Spin

Posted on April 21, 2016 by opesopinions

Author: Catherine McKenzie
Publisher: William Morrow Paperbacks
Genre: Women’s Fiction
Source: Kristin of Kritters Ramblings

Goodreads: Kate’s To-Do List:

1. Go to rehab
2. Befriend/spy on “It Girl”
3. Write killer expose
4. Land dream job

Piece of cake!

When Kate Sandford lands an interview at her favorite music magazine, The Line, it’s the chance of a lifetime. So Kate goes out to celebrate—and shows up still drunk to the interview the next morning. It’s no surprise that she doesn’t get the job, but her performance has convinced the editors that she’d be perfect for an undercover assignment for their gossip rag. All Kate has to do is follow “It Girl” Amber Sheppard into rehab. If she can get the inside scoop—and complete the thirty-day program—they’ll reconsider her for the position at The Line. Kate takes the assignment, but when real friendships start to develop, she has to decide if what she has to gain is worth the price she’ll have to pay.

Ope’s Opinion: There were times I wanted to shake Kate – this is the interview of a life time, at a job you have dreamed about, you are thirty years old (old enough to know better) and you get drunk! Then I felt sorry for her, she needed help and didn’t even realize it.

Though the subject matter was heavy, Catherine McKenzie’s humor made the story flow for me. She made me like Kate a bit more. It was satisfying to see how Kate handled her ethical choice.

This book did read fast for me – a very slow reader.

Outside the Line

Posted on February 15, 2016 by opesopinions

Author: Amy Hatvany
Publisher: Washington Square Press
Genre: Women’s Fiction
Source: Kristin of Kritters Ramblings

Goodreads: When Eden was ten years old she found her father, David, bleeding out on the bathroom floor. The suicide attempt led to her parents’ divorce, and David all but vanished from Eden’s life. Since childhood, she has heard from him only rarely, just enough to know he’s been living on the streets and struggling with mental illness. But lately, there has been no word at all.

Now in her thirties, Eden decides to go look for her father, so she can forgive him at last, and finally move forward. When her search uncovers other painful truths—not only the secrets her mother has kept from her, but also the agonizing question of whether David, after all these years, even wants to be found—Eden is forced to decide just how far she’ll go in the name of love.

Ope’s Opinion: For me this was an emotional book to read. I just wanted to give Eden the father she always dreamed of and thought her dad could be. She just didn’t want to give up the idea that he could be all she wanted him to be.

I liked how Amy Hatvany made her dad just accepted himself as he was. He didn’t want anyone to save him or fix him. That made it hard on the rest of the family, but it was a very different perspective of mental illness then I have ever read.

There are so many great Amy Hatvany books. This was just hard for me to read.

Rating: 4

Forgotten

Posted on November 6, 2015 by opesopinions

Author: Catherine McKenzie
Publisher: HarperCollins Canada
Genre: Women’s Fiction
Source: Kristin of Kritters Ramblings

Goodreads: When everyone thinks you’re dead, how do you start your life over again?

Emma Tupper, a young lawyer with a bright future, sets out on a journey after her mother’s death: to Africa, a place her mother always wanted to visit. But her mother’s dying gift has unexpected consequences. Emma falls ill during the trip and is just recovering when a massive earthquake hits, turning her one-month vacation into a six-month ordeal.

When Emma returns home, she’s shocked to find that her friends and colleagues believed she was dead, that her apartment has been rented to a stranger and that her life has gone on without her. Can Emma pick up where she left off? Should she? As Emma struggles to recreate her old life, everyone around her thinks she should change – her job, her relationships, and even herself. But does she really want to sacrifice everything she’s working so hard to gain?

Ope’s Opinion: This book was given to me, from my daughter Kristin of Kritters Ramblings. She loved this book so I went into with a very positive expectation. I think she liked it more then I did, but I did enjoy this read.

If you have read my other posts, you know, I am slow to get into a book. This one was no exception. I enjoyed it from the beginning, but didn’t really get into it until part of the way through it. Don’t get me wrong it was good – it just takes me a while to feel involved.

I can’t imagine coming back to a life that isn’t there anymore. Where do you begin to pick things up? How often do you think – if only I could start over? – Read this book and you may rethink that thought!

Too much foul language.

Rating: 4 – I like the book so much I know several friends to share it with.

Coming Soon….

Posted on October 30, 2015 by opesopinions

…. On a Bookshelf near you!

In November I hope to read….

Publication Date: November 3, 2015
Publisher: Lake Union Publishing

Goodreads: For overprotective parent Alyson Ward, any time her daughter, Lyla, is out of sight is reason to panic. So it’s a big step for her when she lets Lyla attend a sleepover at her cousin’s house. Comforted by the knowledge that her sister, Tricia, is the chaperone, Alyson does the one thing she never thought possible: she lets go and trusts that her daughter will be safe.

But Alyson’s sense of peace is short lived. When Lyla comes home the next morning, she reveals something that could tear apart not only their family but also the entire community. Now, Alyson and Tricia must confront their painful shared past as they come together to help a little girl who they fear might be harboring terrible secrets similar to their own. Will the sisters be strong enough to face their demons in order to protect the child, even if it means telling their most private truths?

What is coming soon …. to a bookshelf near you?

Let me know – I am always looking for a good read!

The Girls of August

Posted on July 20, 2015 by opesopinions

Author: Anne Rivers Siddons
Publisher: Grand Central Publishing
Genre: Women’s Fiction
Source: Purchased

Goodreads: Every August, four women would gather together to spend a week at the beach, renting a new house each year. The ritual began when they were in their twenties and their husbands were in medical school, and became a mainstay of every summer thereafter. Their only criteria was oceanfront and isolation, their only desire to strengthen their far-flung friendships. They called themselves the Girls of August. But when one of the Girls dies tragically, the group slowly drifts apart and their vacations together are brought to a halt. Years later, a new marriage reunites them and they decide to come together once again on a remote barrier island off the South Carolina coast. There, far from civilization, the women make startling discoveries that will change them in ways they never expected.

Ope’s Opinions: The three main characters are real tight friends because they have known each other for a real long time. When someone new tries to join them, they act like five year olds who don’t want to share their friendship. I wanted to say grow up several times. It is hard to be a new one person in an established group. These woman didn’t make it any easier.

A lot of bad things happened while they were on an island. There were so many random hard things, it did not feel likely to happen.

Each character had secrets they were keeping. The secrets came out slowly. The end came fast and just sort of ended.

Rating: 3 – I like this book enough to suggest it a friend to share it with.

Maybe in Another Life

Posted on July 6, 2015 by opesopinions

Author: Taylor Jenkins Reid
Publisher: Washington Square Press
Genre: Women’s Fiction
Source: BookSparks

Goodreads: From the acclaimed author of Forever, Interrupted and After I Do comes a breathtaking new novel about a young woman whose fate hinges on the choice she makes after bumping into an old flame; in alternating chapters, we see two possible scenarios unfold—with stunningly different results.

At the age of twenty-nine, Hannah Martin still has no idea what she wants to do with her life. She has lived in six different cities and held countless meaningless jobs since graduating college. On the heels of leaving yet another city, Hannah moves back to her hometown of Los Angeles and takes up residence in her best friend Gabby’s guestroom. Shortly after getting back to town, Hannah goes out to a bar one night with Gabby and meets up with her high school boyfriend, Ethan.

Just after midnight, Gabby asks Hannah if she’s ready to go. A moment later, Ethan offers to give her a ride later if she wants to stay. Hannah hesitates. What happens if she leaves with Gabby? What happens if she leaves with Ethan?

In concurrent storylines, Hannah lives out the effects of each decision. Quickly, these parallel universes develop into radically different stories with large-scale consequences for Hannah, as well as the people around her. As the two alternate realities run their course, Maybe in Another Liferaises questions about fate and true love: Is anything meant to be? How much in our life is determined by chance? And perhaps, most compellingly: Is there such a thing as a soul mate?

Hannah believes there is. And, in both worlds, she believes she’s found him.

Ope’s Opinion: The synopsis intrigued me from the start and Taylor Jenkins Reid’s writing just kept me turning pages to the very end. This is the road not taken kind of book.

There are actually two stories going on at the same time in this book. I was concerned it might be difficult to distinguish between the two – I was wrong – Reid’s writing had two distinct voices for each of Hannah’s choices. It was very easy to follow. It read very fast.

Hannah and Gabby are fortunate to have such an awesome friendship no matter where life took each of them. Each of these characters is well developed, deep, with flaws that make them relatable.

I have read Reid’s other books and I will read her next one. She knows how to pull me and keep me wanting to stop the world so I continue to read.

Rating: 5 – This book is so good it will be passed on and on and on…..

Summer Secrets

Posted on June 24, 2015 by opesopinions

Author: Jane Green
Publisher: St. Martin’s Press
Genre: Women’s Fiction
Source: BookSparks

Goodreads: Jane Green delivers her second blockbuster novel of 2015, a story of one woman struggling to right the wrongs of her past, with even more complications in the present.

June, 1998: At twenty seven, Catherine Coombs, also known as Cat, is struggling. She lives in London, works as a journalist, and parties hard. Her lunchtimes consist of several glasses of wine at the bar downstairs in the office, her evenings much the same, swigging the free booze and eating the free food at a different launch or party every night. When she discovers the identity of the father she never knew she had, it sends her into a spiral. She makes mistakes that cost her the budding friendship of the only women who have ever welcomed her. And nothing is ever the same after that.

June, 2014: Cat has finally come to the end of herself. She no longer drinks. She wants to make amends to those she has hurt. Her quest takes her to Nantucket, to the gorgeous summer community where the women she once called family still live. Despite her sins, will they welcome her again? What Cat doesn’t realize is that these women, her real father’s daughters, have secrets of their own. As the past collides with the present, Cat must confront the darkest things in her own life and uncover the depths of someone’s need for revenge.

Ope’s Opinion: This book was a roller coaster for me. It drew me in at the beginning. I was interested in the characters and where the story was going to take them. The middle part drug on for me. The AA meetings were too long with too much detail. When Cat went to Nantucket, I was back into the story.

I think Jane Green wrote wonderful family dynamics. She showed how each relationship effected the other people in the family. I loved Cat and Annie’s relationship.

The ending was very satisfying. It made the rest of the story worth reading.

Rating: 3 – I like this book enough to suggest it to a friend or two.

The One That Got Away

Posted on May 26, 2015 by opesopinions

Author: Bethany Chase
Publisher: Ballantine Books
Genre: Women’s Fiction
Source: Kristin of Kritters Ramblings

Goodreads: Perfect for fans of Emily Giffin and Jennifer Weiner, this bright, funny debut from a fresh voice in fiction offers a delicious take on love, family, and what it means to build a home of one’s own.

Sarina Mahler thinks she has her life all nailed down: a growing architecture practice in Austin, Texas, and an any-day-now proposal from her loving boyfriend, Noah. She’s well on her way to having the family she’s hoped for since her mother’s death ten years ago. But with Noah on a temporary assignment abroad and retired Olympic swimmer — and former flame — Eamon Roy back in town asking her to renovate his new fixer-upper, Sarina’s life takes an unexpected turn.

Eamon proves to be Sarina’s dream client, someone who instinctively trusts every one of her choices — and Sarina is reminded of all the reasons she was first drawn to him back in the day. Suddenly her carefully planned future with Noah seems a little less than perfect. And when tragedy strikes, Sarina is left reeling. With her world completely upended, she is forced to question what she truly wants in life — and in love.

Full of both humor and heartbreak, The One That Got Away is the story of one woman’s discovery that, sometimes, life is what happens when you leave the blueprints behind.

Ope’s Opinion: I was very excited to borrow this from my daughter Kristin of Kritters Ramblings. It did not disappointment me. The story itself is very relatable and the characters are realistic.

If you like characters that are independent, won’t settle for less then they deserve, have families that feel real and are willing to work hard for what they want – you will love this book. Sarina is that kind of person. She has a job that she loves and is front and center in this book.

This book would have gotten a five or more in my ratings, but the constant use of the “f” word was distracting and totally unnecessary.

Rating: 4.5 – I like this book so much I know several friends to share it with.

How to Eat a Cupcake

Posted on March 27, 2015 by opesopinions

Author: Meg Donohue
Publisher: William Morrow Paperbacks
Genre: Women’s Fiction
Source: Kristin of Kritters Ramblings

Goodreads: Funny, free-spirited Annie Quintana and sophisticated, ambitious Julia St. Clair come from two different worlds. Yet, as the daughter of the St. Clair’s housekeeper, Annie grew up in Julia’s San Francisco mansion and they forged a bond that only two little girls who know nothing of class differences and scholarships could—until a life-altering betrayal destroyed their friendship.

A decade later, Annie is now a talented, if underpaid, pastry chef who bakes to fill the void left in her heart by her mother’s death. Julia, a successful businesswoman, is tormented by a painful secret that could jeopardize her engagement to the man she loves. When a chance reunion prompts the unlikely duo to open a cupcakery, they must overcome past hurts and a mysterious saboteur or risk losing their fledgling business and any chance of healing their fractured friendship.

Ope’s Opinion: This book is a steady build to the end. Along the way, there is some mystery and twists to the story. It is told in two voices, Annie and Julia. They are very different voices. The book is divided into months – this makes a nice time line.

The characters are well developed, relatable and realistic. You will like Annie and Julia at times and other times you will be frustrated with each of them – as I think the author was expecting you to.

The center of this book is about friendship. These two friends are actually more like sisters. They fight with each other and yet under it all you can tell they really love each other. The cupcake shop brought out the best in each one of them. They are both strong, independent women trying to make life work and work with each other.

The ending wrapped everything up and was exactly what you want for Annie and Julia.

Rating: 4 – I like this book so much I know several friends to share it with.

Whole Latte Life

Posted on March 13, 2015 by opesopinions

Author: Joanne DeMaio
Publisher: Createspace
Genre: Women’s Fiction
Source: Kristin of Kritters Ramblings

Goodreads: A heartfelt story of secrets and second chances from the New York Times bestselling author of Blue Jeans and Coffee Beans.

Sara Beth and Rachel have been wishing on stars for as long as they’ve been friends. Sara Beth dreams of opening an antique shop in quaint Addison, Connecticut. For Rachel, a little beach cottage will do, where sea breezes and salt water might inspire her sketches. Sharing wishes and cups of coffee, they’ve stitched pieces of their lives together like a soft patchwork quilt of friendship they thought they’d hold close forever.

But while celebrating their birthdays one weekend in Manhattan, Sara Beth makes a life-altering decision. Excusing herself to use the Ladies’ Room during lunch, she disappears, slipping the waiter a note to pass along, asking Rachel to cover for her.

Sara Beth’s escape begins a summer of change–of herself, of her marriage, of the lives of those around her back home in Addison. Most unexpectedly, it brings a solitary Mounted Police Officer into Rachel’s life, one who gladly shows Rachel that it isn’t always stars that deliver our wishes.

Ope’s Opinion: This is my March pick off of Kristin of Kritters Ramblings shelf.

I started out the book frustrated with Sara Beth. I wanted to hear more from her and less from those looking for her and lost without her. I wanted to know what Sara Beth was thinking and going through. Eventually, that happened and that was when I enjoyed the story more.

I can understand Sara Beth’s feelings and her wanting to run away from her life. Aren’t there times when we would all like to run away? Loosing your mom makes you look at your life and reevaluate. It also makes you a little lost, if she was your support.

As the story moved on, I understood Sarah Beth so much more. I liked how Joanne DeMaio wrapped the story up at the end of the book.

I have another book by Joanne DeMaio I am looking forward to reading.

Rating: 3.5 – I like the book enough to suggest it to a friend or two.

Ope's Opinions

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Tag Archives: Women’s Fiction