Category: book review

December 2, 2014

The Publicist Book One by Christina George #AudioBook #review #giveaway

A young, independent woman trying to find her way in the publishing world in New York. The Publicist Book One by Christina George in audio book format has it all: adventure, finding oneself and a forbidden love.

About the Book

There is always more to every story.

A young woman wants to change the age old institution of publishing. Will she succeed? Maybe not but Kate sure wants to try. As a publicist with a large, respected New York publishing house, Kate finds herself at the mercy of a broken publishing system – books that don’t always sell and author egos that are often as big as the island of Manhattan!

Enter the star Editor, MacDermott Ellis. MacDermott is tall, handsome, charismatic as well as married. He is always ready to save the day. Kate wants to do the right thing but her hormones seem to be leading her decisions. Then there is Allan Lavigne, once a revered author, now as forgotten as yesterday’s news and his nephew Nick, who wants to sweep Kate away from New York for another coast, California.

As Kate tries to navigate the landmine of publicity, the over the top author expectations and the careful dance of, “I’m sorry your book isn’t on the bestseller list this week”, she also finds authors who are painfully overlooked by a publisher wanting more celebrities and more scandal.

My Thoughts

This was my very first audio book (no lie – my Dad is a huge fan of them but I have never listened to one before) so I was super excited to wind down each night with this book.

When I first saw the novel I thought it would be solely a romantic novel but I was pleasantly surprised. While there was a strong focus on the sparks between MacDermott and Kate, we are able to see into Kate’s life as a young publicist trying to make a difference in the world. She is like any other young woman trying to find her place in the world – she struggles, she loves and she cares for those around her. Sometimes it is her caring heart that causes her to be hurt in turn.

I loved the audio book format of this book – the narrator was excellent truly bringing each character to life. It was so easy to fall into the story this way – I was able to close my eyes, lay back and let her bring them to life. This is definitely one book that will not disappoint!

About the Author

Christina George has worked in publishing for twenty years (give or take). Here’s what this book isn’t. It’s not a slam against publishing (though it is broken) and it’s not a slam against authors (though some of them are crazy). This book is not autobiographical though many of the stories are true. No you won’t know which ones, cause it’s more fun to guess, right? George continues to work in publicity and helps authors because at the end of the day she does love books, she loves publishing, and she loves authors. She hopes you’ll enjoy this romp through Kate’s world as much as she enjoyed creating it.

Rating: 5/5

Make sure to follow Christina on Twitter and Facebook.

Giveaway Time! Enter below to win your own spa basket or Amazon gift card!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Disclosure: I received an audio book in order to facilitate this review. All opinions expressed are my own.

November 29, 2014

The Chrysalis by Bindu Adai Mathew #review

Love, loss and finding oneself amongst different cultures – The Chrysalis by Bindu Adai Mathew has it all!

About The Chrysalis

Our main character, Sarai must walk the fine line between honouring her Indian heritage and being true to her own Western mindset. Her story unveils the kaleidoscope of human emotion from ecstasy to heartbreak to triumph, along with every nuance in between.

What begins with a story of a young Indian girl who faces the pressures of an arranged marriage quickly crescendos into a complex story of family, love, friendship. What Sarai learns is that life is truly a journey.

My Thoughts

I fell in love with The Chrysalis within the first chapter. Bindu has an intimate way of writing where you feel like you are having a conversation with your best friend, Sarai. She makes you laugh out loud, cry and even challenge your own beliefs.

In this novel, we find Sarai having to recover from a significant loss in her life. A loss so great that it changes the path she had drawn out for herself. Suddenly Sarai is left lost, afraid and so unsure of what she should do. She questions her own beliefs, her actions as well as the beliefs of her family.

Sarai is a first generation American whose family holds strict beliefs on how a young Indian woman should behave, when she should be married, who she should marry and the list goes on! I am sure many individuals can relate to her story as she tries to adjust to life in America, her own values and beliefs while honouring her culture and family. She is a young woman on a road to self discovery and it was a pleasure to be able to share this journey with Sarai. A definite must read – I can not wait to see what other novels Bindu has in store!

You can find The Chrysalis on Bindu’s website as well as on Amazon.

Rating: 4.5/5

About Bindu Adai

Bindu started college as a pre-med student but diverted from the traditional path to pursue her love of books and writing. She graduated with a Bachelor of Science degree and double majors in English and Mass Media. She has completed her first novel, The Chrysalis along with 38 Candles, a personal memoir about the rediscovery of her dream to write a novel and her journey to publication. She is currently working on her next novel, Almost Paradise: Book 1 of the Garden of Eden, a young adult novel.

Disclosure: I received a digital copy of this book in order to facilitate this review. All opinions expressed are my own.

November 8, 2014

The Woman who Stole my Life by Marian Keyes #review

It is finally here! The new novel, The Woman who Stole my Life, by incredible author Marian Keyes hit stores November 6th, 2014!

About The Woman Who Stole My Life

Stella Sweeney is an ordinary woman living an ordinary life with her husband Ryan and their two teenage children in Dublin. She works with (or really for) her ambitious sister, Karen, in a beauty salon. None of this makes her unhappy but none of it really makes her happy. But then things start to change.

One day, Stella, attempting to do a good deed causes a car accident and faces down a bad tempered, handsome stranger. She hardly thinks twice on this incident. But karma is hovering over her and ready to change Stella’s life forever. She becomes ill and the stranger she hit enters into her life again. Stella’s world is thrown upside down – for better or worse, Stella has a new life. A thrilling, glamorous life – a life that others may covet.

My Thoughts

I fell in love with this novel within the first two chapters. Marian Keyes has the most fantastic writing style where each sentence feels like a conversation with the character – as if you are right there beside her experiencing each and every moment. Marian’s characters become a best friend – one that you can find yourself laughing with as well as crying with as you relate to the personal experiences that Stella is going through.

The story is told in the beginning in glimpses of present and past giving a very unique perspective into Stella’s life and how her mind works. Stella is just an ordinary mother and wife. She wants her children to exceed and puts the needs of her family before her own. She loves her snacks, her humour and the comfort of it all. She just does not realize how much happier she could be. When she realizes this and acts on her decision (an extremely brave act!) her whole world changes – the once selfless mother realizes in order to be happy she needs to follow her own heart. Without giving too much away, it is her own act of moving away from the wife role to follow her own dreams that we see the title of the book come in to play.

I loved this novel from start to finish. It was a novel that I lost myself in (literally – I did not put it down until 3am and I was suffering for it the next day at work!). At so many times I felt like I could relate to Stella and wanted to reach out and hug her (maybe have that glass of wine or two with her!).

Marian Keyes went above and beyond in her new novel, The Woman who Stole my Life, is one of her best pieces of work that you will fall in love and will want to read over and over again.

Rating: 5/5

If you are not following yet, make sure to check Penguin Canada on Twitter as well as Marian Keyes!!

Disclosure: I received an advanced copy of this book in order to facilitate this review. All opinions expressed are my own.

October 30, 2014

A Lady at Willowgrove Hall by Sarah Ladd

Secrets and love swirl in the story of A Lady at Willowgrove Hall.Will the two main characters be able to forgive their past in order to live in the present and build for the future?

About A Lady at Willowgrove Hall

Cecily Faire carries the shame of her past wherever she treads, knowing one slip of the tongue could take away everything that is dear to her. But soon after accepting the position of lady’s companion at Willowgrove Hall, Cecily finds herself face to face with a man well acquainted with the past that she has desperately tried to hide for years.

Nathaniel Stanton has his own secrets – one that has haunted him from birth and tied him to his father’s position as steward of Willowgrove. To protect his family, Nathaniel dares not breath a word of the truth. But as long as the shadow looms over him, he will never be free to find his own way in the world. He will never be free to fall in love.

When the secrets swirling within Willowgrove Hall come to light, Cecily and Nathaniel must confront a painful choice: Will they continue to run from the past or will they stand together and build a future without the suffocating weights of the secrets that they have long suffered for.

My Thoughts

A lovely romantic story full of love, trust, broken promises, suffering and family. Both Cecily and Nathaniel carry such great burdens that they struggle with on a daily basis. Both find it hard to forgive themselves and to live in the current moment. Each one always allows the past to haunt them and guide their every moment.

The novel helps to teach us that sometimes we need to let go of our past, embrace it for what it was and remember it is the past and only we can shape our future. Both characters suffer under the weight of guilt and if they only learned to let it go they would be happy in their own lives and possibly in love with each other. I can’t even imagine the stress that the guilt they carry could weigh on their shoulders! Although I find it hard to let go of my own!

A lovely story from start to finish that I am already re-reading! You can find more reviews on the Litfuse blog tour page.

Rating: 4.5/5

Disclosure: I received a copy of this book in order to facilitate this review. All opinions expressed are my own.

October 28, 2014

Only Enchanting by Mary Balogh #review

Love and romance in the most unusual places. Will their love be able to make it despite their own fears, mistrust and pain?

About the Book

The Survivors’ Club: Six men and one woman who were all wounded in the Napoleonic Wars. Their friendship was forged during their recovery at Penderris Hall in Cornwall. In the fourth novel of the Survivors’ Club Series, Flavian, Viscount Ponsonby, has left this refuge to find his own salvation – in the love of the most unsuspecting woman.

Flavian was devastated by his fiancee’s desertion after his return home. Now the woman who broke his heart is back and everyone is eager for them to revive their engagement. Except for Flavian. In a panic he runs straight into the arms of a most sensible yet enchanting young woman.

Agnes Keeping has never been truly in love and never wishes to be. Her whole world changes when she meets the charismatic Flavian and suddenly Agnes falls so foolishly and deeply that she agrees to his marriage proposal!

Things were not all as Agnes expected and she is ready to flee. But will Flavian be able to prove his love?

My Thoughts

I fell in love with Only Enchanting – literally could not put this novel down and read right through the night (which thankfully was a Friday night!). I love the time period this novel is set in (as I am sure you have noticed by now!). Agnes is your typical, average but lovely young lady. She has faced her husband’s passing and is content in life. She does not want the unexpected – she wants comfort. I feel so many of us can relate to this – it is hard to make that leap of faith! We all want comfort but sometimes we need to trust and reach further than we ever have before to find true happiness.

Flavian is a man you will fall in love with. He is hard but his hardness finds its fault in the terrible things that have happened to him. He has been hurt beyond what he feels he can handle and his heart still bleeds. He is lost and angry. He needs that person to make him trust and whole again. He hopes to find that person Agnes.

Only Enchanting keeps you hanging on for more. Their personalities constantly put them at odds with each other. Will they strengthen their relationship or will they break it? Mary Balogh also throws in some great character twists in the other characters of the book to keep it interesting.

A fantastic story from start to finish that you will not regret picking up! You can find the novel on Mary’s website.

Rating: 5/5

Disclosure: I received a digital copy of this book in order to facilitate this review. All opinions expressed are my own.