No interview this week. I’ve got too many eggs in one Easter basket–too many dishes to prepare for this weekend’s feast! Instead, I’m going to focus on five books, plus one(ish) bonus book, that I read in February in March and share my thoughts on them with you–like I did back in January. It’s like a party, having all these books together like this! In any case, I do owe all these incredible writers formal reviews, but hopefully they can forgive my not getting to it just a bit longer…. Here we go!
I have never met such an adorably flawed, endearingly messed-up heroine in my life. Brea Brown‘s Libby Foster is a bit screwed up from a tragedy in her twenties, addicted to Kit Kats, and also still a virgin. She has some issues connecting with real-life people, and as a result has all these wonderful daydreams involving the office hottie, architect Jude (anyone who knows me knows I have soft spot for architects)… As she lets down her barriers, the chemistry between Libby and Jude is delightful. You’ll want to shake Libby sometimes but you’ll be compelled to cheer for her all the way as she comes to terms with her past and *hopefully* stops letting it impede her chance at happiness. Highly recommended! Buy it now!
I want to work in a newsroom. I never wanted to work in a newsroom so much before I read this book, and I am huge fan of the Mary Tyler Moore Show... But Cindy Roesel’s “insider” presentation (did you know Cindy has an Emmy?) of the antics of what goes on behind-the-scenes of the news is eye-opening and highly entertaining. Charley Thomas is a great character, smart and full of depth. And she keeps vodka in the fridge in her office–how can you not like her? With Charley, Cindy Roesel creates a very realistic portrait of a woman torn between what she’s spent her life building, namely her news career, and where her heart and soul truly feel “at home.” Did I mention I fell hard for casual-sex bud Oz? You will not be disappointed with this one! Buy it now!
Welcome to the world of “dark chick-lit,” as you get to know Valerie Anthrope in this page-turner by Louise Wise. Valerie’s not the bitch you love to hate, but the bitch you love uncovering reasons to love. Louise has done such a nice job creating not one, but two would-be-despicable characters (Valerie and the player who’s after her…we’re not always sure what about her he’s after…the loveable rogue Lex), by showing us the parts of them they never show to others, and allowing us to love them, flaws and all. It doesn’t hurt that there’s also a kind of “fairy godmother” in the mix. You’ll definitely want to check this one out! Buy it now!
I had no idea what was in store for me when I picked up this book. It started so calmly. A string of emails about an about-to-be-bride being sent to Paris against her will by her flu-stricken boss. Then, chapter one begins, and Bam! Right down the rabbit hole you drop! I don’t want to say too much about this book because it seems like every page holds delightful new surprises. The chemistry between Chloe and her savior/captor (we’re never quite sure) Julien will keep you riveted and the twists will compel you to read faster than you’ll want… You know, like when you think you’re just going to “savor” that freshly baked chocolate croissant. I literally devoured this book overnight, and so will you! Buy it now!
Speaking of rabbit holes… Zombie Attack is not my usual book. I picked it up because it was free. Though I’d be lying if I said this was the main reason. In the ocean of tweets I slog through daily of authors begging people to buy their books, posting reviews and the like, Robert Bevan stood out for me because instead of tweeting “Buy my book!” he grabbed me with: “Show me on the doll where this story touched you” and “It’s like that friend who gives you a kidney… from a hobo… and you didn’t need a kidney.” This delicious subversiveness intrigued me to download and read Zombie Attack, a slice of a larger story that imagines a group of friends finding themselves trapped “in” a role-playing game called “Caverns and Creatures.” Glad to report that the writing lived up to the tweets; I really liked it and I bought another one. That’s working it! Buy it now!
In my “other” career as a book editor, I have had the pleasure of editing Patti Callahan Henry. Not only does this lady know how to tell a story, I’ve never experienced another writer who can encapsulate the intensity of a moment of emotion in words in quite the same way Patti can. And Then I Found You was inspired by the real-life story of a child in her own family who was given up for adoption then years later reunited with her birth mother, aunts, and cousins via Facebook. Come on, how cool is that?! Patti does such a wonderful job exploring all the elation, anticipation, and fear; the pain of loss and the joy of the “gain.” Pre-order it now!
(As for the bonus-ish book, Patti did a short called Friend Request which tells the backstory of And Then I Found You and which you should also buy and read now before you pre-order And Then I Found You. I cried my eyes out. But in a good way. So will you. In a good way.) Buy it now!
I’m not going to say too much more about Patti’s books now because I’m blessed to have her as my guest on the blog next week, just days before the release of And Then I Found You!
What are some of the great books you’ve read lately? Leave me a comment with a recommendation, please.
Whatever you’re doing this weekend, have a great one!
