A Case For Bridget: Review of Mad About the Boy by Helen Fielding

Back in 2011 I explained, however briefly, my own connection/relationship to this quirky character, Bridget Jones in a blog post about the music from the film: "Fiction, to Film, to Fantastic Music Friday: Bridget Jones Diary."  So how do I put into words how many mixed emotions I had about this third book coming out?  First off, I immediately pre-ordered it in hardback, because I have the previous books in hardback and am compulsive enough in this situation that I had to complete my set.  I then sat back and watched and listened as the world exploded into mass discussions about bits of the leaked story and how unhappy they all were with it.  Listen, I couldn't NOT read this novel if I wanted to, and I would NOT choose to just let this story go.  In the end, I firmly believe we all have to look at what Helen Fielding meant to do with these novels.  She wrote a story about a character named Bridget Jones, and this is quite possibly the culmination of her story.  How could I let it go when I had let her into my life so fully before this?  Yea.  Wasn't going to happen.  Like it or not, I HAD TO KNOW what happened!

***Spoilers Ahead.  If you have not heard anything about what has had the interwebs up in arms about this novel, then my review might not be a good place to start.***

Review:  Life's not perfect.  Is that not one of the reasons that we somehow love and connect to Bridget Jones?  Things always get messy for her, and yet it worked out for her in the end.  We saw ourselves in her, and wanted and hoped for a certain amount of our own stupid imperfections to be overlooked.  For this reason, I walked into book three knowing full well that this was going to be Bridget's story.  Helen Fielding wrote these novels about Bridget to begin with, and that's what I expected and have grown to love.  I care about her and her silly hang ups, and in the end, am willing to see where they take her.  Because of that, this book honestly took me on a strange journey that I didn't see coming.  Maybe I'm a few years older than when I read those earlier happy-go-lucky twenty something tales, but I really loved this book, and shed some pretty heartfelt tears on several occasions in reading this book.  Bridget is still Bridget.  I don't know what readers expected?  We find that Bridget is still clumsy, making silly choices, thinking irrationally, and feeling lonely.  But, she has matured and been through a lot, which is shown to us over the course of the book.  That, I completely appreciated.

Yes.  Mark Darcy is dead.  There, I said it like Dickens said it in The Christmas Carol.  I mean no disrespect, but some of the biggest nay-sayers I've seen to this book have been so hung up over this fact that I want to lay that out as the fact that it is.  Yes, we're in the present day, and Bridget is now 50 with two small children to raise. The story doesn't take up immediately after the fact, and the children were too young to completely remember him, so no the story does not wax on poetic about it.  He's not eliminated from the story or some sort of afterthought, but realistically, what happens to a person/character when life isn't the "Happily Ever After" that they think it will be?  What we do end up getting in the story are appropriate flashbacks and scenes, that show how she has handled the loss and the rearing of her children.  Honestly, I thought it was handled well and on point for this character.  Where would we expect her to be five years after the fact? 

One thing that Fielding 100% nailed was the grieving process after a certain number of years.  Somehow Fielding captured these moments where Bridget would remember something about Mark, no matter how fleeting, and they were just perfect.  She didn't wallow in them, because she didn't have time to, but you could see how completely present they still were in her life.  Perfect.  That is real. 

Bridget does wander, wholeheartedly, back into dating.  It's rather uncomfortable to watch her efforts at times, but when you consider the uncertain Bridget in her 20s and then imagine this woman in her 50s with two children who has lost such an amazing husband, how would I expect her to bounce right back into dating with ease?  Of course, she has that certain air of insecurity that you wish you could shake out of her, that even her kids see in her.  (Is it the same insecurity she saw in her mother?)  Maybe these are things that, in a sense, we really do end up working on our entire lives.  We can insert our own moralities and ideologies onto Bridget, but from her own worldview, family, and friends, she's doing the best she can.

Sincerely, I loved Mad About the Boy and have no problem adding it to the rest of the collection.  Was it the ending I hoped for or envisioned?  No way, but honestly, life has a way of doing that, so I'm okay with it.

Review: Wedding Night by Sophie Kinsella

It's time to get back into the game, and who better than Sophie Kinsella to get me back into it!  Kinsella has such a great style and voice, that she can really suck you into one of her stories pretty quickly and pull you away from what's going on in your own life.  I love that about her novels.  Wedding Night is kind of like that, so let's see if I can get back in the "review-writing saddle"--so to say--and share her newest novel!

Synopsis:  From Goodreads, "Lottie just knows that her boyfriend is going to propose during lunch at one of London’s fanciest restaurants. But when his big question involves a trip abroad, not a trip down the aisle, she’s completely crushed. So when Ben, an old flame, calls her out of the blue and reminds Lottie of their pact to get married if they were both still single at thirty, she jumps at the chance. No formal dates—just a quick march to the altar and a honeymoon on Ikonos, the sun-drenched Greek island where they first met years ago.

Their family and friends are horrified. Fliss, Lottie’s older sister, knows that Lottie can be impulsive—but surely this is her worst decision yet. And Ben’s colleague Lorcan fears that this hasty marriage will ruin his friend’s career. To keep Lottie and Ben from making a terrible mistake, Fliss concocts an elaborate scheme to sabotage their wedding night. As she and Lorcan jet off to Ikonos in pursuit, Lottie and Ben are in for a honeymoon to remember, for better . . . or worse."

Review:  I love Greece so much that it kills me with every year that I stay away.  So what's not to love about combining one of my favorite authors and one of my favorite locations?  I have to say that the premise was all so very promising, with the backdrop of a Greek island, an old flame, and the comedy of a sabotaged wedding night, but somehow it just ended up being a bit tiring.  

Lottie was the single gal who desperately wanted her boyfriend to propose, and when he didn't, ran back to an old flame.  It made me cringe. 

Fliss had the flaky ex-husband who really couldn't be flakier, who you were dying to have meet someone fantastic.  She had me cheering her on, but she had this flaky single sister named Lottie, who made me cringe.  Poor Fliss.

Okay, I get that being disappointed repeatedly can make people do crazy things, but Lottie just made herself look beyond insecure and and unaware.  Her old flame was way too convenient, and holding off on sex for the wedding night (big spoiler there--see the title) which was just the universe telling them both that they were running off to marry one another out of desperation.  

I REALLY wanted to like this novel.  It had its fun moments.  It had its sweet moments.  But overall, it just wore me out.  Perhaps Kinsella should have backed off on the old flame "comedy" bit in the story and just let Lottie mourn the loss of her boyfriend, and let her go off to Ikonos on her own?  I don't know, but everything wore me out and made it difficult for me to care.  I liked Fliss, but I had even lost interest there in the end.  

Overall, I would still recommend it because it's a Sophie Kinsella novel, but it's not one of my favorites of her stand alone novels.

*FTC Disclosure:  This review was based on an Amazon Vine ARC.

Review: If the Shoe Fits by Megan Mulry

Synopsis:  From Goodreads, "Second in a sexy, playful new series of women's fiction imagining what it might be like for a modern American woman to fall in love with a British aristocrat, from new author Megan Mulry.

Sarah James is an accomplished American woman who heads her own chic shoe company. Devon Heyworth is the rakish, ne'er-do-well younger brother of the 19th Duke of Northrop. When the two meet at the Duke's wedding they embark on a whirlwind weekend romance. And what begins as a casual fling at a royal wedding quickly proves to be far more meaningful. But when a string of misunderstandings threaten to tear them apart, their meddling aristocratic relatives join forces to reunite the star-crossed lovers."

Review:  If you've read Mulry's first novel, A Royal Pain, you know that Sarah is "the best friend" of the character in that novel.  It's definitely not necessary to have read her first novel to understand and love this second novel, and in fact, if you're looking for a continuation story from the first, you won't find that here.  This is really Sarah and Devon's story, as it should be.

To start off, Mulry's novels look like they will be light-hearted and fun-spirited.  I haven't necessarily found them to be that light-hearted.  That hasn't taken away from the story at all for me.  These are playful in the sense that they are a wishful story of "what ifs," but the drama and emotions are pretty high.  

Sarah is pretty much the serious business woman who has been serious most of her life, including in her romantic life.  Now she has found herself a virgin who no longer wants to be one and too embarrassed to admit it at her age.  What better time to "resolve" the issue than at her best friend's wedding with the "rake" that is her best friend's younger brother who seems to be up for anything?  The casual fling, however, doesn't seem to be so casual for him.

In true romantic novel form, Devon--the "rake"--falls for said inexperienced beauty and must find a way to win her heart.  It was discouraging at times, and yet all part of what kept the story moving.  We do tend to like Devon, since he is the one who begins to change, and yet the number of ways these two mess up their communication could make your head swim!  

I loved the fantasy elements of the rich, with their getaways to Paris, fancy several-level homes, and lovely expensive accoutrements.  Overall, I thoroughly enjoyed If the Shoe Fits and think that Mulry has a great way of tapping into strong emotional stories and characters that readers can love.  Although I had moments where I wanted to throttle Sarah for being stubborn and not communicating with Devon, I could see where her fears were leading her.  Still...I wanted her to just TALK!  It was still a great, escape romance that I would recommend to my contemporary romance readers.  It is definitely a romance novel though, so for my sensitive readers who are wary of sexy times, be warned--there are some of those for sure!

For those interested, If the Shoe Fits comes out today!  I definitely recommend you check it as soon as possible, as well as her first book, A Royal Pain.

*FTC Disclosure:  This review was based on a copy of the novel provided by Sourcebooks through Netgalley. 

Review: Insatiable by Meg Cabot

Synopsis:  From Goodreads, "Sick of hearing about vampires? So is Meena Harper.

But her bosses are making her write about them anyway, even though Meena doesn't believe in them.

Not that Meena isn't familiar with the supernatural. See, Meena Harper knows how you're going to die. (Not that you're going to believe her. No one ever does.)

But not even Meena's precognition can prepare her for what happens when she meets—then makes the mistake of falling in love with—Lucien Antonescu, a modern-day prince with a bit of a dark side. It's a dark side a lot of people, like an ancient society of vampire hunters, would prefer to see him dead for.

The problem is, Lucien's already dead. Maybe that's why he's the first guy Meena's ever met whom she could see herself having a future with. See, while Meena's always been able to see everyone else's future, she's never been able look into her own.

And while Lucien seems like everything Meena has ever dreamed of in a boyfriend, he might turn out to be more like a nightmare.

Now might be a good time for Meena to start learning to predict her own future. . . .

If she even has one."

Review:  This isn't your average vampire book.  When Meg Cabot puts her spin on an adult book, you know there will be a sense of humor injected in it somewhere and a girl who is pretty pragmatic about the world she lives in.  Insatiable is definitely that type of novel.  Meena Harper is the hard working writer for a soap opera that wants to take on the new vampire twist.  (Insert eye roll here.)  Yes, Meena does what she is told and writes this new vampire twist, but how odd that she should then meet the real deal and kind of fall for him???

Meena, like most of Meg Cabot's heroines, is a sort of self-assured gal who really just wants to find a love who is her best friend.  When she meets dark and mysterious Lucien, she finds herself strangely attracted to him, and he finds the same thing for this free-wheeling city girl.  He's dead and she's not, but that doesn't stop a romance from kindling up.  What do you do about the people who want him dead though?  Problem.

While I think I'm just about burned out on paranormal stories and vampires, in general, I can't help falling for a good Meg Cabot novel.  Her novels are always light hearted, even when there is murder and intrigue going on in the background.  Somewhere there's a modern girl, seeing the murder and intrigue as a "shoot-you-ruined-my-day-and-my-outfit" sort of view.  (And I don't mean that as being a silly girl!  She's simply down to earth and notices the things that other authors might not.)

I thought Insatiable was a fun, mysterious read.  I liked the modern twist in New York City, with Meena writing for a soap opera.  And, I liked the idea of vampires and vampire slayers secretly living among us, doing their best to not drag us all in on their problems.  Meena is a relatable character, with spunk and a cute little dog (that I found myself worrying about during key fight scenes).  Lucien, the vampire, is somehow very sympathetic as a character, but could be pretty bad-A in the most opportune moments.  There are a few other characters that I could mention, but they come around to complicate the storyline and add that twist to it that makes it fun to read.  Overall, I thought it was a fun read, and I plan on following up the cliff-hanger that was book one with the next book that's already out!  Strangely funny vampire book, with a new twist to it.

*FTC Disclosure:  This review was based on a personal copy of the novel.

Review: A Royal Pain by Megan Mulry

What can I say?  I'm getting my "groove" back and still wondering how long it's going to take to feel like myself again? Over the past 10 years of teaching, I've learned that when school lets out, I generally start to feel normal about the time I'm sitting at a parade on the 4th of July.  Having said that, what's it going to take to pull me out of this funk I fell into around November?!?  All I know is that I'm not judging how much sleep I seem to need or how quickly I jump into a pair of pjs at the end of the day!  Right?

One of the books that sure snatched up my attention was A Royal Pain by Megan Mulry.  Although I've been burned out, my reading hasn't suffered one bit.  This book was one of the reads that allowed me to unwind over a nice weekend.

Synopsis:  From Goodreads, "Bronte Talbott follows all of the exploits of the British royals. After all, they're the world's most preeminent dysfunctional family. And who is she to judge? Bronte's own search for love isn't going all that well, especially after her smooth-talking Texan boyfriend abruptly leaves her in the dust.

Bronte keeps a lookout for a rebound to help mend her broken heart, and when she meets Max Heyworth, she's certain he's the perfect transition man. But when she discovers he's a duke, she has to decide if she wants to stay with him for the long haul and deal with the opportunities-- and challenges-- of becoming a royal."

Review:  The synopsis for this book, nor the cover really let on to the serious twists this book delivers.  Bronte's love relationship with the Texan is over before it has begun, and the remainder of the story really centers on her relationship with the Duke--Max.  As with stories of this nature, it's easy to fall in love with Max.  He's the perfect man!  I think there's also this factor of knowing he speaks in a British accent, wants a life of his own outside of his royal ties, and is head over heels in love with Bronte that make him a real heart throb and hero to readers.  

The relationship isn't one that is cut and dried.  Did anyone think it would be?  Bronte doesn't know that Max is even a Duke until situations in the novel take a strange turn and then misunderstandings take over left, right, and center.   I loved that Bronte wasn't the type to swoon and just do whatever Max wanted because of his title.  At the same time, I found myself in knots over these two knuckle heads and just wanted them to have a real conversation!  I do think though, that these kind of misunderstandings are pretty true to life, so I hung in there to see a resolution.

I really loved this novel and couldn't put it down.  My stomach was in absolute knots by the end of the book and I wanted to cry that it was over!  What I thought was going to be a funny sort of chick lit. novel turned into a serious piece of drama and romance that had me choking back tears a time or two.  For an initial showing by Megan Mulry, I really can't wait to read her next release, which is supposed to be about Max's brother.  All I can say is that I hope Max and Bronte make a serious appearance! 

One disclaimer--this is an adult read and did have some strong sexual content.  I wouldn't recommend this for young readers or for those sensitive to adult content.  The story is super dramatic, but count yourself warned.

*FTC Disclosure:  This review was based on an advanced copy provided through Netgalley for Sourcebooks Landmark. 

Monday Mini-Reviews

What a great week we had last week.  I worked two days and then had the rest of the week off.  It was a nice chunk of time off and I really did spend the majority of it relaxing.  Having said that, I'm so behind on reviews that I want to toss my hands in the air and give up!  I've decided to just own up to the fact that I've entered one of the busiest times in my life.  Between teaching school and online classes, taking an online course for professional development, and various other organizations I'm involved with, I'm always feeling like I'm spread pretty thin.  (Okay.  I'm not "thin"--geesh, I wish!) My time and energy is spread thin, but life is really good.  Honest.  I'm just especially thankful for any and all time off that I get!

With all that's going on, I've made reading my greatest escape.  Because of that, I need to get a bunch of reviews published!  Here are some of what I've read in the last several months:

Review for Nanny Returns by Emma McLaughlin:  As a sequel to The Nanny Diaries, I was eager to revisit Nan and see what she was up to.  Fast forward twelve years from the last time we met Nan.  Now married and remodeling a home in New York City, Nan meets back up with her former young charge Grayer X.  Today, he's an incorrigible teenager who is seemingly messed up by his distant parents, who also has a younger brother being raised in the same way.  Nan gets herself mixed back up with the X-clan and in charge of these two young boys.  Now what should she do, when they are in an even worse situation than when Nan met them before?

Although an interesting read to pick back up with Nan and Grayer's lives, I will admit to being pretty frustrated this time.  Before, we laughed at some of what happened to Nan because it felt like a horror story of a young woman.  Now, the story is of tragedy and loss, and the responsibility of these two kids feels way too daunting.  More than anything, I loved Nan's relationship with her husband, so dragging this past craziness into her marriage made me sad and overwhelmed.  The story was definitely engaging, but really weighty, considering how the past read felt.  I would have liked to have more of Nan's husband in this, and a bit more resolution.  Overall, not a bad read, but just different from the first book and one that felt more serious than I expected.

Review for Born to Be Brad by Brad Goreski:  Brad Goreski is the endearing, quirky-chic dresser that appeared first on The Rachel Zoe Project show on Bravo and later in his own show with the same network.  Who doesn't love a story of someone coming up the ranks from nothing to great wealth and success?  Brad's story is just that.  Having started off as a troubled teenager and adult, dealing with issues of his sexual identity as a gay man, Brad struggled to come out to his family.  His story of drug abuse and failed relationships feels like a real triumph when we fast forward to his successful, current relationship and amazing red-carpet-ready styling in Hollywood, but there is an in between story that his book delves into.  I loved reading about how he became confident and secure in who he was as a person, how he worked and took on opportunities for styling experience wherever possible (hello, Vogue?!?), and how he took risks in branching out and trusting in his own talents to become the stylist he is today. 

Some have critiqued the writing and layout/styling of the book as "frothy" or nothing new.  I didn't find any of that to really take away from the foundation, which was his story.  Honestly, I thought that his personal voice came through very well, which made the story candid and true to who he is as a person.  I also thought the styling fit him, with its bright colors and funny pictures, and matched what he had experienced.  For me, it was an interesting life story and one that I thought was inspiring and made me like and understand Brad a bit better.

Review for Stranger in My Arms by Lisa Kleypas:  Thanks to my good friend Tasha over at Truth, Beauty, Freedom, and Books, I was pushed in the direction of this romance.  I don't always have good luck with a decent romance that doesn't make me roll my eyes from annoyance, so I'm happy to say that Tasha led me in a good direction.  This was one of those romances that tore my heart out and kept me turning pages as fast as I could!

Lady Hawskworth's husband has supposedly been lost at sea.  That's what she believes until her husband, that she had no love lost with before he left, has returned.  With the return of her supposed husband, everyone is left scrambling to figure out if he really is Earl Hawksworth or just some convincing swindler? 

This was a really romantic mystery at the heart of it.  Is he her husband or is he not?  Was Lady Hawksworth so starved for real love that she just overlooked the real identity of this man now that he appears to value her more than before?  All of these questions are a constant throughout the story, so between these unknowns and the growing love between the characters, I couldn't stop reading this book.  Yes, it's a romance, so be prepared for some sex scenes, but it's not the crux of the story--thankfully.  Overall, I really got into this romance and was on an emotional roller coaster through a huge portion of the novel. 

Thanks Tasha!  This was a great read and I need to ask for more suggestions!  :)

Well, thanks for sticking with me through a slew of reviews.  I'm still awfully wordy and could have made these individual posts, but it's nice to get them all out of the way!  Now, off to a crazy week ahead.

Review: The Love of Her Life by Harriet Evans

Let me take a step away from the mafia madness of my review last week to post something that was romantic, real, and emotionally raw.  Once I hit about the half way mark of The Love of Her Life, I couldn't put it down.  This was the book that really started my reading binge lately, and what a reading binge this was!  I have thought about the emotional ups and downs of this book now for over and week and still can't get it out of my head.  This is one of those books that for me, I realize I'll never get back that "first time" reading experience.  What a gem to find at a crazy moment in the year.

Synopsis:  From Goodreads, "In London, Kate Miller had an enviable life: an exciting job at a fashion magazine, an engagement and a wedding to plan. Then it all fell apart -- spectacularly, painfully, and forever. That was three years ago...and she fled to New York City to live with her mother and stepfather.

Now Kate is a true New Yorker, in love with the pace and rhythm of Manhattan. But deep down, she knows her life is in a holding pattern, that there is something -- someone -- more to love. But when her father becomes ill, Kate realizes it's time to return and face the friends and the memories she left behind. What really happened before Kate left London? Can she pick up the pieces and allow herself to love life again?"

Review:   This book was the biggest emotional roller coaster!  I felt so incredibly jerked around by every emotion possible.  For much of the first 1/3 of the book, we're given a view of Kate's life in bits and pieces, starting with her time in New York City.  Nothing makes sense and there are only hints of drama to come.  Frustratingly, all we get are little glimpses and foreshadowing of events, characters, and relationships to come.  Let me be honest, I was a bit bored through that first 1/3 of the book.  It was slow and kept giving me information about people and situations that didn't make sense.  Why did she act uncomfortable around her supposed best friend?  Why did this guy act so mean to her?  Why did she run off from London?  What is her problem; she's acting like a drama queen and I can't figure out why!  Trust me.  It all gets answered eventually.

Near the end of the first half of the book, there is a huge twist in events that makes every previous action or conversation make sense.  All of the back and forth in time suddenly becomes crystal clear, and I had to go back and reread certain scenes in the book because they suddenly made sense!  From that point on, I could NOT put this book down.

This was one of those books that had me uttering things aloud, gasping at scenes, and choking with emotion.  I even started to cry during several scenes, mainly out of the complex range of emotions I was feeling for and with the characters.  This is not a casual read, nor is it a simple, romantic story.  Please trust me when I say that it's complicated.  Once again, Harriet Evans captured real life and love in a complex way that felt true to life and the characters she was writing.  I really loved this novel and can't recommend it enough.  If you're ready for strong emotions and a storyline that have you guessing, then please read this book!  Enough said.

*FTC Disclosure:  This review was based on a personal copy of the novel.

Review: I've Got Your Number by Sophie Kinsella

Every night this week I've reached for my laptop to post a review, only to fall dazzlingly short of the goal.  Work has knocked me flat every day, which I think is always normal near the beginning of a new year.  Even though we're three weeks into our new year, I'm still getting used to the voice strain, achy feet, and psychological fatigue.  Does it mean I'm getting even older if it's taking longer and longer for me get back to "fighting" shape?!?

Thank goodness reading takes very little energy, because it has been my good friend after a long day at work.  Speaking of which, I have to share one of my favorite reads from this summer, I've Got Your Number by Sophie Kinsella.  Talk about a fun read!

Synopsis:  From Goodreads, "Poppy Wyatt has never felt luckier. She is about to marry her ideal man, Magnus Tavish, but in one afternoon her “happily ever after” begins to fall apart. Not only has she lost her engagement ring in a hotel fire drill but in the panic that follows, her phone is stolen. As she paces shakily around the lobby, she spots an abandoned phone in a trash can. Finders keepers! Now she can leave a number for the hotel to contact her when they find her ring. Perfect!

Well, perfect except that the phone’s owner, businessman Sam Roxton, doesn’t agree. He wants his phone back and doesn’t appreciate Poppy reading his messages and wading into his personal life.

What ensues is a hilarious and unpredictable turn of events as Poppy and Sam increasingly upend each other’s lives through emails and text messages. As Poppy juggles wedding preparations, mysterious phone calls, and hiding her left hand from Magnus and his parents . . . she soon realizes that she is in for the biggest surprise of her life."

Review:  Let me say it straight.  This was one fun book!  I smiled and laughed a lot while reading Kinsella's newest novel.  Poppy was every woman and I can't imagine a person not finding something to relate to in her character.  She lost her engagement ring in a "let me try it on" shuffle between friends.  Her cell phone got snatched by a rotten thief.  So then, her only option was to take that cell phone abandoned in the trash can.  Right?  Here's the thing, would you really answer it--honestly--when someone called?  I would be too nervous to take those calls, but Poppy pulled it off in a pretty hilarious way.

I loved Poppy, but once she met up with the owner of the abandoned phone, Sam Roxton, the story took an entirely different turn.  Sam is your stereotypical serious, driven, and stern businessman.  Somehow though, Poppy's witty personality became a great sparring partner as she convinced him to let her hold onto that phone and even forward his important calls and emails to him.  Then what do you do?  Well, spy on his life--of course!  

I really enjoyed I've Got Your Number for all of its laughable moments.  Honestly, I haven't seen an author capture flirting as authentically as Kinsella did in this novel.  There is that funny moment where flirting is just what you naturally do, to what you really want to do, to what you can no longer do because you like someone too much.  Somehow, she captures it all.  It's been awhile since I read a chick lit that had me smiling and laughing aloud this much.  If you've read Kinsella's novels before, I would definitely compare this to some of her other stand alone novels like The Undomestic Goddess.  If you liked those, then you have to give this a shot!

*FTC Disclosure:  This review was based on a library copy of the novel.

Re-Read Review: Austenland by Shannon Hale

As a BAD book blogger, I haven't been supporting Utah Book Month as I should.  We really do have a lot of great authors here in Utah, many of whom come out and support our local get togethers and local events.  They are really awesome!  Right now I'm in the middle of reading Bree Despain's third novel in her Dark Divine series and I'm getting ready to read Shannon Hale's Midnight in Austenland.  Before I pick up Hale's next novel though, I went back to re-read Austenland so I could remember some of the details, and it was even better the second time through!

Synopsis:  From Goodreads, "Jane Hayes is a seemingly normal young New Yorker, but she has a secret. Her obsession with Mr. Darcy, as played by Colin Firth in the BBC adaptation of Pride and Prejudice, is ruining her love life: no real man can compare. But when a wealthy relative bequeaths her a trip to an English resort catering to Austen-crazed women, Jane's fantasies of meeting the perfect Regency-era gentleman suddenly become realer than she ever could have imagined.

Decked out in empire-waist gowns, Jane struggles to master Regency etiquette and flirts with gardeners and gentlemen;or maybe even, she suspects, with the actors who are playing them. It's all a game, Jane knows. And yet the longer she stays, the more her insecurities seem to fall away, and the more she wonders: Is she about to kick the Austen obsession for good, or could all her dreams actually culminate in a Mr. Darcy of her own?"

Review:  This was a fun book to read from the get go.  I liked the it the first time, and I loved it on the second go around.  I distinctly remember not liking the Darcy-esque character in this novel, which is ironic, right?  Aren't we supposed to not like him and then realize how prejudice we were?  Yes, I do think that's the case.  The first time I read it, I just remember  being sucked into the re-enactment of our favorite, romantic read, Pride and Prejudice.  This time, I remembered some of what was to come and paid more attention to the characters that I knew were the nice guys--you know, the way you watch the romantic lead in a movie when you know that's how he'll end up?  You just seem to notice all the sweet things they do to show that they're not the person they are putting on.  That was the case in this re-read; I picked up on some fun interactions that I didn't the first time around.

As far as sweet escape reading goes, this is high on that list.  I thoroughly enjoyed revisiting Austenland and its twist on the Jane Austen tale.  The ending is very reminiscent of a great chick film, which I loved.  I'm in need of another one of these, so I hope the film comes out soon!  On the whole, this was just a real delight to dive into and relive all over again!  Now I'm ready for the movie to come out, which I'm hoping will come out before the end of the year.  

All right.  Now I can head off to read Midnight in Austenland!

By the way, here is a fun film exclusive if you're interested in the movie that will be coming out.

Review: Going Home by Harriet Evans

I really enjoy Harriet Evans' novels, and this one didn't disappoint.  I'm embarrassed though to say that I started it around Christmas and didn't finish it until June.  Yes, here is one of those novels that just seemed to take me forever to read thanks to life!

Synopsis:  From Goodreads, "They say love feels like going home . . . But what if your home is no longer there? Leaving her tiny flat in London -- and a whole host of headaches behind -- Lizzy Walter is making the familiar journey back home to spend Christmas with her chaotic but big-hearted family. In an ever-changing world, her parents' country home, Keeper House, is the one constant. But behind the mistletoe and mince pies, family secrets and rivalries lurk. And when David, the love of her life -- or so she thought -- makes an unexpected reappearance, this one ranks as a Christmas she would definitely rather forget.
 
As winter slowly turns to spring, all the things that Lizzy has taken for granted begin to shift. Keeper House is in jeopardy and might have to be sold for reasons Lizzy doesn't understand. Her family seems fractured like never before. And, with a new man in her life, she may finally have to kiss her dream of a reunion with David good-bye. By the time the Walters gather at Keeper House for a summer wedding, the stakes have never been higher -- for Lizzy, for her family, and for love."

Review:  Harriet Evans writes great novels with a lot of characters and story going on.  This novel was no exception.  Let me cut to the chase though in saying that once things switched from a lovely English countryside Christmas to the toils of going back to work and her family's drama, it became a novel filled with tension.  I wanted to  enjoy my reading and relax, but found myself tense over the main character, Lizzy's, stubborn streak.  Things that needed to be talked about with her ex-"love of her life" and with her parents always got side stepped.  In fact, in the novel, the other characters commented on her inability to face the music and talk about things that were going on.  People wanted to involve her, but she strangely kept choosing to avoid everything.  I suppose she was protecting herself?  Obviously, this was how Evans meant to create the character and her story; I just found it put off any hope of resolution and kept the story dragging along a bit.  If we as readers don't know what's happening, then in some ways it doesn't matter to us.  

Thankfully, we find out that her family might lose their lovely family home and why.  Everything starts to unfold and Lizzy begins to be more honest with herself.  I appreciated that and finally really started to enjoy the novel after that point.  For me, the first 150 and the last 100 pages were the best and had me enjoying that escape reading experience that I love.

On the whole, I liked Going Home.  Admittedly, I'm a bigger fan of A Hopeless Romantic, but can now see some of the techniques that Evans might be using to draw out the storyline a bit.  I still find myself relating to her main female characters (stubborn streak and all) and hoping that they will get their final bit of happiness.  If you like British "Chick Lit" then you should try Harriet Evans.  I will continue to read her novels because they are interesting stories with a setting and themes I enjoy and just can't seem to get enough of in the long run!

*FTC Disclosure:  Review is based on a personal copy of the novel.

Review: Just Say Yes by Phillipa Ashley

Yes, it's been awhile since I posted.  Rather than go into a long explanation of where I've been, which has more to do with my level of fatigue than anything else, I thought I'd dive right back in with what I love most--BOOKS.  Nothing would be better than to tip-toe back into my blogging than by reviewing Phillipa Ashley's newest release here in the U.S., Just Say Yes.  It came out the first of June, and was such a great book to read to help me refuel my depleted engines.

Synopsis:  From Goodreads, "Lucy Gibson needs to get away. When her good-looking, popular boyfriend Nick Laurentis, winner of reality TV show Hot Shots, proposes to her on air she's stunned -- into silence. Every girl loves a romantic gesture, but she's just not ready for that kind of commitment. With the press hounding her as the one who callously broke Nick's heart, Lucy escapes her London flat to seek refuge in an isolated Cornwall cottage. But little does she realise that life down there will be far from uncomplicated!"

Review:  What is not to love about a Phillipa Ashley novel?  Honest.  Her heroes make you swoon and her plots feel familiar, have an unexpected twist, but always end up feeling satisfying.  In this novel, Lucy Gibson has a shocking situation happen with her reality-star winning boyfriend that has her feeling stunned and in need of some space to think.  We've all been there--meaning the needing space thing.  What happens when you're not given a chance to think or people jump to conclusions too soon?

Besides making me feel like I want to move to England--once again--this book made me feel a range of emotions that pulled me into the story.  The people she meets in Cornwall add more depth to Lucy's story and I wanted even more from them.  These characters were great and added that contrast to Lucy's fast-paced life back in London.  I won't lie though.  There was one scene on a topless beach that had me flipping pages back to make sure I read it right.  Perhaps my naivete with nude/topless beaches made me think I was reading it wrong, but that was one shocking moment that threw me and would have had me snorting out my beverage if I'd been drinking one at the time.  (Made you curious now, right?)  Regardless, this wasn't a gratuitous book, just filled with some interesting twists and turns. 

Beaches at Cornwall.  Anyone else bewitched by this? 
Photo Credit: http://www.cornwallwaterfronthomes.co.uk/cornwall

Overall, I have become a real fan of Phillipa Ashley's novels.  I like her characters and interesting stories.  Also, as a serious Anglophile, I love being introduced to parts of England I wouldn't get to go to normally.  In this case, we went from London right on down to the seaside in Cornwall.  Honestly, I have to get back to England soon.  If you're looking for a great summer read, with a bit of romance and a happy ending, then this novel and all of Phillipa Ashley's other novels will surely fit the bill.

*FTC Disclosure:  This review was based on an advanced review copy from the publisher. 

Whew.  I did it.  My first foray back into my blog.  :)  Thankfully I had such a great book to pull me back into it all.  Thank you to everyone who has checked to see what's up.  Sorry I've been so negligent.   Hopefully I can get back into the swing of things!

Review: Dreaming of Mr. Darcy by Victoria Connelly

Let me not be shy about my love for Captain Wentworth.  His ability to be so long suffering and to carry a flame for Anne Elliott across the years has always made him one of my all-time favorite heroes.  How could I then pass on a lovely novel set in the present day in Lyme?  That's not it though.  It's on the set of another filming of Jane Austen's famed Persuasion.  In short, Victoria Connelly's Dreaming of Mr. Darcy was my perfect fit.

Synopsis:  From Goodreads, "Fledgling illustrator and Darcy fanatic Kay Ashton settles in the seaside town of Lyme to finish her book, The Illustrated Darcy, when a film company arrives to make a new adaptation of Jane Austen's Persuasion. Kay is soon falling for the handsome bad boy actor playing Captain Wentworth, but it's the quiet screenwriter Adam Craig who has more in common with her beloved Mr. Darcy. Though still healing from a broken heart, Adam finds himself unexpectedly in love with Kay. But it will take more than good intentions to convince her that her real happy ending is with him."

Review:  I really enjoyed reading Dreaming of Mr. Darcy.  Considering it was more about Captain Wentworth, including plenty of references to reading Persuasion, I felt like it should have been Captain Wentworth that we were dreaming about!  That wouldn't have lost me for one second.  

When our heroine settled into Lyme and her new B&B, she didn't seem to be some lovelorn woman trying to shake off a dodgy past.  Instead, Kay seemed to be a sweet girl who was living her dream to live on the sea coast.  I really loved the premise behind Kay settling into Lyme and opening her B&B, only to have the newest film crew becoming her first customers.  There is a fun, bumpy love story between Kay and the star playing Captain Wentworth, but a variety of other love interests for other characters are also running about.  The biggest love triangle though becomes one that no one knows about other than Adam, who has fallen for Kay from first sight, but can see that she is falling for the big movie star.  In short, he can see what's going on, but can't resist his love for Kay.

If there was one wish I could have made for this fun, romantic sort of modernization, it would be a slower build up to the relationships.  Call me a cynic, but I would have liked to see Adam come to realize his interest in Kay and not be smitten from the first moment.  I think that would have helped me cheer him on a bit, rather than see him as a romantic sap.  He was such a lovable character that I spent a good portion of the book feeling like our flighty heroine might not be good enough for him!  In the end, it all works out and there are moments of delightful tension.  Overall, I would say that it is the perfect night by the fire type of read and one that I'll be sharing with my girlfriends who love Austen-esque stories.  

Now, where can I get myself a good deal on a little place on the English coast?  It sounds pretty promising.


*FTC Disclosure:  This review was based on a review copy sent by the publisher.

Author Interview: Phillipa Ashley of Carrie Goes Off the Map

After a few mix ups only days before Christmas, I am excited to get the opportunity to interview the talented Phillipa Ashley, author of Carrie Goes Off the Map, Wish You Were Here, and Dating Mr. December.  I've thoroughly enjoyed her novels for their great escape read and chick-lit, star quality. I hope you enjoy my interview with Phillipa!

Me:  Thank you so much for letting me interview you about your newest book for my blog! Your book was an undeniable treat, just as your previous two have been.  I have loved reading and reviewing them on my blog, so I’m extra excited to have you stop by my blog to share a bit more.

In the three of your books that I’ve read, there always seems to be a journey involved.  Is there a reason for that, or is that just a fun element thrown in for our couples?

Phillipa:  Apart from Carrie, I don’t think I consciously planned to send the characters on a journey but now you come to mention it, you’re absolutely right! Someone once told me there are only two basic plots for a book, namely ‘A Stranger Comes to Town’ and 'A Journey.’ That’s oversimplifying things, of course, but it does apply to an awful lot of stories. I’d say that Dating Mr. December was A Stranger Comes to Town and Wish You Were Here and Carrie are journeys. A journey makes a very relatable metaphor for the characters emotional discovery.

Me:  Your books are endlessly romantic, with a lot of tension leading up to the endings.  How do you work out the pacing so that you don’t frustrate the reader (which I never have been), but hold us off long enough to make us want the couple to get together?

Phillipa:  Oh gosh… I guess some of the pacing just happens naturally, I start off with a beginning and end and usually two or three big scene ‘turning points’. Then I start writing and the rest of the story unfolds naturally, or I think it does. There are times when I’ve stuck to a plan and realized that it’s not really happening naturally enough so I go back and scrap thousands of words. That hurts but it’s important that the characters lead the story, not my whims. I don’t micromanage scenes – I have no idea what ‘beats to a scene’ are etc.; I write in a ‘train of thought’ way which sometimes works and sometimes leads me into a lot of trouble!

Me:  Has anyone ever mentioned that you don’t describe your female lead characters very much?  In a way, it makes me picture myself in their positions.  Is that on purpose, or am I really overlooking the physical descriptions here?

Phillipa:  No one has said straight out but you are spot on! I think I want my heroines to be every woman and for the reader to fit right into their shoes and hearts and minds - but also I don’t want them to be bland! I made Carrie the most volatile of my heroines. I wanted her to show real reactions to her situation – she’s a bit of a drama queen in every sense and she reacts by turns, devastated and angry, vengeful and confused. Her fight or flight instincts keep kicking in, leading to a journey of true emotional ups and downs. I don’t think I could ever write a ‘kick ass’ heroine but my girls could cut any one down to size with a tongue lashing!

Me:  Specifically for Carrie Goes Off the Map, her fiancé who chucked her seems completely unhappy by the end of the novel.  Was that just me, or was that just wishful thinking in my once-dumped experience to hope that he was miserable without Carrie?

Phillipa:  Of course he’s miserable, lol. Serves him right. Happily, you can take revenge in a book in a way you might not in real life, but people do move on and find new partners who are more right for them than the person they thought was ‘The One.’  I found writing the scene where she returns pretty difficult to write. I wanted their resolution to be quiet and regretful – the ultimate revenge, of course, being to live well as Carrie has started to do. Huw’s not a bad man but he’s made a very bad decision that he has to live with. The worst scene to write, however, was one with Natasha and Carrie that made me cry and made my agent cry. She won’t let me send a book off to an editor unless it has made her shed a few tears!

Me:  I loved Doctor Matt in Carrie Goes Off the Map and kind of think he felt like the reserved version of Mr. Darcy.  In fact, at one point in the story you said he was like a “dirty Mr. Darcy.”  Is that who you pictured here? 

Phillipa:  Matt is my favourite hero. In fact, after I wrote Carrie, I found I couldn’t write for a while (my books are published out of sequence in the USA.) It sounds odd, but I fell hard for Matt and no one could top him for quite a time. The Dirty Mr. Darcy thing comes from a couple of places.  One is the fact that Matt was inspired by a photo of Richard Armitage who had been playing John Thornton in North & South. There had been a lot of stuff in the press referring to Thornton as the ‘Industrial Darcy.’ Matt has that Darcy class thing going on – he’s typical of your posh Oxbridge boy and I did a lot of research with my daughter’s medic friends from those universities. He tries to hide his seriousness and passion all under a veneer of sarcasm and bravado. I can’t give away any spoilers, but yes, he knows exactly how to handle Carrie and exactly what she needs and he gives it unselfishly as he does to his patents. Question is, what does he need?


***Sidenote:  I mentioned to Phillipa on twitter that the "dirty Darcy" bit had me laughing aloud and completely picturing the male hero in a much different way.  What a great way of describing a hero!  :)  (Thank you to Phillipa for providing this awesome picture of Richard Armitage.)

Me:  Do you have any other books that will be coming out in the U.S. that have already been published, and do you have any other books that you’re working on for the moment?

Phillipa:  Just Say Yes is being published by Sourcebooks in June – it’s probably a bit lighter and funnier than Carrie, more of a romp and a stab at reality TV culture. It has a blond, uncompromising, working class hero who was a real challenge to write. After that I have my fingers crossed for the publication of a new longer book featuring a history-loving heroine who has no past of her own and a tortured modern day aristocrat who share a romantic island castle

Me:  I can't wait!  I will definitely be picking them up!

Thanks again Phillipa!  Your books are a real treat for this overworked high school teacher.  In fact, they make me want to escape back to the U.K. and can’t wait for the day that I can travel back over for a longer visit.

Phillipa:  Becky, it’s always a pleasure and thank you for such interesting questions. I’ve loved answering them and would love to meet you if you come over here in future.

Phillipa Ashley

Me:  I can't wait to get back over to the U.K. for a visit and would love to get in touch.  Thanks for such a great interview and for sharing more about your books with us.

Honestly, I can't recommend Phillipa Ashley's books enough.  She has great, romantic-comedy meets British Chick Lit.  There is substance to her writing and a great escape for any reader.  Although Carrie Goes Off the Map was recently released in December, you can also check out her other two novels--Dating Mr. December and Wish You Were Here.  Happy reading!

Knowing Phillipa Ashley based her hero on our fan-favorite Richard Armitage, how does that shape your reading?  Does it change the way you view the character and make you love them more?

What great questions do you have for Phillipa?

Review: Carrie Goes Off the Map by Phillipa Ashley

In the midst of a dry spell where it comes to actually finishing books, I did have a wonderful reading session with Phillipa Ashley's book Carrie Goes off the Map.  Yes, I have an interview at the end of this week with Phillipa, but I just really like her novels and the great romantic escape they serve up!

Thankfully we're off for the holidays.  It couldn't have come sooner for me.  I still have 100+ essays to read over the break, but I think that with some much needed sleep and R&R, those will feel like nothing!  Also, this will be my first Christmas back on the mainland for about four years.  Every year I've traveled to Hawaii to spend it with my mother, but since she moved home, we'll be spending it at my house this year.  I'm sad to not spend Christmas Eve at a luau or Christmas Day on the beach (or the entire holiday in a pair of shorts and sandals, for that matter), but I am kind of happy that I didn't have to pack everything up this year and will be spending it at my home.  It will be a really nice Christmas.  Trust me when I say that I'll be spending as much time as possible reading!  I can't wait.  Let me, however, share this great read.  It was a great book to start off my holiday.

Synopsis:  Just coming off being dumped by her long time boyfriend and fiance, Carrie Brownhill has to find a way to pull her life together and show herself and her ex that her life isn't over.  At the same time, Matt Landor, MD has just returned from a tropical island, where he had been doing  medical service and just traumatized by an accident that had him shipped home to recoup and repair.  Together, he and Carrie somehow end up in each other's paths to healing.  Strangely, it comes in the form of an antiquated camper and a road trip.  Can a road trip do anything more than cause the travelers to bicker and fight?

Review:  Phillipa Ashley has a fun, lively style to her writing that keeps the tempo moving in her stories, and her characters progressing.  I'm always struck by writers who can get me to care about the main character quickly, and I always seem to feel that way with Ashley's heroines.  In this case, Carrie could be any woman who has been dumped by her man/fiance.  However, her situation seems compounded by feelings of all the time she lost and for being played a fool.  It's not as if the relationship fizzled out and they both knew it wasn't right, it was like being jilted and left the outsider and the unwanted.  All you have to do is add a main male lead character who is charismatic, attractive, aloof, and a Mr. Darcy comparison, and you have a real recipe for sure romance.  

Whatever it is about a woman who has been scorned and left aside that draws a man in, I'll never quite understand, but we all seem to love  it.  I can't say that I know of anyone who has done that in real life (gotten together on the back of a nasty split, although I know they exist), but there is something appealing about having that resolution.  This story isn't an easy get together though.  Much of the story is spent traveling the countryside, as Carrie and her handsome doctor, Matt, take a road trip to forget their woes.  As any road trip is bound to do, the two get into their quarrels and eat their fair share of gas station fare.  With that comes short tempers, but also a number of conversations brought on by fatigue and heightened emotions.  

As with Phillipa Ashley's novels, I really enjoyed this newest one.  Carrie's story is one that many women will recognize and see themselves in from start to finish (or at least wish to).

*FTC Disclosure:  This review was based on an advanced copy provided by the publisher.

Review: Wish You Were Here by Phillipa Ashley

Synopsis:  Jack Thornfield and Beth Allen have a complicated past.  When they were younger, they met on a student trip to Corsica and fell madly in love.  Things changed when they returned from their trip and Beth never heard from Jack again.  Now, somehow Beth's resume ended up on Jack's desk to fill a new position at the travel company he is the new CEO for, and he's not sure what to do or how to feel about it.  What happens when two people who once loved one another meet up again, unexpectedly after an eight year separation, and can love still linger after all that time?

Review:  On a level of total escape and reading for pleasure, this book totally fit the bill.  The story between Jack and Beth feels tense from the get go, and we get the story from both perspectives as it bounces back and forth between the characters.  We don't necessarily know what happened to separate the two, but you get the sense that there is a serious story behind it all.  In short, the tension is still there and they just need to sit down and talk.

I really loved the escape factor of this novel.  It was short, it was engaging, it was romantic, it was emotion-driven, and it was set in the UK.  All of these led to a great read, in my opinion.  Having read Phillipa Ashley's Dating Mr. December and loving it, I was not disappointed with the newest republication.  Ashley has a nice precision to her writing, without sounding too technical or superfluous in her descriptions; she simply tells a great story.  There is some sensuality in the novel, but I didn't think it was overdone nor was it through the entire novel.  On the whole, this was a great escape read and one that easily sucks you in from the first chapter.  I will definitely be reading more of Ashley's work, since they've both been great reading for pleasure!

FTC Disclosure:  Review was based on an Advanced Review Copy from the publisher.

Review: A Crowded Marriage by Catherine Alliott

Things have been a bit "radio silence" for me over the past several weeks.  Although I've been online off and on, both finals for my online classes and a nasty head cold this last week kept me tied up.  Thankfully, the Royal Wedding was a relaxing diversion from all the other things going on.  Yes, I was a bit obsessive about it, but it was such a nice, positive event to get to view!

In the meantime, I'm horribly behind on book reviews and need to get posting! One of the books I recently finished was A Crowded Marriage by Catherine Alliott, which just came out today as a republish here in the U.S.

Synopsis:  From Goodreads, "There are three people in Imogen Cameron’s marriage – herself, her husband, Alex, and their son, Rufus – and that’s just the way she likes it. But that’s about to change...

When the Camerons hit dire financial straits they’re forced to leave London and accept Eleanor Latimer’s offer of a rent-free cottage on her country estate. Ordinarily, such an offer is not to be sniffed at but, as Eleanor happens to be Alex’s beautiful, rich and frankly flirtatious ex, Imogen is very sniffy indeed.

And with good reason. Once installed in Shepherd’s Cottage, Imogen’s life is suddenly full to bursting with surly locals, psychotic chickens, a maddening (if handsome) headmaster, mountains of manure, visits from the infuriatingly bossy vet, and Eleanor, who seems to be glued to Alex’s side.

As far as Imogen’s concerned, two’s a marriage, three’s a family and this...well, this is just silly, someone’s going to have to go. The question is who?"

Review:  I have to admit that the story started off pretty slowly.  In fact, in the first 150 pages I wondered if I'd be able to finish it.  I didn't feel very connected to Eleanor, with her strangely muted relationship with her husband.  Was this a cultural gap that I'd missed, or was Eleanor's relationship truly of a different sort?  Her husband seemed a lot older to me, aloof, and just not engaged in marriage to begin with.  He seemed as though he liked everyone else around him, but his wife, except at random "playing house" moments.  Odd.  Honestly, I wanted her out of that marriage from the get go!

Once we get past the background stories we need to move forward, the story really gets going and the tension in Eleanor's marriage and relationships take on new meaning.  Although you start to feel you know where the story is heading, it doesn't all play out exactly as you might think.  We can't help but hate the husband's best friend, as she seems way too involved in their marriage.  Yes, you realize the marriage is falling apart, and yes, you hope that people get what's coming to them.  The surprising bit is how everyone reacts, and how things fit together.  In that way, the last 100 pages were pretty difficult for me to put down. (Although, maybe it was the hot, yet slightly grouchy veterinarian that captured my attention?)

On the whole, I really did like this book.  It was hard getting the groundwork set, but once I could clearly see the connections between our characters, the story snapped into place and I cared about what would happen.  Subtle humor is applied in spots, with crazy misadventures that didn't seem as funny as they might have been (considering the topic), but overall it rang true to me.  This book is a great getaway book for a vacation, with plenty of drama and relationships to consider.


*FTC Disclosure:  Review was based on an advanced copy provided by Sourcebooks.

Review: Mini Shopaholic by Sophie Kinsella

I have really enjoyed reading the Shopaholic series by Sophie Kinsella, so I was curious what happened to Rebecca (Becky) Brandon after she and Luke had their first baby.  Did she lose her need to shop so compulsively?  Did she drive Luke crazy with her need to purchase designer duds for their baby?  Or, did she drive everyone over the edge with her zany ways? (You can tell, she would drive me crazy if I were friends with her!)

Synopsis:  In this fifth installment, Luke and Becky have had a darling little girl.  Said little girl though, is not an angel.  In fact, she is rowdy, high-spirited, willful, and downright naughty.  Not only is she hard to handle, but has developed a strange penchant for Starbucks and "pretty" things at the stores--like her mommy!  Is it any wonder that Luke is hesitant to add a second baby to the family?  To this hardship of raising a toddler is Luke's growing career, desire to get into their first home (and move out from Becky's parent's home), and a secret birthday party Becky is throwing for Luke.  All these stresses only add to the chaos that is Becky Brandon--yet again, always out to be as stylish and hip as she can in the process!

Review:  I can't say that I loved or hated this installment of the Shopaholic series.  Honestly, I found myself so completely stressed out over the obvious lack of parenting skills displayed by Becky--well meaning or not--and her uncontrollable spending habits.  Over and over again, Becky somehow tells herself that it's all okay, validating whatever bad behavior her daughter exhibits or extra dollar she spends on designer duds.  As a reader, it often left me exhausted and unable to escape and enjoy the story!

One thing that I can say for Kinsella's series is that there is never a dull moment.  I found myself laughing aloud at many scenes in the book, and can thank her for creating such memorable moments on insanity for me (such as having her toddler grasp onto a mannequin in a store and refuse to let go, to the point where the manager asks her to take mannequin and all, just to get her out of the store).  I also still really like Luke.  Honestly, I'm not sure how such a sensible, well put together, hottie like Luke could continue to put up with his wife's nonsense.  By the end, I once again could see the love and connection between the couple, but there for awhile, I wondered if she wouldn't drive him away with her zany ways!

As one final point, I have to say that there is an obvious "cliff hanger" of sorts to this book.  I'm not sure why Kinsella would end with so many things up in the air, other than the opportunity to come back with a sixth book.  Really, I'll have to pick up whatever follows Mini Shopaholic just so I know what happened after the big birthday bash!  To put it simply, be prepared for not much of a tidy wrap up.  I'm sure there has to be more to come.

Overall, a fun book, but super frustrating if you take Becky too seriously!  (Why can't she just get a grip and stop spending so much money?!? Seriously, the woman needs therapy.  I'm not a huge spender, but will say that she makes me feel like a saving saint in comparison!)

Review: Tweet Heart by Elizabeth Rudnick

As many of you know, I teach a Popular Fiction class.  In that class we discuss popular "trends, genres, and styles" of writing.  One of the styles I've discussed with them is the "Epistolary" form, which many classical writers have used, but that has been revamped for our modern day.  Generally, if I were to go on about how Jane Austen, Mary Shelley, and Bram Stoker utilized this style, many of their eyes would glaze over.  However, when I have brought in contemporary pieces to show them how this looks today, they get it, make the connection, and can appreciate.  For this style lesson, I got my hands on a copy of Tweet Heart by Elizabeth Rudnick to show my students are pretty modern twist on the Epistolary form and have to say that with all that color and the social network connection, I think they got it.  I then picked it up last weekend and read it in about an hour and a half to check it out!

Synopsis:  From Goodreads, "Claire is a #hopelessromantic. Lottie is determined to set up her BFF with Mr. Perfect. Will wants his #secretcrush to finally notice him. Bennett is a man with a plan.Claire can’t believe it when her dream guy starts following her on Twitter. She never thought he noticed her, and suddenly he seems to understand her better than almost anyone. But the Twitterverse can be a confusing place, especially when friends act differently online than they do in person. Things get even more complicated when Claire realizes she’s falling for someone else, the last person she ever would have expected….
 
Told in an innovative format combining tweets, emails, and blogs, Tweet Heart is a contemporary romantic comedy that will set your heart atwitter."

Review:  Tweet Heart was a pretty quick read and fun to follow.  As a big Twitter user myself, I was familiar with the 140-character commenting and felt comfortable reading short blips from each character.  The one thing that felt strange were the private conversations the characters etched out for themselves?  Unless they were direct messaging, I was unfamiliar with a private tweeting service.  I suppose I'll have to check into that.  Without that private tweeting though, many of the "I like him.  Why isn't he tweeting me back?" would be lost in the shuffle of conversations.

Claire is a nice girl, but all we only really get surface character development.  Will, also a nice boy, is her friend who has a secret crush on her.  We don't really know much about Will either.  In any of the character's cases, their development is lacking, so we get the sense that we're just eavesdropping on someone's conversations.

This was a quick, fun read with very surface-level story and character development going on, but what can you get with a book based on tweets?  Obviously, the reader has to fill in most of the back story and development, so I wouldn't expect full descriptions and narration.  This story really is quick and just about telling a story in a different way.  I would most likely recommend this book to my teen students, as it's a quirky new format that they'll get a kick out of!

I'm curious.  What epistolary-style novels have you read and do you like reading books in that format?

Review: Things I Know About Love by Kate Le Vann

Let's be honest, there are books you see circling the web continuously and wonder if you should try.  I remember seeing Things I Know About Love on multiple book blogs and started to brush them off after 10+ times.  Somehow though, that cute cover kind of grabbed me (yes, I was that shallow in my choice) and I decided to give it a try.  Boy am I glad that I did!

Synopsis:  Livia Stowe has had a tough couple of years.  Besides a string of teen boyfriends over the years, Livia has also battled cancer.  In this short novel, Livia allows us entrance into just what she knows about love from a series of journal/blog posts as she travels to America to visit her college-age brother for a vacation.  While there, Livia catches up with a fellow Brit who she met as a teen, and who just might have the real key to her heart.

Review:  Although I've seen some serious mixed reviews on this novel, I have to say that it really grabbed me and shook me up a bit.  In short, it made me cry, and I was okay about it.  Livia was a sweet character, filled with vulnerabilities and a kind of guilelessness that didn't have me skeptically doubting her goodness, but rather had me wanting to have someone shelter her.  The experiences that Livia has had as a teen with boyfriends of various kinds feel very familiar and real, from the boy who wanted to kiss and tell, to the boy who stole her heart but couldn't follow through when she needed him the most.  Every heart break and tale of vulnerability had me heartbroken!

For an honest, personal moment, I have to acknowledge that some of the themes of love and loss really spoke to me. I'm not always about butterflies and rainbows, so the balanced happiness and sorrow of this novel felt very real and open.  The ending is very bittersweet, and one that I felt gives the reader a real chance to think about love for themselves.  I can definitely recommend this book to my students and friends, as it is a great, thought-provoking read.   Don't be deceived by the cute, "chick lit" type cover.  This is not a light read. It might not end exactly how you think it's going to, but it was beautiful and one that I can't help thinking about days after I finished reading.

Review: The Fixer Upper by Mary Kay Andrews

One good thing about being home is my access to audio books.  Before Christmas, I left off near the end of The Fixer Upper by Mary Kay Andrews.  Thankfully, it has gotten me through the first of this week back at work.

Review:  From Goodreads, "After her boss in a high-powered Washington public relations firm is caught in a political scandal, fledgling lobbyist Dempsey Jo Killebrew is left almost broke, unemployed, and homeless. Out of options, she reluctantly accepts her father's offer to help refurbish Birdsong, the old family place he recently inher­ited in Guthrie, Georgia.

But, oh, is Dempsey in for a surprise when she arrives in Guthrie. "Bird Droppings" would more aptly describe the moldering Pepto Bismol-pink dump with duct-taped windows and a driveway full of junk. There's also a murderously grumpy old lady, one of Dempsey's distant relations, who has claimed squatter's rights and isn't moving out. Ever.

All Dempsey can do is roll up her sleeves and get to work. And before long, what started as a job of necessity somehow becomes a labor of love and, ultimately, a journey that takes her to a place she never expected—back home again."

Synopsis:  I've read several other books by Andrews and been entertained by creative story lines developed with southern charm.  Honestly though, I didn't find this newest book about Dempsey and her move to flip a house while she hid away from her life to be believable on way too  many levels.  I had a hard time believing that someone unfamiliar with home repair could manage to turn around an old mansion?  Besides that, my guess is that the old lady that was the "squatter" in the story was supposed to win her way into your heart.  Sadly, I thought she was way too grouchy, too deceitful (hiding good from the home in her room), and too over the top.  It was easy to see where that story was headed, but I just couldn't like her, and never did.  Why the heck didn't she just kick the old lady out?!?  The romance felt cliche, and her efforts to recover her good name from the scandal, all just seemed overplayed.

Although I've liked some of Andrew's other novels, The Fixer Upper just wasn't one of those reads.  The story is fairly simple, the characters over the top in some cases, and the situations unbelievable.  Other reviewers have liked the light escapist fun, which I enjoy from time to time as well, but this one didn't fit that for me.

*FTC Disclosure:  Review was based off of a library copy of the novel.