My rating: 4 of 5 stars
Broken Dreams and Bottom Lines is a self published 2013 release. I received a copy of this book from the author in exchange for an honest review. Simplicity is the single mother of two young children. Her boyfriend, Richard, just dumped her. Her career is at a standstill and her dream of being a published author is met with rejection after rejection. Liss, as she is known to those close to her, is also flat broke. Her parents are not very supportive and her mother doesn't care how badly Liss is treated by Richard, just so long as Liss marries a doctor with some financial security. It also doesn't occur to her mother that her grandchildren might not flourish in that type of marriage. But, as bad as things are for Liss, her friends that are better off financially and career wise are no happier. So, Liss takes to her blog to vent about relationships and the myth of "Mr. Right" and happily ever after, and life in general. So, with one friend angry at being passed over for a promotion and nearing a milestone birthday, rethinking the career over family decision she made, and another friend showing all the signs of a breakdown, and another that is headed for divorce, the women bond together to drink too much, yell, cry, and laugh, generally support each other and try to advice and help. But one of Simplicity's friends has a brother named James that has made a blunt, cruel statement to Liss after her breakup with Richard. Liss takes it very personally and can't get the comment out of her mind. So, James gets added to the jerk list. Simplicity is disillusioned and had come to the conclusion that the reality of real life is nothing like what she had dreamed it would be. However, all is not as bleak as it appears.Along the way, Liss learns that she may not get the doctor or financial security like her friends, but she does have talent as an author, she is a good mother, and has good friends, and she learns how to stand up for herself and prioritize things so that maybe, just maybe, there may be a little bit of that fairytale in her life after all. If you like Bridget Jones's Diary or Sex in the City, you will enjoy this book. Instead of a diary or newspaper column, Liss writes on her blog. We get to read her blog post along the way. I got very frustrated with all the girls at one time or another. Liss just kept on trying to sabotage her love life by holding on to a guy that was making it all too clear that they just weren't on the same page. But, Liss was at a time in her life when she was beginning to feel like time was moving too fast and she had to have it all and have it right now. Her friends were also guilty of this attitude. Well, you know how the song goes: You can't always get what you want. But, as we draw to the close of the book it looks like Liss might have learned to have more realistic expectations and he will be much happier as a result. If you like chick lit, contemporary romance and maybe even women's fiction, this one would appeal to you. Love, heartbreak, disappointment, tears and laughter combine to make a compelling story. Overall this one gets a B+.
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About Darel Pace
I'm a storyteller compelled to take you on journeys. I started writing at the age of 5 or 6. When my siblings spent their pocket money on sweets, I used to buy notebooks and dream of being like Enid Blyton or Roald Dahl. By the time I was 7 I had written a 22 page story. By 10 I had written Who Framed Roger Rabbit 2 (complete with drawings) and by 15 I had written my first novel. I love stories -...more I'm a storyteller compelled to take you on journeys. I started writing at the age of 5 or 6. When my siblings spent their pocket money on sweets, I used to buy notebooks and dream of being like Enid Blyton or Roald Dahl. By the time I was 7 I had written a 22 page story. By 10 I had written Who Framed Roger Rabbit 2 (complete with drawings) and by 15 I had written my first novel. I love stories - I just can't stop. Being creative makes me happy.
In addition to storytelling, I am also a parent and a teacher. I have two wonderful children who have grown into moody teenagers. At least, they will be moody when they read this! And luckily for them, I teach at their school in the beautiful Somerset countryside.
My life has always been eventful; too much to share here - in fact, I think there might be another novel in it somewhere... but I am lucky to have a wonderful family and friends, a life filled with laughter, imagination and travel, and a home in a place I love.
Although I am probably being a bit polite; catch me later and I'll probably moan about how it is all rubbish and I'm planning to jet off to the Bahamas... You'll be able to tell because my next novel will be set on a beach.