Showing posts with label Chick-lit. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Chick-lit. Show all posts

02/09/2014

Book Review: Three's A Crowd by Edwina Darke



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My Synopsis
Imagine this: You are the junior of a pain-in-the-ass editor of a publishing firm who secretly covets your hot boyfriend. Your life is perfect with Girl’s Nights Outs with your network of friends, even though occasionally you get stood up on dinner nights by your perfect boyfriend who’s slaving hours at work. Your relationship with your family is hardly ever-noticeable in the life of a thirty-year old New Yorker, except if you consider your mum, but wait, which chick-lit character doesn’t hate their mum (when the feeling is also mutual with her too?). Luke your old time best pal, who you are unsure if you love him more than you do your boyfriend, has moved in. Crisis.

Suddenly your perfect life doesn’t seem so perfect anymore when a reputable Hollywood Bad Boy is introduced into your life. You are to help him write his memoir which could be the making of your career, but only if he ever submits any pages. While you are fighting tooth to nail with him, putting your career on the line, your relationship with your boyfriend on the line, your relationship with your boyfriend’s mother on the line (if ever there was one), your clean slate with New York paparazzi on the line, there’s got to be a way to handle your problems and come out with your relationships unscathed and successful but Luke your flatmate isn’t helping when he’s being such a darling (as well as a serialist letting girls sleepover—this you don’t mind because you have a boyfriend).

Well, in all, you’ve got your friends. Until they’ve also got problems of their own.

Enjoy Elan’s life as she navigates the rough waters of her career, friendship, love, and being attracted to a lot more than two men in this sizzling and delightful tale set in the racy, fabulous, sleep-depriving New York City.

MY REVIEW
I loved, loved this book. So you know in my review I’d be yelling at you to get it.

Beautiful storyline. It’s fun reading about girls with jobs-to-die-for. Kind of reminds you of The Devil Wears Prada age where chick-lit was about girls with dream-careers that excited its audience, and the challenges these careers held that only made them seem more crave-worthy. So Girl has a boyfriend who hardly spends time with her but is generous with the gifts and the occasional dinners at exotic restaurants, Girl is undergoing days in Hell with her boss and a client who just won’t cooperate, Girl goes home to find her childhood best friend and crush bedding other women in her apartment, Girl has friends who have problems of their own which she must see to despite the handful of problems she has with her chaotic life and the press. Amazing storyline. The fact that it was set in New York City, revealing all the hotspots, made the whole reading experience surreal and entertaining..──

A star to the main character Elan. You’d love this Aussie taking a bite of the Big Apple. Witty with wisecracks that get you chuckling, a beautiful voice that makes reading this novel a breeze. You’d relate to her a lot when she channels your inner girly Carrie Bradshaw with enough spunk and attitude strutting the streets of New York meeting friends, going on dinner dates with Mr. Big and indulging in a love triangle with a flatmate (if Carrie Bradshaw ever had one). Cosmopolitans, kitten heels, eye-dropping outfits tackling work dilemmas, relationship dilemmas, as well as dealing with paparazzi who want to get her on front pages of tabloids instead of the side of a bus—Elan is lovable that way!.── ★★

The other characters were also as fantastic. From Lily, the best friend having relationship issues with her boyfriend Marcus who doesn’t really understand why she’s  keeping him away from her family. To Vassilissa, another hot super-model friend who’s got lots of ears to lend and lots of Vodka to knock your sorrow down with. Rox Wriothesley the Hollywood Bad Boy always in time to show up in fashion’s most disastrous creations enough to make our lead recoil in repugnance. Luke the super-charming flatmate who values Elan more than the numerous girls he shares his bed with. Polly, the office bitch from hell who reminded me a lot like Bitchy Barbara from Carrie Diaries. You would also adore and hate GeGe, our lead’s mother always in time to engage in a dissing battle with her daughter. I loved all the characters in this book. They made this book crowded, and exciting just like New York is with friends and the random people you love..── ★★★

I loved that this book was deep, and emotional. This side to the story was very unexpected. And I loved how Edwina Darke portrayed it even though this dark side wasn’t really our lead’s predicament..── ★★★★

The humor, was on point. The suspense was on point. Predictable at a time, but just when you think you’ve figured the whole story out, the carpet is yanked from beneath your feet..── ★★★★★

In all, it was a fantastic debut. I was going through the low-kindle tolerance phase till I decided to give this book a try. And I was very disappointed… because it surpassed all my expectations.

And my rating is definitely: Five out of five stars (and it’s always hard to find debut authors that get such high-ratings from me).

Three's A Crowd is available on Amazon.

I recommend this book to anyone who loves their chick-lit set in the fab New York City. Anyone who loves chick-lit which gives them a reminiscence of the amazing The Devil Wears Prada/Sex And The City age. Anyone who just wants to Keep Calm and Read Chick-lit That Entertains (them), should definitely get this title.

My work not done here. Off to post my review on Goodreads.

10/03/2014

Review+Giveaway: Love Like The Movies by Victoria Van Tiem























Blurb: In this irresistible romantic romp, movie fanatic Kensington Shaw is thrown into love—Hollywood-style—when her gorgeous ex presents a series of big screen challenges to win back her heart.

What girl wouldn’t want to experience the Pretty Woman shopping scene? It’s number two on the list. Or, try the lift from Dirty Dancing? It’s number five. One list, ten romantic movie moments, and a handful of shenanigans later, Kenzi has to wonder . . . should she marry the man her family loves, or risk everything for a love like the movies?

Imagine this: You are almost hitting thirty, and a rom-com fanatic. All your life, you’ve believed the perfect love is the love that’s in the movies. There’s not a line you cannot recite, a scene you do not remember or a character whose name you don’t quite recollect even if the movie was a big flop on the Box Office. The butterflies, the chest expansion, the tearing eyes, if real life love doesn’t bring you those overwhelming emotions, it’s not the perfect kind of love.

Your ex comes back into your life after his cheating exit, one that is most dramatic after he refused to give you the slightest explanation. Now he’s back with some absurd ‘Love Like The Movies’ list. And on the list, your ten most favorite rom-coms of all time (he knows because you two used to sneak under the duvet during high-school watching them), for you two to enact them, hoping to win you back or for some sadist project of his or for whatever. You just do not know what’s on his mind, and that’s just with him. You are not going to do this, you keep yelling at yourself. But then, you fall for his grandiose and ‘movie-like’ gestures. And goddamn his absolute sexiness. By the time you can stop yourself, you are in too deep, enacting all those ten great moments in rom-com history… with him!
I didn’t mention you have a mum who doesn’t quite approve of this ex, a sister-in-law whose bent on proving to your mum she’s more of her twin than you are, a boss who would give you the heave-ho if you do not do ‘everything, everything,’ in your power to save a client from turning his back on your company, a best friend who is constantly withholding information from you and setting you up with your ex against your will, a ‘sorta friend’ who keeps sleeping with all your past and future prospects and a fiancé who you are very sure is the one!

Kensington’s life summed up for your utmost delight!

There are two kinds of chick-lit, very modern chick-lit and very conventional chick-lit. I love conventional chick-lit. I mean, why wouldn’t I when it was that style of writing that drew me into the genre. So did I love, love this title?

First of all, the heroine is just so relatable! That’s what we all love in our chick-lit titles. A heroine, you can reach out and touch, relate to, feel, shed tears with, sympathize──no, sorry──empathize with. I loved Kensington’s voice, it was fresh and humorous, a recipe for all conventional chick-lit heroines (which I absolutely ah-dore!)── ★
                                                                                             
Secondly, I can’t review this book without commenting on the story-line. Beautiful, sensational, unique. Again, a piece we can all relate to. Like which of us doesn't like the cheesy collection of rom-coms, the boy-meets-girl-and-sparks-fly movies? To certainly base your work on that makes the piece a winner. And just quoting lines from favorite rom-coms of all-time is just so sinister to get us on your fan page!── ★★


A star should be awarded to the humor in this book. Maybe it wasn’t rib-cracking, but it was certainly above average to keep you smiling all throughout (thanks to the humor-laced plot).── ★★★

The cast of lead and supporting characters in this book were extremely entertaining to read about. From Ellie, our lead’s best friend who perhaps considers herself a match-making genius; Renson, the sister-in-law whose acts of trying to outdo our lead girl were both annoyingly riveting and humorous; The mum who spends much time shopping matching outfits with sister-in-law than she does spending some alone time with her daughter; Tonya, the ‘sorta friend’ who wouldn’t mind feasting over our lead’s (hot) leftovers; The Cop who always, always, catches our lead in the most embarrassing apprehension situations. Bradley, the fiancé, the sometimes adorable, sometimes jealous who everyone seems to think is a perfect match for our lead (and maybe definitely is); Shane, his grandiose romantic gestures gave this book the perfect amount of swooning factor to keep me glued.  I loved each and every one of them, plus all the extras employed to execute the iconic Pretty Woman shopping scenes (humorous Mary and Mary), the Sleepless in Seattle scenes, the My BestFriend’s Wedding scenes, the Love Actually scenes… and all the other all-time fav rom-coms included in the Love Like The Movies List (which I do not plan on revealing). And oh, not forgetting, Bethany Chesawit, the fairy godmother wedding planner──★★★★

It’s a long time, I took a book and gasped, “OMG!” This title certainly had lots and lots of OMG moments, some shocking, some funny, some “Aww…” worthy, some “I remember this line (or scene)!”. I ah-dore my chick-lit with such plot complications.── ★★★★★

This review is incomplete if I do not consider the ending. Like a perfect rom-com, it gave that chest expansion feeling that made my eyes go misty. It’s certainly going down on my Most Romantic Rom-Com list for the year. I’m going back to repeat all those movies Victoria mentioned in this title! The soundtracks that I vaguely remember are just haunting me!── ★★★★★★


My rating: Five stars. 

And I hardly give an author five stars on their debut, because they are supposedly to get better in their recurring titles, so I can only imaging what Victoria Van Tiem’s next would be. BIG APPLAUSE and A STANDING OVATION!


Simon and Schuster Gallery Books are giving away…a Rafflecopter giveaway

I recommend this title to anyone who loves chick-lit with a heroine they could almost reach out to and hug.  Anyone who fancies their romantic comedies. Anyone who simply thinks Rom-coms are not dead (like me). And anyone who just wants to have a blast!

My work not done here. Off to post my review on Goodreads.

07/03/2014

ChickLit Ebook Giveaway!!!


GiveawayEbook
We're offering FIVE lucky winners a bundle of ALL the following ebooks:

After Wimbledon by Jennifer Gilby Roberts

After WimbledonAfter 12 years on the pro. tennis tour and four years with her sort-of boyfriend, Lucy Bennett has had enough. She wants real life... and real love. Her life, her decision. Right? Well, no one else seems to think so. With opinions on all sides, Lucy's head is spinning. And she's stumbling right into the arms of long-term crush and fellow player Sam. Shame her boyfriend - his arch-rival - would sooner smash a racquet over their heads than agree to a simple change of partners. As the Wimbledon Championships play out, Lucy fights for her life on and off the courts. The question is: what will she be left with after Wimbledon? Amazon.com, Amazon.co.uk, other Amazon sites, Barnes & Noble

Thirty-Two Going on Spinster by Becky Monson

32-going-on-spinster-book-coverJulia Dorning is a spinster, or at least on the road to becoming one. She has no social life, hates her career, and lives in her parent's basement with her cat, Charlie. With the arrival of Jared Moody, the new hire at work, Julia's mundane life is suddenly turned upside down. Her instant (and totally ridiculous) crush on the new guy causes Julia to finally make some long-overdue changes, in hopes to find a life that includes more than baking and hanging out with Charlie. But when the biggest and most unexpected change comes, will the new and improved Julia be able to overcome it? Or will she go back to her spinster ways? Amazon.com, Amazon.co.uk, other Amazon sites, Barnes & Noble, Kobo

Dangled Carat by Hilary Grossman

DangledCarat-BarnesAndNoble-1600x1000 copyHilary had gotten used to dating the commitment-phobic Marc, thirteen years her senior. They had a great relationship--why rush into things? She saw no need to pressure him for marriage, believing that when the time was right, he would propose. But after they had been together for four years, their friends decided to take matters into their own hands, pushing Marc to propose and making Hilary realize how much she really did want to marry the man that she loved. Unfortunately, Marc still wasn't ready--and their friends' meddling in the form of a faux engagement party led to a disastrous New Year's Eve that brought their relationship to an inevitable turning point.
In this relatable, light-hearted, and playful memoir, Hilary reminisces about her life before Marc—from the insecure and awkward teenage years she spent in a back brace and dealing with the loss of her father, to her early relationships and, finally, to the day she met Marc and realized that she really wanted to see him again. Through their first date—even though Hilary was technically seeing someone else at the time—and the ease of their early time together until Marc first decided that they were moving too quickly, up until that fateful New Year’s Eve, Hilary shares the details of their relationship and how Marc’s inability to commit led her to find an inner strength and confidence she didn’t know she possessed.
Amazon.com, Amazon.co.uk, other Amazon sites, Barnes & Noble

Conditional Love by Cathy Bramley

Conditional-Love-CoverMeet Sophie Stone, a thirty-something serial procrastinator. Tesco knickers, Take That and tea with two sugars is about as exciting as it gets. Sophie’s life is safe and predictable, which is just the way she likes it, thank you very much. But when her boyfriend dumps her on Valentine’s Day and a mysterious benefactor leaves her an inheritance, even Sophie has to accept that change is afoot. There is a catch: in order to inherit, Sophie must agree to meet the father she has never seen. Not a fan of surprises, Sophie would rather not; why not let sleeping dads lie? Besides, her mother would kill her. With interference from an evil boss, bickering flat mates, warring parents and a sexy ex-boyfriend, Sophie has plenty to contend with without an architect who puts his foot in it every time he opens his mouth. But it soon becomes clear that she will have to face the past and learn some uncomfortable home truths before she can finally build a future on her own terms. Amazon.com, Amazon.co.uk, other Amazon sites, Barnes & Noble

The Shopping Swap by Erin Brady

The Shopping Swap by Erin BradyMaggie Andrew has a problem. She needs to convince Richard, her attorney boyfriend of five years, that he’s finally ready for a commitment. How? By planning an unforgettable night starting with a romantic dinner for two and ending in the bedroom. And to help things along, Maggie has spent half of her salary on sexy black lingerie from Crandall’s Department Store that Richard won’t be able to resist. Except, once home, Maggie realizes she has someone else’s shopping bag and instead of her very expensive lingerie, she’s stuck with a housecoat that wouldn’t turn anyone’s head, least of all Richards. When Maggie goes back to the scene of the swap, she runs into Benjamin Saunders, a tall, dark and handsome stranger, who not only has what she wants but may also turn out to have what she needs. Suddenly what Maggie thinks she has with Richard is called into question and she’s not sure of anything. Amazon.com, Amazon.co.uk, Amazon.ca, Amazon.com.au, Amazon.in

Zoey and the Moment of Zen by Cat Lavoie

zoey and the moment of zen by Cat LavoieWhen coffee shop owner Zoey Everwood takes her obsession with ex-boyfriend Braden too far, everyone—except Zoey—is convinced a bit of fun in the sun at the Moment of Zen Wellness Resort will help her get over him once and for all. But Zoey's relaxing vacation turns out to be anything but peaceful when she meets Shane Lawson, a resort guest who bears a striking resemblance to Braden. And things get even more complicated when the resort's owner starts spilling secrets about Zoey’s aunt Nessa, the woman who raised her. Add a snarky Wellness Coordinator and Nate Holmes—Shane's grumpy friend—to the mix, and you've got the recipe for a perfect tropical storm. When Zoey comes back home with a new husband instead of tacky souvenirs, she must convince everyone she hasn't completely lost her mind. As Zoey and Shane struggle to keep the magic alive outside the resort, Zoey discovers that she isn't the only one having trouble letting go of the past. And when Nate drops a bombshell that changes everything, Zoey must decide if the old saying is true—what happens at the Moment of Zen stays at the Moment of Zen. Amazon.com, Amazon.co.uk, other Amazon sites, Barnes & Noble, Kobo

Saving Saffron Sweeting by Pauline Wiles

Saving Saffron Sweeting by Pauline WilesGrace Palmer's British friends all think she's living the American Dream. But her design business is floundering and when she discovers her husband is cheating with her best client, she panics and flees home to England. The tranquil village of Saffron Sweeting appears to be a good place for Grace to lick her wounds, but the community is battling its own changes. Reluctantly, Grace finds herself helping her new neighbours as they struggle to adjust and save their businesses. However, not everyone has the same opinion on what's good for the village. The charismatic new man in her life may have one speculative eye on Grace, but the other is firmly on profit. How will she navigate the tricky path between her home and her happiness? With gentle humour and generous helpings of British tea and cake, Saving Saffron Sweeting explores one woman's need to define herself through her career and community, before she can figure out who should be by her side. Amazon.com, Amazon.co.uk, other Amazon sites, Barnes & Noble

Super Natalie by Caitlin McKenna

Super Natalie by Caitlin McKennaNatalie Dalton can’t hold down a job. It’s not because she is constantly late, has a terrible work ethic or doesn’t try. It’s because she is plagued with a gift she’d rather give back. Natalie can communicate with ghosts—annoying, persistent ghosts who choose to have a word with her at the most inconvenient times, often at work with bosses and colleagues around. Fired from her umpteenth job and nearly out of cash, Natalie accepts an offer to appear on the low-brow, sensationalist TV talk show, World’s Weirdest Hobbies, to discuss her unusual ability, but more importantly to collect a paycheck. Unfortunately, a spirit appears as she’s being interviewed and ends up embarrassing the host of the show by revealing a juicy secret. The host goes ballistic and the clip of his attack goes viral, which catapults Natalie into the limelight and lands her a reality series as a paranormal investigator. With her financial future secure, it looks like Natalie’s life is finally going to run smoothly for a change. Then she meets Ryan Emery, a gorgeous, sweet, funny guy who is working on her new series. Natalie could really fall for him except for the fact that Ryan is a major skeptic. He doesn’t believe in ghosts and never will. This presents a problem when a persistent spirit wants Natalie to give Ryan a message—one that will dramatically change his life. Now Natalie must somehow get Ryan to believe. Can she do it without ruining a potentially great relationship? As Natalie carefully navigates her precarious situation, she suffers a loss which makes her question her own beliefs. With both of their lives turned upside down, Natalie and Ryan lean on each other and soon learn that what they truly need cannot always be explained with logic and reason. Amazon.com, Amazon.co.uk, Amazon.ca, Amazon.com.au, Amazon.in, Barnes & Noble

Hard Hats and Doormats by Laura Chapman

Hard Hats and Doormats by Laura ChapmanLexi Burke has always been a stickler for following rules and procedures. As a human resources manager for a leading Gulf Coast chemical company, it’s her job to make sure everyone else falls in line, too. But after losing out on a big promotion–-because her boss sees her as too much of a yes-woman––Lexi adopts a new policy of following her heart instead of the fine print. And her heart knows what it wants: Jason Beaumont, a workplace crush who is off limits based on her previous protocol. While navigating a new romance and interoffice politics, Lexi must find the confidence to stand on her own or face a lifetime of following someone else’s orders. Who says nice girls have to finish last? Amazon.com, Amazon.co.uk, other Amazon sites, Barnes & Noble, Kobo

The Great British Date Off by Sheila Brady

The Great British Date OffLondoner Maggie Sullivan hadn’t exactly spent her teenage years beating off hordes of panting admirers with a stick. In fact, most of it was spent alone in her bedroom either working on her Spice Girls, Union Jack dress or trying out her dead mother’s heated rollers. All that had changed in her final year at school. As the object of her all-consuming school girl crush, Steve, had remarked at the time; who would have thought losing a little puppy fat, discovering hair product and investing in a Wonderbra would make such a difference? More than ten years on, he still has 'plans' for Maggie ... but not until he’s got one or two things out of his system. Only now Maggie has announced her intention to move to the country and he is not happy; especially since he’s noticed a ‘country toff’ rival ‘sniffing around’. He is more than delighted that Maggie’s move is turning out to be somewhat of a disaster. While she had been expecting village fetes, cricket teas and to be able to finally unleash her inner baker; in reality her cake-making efforts are being described as ‘lacklustre’, her godfather and boss is being referred to in very derogatory terms and somehow an extremely embarrassing photo has appeared in the local paper. An overheard conversation and a chance late night encounter lead Maggie to conclude that widower and local ‘catch’, Will is responsible and there is a price to be paid, right? How can she know that her day (or rather, intimate evening) of reckoning will set in motion a roller coaster ride of high points and humiliations that will put to the test some of her most long standing relationships and lead her to question everything she thinks she knows about her capacity for love... Amazon.com, Amazon.co.uk, other Amazon sites Buy all these great books on Amazon.com, Amazon.co.uk To enter this fantastic giveaway, we're asking you to support us in the world of social media. You can enter by following us on Twitter, liking us on Facebook, following our blogs or signing up for our newsletters, as well as helping to spread the word about this giveaway. You can enter once or do everything if you want to maximise your chances of winning.

Enter via Jennifer Gilby Roberts' Facebook page (click on 'Giveaway' in the top bar under the book covers!).

End Date: Midnight 14 March 2014 EST