Book Review: Dear Dwayne, With Love by Eliza Gordon

**Much thanks to NetGalley for a free review copy**
*Also thanks to Steena Holmes for her recommendation*

This book was exactly what I needed after reading The very dark Plucker by Brom. This was light, romantic and so much fun!

Dwayne, by the way, is Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson in this case. Danielle Steele is obsessed. So much so, that when there's a fitness contest to win a role in his upcoming movie, Danielle ends up joining a gym.

Her trainer is the Miraculously Beautiful Marco. She gets in shape, she makes new friends, she finds out what happens when the unthinkable happens. All her deepest, darkest secrets, written in letter format to her hero, end up published online for the whole world to see.

This book just sucked me write in. Take it to the beach, on vacation, or just pick it up because you need a laugh and a good story. Thanks, Eliza Gordon!

Book Review: The Red-Hot Chili Cook-Off

by: Carolyn Brown

This starts out with Carlene finding absolute proof of her husband having an affair. What's worse? She sold the other woman those panties she found and she knows who it is. The woman had the gall to brag about her "sugar daddy" and her getting away for the weekend. She even came in later to brag about the success. Carlene understandably blows her top.

My favorite part of this whole book is that Carlene doesn't even consider taking that turd back. She runs Bless my Bloomers with her 2 cousins. And the three women are daughters of 3 close sisters. All 6 women and their seamstress decided to enter the Chili Cook-Off just to serve just desserts.

It's full of laughs, ups and downs, even some romance. And most of all, women standing strong. With the arguments and what not, nothing stands between family.

Nothing too deep, but it was a lot of fun. Beach read, anyone?

Book Review: The Yellow Rose Beauty Shop

by: Carolyn Brown

Sometimes a book grabs on and won't let go. This is #3 in a series, which I did not know before. I have to go read the others. I enjoyed all the sassy characters and their little Texas town. The Yellow Rose Beauty Shops is owned by Stella. Her mother wants grandchildren and puts her name on the church prayer list to ask God to find Stella a husband.

Heather, the person in charge of the prayer group puts it on the sign in front of the church for all the world to see. Oh lordy, Stella is spittin' mad!

She ends up in a big fight with her mom, Nancy. She also ends up in a bit of a feud with Heather. Heather thinks she is going to start a Marriage Ministry, helping young women find husbands. Not if Stella and Agnes have anything to say about it. Agnes is a feisty old woman, who has been in a lifelong battle with Heather's aunt. No way is this going to disappear quietly.

It was a fun read, very light. Lots of comparisons to Steele Magnolias, but definitely not as heavy. Agnes is often compared to Ouiser, though. And we can all pretty much agree, who wouldn't want to be that tough in her old age? I know I would.

I read this in just over a day. So while I would say it is very light and a perfect travel book, it also demanded my full attention just because it was so colorful.

Book Review: Cure for the Common Breakup

by: Beth Kendrick

Summer is a flight attendant who has always kept her distance from the men she dates. But she just found out her boyfriend is going to propose in Paris. The plane crashes and he dumps her. Just too much for the poor girl to process. She goes to Blackdog Bay, a place famous for mending broken hearts.

There she finds new friends, a great new drink called "Cure for the Common Breakup" and has she also met a man worthy of her commitment? She just may find home yet.

I enjoyed this more than I thought I would. It is a pretty fast paced story without being too heavy, and it is a lot of fun. Perfect beach read!

Book Review: How Hard Can it Be?

by: Robyn Peterman

Available at Amazon and Barnes & Noble

Synopsis:
What happens when an accountant decides to grab life by the horns and try something new? Apparently a pirate named Dave, a lot of pastel fleece, and blackmail—just to start with…

Visualize and succeed, Oprah said. I was sure as hell trying, even if my campaign to score a job as the local weather girl had ended in a restraining order. Okay, TV was not my strength. But a lack of talent has never stopped me before. Which is why I’ve embarked on a writing career. I mean, how hard can it be to come up with a sexy romance?

Leave it to me to wind up in a group of grandmotherly porno writers who discuss sex toys and apple cobbler in the same breath. Also leave it to me to leak an outlandish plot idea to a bestselling author with the morals of a rabid squirrel. And only I could get arrested for a jewelry heist I didn’t commit—by a hunky cop whose handcuffs just might tempt me to sign up for a life of crime. Maybe I’ve found my calling after all…

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Be prepared to laugh your ass off!

The main character decides to take a break from her CPA world and try writing a romance novel. How hard could it be, right? She meets a wonderful group of old ladies, and turns beet red as they talk about sex, s&m, and so on as if they were talking about their grocery list. Then enters the evil Evangeline, who has a huge career as a romance novelist. But it turns out she has stolen everything she has ever written. The only thing she's good at is digging up dirt and using it against people to get her way.

Later on meet the neighbor they name "Mr. Asstastic." See if she can actually take down Evangeline with her "pile of confusing, offensive, unreadable shit." Can she save her new friends and still get the guy?

It's a silly book, and it won't be winning the Pulitzer, but god it was fun! I laughed so much.

The best part of this book was the absolutely horrible trashy novel the main character writes for the evil...ummm...woman. It's so horrible that all you can do is laugh, especially at all the words for penis she comes up with. "Skin flute, pork sword, love muscle..."

Truly a pick-me-up book. But the story, that is included, really is offensive and disgusting, but knowing why she was writing it made it that much funnier.

Book Review: The Girls' Guide to Love and Supper Clubs

by: Dana Bate

Available at Amazon and Barnes & Noble

Synopsis:
Hannah Sugarman seems to have it all. She works for an influential think tank in Washington, D.C., lives in a swanky apartment with her high-achieving boyfriend, and is poised for an academic career just like her parents. The only problem is that Hannah doesn’t want any of it. What she wants is much simpler: to cook.

When her relationship collapses, Hannah seizes the chance to do what she’s always loved and launches an underground supper club out of her new landlord’s town house. Though her delicious dishes become the talk of the town, her secret venture is highly problematic, given that it is not, technically speaking, legal. She also conveniently forgets to tell her landlord she has been using his place while he is out of town.

On top of that, Hannah faces various romantic prospects that leave her guessing and confused, parents who don’t support cooking as a career, and her own fears of taking a risk and charting her own path. A charming romantic comedy, The Girls’ Guide to Love and Supper Clubs is a story about finding yourself, fulfilling your dreams, and falling in love along the way.

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This book really touched me. It starts out with Hannah kind of having a dream life. She has a boyfriend who is doing well, she has a job that her family approves of. But it's not really perfect. He's kind of an ass and throws her out and she honestly hates her job. She loves to cook, that's where her passion lies.

So when she finds her perfect apartment, her friend starts pressuring her to hold a supper club. It's an illegal and secret dinner. I was hooked. I'd love to do something like that! But with 2 kids and a ratty old trailer, I'll have to live through Hannah for right now.

It's a good sign when you are cringing at all the bad choices a character makes but you still can't put it down. I read this book months ago, the cover caught me. I had some free time and library books but this cover just screamed "read me!" It really was a great chick-lit story. Romantic comedy? Fun, definitely fun!

Book Review: Love and Other Subjects

by: Kathleen Shoop

Available at Amazon and Barnes & Noble

Synopsis:
For every woman who thought she chose the wrong career…

In Love and Other Subjects Carolyn Jenkins strives for two things—to be the greatest teacher ever and to find true love. She’s as skilled at both as an infant chowing down with a fork. Carolyn’s suburban upbringing and genuine compassion for people who don’t fit effortlessly into society are no match for weapon-wielding, struggling students, drug-using colleagues, and a wicked principal.

Meanwhile, her budding relationship with a mystery man is thwarted by his gaggle of eccentric sisters. Carolyn depends on her friends to get her through the hard times, but with poverty-stricken children at her feet and a wealthy man at her side, she must define who she is. The reality of life after college can be daunting—the road to full-fledged adulthood is long and unscripted. Can Carolyn take control and craft the life she’s always wanted?

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My first impression when I sat down to read this story was joy that it is a novel! My 2nd impression was, I love Carolyn! She is goofy, struggling with her career, and a bit socially awkward. I'm VERY socially awkward and I can't seem to figure out what I want to do with myself. Granted, she knew she wanted to be a teacher who makes a difference, but between the students and the principal, she was struggling through her first year.

"I made people laugh. Not because I was witty, but because I was ridiculous." - Carolyn in Love and Other Subjects.

When the story started, I kept waiting for her to quit and find a new career. She didn't seem to be a good fit, and she kept butting heads with Klein, the principal. She'd have to deal with him and then her students would do something horrifying. The stress she was under, I just gained so much respect for this character because she never gave up. She had a goal, and fought for it.

One evening, after having been shot in the foot with a BB gun, she met Jeep (aka Money). He was handsome and his very touch sent shock-waves through her body. She felt a "soul-slip"; which I think is the least cheesy soul-mate thing ever. But even this isn't perfect. They both keep messing up, too stubborn. I'll give him credit, he was very sweet and natural with her.

It's also really funny in many parts. Yes, crude, but I couldn't help but snort-laugh when she woke herself with very loud farts during her first sleep-over with Jeep. You end up wanting what's best for her, but who knows what that is? You just have to keep reading. I was nearly late for work last night, I just had to finish! lol

Book Review: the boyfriend of the month club

by: Maria Geraci

Available at Amazon and Barnes & Noble

Synopsis:
This sexy, funny new novel asks: Can a woman find a modern-day Mr. Darcy in Daytona Beach?

At thirty, Grace O'Bryan has dated every loser in Daytona Beach. After the ultimate date-from-hell, Grace decides to turn her dwindling book club into a Boyfriend of the Month Club, where women can discuss the eligible men in their community. Where are the real life twenty-first century versions of literary heroes such as Heathcliff and Mr. Darcy?

Could it be successful and handsome Brandon Farrell, who is willing to overlook his disastrous first date with Grace and offers financial help for her parents' failing Florida gift shop? Or maybe sexy dentist Joe Rosenblum, who's great with a smile but not so great at commitment? Unfortunately, like books, men cannot always be judged by their covers...

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BooksparksPR had given me Geraci's latest novel, A Girl Like You, to review. I really enjoyed it. Well they had a promotion where if I signed up for 4 books to review, I could choose 3 just for me from their stockpiles. So when I saw her 1st novel, I snatched it up!

I wasn't even planning on reviewing it. But seriously, this book made me laugh and cry. Grace has an Irish father and a Cuban mother, but there's no confusion with heritage. She works for her father at the long-time family-owned business, Florida Charlie's. Now that's where the conflict comes in. She loves the store and the history, but she also feels trapped while her brother is off being a successful tax attorney.

It's like a grown-up coming of age story. Her life has to get completely up-ended before she can figure out what she wants and who she wants. She also learns a lot about herself in the process. I read this book in just over a day, because I really couldn't bear to put it down. It read really fast too. It's not that the chapters were short, but I was enjoying myself so much it just poured into me.

Book Review: Mommy Blogger

by: Carla Caruso

Available at Amazon and Barnes & Noble

Synopsis:
One baby, one lie–and a whole new career. Stella lands a great job as a mommy blogger. The catch is she’s never had children. Plunged into a world of insanity every mother faces, she must learn to cope as her lies build upon one another. A sexy ex comes into the picture, forcing her to choose between him or the job and a handsome ‘keeper’ of a coworker. It can’t last forever.

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This was really kind of cute taken as a whole. As it started, and she started digging that whole with the lies...I started getting annoyed. Stella knew she was going to get in trouble, but she kept moving forward. Honestly, it's not full of surprises, but when I was done...I had enjoyed myself.

It's got a fast pace and isn't very long. I would classify this as Romantic Comedy. And since the beach season is pretty much over, let's call this a great travel selection!

Book Review: A Girl Like You

by: Maria Geraci

Available at Amazon and Barnes & Noble

Synopsis:
What if you found out you were the ugly friend?

Emma Frazier is smart, hardworking, and loves her job as a journalist for a Florida lifestyle magazine. Emma knows she’s no great beauty, but she’s pretty certain she has a shot with her handsome new boss, Ben Gallagher—until Emma overhears a mutual acquaintance refer to her as the “ugly friend.” In an effort to reclaim her battered self-esteem, Emma decides to impress Ben at work by promising an exclusive interview with NASCAR legend, Trip Monroe.

Emma and Trip went to high school together and although it’s been fourteen years since they’ve spoken, Emma is certain she can score an interview with the elusive super star. But connecting with Trip turns out to be harder than Emma imagined. Her quest for the interview leads her back to her tiny hometown of Catfish Cove, where old secrets and a new romantic interest shake up Emma’s views on life and teach her that maybe the key to finding true love is as simple as accepting yourself for the person you were always meant to be.

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Well written, well edited, and even the cover looks professional. It pops and catches your eye. I had a real hard time not picking this up as soon as it arrived. Once I did, I couldn't put it down. I have lost sleep, and ignored the breakfast dishes...well all my housekeeping really. lol

All the characters are intriguing. You want to know more about all of them. But this is from Emma's perspective so you really only know a lot about her. The author does a good job keeping that consistent.

It's an awkward story, Emma is not the normal female lead. She was raised by 2 moms and no dad. Add to that it was in a small town, and she's not a size 0. In the beginning she overhears an acquaintance tell her best friend that Emma is "the ugly friend" which really triggers all her low self-esteem issues. I can relate to that.

Also Emma likes to go to the beach and read, she enjoys going out but also savors her nights in. I feel like Emma is like me only she got her poop together and got that journalism degree.

It's also not a normal romance book. She's in love with her boss, but he leaves with that skank who made the "ugly friend" comment. She dates a guy from her home town. She's kind of here and there and you really don't know who she is going to end up with. There are hints, but they are deliciously subtle. And that's where my review ends, because you will have to find out for yourself what happens to Emma.