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.
Showing posts with label chick lit plus challenge 2012. Show all posts
Showing posts with label chick lit plus challenge 2012. Show all posts
September 28, 2012
August 31, 2012
Dewitched: The untold story of the evil queen: EL Sarnoff
The Evil Queen is sentenced to what appears to be life in prison/the dungeon for the attempted murder of Snow White. After serving some of her time, Jane Yvel, also know as the Evil Queen has someone take pity on her and instead of staying the dungeon she is sent to Faraway. Jane thinks she is being sent to a spa, but what Faraway turns out to be is Evil Rehab for fairy tale characters.
Jane works through her issues, makes friends, and actually starts to care about others so she is sent back into the world. Her biggest fear after rehab is facing Snow White and pain that she caused her. But, that pain may cost Jane more than she ever realized, but there could be other influences at play that Jane has been suppressing for years.
There are some spoilers in the review, so if you don't want any spoilers be warned, but I shall try to keep them vague as to not give away the whole plot.
One of my favorite lines from Wicked the musical, but I love the novel too.
"Are people born Wicked? Or do they have Wickedness thrust upon them?"
I think this plot is really looking at this quote in relation to Evil. Is Jane and the other characters who visit Faraway Evil/Wicked, or do they just not know better or have been trained that way, following examples. They just need redirection to learn or be shown something new and different and then they can be the person they are meant to be or can at least now be a contributing part of society.
So, Faraway shows them another way to look at things and contribute to society. Bring out the best part of the characters and helping them be who they should be? Or changing their fate? I think the characters all have to learn something much like many of us all have to learn something and how our past effects or changes us.
With that I will leave you with the rest of the wicked quote "After all, she had a father. She had a mother, as so many do..." and I think this is important to consider that is what comes next.
This was an enjoyable read for me. I would give it 4 stars. I feel like the plot have a creative way to deal with complicated issues that many people deal with. While it also keeps the plot moving and light hearted and as an enjoyable read. I look forward to more from Sarnoff and hearing more again Jane and I think Sarnoff has given us an interesting ways to consider fairy tales.
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.
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August 24, 2012
Showbiz, A Novel: Ruby Preston
Scarlett Savoy had been the assistant of Margolies "King of Broadway" for the past four year. Getting through the day to day time, by telling herself that she is training herself and learning to be a producer herself. She is finally start to get somewhere with her own producing project. Unfortunately, it falls as the same time as Margolies biggest project ever is coming to a head.
The head theater critic at the main newspaper in town commits suicide and secrets he has been coving for years are threatening to coming out and definatly getting harder for those who know them to hide. A theater gossip columnist is up to replace the critic and when he and Scarlett start something, they are each finding themselves on other sides of secrets that could be enough to break the relationship they are forming.
Everyone has to make some choices about what they feel is important and how they want to proceed with their career and lives.
I personally really enjoyed this novel. Theater is a large part of my life (my husband and many of my friends are actually stagehands) and it is one of my other hobbies. So, I was able to relate to this book on levels that others without theater background might not be able to relate too. That being said, it was also written in a way that if you didn't know theater you can follow what is going on and happening.
When you read the initially description of this book it appears to be set up kind of like a mystery. I tried to drop most of that from my summary because I just didn't feel like that was the focus of the plot and there wasn't much of a mystery for the reader as both sides were being shown and it was easy for the reader to piece it together. The characters were able to quickly put the pieces together too and just needed the proof that they had to work at. So, seeing it as a novel with a plot of characters out to prove themselves and to grow this plot fits better.
I would give this book 4 stars as it isn't really what you exact at first it is a good developed lot that builds characters and had a plot with good movement. I think this is defiantly a good start of series where we could see more of the characters and I want to know more about the characters. I hope that Preston keeps writing and making parts of theater more accessible to the general public.
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.
June 18, 2012
Dancing Naked in Dixie: Lauren Clark
Julia is use to the fast paced life, living in NYC and spending most of her time passing through airports to exotic locations as a travel writer for Getaway magazine. She has to meet with her new boss thought and he has other plans for her. Knowing Julia's past David sends her to Eufaula, Alabama. Julia has to write the piece of her life to save her job, but as she tours the town and gets use to a slower pace Julia learns there might be more at stake then just her job. With the slower pace she has to face her past, her future, and the past of others in her life too. As some of the secrets just might need to come out and be saved now.
I could relate to Julia and I think that is part of why this novel really appealed to me. She is as accident prone as I am at times. She is just built as a well rounded character for me. We didn't get all of her background at the start, but all was revealed as we needed it, which I appreciated and I think added to the readers experience.
Two thing I would have liked more is a bit more description about some of the characters looks and the settings. I had some very general ideas of what the houses she was touring looked like. But at times I wanted more to get a better picture. As odd as it is I would appreciate pictures with it, to give the readers some general ideas. And I would have liked to read the article that Julia wrote that made the difference in the story. Overall, those elements being missing weren't enough to distract me from the aspects of the book that I liked, so I still recommend it.
I would give this book 4 stars as it kept me reading and I liked the development of the main character and the development of the plot. I would recommend this book to others who enjoy chick lit and those who are interested in travel, seeing different places through different eyes.
I could relate to Julia and I think that is part of why this novel really appealed to me. She is as accident prone as I am at times. She is just built as a well rounded character for me. We didn't get all of her background at the start, but all was revealed as we needed it, which I appreciated and I think added to the readers experience.
Two thing I would have liked more is a bit more description about some of the characters looks and the settings. I had some very general ideas of what the houses she was touring looked like. But at times I wanted more to get a better picture. As odd as it is I would appreciate pictures with it, to give the readers some general ideas. And I would have liked to read the article that Julia wrote that made the difference in the story. Overall, those elements being missing weren't enough to distract me from the aspects of the book that I liked, so I still recommend it.
I would give this book 4 stars as it kept me reading and I liked the development of the main character and the development of the plot. I would recommend this book to others who enjoy chick lit and those who are interested in travel, seeing different places through different eyes.
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.
March 22, 2012
She Tells All: Judah Lee Davis
The goodreads description of this book is:
"After finding a pair of magic stilettos that transform her into the ultimate hot goddess, Madison Miller is certain she will get lucky tonight. But in her quest to find the ultimate hottie, she finds something so unexpected.
Now, as she takes a good, hard look at her life, she relives the past that transformed her into a vainglory vixen and realizes an important lesson about why she should NEVER sleep with strangers."
I felt the need to include the summary written for this book on goodreads, since I was going to have trouble writing me own. This plot is about Madison and after one more night of embarrassing herself, so goes back to reflect back on how she got to where she is now. A single mother, with a string of ex's that have all effected her in some way, yet she looks to find another to hurt her again when it is over. What will she learn in looking back now, and can she finally find peace.
This book was not really my cup of tea. I personally couldn't relate to the character and couldn't understand why she was making the choice she kept making. She did finally learn something at the end, but it was that she learned something and didn't grow really. But, I felt it was well written and that I could see the character was built well.
I would give this book a 3 star rating since the writing was actually decent. When it comes to suggesting it to others, I would say it was well written, but the content might not appeal to everyone.
This review is part of chick lit plus blog tours.
"After finding a pair of magic stilettos that transform her into the ultimate hot goddess, Madison Miller is certain she will get lucky tonight. But in her quest to find the ultimate hottie, she finds something so unexpected.
Now, as she takes a good, hard look at her life, she relives the past that transformed her into a vainglory vixen and realizes an important lesson about why she should NEVER sleep with strangers."
I felt the need to include the summary written for this book on goodreads, since I was going to have trouble writing me own. This plot is about Madison and after one more night of embarrassing herself, so goes back to reflect back on how she got to where she is now. A single mother, with a string of ex's that have all effected her in some way, yet she looks to find another to hurt her again when it is over. What will she learn in looking back now, and can she finally find peace.
This book was not really my cup of tea. I personally couldn't relate to the character and couldn't understand why she was making the choice she kept making. She did finally learn something at the end, but it was that she learned something and didn't grow really. But, I felt it was well written and that I could see the character was built well.
I would give this book a 3 star rating since the writing was actually decent. When it comes to suggesting it to others, I would say it was well written, but the content might not appeal to everyone.
This review is part of chick lit plus blog tours.
March 11, 2012
Favorable Conditions: Kathleen Kole
Pat has spent the past 18 years of her life running the household and putting her family first. Now, her youngest is off to college and has moved I with her long term boyfriend, her oldest doesn't need her anymore, her husband left a year ago and she seems to be rattling around in the family home. Now, that she has the chance to put herself and what she wants first can Pat do it. Or will she fall back into old habits of letting people (who now are just passing through her life and visiting again) change her fate and happiness or will she finally stand up for herself and choose what she wants.
Kole has done it again building amazing characters and with their development keeping the plot moving. This story could have turned into a bit of a pity party like most of our lives due at times. I think Kole did a great job of acknowledging the time where the character went through some of her mourning, but didn't let those times take over. She had appropriate amount of time pass and then we pickup the story with acknowledgement of the past time, but the character is picking up the pieces and moving on again.
I was worried with this novel and the main character being at such a different point in her life then me that I would have a hard time relating to her. Surprisingly, I didn't I could relate to Pat and the situations around her even though I don't have personal experiences like that to relate them too. I think this goes back to the great character that Kole builds, in all of her works that I have read. Also, I felt like Pat had growth and dealt with real life relatable issues, which I really appreciated in this plot.
I would give this book four stars and suggest it to my friends and other readers.
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.
March 9, 2012
Chick Lit Plus Challenge
The challenge on the side bar is to read 12 books over the year, in the chick lit genre and 2 debut authors.
Recording what I read for the challenge here
1. Stay Tuned: Lauren Clark
2. 5 Stages of Grief: Bethany Ramos
3. Year of the Chick: Romi Moondi
4. Princess of Park Avenue: Daniella Brodsky
5. One for the Money: a novel introducing Stephanie Plum: Janet Evanovich
6. Write From The Heart: Heather Hummel
7. Favorable Conditions: Kathleen Kole
8. She Tells All: Judah Lee Davis
9. Showbiz, A Notel: Ruby Preston (debute author)
10.
11.
12.
Recording what I read for the challenge here
1. Stay Tuned: Lauren Clark
2. 5 Stages of Grief: Bethany Ramos
3. Year of the Chick: Romi Moondi
4. Princess of Park Avenue: Daniella Brodsky
5. One for the Money: a novel introducing Stephanie Plum: Janet Evanovich
6. Write From The Heart: Heather Hummel
7. Favorable Conditions: Kathleen Kole
8. She Tells All: Judah Lee Davis
9. Showbiz, A Notel: Ruby Preston (debute author)
10.
11.
12.
Write From The Heart: Heather Hummel
Samantha decided it was time for a change in her life. As she was just dumped by her latest boyfriend in a string of failed relationships. She quits he day job and fully commits to her writing. She keeps working with her therapist to try and figure out what keeps going wrong in relationships. Just when she is almost ready to give up on love things start to fall into place in other parts of her life and possible love too.
Warning: my review is a bit spoilery, but I don't give away big details. I love all the romance that is in this story though it isn't the main focus. Not just the romance that Samantha finds, in the traditional sense between two humans, but the romance she has with her work too. She is following her dream and fully commits to that and that comes across as a love story for me in this novel. Both then come out in a kind of a fairy tale/perfect ending, adding in my mind to the romantic elements of the plot. A romance like this being something we all would want, but doesn't always come out that way. But, I enjoyed it in thinking of it as a fairy tale almost.
A few other thoughts I had on the plot. I appreciated how drinking was handled through this plot. It was a social or celebratory thing here. Why I appreciate it is that I feel like so many books lately, my own writing included at times, use it as a crutch for characters and just have it around so much that it is nice to read about it being used more responsibly. Also, there was some inconsistencies in the minor characters and their back stories. It was almost like there was more back stories on a few of the characters that were edited out, but a few spots were missed. It could be the reason I noticed this and it stuck with me is I read almost the whole book while at the airport waiting for flights so it was all fresh in my mind. Overall, with the elements that I loved and the romance/fairy tale of it all I give this book 4 stars and encourage anyone who wants to journal more or write to put this on there TBR list.
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.
Warning: my review is a bit spoilery, but I don't give away big details. I love all the romance that is in this story though it isn't the main focus. Not just the romance that Samantha finds, in the traditional sense between two humans, but the romance she has with her work too. She is following her dream and fully commits to that and that comes across as a love story for me in this novel. Both then come out in a kind of a fairy tale/perfect ending, adding in my mind to the romantic elements of the plot. A romance like this being something we all would want, but doesn't always come out that way. But, I enjoyed it in thinking of it as a fairy tale almost.
A few other thoughts I had on the plot. I appreciated how drinking was handled through this plot. It was a social or celebratory thing here. Why I appreciate it is that I feel like so many books lately, my own writing included at times, use it as a crutch for characters and just have it around so much that it is nice to read about it being used more responsibly. Also, there was some inconsistencies in the minor characters and their back stories. It was almost like there was more back stories on a few of the characters that were edited out, but a few spots were missed. It could be the reason I noticed this and it stuck with me is I read almost the whole book while at the airport waiting for flights so it was all fresh in my mind. Overall, with the elements that I loved and the romance/fairy tale of it all I give this book 4 stars and encourage anyone who wants to journal more or write to put this on there TBR list.
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.
February 8, 2012
One for the Money: a novel introducing Stephanie Plum: Janet Evanovich
Stephanie is out of work, out of money, and just about out of appliances to sell for money. Her parents tell her that her Cousin Vinnie may be looking for someone, but when that job is filled Stephanie blackmails him into letting her be an apprehension agent. Stephanie may be now to the job, but she knows that if she brings in Joe Morelli her money problems will be over, for awhile at least. What she forgets to factor in is her past history with Morelli and how dangerous this job can actually be.
Part of the reason I wanted to read this book is a few people have suggested it to me and of course the movie coming out. When I started the book the narrative I heard in my head was Katherine Heigle (sp) since she plays Stephanie in the movie. By the end of the book the character had come in to her own and was her own voice, which was what I had hopped for.
I thought that this was a great book for the start of a series. Though the mystery/tracking portion seems a little simple and connive toy falling into places the character building was what I felt was important in this plot and that part was well done through out the plot. I am excited to read more in the series and see how the characters continue to develop and see how the mysteries change and improve.
I would suggest this book to others and give it three stars.
Part of the reason I wanted to read this book is a few people have suggested it to me and of course the movie coming out. When I started the book the narrative I heard in my head was Katherine Heigle (sp) since she plays Stephanie in the movie. By the end of the book the character had come in to her own and was her own voice, which was what I had hopped for.
I thought that this was a great book for the start of a series. Though the mystery/tracking portion seems a little simple and connive toy falling into places the character building was what I felt was important in this plot and that part was well done through out the plot. I am excited to read more in the series and see how the characters continue to develop and see how the mysteries change and improve.
I would suggest this book to others and give it three stars.
February 5, 2012
Princess of Park Avenue: Daniella Brodsky
Lorraine Machuchi has a talent for hair dying, but works for uncle and though she challenges him, she doesn't challenge the quo. She still hangs out in the same places as she has since basically high school. With mostly the same people and is still waiting for Tommy the boy she has been on and off with for ears, who continues to play games with her. But, she tells herself that she is happy with her Brooklyn life.
After a day in Manhattan with opportunities opening up around her. She is training at a Park Avenue salon, has an apartment rent free with a dog to take care of, and the Princess of Park Avenue have adapted her into their group. Add a possible new Mr Right, that she is being thrown together with. And Tommy still playing his games Lorraine has some choices and decisions to make.
I personally found the start of this book a little slow. But, as I got farther into the plot and I guess a little more invested in the character of Lorraine then I didn't want to put the book down. The ebook version I did have had was peppered with some very distracting at times. At the end of the book, I am glad that I read the book and there were aspects that appealed to me. But, overall it was a little young for me, maybe if I had been in my early twenties still it might have appealed to me more. Also, I really hope that the ebook has some of the typos updated. So, you don't have to read sentences multiple times to make sure you got the meaning.
I would give it 2.5 stars, but am going to round up to 3. Read it is you find the summary interesting though and would love to hear more thoughts from others.
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.
January 19, 2012
Stay Tuned: Lauren Clark
Melissa Moore is a producer on the nightly news team. She was good at that with the crisis management and keeping things moving. Until, her anchors get in a fist fight on air during the 10 o'clock news. Melissa jumps in finishing the news cast. Now, she finds herself as the permanent fill in. Her personal life needs some crisis management of its own too. Melissa has found her marriage has been reduced to post it note communication. Her Mother's dementia is worrying her. Her daughter has just left for college, so Melissa is trying to find her own identity again. And she has the more responsibility at the studio. Can Melissa handle it all and what does she want to handle now?
This book had a great pace to it. The plot kept going and the characters kept moving through it all, but it still kept the pace believable at the same time. I personally think this is hard, since sometimes in order to keep a plot moving a character has to make changes fast than you would think a real person can or would. That was not the case in Stay Tuned, here I felt like Melissa learned and grew and made changes in a realistic way/pace. I enjoyed seeing her grow and found that though you knew things were going to have to change, it didn't just change in a predictable way. You were kept guessing with what was really going to happen.
There were elements of the coming of age story in this plot which I found interesting. It was the typical coming of age story, but more of the remembering yourself and that you keep growing. Maybe, you could see it as reminding us that we all have a bit of coming of age to do as we grow and change.
I would defiantly suggest this book to others. As it was a nice fun read, that has a twist on the standard chick lit plots that are out there. With a different way to approach the idea. 4 stars
This review is part of chick lit plus blog tours. There is contest on the blog tour page. Check it out and please make a comment here and there.
Where to find Stay Tuned:
Nook & iPad versions to come in March 2012
I was provided a copy of the book for review, but the summary and thoughts on the book are mine.
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