Review: Stargazey Point by Shelley Noble

Stargazey Point by Shelley Noble
Expected Publication: July 9, 2013
Format: Finished copy via publisher
Publisher: William Morrow Paperbacks
Rating: 3/5

Summary via Goodreads

Devastated by tragedy during her last project, documentarian Abbie Sinclair thinks she has nothing left to give by the time she arrives in Stargazey Point. Once a popular South Carolina family destination, the town's beaches have eroded, local businesses are closing, and skyrocketing taxes are driving residents away. Stargazey Point, like Abbie, is fighting to survive.

But Abbie is drawn slowly into the lives of the people around her: the Crispin siblings, three octogenarians sharing a looming plantation house; Cab Reynolds, who left his work as an industrial architect to refurbish his uncle's antique carousel, a childhood sanctuary; Ervina, an old Gullah wise woman with the power to guide Abbie to a new life, if only she'd let her; and a motley crew of children whom Abbie can't ignore.

Abbie came seeking a safe haven, but what she finds is so much more. For Stargazey Point is a magical place . . . a place for dreamers . . . a place that can lead you home.

My Thoughts

I was really excited to read this book. I seemed to have everything I like in good love story. Two lost souls who were brought together by only some would have to believe was faith or destiny. While I wasn’t completely disappointed I must admit I was slightly left wanting more. I didn’t feel the connection I was hoping for between Abbie and Cab. I wanted that spark, that thing that would make me want to root for them more. I was hoping and rooting for them but it just wasn’t there.

I enjoyed the characters themselves and the supporting ones as well. I think it was well written and had a beautiful background as its setting. The whole carousel and beach town setting just seemed like the best place for two people to fall in love. However for me at least something was simply missing.

The one thing that kind of bugged me was the storyline involving the Crispin siblings. I just felt like we didn’t get the whole story. When I was finished I felt like there was something more there.

Don’t get me wrong I liked this book, I just felt like I could’ve loved it. I wanted to. All that was missing was the “magic.”

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?

WoW [35]

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:

Faking Normal by Courtney C. Stevens

Expected Publication: February 25, 2014
Publisher: Harper Collins Children’s Books

Summary via Goodreads...

Alexi Littrell hasn't told anyone what happened to her over the summer. Ashamed and embarrassed, she hides in her closet and compulsively scratches the back of her neck, trying to make the outside hurt more than the inside does.

At school, nobody sees the scratches or her pain. The only person she connects with is the mysterious Captain Lyric, who writes song lyrics on her fourth-period desk for her to complete. With pencil marks and music, Alexi carves out a comfortable space for herself as she and the Captain finish each other's songs--words on a desk feel safer than words spoken aloud.

But when Bodee Lennox, the quiet and awkward boy next door, comes to live with the Littrells, Alexi discovers an unlikely friend who understands her better than anyone. He has secrets of his own and knows all about suffering in silence. As they lean on each other for support, Alexi gives him the strength to deal with his past, and Bodee helps her find the courage to finally speak up.

With her powerful, moving debut novel, author Courtney C. Stevens emerges as an extraordinary new talent to watch.

Why I Can’t Wait....

This sounds like a really great story and I can’t wait to find out what exactly her secret is. Plus music! I’m down.

Review: The Rest of Us by Jessica Lott

The Rest of Us by Jessica Lott
Expected Publication: July 2, 2013
Format: E-Arc via Edelweiss
Publisher: Simon & Schuster
Rating: 3/5 stars

Summary via Goodreads

A gorgeous literary debut about second chances, The Rest of Us is an indelible love story that explores the legacy of an affair between a young student and her older professor.

As a college student, Terry fell madly and destructively in love with Rhinehart, her famous poetry professor, tumbling into a relationship from which she never fully recovered. Now, fifteen years later, she’s single, still living in the same walk-up she moved into after college, and languishing as a photographer’s assistant, having long abandoned her own art. But when she stumbles upon Rhinehart’s obituary online, she finds herself taking stock of the ways her life has not lived up to her youthful expectations and grows disproportionately distraught at the thought that she’ll never see him again.

She is shocked when a few weeks later she bumps into Rhinehart himself: very much alive, married, and Christmas shopping at Bloomingdale’s. What ensues is an intense and beautiful friendship, an unexpected second act that pushes Terry to finally reckon with the consequences of their past and the depth of her own aspirations—and to begin to come back alive as an artist and a woman. Set in New York’s vibrant art world, The Rest of Us is a captivating read and is as much a love letter to the city and the struggles of its artists as it is a sharp and stirring novel of the heart.

My Thoughts

This book is all about love, heartache and second chances. The story tells the story of Terry and her relationship with her professor. While having moved on with her life she is forced to relive t when she thinks he has passed on. In flashbacks we learn all about their relationship and what leads up to the breakup.

I personally didn’t feel the emotional pull that the writer was trying to make us buy into. While I think the overall story is good and I enjoyed the writing I just couldn’t buy into this “love story.”

While this is a storyline we have seen time and time again I do agree that we must deal with and address our past actions if we ever want to move on. That things that seem important when we are young aren’t valued the same when we are older.

Event: The New Look of Indulgence

Sexy new look!

Classic romance with a fresh new twist.

Indulgence brings together classic romance, new and fresh voices, those alpha heroes we all love, and are simply great category romance reads.

Indulgence books are short contemporary romances.  They are new, fresh, edgy, light, and whimsical and always have a happily ever after.

Emotionally and physically satisfying.

Sure, Brazen may be the naughty little sister of Indulgence, but where do you think Brazen learned everything?

Famously Engaged, by Robyn Thomas

A chef and a rock star. They couldn’t be from more different worlds…
Rock star royalty’s favorite son, Jake Olsen, couldn’t help but interfere after listening to his future brother-in-law talk non-stop about his ex-wife, Beth Carlisle. Jake decides that the only way to get the groom’s mind off his ex-wife is to give her a fake fiancé.
Before Jake can convince Beth of his plan, he's forced to move in with her to avoid the paparazzi. Their instant attraction makes for a sizzling "first date", but soon Jake’s fame gets in the way and Beth wants out. Too bad Jake's figured out just why her ex is so obsessed with her, and he's afraid he's not going to be able to give her up either.
Now it's up to Jake to convince this chef together they make the perfect recipe.


Amazon: http://amzn.to/16KcgH1
Barnes and Noble: Coming

The Wedding Gamble, by Cindi Myers
Preschool teacher Laura Nichols is celebrating her birthday and sister's bachelorette party in Vegas. Being in Sin City is thrilling and she intends on tapping in to her wild side. Laura can't resist the added excitement that comes with saying yes when a hunky man off the street proposes...
FBI agent David Abruzzo has been working undercover as a thug to bring down the Zacolli crime family, but his cover depends on convincing the mob he came to Vegas for a quickie wedding. If they catch on to his plan, his cover's blown, and he's as good as dead. 
Over the course of 48 hours, David and Laura use rollercoasters, glowing condoms, and exotic male dancers to stay alive and bring the crime family down. But it will take more than Lady Luck, one night of passion, and a little Vegas magic to turn their fake marriage into something real.

Amazon: http://amzn.to/13mhnyK

Barnes and Noble: http://bit.ly/11bhLAf




Dishing Up Desire, by Barbara DeLeo
Image consultant Blake Matthews is facing his toughest PR challenge yet: salvage the image of celebrity chef Kirin Hart. Once he does, he'll be able to acquire LA's most successful PR firm. But Kirin's no easy fix. She's stubborn about changing her comfortable homemaker image, and is being sued for sexual harassment by a junior staffer. She needs a PR lifeline fast. Only problem is Blake wants more than to make her over...

Kirin doesn't need a makeover--her fans love her as she is. But she could lose everything if the sex scandal and reputation that has followed doesn't get quashed right away. Kirin agrees to let model-perfect Blake work his magic for two weeks, but things get complicated when she can't deny the way her body flares to life whenever he's near.

Amazon: http://amzn.to/19PTKCs

Barnes and Noble:  http://bit.ly/15ZJUWR

Cover Reveal: Lennon's Rain by Chris Meyers

Title: Lennon’s Rain by Chris Myers
Expected release date: August 19, 2013
Genre:  Contemporary Romance
Age Group:  New Adult [Sexual content]
Cover designed by: Books on the Edge, photo from Shutterstock
Cover reveal organized by: AToMR Tours
Add to Goodreads

Book Description:
Sometimes in love, you choose wrong…
Eighteen-year-old Lennon Tyler has his first girlfriend Jinx. Now what? He’s gone from the oasis of easy groupies to the Sahara. With her past history, he believes she should make the first move. With his sexual prowess, Jinx worries why he hasn’t made any advances. Add his sexual frustration to the return of his fifth grade crush plus a Japanese temptress equals trouble for Lennon.

In fifth grade, Rain broke Lennon’s heart and her own. She has never forgotten her best friend and skateboarding partner. When Lennon sees her at a sorority party, he doesn’t hesitate to humiliate her. Instead of embarrassing her, he stirs up old feelings that neither of them got over.

About the Author

Chris Myers suffers from an overactive imagination. She spent her high school years writing torch songs for fantasy guys then moved onto writing thrillers, new adult, and young adult. She has a real job but would love to write full time. Her books have won and placed in the finals and semifinals for several awards including Paul Gillette, Rocky Mountain Gold, and Amazon Breakthrough Novel. Chris lives in Colorado with her daughter, her better half, and BeBe, a rambunctious Bichon.

Author social media links:

https://twitter.com/cmyersfiction
http://www.facebook.com/chrismyersfiction
www.chrismyersfiction.com
http://chrismyersfiction.blogspot.com/
http://www.goodreads.com/review/new/17880816-lennon-s-rain

Blog Tour: This is W.A.R. by Lisa and Laura Roecker

This is W.A.R. by Lisa and Laura Roecker

Expected Publication: July 2, 2013
Format: E-ARC via Edelweiss
Publisher: Soho Teen
Rating: 4/5
Find: Amazon/BN/Goodreads

Summary via Goodreads

This is not a story of forgiveness...

The mystery of their best friend's murder drives four girls to destroy the Gregory family.
Everyone at Hawthorne Lake Country Club saw Willa Ames-Rowan climb into a boat with James Gregory, the Club’s heir apparent. Everyone at Hawthorne Lake Country Club watched him return. Alone. They all know he killed her. But none of them will say a word. The Gregory family is very, very good at making problems go away.
Enter the W.A.R.—the war to avenge Willa Ames-Rowan. Four girls. Four very different motives for justice and revenge, and only one rule: destroy the Gregory family at any cost.

 My Thoughts

I truly enjoyed this story of lies, cover-ups and the lives of some little rich kids who have everything. It all focuses around the friends and sister of Willa who are out to revenge her death. The center and the focus of the murder is James Gregory. James is the next in line to take over the Gregory family business. They are known and basically own the entire town, so when James is considered the prime suspect in Willa’s death every in the town just chalks it up to “boys being boys.” No one has the gall to confront the powerful Gregory family, all except Willa’s sister. She is determined to find out exactly what happened and wants to make sure those who did this will pay.
While going all lengths to find out what happened more secrets are uncovered and some that are better left unturned. Willa’s sis and friends find out that by trying to take down the Gregory family, they in turn are not expecting that all of their secrets and lives will soon be turned upside down as a result.

This book keeps you glued and guessing, it’s keeps you wanting to know more. I went into this thinking it was merely a story of catty rich kids, which it is somewhat, but it’s also more than that. It’s much more than just a story of revenge, it’s one of love, hope, family and more importantly finding yourself and wanting to belong.

About the Authors

Lisa and Laura Roecker are sisters-turned-writing partners with a passion for good books, pop culture, and Bravo programming. Not necessarily in that order. A prepubescent obsession with Lois Duncan and their mother's insistence that they read Men Are Just Desserts inspired This is WAR. The sisters live in Cleveland, Ohio, in separate residences. Their husbands wouldn't agree to a duplex.
Cyberstalking is always encouraged at lisa-laura.blogspot.com and @landlroecker on Twitter.