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Archive for September, 2010

Week in Review: 20th September

Posted on Monday, September 20th, 2010 by Chloe

Week In Review is a new, weekly feature on Chick Lit Reviews where we write mini reviews on the books we’ve read over the past seven days.With so many books to read it gives us the chance to let authors know our thoughts on books, with short, magazine-style reviews. Do leave a comment, or write your own blog post (crediting chicklitreviews.com for the idea), and let us know what you’ve read this week! Enjoy!

Things He Never Knew by Sarah Haynes

Reading a book by an unsigned author is always a bit of a gamble because you know they haven’t gone through the usual agent and publishers process that other authors have been through in the past. However, Sarah Haynes’ debut novel Things He Never Knew is a fantastic read, and certainly one that I should expect that should be picked up by a big name publisher. It’s about Steph Hammond, and a secret she’s been hiding from her husband Theo for 10 years. It’s soon clear to the reader what Steph’s secret is, but the drama comes from us waiting for everything to fall apart from Steph, and the ramifications when it does. The characters are all very real and while I sympathised with Steph, you can’t help but really feel for poor old Theo. Yes, it’s a story that has been done before within chick lit but I loved the writing, the tension made it so that I couldn’t put it down and it was just a very well crafted read overall. I hope Sarah Haynes continues to write because she is definitely an author I want to read more from based on this brilliant book. (Chloe)

Posted in Week In Review | No Comments »

American Saturdays Book Review: Katie Up and Down the Hall by Glenn Plaskin

Posted on Saturday, September 18th, 2010 by Danielle

A personal memoir by bestselling author and celebrity journalist Glenn Plaskin, KATIE is a moving story about a man who discovers the true meaning of family after adopting a cocker spaniel puppy. Through the magnetic personality of his mischievous dog, the author soon makes powerful connections with several of his down-the-hall neighbors in a high-rise located in the unique Battery Park City neighborhood of Lower Manhattan. First, Katie trots into the lives of Pearl and Arthur, a warm-hearted elderly couple just a few doors down from Glenn. Later, John, a single Dad, and his rambunctious young son, Ryan, also move in and are seduced by Katie’s charms.

All of their lives are profoundly changed as they are transformed from neighbors to friends to family, with Pearl as matriarch. The motherless boy finds a “Granny”; his Dad inherits a mother, Glenn discovers a confidante. Set in New York City, we witness nearly sixteen years of antics and family adventures spanning Hollywood high times, bad health, accidents, blustery winters, even the terrors of 9/11. Through it all, the family clings to each other, sharing a deep bond that give each comfort, support and security.

Based upon a widely-read article in Family Circle, here is an unforgettable story about the love that makes a family-one that transcends the hard realities of time, tragedy, and inevitable loss.

(more…)

Posted in 2010 releases, American Saturday, Book Reviews, Rating: 4/5 | No Comments »

American Saturdays Book News: Love in Complete Sentences by Mary E. Mitchell

Posted on Saturday, September 18th, 2010 by Danielle

Isn’t the cover of Love in Complete Sentences just adorable? It makes me eager to hand a bit of toast to my husband or children, just to put a little heart of jam on top. The cover aside, Mary E. Mitchell, author of Starting Out Sideways is already receiving a lot of attention for her newest novel. With praise coming from even the toughest of critics, Kirkus Reviews. The story sounds beautiful, something so many could relate to these days. I’m eagerly anticipating it’s release date, 23rd November. Take a look at the synopsis:

Life is a challenge for 36-year-old Kate Cavanaugh, high school guidance counselor to a motley group of at-risk students. Two years after finding her young husband dead in bed beside her, Kate’s storybook life has vanished, and she and her two children are still reeling. Her daughter Charlotte, once a sweet girl, has morphed into an angry, tattooed, tongue-studded teen; and Hunter, Kate’s four-year-old, keeps his feelings sealed tight inside and an empty ketchup bottle clasped to his heart. When a tragedy occurs at the Alan B. Shepard High School, it’s Kate who finds herself in need of counsel and guidance. What she does next catapults her and her family down an unfamiliar road, on a trajectory into space—toward understanding, forgiveness and healing.

Posted in 2010 releases, American Saturday, Book News | 3 Comments »

Book Review: Homecoming by Cathy Kelly

Posted on Friday, September 17th, 2010 by Chloe

Eleanor Levine left Ireland as a small child and moved over to New York where she spent the rest of her life. However, the death of her beloved husband Ralf has led Eleanor to make the move back to Ireland again, and so she finds herself alone in a quiet Irish town watching the world go by, trying to put her life back together before it’s too late. Rae is hiding a terrible secret from her darling husband and son, but isn’t sure how it will affect her family forever. To everyone in the town, Rae is a happy woman who runs the local teashop, but how will they see Rae once her secret is out? Connie O’Callaghan is a teacher at a local girl’s school and loves her job very much, but she’s very unlucky in love. Her ex-fiance Keith has left her broken, and Connie no longer has the confidence to find the man of her dreams. Finally, Hollywood starlet Megan Bouchier arrives in Ireland hiding from the press after her romance with a married movie star has put the stops on her career, and she doesn’t know where to turn next. Will a quiet Irish town help Megan mend her broken heart? Is it a Homecoming for all the women?

(more…)

Posted in 2010 releases, Book Reviews, Rating: 4/5 | 1 Comment »

Cover Wars: No Ordinary Love by Anita Notaro

Posted on Friday, September 17th, 2010 by Leah

Anita Notaro’s latest book No Ordinary Love comes out in paperback next year and the publishers have decided to re-design the cover. The one on the right is the new cover whereas the one on the left is the old one. For once, I actually love both covers. They’re both beautiful and I’d pick up either in a bookshop! What about you?

Louisa is fed up with every aspect of her life. Boyfriend, job, flat - all these need an instant and radical makeover. And so she decides to change it all in favour of a carefree existence, exchanging her house for a trailer, her car for a motorbike, and her smart clothes for leisure wear. And, most of all, she starts a new business, as a dog counsellor. With her best friends Maddy and Clodagh she embarks on a new regime - to meet different people, discover new places and find a fabulous new man. Her business brings her immediate and extraordinary rewards, as she meets the owners of dogs whose problems often seem to echo those of their owners. But whatever the stresses of her new life, Louisa has the support of her two friends. If only that could last forever...

Posted in Cover Wars | 2 Comments »

Chick Lit Classics: Red Letter Day by Colette Caddle

Posted on Thursday, September 16th, 2010 by Leah

Chick Lit Classics is a regular feature on Chick Lit Reviews where we highlight the books we feel are classics of the chick lit genre. Feel free to discuss our choices in the comments section!

This week I’ve chosen one of Irish author Colette Caddle’s novels as our Classic choice. Colette had been publishing books for a while now and is definitely a Chick Lit staple. Red Letter Day was one of the earlier Chick Lit novels I read and I thoroughly enjoyed it. Celine’s story isn’t a happy one and I found myself caught up with all the twists and turns that occurred and I couldn’t help hoping Celine would get a happy ending. It’s a book well worth picking up if you can as it’s Colette at her best!

Recently married to Dermot and tipped as Irelands hottest new designer, Celine Moore is relaxed, happy and looking forward to an exciting future. Why then just five years later, is she barely able to hold her head up high in her local Dublin neighbourhood, at odds with her father and sister in law and accepting a job in a second hand clothes shop. Celines life changed the night Dermot failed to return from work. The shock of Dermots violent end destroys all her happiness and ambition. Aching loneliness and anger take their place, and without thinking through the consequences, Celine embarks on a affair with a married man. Desperate to put some distance between herself and the local gossips, a new start in a new place and a new job seems like the perfect opportunity to start again. But its not long before she realizes that however much you try to run away, your past has a habit of catching up with you dramatically in the end…

Posted in Chick Lit Classics | 1 Comment »

Book Cover: Why Do We Have To Live With Men? by Bernadette Strachan

Posted on Thursday, September 16th, 2010 by Leah

The cover for Bernadette Strachan’s latest novel Why Do We Have To Live With Men? has had a bit of cover change since the original version was released a while back. I must prefer it to the older one and I love the sound of the book, having enjoyed previous books by Bernadette. Why Do We Have To Live With Men? is released on 28th October 2010!

Why do we have to live with men? As another evening with her best friends and a few bottles of wine comes to an end, Cat O’Connor is left pondering this very question. And, escaping from a ruined love affair, she is about to find the answer.

When Cat joins a group of women in a huge, decaying farmhouse deep in the countryside, she prepares to embark on six months without men. Cat is promised a nirvana of serenity where the chores are done without mutinous mutterings, where nourishing food simmers on the Aga and where feelings are taken seriously.

But Cat soon discovers that women are no saints either . . .

Posted in 2010 releases, Book News | 1 Comment »

Book Review: A Place of Secrets by Rachel Hore

Posted on Wednesday, September 15th, 2010 by Leah

As a child, Jude Gower suffered from terrible nightmares, nightmares that featured her running through a forest desperate to find her mother. Years later, her six-year-old niece is having the exact same nightmare, and Jude is desperate to find out how and why. When Jude, a successful auctioneer specialising in 18th century books and manuscripts, is asked to value a collection of manuscripts as well as some scientific objects belonging to 18th century astronomer Anthony Wickham, she can’t wait to begin to decipher the mysterious world he lived in, and escape London for Norfolk to be closer to her sister Claire and niece Summer.

As Jude begins to untangle Anthony Wickhams’s life, she discovers some frightening similarities to the dreams she suffered as a child and with which Summer is now suffering. But what connection does Jude have, if any, to Anthony Wickham and Starbrough Hall where he lived? And who is the mysterious Esther Wickham who appears to be an adopted daughter of Anthony, but isn’t recognised by any of the present Wickham family members?

(more…)

Posted in 2010 releases, Book Reviews, Rating: 5/5 | 2 Comments »

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Archive for September, 2010

Week in Review: 20th September

American Saturdays Book Review: Katie Up and Down the Hall by Glenn Plaskin

American Saturdays Book News: Love in Complete Sentences by Mary E. Mitchell

Book Review: Homecoming by Cathy Kelly

Cover Wars: No Ordinary Love by Anita Notaro

Chick Lit Classics: Red Letter Day by Colette Caddle

Book Cover: Why Do We Have To Live With Men? by Bernadette Strachan

Book Review: A Place of Secrets by Rachel Hore

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