Review: Miranda in Retrograde

 

Miranda is rejected from tenure track and forced to take a year sabbatical. As she's no longer teaching, she also loses her housing. Luckily her aunt (one of her best friends) is heading to Florida and offers Miranda her cottage. Miranda happily accepts and the only catch is that she has to water her aunt's flowers on the rooftop garden.

On the rooftop, Miranda meets Archer, a grumpy artist. At first, they bicker about the roof and spending time on it, but soon enough they become friendly and then friends. 

Miranda goes from a well-known scientist to studying astrology. She has always looked down on astrology but now she's looking at her horoscope to guide her life choices while she takes this year to find herself.

My Thoughts: I loved this book; I find astrology fascinating. Although I confess, I don't know too much about it, but I'm happy to learn more. I loved the banter between Archer and Miranda. I love how Miranda tried out new things when her life upended. I would have liked more of the friendship moments with her best friend. Another winner from Lauren Layne.

Cover Thoughts: Charming

Source: My Library

Why I read this book: I have read several of the author's previous books and loved them.

Library Recommendation: Highly recommended for your public library's romance collection

Perfect for: Readers of Hallmark movies and rom coms. 

Review: Elizabeth of East Hampton

 

A modern-day retelling of Pride and Prejudice set in Long Island and the Hamptons. 

My Thoughts: I really enjoyed this retelling. It was funny, smart, and thoroughly entertaining. The modern changes worked. Kitty and Lydia are twins, Mary is an activist, and Jane is a teacher. Elizabeth is a surfer. Jane and Charlie meet at a bar and their relationship is adorable. The family owns a bakery where Elizabeth works. She's hoping to be a journalist, but her father's health and her fears are holding her back. The heart of the story is the same.

Cover Thoughts: Cute 

Source: My Library

Library Recommendation: Highly Recommended for your romance section

Why I read it: I'm a sucker for Jane Austen retellings

Hand this to: Raders who love Jane Austen

Mini Review: The Third Gilmore Girl

 I've loved Gilmore Girls for years, so when I was excited when I learned about this book:

Confession: I didn't know much about Kelly Bishop except for Gilmore Girls and Dirty Dancing. 

Oh, and Bunheads. 

So it was nice to learn more about her.

And I tore through this book. 

Of course it was a memoir, but I did and take to heart a few life lessons:

It's never to late to learn something

Put your wishes out into the universe

Work hard and play hard 

There wasn't a lot of tea in this book, but it was still a fascinating read. 

Review: Made in Manhattan

 

Violet is a snob and a people pleaser. When her honorary grandmother asks her to help out, deep down she knows she will. Even if the task is helping Edith's newly discovered grandson become one of society's elite. 

Cain isn't interested in a make-over. He's not even sure he wants to fun the family company. But he's not running for the hills either. Cain is willing to take things step by step while giving Violet a hard time.

Violet's not one to back down from a challenge. But the more time she spends with Cain, the more she begins to realize that she likes him...just the way he is.

My Thoughts: I loved this reverse My Fair Lady story. I really liked how both characters made each other better and expanded each other's views. Two names I'm forgetting - the dog and Violet's best friend. I loved Cain's interaction with the dog. I loved Violet's best friend prodding Violet to go outside her comfort zone. I loved the banter between Cain and Violet. Cain was so grumpy through most of the book that he reminded me of Roy Kent from Ted Lasso. Another great read from Lauren Layne.

Cover Thoughts: Charming

Source: My library

Library Recommendation: Highly Recommended for your public library's romance collection.

A mood board I made for the book after reading:

Review: Last Garden in England

 

Emma can't wait to restore the gardens of Highbury House. They've long been neglected. She's particularly thrilled because they were designed by Venetia Smith at the turn of the century. Venetia Smith moved to American shortly after designing this garden. Emma can't believe her good fortune to work on the gardens of her idol. She loves learning how they changed over the years, especially with World War Two. She's happy when the new owners discover old documents in the attic that detail the plans further. But there are also secrets hidden - with both Venetia's past and the owner's in WII. Can Emma make sense of the past and use the knowledge to create happiness for herself?

My Thoughts: Told in three different time periods with three very different women - this book centers around a garden and the people who loved it. I loved reading in the different time periods - this book was fascinating. It's hard to pick which time period I liked more. All three women struggled with both their personal life and the garden. I loved how the garden connected everything. I really enjoyed watching the secret unfold as we discovered more and more about these women. This was a fascinating read that made me wish I knew more about gardening. 

Cover Thoughts: Gorgeous. It drew me to read it.

Library Recommendation: A great book for the collection - and even better for book discussion. Highly Recommended. 

Review: Accidental Beauty Queen

Charlotte's excited to spend her vacation with her twin sister, who is attempting to win a beauty pageant crown their mother once won. It's the last year that Ginny will be eligible. Charlotte can't wait to read by the pool and visit the Harry Potter Park.

When Ginny has an allergic reaction the night before the pageant begins, she begins Charlotte to take her place in the preliminary rounds. They both know that Ginny's a shoo-in for the top twenty.

Against her better judgement and against her desire, Charlotte agrees knowing how much this crown means to her sister. But she's never been the pretty one and she's never walked a runway in stilettos. They have a lot of work to do. Can they pull this off?

My Thoughts: Of course I enjoyed this book - it's a feminist take on beauty pageants starring a Children's librarian who adores Harry Potter. This book was written for me. I loved the bookish moments and the books mentioned. I loved the romance - and how that started. I loved the sisterly moments. I loved how Charlotte gained confidence and looked at herself differently because of the pageant and because of the ladies competing with her. I enjoyed their friendships and their moments together from the small talk, to rooting for each other, to helping each other. 

Cover Thoughts: Cute
Source: My Library
Library Recommendation: Grab this one for your romance collections.

Adult Review: Goodnight Tweetheart

Abby's debut novel gained her instant fame. She hasn't been able to get past chapter five on her sophomore novel. Since she hasn't delivered her novel, her editor drops her from the list.

Abby's not sure what to do. When she gets an email from her publicist advising her to join twitter. There she "meets" Mark. Her shows her the twitter ropes.

Soon the two of them begin chatting almost daily. She learns that he's on sabbatical trying to write a novel -in Europe. They chat about their lives, pop culture, their fears, and what they are wearing.

After a few "dates", Abby's hooked. She's addicted to twitter and to Mark. She learns more about herself and her writer's block while talking with him. Then he drops the truth on her - he's not in Europe. He's not writing a book.

Abby doesn't know what to do, what to believe, or what to think. Can she untangle the web of lies he's told her and uncover the truth?

My Thoughts: I picked this book up on a whim. I had nothing to read for my lunch break because the book I'd been expecting to arrive didn't. I'm really glad it didn't! Most of this book is told in tweets - which makes for a fast addictive read. I LOVED the pop culture references - especially the Veronica Mars ones. I laughed several times over the tweet banter. I loved the idea of the twitter dates. A very cute story that I've already recommended to my co-worker.

Cover Thoughts: Cute

Source: My Library