Holiday Gig: Erin Brady

Taylor Barnes thinks she has her life lined up. She pours everything into her work, so her relationship with her family has slipped a bit, but she is going to be partner this year. When she catches that she missed RSVPing No to her cousins wedding she finds that she can’t back out and not go. Then she finds that she needs a date and with a slip of the tongue needs a date to the office holiday part too. Now, her job and her family expect her to have a Significant Other that doesn’t actually exist.

So, she does what every heroine does, hires a boyfriend thinking that she can keep it all business. Hunter, with the name Tom Maguire, takes the job. They spend the month of December feeling each other out and each working towards what they think their goal is.

This is the type of story that you just sigh at the end of. Yes, you probably saw the ending coming. But, it is worth reading to get there. Hunter and Taylor are developed characters that you do want to see how they get there and learn more about.  I would give this book 4 stars. Moments were kind of like ok I know what is going to happen, but it kept you still interested that you wanted to keep reading and see how it all happened. It was a light fun nice holiday read that if you aren’t a new Mom should be the right length to not take you too long, as a new Mom well that is another story.

I was sent a copy of this book by Erin, but the review and thoughts are my own.

Elly in Bloom: Colleen Oakes

Elly left her home when she discovered her husband cheating on her and he has tried since then to look back on what she left in Georgia. Settled in the Saint Louis area, with a new best friend. She establishes herself with a business, a florist and is sought out by brides for weddings.

When the biggest wedding she has ever been offered walks in she can't turn it down. The financial security it would provide is something she can't pass up. Until, a part of her past comes back to haunt her and it is directly related to this wedding. Is the money worth the cost it might be emotionally. With her friends around her, including Snarky Teenager one of her employee's (how can you not love that name for a character). Elly has some decisions to make for herself and has to face what those decisions might cost her.

I enjoyed this book. It really fit the time of year we are in right now and thought it was a great read to pickup during the spring time, that is just my opinion since flowers make me think about spring. A few parts of the plot were a little predictable, in that I could see things coming. But, oddly I didn't find that as distracting as it could have been.

For the character of Elly I found her well flushed out and relatable. I thought that she acted in a very real way to the situations she was put in, not going overboard in the dramatic or acceptance of things. The other characters I found were developed enough for what they needed to do and the role they placed in Elly's life, but beyond that there wasn't anything to them. That disappointed me in a few ways, but didn't distract from the plot overall.

Overall, I would suggest you to pickup this book. It was a nice fun book that kept you wanting to keep reading. As a nice light fun read that would be nice to enjoy in the park on a bench under a tree. 3 Stars!


This review is part of chick lit plus blog tours.

I was provided a copy of the book for review, but the summary and thoughts on the book are mine.

Staged: Ruby Preston

Scarlett from SHOWBIZ is back. With her own production company she is ready to present her first work on broadway, Swan Song. The problem is that she can't get a theater, but she can't let that hold her back. So, she works on finding a director, gets a young hollywood star as a lead lined up. As she keeps working on a place to present the work Scarlett has to consider what lines she is willing to cross and how many friends she is willing to alienate in order to pursue her dream.

I still love Preston's works. I am excited to see that this is a trilogy, so we will be able to continue to read about Scarlett and maybe see her dream come to fruition. Again as a theater person I found this plot very relatable, but don't think that others who don't have a theater background would be lost. Scarlett is developed in this book, but I personally think if you didn't have the background of the first book on her and some of her main supporting friends you may be a little lost. Having read both of the books I could relate to Scarlett and the situations she found herself in and feel due to that I could understand why she made some of the decisions she did in a way you might not without the background.

I would highly recommend this book to others especially someone who worked in theater/did theater as a hobby or even just someone who always wished they could work in theater. This plot focused more on the life outside the theater then the last one, but you knew that aspect was still there. Someone who enjoys Smash the television show would enjoy this book.

I was disappointed by a few aspects of this book compared to the last. That was time passed between the two books and character development/relationships changed in that time and those changes were not well presented to the reader but as kind of second hand news/after the fact oh yeah I should tell you details to fill us in. I personally would have liked to know more about those relationships too and have gotten that insight. I think that part of it for me was I felt like I knew the characters and they were like my friends, so I would like to know about the details I missed. That is just me and didn't distract from the overall plots.

I have to give this book 4 stars in it lacked a few things for me, but it was still really enjoyable. I would encourage others to go read it and the others in the series.


This review is part of chick lit plus blog tours.

I was provided a copy of the book for review, but the summary and thoughts on the book are mine.

White Diamonds: Shirley Hailstock

Sandra Rutledge is at her remote family cabin trying to forget the world and prepare for finishing her doctorate. In getting there she finds a car on the road, in the car is Senator Wyatt Randolph. The Senator has been missing for days and on him Sandra finds a collection of imperfect diamonds, and he is just clinging to life.  Cleaning him up and nursing him back to health they are just both left with more questions. Not long they find themselves on the run for their lives and are not sure who to trust. As they try to piece together what they have, what it can do, and who they can trust of those around them that they are use to trusting. All while trying to work out there relationship to each other too.

Another classic romance type novel I really enjoyed this book as it didn't feel in my face with the romance/sex portion. The main characters were well developed and you could understand and appreciate most if their relationships with the supporting characters. There were a few characters that I had trouble with keeping all the names straight, especially since a few were referred to by two names once I worked out keeping the characters straight I understood how they were all woven together.

One thing I really enjoyed about this novel is that everything seemed to take place in real time. We knew what they were doing the whole time, you felt like you were traveling with them on the run. This was really relatable to me.

Personally, I would give this book 3 stars as it was very enjoyable and had great movement in the plot and character development. It didn't really have anything that stood out to me to give it more than 3 stars though. I would defiantly suggest it to others to read, not only if this is a genre you normally read, but maybe a genre you are interested in seeing if you want to read more in.

This review is part of chick lit plus blog tours.

I was provided a copy of the book for review, but the summary and thoughts on the book are mine.

The Cinderella Blues: Obren Bokich

Kat Young has a tendency to take little mental vacations, visits what her long time boyfriend calls Katland. She puts herself as the Heroine of the romance novels that she enjoys. Unfortunately, her little escapes from reality are starting to effect the rest of her life. She has so many accidents she decides to try taking the bus in LA to save money. And people that she knows she should, stay away from/are off limits keep featuring prominently in her dreams.

Things begin to change bit for Kat when her estranged Aunt dies and leaves her the house that Kat has childhood memories about. Kat finds that the Princes are not always so charming and there is more than just the romance novel to think about. As she makes her way up the corporate ladder Kat has to consider what she wants and maybe how she can make her dreams come true on her own.


Although, I am probably the right/target audience of romance novels I have never really gotten into them though. I think my personal issue is with them being completely unbelievable and just focusing on the sex aspect of things. That being said that this was not an issue I had with this book. There was the nod to the romance novel side, but it also stay grounded in real life and the more everyday things that Kat had to work through too. The romance was acknowledged and accepted, but wasn't the be all end all or what saved Kat. That I really appreciated.

The only complaint I could say I had about this book is that though the relationships and time was speed up for the sake of keeping things moving yet, it seemed slow in character development/movement at times. The characters were doing things and living, but not growing or changing at all.  Looking back you could see how that time was needed and helped the characters come to the realizations they did that just work, but were noticeable to me at times.

Overall, I found this a quick, fun, enjoyable, read.  I would suggest it to someone who enjoys romance novels and those who like chick lit also. I personally found it a very enjoyable read.

I was provided a copy of The Cinderella Blues by Black Bear Media in exchange for my own review.

The Darling Girls: Emma Burstall

Cat had only been with Leo for a little over a year, but it was the most passionate relationship she has ever been in. Attending his funeral she has to face the other parts of his life though. Victoria, who Leo had two children with a 17 year old and an 8 year old. Victoria was for all purposes Leo’s wife yet he never would marry her. There is also Maddy, who is also the mother of Leo’s youngest, and also Leo’s mistress. These women all seemed to kind of know about each other, though Cat is news to Maddy at first, but hadn’t meet each other before. Through together to figure out how each of them are going to survive without Leo, who they all seemed to depend on in a way especially financially. Piecing together how they fit into Leo’s life and maybe each other lives now.

The narrative rotates between focusing on each of the women, Cat, Victoria and Maddy. How each of them are effected by not only the change and lose of Leo, but also these new other women who all seem to find themselves becoming a part of each other’s lives and depended on each other in way they never would have thought possible before. Victoria goes about learning about Leo and more of his past that she feels compelled to share with the others. Maddy is finding that Ralph, Victoria’s oldest, is seeking comfort from the change in situation with her and his youngest half-sister. With changes in financial situation and growing closer to Ralph, Maddy finds herself walking a fine line of what she wants to do and what might be appropriate. Cat is just trying to tread water and figure out what direction to go. With these new women in her life she is getting help that she didn’t exactly ask for, but with her own Mother having checked out maybe it is just what she needs.

I enjoyed reading this book. I liked how all the characters were individuals yet there stories are woven together. I personally felt that I could relate to the character of Cat a bit more, maybe because she was closer to my own age, but at the same time I felt connected to the other women too. It felt a bit like Little Women in that way to me, where different readers feel the book is about  a particular character based on who they related too. The flow between character here and how they each grew, learned and help each other is what really appealed to me on this book. I would give it 4 stars and would suggest it to others. This was a great book to start the new year with.

This review is part of chick lit plus blog tours.

I was provided a copy of the book for review, but the summary and thoughts on the book are mine.

Below Stairs: The Classic Kitchen Maid's Memoir That Inspired Upstairs, Downstairs and Downton Abbey: Margaret Powell

My Husband always seems to manage to surprise me at Christmas, with something I love and didn't know that I was missing or needed and this year wasn't an exception. In my pile of books from him this year was this one and a memories about the Lady that inspired Downton Abbey.

This book is written by Powell who grew up in a family that was always growing and parents who would barely make ends meet to survive. As early as she could Powell was sent to work and ended up going into service as a kitchen maid. It funny to see how she choose what part of service to go into based on assignments. She didn't like sewing so she went into the kitchen so she didn't have to do repairs on things. Then she talks about her experience in service; what she learned and how she was treated differently from other servants and the "THEM" of the house. As well as how her position changed between households and moving from Kitchen Maid to Cook and how they had an effect on how she was treated.

During the time period that she served and the different situations that she served in. There was a change in serving, how people were treated, and how people acted/reacted to servants.

I enjoyed reading this book. I really do like reading about other peoples lives, autobiographies and biographies. But, I am very picky as I may have mentioned before in that I like hearing stories and ways I can relate to the person, beyond just a facts kind of list. They meet this person, worked on this item, etc. This was relatable to me. There was some of the I worked for these type of people who had these ideas or ways of doing things while this happened, but then it would go back to how it related to her personally and experiences more than just facts. This is what really appeals to me. I would suggest this to others who enjoy biographies and I can see how it inspired what it did, 3 stars.

Helping Baby Sleep: The Science and Practice of Gentle Bedtime Parenting: Anni Gethin and Beth Macgregor

So, I know that this is a bit different then my usual reviews. But, I do read other types of books. Plus, I am not sure if I talked about it here yet, but I am 8.5 month pregnant right now. So, I am reading some parenting books and such to try and get ready for one of the biggest challenges of my life. I ordered a few books from the library and this was a place I started.

This book started out with why they suggest the version that they do and research they have again the opposite of what they suggest. What it seemed to come down to me is that the crying it out idea, letting babies just self sooth can cause issues for the kids later in life, and how hard it can really be for parents and children mentally. Then on how parents really need to be there for kids, listen and follow the clues the kids offer to you and what the clues are. Then different things that have worked for them and that they suggest or other things you can try.

There are some ideas that I will keep in mind from this book. But, it didn't really have a system to try, but that you should be sure to listen to your child and gave you kind of directions to go in. I think if I do run into specific obstacles this is something that you could go back to that would be helpful.

I did find myself feel at time in reading this, with wow there are a lot of things a parent can do that messes my kid up, which were more scary then reassuring so we shall see how that goes. I am glad I read it, but it just reminded me that I need to keep learning, especially when it comes to children there is always more to learn about.

I don't know if I would necessarily suggest this book and seek it out again, but am glad I read it and did glean some insight from it. 2.5 stars and I usually just round up, so 3.

Unmasking Maya: Libby Mercer

Maya has left behind her past in NYC and is trying to make it in the art world of San Francisco. Part of leaving behind the scandal that haunts her she changes her name and mediums from fashion to art working with textiles in the art world. Getting a commission for an installation at a tech company in the Silicone Valley area. Derek Whitley, the CEO of the company, doesn't seem to like her work. Yet, he commissions Maya to do the work, and she is determined to make something that he will like, even if she doesn't understand his unemotional, robotic, workaholic ways.

As Maya and Derek work together and are thrown together with events around the commission they start to learn more about each other and breakdown the walls that each of them have built. But, as secrets are reveled will it bring them together or will to many secrets tear them apart.

I hadn't read a book on my ipad/kindle recently. So, I am not sure if this is related to that vs being a physical book, but once I got started on this book I just couldn't put it down and  wanted to keep reading. The book started with Maya having a secret that she kept even from the reader and it seems to take us the reader the whole time to kind of earn Maya's trust and find out all the secrets. Same with Derek, you feel like there is something more that Maya needs to find out and it takes us most of the plot to figure it out.

Something I did notice is that things in this book seemed to move really fast in terms of relationships/friendships. But, that worked here, I could appreciate how  it moved at a pace that worked for the characters.

I was a little concerned about this book since the description made it seem like a cliche romance, but I didn't find it that way at all. The characters were developed well and believable, in I didn't feel they became cliches. That I personally really appreciated and made it easier for me to recommend this book to others. I would give this book 4 Stars and suggest it to anyone looking for a quick fun read. I was advised it is being released soon and you should got check it out. Link is

I was provided a copy of this book by the author in exchange for a review, but the summary and opinions are my own.

The Runaway Princess: Hester Browne

Amy's parents back in the country are haunted by skeletons in their closest from their past and Amy feels she has to protect them even though all she wants to do is move on. Making sure to go home for holidays Amy spends most of her time in London, where she is trying to make her own way. With a successful Gardening business and a flatmate who keeps her on the edge of social circle Amy is happy with where she is at. A party crasher at one Jo's, of her roommate, parties sets things off though.

Leo's idea of fun is not really chasing down and fixing the issues that his playboy brother causes. But, one evening cleaning up Rolph's mess he meets Amy. Sparks fly between the prince Leo and Amy the gardener. But, one of the reasons Leo likes Amy is that she is a normal girl and has a basically normal life. But will that fit into the mold that his family and their royal lineage will expect and accept.

Thrust into the spot light for the Love that she has found Amy and Leo have to come to terms with what they want and expectations that others hold for them. While continuing to protect what they love and want for themselves and each other.

I had been in a bit of a reading slump. Once I opened this book and got a little ways into it that was over. I got to the point where I couldn't put this book down. I just wanted to keep going. Things were being alluded to that you didn't know what was really going on and you just had to keep going to figure it out. I felt for Amy and the emotions that she was going through. I felt like I could relate to her more than any of the other character and a few times I wished that I could get inside one of the other characters, but that is just me wanting to know more.

I would highly recommend this book, like I do most of Browne's book. The characters are well built and relatable. They have things together enough that you don't think they are idiots, but accident prone/character flawed enough that they are relatable. I would give this book 4 stars in it really kept my interest and is defiantly one of my favorites of the year.

The Shopping Swap: Erin Brady (Novella)

Margaret Andrews is ready for some changes in her relationship. So, she buys some lingerie, makes dinner, and plans to subdue her commitment phobia boyfriend, Richard, into marriage. But, when she gets home she discovers that she doesn't have a bag with lingerie, but a house coat instead.
In trying to get her correct bag back she runs into Benjamin Sanders, who had been trying to get a house coat as a present for his Grandmother. Maggie and Ben strike up a conversation and become friends. With Richard being busier and busier at work temptation comes into play with this new friendship and Maggie might have some decisions to make that are harder then she thought.

I really enjoyed reading about Maggie and the internal struggle that she was going through in this plot. I do think that part of it just scratched the surface of the depth of the issues that she was dealing with and choices she had to make. But, that works for this novella in the short format. It did leave me wanting to know a little more about what was going on with the character which I actually appreciate here. Through out the plot Maggie felt real to me and not like a flat character that things just worked for. She had the emotional reaction to situations and conflict about them that you as a reader feel like you might respond or how a real person would react to situations.

I would suggest this novella to others and I think that others who enjoy this genre would enjoy this Novella. I would give it 4 stars in that I could relate to the characters. Also, I was kind of in a rut where I was having a hard time reading and found this really easy to get through and I enjoyed going back to it.

I was provided a copy of this Novella by Erin, and the review is posted at her request. The thoughts and opinions are mine though.

Where We Belong: Emily Giffin

Marian appears to have it all together. Living in NYC with her own TV show and a relationship that she is happy with. One evening after a rare fight with her boyfriend she comes home to find Kirby on her door step.
Kirby adopted has never really felt like she fit in with her family. At 18 she takes the opportunity to learn who her birth Mother is. Without telling her family, she leaves to find the family where maybe she belongs. But, things aren't always as easy as they might seem they could be at 18.

The story show the effects each of the women have on each other. Learning about themselves and each other as secrets and memories that have been pushed away have to be revisited.  Each of them learning and growing from each other.

The back story of Marian's past and what lead to Kirby is woven in with the story and Marian and Kirby getting to know each other and try to figure out where they fit into each other lives and really where they want to go with their own lives now.

The chapters her alternate in voices from Marian to Kirby's, with sections woven in of Marian at 18. The information is given to the reader as we need it and the characters remember, having the reader piece the present and past together and see how they relate to each other.

I enjoyed reading about Mariam and Kirby. Seeing them learn about theme selves as they got to know each other. I would give this book 3 stars as it was enjoyable. It is not my favorite Giffin book though. The characters were there and their was some depth to them, but I personally didn't feel connected to them, so the plot didn't speak to me as much as many of Giffin's other books do. I would still suggest it to other and think that if you had experience like these characters you might be enjoy the book more than I did. But, even without the emotional connection it is worth a read.

Ten Girls To Watch: Charity Shumway

Dawn is determined to make it in NYC and not go back to the small town that she left. Even if it means writing lawn care columns that she paid by the word to make ends meet. At a party that she is invited to by her ex boyfriend, that she can't seem to stop seeing and can't help but kind of like her his new girlfriend, she manages to land a job with Charm magazine working on their 10th anniversary of "Ten Girls to Watch" contest. It is short term gig, but she spends the next few months following up on each of the winners from the past ten years. She is just assigned to get basic info, but Dawn can't just find out contact and what they are doing now. She finds the women opening up her and learning from each of them. She is still trying to work out her personal life, but she is learning so much from these women maybe they are starting to effect her personal life. Maybe, she needs to follow the examples that she is seeing around her and accept what she wants.

I really felt like I could relate to Dawn. She made choices and faced with some personal things in her life that I could relate to. She was built to be real and would start to grow, but would come across more obstacles that would put her back and she would have to accept and/or learn from.

There were moments were I wish that we had been able to read more of Dawns writings. Have seen some of the profiles she was writing I think could have really helped or expanded the plot, more than just the short paragraphs at the start of chapters.

Overall I would give this book three stars in that the main character was really relatable. But, you couldn't get behind other characters besides the main one, even though she was really relatable. The plot was well developed and well wrapped up, though leaving you wanting just a little more about the characters. I would read more by Charity and would defiantly recommend this book to others.

Living in Glass Houses: Zoe McNight

Jonathan and Lauryn are at a point in their relationship where outside pressures are building and something may have to give, but what if it is not the same thing for each of them. Lauryn is just waiting for the ring, thinking she just needs to be patient. Jonathan meanwhile has just meet Bree, who could just be the girl of his dreams. Does he want to give up the comfort he has built with Lauryn though and there may be more that he is letting down in choosing, but who does he choose for.

Blair and Vaughn have always had a volatile relationship. Blair finally gives into the temptation of looking somewhere else for something else with Dylan. But, Vaughn is realizing that he might be losing Bliar and wants to try again to save what they have. Can they both commit and get past their secrets.

Elle is confused, she is happy with what she has with Luke, but she can't stop thinking about her last relationship with Marcus. Will she be strong enough to work out her emotions and put what she at risk for what could be.

The plot alternates between different points of view and narratives. All of the are friends or have friends in common that link the story lines together. Making is an easy flow. I found that the whole story just flew by for me, set up that you wanted to keep reading about what would happen next. I was frustrated with many of the characters at times, but you still wanted to keep reading to see how they worked out of the situations.

I would give this book 3 stars for how it kept you wanting to keep going. But, I had a hard time relating to some of the characters and feeling emotionally invested in them. But, I do think that sometimes the emotional backgrounds of some of the characters could have been expanded more.

Getting Over Mr. Right: Chrissie Manby

Ashleigh has been dating Michael for two years plus, and she figures it is just a matter of time before Michael gives her the more commitment that she is looking for. Even if he is just using his current promotion to expand his bachelor image, an upgraded bachelor pad, new sports car, new wardrobe. But, it is just a matter of time right. That is until she checks her Facebook in the middle of the day and finds that Michael is now single and then proceeds to unfriend her.

Processing it all Ashleigh realizes (or is confirmed by friends) that she has just been dumped via Facebook. Unfortunately, Ashleigh just can't accept it. Breaking every rule of how to get over a break up. She goes to his apartment and sneaks in, stalking his new girlfriend, lets all thoughts and what she can do take over her life, racks up credit card bills trying to find ways to win him back, calls a phone psychic and tries voodoo. Having alienating friends, losing her job, ending up have to move back home, and multiple people telling her she needs professional help. Ashleigh finally realizes that maybe she dose need some new perspective, but will it be late and what if Michael starts to talk to her again.

British chick lit that can cross cultural lines, that is relatable. Ashleigh was built as a character that just about any female could relate to, having done or wanted to do something like she does in the book. Ashleigh does take it to an extreme and finally realizing that is what helps her slowly breakout of parts of it. I think it does get to a point where it does get harder to relate to Ashleigh since you really just want to tell her, no you didn't do that or just stop, but she kept going. Or she would start to change and you though she got behind some growth and then back again. I appreciated how the character had grown at the end, but getting there was tough at times.

I would give it three stars as it 3 stars. It is a good read and flew by, but didn't have much substance. It was a fun read and fun to think what would happen if you did some or any of the vengeful thing in this plot, but at the end of the day it isn't deep.

The Wedding Beat: Dean Sipher

Gavin is a wedding writter for The Paper, as well as a hopeless romantic. Yet, he still finds himself single in his thirty's, attending weddings every weeken for work. With his Best Friend at a New Years party he meets the girl of his dreams, who he allows to get away without getting her number. He spends the next few months covering weddings looking for her and learning what he needs to do or should have done.

That is until he finds himself covering Melinda's, the girl who got away, wedding. With his job in balance and his heart on the line Gavin has some choices to make. What is the line he is willing to walk or cross and can he really do it.

Gavin in this piece is a bit like, James Marsden's character in 27 Dresses with Katherine Heigl. Which is actually refered to in the plot of this book. And in that comparison being made the character uses it learn about himself, which I could appriciate in using something that many characters in other movies would bring them down. He uses it to grow himself, without the self wallowing that wasn't needed.

For the most part for me this book felt like everything happened a little fast, like everything was on fastforward. Couples would get together and engaged in just a few days, married in just a few months. I personally don't know of any relationships going this fast, most people I know (and my own personal one) have been in relationships for years or at least a year before moving on to another step. I suppose to each their own, but this juts didn't seem beliveable to me.

I would give this book 3 stars. It was ok and I am glad that I took the time to read it. The character did grow through out the book. Overall, I don't feel I got much out of it more than an enjoyable read though.

Las-Minute Love: (Year of the Chick Series): Romi Moondi

Romi from Year of the Chick is back, see my review of the first book. Now, that Romi's sister is engaged her parents are a bit more distracted. So, in this book her parents weren't pushing guys at her as much, though they did still have that expectation, maybe Romi was just better at ignoring it and didn't need to focus on it with her readers. In this one we hear about the success of the first book, but which is also really important, you could read the book on it's own and it can stand on it's own.

Again, this book was set up in a way that you wanted to just keep reading and figure out how Romi is going to deal with each of the situations. Personally, I think I enjoyed this novel more than Year of the Chick since you got to see more of Romi as a character. You could see how she had grown and changed through the last book, between them, and could continue to grow. She still got caught up in a guy in this plot, but there was more to her than just the guy and her writing this time. You knew her, I felt like this time. She talked about what she enjoyed in her spare time, beyond writing, you got to know some of her friends and more than just how she took her problems to them. It felt deeper and more about the character than the first one to me, even though I enjoyed the first one, I feel like I enjoyed this one more.  Romi made some great growth as a character and I can't wait to see what happens with her next chapter in the series.

I am conflicted on the rating to give this book. It is a enjoyable book, again not an intro to the chick lit genre, but a relatable book in the genre and worth reading. Still found it different then any chick lit book, I would give it 3.5 stars I think to show I liked it more than the first, but I just don't feel like it is necessarily a 4 star all the way. I will round up though. And do go read this because, Romi becomes a character that you care about and want to succeed, in love, standing up to her parents, and just being herself in the way she dreams.


This review is part of chick lit plus blog tours.

I was provided a copy of the book for review, but the summary and thoughts on the book are mine.

And The Winner Is (The Adventures of Marty Peters): Erin Brady

Marty Peter's is an accountant, who has abandoned aka disappointed her family by moving down the street. She never moved into the city though and that is why she spends her mornings and evenings commuting into NYC. Around working and commuting Marty works on pursuing her dream of writing. No one has liked her works though and maybe she should just sticks to the numbers that make sense to her. But, then everything changes at whirlwind speed.

First she goes on client presentation with her chauvinist boss to Theodore McKenzie one of their largest clients and a leader in the entertainment industry. McKenzie is threatening to pull his account and with that would go many of their other accounts, including the one for the Motion Picture Academy and why the firm gets to do a presentation on voting at the Oscars every year. Marty makes an impression on Teddy, McKenzie, and has the fate of his account with the firm in her hands now. Not something her Boss is happy about.  On the way to this meeting Marty finds an abandoned bag on the subway with a journal inside it, but with a name but contact number or other information about the owner. The errors start as Marty realizes the screen play in the journal is amazing and since she doesn't know the owner she takes credit for the work. With Teddy McKenzie interested in her screenplay Marty just might have found a way to live her dream as a writer. That is until she actually meets E. Riley, the owner of the journal. With things rolling with the screenplay and at work it might be to late to stop things, but now that she is starting to like Riley and she isn't sure where her priorities should be and what is worth losing to get your dream. 

Written between a memories with quotes of friends of how Marty became famous and is famous and her telling her story above of how she started on the path in Hollywood. 

I was sent a copy of this novel by Erin Brady and writing the review per her request, but the summary and opinions are my own. 

This was in a different format that I hadn't read before, so it was a little odd for me. But, I found that I really did enjoy the plot over all. Marty was a fleshed out character that I found that I could relate to. The situations that she found herself in and how she reacted kept her human and in ways a reader could relate to, though they were exceptional circumstances most people wouldn't find themselves in. Not as much with the supporting characters, in I couldn't relate to them, but you learned enough about each of them as you needed to know and when you need to know it. I liked the set up of finding out about the supporting characters as the main character learned things and think that for some of the supporting characters that is what Brady was doing. 

I enjoyed reading about Marty and watching her grow and learn, she made some choices that seemed real to me, even like things I might do and ways I would react at first. I would give this book 4 stars and would like for more by Brady and would enjoy seeing her grow as a writer. 

The Next Best Thing: Jennifer Weiner

Ruth has lived with her Grandmother for most of her life, ever since the accident that cost Ruth her parents and left her scared for life. Graduating from college, she decides to move to Hollywood to pursue her dream of being a writer. With her grandmother along for the ride they set out. Grandma thrives working as an extra, with a boyfriend, and friends in the community center. While Ruth works, as an assistant, she writes hoping to get her own show on TV.

With hard work, a broken heart, and trying to find her way in a society obsessed with beauty with a scared appearance Ruth attempts to  find her happiness in Hollywood. She thinks she is getting her dream when her show is picked up. But, she just has to realize how much she may have to compromise or give up in order to actually live her dream.

Personally, I enjoyed this book more than some of Weiner's other recent stories. I enjoyed how she concentrated on one plot line and primarily on one character, with the supporting characters around Ruth. Instead of spreading the plot around multiple main characters and all the others that surrounded around each of the different characters. You had just one person to get behind and follow, that I felt I could really get behind more, while sometimes I get overwhelmed with having to follow and care about multiple characters. I enjoyed her other books, but going back to focusing on one person and the world that surrounds her lets me get behind that one person better. I am glad that this is more back to the roots of Weiner's early works.
If you had a chance to pickup Weiner's kindle novella Swim earlier this year, it was the inspiration for this novel and introduces us to Ruth. There were elements in this novella that weren't in The Next Best Thing, that I missed a bit, but having read both of them I was able to see all the elements, but wish if there was going to be some overlap that it all could have been there.

I am going to give this book 4 stars as it a great Weiner work and had characters that you could get behind and appreciate. But, it did still leaving you wanting a little more. I appreciated how it reflected Weiner's personal experience of having had a TV show picked up and dropped last season and I will miss The Great State of Georgia which I had tried to catch on hulu as I don't have cable. As always I look forward to more from Weiner as I always do and hope she keeps building more characters that we as readers can get behind and relate too.

The Unfinished Work of Elizabeth D.: Nichole Bernier

Elizabeth dies in a plane crash that is overshadowed with September 11th, the one that changed the world we all live it, occurred soon after. But, her friends can't forget her and how she died as well as the others.

Kate stops on her way to a summer on an island to get away from the world to pick up Elizabeth's journals that she left her in the will. Kate decides she is going to spend the summer learning about her friend. The more she learns about Elizabeth and the friendship she thought she had the more she questions, about Elizabeth and her own life.  While Elizabeth's husband is pushing Kate to share what she learned and that is a decision Kate isn't sure she is ready to make.

Written between Elizabeth's past journal entries and growing up and Kate in the present reading the journals and considering what she is learning. Questioning choice she has made, her marriage, what she knew about her friend, and what she might want to do in the future.  Through out the plot you get to see both characters grow and change.

I enjoyed how the plot of this book deals with difficult issues, making the reader think about the choice they make, what they think they know about their friends and how they judge people or how they might be judged by the others around them.

I thought one great growing point that Kate could have done through this book that she didn't is she talked about how she enjoyed reading Elizabeth's journal and she wished that she had a journal or something to show how she grown to her husband, but she never did journal or try to write or anything. I wish that she would have tried, but see how that could have made the plot more complicated too.

I haven't ready any of other books by Bernier (this may be a debut novel not sure) and I would pick up more by her. I think she has a great writing style and provides a different view of how to look at things. I would suggest this book to others. It reminds me a bit of early other authors I enjoy, Emily Giffin, Jennifer Weiner and other recognizable names.

I would give it 4 stars.