Book News: Facebook Jeanie By Addison Westlake

It's finally here!! Addison Westlake who made her debut with Christmas In Wine Country has her brilliantly written Facebook Jeanie out in an Amazon store near you.

Blurb:Ever wonder if you made the right choice? What if you could go back and find out?

31-year-old Clara is in a steady relationship—with Facebook. Every night after her depressing bureaucratic job (so much for saving the world), after coming home to her empty apartment Clara settles down with a pint of ice cream for some good, old-fashioned Facebook stalking. It’s her college boyfriend, The One Who Got Away. He now has a perfect marriage, perfect house, perfect life—everything she could have had if she hadn’t been so, so stupid.

But, wait. Jeanie from Facebook shows up at Clara’s job. There’s a new app they’re beta-testing and Clara’s perfect for it. That night she clicks on it and… nothing happens. But the next morning when Clara wakes up at noon, hung over, listening to her roommate blow-drying her hair and singing “Gettin’ Jiggy Wit It”, she realizes she’s back in college. With the chance to do it all over again.

Back in the world of frat parties, BFFs, and long-suffering, overlooked lab partners, join Clara as she discovers what it really means to hit the reset button on life. What could possibly go wrong? And, this time, can she get it right?

I loved, loved this title. It rocked, it was different, it was fantastic, it was out of the ordinary, it was relatable.

Five reasons you will be seething with anger if you don't get this title on your TBR pile and actually read it.

#1 If you love a great fantasy Chick-lit that has no blood-sucking and flesh-eating creatures, you would love this tale.

#2 Ever wondered if you could go back in time and hook the one that got away? Facebook Jeanie might either inspire you or make you think otherwise.

#3 Or you just want to enjoy Addison's unending humor? Really laugh out loud when you are going through a rough patch.

#4 If you consider yourself an e-stalker, using Facebook, join the Facebook Jeanie family, you can't be branded as a psycho.

#5 Among other things Facebook Jeanie teaches to love life, enjoy it, take control of your present. Yes, you can't have your vibrant college experience (or looks) back, but you can own your present and live your life to the fullest.

#6 With it's fusion of New Adult and Adult fictions, it kinda reminded me of, an improved version and written in third-person, Who's That Girl By Alexandra Potter.

See, trust me to give six instead of five.

Click here to Buy Facebook Jeanie.

Click here for my five star review of Facebook Jeanie.

Signing off,

Kobby.

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Other posts on Addison Westlake.

Facebook Jeanie Cover Reveal.

Book Review: Facebook Jeanie By Addison Westlake.

Book Review: Facebook Jeanie By Addison Westlake

Blurb:Ever wonder if you made the right choice? What if you could go back and find out?

31-year-old Clara is in a steady relationship—with Facebook. Every night after her depressing bureaucratic job (so much for saving the world), after coming home to her empty apartment Clara settles down with a pint of ice cream for some good, old-fashioned Facebook stalking. It’s her college boyfriend, The One Who Got Away. He now has a perfect marriage, perfect house, perfect life—everything she could have had if she hadn’t been so, so stupid.

But, wait. Jeanie from Facebook shows up at Clara’s job. There’s a new app they’re beta-testing and Clara’s perfect for it. That night she clicks on it and… nothing happens. But the next morning when Clara wakes up at noon, hung over, listening to her roommate blow-drying her hair and singing “Gettin’ Jiggy Wit It”, she realizes she’s back in college. With the chance to do it all over again.

Back in the world of frat parties, BFFs, and long-suffering, overlooked lab partners, join Clara as she discovers what it really means to hit the reset button on life. What could possibly go wrong? And, this time, can she get it right?

"Brad? From college?”

“Brad Wilkins. I think we really had something,” Clara insisted

“That ship? It sailed. A long, long time ago.” She surveyed Clara, this time with more compassion. “What’s going on with you? Is it because you hate your job?"

"I do hate my job.”

Cat shrugged. “Everyone hates their job. That’s why they have to pay you to do it.”

——————

Together they squealed.

“This is just like Bella and Edward!” Jeanie declared.

“Only Brad’s not a vampire, so it’s even better!” Clara squealed some more.

Addison Westlake has delivered once more. Here's to humor, fantasy and beautiful chick-lit.

Honestly, I'd freak out when demanded to read paranormal. I'd ignore the email or (if my guilty conscience keeps plaguing me) I'd email the author back:

Sorry, I don't do paranormal, but you can try these bloggers....

But, I got gripped by the first chapter. Or, the first page. Mind you, I use 'paranormal' lightly. This is no tale of blood-sucking creatures and all the other brouhahas Vampire fiction has introduced us to...

Clara is thirty-one, recently dumped by long-term boyfriend, Gil. And through all her misery at home living on the red liquid diet (no pun intended), she can't even afford being labelled a couch potato since her ex left with all his furniture. But all hope of her recovery isn't lost; He might have left without her heart, but he's left her with every single lady's companion, his cat. Except Jedi-the cat hates-sorry, loathes her for feline reasons beyond man's understanding.

With Facebook being her only companion through misery, Clara drools over the pics of her high-school boyfriend Brad, and dreams of what her ATM would have been with him. He was the one he let go away. Or The One She Broke Up With to be precise.

But all's in the past now. He's married, he's moved on, he's speaking billions and she's hating her job. But Clara can't grasp reality. What if she could go back to the past, unbreak up with him.

What if Jeanie, a Facebook employee appears into her life informing Clara about a new Facebook app that's being beta-tested by a selective few, and what if this takes the whole Facebook experience to a whole new (3D) level, what if you could go back down timeline lane and correct something in the past, and what if Clara wants to tag along with the Facebook genie to unbreak up with Brad. But what if she gets distracted along the way? Did I say distraction comes in the form of hot, czechoslovakian male Aleksander Novak.

Well, headstrong, Clara knows her Mr. Right is Brad and can't afford to be swayed from her goal by anyone however dorky they were back in college.

Three chances for a time travel. So many dreadful mistakes. No room for altering what's been done in the past except the objective for the time travel. Oh I love the developers of this Facebook app

Great tactic by Addison Westlake fusing new adult with adult fiction.

You would love this book if you want something with a little touch of magic. I think what made this fairy-tale so interesting was the absence of elves, dwarfs, fairy-godmothers and the like. That less introduction of fantastical features made this book believable.

I am a sucker for this theme, roll your eyes, but we've all been in Clara's position before. We've all wished there was a way we could go back to the past and alter just one dreadful mistake that made us lose the perceived "one". We spend hours browsing through their Facebook profiles, scanning their pictures and keeping up with the new development of their lives. Come on, don't make me feel like I am the only one who stalks. We all do, so I don't see why this book should be anything less than relatable. Freshman in College going through my first week, so this book's setting really came in handy.

Addison Westalake is my kinda girl. Surely, this is going amongst my (very few) pile of books that made me crack a rib. She isn't subtle with the humor one bit. It's constant and really, really funny. She takes humor all the way up. And that's what I like in my chick-lit.

If you are the kind who loves supporting cast more than they do the lead girl, you'd love this one. Clara is teamed with all these highly humorous characters who just enrich the humor to this book. From Brad the millionaire who has a fetish for Lacrosse helmets as a tool for foreplay, to Brad the hippy crack addict. Roger the Realtor who loves swishing his waist in leopard-print thongs to I'm Sexy And I Know It. Jeanie made me crack up with her over-the-top girl-next-door personality. And Cat, friend of Clara's bluntness in stating the obvious made this book a master recipe for humor.

Surprise elements-check. Little touch of magic-Check Fantastic cast-check. Relatable tale-check. Humor-check, check!

Five stars people.

Facebook Jeanie is available on Amazon on the 1st October. I digged this book and would recommend it to anyone who's looking to have a blast with something out of the ordinary yet easily relatable. Please key this book on your list of (1st) October releases.

Trotting over to every (author) friend I know to read this book.

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

Signing off, having a blast with the only roomie I have seen since the others haven't showed their faces yet. Going back to play Scrabble with him. I am loving the college experience and plan to get wasted on Friday (can you blame me? It's free drinks.)

Cover Release: Conditional Love By Cathy Bramley

From our discovery of hot, fresh Quainie Miller (catch pre-release review of her debut, It Ain't Easy Being Jazzy, soon), comes are new debut author on the blog, Cathy Bramley.

We are on a mission to discovering the best debut indie authors, yippee!!!

Cathy is releasing her debut single, Conditional Love, with a voice that's so humorous yet true to her tone (Would know because I am best tweeps with her). Check out the stunning...

Cover

Blurb:Sophie dreams of building her own grand design, she just hasn’t got round to it yet... Meet 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.

There's news of a book launch, just in case you want to pop up at the Lambley Book Exchange. Cathy Bramley, author of debut romantic comedy Conditional Love is attempting to host the world’s smallest book launch at the Book Exchange, in the Nottinghamshire village of Lambley on Saturday 5th October at 11am.

Message from Cathy Bramley.

Hi Kobby,

Thank you so much for inviting me over to your Chick Lit Pad today to talk about my debut novel. But before I do that I’ve been examining the two ladies you have sitting at the little table and trying to decide which one I’d like to be. I’ve decided to be the one with the cute brown bob because she’s wearing a fabulous pair of boots (I adore boots and have about fifteen pairs) and she is drinking coffee (I’m a total caffeine addict)!

So, to my book… Conditional Love was great fun to write because I’ve incorporated several of my favourite topics into it:

Chick lit–I don’t have a problem categorising my work as chick lit; I love the genre and have read hundreds of fantastic books from the likes of Allie Spencer, Jenny Colgan, Freya North, Paige Toon, Katie Fforde…. I could go on!

Grand Designs – This is a British property TV show where (usually) a couple have a dream to build their own home without any experience and then have to have all their mistakes and disasters shown on TV for the whole world to view! Actually property is a big theme in my life and my husband and I built our own home (but didn’t go on TV!).

Nottingham – The book is based in Nottingham, my home town for the last twenty five years and also home of Robin Hood and Maid Marian, my favourite romantic couple! Several of my friends have asked whether they are in it, to which I reply that the characters are a blend of people I’ve met over the years. It wouldn’t surprise me if someone recognises something about themselves in one of the characters! Sophie Stone is nothing like me; I’m more of a ‘jump in and worry about the consequences later’ person. However, I did refer back to my own experience for Sophie’s unfortunate mistake in the boardroom. But I’ll leave readers to find out more for themselves! I hope you enjoy reading Conditional Love as much as I enjoyed writing it. Best wishes and hope to see you soon on my Facebook page!

Cathy

Good news: You can pre-order Conditional Love on

So hope to catch out my review of Conditional Love. I am betting I would have a blast. So pre-order while copies are available because, turns out, no one promotes like Cathy Bramley.

In college. First night. Going to sleep with new roommies I might end up hating all my stay.

Signing off,

Kobby.

Book Review: Breaking The Rules By Cat Lavoie

Blurb: When twenty-seven year old Roxy Rule’s best friend and roommate accepts a glamorous new job overseas, she expects their relationship to continue as it’s always been—carefree and easy—until they share a heart-stopping kiss moments before his departure. Overcome with mixed emotions, she fights the urge to over analyze the situation and resumes back to her normal life in New York City, working for an intolerable boss at a dead end job, creeping further and further away from her own dreams of becoming a professional chef.

While things become more complicated between her and Ollie, Roxy is sure that nothing can come between two lifelong best friends—not even mild jealousy over a thriving career or a silly little kiss that meant nothing. In fact, it was such a meaningless and forgettable kiss that she convinces herself that it’s not even worth mentioning to her fiancé, although it is all she can think about.

Roxy’s already topsy-turvy life only gets more complicated when her sisters Steffi and Izzie suddenly become her roommates. Steffi is six months into a pregnancy she refuses to discuss and Izzie is in the throes of a premature midlife crisis. Roxy tries to take control of her career, her love life and her sisters – but can she really handle it all? And can the Rule family keep it together – or break under the pressure?

“Wait, one of our buddies is in town and he’s staying at this wicked fancy hotel. We’re all going there to get wasted and trash his room and shit. Wanna tag along?” He stares at Steffi. “One of the guys in the band is really into pregnant chicks.” He looks at me. “And I’m sure one of them is into chicks that are just big."

Fine debut. Cat Lavoie gives us a perspective of New York from the eyes of a heroine who's quite the art of cook book collector.

So Roxy Rules loves using the f-word, eating it and making it. Added to her resume is, family with sisters who have their fair share of slamming rock bottom, friend of a kooky crowd, assistant to a wacko boss, best friend and roommate of Oliver Frost and fiancée of a banker concerned about talking budget-cuts and tacky wedding ceremonies.

One kiss with Oliver at the point of his departure shatters her world and leaves her with the 'why did Ollie (my best friend) kiss me?' and the 'Why did I kiss him back?" and not forgetting, the "Wait, did I enjoy it?-Why did I enjoy it?" questions.

Time passes and the kiss issue is settled with the two undertaking a long-distance friendship. There are much too many problems Roxy has to deal with than a "platonic" kiss. Her sisters have moved in with her (think the ANTM house) and not a day passes without smackdown action. With the older meddling lawyer sister, Izzie, who's been let off from work till she sees a counselor-a case about crushing on a client, and younger sister, Steffi who shows up with a baby bump and chooses to leave it at that ("Woke up with it. Moving in with it."). And as if staying with the two isn't cause to fake a nervous breakdown to avoid work, she has her bugging boss, Greta the Nutter, to deal with. And did I forget the fiancé who's always lecturing her about over-spending and his mother who's pissed at her over-gaining weight.

Soon, constant conflict threatens to dissolve all her relationships (except with her fabulous understanding and supportive cast of friends) and after one more unfaithful act to her fiancé and a shocking paternal discovery, Roxy's world threatens to cave in.

So LOL–can she really handle it all? And can the Rule family keep it together –or break under the pressure?

A tale about finding happiness, a bestfriend, and putting on a little weight to piss your mother-in-law so you don't fit into her wedding dress.

This book would be so relatable to you if you've kissed your best friend (Err, I tried to). Though let's face it, this story-line of breaking then ruining the friendzone is a constant done-before in the chick-lit genre (Lying To Meet You by Anna Garner to name a [memorable] few), Cat Lavoie makes hers unique with well-developed characters and a suspenseful plot.

I don't think there's been a chickroine that is more relatable. She loves food like most women, loves bingeing like most women do, isn't exactly thin like most chick-lit characters are, isn't afraid of putting on pounds, insecure (but not portrayed to irritating proportions). Just about every woman could confess they'd go to a party just because refreshments were on the program list or doesn't mind spending hours in the kitchen if it is slaving for others.-second star.

I liked the supporting cast who were her friends. Adam, the gay who owns a bar doomed for failure since it's establishment, and Tali, the hilarious workplace receptionist whose appearance always put a smile on my face.-third star.

You should love the ending of this book. Especially towards it. The suspense is at its peak when all water breaks loose and it kept me awake through the afternoon (I take naps). It was brilliantly ended with revelation of secrets upon secrets and when you think there's no hope for the chick and her-the rooster, one command to the cabbie changes it all.-fourth star

Now, I liked this book. But did I love, love it? Almost. I really wished the humor could go a notch higher-there were smiling moments and one or two laugh-out-loud ones (I am that shallow, make me laugh so hard and I wouldn't hesitate giving you a five star).

My rating would be 4/5 stars.

Breaking The Rules, Cat Lavoie's fine debut can be found at

in both paperback and kindle.Or you don't want the two (for whatever reason, I don't judge) you should get the audio format also available on Amazon

I recommend this title for anyone who needs a novel with a chick who is more closer to human than a book character. Anyone who values family or anyone who doesn't. And anyone who loves conflict between fiancés, bride-to-bes and mother-in-laws.

Anticipating Cat Lavoie's second novel which I expect to be a laugh-out-loud, beach-y book. See cover here.

Always open to emails from anyone who'd like to gush about Breaking The Rules.

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

Cover Reveal: Another Shot At Love By Niecey Roy.

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Niecey Roy is back. For good. From her debut Fender Bender Blues which won four "smooches" (like Niecey likes to call it) from me, and so many hearts, it happens we would be seeing more of Niecey in the near future because this new title is a series.
This cover got Niecey promising me to swear an oath not to release it before it's due date. And it so happens after lots of biting my nails and keeping myself busy tweeting all weekend, I managed to prevent this... from slipping through my email:
Cover (Why don't we forget the blurb altogether and pre-order?) Blurb: Imogen Gorecki has a problem—her twin sister just got engaged, and guess who’s the best man? That’s right, her scum-of-an-ex-boyfriend whom she caught cheating with a bottle-blonde, with fake breasts and a stripper’s flexibility. There’s a disturbing possibility her eyes will never recover.
Gen needs a date for the engagement party, but finding Mr. Perfect in a time crunch is proving impossible. Just when she’s about to give up, she face-plants into the crotch of the sexiest guy she’s ever met.
Matt Sesnick is everything Gen wants in a man —except he’s not interested in a relationship. Can she convince Matt to take another shot at love, or will Gen’s pregnant, hormonal older sister, her bridezilla twin, and all of her past Mr. Wrongs get in the way of their happily-ever-after?
(Another shot behind)


Message from Niecey Roy
I had a hard time categorizing my baby. You see, it's full of adult content (yes, smexy, steamy, tear your clothes off adult content), but the heroine is only 23, a year out of college, and she's definitely not enjoying a dream career. She experiences a few relationship firsts, and she's definitely not as confident as a woman ten years older would be. She's 23. You've either been there and know what I'm talking about, or you are there and know what I'm talking about.
But this is nowhere near the angsty, dramatic, make you want to tear your hair out, punch something, make you cry, emotionally draining novels you might be used to seeing in contemporary NA lately. You will find no aborted pregnancies, rape, abuse, drug addiction, etc., in my novels. This is make you sigh romance, laugh out loud romance, with a chick-litty feel. This, my Cupcakes, is a ROMANTIC COMEDY, a HUMOROUS CONTEMPORARY ROMANCE.
When you're reading it, I want to know you're smiling. And when you finish it, I want to know you're STILL smiling.
If you're looking for a break and a feel-good romance about young, flirty, fun characters and laugh-out-loud moments, then Another Shot At Love is for you :) I promise! Hugs & Smooches, Niecey.
Another Shot At Love will be a click away in November. Check out my pre-release review.
Oh, did I mention there will be a giveaway? In the meantime, do check out Fender Bender Blues if you haven't.


It's Available on... Click here for my review of Niecey's hilarious debut. Signing off,
Kobby ---------------—----—-------——--------------------
Other posts on Niecey Roy:
Day In The Life by Niecey Roy.

Day In The Life: Filipa Fonseca (Author of The Strange Year Of Vanessa M.)

I call Filipa Fonseca my jewel because she kick-started my excitement for blogging and changed my perspective of indie chick-lit.  From her published titles The Strange Year Of Vanessa M. (formerly published in Portuguese and adapted into English) and Thirty Something, I am a sucker for her themes mostly about divorce, happiness and starting over when you've hit rock bottom.

If like me, you've been wondering what the Portuguese acclaimed and Giving-English-Authors-A-Scare author does in her free time, here you have it. Fonseca, take it from here:

                         

My day usually begins around 8am with my baby calling for me. Since he was born I never had to set up the alarm clock again. Then it’s the regular family routine: dress up, eat breakfast, feed Gucci the cat, prepare meals, leave the house, return to the house because I forgot something (the cell phone, the snack bag, the wallet, the sunglasses...), get on my bike and leave to the office.

I work full-time as advertising creative. I specialize in copy-writing and my daily tasks consist in creating engaging and (hopefully) not-too-annoying ad campaigns for different products such as beer, computers, banks or even cars. I work with my art director and long-time friend Sofia, who also illustrated the covers of both my books. It’s wonderful to work in a creative atmosphere of an advertising agency. 

My Bike

Whenever I have a long break (waiting for a client’s reply, for instance, which sometimes takes more than a day) I put on my writer’s skin: write down ideas, short stories, blog entries, respond to fan email and promote my books online. When I’m writing a book I take those breaks to edit what I wrote the night before or finish a chapter. Sometimes it’s annoying not being able to write my books whenever I want or feel inspired, but I learned how to live with that. I would probably have a few more books published if I wrote full time, but I still need this job to pay the bills. 

Me And Gucci

Around 6pm I go home, grab my baby and go to the park. When we return we go back to family routine: grocery shopping, baby bath, make dinner, set table, do some laundry, clean baby mess, put baby to bed and finally lay down on the couch. That’s when I close my eyes and think about my stories, the ones I have to make time to put down on the paper somehow. At least until my husband sits down next to me and kindly demands his share of attention.

Me And My Books

Mummy Time.

Hard? You bet. But while I can’t control my brain and tell him to stop inventing characters and stories, that’s what I’ll do.

 There you have it. Fonseca shouldn't be any stranger to you.


Filipa Fonseca is author of...
 

The Strange Year Of Vanessa M.

Thirty Something: Nothing's How We Dreamed It Would Be

Click here for my review of The Strange Year Of Vanessa M. and stay awake for my review of Thirty Something.


Buy Fonseca's Novels on Amazon

Filipa loves it when readers get social, like her facebook page and follow her on twitter.


Signing Off,
Kobby.

Book Review: Love On The Back Burner By Barbara Oliverio

Blurb:Youngest in an Italian-American family that includes one brother who is a rock singer-turned-priest and another who successfully manages the family business, Alexandria D’Agostino wanted to stand out, so she moved from her small hometown and is enjoying a successful marketing career in Denver.

On the advice of her best friend Keira, as well as office pals Natalie and Elliott, she uses the cooking skills learned from her immigrant grandmother and studies the cuisine of each prospective boyfriend’s background to improve her chances at love.

Alexandria encounters comical mishaps along the way including one unexpected dinner for three and a meat-focused dinner for a vegetarian. After a corporate restructure somehow driven by new office heartthrob Cameron Grayson, she flies back home for counsel.

Will she come back to Denver? Or should she re-evaluate the boy next door from high school? Should she finally admit that being a chef is her true dream? And how does Cameron fit on the menu? BONUS: INCLUDES RECIPES FEATURED IN THE BOOK!

"Alexandria!"

"Oh, no, let me go on. I must state unequivocally that Cam Grayson is the perfect male specimen."

I wheeled my desk chair back and spun directly into the object of my flattery.

"Oh, I wouldn't say 'perfect' necessarily," said Cam, attempting to hide a grin. "But on a scale of one to ten-"

"You are a negative twelve!"

Great debut. Barbara Oliverio thrills readers with a recipe of humor and a crisp storyline.

So Alexandria D'Agostino is having a bad streak of luck with men. In her thirties, a marketing manager, a born and bred Italian with the zeal to cook.

After one date gone horrible with a guy who she'd thought to be 'good on paper' hence her Mr. Right, her best friend, Keira, advices her against her tactic to get men using Italian food. Alex is bent on making the best of every potential suitor that walks into her life so she gives heed to Keira's advice.

Now she's taking cooking trips to the South, India, Middle-east all to perfect one dinner for guys who turn out to be so horrible (-one showing up with his fiancée to enjoy a good meal). As though a dark cloud was right above her, ensuring all these potential Mr. Rights turn out to be frogs, she meets very bizarre dates who either have a problem with her food choices or enjoy her meal with the wrong question choices. Just how many frogs does she have to cook for to gain Mr. Right?

Meanwhile, matters in her professional life are also taking a downward turn. The huge workloads suggest the company might be undergoing a buyout-which means less security for jobs, and there's no telling what marketing direction plan the company is taking because every day comes another marketing plan. To make matters worse, one IT heartthrob is going around adjusting the office chairs of everyone and Alex is always seething to put him in place and out of her space. But Cam Grayson never seems to disappear as he joins Alex's food crowd, workplace best friends Elliott and Natalie, going to lunch with them and coming over for a grub at Alex's place.

When one occupational crisis threatens to dissolve her friendships, ties with her family, romantic involvements and most importantly all she's worked for, Alex must decide whether marketing is really what gives her the joie de beef.

If you want a book rich in humor and sarcasm, you'd love this book. With its there's-more-to-humor-than-meets-the-eye approach, you'd have to reason a little to laugh so hard at some stuff in this book. And who doesn't love a little reasoning. With heavy sarcasm, Barbara Oliverio writes Chick-lit that should get you thinking on your feet in order to laugh. This book supports the adage, "She who laughs last, thinks slowest."

Marvellous story line. The whole cooking thing is a not-done-before, all the reference to cooking to create puns and laugh lines, the inevitable invites of Alex's food crowd to enjoy leftover meals from a disaster date. I loved, loved it. Much like Keri Russell's Waitress, but without the abusive husband.

You should love the stock characters in this book. Well-developed, very active despite the book was written in first person. From the American Idol shunned contestant brother turned priest, to the ever-persistent best friend Keira, Natalie and Elliott-the food crowd, Nonna the granny always concerned about Alex growing so 'thin'. I love the whole cast representing Alex's family, their vibrancy, their frequent involvement in the eating and dating affairs of Alex. You would love this title if you love that constant (as well as bugging yet adorable) interruption of family in a lead's life.

Though this book made me laugh out loud at most moments, I'd have to point out the ending was rather abrupt. From the blurb I would have loved a little more extension from when our lead hit rock bottom.

After the epilogue, Barbara Oliverio dishes out all the recipes of meals featured in this book-recipes passed on by her mother. If you love Italian, a kindle of this book is a good bargain.

So all in all, reading Love On The Back Burner is like dining in a star Italian restaurant.

Love on The Back Burner is available on... (click image to purchase)

In both kindle and paperback.

I recommend this title for just about anyone who loves a tasty Italian meal. Or for whatever reason you hate Italian, there's Southern, Indian and Middle-east dishes to choose from. You should also pick up this title if you enjoy a highly humorous and witty lead with an attitude.

I am always open to emails by readers who'd love to gush about Love On The Back Burner.

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