Monthly Archives: November 2012

One Good Friend Deserves Another

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Author:  Lisa Verge Higgins
Publisher:  5 Spot
Pages: 352
Genre:  Chic Lit
Source:  BEA

Goodreads:  
 HOW MANY OF THESE DATING RULES HAVE YOU BROKEN?

1. Choose Your Own Man
2. Make Sure Your Friends Approve
3. No One-Night Stands
4. Trust Your Instincts
5. Never Make the Same Mistake Twice
6. After a Break-Up, Wait Six Months Before Dating Again.

Dhara, Kelly, Marta, and Wendy have been the closest of friends since college. So close, that after a series of romantic disasters, they bond together to create Rules of Relationships to keep their hearts safe.

Years later, the rules seem to have worked . . . until Marta discovers that her hot boyfriend is married, Kelly begins a risky love affair, Wendy inches closer to a pre-marital infidelity, and, most shocking of all, Indian-American Dhara suddenly agrees to an arranged marriage.

Hearts are about to be broken and the bonds of friendship are tested. Is it possible to find true love, when you’re breaking all the rules?



Ope’s Opinion:  When you start to read this book – take the first couple of chapters slow.  There are a lot of people to get to know and a lot of information in the beginning.  After that, you will not want to stop reading!  It is a wonderful story of real friends.  All four them are in each others business, but only because they care and want to protect each other.  If you are fortunate enough to have friends like these, share this book with them and celebrate that friendship.

Rating:  Four Chairs – I  like this book so much I know several friends to share it with.




             
                           FTC – Disclosure of Material Connection: 

                                                   I received one copy of this book free of charge from BEA. 
                                          I was not required to write a positive review in exchange for receipt of the
                                                   book; rather the opinions expressed in this review are my own.
                                                         

The Summer My Life Began

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Author:  Shannon Greenland

Publisher:  Speak
Pages: 250
Genre:  Young Adult / Contemporary
Source:  Chic Lit Is Not Dead
Goodreads:   A great summer beach read filled with sunshine, cooking, and—of course—romance!

Elizabeth Margaret–better known as Em–has always known what her life would contain: an internship at her father’s firm, a degree from Harvard, and a career as a lawyer. The only problem is, it’s not what she wants. So when she gets the opportunity to get away and spend a month with the aunt she never knew, she jumps at the chance. While there, Em learns that her family has some pretty significant secrets. And then there’s Cade, the laid-back local surfer boy who seems to be everything Em isn’t. Naturally, she can’t resist him, and as their romance blossoms, Em feels that for the first time ever, she is really living life on her own terms.


Ope’s Opinion:  You think you know where this book is going from the beginning, but surprise – you don’t!  It has wonderful turns you just won’t expect.
  
                                      I have two daughters ( grown now ) I would have recommend this book for them to read as young adults.  I am going to suggest they read it now too!!   It has no inappropriate language or scenes in it.  It kept my attention through the whole book.

                                     Just a wonderful, easy, enjoyable read.



Rating: Four Chairs – I like this book so much I know several friends to share it with.


                                FTC – Disclosure of Material Connection: 

                                                I received one copy of this book free of charge from Chick Lit Is Not Dead. 
                                                I was not required to write a positive review in exchange for receipt of the
                                                        book; rather the opinions expressed in this review are my own.
                                                        

The Good Woman

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Author:  Jane Porter
Publisher:  Berkley Trade
Pages:  368
Genre:  Woman’s Fiction
Source:  BookSparks

Goodreads:  Is it possible to leave it all behind? 

The firstborn of a large Irish-American family, Meg Brennan Roberts is a successful publicist, faithful wife, and doting mother who prides herself on always making the right decisions. But years of being “the good woman” have taken a toll and though her winery career thrives, Meg feels burned out and empty, and more disconnected than ever from her increasingly distant husband. Lonely and disheartened, she attends the London Wine Fair with her boss, ruggedly handsome vintner, Chad Hallahan. It’s here, alone together in an exotic city, far from “real” life, that Chad confesses his long-standing desire for Meg.

Overwhelmed, flattered, and desperately confused, Meg returns home, only to suddenly question every choice she’s ever made, especially that of her marriage. For Meg, something’s got to give, and for once in her life she flees her responsibilities—but with consequences as reckless and irreversible as they are liberating. Now she must decide whether being the person everyone needs is worth losing the woman she was meant to be.




Ope’s Opinion:  I think this book needs to be divided into three parts.
                              
                                       The first part grabbed me.  It was about the sisters, their relationships with each other and their parents.  I was into this part of the book.

                                      The second part was about Meg going to London.  At this point I felt like I was reading a script for a soap opera.  It did not even feel like the same author was writing this part.  I almost put it down at this point.

                                     The third part was about family again.  This time Meg’s family.  It was very dramatic, a little more realistic then the middle part of the book.  I felt like a lot of loose ends were not tied up by the time the book was finished.




Rating: Three Chairs – I like the book enough to suggest it to a friend or two.




                                   FTC – Disclosure of Material Connection: 

                                          I received one copy of this book free of charge from BookSparks . 
                              I was not required to write a positive review in exchange for receipt of the
                                       book; rather the opinions expressed in this review are my own.
                                                        

Twelve Months

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Author:  Steven Manchester
Publisher: The Story Plant
Pages:  324
Genre:  Contemporary Fiction
Source: The Author – Steven Manchester

Goodreads:  Don DiMarco has a very good life – a family he loves, a comfortable lifestyle, passions and interests that keep him amused. He also thought he had time, but that turned out not to be the case. Faced with news that might have immediately felled most, Don now wonders if he has time enough. Time enough to show his wife the romance he didn’t always lavish on her. Time enough to live out his most ambitious fantasies. Time enough to close the circle on some of his most aching unresolved relationships. Summoning an inner strength he barely realized he possessed, Don sets off to prove that twelve months is time enough to live a life in full.

A glorious celebration of each and every moment that we’re given here on Earth, as well as the eternal bonds that we all share, TWELVE MONTHS is a stirring testament to the power of the human spirit.



Ope’s Opinion:  I would actually give it three and a half chairs ( I just don’t have a half of a friend! ).
                                     
                                      This book was very well written.  It was not as sad or morbid as I thought it could have been.  It was nice to see how one man would handle knowing his limit of time left with the people he loved and the people he wanted to influence.  

                                      Twelve Months, made me stop to think about how well I took care of those who have already left this earth.  Was I as supportive as Bella was?  Did I allow them to do what they needed to do so they could leave in peace?  It also makes me think  – what do I need to do now,  instead of waiting?

                                      I think this book will be with me long after I pass it on to other people. ” Leave more then you take”  is the best quote from the book.


Rating:  Three Chairs – I like this book enough to suggest it to a friend or two.



                                    FTC – Disclosure of Material Connection: 

                                                              I received one copy of this book free of charge from the author. 
                                                      I was not required to write a positive review in exchange for receipt of the
                                                             book; rather the opinions expressed in this review are my own.