Goodreads|Amazon

Release date: September 29, 2015

Publisher: Lyrical Shine

Genre: Chick Lit

Blurb:

Falling in love is the ultimate faux pas.

Anything can happen in a year! Unemployed, homeless, and left at the altar, Vivia Perpetua Grant could see her future as a flannel pajama wearing spinster—or worse, a bag lady shuffling around Golden Gate Park. But for a girl obsessed with rock music, Chinese take-out, and the color pink, misfortune is another word for opportunity. Vivia has found her niche as an international travel writer and the long-distance lover of Jean-Luc de Caumont, an über-hot French literature professor and competitive cyclist.

Still, even with so much going right, Vivia can’t help but wonder if something isn’t missing. The long distance thing is taking its toll on a girl who didn’t have that many tokens to begin with. And fate seems to be tempting her at every turn, first with a hunky Scottish helicopter pilot, and then with a British celebrity bad boy… Will Vivia continue to keep it real or will she discover some old habits die hard?

Review:

I’m joining in again with Throwback Thursday which was created by my good friend Renee at It’s Book Talk . She started this weekly feature as a way to highlight old favorites and read books that have already been published. I have so many older books on my TBR that get ignored in favor of review copies and I figure participating in Throwback Thursday will help me to read at a least one older title a week!

Last week I read Faking It, the first book in this series and adored it! This book picks up a year after the first one ends and again (much to my delight) focuses on Vivia. I seriously love her, she was even more outrageous and fun in this book than the last and she just cracks me up! She’s the type of character that you wish was real because you know a night out with her would be amazingly fun and totally unforgettable. I liked that’s she grown and matured since the first book, but her transformation hasn’t completely changed her and she still has issues even though she has come so far. Brown doesn’t try and make her life easy and unrealistic, I appreciate that because no ones life is and often times in CL you get a HEA that’s just a little too perfect and unbelievable.

Two solid books in a row from Brown put her firmly on my short list of must read CL authors, her books are way too witty and entertaining to miss. I’m starting book three ASAP and am so excited it follows Vivia’s BFF Fanny, should be another sassy, sexy read!

Overall rating: 4/5

Thanks to the author for my review copy.

Goodreads|Amazon

Release date: May 12, 2015

Publisher: Lyrical Press

Genre: Chick Lit

Blurb:

Haven’t you ever told a little lie in the name of love?

Vivia Grant couldn’t be happier. She has her dream job and is about to marry her dream man. Does it really matter that she’s led him to believe she’s a virgin? After all, being in love makes every experience feel like the first time anyway! But an unexpected encounter with an ex-lover is about to expose her embarrassing lie…

When Vivia’s fiancé discovers the truth, he ends their engagement—via text—and uses his connections to get her fired. Unemployed and heartbroken, Vivia begins planning her new future—as a homeless spinster. But her best friend has a better idea. They’ll skip the Ben & Jerry’s binge and go on Vivia’s honeymoon instead. Two weeks cycling through Provence and Tuscany, with Luc de Caumont, a sexy French bike guide. Too bad Vivia’s not a big fan of biking. And she’s abysmal at languages. Will she fib her way through the adventure, or finally learn to love herself—and Luc—flaws and all?

Review:

I’m joining in again with Throwback Thursday which was created by my good friend Renee at It’s Book Talk . She started this weekly feature as a way to highlight old favorites and read books that have already been published. I have so many older books on my TBR that get ignored in favor of review copies and I figure participating in Throwback Thursday will help me to read at a least one older title a week!

I have a small confession. My love of reading may have started when I was a young child but what truly made me a bookworm was Chick Lit. Bridget Jones, Becky Bloomwood, and Rachel White are some of my all time favorite fictional characters, period, regardless of genre. Over time my tastes evolved and I began reading wider and found myself drawn to darker themes and my love affair with thrillers exploded and now they pretty much dominate my TBR. I still go back to my beloved CL quite often, it’ll always be one of my go to genres when I need a pick me up but it’s been a long time since I read a CL book that reminded me of the books I used to adore. Until now. Faking It had that fabulous, female empowerment vibe coupled with outrageous comedy and a dash of sexy romance that was missing from my reading life!

Vivia has an over the top type of personality that a memorable heroine needs, she’s totally hysterical AND super realistic. Everything about this one was authentic in terms of the characters and especially the dialogue, nothing was choppy or forced, the writing had a natural ease that kept me flipping pages at a rapid pace. This was a little racier than what I usually read, the sex scenes where steamy, R rated but not raunchy and relevant to the plot, which added a fun sass. I’m excited this is the first in a series, I’ll be reading the next book ASAP as I seriously can’t get enough of Vivia!

Overall rating: 4/5

Thanks to the author for my review copy.

Goodreads|Amazon

Release date: September 6, 2016

Publisher: Macmillan

Genre: Memoir

Blurb:

The highly anticipated new memoir by bestselling author Glennon Doyle Melton tells the story of her journey of self-discovery after the implosion of her marriage.

Just when Glennon Doyle Melton was beginning to feel she had it all figured out—three happy children, a doting spouse, and a writing career so successful that her first book catapulted to the top of the New York Times bestseller list—her husband revealed his infidelity and she was forced to realize that nothing was as it seemed. A recovering alcoholic and bulimic, Glennon found that rock bottom was a familiar place. In the midst of crisis, she knew to hold on to what she discovered in recovery: that her deepest pain has always held within it an invitation to a richer life.

Love Warrior is the story of one marriage, but it is also the story of the healing that is possible for any of us when we refuse to settle for good enough and begin to face pain and love head-on. This astonishing memoir reveals how our ideals of masculinity and femininity can make it impossible for a man and a woman to truly know one another – and it captures the beauty that unfolds when one couple commits to unlearning everything they’ve been taught so that they can finally, after thirteen years of marriage, fall in love.

Love Warrior is a gorgeous and inspiring account of how we are born to be warriors: strong, powerful, and brave; able to confront the pain and claim the love that exists for us all. This chronicle of a beautiful, brutal journey speaks to anyone who yearns for deeper, truer relationships and a more abundant, authentic life.

Review:

I’m joining in again with Throwback Thursday which was created by my good friend Renee at It’s Book Talk . She started this weekly feature as a way to highlight old favorites and read books that have already been published. I have so many older books on my TBR that get ignored in favor of review copies and I figure participating in Throwback Thursday will help me to read at a least one older title a week!

I usually don’t read much non fiction, but if I am in the mood, I tend to gravitate towards memoirs, there is something about someones personal story that is fascinating to me, especially when it’s just an average person sharing their life experiences.

One must be honest when they’re sharing the story of their life, this isn’t fiction where you can invent situations and experiences to suit whatever type of theme you’re striving for and the author was brutally honest as she detailed her struggles with bulimia, alcoholism and her marriage. This was such a raw look at one woman’s life, she allowed herself to be extremely vulnerable in order to share deep parts of her with the world, I so admire her bravery. She doesn’t apologize for the mistakes that she made, she doesn’t feel ashamed to just be who she truly is, but she reveals the painful steps she had to take in order to become her true self and it was beautiful to witness.

I found Doyle Melton to be sharply insightful and wise beyond her years, yes parts of this book were dark but I was so inspired as a woman by the nuggets of wisdom she shared. It was an intimate look at her life and her marriage which is rife with problems and beyond messy, but it was real, honest and heartfelt. If you enjoy memoirs, give this a try. Would also be good for anyone in the midst of a divorce or contemplating one.

Overall rating: 4.5/5

Goodreads|Amazon

Release date: April 4, 2017

Publisher: Kindle Press

Genre: Women’s Fiction

It’s a piece of news Daphne never expected to hear: Her globe-trotting friend Skylar, who vowed never to get married, is engaged! Time to celebrate in Manhattan—Skylar’s treat, of course. After years scaling the corporate ladder, she can more than afford it.

Daphne arrives in NYC with news of her own—the novel she’s finally finished appears to be going nowhere but the trash bin of every publishing house around. She’s devastated but plans to keep her disappointment under wraps, something that becomes trickier when she sees Skylar’s spectacular apartment. Could her life have been like this if she’d chosen a different path?

What Daphne doesn’t know is she’s not the only one with a secret. Skylar and their friend KC are also holding something back, but what? As the trip unfolds, the truth about each woman emerges, along with tears.

And laughter. And love.

The fun-loving trio readers fell for in Wait for the Rain is together once more. Here’s to the power of friendship!

Review:

I’m joining in again with Throwback Thursday which was created by my good friend Renee at It’s Book Talk . She started this weekly feature as a way to highlight old favorites and read books that have already been published. I have so many older books on my TBR that get ignored in favor of review copies and I figure participating in Throwback Thursday will help me to read at a least one older title a week!

This is the second book in a series that follows three college friends, now in their forties but still with strong ties to each other. I fell in love with Daphne, Skylar and KC when I read Wait for the Rain, I just loved their unique bond and how authentic their friendship came through thanks to Murnane’s realistic writing style. It was awesome catching up with these ladies and seeing what they’ve been up to since the last book.

This follows them during one weekend in NYC to celebrate the fact that Skylar is engaged. Much as in the first book there was plenty of humor and heart. There’s a lot of inspiration to be found here, tons of female empowerment and as much as Daphne has grown since Wait for the Rain she’s still figuring out how to navigate through life as a single woman who’s daughter is about to head off to college. This was another light, breezy read that’s perfect to settle down with for an afternoon. I hope Murnane has plans for another book because I’m really enjoying seeing these characters learn and grow!

Overall rating: 4/5

Thanks to the author for my review copy.

Goodreads|Amazon
Release date: April 25, 2017

Publisher: Simon & Schuster

Genre: Contemporary Fiction 

Blurb: 

The #1 New York Times bestselling author of A Man Called Ove returns with a dazzling, profound novel about a small town with a big dream–and the price required to make it come true.

People say Beartown is finished. A tiny community nestled deep in the forest, it is slowly losing ground to the ever encroaching trees. But down by the lake stands an old ice rink, built generations ago by the working men who founded this town. And in that ice rink is the reason people in Beartown believe tomorrow will be better than today. Their junior ice hockey team is about to compete in the national semi-finals, and they actually have a shot at winning. All the hopes and dreams of this place now rest on the shoulders of a handful of teenage boys.

Being responsible for the hopes of an entire town is a heavy burden, and the semi-final match is the catalyst for a violent act that will leave a young girl traumatized and a town in turmoil. Accusations are made and, like ripples on a pond, they travel through all of Beartown, leaving no resident unaffected.

Beartown explores the hopes that bring a small community together, the secrets that tear it apart, and the courage it takes for an individual to go against the grain. In this story of a small forest town, Fredrik Backman has found the entire world. 

Review: 

I’m joining in again with Throwback Thursday which was created by my good friend Renee at It’s Book Talk. She started this weekly feature as a way to highlight old favorites and read books that have already been published. I have so many older books on my TBR that get ignored in favor of review copies and I figure participating in Throwback Thursday will help me to read at a least one older title a week!

I’m going to keep this fairly brief as I don’t think anything I can say will convey just how beautiful and special this book is. It is unlike anything I’ve ever read before and I was actually super hesitant even though all of my most trusted blog buddies raved about, I should’ve known they would never let me down! I was mainly nervous because I am not a sports fan at all, ironic because I’m married to one of the biggest sports fans on the planet, but I digress. I wasn’t sure a book based on a small towns obsession with hockey would work for me but boy was I wrong. It’s SO much more than that, it’s deep, profound and extremely moving, it’s subtle and gorgeous and the language is amazingly simple but haunting in spectacular way. I will never forget this book or its characters and I highly recommend this to any reader, I truly think everyone can learn something from this one or at the very least be touched by it in some way.

Overall rating: 5/5

Goodreads|Amazon
Release date: January 9, 2017

Genre: Psychological Thriller

Blurb:

Press, tap, refresh…

When Autumn Carpenter stumbles upon the social media account of the family who adopted her infant daughter years ago, she finds herself instantly drawn into their picture-perfect existence. 

From behind a computer screen, Autumn watches Grace’s every memory, from birthdays to holidays to bedtime snuggles. But what starts as an innocent fascination spirals into an addictive obsession met with a screeching halt the day the McMullen family closes their Instaface account without so much as a warning. 

Frantic and desperate to reconnect with her daughter, Autumn applies for a nanny position with the McMullens, manipulating herself into Grace’s life under false pretenses. And it’s only then that Autumn discovers pictures lie, the perfect family doesn’t exist, and beautiful people? They have the ugliest secrets. 

I want to start this with a little disclaimer as I’ve added my own spin to this great weekly meme. Last week my friend Annie pointed out that my TBT pick was a 2017 release and probably not technically a throwback pick, and she’s totally right! But in order to make a dent in my massive back catalogue I HAVE to start reading some books that are on the newer side or I’ll never get caught up. Any book I feature for TBT will be one that is already out and not an ARC though and I will definitely be featuring some old favorites as well. I’ve been wanting to reread some Karin Slaughter for ages because I’m a tiny bit obsessed with her and I have a huge stack of books in my personal TBR to read as well. 

Review: 

I’m joining in again with Throwback Thursday which was created by my good friend Renee at It’s Book Talk. She started this weekly feature as a way to highlight old favorites and read books that have already been published. I have so many older books on my TBR that get ignored in favor of review copies and I figure participating in Throwback Thursday will help me to read at a least one older title a week!

I have to thank my girl Chelsea for putting this one on my radar, her Goodreads review caught my eye and she has excellent taste so I snagged a copy and I am SO happy I did! This was pure entertainment, one of the most enjoyable books I’ve read in awhile and had all the things I look for in a psychological thriller.

The less you know the better here, so if the description intrigues you I say give it a shot.  It’s told via dual narratives, it flips from Autumn to Daphne and both viewpoints were equally engaging. I was completely addicted to this book, it was the type that you’re thinking about when you’re not reading it and had I been able to I would’ve devoured it in one sitting. Everything about it felt fresh and exciting and of course it was twisty, what’s a psychological thriller without some twists?! But it was a great read even without the twists, I think I just loved Kent’s style and it had a super strong ending that just worked well for me. Fans of this genre should definitely pick this up and then come chat with me when you finish it!

Overall rating: 5/5

Goodreads|Amazon|Author Website
Release date: February 7, 2017

Publisher: St. Martin’s Press

Genre: Mystery/Thriller, Medical Thriller

Blurb:

From the author of Doing Harm, a thriller in which a grieving, vengeful husband stalks the surgeon he blames for his wife’s untimely death.

Morgan Finney, a biotechnology tycoon, is a shy, highly intelligent but socially awkward and emotionally fragile man. It was his wife, Jenny, with whom he connected and who enabled him to connect with others. When Jenny dies of complications during a surgery led by Dr. Rita Wu, Finney’s grief turns to rage. He vows to kill Rita just as he believes she killed his wife. But first he will systematically destroy her life. Aided by a mysterious man named Sebastian, Finney uses advanced medical technology to brainwash Rita. He tricks her into ruining her reputation and brings her to the brink of madness. Alone, fighting for her sanity and life, Rita reaches out to ex-lover Dr. Spencer Cameron. Together they uncover Finney’s horrific intentions and race to stop him.

Review: 

I’m joining in again with Throwback Thursday which was created by my good friend Renee at It’s Book Talk. She started this weekly feature as a way to highlight old favorites and read books that have already been published. I have so many older books on my TBR that get ignored in favor of review copies and I figure participating in Throwback Thursday will help me to read at a least one older title a week!

I haven’t read many medical thrillers and I’m not sure exactly why because the few I’ve read I really enjoyed! There’s something terrifying about the plausibility of these types of books, the idea that it really could actually happen that makes for such a compelling read. 

While the initial premise for this was a bit far fetched, (crazy grieving husband turns psycho and takes extreme measures to get revenge on his wife’s surgeon) the actual medical advances seem like something that could possibly happen. It all revolves around an auto surgeon which is basically a super advanced robot that can perform an actual operation on its own. There’s also brainwashing and this totally creeped me out and made for such a sinister read. 

Parsons is a solid writer and I really liked that he clearly has a medical background, it was evident in the use of procedures and medical terminology, but it was all basic enough that it wasn’t confusing for an average reader like me. The story unfolds through four separate viewpoints; Rita the surgeon, Finney the grieving husband, Sebastian who works for Finney and Spencer another surgeon who is also Rita’s ex. The pacing was fast and very intense, as it reached the end the narratives really started to blend together seamlessly and became exciting and unbelievably tense. This would be great for fans of standard thrillers who are looking for something different!

Overall rating: 4/5

Thanks to the publisher for my review copy.