Review: Cover Story

 

My Thoughts: I read this because of was looking for more epistolary novels. I hadn't heard of it before. And now looking at Goodreads, I see it has quite the following.

As an epistolary, it was quite good. It was a quick fast read that sucked me in. I didn't want to put it down. 

I can't tell how I feel about this book; I'm still thinking and processing this book.

The ending surprised the heck out of me. 

It's honestly hard to talk about without spoiling it

This would make a good book discussion book as I imagine people have LOTS of opinions after reading it. If you've been living under a rock like I have and you like epistolary novels too, try this out. And let me know what you think.

If you have read this one - what DID you think?

Bookstagram (9): Friendship Pact

 

I really enjoy reading Jill Shalvis books.

Here are a few reasons I enjoyed her latest one:

Adult Review: No Offense

* Book 2 in the Little Bridge Island series * 

Molly's the new Children's Librarian in town. During one of her programs, she's called to take care of an issue in the bathroom. One of the doors is stuck, which usually means trouble. Molly's stunned to find a baby in the bathroom. One call to the police department and the baby's taken into custody. But Molly can't stop thinking about her.

The Sherriff believes the parents to be criminals, leaving the baby behind like that, but Molly knows otherwise. She's determined to keep herself in the loop. John doesn't mind one bit, even though Molly's wit bites at times.

Can they come to terms and solve the case together?

My Thoughts: Another cute addition to the series. Of course I loved it was about a Children's Librarian finding love. I loved the moments in the library from the frosting program to the teen boy to the value of privacy. I loved the Sherriff and his relationship with his daughter; they were so cute together. I loved the banter between Molly and John. And how gossip spread like wildfire on the island. The only bad part about this book is there was no librarian friend named Jennifer. So looking forward to more in this series.

Cover Thoughts: Cute
Source: My library
Library Recommendation: A must have series for your library's romance collection.

Review: Rainy Day Friends

* Book 2 in the Wildstone series *

Lanie took a temporary job to get away from the pain in her life. Not the pain of losing her husband - but the pain at discovering the truth behind his life. The moment she walks into the winery, where she'll head up the new marketing campaign, she realizes that she's in over her head with the Capriotti family.

While they're all super sweet, they also want to know everything about Lanie. She's not ready to share her humiliation - especially not with Mark. He's a single dad of twin girls, with a great smile. If she's not careful, she could fall for him.

Lanie doesn't need more heartache, not when she's still trying to heal from the past.

My Thoughts: I adored this book, I didn't want it to end. I loved the banter between Lanie and Mark - and how she tried to keep everyone at arm's length. But also how that never worked. I really loved the Capriotte family and I hope we see so much more of them in this series. They really stole my heart - from the twins' antics to the gruffness of Mia. I really loved River too. I loved how Cora embraced everyone as family and how that all worked out. I can't wait to read more in this series.

Cover Thoughts: Adorable, but doesn't exactly fit the story
Source: My Library

 Library Recommendation: It's Jill Shalvis - her books should be automatically purchased for public libraries.

Upcoming Adult Review: The Boy is Back

* Book 4 in the Boy Books * 

When Becky reads about her ex-boyfriend's parents being arrested in the papers, her first thought is that the newspaper made a mistake. There is no way the Stewarts attempted to con their way out of paying for dinner. They were particularly kind to her.

Reed, Becky's ex-boyfriend, finally comes home to help with his parents. The siblings decide that their parents need to downsize from a rundown mansion to a smaller house. They hire Becky and her moving company for the job.

Becky's on the fence about taking the job.  The Stewarts are adamant that they aren't interested in moving, or getting rid of any of their things, including piles and piles of old newspapers. They maintain they aren't losing their minds.

But their decision speak a different truth. Either way, Reed is sticking around to make sure things go smoothly. He's finally going to have to face Becky again after all these years. Can he win her back after that terrible prom night?

My Thoughts: I love how this book is inspired by a crime story in the Bloomville Herald and that it turned into a serious, but entertaining novel. Still told epistolary form - emails, text messages, voice mails, pictures, and more, this novel has a few characters from the previous trilogy making me wonder/hope if this is the start of a new Boy trilogy, set in Indiana. 

I really liked learning more about prom night and what went so terribly wrong. I loved the moments between siblings - Becky and her sister and Mitch, Reed, and Trimble. I liked learning more about Reed's life away from home - the golfing and Uncle Lyle. The conversations between Marshall and Carly were quite entertaining, as were the moments between Marshall and Reed. I do hope to see these characters again!

As to the serious nature of this novel, it addresses the awfulness of parents aging, the question of what makes a hoarder, how easy it can be to go through your life savings, and second chances and forgiveness. 

Of  course, in true Meg Cabot form, there were many amusing moments, moments that touched the heartstrings, and moments that made me sigh with happiness. Another winner of a book.

Cover Thoughts: Really cute
Source: ARC sent for review
Release Date: October 18th
Library Recommendation: Highly Recommended for all public libraries

Review: Foreplay

Pepper has always known that she belongs with Hunter. When her BFF tells her that Hunter is finally single, she knows it's time to make her move.

Except that she doesn't have an experience - as in zero. Her friends drag her to a bad to find a bartender with a hot reputation.

With his help, she'll be ready for Hunter. But the more time she spends with Reece, the more she starts to care for him.  Could there be something more to this relationship than learning?

My Thoughts: Foreplay is the start of a New Adult trilogy and it brings the heat. I really enjoyed this book. I love how it takes places in college and it's centered around three roommates. I like how Pepper came into her own with the help of Reece.  I liked how the relationship between Reece and Pepper developed. I can't wait to read the rest of the trilogy.

Final Thoughts: I think I'm late on the bandwagon, but this was a perfect New Adult read!

Mysterious Saturday Review: The Bride Wore Size 12

* Heather Wells Series #5 *

Heather and Cooper are getting married - if Heather can survive the first few weeks of school starting. This year, Death Dorm is the coolest place to be because of a very important resident. 

When one of the R.A.'s is discovered dead in her room, the start of school becomes a nightmare for Heather and her team.  No one seems to know what happened - but the security cameras in place for the VIR tell a very different story.

Heather's trying to figure what really happened that night, especially since Jasmine was murdered. Plus she's trying to plan a wedding, deal with her long lost and unwelcome mother, and deal with parents wanting more for their kids during the first week of college. Will she be able to juggle it all?

My Thoughts: I love this series - it always makes me laugh. So I saved this book for a tough day, where I had a lot of waiting going on. And it helped. It made me smile and laugh. It made me share tidbits of the story with my husband. It brightened up my day and made a horrible day better. I devoured it, knowing that it would be just what I needed. And it was. 

I loved the reappearance of Heather's mom. I thought Cooper's sisters were horrible, but pretty funny. I really liked Cooper's friends. I really liked the parents trying to cope with leaving their sons or daughters off at college. Their interaction with their kids was really entertaining.  I love Heather. She tries so hard to be nice to everyone that she ends up telling all sorts of lies, sparing their feelings. She's very good hearted.  I love that she has Cooper to make her laugh after a rough day. I loved the ending of the book.

Cover Thoughts: Cute
Source: Bought

If you missed my post on meeting Meg Cabot - check it out.

Meg Cabot at RJ Julia's

Meg Cabot was at RJ Julia's at the beginning of the week. Of course I rearranged my work schedule to be there! If you've been following the blog, you know that not only is she one of my favorite authors, but she's also the reason I became a YA Librarian. In grad school, I wasn't sure which librarian road I was going to take. I read the first Princess Diaries book and it changed me. I chose to be a YA Librarian because of the amazing books in the field. And it was right choice. So how could I pass up meeting her? It was a fantastic night.

We learned some secrets of her past. She started writing when she was very young, making up all kinds of stories.  She hated Math (as does Princess Mia). Here's a photo of her.

She was an Art Major in college. At first she thought of majoring in writing, but she met a boy at party who advised her against it. He said that majoring in something you love would crush your love for it. So she majored in art instead. (She ended marrying that boy after meeting him again years later). Here's one of her illustrations of laundry. 

She thought she would go to NYC and get an illustrating job.  That didn't happen. Instead, she found herself with a job at NYU in the dorm (much like Heather Wells - only there were no dead bodies).

When her father passed away, she realized that life was short. She didn't want to regret not trying for her dreams. The day she got home from the funeral, she started seriously writing query letters. She wrote query letters and started sending them in daily for two years. And got a pile of rejections in return. But rejections weren't the worst thing that could happen, so she kept trying. She has folders of manuscripts that will never be published.

She asked her friends for some advice after learning that her story about a girl finding out her mother's dating her teacher didn't have enough of a plot. She wondered if the girl should turn out to be a princess or be kidnapped by aliens. The princess plot won and the main character turned 14 instead of 30. 

For the Heather Wells books, she wanted an average woman. At the time, that was size 12 but it's now size 14. She used a lot of her background from her previous job in the series. Yes, people really did elevator surf. To keep more up to date on current student life, she reads blogs. When she's stuck with procedure questions, she calls her brother who works as a cop.  Other covers for the first Heather Wells book:

For the current cover, they couldn't find a male model who portrayed Cooper. The book covers in France for the series use a cake topper. That seemed like a fun alternative. I can't wait to read The Bride Wore Size 12. 

Here we are together with the cake topper from the cover!

Adult Review: Big Girl Panties

Holly meets Logan on one of her worst days. She looks a mess and she's forced to sit next to him on an airplane. She can already hear his thoughts, they're broadcasted all over his face.

She brings up the fact that her husband died, leaving food as a comfort. He surprises her by making her an offer she can't refuse. Logan's a personal trainer and he's willing to help her take back control over her life.

Holly decides to take him up on his offer. Soon she's working out and making better food choices. She's also spending quite a bit of time with Logan. Could there be romance in the air?

My Thoughts: From the moment I heard about this book from PW, I was excited to read it. I devoured this book - and loved it. I loved Holly - she's strong, determined, and a wise ass. I loved her banter with Logan. I loved watching her struggle to love herself and to find peace with her body. It's hard to feel comfortable in your own skin; I thought Evanovich portrayed the ups and downs nicely. Holly worked out, kept a food journal, and tried leaving her guilt behind her. 
I liked watching Logan's reaction to Holly, how he started falling for her without realizing it and what that would mean to him. I liked the dual perspectives. A fantastic debut novel and an author to watch.

Cover Thoughts: It's ok, but it doesn't give away lot of information about the book
Source: BEA where I got to meet the author, who was super sweet!

Mysterious Saturday Review: Footprints in the Sand

*3rd in the Piper Donovan series - read my review of To Have and to Kill*

Piper's cousin Kathy's getting married. Not only is Piper the Maid of Honor, but she's also baking the wedding cake for beloved cousin. She and her family travel down early for the week of festivities leading up to the wedding.

Kathy's not feeling very festive as one of her good friends and bridesmaids is missing. Piper wants to make her cousin feel better and asks a few questions. Soon, a body turns up at the beach. It's Shelley. Now more than anything, Kathy wants to know what happened.

However, both potential witnesses are silenced. With Piper asking questions and poking her nose into Shelley's affairs  could she be next one the list?

My Thoughts: I really really like this series - I love the wedding cakes created. I love the weddings. And above all, I enjoy Piper. She sort of fell into the wedding cake decorating, taking over from her mother due to her failing eyesight. Piper's sweet but a little naive. She's at a crossroads in her life. She used to have a recurring role on a soap opera, but her character died. Although she's still interesting in acting the jobs have gotten fewer. I like the little tidbits of Piper's acting life, her auditions  her facebook posts and friends, and her desire for more jobs. She's taking her romance with Jack slow as she's been burned in the past. I really like Jack. He's solid, dependable, and really nice. I'd like to see more of him in the next book.
I loved the descriptions of the beach and the water. It made me long to be there. I found the Amish culture included very interesting as most of it I didn't know. The short chapters with multiple perspectives make this book impossible to put down. I always want to know what's going to happen next. 

Cover Thoughts: I like it, though it differs from the previous two books featuring a wedding cake, which I really liked.
Source: Sent to me for review!!
Fun Fact: 2 years ago, I met Mary Jane Clark at BEA.

Mysterious Saturday Review: Size 12 and Ready to Rock

 * 4th book in the Heather Wells series*

Heather's trying to keep her personal relationship a secret, but when her former life collides with her new life, she's forced to lend a hand. Someone wants to hurt her ex-fiance's wife Tania Trace.

Tania's a huge pop star. She's just about to host her own Rock Camp, which will be filmed for a reality show. When her bodyguard is shot, Tania insists that she'll only host the camp where Heather works.

Now Heather's scrambling to get the dorms ready for teen girls and their mothers. She has a new boss, she's dealing with co-worker drama, and she's hoping that everything will work out.

Tania's Rock Camp starts off with a bang, leaving one employee dead. While the event goes on, Heather takes on more responsibility. Cooper has stepped in as Tania's new bodyguard. Together the two of them try to piece together who might want to harm Tania. 

My Thoughts: I love this series. It's charming, it's funny, and it's a fabulous read. I liked the danger, the romance, the family interactions. I like how Heather and Cooper were pulled back in to the Cartwright family. I loved how Heather held her own against them. I can't wait to see where this series goes next!


While the book is lighthearted, Cabot tackles the HUGE issue of abusive relationships. The pattern with this abusive relationship is between young girls and an older man. Tania's scared, but learns to trust Heather. Heather just wants to find this guy and rip his heart out. No one should have to go through a relationship as shown in this book. I hope that any woman going through such a time as this has a friend just like Heather to help her through it.

Cover Thoughts: Cute
Source: My Library.

Adult Review: Overbite

Meena broke up with her vampire boyfriend and hasn't seen him in months. She does however see the future death of another ex-boyfriend. She calls him to warn him. They agree to meet.

Meena doesn't realize he's a vampire until it's too late. He's attacking her. All of sudden Lucien comes out of nowhere and deals with him. Now Meena's hiding the fact that she's seen Lucien - otherwise known as the Prince of Darkness.

Meena's been trying to convince the Palatine that there is good in vampires. They can choose to love. Deep down she knows that Lucien does love her. She wants to protect him, but something's changed in him.

He tells her the Palatine is using her as bait, trying to make her doubt her employer. Could it be possible? Have they planned this elaborate game with her as a pawn? Or is Lucien trying to manipulate her into his arms again?


My Thoughts: A cross-over A/YA title dealing with vampires. I liked this a little better than the first book, Insatiable. There's more of a mystery, more danger, more double crossing, and still the love triangle with Meena at the center between Lucien and Wulf. I loved the bits with Meena's brother. I love Meena struggling with her "gift" and deciding how to tell people their future deaths. I love the parts with Meena and Wolf, although there weren't as many in this book as I would have liked.

Cover Thoughts: LOVE it! I love the redesign of the first book to match this one as well. It's creepy, yet elegant. I love the addition of the book in her hands.

Source: my Library

Review: Family Affair

Lacey's dealing with the aftermath of a very painful divorce. She's trying to put her life back together. To get away from the pain, she moved. Now she has a job that she loves, but a boss who doesn't appreciate her. She needs to ask for a raise, but can't stand up for herself.

Her personal life isn't much better. She hasn't started dating again, although her BFF Jeanne thinks it's time. Her neighbor keeps asking her out. Jack's cute, but the arguments he has with his girlfriend prevent her from taking a second look at him.

When Jack's cat impregnates Lacey's cat, she marches over there to give him a piece of her mind, and opens a door she didn't know existed.

My Thoughts: I have the same problem with this cute novella that I have with a lot of short stories. I WANT MORE! This would have made a charming book. I hate becoming attached to characters and then the tale ends. Not that the story isn't wrapped up, it was just so interesting that I would have liked a full length tale.

Cover Thoughts: Adorable!

Source: My Library