Where I share my love of books with reviews, features, giveaways and memes. Family and needlepoint are thrown in from time to time.
Showing posts with label Penguin. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Penguin. Show all posts

Saturday, April 15, 2017

Book Review: The Night the Lights Went Out by Karen White





Title: The Night the Lights Went Out
Author: Karen White
Publisher: Berkley
Publication Date: April 11, 2017

About the book:  Set in the gilded realm of Sweet Apple, Georgia, THE NIGHT THE LIGHTS WENT OUT achieves a magnetic sense of place, and with good reason—it is the first novel White, the “Queen of southern fiction” (Huffington Post), has set in her own community, the affluent suburbs of Atlanta. She puts you in the carpool line made up of giant SUVs and has you rolling your eyes at the Head Mom in Charge’s passive aggressive tactics, bless her heart.


In THE NIGHT THE LIGHTS WENT OUT, recently divorced Merilee Talbot Dunlap moves with her two children to Sweet Apple, Georgia. It’s not her first time starting over, but her new beginning isn’t helped by an anonymous local blog that reveals for the whole town the scandalous affair that caused her marriage to fail. And Merilee’s new landlord, the proud, irascible, Atlanta born-and-bred 93-year-old Sugar Prescott, certainly isn’t helping.

But off Sugar’s property, Merilee finds herself swallowed into the town’s most elite ranks—its inner circle of wealthy school moms—thanks to her blossoming friendship with the belle of Sweet Apple, Heather Blackford. But behind the tennis whites, shiny SUVs, and immaculate women, lurk generations of secrets and resentments. And Merilee quickly learns that, in a town where appearance is everything, sins and secrets can be found in equal measure in the dark woods on Sugar’s property, and within the gated mansions of her newfound friends…

~I received a complimentary e-copy of this book from Berkley via Net Galley in exchange for my honest review.~

My thoughts: I really enjoy books set in the South, they always have a different sort of feel to them.  Merilee was likable, if somewhat naive, but given her circumstances I will cut her some slack.  I loved Sugar - crusty on the outside, but very caring and loyal underneath - just don't get on her bad side!  Of course there are a couple of men in the story - Dan Blackford, "Ken to Heather's Barbie", and a successful doctor to boot! And Wade, grandson of Sugar's best friend and potential love interest for Merilee.

Full of "southernisms"  (Bless her heart. . . ) the anonymous blog/blogger lent some humor and wisdom to the goings on in Sweet Apple.  There are lots of secrets that get spilled, lots of family - much of it dysfunctional, and lots of love and loyalty.  And if you are familiar with the song that I am sure the book takes its name from, there is also murder.

It was a very quick read and I liked the way that it would jump back in time and share Sugar's history.  The intermittent blog posts were also fun to read.  Perfect for this time of year, it would be a great beach read!

Excerpt from : The Night the Lights Went Out

A cluster of moms stood in the parking lot surrounded by high-end SUVs following first day drop-off at Windwood Academy. The women appeared to be listening with rapt attention to the tall blond woman in the center of their semi-circle, her hair arranged perfectly beneath her white tennis visor, her long and lean limbs brown and glowy. Merilee noticed this last part only because her ex-mother-in-law had given her a bottle of glowy lotion for her last birthday and Lily had told her it made her look sparkly like Katy Perry in one of her videos. Merilee had thrown out the remainder of the bottle, realizing she wasn’t the type anymore to look glowy much less sparkly.

But the blonde definitely was. Her whole body glowed. Her face glowed. Even the hair visible beneath the visor appeared to be lit from within. The woman looked vaguely familiar, and Merilee realized she’d probably been one of the mothers she’d met at the open house the previous week. She’d only been to the one let’s-get-acquainted event, her work schedule precluding any of the various parties that were held almost exclusively on weekdays when she worked.

Merilee was terrible with names, had been ever since she started dating Michael. He was so good at it, always reminding her who everyone was when they were at a party, that she’d simply stopped trying. She hoped she was only out of practice instead of permanently disabled. Her children’s futures probably depended on it since Michael wouldn’t be there to make sure Merilee remembered the names of Lily’s friends who were or were not speaking to each other. And which of Colin’s teachers appreciated his dreamy attitude and those who didn’t. It had always been a game with them—her recalling every detail about a friend or teacher, details always overlooked by Michael—and then he’d fill in the missing part—the name. But now she had to do it all on her own.

She smiled vaguely in the direction of the blond woman and her entourage and had almost made it to her van when she heard her name being called.

“Merilee? Merilee Dunlap?”

Great. The woman not only remembered her first name, but her last as well. Forcing a warm smile on her face, Merilee turned. “Oh, hello. It’s good to see you again.”

The other women parted like the Red Sea as the tall blond walked toward Merilee and she remembered that the woman had been wearing a Lily Pulitzer sundress and two-carat diamond stud earrings when they’d met before. But she didn’t remember her name. “I thought that was you. I looked for you in Mrs. Marshall’s homeroom. I’m the room mother and wanted to welcome Lily myself.”

Merilee remembered the voice. It was very Southern, heavily laced with dropped consonants and elongated vowels. The most memorable part about it was that it sounded exactly like Merilee’s mother.

“We were running a bit late this morning.” Feeling suddenly short and frumpy in her dark skirt and blazer, Merilee had the strong urge to explain. “My son couldn’t find his new uniform shoes. They somehow managed to find their way back into the box they came in and then got shoved so far under his bed that it took nearly twenty minutes to locate them. And then Lily spilled her bowl of cereal and milk down the front of her skirt, and I had to quickly iron one of her other ones so she could wear it.”

The woman gave her a warm smile from behind dark Chanel sunglasses as if she knew exactly what it was like to be a frazzled single mother. “Bless your heart. And on the first day at a new school. You’ll get used to the routine, I promise. It took me a whole month to realize that I should have a skirt and blouse for every school day plus one, and have Patricia have them cleaned and ironed as soon as my girls dropped them on the floor.”

Not exactly sure how to reslake, Merilee picked out the first confusing part of the sentence. “Patricia?”

“My house manager. I couldn’t live without her. You know how crazy busy it is with all of the kids’ schedules.” She reached into her large handbag that was more briefcase than purse, with a designer’s logo sprouting over its surface like kudzu. “I was going to stick this in the mail to you, but since you’re here I’ll give it to you now. It’s a sign-up sheet for parties and field trips—it lists everything for the year. Just let me know your availabilities and ask Lily to bring it in to school and give to Bailey as soon as you can. Bailey is very responsible and will make sure it gets to me.” The woman smiled, her teeth perfect. “Only sign up for four—every mother wants to be at every single event, but then it just gets crowded—plus there won’t be room on the bus for the kids.”

“Only four…” Merilee took the list and looked at it, almost letting out an audible sigh when she saw the woman’s name at the top of the page, Heather Blackford, Class Mother, followed by three different phone numbers. Now she remembered. Heather had a daughter in Colin’s class, too, both girls’ names starting with ‘B’.

“Yes. And if you could turn it back in tomorrow that would be terrific. I’ll have Claire put it all in a spreadsheet and I’ll email it to all the mothers. Please write neatly—Claire has a way of butchering your name if she can’t read it.”

“Claire?”

“My personal assistant. She’s only part time but I would simply die of exhaustion without her.”
The ladies behind her all nodded in understanding.

“Yes, well, I’ll take a look at it and get it back to you tomorrow.” Merilee was already wondering how she was going to approach her boss to ask him for more time off. The divorce and move had already eaten up all of her vacation time, and although Max was kind and understanding, everyone had their limits.

“And don’t forget the ‘I survived my first week of fourth grade’ party at my lake house this Saturday. I’ll be handing out disposable cameras to all the moms and dads to take pictures throughout the year at our various events—I like to do little photo albums for all the kids and the teachers at the end of the year.” She beamed, like it was just a small thing. “Oh, and I took the liberty of signing you up for a dessert because we’re overrun with vegetables and dip and pimiento cheese. I figured you’d know how to make something sweet.”

“Oh…” Merilee simply blinked her eyes for a moment, wondering if Heather had meant to be insulting.

“Because you’re from South Georgia. You mentioned that when we met. You said I had the same accent as your mother.”

Feeing oddly relieved, Merilee said, “Yes, of course. Where did you say you were from?”
“Here and there—but mostly Georgia. I can always tell a native Georgian. Hard to hide it, isn’t it? It’s almost like no matter how far you go in life, all you have to do is open your mouth and somebody knows exactly where you’re from.”

There was something in the way Heather said it that made Merilee pause. “Yes, well, I’ll call my mother today and ask her what she might recommend.”

“Wonderful.” Heather beamed. She pointed a key fob toward a black Porsche SUV with vanity plates that read YERSERV, and the rear door slowly raised. As the other mothers oohed and ahhed appropriately, Merilee stared into the trunk where fourteen metallic gift bags with blue or pink tissue paper expertly pleated at the tops were arranged in neat rows.

Heather moved toward the car. “A little lagniappe—that’s Cajun for ‘a little extra’ to all of my Yankee friends—for the first day of school. My treat. I thought we could each give our children a bag at pickup today and then head over to Scoops for ice cream afterwards. I’ve already reserved the party room at the back of the store. Claire is picking up the helium balloons this morning and will have it all decorated in Windwood colors.”

“You are just too much,” one of the mothers said as the other women eagerly stepped toward the car and took a bag.


Since Karen White burst onto the publishing scene, she has written eleven New York Times bestsellers, created the beloved Tradd Street series, and left readers on the edge of their seats awaiting each year’s new standalone novel. I have reviewed one of her earlier books, The Lost Hours, and have many more on my TBR list - including Flight Patterns!

FLIGHT PATTERNS tells the story of Georgia Chambers, a fine china expert who left her family years before and is forced to return home and repair the relationships she’s carefully avoided. To embrace her own life—mistakes and all—she will have to find the courage to confront the ghosts of her past and the secrets she was forced to keep.


Karen White is the New York Times bestselling author of more than twenty novels, including the Tradd Street series, The Night the Lights Went OutFlight PatternsThe Sound of GlassA Long Time Gone, and The Time Between. She is the coauthor of The Forgotton Room with New York Times bestselling authors Beatriz Williams and Lauren Willig. She grew up in London but now lives with her husband and two children near Atlanta, Georgia.

Tuesday, May 3, 2016

Review: Modern Girls by Jennifer S. Brown

Title: Modern Girls
Author: Jennifer S. Brown
Publisher: NAL
Publication Date: April 5, 2016

About the book (from the publisher): An atmospheric new work of historical fiction takes readers into New York City’s 1935 lower East Side Jewish immigrant community, where two women faced with an impossible choice will confront tradition, expectations—and themselves . . .

Set in 1935 against the backdrop of World War II’s ominous approach, MODERN GIRLS follows the interlocking narratives of fierce, industrious nineteen-year-old Dottie Krasinsky, and her mother, Rose.

Though Dottie lives with her traditional Yiddish-speaking parents, she’s as modern as a 1930’s girl can get: she has just been promoted as head bookkeeper at a glittering midtown office, plans to marry her swoon-worthy boyfriend Abe, but still dreams of a home ripped from the pages of Better Homes & Gardens. But after a fight with Abe, and a single careless night with the charismatic but unsuitable Willie, Dottie finds herself in the family way. Desperate, she is unwed, unsure, and running out of options. 

Meanwhile, as news of Jewish persecution in Europe spreads, Rose longs to return to the social activism she embraced as a young woman in Russia. But when she finds herself pregnant with a fifth child, she wrestles with profound disappointment at being forced to once again set aside political work, even as her brother remains trapped in Poland.

As both mother and daughter wrestle with unthinkable choices, they are forced to confront their beliefs, and the changing world around them. What they choose to do next will yield astonishing lessons about what truly lies in each woman’s heart. Only one thing is for sure: neither will ever be the same again.

My thoughts: I had a hard time putting this book down.  In today's age, unwed mothers can be frequently found  in every neighborhood.  Working mother's, especially older mother's are also common.  In the 1930's though, standards were still high and getting pregnant before marriage was enough to bring shame down on the whole family.  Business could be lost, opportunities not granted, and not just for the poor girl in question - but for the entire family.  

We think it was such a simpler time, but they had all the same concerns that we have today (just not all the electronics!).  How to provide for a family; how to deal with consequences of a mistaken one night stand; how to care for a family and have a job. These are all things that are still faced today.  

Dottie and Rose may seem like they are from two different worlds, but they are more alike than they know.  They are both strong, independent women living in a man's world. They both take matters into their own hands to secure an outcome that is acceptable to them.  

I am hoping that there may be another book to come so we can see how their decisions affect their lives and where their paths lead them!



~I received a complimentary e-copy of Modern Girls from Penguin Random House through Net Galley in exchange for my unbiased review.~

Review: The Ones Who Matter Most by Rachael Herron

Title: The Ones Who Matter Most
Author: Rachael Herron
Publisher: NAL
Publication Date: April 5, 2016

About the book(from the publisher): After her husband dies unexpectedly, Abby Roberts finds wedding photographs of him with another woman, along with pictures of a baby boy. Shocked, she does something utterly impulsive: she embarks on a journey to discover the family her husband apparently left behind.

What begins as one woman’s search for truth becomes a deep bond forged between the unlikeliest of people. Their surprising journey reveals how strangers can quickly find themselves to be family.

Herron’s mastery of grief, love, and the human condition was honed by her career as a 911 volunteer. She says: “Everything I know about the strength of the human heart and its determination to love comes from the calls I take on a daily basis. I’ve heard hearts break. I’ve heard love in every language, and it sounds the same.”

Pack Up the Moon was named by Working Mother magazine as one of the best gift books for Mother’s Day in 2014. THE ONES WHO MATTER MOST resonates with similar themes of family, highlighting how the most unbreakable bonds can often be the most unlikely. Herron’s previous novels, Splinters of Light and Pack Up the Moon, have been called “riveting” (Booklist), “emotional” (RT Book Reviews) and “poignant” (Library Journal).


My thoughts: Sometimes it is really hard to find the right words for a review.  I really enjoyed reading this book.  We no more meet Abby when her husband dies.  She had just asked him for a divorce, so she is confused as to what she is feeling.  Is it grief?  Is it relief?  She had really wanted a child with her husband - she felt that would make her family complete.  Her parents were gone and she had no siblings.  The closest thing she had to family was a surrogate mom, a lady who had been her mom's best friend.  When she discovers what her husband has done to go against their plan for a family is when she asks him for a divorce - and then he dies. 

Left to sort through his belongings, she discovers a past life that he never shared with her. A wife and child (Fern and Matty) that he never talked about, let alone visited.  All he did was send her a check every month. Abby feels a great need to meet this woman and child.  Scott's child - the child she wanted to have. 

The first meeting is awkward, as you can expect, and it gets worse when she shares the news that Scott has died. For Fern it had been a struggle to raise Matty on her own, and she depended on the monthly check from Scott as much as she despised it. She wants to hate Abby, but realizes that Abby had known nothing about them.  Slowly, with misunderstandings and accidental circumstances, Fern and Abby start to form a friendship.  

I did really love this book.  It was messy.  It was emotional.  It was very realistic. There are no cut and dried answers to life - things don't always have a happily ever after - or at least not the happily ever after that we expect.  Great book just in time for Mother's Day!

~I received a complimentary e-copy of The Ones Who Matter Most from Penguin Random House through Net Galley in exchange for my unbiased review.~

Thursday, February 4, 2016

Review: Brotherhood in Death by J.D. Robb

Title: Brotherhood in Death
Author: J.D. Robb
Publisher: Penguin/Berkley Jove
Publication Date: Feb 2, 2016


Sometimes brotherhood can be another word for conspiracy. . . .

Dennis Mira just had two unpleasant surprises. First he learned that his cousin Edward was secretly meeting with a real estate agent about their late grandfather’s magnificent West Village brownstone, despite the promise they both made to keep it in the family. Then, when he went to the house to confront Edward about it, he got a blunt object to the back of the head.

Luckily Dennis is married to Charlotte Mira, the NYPSD’s top profiler and a good friend of Lieutenant Eve Dallas. When the two arrive on the scene, he explains that the last thing he saw was Edward in a chair, bruised and bloody. When he came to, his cousin was gone. With the mess cleaned up and the security disks removed, there’s nothing left behind but a few traces for forensics to analyze.

As a former lawyer, judge, and senator, Edward Mira mingled with the elite and crossed paths with criminals, making enemies on a regular basis. Like so many politicians, he also made some very close friends behind closed—and locked—doors. But a badge and a billionaire husband can get you into places others can’t go, and Eve intends to shine some light on the dirty deals and dark motives behind the disappearance of a powerful man, the family discord over a multimillion-dollar piece of real estate . . . and a new case that no one saw coming.


My thoughts: I can't remember when I read my first "In Death" book, but it was probably in the late 1990's. A coworker and I would share them as they were published.  I lost track of the series in 2004 when my son was born and I became a stay-at-home mom.  It has always been on my backburner that I wanted to get back into reading them. I wanted to know what happened with Dallas and Roarke!  They were 2 characters that definitely stayed with me over the years.  I wanted to believe that there was really a Dallas and Roarke out there somewhere in the universe.  J.D. Robb (Nora Roberts) has written at least 2 book in this series a year since 1995, with Brotherhood being book 42.  You don't need to read these books in order, but if you only read one, you will be left wanting to know more.  

You get thrown into the case very quickly when the husband of one of Eve's coworkers and friends is attacked.  Having a personal connection to the case make's it Eve's priority and when the bodies start piling up, it begins to bring up bad memories from Eve's childhood.  By the end of the book, it isn't clear what should be right or wrong or who is the victim and who is the perpetrator.  The action moves rapidly covering only a few days in the 388 pages.  I like that as it makes the reading go very quickly as well.  

If you haven't read any of the In Death series, it is time to start.  I highly recommend this book as well as this series. 

~I received a complimentary copy of this book from Penguin Random House in exchange for my unbiased review.~



Friday, September 7, 2012

The Good Woman by Jane Porter (Interview and Review)

Title: The Good Woman
Author: Jane Porter
Publisher: Penguin

About the Book: The firstborn of a large Irish-American family, Meg Brennan Roberts is a successful publicist, faithful wife, and doting mother who prides herself on always making the right decisions. But years of being “the good woman” have taken a toll and though her winery career thrives, Meg feels burned out and empty, and more disconnected than ever from her increasingly distant husband. Lonely and disheartened, she attends the London Wine Fair with her boss, ruggedly handsome vintner, Chad Hallahan. It’s here, alone together in an exotic city, far from “real” life, that Chad confesses his long-standing desire for Meg.

Overwhelmed, flattered, and desperately confused, Meg returns home, only to suddenly question every choice she’s ever made, especially that of her marriage. For Meg, something’s got to give, and for once in her life she flees her responsibilities—but with consequences as reckless and irreversible as they are liberating. Now she must decide whether being the person everyone needs is worth losing the woman she was meant to be.


My thoughts:  Even though this book was painful (as in, I could feel Meg's pain) for me to read at times, I really enjoyed it.  Jane Porter did a great job in portraying the hurt and emptiness that Meg was feeling.  As a woman in her 40's myself, I can't say that my life has been all sunshine and roses and there have been rough patches when I felt that I deserved more - so I could relate to some of the story line. 

But this book is about much more than just a woman on the brink - it is about family - the one that you grew up with as well as the one that you create when you marry.  How family can either lift each other up in the hard times are tear each other apart.  That grudges and words hurt whether you are 15 or 45.   It is also about trust and forgiveness and overcoming obstacles in order to get to the heart of the problem - but that you have to have the willingness to admit there is a problem first.  

I will say it again, that I could relate to Meg in part of the story - I'm not sure that I would make the same choices that she did, but I can understand her reasons.  The whole family was realistic - from Meg's mom and dad, to her brother and sisters.  They each had real problems that they were trying to work through, but stayed close despite those problems.  

This is the first book in the Brennan Sisters Trilogy with The Good Daughter due out in February 2013.  I had previously read She's Gone Country by Jane Porter - you can see my review here. 

~I received a complimentary copy of The Good Woman from Penguin in exchange for my unbiased review.~

About the author:  Jane Porter is an award-winning novelist with over 5 million books in print.  She grew up in central California , graduated from UCLA and holds an MA in writing from the University of San Francisco .  Porter writes full time and lives in southern California with her family.  Visit her website at www.janeporter.com.

Jane was nice enough to stop by and answer some questions for me. Please help me welcome her to Books and Needlepoint.

1. How do you typically write? Do you plot it all out beforehand or do you just let the story pour out?
I plot big chunks—road signs and what I believe will be the key turning points—and then write, but I definitely end up detouring and rethinking those scenes that I think will be the big scenes.

2. Do you have a favorite place to write or “must haves” while writing?
I need to be able to control my environment as much as possible—space, lighting, noise, the amount of time I have to write. I don’t do well trying to write in bits and pieces, or with lots of activity going on around me. I can and do write in coffee houses when in a pinch, but then I try to find the quietest place possible, with a corner or wall table with lots of natural lighting and I add my Bose headphones to block out sound. But honestly, my home office—clean and clear and free of clutter—is best. I think I’m getting old.

3. Do you have much say in the title or covers of you books?
Nope. I can say, I do like, I don’t like, or not crazy about it, and here’s why, and they hopefully listen to me but there’s no guarantee.

4. Is there anything that has surprised you about writing, publishing or touring with your books?
Just how hard it all is! People assume (and I used to be one of these people, too!) that all you have to do is get published, and you’ve pretty much got it made because you’re on the ‘inside’ now, but that’s just the start of endless, uphill battles. And it’s all a battle—the writing, the promoting, the marketing and touring and writing while promoting/touring. It’s not a fluffy, relaxing career. 

5. Do you have a favorite author/book or one that you always recommend?
I have so many author friends—virtually all my friends are writers—so its hard to recommend one and not another, or it feels weird to only recommend my friends, and not others, so I tend to focus on my favorite, comfort reads that aren’t necessarily contemporary authors (like Georgette Heyer. Love her!)

6. Was there anything (or anyone) while growing up which helped you decide you wanted to be a writer?
Louisa May Alcott. I loved that Jo, from Little Women, Little Men, Jo’s Boys, etc, was a writer. I was also inspired by the author of my other favorite series of books, Little House on the Prairie, Laura Ingalls. Being a writer definitely seemed to be the way to go. And I tried to get published early....I wrote my first picture book in 2nd grade and my first novel in 4th grade. I was pretty serious about becoming a novelist!

7. Do you have a job outside of being an author?
Nope. I write. A lot. And then I try to be a good mom on occasion, too.

8. What would you tell a beginning writer?
That writing is a craft, an art form, and a muscle. You’ve got to develop the craft—and work that muscle. And sometimes we will write with more confidence, and other times we will battle for our story, but not to quit. Don’t ever give up.

9. If you could meet one person who has died, who would that be?
I’d love to meet the James family...Henry James, and his sister Alice who had an amazing mind, and their brother William who was also brilliant. And if they weren’t interested in meeting me, I’d try to get Virginia Wolfe and her sister, the artist Vanessa Bell, to spend an afternoon with me. I love interesting families, and so I’m not surprised I wrote a series like the Brennans because I do think sisters and brothers have tremendous influence on each other, and help shape each other.

10. If you could co-author a book with anyone, who would it be?
I don’t think I would. I’d find it too much of a power struggle!  

11. In one sentence, why should we read your book?
Because I’m a storyteller and want nothing more than to grab you and sweep you away for a day.

12. What is something people would be surprised to know about you?
I love to make myself laugh. I crack myself up—much to the mortification of my boys—and enjoy my jokes a lot. No one else does. But that makes me laugh, too.

13. What do you come up with first when creating your character- the back story, the plot, the characteristics?
I think it depends on the writer, and it probably varies from book to book, too. And honestly I don’t know that you can separate them out. I tend to get an idea and all the bits and pieces are there, together, intertwined.

14. What do you do in your spare time?
Hang out with my kids, annoy them by making them talk to me (and listen to me), read, garden, and I also love to travel. I live to travel. Travel is my poison.

15. What does a day in your life look like?
Wake up, hug, feed kids and kick then out the door and then check email, answer email and get to work. I generally work until 5, and then do more email and business stuff in the evening while sitting on the couch with the kids watching TV. My kids don’t think I come without a laptop attached to my middle. It’s kind of sad.

16. How does your family feel about having a writer in the family? Do they read your books?
I’m a mom of 3 sons—17, 13, and 3—and no they don’t read my books. And the two older ones are pretty proud of me. They know I work hard, and they like that I’m a ‘different mom’. The 13-year-old worries about my career, though, and has been giving me career advice on becoming bigger (stop writing women’s stories that have no plots and write apocalyptic Young Adult stories like The Hunger Games). The 3-year-old started a new preschool recently and announced that there his friends were Jack and Jane, but little Jane doesn’t write novels. He knows because he asked her.

17. Is there anything else that you would like my readers to know?
We just moved from Greater Seattle to San Clemente, CA which is southern Orange County, so it’s a huge change for all of us and yet really exciting to be having a new adventure as a family.

Wednesday, September 5, 2012

A Girl Like You by Maria Geraci (Book Review)

Title: A Girl Like You
Author: Maria Geraci
Publisher: Penguin

About the Book: What if you found out you were the ugly friend?

Emma Frazier is smart, hardworking, and loves her job as a journalist for a Florida lifestyle magazine. Emma knows she’s no great beauty, but she’s pretty certain she has a shot with her handsome new boss, Ben Gallagher—until Emma overhears a mutual acquaintance refer to her as the “ugly friend.” In an effort to reclaim her battered self-esteem, Emma decides to impress Ben at work by promising an exclusive interview with NASCAR legend, Trip Monroe.

Emma and Trip went to high school together and although it’s been fourteen years since they’ve spoken, Emma is certain she can score an interview with the elusive super star. But connecting with Trip turns out to be harder than Emma imagined. Her quest for the interview leads her back to her tiny hometown of Catfish Cove, where old secrets and a new romantic interest shake up Emma’s views on life and teach her that maybe the key to finding true love is as simple as accepting yourself for the person you were always meant to be.

My thoughts:  This was my first exposure to Maria Geraci and I found her delightful.  This book is for any girl who has felt the sting of low self-esteem - and personally I don't know a girl out there who hasn't felt it at one time or another.  The characters are easy to relate to - especially Emma.  She doesn't come from the traditional family, having two moms, but that just gives a nice twist to the story.  

Emma is beginning to worry that she won't find the man she is supposed to settle down with.  She is only 32, but her moms have been hinting at grandkids for a couple of years. This book is sort of like her journey to self discovery - and how she ends up with the man of her dreams.  Of course you know what they say - you have to kiss a few frogs before you end up with your prince. Maria does a great job of balancing the serious with the humorous, while also not letting you know too soon how it is going to end. 

If you are a fan of chick lit, then you should add this book to your tbr list. 


~I received a complimentary copy of A Girl Like You from Book Sparks in exchange for my unbiased review. ~

About the author:  Maria Geraci was born in Havana, Cuba, and raised on Florida's Space Coast.  Her love of books started with the classic Little Women (a book she read so often growing up, she could probably quote it). She lives with her husband and their three children in north Florida where she works as a part-time labor and delivery nurse by night and a full-time romance writer during the day.  

Link to Maria Geraci's website: http://mariageraci.com/
Link to Maria Geraci on Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/MariaGeraciBooks
Link to Maria Geraci on Twitter: https://twitter.com/MariaGeraci


A Girl Like You
Publisher/Publication Date: Penguin, Aug 2012
ISBN: 978-0-425-24780-8
308 pages

Tuesday, November 1, 2011

The Comforts of Home by Jodi Thomas (Book review)

Title: The Comforts of Home
Author: Jodi Thomas
Publisher: Penguin


About the book: In Harmony, Texas, twenty-year-old Reagan Truman has found her place and her family. But with her uncle taken ill and her friend Noah lost and disheartened with his life, Reagan is afraid of ending up alone again -- and she's not the only one. Harmony seems to be full of people yearning to make a connection. Like funeral director Tyler Wright, who longs to take his relationship with his friend Kate to the next level, but doesn't know how. And Ronelle Logan, a woman frightened of everyday human interactions, until she meets an angry, lonely man -- someone just like her.

When a terrible storm threatens the town, the residents of Harmony are forced to really think about what they truly want. Because making the connections they so desperately desire mean putting their hears at risk.

My thoughts:  I really like the way that Jodi brings her characters to life.  You learn a little more about some of the characters that were introduced in the first book, Welcome to Harmony, and get to know some other characters like Ronelle Logan.

 I really liked Ronny, she was probably my favorite character in this book.  She starts out as this lonely girl, who just sort of goes along in the world, trying to stay hidden - and either being verbally abused by her mother or virtually ignored.  Out of chance, she delivers the mail to a wheelchair bound man one day who truly sees her, and a friendship is born.  It was really neat to see her start to come out of her shell, sort of like a turtle, very slow, thinking she might pull her head back in at any time.

Then there is Autumn, who is found at the cemetary by none other than the local mortician.  She is very sick, very nearly frozen, and newly pregnant.  With no where to go and an abusive boyfriend looking for her, she takes up residence at the funeral home and soon has created a new atmosphere there with her spot-on cooking and unobtrusive ways.

These are just two of the inhabitants of Harmony that you get to know - and these are people that you want to know.  It makes you want to live in a small town, where the comforts of home can be found in more places than just where you grew up.



~I received a complimentary copy of this book from the author in exchange for my review.~


If this sounds like a good book - please watch for the Giveaway Hop Nov 8 - 11th, (hosted by I Am a Reader, Not a Writer and Tristi Pinkson), where I will be giving away a copy!

Books in the Harmony series:

Find Jodi on Facebook, Twitter, her website.


Publisher/Publication Date: Penguin, Nov 1, 2011
ISBN: 978-0-425-24448-7
320 pages

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