Tag Archives: Chick lit

What You Wish For

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Author: Kerry Reichs
Publisher: William Morrow Paperbacks
Genre:  Chick lit
Source: Kristin of Kritters Ramblings

Goodreads:  If what you wish for is a delightfully bittersweet novel filled with endearing, eccentric characters and situations in the vein of Jennifer Weiner, Jane Green, Marian Keyes, and Meg Cabot, then Kerry Reichs’s What You Wish For is the answer to your prayers. The daughter of forensic crime fiction superstar Kathy Reichs (bestselling creator of the Temperence Brennan mystery series, the basis for TV’s Bones), Kerry Reichs’s writing talent is ingrained in her DNA, as she’s already demonstrated with her previous books, Leaving Unknown and The Best Day of Someone Else’s Life. Her third novel, What You Wish For, is a tender, loving, funny, and unforgettable tale of five “modern” families, each one following a very different road to happiness, and yet another bravura example of Kerry Reichs’s phenomenal storytelling abilities.

Ope’s Opinion:  There are a lot of characters you are introduced to at the beginning of the book.  It took me a little while to get attached to each one and figure out where their story lines were headed.  The more I read, the more invested I was in their quest for a child or to be understood why they didn’t want a child.  

I did not see how all the story lines were going to intersect at the beginning of the book.  It was interesting to see how the author wove each of their lives together.  The ending was all you wanted it to be, it let you know where everyone was.  The ending made the rest of the book for me.

The Paris Wedding

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Author: Charlotte Nash
Publisher: William Morrow Paperbacks
Genre: Women’s Fiction
Source:  William Morrow Paperbacks

Goodreads:  Ten years ago, Rachael West chose not to move to Sydney with high-school sweetheart Matthew. Instead she stayed on the family wheat farm, caring for her seriously ill mother and letting go of her dreams. Now, Matthew is marrying someone else. And Rachael is invited to the wedding, a lavish affair in Paris, courtesy of the flamboyant family of Matthew’s fiancée – a once-in-a-lifetime celebration at someone else’s expense in Europe’s most romantic city.

She is utterly unprepared for what the week brings. Friendships will be upended, secrets will be revealed – and on the eve of the wedding, Rachael is faced with an impossible dilemma: should she give up on the promise of love, or destroy another woman’s life for a chance at happiness?

If you enjoy reading Rachael Treasure and Rachael Johns, you’ll fall in love with this deliciously poignant story about family and friends, and love lost and found.

Ope’s Opinion:  I was trying to tell my daughter about this book – this is how I described it – very Australian, lots of Paris tourist stuff, and a really endearing story.  That is just the surface of this book.  The story is like going down a windy country road – there are a lot of curves in the story, some you will expect, many are a surprise.  The story kept moving throughout the whole book.

Rachael was finding her way through hard times and heart break.  It made her journey feel real.  A few times, I wanted her to have more of a back bone, but she did learn from her mistakes and grew in the process.

The ending was exactly what I wanted it to be.  It let you know where everyone ended up.

 

Arranged

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Author: Catherine McKenzie
Publisher: William Morrow Paperbacks
Genre: Chick Lit
Source: Kristin of Kritters Ramblings

 

Goodreads:  Anne Blythe has a great life: a good job, good friends, and a potential book deal for her first novel. When it comes to finding someone to share it with, however, she just can’t seem to get it right.

After yet another relationship ends, Anne comes across a business card for what she thinks is a dating service, and she pockets it just in case. When her best friend, Sarah, announces she’s engaged, Anne can’t help feeling envious. On an impulse, she decides to give the service a try because maybe she could use a little assistance in finding the right man. But Anne soon discovers the company isn’t a dating service; it’s an exclusive, and pricey, arranged marriage service. She initially rejects the idea, but the more she thinks about it — and the company’s success rate — the more it appeals to her. After all, arranged marriages are the norm for millions of women around the world, so why wouldn’t it work for her?

A few months later, Anne is travelling to a Mexican resort, where in one short weekend she will meet and marry Jack. And against all odds, it seems to be working out — until Anne learns that Jack, and the company that arranged their marriage, are not what they seem at all.

Ope’s Opinion: I was given this book to read from my daughter Kristin of Kritters Ramblings.  She is a huge Catherine McKenzie fan and said “Mom you Have to read this one.”  Although the premise is unlikely ( it is fiction! ) it was a lot of fun to read.

When you choose your relationships based on superficial aspects, you get superficial relationships.  It took Anne a little while to figure that out.  So she decided to go a different route ( arranged marriage ) to start a relationship.

If you think you know where this story is going …. keep reading …. you will be surprised and hopefully enjoy it!  This is just an enjoyable read.

Distant Shores

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Author:  Kristin Hannah           distant shores
Publisher:  Ballantine Books
Genre:  Chick Lit
Source: Purchased

 

 

Goodreads:  Elizabeth and Jackson Shore married young, raised two daughters, and weathered the storms of youth as they built a family. From a distance, their lives look picture perfect. But after the girls leave home, Jack and Elizabeth quietly drift apart. When Jack accepts a wonderful new job, Elizabeth puts her own needs aside to follow him across the country. Then tragedy turns Elizabeth’s world upside down. In the aftermath, she questions everything about her life—her choices, her marriage, even her long-forgotten dreams. In a daring move that shocks her husband, friends, and daughters, she lets go of the woman she has become—and reaches out for the woman she wants to be.

Ope’s Opinion:  This book started out very depressing with neither Elizabeth or Jackson being happy with their marriage, themselves or their careers.  The story moved slow and didn’t really improve.  

Jackson is a jerk and Elizabeth has no back bone.  It always disappointments me when a woman is not written strong enough to stand up for herself.  I don’t agree with just throwing a marriage away, but I don’t think Elizabeth should have just taken Jackson back without more work on both their parts.

I was disappointed Elizabeth did not find her “passion”.  She did not get back to her painting or find something new to fulfill herself.

Overall, I was just disappointed in this book.

Rating:  Two Chairs – I may have one friend who might like to read this book.
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Cure for the Common Breakup

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summer read

cure

 

Author: Beth Kendrick
Publisher:  NAL Trade
Genre: Chick Lit
Source:  BookSparks

 

 

Goodreads:  Welcome to Black Dog Bay, a tiny seaside town in Delaware known as “the best place in America to bounce back from your breakup.” Home to Better Off Bed-and-Breakfast, the Eat Your Heart Out bakery, and the Whinery bar, Black Dog Bay offers a haven for the suddenly single.

 

Flight attendant Summer Benson lives by two rules: Don’t stay with the same man for too long and never stay in one place. She’s about to break rule number one by considering accepting her boyfriend’s proposal—then disaster strikes and her world is shattered in an instant.

Summer heads to Black Dog Bay, where the locals welcome her. Even Hattie Huntington, the town’s oldest, richest, and meanest resident, likes her enough to give her a job. Then there’s Dutch Jansen, the rugged, stoic mayor, who’s the opposite of her type. She probably shouldn’t be kissing him. She definitely shouldn’t be falling in love.

 

After a lifetime of globe-trotting, Summer has finally found a home. But Hattie has old scores to settle and a hidden agenda for her newest employee. Summer finds herself faced with an impossible choice: Leave Black Dog Bay behind forever, or stay with the ones she loves and cost them everything..

 

Ope’s Opinion:  Save this book for your trip to the beach this summer.  It is a very light, easy beach read!  It is a predictable ending with a few twists along the way.

The main character Summer is fun to follow through her transformation from globe trotter to finding a home.  She is often snarky and keeps people at a distance.  You do want her to find happiness.

There is a cast of other characters that add interest to the story.  They are realistic and fun to get to know.  It would be great to have a sequel that focused on one of the other people in Black Dog Bay or another person who comes to town like Summer did.

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

3 chairs

 

In the Mirror

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mirror                                                       

Author: Kaira Rouda
Publisher: Real You Publishing Group                                Genre:  Chick Lit
Source: Author

 

This book goes on sale May 1, 2014.
Go get your copy.
Amazon: http://ow.ly/vZHPb

 

Goodreads:   If you knew you may die soon, what choices would you make?

Jennifer Benson has it all: a successful career, a perfect husband, two kids and abundant friendships. The only problem is she may be dying. IN THE MIRROR is the realistic love story about a woman facing a deadly illness, and her loves past and present. It’s a story that unfolds with a delightful blend of humor and poignancy, ringing true in the heart of anyone who has ignored a warning of her own.

Ope’s Opinion:  This book made me think.  It was really well written.  The author makes you look at what the main character did – and say to yourself – would I do what she did?  How would I handle what life throws at me?

Everyone who is around the person with cancer is effected.  The party that Jennifer threw showed how many people were effect by her illness.  It was interesting to see how her husband handled her illness and how he handle life without her being able to help with the children.  As in any major change in life it is a hard adjustment.

The ending was different then I expected.  

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

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Author:  Susan Mallery            barefoot
Publisher:  Mira
Genre: Women’s Fiction
Source:  Purchased

 

 

 

Goodreads:  Michelle Sanderson may appear to be a strong, independent woman, but on the inside, she’s still the wounded girl who fled home years ago. A young army vet, Michelle returns to the quaint Blackberry Island Inn to claim her inheritance and recover from the perils of war. Instead, she finds the owner’s suite occupied by the last person she wants to see.

Carly Williams and Michelle were once inseparable, until a shocking betrayal destroyed their friendship. And now Carly is implicated in the financial disaster lurking behind the inn’s cheerful veneer.

Single mother Carly has weathered rumors, lies and secrets for a lifetime, and is finally starting to move forward with love and life. But if the Blackberry Island Inn goes under, Carly and her daughter will go with it.

To save their livelihoods, Carly and Michelle will undertake a turbulent truce. It’ll take more than a successful season to move beyond their devastating past, but with a little luck and a beautiful summer, they may just rediscover the friendship of a lifetime.

Ope’s Opinion:  This is the first book in the Blackberry Island series. I read them all out of order.  I read the second, third and now this one.  They can each stand alone, but would be better read in order.  

Once again, Susan Mallery wrote a captivating story that had you rooting for the main characters. All the other characters feel real and add so much to the story.  She made me want to go stay at the inn or move to Blackberry Island.  

This is a  story of friendship.  There is some romance, but it is not the focus of this book.  I actually enjoyed the fact that this book was focus more the friendship.  Towards the end of the book a dog is part of the story – it is such an awesome part of this book.  I don’t want to give anything away, so that is all I will say.

Pick up this book and start reading.  You will  want to go ahead and get the other two books – Three Sisters and Evening Star.  So much fun to read!

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