The Honey-Don't List

Is this book life changing? No. Is it hilarious? Yes. I read and loved The Unhoneymooners so I knew I was in for a treat when I picked this up. So witty, fun, and breezy this is the perfect beach read. Carey has worked for the Tripps for a decade and all she wants is time to rest. They have a TV show, multiple books and are America's home renovating sweethearts. The facade is starting to crack though and Carey's job is to help Melissa Tripps keep it together. James is Rusty Tripp's "assistant" and he couldn't be more different from Carey. They are like oil and water. When they are both informed last minute that their vacation's are cancelled and they have to go on a week long book tour with the Tripps and keep them from screaming at each other public they find themselves unable to avoid each other. And maybe it's the stress, but there seems to be a bit of a spark. Cute, charming, and hilarious. I loved every page of this!

Beach Read

I am head over heels for this book! This fluffy chick-lit book is exactly what I needed in my life. I laughed, I got emotional, I was totally invested. A romance author and a serious "literary" author find themselves in neighboring lake houses. They have a past. They can't stand each other. Or can they? They challenge each other to write a book that reads like something the other person would write. Witty and wonderful. I don't even want to give a detailed summary. Just read it. You'll be falling in love with the characters, their story, and their growing attraction. This is one I will recommend to everyone!

The Rest of the Story

I haven't read a Sarah Dessen book in ages - but my lord - did she become an even better writer? Or was I just so nostalgic to get back to her work that I ate this up? Either way, she's the queen of teen for a reason - this was a wonderful young adult contemporary romance with themes of identity, addiction, and family issues. Emma Saylor thought she knew how her summer would play out, hanging at her best friends house while her dad and new step mom honeymooned - but one family emergency later - Emma finds herself without a place to stay for the summer. It's eventually decided that she should go to the lake to  spend the summer with her mother's family even though she hasn't seen them since she was four. As she gets to know her grandma, cousins, and other lake folk - she starts to piece together her mother's past and think more about her future. A wonderful coming of age story. I couldn't put it down!

Nine Perfect Strangers

This Liane Moriarity book is so over the top and outrageous but you can't put it down. Even though the plot got more and more ridiculous as the story progressed, I LOVED the characters. Nine people decide that they are stressed and need a lifestyle change, so they sign up for a ten day cleanse at Tranquility House. It's a gorgeous estate in the middle of nowhere and participants will be treated to divine meals, massages, nature hikes, star-gazing, and meditation. The nine participants (all strangers) soon discover that there was a lot on the agenda that they most certainly had not signed up for. Silence, daily blood tests, fasting, and more unorthodox methods keep popping up. Soon the strangers kind of bond together as they try to get through their weird cleanse in one piece. There is a romance author who will soon be out of work, an ex football player, a family trying to cope with loss, a mom trying to rediscover herself after her husband took off with a new trophy wife, a young couple in dire need of counseling, and a devilishly handsome gay lawyer. Full of fun, a nice beach read.

Class Mom

Essentially chick lit/ beach read, but nevertheless very funny and unique. Most parents of kindergartners are in their twenties and thirties, but Jen Dixon a former INXS groupie with two girls in college, is about to break that mold. Her son Max is entering kindergarten and the duty of class mom falls on her shoulders. She sends out her emails with wit and sarcasm in order to whip up volunteers for events, foods, and crafts. Told through emails and narrative, this book reads quickly and is laugh out loud funny at points. Great for moms breaking the molds or anyone who loves chick lit with lots of good laughs.

The Identicals

This was a refreshingly light, easy beach read.I enjoyed it. It's not one that will stick with me forever, but it was easy to lose myself in the story and pass the time. The story follows two estranged middle aged twins. One of the twins lives on Martha's Vineyard and has bounced from job to job, a free spirited, drinking, husband stealing man. The other works for their mother in Nantucket, operating an upscale boutique and trying to reign in her rambunctious teenage daughter. The twins haven't spoken in nearly fourteen years but the untimely death of their father brings them together. They decide to "switch lives" for the summer, Harper helping out with the store and the rebellious teenager, while Tabitha goes to Martha's Vineyard to gut and re-sell their father's house. Little do they know how much their lives are about to change.

The Continental Breakfast Club

Over Easy (book 1)

A cute, breezy chick lit in the same vein as the Stephanie Plum series. Readers will laugh out loud at the antics of the affable, ditzy, and well intentioned, Allie Parker whose over active imagination can get the better of her sometimes. Allie is sick of being the baby in the family and is determined to bring a man to her parents 45th wedding anniversary. Tired of always being looked down on for being a dog groomer and being single she is determined to turn things around for once and for all.

One of her friends has a brilliant plan to meet eligible men, they will sneak into swanky hotels and go to their continental breakfasts to meet businessmen. Everything is going well; Allie meets a cute guy and they meet for drinks after work, only things aren't what they seem. He leaves in the middle of the date, sticks her with the bill, and forgets a briefcase. when she realizes whats in the briefcase she understands she's in a world of trouble. How does stuff like this keep happening to her?!? All she wanted was some nice arm candy. Now she's a... jewel thief?!?

I flew through this and am in the middle of the second in the series. With fun characters like this, I expect there will be many more books to come!

Fresh Brewed (book 2)

The second in a cute new chick lit series, turns things around by having Bree find romance this go around. Allie (the main character in Over Easy), Megan and Bree have been looking forward to their vacation getaway for months. The venue is booked, the swimsuits bought, nothing stands in their way. That is until a huge storm cancels their flight, damages their hotel, and leaves them stuck in Atlanta. While there they meet Kristin, a clever young girl also headed to the same vacation destination. Kristin is always looking to help others out so she invites the trio to come stay at her family's beach house. There's only one catch, Bree must pretend to be engaged to her older brother Ethan. Doomed to be written out of his grandmother's will if he's not married by 32, Kristin decided to step in and whip up a fiance to hopefully change their matriarchs mind. No one will ever find out the farce since Ethan is on a trip to China and won't be able to make the family vacation anyway. Or will he? Bree finds herself in over her head as she tries to keep the charade up of being madly in love with someone who she's never met. How will she ever get to enjoy the beach and all the cute boys?

A fun beach read that will have readers looking forward the third installment, Honey Glazed. Hopefully Megan will find herself a man!

Honey Glazed (book 3)

coming soon!

Author's Bio

Pamela Ford is the award-winning author of contemporary and historical romance. She grew up watching old movies, blissfully sighing over the romance; and reading sci-fi and adventure novels, vicariously living the action. The combination probably explains why the books she writes are romantic, happily-ever-afters with plenty of plot - and often lots of laughter.

After graduating from college with a degree in Advertising, Pam merrily set off to earn a living, searching for that perfect career as she became a graphic designer, print buyer, pantyhose sales rep, public relations specialist, copywriter, freelance writer - and finally author. Pam has won numerous awards including the Booksellers Best, the Laurel Wreath, and a gold medal IPPY in the Independent Book Publisher Awards. She is a Kindle Book Awards finalist and a two-time Golden Heart Finalist. She lives in Wisconsin where she is working on her next novel.

Giveaway

Does this seem like a series you would like to read? Of course you would! Enter below to win a set!

Five winners total:
2 winners will get a print copy of Over Easy + a $10 Starbucks gift card,
2 winners will get a print copy of Fresh Brewed + a $10 Starbucks gift card,
1 winner will get a print copy of both books + a $25 Starbucks gift card

Ends Sept 17

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Enchanted August

Bowen, Brenda. Enchanted August. 7 CDs. unabridged. 8.5 hrs. Books on Tape. 2015. ISBN 9781101915028.

Bowen, an award-winning children's book author, makes her adult debut with this captivating beach read. Young mothers, Lottie and Rose, spy an ad for a cottage for rent on Little Lost Island in Maine. Neither can afford it, but they are desperate for some space from their families, so they place ads of their own looking for two other boarders to share the rent. Their ad turns up the brilliant (albeit publicly shamed) actress, Caroline Dester, and stodgy old Beverly Fisher, who is trying to recoup after the loss of his pet. This quartet of quirky renters fall in love with the island and its ways and despite their differences, start to befriend one another. The island is the perfect place for them to come to terms with failed careers, marriages, dreams, and heartbreak. Narrator, Sierra Boggess, does a fantastic job of bringing to life the flawed, yet beautiful characters. Verdict For fans of light, breezy, beach reads. - Erin Cataldi, Johnson Co. Public Library, Franklin, IN

Summer State of Mind

I'm not going to sugarcoat it, I HATED, HATED .... the main character for the first few chapters. Like full on loathed her skinny, little bitchy self. She was rich, spoiled, and hung out with other privileged little white fifteen year old brats. Thankfully her mom and dad decide their dearest daughter needs a reality check after she blew several THOUSAND dollars on her AMEX card. A fifteen year old spending thousands at couture shops, spas, private lessons, and fancy dining. Really?!?! Anyway ma and pa ship Harper and her twin brother off to a sleepaway camp in the middle of nowhere for a dose of reality. Her adventure seeking brother Kyle loves it, but Harper can't stand it. Her wedges aren't good for hiking, her hair can't adjust to the humidity, and she can't text! Oh no! What's a girl to do?!? Most campers immediately dislike Harper, dubbing her Camping Barbie. She makes one good friend though and surprisingly starts to have a good time. Maybe life isn't all about the superficial stuff, maybe her parents did know what's best for her.

The story is thoroughly predictable, but still enjoyable. It's the perfect beach read. It's fast, breezy, and doesn't require much thinking. It's the second in a "series" but this novel focuses on a different character and different year than the first (Sleepaway Girls), only the setting is the same.

I received this book for free from Librarything in return for my honest, unbiased review.

Chose the Wrong Guy, Gave Him the Wrong Finger

Harbison, Beth. Chose the Wrong Guy, Gave Him the Wrong Finger. 7 CDs. unabridged. Macmillan Audio. 2013. ISBN 9781427230843. $34.99.

New York Times bestselling romance author, Beth Harbison, brings every girl's worst nightmare to life. On the happiest day of Quinn Barton's life, her wedding day, she discovers that her husband to be has been cheating on her. Quinn flees the scene and spends the next ten years hiding from the memories of her failed romance in, ironically, a wedding dress boutique, spending her life helping other young women live the dream that she never got to. When her ex-fiance returns to town, predictably Quinn's life is turned upside down. There isn't much intrigue or excitement, but it is a very truthful account of heartbreak and the hope for love and redemption. Read by talented voice and television actress, Orlagh Cassidy, who gives the characters heart, depth, and fantastic southern accents. Perfect for fans of mindless romance, a great beach read. - Erin Cataldi, Franklin College, Franklin, IN

The Unbearable Book Club for Unsinkable Girls

I thought it was rather amusing when my book club decided to read a book about a book club. Thankfully my book club meets because they want to, not because they have to. In "The Unbearable Book Club for Unsinkable Girls," four teenagers find themselves thrown into a book club with their mothers, it wouldn't be so bad if they had happened to be friends, but the girls couldn't be more different. Adrienne, is the narrator, she thinks of herself as being plain and boring. Instead of spending the summer with her best friend canoeing through Canada, she is forced to stay home because of a knee injury. Next there is CeeCee, she is gorgeous, wealthy and uppity and unafraid to get what she wants. Jill is a smart, future oriented young girl who works at the snack stand at the pool. Finally there is Wallis, she is shy and meek and no one really knows much about her. Out of all the girls she is the only one that really wants to be there and her mother is the only one that mysteriously never comes to book club.

The girls start off despising each other but within no time at all find themselves living through the craziest summer ever. Their differences help bring them together in this funny and easy to read young adult book. The true definition of a beach read.

Come on Baby Light My Fire

Lisa Tawn Bergren, an accomplished Christian novelist with dozen of books in print, combines fear, risk, love, loss, and fires all into one novel, in "Firestorm." As I've admitted before this isn't my favorite genre but I'm always pleasantly surprised when I read a Christian romance that doesn't have me gagging. This story follows fire science expert, Reyne, as she tries to overcome her fears and learn to trust in God again after she loses four of her crew in a horrendous firestorm. After taking a much safer job behind the scenes she starts to cross paths with sexy smoke-jumper, Logan, but is hesitant to get to attached because she fears that he too will be overcome by the fire someday. As the story progresses she learns to drop some of her barriers as she takes a dying friends advice (her best friend, Beth, has cancer) to live life to the fullest and to trust God with what he has in store for you.

Overall, it was predictable and sappy but still pulled at the heartstrings. A light breezy read that doesn't require too much of your focus. On a side note, it is also interesting to see how fire-jumpers and firefighters combat big forest and plain fires. Read at your leisure if you like Christian romance.

I received this book for free from Waterbrook Press in return for my honest, unbiased opinion.

The Most Well Christian Romance Reader in all of Indiana

In this past year or so I've become one of the most well-read christian romance readers in all of Indiana. Bragging rights? Anyhoo, I grabbed this After All by Deborah Raney because based on the description (and it's genre) I figured it would be a quick read and I need to start zipping through my insanely large "to read" book-pile from Goodreads.

It was as I guessed an insanely fast read, which isn't necessarily a bad thing. The story follows Susan, the widow of a fallen fire fighter who struggles to deal with her loss, with her family (she has two adult sons), and her homeless shelter. Her husband and five other fire fighters died in a tragic fire the year before when her fledgling homeless shelter caught fire. Many people in the town thought good riddance of the homeless shelter and were aghast when she re-opened it in another location so soon after her husband's death. She faces opposition everywhere she goes, especially from Fire Chief Peter who harbors some blame at the homeless for starting the fire that killed five of his men, including Susan's husband, the year prior. Against his better judgement he starts to help out Susan and they begin to develop feelings for each other. Besides struggling to keep the shelter open, Susan must deal with the fact that her son informed her that her fallen husband had been cheating on her prior to his untimely death, and then she has to deal with the temptress herself as she tries to steal Peter away from her.

Overall, this was a small quick plot that was easy to plow through. Not the most romantic or impactful, but a light breezy beach read that fills the time. Not great, not bad. But alright for a Christian romance.

Disclaimer, this book is the third in a trilogy, although you would never know it by the way the story is set up. It stands easily on it's own, I was never once confused.

I received this book free from Goodreads giveaways in return for my unbiased, honest opinion.

Never Judge A Book By It's Cover

After reading a heavy duty romance I was due for a light-hearted sappy read and this fit the bill. It's a story about hope and redemption and looking beyond the surface, it's a great feel good read.

The story follows Sasha, a 37 year old world famous ballerina who has just suffered a life altering fall and will never be the same again. Sasha decides to retreat from the world, her fans, her friends, and her husband by going back to her hometown to re-cooperate and learn to walk again. The thought of never dancing again throws Sasha into a deep and miserable depression, enter Evelyn. Evelyn is a bright young girl who is happily engaged and does odd jobs around town to save up for her wedding. Everyone in town (especially her parents) is disappointed that she chose to turn down college for her fiance (who has questionable morals and is seemingly marrying Evelyn to get in her pants, something she staunchly refuses to do before marriage). Evelyn takes a job as in home care for Sasha and the two constantly butt heads. In time though they begin to depend and rely on each other. And the roles momentarily flip when Sasha starts to heal and Evelyn's life is turned upside down. The unwilling pair make an unlikely duo as they struggle through life's challenges together.

It was a cute read and it took no time at all to plow through it. Definitely a beach read :)

Breathtaking Beach Read

I was due for a light-hearted sappy romance and this definitely fit the bill. I've never actually read anything by Lisa Kleypas so this was my first foray into her brilliant realm of romance and I wasn't disappointed. Romance novels aren't on the top of my list to read but every once in a while you just gotta give in.

"Rainshadow Road" follows glass-maker Lucy as her life starts to spiral out of control. Her boyfriend of two years breaks up with her and announces that he's been sleeping with her sister, Alice (a character you love to hate!). Lucy is heartbroken and turns to her stained glass art and two best friends. When she finally "stumbles" into good looking Sam Nolan, a vineyard owning islander, she backs away and hides because she can't take anymore heartbreak, even though he is really interested in her.

The story is beautifully crafted with well rounded characters who are admirable while still being realistic by having faults. The scenery jumps alive on the page and I would pay money to see some of the stained glass that Lisa Kleypas so beautifully brings to life.

A good quick read perfect for the upcoming beach season. This is the first novel in the Friday Harbor Trilogy  so there will be good reading all summer long!

I received this book for free from GoodReads Giveaways in return for my unbiased honest opinion.