Review - THE YOUNG WIVES CLUB by Julie Pennell

Publisher: Atria

Published: February 14, 2017

Genre: Women's Fiction

Source: E-ARC

Rating: 4

Blurb:
In Toulouse, Louisiana finding your one true love happens sometime around high school. If you’re lucky, he might be the man you thought he was. But as four friends are about to find out, not every girl has luck on her side in this charming debut novel perfect for fans of The Divine Secrets of the Ya-Ya Sisterhood and Desperate Housewives. 

Laura Landry’s quarterback husband was her ticket out of Toulouse. But when a devastating football injury sidelines him, they’re forced to move back to the small town she was so desperate to leave. As Brian starts drinking instead of rehabbing his knee, Laura must reevaluate what her future looks like…and if it includes her husband.

For years, Madison Blanchette has been waiting for bad-boy musician Cash Romero to commit to her. When wealthy George Dubois asks her out, she figures she may as well wait in style. Life with George means weekend trips to New Orleans, gourmet meals, and expensive gifts. At first she loves how George’s affection sparks Cash’s jealousy, but when George proposes to Madison, she finds herself torn between two men…

All Claire Thibodeaux wants is to be the perfect wife and mother. If she can do everything right she won’t end up like her mom, a divorced, single parent trying to make ends meet. But when Claire’s husband Gavin, a well-respected local pastor, starts spending late nights at work and less time in their bed, she can’t help but fear that history is about to repeat itself…

Gabrielle Vaughn never thought she’d end up with someone like her fiancé. The son of a prominent congressman, Tony Ford is completely out of her league—which is why she lied to him about everything from having a college degree to the dark truth about her family. She knows she has to come clean, but how do you tell the love of your life that your entire relationship is a lie?

As these young wives come together to help each other through life, love, and heartbreak, they discover that there are no easy answers when it comes to matters of the heart.

Review:

This is what reading is all about. The type of book that makes you feel and one that makes you think. The Young Wives Club is just the type of book that has all of that and more. The girls of the book were so damn relate-able and so damn awesome that I could cry tears of joy. I was able to relate to each and every one of them in some kind of way. In the end, the book teaches us a very important lesson; follow your dreams, do you, and don't let anyone try to tell you how to live your life. Empowerment. If I could describe the book in one word, it would be empowerment. 

We follow the individual stories of four friends as they go through life, love, love lost, betrayal, lies, and eventually finding ones self. I won't go into each one of the girls stories but each and every one of them show us how life sometimes has a different plan in store for each and every one of us. They struggled but found a way to come or on top and do what they thought best for themselves. Men. We all love men. But they aren't what makes us who we are. And I think the book showed us that as women, we have so much more potential if we just believe in ourselves. 

I love that. And I love this story so much. Sure, some of the story lines left me a little disappointed (I'm looking at you Cash) but overall, I fell in love. I want another book like this but for now I guess I'll settle with reading more books from the author. Fall in love me and get this wonderful book! 

*Thank you to the publisher for providing a copy for an honest review. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

Buy the Books:

Amazon

Amazon UK

About the Author:

Julie Pennell grew up in Shreveport, Louisiana, where she ate her weight in crawfish, used the word “y’all” a lot, and wrote a weekly Teen Scene column for the local paper. After graduating with a degree in journalism from Louisiana Tech University, she moved to New York City to work at Seventeen magazine and later Alloy Entertainment as a digital editor. She lives in Brooklyn with her husband and is a regular online contributor to Teen Vogue, TODAY, and The Nest, among other publications. The Young Wives Club is her first novel.

Blog Tour Review ft Giveaway - TRAVELER by L.E. DeLano

Traveler by L.E. DeLano

Genre: YA, Fantasy

Publication: February 7, 2017 by Swoon Reads

Jessa has spent her life dreaming of other worlds and writing down stories more interesting than her own, until the day her favorite character, Finn, suddenly shows up and invites her out for coffee. After the requisite nervous breakdown, Jessa learns that she and Finn are Travelers, born with the ability to slide through reflections and dreams into alternate realities. But it’s not all steampunk pirates and fantasy lifestyles…Jessa is dying over and over again, in every reality, and Finn is determined that this time, he’s going to stop it… this Jessa is going to live.

Review:

Hm. I want so bad to say I loved this one but I can't. It was okay and that ending was actually sort of heartbreaking. I think it's because I didn't expect it but it breaks my heart all the same. The concept of the story is an interesting and new. I liked the idea of people being able to travel in different realities; also that in this book the different realities totally exist. It's an awesome thought. But I think at time I got confused and bored. 

Obviously not bored enough to put the book down. But I was expecting something different. The relationship between Finn and Jessa was cute but I didn't feel that fiery need for them to be together. And if truth be told I liked Finn a whole lot more than her. Especially his other self in a different reality. I would go into all the semantics of the world but I feel like you'll probably enjoy it more if you read about it. Like I said before, it's an interesting concept. 

Even though I thought this was okay, I do still expect to read the next book. Seeing as how it left off, I just can't let a book go open ended. 

*Thank you to the publisher for providing a copy for an honest review. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

Purchase

Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Google Play

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About the Author

L.E. DeLano is a YA novelist rep’d by Barry Goldblatt Literary, author of the upcoming Traveler (Swoon Reads/MacMillan 2017) and lifelong writer.

Probably best known under her alternate moniker, Ellie DeLano, she has blogged for both Woman’s Day and Mom’s Magazine, and runs her own blog on parenting and autism at SingleMomtism.com.

She lives in Pennsylvania with two very adventurous kids and two very ridiculous cats. In her spare time, she writes (of course) and binge-watches way too much Netflix.

Website | Facebook | Twitter | Instagram | Tumblr

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Review- SEEKING MR. Wrong by Natalie Charles

SEEKING MR. WRONG

Natalie Charles

February 13, 2017

Pocket Star EBook

9781501164545

$1.99

Romance

“Just in time for Valentine’s Day, Charles (The Coffee Girl) offers up a delightful and entertaining romance with some spice on the side.”

—Library Journal

About the book:

Lettie Osbourne has lived her whole life by the book. Sweet, predictable, and certainly not living life on the edge, she’s always been content to make a living as a kindergarten teacher who writes adorable children’s books on the side. After her fiancé leaves her, Lettie decides she is perfectly content to accept her fate as mother to her beloved dog Odin and favorite auntie to her niece and nephew. But then everything changes.

When Lettie’s publisher decides to sell only erotica, her editor convinces her to turn up the heat and throw some spice into her vanilla life. Lettie sets out to find the perfect man to inspire her writing...and finds him in her school’s vice principal, Eric Clayman. As Lettie and Eric grow closer and her writing gets steamier, she’s left wondering: is Eric Mr. Wrong? Or Mr. Right?

Review:

I enjoyed watching our dear heroine, Lettie, find herself through writing erotica and falling for the "wrong man". I think the best thing about the reading experience is feeling everything the character does. I was able to laugh, feel sexy, and swoon over a wonderful man that was able to help ring Lettie out of her comfort zone. 

Lettie writes children's books and is a kindergarten school teacher. She plays by the rules and has good manners in everything she does. She also was left by her husband to be when he came out of the closet. Man, that's got to be rough! But through it all, Lettie has just been living a life that isn't perfect by any means, but one that is safe. Safe can be good...

After prompting from her best friend, Lettie let's loose and decides that her Mr. Wrong is going to be Eric, her boss. And I don't know about you but sleeping with the boss trope has always been a favorite of mine! I loved the sweet banter and sexual tension between the two. 

The story was sweet, perfect, and just in time for Valentine's Day. Romance is so wonderful. It's even more wonderful with a book by your side. And if you're looking for a good romantic book, you don't have to look too far!

*Thank you to the publishers for providing a copy for an honest review. All thoughts and opinions are my own.  

About the author:

Natalie Charles believes she writes warm-hearted contemporary romance and women's fiction. Her mother believes she writes pornography. When she's not writing, Natalie can be found avoiding housework, baking, or engaging in eccentric do-it-yourself projects. She lives in a tiny town in Connecticut with her husband, their two young children, and a disobedient dog. Natalie loves connecting with readers! Visit her at www.nataliecharlesromance.com.

Review: THE GOOD DAUGHTER by Alexandra Burt

Blurb:
From the author of Remember Mia comes the tale of a young woman in search of her past, and the mother who will do anything to keep it hidden...


What if you were the worst crime your mother ever committed? 

Dahlia Waller's childhood memories consist of stuffy cars, seedy motels, and a rootless existence traveling the country with her eccentric mother. Now grown, she desperately wants to distance herself from that life. Yet one thing is stopping her from moving forward: she has questions. 

In order to understand her past, Dahlia must go back. Back to her mother in the stifling town of Aurora, Texas. Back into the past of a woman on the brink of madness. But after she discovers three grave-like mounds on a neighboring farm, she ll learn that in her mother s world of secrets, not all questions are meant to be answered... 

Review:
This one took me a little while to get into. While I thought it was good, the story had more of a slow burn plot line and at times it was tedious. The ending more than made up for it though. We follow multiple POVs throughout the book; Quinn, Dehlia, Aella, and Memphis. It's going to sound confusing hearing all their stories, but I promise it'll all make sense once the end is near. 

I wish I would have loved this as much as I did when I first picked it up. While it was slow start for me, I had the anticipation that it would get better and that I would be wowed - but that just wasn't the case. I wasn't ever wowed and instead the book dragged. At times when reading, I thought I could enjoy the complexity of the characters and the way their lives intertwined. The mystery came and went; but by that time I was only a little invested. 

Maybe if I was a bit more invested in the story I could see myself loving it. But in the end, it just fell flat. I wanted more. More action, maybe? It just wasn't enough. Too much tell and not enough show. Thank you to the publisher for providing a copy for an honest review. All thoughts and opinions are my own. 

 Buy Links:

Amazon
Amazon UK

About the Author:
Born in Fulda, Germany, a baroque town in the East Hesse Highlands, I spent my childhood accompanying my two older brothers on local countryside adventures, roaming abandoned farm houses, ancient beech woods cratered by WW2 bombings, and sandstone towers rumored to have housed witches waiting to be burned at the stakes. A gluttonous reader long before online bookstores, grocery store crime novels, and large book chains cropped up in every city, I made do with a small town library in the city hall building. After I exhausted the children's section, I moved on to crime fiction and serial killers.

While pursuing literary translations, I decided to tell my own stories. After three years of writing classes and gluttonous reading, my short fiction appeared in the Freedom Fiction Journal, All Things Girl, and MUSED Literary Review. 

I currently live in Central Texas with my husband, my daughter, and two Chocolate Labrador Retrievers.

I am currently working on my third novel. 

Website

http://www.alexandraburt.com/

Twitter

@alexandraburt

Release Blitz feat Giveaway:Next to Never by Penelope Douglas!

Buy Next to Never

Amazon / Amazon UK / Amazon AUS / Nook / iBooks / Kobo

Title: Next to Never Genre: New Adult Author: Penelope Douglas Release Date: January 17th, 2017

Synopsis:

New York Times bestseller Penelope Douglas introduces Quinn, younger sister to Jared, Madoc, and Jaxon, in the latest novella in the series that began with Jared and Tate in Bully...

Quinn Caruthers has several problems.

Her father, Jason, and her three older brothers, Jared, Madoc, and Jaxon.

Under the close watch of the men in her family, Quinn has found it nearly impossible to spread her wings—or even date—without them jumping in to hover. And when a family friend—several years older—from her childhood captures her heart, she knows they’re going to be a problem. Lucas Morrow is a man—experienced, sophisticated, and important. And knowing her brothers, he may as well be forbidden.

But Lucas left town years ago and shows no signs of returning. Quinn knows she shouldn’t wait for him anymore.

But then a package turns up on her doorstep with no return address and its contents reveal family secrets that threaten to turn Quinn’s world upside down. She’s never asked about the tumultuous path of her parents’ romantic history, but she soon learns their happy marriage had a very rocky and passionate start.

As she begins to see things around her with new eyes, Quinn will have to make tough choices about whether she’ll keep waiting…or finally go after what she really wants.

Prologue:

There's a prologue that Penelope had to delete from the book and she was kind enough to share it with all of us on her website. If you want to read it, and I highly recommend that you do, you can check it out here.

About The Author:

Penelope Douglas is a New York Times, USA Today, and Wall Street Journal bestselling author. Her books have been translated into ten languages and include the Fall Away Series (Bully, Until You, Rival, Falling Away, and Aflame), as well as Corrupt, Misconduct, and Punk 57. Next to Never (A Fall Away Novella) is coming in January 2017.

She dresses for autumn year round, loves anything lemon flavored, and shops at Target almost daily. She lives in Las Vegas with her husband and their daughter.

Follow Her Here: Website, Facebook, Twitter, Goodreads, Instagram, Pinterest

Giveaway:

Enter to win a FULL set of signed books or a $50 Amazon gift card!

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Blog Tour Review ft Giveaway- CLAM JAM by RC Boldt

Clam Jam

By: R.C. Boldt

Releasing January 10, 2017
Self-Published

Blurb

Clam Jam

Definition: the female equivalent of a cock block.

Example: You’re chatting with a guy you’re interested in and your friend comes along and lays claim to him. 

Maggie
That’s my life—except it’s worse. My friend who keeps “jamming” me is my gay roommate and if that isn’t a W.T.F. moment, I’m not sure what is.

Fact: He went home with three—yes, three—of the guys I had been so sure were into me.
Fact: He’s really pissing me off. I mean, hello? I’m trying to get back in the saddle, but I’ll never manage to get a boyfriend before the age of fifty if he keeps this up.Fact: Secretly, I wonder what it would be like if he weren’t gay. Why do all the hot, sweet, tender-hearted guys have to be gay?
Fact: My gay-dar needs a serious tune-up.

Ry
The day I interviewed for the room to rent, everything changed. I knew I had met “the girl”, except there was one small problem: she didn’t want anything to do with men. I recognized a ntop-notch force field when I saw one. She’d been burned badly and didn’t want to deal with a heterosexual guy as a roommate. I could’ve turned around and found another place to live, but I wanted to live there—with her.

So I had to go “undercover”. 

Fact: I’m in love with my roommate.
Fact: I’m a likely candidate for carpal tunnel surgery since all the action I’ve had for the past year has been my hand.
Fact: She’s going to hate me if I come clean now.
Fact: I’m not giving up. Which means, I’ll just have to continue to run defense until I figure out a way to get Maggie to see the “real” me. 

The me that loves her.

The me that would never do her wrong.

Until then, I’ll keep running off every guy who shows any interest. 

Until then, I’ll continue to Clam Jam. 

Link to Follow Tour: http://tastybooktours.com/tours-master/2016/11/15/clam-jam-by-rc-boldt

Goodreads Link:https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/30135495-clam-jam 

Buy Links:      AMAZON | B & N | GOOGLE | ITUNES | KOBO

Amazon US: http://amzn.to/2gcvm3F

Amazon UK: https://goo.gl/cNpZy1

Amazon CA: https://goo.gl/LW914r

Amazon AU: https://goo.gl/CLdV6N

B&N: https://goo.gl/4p5P3V

iBooks US: https://goo.gl/Zf3mVB

Kobo: https://goo.gl/KJVgjE

Google Play: https://goo.gl/gdUjg7

Author Info

RC Boldt is the wife of Mr. Boldt, a retired Navy Chief, mother of Little Miss Boldt, and former teacher of many students. She currently lives on the southeastern coast of North Carolina, enjoys long walks on the beach, running, reading, people watching, and singing karaoke. If you're in the mood for some killer homemade mojitos, can't recall the lyrics to a particular 80's song, or just need to hang around a nonconformist who will do almost anything for a laugh, she's your girl.

Author Links:   WEBSITE | FACEBOOK | TWITTER | GOODREADS

Website: http://www.rcboldtbooks.com/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/rcboldtauthor

Twitter: https://twitter.com/RC_Boldt

GoodReads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/14543027.R_C_Boldt

Review:

This is my first time reading a book by RC Boldt and it most certainly isn't going to be my last. I kid you not, I was hooked from the very first page. There are those books that you just know you're going to love and connect with from the very beginning - and Clam Jam was it for me. Maggie is the heroine that you can't help but fall in love a little bit with. It's no wonder our hero, Ryland, couldn't help himself either. 

Romcoms are so needed in our romance community because they help alleviate the erotica and dark books we love to read so much. Not saying that this book isn't intense or anything like that, it's just a completely different book but at the same time, it's not. It's predictable but not in a way that makes you want to roll your eyes. It helps that the characters are ALL endearing. Even the best friends of the H/h, Jack and Sarah. 

As you know, the story is about a girl down on her luck looking for a roommate, preferably one whose a boy and gay. She can't exactly put that on the add though. In walks Ryland James looking for a place to stay when he suddenly lets Maggie know that he's gay. Easy peasy. Now Maggie won't have to worry about any kind of attraction, at least not on his part since he has a boyfriend. 

A boyfriend who also happens to be his best friend. This whole rouse goes on for a long time. And it didn't sit well with me for many reasons. One question burned me throughout: HOW IN THE HELL DO YOU NOT KNOW THAT YOUR ROOMMATE WHOM YOU HAVE AN ATTRACTION TO IS GAY? I get it, sometimes you really can't tell. But. Doesn't Ry have social media? In the story Jack, the supposed boyfriend, talks about how Maggie looked hot in a picture on Facebook. 

Which brings me to wonder, if you guys were friends for that long, how could you not tell? Just by Ry's words alone, you believe him? Again, it would be okay. BUT. The two give into their attraction and it still doesn't clue you in that he might not be gay? She thinks he could be Bi at this point but why not full on ask what the hell is going on. 

There are probably many valid answers as to why Maggie was so naive when it came to Ry's sexuality. Oh well, still love her! 

Whatever. It totally looks like I'm ranting but I loved the shit out of Clam Jam. So much so, that it's my favorite book of the year. Well one of my favorites. And I'm very glad I chose it to be the last one I read this year. I want more from the author and will continue to read anything and everything she writes. If you're looking for something light hearted and fun, please pick this up! You won't be disappointed. It's sexy, romantic, and will have you laughing out loud from our very witty protagonists. 

*Thank you to the publisher for providing a copy for an honest review. All thoughts and opinions are my own. 

EXCERPT:

Inhaling deeply, I continue, “But I have to be honest with you. I’ve recently broken up with my dirtbag fiancé”—I break off with what I hope is a lighthearted laugh, but I swear it comes out sounding strained and a touch maniacal—“and I’m not interested in having a roommate who’s a guy and—”

“I’m gay.” 

I jerk, startled by his interrupting admission. And if I didn’t know better, I’d swear I detected a little hint of surprise in his eyes.

My eyebrows arch. “Really?” Shoot. That’s rude because even I hear the tinge of disbelieving doubt in my voice.

“Yes.” He nods, clasping his hands together and leaning forward to rest his forearms on the table. “Jack and I have been together for years now.” One of his hands reaches up to tug on his earlobe. “We still have a bit of an”—he pauses, lips pressing thin as though he’s trying to word it correctly—“open relationship, and I feel it’s best … to have a separate place and not be continuously underfoot.”

Huhhhhh. I’m still processing this information when he continues.

“So”—he flashes a smile that makes my insides all gooey—“you wouldn’t have anything to worry about with me.”

“Okay,” I say slowly, “but what about guests and sleepovers? Because I’m not a huge fan of having to listen to moaning and—”

“Not a problem.” He waves a hand dismissively. “I can totally stay at Jack’s place. He doesn’t have a roommate. It’s no big deal.” He flashes me another smile, and I feel my ovaries weep his name. 

It’s a good thing he’s gay. Otherwise, let’s be real. I’d likely end up being that roommate who accidentally-on-purpose“sleepwalks” into his bedroom—naked—and has sex with him. 

Holy crap. Did I really just think that? Bad, Maggie. Baaaad, Maggie.

Glancing over his paperwork, I say, “If you don’t mind, I have a few other applicants to interview.” Lies. I’m totally stalling. Raising my eyes, I find him watching me expectantly; that gaze centered on me in such a way that I feel like I’m the only person who exists right now. “But, tentatively, I’d like to offer you the room for rent.”

If I thought Ryland’s smile was ovary-lurch inducing before, this one trumps that. Big time. It’s blindingly bright and infectious, and I can’t help but return it. We sit there for a moment before he clears his throat, and I remember what else I have to tell him.