Jessica Samuelsen's Blog, page 20

ARC Review – Piper’s Price by Audrey Greathouse

The Piper's Price by Audrey Greathouse
Published by Clean Teen Publishing on February 21st 2017
Genres: YA
Pages: 300
Source: Author

I received this book for free from Author in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.

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Peter is plotting his retaliation against the latest bombing. Neverland needs an army, and Peter Pan is certain children will join him once they know what is at stake. The lost boys and girls are planning an invasion in suburbia to recruit, but in order to deliver their message, they will need the help of an old and dangerous associate—the infamous Pied Piper.Hunting him down will require a spy in in the real world, and Gwen soon finds herself in charge of locating the Piper and cutting an uncertain deal with him. She isn't sure if Peter trusts her that much, or if he's just trying to keep her away from him in Neverland. Are they friends, or just allies? But Peter might not even matter now that she's nearly home and meeting with Jay again.The Piper isn't the only one hiding from the adults' war on magic though, and when Gwen goes back to reality, she'll have to confront one of Peter's oldest friends… and one of his earliest enemies.

Gwen is back in Neverland with her sister Rosemary. They are preparing to help Peter build an army to fight the adults who want to take over Neverland. To do this Peter needs Gwen’s help to find the Piper. Gwen goes back to reality to do the task she is given by Peter. With much at stake, they try to stay under the radar always in danger of being caught by the Black suits. Sacrifices are made will it be enough to stop the adults from taking over Neverland?

In an Oyster Shell – A stellar second installment in the Neverland Wars.

The Pearls – The retelling is still really good in this second book. I would dare to say even better. I feel like this second book is more established. It feels like the author really found her rhythm in this book. I really enjoyed it. I enjoyed the contrast between Neverland and the characters who are forced to live in reality.

The characters are what make this story. Gwen being a teenager is a huge cornerstone to this story. Being older than the kids she has some maturity that helps. It also is interesting that her maturity also can hinder her and the missions at times. Sometimes her younger sister Rosemary takes on the “big” sister role. It’s an interesting twist. Peter is one of the best-developed characters I’ve come across. There are attributes that you expect from Peter Pan and others that you would not. He is a complicated and interesting character that keeps you turning the pages.

The settings in this story are interesting because you have two contrasting settings. You have Neverland, and than the real world. The author does a great job distinguishing the two. I feel the way she did this best was having characters who were from Neverland, who were forced to be established in reality. It made for a great marriage of the two settings. It even raises urgency for the reader to see Neverland saved.

The Sand – The ending was a little less than satisfying, but there is another book to look forward to, so it wasn’t a big deal.

5 Pearls!


About Audrey Greathouse

Audrey Greathouse is a Seattle-based author of science-fiction and fantasy. Raised in the suburbs, she became a writer after being introduced to NaNoWriMo during her sophmore year of high school. Since then, she has drafted more than a dozen books, 100 sonnets, and 800 other poems, and a handful of short stories and one-act plays.

After dropping out of her university and beginning training as a circus performer on the aerial silks, she returned to school to study at Southern New Hampshire University College of Online and Continuing Education to earn her B.A. in English Language and Literature, with a minor in Computer Information Technologies.

Audrey Greathouse is a die-hard punk cabaret fan, and pianist of fourteen years. She’s usually somewhere along the west coast, and she is always writing.

Website | Twitter | Goodreads

Review – Cream Puff Murder by Sandi Scott

Cream Puff Murder: A Seagrass Sweets Cozy Mystery (Book 1) by Sandi Scott
Series: Seagrass Sweets Cozy Mystery #1
Published by Gratice Press on October 21, 2016
Genres: Cozy Mystery
Pages: 156
Source: Author

I received this book for free from Author in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.

Goodreads
Amazon

Ashley Adams is settling back into her life in Seagrass, TX after leaving a broken heart and criminal ex-boyfriend in Paris, France. Her French sweets catering company has finally landed a major job, making Ashley grateful for all that is going right – her business, her work partnership, and reconnecting with an old friend Ryan.

All that changes when Ashley overhears one of the guests arguing with a strange man in the bathroom. Things get worse when the woman is found dead the next day, poisoned by one of Ashley’s cream puffs.

Ashley must solve the mystery to save the reputation of her nascent business. She is thrust into the lives of people from her past who all have something to hide. Is the murderer a jealous lover? An out-of-towner with business interests? A local hero turned criminal? Teaming up with her old friend Ryan and her loyal dog Dizzy, Ashley sets out to solve the crime.

Will she be able to solve the murder before her business reputation is completely ruined?

Ashley Adams has come back to Seagrass Texas. With her friend, she starts a catering business. She has gotten her first big break when there is a murder implicating her cream puff. To clear her name and save her business Ashley tries to get to the bottom of the murder. The mystery brings her to lots of interesting tidbits to her hometown. Will she be able to figure out who the murderer was before she loses her business?

In an Oyster Shell – A tasty mystery.

The Pearls – The mystery was well developed. I couldn’t figure out who did it. It was a perfect mystery that kept me guessing.

The cuisine mentioned in the story was delectable. It added an interesting element to the story that I liked.

The relationships between characters were really good. Ashley interacted with a lot of supporting characters and it made for a good read.

The Sand – The story lacked humor which I find essential in a cozy mystery.

3 Pearls!


About Sandi Scott

am a cozy mystery reader and writer who is finally living my dream of being able to write what I love. I fell in love with mystery books when I first started reading Agatha Christie eons ago.

Website | Goodreads | Amazon

Blog Tour with Review – Valentine Hound Dog by Rachelle Ayala

If you love sweet romances (PG-rating), look no further than Rachelle Ayala’s Have a Hart series. The Harts are a family of San Francisco firefighters. Their family motto is: Heart comes first.

Former fireman Larry Davison covers his burn scars well, by working at an elementary school as a custodian where he finds a lost hound dog behind the dumpster.

Fashion designer Jenna Hart is in town to do a charity fashion show when she loses her top model, Little Treat. When Larry turns up with the puppy, she asks him to be in the show and bachelor auction.

Larry’s not sure he belongs in a fashion show and balks at being her good deed. Can Jenna convince Larry beauty is never skin deep and love’s arrow strikes not only the beautiful, but the bold?

The Hart family will delight you with clean and wholesome love stories, filled with family, friends [both people and animals].

Valentine Hound Dog is Book #2 of the Have A Hart Romance Series. It can be read standalone, although characters from the previous books appear here in supporting roles.

Book 1: Melisa & Rob, Christmas Lovebirds

Book 2: Jenna & Larry, Valentine Hound Dog

Book 3: Connor & Nadine, Spring Fling Kitty

Book 4: Cait & Brian, Blue Chow Christmas (releasing 7th February)

Book 5: Valentine Wedding Hound (releasing 14th February)

Available to buy from…
Amazon     Barnes and Noble    Google Play   Kobo   iBooks   Paperback





“Valentine Hound Dog is an extraordinarily beautiful and tremendously poignant story that serves as a gentle reminder that no one should settle for less than who they are and what they want.” – Amber McCallister” review


“A beautiful heartwarming modern Beauty and the Beast love story.”  – Marie Smith Fowler




“Beauty is only skin deep, what matters most is the pureness of your heart.” -Jessica Cassidy

Above reviews from Amazon.com

Review – 
Jenna Hart is in town to do a fashion show that could make or break her career. She tries to bribe her brother Conner into letting his firemen be in the show. She gets him a dog which she promptly loses. It is found by Conner’s best friend Larry Davison. Larry is covered in burns from a fire rescue gone wrong. He is skeptical when Jenna seems interested in him. Will Larry let his guard down and let Jenna show him love is more than skin deep?

In an Oyster Shell – A really sweet romance that will have you wanting to read the whole series.

The Pearls – The characters were center stage in this clean and beautiful romance. There was a great contrast between the two main characters. A fashion designer who is not afraid of the spotlight and a fireman who wants nothing to do with it. Finding them coming to a happy middle was a worthy journey.



The concept of this series is really good and seems to be well executed. Following the Hart family, they all have their place and play their role. I like how they take care of one another and look forward to seeing this family in other books.

I liked the fashion sense of Jenna. She is a fashion designer after all. I like getting a glimpse into the fashion world. I liked seeing it from Larry’s perspective as he struggled to have a relationship with her and let her do what she does best.

The Sand – It was nearly perfect!

4.5 Pearls



Also Available


Christmas Lovebirds (Have a Hart #1)

Melisa Hart has a soft spot for her brother Connor’s ex-best buddy, Rob Reed. Unfortunately, Rob slept with Connor’s girlfriend and is no longer welcome with any of the Harts.Melisa lends her pet lovebird for a Christmas Toy Drive, but a mix-up brings her face to face with Rob and his lovebird. Melisa is drawn into a whirlwind romance with Rob and discovers he hasn’t told her the entire story.Can two little lovebirds and Christmas cheer open Melisa’s heart to giving Rob another chance?

Christmas Lovebirds is Book #1 of the Have A Hart Romance Series. It can be read standalone, although characters from the previous books appear here in supporting roles.

Available to buy from…

Amazon   Barnes and Noble   Google Play  Kobo  iBooks   Paperback

 

Spring Fling Kitty (Have a Hart #3)

Heartbreaker Connor Hart, one of the youngest fire chiefs in the country, is planning on marrying Dr. Elaine Woo, a woman who pretended to cheat on him with his best friend many years ago. She bought him a Dalmatian puppy, he gave her a ring—and the women of San Francisco are about to lose their most eligible bachelor.

Artist and poet Nadine Woo is down on her luck. The cast-off half-sister of Dr. Elaine Woo, she doesn’t measure up, according to her strict and distant father. When Nadine and her mother are about to be evicted from their apartment, she gets an interesting offer from her sister. Seems she’s in need of a little help concerning her relationship with Fire Chief Connor Hart.

As soon as Nadine meets Connor, she knows she’s in for a rough ride. Connor is the fireman who rescued her and her little gray kitten, and she’s never forgotten how safe she felt in his arms.

When Nadine takes her sister’s place at a spring fling weekend with Connor, love ignites, and there’s no going back.

Can a spunky little kitty show Connor and Nadine that doing the wrong thing is sometimes right, especially when it comes to love?


Spring Fling Kitty is Book #3 of the Have A Hart Romance Series. It can be read standalone, although characters from the previous books appear here in supporting roles.


Available to buy from…
Amazon   Barnes and Noble    Google Play   Kobo   iBooks  Paperback




**NEW RELEASE (7th February)**

Blue Chow Christmas (Have a Hart #4)

Cait Hart has been married to Brian Wonder for twelve years, but does she really know him? The redheaded firefighter is dependable, loyal, and kind to others, but he’s never let her probe his feelings.Brian Wonder’s life is blown open when his former high school teacher and wife of a senator dies in a car crash. When a pair of blue chow dogs show up at his mountain cabin, he is forced to tell Cait his secret–the real owner of the dogs is a boy he believes is his son.

Cait and Brian are tested on the true meaning of love when the boy goes missing and authorities suspect Brian of wrongdoing. Can two lost chow dogs save this fragile and vulnerable family?

Spring Fling Kitty is Book #3 of the Have A Hart Romance Series. It can be read standalone, although characters from the previous books appear here in supporting roles.


Available to buy from…
Amazon   Paperback

 

Releasing February 14th….

Valentine Wedding Hound 
(sequel to Valentine Hound Dog)

Fashion designer Jenna Hart’s wedding turns into a media circus when her wedding planner signs her up for a reality show. Each week, the producers challenge her to keep her wedding on track while performing an unpleasant task or working with difficult people. Firefighter Larry Davison wants Jenna to be happy, so he goes along with the reality show despite hating to be on camera. When the show digs too deep into his past, he has second thoughts about both the wedding and Jenna’s celebrity lifestyle. Will their ring bearer, Harley the basset hound, bring Jenna and Larry together to tie the knot in the season finale?

Available to pre-order for only 0.99 on  Amazon  

 

About the author

Rachelle Ayala is a bestselling author of dramatic romantic suspense and humorous, sexy contemporary romances. Her heroines are feisty and her heroes hot. She writes emotionally challenging stories but believes in the power of love and hope.

Rachelle is an active member of the California Writer’s Club, Fremont Chapter, and a volunteer for the World Literary Cafe. She is a very happy woman and lives in California with her husband. She has three children and has taught violin and made mountain dulcimers.

Sign up for her NEWSLETTER to get a FREE surprise book and her latest book news HERE!

Visit her Reader’s Guide HERE

Find the author on the following sites…

Website Website Facebook Twitter Pinterest   Google+   Goodreads   Amazon Author Page

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I received this book through Beck Valley Books Book Tours, I have volunteered to share my review and all the opinions are 100% my own.
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Review – Elemental Secrets by Elle Middaugh

Elemental Secrets by Elle Middaugh
Published by Createspace Independent Publishing Platform on April 21, 2016
Genres: YA, Paranormal
Pages: 432

I received this book for free from YA Bound Book Tours in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.

Goodreads
Amazon

Navy brat, Valerie, makes friends at a high school in the secluded mountains of Pennsylvania, only to discover that they have supernatural Elemental Powers, in this YA Fantasy Romance.

“This book is “Avatar: The Last Airbender” meets “X-Men” in a high school.” – Hey, It Was Free!

“If you like elemental persons, if you like SYFY, if you like YA, this book is for you. If you don’t like any of those, then you are missing out!” – Kelly’s Nerdy Obsession

Valerie Moore is a beautiful, headstrong girl with below-average social skills and above-average anxiety (including a flair for overanalyzing). With her mother long deceased and her father recently deployed, she is sent to live with her eccentric aunt in a tiny town nestled in the mountains of Pennsylvania. Being a Navy brat has made her into a bit of a loner, and making friends certainly isn’t her strongest suit—as if the life of a typical teen isn’t hard enough. Torn between the conflicted heartbreaker next door, the persistent jock at the top, and the rugged college bad boy, Valerie finds it almost impossible to choose just one guy. Her love life isn’t her only problem, though. She soon discovers she’s not a typical teenager—not by a long shot.Secrets are revealed about her family, her newfound friends and relationships, and her whole world… The biggest secret of all is unveiled when Valerie discovers she has Elemental powers, unleashing a rapid chain of irreversible events.

Valerie is the new girl again at a school she attended years ago. Not one to make friends she sets to not stand out, at first. She realizes that’s coming off the wrong way so she tries being friendly and makes more friends than she was bargaining for. When she is with these friends strange things start to happen and she realizes they are keeping secrets from her. What she comes to find is a political pull between two kinds of people and she is stuck in the middle. Learning her friend’s secrets can be dangerous for her health.

In an Oyster Shell – An interesting Paranormal YA that has a less than satisfying ending.

The Pearls – The characters were well developed and easy to follow. There was a great variety and every character was very distinctive. The main character Valerie is interesting though a bit naive at times. Though you see major growth in her through out the story.

The conflict in this story was palpable and kept me turning the pages. There were layers and layers of conflict. Though the conflict had paranormal implications it was relative to political conflicts we encounter in everyday life. The battle of ideas and pride.

The romance in this story was really fun and made me giddy. There are multiple love interests. Its a little bit stressful having so many choices but it made the story interesting.

The Sand – I wasn’t happy with how it ended. One minute it’s this light-hearted YA romantic paranormal than it turns into a political nightmare. It was a little disjointed. This is not going to stop me from reading the next book.

3.5 Pearls!


About Elle Middaugh

Elle Middaugh lives in the Allegheny Mountains outside of Clearfield, Pennsylvania, with her wonderful husband and three beautiful children. Most of her time is spent raising kids, writing stories, playing video games, reading, and attempting to keep a clean house.

She’s a proud Navy wife, a frazzle-brained mother, a fan of health and fitness, a lover of hot tea and iced tea, and a believer in happily ever afters.

Website | Twitter | Goodreads | Amazon

Friday Coffee and Bookish Speaks – What’s Cozy about a Cozy Mystery?

Hi Everybody!

I apologize for the sporadic discussions. There are lots of reasons but no really good ones! I’ll try to get better. I think one reason could be that I did a year of discussions and am a little burnt out. I will work on it. Today I am drinking a dark chocolate hot chocolate. It’s cold here in the NorthWest and I need something to keep me warm!

Today I am drinking a dark chocolate hot chocolate. It’s cold here in the NorthWest and I need something to keep me warm!

What are you drinking?

I’ve read enough cozy mysteries in the last couple of years I now consider myself a connoisseur of cozy mysteries. What makes a cozy mystery a cozy mystery? An even more ironic question how is murder cozy! So the first component of a cozy is that they usually involve murders.

The next thing you can expect from a cozy is cheesy titles like Meet your Baker by Ellie Alexandar. I’m not making fun of the title I love it! It’s part of the fun in a cozy. For me the more clever the title the better!

The cozy mystery usually has an amateur sleuth who has ties to the local law enforcement and has an uncanny ability to somehow get involved in various murders. There is usually a romantic factor. A romantic triangle makes it even juicier. The triangle is not necessary in the cozy but it adds a fun factor.

Cozies are usually clean but not always. I like the more family friendly cozies I get a little put off with edgier main characters. I feel like authors that add edge to their characters like crass talk and cussing are going against the unspoken cozy code of clean fun. I feel like they are rebellious and need a good spanking or a time out in a corner for bad behavior. That is more personal preference.

In the end, Cozies are just fun mysteries that tend to be tongue in cheek. They are easy fun reads and finding a good series of cozy is even better!

What are your thoughts on Cozy Mysteries?

 

Review – Fudge and Jury by Ellie Alexander

Fudge and Jury (A Bakeshop Mystery, #5) by Ellie Alexander
Published by St. Martin's Paperbacks on January 3rd 2017
Genres: Cozy Mystery
Pages: 304
Source: Purchased Amazon
Goodreads
Amazon

Welcome to Torte—a friendly, small-town family bakery where the pastries are delicious…and, now, suspicious.

It’s almost spring in Ashland, Oregon, and the town is preparing for the Shakespeare and the annual Chocolate Festival. Business is cookin’ at Torte, and the store is expanding as Jules’ team whips up crèpes filled with mascarpone cheese and dark chocolate. Torte stands a chance of being this year’s confectionery belle of the ball! Life couldn’t be sweeter—unless murder taints the batter.

Evan Rowe, of Confections Couture, makes a chocolate fountain that would put Willy Wonka to shame, and his truffles are to die for—literally? Yes, the world-renowned chocolatier has just turned up dead…right after sampling a slice of Jules’ decadent four-layer chocolate cake. Now all eyes are on Jules as she tries to find the mysterious ingredient in her own recipe. Can she sift out the truth before another contestant bites the buttercream?

Jules is back and busier than ever getting torte ready for Ashland’s annual chocolate festival. All is going well until Even Rowe ends up dying after eating Jule’s chocolate cake. Murder always puts a wrench in the plans and Jules is at it again to get to the bottom of the mysterious death. Teamed up with her torte team and the other locals in Ashland Jules is out to find the truth.

In an Oyster Shell – My favorite book in the series so far!

The Pearls –  I am not sure why but this book became my favorite in the series. I think that it has something to do with the nice rhythm and routine you can expect from a Bakeshop Mystery. Jules trying to better Torte, a murder to solve, and all the wonderful, quirky characters that are in the mix. It’s like coming home again. I think another reason that I loved this particular book so much was it had a lot do with one of my staple food groups… Chocolate!

I can’t write a review about this series and not talk about my favorite character Lance. He’s kind of like Jules uninvited sidekick. He’s funny, yet serious to help Jules find the truth. In this book, you see a little vulnerability in Lance that you don’t usually see. It’s refreshing and probably another reason I really liked this book.

The other characters seem to be stronger than ever. Jule’s Torte team, her mom, the professor and of course Thomas. Which brings me to the inevitable topic of this series, the romance. There’s a twist in this book in the epic love triangle between Jule’s, Thomas, and Carlos. The plot thickens that’s all I can say.

How the romance will go is even more of a mystery than the murders Jule faces. I wonder if she would rather face the murders! Ha! It’s a fun facet of the series that I wasn’t thrilled about at first but its grown on me. I can’t wait to see how it ends up!

The Sand – It’s the best book in the series thus far. Impeccable execution of the story.

5 Pearls!

 


About Ellie Alexander

Ellie Alexander, author of the Bakeshop Mystery Series (St. Martin’s Press), is a Pacific Northwest native who spends ample time testing pastry recipes in her home kitchen or at one of the many famed coffeehouses nearby. When she’s not coated in flour, you’ll find her outside exploring hiking trails and trying to burn off calories consumed in the name of research. Find out more about Ellie and her books by visiting her blog at

Blog | Twitter | Facebook | Goodreads | Amazon

Review – The Bookstore by Deborah Meyler

The Bookstore by Deborah Meyler
Published by Gallery Books on August 20th 2013
Genres: Women's Fiction
Pages: 352
Goodreads
Amazon

A witty, sharply observed debut novel about a young woman who finds unexpected salvation while working in a quirky used bookstore in Manhattan.Impressionable and idealistic, Esme Garland is a young British woman who finds herself studying art history in New York. She loves her apartment and is passionate about the city and her boyfriend; her future couldn’t look brighter. Until she finds out that she’s pregnant.

Esme’s boyfriend, Mitchell van Leuven, is old-money rich, handsome, successful, and irretrievably damaged. When he dumps Esme—just before she tries to tell him about the baby—she resolves to manage alone. She will keep the child and her scholarship, while finding a part-time job to make ends meet. But that is easier said than done, especially on a student visa.

The Owl is a shabby, second-hand bookstore on the Upper West Side, an all-day, all-night haven for a colorful crew of characters: handsome and taciturn guitar player Luke; Chester, who hyperventilates at the mention of Lolita; George, the owner, who lives on protein shakes and idealism; and a motley company of the timeless, the tactless, and the homeless. The Owl becomes a nexus of good in a difficult world for Esme—but will it be enough to sustain her? Even when Mitchell, repentant and charming, comes back on the scene?

A rousing celebration of books, of the shops where they are sold, and of the people who work, read, and live in them, The Bookstore is also a story about emotional discovery, the complex choices we all face, and the accidental inspirations that make a life worth the reading.

The world is Esme Garland’s oyster. The possibilities are endless a British student in New York city. That is until she finds out she is pregnant. When she goes to tell the father he dumps her. After figuring out that she is keeping the baby she endeavors to go it alone. She finds employment at a quirky used bookstore, The Owl. The father comes back into the scene. In the end the bookstore becomes her saving grace.

In an Oyster Shell- I am so disappointed that I spent money on this book.

The Pearls – The concept was interesting. Centered around a bookstore that becomes Esme’s safe place is one of the few redeeming qualities of the book.

The setting was really interesting. I feel that the author really did justice to New York city. There were lots of restaurants and places that were mentioned in the book. It made the book come alive.

The supporting characters added a nice depth to the story. More competent than the main character. The author gave the supporting characters quirky attributes that made the read more interesting.

The Sand –  The protagonist did not show much growth in the story. She didn’t learn from her mistakes. It was quite frustrating. This is the most bland character I’ve read in a long time. She chose to stay in an emotionally abusive relationship. When it was over she still pined for the guy. It was disappointing and aggravating, The ending was anti-climatic.


About Deborah Meyler

I was born in the grim but friendly north, in Manchester, within sight and hearing and inhalation distance of the M62, one of the busiest motorways in the country. You can also see the Pennine hills from my bedroom window, which is still my bedroom window because my mum still lives there.

Things ticked along merrily for 17 years and then I went to Trinity College, Oxford. I chose it because the photograph in the Oxford handbook looked nice. I didn’t think I had a chance of getting in really, and nor, encouragingly, did my teachers. I like to think they thought that this was more about class and previous lack of good schooling than innate dimness.

More later…

Now, where was I. Oh yes, I went to Oxford, and it was immensely pleasurable. I fell in love, and remain in love, with Oxford. So let me plunge headlong into the cliche of Brideshead, and quote Evelyn Waugh, where Charles is talking of the texts he has neglected; “I remember no syllable of them now, but the other, more ancient, lore which I acquired that term will be with me in one shape or another to my last hour.”

After Oxford I did an M.Phil at St Andrews University, under the supervision of Phillip Mallett. It was on the commodification of women in late nineteenth century American fiction, supposedly, but actually became a thesis on Edith Wharton. St Andrews is another place that it is easy to fall headlong for.

Next I won a scholarship from The Guardian to go to City University, to do a post-graduate diploma in journalism. And after that I messed up a bit by coming to America, where my husband had been offered a job by Cambridge University Press. I wasn’t allowed to work at first, which caused some loneliness, but then I got a job in a bookshop, and all was well.

After that I had three babies, and decided, in my great folly, that it was a good idea to stay off work entirely while they were little, and so resent them wildly for the atrophying of my mind. I’m kidding. I didn’t resent them. I did resent the piety and wrongheadedness that made me think it was a good idea to opt out of working entirely – it works for lots of women but I found it very very hard.

I don’t know if this autobiography is too long, but I am enjoying myself. My two older children got bigger and went to school. I put my littlest daughter into nursery for two hours or so a day, and decided I would write in good earnest. I wrote a book that is under my bed, because I was just warming up and it is all right but not quite good enough, and then I wrote The Bookstore. I enjoyed writing it hugely, despite the difficulty of overcoming idleness every day. Through the very kind offices of a friend named Siobhan Garrigan, I got an agent, who is a tremendously wise person despite her great youth, and she took it from there. Now I am organising my thoughts and ideas for a new book.

I work part time in a parish church in the middle of Cambridge.

Goodreads | Amazon

Review -How to Get Over Your Ex in Ninety Days by Jennifer Peel

How to Get Over Your Ex in Ninety Days by Jennifer Peel
on December 26th 2016
Pages: 240
Goodreads
Amazon

How to Get Over Your Ex in Ninety Days

• Break off all contact for ninety days.• Stay away from social media.• Remember all the things you liked to do when you were single and revisit those activities.• Think carefully about starting any new romantic attachments. • Wine, lots of wine. No, don’t. It could end badly. • Be mindful of anxiety and feelings of hopelessness. • Remind yourself it takes ninety days for your mind to switch gears and picture your life in a new direction.

Presley Benson thinks she found the perfect plan to get over her ex-boyfriend, Jackson Montgomery. All she needs is ninety days. There’s a problem, though. Jackson Montgomery is the newly appointed vice principal of Riverton High School where she teaches drama.

And oh yeah, he wants her back.

So what’s a girl to do? Stick with the plan of course.

Presley Benson is ready to join her friends in wedded bliss. She is eager to get her proposal, instead gets a break-up. Thanks to her friend Capri’s obsession with internet articles, they come up with a plan to get Presley over Jackson in ninety days. The plan calls for total deprivation of the person you are trying to get over. The hic-up in the plan is Jackson is the vice principal for the school Presley works for. Another wrench in the plan is Jackson wants her back.

In an Oyster Shell – A cute and creative romance, one  would expect from Jennifer Peel.

The Pearls – It was a cute and creative story. It’s not often that a man breaks up with a woman and wants her back. It was a fun twist on a break-up. I appreciate Presley’s determination to stick to the plan.

Presley was a lively tenacious character. She had a lot of gull. She also had a lot of curiosity that got her in some interesting entanglements. There were great supporting characters that made for a well-rounded story.

The romance was unique. Presley was fighting Jackson the whole way from getting her back. Jackson stuck to his mark and made for an entertaining romance.

The Sand – It was good.

4 Pearls!


About Jennifer Peel

Jennifer Peel is the mother of three amazing kiddos. Wife to her one and only for the past twenty-one years. Lover of late night talks, beach vacations, mountains, pink bubble gum ice cream, tours of model homes, and southern living. She can frequently be found with her laptop on, fingers typing away, indulging in chocolate milk, and writing out the stories that are constantly swirling through her head.

Website | Twitter

Review – Unliving the Dream by Sandra Vischer

Unliving the Dream by Sandra Vischer
Published by Trill Publishing on March 23, 2016
Genres: Women's Fiction
Pages: 390
Source: Kindle Unlimited, Author

I received this book for free from Kindle Unlimited, Author in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.

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Things are darn near perfect for Alex Fisher: she runs a successful business with the love of her life, her husband and the father of her two great kids. She's managed to sail through nearly forty years without so much as a hiccup. That is, until the night her husband announces he would like to make a change-a change that has apparently been going on for months without Alex's knowledge. Yes, he has been having an affair with Alex's assistant. Suddenly Alex is bouncing through divorce, through her daughter's subsequent rebellion, and through the big questions of who she really is and what she wants in life. No longer living the dream, Alex uses her calm logic, internal dialogue, and sizzling wit-not to mention her friends-to turn the shock of a lifetime into an adventure of self-discovery that takes her from the tropical waters of the Caribbean Sea to the Utah wilderness and along the impoverished streets of Peru. In this universal tale, told through Vischer's unique voice, Alex finds that no one escapes unscathed-but we can all have a good laugh and some major personal growth along the way. A humorous, compassionate, and honest look at how the worst time in one's life ultimately leads to unexpected fulfillment and authenticity.

Alex has it all two kids, a successful business, loving husband… or so she thought. She is shocked when her husband admits he’s been having an affair with her assistant and close friend and wants to move out. Eventually, they get a divorce and the dream life Alex has been living has to be totally redefined. As part of the regrouping, she has to deal with her wayward teenage daughter who is going down a destructive path fast. Taking drastic measures to help her changes her and the family dynamics. Will Alex be able to put back the pieces of her broken life and unlive her previous dream?

In an Oyster Shell – This book had a lot going for it and would work for a lot of people. For me, it took more time than usual to read and wasn’t really a book I really enjoyed.

The Pearls – The camaraderie of Alex and her girlfriends set a nice tone in this sometimes bleak book. They were the silver lining in some very strenuous circumstances. Who Alex was with them was nice to see. I liked seeing her prankster side coming out with them.

The passion with which the author wrote was palpable. She was invested in her pages and you can’t help but respect her for that. She tackled some heavy social issues. That alone was commendable. She wasn’t afraid to be raw in her prose.

The idea of the book is encapsulated in the title, Unliving the Dream. Alex was going in one direction and life circumstances brought her somewhere completely different. In the end the different direction became doable after some very tough breaks. The title was ironic and appropriate.

The Sand – It took me over a week to get through this book. That’s unheard of for me. It wasn’t so terrible that I would put it down but I drudged through it. I think the hardest thing for me was Alex made some decisions that were disheartening. She was weak in ways I couldn’t respect.

The other hard thing for me there was a lot of content. The content was disjointed at times. It could go all over the place.  It spanned over years and years. It could have been at least two books.

I’m sorry to say that I didn’t enjoy this book but if you’re a women’s fiction fan you might enjoy it.

3 Pearls!


About Sandra Vischer

I grew up in Palatine, Illinois, a northwest suburb of Chicago, the second of four daughters to loving parents, Trudi and Bill, who provided me with an idyllic childhood. While attending Southern Illinois University as an English Lit major, I was also a member of the Famous Writer’s School of Westport, Connecticut, a correspondence school whose faculty included Rod Serling, Bennett Cerf, Max Shulman, and Faith Baldwin. After my junior year and two months abroad, I married my college sweetheart and started working for IBM in the Chicago area.

A year later, we decided to make a change and moved to Portland, Oregon, a place where natural beauty abounds. I continued with IBM for another five years until I decided to be a stay-at-home mom to our son and daughter. Some years later when my kids were in school, my husband and I started a business that created exhibits for museums. Within a year of its beginnings, we were a huge success with prestigious clients like the John Steinbeck Museum in Salinas California, The Lincoln Museum in Fort Wayne, Indiana, the Warm Springs Museum in Warm Springs, Oregon, and the Academy of Achievement in Washington, DC.

While I’ve wanted to write a novel since I was a teenager, life led me into the business world, which was satisfying for my analytical mind, but my dream never died. In my twenties, I’d read a couple of Shirley MacLaine’s books, Don’t Fall Off the Mountain and Out On a Limb (where she’d journeyed to Peru). A long-time admirer of her and her life of adventure and search for spirituality, I felt a kinship with her and her way of being. Back then, many people thought Shirley was a little out there in her beliefs, and yet I totally related! My discovery has continued with writers like James Redfield, Eckhart Tolle, Brené Brown, and for a good laugh, Nancy Meyers!

At the age of 39, I found myself divorced and single parenting. Eventually, with my children grown, I sold my share of the exhibit business and spent my time traveling and writing, just like I’d imagined so many years before. After a devastating 2004 tsunami hit Thailand, I wanted to go there to help. I checked with several organizations and they said what they really needed was money not more people. It was then I decided to merge my desire to follow Shirley’s Peruvian journey of self-discovery with my need to volunteer. I found a New York City based group called Cross Cultural Solutions to facilitate my adventure. In the spring of 2005, I made it happen.

When I returned, I began writing Unliving the Dream. I still live in Portland, still love to travel and spend time with my family, and look forward to life’s next divine lesson.

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Review – Can’t Always Get What You Want by Chelsey Krause

Can't Always Get What You Want by Chelsey Krause
Published by Loveswept on January 13th 2015
Genres: Contemporary, Romance
Pages: 312
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Fans of Ruthie Knox, Rachel Gibson, and Molly O’Keefe will love this deeply romantic and uplifting debut novel about losing everything you thought you wanted—and getting exactly what you need.

Sophie Richards has been looking forward to a much-needed girls’ night out: a Rolling Stones tribute-band concert, a few drinks, a distraction from her grueling nursing shifts in acute care. But when her best friend bails, Sophie gets stuck with a blind date.

Although Brett Nicholson may be the hottest carpenter alive, and Sophie may technically be single, she isn’t exactly on the market. Six years ago she found The One. He was everything Sophie dreamed a man could be—and then she lost him. In an instant, her whole life changed, and she forgot all about happily ever after.

But as she gets to know Brett, Sophie starts to wonder about the future for the first time. With a broken heart still clouding her mind, jumping into a new relationship feels impossible. When she’s in his arms, walking away feels even harder. Now Sophie faces an impossible choice: living in the past or choosing love in the here and now.

Advance praise for Can’t Always Get What You Want

“Can’t Always Get What You Want is heart-wrenching in all the right ways. Smartly written and emotionally satisfying, this story will stick with you long after the last page.”—USA Today bestselling author Lauren Layne

“A sweet, moving story about love and loss, Chelsey Krause’s debut is full of heart.”—Clodagh Murphy, author of Girl in a Spin

“Can’t Always Get What You Want is a delightful mix of humor, heart, and the struggle to move on from past grief. I am definitely looking forward to more books by Chelsey Krause!”—Mary Frame, author of Imperfect Chemistry

“This is a funny, heartfelt story about moving on, a touching debut from a very promising author. Romance lovers looking for both a giggle and a cry will get what they need from Can’t Always Get What You Want.”—Stephanie Pegler, editor, Chicklit Club

“Very romantic . . . I loved this book mainly for Sophie trying to figure out that everyone deserves a second chance at feeling loved again. . . . [I] can’t wait for more from Chelsey Krause.”—Reviews by Melena

Includes a special message from the editor, as well as an excerpt from another Loveswept title.

Sophie Richards is looking forward to going to a Rolling Stones tribute band concert. Her best friend bales at the last minute leaving her with a blind date. Sophie hits it off with Brett Nicholson. Sophie is not looking for a relationship so when she hits it off with Brett they agree to be just friends. Quickly friendship is not enough and Sophie finds herself in a relationship. The problem with that is she is not over her last love that died. Fighting with the past will Sophie be able to reconcile to have a future with Brett?

In an Oyster Shell – A poignant story that will leave you emotional at times.

The Pearls – This book evokes a lot of emotion. The author carries the reader through the journey of Sophie’s grief. I feel that the author took a lot of risks in the depth she takes Sophie’s grief. It pays off.

I like the element of Sophie being a nurse. It adds a layer of depth to the story with all of Sophie’s learning experiences.

The characters were expertly crafted. They were memorable. Well-developed characters made for a page-turning story. The characters were complex and had a lot of depth.

The Sand – Sophie being lost in her grief got frustrating and distracting at times.

4 Pearls!


About Chelsey Krause

Chelsey Krause has a thing for thrift stores and used bookshops. A nurse, wife, Starbucks addict, and mom to two children, she can often be found repurposing other people’s junk or considering whether the library would let her move in. The rest of the time, she’s reviewing for Chicklit Club or writing. All Shook Up is her second novel.

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