Fast-paced enjoyable chick-lit
937912
I love it when a book has you page turning by page 2 and this Amber Fox mystery certainly did.  There is never a dull moment and she is a very aimable character.  Her slightly chaotic, even scatty, exterior cloaks a head-screwed-on, worldly and shrewd ex-policewoman.  She is, of course, pretty and slim with the enviable dilemma of having to decide between two gorgeous hunks.  But then, she IS the heroine, so these qualities are a must !!  I was momentarily very slightly crestfallen when it was apparent that the story was centred around boxing - one of my least favourite sports - but, that moment passed very quickly, as Sibel only uses it as a setting for the perpetrators and never goes into detailed technicalities of the sport.  The story is fastpaced with just enough characters to make it intriguing but not too many to lose track of who is/does what !  I love Sibel's easy going style and she makes it very easy to identify with Amber's thoughts and ponderings.  The fate of each (living!) character is nicely tied up, as is Amber's own - Sibel can be trusted to guide you to a very satisfactory conclusion.  The characters' names are a tad corny but that aside, this is a thoroughly enjoyable chicklit - if you have already read Amber Fox, this will not disappoint and if you have not, welcome to her world, you will be wanting to read more.
1753899
I don't normally read general market contemporary romance. I honestly even barely tolerate Christian romances to be honest. But for some reason I felt drawn towards this book. I think it was because it felt more like a chick lit story with romance thrown in rather than a full fledged romance story. Either way, I found myself enjoying it tremendously.

Jack and Beth have a past relationship. They've been apart for 8 years when they are reunited with Beth unknowingly applying for a position at Jack's company. I really like how they really do try to keep things professional for most of the book. They are able to put their private life on hold during work time which is what they really should be doing. Its quite annoying when there is obvious drama between coworkers who are dating/have dated. There's also quite a bit of talk about their families as well, which helps to understand the characters more.

Ok, I won't lie. When the sex scene happens, I found myself giggling, not because I'm immature but because just like most sex scenes in books and movies, it's quite unrealistic how it all happens. Still, it doesn't happen until almost the end of the book and it's not really the main focus of the story. There's a lot of build up and tension toward it but it's not the defining moment of Jack and Beth's relationship.

If there was anything that bugged me, it's one very obvious scene when Beth is getting dressed, can't find her underwear and of course Jack is pounding on the door trying to figure out what's going on. Why she couldn't yell out to him, I'm getting dressed or hold on, and why he feels the need to start panicking there, seemed very contrived to me. All it seem to do was emphasis the fact that Beth is half dressed on one side, with Jack trying to get in frantically on the other.

Overall though, I enjoyed this short sweet story. The writing is fresh and funny and I think the small touches of romance was just what I needed. It's British too, which makes it even more enjoyable. I think that if Ashley has more books written like this, I'll be glad to read those as well.
3647317
I have to admit I don't know anything about "chick lit", but I bought this book after reading the author's web page for years and wanting to see the final result of her work.  Carrie Pilby turned out to be a good story built on a premise of this 19-year-old woman living a life alone in New York, a city of millions - that sounds impossible, but it happens more than you'd think in this fast-paced world.  There's a lot of sarcastic or ironic humor among the descriptive view of Carrie's life and how she observes those around her from the unique perspective of someone who graduated college early and spent most of her life away from the mainstream.  What I liked most of all about the book was the plot, and how her psychiatrist had her put together a set of goals that eventually pull us through the book, setting up the different threads within.  That made it a real page-turner for me.  Like I said, I don't know much about chick lit and I don't know if this book is indicative of others in the genre, but I suspect that it's ahead of the pack and I personally found it a good read and worth checking out.
4313288
I finished the book a couple days ago and quite enjoyed the easy read.  I was a little surprised at the critics on this webpage, b/c it still is "Chick Lit."  While I am glad it varies from Bridget's whining and the predictable plot - it still is "Chick Lit."  I am sure Fielding isn't trying for a Pulitzer, and the book is not worthy of it - but it is entertaining.  I did not get the feel from the book that Fielding was racist or insulting 9/11, the book really is not that deep.  Olivia is quirky and amusing.  I like how she sees and criticizes Hollywood and upper society's superficial values. In closing I would recommend this book to anyone looking for an easy fun read, and not to look too much into.
3728021
Although I sometimes get irritated by the label of "chick lit" as a book genre, I'm going to be my own oxymoron and say that PLAN B by Jenny O'Connell is, indeed, teen chick lit. And that I also really liked the book, thoroughly enjoyed it, in fact, and can now no longer say "chick lit" with my previous snobbish sneer.

Vanessa has her life all planned out. All she has to do is survive the next nine months of senior year at the prestigious and private Cabot Academy, ace her SATs, and then spend a year touring Europe with her best friend, Taylor. After that, she'll be more than ready to enroll at the same college in Connecticut that her boyfriend, Patrick, attends, and life will be perfect.

Except life isn't perfect, and it's the definite fault of Reed Vaughn, Hollywood "It" guy, the most good-looking hottie to have graced the planet with his existence in the last several years. Taylor is already ga-ga over him, and although Vanessa can appreciate his good looks, she's not entirely sure about his appeal. Appeal is the last thing on her mind, though, when she finds out that there's more to Reed Vaughn than meets the eye--he's actually her half-brother, the son her father never knew he had.

As if a previously unknown sibling wasn't bad enough, Reed is coming to stay with her family in Chicago. Even that wouldn't have been so bad, if not for the fact that Reed is also a senior, will also be attending Cabot Academy, and will, without a doubt, ruin her life as she knows it. Now school is going to be as messed up as her home life, where tensions are running high between her parents and the lack of regular phone calls from boyfriend Patrick is driving Vanessa insane. How can she possibly survive this last year of high school with a celebrity brother, a maybe-cheating boyfriend, a disgruntled mother, and a shell-shocked father? All the plans she's worked so hard on getting perfectly arranged might just have to go out the window--and it will be time to put PLAN B into action.

This is a fun story about friendship, family, love, and loss that will have you remembering the ups and downs of having a sibling, and the trials and tribulations of getting ready for college. PLAN B is an engaging, entertaining read from a talented new author, and you won't go wrong by picking up a copy.

Reviewed by: Jennifer Wardrip, aka "The Genius"
1788694
I was curious about this book although I'm not usually a chick lit fan. So I downloaded a sample. But once I started reading, I realized the author's characterization of the main characters was really great and the writing just draws you in. I had to buy this book (on the Kindle.)
The personal growth of the heroine is really well written and entertaining. Her story is realistic and she's really likable.
The strong sisterly bond, the overbearing mother, the dog, each element and everyone was fun to read about. I finished the book in two days.

I didn't expect the twists and turns in the plotline too. The author hews closely to real life, so that good people aren't always who they seem, and bad people might look like good eggs. I eagerly anticipate the next novel in this series. I can't wait to read it! Highly recommended book.
3109615
Katie Chandler is a admirable and downright "decent" character in the sometimes self-absorbed world of chick lit. This story was well-paced, charming, wholesome and I couldn't put it down. A review described it as "cotton candy." I disagree; it was much more fulfilling and satisfying; a mug of cocoa, a cheese pizza. Although sometimes the prose was plain (as in the word "guy" used five times in a three sentence paragraph), it fits the way Katie, a small town Texan who formerly ran her family's seed store, would think. The magical element, Katie is hired by Magic, Spells and Illusions, Inc. for her "nonmagical" abilities, is fabulous and deftly integrated. If you enjoy Harry Potter, or Jane Austen, you'll enjoy this thoroughly charming and fresh book.
323935
This book has a beautiful cover and that's why I picked it off the bookshelf at first. Once I started it reading it, I enjoyed it even more because I know or have heard of most places mentioned in this book-I live in Connecticut. It is a fast and easy read and it kept me up really late. Most of the characters are likable, although there were some I grew to despise: Harris the old man who dies early on in the book, his son Nate and Trace, little Arley's father. Jamie's character is sincere, kind and warm, her sister Lucy seems intelligent but drifts from one man to the next which is unhealthy for anyone. There were some mistakes in grammar and probably the book needs some more proofreading, luckily they do not take away from the story. I am glad the cover does not too whimsical like many similar books nowadays. I may not have looked at it twice. I would not classify it as chick-lit either, underneath the funny situations are serious issues that many people can relate to. Overall, it is a good story, would probably make a good romantic comedy if put on screen and it will keep you entertained.
2309186
A pretty decent chick lit. Lots of activity and twists and turns. Not overlong, but was glad when the last page came.
1687058
This is an enjoyable Chick - lit/ family drama about a young Mother of 2 boys who suddenly finds herself a widow and in a precarious situation. In a scenario I hope never to experience, Rosys husband drops dead on the morning train right in front of her and her cosy well-heeled enviable life crumbles to pieces.

Her 2 boys are hard to handle youngsters and make life even more difficult  in particular the younger lad James is just a nightmare! I found Rosys attitude toward dealing with him a little bit namby-pamby, he really needed a firm hand and the way he spoke to her was appalling.

Not only does Rosy find herself unexpectedly a single Mum, she is horrified to discover that the beautiful family home with all its lovely memories has been mortgaged to the hilt to fund her husbands completely secret and unlikely purchase of a run-down Alpaca farm in the wilds of Dorset.

Being townies Rosy and her sons are reluctant to move there but their situation forces them to sell their urban nest and relocate, learning about Alpaca farming and country life as they go. I found the idea of Alpaca farming which is the main storyline in this lovely book, really appealing and I wish my husband would secretly buy an alpaca farm behind my back!

Settling in to their new life Rosy finds the chance of romance but baulks at getting into a new relationship so soon after her husbands sudden death although she seems remarkably open to giving it a try, especially as her husbands double life reveals itself and her relationship with him turns out to have been built on sand.

This is a light hearted way of weaving a story around quite awful situations and making it fun and easy to read chick-lit. A great romantic beach read for the summer and definitely one for fans of Erica James and Katie Fforde and highly recommended for all die hard chick lit lovers.

I received a free ebook from the authors publicists Hello Chick-lit for reviewing.
4392387
This book is a sweet paranormal romance, easy to read and fast-paced. Although the good girl falling for the bad boy was an inevitable outcome from the start, it was described very nicely from the alternating first person narratives of the two protagonists, Tessa and Hayden.
Both characters are well drawn, and the similarities in their lives - their problems with their parents, their need to escape and find someone who cares - make the romance believable.
The language is simple and clear, the dialogues natural, the secondary characters well depicted. In all, it was an enjoyable, fun read.

However, about halfway through the story I started having some problems with the plot and plausibility. I accepted readily enough that Tessa is a witch and that she herself accepts this news so easily. But there was a series of coincidences that were a bit too much for me to accept - perhaps because Tessa and Hayden were so easily convinced of their normalcy.

I don't want to give away the plot, because I do think the book is a fun read and because Hayden is very drool-worthy material (there, I've admitted it!), but the coincidences of Hayden's gift and Tessa's family's secret, of the dead coming back to life (or never dying, as it turns out) because of their witchiness were too easy. In a novel anything is possible, and that is the beauty of it all, but up to a point and after tribulations and worrying and fighting the odds.

Let me hurry to say that I don't mean by this that Tessa and Hayden aren't dynamic characters. They are, and that makes them very relatable and endearing - although I feel that both their pasts, and especially Hayden's, could have been exploited much more in the character-building.

These characters are the reason this novel works and that I can recommend it for a light, romantic read.

(3.5 stars for Good Book Alert reviews)
4914854
Fun Chick Lit book! Read it on my Kindle pretty quickly. Sometimes a little silly, it was a nice light read.
3656126
A friend recommended this book to me because she knew the editor.  She told me that she thought I would like the storyline and plot, plus she knew that I love chick lit.  "Resolutions" was a quick and easy read.  I was actually disappointed when I had to put it down.  While the story does involve religion, it wasn't pushy or controversial at all. I think anyone could objectively read this and enjoy the overall story.  I would definitely purchase other books from this author.
3211576
Cozy Mystery, Chick Lit, and Womens Fic  this book is a very entertaining hybrid of all my favorite genres and I thoroughly enjoyed reading it. Schoolteacher Sunny Vale is a very likable and relatable heroine. She lives in small town Colorado, has an adorable golden retriever named Beau, a good relationship with her neighbors, and a wonderful group of friends. What she doesnt have is a social life, but all that changes when the ladies in her book club decide to take turns setting her up on a different blind date six weeks in a row. Although Sunny humors her friends by going on these dates, which are increasingly hilarious and disastrous, the man who really revs her motor is the mysterious blond hunk next door. Jake Landon may or may not be responsible for the disappearance of Sunnys elderly neighbor, Walter, so hes not exactly good relationship material. Can she trust him, or will her heart lead her into danger?

There were a lot of laughs in this book (the doggy hijinks of Beau, all of the horrible, no good, very bad dates Sunny has to suffer through, and just about everything that comes out of the mouth of Edna, her octogenarian, CSI-loving friend), but there were also some genuinely scary moments (Ill admit I had to read one scene under a blanket. Yes, Im a wuss.) Author Jennie Marts is very witty, as evidenced by her clever book title, and she knows how to write a well-paced and engaging story populated with unique and memorable characters. Another Saturday Night was a terrific start to the Page Turners series and I look forward to reading future books, in which other members of the book club will step into the spotlight.
3881818
(FWIW, I very rarely give 5 stars to ANY book, so take a 3 to be a "good" score, as a 4 would be excellent and a 5 would be beyond excellent)

A good read.  I liked the main character a lot, and the characters she surrounded herself with were fleshed out well and seemed like very real people -- like those we encounter every day in our own lives.  She was funny and witty and relate-able.  All in all, a good little "chick-lit" book that is definitely worth your time to read.

What I had a wee bit of a problem with was just about any woman in New York City in her mid 30s able to take an entire year off of work and not be living on the streets.  I would imagine you'd need to have a cash stash of many, many thousands of dollars (and in your early 30s, short of inheritance, who has that?) to be able to do that -- and afford new kitchen appliances/gadgets, groceries and rent to boot!
454016
A fun read with fun characters, but chick-lit flavor which doesn't have depth or meaning to me.
178209
Having recently read a number of books by American authors, set in the States, it made a welcome change to read something set a bit closer to home (Ireland) and stumble across some familiar words like Tesco and Jaffa Cakes!

This was an enjoyable chick-lit set in Dublin - Zoe, a computer technician, moves there from England to get away from bad memories of an unscrupulous boyfriend.  She receives a phone call one evening from the publicist of a rather engaging, colourful, and of course, good-looking TV gardener, Larry Harte, asking if she might be able to assist with the biography of his even more colourful, deceased father, who died suddenly in the mid-seventies.  What connection does she have with this man, how can she possibly help and how can she resist the rather lovely Larry?

I was instantly drawn into this book, and it was not long before I got to CPID status (Couldn't Put It Down)!  The characters are well-drawn and make up a delightful mixed bag of quirky, comic, weird, and obsessive.  Zoe is extremely likeable - she is patient, tolerant, funny and resolute;  the circumstances leading to her departure from England are portrayed to lend her just the right amount of sympathy;  facts from the past, both from 34 years ago, clarifying Zoe's connection to Larry and from 4 years ago, revealing the start - and finish - of her relationship with her boyfriend, run neatly and smoothly alongside the narrative time and all three timeframes bring you to the end with satisfactory explanations, leaving no stone unturned.

I loved Kate's easy-going style and the veil of gentle Irish humour made this a delightful and entertaining read.  Highly recommended.