Susan Coventry's Blog, page 32
January 24, 2017
Twice as Tempting coming soon!
My fourth romance novel, Twice as Tempting is coming soon. You first met Kelly and Damian in my third novel, A New Chapter, but now they have their own story. Kelly and Damian are two strong-willed passionate people who have a tumultuous relationship. What obstacles do they face, and will they be able to overcome them? Find out when Twice as Tempting is released in February, 2017!
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My Brilliant Friend by Elena Ferrante
My Brilliant Friend is Book One of the Neapolitan series, a popular series in Italy that has made it's way to the U.S. This is a story of two girls, Elena and Lila, who live in an impoverished neighborhood of Naples, Italy. In their relationship Lila is the fearless leader, and Elena the loyal follower who is happiest by Lila's side. Together they navigate life among their troubled families and neighbors. When the girls misbehave they are beaten by their parents, and violence is a part of their everyday lives. They escape into the world of books and learning, and become accomplished students, each in their own way. This novel follows Elena and Lila from childhood through adolescence when the boys in the neighborhood start to notice them. Elena is the first to mature, and even though Lila is a late bloomer, she gathers most of the males' attention. Lila becomes involved with a wealthy, yet dangerous young man who is intent on marrying her, but she rejects him in favor of a grocer's son, named Stefano. In the meantime, Elena falls in love with a fellow student, Nino, but her parents disapprove. I have seen My Brilliant Friend in bookstores on tables marked "Favorites" and "Must Reads" which is why I chose it. Unfortunately, I would not classify it as such. In my opinion, this story is much more about class distinction and status, than friendship. I also didn't care for the way that Elena idolized Lila instead of being proud of her own accomplishments. Elena hid in Lila's shadow even though she was the more stable one. If you like stories about women's friendship, I would recommend Firefly Lane instead.
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January 17, 2017
Falling by Jane Green
Falling is a realistic fiction story about a woman named Emma, who redesigns her life, and finds love in the process. Emma, a transplant from England, left a high-powered job in New York City, to move to a sleepy seaside town in Connecticut. She rents a house from Dominic, a handsome single dad, who happens to live next door. As Emma settles in, and pursues a new career as an interior decorator, she falls in love with Dominic, and his adorable (and sometimes challenging) six-year-old son, Jesse. Her new location is idyllic, but her relationship with Dominic is not without problems. When Jesse's absentee mother shows up unexpectedly, Emma's role in Jesse's life is called into question. In addition, Emma's parents, particularly her mother, believes that Dominic, a bartender and a carpenter, is "beneath" her. Despite the difficulties, Emma's and Dominic's relationship prospers, and just when they start making long-term plans, a tragedy occurs that upends Emma's life once again. While I enjoyed some aspects of this story, I wasn't overly attached to the characters. They kind of floated along, but I never truly felt their passion and love for each other. I would have also preferred a happier ending, but since this book is a realistic fiction novel, I can understand why the author ended it the way she did. When it comes to this genre, I prefer books by Elin Hilderbrand and Liane Moriarty, who soften the reality with a healthy dose of humor!
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January 14, 2017
My Favorite Reads of 2016
Here is a top ten list of my favorite reads of 2016, in alphabetical order. Click on the book title to read my complete review for each book, and maybe you'll find your next great read!
The Bookshop on the Corner by Jenny Colgan
It Ends With Us by Colleen Hoover
Lilac Girls by Martha Hall Kelly
Mister O by Lauren Blakely
The Obsession by Nora Roberts
The Pillars of the Earth by Ken Follett
The Rumor by Elin Hilderbrand
Sisi by Allison Pataki
Tiffany Girl by Deeanne Gist
Where We Belong by Emily Giffin
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January 11, 2017
Victoria by Daisy Goodwin
Victoria is a historical fiction novel based on the early life of Queen Victoria of England. This account begins when she inherited the throne at age 18, and ends with her marriage proposal to Prince Albert. Queen Victoria is portrayed as a vibrant, headstrong young woman, who refused to be controlled. The story touches on politics, however, the primary focus is on Victoria's personal life, which had it's share of drama. The Queen was very enamored with Prime Minister William Melbourne, who became her most trusted adviser. She wanted to marry him, however, her royal status would not allow it. Victoria's mother and uncle advocated for her to marry first cousin, Prince Albert, but she resisted. It wasn't until they spent an extended period of time together at Buckingham Palace, that she fell in love with him. This novel was an engaging, readable account of the Queen's early life. If you like reading about royal families, you may enjoy Victoria. For more books about strong, famous women, try Goodwin's other novels, The American Heiress and The Fortune Hunter .
Note: A television series based on Victoria begins on PBS on January, 15, 2017.
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January 3, 2017
Starring You and Me On Sale!
The Kindle version of Starring You and Me goes on sale today (at 11 a.m. eastern time) with a beginning price of $0.99! If you haven't read it yet, now is a great time to buy! Click here to purchase on Amazon.
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December 31, 2016
Excerpt from Twice as Tempting
“Where are you taking me?” she asked. He had tied a bandanna around her eyes so she couldn’t see, and now he was leading her down the hall.
“Patience,“ he replied.
The blindfold was something they hadn’t used before, and she kind of liked the idea of relinquishing control to him.
The apartment was small, so she knew that he was leading her to his bedroom, but she decided to be a good sport, and played along.
He backed her up to the edge of the bed, and gently pushed on her shoulders to get her to sit.
“Can I take the blindfold off now?”
“Why don’t you lay back first?”
She thought her heart might pound right out of her chest. His little game was starting to feel like something more, but she laid back, and sunk into the soft mattress. She didn’t have to see it, to know that it was the same mattress that they had tried out in the furniture store.
Suddenly the bed dipped on her left side, and she felt Damian’s presence surround her.
“Do you like it?” he asked, his voice low and breathy.
She nodded, unable to trust her voice.
“Do you want me to take the blindfold off now?”
His voice came from above her, and he was so close, that she felt his breath against her cheek.
“No,” she whispered.
“What do you want Kell?”
“I want you to kiss me,” she said.
And the next thing she knew, his lips were on hers—warm, hard, demanding. His hands entangled in her hair and he had lowered himself over her so their chests rubbed together enticingly. Her hips automatically arched up to meet his, and then…
Look for Twice as Tempting to be released in February, 2017.
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December 28, 2016
The Devil In The White City by Erik Larson
The Devil In The White City is a non-fiction account of the 1893 Chicago World's Fair, that at times reads like fiction. There are two stories interwoven in this book: the building of the magnificent World's Fair, and the actions of a malicious serial killer who lurks behind the scenes. There are several chapters dedicated to the lives of the architects and artists who contributed to the success of the fair, including Daniel Burnham, the primary architect, and George Ferris, the inventor of the Ferris Wheel. Interspersed throughout the story, is the tale of an evil doctor, H. H. Holmes, who lured unsuspecting women into his lair, killed them, and sold their bones for profit. Holmes got away with his crimes for years, until the families of some of the victims demanded he be investigated. In the end, a persistent detective uncovered Holmes' secrets and had him prosecuted, although it's possible that additional bodies were never discovered. The Devil In The White City was published in 2003, however, I've seen the book on bestseller lists as recently as today. The book is very well written and engaging, however, some of the sections related to the engineering of buildings became too technical for me. I was much more interested in the human aspects of the fair, and the mystery surrounding H. H. Holmes. If you like historical books with a bit of mystery thrown in, you may enjoy The Devil In The White City.
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The Last Anniversary by Liane Moriarty
The Last Anniversary is a quirky family drama by the author of The Husband's Secret. In this story, Sophie inherits a house that belonged to the aunt of her former boyfriend. The house is located on a charming island off the coast of Australia, and since the island is inhabited primarily by her ex-boyfriends' family, Sophie gets swept up into their lives. The family is chock full of quirky characters, at the center of which is an abandoned baby mystery. Enigma, a grandmother now, was abandoned as a baby, and was found and raised by two sisters, Rose and Connie. There's some speculation about the truth behind the story, which eventually comes out. Sophie also befriends Grace and Callum, an attractive couple with a newborn son. Strangely, Grace seems to be pushing Sophie and Callum together, and Sophie begins to fall for him. This is a tale of love, loss, and family bonds, although at times, I found it quite bizarre. I didn't feel attached to any particular character, yet, the story kept my attention, and I wanted to see how it would end. I have read several of Moriarty's books, but this is not one of my favorites. If you like family dramas and haven't discovered Liane Moriarty yet, I would recommend The Husband's Secret .
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December 22, 2016
Goodreads Giveaway
The Goodreads giveaway for A New Chapter ends December 28. Enter for your chance to win a free copy and good luck!
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