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.

Slightly slower posts coming up

Just wanted to do a quick housekeeping note here. I have been good lately staying ahead and having a new review up every week. My reviews are going to become a bit more intermittent for a bit. I do still have reviews coming up, for blog tours and requests and just some books that I want to read. They aren't necessarily going to be consistent and each week like they have been.

My life is about to get more complicated for awhile. In that I am due this coming Saturday 02.02.13. So, I will have a few other things needing my attention, more than just my blog. I don't plan on letting this go entirely and will be posting reviews, just know that at least for the next few month they are going to be a bit more intermittent.

That is all stay tuned for more.

Death Turns a Trick (Rebecca Schwartz Mysteries #1): Julie Smith

Rebecca Schwartz, is a Jewish Feminist lawyer, who has found herself legal representation too and a growing friendship with operator of a bordello co-op. She happens to play the piano too, it is what her Mother wanted her to peruse but more of a stress reliving pastime for her. One night she ends up playing the piano for a party in whorehouse and during a police raid finds her job is to get a near0naked senator out. She finds herself picked up and spending some time at the Hall of Justice explaining her situation.
Finally, home Rebecca finds one of the girls from her the party earlier dead on her living room floor. The next morning she finds out that her new beau, Parker Phillips, is the brother of the dead hooker and has been arrested for her murder. With a new client to defend, a murder to investigate that has all sorts of new clues and things popping up in her apartment, and the press keep running into her. Especially, reporter Rob Burns who starts to help Rebecca, but the lines are starting to get blurred a little there too.

I enjoyed reading about Rebecca and feel like this book did a great job at establishing a character for Rebecca. I think there were some great support character that were built and established in this book too. As well as a mystery that was set up and solved in a say that it wasn't obvious to the reader the whole time, but wasn't a complicated mess to unravel either. I did find the end of the book a little abrupt at first. I don't know why, everything was really wrapped up. For, me it was this is just kind of how it all worked out and scene. But, I felt like I was ready to move on and read more about the characters. I think the Rebecca Schwartz has places it is going to go.

I would recommend this book to others who enjoy mysteries and were looking for a series. I would give it three 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.

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.

When It Happens to You: Molly Ringwald

A collection of short stories that remind me a bit of Love Actually. Greta and Phillip are college sweethearts that have a daughter Charlotte. Greta is desperate for more, but she is not sure so much about Phillip anymore. They fall apart as a couple. The rest of the books follow people that float in and out of their lives over the next year as they try to figure out what they want and are, separated, apart or together. Each builds on their own and stands as a short story on their own, but you like seeing the familiar characters as they past through touching the others lives.

i enjoyed this book and the characters. I was frustrated by their actions at times, ways I couldn't relate to them. But, yet I still found myself looking for them in each of the next story. Wanting to know more. Wanting to be able to fill in the the blanks that were missing between stories or what was going to happen to each of them next. I even wanted to know more about the characters that weren't main characters, ones that just happened to be a supporting characters in one of the stories, that were just mentioned off hand in other stories. It all just let me wanting to know more about each of the characters.

I would give this book 4 stars in that I really enjoyed the book and couldn't put it down. I wanted to keep devouring the next story, but it did leave you wanting more with the holes that were left in the characters.  It makes you think. I am actually still processing it, as I just finished this book. But, I guess it comes down to I would say that Ringwald is someone to watch if she comes out with more books and an author's who's work is worth picking up.

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.