your dreams loves you…and his wife?
Battling with what the head and the heart want, Lara finds herself in a precarious situation. Life is spiraling out of control, but with the support of her therapist and friends, Lara must make a choice. Is she really prepared to chase after love…at all costs?
This is a provocative story about struggling between right and wrong. About what you will or won’t do for true love. About what happens when girlfriends make choices.

I was interested to see how Lara's life continued since I quite liked her when I read Robin's story in book two. I wasn't expecting the format to be any different so I was sort of thrown off by the way this one started off. Lara is seeing a therapist and those sessions are the present and then there's another part that's told in the past…I think. It was a little difficult to figure out what was the present and what was the past because it kind of seemed like two parts of the, well, the storytelling I guess, converged. I know I'm not explaining it very well but it's hard to explain a confusing concept! It didn't really help that book two and three overlapped – I was reading about the past and had already read about it from Robin's point of view and now I was reading from Lara's. This isn't a bad thing, it just required some more mental configuring, I think. *Reads over paragraph* Wow, yeah, that's confusing. Let's just move on, shall we?

I was just as drawn to the friendships in this novel as I was when I read the second book. I was especially glad that Emily (the friend who had spent almost the entire previous book in abroad) was back in their lives in Seattle. Just like the girls, I could sense that things weren't complete without Emily in town. I loved seeing what they were all up to and I'm excited to read the next book in the series (but I won't tell you what it's about or who it features because that will give away part of this story...so go read the books!).

I have to say that I didn't love the affair angle but Page made it work. Lara isn't the type of girl to start a relationship with a married man and it was hard to read about her finding out that Paul was married. I hated that he deceived her and found myself cursing him a few times throughout the book. It was even harder to read about Lara's downward spiral into obsession and I just wanted to reach through the pages to try and shake some sense into her! I was glad when she finally confided in her friends because I knew they'd do what they could to help her.

When Girlfriends Make Choices was an enjoyable read but I didn't love it as much as book two. That won't stop me from reading the fourth installment though! I am really looking forward to seeing what Savannah Page comes up with for the next book. I would still definitely recommend this series to chick lit lovers.

Happy reading :)

CLP Blog Tours: When Girlfriends Step Up

Today is my stop on the When Girlfriends Step Up blog tour! I am so glad I signed up for the CLP Blog Tour for this title because I adored it. Author Savannah Page has created a great series!

Here's the synopsis:

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 the endearing sequel to When Girlfriends Break Hearts 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.

My first thought about the book didn't have anything to do with the plot or the author or anything like that. No, my first thought was "How the heck did I miss that this was the second book in a series?" Followed by a bit of internal cursing. I hate reading books out of order and was annoyed at myself for not realizing sooner that I should have picked up book one before this one. Alas, I did not have enough time to read When Girlfriends Break Hearts before I needed to dive into book two for this tour. As it turns out, I was able to figure out what had happened in the previous book because Page did a great job of summarizing the action and letting me know where the girls stood at the start of book two. Since I was all caught up, the only annoyance that remained was due to the fact that I wanted to spend even more time with these girls and wished that I had started at the beginning with them.

I loved that the characters were all in their mid to late twenties, since that's the stage of life my friends and I are at now as well. It was so easy to relate to them and I could find qualities of myself and my friends in the six girls in the novel. I think the friendship between Robin, Sophie, Lara, Claire, Emily, and Jackie was my favourite part of the book. Their interactions were so realistic and it was so much fun to read about their escapades.

The actual plot was also realistic. I found myself completely immersed in the story and really felt like I was going through everything right alongside Robin. Though I must say that that was actually quite terrifying as I'm the same age as Robin and am scared to death of ending up in the same situation she found herself in. But other than that little detail, I really felt like I was part of Robin's inner circle.

I think the When Girlfriends... series by Savannah Page is a must read for all chick lit fans. I loved When Girlfriends Stepped Up because it shows the power of great girlfriends and was a really enjoyable read. I was definitely happy that I had the third book in the series, When Girlfriends Make Choices (review is up on the 4th), ready to read immediately after finishing this one. I couldn't wait to see what happened next!

Happy reading :)