Thursday, June 30, 2011

Luck be a Lady by Cathie Linz

***3 stars
I had read "Big Girls Don't Cry" and liked it, so had to find more by this author. Luck be a Lady is a follow up of "Mad, Bad and Blonde", which I really liked. I was excited to read more about Faith at the beginning of the book and keeping up with her. I really liked the character Megan. I just found the beginning of the book and the end a bit rushed. I still look forward to my next Cathie Linz book. It was an enjoyable read, just not in my top fav by her.

Book Jacket Summary:
A shocking announcement at her cousin's Vegas wedding sends retro- loving librarian Megan West on a whirlwind tour across Nevada with brash cop Logan Doyle. It's the gamble-and perhaps love affair-of a lifetime...

Monday, June 27, 2011

Questions to ask before Marrying by Melissa Senate

****4 stars
This book was an enjoyable read that had me guessing the whole way through as to what Ruby was gonna do, with that being said it had alot more going on than the initial question of "Should she marry Tom?". I really loved the relationship between Ruby and Stella as well as they trip and where it took them. I was sad to see it end.

Book Jacket Summary:
A New York Times article lists fifteen questions couples should ask before marrying Ruby Miller and her fiance, Tom Truby, have questions 1 to 14 almost covered. It's question 15 that has the Maine schoolteacher stumped: Is their relationship strong enough to withstand challenges?
Challenges like...Ruby's twin sister, Stella. The professional muse, flirt and face reader thinks Ruby is playing it safe. And that the future Mrs. Ruby Truby will die of boredom before her first anniversary or her thirtieth birthday, whichever comes first.
Challenges like...sexy maverick teacher Nick McDermott, Ruby's secret longtime crush, who confesses his feelings for her at her own engagement party.
But before Ruby can plan the wedding that may never be, Stella announces she's pregnant by a one-night stand whose name might be Jake (or James? Maybe Jason?) and who lives somewhere under the glittering lights of Las Vegas. Ruby and Stella hit the road to find him with a lot more than fifteen questions.
And after three thousand miles, a stowaway relative and hitchhiking teen lovebirds bound for an Elvis wedding chapel, the Miller sisters might get some answers.

Friday, June 24, 2011

thirty-nothing by Lisa Jewell

The Love Academy by Belinda Jones

****4 stars
I dropped right into this book after reading "I Love Capri", because I had read online somewhere there was a follow-up exert on Kim. I had to know what became of this character. I had purchased all of the Belinda Jones books some time ago as I loved them and have been slowly working my way through them, dragging them out so that I have them to read in between other books and savor them, something to look forward to. Jones always has a way of writing that you feel as though you are visiting or wanna visit the location she is describing and that held true for this book as well. I loved the location and the premise for the storyline. I especially loved the many quotes used at the beginning of each chapter as well as ones that were brought in throughout the story. I found myself wanting a highlighter to go back and reference them later as many of them were great. I don't think I enjoyed the characters quite as much as I did in "I Love Capri", but did find that I enjoyed the suspense of wondering what Kristy was going to do. Not my fav by this author but still a solid, enjoyable read! :)

Book Jacket Summary:
Do you have enough romance in your life?
Journalist Kirsty Bailey would have to answer no. She has the essential starter kit - a boyfriend - but somehow Joe seems to have skipped the vows of for better/for worse and gone straight to for granted.
But then just as she's on the verge of settling for a swoon-free existence, Kirsty's magazine sends her to a majestic Venetian palazzo to attend the much gossiped-about Love Academy... Her undercover mission? To prove her editor's theory that this 'school for singles' is nothing more than an escort agency with a sexy accent and fancy glass chandeliers.
But what if her editor is wrong and their promise of true amore is for real? Will Kirsty be able to resist the kind of moonlit temptations she's been dreaming of for years, or is her relationship with Joe going, going, gondola?
If you think Casanova was a bad boy, just wait until you see what Cupid has in store for Kirsty...

Wednesday, June 22, 2011

I Love Capri by Belinda Jones

*****5 stars
Pure Escapism! I love Belinda Jones books. These are also books that I have gone out and scarfed up every one and held on to to read one intermittently, so I can enjoy them over a duration of time. I love how in depth they are and you feel as you are in the actual location of where she is writing about, I have many dream spots to visit thanks to her writing ;) I think one of my favorite things about Jone's writing is the way she pulls in the reader and her topics real issues. You get a real feel for her character without having her describe every aspect of her looks but a feel by her reaction to her surroundings and interaction with others, which usually have great quips! You will find yourself smiling and enjoying the journey. I wouldn't take this on vacation as you won't want to put it down and make some memories of your own, but enjoy when you need an escape in between holiday periods :)

P.S I am now reading "The Love Academy" as it supposedly has a glimpse of Kim from this book and her whereabouts and what she is up to.... ;)

Book Jacket Summary:
Kim Rees became a translator for the glamorous jet-set lifestyle. So, five years later, how come she's ended up in a basement flat in Cardiff translating German computer games in her dressing gown? Fortunately her mother has a plan to extract her from her marshmellowy rut: a trip to the magical isle of Capri.
At first Kim refuses to wake up and smell the bougainvillea, but as she starts to succumb to the irresistible delights of cocktails on the terrace and millionaire suitors, she's surprised to realise she's changing. And when she meets a man who's tiramisu personified, she finds herself falling in love. But how far will she go to win her Romeo?

Tuesday, June 21, 2011

Spirit Willing Flesh Weak by Julie Cohen

****4 stars
After reading a book of hers last fall, I have become a fan! I finished my book and went out and ordered more, which I have been saving to read in between other titles. As with all her books, this is a solid read with a great storyline. She has such a fresh voice and I adore her characters. I wasn't too sure about this book when I read the jacket summary, but figured it looked cute and would try it out. I am a bit skeptical when it comes to the supernatural, as was the male character lead. If you are a fan of Julie Cohen or romance you will definitely enjoy this book. I look forward to a couple more I have stashed for a later date ;)

Book Jacket Summary:
Rosie Fox is a liar. A really, really good liar. But when you’re a stage psychic who’s not actually psychic, you have to be. Then one night, while pretending to commune with the dead relatives and pets of her audience, Rosie makes a startling prediction – which tragically comes true. Suddenly she’s trapped in a media frenzy, spearheaded by the impossibly handsome journalist Harry Blake, a man intent on kick-starting his stalled career by exposing Rosie as a fraud. Yet when his interest in her goes from professional to personal, she thinks she can trust him not to blow her cover – but maybe she’s making a huge mistake.

Thursday, June 16, 2011

A Single Girls To-Do List by Lindsey Kelk

*****5 stars
LOVE LOVE LOVED this book! I have been anticipating the release of this book and was not let down. I poured through this book and absolutely loved the characters and story line. I truly love Kelk's writing style. I really enjoyed her previous books the I Heart series with Angela Clark. I look forward to the next installment coming out at the end of the year! A definite book to share with your friends. :)

Book Jacket Summary:
A hilarious and romantic standalone novel from the bestselling author of the I Heart series
Rachel Summers loves a to-do list:
• Boyfriend
• Flat
• Great job
NOT on the list:
• Being dumped
Best friends Emelie and Matthew ride to her rescue with an entirely new kind of list – The Single Girl’s To-Do List. Rachel doesn’t know it, but it will take her on all kinds of wild adventures – and get her in some romantic pickles too. And then it won't be a case of what but who she decides to tick off…
• Mr. bendy yoga instructor
• Mr. teenage sweetheart
• Mr. persistent ex
• Mr. deeply unsuitable
The Single Girl’s To-Do List gives Rachel the perfect heartbreak cure – and proves love is out there if you’re willing to take a chance.

Tuesday, June 14, 2011

Trust Me On This by Jennifer Cruise

*** 3 stars
I always enjoy a Jennifer cruise book. I get through them pretty quickly and they are a great escapism. This book held true on all accounts, but I felt that I was reading more of a short story than a book. It was an interesting storyline, and I really liked the banter between Alec and Dennie. I also liked that there were multiple story lines. Overall a good read, but not my favorite by this author.

Book Jacket Summary:
Dennie Banks is an investigative reporter chasing down the biggest story of her career. Alec Prentice is a government agent working undercover to catch an elusive grifter. When they meet by accident, it’s a case of mistaken identities at first sight. What they don’t mistake is the instant attraction they have for each other, an attraction they’ll do everything in their power to resist—because Dennie thinks that Alec is running interference for her interview subject, and Alec suspects that Dennie is linked to his swindler. As the confusion grows, so do their feelings for each other, and what begins as a romantic comedy of errors may just end in the love affair of a lifetime.

Monday, June 13, 2011

Becoming Scarlett by Ciara Geraghty

****4 stars
I started this book and wasn't sure if it was gonna be my cuppa tea. It seemed as though some of the characters were over the top or as if it were written as a play. Then as I kept reading I felt more drawn in. By the middle I was hopelessly unable to put it down. I realized that in the beginning where I felt they kept homing in the aspects of Scarlett's character were just building the anticipation of change in her you will see. I absolutely loved the characteristics and the different dynamics of the way the characters interact. It was a fresh view of an unplanned pregnancy. I was surprised at the many different feelings I went through in this book. It is definitely one to share with a friend. I also think I felt a kinship with it as the ending is something that has hit home very recently and being able to actually put into words many of the thoughts or emotions and it feel so realistic sealed the book for me. :)

Book Jacket Summary:
Meet Scarlett O'Hara - wedding planner extraordinaire - who's famous for making dreams come true.
From scuba-diving ceremonies to flamingos at the reception, her colour-coded checklists make everything look simple.
Scarlett's personal life ran just as smoothly. Until now.
Her dependable boyfriend has moved to Brazil.
She's had to give up her Dublin flat and move back home.
And she's pregnant.
Worse still, she doesn't know who the father of the baby is . . . even though she's slept with exactly 4 ½ men in her entire 35 years.
How will Scarlett cope now all her best laid plans have gone with the wind?

Thursday, June 9, 2011

Something Blue by Emily Giffin

*****5 stars
I have to admit that I was hesitant about reading this book after reading "Something Borrowed". I don't think anyone was a huge fan of Darcy's after reading it. I do have to admit though, that with every group of friends there is a Darcy, the one that seems a bit more competitive and out for herself, where her compliments seem as though they are pointing out flaws instead of sincerely try to lift you. I will also admit that I was completely wrong about "Something Blue". I almost think it was the better of the two books, because how we got to see Darcy's way of thinking as well as her growth through out the book. I have seen many other reviews and have found that this is the case with others. So if you read "Something Borrowed" because of the release of it in theaters, then don't miss out on "Something Blue".

I also wanted to add that if you watched "Something Borrowed", but didn't read, you really must. The adaption was cute, but the character Ethan didn't stay true to the character that Emily Giffin wrote, in my opinion, which you will find hard to follow in "Something Blue", read both, you won't be disappointed. :)

Book Jacket Summary:
Darcy Rhone has always been able to rely on a few things: Her beauty and charm. Her fiance, Dex. Her lifelong best friend, Rachel. She never needed anything else. Or so she thinks until Dex calls off their dream wedding and she uncovers the ultimate betrayal. Blaming everyone but herself, Darcy flees to London and attempts to re-create her glamorous life on a new continent. But to her dismay, she discovers that her tried-and-true tricks no longer apply--and that her luck has finally expired. It is only then that she can begin her journey toward redemption, forgiveness, and true love.

Wednesday, June 8, 2011

Johnny Be Good by Paige Toon

*****5 stars
I have had this book sitting in my library but haven't read. I had made the mistake and read "Chasing Daisy" first where Johnny makes a guest appearance and after seeing him through Daisy's eyes, I didn't care to pick up the book as quickly. I recently read the preface for "Baby Be Mine" that is due out this summer and realized that it was the follow up to "Johnny Be Good" and knew that I needed to get on reading it. I am so glad that I did take the time. I loved this book as I do all of Paige Toon's books. They are such wonderful reads that have you completely escaping and forgetting the time and everything else around you. I was worried that I wouldn't enjoy to Johnny and his bad boy ways, but found myself pleasantly surprised. I can't wait til her new release "Baby Be Mine" comes out. I will definitely purchasing the day it becomes available :)

Book Jacket Summary:
If your boss was the hottest rock star on the planet, would you mix business with pleasure? I'm Meg Stiles. This is my leaving party. And that song we're making a mockery of? That's written by one of the biggest rock stars in the world. And I'm moving in with him tomorrow. Seriously! I am not even joking. Well, maybe I'm misleading you a little bit. You see, I haven't actually met him yet ...No, I'm not a stalker. I'm his new PA. His Personal Assistant. And I am off to La-La Land. Los Angeles. The City of Angels - whatever you want to call it - and I can't bloody believe it! Celebrity PA to wild boy of rock Johnny Jefferson, Meg's glam new life in sun-drenched LA is a whirlwind of showbiz parties and backstage passes. Cool, calm Christian, in town to write his famous friend's biography, helps keep Meg's feet firmly on the ground. But with Johnny's piercing green eyes and a body Brad Pitt would kill for, how long will it be before she's swept right off them again?

Tuesday, June 7, 2011

Then He Kissed Me by Christie Ridgway

*****5 stars
As romances go, I loved this book. I found myself pulled in immediately and wanting to go back to it, each time I had a spare moment and found myself finishing it within a day. The Baci sisters are well formed and likeable and the business of weddings at a winery are just too much to pass up. This is the follow up book to "Crush on You" and part of a trilogy called the "Three Kisses". I look forward to the next installment due out in July.

Book Jacket Summary:
The three Baci sisters are on a mission to save the family winery by transforming it into a wedding destination. When Stevie Baci playfully names her own side business Napa Princess Limousine, she never dreams she'll be driving a real prince around Napa Valley.
Jacques Parini, aka "Jack", is looking to expand his family's wine interests. But after kissing Stevie, he finds this California girl in a black chauffeur's hat does more than drive him crazy.

Something from Tiffany's by Melissa Hill

****4 stars
I read my first Melissa Hill book about a year ago and immediately went online and got all her other books. I love the way she makes her characters seem so real as well as the plot twists that are so unexpected. I feel that "Something From Tiffany's" follows this summation to a T. I liked her most recent book but it did not top some of my favorite by her. I truly disliked the character Gary and just seethed as I read the parts that had to do with him, with that being said if she wasn't such an awesome writer I wouldn't have felt so strongly. I loved the storyline and subject, who doesn't love a bit of magic.

Book Jacket Summary:
Doesn't every girl dream of getting... something from Tiffany's?
On 5th Avenue in New York City, two very different men are shopping for gifts for the women they love.
Gary is buying his girlfriend Rachel a charm bracelet. Partly to thank her for paying for their holiday-of-a-lifetime to New York. But mainly because he's left his shopping far too late.
Whereas Ethan's looking for something a little more special - an engagement ring for the first woman to have made him happy since he lost the love of his life.
But when the two men's shopping bags get confused, and Rachel somehow ends up with Ethan's ring, the couples' lives become intertwined.
As Ethan tries to reunite the ring with the woman it was actually intended for, he discovers this isn't that easy. Does fate have other ideas for the couples? Or is there simply a bit of Tiffany's magic in the air...