23 of 2013 ~ A WEEK IN SUMMER by Maeve Binchy
This was a short story about a couple who never went on vacation and then did. It was slightly boring. Eh
24. MINDING FRANKIE by Maeve Binchy
From Amazon.com
When Noel learns that his terminally ill former flame is pregnant with his child, he reluctantly agrees to take care of the baby girl. Along with the help of a caring network of friends, family and neighbors—including Lisa, his broken-hearted classmate, and Emily, his American cousin—Noel adapts to his new responsibilities But when a nosy social worker decides to get involved, she threatens to ruin their unconventional but special arrangement. It will be up to Noel to persuade her that everyone in the neighborhood has something to offer when it comes to minding Frankie.
This book made me angry. There is a point where Noel has to make a decision on what to do about an envelope. And in my opinion he makes the wrong choice. It ruined the rest of the book for me.
25. REVENGE WEARS PRADA by Lauren Weisberger
From Amazon.com
The sequel you’ve been waiting for: the follow-up to the sensational #1 bestseller The Devil Wears Prada.
Almost a decade has passed since Andy Sachs quit the job “a million girls would die for” working for Miranda Priestly at Runway magazine—a dream that turned out to be a nightmare. Andy and Emily, her former nemesis and co-assistant, have since joined forces to start a highend bridal magazine. The Plunge has quickly become required reading for the young and stylish. Now they get to call all the shots: Andy writes and travels to her heart’s content; Emily plans parties and secures advertising like a seasoned pro. Even better, Andy has met the love of her life. Max Harrison, scion of a storied media family, is confident, successful, and drop-dead gorgeous. Their wedding will be splashed across all the society pages as their friends and family gather to toast the glowing couple. Andy Sachs is on top of the world. But karma’s a bitch. The morning of her wedding, Andy can’t shake the past. And when she discovers a secret letter with crushing implications, her wedding-day jitters turn to cold dread. Andy realizes that nothing—not her husband, nor her beloved career—is as it seems. She never suspected that her efforts to build a bright new life would lead her back to the darkness she barely escaped ten years ago—and directly into the path of the devil herself...
I felt like Andy turned into a whinier (if that is possible) holier than though character. I did not care for the development of Emily or how they ended up bringing Miranda back into the fold. I felt like I had higher expectations of this chick lit and I was let down, as I often am, by sequels. It held so much promise because the story continuation could have been great but it was just bland.
26. TROUBLE IN PARADISE by Marcia Clark
From Amazon.com
In this digital-only short story, DA Rachel Knight and her besties take a Caribbean vacation and end up solving a crime.
With her besties Bailey and Toni in tow, Rachel leaves work and rainy LA behind and sets off for a much needed vacation in Aruba. Greeted by glittering sand and a balmy breeze, the three friends can't imagine anywhere more perfect.
But just minutes after hitting the beach, they're approached by a panicked young woman. A gofer on the biggest reality hit since "Survivor," she's lost the show's child star and must find her, now, before anyone else realizes she's gone. Rachel, Bailey, and Toni put their dreams of paradise on hold and embark on a whirlwind search for the girl--a search that ends with a twist so disturbing no one, not even a fortune-teller, could have seen it coming...
This was a pretty good short story following the girls as they go on a mini vacation. I was hoping it would be more of a lead in on Rachel Knight's storyline with her sister but it was quick and quirky nonetheless. I am holding out hope that when I can actually put down the library books and start reading the kindle purchases I will be able to get through the next Rachel Knight installment because Im looking forward to see where she goes!
27 WEDDING NIGHT by Sophie Kinsella
From Amazon.com
Lottie just knows that her boyfriend is going to propose during lunch at one of London’s fanciest restaurants. But when his big question involves a trip abroad, not a trip down the aisle, she’s completely crushed. So when Ben, an old flame, calls her out of the blue and reminds Lottie of their pact to get married if they were both still single at thirty, she jumps at the chance. No formal dates—just a quick march to the altar and a honeymoon on Ikonos, the sun-drenched Greek island where they first met years ago.
Their family and friends are horrified. Fliss, Lottie’s older sister, knows that Lottie can be impulsive—but surely this is her worst decision yet. And Ben’s colleague Lorcan fears that this hasty marriage will ruin his friend’s career. To keep Lottie and Ben from making a terrible mistake, Fliss concocts an elaborate scheme to sabotage their wedding night. As she and Lorcan jet off to Ikonos in pursuit, Lottie and Ben are in for a honeymoon to remember, for better . . . or worse.
I am over Sophie Kinsella. I used to love love love British Chick Lit. It was my dirty little secret. Me, a starbucks latte and a copy of whatever Jane Green I could get my hands on - but since The Shopaholic Series, I just can not get into it anymore. Jane Green has gone in a totally different direction(which I am so sad about) and Sophie Kinsella just is not producing materials like DOMESTIC GODDESS or CAN YOU KEEP A SECRET - both books I really enjoyed getting lost within. I dont think Ill keep spending money on her books - I just dont get the same gitty excitment I used to.
and speaking of Jane Green:
28 PROMISES TO KEEP by Jane Green
From Amazon.com
Over the course of twelve novels, Jane Green has established herself as one of the preeminent names in women's fiction. In Promises to Keep she weaves a profoundly moving tale that will enthrall both new and old fans.
Callie Perry lights up every room she enters, and adores her settled family life in tony Bedford, New York. Steffi is Callie's younger sister. At thirty, she's still a free spirit bouncing between jobs and boyfriends in Manhattan. Their long-divorced parents, Walter and Honor, share little besides their grown daughters. But when Callie receives a difficult diagnosis, the family will come together for one unforgettable and ultimately life-changing year.
29. Waiter Rant by Steve Dublanica
From Amazon.com
According to The Waiter, 80 percent of customers are nice people just looking for something to eat. The remaining 20 percent, however, are socially maladjusted psychopaths.
Eye-opening, outrageous, and unabashed—replete with tales of customer stupidity, arrogant misbehavior, and unseen tidbits of human grace in the most unlikely places—Waiter Rant presents the server's unique point of view, revealing surefire secrets to getting good service, proper tipping etiquette, and ways to ensure that your waiter won't spit on your food.
I felt like it was okay - but it was too much trying to be Anthony Bourdain circa Kitchen Confidential. It was an easy read and several pages had me laughing.
30. SINS OF THE MOTHER by Danielle Steel
Every woman makes choices. And no one has made more difficult choices than Olivia Grayson. The enormously successful businesswoman missed out on much of her children’s lives while she built her legendary home-furnishings empire. In Danielle Steel’s character-rich new novel, Olivia faces the past, tries to balance the present, and makes amends where due, while still running her vastly successful business.
THE SINS OF THE MOTHER
As a way of making up to them for time lost, Olivia spends months every year planning a lavish holiday that everyone in her family will enjoy. This summer she has arranged a dream trip in the Mediterranean on a luxurious yacht, which she hopes will be the most memorable vacation of all. Her lavish gesture every year expresses her love for them, and regret at all the important times she missed during her children’s younger years. Her younger daughter, Cassie, a hip London music producer, refuses the invitation altogether, as she does every year. Her older daughter, Liz, lives in her mother’s shadow, with a terror of failure as she tries to recapture her dream of being a writer. And her sons, John and Phillip, work for Olivia, for better or worse, with wives who wish they didn’t. In the splendor of the Riviera, this should be a summer to remember, with Olivia’s children, grandchildren, and daughters-in-law on board. But as with any family gathering, there are always surprises, and no matter how glamorous the setting things don’t always turn out as ones hopes.
Family dynamics are complicated, old disappointments die hard, and as forgiveness and surprising revelations enter into it, new bonds are formed, and the future takes on a brighter hue. And one by one, with life’s irony, Olivia’s children find themselves committing the same “sins” for which they blamed their mother for so many years. It is a summer of compassion, important lessons, and truth.
The Sins of the Mother captures the many sides of family love: complex, challenging, funny, passionate, and hopefully enduring. Along the way, we are enthralled by an unforgettable heroine, a mother strong enough to take more than her fair share of the blame, wise enough to respect her children for who they really are, and forgiving enough to love them unconditionally.
I feel like I do not enjoy her later works (with the exception of 44 Charles Street) the way I enjoyed earlier books like MESSAGE FROM NAM. This book was definitely chick lit. It had a good plot I just wish some of the characters were more developed.
Phew! Now I am all caught up! I have a bit of a disappointing showing this year so far. 52 books as a goal was on the low end and I am only at 30. I have 22 more to go, a ton loaded on my kindle and no time to get into them! I cant hang like the weekend I devoured THE HUNGER GAMES trilogy. I need sleep (this is what happens when you are on the downward spiral to 40). So stay tuned.... as always the best is yet to come.
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