Christmas at Tiffany's by Karen Swan

Christmas at Tiffany’s is an absolutely wonderful story, and even though chick-lit isn’t my genre of choice, this book had me laughing, sighing, and wishing it would never end! No, seriously… I did not want this story to end!

Blurb…

Three cities. Three seasons. One chance to find the life that fits.

Cassie settled down too young, marrying her first serious boyfriend. Now, ten years later, she is betrayed and broken. With her marriage in tatters and no career or home of her own, she needs to work out where she belongs in the world and who she really is.

So begins a year-long trial as Cassie leaves her sheltered life in rural Scotland to stay with each of her best friends in the most glamorous cities in the world: New York, Paris and London. Exchanging grouse moor and mousy hair for low-carb diets and high-end highlights, Cassie tries on each city for size as she attempts to track down the life she was supposed to have been leading, and with it, the man who was supposed to love her all along.

My thoughts…

I can’t put my finger on what makes this story so perfect, and I think that’s because Christmas at Tiffany’s has it all – poignancy, great friends who’ll see you through the rough times without coddling you, romance, passion, and true love. Honestly, start to finish I was totally drawn into Cassie’s world, cheering her on as she left her past in the past to focus on the future and discover who she was really meant to be.

One of the very best things about this story is that it spans a full year, each friend taking Cassie in and giving her the chance to experience life in ways she’d never otherwise been able to. Because of this, there was no single “ah-ha!” moment in Cassie’s journey. Instead, there were several life defining moments, and I love the way those moments came to be – each an eye-opening experience, a lesson learned, and sometimes a heart broken.

Luke, Claude, and Henry… I loved them, hated them, loved them, hated them… but because they each played a very important role in Cassie’s… awakening…I wouldn’t change a single thing about them or their relationships with her. It’s an incredibly romantic and passionate story, even though there are no explicit sex scenes.

I’ve read a couple of reviews in which people have said that they feel the title, Christmas at Tiffany’s is misleading - perhaps because the story unfolds over the course of a year. I don’t really understand that at all because two of the sweetest, most romantic scenes take place during Christmas, and at Tiffany’s… and in my opinion, this story couldn’t have been more aptly titled.

And I’m going to stop now because truly, there’s really nothing I can say – no words I can come up with that will capture the emotions I felt while reading this story, and how happy I am that I did. Being chick-lit this would have never made it on my radar, and what a horrible loss that would have been.

To Maria Silva at HarperCollins who sent Christmas at Tiffany’s and asked me to take a peek, to give it a chance… thank you. Sincerely, thank you!

Buy links:
Amazon
Barnes & Noble
Walmart
Indiebound
iTunes
Googlebooks Books-A-Million   

Nice Girls Don't Date Dead Men by Molly Harper and Amanda Ronconi

With her best friend Zeb’s Titanic-themed wedding looming ahead, new vampire Jane Jameson struggles to develop her budding relationship with her enigmatic sire, Gabriel. It seems unfair that she’s expected to master undead dating while dealing with a groom heading for a nuptial nervous breakdown, his hostile werewolf in-laws, and the ugliest bridesmaid dress in the history of marriage.

Meanwhile, the passing of Jane’s future step-grandpa puts Grandma Ruthie back on the market. Her new fiancee, Wilbur, has his own history of suspiciously dead spouses, and he may or may not have died ten years ago. Half-Moon Hollow’s own Black Widow has finally met her match.

Should Jane warn her grandmother of Wilbur’s marital habits or let things run their course? Will Jane always be an undead bridesmaid, never the undead bride?

Combining Mary Janice Davidson’s sass and the charm of Charlaine Harris’s Sookie Stackhouse novels, this is an incredibly satisfying read for fans of paranormal romantic comedy.

***********

Audio Book Review

Nice Girls Don't Date Dead Men, the second book in Molly Harper's Jane Jameson series, is another fun, witty, quirky romp through Half Moon Hollow.

The Story:

With Zeb and Jolene's wedding day quickly approaching and more and more obstacles being thrown in their path to wedded bliss, Jane seems to have become their couples counselor - much to her chagrin. But with Gabe and Jane's relationship feeling no small amount of strain, can Jane help her best friend make it to the altar while dealing with her own less than supportive relatives and a boyfriend who might be cheating on her?

My Review:

As I said in My Review of Nice Girls Don't Have Fangs, the writer/narrator team of Molly Harper and Amanda Ronconi makes these stories shine in a way that reading from a book just can't match. The story itself is funny, quirky, unique, sexy and poignant, but with Ms. Ronconi narrating - it comes to life.

I'm not usually a fan of stories where there's not a happily ever after for the hero and heroine at the end of their book, but Gabriel and Jane's relationship dynamic works for me. I do have to admit, though, I'm starting to wonder what Gabriel's secret is, and I hope we find out soon. Too much dragging out of the main character's happily ever after makes me lose interest, but I'm looking forward to the next book and hoping those nagging questions are answered.




Shelves:

2013-reads, 4-stars, amazing-narration, author-molly-harper, chick-lit, contemporary-romance, format-audio-book, funny-witty-dialog, great-secondary-storylines, great-supporting-cast, hypnosis, interfering-future-mother-in-law, is-he-cheating-or-not, marriage, narrated-by-amanda-ronconi, own-have-read, paranormal-romance, sassy-heroine, sexy-mysterious-hero, shifters-werewolves, steam-3-of-5, vampires, wedding-plans  

And One Last Thing by Molly Harper

OH, how I loved this book!! It's fun, sassy, romantic, sexy - and I do mean sexy - truly, a fabulous story! The dialog is so well written, so witty, and the entire book is filled with the kind of dry humor that has you giggling throughout. The sexual chemistry between Lacey and Monroe is off the charts, and they make a perfect couple in their odd mix of cynicism and optimism! In fact, if "opticism" were a word in the dictionary, it'd be accompanied by a picture of Lacey and Monroe!

Wow!

When reading an author for the first time, it often takes a bit of getting used to before I fall into the flow of their storytelling, but that's not the case with Molly Harper's And One Last Thing... In fact, I seldom give 5 stars to an author whose work I'm experiencing for the first time because of that very thing, but again, that's not the case with this book.

And One Last Thing... starts out with Lacey Terwilliger being blindsided when she learns that her husband is having an affair with his secretary, and has been for several months. Lacey really never saw that coming and when it hit, it hit hard. To say she 'lost it' is putting it mildly, but thankfully so, because her brand of losing it made for some laugh out loud funny reading!

Because the story takes place in a small town, it's not hard to imagine everyone taking sides, and everyone did - most siding with her soon to be ex-husband Mike, "the faithless, loveless, spineless, shiftless, useless, dickless wonder he is." To escape the onslaught of ridicule, Lacey heads to her family cabin on the lake, looking for solitude and a quiet, peaceful place to sort through what's left of her life. Only, thanks to Lefty Monroe, the man renting the neighboring cabin, her life is anything but peaceful and quiet.

My only complaint is the outrageous cost of this e-book. $9.73 on Amazon? SHAME ON YOU, Simon & Schuster! What are you thinking here?? If you want to hook people on Ms. Harper's writing, this is definitely the book to do it with, but for Pete's sake! Make it affordable enough that those of us on a budget will be willing - and able - to take the risk. SERIOUSLY!!

Okay, got that off my chest!

People, find this book! Used bookstore, library, yard sale, borrow a copy from a friend... whatever you have to do to get your hands this, do it! You will NOT regret it!

Dorsey, thank you, honey, for recommending this book!!! It's exactly what I was looking for, exactly the kind of brilliant, entertaining story I needed to get my mind off things. I am heading straight back to Amazon to see what else I can find - more reasonably priced, that is - by this incredibly talented Contemporary Romance/Chick-lit author!!!


A favorite quote:

"Honey, you might want to calm down and reassess your situation. You don't want to get into a big legal battle here. Mike's like a cat."

"Emotionally unavailable and fond of licking himself?" I asked.

Pursuing the Times by Lauren Baratz-Logsted

 

All that popular Chick-Lit author Mercury Lauren wants is to have one of her books reviewed by the New York Times Book Review - just one - and she'll do almost anything to get it. In this contemporary romantic comedy, with a nod toward Pride and Prejudice she crosses swords and hearts with the Editor-in-Chief of the NYTBR in a madcap adventure that takes her from her home in Westport to a yoga retreat to a golf course in Florida. Will she get what she wants and will she finally be happy if she does? Only one thing's for certain: nothing will stop her from Pursuing the Times.

*****

From Lauren Baratz-Logsted, author of the laugh-out-loud novel, The Bro-Magnet, comes the laugh-out-louder novel, Pursuing the Times. I haven’t smiled, snickered, giggled or…well, laughed out loud… this much while reading a story in a very long time.

Our heroine, Mercury Lauren, would likely cringe if she heard what I’m about to say, but Chick-Lit really isn’t my cuppa. Don’t get me wrong, I enjoy the female friendships and their love life ups and downs that are a part of the stories in this genre, but too often there’s not enough time given to romantic relationships to suit my need for a solid happily ever after in my reading. That said, while Chick-Lit isn’t my genre of choice, if more authors wrote it the way Ms. Baratz-Logsted does, it most definitely would be.

Rarely do I find myself enjoying the heroine of a story as much as I do the hero, but this is another something this author managed to pull off. Mercury is intelligent, insightful, dedicated and self deprecating – in a denial-esque kind of way and I loved her outspoken defense of herself and her writing. There’s just something so outrageous about her that, while watching a certain scene unfold on a golf course, had me thinking how much more exciting my own life would be if I had that kind of chutzpah!

Frank D’Arcangelo is a great hero! You may - or may not - have heard that this book at times mimics Jane Austen’s Pride and Prejudice. Well, one of my favorite things about Frank is just how “Mr. Darcy” he is, in a thoroughly obnoxious, modern sort of way. But like our beloved Mr. Darcy of old, Frank isn’t completely irredeemable, and even well before the conclusion of the story, I adored him! In fact, even when he was being an utter ass, I was still grinning and cheering him on in the direction I wanted him to go: into Mercury’s arms.

The bottom line: Pursuing the Times is an absolute pleasure to read. It’s light, romantic, funny, steamy… a truly feel good story. Fans of any romance genre will completely relate to Mercury Lauren and her desperation to become recognized as a legitimate author, and you'll laugh at the lengths she'll go to to achieve her goal. I’m looking forward to reading more by this talented author. Even if it is Chick-Lit ;)

My thanks to Ms. Baratz-Logsted for providing me with a copy of this story in exchange for an honest review. And for her patience during the months it took me to actually pick it up and read it.

I loved this quote:

Of course, by now I'd been branded as an author of Chick-Lit -- well, actually, the first book had served to do that -- even though I thought of what I wrote as satire. Surely, if a man wrote the same things, they wouldn't call it Dick Lit... would they?

The Cinderella Blues by Obren Bokich

The Cinderella Blues (Thuh Sin'-dur-rel'-uh Bluze)
n.
1. The phenomena whereby otherwise intelligent, capable, successful professional women are convinced they need rescuing by a prince.

*****

The Cinderella Blues is a delightful, witty, modern-day fairytale that, from the first page to the last, had me laughing out loud, sighing, and unable to put it down.

Kat Young has just turned thirty years old and is quite content with her life. She’s a successful woman in a dog-eat-dog business, deep in the heart of Los Angeles. She’s got two great friends, a boyfriend she’s been with for eight years, and she’s just inherited her beloved Aunt Ruth’s house. Kat has it all, or so she thinks. As one thing leads to another, Kat, along with her vivid imagination, wicked baking skills and Aunt Ruth’s guidance from beyond, learns to do more than just follow her dreams; she learns to reach for them, embrace them and enjoy the sometimes crazy ride as she finds happiness - and true love - along the way.

Words cannot express what a charming, romantic, feel good novel this is. Kat isn’t affluent, but her world is so rich and so full that you find yourself wishing it were yours, and her friendships are the kinds we all wish we had. Truthfully, she’s a woman who’s so comfortable with herself that you can’t help but love her!

In writing The Cinderella Blues, Obren Bokich has given us something very special. It's the kind of book you’ll reach for, time and time again, when you’re looking for a heartwarming, uplifting tale. It’s perfect for a day at the beach, a long plane ride, or just sitting at home with your feet propped up and a snack and drink beside you. There’s not a lot of drama, no steamy sexy, just a romantic, come-away-with-a-smile-on-your-face story, and you can't ask for more than that.

My sincerest thanks to West Hills Publishing for providing me with a copy of this wonderful book in exchange for an honest review.   

Beatrice Munson by Lorena Bathey

Meet Beatrice Munson, high school nemesis and boyfriend stealer. Well, that's how Marissa Lyons remembers her, anyway. Even after all these years she hasn't forgiven Beatrice for swooping in on Jeffrey, the love of Marissa's life - who in truth barely even knew that Marissa existed. So now that Beatrice has moved into the house right across the street, what's Marissa to do? After the initial panic wears off, she decides to meet her enemy head on! This is her turf, after all. She was here first! So Marissa does the only thing she can possibly do in this situation - She marches right up to Beatrice's front door armed with a plate of homemade cupcakes and welcomes her to the neighborhood!

And nothing in Marissa’s life, or Vista Heights, would ever be the same.

Beatrice Munson is one of those stories that really makes you think about what your life might have been like had you made different choices. Maybe it would have been better, or maybe not. It’s a sometimes lighthearted, sometimes emotional story about letting go of your past, opening up to the possibilities of the present, and learning to trust, to love and to let yourself be loved. It’s about accepting yourself for who you are, and accepting others for who they are, too. And, in my opinion, its most valuable lesson is to not be afraid of stepping outside the beige colored world you may have lost yourself in, and embrace life and the amazing colors it has to offer you.

While this debut, self published novel was not without some flaws – minor editing errors and some scenes that were a lot of “tell” when I would have preferred more “show,” I have to say that this has turned out to be one of my favorite books of the year, and a great introduction into the “what genre is that exactly?” world of Chick-Lit. Beatrice Munson had me laughing one minute, crying the next. Cheering for some people and booing others. And I enjoyed every minute of it!

Some of my favorite quotes from the story:

“It doesn’t matter. These are just things. You don’t get it, do you? I have substituted my entire life for things. I don’t have a man who loves or respects me. But I have the perfect shade of mushroom on my walls. I don’t have a son who feels like he can run and throw his arms around his mommy, but my dishes are perfect with no nicks in them. I have everything I thought was important and nothing that really is.”

“There are all kinds of pretty in the world, hon. But what you have is a depth of soul. You are beautiful way deeper than just skin deep. And your eyes, well a man could get lost there.”

As I left my house and moved down the street I looked up at the houses. Where before every house had looked the same and the shades of beige had been prevalent, I saw that now every house had a new color. Some were vibrant ochre, some were blue or green. There were new lights, more flowers and lots of sounds from wind chimes. Looking in the windows I saw people laughing, a few couples kissing in the window and an ease about the energy…

So, what are you waiting for? Get on over to Vista Heights where Housewives don’t have to be Desperate, The Burbs have never seen so much excitement, and Stepford doesn’t stand a snowball’s chance in Hell against Beatrice Munson!

I want to thank the author, Lorena Bathey, for asking me to read and review this book, and for the opportunity to get to know these wonderful people. I hope to revisit Vista Heights again someday, very soon.

4 out of 5 stars