Showing posts with label NAL Trade. Show all posts
Showing posts with label NAL Trade. Show all posts

9.12.2014

Review [of sorts]: When We Fall by Emily Liebert

When We Fall by Emily Liebert
Published: September 2, 2014
Publisher: NAL Trade
Format: paperback via publisher
Rating: 3.5/5

Synopsis
Ready for a fresh start, Allison Parker moves back to her hometown in the suburbs of New York. While she’d once savored the dynamic pace of city life, sadly, it lost its allure after her husband’s untimely death. Now, ready to focus on her art career accompanied by her ten-year-old son, Logan, Allison doesn’t anticipate that her past will resurface. When the wife of her husband’s best friend from summer camp takes her under her wing, things begin to spin out of control.

At one time, Charlotte Crane thought she had it all—a devoted husband, a beautiful little girl, and enough financial security to never have to worry. But behind her perfect facade lie a strained marriage and a fractured relationship with her sister. When new girl Allison arrives in Wincourt, Charlotte welcomes the chance to build a friendship. Before long, Charlotte begins to see her life through Allison’s eyes, and the cracks in her seemingly flawless existence become impossible to ignore.

As Allison heals from the loss of her husband—even wondering if she might be ready to date again—Charlotte feels more distant from her loved ones than ever before. The emerging friendship between the two women appears to be just the antidote both of them so desperately need...until everything falls apart.

My Thoughts
I was really torn when I was done with this book. I had some high expectations going into it and now that I’m done I had to take a few days to write this review. I’m really 50/50 when it comes to this read. I didn’t really love it but I didn’t really dislike it either.

The story of Allison and her son moving back home after many years of being alone since her husband’s death. While there she reunites with an old childhood friend of her husbands. She was kind of relived to see a familiar face hoping to make some good solid friends. Instead she doesn’t know that all these women are social climbers and gossips. She thinks she will make a friend in Charlotte instead she is seen as women who might steal your man. I liked Allison she is a good and honest woman who is still trying to put the pieces of her life together after the death of her husband. Her whole life has always been about her son and her love life is nonexistent. She sees Charlotte as a friend whom she hopes to get closer too. But Charlotte’s friends don’t like how she is so close to Charlotte’s husband and start to put doubts into her head.

This is where I was split. I loved Allison but hated Charlotte. Sure she has her own problems and insecurities but I disliked how she just instantly believed what others said. She never really gave Allison the benefit of the doubt. Deep down she knew Allison wasn’t a man stealer yet believed these women who just wanted to cause trouble and spread gossip. I just thought there was a lot of pettiness when it came to the females. I loved how Allison was trying to move on and make a real life for her and her son. And her whole family being there I thought was wonderful. Plus I really enjoyed when she finally opened herself up to love again. Honestly I would’ve been satisfied just reading about Allison’s story. Like anything else there are pros and cons to this read. However definitely on the fence when it comes to this one though.  

8.19.2014

Review: A Pinch of Ooh La La by Renee Swindle

A Pinch of Ooh La La by Renee Swindle
Published: August 5, 2014
Publisher: NAL Trade
Format: via publisher
Rating: 4/5

Synopsis
Abbey Ross, who runs her own bakery in Oakland, California, is known for her visually stunning wedding cakes. But lately, Abbey’s own love life has become stale. According to her best friend, Bendrix, Abbey’s not the spontaneous young woman she was when they were teenagers listening to the Cure and creating attention-grabbing graffiti. Of course, her failed relationship with a womanizing art forger might have something to do with that. Nevertheless, it’s time for Abbey to step out of the kitchen—and her comfort zone—and Bendrix has even handpicked a man for her to date.

Samuel Howard is everything Abbey’s dreamed of: handsome, successful, and looking to raise a family. But a creamy icing might be needed to hide a problem or two. When Samuel complains about disrespect for the institution of marriage, Abbey’s reminded of her nontraditional family, with thirteen children from various mothers. And when Samuel rails about kids having kids, Abbey thinks of her twenty-year-old sister who’s recently revealed her pregnancy.

Soon Abbey is facing one disaster after another and struggling to make sense of it all. Her search for love has led her down a bitter path, but with the help of her unique family and unwavering friends, she just might find the ooh la la that makes life sweet.

My Thoughts
This was the bit of fresh air that I needed and wanted in my life right now. The story is about Abbey and her inability to want to get back into the dating world. After being humiliated by her ex she focuses on herself and her business, her bakery SCRATCH. All aspects of her life seem to be in gear except her love life. With encouragement from her huge family and best friend she enters the online dating world. She meets a bunch of losers but soon meets a guy who is maybe too good to be true. Samuel is everything she has ever wanted in a man and soon she finally finds herself in a relationship. However after she is married she founds out Samuel has issues and a family that is the totally opposite of her own. But like all things she soon finds herself making excuses and compromising in her new life. She finds herself unhappy and wondering if she’s not being true to herself.

I found myself at times in the beginning very upset with Abbey. I felt she wasn’t being true to who she was after she met Samuel. I felt she was compromising who she is and what she really wanted. I thought at times if she was just settling thinking her time was running out in order to have a family and love that she really wanted. At times I thought she didn’t stick up for herself and just did whatever Samuel wanted. I get that in relationships it’s a give and take but I felt she was just giving and wasn’t getting anything in return. Needless to say I wasn’t a fan of Samuel. However later on I see he has issues that made him the way he was.

On the other hand I totally loved Abbey’s family and best friend Bendrix. They were both funny and so relatable. She has the best people who supported her though everything and we should all be so lucky to have that in life. The journey that Abbey takes is so amazing. Seeing her experiencing the lows makes it so much sweeter when she finally hits her highs. This is one read that will make you laugh and makes you root for a woman whom you want to see have it all. This story is as sweet and rich as those delicious concoctions that are being made at Abbey’s wonderful bakery SCRATCH. So do yourself a favor and savor this book as your next read.

8.04.2014

Spotlight + Giveaway: A Pinch of Ooh La La by Renee Swindle

A Pinch of Ooh La La by Renee Swindle 
Expected Publication: August 5, 2014
Publisher: NAL Trade

Synopsis
Abbey Ross, who runs her own bakery in Oakland, California, is known for her visually stunning wedding cakes. But lately, Abbey’s own love life has become stale. According to her best friend, Bendrix, Abbey’s not the spontaneous young woman she was when they were teenagers listening to the Cure and creating attention-grabbing graffiti. Of course, her failed relationship with a womanizing art forger might have something to do with that. Nevertheless, it’s time for Abbey to step out of the kitchen—and her comfort zone—and Bendrix has even handpicked a man for her to date.

Samuel Howard is everything Abbey’s dreamed of: handsome, successful, and looking to raise a family. But a creamy icing might be needed to hide a problem or two. When Samuel complains about disrespect for the institution of marriage, Abbey’s reminded of her nontraditional family, with thirteen children from various mothers. And when Samuel rails about kids having kids, Abbey thinks of her twenty-year-old sister who’s recently revealed her pregnancy.

Soon Abbey is facing one disaster after another and struggling to make sense of it all. Her search for love has led her down a bitter path, but with the help of her unique family and unwavering friends, she just might find the ooh la la that makes life sweet.

About the Author

Renee earned her BA from UC Irvine (go Anteaters!) and MFA in creative writing from San Diego State University. She lives in Oakland, California with her three rescue dogs and three cats. Her first novel, PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE, was published by the Dial Press/Random House. Please Please Please was an Essence Magazine/Blackboard bestseller and published in Germany and Japan. Her second novel, SHAKE DOWN THE STARS, was published August, 2013.






a Rafflecopter giveaway ** U.S. ONLY

7.15.2014

Review: It Comes In Waves by Erika Marks

It Comes in Waves by Erika Marks
Published: July 1, 2014
Publisher: NAL Trade
Format: via publisher
Rating: 4/5

Synopsis
For competitive surfer Claire "Pepper" Patton, the waves of South Carolina’s Folly Beach once held the promise of a loving future and a bright career—until her fiancé, Foster, broke the news that he and Claire's best friend, Jill, were in love.

Eighteen years later, now forty-two and a struggling single parent to a rebellious teenage daughter, Claire has put miles between that betrayal and that coast. But when ESPN invites her back to Folly Beach for a documentary on women in surfing, Claire decides it might be the chance she needs to regain control of her life and reacquaint herself with the unsinkable young woman she once was.

But not everything in Folly Beach is as Claire remembers it, most especially her ex-best friend, Jill, who is now widowed and raising her and Foster’s teenage son. An unexpected reunion with Claire will uncover a guilt that Jill has worked hard to bury—and bring to the surface years of unspoken blame.

When Claire crosses paths with a sexy pro-surfer who is as determined to get Claire back on a board as he is to get her in his bed, a chance for healing might not be far behind—or is it too late for two estranged friends to find forgiveness in the place that was once their coastal paradise, where life was spent barefoot and love was as dizzying as the perfect wave.

My Thoughts
Hands down one of the best summer reads out there this year! It has surf, sand, and the beach but most importantly it focuses on forgiveness. This is the story of Claire and how a documentary about her surfing past takes her back to where she spent her best years at Folly Beach. We learn of her greatest love Foster and how he broke her heart so much she never surfed again.

What I loved most of all was the telling of her past, how she came to know Foster, Jill and Shep. Also how she came to Folly Beach in the first place and her relationship with her parents. Claire was a natural at surfing and that’s what brought her and Foster closer together. They spend summers surfing the days away and fell completely in love. Claire envisioned they would always be together until Jill her good friend and roommate ended up in love and pregnant with Foster’s baby. She left Folly Beach never to return again and eventually never surfing again in the process. She was crushed and her love for everything just fell to the wayside.

While this is a book about surfing and the beach it isn’t the main focus here. It’s all about forgiving. Sometimes it isn’t enough to try to forget things; they will always come boiling back to the surface in time. We have to try to forgive not necessarily for the benefit of others but for ourselves. It’s not a good thing to harbor bad feelings it only hurts us in the end. I loved how once Claire deals with and releases the past everything in her present life seemed to fall into place. Sometimes it’s good to revisit the past in order to make our present come alive. This is one read I highly recommend.

6.06.2014

Review: Cure for the Common Breakup by Beth Kendrick



Cure for the Common Breakup by Beth Kendrick 
Published: May 6, 2014
Publisher: NAL Trade
Format: via publisher
Rating 5/5

Synopsis
Welcome to Black Dog Bay, a tiny seaside town in Delaware known as "the best place in America to bounce back from your breakup." Home to Better Off Bed-and-Breakfast, the Eat Your Heart Out bakery, and the Whinery bar, Black Dog Bay offers a haven for the suddenly single.

Flight attendant Summer Benson lives by two rules: Don’t stay with the same man for too long and never stay in one place. She’s about to break rule number one by considering accepting her boyfriend’s proposal—then disaster strikes and her world is shattered in an instant.

Summer heads to Black Dog Bay, where the locals welcome her. Even Hattie Huntington, the town’s oldest, richest, and meanest resident, likes her enough to give her a job. Then there’s Dutch Jansen, the rugged, stoic mayor, who’s the opposite of her type. She probably shouldn't be kissing him. She definitely shouldn't be falling in love.

After a lifetime of globe-trotting, Summer has finally found a home. But Hattie has old scores to settle and a hidden agenda for her newest employee. Summer finds herself faced with an impossible choice: Leave Black Dog Bay behind forever, or stay with the ones she loves and cost them everything.

My Thoughts
Simply put… I love and adore this book! This is one of those books that were made for the summer. It’s fun, cute, and has just the right amount of romance. Now I love romance just as much as anyone else but I like the realistic type of romance not all that over the top stuff. It just doesn’t read real to me. This was the perfect balance!

I love the whole idea of this small town where people go to get over a breakup. The cast of characters are funny and quirky what’s not to love? The lead character of Summer is my kinda girl. While she was hit by a breakup she never saw coming to picked herself up again and fell for Dutch the mayor of the town who was perfect for her from the start. Summer brought life and courage to this town and they gave her love and friendships that she never truly had before. I really adored the banter between Summer and Dutch; he was just the right person to play back with all her silly and flirty ways.

Cure for the Common Breakup is that quintessential summer read that you have to dive into. It’s the ideal book to enjoy by pool, on the beach or just sitting around. I dare you not to get caught up in this crazy kooky town and not love every minute of it. So go get it and throw it in your beach bag, this is one book that you will polish off in one sitting. It makes you ALMOST want to suffer a breakup just so you could visit this lively town and its crazy yet wonderful residents.

5.01.2014

Spotlight: Cure for the Common Breakup by Beth Kendrick

Cure for the Common Breakup by Beth Kendrick 
Publication Date: May 6, 2014
Publisher: NAL Trade
Add to Goodreads
Pre-Order: Amazon / BN

Synopsis
Welcome to Black Dog Bay, a tiny seaside town in Delaware known as "the best place in America to bounce back from your breakup." Home to Better Off Bed-and-Breakfast, the Eat Your Heart Out bakery, and the Whinery bar, Black Dog Bay offers a haven for the suddenly single.

Flight attendant Summer Benson lives by two rules: Don’t stay with the same man for too long and never stay in one place. She’s about to break rule number one by considering accepting her boyfriend’s proposal—then disaster strikes and her world is shattered in an instant.

Summer heads to Black Dog Bay, where the locals welcome her. Even Hattie Huntington, the town’s oldest, richest, and meanest resident, likes her enough to give her a job. Then there’s Dutch Jansen, the rugged, stoic mayor, who’s the opposite of her type. She probably shouldn't be kissing him. She definitely shouldn't be falling in love.

After a lifetime of globe-trotting, Summer has finally found a home. But Hattie has old scores to settle and a hidden agenda for her newest employee. Summer finds herself faced with an impossible choice: Leave Black Dog Bay behind forever, or stay with the ones she loves and cost them everything.

About the Author [Twitter / FB]

I’m a Leo, a middle child, and a formidable Trivial Pursuit opponent. I read everything I can get my hands on, from the classics to comic books.  I don’t drink coffee because, frankly, I’m high strung enough without adding caffeine into the mix. Here is the true story of how I became a novelist:

I was invited as a plus-one to a wedding where the bride was a successful romance novelist. Well, the second I heard that, I had to go. Being a writer had always been my dream job, and I’d never met anyone who’d actually beaten the odds and made the leap into big-time publishing. So I RSVP-ed, sidled up to the bar at the reception, waited until the bride and all her author friends uncorked the good champagne, and then peppered them with endless questions about writing, editing, and landing an agent. They were so funny and encouraging and generous with their time and advice. (Not to mention quite tipsy.) Next thing you know, I had joined a critique group and was knee-deep in the manuscript that would eventually become MY FAVORITE MISTAKE. The open bar at that wedding changed my life forever. Thank you, Dom Perignon!


I live in Arizona in a very cute fixer-upper that I bought in a burst of totally delusional, can-do confidence. I thought it would be fun to embark on a series of do-it-yourself renovations. Yeah. I know. Turns out, replacing baseboard that’s been painted over 15 times since 1958 is not as easy as those Home Depot commercials would lead you to believe. Also, freshly-installed lawn drip systems and “helpful” dogs are a bad mix.

4.23.2014

WoW [69]

Waiting on Wednesday [WoW] is a weekly event hosted by Jill @ Breaking the Spine that spotlights upcoming releases that we’re eagerly anticipating.

When We Fall by Emily Liebert 
Expected Publication: September 2, 2014
Publisher: NAL Trade

Synopsis...
Ready for a fresh start, Allison Parker moves back to her hometown in the suburbs of New York. While she’d once savored the dynamic pace of city life, sadly, it lost its allure after her husband’s untimely death. Now, ready to focus on her art career accompanied by her ten-year-old son, Logan, Allison doesn’t anticipate that her past will resurface. When the wife of her husband’s best friend from summer camp takes her under her wing, things begin to spin out of control.

At one time, Charlotte Crane thought she had it all—a devoted husband, a beautiful little girl, and enough financial security to never have to worry. But behind her perfect facade lie a strained marriage and a fractured relationship with her sister. When new girl Allison arrives in Wincourt, Charlotte welcomes the chance to build a friendship. Before long, Charlotte begins to see her life through Allison’s eyes, and the cracks in her seemingly flawless existence become impossible to ignore.

As Allison heals from the loss of her husband—even wondering if she might be ready to date again—Charlotte feels more distant from her loved ones than ever before. The emerging friendship between the two women appears to be just the antidote both of them so desperately need...until everything falls apart.

Why I Can’t Wait…
I love the whole concept of this book. I love the whole trying to start fresh yet nothing turns out the way you figure thing. Looks like a great read plus I really enjoyed her previous novel You Knew Me When. Now I just have to get my hands on a copy!


Feel free to link me to yours.

4.07.2014

Cover Reveal: What the Lady Wants by Renee Rosen

What The Lady Wants: A Novel of Mashal Field and the Gilded Age by Renee Rosen
Expected Publication: November 4, 2014
Publisher: NAL Trade
Pre-Order here

BOOK DESCRIPTION:
In late 19th century Chicago, visionary retail tycoon Marshall Field made his fortune wooing women customers with his famous 
motto:“Give the lady what she wants.” 
His legendary charm also won the heart of socialite Delia Spencer, and led to an infamous love affair. 
The night of the Great Fire, as seventeen-year-old Delia watched the flames rise and consume what had been the pioneer town of Chicago, she couldn’t imagine how much her life, her city, and her whole world was about to change. Nor would she have guessed that the agent of that change would not simply be the fire, but more so the man she met that night…

Leading the way in rebuilding after the fire, Marshall Field reopens his well-known dry goods store and transforms it into something the world has never seen before: a glamorous palace of a department store.  He and his powerhouse coterie— including Potter Palmer and George Pullman—usher in the age of robber barons, the American royalty of their generation.
But behind the opulence, their private lives are riddled with scandal and heartbreak. Delia and Marshall first turn to each other out of loneliness, but as their love deepens, they will stand together despite disgrace and ostracism, through an age of devastation and opportunity, when an adolescent Chicago was transformed into the Gleaming White City of the Chicago’s World’s Fair of 1893.

Praise for Dollface 
“Intoxicating....Fans of Boardwalk Empire will love Dollface.”—New York Times Bestselling Author Sara Gruen
“A lively, gutsy romp of a novel that will keep you turning pages.”—Karen Abbott, New York Times Bestselling Author of Sin in the Second City

11.14.2013

Review: The Sister Season by Jennifer Scott

The Sister Season by Jennifer Scott
Published: November 5, 2013
Format: provided by publisher
Publisher: NAL Trade
Rating: 4/5

Synopsis:
Three sisters who discover that coming home for the holidays isn’t as easy as it seems…
Sometimes coming home for the holidays isn’t as easy as it seems….

It’s December 21, and the Yancey sisters have been called home. When the girls were young, holidays at their family farm meant a tinsel-garnished tree, the scent of simmering food, and laughter ringing through the house. But as the years unfolded, family bonds fractured, and the three sisters scattered and settled into separate lives. Until now. The Yancey sisters are coming to spend the holidays with their mother. They’re also coming to bury their father.

Claire, the youngest, a free spirit who journeyed to California, returns first. Then comes Julia, the eldest, a college professor with a teenage son of her own. And finally there’s Maya, the middle child, who works so hard to be the perfect mother and wife. During the sisters’ week together, old conflicts surface, new secrets emerge, and the limits and definitions of family are tested. And as the longest night of the year slips by and brightening days beckon, the sisters will have to answer one question: When you’re a sister, aren’t you a sister forever?

My Thoughts
The Yancey sisters were brought together over Christmas for the funeral of their father. However they weren’t really there for his sake but more for their mothers. While throughout the book we come to learn more about each sister they have one thing in common, how they feel about their father.  We learn that their father via flashbacks wasn’t the kindest person. He was a cruel and a mean man who tortured his wife and was physically, verbally and emotionally abusive to his daughters also.

Each sister reveals they all have their own family drama. However at the root of it all it all goes back to their childhood. Each has trust issues and the inability to open up and connect with their partner and kids. But can we really blame them? As children don’t we only know what we’ve seen? Can you really truly love if you’ve never felt that yourself?

During the week they are forced to stay together and secrets are revealed and wounds are healed with time. This is a story of hope and redemption. It’s one that’s shows how family secrets can destroy but that with time and patience things can be forgiven. Most importantly I took away was that family is all you need. While you might have disagreements and misunderstanding family will always be there. Together we can make each other stronger and there’s nothing better than that.

7.08.2013

Review: The Great Divide by Janet Goss

The Great Divide by Janet Goss
Published: July 2, 2013
Format: Finished copy via publisher
Publisher: NAL Trade
Rating: 3/5

Summary via Goodreads
For the past ten years, Vera Van Loon has been beating the city heat at her friend’s idyllic lakeside guest cabin. There, she’s Aunt Loony to Kit Garrett’s teenagers, a kayaker instead of a straphanger—and a million miles away from the complications of real” life in Manhattan.

If only she didn’t have to alternate weekends with one of the Garretts’ relatives, everything would be perfect—until she discovers the truth: Uncle” Cyrus is hardly the man she thought he was. He’s just her type, wildly appealing—and a worthy Scrabble opponent. All of a sudden, everything is perfect until Labor Day. Because Cyrus prefers the rural life and Vera could never give up New York.

Back in town, a chance encounter with a seductive local convinces her she’s where she belongs—but Cyrus has other ideas. With choices, and crises, coming from all directions, it’s time for Vera to make a life-or-life decision that will be anything but a day at the beach.

My Thoughts
The Great Divide is a good summer read…nothing more and nothing less. It’s an easy breezy summer book. It’s the story of Vera and her summer “family” and how she spends all her summers with them. All of that is thrown out when she realizes she must now share her weekends and cabin with “uncle” Cyrus. Needless to say “Uncle” Cyrus isn’t what she thought he was.

They both of course hit it off and eventually decide to embark into a summer fling, just enjoying their time together nothing serious at all. Well we know how that goes. Both of course start to want more than just the summer but seeing how they live in somewhat different worlds, hers-city, he’s rural. While neither one wants to give up their lives they decide maybe it’s for the best to part after summer.
They both try to move on they realize that there was something more, something deep between them more than just the summer.

The Great Divide has more than just a summer romance featured. There are a great collection of characters. Vera’s city friend had a fling with a younger guy years ago and sets out to look for him again in hopes to having another child. Kind of odd seeing how he doesn’t even know he was one child already. In the process she never thought they would end up a family. There are also her crazy and odd neighbors who provide a good laugh or two.

If you are looking for something light, quick and fun pick this one up for your next beach read. Who doesn’t need a little summer romance every now and then?

5.21.2013

WoW [29]


Waiting on Wednesday [WoW] is a weekly event hosted by Jill @ Breaking the Spine that spotlights upcoming releases that we’re eagerly anticipating.

This week’s WoW feature is:

The Secrets She Carried by Barbara Davis
Expected Publication: October 1, 2013
Publisher: NAL Trade

Summary via Goodreads...
When a young woman returns to North Carolina after a thirty-year absence, she finds that the once grand tobacco plantation she called home holds more secrets than she ever imagined.

Though Peak Plantation has been in her family for generations, Leslie Nichols can’t wait to rid herself of the farm left to her by her estranged grandmother Maggie—and with it the disturbing memories of her mother’s death, her father’s disgrace, and her unhappy childhood. But Leslie isn’t the only one with a claim to Peak.

Jay Davenport, Peak’s reclusive caretaker, has his own reasons for holding onto the land bequeathed to him by Leslie’s grandmother. Before she died, Maggie hinted at a terrible secret surrounding Adele Laveau, a lady’s maid who came to Peak during the 1930s and died under mysterious circumstances. Jay is haunted by Maggie’s story, yet the truth eludes him—until Leslie uncovers a cryptically marked grave on the property.

As they delve into the mystery of Adele’s death, Leslie and Jay discover shocking secrets that extend deep into the roots of Leslie’s family tree—secrets that have the power to alter her life forever.

Why I Can’t Wait....
I can’t help myself when it comes to stories about secrets. Maybe it’s the busy body in me but it usually makes for a great and interesting read. Plus I loved a good Southern story.

That’s what I’m waiting for…please share yours.