Review: Shopaholic Ties the Knot by Sohpie Kinsella

Shopaholic Ties the Knot
Author: Sophie Kinsella
Published: July 1, 2002
Genre: chick lit
Paperback: 406 pages
Source: borrowed from the library

My Rating: 3.5 stars

Synopsis (from GoodReads): Life has been good for Becky Bloomwood: She's become the best personal shopper at Barneys, she and her successful entrepreneurial boyfriend, Luke, are living happily in Manhattan's West Village, and her new next-door neighbor is a fashion designer!. But with her best friend, Suze, engaged, how can Becky fail to notice her own ring finger is bare? Not that she's been thinking of marriage (or diamonds) or anything...
The Luke proposes! Bridal registries dance in Becky's head. Problem is, two other people are planning her wedding: Becky's overjoyed mother has been waiting forever to host a backyard wedding, with the bride resplendent in Mum's frilly old gown. While Luke's high-society mother insisting on a glamorous, all-expensed-paid affair at the Plaza. Both weddings for the same day. And Becky can't seem to turn down either one. Can everyone's favorite shopaholic tie the knot before everything unravels?

My Thoughts: This is the third book in the Shopaholic series and the more I read of this series, the more I love it. In this book, we follow Becky as she attends her best friend, Suze's, wedding. At the wedding, Luke proposes to Becky and what ensues is hilariousness. Becky's mother starts planning an English wedding while Luke's mother starts planning a grand wedding at the Plaza hotel. Both happen to fall on the same day. Two weddings on two different continents. Obviously, we see Becky in her element of trying to rationalize everything in her life while avoiding her problems. By the end of the novel, Becky finds the perfect solution that pleases Luke's mother and her own while not being involved in a huge lawsuit.

The characters are becoming very familiar in this series and it's nice to see them all mature over time. Suze's wedding to Tarquin is cute and we see the two of them start a family together. It's also nice to see more of Luke, especially on a personal level. He seemed very uptight in the first two books, but Kinsella shows him in a different light in this book. And of course, there is Becky. Her growth from one novel to the next is great because it isn't huge but it's noticable enough to continually engage you in the series. The only fault I could find with this book was the reappearance of Alicia Billington, a former employee of Luke's. I thought it was a bit of a stretch to continue to use her in the story. I look forward to reading more of Becky's adventure but am sad to see this series end!

Review: The Great Escape by Susan Elizabeth Phillips

The Great Escape
Author: Susan Elizabeth Phillips
Published: July 10, 2012
Genre: chick lit, romance
Hardcover: 432 pages
Source: borrowed from the library

My Rating: 4 stars

Synopsis (from GoodReads): Lucy Jorik is a champ at never embarrassing the family she adores--not surprising since her mother is one of the most famous women in the world. But now Lucy has done just that. And on her wedding day, no less, to the most perfect man she's ever known.

Instead of saying "I do" to Mr. Irresistible, Lucy flees the church in an ill-fitting blue choir robe and hitches a ride on the back of a beat-up motorcycle plastered with offensive bumper stickers. She's flying into the unknown with a rough-looking, bad-tempered stranger who couldn't be more foreign to her privileged existence.

While the world searches for her, Lucy must search for herself, and she quickly realizes that her customary good manners are no defense against a man who's raised rudeness to an art form. Lucy needs to toughen up--and fast.

Her great escape takes her to his rambling beach house on a Great Lakes island. Here, she hopes to find a new direction . . . and unlock the secrets of this man who knows so much about her but reveals nothing about himself. As the hot summer days unfold amid scented breezes and sudden storms, she'll also encounter a beautiful, troubled beekeeper; a frightened young boy; a modern-day evil queen; and a passion that could change her life forever.

In this dazzling follow-up to her "New York Times" bestseller "Call Me Irresistible," Susan Elizabeth Phillips tells the funny, touching, enchanting story of a young woman searching for her destiny . . . and of a damaged man who doesn't believe in second chances.

My Thoughts: When I read Call Me Irresistable last summer, I really liked it and wanted to read more of Susan Elizabeth Phillips' books. They are definitely entertaining and sexy and just the perfect read to not have to really think too much about. So, what her latest one came out, I just knew that I would have to read it. And it did not disappoint! This novel follows Lucy Jorik as she escapes from her high-profile wedding to the perfect Ted Beaudine and runs away from her life. She doesn't know what all is wrong in her life, but hopping on the back of a stranger's motorcycle seems like the best solution for the time being. What follows is a great story about a woman trying to find herself, a man coming to grips with his past, and a few other characters who are also changing their lives.

 

While I am not (nor will ever be) the President's daughter, there was so much about Lucy's journey that I could identify with. Her struggle to identify with who she is as an adult is something that I think every woman deals with. Perhaps the thing about her that resonated most with me is her reverse bucket list. Lucy had to grow up quickly and behave appropriately, given that her mother was a civil servant and very public. So, Lucy was always on her best behavior. But when she decides to dye her hair, prank call people, and get (fake) tattoos, I could identify with that. I am the oldest of three children, so I sometimes find myself to be a bit more conservative in my actions than other people. While I don't know if I would ever put my hair into dreds like Lucy did (actually, I know that I would never do this!), I could totally see where she was coming from and how the pressure she was under transformed her into a little adult at young age.

 

For me, I don't typically read romance novels, which is what Phillips's work is considered. But I don't think of it as the romance novels that I tend to think of; instead, I view these almost as a romantic comedy, just written down. The stories are humorous but show a female character overcoming an obstacle or hardship in her life. There is a cast of characters who add to the stories in their own little ways and are all uniquely different. And of course, you couldn't have a romantic comedy without a hunky man, which these books have. Will these books make you look at the world in a different way? No. But will they help you to escape from the real world and laugh along with these characters and see them as they grow. If you like chick lit and haven't read Susan Elizabeth Phillips because she is classified as a "romance author", I would encourage to think twice and try one her books. I don't think that you will be disappointed.

Book Blog Hop and Follow Friday (12-7-12)

Happy Friday everyone! Are you having a good December so far? Getting all that shopping, baking, decorating, etc? I have not done much of anything, so I need to get a jump on it ... right about now I guess would be a good time to start! Well, that's jump into the Friday fun first ...

Jen at Crazy for Books asks:

We are well into the Festive season, so what is your favourite festive reading?

I don't do much festive reading, but there is a David Sedaris book, Holidays on Ice, that I've been wanting to read for the past two years! It's all about families and the holidays, which is something that everyone can relate to. Hopefully I can get to it before Christmas this year!

Parajunkee asks:

Who do you want to be? If you could choose any character from a book. What do you think that character looks like and what do you have in common?

Well, there are two people who I would want to be. The first is Hermione Granger (which I'm sure will be a very popular answer this week). We have a lot in common, that we both like to read and learn, and that we don't care what others think of us. My second choice is Maisie Dobbs. I love how cerebral she is, how she doesn't care what others think of her, and that she is a successful woman running her own business (and this is back in the 1920s and 30s, when women didn't really own businesses).

So, what festive reading do you do at this time of the year? Which character(s) do you want to be? Let me know and have a great weekend!

Waiting on Wednesday (12-5-12)

Waiting on Wednesday is a weekly meme hosted by Jill at Breaking the Spine. Each week, you highlight an upcoming release that you are eagerly anticipating. This week, I'm looking forward to Here I Go Again by Jen Lancaster (release date: January 29, 2013).

Synopsis (from Amazon): Twenty years after ruling the halls of her suburban Chicago high school, Lissy Ryder doesn’t understand why her glory days ended. Back then, she was worshipped...beloved...feared. Present day, not so much. She’s been pink-slipped from her high-paying job, dumped by her husband and kicked out of her condo. Now, at thirty-seven, she’s struggling to start a business out of her parents’ garage and sleeping under the hair-band posters in her old bedroom. 

Lissy finally realizes karma is the only bitch bigger than she was. Her present is miserable because of her past. But it’s not like she can go back in time and change who she was...or can she?

So, what are you waiting on this Wednesday?

Top Ten Tuesday (12-4-12)

Top Ten Tuesday is a weekly feature hosted by The Broke and The Bookish. Each week, 

they post a different topic, and you get to create your own top ten list. So, this week's 

topic is:

Books I Wouldn't Mind Santa Bringing Me

1) The complete Harry Potter set - yes, I do own all seven books. However, the first three are paperbacks and are falling apart from having been reread so much by my sisters and I. And I would just like a fresh, collector's set under the tree!

2) Some Kristin Hannah novels - I have quite a few already, but I would always love to add to the collection! And since she's one of my favorite authors, I prefer to own her books instead of just borrowing them from the library.

3) The complete Maisie Dobbs series - I discovered this series earlier in the year and I love Maisie and her thrilling adventures (and the London setting and the time period). The art deco covers are gorgeous too, and I think they would look just fab on my bookshelf.

4) some of the Barnes & Noble classic leatherbound books - I just gape everytime I go into a B&N and stare at those books. Now, I don't want all of them, but a few of them I would absolutely love to find under the tree this year.

5) The Christmas Kid by Pete Hamill - I love Hamill's work and would love to find his newest one under the tree.

6) Heads in Beds by Jacob Tomsky - I work in the hospitality industry, so I love to read books about other people's adventures of working in his tough world. I have read some good reviews of this one, so I'm anxiously awaiting my own copy of it!

7) A subscription to Audible.com - so, this isn't a book. But I do enjoy listening to audiobook on CD while I drive in my car, and the idea of listening to one while at the gym or around the house, while on my phone, is really appealing. However, paying that much per month makes me not so interested anymore. So, I would love a subscription, already paid for!

Could only think of 7 this week, but there are so many things that I want for Christmas, it's hard to think about them all! So, what would you like Santa to bring you this year? Let me know!

Review: A Lesson In Secrets by Jacqueline Winspear

A Lesson In Secrets (Maisie Dobbs #8)
Author: Jacqueline Winspear
Published: March 22, 2011
Genre: mystery
Hardcover: 321 pages
Source: borrowed from the library

My Rating: 4 stars

Synopsis (from GoodReads): In the summer of 1932, Maisie Dobbs’ career goes in an exciting new direction when she accepts an undercover assignment directed by Scotland Yard’s Special Branch and the Secret Service. Posing as a junior lecturer, she is sent to a private college in Cambridge to monitor any activities “not in the interests of His Majesty’s Government.”

When the college’s controversial pacifist founder and principal, Greville Liddicote, is murdered, Maisie is directed to stand back as Detective Chief Superintendent Robert MacFarlane and Detective Chief Inspector Stratton spearhead the investigation. She soon discovers, however, that the circumstances of Liddicote’s death appear inextricably linked to the suspicious comings and goings of faculty and students under her surveillance.

To unravel this web, Maisie must overcome a reluctant Secret Service, discover shameful hidden truths about Britain’s conduct during the war, and face off against the rising powers of the Nationalsozialistische Deutsche Arbeiterpartei—the Nazi Party—in Britain.

A pivotal chapter in the life of Maisie Dobbs, A Lesson In Secrets marks the beginning of her intelligence work for the Crown. As the storm clouds of World War II gather on the horizon, Maisie will confront new challenges and new enemies—and will engage new readers and loyal fans of this bestselling mystery series.

My Thoughts: I saw this book a few years ago and fell in love with the cover. I loved the mystery behind it, the art deco design, and the 1930s vibe that I was getting from it. I started reading the description and realized that this was number eight in the series, so I started all the way back at the beginning to work my way up to this one. And it was worth it! For me, this might be the best Maisie Dobbs novel out of the eight (I haven't read the ninth one yet). Maisie is now working with the Secret Service on a case regarding a college in Cambridge that was founded by a pacifist who published a controversial book during World War I. So, away Maisie goes, trying to figure out what is happening at the school. What follows is a murder investigation, and while Maisie is not supposed to help with that case, she just can't help herself.

Jacqueline Winspear is great at crafting a great mystery, one where there are quite a few suspects but she leaves you guessing who has committed the crime until the last few pages. Winspear is also gifted with characters. The growth that Maisie has gone through from the first novel in this series to now is subtle but significant. She is truly independent now but realizing that it may not be necessary to live on her own. Being able to see other characters mature throughout this series is great, too. Seeing Billy and his family grow and bounce back from the loss of their youngest child is so nice to see. And the budding relationship Maisie has with James Compton adds another dimension to this story. James doesn't take away from Maisie, but only adds to her and her stories. I can't wait to see where Winspear takes their relationship in the future.

If you enjoy historical fiction or are a fan of World War I or II novels, then you need to be reading this series! Winspear is an amazing writer and Maisie a wonderful leading lady.   

Monthly Wrap-Up: November 2012

Well, another month has flown by. It's hard to believe that December is here and it's time to focus on the holidays and gift buying and baking and all that other fun stuff that goes along with the holidays. November wasn't my best reading month, but let's see how I did:

Number of Books Read This Month: 8

Books Read This Month:

When in Doubt, Add Butter by Beth Harbison

Aftertaste by Meredith Mileti

The Unfinished Work of Elizabeth D. by Nichole Bernier

Hannah's List by Debbie Macomber (audiobook)

Wife 22 by Melanie Gideon

One Breath Away by Heather Gudenkauf

The Next Best Thing by Jennifer Weiner

Shopaholic and Sister by Sophie Kinsella (audiobook)

Favorite Book of the Month: Aftertaste by Meredith Mileti

Least Favorite Book of the Month: The Unfinished Work of Elizabeth D. by Nichole Bernier

My reading always slows down in November and December as I become busy preparing for the holidays. I was surprised that I managed to read eight books this month but glad with my progress. And I reached my goal of 100 books read this year! I surpassed that goal with Wife 22. So glad that I was able to reach that goal and even surpass it. I'm already looking forward to my goal for next year. So, how was your November?