tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15682089053015549872024-03-16T22:50:46.324-07:00The Book ChickThe Random Musings of a Bookaholic....The Book Chickhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01248537555041830039noreply@blogger.comBlogger946125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1568208905301554987.post-27337993781484901212020-12-23T08:58:00.008-08:002020-12-23T09:03:41.904-08:00Review: "In a Holidaze" by Christina Lauren<p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-KoDQitmz-gA/X-N2-987ghI/AAAAAAAAbYs/pmaESns8XrE7RbGMMwGP7AIXCuBi_6tZgCLcBGAsYHQ/s475/50892287._SY475_.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="475" data-original-width="306" height="400" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-KoDQitmz-gA/X-N2-987ghI/AAAAAAAAbYs/pmaESns8XrE7RbGMMwGP7AIXCuBi_6tZgCLcBGAsYHQ/w258-h400/50892287._SY475_.jpg" width="258" /></a></div><p></p><p>4 stars out of 5</p><p>I'll admit that this isn't my usual type of read, however as we head for the holidays I crave lighter, sweeter stories to read, especially as I try to manage the busyness of the season. There are a few holiday classics that I like to read every year, but when I reached out to a book group that I belong to to find a few more festive recommendations, they all recommended this one to me.</p><p><br /></p><p>This is a light, fun and festive read about two people who have been friends forever finding love with one another. The addition of, well, time-travel is thrown in there for good measure as our main character Maelyn manages to screw Christmas up royally her first time around. As she becomes more and more frustrated trying to find which decisions are the "right" ones to make in order NOT to have to repeat the holiday again, she messes up time and time again. Maelyn eventually comes to the conclusion that life IS messy and that she needs to embrace it in all of its messy glory if she is going to find true satisfaction in her day to day.</p><p><br /></p><p>Cute, light, yet thought-provoking at the same time, "In a Holidaze" is the gift that keeps on giving! With a fun plot, loads of characters that I came to like, and a sizzling hot romance, I'm sure that I will be re-reading this one in 2021.</p>The Book Chickhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01248537555041830039noreply@blogger.com13tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1568208905301554987.post-46982901921757930272020-12-18T08:23:00.001-08:002020-12-18T08:23:24.298-08:00Review: Audiobook: Agatha Arch is Afraid of Everything by Kristin Bair O'Keeffe<p style="text-align: left;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #666666; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: arial;"></span></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-d23GA2FR6N4/X9zXDa6uu_I/AAAAAAAAbX8/WczfFTm4fAkU5mj1iWva-nec0O8rAE0rgCLcBGAsYHQ/s400/51653435.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="400" data-original-width="268" height="400" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-d23GA2FR6N4/X9zXDa6uu_I/AAAAAAAAbX8/WczfFTm4fAkU5mj1iWva-nec0O8rAE0rgCLcBGAsYHQ/w268-h400/51653435.jpg" width="268" /></a></span></div><p></p><p style="text-align: left;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #666666; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><br />Agatha Arch really IS afraid of everything! From Fava beans (don't ask) to lightning storms, it would be almost be easier for Agatha to list the things that she wasn't afraid of instead of the things that she is. When she catches her husband of eleven years in a delicate position with the dog walker in their shed Agatha takes a hatchet in hand and goes to work. What follows is the story of Agatha facing the fears that she has one fear at a time while gaining necessary perspective.</span></span></p><pre class="display" id="review-display" style="background-color: white; border-radius: 4px; border: none; box-sizing: border-box; color: #666666; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: 1.5em; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline: none; overflow-wrap: normal; overflow: auto; padding: 0px; white-space: pre-wrap; word-break: normal;"><span style="font-family: arial;">
It's hard not to love unexpected heroine Agatha Arch, even though she's prickly even at the best of times! As she navigates her fears and heartbreak and disappointment and yes, even her hope for the future, her human side comes out and makes her all the more endearing. I rooted for her to overcome her obstacles from the very beginning despite the fact that she isn't what we would consider to be a traditionally likeable character.
The unexpected secondary character here was in fact not Agatha's cheating husband but the Facebook mom's group that Agatha just couldn't stay away from for very long. I could relate to many of Agatha's grievances but could also see myself in some of the mom's posts. That aspect of the story alone made it worth the listen!
I listened to the audiobook version of this story and I really liked it in that format. The reader's voice seemed to suit the story and it flowed well. I was easily able to pick up where I left off when I had to turn it off and come back to it later. I've had it before where I start an audiobook, find something about it annoying, and end up not finishing it but this wasn't the case here. Both the reader and the story being told were compelling.
I thoroughly enjoyed this story about an untraditional heroine and how she overcomes what is a common and very real fear of many people! Agatha is a flawed character with lots to love about her and I found the writing to be enjoyable and the conclusion satisfying. I can recommend this in either format- either listening to it or choosing to read a paper copy.</span></pre><pre class="display" id="review-display" style="background-color: white; border-radius: 4px; border: none; box-sizing: border-box; color: #666666; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: 1.5em; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline: none; overflow-wrap: normal; overflow: auto; padding: 0px; white-space: pre-wrap; word-break: normal;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></pre><pre class="display" id="review-display" style="background-color: white; border-radius: 4px; border: none; box-sizing: border-box; color: #666666; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: 1.5em; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline: none; overflow-wrap: normal; overflow: auto; padding: 0px; white-space: pre-wrap; word-break: normal;"><span style="font-family: arial;">My thanks to the publisher as well as Netgalley for providing me with this copy for review.</span></pre>The Book Chickhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01248537555041830039noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1568208905301554987.post-37068466289904350162019-07-12T17:26:00.003-07:002019-07-12T17:26:29.359-07:00Spotlight and Giveaway: "The Setpoint Diet" by Jonathan Bailor<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<span style="font-size: large;"><b>Book Details:</b></span><br />
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Book Title: The Setpoint Diet by Jonathan Bailor <br />
Category: Self-help/ Weight Management, 311 pages<br />
Genre: Adult Non-Fiction<br />
Publisher: Hachette Books<br />
Release date: December 2018 <br />
Tour dates: June 17 to July 12, 2019<br />
Content Rating: PG+M<br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><b>Book Description:</b></span><br />
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Join the 27,000 people who have achieved dramatic and long-term weight loss with <i>The Setpoint Diet</i>, from the New York Times bestselling author of <i>The Calorie Myth</i>.<br />
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Your body fights to keep you within a range of about 15 pounds--also known as your "setpoint weight." New research reveals that you can lower your setpoint and end that battle for good by focusing on the quality of calories you eat, not the quantity. With The Setpoint Diet, you will reprogram your body with a 21-day plan to rev up your metabolism, eliminate inflammation, heal your hormones, repair your gut, and get your body working like that of a naturally thin person--permanently.<br />
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<i>The Setpoint Diet</i> is a lower-carb menu that focuses on specific anti-inflammatory whole foods, including tons of produce, nutritious proteins, and therapeutic fats. Its creator, Jonathan Bailor, founded SANESolution, a weight loss company that has reached millions of people. Proven to help you lose weight naturally and maintain it, <i>The Setpoint Diet</i> is your new blueprint for healthy living.<br />
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<b style="font-size: x-large;">About the Author:</b></div>
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<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-K2MLGQZhg-U/XP7z4W3O3OI/AAAAAAAAGVs/6BJuQJ-3eKkma7TI6ntN9vkzX16pk_lvgCLcBGAs/s1600/Jonathan%2BBailor.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1408" height="320" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-K2MLGQZhg-U/XP7z4W3O3OI/AAAAAAAAGVs/6BJuQJ-3eKkma7TI6ntN9vkzX16pk_lvgCLcBGAs/s320/Jonathan%2BBailor.png" width="281" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><b><br /></b></span>
JONATHAN BAILOR pioneered the field of wellness engineering and is the founder and CEO of one of the world’s fastest-growing permanent weight loss and diabesity treatment companies, SANESolution. He authored the New York Times best-seller <i>The Calorie Myth,</i> has registered over 26 patents, has spoken at Fortune 100 companies and TED conferences for over a decade and served as a Senior Program Manager at Microsoft, where he helped to create Nike Kinect Training and Xbox Fitness. His work has been endorsed and implemented by top doctors from Harvard Medical School, Johns Hopkins, the Mayo Clinic, the Cleveland Clinic, and UCLA. A summa cum laude and Phi Beta Kappa graduate of DePauw University, Bailor lives outside Seattle with his wife, Angela, and daughter Aavia.<br />
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<b>Connect with the author: <a href="https://sanenow.com/">Website</a> ~ <a href="https://twitter.com/jonathanbailor">Twitter</a> ~<a href="https://www.facebook.com/JonathanBailorSANE/"> Facebook</a> ~ <a href="https://www.pinterest.ca/jonathanbailor/">Pinterest</a> ~ <a href="https://www.instagram.com/jonathanbailor/">Instagram</a></b></div>
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<br />The Book Chickhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01248537555041830039noreply@blogger.com14tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1568208905301554987.post-39667204324458054932019-06-20T04:47:00.000-07:002019-06-20T04:55:38.572-07:00Giveaway! THE STORYTELLER'S SECRET by Sejal Badani<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-d09DXXR8Ieo/XPHLUAAzQwI/AAAAAAAAGTI/zqdJx4GVrXEov3s3UvWurnhqb8Hhs1nswCLcBGAs/s1600/The%2BStoryteller%2527s%2BSecret.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1067" height="640" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-d09DXXR8Ieo/XPHLUAAzQwI/AAAAAAAAGTI/zqdJx4GVrXEov3s3UvWurnhqb8Hhs1nswCLcBGAs/s640/The%2BStoryteller%2527s%2BSecret.jpg" width="426" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><b>Book Details:</b></span><br />
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Book Title: The Storyteller's Secret by Sejal Badani<br />
Category: Adult Fiction, 399 pages<br />
Genre: Literary <br />
Publisher: Lake Union<br />
Release date: September 2018<br />
Tour dates: June 3 to July 12, 2019<br />
Content Rating: PG-13 (There are some non-explicit sex scenes)<br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><b>Book Description:</b></span><br />
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<b>An Amazon Charts, USA Today, and Washington Post bestseller!</b><br />
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From the bestselling author of Trail of Broken Wings comes an epic story of the unrelenting force of love, the power of healing, and the invincible desire to dream.<br />
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Nothing prepares Jaya, a New York journalist, for the heartbreak of her third miscarriage and the slow unraveling of her marriage in its wake. Desperate to assuage her deep anguish, she decides to go to India to uncover answers to her family’s past. Intoxicated by the sights, smells, and sounds she experiences, Jaya becomes an eager student of the culture. But it is Ravi—her grandmother’s former servant and trusted confidant—who reveals the resilience, struggles, secret love, and tragic fall of Jaya’s pioneering grandmother during the British occupation.<br />
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Through her courageous grandmother’s arrestingly romantic and heart-wrenching story, Jaya discovers the legacy bequeathed to her and a strength that, until now, she never knew was possible.<br />
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<b>To read reviews, please visit <a href="https://www.ireadbooktours.com/blog---current-tours/book-tour-the-storytellers-secret-by-sejal-badani" target="_blank">Sejal Badani's page on iRead Book Tours</a>.</b><br />
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<b><span style="font-size: large;">Review:</span></b><br />
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">I thoroughly enjoyed reading about Jaya's journey towards knowing more about her own past and how it led to the family dynamics that she is experiencing in the present. The descriptions of India both past and present were intoxicating and made me want to experience them for myself. I have always been fascinated with Indian culture and Badani's book gave me a glimpse in to the fascinating history of that culture.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">While I expected Jaya to be the focus of the book it was really her grandmother's story that we were told. A brave and bold story, I was </span>enamored<span style="font-family: inherit;"> with her as a character and all that women in those situations had to endure.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><i>The Storyteller's Secret</i> is both a fascinating look at Indian culture as well as the story of one woman who dared to be more than what society said that she could be. An interesting and timely read!</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><b>Buy the Book:</b></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><b><a href="https://www.amazon.ca/gp/product/1542048273/">Amazon.ca</a> ~ <a href="https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/the-storytellers-secret-sejal-badani/1126912698?ean=9781542048279">Barnes & Noble</a> ~ <a href="https://www.amazon.com/Storytellers-Secret-Novel-Sejal-Badani-ebook/dp/B07415PPP1/">Amazon.com</a></b></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><b><a href="https://www.booksamillion.com/p/Storytellers-Secret/Sejal-Badani/9781503949089">Books-a-Million</a> ~ <a href="https://www.bookdepository.com/Storytellers-Secret-Sejal-Badani/9781542048279">Book Depository</a> ~ <a href="https://www.indiebound.org/book/9781542048279">Indiebound</a></b></span></div>
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<a href="https://www.chapters.indigo.ca/en-ca/books/the-storytellers-secret-a-novel/9781503949089-item.html?ikwsec=Books&ikwidx=1"><span style="font-size: large;"><b>Chapters.Indigo</b></span></a></div>
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<a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/35889205-the-storyteller-s-secret?from_search=true"><span style="font-size: large;"><b>Add to Goodreads</b></span></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><b>Watch the Book Trailer:</b></span></div>
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<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="360" src="https://player.vimeo.com/video/313556560" title="vimeo-player" width="640"></iframe>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><b><br /></b></span>
<span style="font-size: large;"><b>Meet the Author:</b></span></div>
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A former attorney, Sejal Badani left the law to pursue writing full time.<br />
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She is a USA Today, Washington Post & Amazon Charts bestselling author, Goodreads Fiction Award Finalist and ABC/DISNEY Writing Fellowship Finalist.<br />
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<b>Connect with the author: <a href="http://www.sejalbadani.com/">Website</a> ~ <a href="https://twitter.com/sejal_badani">Twitter</a> ~ <a href="https://www.facebook.com/SejalBadani">Facebook</a> ~ <a href="https://www.pinterest.com/sejalbadani/">Pinterest</a> ~ <a href="https://www.instagram.com/sejal_badani/">Instagram</a></b><br />
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Ends July 20, 2019</div>
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<br />The Book Chickhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01248537555041830039noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1568208905301554987.post-48335589486460460942019-04-22T06:00:00.000-07:002019-04-22T06:00:06.662-07:00Giveaway! HIIT Your Limit by Dr. Len Kravitz<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-sDLKV0WNM4k/XK6ZR1Gqn7I/AAAAAAAAGKo/fcuyZ2XtWoEfBimmN08HxXWXB8u329wQACLcBGAs/s1600/HIIT%2BYour%2BLimit.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1245" height="640" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-sDLKV0WNM4k/XK6ZR1Gqn7I/AAAAAAAAGKo/fcuyZ2XtWoEfBimmN08HxXWXB8u329wQACLcBGAs/s640/HIIT%2BYour%2BLimit.jpg" width="496" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><b>Book Details:</b></span><br />
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Book Title: HIIT Your Limit: High-Intensity Interval Training For Fat Loss, Cardio, and Full Body Health by Dr. Len Kravitz<br />
Category: Adult Non-Fiction, 208 pages<br />
Genre: Fitness and Wellness<br />
Publisher: Apollo Publisher<br />
Release date: October 19, 2018<br />
Tour dates: April 15 to 26, 2019<br />
Content Rating: G (The book is a workout manual. It contains no graphic language or images.)<br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><b>Book Description:</b></span><br />
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Get lean, build muscle, and stay healthy in only ten minutes a day! A Fitness Hall of Fame inductee and world-famous exercise scientist explains the #1 new fitness trend and how to get and keep the body you’ve always wanted.<br />
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High-intensity interval training (HIIT) is an extraordinarily effective form of training that mixes high- and low-impact activities during periods ranging from seconds to eight minutes. In HIIT Your Limit, Dr. Len Kravitz, who has been inducted into the National Fitness Hall of Fame and been an internationally-renowned exercise scientist for the past thirty-six years, and sold nearly 100,0000 copies of his last fitness book, explains what HIIT is, how it effects your entire body (externally and internally), gives 50 workouts and a guaranteed plan to whip you into shape fast, and presents a wealth of nutritional and other advice to further its impact.<br />
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HIIT was recently rated the #1 new fitness trend by the American College of Sports Medicine and is the key to staying fit for celebrities like David Beckham, Britney Spears, Hugh Jackman, and Scarlett Johansson. In addition to fat loss, it’s been proven to have major health benefits on blood pressure, diabetes, and cholesterol. Through this groundbreaking volume you’ll learn why, and see how to get fit quick, and have a fun and a truly sustainable exercise program, no expensive personal trainer required.<br />
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<b><span style="font-size: large;">My Review:</span></b><br />
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I am a six-days-a-week at the gym kind of girl, and I strongly believe in mixing it up. I try not to repeat the same kind of workout even once through the week and enjoy surprising my body by doing something different all six days. I kick box, do yoga, spin, and do interval training. I also make sure that I do my research about fitness and nutrition. I don't believe everything that I hear, and make sure that I back up what I do with actual facts.<br />
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All of this led me to HIIT Your Limit by Dr. Len Kravitz. I'm already a firm believer in the long-term benefits of HIIT training, and was very interested to read everything that Dr. Kravitz had researched. I found his findings very interesting! Dr. Kravitz provides not just a plan to his readers to help them to eat better and exercise more efficiently but he also provides the science behind it all. A section with Q&A's, a comprehensive exercise plan, and 100 tips for effortlessly cutting calories are all included. This results in a very interesting read for anyone on any point of their fitness journey. If you're beginning one you will have access to a lot of the information that you need to get started on a healthy path. It drives me crazy when people embark on fad diets hoping to lose weight and I love this this book is not about fad diets but about getting healthy the practical and long-lasting way! There is a lot of information in this book that was useful for me as well, and I am well in to my fitness journey. This is a book for all fitness levels.<br />
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If you are looking for a book with useful, scientifically-backed information and exercise plans, look no further than HIIT Your Limit. This is a book that you will find yourself referring back to again and again as you strive to be your best self!<br />
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Dr. Len Kravitz has thirty-six years of experience as a researcher, writer, and speaker on fitness, and is the coordinator of exercise science at the University of New Mexico. He is the author of Anybody’s Guide to Total Fitness (now in its eleventh edition with nearly 100,000 copies sold), and Essentials of Eccentric Training; has published more than 300 articles in dozens of health and fitness publications; and regularly travels the country as a speaker on fitness and health. Among other awards, he was inducted into the National Fitness Hall of Fame. Dr. Kravitz lives in Albuquerque, New Mexico.</div>
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<br />The Book Chickhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01248537555041830039noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1568208905301554987.post-77480024740908761092019-03-02T11:18:00.001-08:002019-03-02T11:18:25.900-08:00FINDING ANNA by Katie Cross<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-geO8IM6qlb8/XHrW6PKls-I/AAAAAAAAVyQ/S2RfiQ-MyukvYgGnzye19W4BKm0laxZ2ACLcBGAs/s1600/finding%2Banna.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="475" data-original-width="317" height="400" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-geO8IM6qlb8/XHrW6PKls-I/AAAAAAAAVyQ/S2RfiQ-MyukvYgGnzye19W4BKm0laxZ2ACLcBGAs/s400/finding%2Banna.jpg" width="266" /></a></div>
Anna is a young woman on the cusp of adulthood, trying to break free from the confines of her family. Her mom and dad mean well, of course, but they want her to follow their path in life and Anna is determined to follow her own. With the help of a few good friends, including a BFF and a quirky room mate, Anna struggles to find her own way in the world without hurting her parents along the way.<br />
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Finding Anna is the story of one young woman determined to be as true to herself as she can be.<br />
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I loved this sweet story about a young, ambitious woman, determined not to fall in to the path carved for her by her parents, since it isn't even close to what she wants for herself. I admired her inner strength even when the going got tough and I really enjoyed meeting her new friends, especially her quirky room mate, Melanie. I was really rooting for Anna the whole time and hoping that she would be able to find her own path without upsetting too many apple carts!<br />
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This is a short and sweet read, perfect for devouring in a single afternoon with a hot cup of tea by your side and a blanket. I truly enjoyed it and look forward to reading more from Katie Cross.The Book Chickhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01248537555041830039noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1568208905301554987.post-25519916851059559312019-01-30T19:01:00.001-08:002019-03-02T11:16:13.182-08:00MAYBE THIS TIME by Jill Mansell<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-H4mKp66uBl0/XFJk6srX4HI/AAAAAAAAVwE/RuXbxx9OtQkUJd_No2NzeRuOgxDMSyVAgCLcBGAs/s1600/maybe%2Bthis%2Btime.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="475" data-original-width="295" height="320" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-H4mKp66uBl0/XFJk6srX4HI/AAAAAAAAVwE/RuXbxx9OtQkUJd_No2NzeRuOgxDMSyVAgCLcBGAs/s320/maybe%2Bthis%2Btime.jpg" width="198" /></a></div>
Jill Mansell has been my favourite women's fiction author for years and I always look forward to her new release every year in January. This January has been particularly cold and dreary and I eagerly started this one as soon as it was released. It was like a warm hug on a cold day!<br />
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I devoured this book in only two days! The story is one that you have likely encountered before; girl likes boy, boy likes girl, but will they figure out how they feel about one another in time? The fact that the story was familiar made it no less enjoyable. Mansell writes in a way that is at once comforting but makes me want to turn the pages as fast as I can to find out what comes next. Her writing is enjoyable and her characters impossible not to both love and root for. Mimi, her main character in MAYBE THIS TIME, is flawed yet determined to make the best of the circumstances foisted upon her.<br />
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Full of "aww" moments, as well as moments of anticipation while we wait to find out if our main characters will realize their feelings for one another, this book was enjoyable for me from beginning to end. This is perfect light reading for while you're on vacation somewhere warm, or for when you are cuddled under a blanket on a cold day.The Book Chickhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01248537555041830039noreply@blogger.com19tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1568208905301554987.post-1792507216826614302018-06-09T12:23:00.000-07:002018-06-09T12:23:06.394-07:00HOW TO WALK AWAY by Katherine Center<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-rFyY_Sa1ILY/WxwovMBOh7I/AAAAAAAAUxU/ChcrwSefxfAJbbKRVL6gC8_cp8jtkFWvwCLcBGAs/s1600/how%2Bto%2Bwalk%2Baway.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="500" data-original-width="329" height="400" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-rFyY_Sa1ILY/WxwovMBOh7I/AAAAAAAAUxU/ChcrwSefxfAJbbKRVL6gC8_cp8jtkFWvwCLcBGAs/s400/how%2Bto%2Bwalk%2Baway.jpg" width="262" /></a></div>
This was a heartwarming novel with characters that I loved and a *spoiler alert* happy ending.<br />
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Having just binged on the "Me Before You" series by JoJo Moyes, I was ready to read a similar book, and as a fan of Center's previous books, this piqued my interest.<br />
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Margaret Jacobson has it all- a handsome boyfriend as well as a bright future in her chosen career- when it is all ripped from her grasp in an instant. Trying to come to terms with the details and aftermath of the accident that she was in, she turns to Ian, her handsome yet aloof physiotherapist, to be honest with her about what is in store. Adding to everything is the reappearance of her wayward sister Kit, and the family secrets that come to light. The Jacobson family will never be the same.<br />
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<i>How to Walk Away</i> was an absolute pleasure to read, and it shed light on the very real plight of those who find themselves suddenly disabled after a lifetime of being able bodied. Center handled that topic with grace and sensitivity, and managed to make her readers fall in love with all of the members of the Jacobson family at the same time. I enjoyed reading this novel from start to finish!<br />
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The ending wrapped up a little too neatly for my liking as I enjoy a few loose ends here and there at the conclusion of a story that I have loved so much, but overall this is a book well worth reading and one that I hope many people choose to enjoy.The Book Chickhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01248537555041830039noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1568208905301554987.post-70327130455803652592018-04-15T15:07:00.001-07:002018-04-15T15:07:27.085-07:00THE GOOD LIAR by Catherine McKenzie<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-KG82PfeQquw/WtPNEX3tl2I/AAAAAAAAT_8/qTvEf62IwvEW5QjNhEXhM7eY3GIS7ZAHgCLcBGAs/s1600/the%2Bgood%2Bliar.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="475" data-original-width="317" height="400" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-KG82PfeQquw/WtPNEX3tl2I/AAAAAAAAT_8/qTvEf62IwvEW5QjNhEXhM7eY3GIS7ZAHgCLcBGAs/s400/the%2Bgood%2Bliar.jpg" width="266" /></a></div>
WOW! This one left me reeling right up to the very last page! The epilogue gave me actual goosebumps! I have ready every book by Catherine McKenzie so far but this one may well be my favourite to date- which is saying a lot!<br />
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Franny, Cecily, and Kaitlyn were all impacted by the tragic explosion that happened in Chicago on October 10, but in different ways.<br />
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Cecily. She has found herself the unwilling poster woman of the survivors of the tragedy. She lost her husband and her best friend in one fell swoop and has been left to cope alone. She is hiding something, however, and doesn't know when or if it will end up coming out.<br />
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Kaitlyn. mother, wife, survivor. She's running, but from what?<br />
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Franny. After finally finding her birth mother she is devastated to learn that she has lost her in the tragedy. Will she be able to move on?<br />
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The beginning of this book reads a little more like women's fiction than psychological fiction. It's clear from the beginning that all three women have some pretty big secrets to hide, but don't we all feel like we are hiding parts of ourselves from the outside world sometimes? What's really wrong with that at the end of the day? I settled in to this book quite comfortably, caught up in getting to know these three very different women and their tragic circumstances.<br />
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As bits and pieces of the secrets that these women are hiding begin to be revealed the book transitions from being women's fiction to psychological fiction. As I was drawn in to the nuances of this book I found myself even more riveted than before, hardly able to wait to find out what happened next. Just as I was convinced that the surprises were over McKenzie threw in a surprising epilogue that left me with my mouth hanging open.<br />
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I absolutely loved this book. It was the perfect mix of suspense and fiction. The writing was riveting, the plot intriguing, and the transitions seamless. The psychological fiction genre has exploded in the past year and it is easy for books to get lost among the white noise of all of the new releases. THE GOOD LIAR is one book that should make it in to your TBR pile.<br />
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Perfect for fans of both women's fiction and psychological fiction THE GOOD LIAR is a book not to be missed!The Book Chickhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01248537555041830039noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1568208905301554987.post-32951232907194897422018-04-08T17:20:00.001-07:002018-04-08T17:20:23.348-07:00"Woman Last Seen In Her Thirties" by Camille Pagan<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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I love the premise of this- woman spends her entire adult life caring for her family, only to discover that she's lost herself. This is a theme that I think many of us women can relate to. As a mother myself I struggle to find time to do everything that I love while taking care of my family and working full time. How do we not lose ourselves a little along the way?<br />
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I really enjoyed the book at the beginning. The words are gorgeously crafted and the author really knows how to get her point across in an elegant way. Unfortunately for me, this book lost me when protagonist Maggie Harris goes to Rome alone in order to find herself again. That part was too "Eat, Pray, Love" me for, which is a book that I found annoying personally. That all comes down to personal preference, I know, but it is worth mentioning for those who feel the same way as me.<br />
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While the book lost me midway through, I rarely meet a book that I can't finish, and this one finished strong for me. Back were the enticing scenarios and the thought-provoking passages, and I enjoyed the ending of the book more than I did the middle.<br />
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As I mentioned, <i>Woman Last Seen In Her Thirties</i> was very well-written, and had a great theme which carried me through the rough parts. Overall I'm glad that Pagan was able to tackle such a fresh topic and I'm glad that I had the opportunity to read this book. 3.5 stars.The Book Chickhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01248537555041830039noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1568208905301554987.post-82038726925033034222018-03-04T12:26:00.001-08:002018-03-04T12:26:16.271-08:00SURPRISE ME by Sophie Kinsella<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-PmF5TzhmOdo/WpxWU3ZMqfI/AAAAAAAATdo/7-huexVXy7swLymAzhSDHefHFlJHOh30wCLcBGAs/s1600/surprise%2Bme.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="400" data-original-width="265" height="320" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-PmF5TzhmOdo/WpxWU3ZMqfI/AAAAAAAATdo/7-huexVXy7swLymAzhSDHefHFlJHOh30wCLcBGAs/s320/surprise%2Bme.jpg" width="212" /></a></div>
<span style="background-color: white; color: #111111; font-family: "Amazon Ember", Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">It's always so fun to crack open the latest Sophie Kinsella book, and I look forward to each one!</span><br style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #111111; font-family: "Amazon Ember", Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;" /><br style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #111111; font-family: "Amazon Ember", Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #111111; font-family: "Amazon Ember", Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">Although this book is a light-hearted and quick read there's a lot of depth there too! Sylvie and Dan have been married for a long time, and if their doctor and his predictions of along and healthy life are any indication, they will be married for a very long time yet! Although they are both happy about that, they are a little panicked too. The rest of their lives with only one person? Won't that get boring? Their marriage is already pretty comfortable!</span><br style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #111111; font-family: "Amazon Ember", Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;" /><br style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #111111; font-family: "Amazon Ember", Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #111111; font-family: "Amazon Ember", Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">Dan and Sylvie set out to surprise one another at Sylvie's insistence. And somehow, nothing goes right. Suddenly Sylvie wishes that they had never attempted to surprise each other in the first place!</span><br style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #111111; font-family: "Amazon Ember", Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;" /><br style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #111111; font-family: "Amazon Ember", Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #111111; font-family: "Amazon Ember", Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">Sweet, thought-provoking, and flinchingly honest at times, Surprise Me was a pleasure to read from start to finish. I found myself drawn to Sylvie and her thoughts about her marriage, and I was rooting for her and Dan to find their way somehow! Sure, this was a lighter read, a "fluffy" read in many ways but I enjoyed it as a fun escape from the every day and the writing was as enjoyable as always.</span><br style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #111111; font-family: "Amazon Ember", Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;" /><br style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #111111; font-family: "Amazon Ember", Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #111111; font-family: "Amazon Ember", Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">I already can't wait for Kinsella's next release!</span>The Book Chickhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01248537555041830039noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1568208905301554987.post-15253858663959904122017-08-25T05:00:00.000-07:002017-08-25T05:00:14.296-07:00"The Good Daughter" by Karin Slaughter<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-m5U9thHvX_8/WZ3ay0vOi9I/AAAAAAAAQso/hvKTcYdOA8EX8jUljfxvAYlCMgni7mvwQCLcBGAs/s1600/the%2Bgood%2Bdaughter.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="648" data-original-width="432" height="400" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-m5U9thHvX_8/WZ3ay0vOi9I/AAAAAAAAQso/hvKTcYdOA8EX8jUljfxvAYlCMgni7mvwQCLcBGAs/s400/the%2Bgood%2Bdaughter.jpg" width="266" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"><b>About <i>The Good Daughter</i>:</b></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><strong>The stunning new novel from the international #1 bestselling author </strong>—<strong> a searing, spellbinding blend of cold-case thriller and psychological suspense.</strong></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">Two girls are forced into the woods at gunpoint. One runs for her life. One is left behind…</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">Twenty-eight years ago, Charlotte and Samantha Quinn's happy small-town family life was torn apart by a terrifying attack on their family home. It left their mother dead. It left their father — Pikeville's notorious defense attorney — devastated. And it left the family fractured beyond repair, consumed by secrets from that terrible night.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">Twenty-eight years later, and Charlie has followed in her father's footsteps to become a lawyer herself — the ideal good daughter. But when violence comes to Pikeville again — and a shocking tragedy leaves the whole town traumatized — Charlie is plunged into a nightmare. Not only is she the first witness on the scene, but it's a case that unleashes the terrible memories she's spent so long trying to suppress. Because the shocking truth about the crime that destroyed her family nearly thirty years ago won't stay buried forever…</span></div>
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<strong><span style="font-family: inherit;">Packed with twists and turns, brimming with emotion and heart,<em> The Good Daughter</em> is fiction at its most thrilling.</span></strong></div>
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<b><span style="font-size: large;">My Review:</span></b></div>
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This is the first book that I've read by Karin Slaughter, and after the roller-coaster ride that she took me on, it definitely won't be the last! It was chock-full of twists and turns and I had no clue what would happen next. Slaughter truly is a master with a pen in hand!</div>
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I was hooked by the opening chapter of this book, which set the reader up for what would happen later on in the book. We meet a mother and her two daughters who are struggling to set up their new home in an old farmhouse after their first house was destroyed in a fire. The girls' father, Rusty, is a high-profile lawyer in town known for taking on the most controversial cases possible and when one of his cases goes to trial, his family suffers as their house is burnt down and they lose everything that was inside of it. Just as they believe that they are ready to move on and start again, they become the victims of yet another vicious attack, which leaves their mother dead and the girls running for their lives.</div>
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The majority of the book takes place twenty-eight years later. Daughter Charlie has become a lawyer herself, following in her father's footsteps, and when she witnesses a horrific crime all of the events from her past are once again brought to the forefront of her mind, revealing details about that day that she thought would remain hidden forever.</div>
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Just when you think that you are getting your bearings while reading <i><a href="https://www.harpercollins.com/9780062430243/the-good-daughter">The Good Daughter</a></i>, Slaughter changes direction and floors you. I was gripped by this book and the events and secrets! I also loved that this was about more than just the events of that night so long ago. This is about relationships between families and sisters and fathers. Since this is a stand-alone novel this is a great choice for a read for someone who has not yet read anything by Karin Slaughter.</div>
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I had a hard time putting The Good Daughter down, and even though it's a big book at over 500 pages, reading it flew by for me. Now that I have read my first book by this author I can't wait to read more! My thanks to <a href="http://tlcbooktours.com/">TLC Book Tours</a> for inviting me along on this tour.</div>
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Purchase Links</h3>
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<a href="https://www.harpercollins.com/9780062430243/the-good-daughter">HarperCollins</a> | <a href="http://amzn.to/2vQhENQ">Amazon</a> | <a href="https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/the-good-daughter-karin-slaughter/1125317818?ean=9780062698438">Barnes & Noble</a></h3>
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<h2>
<a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-IRzNrRWsoqc/WZ3amDcQ77I/AAAAAAAAQsk/-JLOJQa1cBkWFqASb9aRnfU459m6xbCSgCLcBGAs/s1600/Karin%2BSlaughter%2BAP%2BPhoto%2Bby%2BAlison%2BRosa.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="212" data-original-width="160" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-IRzNrRWsoqc/WZ3amDcQ77I/AAAAAAAAQsk/-JLOJQa1cBkWFqASb9aRnfU459m6xbCSgCLcBGAs/s1600/Karin%2BSlaughter%2BAP%2BPhoto%2Bby%2BAlison%2BRosa.jpg" /></a>About Karin Slaughter</h2>
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><strong>Karin Slaughter </strong>is one of the world’s most popular and acclaimed storytellers. Published in 36 languages, with more than 35 million copies sold across the globe, her sixteen novels include the Grant County and Will Trent books, as well as the Edgar-nominated <em>Cop Town</em> and the instant <em>New York Times</em> bestselling novel <em>Pretty Girls</em>. A native of Georgia, Karin currently lives in Atlanta. Her Will Trent series, Grant County series, and standalone novel <em>Cop Town</em> are all in development for film and television.
Find out more about Karin at her <a href="http://www.karinslaughter.com/">website</a> and connect with her on <a href="https://www.facebook.com/AuthorKarinSlaughter">Facebook</a>.
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span>The Book Chickhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01248537555041830039noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1568208905301554987.post-92035964776574970332017-08-11T07:23:00.000-07:002017-08-11T07:23:07.852-07:00REVIEW: "Best Friend For Hire" by Mary Carlomango<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-RP_Pz80mG7g/WY29FHMcsmI/AAAAAAAAP4w/xJC_bOkKh_IyF7dLJCd2kCCDlU4U6kdFwCLcBGAs/s1600/best%2Bfriend%2Bfor%2Bhire.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="750" data-original-width="500" height="400" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-RP_Pz80mG7g/WY29FHMcsmI/AAAAAAAAP4w/xJC_bOkKh_IyF7dLJCd2kCCDlU4U6kdFwCLcBGAs/s400/best%2Bfriend%2Bfor%2Bhire.jpg" width="266" /></a></div>
<b>From the <a href="http://posthillpress.com/book/best-friend-for-hire-a-novel">Publisher's Website</a>:</b><br />
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<div style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.92); box-sizing: border-box; color: #444444; margin-bottom: 10px;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">Jersey Girl Jessie DeSalvo has her dream job at one of New York’s top publishing companies. After ten years of hard work the day of her big promotion has arrived. Unfortunately, her company has other ideas. Instead of a corner office, Jessie is handed her pink slip.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">Left with little more than her cell phone and an unusable contact list, Jessie retreats to less-than-fashionable Hoboken, New Jersey, to figure out her life—and deal with the attentions of her loving but inquisitive Italian-American family. Then she accidentally stumbles into a career as a professional best friend—by helping friends and strangers straighten out whatever is wrong with their lives. Her jobs include planning the New Jersey wedding of the year and saving a bankrupt rock club in town. Soon, things get complicated when she falls in love with the club manager—and promises an appearance by Bruce Springsteen.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">In the end, Jessie realizes that not even “The Boss” can make things right—and that she needs to become her own best friend to be truly happy.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><b>My Review:</b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">If you're looking for a light and entertaining book to read on the beach or poolside this summer, look no further! <i>Best Friend For Hire</i> is the story of spunky Jessie DeSalvo, a woman who loses her job instead of getting the promotion that she was working towards. She retreats to her childhood town in order to figure out what her next move should be and accidentally becomes a best friend for hire! I loved the character of Jessie, and since I read this book right before I actually lost my own job, I could relate to her in so many ways! I also loved her larger-than-life Italian-American family. The scenes with them in it were definitely among my favourites.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">An uplifting, funny story about finding oneself among the chaos, this was exactly the fun yet thoughtful read that I was looking to immerse myself in this summer. If you're a fan of women's fiction and humour, don't wait- pick up <i><a href="https://www.amazon.ca/Best-Friend-Hire-Mary-Carlomagno-ebook/dp/B071P6Z897/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1502460089&sr=8-2&keywords=best+friend+for+hire">Best Friend For Hire</a></i> right away!</span></div>
The Book Chickhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01248537555041830039noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1568208905301554987.post-70380752192504004512017-08-10T05:00:00.000-07:002017-08-10T05:00:16.109-07:00Review: "My Sister's Bones" by Nuala Ellwood<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-cUP-Po7jEwA/WYuuFmYfDSI/AAAAAAAAP2w/-k-rlcAFtQIGM-EnUGRkSNk_dmYOk367gCLcBGAs/s1600/My%2BSister%2527s%2BBones%2Bcover.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="600" data-original-width="398" height="400" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-cUP-Po7jEwA/WYuuFmYfDSI/AAAAAAAAP2w/-k-rlcAFtQIGM-EnUGRkSNk_dmYOk367gCLcBGAs/s400/My%2BSister%2527s%2BBones%2Bcover.png" width="265" /></a></div>
Kate Rafter, an investigative reporter, has spent her whole life trying to escape the small town that she grew up in. When her mother dies she finds herself returning to Herne Bay, the place that she's tried so hard not to return to, in order to clear up her mother's affairs. Her sister, Sally, who has never left the small town, is unable to help Kate. Drowning herself in alcohol while trying to deal with tragedy of her own, Sally is shut off from Kate and her pain.<br />
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When Kate starts realizing that there is something not quite right about the neighbors next door, she tries to convince her sister and her sister's husband to check in to it, but they both brush her off, blaming Kate's time in war zones and possible post-traumatic stress. Is Kate out of her mind or is there something more sinister lurking beneath the surface of the neighbors next door?<br />
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I thoroughly enjoyed this work of psychological fiction. Fans of the unreliable narrator technique used in <i>The Girl on The Train</i> and <i>The Woman in Cabin 10</i> will enjoy this story about one woman and her battle against her own mind. I personally enjoyed the twists and turns, and alternated between being convinced that Kate was experiencing post-traumatic stress and that there was indeed something going on with her neighbor.<br />
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Kate, a strong character, was difficult to empathize with at first since she had built a hard shell around herself and this is evident from the beginning. As she slowly reveals her soft side we as readers become more enamored with her and become sympathetic to her plight.<br />
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While the pacing of this story was a little slow to start with, the second half of the book picks up and I was engrossed! It was definitely worth hanging in through the first half for.<br />
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<i><a href="https://www.harpercollins.com/9780062661968/my-sisters-bones">My Sister's Bones</a></i> is a worthy debut from author Nuala Ellwood and I'm looking forward to finding out what she has in store for her readers next! My thanks to <a href="http://tlcbooktours.com/">TLC Book Tours</a> for inviting me along on this tour!<br />
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<br />The Book Chickhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01248537555041830039noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1568208905301554987.post-53302338267789695002017-06-07T05:00:00.000-07:002017-06-07T05:00:08.198-07:00REVIEW & GIVEAWAY: THE PARTY by Robyn Harding<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Hannah Sanders is turning sixteen. A good child, studious and generally obedient, her parents Kim and Jeff present her with her birthday gift, order pizza, and then leave her and her girlfriends to their own devices in the basement while they go to sleep on the eve of her sixteenth birthday. When Hannah wakes them up, crying and with blood all over her hands, they have no idea what is about to transpire, and that their carefully ordered lives are about to be turned upside down.<br />
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As the next months unfold and Hannah and her parents deal with the aftermath of what has happened, their dark secrets are revealed to the world and the people around them discover that not all is as it appears in the Sanders home.<br />
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This was a compelling read, and one that I had a hard time putting down! First of all, this is one of the best written books that I have read in a long time. Robyn Harding truly has a way with words. The dialogue, the transitions between scenes; all were flawless. This book was so well-written that it made me want to go back and read all of her previous releases.<br />
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The themes within these pages- ones of culpability, responsibility, popularity, and bullying, were all very appropriate and fresh themes to examine. I especially appreciated how Harding took a rich family and delved in to their true lives behind the big house and fancy car, revealing that not all is as it seems. This seems representative of what could truly happen behind the closed doors of the mansions that we may drive by every day.<br />
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Overall, <a href="http://www.simonandschuster.ca/books/The-Party/Robyn-Harding/9781501172571">THE PARTY</a> is a must-read for any fans of reading domestic drama. I couldn't put this down, and was surprised yet pleased with the ending. It left me with a lot to think about.<br />
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My thanks to <a href="http://www.simonandschuster.ca/">Simon and Schuster Canada</a> for inviting me on this book tour. Check out the widget below for a chance to win your own copy!<br />
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<br />The Book Chickhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01248537555041830039noreply@blogger.com27tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1568208905301554987.post-47046116888359611892017-04-25T17:38:00.000-07:002017-04-25T17:38:11.798-07:00BEARTOWN by Fredrik Backman<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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I fell in love with Fredrik Backman's writing when I first read <a href="https://www.blogger.com/%3Ciframe%20style=%22width:120px;height:240px;%22%20marginwidth=%220%22%20marginheight=%220%22%20scrolling=%22no%22%20frameborder=%220%22%20src=%22//ws-na.amazon-adsystem.com/widgets/q?ServiceVersion=20070822&OneJS=1&Operation=GetAdHtml&MarketPlace=US&source=ac&ref=qf_sp_asin_til&ad_type=product_link&tracking_id=thebookchick-20&marketplace=amazon&region=US&placement=1476738025&asins=1476738025&linkId=09c1b80f9b754a0fe06244ea22bdd6f6&show_border=false&link_opens_in_new_window=false&price_color=333333&title_color=0066c0&bg_color=ffffff%22%3E%20%20%20%20%20%3C/iframe%3E">A MAN CALLED OVE</a>. After reading that book I knew that I had found a new author for my top ten list of my favourite authors. At that time, I truly felt that he wouldn't be able to write another book that I loved as much as that one, but I was wrong. <a href="https://www.blogger.com/%3Ciframe%20style=%22width:120px;height:240px;%22%20marginwidth=%220%22%20marginheight=%220%22%20scrolling=%22no%22%20frameborder=%220%22%20src=%22//ws-na.amazon-adsystem.com/widgets/q?ServiceVersion=20070822&OneJS=1&Operation=GetAdHtml&MarketPlace=US&source=ac&ref=qf_sp_asin_til&ad_type=product_link&tracking_id=thebookchick-20&marketplace=amazon&region=US&placement=1501160761&asins=1501160761&linkId=61844f1ba53f75a2f15b0c08fbc08df7&show_border=false&link_opens_in_new_window=false&price_color=333333&title_color=0066c0&bg_color=ffffff%22%3E%20%20%20%20%20%3C/iframe%3E">BEARTOWN</a> is powerful and moving, beautiful and genuine and incredibly sad at times. It is a book that made me "feel all the feels'. I couldn't stop bookmarking phrases and pages as I went along, excited to go back to them and reread them a second and then a third time. Backman's writing is truly beautiful, even when the subject matter is not.<br />
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BEARTOWN is the story of a small town in Scandinavia, where hockey is king. All of the boys grow up playing hockey, whether they are good at it or not, and all the girls grow up watching their brothers play or wishing that they had boyfriends on the team. Even if you don't like hockey, it's impossible to not be affected by it in some way when you live in Beartown.<br />
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Beartown's junior team is about to compete in the national semi-finals, and winning could finally put Beartown on the map. It could bring in a hockey school and more businesses to rescue their ailing town. Everything hinges on Beartown's team bringing home the victory.<br />
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One night, a young girl's life is changed forever. But will Beartown's residents do what's right, or will they do what's right for the team?<br />
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Despite the fact that I'm not a huge hockey fan (very un-Canadian of me, I know), I was riveted by these pages. This story is about so much more than hockey. It's about small towns, the difference between right and wrong; it's about being brave and standing up for your beliefs and it is about parenting and marriage. I couldn't stop re-reading certain phrases and sections of the book. Backman's writing and thoughts are so profound, and this is one of the rare books that I plan to read over and over again.<br />
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I feel that my words can not adequately do this book justice. All I can say is that if you can only read one book this year, read this one. <a href="https://www.blogger.com/%3Ciframe%20style=%22width:120px;height:240px;%22%20marginwidth=%220%22%20marginheight=%220%22%20scrolling=%22no%22%20frameborder=%220%22%20src=%22//ws-na.amazon-adsystem.com/widgets/q?ServiceVersion=20070822&OneJS=1&Operation=GetAdHtml&MarketPlace=US&source=ac&ref=qf_sp_asin_til&ad_type=product_link&tracking_id=thebookchick-20&marketplace=amazon&region=US&placement=1501160761&asins=1501160761&linkId=61844f1ba53f75a2f15b0c08fbc08df7&show_border=false&link_opens_in_new_window=false&price_color=333333&title_color=0066c0&bg_color=ffffff%22%3E%20%20%20%20%20%3C/iframe%3E">BEARTOWN</a> is sure to top my list of favourites of 2017.The Book Chickhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01248537555041830039noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1568208905301554987.post-22912139423491877822017-04-14T16:33:00.001-07:002017-04-14T16:34:04.860-07:00THE PERFECT STRANGER by Megan Miranda<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-cADULSaKr6s/WPFZ42ELvYI/AAAAAAAANOI/5oiqvkLyJusCAyuQaPv_6qL5m00JB14OQCLcB/s1600/31443398.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-cADULSaKr6s/WPFZ42ELvYI/AAAAAAAANOI/5oiqvkLyJusCAyuQaPv_6qL5m00JB14OQCLcB/s400/31443398.jpg" width="265" /></a></div>
<b>Description (By The Publisher):</b><br />
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #181818; font-family: "merriweather" , "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 14px;">In the masterful follow-up to the runaway hit </span><i style="background-color: white; color: #181818; font-family: Merriweather, Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 14px;">All the Missing Girls</i><span style="background-color: white; color: #181818; font-family: "merriweather" , "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 14px;">, a journalist sets out to find a missing friend, a friend who may never have existed at all.</span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #181818; font-family: "merriweather" , "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 14px;">Confronted by a restraining order and the threat of a lawsuit, failed journalist Leah Stevens needs to get out of Boston when she runs into an old friend, Emmy Grey, who has just left a troubled relationship. Emmy proposes they move to rural Pennsylvania, where Leah can get a teaching position and both women can start again. But their new start is threatened when a woman with an eerie resemblance to Leah is assaulted by the lake, and Emmy disappears days later.</span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #181818; font-family: "merriweather" , "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 14px;">Determined to find Emmy, Leah cooperates with Kyle Donovan, a handsome young police officer on the case. As they investigate her friend’s life for clues, Leah begins to wonder: did she ever really know Emmy at all? With no friends, family, or a digital footprint, the police begin to suspect that there is no Emmy Grey. Soon Leah’s credibility is at stake, and she is forced to revisit her past: the article that ruined her career. To save herself, Leah must uncover the truth about Emmy Grey—and along the way, confront her old demons, find out who she can really trust, and clear her own name.</span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #181818; font-family: "merriweather" , "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 14px;">Everyone in this rural Pennsylvanian town has something to hide—including Leah herself. How do you uncover the truth when you are busy hiding your own?</span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #181818; font-family: "merriweather" , "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 14px;"><b>My Thoughts:</b></span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #181818; font-family: "merriweather" , "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 14px;"><br /></span>
<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="color: #181818; font-family: "merriweather" , "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: 14px;">I'm fairly new to the genre of psychological fiction. I've only been reading it for about a year now, and somehow I managed to miss reading Megan Miranda's ALL THE MISSING GIRLS, a novel that I've heard that many have loved. I started reading <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/31443398-the-perfect-stranger">THE PERFECT STRANGER</a> with a fresh perspective. I didn't have any previous knowledge of the author or of her previous book to rely on.</span></span></span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #181818; font-family: "merriweather" , "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 14px;"><br /></span>
<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="color: #181818; font-family: "merriweather" , "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: 14px;">That being said, there are a few things that I look for when reading a psychological thriller. The first thing that I'm looking for is an author that keeps me guessing. If there is a plot twist or an aspect of the story that keeps me in suspense, then I consider the novel to be a success. THE PERFECT STRANGER definitely kept me guessing. Leah Stevens, our protagonist with a less-than-perfect past, is determined to find her missing roommate Emmy, who has disappeared, seemingly without a trace. However, as the novel goes on, we the reader start to wonder if Emmy even exists outside of Leah's mind. That aspect alone, the "does she or doesn't she" aspect, kept me reading on.</span></span></span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #181818; font-family: "merriweather" , "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 14px;"><br /></span>
<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="color: #181818; font-family: "merriweather" , "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: 14px;">Aside from that, I also seek out psychological thrillers that are well-written with well-developed characters. I enjoyed author Megan Miranda's writing style very much, and I also liked her main character Leah. The ending of the novel could have been stronger, more daring even, but it was still mildly satisfying. There was a lot going on throughout the novel- a missing roommate, a potential love interest, secrets hidden in the past, and perhaps those aspects could have been simplified to focus more on the missing roommate, which I assume was intended to be at the heart of this story, but I still enjoyed these forays in to various other aspects of Leah and her surrounding environment.</span></span></span><br />
<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="color: #181818; font-family: "merriweather" , "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: 14px;"><br /></span></span></span>
<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="color: #181818; font-family: "merriweather" , "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: 14px;">Overall this was a satisfying read with enough twists and turns to keep me on my toes. Since that is the single most important thing that I look for when reading a novel in this genre, I can say that it was a success in my eyes and I can recommend it to someone who is looking for a read that will keep them guessing.</span></span></span><br />
<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="color: #181818; font-family: "merriweather" , "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: 14px;"><br /></span></span></span>
<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="color: #181818; font-family: "merriweather" , "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: 14px;">I voluntarily reviewed this novel. My thanks to the publisher for providing me with a copy for review.</span></span></span>The Book Chickhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01248537555041830039noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1568208905301554987.post-18939563245045890782017-04-02T16:00:00.000-07:002017-04-02T16:00:30.267-07:00IT HAPPENS ALL THE TIME by Amy Hatvany<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-FZgsIDgjP0w/WOGB4FM51HI/AAAAAAAALP4/IgeHnkvJ6lMwVTd3JoN0ZipO8K5Qn4xcgCLcB/s1600/it%2Bhappens%2Ball%2Bthe%2Btime.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-FZgsIDgjP0w/WOGB4FM51HI/AAAAAAAALP4/IgeHnkvJ6lMwVTd3JoN0ZipO8K5Qn4xcgCLcB/s400/it%2Bhappens%2Ball%2Bthe%2Btime.jpg" width="263" /></a></div>
Amber and Tyler have been friends since they were kids. Both had difficult issues to deal with growing up- Amber struggled with anorexia despite a solid home life and Tyler had to deal with a demeaning father whom he was never good enough for- and when times were tough they leaned on one another.<br />
<br />
As they grew older Tyler began to have feelings for Amber, feelings that he confessed but weren't reciprocated. Both wanted to continue being friends, but things were awkward.<br />
<br />
Coming home after her college graduation, newly engaged and just a little unsure about how fast things were moving in her life, Amber finds herself turning to Tyler for comfort. One night, fueled by her own uncertainty and the addition of alcohol to the mix, Amber finds herself kissing Tyler. What happens next will destroy both of their worlds.<br />
<br />
This is, no doubt, a hard book to read. The subject matter, rape, is not one that is easy to read about, however author Amy Hatvany has handled it with sensitivity and grace. This story isn't about rape between strangers, but rape between friends, so the subject is even more difficult to read about. Rape between friends changes so many things in your day to day life, and after a rape like this occurs there is so much aftermath to deal with.<br />
<br />
<a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/30753856-it-happens-all-the-time?from_search=true">IT HAPPENS ALL THE TIME</a> brings up a really important issue, the issue of consent when it comes to sexual activity. When does "no" mean "no"? What about the events leading up to the rape? Does what a person wears or how a person acts translate into unspoken consent? Hatvany delved in to this topic, and she did such a great job examining it from all angles. She wrote this story from alternating perspectives and presented a well-rounded version of the story. I appreciated this. It may have been easier to write this solely from the female's perspective, but Hatvany didn't take the easy way out and she presented this from both points of view.<br />
<br />
IT HAPPENS ALL THE TIME is poignant and thought-provoking. It brought some delicate issues to life on the page and it made me consider how I would deal with a similar situation should it arise. Well-written and timely, IT HAPPENS ALL THE TIME is a must-read for women everywhere that will have you thinking about it well after you've closed the book.The Book Chickhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01248537555041830039noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1568208905301554987.post-6164637860674409452017-03-12T19:41:00.000-07:002017-03-12T19:41:00.667-07:00MY NOT SO PERFECT LIFE by Sophie Kinsella<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-axvpugafgK0/WMYGsGKV-8I/AAAAAAAAHGs/1jS3CkNJmTs4ek2J9eQTXE11W4qfKBpogCLcB/s1600/sophie%2Bkinsella.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-axvpugafgK0/WMYGsGKV-8I/AAAAAAAAHGs/1jS3CkNJmTs4ek2J9eQTXE11W4qfKBpogCLcB/s320/sophie%2Bkinsella.jpg" width="212" /></a></div>
The reigning queen of chick lit is back with this fun-filled tale that ponders the question- is life as perfect for everyone as they make it appear on social media? Katie Brenner, originally from Somerset, is in London trying to live her dream of working and living in the big city, far from her country roots. She particularly admires her boss Demeter Farlowe, whose life appears to be in perfect order. Perfect job? Check! Perfect husband? Check! Perfect children? Check! Perfect home? Check! When Demeter fires Katie, she returns home to help her family start up their new glamping venture while she regroups and tries to figure out what she'll do next.<br />
<br />
When Demeter unexpectedly arrives on Katie's family's farm, Katie is not thinking that she will catch such an honest glimpse at what Demeter's life is really like behind the facade that she presents and Katie will see that Demeter's perfect life is not so perfect after all.<br />
<br />
I devoured this book in a few short sittings. I loved the character of Katie Brenner and what she stood for, and her big heart shone through on the pages. I couldn't help but want a happy ending for her! Kinsella has a knack for creating lovable and relatable characters and <a href="https://www.amazon.ca/My-Not-So-Perfect-Life-ebook/dp/B01GYPY88Y/ref=sr_1_1?s=digital-text&ie=UTF8&qid=1489372690&sr=1-1&keywords=sophie+kinsella">MY NOT SO PERFECT LIFE</a> is no exception to this.<br />
<br />
What I loved even more than the exquisite character development was how relevant the plot was to the day and age that we live in. So often we present our everyday lives in a certain light or with a certain filter online in the hopes of making everyone believe that our lives are more perfect than they truly are. I think that it would be so interesting to see those moments before or after those perfect pictures are taken, to see behind the front.<br />
<br />
Kinsella has written yet another terrific book that is well-written, relatable, and compulsively readable. Pick this one up as soon as possible if you're looking for a light yet meaningful read!The Book Chickhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01248537555041830039noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1568208905301554987.post-21542613071548623662017-01-16T12:29:00.000-08:002017-01-16T12:29:51.943-08:00Review: SOLO by Jill Mansell<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-5j6J7AMTexQ/WH0s0VB5OWI/AAAAAAAAGnY/az3VPtm1uasvQADJaZkLwnIdCyNXU3bSQCLcB/s1600/9781492632429-PR.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-5j6J7AMTexQ/WH0s0VB5OWI/AAAAAAAAGnY/az3VPtm1uasvQADJaZkLwnIdCyNXU3bSQCLcB/s320/9781492632429-PR.JPG" width="209" /></a></div>
Jill Mansell has written the perfect book to curl up with on a dreary January day. Thanks to publisher <a href="http://www.sourcebooks.com/">Sourcebooks</a>, this title, previously published in the UK but not available in the US or Canada, is now available for our reading pleasure, and trust me, the pleasure is all ours!<br />
<br />
Playboy Ross Monahan is well-known for both his charm and his wicked ways. Tessa Duvall, a very practical struggling artist, is completely without expectations when she follows a whim and follows him in to bed. Completely content to carry on with her life after their one-night stand, she is shocked when she discovers she is pregnant by him but she is more than happy to carry on as a single mother. After all, she has pretty much always been alone and she's okay with that.<br />
<br />
However, Ross unexpectedly wants to be involved in both Tessa and his baby's life, much to her surprise. But will having Ross in her life be more than Tessa can handle?<br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.sourcebooks.com/store/solo.html">SOLO</a> is entertainment at its finest. I always enjoy Jill Mansell books with a cup of tea and a blanket and there is little that is more comforting than that! Her plots are always entertaining, and there are always several characters that I am cheering for! In this case, not only was I hoping for a happy ending for Tessa, but for her immature but lovable friend Holly. There were no slow spots in this story and it was a page-turner from beginning to end.<br />
<br />
I can't help but give this one five stars. Entertaining, comforting, and at times laugh-out-loud funny, every women's fiction fan should pick this one up!<br />
<br />
<b>Make sure you enter to win a copy of SOLO courtesy of Sourcebooks! There are three days left to enter and you can find the link to the giveaway <a href="https://www.rafflecopter.com/rafl/display/54ca7af7449/">here</a>.</b>The Book Chickhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01248537555041830039noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1568208905301554987.post-68718424579196215242017-01-10T14:25:00.001-08:002017-01-10T14:25:11.788-08:00SOLO by Jill Mansell- Spotlight Tour and GIVEAWAY!!!I am a longtime fan of Jill Mansell and I truly have enjoyed every one of her books. They provide me an escape from this horrible Canadian winter weather (I really was meant to live somewhere warmer and sunnier!). I'm thrilled that <a href="http://www.sourcebooks.com/">Sourcebooks</a> is working to bring her earlier UK releases, previously unavailable here, to the US and Canada. The latest book that Sourcebooks has brought here is SOLO, a deliciously fun romp showing that even the most wicked playboy can choose to settle down if the timing is right. Fill out the Rafflecopter form here and you will be entered to win 1of 5 copies for yourself!<br />
<br />
<a class="rcptr" data-raflid="54ca7af7449" data-template="" data-theme="classic" href="http://www.rafflecopter.com/rafl/display/54ca7af7449/" id="rcwidget_oi02mwee" rel="nofollow">a Rafflecopter giveaway</a><br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-7fbZ18tLr7o/WHVd--WRQJI/AAAAAAAAGkw/KMOgrUo_spgkPfevm9FYaFM4MQ7_m0LmwCLcB/s1600/9781492632429-PR.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-7fbZ18tLr7o/WHVd--WRQJI/AAAAAAAAGkw/KMOgrUo_spgkPfevm9FYaFM4MQ7_m0LmwCLcB/s320/9781492632429-PR.JPG" width="209" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><b><span lang="EN-US">Title:</span></b><span lang="EN-US"> Solo<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><b><span lang="EN-US">Author:</span></b><span lang="EN-US"> Jill
Mansell<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><b><span lang="EN-US">Pub Date:</span></b><span lang="EN-US"> January
3, 2017<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><b><span lang="EN-US">ISBN:</span></b><span lang="EN-US"> 9781492632429<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: inherit;">It all
starts at a party, as these things often do…<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: inherit;">· A
one-night stand with far-reaching consequences <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: inherit;">· Momentarily
enamored guests going home with all the wrong people<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: inherit;">· An
unfaithful wife struck by jealousy and getting a dose of her own medicine<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: inherit;">· A
shocking family secret revealed at the worst possible moment <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: inherit;">One fling
follows another, and now the whole community is embroiled in a great big web of
deceit, the untangling of which will charm you, amuse you, make you laugh and
make you cry. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Whatever’s
going on in your life, Solo by Jill Mansell is the perfect distraction right
about now…<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span lang="EN-US">With over
10 million copies sold, New York Times and USA Today bestselling author <b>Jill Mansell</b> writes irresistible and
funny, poignant and romantic tales for women in the tradition of Marian Keyes,
Sophie Kinsella and Jojo Moyes. She lives with her partner and their children
in Bristol, England. </span><span lang="EN-US"><a href="http://jillmansell.co.uk/">Website</a></span><span lang="EN-US">
| </span><span lang="EN-US"><a href="https://twitter.com/JillMansell">Twitter</a></span><span lang="EN-US">
| </span><span lang="EN-US"><a href="https://www.facebook.com/OfficialJillMansell">Facebook</a></span><span lang="EN-US"> <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<b><span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Buy Links:<o:p></o:p></span></span></b></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span lang="EN-US"><a href="https://www.amazon.com/Solo-Jill-Mansell/dp/1492632422/ref=sr_1_1_twi_pap_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1477599348&sr=8-1&keywords=solo+jill+mansell"><b>Amazon</b></a></span><b><span lang="EN-US"><o:p></o:p></span></b></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span lang="EN-US"><a href="http://www.booksamillion.com/p/Solo/Jill-Mansell/9781492632429?id=6746475140077"><b>Books-A-Million</b></a></span><b><span lang="EN-US"><o:p></o:p></span></b></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span lang="EN-US"><a href="http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/solo-jill-mansell/1007488796?ean=9781492632429"><b>Barnes
& Noble</b></a></span><b><span lang="EN-US"> </span></b><span lang="EN-US"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span lang="EN-US"><a href="http://www.indiebound.org/book/9781492632429"><b>Indiebound</b></a></span><span class="MsoHyperlink"><b><span lang="EN-US"><o:p></o:p></span></b></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: inherit;">QUESTION<o:p></o:p></span></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 6.0pt;">
<b><span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Do you have a
designated writing spot?<o:p></o:p></span></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraph" style="margin-bottom: 6.0pt; margin-left: 0cm; margin-right: 0cm; margin-top: 0cm;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">I have two. If I'm writing in bed I have a brilliant view over the sports
field behind our house, so there are games of football, rugby, tennis, cricket
and hockey going on. We've just started having American football matches here
too, so that's fun. It probably distracts me from my work, but I'll put up with
it!<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraph" style="margin-bottom: 6.0pt; margin-left: 0cm; margin-right: 0cm; margin-top: 0cm;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">My other favourite place to write is in my gorgeous crimson living room,
sitting on my reclining sofa with the TV on. Because I write by hand with a
fountain pen, I can write easily in either of these places.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: inherit;">EXCERPT<o:p></o:p></span></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="pf" style="margin-top: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span lang="EN-US">I
must be drunk, thought Tessa, kicking off her shoes and sinking into a sitting
position on the edge of the vast, canopied bed. When a man like Ross Monahan
urged you to spend the night at his place and assured you that you were quite
welcome to the bed—he would be </span><span class="i"><span lang="EN-US" style="border: none;">happy </span></span><span lang="EN-US">to sleep on the settee—you
knew you were playing with fire.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="p">
<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="p">
<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Either
drunk or crazy, she told herself as she pulled her dress over her head, threw
it in the direction of a large, red-velvet chair and wrapped herself in the
dark-blue toweling robe he had left for her.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="p">
<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="p">
<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: inherit;">But she
knew she wasn’t that drunk. She was enjoying the game which had begun so many
hours earlier. The challenge had been thrown down and she couldn’t resist it.
She was going to seriously enjoy being the only woman in the history of the
world to have slept in Ross’s bed…alone.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="p">
<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="p">
<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: inherit;">His suite
of rooms on the top floor of the hotel was as sumptuous as she had imagined,
particularly since seeing the rest of The Grange earlier. Like stowaways, they
had remained closeted in the conservatory until the early hours of the morning
when the last guests had departed, either roaring off into the night in their
smart cars or retiring to their rooms in the hotel.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="p">
<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="p">
<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Then,
taking her hand, Ross had given her the full guided tour, showing her the
elegant sitting rooms, the restaurant, the squash courts, the superb gym and
the spectacular indoor swimming-pool built inside a second, even larger,
conservatory, illuminated by underwater lighting and surrounded on three sides
by more tropical vegetation. Ross was as proud of the hotel as a new father.
Tessa had been touched by his enthusiasm. But if he was under the impression
that she would be so overwhelmed by this display of his success that she would
leap into bed with him, he was going to be disappointed.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="p">
<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="p">
<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Saying no
was much, much more fun.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="p">
<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="p">
<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Firmly
securing the belt of the far-too-big robe around her waist, she threw back the
bedcovers and slid between cool white sheets, just as a cautious knock sounded
at the door.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="p">
<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="p">
<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: inherit;">“It’s OK,
I’m decent.”<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="p">
<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="p">
<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: inherit;">“Pity,”
said Ross lightly. He was still dressed, and carrying a folded blanket over one
arm.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="p">
<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Tessa
gestured at the bed. “This is awfully kind of you. You’ll probably have a
terrible time trying to sleep on that settee.”<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="p">
<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="p">
<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: inherit;">“Probably.”
He gave her a mournful look, then grinned. “But I’ll survive.”<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="p">
<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="p">
<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: inherit;">She
watched him fling the blanket over the narrow leather Chesterfield. “And it’s
four thirty now. Nearly time to get up again anyway.”<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="p">
<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="p">
<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: inherit;">“Don’t
remind me.”<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="p">
<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="p">
<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: inherit;">“I’m very
grateful.”<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="p">
<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="p">
<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: inherit;">“Absolutely
no problem.”<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="p">
<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="p">
<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Tessa
pulled the covers up to her chin and smiled at him. “You’re a true gentleman.”<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="p">
<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="p">
<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: inherit;">“I believe
you,” said Ross. “Thousands wouldn’t.”<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="p">
<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="p">
<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: inherit;">She
watched him hover for a few seconds beside the sofa, wondering no doubt if she might
change her mind. Then, giving him one last big smile, she plumped up her
pillows and turned over. “Mmm, well, thanks again. Good night.”<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="p">
<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="p">
<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Tessa
didn’t know what time it was when she shifted in her sleep and first realized
that she was no longer alone in the bed. Her bare leg was resting against
another bare leg, definitely not her own. </span></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="p">
<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Sleepily, almost subconsciously, she
stretched out her hand and encountered a smooth, warm back. She became aware of
the very faint scent of aftershave and toothpaste, and the quiet, regular
breathing of someone deeply and peacefully asleep.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: inherit;">To her
great surprise, Tessa was neither shocked nor annoyed by this invasion of her
privacy. It was, after all, his bed and a narrow, slippery leather Chesterfield
was about as conducive to a good night’s sleep as a tin bath.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="p">
<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: inherit;">In fact,
she realized drowsily, she had forgotten quite how nice it felt to lie next to
another body, accidentally brushing against an arm or a hip, sharing each
other’s warmth and enjoying the primal instincts of simply being together.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="p">
<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: inherit;">With a
guilty start she came properly awake. For the way her fingertips were trailing
down Ross’s spine wasn’t in the least bit accidental. And, without even
realizing it, her own left leg had managed to fit against the curve of his
right one with all the snugness of a missing piece in a jigsaw.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="p">
<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="p">
<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: inherit;">This was
taking the enjoyment of sharing each other’s warmth a little too far.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="p">
<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="p">
<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Regretfully
easing her leg back to her own side of the bed and removing her hand from his
back, she closed her eyes and attempted to distract her mind from its
traitorous wanderings. She had always believed that physical intimacy—not just
sex—was something like a video recorder or a Magimix: what you didn’t have, you
didn’t miss, it just faded from your mind and became unimportant.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="p">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span lang="EN-US"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="p">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span lang="EN-US">It had
been almost a year since her last relationship had ended. At first, of course,
she </span><span class="i"><span lang="EN-US" style="border: none;">had </span></span><span lang="EN-US">missed the hugs and the kisses—and the sex—but certainly
not enough to go rampaging round Bath in search of males, any males, with whom
to satisfy the need for physical contact.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="p">
<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="p">
<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: inherit;">And pretty
soon she had become used to being and sleeping alone once more. The withdrawal
symptoms had been mild. Because hugging and kissing and sex weren’t physical
addictions like heroin. They were something that was nice but also quite
possible to live without.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="p">
<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="p">
<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: inherit;">On the
other hand, a year was a long time.</span></span></div>
The Book Chickhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01248537555041830039noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1568208905301554987.post-17333951801070287172016-12-27T21:12:00.000-08:002016-12-27T21:12:06.754-08:00I'LL TAKE YOU THERE by Wally Lamb<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-CJMNqrXvMC0/WGNJibITz_I/AAAAAAAAGcM/uKBDtKevSIYzMTOf9aj5OEB461-4eU3CACLcB/s1600/ill%2Btake%2Byou%2Bthere.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-CJMNqrXvMC0/WGNJibITz_I/AAAAAAAAGcM/uKBDtKevSIYzMTOf9aj5OEB461-4eU3CACLcB/s320/ill%2Btake%2Byou%2Bthere.jpg" width="211" /></a></div>
<span style="background-color: white; font-family: verdana, arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">I have a love/hate relationship with this book. Let me start by clarifying that I am a big fan of Wally Lamb's writing in general. I have eagerly devoured all of his books to date and have enjoyed them all. I was less keen on WISHIN' AND HOPIN', his novel released in 2010, but I still enjoyed it. I'LL TAKE YOU THERE is a story of the adult Felix Funicello, whose 10-year-old self was the main character in WISHIN' AND HOPIN'. Felix is an adult now, divorced from his ultra-feminist wife and the father of Aliza, an educated woman making her way in the world. He teaches the history of film at a local college and he also runs the Monday night film club at a local resurrected theatre. When a ghost appears to him one night at the theatre prior to his film class he believes that there is something wrong with his head. Perhaps he's lost it? However, the ghost, Lois, who was a female pioneer in the film industry, appears to him several times and takes him back in time to when he was a child and shows him how the women in his life shaped who he has become today.</span><br style="background-color: white; font-family: verdana, arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;" /><br style="background-color: white; font-family: verdana, arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;" /><span style="background-color: white; font-family: verdana, arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">I'll start with what I liked about I'LL TAKE YOU THERE. The writing, as it always is with Wally Lamb, was impeccable. I simply enjoy reading the words that he puts on the page. I also enjoyed the overall theme of the book. Lamb writes about women and the pressures of society on them and how these pressures shape feminism. The theme was clever and timely.</span><br style="background-color: white; font-family: verdana, arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;" /><br style="background-color: white; font-family: verdana, arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;" /><span style="background-color: white; font-family: verdana, arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">Despite the excellent writing and interesting theme, I had a lot of issues with this book and I almost quit reading it several times. First of all, the timeline can be confusing. It is all over the place. First we are in present day, then we've been taken back in time. Since the story uses flashbacks as a tool, much of the book is based on Felix's personal experiences and I had a hard time figuring out what the relevance of these reminisces were. Some of the relevance was made apparent later in the book, but they lost me at first. There are a lot of film references made throughout the book that went over my head since I'm not a film buff myself. If you are into classic films, you may enjoy those references more than me. Certain parts of the book just ended abruptly and I wondered if those parts could have been expanded on more.</span><br style="background-color: white; font-family: verdana, arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;" /><br style="background-color: white; font-family: verdana, arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;" /><span style="background-color: white; font-family: verdana, arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">If this is your first foray into reading Wally Lamb I would recommend you try one of his other books first. This is my least favourite of his releases. I really hope that he returns to his other style of novel for his future releases as this one was, overall, a disappointment.</span>The Book Chickhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01248537555041830039noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1568208905301554987.post-58076458421766544582016-11-24T08:53:00.001-08:002016-11-24T08:53:39.669-08:00HUNGRY HEART by Jennifer Weiner<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-kKOvc37hh6g/WDcZVVWGinI/AAAAAAAAGIs/mcfrw_eK35UbjY76jkBv-pb5FVuecJMxQCLcB/s1600/hungry-heart-9781476723402_lg.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-kKOvc37hh6g/WDcZVVWGinI/AAAAAAAAGIs/mcfrw_eK35UbjY76jkBv-pb5FVuecJMxQCLcB/s400/hungry-heart-9781476723402_lg.jpg" width="265" /></a></div>
I have long been a fan of Jennifer Weiner's fictional work. Her earlier novels, including my personal favourite <a href="http://www.simonandschuster.ca/books/Good-in-Bed/Jennifer-Weiner/9780743418171">GOOD IN BED</a>, spoke to me, and I have eagerly read everything that she has written since. <a href="http://www.simonandschuster.ca/books/Hungry-Heart/Jennifer-Weiner/9781476723402">HUNGRY HEART</a>, though a departure from her usual works of fiction, was no exception to my rule. This collection of non-fictional essays promises to reveal parts of Jennifer previously unknown to the public, including her memories of growing up an overweight child, her abandonment by her father, her traumatic birth experience, and how she found her way to writing fiction. I picked it up and devoured her stories from beginning to end.<br />
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<a href="http://www.simonandschuster.ca/books/Hungry-Heart/Jennifer-Weiner/9781476723402">HUNGRY HEART</a> toyed with my emotions- but in a good way! I especially related to her essays about weight and hunger. These are feelings that I have struggled with my whole life, and if I'm being honest it was a big part of what attracted me to this book in the first place. I long to 'know' people who feel the way that I feel, even if it is through the pages of the book. I cheered as I read about her successes (such as having her first book published- yay!) and I felt sympathy for her as she experienced some really low lows. There were a few of the essays that didn't particularly interest me and I found myself skimming them but overall I found HUNGRY HEART to be a unique and relevant memoir that reflects on the many facets of being a woman, a person, a mother, and an author.<br />
<br />
I didn't know that it was even possible but I found myself liking Jennifer Weiner even more after I read her memoir. Each essay is short enough that you can read through the book in bite-sized pieces without losing the plot, which is perfect for busy people, and there are many parts of her memoir that I found myself going back and reading through again. Weiner has written a unique memoir that may not appeal to all, but will truly resonate in some way or form, for many. I, luckily, am one of the ones that it resonated with an I am happy that I had the opportunity to read it. I can't recommend it enough to any of Weiner's fans who have ever wondered about the woman behind the book.<br />
<br />
My thanks to <a href="http://www.simonandschuster.ca/">the publisher</a> for providing me with a copy of this book for review. I voluntarily reviewed this product.The Book Chickhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01248537555041830039noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1568208905301554987.post-2784713885444217512016-11-22T09:37:00.001-08:002016-11-22T09:46:49.481-08:00AND EVERY MORNING THE WAY HOME GETS LONGER AND LONGER by Fredrik Backman<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-_0OdBZ6GRzo/WDSBj5S0t3I/AAAAAAAAGHQ/tGRcy5ZEqZUwCzqp1HkJ5dKntj261dJTACLcB/s1600/fredrik%2Bbackman.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-_0OdBZ6GRzo/WDSBj5S0t3I/AAAAAAAAGHQ/tGRcy5ZEqZUwCzqp1HkJ5dKntj261dJTACLcB/s320/fredrik%2Bbackman.png" width="224" /></a></div>
Fredrik Backman has been on my "must-read" list since I read (and adored!) "A Man Called Ove". Since then I have eagerly picked up everything that he has written, and I was so excited to get my hands on this novella.<br />
<br />
This 40-page novella was not even originally intended for release. Instead the author wrote it as his way to deal with personal circumstances in his life. I am so glad that it was published, as it is an absolutely touching story of a man who is saying good-bye to his son and beloved grandson as Alzheimer's and old age slowly take over his mind.<br />
<br />
I finished <a href="https://www.amazon.ca/Every-Morning-Home-Gets-Longer/dp/1501160486/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1479836198&sr=1-1&keywords=and+every+morning+the+way+home+gets+longer+and+longer">AND EVERY MORNING THE WAY HOME GETS LONGER AND LONGER</a> with tears unashamedly streaming down my face. What a truly, truly beautiful ode to our memories, our families, and who we become in old age. I encourage absolutely everyone to pick up this story and read it, and I have already recommended it to everyone that I know. This is a gem that will help us come to terms with how aging can rob us of our memories, but never of the love we feel and have had the privilege of feeling over the course of our lifetime.The Book Chickhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01248537555041830039noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1568208905301554987.post-51578938986160062252016-11-01T16:27:00.000-07:002016-11-01T16:27:49.205-07:00Pre-Order "Skipping Midnight" by Laura Kenyon and Win!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-dI7tMU6y06E/WBkjDb9co8I/AAAAAAAAF9Q/xv_SJdrXSSc6r6wQJTGJWEDDohdV8eVhgCLcB/s1600/DEA3%2B-%2BSkipping%2BMidnight%2Bcover.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-dI7tMU6y06E/WBkjDb9co8I/AAAAAAAAF9Q/xv_SJdrXSSc6r6wQJTGJWEDDohdV8eVhgCLcB/s400/DEA3%2B-%2BSkipping%2BMidnight%2Bcover.jpg" width="257" /></a></div>
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I can't wait for SKIPPING MIDNIGHT, the latest book in Laura Kenyon's <i>Desperately Ever After</i> series to come out. I love the characters and the fairy tale touches, and I adore this gorgeous cover! If you're as excited as I am (and you should be!) pre-order the upcoming book and enter for your chance to win! It's that easy!</div>
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<b><u><span lang="EN-US"><br /></span></u></b></div>
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<b><u><span lang="EN-US">Blurb:<o:p></o:p></span></u></b></div>
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<span lang="EN-US">One part <i>Sex and the City</i>. Two parts
<i>Desperate Housewives</i>. Three parts <i>Brothers Grimm</i>.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US">For the women of Marestam, “happily ever
after" has always come with a grain of salt. Be it infidelity or aging,
deferred dreams or lost love, or even the pressures of raising a family, they
have always seen each other through life’s trials with laughter, wine, and a
brand new take on old-fashioned chivalry. But when rage and treachery take over,
everything they hold dear comes under attack. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US">Suddenly, the monarchies are crumbling,
Cinderella is missing, Belle is harboring the secret of all secrets, Rapunzel
is facing the one dilemma she spent her whole life trying to avoid, and Dawn
could lose everything she’s finally learned to love. In order to save everyone
and unmask the wolf in their midst, this iconic group of friends must follow a dogmatic
fairy no one trusts, invoke a magic no one understands, and face a past they
thought they had buried long ago.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US">Rapunzel, Belle, Sleeping Beauty,
Cinderella, and the rest of Marestam’s favorite females return in this third
and final novel in Laura Kenyon's Desperately Ever After series, which takes a
whimsical look at our most beloved fairy tale princesses several years after
true love’s kiss. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US">At heart, it’s a tale of ordinary women
coming to terms with how their lives have turned out. They just happen to live
in castles.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US">---<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US">The final chapter in the Amazon #1
bestselling Desperately Ever After series (women’s fiction fantasy, women’s
fiction humor, and paranormal fantasy). Says <i>New York Times </i>bestselling author Stephanie
Evanovich: “Laura Kenyon makes happily ever after desperately
delicious!"</span><span lang="EN-US"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b><u><span lang="EN-US">Author
bio:<o:p></o:p></span></u></b></div>
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<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Dmpc2r00AtY/WBkkQrX73TI/AAAAAAAAF9U/nQZ74DZExlYTNYQVZh4__vFbpFmEEbD4QCLcB/s1600/DEA3%2BLaura%2BKenyon%2Bheadshot.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Dmpc2r00AtY/WBkkQrX73TI/AAAAAAAAF9U/nQZ74DZExlYTNYQVZh4__vFbpFmEEbD4QCLcB/s200/DEA3%2BLaura%2BKenyon%2Bheadshot.jpg" width="166" /></a><span lang="EN-US">LAURA
KENYON is an award-winning journalist and the author of three novels, <i>Desperately Ever After, Damsels in Distress,
</i>and<i> Skipping Midnight.</i> Her
stories and articles have appeared in numerous newspapers, magazines, and
online publications. The Boston College graduate does not live in a castle, but
has been blessed with a heroic prince charming, two beautiful princesses, and a
noble steed. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US">To learn
more about Laura, visit her website at </span><span lang="EN-US"><a href="http://www.laurakenyon.com/">www.laurakenyon.com</a></span><span lang="EN-US"> and sign up for </span><span lang="EN-US"><a href="http://laurakenyon.us8.list-manage2.com/subscribe?u=782ab1bf26f5d9b74acaf783f&id=f5f77b8f87">exclusive updates</a></span><span lang="EN-US">. She also loves connecting with
readers on her </span><span lang="EN-US"><a href="http://laurakenyon.com/">blog</a></span><span lang="EN-US">, </span><span lang="EN-US"><a href="http://twitter.com/laura_kenyon">Twitter</a></span><span lang="EN-US">, and </span><span lang="EN-US"><a href="https://www.facebook.com/laurakenyonwrites">Facebook</a></span><span lang="EN-US">. And for a peek at how she envisions Marestam, check out her
Desperately Ever After board on </span><span lang="EN-US"><a href="http://www.pinterest.com/lkwrites/desperately-ever-after/">Pinterest</a></span><span lang="EN-US">.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b><u><span lang="EN-US">Links:</span></u></b><span lang="EN-US"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US">Twitter: </span><span lang="EN-US"><a href="https://twitter.com/laura_kenyon">https://twitter.com/laura_kenyon</a></span><span lang="EN-US"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US">Facebook: </span><span lang="EN-US"><a href="https://www.facebook.com/LauraKenyonWrites/">https://www.facebook.com/LauraKenyonWrites/</a></span><span lang="EN-US"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US">Amazon
Author Page: </span><span lang="EN-US"><a href="http://amzn.to/2elUrbS">http://amzn.to/2elUrbS</a></span><span lang="EN-US"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US">Website: </span><span lang="EN-US"><a href="https://laurakenyon.com/">https://laurakenyon.com/</a></span><span lang="EN-US"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US">Goodreads: </span><span lang="EN-US"><a href="https://www.goodreads.com/LauraKenyon">https://www.goodreads.com/LauraKenyon</a></span><span lang="EN-US"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US">Pinterest: </span><span lang="EN-US"><a href="https://www.pinterest.com/lkwrites/desperately-ever-after/">https://www.pinterest.com/lkwrites/desperately-ever-after/</a></span><span lang="EN-US"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US">Email list:
</span><span lang="EN-US"><a href="http://bit.ly/1i8K0YW">http://bit.ly/1i8K0YW</a></span><span lang="EN-US"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b><u><span lang="EN-US">Purchase links:<o:p></o:p></span></u></b></div>
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<span lang="EN-US">Desperately
Ever After (Book One) - </span><span lang="EN-US"><a href="http://amzn.to/2ewbxHS">http://amzn.to/2ewbxHS</a></span><span lang="EN-US"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US">Damsels in
Distress (Book Two) - </span><span lang="EN-US"><a href="http://amzn.to/2elVIjj">http://amzn.to/2elVIjj</a></span><span lang="EN-US"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US">Skipping
Midnight (Book Three) – </span><span lang="EN-US"><a href="http://amzn.to/2dKeH5g">http://amzn.to/2dKeH5g</a></span><span lang="EN-US" style="color: red; mso-bidi-language: EN-US;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b><u><span lang="EN-US">Pre-order Giveaway!</span></u></b><b><span lang="EN-US"><o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<span lang="EN-US">Pre-order a
copy of Skipping Midnight between now and November 15, and you could win one of
two enchanting prize packages inspired by the Desperately Ever After series! <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-XFwkkHWauKM/WBkkjHuRPkI/AAAAAAAAF9c/bNuMrrnJoGAy5n0ZKUdwcfHAebfZDyW9wCLcB/s1600/DEA3%2Bpromo%2Bdomestic%2B-%2Bbangle.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="269" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-XFwkkHWauKM/WBkkjHuRPkI/AAAAAAAAF9c/bNuMrrnJoGAy5n0ZKUdwcfHAebfZDyW9wCLcB/s320/DEA3%2Bpromo%2Bdomestic%2B-%2Bbangle.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<b><span lang="EN-US">Prize Pack 1 <br />
(US only):</span></b><b><span lang="EN-US"><o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<span lang="EN-US">A signed paperback
copy of all three novels in the series: <i>Desperately Ever After</i> (Book
One), <i>Damsels in Distress</i> (Book Two), and <i>Skipping
Midnight</i> (Book Three)</span><span lang="EN-US"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US">A stunning “Live
like there’s no midnight” <a href="https://www.etsy.com/listing/472049590/live-like-theres-no-midnight-cinderella?ref=hp_rv" target="_blank">charm bracelet</a></span><span lang="EN-US">, custom made by <a href="https://www.etsy.com/shop/MyInitialCharm?ref=l2-shopheader-name" target="_blank">My Initial Charm</a> and inspired by the Desperately
Ever After series<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US">An assortment of
treats for your next girls' night in (sorry, rampion not included!)</span><span lang="EN-US"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US">A snazzy memory box
to ship it all in ;)</span><span lang="EN-US"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b><span lang="EN-US">Prize Pack 2 <br />
(Worldwide!)</span></b><b><span lang="EN-US"><o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<span lang="EN-US">This fantastic set of
six wine charms, handcrafted by Etsy artist <a href="https://www.etsy.com/people/smash104?" target="_blank">Sarah VandenBrink</a> (specifically
for this giveaway!) and representing each of the six main characters: Belle, Rapunzel,
Dawn, Penelopea, Snow White, and Cinderella<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US">To enter,
please e-mail your proof of purchase (a screenshot will do) to laura (at) laurakenyon
(dot) com by midnight November 15, 2016. Be sure to include your mailing
address so you’re entered into the right contest(s). One winner will be
selected via random drawing for each giveaway on November 16. Good luck!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US">Pre-order
link: </span><span lang="EN-US"><a href="http://amzn.to/2dKeH5g">http://amzn.to/2dKeH5g</a></span><span lang="EN-US"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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The Book Chickhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01248537555041830039noreply@blogger.com1