Posted in 4 paws, Review, women on October 6, 2018

Synopsis

Executive, wife, and mother of an outgoing first-grader, Sydney Clayton crushes her day-to-day obligations at work but flounders in the cutthroat world of parental politics.

She manages to avoid the local drama until she’s faced with an ultimatum: join the Forest River PTA or risk her daughter becoming a social outcast. Sydney reluctantly becomes treasurer, and takes the recently vacated position of the president’s sidekick. If protecting the children’s freedom of speech, one best friend ban at a time, isn’t complicated enough, Sydney and her husband receive an unexpected offer for their house they don’t think they can refuse.

Embroiled in the deception and manipulation rife among the elementary school moms, Sydney struggles. Should she sell the home she worked so hard to build in a town where betrayal runs rampant? Or should she stay put to avoid the fallout from uprooting her child? As Sydney focuses on what is best for her daughter, and lets go of her judgments, she finds friendship can develop in very unexpected ways.

Warm, witty, and wise, Go On, Girl dramatizes the dilemmas of life in the suburbs and the bonds shared by women. Perfect for fans of Class Mom and I Don’t Know How She Does It.

Review

Another fun book by Hilary! She writes books that make me laugh and sympathize with the characters.

I had a love/hate relationship with Sydney. Many times she made me insane with her need to be around her child or available to her child all the time and how much she catered to her daughter. I grew up in a different time with a different mindset and believe that a child will be better off if they have to deal with certain issues on their own, even at age 6!

But as I delved further into the book, it was more about Sydney’s transformation from a helicopter parent with no friends, taking on a role she didn’t want (PTA Treasurer), to gaining several friends, and relaxing and reducing her rigidity (is that even a word?!) I appreciated her growth as a mother, wife, and friend. I like that she took no prisoners in certain situations and broke through some defenses for herself and her friends.

Craig, Sydney’s husband, may have a minor role in this book but he comes out strong and I really felt like I knew him. Several times he was roped into doing something he may not have normally done because of his profession as a lawyer, but we never see him complain. He even puts up with Sydney and her antics at various times.

I feel like this story could have continued, but where it ended what a good place and leaves it open for another book should there be more story to tell.

We give it 4 paws up!

About the Author

By day, Hilary Grossman works in the booze biz. By night she hangs out with her “characters.” She has an unhealthy addiction to denim and high heel shoes. She’s been known to walk into walls and fall up stairs. She only eats spicy foods and is obsessed with her cat, Lucy. She loves to find humor in everyday life. She likens life to a game of dodge ball – she tries to keep many balls in the air before they smack her in the face. She lives on Long Island.

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Posted in Book Release, Giveaway, women on September 10, 2018

 

Synopsis

Executive, wife, and mother of an outgoing first-grader, Sydney Clayton crushes her day-to-day obligations at work but flounders in the cutthroat world of parental politics.

She manages to avoid the local drama until she’s faced with an ultimatum: join the Forest River PTA or risk her daughter becoming a social outcast. Sydney reluctantly becomes treasurer, and takes the recently vacated position of the president’s sidekick. If protecting the children’s freedom of speech, one best friend ban at a time, isn’t complicated enough, Sydney and her husband receive an unexpected offer for their house they don’t think they can refuse.

Embroiled in the deception and manipulation rife among the elementary school moms, Sydney struggles. Should she sell the home she worked so hard to build in a town where betrayal runs rampant? Or should she stay put to avoid the fallout from uprooting her child? As Sydney focuses on what is best for her daughter, and lets go of her judgments, she finds friendship can develop in very unexpected ways.

Warm, witty, and wise, Go On, Girl dramatizes the dilemmas of life in the suburbs and the bonds shared by women. Perfect for fans of Class Mom and I Don’t Know How She Does It.

Pick up your copy now for $0.99 for the next 6 days because on 9/16 the book increases to $3.99!

Hilary also has her book, Plan Bea, for FREE on Amazon right now!  I gave it 5 paws up and you can read my review here

If you see this post early enough, click on the image above to enter

a giveaway on Hilary’s Facebook Page. She will be live for that giveaway!

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About the Author

By day, Hilary Grossman works in the booze biz. By night she hangs out with her “characters.” She has an unhealthy addiction to denim and high heel shoes. She’s been known to walk into walls and fall up stairs. She only eats spicy foods and is obsessed with her cat, Lucy. She loves to find humor in everyday life. She likens life to a game of dodge ball – she tries to keep many balls in the air before they smack her in the face. She lives on Long Island.

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Posted in 4 paws, fiction, Review, women on August 28, 2018

Synopsis

Gerrie Hermann, aspiring rock star from a rich South African family, has an unusual proposal for Sophie Woods when he meets her for the first time in their university canteen. Strait-laced Sophie has never done anything out of the ordinary in the whole of her 19 years. When she decides to take Gerrie up on his offer she has no idea that her decision is going to affect the rest of her life in ways that she could never have foreseen, even in her wildest dreams.

Review

What would you do if approached to enter into a marriage of convenience for money? Would you do it? Would you wait for love? Or would you hope that if you took this chance that love would follow? I’m not sure what Sophie hoped when she agreed to marry Gerrie, especially since she was just 19 and a bit naive to the ways of the world. Surprisingly it turns into a good relationship but not without bumps.

In his youth, Gerrie is quite selfish and I’m surprised that Sophie stayed with him as long as she did before new issues arose. It is so hard to say much without giving away a lot of the story. But let’s just say they make a decision that will haunt them for the rest of their life. Sophie doesn’t want to go along with it and I really don’t know why she does other than to perhaps hope that she doesn’t lose Gerrie? We really don’t know why she goes along with this plan despite her resistance.

Years later, this issue comes back up (it is really hard to not give anything away!) and there is a new set of issues to deal with and it affects more than just Gerrie and Sophie. There is a family dynamic like you can’t imagine and I’m not sure how I would have handled this situation. Sophie has a lot of pent of anger and frustration at a woman named Maxine. She is justified in her reactions but will she be able to overcome and forgive Maxine? I’m not sure I could but there are other factors at play.

I know this is a somewhat cryptic review…..I just don’t want to give away too much of the story. However, this story brought up many feelings and opinions on what should have happened to various characters. This is set in England with some glimpses of South Africa and Rio and perhaps the laws in England would handle the situation differently than the US. I’m not sure how I would have handled the situation if I was in Sophie’s shoes and hope I never have to find out.

We give this 4 paws up

Posted in excerpt, fiction, women on July 31, 2018

Paperback: 288 pages

May 1, 2018

Genre: Fiction

Synopsis

People are doing all sorts of screwy things in 1929. It is a time of hope, boundless optimism, and prosperity. “Blue Skies” is the song on everyone’s lips. The tabloids are full of flagpole sitters, flappers, and marathon dancers. Ever since Charles Lindbergh flew across the Atlantic solo, the entire world has gone nuts over flying. But everyone agrees that the stunt pilots take the cake.

Jenny Flynn defies the odds and conventions in her pursuit of the sky. She attracts the attention of Laura Bailey, a brash reporter crashing through her own glass ceiling at a New York City newspaper. Laura chases the pilot’s story–and the truth about her own mysterious father–on a barnstorming escapade from Manhattan to the Midwest.

Flying Jenny offers a vivid portrait of an earlier time when airplanes drew swarming crowds entranced by the pioneers–male and female–of flight.

Praise

“The heroes and heroines and the characters Tuohy brings to life in the book were derived from tales told to her by her mother, the daring, petite fire-cracker female pilot (named Theasa as well), who was a contemporary of Will Rogers and friend of Wiley Post, the first pilot to fly solo around the world.” –Life in the Finger Lakes Magazine

“It is August 1929, and this romp through the early days of women’s aviation history arrives with all the immediacy of a late-night edition. Theasa Tuohy memorably limns the adventures of not one but two pioneering women. Debutante pilot Jenny Flynn and cub reporter Laura Bailey carry the spunk of Thelma & Louise to new heights as they fight for space in the cockpit and the city room.” –Janet Groth, author of The Receptionist: An Education at The New Yorker

Opening Chapter of Flying Jenny in the 2018 Issue of Silurian News (PDF file)

About the Author

Theasa Tuohy is a long-time journalist who has happily turned her life experiences and reporting skills to fiction featuring female reporters. She is the daughter and namesake of a pioneering pilot who flew an old-World War I “Jenny” with an OX-5 engine. Theasa worked for five daily newspapers and the Associated Press. Her “first woman” stints included assistant city editor at The Detroit News and the copy desk at The (Newark) Star Ledger.

Her first novel, “The Five O’Clock Follies,” was published in 2012. She is currently working on a mystery series set in Paris and is co-author of the book for “Lawrence,” an award-winning musical about the life of D. H. Lawrence.

She is a graduate of the University of California at Berkeley and lives in Manhattan.

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Posted in 5 paws, Review, romance, women on July 8, 2018

Synopsis

Life is meant to be savored, but that’s not easy with no family, limited prospects and a past you’d rather not talk about. Still, Callie Smith doesn’t know how to feel when she discovers she has a brother and a sister–Malcolm, who grew up with affection, wealth and privilege, and Keira, a streetwise twelve-year-old.

Callie doesn’t love being alone, but at least it’s safe. Despite her trepidation, she moves into the grand family home with her siblings and grandfather on the shores of Lake Washington, hoping just maybe this will be the start of a whole new life.

But starting over can be messy. Callie and Keira fit in with each other, but not with their posh new lifestyle, leaving Malcolm feeling like the odd man out in his own home. He was clever enough to turn a sleepy Seattle mail-order food catalog into an online gourmet powerhouse, yet he can’t figure out how to help his new sisters feel secure. Becoming a family will take patience, humor, a little bit of wine and a whole lot of love.

But love isn’t Malcolm’s strong suit… until a beautiful barista teaches him that an open heart, like the family table, can always make room for more.

In this emotional, funny and heartfelt story, Susan Mallery masterfully explores the definition of a modern family–blended by surprise, not by choice–and how those complicated relationships can add unexpected richness to life.

Review

Another book by this author I could not put down! I loved the family dynamics in each family represented because they all felt like either my family or some I have known. Plus many characters had baggage they had to overcome to get where they needed to be by the end of the book.

The romance portion was entertaining at times as personalities clashed, but as in any good book, it all works itself out.

We give this book 5 paws up!

About the Author

#1 New York Times bestselling author Susan Mallery writes heartwarming and humorous novels about the relationships that define women’s lives—family, friendship, romance. She’s best known for putting nuanced characters into emotionally complex, real-life situations with twists that surprise readers to laughter. Because Susan is passionate about animal welfare, pets play a big role in her books. Beloved by millions of readers worldwide, her books have been translated into 28 languages.

Susan lives in Washington state with her husband, two ragdoll cats, and a small poodle with delusions of grandeur.

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Posted in Book Release, chick lit, Romantic Comedy, women on May 23, 2018

 •.☆.•ROAD TRIP RELEASE DAY & GIVEAWAY•.☆.•

Romantic comedy authors Andie M Long and Laura Barnard have teamed together to bring you the hilarious Road Trip!

Synopsis

After the end of a car crash relationship can Katy find true love?

After catching her sister in bed with her fiancé, school teacher Katy Cornish enlists playboy colleague Felix Montague to help her save face. What she doesn’t bargain on is them both losing their jobs in the process.

With finances running out, Katy must endure the rude and arrogant Felix while they embark on a road trip around the country in hopes of securing a new job. But there’s just one problem… they’re up for the same posts. This road trip is going to be unlike any other, with them doing whatever they can to sabotage the other.

Can they see past themselves and their egos to each other? Or will their desperation to continue their careers drive them apart?

Buy it now or read for FREE via Kindle Unlimited

Giveaway!

Head on over to Laura’s Facebook page to enter their giveaway for a chance to win $10/£10 Amazon Gift Card

Connect with Andie

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Connect with Laura

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Posted in 5 paws, fiction, Giveaway, Review, women on May 23, 2018

Hightail It to Kinsey Falls (Kinsey Falls Series)
Women’s Fiction
1st in Series
Grace Abraham Publishing (May 22, 2018)
Print Length: 139 pages

Synopsis

 

All work and no play make Jade a dull girl.

Jade Burt can do without her grandmother’s meddling in her love life. But when Millie finds an abandoned baby possum, it leads her to Caleb Young. Caleb would be perfect for Jade! When Jade meets Caleb, it’s hard to argue with her grandmother’s choice. Still, Jade is determined to push Caleb away, but his friendship with Millie concerns her. What if he’s a slick con man trying to take advantage of a sweet old lady? Jade needs to figure Caleb out before he breaks her grandmother’s heart…and Jade’s too!

Review

This is a novella and not a cozy (even though the author does write cozies) but it was so enjoyable! I think what I liked best was the conversion of a former mall into micro apartments with retail on the first floor. I have read about this and think it is brilliant marketing and a great way to use an abandoned building.

There were so many great characters in this story and I can only see more depth to the characters to be developed over future books. Jade has trust issues but I think she learns to overcome them in this book. She has a fantastic grandmother that I think anyone would want to welcome into the family. And the story would not be complete without a handsome male that works his way through Jade’s apprehension and into her heart.  And then there is Perry the Possum….he has a minor role but it is what brings everyone together.

I can’t wait to see what is next for this series.  We give it 5 paws up

About the Author

Gayle&Cooper

Gayle Leeson is a pseudonym for Gayle Trent. I also write as Amanda Lee. As Gayle Trent, I write the Daphne Martin Cake Mystery series and the Myrtle Crumb Mystery series. As Amanda Lee, I write the Embroidery Mystery series. I live in Virginia with my family, which includes her own “Angus” who is not an Irish wolfhound but a Great Pyrenees who provides plenty of inspiration for the character of Mr. O’Ruff. I’m having a blast writing this new series!

 

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Giveaway

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Posted in 4 1/2 paws, Book Release, chick lit, Review, women on May 19, 2018

Synopsis

Clutch is the laugh-out-loud, chick lit story that chronicles the dating misadventures of Caroline Johnson, a single purse designer, who goes through a series of unsuccessful romantic relationships she compares to various styles of handbags – the “Hobo” starving artist, the “Diaper Bag” single dad, the “Briefcase” intense businessman, etc.  With her best friend, bar owner Mike by her side, the overly-accommodating Caroline drinks Chardonnay, puts her heart on the line, endures her share of unworthy suitors and finds the courage to stand up for the handbag style that embodies what she ultimately wants – the “Clutch” or someone to hold onto.

** Now with five new bonus chapters **

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Praise

“LOVED. The perfect blend of sassy, smart and stylish!” – Amazon Bestsellers Liz Fenton & Lisa Steinke

“This book is absolutely hilarious!” – Pretty Little Book Reviews

“I thought the comparison to men and handbags was so genius! Becker really knows how to write to her audience, and this clever novel had me giggling throughout.” – Chick Lit Plus

Trailer

Review

This book reminded me of When Harry Met Sally. Caroline and Mike meet at Harvard and become fast friends. They see each other through good times and bad and have that one time in college where they hooked up….which they tease each other about all the time.

I loved the purse references and how Caroline always had a different purse, clutch, or wristlet for each outfit. I can’t imagine what her closet looked like with all those bags.

While I kinda suspected that they would get together in the end, it was interesting to read about all the people that each dated (more so from Caroline’s perspective) and how each man would be shot down by Mike for one reason or another. Of course we know why, he wanted Caroline for himself but wouldn’t tell her.

Caroline did need to learn to stand up for herself and confront those. I get that it isn’t easy but sometimes you just have to do it otherwise you will be taken advantage of in life.

The book was an easy read and had me laughing in various parts. There are some f* bombs but thankfully not too many.

We give this 4 1/2 paws up!

About the Author

Lisa Becker is a romance writer who spends her time like she spends her money – on books and margaritas.  In addition to Clutch: a novel, she is the author of the Click trilogy, a contemporary romance series about online dating and Links, a standalone, second chance romance reader.  As Lisa’s grandmother used to say, “For every chair, there’s a tush.” Lisa is now happily married to a wonderful man she met online and lives in Manhattan Beach, California with him and their two daughters. So, if it happened for her, there’s hope for anyone!

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Posted in 4 paws, fiction, Literary, Review, women on May 15, 2018

Synopsis

Eight years after the 9/11 attacks, Samia-Al-Sayyid an Iraqi immigrant is living a quiet life in New York City after she fled her home to avoid imminent death.

She works hard for her cold, heartless, high-strung boss, loves her seventeen-years-old-son, and cherishes the close friendship she has formed with her best friend Susan.

Nothing can go wrong, or so she thinks – until the estranged brother she left back in Iraqi shows up on her doorstep. Then she finds herself in a cab, on her way to the hospital to identify her son, a terror suspect who has blown the city, and with it her boss’ husband, and her best friend’s son. With everything lost, she is forced to flee to Iraq where she confronts her past. Will she make peace with her past? Can she get forgiveness for all the damage she has caused?

Full Circle is a contemporary fiction tale of friendship, family, and hope. It explores the devastation of loss, the great capacity to forgive and the lengths our loved ones will go to protect us.

Review

This book touches on some raw and heavy subjects – bullying, 9-11, hatred, racism, and death. But the story weaves all of these together beautifully. There are three main characters, women whose lives intersect and you can feel their pain, sorrow, and hope for a better life.

During my reading I felt for some of the characters and what they went through in their lives – Samia’s shame she endured from her family (that she left when she was very young), Melissa’s struggle with her husband and knowing her brother was stationed in the middle east, and Susan who has to deal with Melissa’s unbalanced emotions nearly every day at work and her sick daughter. While each woman’s story was pivotal to the plot advancement, you can’t help sympathize during various situations.

I had a few negatives about the book, but considering the author is not from the US, there are probably many things she didn’t realize she should adjust – such as referencing temperature as Fahrenheit vs Centigrade. There were also some inconsistencies with the dates where the 2nd chapter references 2009 but near the end, she goes back to 2008 but that is not where the story is on the timeline. There were some other grammatical errors but they did not detract from the story.

This is not a light read but it really picks up what is happening in the world today.

We give it 4 paws up

 

About the Author

Regina lives in a picturesque village in Kenya where she enjoys amazing landscapes, exotic wildlife, and beautiful sunsets and sunrises. She always had an active imagination. By chance, she started blogging in 2010, which rekindled her love for writing and telling stories. When not writing she enjoys watching classic movies (she’s a movie buff), going to the theater and auto shows.

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Posted in fiction, Giveaway, Guest Post, women, Young Adult on May 2, 2018

Book Title: All the Way to Italy: A modern tale of homecoming through generations past
Author: Flavia Brunetti
Category: Adult Fiction, 222 pages
Genre: Women’s Fiction (can fit into YA Fiction as well)
Publisher: Ali Ribelli Edizioni
Release date: April 21, 2018

Synopsis

Until her dad died, Little considered herself a Californian. Now, thanks to half a letter, a symbol she can’t quite remember, and writer’s block, she finds herself back in Italy, the country of her birth. In a headlong rush to return to her beloved San Francisco, Little will journey throughout Italy, hoping to find the answers she needs to move on with her life so she need never look back. She’ll enlist the help of the woman who raised her, Sira, her father’s sister; but Sira has secrets she’s kept for decades, and Little underestimates the power of the country she fled years before.

In this powerful story of mixed cultures in a world trying to globalize, one girl’s struggle to leave her home behind will lead her back to the women in her family and the memories each of them has safeguarded through the generations. From war-torn Italy to the belpaese of today, All the Way to Italy is a tale for those in search of a balance between wanderlust and the necessity to come home, a reminder that although we may be fragments, we are never a lost cause.

Amazon ~ Barnes & Noble ~  iTunes ~ Kobo

Guest Post

Overcoming writer’s block: the Rome edition

I want to tell you that I never have writer’s block; that while I wrote All the Way to Italy I simply flitted from chapter to chapter, full of words and ideas and the ability to merge those two until I had a book.

The truth is quite different (as it often is). It involved a lot of pacing the hallway, re-reading the same sentence over and over, and staring at myself in the mirror repeating mantras like, “now you will sit down and write something,” and “get it together. You love. Editing. You. Love. Editing.” I thought it might be helpful to share some of the things that helped me deal with not just writer’s block, but writer’s frustration. And since All the Way to Italy is set largely in Rome, I’m including a few local tips!

  1. Walk it out

There will come a point when you’ll have been staring at the same spot on the page for forty-five minutes (no? Just me?), or even worse, when you’re rewriting, you’ll reach that moment where suddenly the entire paragraph, chapter, nay, half the book, must immediately be deleted. Do not do this. Get up and walk it out. Fresh air is always a good thing (good general life advice), and if you’re in a suggestive city like Rome, just having a stroll is an inspiration. Stop thinking and walk/jog/run. Bring your notebook, ‘cause inspiration always strikes when you’re all the way out in Appia Antica, nowhere near any writing materials, and you will end up trying to write your idea down using pebbles from the side of the road. Hypothetically.

Rome edition: the Pantheon, Colosseo, Appia Antica.

  1. Pick up the phone and call someone you trust

Sure, we can do things on our own. But, in my experience, really great results come from outside input, from calling up that friend you trust wholeheartedly and saying, what do you think of this? We all bring our individual skillsets to the table, and it makes us, and our writing, richer. Tip: pay it forward! The next time a fellow writer or friend needs your input, be on the listening side, and then give encouraging guidance, as only you can (see point 4!).

  1. Park it

This is similar to number 1, except we’re doing more lolling. Grab a picnic and a book, find a nice park, and give your mind a break.

Rome edition: Villa Borghese, the Orange Garden, Villa Pamphilj, Villa Torlonia.

  1. Have a talk with yourself

Most of the time, we’re our own biggest critics. No matter how much we do, it’s very rarely enough. Take a moment to look yourself in the eye and remind yourself that you’re following a dream, a commendable endeavor in itself, and that you are fantastic and driven. Do a little dance. Acknowledge yourself!

As frustrating as the writing process can be, we all know it’s worth it, that there’s nothing quite like finally getting that short story exactly how you envisioned it (or even better, the surprise when it becomes an entirely new thing that you didn’t know you wanted), or that moment when you’re first holding your novel in your hands, or even when you’ve written a blog post you’re really happy with.

And so, happy writing (and reading!), my friends. I wish you nothing but the best of luck with all of your endeavors!

About the Author

Born just outside of Rome, Flavia Brunetti grew up bouncing back and forth between Italy and California, eventually moving back to the Eternal City and confirming her lifelong commitment to real gelato. Flavia holds a Master of Arts degree in Government and Politics from St. John’s University and a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science from John Cabot University. Today she travels the world working for an international humanitarian organization and spends her free time writing and wandering around her beloved Roma in constant search of bookstores and the perfect espresso.

Website ~ Blog on Rome ~ Twitter ~ Facebook ~ Instagram

Giveaway

Prizes: Two winners will get an ebook copy of All the Way to Italy plus a $20 Amazon.com gift card and one winner will get an ebook copy of All the way to Italy plus a $30 Amazon.com GC (open internationally to wherever Amazon delivers – 3 winners total)

(ends May 26, 2018)

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