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Review of Some Women

3/28/2016

About the book:
Annabel Ford has everything under control, devoting her time to her twin boys and keeping her household running smoothly. But when her husband of a decade announces that he’s leaving, she’s blind-sided. And suddenly her world begins to unravel.

Piper Whitley has always done her best to balance it all—raising her daughter Fern by herself while advancing her career as a crime reporter. Only now that she’s finally met the man of her dreams, Fern’s absentee father shows up, throwing everything into a tailspin.

Married to the heir of a thriving media conglomerate, Mackenzie Mead has many reasons to count her blessings. But with an imperious mother-in-law—who’s also her boss—and a husband with whom she can no longer seem to connect, something has to give.

On the surface, these three women may not have much in common, but just when they each need someone to lean on, their lives are thrust together, forming unlikely friendships that help each woman navigate her new reality.

My Review:
This book is an amazing story about three women who become the best of friends. Emily Liebert does a great job taking the life of each woman and describing how the influence of the others affect the rest of their lives and situations. The bond these women create is unbreakable. You will laugh, cry and even find a few surprises along the way. I could easily picture myself having coffee and a blueberry muffin with the three of them at the Cafe Crunch!

About the Author:
Emily Liebert is the award-winning author of When We Fall, You Knew Me When, and the nonfiction book Facebook Fairytales. She’s been featured on Today, The Rachael Ray Show, and Anderson Cooper 360°, and in InStyle, the New York Times, the Wall Street Journal, and the Chicago Tribune, among other national media outlets.

Come Away With Me Review

12/30/2015

About the Book:
An unexpected journey leads one woman to find hope and healing in the most unlikely places…
Tegan Lawson has everything she could hope for: an adoring husband, Gabe, and a baby on the way. But suddenly, her life is irreversibly changed when a
Just when Tegan is on the verge of hitting rock bottom, Gabe reminds her of their Jar of Spontaneity, a collection of their dream destinations and experiences. And so begins an extraordinary adventure of a lifetime. From the colorful, bustling markets of Thailand to the rich flavors of Italy to the azure ocean waves in Hawaii, Tegan and Gabe embark on a journey in search of forgiveness and renewal. And as they explore the cultures and beautiful landscapes of these faraway places, they learn that acceptance often comes when we least expect it. Heartbreaking, hopeful and utterly transporting, Come Away with Me is an unforgettable debut and a luminous celebration of the strength of the human spirit.

My Review:
This is such a wonderful heartfelt story and is beautifully written. Karma Brown does an amazing job for her first novel. I enjoyed how she told the story in going back and forth from before the accident and after the accident. Tegan and Gabe have an amazing love story and I love how it enfolds. Their journey is truly original with quite a shock to it (but I don't want to spoil it). Be sure to grab this amazing read, you will not be disappointed. One of my favorite books of 2015.

About the Author:
Karma Brown is an award-winning journalist and freelance writer, who probably spends too much time on her laptop in coffee shops. When not writing, she can be found running with her husband, coloring (outside the lines) with her daughter, or baking yet another batch of banana muffins. Karma lives just outside Toronto with her family. Come Away with Me is her first novel.

My Review of Those Secrets We Keep

7/1/2015

About this book:
On the surface, Sloane has the perfect life—an adoring husband, a precocious daughter, and enough financial security to be a stay-at-home mom. Still, she can’t help but feel as though something—or someone—is missing....

Hillary has a successful career and a solid marriage. The only problem is her inability to conceive. And there’s a very specific reason why....

As the wild-child daughter of old family money, Georgina has never had to accept responsibility for anything. So when she realizes an unexpected life change could tie her down forever, she does exactly what she’s always done: escape.

When these three women unite for a three-week-long summer vacation in beautiful Lake George, New York, even with the idyllic location as their backdrop, the tensions begin to mount. And they quickly discover that no secret can be kept forever....

My Review:
I loved this book! I have read all of Emily's book and I think this might be my new favorite. This is an amazing story about love, life and friendship among three women. I felt like I could relate to each one of these women in one way or another. There were several "ah ha" moments where I felt like the author was inside my head. This is a must read for all women this summer!

About the author:
Emily Liebert was born and raised in New York City, attended the Horace Mann School and Smith College, where she graduated with a B.A. in English Language & Literature.

After college, Emily landed her first job as an Executive Assistant at ABC News, where she honed her organizational skills and helped produce television specials for Peter Jennings Reporting. To this day, she is a whiz with "To Do" lists.

Since childhood, Emily's had a passion for writing, so when the opportunity to become Editor-in-Chief of The WAG--a luxury lifestyle magazine covering Westchester and Fairfield Counties--presented itself, she jumped at the chance. During Emily's five-year tenure, she wrote hundreds of articles, including celebrity profiles, travel, fashion, and beauty.

Ready for her next adventure, Emily became a full-time freelance writer, penning lifestyle pieces for media outlets such as, The Huffington Post, Oprah.com, Elite Traveler, Robb Report, Gotham, and Cottages & Gardens.

In 2009, Emily edited Kerry Kennedy's New York Times bestseller Being Catholic Now: Prominent Americans Talk About Change in the Church and the Quest for Meaning.

The following year, Emily published her first book, Facebook Fairytales, which was featured at the 2010 Frankfurt Book Fair, and Emily was one of 20 guests of honor--among Elizabeth Kostova, Russell Banks, and Lisa See--at the renowned Literary Feast 2010, a privilege reserved for best-selling and buzz-worthy authors.

Shortly thereafter, Emily was hired by Microsoft as the spokesperson for Bing's partnership with Facebook and appeared in 30+ television and radio spots for the brand, which garnered exceptional ratings.

In 2012, Emily wrote her debut novel, You Knew Me When (Penguin), which published on September 3, 2013. Her second novel, When We Fall, published on September 2, 2014. Those Secrets We Keep, her third novel, released on June 2, 2015, and she's currently hard at work on her fourth novel, Some Women (April 5, 2016), all with Penguin Random House.

Emily is featured often in the press, by outlets such as: Today Show, The Rachael Ray Show, Anderson Cooper, FOX News, Good Day New York, Oprah Radio, Martha Stewart Radio, The New York Times, The Wall Street Journal, InStyle, People StyleWatch, OK!, Nylon, Ladies' Home Journal, Woman's World, WWD, Woman's Day, The New York Post, The Washington Post, The New York Daily News, The Chicago Tribune, Boston Herald, People.com, and The Huffington Post.

When Emily's not writing, she teaches Pure Barre classes and enjoys traveling, cooking, and cozying up with a good book. She's been known to ride on a Harley Davidson. And she does a mean Running Man on the dance floor. Emily lives with her husband, Lewis, and their two delicious little boys, Jax and Hugo, in Westport, CT where she moved kicking and screaming for fear that there would be no Chinese food delivery at three in the morning. She was right.

My Review of Girl Before A Mirror

4/3/2015

About the book:
The author of Conversations with a Fat Girl—optioned for HBO—returns with the hilarious and heartfelt story of a woman who must learn how to be the heroine of her own life—a journey that will teach her priceless lessons about love, friendship, family, work, and her own heart.
An account executive in a Mad Men world, Anna Wyatt is at a crossroads. Recently divorced, she’s done a lot of emotional housecleaning, including a self-imposed dating sabbatical. But now that she’s turned forty, she’s struggling to figure out what her life needs. Brainstorming to win over an important new client, she discovers a self-help book--Be the Heroine, Find Your Hero—that offers her unexpected insights and leads her to a most unlikely place: a romance writers’ conference. If she can sign the Romance Cover Model of the Year Pageant winner for her campaign—and meet the author who has inspired her to take control of her life—she’ll win the account.

For Anna, taking control means taking chances, including getting to know Sasha, her pretty young colleague on the project, and indulging in a steamy elevator ride with Lincoln Mallory, a dashing financial consultant she meets in the hotel. When the conference ends, Anna and Lincoln must decide if their intense connection is strong enough to survive outside the romantic fantasy they’ve created. Yet Lincoln is only one of Anna’s dilemmas. Now that her campaign is off the ground, others in the office want to steal her success, and her alcoholic brother, Ferdie, is spiraling out of control.

To have the life she wants—to be happy without guilt, to be accepted for herself, to love and to be loved, to just be—she has to put herself first, accept her imperfections, embrace her passions, and finally be the heroine of her own story.

My Review:
I have read all of Liza Palmer's books and I really enjoyed this story. I found it hard to put down and couldn't wait to see how it all unfolded. This is a great story about women and Anna's journey to self discovery. I loved Anna and her relationship with her assistant Sasha. They provide a good balance for each other. There is a lot going on in this book, but it is written so well and all comes together nicely. This is a charming story with many laugh out loud moments. One thing I enjoyed with this story was it was not predictable. There were several moments I was surprised. This is a great read and you will not be disappointed!

About the Author:
Liza Palmer is the internationally bestselling author of Conversations with the Fat Girl which Booklist says, "...manages to infuse a message of self--acceptance that isn't heavy-handed or cloying. This quick-witted author is sure to develop a following." Conversations with the Fat Girl became an international bestseller its first week in publication, being named a Target Breakout book, as well as hitting Number 1 on the Fiction Heatseekers List in the UK the week before the book debuted. Palmer currently lives in Los Angeles and is hard at work on her next novel as well as several film and television projects.

My Review of The Firelight Girls by Kaya McLaren

2/27/2015

About the Book: The summers you spend at summer camp are indelibly etched on your heart. But what happens when the camp you love is about to close? Can you ever really say goodbye to the place that made you who you are? These are the questions that plagues Ethel, the seventy-year-old former camp director who is nursing a broken heart after losing the love of her life as she now faces the impending closure of the camp on Lake Wenatchee that she called home. It's also a question that inspires change in forty-year-old Shannon, who spent the summers of her youth as a vibrant, capable camp counselor and is now directionless after watching her career implode. And there's Laura, who has lost all intimacy with her husband and doesn't know if she can save what seems to be gone forever. Finally, Ruby, who betrayed Ethel years ago and hasn't spoken to her since, hopes this will be her chance to make amends. When the four women learn that a homeless teen has been hiding at camp, they realize camp is something much more immediate for all: survival.

And so the three generations of women search for a way to save the place that saved them all, finding in the process a way back to themselves and each other in The Firelight Girls, Kaya McLaren's novel of love and loss, heartbreak and healing.

My Review:
If I could use just one word to describe this book it would be WOW! This story truly touched my heart. I absolutely loved these ladies. They are each going through their own personal confilcts, but with the help of each other and their amazing friendship they are able to find their way again. There were several moments were I found myself thinking back to my own camp days and I even remembered the words to some of the songs they sang. I hope when I am older sitting around with my friends, I have as fun as these ladies. Their scavenger hunt had me crying with laughter! This is a must read for anyone who honors true friendship. This book will make you want to call your girlfirends and get together for s'mores!

About the Author:
KAYA MCLAREN spent four summers in college working at Camp Zanika on Lake Wenatchee in Washington State, and fifteen years later returned to run the teen programs for two more. In addition to her camp experience, she's been an elementary teacher, an art teacher, an archaeologist, and a massage therapist. Although her roots are in Washington, she currently resides wherever the wind takes her.

My Review of The Life Intended by Kristin Harmel

1/15/2015

About this Book:
From the author of the international bestseller The Sweetness of Forgetting, named one of the Best Books of Summer 2012 by Marie Claire magazine, comes a captivating novel about the struggle to overcome the past when our memories refuse to be forgotten.

In this richly told story where Sliding Doors meets P.S. I Love You, Kristin Harmel weaves a heart-wrenching tale that asks: what does it take to move forward in life without forgetting the past?

After her husband’s sudden death over ten years ago, Kate Waithman never expected to be lucky enough to find another love of her life. But now she’s planning her second walk down the aisle to a perfectly nice man. So why isn’t she more excited?

At first, Kate blames her lack of sleep on stress. But when she starts seeing Patrick, her late husband, in her dreams, she begins to wonder if she’s really ready to move on. Is Patrick trying to tell her something? Attempting to navigate between dreams and reality, Kate must uncover her husband’s hidden message. Her quest leads her to a sign language class and into the New York City foster system, where she finds rewards greater than she could have imagined.

My Review:
I absolutely loved this book! This is one of the books you read and think about for days after. Without giving away the story, there were so many points within this book I felt like the author was inside my head. I could relate to Kate's thinking and wonder how did she know? The characters are easy to relate to and I grew to love them and their special relationships with each other. Towards the end I was on the edge wondering how it would all turn out. I could not put this down and you won't be able to either!

About the Author:
Kristin Harmel is the international bestselling author of The Sweetness of Forgetting, and has also written four previous women’s fiction novels, as well as two young adult novels. Her work has been featured in People, Woman’s Day, Men’s Health, Runner’s World, and Ladies’ Home Journal, among many other media outlets. She lives in Orlando, Florida.

My Review of The Unimaginable by Dina Silver

12/4/2014

About the Book: From the author of One Pink Line comes a story about letting go of the past and finding bravery in the depths of fear. Set on the sun-soaked beaches of Thailand and the rough waters of the Indian Ocean, The Unimaginable paints a vivid portrait of a young woman on a journey to find herself—and her harrowing fight for survival.

After twenty-eight years of playing by the rules, Jessica Gregory moves from her small Indiana town to Phuket, Thailand. But her newfound routine is upended with the arrival of Grant Flynn, a captivating, elusive man who is sailing around the world while trying to move on from a past tragedy. Jessica volunteers to help crew Grant’s boat, Imagine, on a passage across the Indian Ocean and finds herself falling in love with him as the voyage gets underway. But when disaster strikes, Jessica must summon her courage as the crew is confronted by unspeakable terrors—and, aboard a boat named for such promise, comes the unimaginable.

My Review:
This was my first book by Dina Silver. I love a good story about adventure and love. I often found myself relating to the two sisters relationship. I really enjoyed the plot and felt like I was visiting these locations in person. I will definitely read more by this author.

About the Author: A graduate of Purdue University, Dina Silver has spent the past fifteen years feeding her red wine habit by working as a freelance copywriter in the advertising industry. After seeing the bulk of her professional prose on brochures and direct mail pieces, she is delighted to have made the transition to novelist. She currently lives with her family in suburban Chicago. Additionally, she enjoys cheese fries, reality TV and talking about herself in the third person.

For more riveting information, visit dinasilver.com

Disclaimer: I received a free copy of this book from the publisher in exchange for an honest review. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

My Review of Stillwater Rising by Steena Holmes

11/21/2014

About the Book: After losing her son in an elementary school shooting that devastates the tight-knit community of Stillwater Bay, Jennifer Crowne finds herself unable to settle back into her role of perfect stay-at-home mom and committee organizer. Meanwhile, her best friend, Mayor Charlotte Stone, struggles to keep the town together, and Charlotte’s husband, the school principal, may not be the hero everyone thinks him to be.

As they try to heal from this irrevocable trauma, Jenn and Charlotte find themselves at a crossroads—within the town and within their friendship. For Jenn, broken and grieving, there is no going back, and she demands that the school be closed so that she can bury the past. Yet Charlotte is equally desperate to hold the town together, fighting the school closure and helping the shooter’s mother regain her place in the community. Jenn and Charlotte’s relationship is put to the ultimate test as each weighs her own interests against the bonds of their friendship.

My Review:
This is a very touching story about a difficult topic. This book will bring you on a roller coaster of emotions. Steena Holmes did an amazing job developing the characters and giving you an in-depth look at how people handle grief in different ways. This is a well written emotional story you will want to read.

About the Author: Growing up as a small town Canadian girl, there wasn't much to do but ride your bike, hang out with friends on the beach and daydream. I always wanted to write but never dreamed it was something I could do as a career. I love to travel and fell in love with the sheep covered hillside, old castles and romantic history of Scotland and England. I dream about waking up in Tuscany and touring small town shops in the south of France with my husband, of placing my toes in the ocean and experiencing history first hand. As a mother with three daughters, I'm learning that teaching them to pursue their dreams is a lasting legacy. I love to wake up to the Rocky Mountains, will forever enjoy the taste of coffee and chocolate and can't imagine the day when a story doesn't unfold in my heart. Living a life with passion and pursuing dreams is a life well lived. Follow the author online: Facebook, Twitter or her website.

Disclaimer: I received a free copy of this book from the publisher in exchange for an honest review. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

My Review of Hit by Lorie Ann Grover

11/10/2014

About the Book: After receiving a full-ride scholarship to Mills College for Girls, it appears Sarah's future is all laid out before her … that is until she walks into a poetry class led by Mr. Haddings, a student teacher from the nearby University of Washington. Suddenly, life on the UW campus seems very appealing, and Sarah finds herself using her poetry journal to subtly declare her feelings for Haddings. Convinced Mr. Haddings is flirting back, she sets off for school in the rain with a poem in her back pocket—one that will declare her feelings once and for all.

Mr. Haddings has noticed Sarah's attention; the fallout from any perceived relationship with a student is too great a risk, and he has decided to end all speculation that morning.

But everything changes when Mr. Haddings feels a thud on his front bumper when he glances away from the road, and finds Sarah in the street with blood pooling beneath her.

My Review:
This was a great book I found hard to put down. This is a great story, but wasn't exactly what I expected. I loved how this chapters were written by Hadding's or Sarah's point of view. This was a quick read and the only problem I had with this book was it was too short!

About the Author:
LORIE ANN GROVER is a co-founder of the influential site readergirlz, where she is a visible advocate for teen literacy and activism. In addition, she is the author of three acclaimed novels:Hold Me Tight, a VOYA pick;On Pointe, a Bank Street College Best Children's Book of the Year; andLoose Threads, a Booklist Top 10 Youth First Novel, and a 2003 Washington State Book Award Finalist. Lorie Ann lives in Washington State with her husband.

Disclaimer: I received a free copy of this book from the publisher in exchange for an honest review. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

My Review of Rock Angel by Jeanne Bogino

10/28/2014

About the Book:
Shan is young, beautiful, talented, and addicted to heroin in Rock Angel, a novel that follows her meteoric rise to guitar goddess stardom in the 90s. She is discovered in New York by a handsome, arrogant musical genius named Quinn, and sparks fly between them when he hires her as lead guitarist of his band. Although Quinn is accustomed to bedding a different groupie every night, he can't ignore his deepening feelings for his new bandmate. From gritty Greenwich Village clubs to L.A.'s Troubadour; gigging and touring the country to the cover of Rolling Stone, Rock Angel is infused with the passionate music and intense sexual chemistry of Shan and Quinn. Shan must work out her personal demons and learn to trust Quinn enough to love him, but still remain true to the music that has always been her salvation.

My Review:
This is a great story about a rock and roll band with an inside look at the music industry. I fell in love with the two main characters and was hoping Shan would overcome her drug problem. This story is well written and the author did a great job dealing with addiction. Looking forward to the next book.

About the Author:
By day, Jeanne Bogino is director of a small but busy library in rural upstate New York. By night, she writes at the western Massachusetts homestead where she lives with her partner, dogs, chickens, and honeybees. She's published short horror, fantasy, romance, memoir, and gay fiction, and is a regular contributor at Library Journal where she was named 2011's fiction reviewer of the year. An expert on zombie lit and horror films, Jeanne has published articles and appeared on panels devoted to these subjects. ROCK ANGEL (Prashanti Press, 2014) is her debut novel. She's currently at work on her second one, ANGEL ON HIGH, the next book in the ROCK ANGEL series.

Disclaimer: I received a free copy of this book from the publisher in exchange for an honest review. All thoughts and opinions are my own.