50 ways to Find a Lover by Lucy-Anne Holmes

*****5 stars
WOW! This book got amazing reviews and I was worried after reading several book about online and blogging. I was afraid that they would mesh. Not the case at all. Holmes has a witty dialogue and feisty characters that you can't help but enjoy and smile at. I truly enjoyed this book thoroughly and found it fresh and terribly funny at times. It is definitely one to pass on to friends.

Book Jacket Summary:
I feel like a failure. It's now been 351 days since I had sex. That's a carnal drought. If Bob Geldof knew about it he'd hold a concert. Sarah Sargeant has been single for three years and nine months. She has just spent five months plucking up the courage to ask out a balding man with a paunch who works in her local pub. The gentleman in question informed her that he would rather stay in and watch the "Narnia" movie on DVD. Her pride has not just been bruised, it's been disemboweled. And she vows it's the last time she will ever reach out to a member of the opposite sex. But her family and friends have other ideas. They enter her into a reality TV show against her will, persuade her to go speed dating and even more radically, they encourage her to start a blog. Suddenly Sarah Sargeant is on a mission. A mission to explore 50 ways to find a lover.

There's cake in my future by Kim Gruenenfelder

*****5 stars
I really loved this book. You really can't go wrong with this author. She is amazing. There hasn't been a book of hers that I have read that I hadn't finished smiling. I truly loved the plot and had never heard of these charms being put in a cake and think that it was a fabulous plot and well executed. I poured through it and ignored all other responsibilities for an entire day. :)

Book Jacket Summary:
After listening to her closest friends’ latest travails in love, parenting, and careers, superstitious bride-to-be Nicole (Nic) believes she has the perfect recipe for everyone’s happiness: a bridal shower “cake pull” in which each ribboned silver charm planted in her cake will bring its recipient the magical assistance she needs to change her destiny. Melissa (Mel), still ringless after dating the same man for six years, deserves the engagement ring charm. The red hot chili pepper would be perfect for Seema, who is in love with her best male friend Scott, but can’t seem to make their relationship more than platonic. And recently laid off journalist Nic wants the shovel, which symbolizes hard work, to help her get her career back on track. Nic does everything she can to control who gets which silver keepsake – as well as the future it represents. But when the charmed cake is mysteriously shifted from the place settings Nic arranged around it, no one gets the charm she chose for them. And when the other party guests’ fortunes begin coming true, Mel, Seema, and Nic can’t help but wonder…. Is the cake trying to tell them something?

12 days of Christmas by Trisha Ashley

****4 stars
This is only one of the several Trisha Ashley books that I have read, but I have always found her books to be a solid read with lots of depth. This is a beautiful holiday book. As I am from Virginia, USA and not familiar with many of the traditions or meals cooked in this book it was entertaining as well as educational. I thoroughly loved this book. My only negative comment would be that it ended too quickly, would have liked the end to have lingered out a page or two more :)

Book Jacket Summary:
Christmas has always been a sad time for young widow Holly Brown, so when she's asked to look after a remote house on the Lancashire moors, the opportunity to hide herself away is irresistible – the perfect excuse to forget about the festivities.
Sculptor, Jude Martland, is determined that this year there will be no Christmas after his brother runs off with his fiancée and he is keen to avoid the family home. However, he will have to return by the twelfth night of the festivities, when the hamlet of Little Mumming hold their historic festivities and all of his family are required to attend.
Meanwhile, Holly is finding that if she wants to avoid Christmas, she has come to the wrong place. When Jude unexpectedly returns on Christmas Eve he is far from delighted to discover that Holly seems to be holding the very family party he had hoped to avoid.
Suddenly, the blizzards come out of nowhere and the whole village is snowed in. With no escape, Holly and Jude get much more than they bargained for – it looks like the twelve days of Christmas are going to be very interesting indeed!

The first love Cookie Club by Lori Wilde

*** 3 stars
A great quick holiday read that will warm you up. I love the small town and community shown in this book. It was a feel good romance with a couple story lines.

Book Jacket Summary:
"On Christmas Eve, if you sleep with kismet cookies under your pillow and dream of your one true love, he will be your destiny."
The townsfolk of Twilight, Texas, believe the legend, but not Sarah Collier—not since she was a pudgy teenager, running down the church aisle on Christmas Day in a jingle bell sweater and reindeer antlers, trying to stop Travis Walker from marrying someone else. She may be grown-up, slimmed-down, bestselling children's book author "Sadie Cool"now, but Sarah will never forget that day. And she'll never fall foolishly in love again!
But when a letter from a sick fan brings Sarah back to Twilight, she's shocked to discover that Travis is the little girl's father—unattached and hotter than ever. His smile still makes her melt, but Sarah knows that ship has sailed. Travis, however, might have different ideas.

Maybe this time by Jennifer Cruise

****4 stars
I have read a lot of Jennifer Cruise books and find this one just as good. I always love her characters. This one had a bit of a paranormal story line which I wasn't so sure about, not really my cuppa, but found it was very good and kept me wanting enthused to keep going. Enjoyable read!

Book Jacket Summary:
Andie Miller is ready to move on in life. She wants to marry her fiancé and leave behind everything in her past, especially her ex-husband, North Archer. But when Andie tries to gain closure with him, he asks one final favor of her before they go their separate ways forever. A very distant cousin of his has died and left North as the guardian of two orphans who have driven out three nannies already, and things are getting worse. He needs a very special person to take care of the situation and he knows Andie can handle anything.

When Andie meets the two children she quickly realizes things are much worse than she feared. The place is a mess, the children, Carter and Alice, aren’t your average delinquents, and the creepy old house where they live is being run by the worst housekeeper since Mrs. Danvers. What’s worse, Andie’s fiancé thinks this is all a plan by North to get Andie back, and he may be right. Andie’s dreams have been haunted by North since she arrived at the old house. And that’s not the only haunting.

What follows is a hilarious adventure in exorcism, including a self-doubting parapsychologist, an annoyed medium, her Tarot-card reading mother, an avenging ex-mother-inlaw, and, of course, her jealous fiancé. And just when she thinks things couldn’t get more complicated, North shows up on the doorstep making her wonder if maybe this time things could be different between them.

If Andie can just get rid of all the guests and ghosts, she’s pretty sure she can save the kids, and herself, from the past. But fate might just have another thing in mind…

The birds and the Bees by Milly Johnson

****4 stars
I apologize about this book. I have had it on my bookshelf for some time. I had brought it down once and made it 3-4 pages in and decided I wasn't really hip on the male character Adam. I was recently reading reviews and found other peoples interest in this book, so out of curiosity brought it back down and read it. It was fabulous! I ended up adoring Adam, just goes to show how prejudices get in the way. This book is based on misconceptions and I definitely didn't give credit where it was due. A definite must read!

Book Jacket summary:
Romance writer and single mum Stevie Honeywell has only weeks to go to her wedding when her fiance Matthew runs off with her glamorous new friend Jo MacLean. It feels like history repeating itself for Stevie, but this time she is determined to win back her man. She isn't going to act as he might expect. She isn't going to wail and dig her heels in, she is simply going to pretend to let him go whilst she pursues a mad course of dieting, exercising and self-improvement. And it feels like history is repeating itself for Adam MacLean too, who is also determined to win his lady, Jo, back with the same basic psychological tactics. Then he is going to initiate his master plan: Getting together with Stevie to drive Jo wild with jealousy. So, like the Scottish country jig 'The Birds and the Bees', the couples all change partners and learn some revealing truths about each other along the way. But what happens when Adam's master plan actually starts to work? And just who will Stevie be dancing with when the music stops?

The last to Know By Melissa Hill

*****5 stars
I would give this 10 stars if I could. I am a HUGE fan of Melissa Hill but this book is just superior to me. It isn't your normal contemporary fiction. I love the style in which Hill writes, you never know what turns are coming and although you feel the suspense building and know that something is coming you are never able say "oh I saw that coming". This book was fresh and new and touched me so intensely that I had to put it down and immediately tell my husband about it as well as friends. It literally had me saying "WOW". I am the first to give a chuckle in a book or feel a loss, but I was utterly moved while reading this that my daughter asked me if I was ok. I thoroughly enjoyed this book and feel it will always be one I can look back on and remember the plot by detail and how it moved me, if you are an avid reader as I am, then you know how important this is.

Book Jacket summary:
Eve knows what she wants.
After nine good years and two kids together, it's about time Liam made an honest woman of her.
Eve's sister Sam knows more than she should.
Sam's always thought Eve was too good for Liam. Then she learns the truth about his business trips to Australia, and her suspicions are confirmed.
And Brooke, safe on the other side of the world; knows nothing.

Out of the Blue by Belinda Jones

*****5 stars
I have read other books by Belinda Jones, Divas Las Vegas being my favorite, as I love Las Vegas and the energy that you get when visiting and really feel that in her book, but without having been to Crete, found this may have just taken my first place notch, if not tied. The suspense and constant changes in this book had me eating it up in two sittings in one day! I literally couldn't put it down. I loved the characters and the way the plot twisted and turned. I had read several other books by Jones and decided I would wait so that they didn't seem to run together. I enjoyed this book and ran right out and got "I love Capri". I have decided to wait to read it as a special treat. I have many other books that have been waiting for my attention and knowing a firm read is in the waiting has it's motivation :)

Book Jacket Summary:
Selena Harper always thought she had the perfect job: working on a luxury cruise ship, she's whisked around the world from Alaska to Zanzibar with excitement and adventure awaiting her in every port. But as she prepares for her latest shore-leave and finds herself unexpectedly deserted by her newly-engaged best friend she begins to wonder if life on the ocean wave really is her dream come true. Why is she the only one who isn't settling down? And how can she be feeling homesick when she has no home?
On a whim, she agrees to spend a week on the idyllic island of Crete, in the company of Alekos, a man she's convinced is an incorrigible womanizer. Steeped in mythology, the island soon starts to work it's magic on Selena - and, more worryingly, so does Alekos. Is he really the cad she's always thought him to be? Or could it turn out that his home is where her heart is?

Start me up by Victoria Dahl

***3 stars
This is the second book to this series, the first being "Talk me Down". I liked this one as well and found it to be a solid read. I don't think it held the same place for me as the first book, but still was a great read. I am gonna hold off and read the third one with a bit more time. I think that I had a harder time getting into the characters with this one than in the first one, but still look forward to reading the third book in this series.

Book Jacket Summary:
Lori had always planned to get out of tiny Tumble Creek, Colorado, but when her late dad left her his beloved auto body shop, she'd stayed. Now, according to her crazy best friend, Molly, what Lori needs is some excitement, in the form of hot, no-strings-attached sex…and lots of it.

Quinn Jennings has buildings on the brain—not love and romance. A serious architect, he's delighted to discover that Lori is willing to skip dating protocols and head straight for the sheets. And aided by the steamy books on Lori's bedside table, he's busy indulging both of their wildest fantasies. But when life in Tumble Creek takes a dangerous turn for Lori, Quinn's protective instincts kick in.

Suddenly he cares. More than either of them ever expected….

Talk me Down by Victoria Dahl

****4 Stars
First book I have read by this author. I am really glad that I went ahead and ordered the follow up book to this series. I really loved the character Molly. I find these are a guilty pleasure and enjoyed every minute. I don't read too many of these as sometimes I feel the plots tend to blend. I did find these characters fresh and the dialogue great!

Book Jacket Summary:
Molly Jenkins has one naughty little secret: her job as a bestselling erotic fiction author. Until her inspiration runs dry—thanks to a creepy ex—and it's time to skip town and move back to tiny Tumble Creek, Colorado.

One look at former high school hunk chief of police Ben Lawson and Molly is back in business. The town gossip is buzzing at her door and, worse still, a stalker seems to be watching her every move. Thankfully, her very own lawman has taken to coming over, often. The only problem now is that Molly may have to let the cat out of the bag about her chosen profession, and straitlaced Ben will definitely not approve.…

Tug of Love by Allie Spencer

*** 3 stars
I had previously read Spencer's book "The Not-so-secret Diary of a City Girl: Sex, scams and scandal". When I finished I immediately ordered her previous book "Tug of Love". I found that his book felt as though it dragged for me. It was a book filled of constant chaos and drama that kept the story line going, I am just not sure I really ever felt the depth of the character, so wasn't as interested as what was next to come. I at times was counting the pages to see how many til it ended. There were times where something would grab me and keep me reading, but it just never really caught me fully. Still it had a lot going on and was an ok read, just didn't pull me in as much as her "The Not-so-secret Diary of a City Girl". I still will be on the look out to see what she does next.

Book Jacket Summary:
Love, lust and litigation – a riveting romance so addictive it should be illegal!

Unsurprisingly, divorce barrister Lucy Stone is a bit of a cynic when it comes to love. And working with egotistical weasel Hugo Spade doesn’t help matters. Then Mark comes along, ticking all the boxes, and Lucy can’t believe her luck. But when Lucy has to choose between the man of her dreams and the career opportunity of a lifetime, it seems there really is no justice in the world. And the re-appearance of sexy-ex Jonathan is the last thing she needs. Is Lucy about to be found guilty of making the biggest mistake of her life?

Happily Ever After by Nora Roberts

*****5stars
A wonderful ending to this quartet. I loved how it portrayed the main character Parker, but it entwined the previous characters more than in previous sequel books. This book brought it all together and I was sad when it ended and knew this was the end of the series. I definitely wouldn't pass up this series if you get the chance to read it :)

Book Jacket Summary:
As the public face of Vows wedding planning company, Parker Brown has an uncanny knack for fulfilling every bride's vision. She just can't see where her own life is headed. Mechanic Malcomb Kavanaugh loves figuring out how things work, and Parker is no exception. Both know that moving from minor flirtation to major hook-up is a serious step. Parker's business risks have always paid off, but now she'll have to take the chance of a lifetime with her heart...

Single in the city by Michele Gorman

** 2 stars
While this wasn't my cup of tea per se, I have read other reviews and found it terribly popular. I just couldn't seem to get into this book. It has many witty comments, but I felt it was a bit all over the place. I kept up with what was going on but found it seemed to go on and on in one part, where another part had virtually no substance to it. It just didn't hold my attention. I am thinking I am going to give this another shot at a later date, but for now, will not be passing this one along. I hate to leave a negative comment, as the author had a very witty writing style it just didn't come together and grab me. I actually found myself counting pages and contemplating putting it down, which I rarely ever will do.

Book Jacket Summary:
It’s official. Hannah has left her friends and family in the US behind and is following her dream. To live in London. Unfortunately she's completely unprepared for what's in store. She’s going to find: 1. Her dream guy. A prince or Hugh Grant would be nice. Or does she have to settle for her half-naked Australian housemate or an "English gentleman" with terrible hygiene habits? 2. Her dream job. Something fantastic in fashion. So how has she ended up being the mini-me for an evil party planner who doesn’t even trust her to arrange the paperclips? 3. Her dream friends. But everyone in London seems to have known each other for years and Hannah’s having trouble getting to know nice people. Who’s she going to have fun with? Dream life? Should Hannah just dream on? Maybe it would have been simpler and cheaper to just get a new haircut. Was she mad to move 3,000 miles away from everyone she knows? Will she ever find love and her perfect life in England?

Alphabet Weekends by Elizabeth Noble

****4 stars
I really enjoyed this book. When I have read other reviews people were either loving it or hating it. I fall in to the category of loving it. There were numerous characters, but each chapter was labeled as to whom it was referring to. I had seen where this threw other people off but found it easy to keep straight. It is about three different couple and where they are at in their relationship. Although much of the book is centered around Natalie and Tom, the other characters are well formed. I really liked how they all interlinked. This was a great read that held my attention and had me smiling throughout. Definitely something to pass on to a friend.

Book Jacket Summary:
Natalie and Tom have been best friends forever, but Tom wants them to be much more. When Natalie's longtime boyfriend walks out on her just when she thinks he's going to propose, Tom offers her a different and wildly romantic proposition. He suggests that they spend twenty-six weekends together, indulging in twenty-six different activities from A to Z, and at the end of that time Tom's convinced they'll be madly in love. Natalie, however, is not so sure.
As Natalie's touring the alphabet with Tom, her mother's going through her own romantic crisis—while Tom's unhappily married sister-in-law, Lucy, struggles with temptation. And over the course of six amazing months, three generations of passionate dreamers are going to discover that, no matter how clever they are, love—and life—is never as easy as A, B, C . . .

The Not-so-Secret Diary of a Cirty Girl by Allie Spencer

***** 5 stars
This was a new author for me. I thoroughly enjoyed the book and the suspense throughout. The characters are well formed and it is quick paced. You will blo through this book and be sorry it ended. I have already gone and ordered her other book and am awaiting it to arrive in the mail. I will definitely be passing this one along to my friends.

Book Jacket Summary:
Think your secrets are safe? You can't bank on it.
When it comes to analyzing her life, banking analyst Laura McGregor keeps some things safely concealed in her electronic diary: musing on her lackluster relationship with trader Tom, numbers not adding up in a new boss Will's accounts, and her knee-trembling attraction to dirt-digging journalist Alex.
But what if someone accidentally uploaded the diary on to the internet for all to see? Could Laura stop her reputation - and her heart - from being dragged through the mud?

Love Me if You Dare by Carly Phillips

****4 Stars
Great follow-up from Kiss me if you can. You actually see a couple of the characters resurface or get mentioned. I enjoyed this one as well. It is a light quick paced read. If you haven't read a Carly Phillips book these two will defintely have you wanting to read more.

Book Jacket Summary:
When hostage negotiator Rafe Mancuso takes a bullet to save Sara Rios, his former partner, his actions make him a bona fide hero—and New York City's newest most eligible bachelor. Then Rafe admits that Sara is much more than just another woman he's rescued. Suddenly, a firestorm of gossip turns him into exactly what he doesn't want to be: the Bachelor Blog's newest hot topic. His only solution is to leave town and get himself out of the spotlight…and sexy, jaded Sara out of his mind.

NYPD officer Sara Rios has Rafe to thank for saving her life, and Rafe to blame for the media chaos surrounding her. She wants to throw herself back into duty at full throttle, but until her injuries heal, she's on leave and in search of her rescuer. From the moment she finds Rafe and meets his large, boisterous family, she's hooked. But mutual attraction doesn't always mean happily-ever-after, and these two have a long way to go to find their fairy-tale ending….

Kiss my If you can by Carly Phillips

****4 stars
Carly Phillips writes books that you can just loose yourself in and get caught up in a good mystery or romance or both. Kiss me if you can has a bit of both. This is the beginner book of a new series she is writing and I have already gotten the second and am ready to dig in. Although from the beginning you can see what direction the book is taking and can assume the outcome, you always know that you will enjoy the ride to the end. Thank you for my bit of escapism.

Book Jacket Summary:
Sam Cooper ("Coop") has just become the most eligible bachelor in New York City. Now that he has foiled a jewelry-store robbery and has been rewarded with the ring of his choice, single women all over the city are fawning over the crime reporter. But Coop isn't interested in the admirers sending racy underwear his way. His attention is centered solely on Lexie Davis, the only woman in the city who claims not to be interested in his bachelor status.
Instead, free-spirited Lexie is interested in Coop's antique ring, and its—potentially scandalous—history in her family. But Coop is quickly becoming more than just her route to the ring. When his investigation starts to uncover the truth, will she trust her heart—and her family secrets—to this most eligible bachelor?

The Truth about You by Melissa Hill

*****5 stars
OMG! I loved this book. I noticed when reading the book summary that there wasn't really a romance involved in this one, so I put this book off, even though Melissa Hill is one of my favorite authors. I love the way she spins a story and the twists that lay within. Her characters are all identifiable even though some you may not like ;). I can honestly say I devoured this book as I have all her others and wish I hadn't put it aside to wait on reading. I look forward to her next book whenever that may be!

Book jacket Summary:
When a newborn baby is found abandoned on the doorstep of a local cafe everyone is forced to ask - who could the child possibly belong to?
Happily-married Jess feels increasingly left out as the only non-mum amongst her friends. Terrifies that she will lose them, she wonders if it's time to become a mother herself. but is she rushing into something she knows nothing about?
Meanwhile Hollywood actress Ruth Seymour is about to return home. But an ill-advised fling with a handsome co-star has resulted in one seriously unplanned consequence.
And newly-single Nina has come back to the small Irish town of Lakeview to live with her estranged father, Patrick. though she will have to eventually ,she doesn't yet dare tell him about the secret she is concealing.
One thing's for sure: someone knows more than they're telling.
And the truth won't stay hidden forever...

The Paradise Room by Belinda Jones

****4 stars
Another solid read by Jones. I love how she is constantly taking us somewhere different and the way she describes it makes you feel as though you are there seeing it or wanting to make it one of your own adventures. Diva Las Vegas is still my favorite read by her but this is coming in close second. I can't wait to get into my next book of hers. Definite feel good book to pass along to a friend.

Book Jacket Summary:
When Amber Pepper's jeweller boyfriend Hugh asks her to join him on a business trip to the paradise islands of Tahiti she's not keen - Amber loves big jumpers and rain. She'd rather be pedalling through puddles at home in Oxford than lolling in the gel-blue waters of the South Pacific. However, the prospect of sipping Mai Tais with her long-lost friend Felicity is incentive enough to coax her on the twenty-hour flight.
Within hours of touching down on coral sands the girls venture into a seductive new world of mesmerising music, exotic black pearls and sexy strangers. And for the first time Amber falls head over flip-flops in lust, only to receive an unexpected marriage proposal.
Will she opt for a barefoot beach wedding or cast caution - and her coconut bra - to the wind? No easy decision for a drizzle-loving gal when it's ninety degrees in the shade...

Practically Perfect by Katie Fforde

**** 4 stars
Fforde books are great. I love her characters and the charm that you just feel when you are reading her books. This isn't my favorite Fforde book, but still is a great read. I really loved Chloe, she was the best friend and such a likeable character. I can't wait to read my next Fforde book.

Book Jacket Summary:
Anna, a newly qualified interior designer, has decided it's time to put her money where her mouth is and risk everything to buy a tiny but adorable cottage in desperate need of renovation.

Outside, the chocolate-box cottage is perfect, but inside, all is chaos. With a ladder for a staircase, no downstairs flooring, candles the only form of lighting, and a sleeping bag and camping mat for a bed. Anna soon wonders if she's bitten off more than she can chew.

Her neighbor Chloe comes to the rescue, providing tea, wine, and sympathy - and a recently rescued greyhound, Caroline. But just as Anna's starting to settle in, make new friends, and the house transforming before her eyes, the good-looking yet impossible Rob Hunter arrives on the scene and puts even more obstacles in her way. Will Anna be able to get over all of life's hurdles in the end, or will she stumble and fall?

Living La Vida Loca by Belinda Jones

***3 stars
I hate to give it such a low mark. I have loved all of her books. This books just didn't pull me in as the others did. I had a hard time liking the characters and it just didn't grab me like her other books have. I still look forward to my other books I have on the shelf by Jones, and think that this book just wasn't my thing.

Book Jacket Summary:
Carmen has been feeling the need to break free for too darn long!

So when her equally frustrated friend Beth suggests the ultimate escape-dancing their way through a series of scorchingly-hot countries-she can't resist.

There's just one catch...they can only go on this adventure if they participate in a reality TV show, one intent on teaching them the mournful tango in Argentina, the feisty flamenco in Spain, and the sassy, celebratory salsa in Cuba.

As they travel from Buenos Aires to Seville and ultimately steamy Havanna, each dance has a profound effect on the girls - as indeed do the sexy guachos, matadors and dirty dancers who partner them...

But, when the sun goes down, will Beth and Carmen have what it takes to go beyond the steps and free their hearts for love?

Cafe Tropicana by Belinda Jones

****4 stars
I loved this book! Belinda Jones does it again. They way she is able to describe a place makes you feel as though you are there visiting yourself. Her romance also is just enough to keep you interested but in suspension as well. I truly enjoy reading her books!

Book Jacket Summary:
Latte-love Ava Langston knows exactly what she wants: her very own cafe in Regency arcade in Bath and a life free of complicated relationships. But her plans go awry when her long-distance dad phones insisting she hop on the next plane to Costa Rica to meet his brand new wife.

Ava has no intention of jetting to Latin America to acquite a stepmother - until, that is, her father offers her head honcho status at a local beachfront cafe. The lure of frothing cappuccinos in a land where the coffee beans grow proves irresistible. But she hasn't planned on Santiago, her sexy-yet-stubborn business rival, or rugged Ryan whose idea of romance is swinging through the rain forest canopy at 6am. Both men give her butterflies bit only one will capture her heart...

Getting Personal Chris Manby

**2 stars
I really had a hard time getting into this book. I am a person that hates to put a book down, but it didn't really catch me til about 2/3 the way through. I feel it just didn't flow for me. I really liked the idea for the book it just seemed very drawn out.

Book Jacket Summary:
"Three losers in love WLTM funny, sexy, rich, perfect individuals to spare them from singledom hell..."

Ruby, Martin and Lou are three old friends who have spent too much time talking about the ones that got away. Facing another summer without love, they decide to approach the dating delima the same way they approached finding flatmates. They're going to place personal ads. For one another.

Will it tempt their dream date/soul mate?
Or is it a recipe for romantic disaster...?

A Perfect Proposal by Katie Fforde

*****5 stars
I love Katie Fforde books. They are always so well done. Her characters are deep and there is always so much going on that you are completely lost in time with them. I ended up reading this early into the morning hours to finish it. I just recently ordered many of her older books, as I can't wait to receive them and start on another journey spun by Fforde.

Book Jacket Summary:
Sophie Apperly's family has never taken her seriously. Fiercely academic, they see her more practical skills as frivolous - whilst constantly taking advantage of her. So when her best friend Milly invites her over to New York, she jumps at the chance. It'll do her ungrateful family good to so without her for a while. What's more, she's on a quest - America holds the key to solving her family's financial woes, even if they don't deserve her help.

From the moment Sophie hits the bright lights of Manhattan she's determined to enjoy every minute of her big adventure. So when an evening at an art gallery throws her into the path of Matilda, a spirited old lady who invites her to Connecticut for Thanksgiving, Sophie willingly accepts, much to the dismay of Matilda's grandson Luke, Undeniably attractive but infuriatingly arrogant, he seems to doubt Sophie's motives for befriending his grandmother. No match for the formidable Matilda, he eventually admits defeat, but first he has a proposal to make. He'll help Sophie in her quest to save her family from financial ruin if she repays the favor. But just what does she have to do in return....?

Thin Rich Pretty by Beth Harbison

****4 stars
Great read with a great moral. I zipped through this book quickly. I liked how Harbison flipped back and forth between past and future. It was a book of friendship, insecurities, and finding your true self and being happy with that.

Book Jacket Summary:
Twenty years ago, Holly and Nicola were the outsiders at summer camp. Holly, the plump one, was a dreamer who longed to be an artist. Nicola, the shy, plain one, wanted nothing more than to be beautiful. Their cabin nemesis was Lexi. Rich, spoiled, evil Lexi. One night, Holly and Nicola teamed up to pull one daring act of vengeance. But they never considered that this one act would have repercussions for decades. And they never realized the secret pain inside Lexi, and how their need for revenge cost Lexi more than they ever could have imagined.

Today Holly is a successful gallery owner who has put her own artistic dreams on hold. She still struggles with her weight and for approval from her overly critical boyfriend. Nicola is an almost-famous actress who believes that one little plastic surgery fix is just what she needs to put her over the edge into fame. And Lexi... Lexi is down on her luck and totally broke.

Holly will do anything got be thin. Lexi will do anything to be rich. And Nicola will do anything to be pretty. Thin Rich Pretty is the story of three women who believe that happiness is the next dress size down, the next dollar figure up, or the next appreciative glance from a stranger. But mostly it 's the story of how three women save one another and show one another the path to true contentment.

Divas Las Vegas by Belinda Jones

*****5 stars
I loved this book. I have previously read another book by Belinda Jones and found it good. This one, I took with me to the beach and was unable to put it down. I missed out on some fun trying to finish it. I think a part of the thrill for me was the setting. I have been to Vegas once and the way Jones describes it, you want to visit for the first time or all over again! I also adored the main character Jamie and her relationship with Izzy. I think we can all relate to the difference in the characters. It is a must read!

Book Jacket Summary:
Jamie and Izzy, friends for ever, have a dream: a spangly double wedding in Las Vegas. And at twenty-seven, they decide they've had enough crap boyfriends and they're ready for crap husbands - all they have to do is find them. And where better than Vegas itself, where the air is 70% oxygen and 30% confetti?

But as they abandon their increasingly complicated lives in sleepy Devon for the eye-popping brilliance of Las Vegas, their groom-grabbing plan starts to look less than foolproof. And those niggling problems they thought they'd left behind- like Izzy's fiance and the alarming reappearance of Jamie's first love - just won't go away....

Unlucky in Love by Jessica Fox

***3 stars
This is the fourth installment in the Hen night prophecies. I have read the other three and left my feedback on them. It was a cute read but didn't really capture my attention like some of the previous ones did. I did like the characters, Libby and Craig. I think it was the supporting characters and the interaction that just didn't catch for me. I did enjoy it and if you have read the others, you won't want to pass this one. I am looking forward to the next one.

Book Jacket summary:Foster is a danger to men.
According to the fortune-teller at her sister Zoe's hen night anyway. True, daredevil Libby is the queen of reckless romances and disastrous dating, so it's probably best she puts blokes on the back burner for a while. But when Libby escapes to an exotic Thai island to do the on-location casting for a romance-slash-action film, she's soon tangled up in a love story of her own. Has Libby met her match with dishy martial arts instructor Craig? She may think she needs to keep away from men, but it looks like men can't keep away from her.

I heart Paris by Paris

****4 stars
This is the third and I think final book. I enjoyed it as I did the others. Once again Angela Clark is headed to a new destination for work and fun and find herself self-doubting as she is faced with some dilemmas. I actually felt my pulse pick up and stomach flip-flop at one point in this book. After reading three books about the same character, with a couple new ones thrown in on each book, you really become enveloped in the story.

Book Jacket Summary:
Angela is in the city of love- but romance is taking a nose-dive...

When Angela Clark's boyfriend Alex suggests a trip to Paris at the same time as hip fashion mag Belle asks her to write a piece, she jumps at the chance.

But even as she's falling for the joie de vivre of Paris, someone's conspiring to sabotage her big break. And when she spots Alex having a tete-a-tete with his ex in a local bar, Angela's dreams of Parisian passion all start crashing around her.

With London and her old life only a train journey away, Angela can't decide if she should stay and face the music or run away home...

Kindle???? Do I or Don't I?

I have been lately toying with the idea of getting a Kindle. I know that this isn't my normal format of how I do things. I am not quite sure that anyone actually reads this. This was more of an account of what I have read for myself. I have been a avid reader for several years now. Each fall I have gone and taken my books to the used books stores or passed them off to friends to declutter. As time has gone on and more books have been bought or read, I have noticed I have reread unintentionally. I began then to log all the book titles that I have read by author and would check to be sure that I hadn't previously read them before purchasing, but found that at times, names or authors didn't always jog my memory but usually the book jacket summary would. I thought that this blog would be a good journal or way of keeping track of what I read, as well as maybe find some readers with similar interests to give me suggestions of new books or authors to try.

I have found once again, as I read about 2 books a week at least on average that I am at a collection that is taking over my book shelves, and hate to part with them, as some I will want to go back to. I have for some time been thinking about the Kindle. I am glad that I hadn't gone out and splurged immediately when they first began as I am reading they have been making improvements with each model, what a waste of money that would have been. Although, I may not be much of a writer I am a techno geek and enjoy all the gadgets that are out there. I love my Nintendo DS, Ipod touch, and DROID (really love my DROID) I have uploaded the Kindle app to my DROID and have found it to be ok. My problems are more Droid related, such as small screen for reading with back light (which isn't good for eyes) and it really drains my battery.

I guess I am a little worried about investing in the Kindle for two reasons mainly. When I read the reviews and information about how long the battery lasts (weeks) what is the average persons reading time a day for that to be based on? Also, I am a HUGE contemporary fiction (chick lit-kinda hate that term) and even more so love British Lit. How much of a variety is there? Will I find that I am still purchasing a bulk of my books still in paper version due to inability to get them in Kindle Format?

I have up to this point been either purchasing in pre-order, due to favorite authors at Amazon, or used at Amazon, or Amazon UK (shipping kills me along with exchange rate). I have realized the perk to the kindle would be cheaper for newer books and I have always hated buying them used (but financially have to) because I know that author sees none of those proceeds when you purchase them used. At least having the kindle would be supporting the authors that have entertained me at a lower cost than the regular hardback price. At Amazon, you can buy a used book for $.01 but pay $3.99 for shipping (which we all know is over charging) but at a penny, who can argue. So I am then left with the dilemma as to the 200+ books on my shelves and taking over my room from just this past year!

Clutter? I am a stay at home mom who nanny's for a small child. I know that there are options for paperback swap and others, but who wants to lug a one year old up weekly and fight with the city post office. I find that many of the used book stores here in town don't have much of a selection to what I like to read. I hate to take my books up there and with recession only get store credit and not have a want or need to use it? I have even taken my daughter to buy books and dvd's. There are only so many she wants, and as she is now becoming a teenager is showing interest in many of my books (ones with mommy stamp of approval of course:) )I also have the one issue that all my girlfriends are more of the suspense thriller readers and not into my type of genre so there really is no trading out or passing on. I think the only over lap we have had in the past couple years was the Twilight Saga. LOL

So I guess I was looking for some input as to what others have thought of the Kindle. You see my selection of books and can get an idea from my reading list where my interest lies with genre. I would love to hear from you, whether you have one and how you are liking it? Are you able to find the titles that you want? Are you constantly googling and on the fence like myself? Worried that the next new gadget will come out as soon as you finally break down and make the purchase? Just give me your thoughts.

I heart Hollywood by Lindsey Kelk

****5 stars
Another great book by Kelk. As I stated in my previous blog, I really enjoyed I heart NY and was quick to get right into I Heart Hollywood. Kelk didn't let us down, as you sometimes see in a sequel, if anything she gained momentum. Angela Clark gets to go to Hollywood to interview a big named actor and in the process anything that can go wrong does. Jenny is there at her side, a good girlfriend to the end, and is ready to help her put everything back in order as she is dealing with her own issues. Angela, is once again faced with questioning herself and fearing that the life she has built for herself in NY is falling apart. I found myself unable to put this one down. I was sure to have I heart Paris on hand as I finished it.

I would also like to mention at the end of each book, Kelk has mentioned places and foods from the various locations of the books, as well descriptions and information on them. It is a really nice touch.

Book Jacket Summary:
Angela Clark can't believe her luck....she's living in New York with a dream job and a sexy boyfriend.
Sent to Hollywood to interview hot actor and fellow Brit James Jacobs, she's in at the deep end amid the thin and beautiful of Rodeo Drive. The only person who seems genuine is James, despite his ladykiller reputation. But then the paparazzi catch them together at Chateau Marmont, and Angela finds herself in the spotlight for all the wrong reasons...
Can she convince her boss, her best friend and - most importantly- her boyfriend not to believe all they read in the papers? And will Hollywood ever win Angela's heart?

I Heart New York by Lindsey Kelk

****4 stars
I had gotten I Heart Paris first and realized that it was a trilogy book. I am glad I waited and started with the beginning book of I heart NY. Angela Clark is a character we have seen before but more polished. She has been trampled and has decided to start over, or flee to NY. Her new NY friend, Jenny calls her "her hero and brave", where Angela is just trying to figure out who she is (told you a character we have all read about in one form or another) but she is refreshing. You will love the characters and the way Kelk brings the city alive it made me want to go and be a part of it. I think with a friend like Jenny we all could survive our worst and come out of it better for it. I really enjoyed it and as I wrapped up the first book smiling and happy, I immediately delved into I Heart Hollywood.

Book Jacket Summary:
It's official Angela Clark is in love- with the most fabulous city in the world.
Fleeing her cheating boyfriend and clutching little more than a crumpled bridesmaid dress, a pair of Louboutins and her passport, Angela jumps on a plane - destination NYC.
Holed up in a cute hotel room, Angela gets a New York makeover from her NBF Jenny and a whirlwind tour of the city that never sleeps. Before she knows it, Angela is dating two sexy guys. And, best of all, she gets to write about it in her new blog (Carrie Bradshaw eat your heart out). But it's one thing telling readers about your romantic dilemmas, it's another figuring them our for yourself...

Angela has fallen head over heels for the big apple, but does she heart New York more than home?

You're the one that I don't want by Alexandra Potter

****4 stars
This was a fresh and different plot line than you are used to with chic lit. I really liked it. I thought is was a bit on the original side and had me wondering what the lead character Lucy was going to do next. It is on the premise that a young couple meet in Venice during break from college don't want to be separated at the end of their trip. They go to a bridge, which has an old superstition to it about everlasting love and make their relationship destined, only years later they aren't the same people they were. I found myself telling my husband about this story as he was curious with the title name, he knew it wasn't the norm for me. When I described the book, I told him parts of it reminded me of disaster movie, you know, one of the spoofs of all the scary movies put together or right now the one Vampire sucks. Where they take all these ideas you have read upon previously and you find yourself having a giggle. It really was an inventive and cute book, that also had serious points as well. It had a bit of everything. I truly enjoyed it.

Book Jacket Summary:
How do you know that he's the one?
Are you getting butterflies just thinking about him?
Have you dreamt of marrying him?
Do you just know?
When Lucy meets Nate in Venice, aged 18, she knows instantly he's the one. And, caught up in the whirlwind of the first love, they kiss under the Bridge of Sights at sunset. Which - according to legend - will tie them together forever.
But ten years later, they've completely lost contact. That is, until Lucy moves to New York and the legend brings them back together. Again. And again. And again.
But what if Nate isn't the one? How is she going to get rid of him? Because foever could be a very long time.....

The California Club by Belinda Jones

****4 stars
I liked this book so much I put it down and went and ordered more by her. It was a great story with a group of friends that all were different. I think that there is at least one character anyone can relate to. It has a quick pace and you are left turning the page wondering what comes next. I really enjoyed it.

Book Jacket Summary:
When Lara Richards jets off to glamorous California, the last things she's expecting is to find her old friend Helen transformed from a clipboard-clasping frump into a shimmering surf goddess. The secret of her blissful new life? The mysterious California Club.
So the offer of guest membership-one wish, guaranteed to come true by the end of their stay- is one Lara and her friends can't resist. Could this be Lara's chance to win her best friend Elliot's heart after ten years of longing? Or does the fact that he's traveling with his brand new fiance mean that Lara will have to come up with a new dream.....?

The Loving Kind by Sarah Webb

****4 stars
Sarah Webb does it again! I have found that her books are quick paced and always enjoyable. I was very excited to see this book in my mail box as I had pre-ordered it back in spring. I loved the characters as well as the girl-power that Celeste and Libby shared. It's always great to know your friend has your back. It was very interesting and had me smiling throughout. I also loved the little touches, like mentioning Marian Keyes and other references. Great touch. I think my only negative was how it ended, would have like to see it done differently. It felt as though the books was 3/4 written and then there was a race to finish, so everything got thrown into place. Otherwise, great read as always, and will look forward to her next.

Book Jacket Summary:
Two months to write a raunchy bonkbuster set in the glitzy world of modelling should be easy. Right? Wrong!

Life can’t get much worse for romance writer Libby Holliday. She’s been dumped by her agent and her publisher, and now she’s discovered her fiancé, Jeremy, is seeing their mutual friend, the shameless Ruth-Ann, behind her back.

So when broken-hearted Libby’s offered the chance to ghost-write a novel for model and reality show darling, Lulubelle Ryan, she leaps at the chance. Lulubelle is in the middle of filming a new TV show about plastic surgery – which means five star travel for her entourage to San Francisco, Paris and Antigua. And even better, Libby’s best friend spiky-mouthed journalist, Celeste O’Connor, is coming along for the ride.

Lulubelle proves to be the diva of divas, but there are some benefits – her handsome and enigmatic manager, Leo, to name just one. If only Libby could forget about her other male addiction . . .

Katy Carter wants a hero by Ruth Saberton

***3 stars
I really loved the title of this book and was quick to pick it up. I actually ended up with two copies somehow. I learned that this is a debut book for Ruth Saberton, but you can see more of her writing through her pseudonym Jessica Fox. I have read her other books under the name of Jessica fox. I like her quick writing style, but found that I was almost frustrated at time with the characters or how certain aspects took so long to be unveiled. As the reader, we caught on much sooner and wonder why Katy can't seem to catch up! lol. I think that I will definitely finish out the series of 5 books by Jessica Fox and Little Black Dress Publishing, and will be waiting to see what Ruth Saberton has for us next.

Book Jacket summary:
Katy Carter is a sucker for romance. A teacher by trade, she dreams of becoming a bestselling novelist, secretively writing a steamy historical bonk buster in staff meetings. She knows she's no supermodel or domestic goddess, but Katy fantasies about a hero of her own and she thinks she's found him in fiance James.

But when a dinner party with Jame's boss goes disastrously wrong - by wan of a manic dog a suggestively shaped cactus and a runaway lobster - Katy finds herself newly single. Determined to change her ways and win James back, she sets off on a journey that sees her living the celebrity lifestyle, selling sex toys from under a vicar's roof and finally catapulted into the arms of her true hero....

Love at First site by Jane Moore

****4 stars
Great read. It is a plot that you have heard before in chick lit but has a fresh wit that will have you laughing at her disastrous dates and routing her on. I thoroughly enjoyed this book. I did see the end coming but enjoyed the read anyway. Definitely an optimistic take on finding the right one!

Book Jacket Summary:
Spunky, sweet-natured Jessica Monroe is thirty-four years old and perfectly happy being single. Her girlfriends, however, disapprove. And when they secretly place a personal ad on a hot singles Web site on her behalf, Jess is reluctantly hurtled into the topsy-turvy world of online dating. A laugh-out-loud whirlwind of disastrous dates ensues, from Simon, who seems dreamy over e-mail but ditches her at the dinner table, leaving her with the bill, to Graham, a self-described "Ferrari driver" who turns out to be a car salesman - with several (old, fat, bald, creepy, cheap, stuck-up)men in between. When an unforeseen event turns her world upside down, Jess starts to wonder if the qualities she thinks she wants in a man - gorgeous, wildly successful, with a taste for fun and the finer things - really are what she ultimately needs...and whether, as a new mystery suitor appears in her e-mail inbox, Cupid has other possibilities up his sleeve.

Pictures of Lily by Paige Toon

*****5 stars
I loved this book. I don't know what it is that talked to me, but I was unable to stop reading and was anxious to get back and finish it. I loved the characters as well as the way she began the book. I have read this sort of storyline before, but Paige Toon begins this book by showing Lily moving to Australia and beginning life in a new country as a 15 year old turning 16. I was worried that it would be more of a teen lit book, but found myself delightfully surprised. It jumps to the now, and shows you Lily's life so that you can see who she is, at each time in her life. I really enjoyed this book, it had the right touch of romance and anticipation to keep me completely enthralled. It will definitely be one I pass on to a friend!

Book Jacket Summary:
"Will you Marry me?"
I think of you, then, I think of you every day. But usually int he quietest part of the morning, or the darkest part of the night. Not when my boyfriend of two years has just proposed. I look up at Richard with his hopeful eyes.
"Lily?" he prompts.
It's been ten years, but it feels like only yesterday that you left. How can I say yest to Richard with all my heart when most of it has always belonged to you? I take a deep breath and will myself to speak...

Ten years ago when Lily was just sixteen, she fell in love with someone she really shouldn't have fallen in love with. Now, living in Sydney and engaged to another man, she can't for the one that got away. then her past comes back to haunt her, and she has to make a decision that will break her heart - and the heart of at least one of the ment who love her.

Ready or Not by Chris Manby

***3 stars
I have heard of the author and happened across this book. I decided to give it a read. I enjoyed reading it although, I found it took me a little more to get through it. The writing style and plot were good. I think that I had a hard time with the characters. I almost saw Ed as physically looking like George, Jerry's best friend in Seinfeld. I do have to say the story was the norm of chick lit and endearing. I would say a good read, but not altogether memorable.

Book Jacket summary:
Every bride is entitled to some pre-wedding jitters. And what girl wouldn't think twice about marriage when her fiance gets his eyebrows shaved off just in time to look horrendous for the photographs?
But what id it's not the ceremony that freaks you out but the happy ever after? Heidi Savage is wondering whether she can really forsake all others for macho, beer-swilling Ed. And how can a couple who've never even been babysitters be ready to start a family of their own?
Will the answer come in the form of her ex-boyfriend Steven? Gron-up, gorgeous, and good-with-children. Is Heidi's dilemma simply a case of right shoes, right dress, wrong husband?

Nobody's Perfect by Pat Ballard

****4 stars
I was a little disappointed when I received this book in the mail and saw that it was so slim. I had read the book description and went with an author I hadn't read before. Let me just say as with everything to do with this book "Sizes can be very deceiving". Although this is shorter than the normal books I read, I loved every bit of it and was sad to see it end. It was a book of being who you are and proud of it. It was warm and engaging. I guess by other reviews on books by Pat Ballard, she writes mainly about plus size characters. I was quick to buy it on that surmise alone, Jemima J by Jane Green being one of my favorite earlier books. It was a quick read, but left me wanting to read another by this author. I would have to say it is geared more toward the romance genre than chick lit, but still made me a fan.

Book Jacket Summary:
Nella Convington can't believe she's agreed to marry the arrogant Samuel L du Cannon even if it is only a marriage of convenience. He needs a mother for his small son and she needs to keep her beloved childhood home. Will she be able to stand his egotistical attitude? His domineering manner?
But Jake is such a darling little boy, and he's already captured her heart. What does she have to lose? If Sam's work keeps him on the road enough, she won't have to deal with him much at all. Maybe, just maybe, this might work.
All Sam du Cannon wants is a good mom for his son. He's had it with women. Doesn't ever plan to get involved with another woman again. That makes Nella perfect for him. He's never been attracted to a plus-size women, so if Nella agrees to marry him, he won't have to worry about being tempted to have a relationship with her.
At least, that's what he keeps telling himself.

Chasing Daisy by Paige Toon

*****5 stars
I LOVED this book! I couldn't stop reading it. It had a great plot and was very well written. I didn't want to put it down to take care of anything around the house. I think my only complaint was I didn't realize the order in which they were written. I received my copy of this before Johnny be Good came in the mail, so I started this one. In the book it makes references to Johnny and now I wish I had read that one first. I feel that my image of him may be a bit destroyed when I start Johnny be Good and it may ruin it for me. I guess I will have to read and see.
If you haven't read a Paige Toon book, they are a must. It reminds me of the old school writing of Chick lit that originally brought me to reading this form of fiction. With the constant hidden secrets being revealed it is a real page turner.

Book Jacket Summary:
If you fall too fast...you might just crash.
"You don't have to worry about me. I have no intention of getting my heart broken again."
Of course, I'm lying. I feel like Will is chipping a little piece of it away,day by day. It's killing me...
Daisy Rogers is in love - and that's no good thing. It's not just that her very famous ex is neither our of sight nor out of mind, but that the man of her dreams, William Trust, has a girlfriend - a childhood sweetheart, no less. And as a Formula 1 racing driver, her puts his life at risk every day he goes to work.
From Melbourne to Monte Carlo, and Sao Paulo to Singapore, Daisy and her best friend Holly travel the world as hospitality girls on the Grand Prix scene. But with more secrets between them than Paris Hilton has shoes, life promises to be nothing short of a whirlwind.

Getting over Mr. Right by Chrissie Manby

****4 stars
I took the chance with a new author, I haven't read. WOW! This book you'll either like or hate. I really enjoyed it. It is about the stigma that comes with a breakup that is one sided. It is about the stages of denial all the way to stalking. I found it very intriguing. It was like an accident, you are cringing at parts in it, but just have to read on. It is amazing the actions the character Ashleigh goes to trying to get her ex back. There were points where you want smack her to just have her realize what a mess she is making, or you are thinking how utterly incomprehensible her actions are, but deep down you know that you have the same curiosities that she has, you just never acted up on them...or at least we hope you haven't :) I think you will definitely find this an interesting read and something different from the normal chick lit.

Book Jacket:
Have you ever had your heart broken?
How did you get over it?
Did a tub of ice cream cheer you up?
Did you delete his number and start again?
Are you now friends with you ex?
Perhaps you're godmother to his children?
***In which case, you're a weirdo and this book is not for you***
But if you reacted with denial, begging or a spot of casual witchcraft, then you've come to the right place. This is Ashleigh's journey from love to lunacy and back again...

Lucy in the Sky by Paige Toon

*****5 stars
I LOVED this book. It is my first by this author, and I have since gone and bought all of her other books. I loved the characters as well as the plot line. It was not an original idea but very well done. I took this on vacation with me and was sad to have it end. I wish I had brought another of Toon's books to keep me entertained.
It begins with Lucy taking off to go to her best friends wedding in Australia, where she receives a text from her boyfriends cell, but made by someone else. She is left with doubt and questions throughout her whole holiday. Lucy refuses to really deal with the issue because she is having such a good time with her old friends and reminiscing. She is feeling the pull of her previous life before moving nine years before. She also finds that an old friend is giving her some new feelings. As she is choosing not to deal with the text, she also is refusing to really look into her true feelings on some things. This book is about how you should trust your gut and follow your heart. Although the path may not always seem easier, it most definitely will have more to gain in the end!

Book jacket:
A Lawyer.
A Surfer.
A 24-hour flight.

The frequent liar points are clocking up and Lucy's got choices to make.....

It's been nine years since Lucy left Australia. Nine years since she's seen her best friends Molly, and Sam, the one-time love of her life. Now her two friends are getting married. To each other. Lucy is on her way to Sydney for their wedding.

Life for Lucy has moved on. She's happily settled with James, her gorgeous lawyer boyfriend, with their flat in London and her glamorous job in PR. Surely there's not reason to expect this two-week holiday in the sun will be anything out of the ordinary?

But just before take-off, Lucy receives a text from Jame's mobile. She can't resist taking a look...and, in one push of a button, her world comes crashing down...

The Cinderella Moment by Gemma Fox

***3Stars
I really liked the characters and all their quirkiness in this book. I also loved the twists and turns of misunderstanding. I thought it was a good book, not my favorite book by this author from what I have read so far, but still a solid book to pass on to a friend.

Book Jacket Summary:
While off to seek her fortune, Cass meets Prince Charming in a carriage - a railway carriage, that is.
That chance conversation turns everything upside down. After moths of drudgery, couple there really be magic in the air?
A change of scene and social life is just what Cass needs. now she can leave her past behind. But there's been one major misunderstanding, which means her adventure is almost more nightmare than fairytale. So when midnight strikes, will everything vanish, or will the real Prince Charming be revealed?

Happy Birthday by Christina Jones

*****5 stars
This was a very heartwarming story. The characters were well formed and likeable. This is a first book by this author for me and I have to say I am going to look into her others. There was a mixture of the magical aspect along with romance. It was a great combination and had me hooked. I will definitely pass this one along to my friends.

Book Jacket Summary:
On midsummer's day, Phoebe Bowler - star-sign demon - should have returned home an ecstatically happy new bride. Instead, she's been jilted at the altar. In need of sympathy, perhaps she could turn to her neighbour, the dishy Rocky Lancaster? But with problems of his own he's turned into Mr Grumpy and wants to be left alone. That is until Essie Rivers arrives on the scene, and then Phoebe and Rocky's paths seem destined to collide with a very big bump. Essie knows far more about astrology, personolgy, numerology - any 'ology' you care to mention - than Phoebe has ever heard of. But it is the secret magic of 'birthday-ology' that catches Phoebe's eye. Can she really use a birthday to find a perfect match or to set her and Rocky back on the path to happiness? Phoebe thinks so, but that's when things start to go really wrong...

Caught in the Act by Gemma Fox

**** 4 stars
This is my first book by Gemma Fox. I was pleasantly surprised. I loved the premises of the school reunion and the website oldschooltie.com as facebook and myspace are largely so popular. It was a great book that had me hooked from the first page. You will laugh and see at least one of your old friends in these character.

Book Jacket Summary:
Carol French-grown up, confident, settled - is about to meet the man of her dreams.
Her teenage dreams, that is. Because Carol (along with the rest of her sixth form gang) is going to a school reunion with a difference.
Brought back together by her friend Diana and a website called oldschooltie.com, the group that caused such mayhem all those years ago is all set to repeat the performance. Who got on? Who got fat? Who got famous and who got off with wgo? And, more importantly, who wants to do it all over again?
Could it be that Carol - older but possible not wiser - will fall for the charms of playground playboy Gareth once more? And is there more to him than meets the lustful eye...?

Caught in the Act by Gemma Fox

**** 4 stars

Living Dangerously by Katie Fforde

**2 stars
I hate to give this rating to this author. I have adored all her other books, and usually am almost instantly hooked. It took me a long time to get into this one. I am thinking that I just couldn't relate to the characters in this one. I definitely would choose another book by this author and I am pretty sure you won't fail. Fforde's writing and stories are so great that she sets a high bar, and this one just falls flat for me. Sorry :(

Book Jacket Summary:
Polly Cameron is happy being thirty-five and celibate, living in a small Cotswold town with a possessive cat for company and a Rayburn for comfort. After all, a relationship would only complicate things …

But Polly’s life is already complicated. In addition to her job in the Whole Nut café and her part in the ‘Save Our High Street’ campaign, there’s her pottery career to get off the ground. Not to mention dodging the efforts everyone to find her a husband …

Crush on you by Christie Ridgway

****4stars
My guilty pleasure. I love these and Carly Phillips books, as well as a few other authors. They are light and have a wonderful love story. I can usually chew through one of these books within a day or so. I especially liked this one. I believe it is going to be a beginning of a new series. Ridgeway has several another series as well that I liked. This one focused on the youngest sister, Alessandra. She was to wed her high school sweetheart, but it never came to be. Now with years behind the messy incident she is living celibate and dedicating her life to restoring her families winery into the black. She is a very likeable character as is Penn. I can't wait to read the second one in this edition when released. I hope that it focuses on her oldest sister Jules.

Book Jacket Summary:
The Baci Sisters are on a mission to save Tanti Baci - the winery that's been in their family for generations - by transforming it into the perfect wedding destination.
If only they didn't need the help of the Bennett brothers next door.....

Alessandra Baci is determined to make sure the winery's first wedding goes off without a hitch. Unfortunately, the "Nun of Napa," as she's affectionately known, has had some bad luck when it comes to nuptials, starting with her own wedding day five years before, when her fiance didn't arrive at the altar. Still, she'll do anything to keep her promise to her late father- even if it means enlisting the help of the sexy Penn Bennett...
Straight out of Holywood, where he's the handsome star of prime time's hottest home renovation show, Penn is Alessandra's only hope for restoring the crown jewel of the Baci estate. Too bad the Bennett men, who own the winery next door and are the sister's greatest rivals, are off-limits. Because Penn would like nothing more than to teach the sinless "Nun of Napa" an unholy, hands-on lesson....

Miss Invisible by Laura Jensen Walker

****4 stars
This wasn't your normal chick lit book. Freddie is an overweight baker, that has the wallflower personality, that she must blend in all occasions and is usually overlooked. After meeting Deborah, her normal bland behavior begins to spice up, which helps her branch out and take some chances. This book had me feeling many emotions, you will laugh out loud.

Book Jacket Summary:
Convinced that her larger size regulates her to wallflower status, Freddie Heinz hides behind the wedding cakes she creates as a professional baker. But life is about to change for Miss Invisible.
First of all, Freddie's found a new friend who encourages her to come out of her shell. Then Hal, the cute veterinarian, starts showing interest in the woman behind the delightful cakes. And when Freddie decides to break every rule in the "big girl's" book and find out who she really is, life gets even more exciting - and hilarious.
Cinderella, look out Miss Invisible is becoming the belle of the ball - and having a ball in the process. Because when you finally find God's call for your life, any size is the right size - and love can see what the rest of the world passes by.

About Time by Niamh Shaw

***2 stars
I saw this book and thought the synopsis sounded good. I unfortunately read some reviews before reading. I really thought the book was fresh in her character concepts but found it lacking toward the end. Lara is an adult and beginning a new chapter in her life. She is moving across the country to New York, with her boyfriend Leo. In all the packing and rushing she begins to look back. In her diary, we are introduced to Conn, and so it begins the story of her first love. Much of the book is told in the past tense, which is needed to see the relationships she has had and how she has gotten to where she is. Conn was different as the male lead, which I really liked. You will have to read to understand. I guess my big hang up was when we came back to the present tense the book was ending. It felt as though you were almost left empty. I did however enjoy the book, just don't think it would be one I push off to my friends.

Book Jacket Summary:
"Starting again is never easy"
But why is Lara so nervous about moving to New York with boyfriend Leonard? It's not like it's the first time she's had to make a fresh start. Of course, there is the small matter of forgetting about socially inept super-geek Conn, who has an annoting habit of making repeat appearances in her love life. From first kiss at school to first love at university to unexpected encounter in Dubai, he just keeps on cropping up! So could New York be the new start Lara needs? It's about time she put the past behind her: Although that's easier said than done....