Author:  Andrea Lochen
Publisher: Berkley Trade                

Pages: 400
Genre:  Young Adult
Source:  BookSparks

Goodreads:  Everyone has days, weeks, even months they wish they could do over—but what about an entire year? After living through the worst twelve months of her life, intensive care nurse Olive Watson is given a second chance to relive her past and attempt to discover where she went wrong… After a year of hardships, including a messy breakup with her longtime boyfriend Phil, the prospect of her mother’s remarriage, and heartbreaking patient losses at the hospital, Olive is ready to start fresh. But when she wakes up in her ex-boyfriend’s bed on New Year’s Day 2011—a day she has already lived—Olive’s world is turned upside down. Shouldering a year of memories that no one else can recall, even Olive begins to question herself—until she discovers that she is not alone. Upon crossing paths with Sherry Witan, an experienced “repeater,” Olive learns that she has the chance to rewrite her future. Given the opportunity of a lifetime, Olive has to decide what she really wants. Should she make different choices, or accept her life as she knows it, flaws and all?


Ope’s Opinion:  I know this is a young adult book, but it didn’t feel like it. The story line was very captivating – who would not want a do-over in some part of your life.  Maybe not an entire year, but some small part.  It would be strange though to wake up and not realize at first that you were getting the chance for that do-over.  When I started reading, I didn’t think about the fact that Olive wasn’t the only one getting a year to do over.  Everyone in her life was, although they didn’t know it.  

                                   It had very developed, complex characters.  It was interesting to see how Olive’s choices effected other people and their choices.  

                                  I think it was fun to read and very different from a regular relationship in most books. I liked the writing style of Andrea, so I would read another story by her.   I would recommend this to anyone.


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

Author: David Baldacci
Publisher:  Grand Central Publishing                

Pages: 352
Genre:  Women’s Fiction
Source:  Purchased

Goodreads:  It’s almost Christmas, but there is no joy in the house of terminally ill Jack and his family. With only a short time left to live, he spends his last days preparing to say goodbye to his devoted wife, Lizzie, and their three children. Then, unthinkably, tragedy strikes again: Lizzie is killed in a car accident. With no one able to care for them, the children are separated from each other and sent to live with family members around the country. Just when all seems lost, Jack begins to recover in a miraculous turn of events. He rises from what should have been his deathbed, determined to bring his fractured family back together. Struggling to rebuild their lives after Lizzie’s death, he reunites everyone at Lizzie’s childhood home on the oceanfront in South Carolina. And there, over one unforgettable summer, Jack will begin to learn to love again, and he and his children will learn how to become a family once more.


Ope’s Opinion:  Before you start reading, go get a box of tissues.  It is such a good story, but it starts out sad.  This is a fast paced story with a lot of emotion put into it.

                                       All the characters are believable and relatable.  You will ache for their hurts and wish them well, all the way to the end.  You will not want to put this book because you will want to know what happens to each person.

                                      It was nice to read a great book with little to no foul language and no explicit sex scenes, yet it had all the emotion and connection between the characters you could want.  Great writing!

                                    I would recommend this book to anyone who likes family drama.  If  David Baldacci writes more stories like this one, I will be reading them!


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

Author: L. Allison Heller            

Publisher:  NAL Trade
Pages:  352
Genre: Fiction
Source:  BookSparks

Goodreads:   Breaking up is hard to do. At least the first few times. 

Even though Molly Grant has only a handful of relationships behind her, she’s already been through more divorces than she can count.

At the premier Manhattan law firm where she’s a matrimonial attorney, the hours are long, the bosses tyrannical, and the bonuses stratospheric. Her clients are rich, famous, and used to getting their way. Molly’s job—and primary concern in life—is to work as hard as possible to make sure they do. Until she meets the client who changes everything…

Fern Walker is the desperate former wife of a ruthless media mogul. Her powerful ex is slowly pushing her out of her young children’s lives, and she fears losing them forever. Molly—haunted by an incident from her own past—finds herself unable to walk away from Fern and sets out to help her. She just needs to do it without her bosses finding out.

Now, as complications both professional and personal stack up, Molly can only hope that her own wits, heart, and instincts are enough—both in and out of court.

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 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.

                                                       

Author:  Whitney Gaskell
Publisher:  Bantam                                                                            

Pages:  416
Genre:  Women’s Fiction
Source:  Edelweiss

Goodreads:  A warm and witty novel about friendship, fine dining, and learning that life doesn’t always turn out quite how we expect it to—perfect for fans of Barbara O’Neal and Nancy Thayer

On New Year’s Eve, Fran and Will Parrish host a dinner party, serving their friends a gourmet feast. The night is such a success that the group decides to form a monthly dinner party club. But what starts as an excuse to enjoy the company of fellow foodies ends up having lasting repercussions on each member of the Table for Seven Dinner Party Club.

Fran and Will face the possibility that their comfortable marriage may not be as infallible as they once thought. Audrey has to figure out how to move on and start a new life after the untimely death of her young husband. Perfectionist Jaime suspects that her husband, Mark, might be having an affair. Coop, a flirtatious bachelor who never commits to a third date, is blindsided when he falls in love for the first time. Leland, a widower, is a wise counselor and firm believer that bacon makes everything taste better.

Over the course of a year, against a backdrop of mouthwatering meals, relationships are forged, marriages are tested, and the members of the Table for Seven Dinner Party Club find their lives forever changed.

Author:  Leslie Carroll
Publisher: William Morrow Paperbacks                      

Pages:  272
Genre: Chick Lit
Source:  Purchased

Goodreads:  When life throws you a curve ball…

Venus deMarley has just been hit with a wild pitch. At forty she’s finally found the perfect fiance, when Sophie–the daughter she gave up for adoption twenty years ago–suddenly reappears. Venus has another crisis on her hands as well: her eccentric millionaire dad just died and willed her his pet project–a rag-tag minor league baseball team called the Bronx Cheers–if Venus and Sophie can reconcile and once again become a family. Venus knows diddly about sports, but Sophie’s a jock, unlike her glamorous mom. And after two decades apart, these two women know nothing about each other, and rarely agree on anything. But maybe–just maybe–they have more in common than they think….

Author:  Blake Mycoskie
Publisher: Spiegel & Grau                            

Pages:  208
Genre:  Non – Fiction
Source: Gift

Goodreads:  Love your work, work for what you love, and change the world—all at the same time.
 
What matters most to you? Should you focus on earning a living, pursuing your passions, or devoting yourself to the causes that inspire you? The surprising truth is that you don’t have to choose—and that you’ll find more success if you don’t. That’s the breakthrough message of TOMS’ One for One movement. You don’t have to be rich to give back and you don’t have to retire to spend every day doing what you love. You can find profit, passion, and meaning all at once—right now.   
 
In Start Something That Matters, Blake Mycoskie tells the story of TOMS, one of the fastest-growing shoe companies in the world, and combines it with lessons learned from such other innovative organizations as method, charity: water, FEED Projects, and TerraCycle. Blake presents the six simple keys for creating or transforming your own life and business, from discovering your core story to being resourceful without resources; from overcoming fear and doubt to incorporating giving into every aspect of your life. No matter what kind of change you’re considering, Start Something That Matters gives you the stories, ideas, and practical tips that can help you get started.  
 

Author:  Lauren Graham
Publisher:  Ballantine Books          

Pages:  352
Genre:  Chick Lit
Source:  Edelweiss

Goodreads:   A charming and laugh-out-loud novel by Lauren Graham, beloved star of Parenthood and Gilmore Girls, about an aspiring actress trying to make it in mid-nineties New York City.

Franny Banks is a struggling actress in New York City, with just six months left of the three year deadline she gave herself to succeed. But so far, all she has to show for her efforts is a single line in an ad for ugly Christmas sweaters and a degrading waitressing job. She lives in Brooklyn with two roommates-Jane, her best friend from college, and Dan, a sci-fi writer, who is very definitely not boyfriend material-and is struggling with her feelings for a suspiciously charming guy in her acting class, all while trying to find a hair-product cocktail that actually works. Meanwhile, she dreams of doing “important” work, but only ever seems to get auditions for dishwashing liquid and peanut butter commercials. It’s hard to tell if she’ll run out of time or money first, but either way, failure would mean facing the fact that she has absolutely no skills to make it in the real world. Her father wants her to come home and teach, her agent won’t call her back, and her classmate Penelope, who seems supportive, might just turn out to be her toughest competition yet. Someday, Someday, Maybe is a funny and charming debut about finding yourself, finding love, and, most difficult of all, finding an acting job.

Author:  Sarah Strohmeyer
Publisher: Balzer & Bray / Harperteen
Pages:  320
Genre:  Young Adult / Contemporary
Source:  Edelweiss

Goodreads:   From Sarah Strohmeyer, author of Smart Girls Get What They Want, comes this romantic comedy about one girl’s summer job from hell. Think The Devil Wears Prada set in Disney World.

When cousins Zoe and Jess land summer internships at the Fairyland Kingdom theme park, they are sure they’ve hit the jackpot. With perks like hot Abercrombie-like Prince Charmings and a chance to win the coveted $25,000 Dream & Do grant, what more could a girl want?

Once Zoe arrives, however, she’s assigned to serve “The Queen”-Fairyland’s boss from hell. From spoon-feeding her evil lapdog caviar, to fetching midnight sleeping tonics, Zoe fears she might not have what it takes to survive the summer, much less win the money.

Soon backstabbing interns, a runaway Cinderella, and cutthroat competition make Zoe’s job more like a nightmare than a fairy tale. What will happen when Zoe is forced to choose between serving The Queen and saving the prince of her dreams?

Author:  Nell Carson

Publisher:  Avalon Books                                                    
Pages:  185
Genre:  Contemporary Romance
Source: Nell Carson

Goodreads:   After a tumultuous past, Greta Kendall has focused mainly on her bridal shop, located on the first floor of her beloved Queen Anne Victorian near Aspen. For two years she’s fought to save her house from Stephanie Harwood of Harwood Development, who is intent on razing her home to build a new mall. But now Greta’s running out of time. The town council is about to approve the final plans for the mall.

When Gray Daniels walks into her shop, Greta is immediately attracted to his rugged good looks and midnight blue eyes, until she learns he’s Stephanie Harwood’s fiancé. She’s furious to find they’ve tricked her into a publicity stunt aimed at garnering support for the mall. So now her little war has a new front: Gray Daniels. If only she could also fight her growing attraction to him.

A knock on the door brings a return of old danger, and Greta must now put aside her anguish over the house to discover if she’s at last capable of looking the past in the eye and overcoming it—and if she’s finally free to love again.

Ope’s Opinion:  This was a cute, quick, easy read.  It had a couple of twists in the story.  The story moved very fast.  It is definitely a romantic tale.  

                                   The characters were sweet and simple.  It was sad not see any consequences for Stephanie being so mean.  

                                  If you like sweet romantic story – pick this one up.

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 Nell Carson. 

            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.

                                                       

Author:  Karen Kingsbury
Publisher:  Howard Books                        

Pages:  352
Genre:  Christian Fiction
Source:  My friend Mary Ann

Goodreads:  In The Chance, New York Times bestselling author Karen Kingsbury delves deeply into a theme that resonates with us all: It’s never too late for those willing to take a chance.

Years ago, the day before Ellie moved from Georgia to California, she and her best friend Nolan sat beneath the Spanish moss of an ancient oak tree where they wrote letters to each other, and sealed them in a rusty old metal box. The plan was to return eleven years later and read them. But now, as that date arrives, much has changed. Ellie, bereft of the faith she grew up with, is a single mom living in a tired apartment trying to make ends meet. Sometimes she watches television to catch a glimpse of her old friend —Nolan, now an NBA star, whose terrible personal tragedies fueled his faith and athletic drive in equal measure. But Nolan also suffers from a transcendent loneliness that nothing has ever eased.