Book Review: Family Pieces


Away at college in Arizona, Karsen Woods is living a picture-perfect life until the unexpected death of her mother turns her world upside down. When she goes back home to Indiana, she discovers that there is a missing piece of her treasured necklace, a family tradition started by her grandfather when he handmade each immediate relative an interlinking puzzle piece charm. Karsen’s brother and father dismiss her concerns about the pieces not fitting perfectly together anymore, but her uncertainty and curiosity propel her to search for answers. Addison Reynolds’ life revolves around running Urbane, the magazine empire built by her father, in New York. She is known to push people away out of fear of her own vulnerability. At thirty nine years old, Addison finally tells her most safely guarded secret to her lifelong, closest friend Emily. Karsen and Addison are hundreds of miles apart but their lives will intersect in a very profound way, forcing them to face the truth and learn to forgive in order to love again. 

Family Pieces deals with issues of family, friendship, romance, heartbreak and mystery. Karsen and Addison are two women at very different stages in life but their unforeseen bond allows them to discover more about themselves and their families. This novel is an engaging read that is humorous but also has depth. There are several surprises along the way that will keep readers wondering what will happen next. The realistic situations and dilemmas faced by the characters allow readers to connect to the story and become emotionally invested. Family Pieces has some of the typical elements of chick lit but enough originality to make it stand out. It is an enjoyable read that really emphasizes the importance of family. 

Misa Rush competed in gymnastics for eighteen years, including four on a full-ride scholarship to Eastern Michigan University. She graduated from Arizona State University with a master's degree in business administration. She currently resides in Gilbert, Arizona, with her husband and two children. Family Pieces is her first novel. For more information, connect with Misa on http://misarush.com, Facebook and Twitter.

Book Review: Diary of a Mummy Misfit


Libby and Ned Marchant are determined to send their son to private school, despite their financial situation. They decide to make sacrifices in their own lives to make sure their son gets the education they desperately want for him. As her family enters the world of private education, Libby keeps a daily diary of the events that occur and the observations that she makes along the way. She quickly discovers the distinct divide between the haves and have-nots when she joins school committees and begins to socialize with the other, wealthier mothers. Adding to the pressure, Libby and Ned want another child, even though they continue to struggle financially. Luckily for them, they become friends with affluent couple Fenella and Josh, who are a breath of fresh air compared to all of the other stuck up parents, including those who would like to see the less fortunate kicked out of the private school. Libby and Fenella form an unlikely friendship quickly, helping each other through life’s challenges. As Libby navigates her new world, she takes readers along on her journey.

Diary of a Mummy Misfit is a quick, easy read. It is presented in diary format so there aren’t any chapters, just diary entries. Libby is an easygoing character who shares very realistic commentary about the situations she finds herself in. It's great that she is also a witty, clever, and delightful character to follow. The diary format allows readers to get to know Libby very well. Even though the book is based on British private education, there are universal themes that readers worldwide can relate to. As expected in chick lit, there are plenty of quirky secondary characters like relatives, friends, neighbors, and other parents who add humor, intentionally and unintentionally, to Libby’s world. Anyone can enjoy the entertaining Diary of a Mummy Misfit.

Born and raised in London, Amanda Egan was trained professionally as an actress and now writes chick lit. Her debut novel, Diary of a Mummy Misfit, is a tongue-in-cheek look at the easily recognized types of self-centered mums you can find at prep schools anywhere in the world. In her spare time, Amanda reads anything from Maeve Binchy, Jill Mansell, and Penny Vincenzi to Noel Coward, Dostoevsky and Zola. She also loves crafts and entertaining, particularly hosting themed dinner parties. For more information, you can connect with Amanda on Twitter, Facebook, and by visiting her blog.
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Book Review: South Beach Solution


When Camryn Bozeman loses her Wall Street job and finds out that her husband is gay, her world is turned upside down. To make matters worse, her husband is in a relationship with a popular baseball player, resulting in tabloid coverage of the story. Camryn escapes to Florida with her best friend Monika to relax, unwind, and try to figure out what to do with her life. While they are in South Beach, Camryn meets a very attractive bartender who asks her out. She is reluctant to get involved with anyone, but with Monika’s encouragement, she decides to give him a chance. Despite having a great connection with him, Camryn fears that he will leave her heartbroken too. She decides that she has to figure out exactly what she wants in life and go for it. This is the solution to her problems and all it took was a trip to South Beach to help her realize it. Camryn must find herself in order to find true happiness. 

South Beach Solution is a humorous novel about having to start over just when everything appeared to be perfect. It shows how things aren’t always as they seem and sometimes you need look past the surface to figure out the reality. Camryn embarks on a transformational journey that allows her to accept her divorce and move forward. She is a strong character who learns a lot of important lessons as she searches for meaning and fulfillment in her life. This novel is an enjoyable, fun summer read. 

Cora Porter lives in Northern New Jersey with her husband, three kids, two cats, a bearded dragon and a few tanks full of fish. She has a degree in mass communication and has worked in recruiting, public relations, marketing and sales. South Beach Solution is her first novel and she is currently writing her second novel. For more information, please visit http://coraporter.blogspot.com. 


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Book Review: Twenty Eight and a Half Wishes


*This review is part of Denise Grover Swank's blog tour hosted by CLP Blog Tours.

Rose Gardner has had visions all her life. They are usually mundane, but she is considered the freak of Henryetta, Arkansas, even by her own overbearing, controlling mother. Rose has never seen a vision of herself before until she sees herself dead on her mother’s sofa. With the knowledge of her apparent impending doom, she works up the courage to stand up to her mother after twenty four years of being treated horribly like a “demon-possessed” child. After arguing with her mother so loudly that the neighbors could hear, Rose leaves the house for the day to get away. When she returns, she finds that her vision has come true, except that her mother is the one who has been murdered on the sofa. Rose becomes the number one suspect in her mother’s murder because of their argument earlier in the day. With the police threatening to arrest her, she turns to her older sister, Violet, for help. She also receives some help from her mysterious next door neighbor, Joe, who is attractive but secretive and possibly dangerous. Rose must figure out who is after her and her family, but she must also start living her life instead of hiding like an outcast. She makes a list of what she wants to accomplish and hasn’t had the chance to before because of her mother. Rose lacks life experience and courage, but she desperately wants to change. That is her biggest wish.  

Twenty Eight and a Half Wishes is truly a gem. It is surprising that it was self-published and not bought by a traditional publisher. This novel is a romantic paranormal mystery with elements of women’s fiction. It is somewhat difficult to categorize it, but very easy to love it. The writing flows well and is filled with suspense. There are unexpected twists and turns that will leave readers wondering how it will all turn out. The characters are so well written that they seem like real people. Rose’s innocence is refreshing and a definite change of pace from other female main characters. She has not done a lot of the things people take for granted because of her strict upbringing, like dancing, for example. Readers will root for her and hope that her twenty eight and half wishes come true. This novel is a fantastic read that many will love. Hopefully, the next book in the series will be out soon. 

Denise Grover Swank started her first novel in the fourth grade, making it to page seventy on her wide ruled spiral notebook before she stopped. She continued writing in high school and attempted several novels in her twenties before life got in the way of writing. Denise rediscovered her love of writing when she started her blog There’s Always Room for One More. In the fall of 2009, she participated in National Novel Writing Month, which led her to writing and finishing Twenty Eight and a Half Wishes. Denise lives in Lee’s Summit, Missouri. She has six children, two dogs, and an overactive imagination. You can find out more about Denise and her other books at www.denisegroverswank.com and you can connect with her on Twitter.    

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Book Review: Just Friends with Benefits


*This review is part of Meredith Schorr's blog tour hosted by CLP Blog Tours.

Stephanie Cohen has had a crush on Craig Hille since they shared a class together in college. Back then, when she worked up the nerve to talk to Craig in a bar, she wound up leaving with his best friend, Paul, and dating him for two years. After their amicable break-up, they remained best friends, putting her in Paul’s circle of friends and around Craig for years. Despite sharing the same group of friends, Stephanie and Craig never dated. Now in her early thirties, Stephanie works up the courage again to approach Craig while on a business trip in New York. They have dinner together leading Stephanie to reveal her attraction to Craig. He is resistant at first, but they wind up becoming friends with benefits, much to Stephanie’s disappointment. Can friends with benefits turn into a real relationship? Stephanie has been infatuated with Craig for so many years that she believes they are destined to be together. As she desperately tries to win Craig over, tries online dating, and meets guys in bars, at work, and even in a bookstore, she must determine who is just a friend and who could actually be her boyfriend. 

There are plenty of laugh-out-loud moments in Just Friends with Benefits. It is a fast-paced novel with witty banter between the characters reminiscent at times of the dialogue on the popular television show Gilmore Girls. The interaction between the characters is very believable. This tight knit group of friends is supportive of each other and fun-loving. Schorr writes with such ease that none of the scenes or situations seem forced. Anyone who has had a crush that they never quite got over will be able to relate to Stephanie. She wants to find love but can’t let go of what could have been back in college if she had left the bar with Craig instead of Paul. Readers will admire Stephanie’s determination to go after what she wants but also root for her to realize that old crushes do not always lead to long-term relationships. There are several twists throughout this novel that will keep readers guessing who Stephanie will end up with and who she will remain ‘just friends’ with.

Meredith Schorr lives in New York City and works as a trademark paralegal at a prestigious law firm. In addition to writing humorous women's fiction novels, her passions include running, spending time with friends and family and rooting for the New York Yankees. Meredith is a member of Romance Writers of America and Chick Lit Writers of The World. Just Friends with Benefits is her first novel. 

For more information, please visit http://www.meredithschorr.com. You can also connect with Meredith Schorr on Facebook and Goodreads. 


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