Book Review: Broken Open by Robin Reinach

MY SYNOPSIS.

Imagine this: You are cheater. The thin, beautiful ‘Other Woman’ everyone hates. But in your defense your boss in question is hot, persuasive, and can woo you (in and out of bed).

So why are you getting letters from his wife, describing in detail all he’s done to you (in and out of bed)? When she says you two should meet (behind her husband’s back) you are not sure whether to go. Or even if you do go, should you feel smug, or should you feel apologetic and weep at her feet for being caught?

It takes a brave decision to meet up with his wife. And it turns out she has other plans up her sleeve, but whether to entice you or wreck you (or both), you are not sure.

But if the thrill of playing with the husband behind his wife’s back is irresistible, what would playing with the wife behind the husband’s back be? Exciting? Dangerous?

Lara Leeds would find out in this book written for your delight.

MY REVIEW.

The first chick-lit epistolary I read for this blog, was a hit. I gave it five stars. So would I like this other epistolary as much? Let’s answer the question in my review.

First of all, I did love the style of writing. Not everyone can pull of epistolary and do it so well. But Robin Reinach did. Even when the whole book was written in letters, you really knew each character by their voices, know what they are like (physiological and psychological) and not everyone can achieve this feat with epistolary so well. So I give the book a star.

I loved the main character Lara Leeds. It’s nice being in the shoes of the other woman and knowing what she’s going through, why she’s having the affair, why she can’t resist the married man (or woman). I also adored Andrea for her poise, her composure, her mysterious persona even when she finds out her husband has cheated with––not one––but several other women. It’s nice reading from the point of views of two women whose voices, personalities sexual tendencies oppose each other. And you find yourself sometimes wondering why would men cheat (on their amazing wives)?

It’s nice to also talk about how even when this was an epistolary, it didn’t pull itself off without giving flesh to the supporting characters. Henry, the amazing shag of Lara’s past coming into the picture again. Sam, the jerk of a husband who I never warmed up to (would I ever have??). Beth, the office bitch/bootlicker who’s so much into our lead’s (no pun intended) business

The sex was amazing. I mean, I can’t do this review without mentioning this. I love books which characters experiment (because I have very wild fantasies). It’s nice when a character (you envy, like Henry) tries this move that’s been on your mind for quite a while. Sweet.

The lessons this book intended to impart were not lost on me. I love the lesson that not all marriages are rosy, the topic of family loss and the effects it has on the social institution, the question that plagues the reader’s mind of how they would handle a spouse’s infidelity (would they do it calmly, well-poised and, um, ingenious as Andrea did?), and the question of what to do with the ‘other people’.

I would no doubt have given this book a five-star rating. But, it’s one of those novel-ish books that make you want a more hundred pages after reading.

So my rating: Four-point-five stars.

Broken Open is available on Amazon.

I recommend this book to anyone who loves their Women’s Fiction sexified yet imparting lessons that contemporary women face.

My work not done here off to post my review on Goodreads

Blogiversary Review: Desperately Ever After by Laura Kenyon (Desperately Ever After series, #1)

 

Blurb: Imagine what might happen if our most beloved fairy tale princesses were the best of friends and had the dreams, dilemmas, and libidos of the modern woman. How would their stories unfold after the wedding bells stopped ringing? Set in a fictional realm based on New York City, DESPERATELY EVER AFTER sprinkles women’s fiction with elements of fantasy, and encourages readers to rethink everything they know about happy endings.

Years after turning her husband from beast back to man and becoming his queen, Belle finds out she’s finally going to have a child. But before she can announce the wondrous news, she catches him cheating and watches her “happily ever after” go up in flames. Turning to her friends for the strength to land with grace, she realizes she’s not the only one at a crossroads:

Cinderella, a mother of four drowning in royal duties, is facing her 30th birthday and questioning everything she’s done (or hasn’t) with her life.

Rapunzel, a sex-crazed socialite and one-woman powerhouse, is on a self-destructive quest to make up for 20 years locked away in a tower.

Penelopea, an outsider with a mother-in-law from hell, is harboring a secret that could ruin everything at any moment.

One part Sex and the City, two parts Desperate Housewives, and three parts Brothers Grimm, DESPERATELY EVER AFTER picks up where the original tales left off—and reimagines them a la Gregory Maguire’s Wicked. With the wit of authors like Jennifer Weiner and the vision of ABC’s Once Upon a Time, the women of DESPERATELY EVER AFTER rescue each other from life’s trials with laughter, wine, and a scandalous new take on happily ever after.

MY REVIEW

An anachronistic delight. I liked this book.

Story-line, amazing! Really, what if happily ever after was never the big, bang end, and there was a more realistic end made in place for all these princesses? Cinderella ageing, worried about wrinkles, baby fat and fitting into her first magical gown? (marvelous!) Rampunzel a sassy, Samantha-Jones look alike who treats men like they were cows, lassoed, played with and dumped into whatever pen they came from? (spectacular!) Belle, dealing with more than a Son of a Beast, but a cheating, lying, monster of a husband on her hand? (pentastic!) Who wouldn’t want to read something new, refreshing and fan-freaking-tastic? Praise to Laura Kenyon.

As I’ve spoken about some of the characters above, you know I liked them much. But there were others too that held my attention. Like Julianne, the bitchy sister who wants Belle’s happiness. Perry Hilderbrand, the connoisseur of gossip; think of this guy as a Perez Hilton with a tongue as sharp as the bluntest knife so battering a celebrated figure into pieces is painful, awful, slow poison. Oh, you would love Ruby, the fairy godmother who is out to protect our favourite princesses and stern about the happily-ever-after theory. Ethan, the charming guy who won one of our favourite princesses’ heart (in and out of bed!).

What would also do it for you in the humour section is the whole setting. Laura’s transformation of New York into a sensational setting fit for real queens (and not the ones from gossip girl!) is just so going down in the history books. With references to all clichés in fairy tales, Laura whips up an amazing setting perfect for fans who want to relive their amazing fairy tale days.

The suspense in this book also earns a star from me. The plot is downright, um, unguessable (if you get what I mean). Really, it all boils down to the fact that Laura changes the whole shebang presenting life after the happily-ever-after. The mystery with who’s cheating and which princess is cheating with whose husband got me totally engaged.

I like the element of fantasy this book had. But was it fantastic? Hmm… as much as I liked it. I wished I loved, loved it. The humour thing is what every author hates about me, I guess. With a subject matter like this, I expected the humour to be top-notch. There was humour though, don’t get me wrong, but I just wished I didn’t have to wait long intervals before I burst into, um, a chuckle.

So my rating, Four stars.

Laura’s amazing debut can be bought at amazon.

I recommend this book to anyone who’s a big fan of fairy-tale-revamped titles. Anyone who thinks the notion of happily-ever-after is all a fake, and that in real marriages there are bound to be rough-patches. Anyone who wants a debut author to watch before they sky-rocket into huge recognition should get this title. And anyone who really wants to find a way to ditch reading the monotonous fairy tales to their kids once in a while, and pick up something more realistic should grab this.

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

Blogiversary Review: The Breakup Doctor by Phoebe Fox (The Breakup Doctor #1)

 

Imagine this: You’ve been known by your friend and colleagues as stone cold. There’s no way you’d let anything put you through an emotional breakdown, not even a breakup. So when you almost lose your practice after a demolition, you hook a job as a columnist giving breakup advice and end up offering services to people at cafes, restaurants in their homes as their personal breakup doctors on call to shape them up after a breakup.

So when your own relationship crumbles apart. The guy that you thought was a saint who wasn’t capable of cheating, does, you go through a major emotional trauma. An emotional trauma you fight hard so no one sees. After all, you are the break-up doctor, the only one who knows how to handle a breakup like it’s a minor flu. You can’t let your clients see you… broken.

But what if acting out means pretending downright to the fact that you are not doing all those things you advice your clients against? Stalking as top of the list. Using a guy as rebound as second. You really have got to pull yourself out of this and move on. But sometimes breaking down completely might be the only solution to moving on…

And Brook would find out. Her life summed up for your entertainment.

MY REVIEW

I liked this book.

Story-line was different, and new. Not your everyday chick-lit title. And I like that in a book. I mean, one of the reasons that drew me to this title, was its title. And it kinda didn’t disappoint.──★

The twists and turns in the plot were things I didn’t expect. I love a book that doesn’t mostly turn out the way expected.──★★

I also adored the supporting casts in this book. Especially Lisa, one of Brook’s clients and boss with her no-nonsense character and her tendency to be haughty. Sasha, the best friend was also a favorite teaching our main character stalking lessons and Signs To Know He’s Cheating that we all overlook before the breakup. Brook’s mum was also the best, ditching her husband to follow her dreams as an actress (I mean not every wife has the courage to do that).──★★★

The ending to this book was great. We don’t all come out of situations the same way others do, but sometimes losing our way is the only way to find it--I love this lesson in the book.──★★★★

Now I really, really wished I loved this book. It was perfect. But I thought the humour could have stepped up notches (considering the storyline) to make our lead’s voice more fun and exciting. I’ve been known to deduct a star from a book if it wasn’t funny enough, and I’d do that now.

My rating: Four stars.

Get Phoebe Fox’s likable debut on amazon.

I recommend this book to anyone who loves their chick-lit laced with lots of advices on relationships. Anyone who loves their leads strong (and cold). Anyone who wants a book that they can relate to (because I mean, who hasn’t gone through a breakup?)

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

Blogiversary Review: Sugar Spun Sister (Sweet Dreams #1) by Anna Garner.

     


REVIEW BY SANDRA                                              


                                                          Synopsis
Imagine this : You are Twenty Seven years working for an annoying  gargoyle-looking jerk of a boss, who enjoys making your life hell. And thinks you are a useless charity case, since you got your job through your extremely generous gay Uncle Jonathan who loves to help others out by giving funds to people who have vision but lack funds. But then you would think that your boss Oscar the Gargoyle would be nicer seeing that he benefited from your Uncle's generosity. But that is so not the case, not only does he humiliate you on an hourly basis he turns you into a cleaner and torments your life to no end.

But your days of being Oscar the Gargoyle's whipping boy is about to end when you realize you have a talent of making to-die-for gourmet ice creams. Thanks to your loving Brother Daniel who was thoughtful enough to buy you an ice cream maker of all things as a house warming gift.

Lucky enough you have the best of friends who look out for you and push you to make a decision and turn your dream of opening your own gourmet ice cream shop into a reality ASAP. And what an amazing success it turned out to be , it turned out to be the best decision you ever made and brought you so much fulfillment. But your dream doesn't materialise overnight but with the help of your awesome  friends and your sweet brother Sage it turns out to be a blast.

But sooner or later you realize its not as easy as you thought it would be. It's difficult as hell to give up a steady paying job to take a risk even though it was so damned good to put Oscar the Gargoyle in his right place (if only you knew it would come back to bite you in the ass). Oh and  your Hippie parents dont agree with you and would love for you to come back to your roots and leave of the earth like everybody else and hopefully marry a guy called Freedom Hannigan---talk of hideous. The events you book don't go as smoothly as you'd hoped. And all the drama going on between your bestfriends, and your hot FWB relationship with Jimmy, who wants no strings attached sex, does not make it easy at all. Oh and the cockroach infested building and all the expenses to put it in shape is also another headache.

Pretty much Sums up the life of Cricket Juniper Whittier. 


                                                      Review

(This one will definitely keep you glued to your seat asking for more)

RECIPE: Intriguing, exciting, extremely fun, and fiercely fabulous you'll be roaring for more

All in one! what more do you want, this is  the one stop for an exciting experience. I promise you reading this book is like tasting ice cream for real, soo amazing you would want more. Definitely a keeper---the book, not the ice cream.

The characters in the book are soo amazing from the lovely friends Nora and Lindsey. Nora the dreamer who just does not know when to stop, with no worries, being married to her Gazillionaire Husband. Lindsey the all in control teacher who knows how to do damage control and keep everything sound, their amazing personalities combined with Cricket's amazing personality is just great. And Cricket's sweet brother Sage,  who was phenomenon in helping her put her store together. Her Hippie parents and the annoying  jerk of a boss spice up the book and make it interesting. It's a characterization party in here.

The fabulous ice cream recipes that am definitely gonna try out some day, the hideous names that will make you laugh till your ribs hurt, and all the great advice for all aspiring entrepreneurs makes this book absolutely fab.

I loved reading this book but I didn't 'love, love' it I thought it could have been more hilarious.But all in all it was just an amazing book and you should make it a point to read it. Thumps up for such a great book, Garner.

Rate: four stars / five stars.

You can get Sugar Spun Sister on amazon.

Her work not done here. Would convince her to put her review up on Goodreads.

Blogiversary Review+GIVEAWAY: Fashionably Dead Down Under by Robyn Peterman

 

MY SYNOPSIS

Imagine this: You’ve been a vampire for a while. You’ve experienced the perks and cons besides the amazing shags that seem ten times better (because you are doing the Prince of Vampires). But you find yourself in hell after killing your demon father and your de-mom. A few minutes in hell and you encounter talking walls and smooth floors. Whoever said all hell was ridden with fire?

Then allow yourself to trudge the floors of hell and find out the official soundtrack to hell is Journey, and you have a sweet cousin who’s a demon, and Satan your uncle. Fuck. The Prince of Darkness is your uncle? Consider yourself a freak of nature. And he wouldn’t let you leave hell until you get to know your family. Bam! Suddenly you find out you are a demon too.

But what the hell is everyone going on in hell about you being special, your grandfather, Mother Nature, the Seven Sins (who are also your cousins), and the Hell Hounds who talk with their eyebrows? When all you want to do is go home to your Prince of Vampires (because you are getting horny as your time extends in hell) and give birth to the child you are expecting on earth not some fucked-up place.

But Satan has an agenda besides ensuring Steve Perry finds his way to hell (so he’d stop doing Journey covers) and being the king of all trickery, it might not be in your favor.

MY REVIEW

I loved, loved this book. So you know I’ll be screaming at you to get it.

Off late, I feel reluctant to pick up Robyn Peterman’s titles. Why? Because I know if I do I’d have a blast. No uncertainty, I’m just so sure of this that it gets tiring sometimes. (Oh, no, another Peterman book again? *eyeroll, eyeroll*).

The story-line is ah-mazing! Very unique as with all other Peterman titles. I mean, we’ve all read books about hell, but have we one that confirms that Dante’s nine levels are really fiction-fiction? Or one that portray gives us more details about the music preferences and the level of aristocracy in hell (where there’s always a ball to attend?). Such creativity and not-done-before-ness is what I expect of a book. And Robyn nails it as always.

Having read and reviewed Fashionably Dead (the first installment), it’s no surprise to you who read that review that I loved Astrid. Humorous, warm and deep for a (half) vampire (half demon). Her voice is amazing and sticks to the chick-lit side of this story without making this all one big paranormal bore. A star to her. After all, what’s a sassy girl to do when she turns undead (in hell and finds out Satan is their uncle)? (It could happen to you).

The characters in this book made reading it absolutely wonderful. From Carl, the really buffed demon guy who’s pro-fur (alert PETA!) and has the speech deficit of speaking on his tongue that makes every sentence he attempts sound ridiculous.  Myrtle, the party waitress in hell who’s accustomed to bingeing on the treats for guests. Dante, Hemmingway (yes, all your real literary heroes) were really captured by Robyn in a way that would suit their personality if you new them in real life. Satan himself, had a charm no reader can resist and some sense of humor when he’d laugh back at all the insults hurled at him by Astrid. God was present, Mother Nature (who pole-dances), the Hell Hounds, the Seven Sins. Oh, they all made this book worth reading. So many others I cannot keep going on and on about.

One of Robyn’s main elements to keep readers glued is suspense through a series of anti-climaxes. When I say anti-climaxes I do not mean the ones that make you throw your book across the room or simply press the close button on your kindle. Robyn’s keeps you gingered for the final battle ahead even if there’s…. won’t give much out.

Humor checked. That’s like a requirement for all Robyn’s titles. If they are not then perhaps you can be imagining someone repeatedly banging her head against her writing desk and threatening her not to write anything amusing. (But even with that you can expect more ridiculous craziness to persist).

So I’m giving this book five stars (as usual).

You can get Robyn’s amazing Fashionably Dead Down Under on amazon. You do not need to read Fashionably Dead to pick up on the pace of this book. But both are a must-read and you can’t get a bra without getting some nice panties (what am I saying??) so go get that one too.

You can also win this book as part of five paperbacks going away in this rafflecopter.

I recommend this book to anyone who loves their chick-lit with a little paranormal adventure. Anyone who loves heroines hilarious. Anyone who loves authors that are hilarious. Anyone who wants to spend a few days of their summer in Robyn’s hell (Fuck Dante’s).

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