Review: One Perfect Summer

Have you taken an online DNA test? What did it tell you? For the three women in Brenda Novak's One Perfect Summer, their tests told them they had two half-sisters they had never known about. Talk about a shocker and one that's perfect for a novel.

Here's the synopsis:

When Serenity Alston swabbed her cheek for 23andMe, she joked about uncovering some dark ancestral scandal. The last thing she expected was to discover two half sisters she didn't know existed. Suddenly, everything about her loving family is drawn into question. And meeting these newfound sisters might be the only way to get answers.

Serenity has always found solace at her family's Lake Tahoe cabin, so what better place for the three women to dig into the mystery that has shaken the foundation each of them was raised on? With Reagan navigating romantic politics at her New York City advertising firm, and Lorelei staring down the collapse of her marriage, all three women are converging at a crossroads in their lives. Before the summer is over, they'll have to confront the paths they walked to get there and determine how to move forward when everything they previously thought to be true was a lie.

But any future is easier to face with family by your side.

I liked that Novak started the novel after the women had already found out about each other and had been in touch. Not only that, but were on their way to spend a week together. It firmly placed the story and gave enough background for the reader to know how each of them was likely feeling without the novel getting too bogged down to start. 

The story was full of drama without veering into over-dramatic territory. There were light-hearted moments that helped keep the story from being too heavy. Novak has a knack for really letting the reader into the character so you can understand everyone's motivations - even if you don't agree with them.

What was also so, so lovely was that each woman pretty much immediately welcomed the others into her life. They made decisions based on how their bond as sisters could grow and put a lot of effort into discovering how to make their new sisterly relationships even better. They knew it was a bizarre situation but also knew how important it was to make time for the others and get to know each other.

One Perfect Summer was a delightful read that I think everyone could use right now. Brenda Novak told an entertaining story about three very different women, each battling their own issues while trying to figure out how two new half-sisters fit into their lives. 

*An egalley of this novel was provided by the publisher, Harlequin, via NetGalley in exchange for review consideration. All opinions are honest and my own.*

New Release: My Life in Shambles

Karina Halle is one of my favourite contemporary writers and it's been awhile since she's blessed us with a new book but this week My Life in Shambles was released. I'll have my full review next week but know this: I read it in one day!

Here's the synopsis:

When Valerie Stephens made the resolution to say yes to new adventures, she never thought she’d end up in the tiny town of Shambles, fake engaged to one of Ireland’s top rugby players. But there’s a first time for everything.
They say bad things happen in threes.
After my boyfriend broke off our engagement, and I lost my apartment, and was laid off from my job, I can more than attest to that.
They also say life happens when you say yes to new adventures.
So when my two sisters invited me to ring in the new year in Ireland, I decided to throw all caution to the wind and go for it. I was going to let “saying yes” be my new resolution.
Little did I know I’d spend New Year’s Eve having a hot and dirty one-night stand with Padraig McCarthy, one hell of a sexy Irishman. I also didn’t know that the brooding and intense sex god was one of Ireland’s top rugby players.
A rugby player with a proposition for me:
Come with him to his tiny hometown of Shambles and pretend to be his fiancé for a few days, just so that his ailing father can have some peace of mind.
It sounded simple enough.
It was anything but.
Not when a town gets up in your business, not when the media hunts you down, not when your past comes back in the picture, not when there are real hearts and feelings at stake.
Not when there are secrets that could break you.
They say life is what happens when you say yes to new adventures.
This is my life in Shambles.

Sounds intense, right? But that's typical for Halle's books and part of why I, and so many others, love them. Plus the fact that it's set in Ireland is just a fun bonus!

Amazon US * Amazon Worldwide * Amazon Canada
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Meet Karina
Karina Halle is a former travel writer and music journalist and The New York Times, Wall Street Journal and USA Today Bestselling author of The Pact, Love, in English, The Artists Trilogy, Dirty Angels and over 20 other wild and romantic reads. She lives on an island off the coast of British Columbia with her husband and her rescue pup, where she drinks a lot of wine, hikes a lot of trails and devours a lot of books.
Halle is represented by the Root Literary and is both self-published and published by Simon & Schuster and Hachette in North America and in the UK.

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Review: The Never Never Sisters

The Never Never Sisters, the second novel by L. Alison Heller, was just the kind of women's fiction novel I like. It had a balance of light and heavy moments and the darker parts of the novel weren't dismal (I don't like being depressed when I read!). It was a good read.

Here's the synopsis:

Sometimes you just need to get away….
Marriage counselor Paige Reinhardt is counting down the days to summer, eager to reconnect with her workaholic husband at their cozy rental cottage in the Hamptons. But soon a mysterious crisis at Dave’s work ruins their getaway plans. Paige is still figuring out how to handle the unexplained chill in her marriage when her troubled sister suddenly returns after a two-decade silence. Now, instead of enjoying the lazy summer days along the ocean, Paige is navigating the rocky waters of a forgotten bond with her sister in the sweltering city heat.
As she attempts to dig deeper into Dave’s work troubles and some long-held family secrets, Paige is shocked to discover how little she knows about the people closest to her. This summer, the self-proclaimed relationship expert will grapple with her biggest challenge yet: Is it worth risking your most precious relationships in order to find yourself?

I really liked Paige. I was a little wary when I realized she was a marriage counsellor since most characters in that profession can be sort of insufferable. Thankfully, though, Paige wasn't at all annoying. She was real and, just like real people, was about to hit a real rough patch in her marriage. I liked how Heller approached Paige and Dave's issues. They weren't having your stereotypical problems and that made it fresh – though still sad to read about! They seemed like a really solid couple and I wanted things to work out for the best.

Paige and Dave's relationship could have been the only part to this novel but Heller wove in a really compelling story with Sloan – Paige's estranged sister. As much as I enjoyed reading about the sisters, I do think it could have been a little stronger with just a few more connections. I couldn't quite see how the two were bonding so well (though I was very happy they were!).

I found to be sort of odd that Paige's mother had her own chapters throughout the novel. It was confusing, especially when I got to the first "Vanessa" chapter heading and couldn't remember who that was. I suppose it was nice to get her viewpoints but I really didn't think those chapters added any value to the overall story. I found Vanessa's journal entries, from when Sloan was in rehab, more enlightening.

I think the best thing about the book was how Heller managed to surprise me with the ending. I really wasn't sure what was going to happen in the end and I loved that. There were surprises with Paige and Dave's relationship, his work, and Paige and Sloan's relationship. I'm really happy with the way things turned out – even if it may not have been the outcome I expected.

Overall, The Never Never Sisters was an enjoyable read. I think many others would really enjoy L. Alison Heller's novel but it wasn't one that will necessarily stick with me forever. It wasn't bad but it didn't stand out. I still think that you should check this one out if women's fiction is your go-to genre.

*I received a copy of this novel from Wunderkind PR in exchange for an honest review.*

Review + Giveaway: Kissing My Old Life Au Revoir

When author Eliza Watson asked me to review her novel Kissing My Old Life Au Revoir I read the synopsis and was hooked by the first two words: event planner. After my undergrad I did a diploma in event management and have since planned a few events so I was interested to see what Samantha's life was like. The novel was enjoyable, if a little dramatic at times.

Here's the synopsis:

Event planner Samantha Hunter is prepared for a few challenges when escorting a group of good ole boy beer distributors to Paris, the city of haute cuisine and fine wines. However, she doesn’t foresee being passed up for a promotion because she is too professional and doesn’t knock back beers with her clients.
Her focus soon switches from landing the well-deserved promotion to finding her free-spirited sister, who lives in Paris and has disappeared, leaving behind family secrets to be uncovered. A sexy puppeteer helps Samantha search for clues to her sister’s whereabouts and teaches her to embrace her inner child. And a funeral-crashing psychic demonstrates the importance of living life to the fullest. It takes Samantha’s life spiraling out of control for her to finally get a life.

I know I was looking forward to reading this one because of the event planning aspect but I was happy that this didn't take centre stage. Samantha's not really working for the good majority of the book but it is clear from her personality that she's a planner. She's totally an A-type personality, which is great for event planners (and probably why I'm not actually working in events, haha), and is so focused on her work that she hasn't had a life. I don't think there are enough novels about planners and that's a bit of a shame. Yes, there are many wedding planner books but there are other options. I think this is an untapped source because, like weddings, event planning provides lots of built in drama. One of the first things I learned in school was that something always goes wrong! :)

There were a few things in the book that I felt could have been cut out. There was one unnecessary bit of drama around a situation that is not mentioned in the synopsis and I won't mention it either because it's a surprise in the book. (Confused yet?) Let's just say it involves two men and not knowing how they're involved in things. Moving on! There was also this crazy painter that was obsessed with getting paintings back from Libby and Samantha had to deal with him. I have no idea what the point of this was.

I liked that there was some intrigue in this novel. I think that, in part, helped the novel move along and made sure the story didn't stall or get boring. The family secrets that are uncovered were really interesting and it added more depth to the overall story. I'm really happy with how things turned out, family wise especially, for Samantha and Libby. I also liked that I didn't quite know how the story would end. I had some guesses but I really couldn't predict exactly what would happen.

Overall, Kissing My Old Life Au Revoir by Eliza Watson was enjoyable but there was sometimes too much excess to work through that the main story got a little lost. I'd still recommend this one to women's fiction lovers who are looking for a little something different.

Now, time for the info about the giveaway the title of this post references! Eliza has been kind enough to offer an autographed print copy of her book to a US/Canada winner or an ebook gifted from Amazon, B & N or Smashwords if the winner is international. Entry will be super duper easy. Just leave a comment and let me know why you'd want to travel to Paris (or your dream destination if Paris isn't your cup of tea) or what made you want to travel to Paris (if you're one of those lucky people who have visited). Make sure you leave an email address so I can contact you if you're the winner. Since this review is part of a tour, I'll have the contest open until the last day - August 23rd. You'll have until midnight EST to enter. I've had some people have issues with comments before so if you're unable to comment, tweet me @KaleyS23 or send me an email books.etc.blogger AT gmail DOT com. Good luck!

*I received a copy of this novel from the author in exchange for an honest review.*

Congrats to Steph (from Steph the Bookworm) for winning the contest! Thanks to those you entered :)

Review: Sea Glass Island

I had been looking forward to the final novel in Sherryl Woods' Ocean Breeze trilogy because I had enjoyed the first two books so much. Sea Glass Island was a great wrap up to the series and I loved reading it.

Here's the synopsis:

With her two younger sisters heading for the altar, will Samantha Castle exchange old dreams for new ones? Lately she'd rather be on the North Carolina coast with family than in New York with agents and actors. Though she vows not to let her teenage crush on Ethan Cole influence her decision, it's hard to ignore her feelings for the local war hero.
Ethan lost more than his leg in Afghanistan. He lost his belief in love. Even being surrounded by couples intent on capturing happily-ever-after won't open this jaded doctor's heart. It's going to take a sexy, determined woman—one who won't take no for an answer.

I was really interested in seeing how Samantha's story would play out. Ethan was her teenage crush and up to this point, she hasn't had any interaction with him. I didn't find that odd though. They hadn't had any reason to cross paths, even though he was best friends with her younger sister's fiance. The only thing that seemed strange was that the meddling didn't start until now. Of course, that wouldn't make sense in terms of the trilogy so it's easy to overlook! Anyway, I had no idea how Samantha and Ethan would interact and I liked that. All too often there aren't any surprises in a final book in a series like this. I loved reading along and watching as Samantha and Ethan tried to ignore their growing attraction for each other.

This wasn't just a romance novel. Like the other two novels, there was some soul searching required on behalf of the main character. Each sister had to truly think about what she wanted in life, and in love, before she was able to be happy at the end of the novel. In Samantha's case, she had to decide if she wanted to give up her whole actress-in-New-York lifestyle. It was nice to have something else going on other than just the romance - even though this one was a really fun love story to read about!

There's not much else I can say about this series that I haven't already said in my reviews of Sand Castle Bay and Wind Chime Point (links lead to my reviews), though I do think Samantha was my favourite! I definitely recommend Sherryl Woods' Ocean Breeze Trilogy to anyone looking for a sweet and enjoyable romantic read this summer. All three books are now published so no need to wait for another to be released! Go check them out and enjoy.

Happy reading :)

Review: Wind Chime Point

Last month I reviewed the first novel in Sherryl Woods' new series (you can catch up here.) Wind Chime Point is the second novel in the Ocean Breeze trilogy and, once again, Woods provided a sweet and entertaining romance.

Here's the synopsis:

Facing a personal crisis, ambitious and driven Gabriella Castle retreats to the welcoming arms of her family. Everything she's worked for has been yanked out from under her, and she seeks the serenity of her grandmother's home on the North Carolina coast. With difficult decisions to make about her future, the last thing she wants is an unexpected love.
Wade Johnson fell for Gabi the first time he saw her. It's not the only time he's found himself in the role of knight in shining armor, but Gabi isn't looking for a rescuer. To get her to stay, Wade will need a whole lot of patience and gentle persuasion… and maybe the soothing sound of wind chimes on a summer breeze.

I was a little hesitant about this one because I wasn't a huge fan of Gabi in the first book. I didn't dislike her, I just wondered if I'd want to read a whole book about her. She was so closed off and secretive and I didn't know how I could deal with her personality. Happily, I ended up really liking her, and her story, in book two. A bunch of life changes force her to reevaluate everything she's ever worked for and I think it changes her personality for the better.

I liked that we got to know more about Samantha, the sister who will be the focus of the final book. I think that's what my issue was going into this one - I didn't feel like I knew enough about Gabi. I knew who she'd end up with (and I know who Samantha will end up with) but I had no idea what her story would involve. There were more details given for everyone and everything, really, so I think that's what made me like this one a little bit more than book one. I finished Wind Chime Point being really excited for book three (which I just downloaded this week and will probably read this weekend because I just can't wait!) which I think is a sign of a good series.

I love the setting of these books. There's something about a beach town that I just love - maybe because I grew up surrounded by fabulous beaches. The quaint town complements the wonderful family ties that are so strong in this series. I love reading about the relationship between the sisters, they're so close but they bicker as siblings do, as well as the relationship they have with their grandmother. Cora Jane is one sassy lady and I think she's fabulous.

Overall, I think Wind Chime Point was a great addition to the Ocean Breeze series by Sherryl Woods. As I mentioned, I'm so excited to read Sea Glass Island to see how the story will end. Romance lovers should definitely check out this sweet and enjoyable series.

*A copy of this book was provided in exchange for an honest review.*

Just Finished: Sand Castle Bay

If you’re looking for a sweet and easy to read romance, Sand Castle Bay by Sherryl Woods is a great pick. This book is the first in the Ocean Breeze trilogy, a series that follows three sisters as they try to find love.

Here’s the synopsis:

In a trade-off she's lived to regret, Emily Castle left home years ago to become an interior designer. The youngest of three sisters, Emily desperately wanted to prove herself. Success, though, came at the cost of leaving behind the man she loved. For Boone Dorsett, losing Emily left his heart shattered, but another woman was waiting in the wings. Now a widower with a young son, Boone has a second chance with Emily when a storm brings her home. But with his former in-laws threatening a custody suit, the stakes of loving her are higher than ever.
Will fate once again separate them—or is the time finally right for these two star-crossed lovers?

I don’t typically read true romance novels (ie the ones you’d find in the romance section of your local bookstore) but every once and awhile a romance series will interest me. What caught my eye with this series was that it features a different sister in each book. I find that it’s more entertaining when all the males or females are related (as you’ll see in an upcoming review, I love the Inn Boonsboro series by Nora Roberts that features three brothers). There’s just an added tension and possibility for deeper conversations and connections when they’re siblings. Maybe that’s all in my head but I enjoy it so that’s all that matters, right?

The other thing about a series like this is that you can see the beginnings of the romances that will be featured in the following books. I have a feeling I know which guy each of the other sister's will end up with and I’m looking forward to seeing how that comes about. There are some obvious obstacles between the possible couples and it should make for some entertaining and emotional reading.

I have to say that I was expecting this series to be a little…well, spicier. I’m not sure why, exactly. The romance between Emily and Boone was sweet but there was a sexual tension that I expected to be described a little bit more. Instead, there wasn’t a single actual sex scene put into writing. Normally this kind of thing wouldn't bother me. I think because there were references to when they were younger and couldn’t keep their hands off each other that I was expecting a little bit...more. Not a deal breaker for me, just an observation. You could see this as a bonus if you’re not into reading sex scenes! 

Sand Castle Bay by Sherryl Woods was an easy and enjoyable read. If you’re a romance reader looking for something to pick up, I’d recommend this one. I can’t wait to dive into book two, Wind Chime Point, which features another sister, Gabi (my review will be up May 2).  

*A copy of this book was provided by the publisher, Harlequin, in exchange for an honest review*

Blog Tour: Swimming at Night + Q&A

Have you ever a novel that just floors you at the end of it? Swimming at Night by Lucy Clarke was one of those books for me. And I mean this in the best possible way. I thoroughly enjoyed this novel and highly recommend it.

Here's the synopsis:

A young woman travels the globe to retrace the final months of her sister's life in search of answers about her death in this dark, gripping debut novel of family, secrets, and loss.
Katie's world is shattered by the news that her headstrong and bohemian younger sister, Mia, has been found dead at the bottom of a cliff in Bali. The authorities say that Mia had jumped—that her death was a suicide.
Although they hadn't spoken to one another since Mia suddenly left on an around-the-world trip six months earlier, Katie refuses to accept that her sister would have taken her own life. Distraught that they never made peace, Katie leaves behind her orderly, sheltered life in London and embarks on a journey to find out the truth. With only the entries of Mia's tattered travel journal as her guide, Katie retraces the last few months of her sister's life, and—page by page, country by country—begins to uncover the mystery surrounding her death…

This novel ripped by heart out. I know that's not usually a positive thing but it was when it came to this book. I was so invested in Katie and Mia's world and wished for a way for everything to work out well. It couldn't, of course, because we know right from the get go that Mia is dead. Nothing can change that. What could change is what we know about the circumstances surrounding her death. Thinking back, I'm not sure if any answer would have made things better. There were really only three options - it was suicide, an accident, or a murder. Not very positive, is it? I wish I had someone to talk to after finishing this book because the end had me reeling. I actually finished it on the train ride home and I'm fairly certain I said, "Woah," out loud! It was a fitting ending for such a powerful and emotional story.

What made this story hit even harder was that we read both sister's perspectives. I think this was done well as it would have been hard to know things about Mia before Katie did. There weren't any duplications of stories, just details filled in.

The other thing I loved about this book was reading about Katie's journey. She needed to find the part of herself that was like Mia. I think, if she hadn't, her life would have carried on as it was and she would have been immensely unhappy. While the ending is a bit ambiguous, I like to think that Katie got her happily ever after, man and all.

I think Swimming at Night by Lucy Clarke is a must read novel for fiction lovers. I don't always read novels that are this heavy but I am so so so glad I gave this one a try. I suspect that you'll relate to (and therefore be more affected by) this story if you have a sister, like I do. Check this one out - and then let me know what you think of the ending! I'm here to help you through the "Oh my god" moments!

I hope you enjoyed the review. Onto the Q&A!

Q&A 

Dear Kaley,

Thanks so much for your interesting questions – and please find below my responses. Books Etc. is a fresh and exciting blog and I really look forward to being included within it.

All best wishes

Lucy Clarke

Books Etc. - How did you come up with the idea for Swimming at Night?

Lucy Clarke - The idea that sparked Swimming At Night came from my fascination with travel journals. I love the colourful places they’ve been written, the pages thick with smears of sunscreen and grains of sand. Whenever I travel, I keep a journal and I’ve often thought how intriguing and tempting it must be to read someone else’s travel journal. What an insight it would give you into who they are. With this in mind, I asked myself two questions that were to be the fuel for the story:Who could the travel journal belong to? And, who finds it and why? From there, the relationship between sisters Katie and Mia was born.

BE - What is your writing process like?

Lucy Clarke
Credit: James Bowden

LC - A typical writing day for me means getting up early. I’m a morning person, so I set my alarm at 6 am and get straight to my desk. I’m hopeless by evening – it’s as if my creativity fades with the day. I generally write Monday to Friday, so that I have evenings and weekends free to spend with friends and family. Being a full-time novelist is a luxury I’m still getting used to because, until recently, writing had to be fitted around running a business.

I prefer to write by hand – there’s something about the simplicity of a pencil and a blank page that appeals to the romantic in me. I always have a notebook stuffed in my handbag so it means I can jot down ideas wherever I am. I love to write to music, too. There are certain albums I play to help me step into a character’s mindset, or to inspire a particular atmosphere in a scene.

I also take lots of tea and chocolate breaks, and usually a longer break in the middle of the day where I try and get outdoors, whatever the weather.

My biggest distraction is sunshine – I can’t focus if I’m indoors and the sun is shining, so I often decamp to the beach on my bike and then I’m focused once again!

BE - What made you want to write a novel?

LC - It wasn’t so much a case of something or someone inspiring me to write a novel, rather it was a desire within me that took time to find. I always assumed I’d have a career in business and I pushed aside all the signals that I’d perhaps make a good writer: I’ve always kept diaries and journals; I read voraciously; I studied English Literature at university; I’m at my happiest with a notebook and pen in my hand. 

I was about 24 when I realized that I’d love to be a novelist. Then there was the small matter of actually doing it. Like most people, I had to work to support myself whilst trying to make it happen, so I set up a small business delivering events in schools, which afforded me both an income, but also a flexible schedule so I could always make time to write. It took me until I was 30 to sign my first book deal. I sold my business and am grateful daily for the luxury of now being a full-time novelist.

BE - What do you like to do when you're not writing?

LC - Travelling, windsurfing, paddleboarding, hiking, camping, reading, hanging out with friends, dancing, and eating good food.

BE - What can we expect from you in the future?

LC - I’m just finishing my second book, which is set on a beautiful, rugged island off the coast of Tasmania. The story is based around a young woman who has been recently widowed. She travels to meet her late-husband’s family, but begins to discover that the man she married wasn’t who she thought he was. I can’t say too much more just yet, other than expect plenty of twists and turns!

One final thing: Lucy will also be taking part in an online book club Twitter chat about Swimming at Night on April 10th at 6:30pm. You can find out all the details of the chat by following @BookaliciousCA or on Wanda’s blog http://www.yummymummyclub.ca/blogs/wanda-lynne-young-bookalicious. This is a great opportunity to discuss the book with the author!

About the Author

Lucy Clarke has a degree in English Literature. She and her husband, a professional windsurfer, spend their winters traveling and their summers at their home on the south coast of England. Visit Lucy-Clarke.com.

*A copy of this novel was provided by the publisher, Simon and Schuster Canada, in exchange for an honest review.*

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!

Just Finished: The Lucky Harbor Series

I did it, I did it! I have finished another Christmas book in time to make it on the list for the Book Lovers Inc. Holiday Challenge. Phew! You're probably wondering how the above three novels qualify for a Christmas Challenge, aren't you? I actually read Simply Irresistible and The Sweetest Thing together in the combo book Christmas in Lucky Harbor. Those two books, plus Head Over Heels, were all written by Jill Shalvis. I thought they were sweet stories and I enjoyed reading them.

I got these books courtesy of NetGalley and Grand Central Publishing. "Christmas" in the title of Christmas in Lucky Harbor was what led me to them and I figured I may as well read the third novel while I was at it! I'm not going to put the synopsis in this post for these books because it would take up a lot of space so instead I will direct you to the Goodreads pages for each. You can find them here, here, and here. :) In a nutshell, these books each focus on a different sister - Maddie in Simply Irresistible, Tara in The Sweetest Thing, and Chloe in Head Over Heels. In true romance novel fashion, each sister falls in love with a different man and after a few obstacles are thrown in their path they all live happily ever after. The nice thing about these novels was that the relationship between the sisters was just as important as the romantic relationships. The three are actually half sisters, same mother but different fathers, and have never spent much time together. In fact, they hadn't seen each other in five years when they all came together for their mother's funeral. As it turns out, Phoebe, their wild and carefree mother, owned an inn in the quaint town of Lucky Harbor and the girls inherited it and all its problems. It's great to see how all the relationship between the women progress through the three novels.

It's very easy for romance novels (ok, any genre really) to get predictable and fall into a pattern. I always say that I don't care if I know who is going to end up with who at the end of the book as long as I'm entertained throughout the rest of the story. Fortunately, the Lucky Harbor novels gave me three sweet and fun stories. The sisters have to learn to fix themselves before they can let anyone else in and it was nice to see how they grew and evolved over the course of the series.

The only thing that I found disappointing was that I went into reading Christmas in Lucky Harbor expecting it to be totally Christmassy. Sadly, it was not. By now you'd think I would have learned my lesson but every year I assume that if "Christmas" or "holiday" is in the title of the book then it's going to be all Christmas all the time. Oh well. Even though I wished there had been a lot more Christmas in the book, I survived and still enjoyed reading it.

Overall, I enjoyed reading these books and I'm glad I read them back to back to back. I didn't really want to leave the world of Lucky Harbor and the inn and kept thinking about the books when I wasn't reading them. I think chick lit and romance lovers alike will enjoy Jill Shalvis' series. I'm definitely going to keep an eye on other books by her in the future.

Happy reading and happy New Year everyone! :)

Just Finished: Dollars to Donuts

Calling all donut and chick lit lovers! :) I've just recently finished Dollars to Donuts by the lovely Kathleen Kole. I'd like to thank her for sending along a copy for me to read. I enjoyed Breaking Even (you can read my review  here) so I was looking forward to her newest novel.

Here's the synopsis from Goodreads:

Take one newspaper columnist; move her from the anonymity of her home city to a sleepy, small town; add a dollop of nosey, suspicious and just plain odd neighbors; a dash of mystery in the form of a stained garbage can and a rodent and, finally, a large pinch of unsettling attraction to a virtual stranger and you’ll find yourself with a recipe that imitates April Patterson’s life.

Sound strange? It is.

April Patterson had no idea that when she decided to follow the path of family and love, she would find herself an unwitting player in an eyebrow raising cul-de-sac mystery, grasping for her privacy as she plays “Dodge the Neighbor” and being forced to examine her relationship motives ... all before she had unpacked her last box!

Taking a deep breath, and a large bite into a comforting donut, April consoles herself with the knowledge that it will all work out. It always does ... doesn’t it?

I have to be totally honest and let you all know that I didn't love this one as much as I had hoped. Don't get me wrong, I was still entertained by the hijinks April and her friends got up to but there seemed to be a little something lacking in this one for me. I found that the relationship issue April has was too similar to the one Penny had in Breaking Even. I don't think I would have minded the issues so much (girl is in steady relationship, new and shiny boy comes along, she toys with a potentially bad idea, all is resolved) if it hadn't been so much like what Penny went through. I also found the turmoil and craziness with the neighbours seemed a little too separate from the rest of the novel - didn't quite flow for me.

All that being said, I was still invested in April's life and desperately wanted her to figure out her life. She seemed to be so stuck and I was rooting for her to decide what she should do to make herself happy. While the ending may not have been what I had chosen myself, I still find that it is completely right. I guess that's why Kole is the author and I am not :) Some people  may not appreciate it but I think Kole did what was right for her characters. And I have to brag about the fact that I saw the one part of the ending coming. Yes, I know I'm being vague again but you'll just have to read the book to find out what I'm talking about!

I really loved that April and Jessica, her older sister, were so close. I'm quite close with my own sister so it was great to see a true sibling friendship in a book. It was very realistic which I appreciated. I would love to know more about her life before the start of Dollars to Donuts. Perhaps a prequel? :)

Overall, I enjoyed reading Dollars to Donuts and I think other chick lit lovers would enjoy it as well. In fact, check out the home page for the Chick Lit Plus organized blog tour and you'll see many other reviews as well. This was a fun read and I'm looking forward to what Kathleen Kole comes out with next!

Happy reading :)