Wednesday, June 20, 2012

Review: Summer Daydreams

Title: Summer Daydreams
Author: Carole Matthews
Publisher: Sphere
Release Date: May 1, 2012
Genre: Fiction / Chick Lit
Source: Author
Reviewer: Arnett R.

DESCRIPTION:
What if you had always dreamed of something more…? Nell McNamara has a happy life: her boyfriend Olly adores her, their four-year-old daughter Petal is the center of their world and Nell has a steady job in the local chip shop. When the chippy needs a makeover, Nell jumps at the chance to unleash the creativity fizzing inside her. Inspired by what she can achieve – and encouraged by the very best friends a girl can have – Nell is determined to try something new. Waving goodbye to the chip shop, she starts up a new business making her own line of must-have handbags, which are soon flying off the shelves. It seems Nell’s dreams are finally coming true, but her success doesn’t come without a price. Before too long, Nell has to ask herself if it’s really possible to have it all…Full of fun, love and laughter, soak up the sunshine with Summer Daydreams.

MY THOUGHTS:
This is a great story about having a hidden dream and stumbling into fulfilling it. Nell is sweet and naïve about what it takes to succeed but pulls through with hard work, the help of Phillip, Olly and the rest of the folks at Live and Let Fry.

Olly for me is the winner in this story; it is all about Nell, but what a great secondary character.  He stole the girlish/romantic side of me, stand by your woman through thick or thin, a little jealousy, a little pouting but lots of bravery in the end, a knight in shining armor.

A feel good read, may be a little off putting to readers who are not British because of the spelling of some words, a little long in the middle, but would recommend this book as a great way to spend a quiet afternoon.  All in all I loved it.

MY RATING:



ABOUT THE AUTHOR:
Carole Matthews is an internationally bestselling author of hugely successful romantic comedy novels. Her unique sense of humor has won her legions of fans and critical acclaim all over the world.

As well as appearing on the Sunday Times and USA Today bestseller lists, Carole is published in 30 different countries. Her novels Welcome To The Real World and Wrapped Up In You were shortlisted for the RNA romantic novel of the year award.

In the USA, the hilarious For Better, For Worse was selected by one of America’s top TV book clubs – Reading with Ripa on LIVE with Regis and Kelly – as their book of the month. As a result it went straight into the USA Today and New York Times Extended bestseller lists.

Carole co-edited two editions of the hugely popular Girls’ Night In charity series called Girls’ Night Out – one for the USA and one for Canada. All proceeds go to War Child. She has recently contributed a story to an anthology for the Romantic Novelists’ Association, Loves Me, Loves Me Not. Carole has presented on television and is a regular radio guest.

Born in St Helens, Merseyside, Carole has always been an avid reader and dreamed of being a teacher, an air traffic controller, a travel guide or a hairdresser – writer never featured once. Leaving Liverpool for London after a torrid holiday romance in Torquay, she worked as a secretary, an ice-cream lady, a shop assistant and a beauty therapist. It was when she was working in a completely mad holistic clinic that she first thought ‘one day I should write a book about this.’ She still hasn’t got round to it.

Carole’s Contact links:
Stop by to pay her a visit and don’t forget to tell her that Dee at Age is Just a Number referred you!

A copy of Summer Daydreams was received from the author for the review. There was no obligation to give a positive review.

Tuesday, January 31, 2012

Introducing: A Cowboy in Manhattan

Title: A Cowboy in Manhattan
Author: Barbara Dunlop
Publisher: Harlequin
Release Date: February 7, 2012
ISBN-10: 0373731531
ISBN-13: 978-0373731534
Mass Market Paperback: 192 pages
List Price: $4.99
Kindle Edition: $3.59

About the Book:


Coming out in February is book two of the author's Colorado Cattle Barons Series, A Cowboy In Manhattan.

In book one, A Cowboy Comes Home, Caleb Terrell returned to Colorado, was reunited with his estranged twin brother Reed and also met up with sexy neighbor Mandy Jacobs. In A Cowboy In Manhattan, Reed Terrell finds a long-lost Jacobs sister for his own, New York ballerina Katrina.

Here’s a little more about A Cowboy In Manhattan:

He is Colorado to the core. And after an unexpected family reunion, Reed Terrell is also an overnight millionaire. But the cattle rancher’s biggest surprise is his attraction to Katrina Jacobs. For as much as Reed is quintessential cowboy, she is pure city-slicker.

Even with passions riding high, Reed knows an affair with Katrina can’t continue. She’d once lived the ranch life and long ago decided it wasn’t for her. Though every fiber of his being yearns for the country, can Reed risk losing the only woman who makes him crave something more?

About the Author:

USA Today bestselling author Barbara Dunlop has written more than twenty-five novels for Silhouette Desire, Harlequin Temptation and Duets. Her books regularly hit the Bookscan and Boarders’ bestsellers lists. Barbara is a two-time Romance Writers of America Golden Heart winner, and she has twice been short-listed for Romance Writers of America’s RITA award.