Jen's Blog

Although I liked certain parts of this book, there were other parts I didn't like at all.  I loved the setting and the setting description a lot.  I also liked the premise of the book.  It was a fairly quick read, but I did have trouble with the flow of the story.  The writing seemed jilted at times, and it didn't flow as smoothly as I would have liked. The main part of the book dealt with young Olivia and her relationship with her recently returned father.  He had been largely absent during her youth.  I found him to be very unlikable.  I also wasn't super fond of Olivia's finance, he just didn't seem all that supportive.  I really liked Olivia and her mother and step-father though.  So an average book for me. 3/5 stars on GoodReads.

Thanks NetGalley for the Advanced Reading Copy of this one!  I read it back in January, but am a little behind on my blogging. Spring has been busy this year! This book made me feel all the feels!  It features two sisters Ainsley and Kate, and although it's a romance it could also be called women's fiction because it heavily features the relationship between the two sisters who have never been close.  However, some pretty big life events bring the two sisters together, closer than ever. Kate, who found her husband later in life, tragically loses him at the beginning of the book.  Readers follow her story of getting over the loss of her whirlwind romance and marriage, and then navigate a surprise that she never saw coming.  Watching Kate rebuild her life was addicting, and I had trouble putting the book down. Ainsley's romance is completely the opposite of whirlwind.  She has been waiting for 11 years for her boyfriend to propose.  Instead of pr...

I didn't realize when I read this one that it was a re-issue.  It was first published as  The Red-Hot Chili Cook-Off .  It's also the second book in the series and I hadn't read the first when I found this one.  I enjoyed it enough I will go back and re-read the first two in the series. The only thing I would say about the book that I didn't like, was on occasion it got very wordy.  Overall it was a delightful and fun story. Carlene Lovell is recovering from her husband's shocking affair, with a women she sold some of her expensive lingerie too!  Waiting in the wings is sexy sheriff Jack Landry. This story offers a lot more than just romance though, its really about friendship.  Carlene and her friends and family decide to enter the chili cook-off to get back at Carlene's soon to be ex, and the rest of the men in town.  It's a story about survival and friendship, and these friends have a whole lot of fun!  I love stories like this that in...

I wasn't going to review this one on my blog because, frankly, I didn't like it.  But then I decided that my blog shouldn't just be about books I like, it should be honest reviews about all books good and bad. The premise of the book was promising, the main character Sukie is rebuilding her life after her husband leaves her for another women.  A common theme with women's fiction books.  Sukie learns to rely on her friends, and makes new friends while she discovers who she is when she is alone.  I love this type of story line and it was probably the best part of the book, but it was hard to read, rushed and all over the place. The characters, to me, just didn't seem real and I had trouble connecting to them.  To me this is the cornerstone of a women't fiction novel and without it I just couldn't get into the book.  This one had a lot of promise but didn't deliver. Thanks to Netgalley for the advanced readers copy in exchange for this honest review...

This was a delightful book and I enjoyed it from beginning to end. It had everything I like in Women's Fiction, strong female friendship, women going through big changes in their lives and reflecting on their choices, clear resolutions to the story lines (mostly happy!) and a bit of romance.  It had humor as well, the neighborhoods email list was so funny and their was humor with the characters as well. This women's fiction book has a fun twist, it also contains a mystery!  Each of the women in the book have a secret, but we know most of the secrets as they unfold.  However the new neighbor Tess has a secret that even the readers don't know about, and it's a dark secret.  So there is intriguing in this story as well as the women't fictions themes.  This made the book so interesting and different than anything I have read in awhile!  It was fresh and fun!  Highly recommended. 4/5 Stars on Goodreads!

The Promise Kitchen by Peggy Lampman wasn't my favorite book this month.  It was a solid story, and I enjoyed the colorful characters Shelby and Mallory.  I always enjoy books that feature food and chefs, so I was excited for this one.  To me the book got off to such a slow start it was hard to stick in there and get to the meat of the story. Ultimately this is a story about friendship, the friendship that Shelby and Mallory develop during the story.  The two are very different but they quickly find common group and a friendship forms. I have never read a story by Peggy Lampman before, but even though this wasn't my favorite I will give her another try.  I think fans of Dorthea Benton Frank will enjoy this book. Thanks to NetGalley for the Advanced Readers Copy. 2/5 on Goodreads for me.

I have not been posting a lot!  The back to school season has been rough with updating schedules, sporting and school events, working full time and adding a dog to our family!  I have been reading and listening to books though!  Here are a few I loved the last few weeks! Sweet Little Lies by Jill Shalvis: I finally got around to reading the first in the new Heartbreaker Bay series!  I read and reviewed the second one recently.  Click  HERE  for that post!  This one was just as fun as the first one.  I loved Pru and Finn's story.  I am really looking forward to the next ones in this series. Hope in a Jar by Beth Harbinson: I liked this one a lot more than the last one I read by her.  This story featured former best friends who have known each other since high school, Allie and Oliva.  Also, in the mix was their friend Noah who found himself in the middle of the two when they had a falling out.  Relationships ne...

I discovered Robyn Carr just about four or five years ago and was delighted because she had a long series for me to catch up on!  The Virgin River series was wonderful as was her Thunder Bay series.  I was delighted when I learned that a new book was coming out and The Life She Wants didn't disappoint.  Although this one was a little closer to women's fiction than some of the others it had all the elements I love in a good story including friendships, a romance and a happy ending. The main character Emma has some major rebounding to do in life after her husband's devious past comes to life.  She moves home to pick up the pieces.  Along the way she makes her peace with not only her disastrous marriage but her high school best friend Riley and ex-boyfriend Jock.  She learns to live the life that makes her happy and to overcome the past while finding a new future as well. Thanks to the editors and Edelweiss for the Advanced Readers copy.  5/5 on Go...

I have been looking forward to Winter Storm s by Elin Hilderbrand since last winter when I read the Winter Strolls .  Winter Strolls had disappointed me a bit, but since it was the second in the trilogy I wasn’t surprised, there were just too many unsolved mysteries.  This third book satisfied my discontent and wrapped up the series nicely.  One thing I love the most was that Winter Strolls took place over the course of a year, instead of just one season.  This allowed the characters to find peace in their lives in a natural way, one that felt less rushed than the previous two books.  I also enjoyed hearing each story in the character’s voice.   Of course the other thing I loved, which I love in all Hilderbrand books, is the setting.  I love how she describes the island, the people and the way of life.  I loved that the other books in the series focused on what happens on the island in the winter, it gives the reader a new aspect on t...

Anyone who knows what books I enjoy, knows by now that I love any book that features summer, the beach, an island or any combination of those things.   The Island House didn't disappoint.  I love Thayer's books that are set on the island of Nantucket, I love reading about the families who summer there and the families that stay there all year long. This book was exciting because it not only featured a family who lives on Nantucket year round, the Vickerey's, but also their "summer children".  The main focus of this novel is Courtney who was college roommates with Robin Vickerey.  Courtney has fallen in love with Robin's brother James, but has many unanswered questions about their relationship.  Also, someone from Courtney's past appears and makes her wonder if she knows her own heart. Although I enjoyed this book a lot, it wasn't quite as well written as some of Nancy Thayer's other books.  Rated 3/5 stars on Goodreads.

Is anyone else having trouble getting their reading fix in during the Olympics?  I admit I adore the Olympics and have been pretty much watching them 24/7.  However, I am quite aware that summer is on its last legs and soon it will be fall.  I am looking forward to the routine that brings our household, with the boys back in school, but also am looking forward to curling up with my books on a cool fall night.  With that being said here is a short list of books that are due to be out in September that I am anticipating greatly!  September 6 th , 2016 Leave Me by Gayle Forman The Homeplace by Kevin Wolf Secret Ingredients of Wishes by Susan Bishop Crispell Loves Sweet Revenge by Rosanne Bittner Forks Over Knives Family: Every Parent’s Guide to Raising Healthy, Happy Kids on a Whole-Food, Plant-Based Diet by Alona Pulde and Matthew Lederman September 27 th , 2016 The Promise Kitchen by Peggy Lampman Perks of Loving a Scoundrel by Je...

Thanks to Edelweiss for the chance to review this book. I adored Family Tree , it's exactly the type of story I love reading.  Some books speak to you from the first page until the last. Some books make you feel like you are saying good bye to a dear friend when you turn the last page. Some books make you feel happy and sad and satisfied all in the space of a few hours. This was one of those books. Annie and Fletcher, along with their families,  show us that it's never too late for love. They teach us that family isn't perfect but it's very important and most importantly they show us how important it is to be true to yourself so that you can find true happiness.  This book was well done in all aspects. Highly recommend. Rated 5/5 on Goodreads

Truly Madly Guilty by Liane Moriarty is a wonderfully written story, one that will keep you on the edge of your seat from start to finish.  The story features three couples, all who are linked by one main tragedy that affects their relationships.  Sam and Clementine are busy parents of two little girls.  Clementine’s oldest friend Erika is married to Oliver, they seem to have an easy fun life just the two of them.  Then there is Tiffany and Vid, a fun loving couple with a small daughter.  From page one readers are kept guessing about what may have happened at a barbecue that Tiffany and Vid host at their house.  Something terrible happens and it’s obviously affecting all of them, but what is it?  I made many, many guesses and I came close but the real story was very unexpected!  This is a great edge of your seat read full of twists and turns and just enough suspense.  The book has a little something for everyone!  Rated 4/5 s...

As many of you know I am a reference librarian at my local library.  One of my duties, shared with the reference department, is writing blog posts for our reference blog.  I am pleased to share some of my blog posts here.  Topics range from  the personal, my life with diabetes, dieting and taking better care of myself to new authors I am falling in love with and genres that I want to share with others. Please visit my libraries webpage and take a look! Planning you Perfect Summer Vacation Beach Reads Women's Fiction Eat, Run, Live Keep Moving, Body and Soul Running Playlist Chick Lit Amish Romance

One of my favorite things in the whole world is discovering a new author! Amy Avanzino is my new author this week, I loved From the Sidelines ! One of the things I loved most about this book is how I could relate to many parts of the story even though the main character Autumn is completely different than me (I however am a mother to three boys, all who played football!). I always admire writers than can make me feel that personal connection to a character or a story.  Autumn is an overprotective, single mom to a 10 year old boy who one day decides he wants to play football. Autumn knows nothing about sports and is not sure that this is a good idea at all. She has never thought that he was a sports type at all. However, since the end of her disastrous marriage Zachary hasn't been very happy and she wants to change that. She jumps right into the world of football, meets new people, learns how to trust herself and others and most importantly watches her son gain his footing and gai...

The Singles Game  by  Lauren Weisberger   portrayed the complicated life of a single, young and attractive tennis player at the top of her game.  Charlie suffers an injury in the beginning book at her biggest tennis match to date.  She decides that she isn't done playing tennis quite yet and sets out to make some big changes, including firing her long time tennis coach and hiring Todd, whose coaching style is famously tough. Although Todd helps Charlie improve her game in some ways and totally recreates Charlie's image there are some changes that she comes to realize are not good and starts to question some of her decisions.  As Charlie begins to win more and more she asks herself some hard questions. I loved this book, it was well written and Charlie was a great character.  The one downside was a cliff hanger that was too big! I like to know what happens... Thank you Edelweiss for the ARC!

I usually love Elin Hilderbrand's books.  However I cannot say I loved Here's to Us .  I liked it a lot and it was very well written, but to me it didn't have the same magic that her other books usually have. Elin as usual does a wonderful job depicting life in the summer on Nantucket for the family of celebrity chef Deacon Rowe when they gather together at his summer house to say goodbye to him. Each of his children and his three wives are present, which as you can guess creates plenty of conflict and sparks.  There are truly brilliant pieces of the story in the interactions between the three wives. My biggest problem with the book was with the amount of adultery in the story.  I get that some stories can support a story line that supports this but it seemed excessive in this story.  I personally like an ending in a book that wraps up the stories and makes the reader feel hopeful.  I mostly got that in this story, but it felt rushed.  I felt li...

First Comes Love  by Emily Giffin is a story about sisters.  Josie and Meredith lost their brother years ago and both of them are still trying to move on from their loss.  Josie never lets herself love or be loved again but is desperate to have a child.  Meredith has what seems on the surface to be a perfect family, a husband who adores her and a beautiful little girl.  But she can't help but think something is missing.  Although there are many aspects of this book, it's ultimately a book about sisters and family. I enjoyed the book, although I struggled a bit with how the story lines.  It wasn't a satisfying ending for me because there were still a lot of loose ends.  I prefer my books to be wrapped up with a bow at the end with a happy ending.  However, the writing was strong, I fell in love with the characters and a saw them grow and change throughout the book.  I saw glimpses of happy endings and I suppose that will be good enough...

First I would just like to say I am a huge fan of almost everything Susan Mallery writes!  This book is no different.  Daughters of the Bride is a story of the relationship between three sisters and their mother, which can always be complex.  Each sister is as different as the next, and they are all battling their past while they try to sort out what will truly make them happy.  Courtney battles her long held securities about her looks and height, and finds that they are playing role in everything she does.  She refuses to share her successes with her family because of past failures.  When she meets Quinn she starts to realize that these failures could be damaging her relationship with her mother and sisters as well as others.  Sienna feels like the odd sister out most of the time and wonders why she can’t commit to a relationship, she accepts proposal number three when her boyfriend proposes to her in front of her whole family.  As sh...

Perfection. Mary Kay Andrews never disappoints me!  I look forward to her new book every summer and love reading it from start to finish.  The Weekenders is full of elements that make up a great summer read, the beach, a quaint island and a family that is as dysfunctional as it is loving.  Riley Griggs finds herself in the middle of a summer that is like no other, and she must learn to find her own way.  Luckily she has her daughter, friends and family to help her sort out the mystery that her life has become.  It's a real testament to what is really important in life and how important your relationships can be in times of need. This is a wonderful book that will make you laugh and cry!  Highly recommended! Rated 5/5 stars on Goodreads.