Book Review: One Step Closer To You by Alice Peterson

MY SYNOPSIS

Imagine This: Your life is normal as of now. Normal is what you like. Stable is what you find ideal. Especially since you had a son. You would do anything to keep the stability in you and your son’s lives being a single mother. Knowing how much it affected you when your parents couldn’t keep stability when you were little.

This is the story of you. Your life as a recovering alcoholic single-parent.

There was a time when your life was in shatters. A time when all you could think of was numbing your pain with a bottle of wine, then gin, then vodka, then… champagne. Because your ex knows you as his beautiful champagne girl. Your ex the bully. Your ex who ensured you never went a day without a bruise.

This is the story that tells us how you meet a grieving man. A grieving man who has taken his sister’s daughter as his own since her death. This is the story you help this kind-hearted man recover all the pieces he lost due to something you both share: an alcoholic past.

And as though all the above isn’t enough to check your life from that stability box to the ‘it’s complicated’ one, you would live in constant fear of your ex’s return, you would be feeling a strange connection with this guy you vow to be friends with––a connection you would want to put aside because you do not want to lose the solid friendship and that stability you’ve been holding on to for you and your son’s sake, and just when you even think of deciding the possibility of deserving the chance to move on… all your fears would come to past.

Polly’s dilemma summed up for devouring.

MY REVIEW

I loved, loved this book. So you can guess in my review you’d be urging me to seek therapy if I am in anyway disturbed.

There are story-lines that are not fresh, at all. There are also storylines so timeless, with an amazing presentation a writer could produce a masterpiece. This story falls into the latter category. Another book about addiction, major eyeroll. But is it in anyway different from all the other books about addiction you have picked? I can vouch for that. Amazing originality with Girl getting flashbacks of past events that shattered her life, Girl keeping everything under control in present life and just so scared of losing the reins for something that entails sparks and love. The one novel to get you asking, does everybody deserve a second chance? Do I deserve a second chance? A star to the storyline.── ★

Polly is dull. Dull in a very elegant way. A soothing point of view that carries hope for the reader as she journeys through recovery and gaining the trust of people she hurt, meanwhile keeping an eye out for the father of her son. No adrenalin-pumping main, no main full of sass and attitude providing a kicking read, just a main character seasoned to embody anyone going through a healing process with lots of calm and peace. You’d love her for this reserved poise. A star to the characterization.── ★★

We all love chick-lit that imparts lessons that are dateless in our world. Addiction, domestic abuse. You’d find yourself picking bits and pieces of our main character’s life wondering where she went wrong and how to prevent yourself (or a friend) from getting into similar situation. This book would awake your judgemental side as well as elevate your empathy towards (the main character for) moving issues brought up in this title.── ★★★

A star goes to the supporting cast who made reading this book breath-taking and entertaining at points. You would love Hugo, our main character’s partially blind brother whose story is an inspiration to lots of people visually-impaired. You would love the supportive Aunt Viv, who reminds you of that black sheep in your extended family for which your parents would be praying tirelessly you do not inherit her gene. Janey, the best friend of our lead who I think––among all the other reasons––also played a part in the exacerbation of our main’s addiction. Louis, the adorable son of Polly who isn’t hard to fall head over heels with. Neve, our main’s AA sponsor whose gone through similar trials as our lead.  Stephanie, the counsellor who tries so hard to stay objective when all she wants to do is provide all the suitable decisions our main has to make on her own. There’s also Polly’s mum whose presence and tight-lipped-ness would make you snort with derision anytime in her presence. Ben, the charming uncle who is just fine being friends with Polly. And Matthew, Polly’s cowardice, shithead ex who you’d just want to strangle.── ★★★★

Suspense, and (laid-back) humour play a major part in this title. Throughout the novel, you would feel this unease that would break your every resolve to let go of this book and get a nap. You would be so glued to this title, you would need nurses from a psychiatric ward to pry you and this masterpiece apart. Lots of chuckling moments that would teeter you on the verge of tears.── ★★★★★

My rating would obviously be five/five stars. The one book whose end would make you slam a palm to your heart and sigh (because you can now go shower out of your urine-embedded sweatpants).

Alice Peterson’s moving latest, One Step Closer To You, is available on amazon.

I recommend it to anyone who wants something inspirational this festive season, anyone who wants a book that would make them rethink all life’s decisions for which caused harm to those they love. Anyone who wants something with dense, emotional themes should also pick this.

(I also love the caption on the back-cover that says, ‘Open Your Heart To Alice Peterson’. It’s just hard not to).

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

Book Review: The List by Joanna Bolouri

                                                       MY SYNOPSIS

Imagine This: Since your cheating, SOB boyfriend dumped you it has put a hole in your sex life. Hole, (I use this word loosely) since he was not much of an experimentalist and loved the old-fashioned way even missionaries stopped using when they came down to Africa to ‘spread the—ahem, babies—gospel… anyway!

Point is, he messed up your year when you caught him rolling in bed with some unknown creature of giant tits, Miss Tits, you like to refer her. (Even I would have seen it coming since we all men love giant tits, but hey, not all of us love missionary!).

It’s the New Year, and at a celebratory party with your bestest friends in a hotel, you vow to get him off your mind and move on. Thankfully you have your girlfriends, Lucy—the serial dater and Hazel—the mother, to help you through. But your friend Oliver says, “Isn’t this another year where you make shitty resolutions about losing weight and you don’t?” As much as you hate it, the dickhead is right, you need to make more realistic resolutions. But what would they be? No, no change of job. You cannot afford to even do that!

So what if you vow to revamp your sex life? Try all those things you’ve never done. Be more adventurous than your old unimaginative boyfriends were. You make a list of all the things you want to try to update your sex life. This year, you are going to create a new you who’s raunchy, who isn’t too frigid, who isn’t afraid to try that or tap that. Your friends scream, “Atta girl!” You are scared shitless but still would go through this mumbo-jumbo.

But fuck, you need a partner. Someone skillful and adventurous to help you. Oh, and did I mention you are single? Fuck, it must have skipped my mind.

Phoebe Henderson’s life for your entertainment.

MY REVIEW

I loved, loved this book! So in my review, you all know I’ll be screaming at you to go get this!

(I read through cold nights!) The storyline is perrrrr-fect! Not done before, or rather, not executed the way Joanna Bolouri did it. Ordinary girl makes new year resolutions that she’d actually follow through this year (so new), ordinary girl brings up the most bizarre sex list (so new), ordinary girl really goes through all this sex list and really comes out with a change—mind you, a very positive one (so new)! Who would have known sex could make a good girl turn best? I love the whole brain behind this story. Marvelous execution.—★

Joanna Bolouri made me remember why I love debut authors. The needle in the haystack published authors. The ones who have so unique voices among the pile, it’s a must-publish. But, I’m digressing here…—★★

(I walked around the house hiding my hard-on from five brothers, one inquisitive mother and one dad who wouldn’t quit making me ran errands for him!) I loved, loved Phoebe. God, knows how much I did! Ballsy characters are New Age Chick-lit, everyone now wants a character who’d venture paths no one tries, who’d go all the way. And as if that is not enough, she’s funny, she’s adorable (even when she’s not polite). I couldn’t resist yelling, “Pick me! Pick me!” after I saw her jaw-dropping list. She’s probably the reason guys would convert to strict chicklitarians, and while she might put many women off she’d do that because they’d die to be her (because who really isn’t sick of that monotony New Year resolution shits: lose weight, get married, get job, then a New Year comes and you achieved nothing! Urgh!) So fuck, she’s relatable!—★★★

(I found out two of my brothers read this book, explains the smug smiles in my direction whenever they saw me reading in the garden! Fuck! Awkwardly embarrassed!) The characters in this book were awweeesoome! From Lucy who had the bad girl appeal I loved, loved and who wouldn’t bother dumping men because they write poetry even if the sex is amazing (Poor me). From Hazel, the mother who wouldn’t make her single friends hate hanging out with her because she wouldn’t make them feel being single sucked thinking being married is the closest to being in heaven. I loved Oliver, really, I’m more like him, very open to other options, only I wouldn’t be brave enough to try some of the things he’d already done. Frank, the annoying boss who I’d hate forever for getting into a position (I mean the word with a double entendre) that I’d always wanted to get in from the start of the book. Alex, the moron cheater, who for some reason I think really, women all around the globe should read this book and beware of such exes (who want to make a comeback. Lonely Bag of Shit!). Phoebe’s parents who were outrageous, adventurous and were always never around. Kelly, the office cat, always meowing in languages no one understood. Brian, the young, office dickhead who screamed his workplace conquests at the top of his lungs. All the characters and the ones I failed to mention, made this reading worthwhile.—★★★★

(I laughed so hard it surpassed the number of times I felt some growth under my jeans) It was really hilarious, really. I am nuts for how Joanna portrayed the sex scenes, not like your average porn where everything is up-close and makes you want to gag… like I just did (sorry for the imagery). No, thank you, I’m into soft core where they actually teach you kissing is stimulating… I’M NEVER GOING TO DIGRESS AGAIN, I CROSS MY HEART! And everyone loves sex scenes that leaves them imagining (and fantasizing—but no, I promised I’d stick to the topic).—★★★★★

(I vowed not to read this book anywhere outside my house, but why did it find its way with me in the conference room, anytime an annoying coworker was giving a suggestion) So yes, I couldn’t put this book down, if I didn’t have work I’m sure I’d read it all in a sitting. Wait a minute, no, that would have been hurting myself (I’m a guy, unlike you ladies, I have to occasionally walk around to blow off steam).—★★★★★

My rating: Five stars en point.

The List is available in both paperback and kindle on Amazon.

(Mother: I want to read the book. Me: (withdraw so quickly you’d think I’d just been electrocuted) No, no, it’s the kind of book everyone should have their copy!) I recommend this book to anyone who stocks revolutionary, different chick-lit released over the years, because I’m sure Joanna Bolouri is joining my list of Women Who Changed The Scene Of Chick-lit. I recommend this book to anyone who loves their chick-lit sexciting! Anyone who wouldn’t mind combining in a little humor, a little raunchy and a little heart-warming, should get this. Plus, I did think it was a great read because the romance wasn’t too mushy-mushy. Thanks, but I don’t like books that try so hard to sweep me off my feet, especially ones with no humor… here I am digressing again. THE END!

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

Book Review: Love and Chaos by Gemma Burgess

In a story of fashion, friendship, and natural disasters, love does triumph all, really... and a determination to keep trying.

MY SYNOPSIS

Imagine this: You are twenty-three. Crap. YOU ARE TWENTY-THREE! Fresh from the university thinking life is going to get better―the jobs are going to get better now that you have a degree to brag with, IN YOUR FACE EMPLOYERS! Or maybe let’s make your life a lot less shittier by taking away the certificate and making you a dropout with hopes of making it into the fashion world.

Uh-oh. Total screw-up.

Total screw-up, Angie’s life is. In a city that uses its youth like Kleenex and throws them out onto(!) garbage cans, only to give them a little hope to be blown a little by the wind… then swept off fiercely from an old lady’s garden apartment, that’s how much Angie feels about her shitty not-really-that-big apple life. I mean, why wouldn’t you also if your parents are divorcing and do not find you worthy enough to break the news to you, your early life till when you decide to get serious was just you being teen and living out your days carefree only to be taken advantage of by the rich-kid-type boys who for a chance you thought loved you,  a ‘boat’ boy who you just want to keep being friends with but he or you―a teeny, tiny part, albeit―cannot seem to get your head isn’t in the right place for love, fashionistas spitting you out like a strand of hair, giving out coffee to people who wouldn’t bother glazing over the resumes you sent them out with, and making a living off folding clothes!

Really? Wouldn’t the world give you a break? Wouldn’t New York give you a break?

Crying out loud who knew landing a job in fashion (without a degree―but you sure have the good ol’ guy called Talent) could be this hard?

And just when you think your problems aren’t domestic at all, you have a bunch of friend roommates to come home to, who are either going through their own drama or putting you through some!

Angie’s life summed up for your deeeeelight!

MY REVIEW

I loved, loved this book! So you know throughout my review, I would be screaming! ──★

Examination week, people! I loved the whole idea behind this, you know. Friends, New York, Sex and The City, Carrie Diaries, The Desperate Housewives… (no scrap the latter, I’m going off course again). It’s amazing, really. We all dream of taking a bite of the Big Apple and most of us would love it if we have our friends by our side going through the sometimes exciting most times shitty moments, but no, we do not get it that way most of the time… because we haven’t even reeked up enough funds in our glass purses, how much more think of taking on Big City with our friends. Gemma Burgess, with the crises of these twenty-somethings in Brooklyn, nails it on the head for selecting the right material we can yay to and sashay to the next Barnes and Nobles store, or actually get it here. ──★★

Examination week, people! I loved Angie, her voice! Wild, fun, fearless, romantic at heart… really how many twenty-somethings cannot relate to her and keep this list going. For a series description like this, the challenge is to keep each girl unique yet fun-to-read about. Now I haven’t read the first installment on Pia, but I did read the snippet excerpt chapter attached to it and new she was way different from Angie. A thumbs up to Gemma! ──★★★

Examination week, people! Not only Angie, but the other characters made me find it hard to put this down. From Anabel, the overbearing mother who embodies every other thing one of those Real Housewives are. PIa, her own drama with her boyfriend and her take-charge attitude was a thrill to read about. Julia, who was always had our lead girl’s back even when it was far out of reach (perhaps in the Carribean). Coco, the youngish sis of Julia who had the tear ducts of Joan Rivers’ boobs (that’s a big thing! But mind you, not fake). Madeline the on-and-off bitch roommate who just wants to be a friend but doesn’t know how to (control her sarcasm). Gabriel, the super-rich gentleman who for some reason I wanted to be the ‘hero’ in the book. And Sam, oh, Sam. My eyes would have been rolling to the back of my head now if I was smitten by his charms, you ladies would, trust me! It’s a characterization party in here! I loved each and every one of them. ──★★★★

Examination week! And I couldn’t put this book down. Full of so many OMG moments enough to keep me on the edge of my sun lounger (God, I miss summer!). Full of so many uplifting lines and scenes that made me assured that, I might worry so much about my future for if I’d be doing my dream job (writing), that all I need is just one (fucking fantastic) break, and that break would come surely, but I should never give up just like Angie never did. (And surely, after I closed this book it didn’t take an hour for me to receive a call from a CEO to one of the biggest advertising companies in my country I’d emailed my manuscript to, and who knew I’d land a gig as a copywriter! So you should know why this book, Angie and Gemma Burgess would forever be ingrained in my memory!) ──★★★★★

My rating: Five/five stars. 

I loved, loved this book (and I hug the paperback every now and then when no one is looking.)

Love and Chaos by Gemma Burgess can be purchased right below in both paperback and kindle. You could also pick up the first book in the Brooklyn Girls series about Pia (though you do not need to read it to understand this, but I say, STILL GET IT!)

BrookLyn Girls: Pia

I recommend this book to anyone who is in fashion and wants to remind themselves of the insane struggles they went through to get there. Or anyone who’s not in fashion―yet(!) but wants to be uplifted by sensational so relatable literature. Anyone who’s just searching for that dream should also get this book and hold on to it. Guys, this is a new direction to New Adult chick lit that blew me away, and if writers follow this trend, New Adult books would be read more often. So by that, I mean, any woman (or man) who loves their chick lit non-New Adult-like should grab this.  

I could go on gushing about this book till day break. But you’ve all got jobs, you know? And if you still are searching for that job, my advice to you, KEEP CALM AND READ LOVE AND CHAOS.

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

Review+ INT Giveaway: The Beauty Game by Michaela Day

One beauty product formula failure and a million girls with skin they’d literally die for. Brilliant. Chic. And so The Devil Wears Prada.

Blurb: The Beauty Game.When talented copywriter Zoe Diamond first enters the plush offices of global beauty empire Visage D'Or she doesn't own a face cream.She thinks uplift is by Wonderbra. And wrinkles are removed with an iron.Soon she's seduced, manipulated and betrayed by charming words, false promises, and the powerful men behind them.She doesn't drink. Lie. Or have sex on the boardroom table.Yet.She learns beauty means pain.Truth means legal lies.And miracle creams make beautiful profits.Drowning in champagne-fuelled corruption and scandal, Zoe fights to keep her job, her reputation and most importantly, the man of her dreams.But will she succeed before The Beauty Game destroys her...?

MY SYNOPSIS

Imagine this: You work as a copy-writer, one of your ads with your copy partner, Hugo, just won an award. You two are in the mood for some celebration, get sozzled in the process and give your boss, Dick, who happens to be a real big dick (not literally), an opportunity to sexually abuse you. Fortunately he doesn’t succeed, you thank your stars, the only mistake is you failed to resign. Now your ad agency, has posted you to another job, which you are very sure was the sole decision of Dickhead. You are going to write copy alright, probably make award-winning one-liners and scripts, but the only thing is, you’ll be writing Beauty copy. Fuck.

Take a scenario when the only beauty you apply on isn’t even lipstick, lip gloss, or even lip balm. Your encounter with Beauty might be the natural beauty you have going on there (think Audrey Hepburn) and there’s no room for eyeliners, eye shadows, consistent teeth flossing, waxing, fake tanning, real tanning. But you are asked to write on Uplift, and surprisingly, you don’t know what Uplift is (because you do not watch Fashion Police or any of the Real Housewives shows). There’s no room for failure, you have got to succeed, else you would go from award-winning to unemployed at Dickhead’s order.

Your introduction to the world of Beauty gives you an opportunity to meet the movers and shakers of the (Beauty) world. From tantrum-loving models, to sloven directors, to pussycat-loving female bosses, colleagues who’d shag anyone to get a promotion and uber-sexy demigod male tycoons that make your skin chill. Suddenly, your live’s a whirlwind between Paris, London, Nairobi, New York. Joggling a (kind of) long-distance relationship with a guy you met on one set, to sleeping with the big, bad evil boss with a sexy accent, preventing Dickhead from getting into your pants, avoiding Hugo――the partner who’s been laid off, resisting the urge to yell at one super-annoying female colleague, spying on a beauty company and wearing the latest Alai, Louboutins and L’Oreal. All in the name of writing copy for a revolutionary product that actually works (in taking lives of people and) giving a million girls in the world skin they’d die for. Really? Where are your morals?

Zoe Diamond’s liveS summed up for your entertainment.

MY REVIEW

I remember clearly the very first time I picked The Devil Wears Prada (sadly, the movie. One of those people who watched it before they read it), the bubbly feeling I had at the premise where different women of different tastes were dressing up for work (sadly again, it wasn’t for the appearance of female skin that gave me this walking-over-the-moon feeling). I had that same feeling when I read the blurb and the very first chapters of this book. I love fashion, beauty, magazines, ads, copy-writing, advertising, so any book based on the following themes win a star from me.──★

Secondly, this book has a storyline, a million readers would die for. Ugly Duckling who knows nothing about grooming is introduced to the big, bad industry of Beauty, and transforms into a Black Swan. It’s relatable, because most of us dream of big, bad jobs in the beauty/fashion industry, most of us would love to steal from the press rack of our dream magazines and most of us just love skin free of Acne, signs of ageing and the like.──★

I love Michaela Day’s style of writing, where she introduces her chapter as a movie scene with cuts and close-ups of girls taking selfies with the Eiffel Tower as background, or a lady strutting on Broadway (close-up on her clack-clacking zebra-print Louboutins), it gave this book somewhat of a racy feel and made me feel anticipated to know which character was chinking glasses with a gorgeous man in some limousine every time I turned a new chapter. Sweet.──★★

This book had characters to die for.  I loved Duchess, the old and idealess boss with her many gay friends and her compassion for our lead girl, Zoe. Bellini, the super-bitchy colleague who’d sleep with anyone to get promotions and negotiate her way with agents to hook high-end famous models for as little as the price of discounted Turkey on Thanksgiving. I loved Laurent, the big, bad, evil, sexy boss whose accent would sure make female readers brave enough to read this non-put-down book at bus stops weak at the knees. Laurent’s foil, Leo, whose mysterious simplicity which would be a turn-on for female readers, is also a drive to keep reading this book.──★★★

This book had so many OMG moments, I hardly kept track at a time, and kept nodding whenever they came. So many surprises, so many deaths, so much suspense that kept me on the edge of my yoga mat, all for the formula of a product that could give skin a million girls would die for.──★★★★

I loved this book. But I wish I loved, loved it. I felt it lacked humor where it could have gone laugh-out-loud funny. And expected a high level of chicness for a book set in the cutthroat advertising/beauty industry where anyone would go lengths for creams that actually work. Don’t get me wrong, it was chic. But on a level of Miley Cyrus and Emma Watson, I’d rate it a Heidi Montag――which isn’t good enough.

My rating: Four/Five Stars.

You can get the Beauty Game here in both kindle and paperback.

Michaela Day is giving away Three signed Paperbacks of Beauty Game. Enter to win.a Rafflecopter giveaway

I recommend this book for anyone who wants to read a book like The Devil Wears Prada, but this time, portrayed in the ever-cunning Beauty industry. Anyone who loves a book set in all the fab places in the world should also pick this. Anyone who wants secrets about the world of the Beauty products should get this. Now, ladies, if you’ve ever wondered what it takes to produce and reformularize all your fave products on the market, the ones you rave about so much and all of a sudden can’t speak bad about when they (kind of) don’t seem to work as they did anymore, get this book! Love, sex and skin a million girls would die for!

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

RELATED POST: FIND OUT HOW TO WIN FIVE PAPERPACKS IN ONE RAFFLE IN THIS YEAR'S BLOGIVERSARY.

Book Review: Curl Up & Dye by Sharon Sala

You don't need to be a hopeless romantic to fall for this title. Just be a sucker for suspense, brilliant plots and well-crafted characters. And no telling what a blast you would have!

Blurb: Wally Lamb meets Steel Magnolias in this story of LilyAnn Bronte, the Peachy-Keen Queen, which in Blessings, Georgia, was the epitome of success. After losing her fiance in the war in Iraq, her zest for life went into decline while added weight crept on. When a new guy arrives in town, LilyAnn embarks on a quest to remake herself from start to finish only to discover that love was always just right next-door.

Curl Up & Dye tells the story of LilyAnn Bronte whose been mourning for the death of her boyfriend since—wait for it — high-school after his death when he enlisted into the army. Throughout all these years, LilyAnn is emotionally detatched from the world, mourning can do that to someone. As if that could be the only case scenario to lock yourself up within yourself, her dad suffered a heart attack and didn't live to whisper it, her mum has moved on into another state with another husband, everyone in her little Southern town, Blessing, seems to have moved on with their lives. Leaving LilyAnn to the mundane life of work—mourning—work.

Everyone except Mike, best friend and guy-next-door who seems to be keeping a secret for the past eleven years. A secret when let out would shatter the worlds of both LilyAnn's and his.

When T.J Lachlan walks into town with the intention of fixing up a property his uncle bequeathed him in his will, he turns hot cake of the town. Everyone wants a piece of him. At least most of everyone. Including LilyAnn.

Meanwhile, the Curl Up & Dye salon is always open for days you have a bad hair day or just days you feel like a new hairdo. Sit tight and relax to a mix of cool, relaxing conditioner and Blessing's hottest brewed gossip.

I loved, loved this book! So with that, we are all aware I'd be reviewing this book screaming at you to go get it... and stop by your salon to get your hair done!

The storyline was perfect. Southern town, southern girl, southern gossip, Southern cussing (bless your heart), Southern Romance. It's one of those books about change that gives you a whole new perspective to life! Just like getting a new do!—★

You would love this book for the main character, LilyAnn. So relatable, so fun to read about. I mean, most of us have been grief-stricken and we all know on the outside people would be poking fingers at you (from Salons, of course. Probably as you walk by) and wondering why you can't get out of that shack and black habits, but inside you you just know moving on doesn't seem right, there's a daunting side to it. You either don't want to move on because of societal expectations, or can't move on because you don't want to. LilyAnn understands you. Healing comes with time, purpose, change, and when all is in the right sync, you sure would get a new hair-do.—★★

If you are the kind that loves to be kept on the edge of your seat (I don't understand why you would want to take such painful posture), this book should be in your cart! The suspense is highly engulfing, really tucked myself in a location away from my friends at college (and I love my friends!) to finish it all up. The chain of events are just surprising from character to character. And might there be even a psycho on the loose? Find out!—★★★

What you would also love about this book is the Southern Romance. Now maybe that's not the appropriate label to put on it, so I'd call it the Sala romance. Lots of moments to squirm in your seat, scream and blame your hairdresser for pulling too hard.—★★★★

The characters in this book all with their own stories made this multiple-character read thrilling. Rachael Goodhope the (married) neighborhood skunk who wouldn't mind dipping in the sheets of any guy she thinks can't be 'husband number four' but could give a good shagging. To Mike—watch out, he's going to make you swoon (I'm a guy I hated making all those sounds, but if I could help it I wouldn't have)! There was Hank who loved to play dress-up games when his wife was away and purchased makeup LilyAnn kept a secret. Grace and Eddie, Carol and Don, the parents whose introduction brought some entertainment into our lead's life. I would have missed the point of the whole book if I don't especially comment on the Curl Up & Dye Salon, Ruby Dye owner, orchestrates most of the action advising our lead girl and whoever the lead man was! Ruby is that kind of woman who not only pays attention to a customer's hair but her heart. The kind of hairdresser you would unwind to—and that I presume, is what most women loves in a hairdresser and would stay even if they had shitty skills. Not that Ruby had shitty skills! Definitely the star of this title—★★★★★

The humor in this book isn't rib-cracking, but at least it's that book you can take to the salon and read without proving to be a tough bull to your stylist, rocking back and forth and all. I'm sure every stylist's dream would be Sharon Sala's Curl Up & Dye, because sometimes it's just so hard getting a client to relax!

Five stars, people!

Curl Up & Dye, Sharon Sala's thrilling latest, is available on Amazon in both kindle and paperback.

I recommend this for anyone who wants to have a blast, a good book for a fresh new positive change. Anyone who likes their Women's Fiction bordering on suspense and romance. Anyone who wants something that would serve as a reminder for those busily hectic days, "Hey, I need to get to the salon (my hairdresser needs to read this)!"

I am ashamed to make this confession readers, this is my first of Sharon Sala! I'm pretty much sure I can't change that, but I can get all her others.

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

Book Review: Forever Fredless by Suzy Turner

Blurb: Kate Robinson has spent the past two decades yearning to find her soul mate, the boy she found and then lost during a family holiday. Shortly after her twenty-eighth birthday, however, she inherits a fortune from an old family friend and becomes something of an overnight celebrity. Can her new-found fame lead her to him after all this time?

Suzy Turner tells the story of Kate Robinson with much detail, passion and the demure glam of an Eve-ish lookalike magazine.

Do you believe in love at first sight? Sometimes, we try to ignore it thinking it's just a myth. But that's just because it hasn't happened to some of us.

Well it did with Kate.

What if we you do meet a guy at twelve? Would it still be love at first sight?

What if this guy disappears right after you two danced to Right Said Fred? What if you name this guy your Fred, look for him through your teens right at the place you met, but all you find are memories... with him?

Now you are all grown up. And haven't had the best of relationships because well, there's always one guy on your mind, Fred. You have the average woman-in-her-late twenties dream job, a columnist in an Eve-lookalike magazine. What if you get bequeathed with a huge inheritance? Now you can actually afford the labels, give money to your dad who ditched your mum for her best friend's daughter, giveaway to charity as your mum leaving a rustic life in Africa does with her soulmate, buy a house and now a good car. Maybe writing a little biography of your life concerning this Fred you've never found and your new inheritance wouldn't hurt, you think. But then the article goes stellar, and your fame is equivalent to that of the Three Idiots*. Paparazzi is on your tail, waiting to grab your every horrible moment, you are on so many shows these days you stopped keeping count and suddenly the tabloid jokes are all on you (and certainly not funny anymore). But then your inbox is flooded with so, so much mails of men claiming to be the Fred. What's a girl hitting her thirties in singledom got to do? Surely scanning these profiles would be tempting.

Especially when your soulmate might just be among the Fred pile!

I dig the storyline. It's timeless. Soulmates, love at first sight. Awesome. Everybody has either experienced it or thought of the prospect. So, —★

This book really has a theme that arouses questions in the mind of the readers. Like the fact that are there really soulmates? Or ones you meet at the tender age of twelve? Really, should a guy you meet at twelve be considered as your soulmate? Or should you live your whole life trying to find that one guy who caught your eye at twelve? All these questions possibly answered at the resolution when our lead attains fulfilment. —★★

>I did find our lead girl very relatable, one whose life you'd actually love to marvel at (all the life on the Fab lane stuff), and sympathize with. Actually love that YA lovers would love this because our lead has a sense of appeal that young adult readers wouldn't fail to acknowledge—★★★

The other cast in this book were OK to read about. But not slamming entertaining. Maybe I did love Lizzie the boss with many cats, and Freddie the ridiculous gay, and our lead's mother.

I really wished I could have loved, loved this book. I really wished the humor was amped! It would have made it terrific and picked up the pace a bit.

But all in all, this was a four star read

Forever Fredless is available on Amazon in both kindle and paperback.

Totally recommend this to anyone who loves a Chicklit that's new aldult-ish. Someone looking for a title with a theme we could all nod to. If you love happy endings, you'd be pleased with this' end note.

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