Book Review: Widow on the World

Book: Widow on the World

Genre: Women’s Fiction / Contemporary Fiction 

Author: Pamela Fudge

Cover Critique:

I admit that I bought this book in a split second, because of the cute egg faces on the cover. Those who read my blog should know by now, I am a sucker for cuteness! *smiles* Can you believe I did not even read the blurb before buying? Now, that is the selling power of a good cover!

Book Blurb:

Widowed at 45, Denise has come to the end of that first year alone and survived. It's time to get back out in the world and live her life. However, life, and particularly her own family, seems to have other ideas as first her mother and then her daughter move into a house that is suddenly bursting at the seams. A battle of wills ensues, but it is a battle that Denise is determined to win by fair means or foul, because only when she has sorted everyone else's lives out can she finally get on with her own. Romance doesn't figure anywhere in her calculations but Denise, of all people, should know that life doesn't always go according to plan. (Courtesy: Amazon.co.uk)

Review:

When I read the blurb, I thought that since this book is about a widow, it is going to be depressing and I might need a box of tissues handy for tears, but I was so wrong! In spite of the fact that this book deals with many serious and grim topics, the tone of the novel is not at all harsh or repulsive. As a matter of fact, at some points in the novel, I felt that it was written more like a “comedy of errors” than a gloomy piece for dramatic effect.

The main character of Denise comes out as that of a strong and powerful woman who manages not only her own problems but also straightens the life of her teenage daughter (Bobbie) and directionless mother (Elaine) who throw their load of trouble her way. Both of them suffer from selfishness and simply ignore to acknowledge how much inconvenience they cause to Denise. If that was not enough, her daughter’s boyfriend (Jason) who is a rotten egg - basically “pain in the ass”, also comes to live with them uninvited. What follows is a series of disasters. Curious to know more? Read the book to know the rest of the story.

The author’s style of writing is bold and blunt. With years of experience on her hand, Pamela writes with confidence and skill of a veteran, creating a fine balance between the vulnerability and strength of characters portrayed in this beautiful novel. The characters come to life and the reader is immersed in their world.


Apart from the female characters, I thoroughly enjoyed the variety of male characters introduced in the novel: Sam, Adam, Jason, Petie and Denise’s Dad. The story ends on a predictable note, I am not too fond of it, maybe because I was expecting the story to be left open-ended and upto reader’s imagination. But nonetheless, it was wrapped up nicely.

If I were to dissect this novel in terms of the themes that are explored throughout, they would be:

- Dealing with death of a closed one (i.e. partner, in this case scenario)

- Coming to terms with reality and the practical aspect of life

- Making the best out of life, whatever it throws towards you

- Parenting in modern times

- Family bonding

- Mother-daughter relationship

- Teenage rebellion

- Adult relationships (love, sex, marital affairs, emotional blackmail)

- The needs and desires of modern woman which is subsequently changing the role of woman as wife, mother and daughter in the society.


As said in one of my previous reviews as well that the books I like the most are the ones that enrich my life with valuable words of wisdom. This is not a self-help book but it certainly has some powerful messages to convey that can improve one’s life a lot. According to my understanding, these would be:

- Whenever taking U-turns in life, one should try to make sound, rational and logical decisions

- As they say, “When the going gets tough, the tough get going”.

- Do not give up on yourself no matter what happens!

- Believe in yourself and your abilities.

- Sometimes, you need to bring your nerves of steel to handle the complexities of life.

- Life does not give you “second chances”, once it’s done, it cannot be undone. In other words, there is no rewind button!


Since many of the themes are of universal nature, this book will appeal to everyone in some way or the other. Especially if you are a woman, it does not matter whether you are in your teens or fourties or even seventies, this book will make you happy with its sheer honesty and optimism.

I read the book in parts, some on the train when I was coming back from my weekend break, some while sipping evening tea, and I am sure I would not have enjoyed it as much if I had read it in single sitting. It is the kind of story you like to read when you are relaxed and have time to ponder and contemplate the various situations (there are many!) happening in the book. Read this book, I can guarantee it is not a waste of time.

Review Girl Rating: 9.5 / 10


To buy this book, click here.

About the Author:

Pamela Fudge was brought up in Poole, Dorset. She wrote poetry, mainly for her family, and then discovered a talent for short fiction, which has been published by most of the national magazines over a period of twenty years. A creative writing tutor for 11 years “Widow on the World” is her third published novel. Having been widowed not once, but twice in recent years, Pamela is well qualified to comment on the adage that life goes on. To know more about her writing, visit her website: http://www.pamfudge.co.uk/novels.html

Book Review: Wedlocked

Book: Wedlocked

Genre: Chick Lit / Contemporary Fiction / Women's Fiction

Author: Bonnie Trachtenberg

Cover Critique:

The cover of the book is so funny. The couple wearing handcuffs on wedding day perfectly fits the title and theme of the book. Since pink and aqua are both my favourite colours, I love it.

Review:

When we say, “Relationships are complicated”, we are usually thinking of either love relationships ending in marriage/divorce or lasting friendships getting sour. But there are other relationships which are as strong and sometimes full of complications. We do not choose them, we are born tied to them. Yes, I am talking about parent-child relationship, which has its turns and twists especially when children grow up and want to make their own life decisions, sometimes parents are so imposing or dominating or just too over-protective to let go of things and face the fact that their children are adults and should be given space and understanding, even confidence to make important decisions of their life such as: which career to choose Or who should be their life-partner. They think that just because they have given birth to them, it is their right to control their lives forever! I am not saying that all parents behave that way, but some do! I see some of you can relate to what I am saying. 

This book explores such a chaotic relationship between a mother and a daughter (the main protagonist of this story). Rebecca is a 30 plus woman who wants to try her luck in Hollywood. One of her great passions is to become an actress but her mother strongly disapproves of this because she belongs to a traditional family who find it against their ethics and morals. Nonetheless, she follows her interest but partly as a revolt to her mother’s decision. She feels suppressed and longs for her mother to back her up in her career move but nothing of that sort happens, rather this issue causes them to drift apart as they end up hardly speaking to each other for a year.

While things remain topsy-turvy between the two, she keeps struggling for her dream role by working as a part-time waitress and looking for that golden chance to make her a star. Her (failing) attempts end up in depression and she starts seeing a psychologist who makes her realize that she is doing things half-heartedly and out of grudge for her mother, not because of her passion. Find out whether her dream of starring a big role gets true or not. Most of all, does she manage to patch up things with her mother or things go insane after that.

Besides her acting career, there is another typhoon going in her life, her wedding with the wrong guy, Craig which follows another roller-coaster ride, full of (mis)adventures and mishaps. It gets quite ballistic at the end but then the author finally manages to pull all strings together which saves it from getting off the rail. The story gets interesting when she gets away from that “psycho”, lands up in the arms of a flirtatious movie director whose charm makes her blind – well, “love is blind” so not much of her fault. But is he “The One”? or is there someone else waiting to be discovered by her. Read the book to figure out who is her “true love” and does she get to have a “happy ever after”.

I managed to read this book in just two sittings as I found the plot and the storyline well-drafted and well-executed though there were a few clichés and hitches here and there but overall, the whole thing turned out just fine. The author narrates it in a hefty fashion in the start but after a few chapters when you are totally engrossed in the story, you get used to it. In the middle, it gets better as the writer gets hold of her initial inertia and gets in the groove. Since this is Bonnie’s first novel, I would say it is a good attempt though there is always room for improvement. The few tweaks in writing style (such as more use of smart dialogues and keeping the pace of the story even from beginning to end) need to be taken care of, to keep the readers at the edge of their seats.

The book is easy-to-read as it is not overloaded with characters or viewpoints. It is written in first person POV. The secondary characters such as those of Rebecca’s sisters, her parents, her boyfriends and even of her best friend and therapist, Karen is sketched nicely. They all provide a direction to the story. I really liked how the character of Craig was shown, in spite of his weaknesses and craziness, it was not all-evil. The author kept it genuine and believable. I also loved the main character of Rebecca who goes through a lot of upheavals and learns to survive and make right decisions for herself. Even when she is vulnerable, she is smart and it shows the strength of her character.

The book is written from a mature perspective. It is engaging and heart-warming while making you learn a thing or two about practical life. I can see that Bonnie has put her heart into it and surely does not disappoint the reader/critic in me. I hope that her next endeavour will turn out to be more exciting than this one. All the best, Bonnie!

Review Girl Rating: 8/10

“I would like to thank Bonnie Trachtenberg for sending me a free paperback of her book, Wedlocked for the purpose of reviewing it on my blog. To buy this book on Amazon, click here. You can also buy this book direct from her website, by clicking here.” 

Book Review: A Tiny Bit Marvellous

Book: A Tiny Bit Marvellous

Genre: Contemporary Fiction

Author: Dawn French

Cover Critique:

The cover can be described in three words:
Simple.
Artistic.
Eye-catching.

I love it! Who wouldn’t love a tiny little dog on the cover?



Review:

The title of the book caught my attention when I was browsing through Tesco store while on a holiday in Cornwall few days back. I was tempted to get a hint of the story and started reading first chapter right there, it instantly grabbed me and I bought it to accompany me on the beach. I am happy to say that I was not disappointed. It was so brilliantly written that I read it whenever and wherever I could, put it in my handbag, read it on beach, late night in my hotel room, kept me so engaged that my husband got irritated *laughs*. So here is the story:

Dora is a teenager about to turn 18 and she has a younger brother named Peter (who likes to call himself Oscar – well, he has his reasons). There is Mo Battle, 50 year old mother to these two very hot-tempered teenagers. Mo has got her own problems- she is reaching menopause age and constantly worries about her family, career, more or less about – everything! Dora is always at war with Mo and blames her for everything that goes wrong in her life. She writes “like” about each and every torture inflicted upon her by her mom (according to her) in her diary which I (as a reader) got a sneak peek into. Look what she has written:

“My mother is like a totally confirmed A-list bloody cocking mingling arsehole cretin cockhead of the highest order.” 

Now you know what I am talking about. A typical teenager with all those jumping hormones trying to get out and she has got major problems like getting laid by some handsome dude and lose her virginity, get her belly pierced, audition as a singer for X-Factor show, get some hot pictures of her on Facebook profile and some more crazy stuff. She has some real crises too, like how to pass university exam.

The author depicts her character in such a way that it makes you laugh while noticing her acute observations of teenagers and their changing roles in the family. Sometimes, you want to scream at Dora for being so annoying and frustrating and suddenly you want to give her some space and remember how you felt when you were going through this awkward phase of your life.

We also get a slice of Mo’s mind through her diary. While she is so right in guiding her daughter and stopping her from acting foolishly in front of others, she herself gets overdramatic at times and is unable to handle Dora tactfully. Ironically, she is a child psychologist by profession. The mother-daughter relationship gets complicated to the extreme and needs someone mature from the family who could fix this glitch. Did I mention Dora’s father? His role is in the background till the story takes a sharp turn and reaches its climax.

There is Peter who thinks he is Oscar Wilde and gets infatuated by older men. It is so humorous to read his interpretations of his sister, Dora and his mother, Mo as well as his lovesick poems about Noel (a middle-aged man). So, we get multiple viewpoints and angles which make this book unputdowntable. There is also a sugary sweet character of Dora’s grandmother, Pamela who likes to bake cakes for everyone and ‘listens’ to their problems with a smile on her face. There is also a dog named “Poo” (yes, I know you guys are laughing on “Poo”) who gets the affection of both arch- enemies Dora and Mo.

The author keeps the reader thoroughly absorbed in the interesting characters with contrasting personalities. This book is like a case-study on dysfunctional British family on the verge of collapsing. Read the book to find out what makes them stick together and who turns out to be the real binding force in the family. The book is a page-turner because of its dark humour, fast-paced chapters, genuine characters and intriguing situations.

The book showcases the distinctive style of the author – her clever wit, sharp observations on family structure and the changing role of modern families in Britain. I think all of us can relate to it, considering we all belong to families – each crazy in their own way but equally special. Highly recommended book because it is a lot more than just a “tiny bit” marvellous!

Review Girl Rating: 10/10

To buy this book on Amazon, click here. 

About the Author:

Dawn Roma French is a British actress, writer and comedian. In her career spanning three decades, she has been nominated for six BAFTA Awards and also won a Fellowship BAFTA along with her best friend Jennifer Saunders. She is best-known for starring in and writing her comedy sketch show,French and Saunders, alongside her comedy partner Jennifer Saunders, and for playing the lead role of Geraldine Granger in the sitcom The Vicar of Dibley. “A Tiny Bit Marvellous” is her first novel. 

Book Review: Beatrice Munson

Book: Beatrice Munson

Genre: Chick Lit / Contemporary Fiction / Women’s Fiction

Author: Lorena Bathey

Cover Critique:

The cover is quite simple and gives an impression of a hand-made drawing. Though it makes sense after reading the story, it definitely has room for improvement. I like the whole concept but maybe bright colors would have made it more attractive and eye-catching.

Review:

This is a story about Marissa Lyons, a divorced woman in her forties with two kids, which made me think that why is the book named after some other character? Well, I found out soon as we get introduced to Beatrice in the first chapter. In the opening scene, we see Marissa spying on one of her neighbours who have just moved in. This peculiar neighbour is, Beatrice Munson: smart, beautiful blonde and her high-school arch enemy. Why she hates Beatrice so much? Because in high-school, she had a crush on this cute guy named Jeffery, but he chose to date Beatrice instead of her. Hang on, let me tell you that it was not Beatrice’s fault, nor was she “mean” to our "insecure" heroine in any way.

Anyways, let’s move on to what happens next. Years later, she still holds that grudge against Beatrice and fears that she will steal every one’s attention due to her impressive personality and beautiful looks. With those negative thoughts and just a smidgen of self-esteem, she bakes some delicious cupcakes (her mom’s favourite recipe) which is just a great excuse to meet her and find out why she has landed in her neighbourhood and more importantly, in her life again.

Soon, we are surprised to see that Marissa has not only forgotten about her hatred, she is also totally captivated by Beatrice’s charm. Looks like, Beatrice has moved her magic wand and Marissa is under the spell as she finds her an epitome of all-good. Is that because Beatrice’s crazy, adventurous and exciting life, makes her feel small in front of her? Does she envy her for being so passionate and daring and wishes secretly that she could be like her and follow her dreams? Read the book to find out!

This book sucked me right in with its warmth, passion and high dosage of good humour, along with ample twists and turns to keep me hooked from first chapter till the very last pages. The characters are drawn in such a way that you feel like they are part of your neighbourhood and like your friends with whom you can share your secrets and feel comfortable. In spite of their faults, they are well-rounded, realistic, relatable and extremely adorable.

The writer has kept a very candid and frank style throughout the story which made me feel as if I was reading someone’s private diary, written without inhibitions and with utter honesty. Though this book is Lorena’s first novel, she is successful in involving the reader into her fictional world of memorable characters so much that the readers lose track of the real world around them. I think this speaks volume of her calibre as a writer.

The book is aptly named after Beatrice whose character is like some sort of “guru” or a “revolutionary spiritual leader” who has the power to convince people and bring a positive change in their lives. She makes things "happen" rather than just sitting and dreaming about them. She infuses this spirit in the whole neighbourhood with her presence and ideas.

There is Marissa, who lacks confidence and guts. She does not want to take charge of her life but soon, she finds herself acting on her long-lost passion of photography by opening a studio and joining a newspaper as a journalist. Soon, all the ladies of Vista Heights: Andrea, Lily, Deidre get spontaneous and the whole neighbourhood catches “Beatrice fever”. They start embracing opportunities lying in front of them, thus explore and widen their horizon.

The book is a joy-ride full of excitement and nervous energy. It reminded me of Katy Perry’s upbeat song, “Firework”! There is lot of activity going on, which keeps the story fast-paced. It also delves into the various aspects of divorce, marriage, flirtations, friendships and much more but in such a way that it does not burden the reader; instead it is heart-warming and enlightening. There are laugh-out-loud funny scenes, especially the one with drag queen parties. I was stumped by Lola Rau’s character and wanted to read more and more of her. There is a lot of mention of yummy food, which made me hungry, looks like Lorena is fond of tasty treats! *smiles*

Apart from fun surprises, there is also a rape scene. But it has been written in a very mature way and it did not make me gag, so I think the writer pulled it off neatly.  I loved this book as the story reached a satisfying climax and gave many underlying messages as well. Well done Lorena! I would love to read more of Lorena’s work in future too. Highly recommended!

Review Girl Rating: 9.5/10

“I would like to thank Lorena Bathey for sending me a free copy of her book, Beatrice Munson for the purpose of reviewing it on my blog. To buy this book on Amazon, click here. You can also buy this book from her website, by clicking here.” 

Book Review: With Just One Click

Book: With Just One Click

Genre: Chick Lit / Contemporary Fiction / Women’s Fiction

Author: Amanda Strong

Cover Critique:

The cover is brilliantly designed. By looking at its cover, one can easily tell that the novel revolves around relationships influenced in one way or the other by online social networking sites. The blue background is used to link it to Facebook’s signature colour. I love it!

Review:

The book deals with the “relationship issues” of three women, whose lives change dramatically due to their connections on Facebook. First is Chloe, a thirty-one year old movie reviewer who works for some entertainment magazine. The novel opens with Chloe dealing with her latest break-up, who joins Facebook on her friend’s insistence. Reason to join: To get over her recent break-up. Soon, she finds that her first love Kyle wants to add her as a friend on Facebook. The writer goes in flashback to tell us how they were a perfect teenage couple when due to certain circumstances, they grew apart. Now, will their relationship work this time? Does it have a chance to grow into something mature and meaningful than just a teenage crush? Will it help Chloe re-adjust the priorities in her life?

Second is Morgan, married woman, in her early thirties who joins Facebook to get a break from her housework routine, which involves managing the two little kids, Ashley and Tony. Yes, she is a stay-at-home mum who loves to spy over her friends’ lives through Facebook and finds it a lot of fun. She even starts to spy on her hubby’s Facebook account and that is where a rift comes in their otherwise happy marriage. Apparently, she thinks that her husband has befriended his ex-girlfriend and something fishy is going on behind her back. Is she true in her assumptions? Or Is she ‘paranoid’ and ‘obsessed’, as her husband EJ likes to put it?

Wait a minute, before we find out more, there is a third leading lady of this novel. So let me introduce her. Her name is Brynn. She lives with her husband Chad and two teenage kids, Hailey and Finn. From the start, she seems to have lost interest in her husband (though she thinks it’s the other way around), vying for attention and to fill the vacuum in her so-called empty life, she tries to kill her isolation through Facebook and finds her love from the past, Timothy. Soon, the reader sees how she wrecks her happy family life and welcomes Timothy’s advances with open arms. Rekindling old passion leads to some ugly decisions. Is she right in finding her ‘own’ happiness at the cost of ruining her kids and husband’s life? Is she plain selfish and mean, who will go to any lengths to re-do her past and spoil her present?

The book unfolds the lives of Chloe, Morgan and Brynn in each chapter to reveal what happens next when these women enter the world of Facebook and how this social networking site is merely a "catalyst" and a "tool" which affects their relationships and their life-turning decisions.

When I read the starting chapters, I felt that the book has a wonderful premise and it would be interesting to see it develop and shape into a full-blown exciting story. Sadly enough, I was wrong.

First of all, each chapter is told in three small chapters subscribed to three leading ladies, which confused me a lot. I had to go back and forth many times, to keep track of the developments happening in each lady’s life. It is like having three protagonists in one novel, each telling their story and that too in first-person POV. I think it would have been better if the writer focused on one story instead of developing three stories simultaneously. In my humble opinion, it could have been put into three novellas separately instead of one lengthy complicated book.

There are lots of secondary characters, from Blonde Bianca to gay Bryan, also there is ample room given to Morgan’s supporting cast, and then there is the most sensible character of Ivette who plays the role of Brynn’s friend. While I felt that the supporting cast of Chloe and Morgan consisted of predictable characters, the character of Ivette presented a breath of fresh air.

There are sub-plots, for example, Morgan’s preparation for mini-triathlon which felt like dragging the story to a halt, as it did not do anything to progress the story, rather presented a distraction. The situations like Hailey’s broken leg, Chad’s last kiss, Timothy’s outbursts had the potential to develop into something, but it seemed that the writer picked up so many threads and failed to weave them together in a page-turning climax.

The reader can easily figure out that Chloe’s story deals with the problems of long-distance relationship, her over-emotional behaviour and her desperate boyfriend trying to get hold of her, while she keeps busy with her career and her gay friend’s life. Her story is interesting but predictable.

With every passing chapter, Morgan’s jealousy goes to annoy and irritate not only her husband but the reader as well. Brynn’s story is more like a fling which goes beyond control and ultimately brings a crack in her marriage and her relationship with her kids. The reader sees her as an emotionally unstable woman who is full of self-pity and loves to blame others for her wrong actions. No matter how much I wanted to love the characters, I ended up disliking them, except for Kyle and Chad’s character.

While I would not say that this book is all-bad, it surely has some loopholes in its craft, for example, the slow pace and an abrupt ending. It also lacks growth in terms of character-development. With 350 pages to read, the story could have been chopped at places to save it from getting dull at the end. Overall, I think it is a good effort considering this is Amanda’s first book. Hopefully, her future endeavours will offer much improved version of her writing skills.

Review Girl Rating: 6/10

I would like to thank the author Amanda Strong for sending me a free copy of her book, “With Just One Click” for the purpose of reviewing it on my blog. To buy this book on Amazon, click here. 

I would also like to thank Samantha of Chicklitplus.com who gave me the opportunity to be part of her amazing CLP Blog Tour. To visit other blogs taking part in this tour, click here. 

Coming soon: Author Interview: Amanda Strong

Book Review: Treasure Me

Book: Treasure Me

Genre: Romantic Comedy/Mystery/ Contemporary Fiction

Author: Christine Nolfi

Cover Critique:

The cover is somewhat straight-forward and simple like a textbook with dull colors. It gives me an impression that I picked one of the books from the classical literature section. I am saying it as a good thing because I am fond of classics! I like the cover as it is well-fitted to the theme of the book but it needs to be perked up a little.

Review: 

A ‘bold and beautiful’ female thief named Birdie and a nosy but handsome investigative journalist Hugh come together in this sizzling romantic comedy as they uncover the mystery of the treasure left by Birdie’s ancestors. In this “peel the onion” kind of mystery, each chapter unfolds one layer after another in the form of clues. As Birdie gathers all the clues to hunt the family treasure, lots of other ambiguities emerge to the surface. With many twists and turns that follow in the story, the complexities grow as the plot thickens!

While she works as a part-time waitress in old town Liberty’s restaurant, “The Second Chance Grill”, she gains trust and support from her newly made friends, keeping her actual identity and motive ‘a secret’ from the people of Liberty. But how long will she be able to keep her criminal instincts a secret? Will Birdie succeed in finding the treasure: bags full of precious gems? Or Is she going to be exposed by someone whom she dared to trust? Will she be able to leave the life of a criminal and start afresh? Most importantly, will she learn to trust her guts and build relationships? There is thrill, there is adventure and of course, there is romance!

The story starts with the main character, Birdie Kaminsky pick pocketing an old guy and running away from him, finally landing at her tiny apartment and managing to escape with the help of her good-hearted neighbours. Soon we see her setting off to Ohio, to a small town named Liberty. The writer uses “flashback” technique to tell the readers about her family background. She belongs to a family of con artists and criminals. Her mother, Wish Kaminsky lures rich gullible men and then vanishes with all their wealth to a far off place.

The writer lends an emotional touch to her character showing that even a thief has a heart. Birdie longs for family and friends and affection which she could never get in her childhood as she got dragged along with her mother from one town to another, stealing and running heists. But unlike her mother, she wants to settle down in her life and leave illegal stuff. Thus, the reader starts to feel sympathetic towards her.

She is hoping to gain a lot of wealth very soon (as she sets off to Liberty to discover the family treasure) to fulfill her dream of living a normal life. But even this shortcut is filled with many hurdles which she has to pass to reach the jackpot! She has just got one clue with her, “Liberty safeguards the cherished heart” and that she is somehow related to freedwoman of Civil War, Justice Postell whose picture she finds hung on the wall of the restaurant, “The Second Chance Grill”.

Things get a lot spicy with the entry of cynical journalist Hugh, who also comes to this restaurant to expose a scam for his next article. The plethora of engaging characters, each holding their charm and uniqueness work as perfect catalysts to advance the story. We come to know angry cook Finney, easy-going waitress Delia, the ever-amusing Theodora, wise teenager Blossom, depressed father Landon, strict boss Bud and several other secondary characters. The igniting chemistry between the hero and heroine of the story is a treat to watch as the novel advances towards its end.

As I started reading the first chapter, I felt that this book is not going to be an ordinary book, because of the ways in which the writer uses “literary techniques” at her disposal. Starting the book with a female thief doing a lot of ‘action’, gave me an adrenaline rush which I think is a perfect start to the story. The mood for some thrills and excitement is set right from the start! It definitely grabbed me and I was turning pages fast to find out what happens next.

There is a lot of “dramatic visualization” to describe the characters of Theodora and Hugh as well as Birdie which made me feel as if the reel is going on in my mind and I could imagine in great picturesque detail, what they were doing. The writer gets into the skin of the characters which pulls the reader close to the characters in spite of their faults and eventually you come to like them. The characters made me laugh, cry, feel sorry for them, despise them, get angry at them as they go all berserk, but most of all, I loved them!

The writer has a perfect blend of words when it comes to define characters, incidents and even beautiful scenery. For example, there is so much poetic beauty in these lines:

“A moist haze settled over the countryside reflected through the glass. Sunlight pooled in orange puddles beneath the hills as the blue of night bled into the horizon.” 

What an amazing vivid imagery! The writer does not shy away from using  metaphors and personification whenever it is required to highlight the intensity of the scenes. We see that there are sparks flying all over the place as Hugh and Birdie collide with each other. To describe the sexual tension between the two, the writer describes Hugh’s desire for Birdie in these lines:

“He was a red blooded male, which meant he was hardwired with the need to bed her. So his programming was infected with a bad case of lust. Emotionally, he was the Sahara Desert."

The writer uses “back-story” in the form of narration, dialogue, and even recollection to take out all the pieces of the puzzle before putting them together and placing them one by one to complete the maze. This is probably one of the reasons that in spite of so many characters, the reader does not feel lost or confused. There is not one boring line or sequence. The chapters are long but the advancement of the story is faced-paced with a lot of activity to keep the reader engaged. The only thing which the book needs is re-editing as it suffers from a few typos, other than that, I do not think that there is any loophole in story or form.

I think this book was out-an-out entertaining and I won’t be surprised if this series becomes a regular drama series on television or turns into a Hollywood project. There! I said it! Highly recommended due to great plot, excellent writing style (which proves great writers do not need traditional publishing methods to succeed!) and of course, the tangy witty banter between Hugh and Birdie!

Review Girl Rating: 9.5/10

“I would like to thank Christine Nolfi for sending me a copy of her book, “Treasure Me” for the purpose of reviewing it on my blog. To know the review rules and policy, click here. To buy this book, click here.”

Book Review: Size Eight in a Size Zero World

Book: Size Eight in a Size Zero World

Genre: Chick Lit/ Contemporary Fiction/ Women’s Fiction


Author: Meredith Cagen


Cover Critique:
The cover is so stylish. With fashionable ladies gracing the cover, it perfectly matches the women-centric theme set in the backdrop of posh NYC. Very apt and convincing! It has got this "Ooo la la" factor and I like it!


Review: 

This is a story of a thirty-something married working woman, Lindsay Chandler. She lives on the Upper East Side of New York, in a posh apartment, with two school going children (Kristen and Jake) and her husband, Grant. To complete this picture perfect family, they have a dog as well, named Digby. But the truth is that her life is not as perfect as it looks. Being a misfit among the trophy wives of rich men, she yearns for a life of meaning and a burning desire to fill the vacuum inside her. We see that her relationship with her husband is as chaotic as it can get and we learn that she is extremely unhappy and craves for her husband’s care, love and attention.

On the other hand, her husband does not only have a “don’t give a damn” attitude towards her and kids but is also filled with egotistical male-chauvinistic demands, which he expects (rather orders) Lindsay to fulfil. Lindsay not only performs all household chores but also her job, which do keep her occupied but not enough to fill the emptiness in her married life. When she encounters a handsome bachelor (addressed in the novel as, “The Man Upstairs”) living in the building, she starts to fall for his physical charm, much like a “desperate wife” hungry for attention. An extra-marital affair starts and the reader is taken on a whirlwind of relationship problems, lust, love, temptations, social taboos and a journey of self-discovery for Lindsay.

If you are thinking that it is just another chick lit with a non-serious, superficial story, then you are wrong. The story can be read on many levels. The title serves double meaning: apparent and underlying. The apparent meaning is of course about the physical appearance of Lindsay which does not match the Upper East Side ladies who are thin, one-dimensional and blonde. But underlying meaning would be that she is like an outsider; a misfit in the shallow world of trophy wives.

The novel beautifully narrates the story of a woman who wants to re-invent herself and her failing marriage gives her the golden opportunity to analyse her self-worth and potential. On this journey of self-discovery, with the support of her friends, she finally comes to understand the complicated world of adult relationships and masked personalities which make her realise that she was living in a world of illusions and day-dreams.

The novel is written from the point of view of female protagonist and the opening chapters are filled with her constant whining about house chores, her husband’s indifference to her needs and her wish to land on a better job profile. While Lindsay’s complaints irritated me a little, they did not put me off at all. On the contrary, the novel hooked me from the beginning and made me want to know how her character develops and grows in the coming chapters. As the dilemma of Lindsay’s marital life is laid in front of the reader from the start, the theme of the novel gets wide and clear with all its complexities that are sure to follow.

The writer keeps the chapters short yet meaningful as we witness a whole lot of activity going on from first chapter till the last. So, as the pace does not slow down at any point of the story, it keeps the reader totally absorbed. Half-way through the story, I was so much engrossed in Lindsay’s character, that I could feel and imagine what she was going through in her life. In spite of its mature and complex story line, the writer does not digress from the plot, which is extremely remarkable!

There is also a lot of thought put into the secondary characters. There is quirky Jodee (her friend who is more like her sister), sex-expert Tanya (who is her best friend and a great aunt to her kids), helpful guy Ryan, smart kids, her compulsive mother and a very loud father. While the character of “The Man Upstairs” is complete and original and other characters are also believable, surprisingly the character of Grant is the epitome of all-bad, so much so that it looks fake and plastic! Since the story is told from first person’s POV and the readers see characters from Lindsay’s eye, it is justified to an extent. Overall, it is a smartly written book.

The ending of the book is bound to make you happy, but I will not spoil it for you. Read to find out what she decides for her future life. I will recommend it to all, especially working mothers and housewives who can empathise and maybe even learn something from Lindsay’s story. The readers get a glimpse of modern lifestyle and the changing rules of marital relationships in this social satire. A well-rounded novel which is worth a read!


Review Girl Rating: 8/10

“I would like to thank Meredith Cagen for sending me a free copy of her book, “Size Eight in a Size Zero World” for the purpose of reviewing it on my blog. To know the review rules and policy, click here. To buy this book on Amazon, click here.”

Book Review: Seattle Girl

Book: Seattle Girl

Genre: Chick Lit/ YA Fiction/ Romance

Author: Lucy Kevin

Cover critique:

The cover holds your attention in a second with its striking colours, contrasting black and white on a sharp blue background. The girl on the cover standing in stylish clothes holding a purple umbrella and a matching purse, displaying a lot of attitude in her body language and posture, works very well with the title of the book, “Seattle girl”. I simply love the cover! It is very appealing and eye-catching!

Review:

The story revolves around Georgia Fulton who has lots of dreams and aspirations as usual like any other youngster of her age. She is an ambitious, feisty and smart lady who wants to host her own radio show one day and make a career out of it. As they say, nothing comes easy in life; so she goes through many rough patches, like doing unpaid internships and working as a part-time cocktail waitress at a bar, to keep struggling and hoping that one day she will make it to the finish line and cross all barriers on this bumpy road of life! As Georgia says,

“I hate to admit this, but I wanted to get on the air so bad that I pretty much wished and prayed for the other DJs to get sick.....Anything to get to sit in the driver’s seat. Anything to live my dream."

While on her way to become a future “Seattle Girl” (the name of her own radio show), she encounters many men, who make her learn one thing or the other about adult relationships, dating pitfalls, the meaning of real love, pure lust and even herself! On the plus side, she has got the help of her loyal best friends, Diane (sexy blonde) and Seth (desperate gay) who stick by her side always. Well, I would not spoil it for you, so read it to find out how she deals with crazy, strange, embarrassing and even risky situations to become a woman with an identity of her own.

From the beginning till the end, the progression of the story is fast-paced, racing from one situation to another. The chapters are short and you keep turning pages to know what and who will Georgia confront now. The story is told from the perspective of the female protagonist and the writer makes good use of dialogues and witty lines to communicate the character of Georgia to the readers. She (the writer) hardly takes help from long and boring descriptions and keeps it more direct and personal all along. The secondary characters of Seth and Diane are also well-developed and save the story from getting dull and boring at times. The writer uses several pop culture and popular chick flick references to keep it current and trendy. The plot is quite predictable and one can easily figure out after reading first two chapters that with which guy she will finally end up (well, she dates like six guys to be sure!). The novel qualifies as a perfect beach read, with not much twists and turns to follow.

While the book slightly touches on the topic of generation gap, parent-child relationship, peer pressure and other general issues which a youngster goes through in his/her life, the novel fails to offer more in terms of plot development and a profound story with meaningful conflict leading to climax. I did not like that the book relied heavily on provocative sexual instances and harsh swearing and focused less on the romantic development between the hero and the heroine of the story.

The book uses a lot of American slang and obscene language as well as explicit situations like cage dance and exotic dance parties which came as a shock to me, because I am used to of chick lit books which use subtle hints of romance and comedy but have a great theme to keep the story intriguing, such as Katie Fforde’s “Highland Fling” or Jill Mansell’s “An offer you can’t refuse”.

The last chapters are abrupt as if the writer is short of time and rushing to end the story. I found the hero’s character half-heartedly sketched as it had the potential to be developed completely and left me wondering why the writer did not put a lot of work into it. Also, the book needs to be proof-read for several grammatical errors. Since it is Lucy’s earlier works and she has released three more novels (Falling Fast, Sparks Fly, Gabrielle) after “Seattle Girl”, I am hoping that they would offer much more improved work of her skills as a writer. Overall, the novel is a fine read.

Review Girl Rating: 7/10

"I would like to thank Lucy Kevin for sending me a free copy of her e-book, “Seattle Girl” for the purpose of reviewing it on my blog. To know the review rules and policy, click here. To buy this book, click here.” 

Other books by Lucy Kevin: