Review: Diva

Diva by Carrie Duffy

Format: Trade Paperback
Pages: 320
Published: June 21, 2012
Publisher: HarperCollins UK
Genre: Chick Lit

My Rating: 4/5

Summary (from amazon.com):

Stunning and sexy, Dionne Summers is a girl who speaks her mind. Brought up on the mean streets of Detroit, she is determined that nothing will stop her from becoming the world’s next supermodel.

Beautiful and innocent, Alyson McIntyre is desperate to escape her upbringing. She decides it is time to take hold of her life and follow her dreams.

Heading to the chic streets of Paris, the girls move in with a maverick young designer, CeCe Bouvier. Born to a life of luxury and glamour, CeCe is determined to stand on her own two feet and take the fashion world by storm.

The girls vow to make it to the top, but their friendship is about to be tested to the limits when deception, betrayal and tragedy are played out in the glare of the paparazzi flashbulbs.

Can the three girls overcome the ghosts of the past – or will the catwalk consume them?

Review:

**NOTE: A copy of this book was provided by the publisher.  However, no compensations were made and this review reflects my honest thoughts and feelings.**

Is it ever possible to escape your past and make it big in the world? 

Reading Diva was like being given an inside look into what life must be like for a celebrity.  Spending everyday knowing that a secret from your past could come back and haunt you.  Being a total tabloid junkie, I could sense that things were coming to a head or at least had a fear that they would and THAT made me want to read faster and faster because who doesn't love the car-wreck that are celebrities?!?!

Carrie Duffy has such an amazing talent of pulling her readers into the story and allowing them to feel the emotions that her characters are feeling.  I found that, in Diva, I mostly related to Alyson but in actuality, couldn't really identify to any of them because of the lifestyle in which they are living.  However, that didn't take away from the story at all.  Each of the characters was so alive and so entertaining that I thoroughly enjoyed reading each of their stories.

Not being a huge fashionista (most of my clothes are from Wal-Mart and the likes), I found the world of fashion so interesting.  Reading Diva on the eve of the London 2012 Olympics really allowed for me to become immersed in the culture and the lifestyle of that city as well as the wonderful Paris.  Through Carrie's vivid descriptions, I have now added both places to the top of my bucket list for travel.

Overall, Diva was a wonderful follow up to Carrie's smashing debut novel, Idol.  Her writing style is perfectly matched to the genre in which she has chosen to write and I can see her around for a long time to come.

In My Mailbox #58

In My Mailbox was created by Kristi over at The Story Siren. The general idea is to share the books that you have purchased, that you have borrowed, or that you have found.

This time next week I will be boarding a plane for LAS VEGAS... OMG, I can't believe it!!  My hubby and I haven't been on a vacation together, alone, in... ever!  YAY!  Here is my head's up that my posting will be sporatic while I am away but I promise to have LOTS of reviews and VEGAS related posts upon my return!

More exciting news from this past week... the London 2012 Summer Olympics have officially begun!  I love this time of year!

Without further adieu, here is this weeks edition of 'In My Mailbox':

(click on the covers to go to Goodreads)

Review copies from Hachette Book Group and Random House Canada (WIN):

Purchase (ebook):

What was in your mailbox this week?

Review: Twenty-Nine and a Half Reasons (Rose Gardner #2)

Twenty-Nine and a Half Reasons by Denise Grover Swank

Format: eBook
Pages: 275 / 494 KB
Published: June 26, 2012
Publisher: Bramagioia Enterprises
Genre: Chick Lit, Mystery, Fiction

My Rating: 5/5

Summary (from amazon.com):

When Rose reports for Fenton County jury duty she figures she’s lucky to get out of a morning working at the DMV. Instead, despite a disastrous encounter with the new assistant district attorney, Mason Deveraux, she’s picked as a juror on a murder case. As the trial progresses, she realizes an ominous vision she had in the men’s restroom proves the defendant is innocent. And there’s not a cotton picking thing she can do about it.

Or is there?

As if things weren’t bad enough, Rose’s older sister Violet is going through a mid-life crisis. Violet insists that Rose stop seeing her sexy new boyfriend, Arkansas state detective Joe Simmons and date other men. Rose is done letting people boss her around, but she can’t commit to Joe either. Still, Rose isn’t about to let the best thing in her life slip away.

Review:

How she does it, I have no idea but once again, Denise Grover Swank has me rating one of her book with FIVE STARS!  Her story-telling ability grips me from the first page and has me sitting on the edge of my seat until the very last word.

Rose was and still remains one of my favourite characters in a long time.  Her quirky personality mixed in with the new-found freedom in life seems to be the perfect mix for a main character.  You really have no idea what will come out of her mouth next or what situation she will find herself in.  Even though it is hard to believe that one person from a small town can find so much trouble, the way the story is told allows you to forget those small details and just fully enjoy every minute of it.  As for Joe, my on-page boyfriend, well... there really isn't much to be said other than to continue with my previous comment of... SWOOOOON!  Love that guy.

One of the most enjoyable parts of this story was the mystery surrounding the murder case.  I love chick lit stories that embody more than just the frilly romance so having a bit of mystery thrown in really allows for a truly enjoyable read. 

Denise Grover Swank has once again proven herself as an author who can, and does, write for her readers.  Whether it's adult paranormal (Chosen series), young adult (Here) or Chick Lit (Rose Gardner); readers will be left with a smile on their face and a need for more. 

Overall... AWESOME!!

Cover Crazy #53

Cover Crazy was created by The Bookworms but is now hosted here at Turning the Pages. It's a great way to share a book cover that took your breath away!

To me, there is NOTHING better than a cover of a book. One of my favourite places, in the world, is a book store. I can walk around them for hours just looking at covers of books. I am well aware of the saying "You can't judge a book by its cover", I just don't believe it!

When I find a book cover that I love, I will always read the back and then make my purchasing decision, but... WOW... there is just something amazing about a gorgeous cover! So, moving forward, I am going to share those covers that just made me want to escape and read a book instantly!

Without further adieu, here is the cover I am crazy about this week:

I am doing something a little different this week... it will come as no surprise to anyone who knows me that I judge LOTS of books on their covers and it seems to be a new thing for authors to re-release books with new covers.  Now, I generally hate when this happens because it messes up a series if you are a cover lover like me but in some instances, the covers really make a difference in the speed of it's journey up the TBR list...

Denise Grover Swank's Twenty-Eight and a Half Wishes is a prime example of a book who's NEW cover made a world of difference to me.

       Original Cover:                                        New Cover:

Now, I am not saying that the original cover was bad but I am in love with the new cover!  The pink and red SCREAM chick lit to me and it makes me want to read it so much more.  Well done, Denise!  You did very well with your new covers for the Rose Gardner mysteries! 

Which series do you feel has changed their covers for the better?

TBR Tuesday

TBR Tuesdays was created by Dana at Let's Book It. It's a place to share books that have been on our to-be-read (TBR) list for a while and also to possibly add yet another book to the list by visiting participating blogs!

Face it, we all have lists of books that we would love to read and if you are anything like me, you likely have the pile of books to prove it. There are so many ways to track book lists, whether you choose to use an online library like Goodreads or LibraryThing or perhaps even an Excel spreadsheet or notebook in your purse, having books to buy is the biggest part of being a book lover.

Together with my Book of the Month (where I am attempting to shorten the TBR list, one book at a time), TBR Tuesdays will be a place that I am going to share one book from my list. It may be a new book, it may be an old book, it may even be a book that isn't out yet... either way, a book will be shared.

If you would like to get in on the action, please add your name to the linky below and link up your TBR Tuesday post. Also make sure you head on over to Let's Book It to see others who are also sharing this week!

Without further adieu, here is this week's book:

Twenty-Nine and a Half Reasons (Rose Gardner #2) by Denise Grover Swank

Okay, so this won't be long on the TBR list because it is now available for me to buy AND I just finished book #1 (Twenty-Eight and a Half Wishes) last week.  I fell in love with Rose's character and have been a HUGE fan of Denise Grover Swank's writing for a while now... we are talking all 5-star reviews here!

Summary (from amazon.com):

When Rose reports for Fenton County jury duty she figures she’s lucky to get out of a morning working at the DMV. Instead, despite a disastrous encounter with the new assistant district attorney, Mason Deveraux, she’s picked as a juror on a murder case. As the trial progresses, she realizes an ominous vision she had in the men’s restroom proves the defendant is innocent. And there’s not a cotton picking thing she can do about it.

Or is there?

As if things weren’t bad enough, Rose’s older sister Violet is going through a mid-life crisis. Violet insists that Rose stop seeing her sexy new boyfriend, Arkansas state detective Joe Simmons and date other men. Rose is done letting people boss her around, but she can’t commit to Joe either. Still, Rose isn’t about to let the best thing in her life slip away.

What's on your TBR list this week?

Random House of Canada's Olympic Readathon

Are you an Olympic nut?  Which events do you look forward to the most? 

I am a HUGE fan of the Olympics, more so the winter than the summer, but it doesn't really matter to me.  There is something special about cheering as a country for your teams, your athletes, your heroes.  I love the spirit that the Olympics bring.  Everyone seems connected for those two short weeks.

This year, the Olympics are in London, England and while the time zone will interefere with my enjoyment of most live events, I am sure that I will be able to partake in my share of cheering.  However, in booklover fashion, no Olympic Games would be complete without a good ole fashion readathon!!

Random House of Canada has put together an Olympic Readathon to help those of us who seem to be lagging a little on our summer to-be-read (TBR) piles.  If you are interested in following along with the participants, make sure to follow the Twitter hashtag #OlympicReadathon.  Want to join and read along with us?  Click this link to go to the Random House of Canada Retreat page and you can sign up as well!  The #OlympicReadathon will run the entire length of the Olympic games, July 27th to August 12th.

Lucky for me, I will also be travelling to Las Vegas during the #OlympicReadathon which means TWO planes rides for a total of NINE hours of non-stop reading!!  This should help greatly towards me exceeding my goal of 1,500 pages.  Now that I think about it... maybe I should have said higher?!?!  Oh well, better to blow it out of the water than not make it, right???

On my #OlympicReadathon Deck:

So, who is with me?  Comment below and let me know if you too are going to be in this year's #OlympicReadathon so I can be sure to follow along with your progress and cheer you on to a GOLD MEDAL finish!

Happy Reading!

GO CANADA GO!!

Progress Updates

The FINAL Update ~ 1,739
Last Summer ~ 34 pages
Size 12 and Ready to Rock by Meg Cabot ~ 298 pages
Such A Rush by Jennifer Echols ~ 336 pages

Day 9: Total pages ~ 1,071
Last Summer ~ 79 pages

Day 8: Total pages ~ 992
Last Summer ~ 36 pages

Day 7: Total pages ~ 956
Construct A Couple ~ 85 pages
Last Summer ~ 20 pages

Day 6: Total pages ~ 851
Last Summer ~ 30 pages
Construct A Couple ~ 59 pages

Day 5: Total pages ~ 762
Construct A Couple by Talli Roland (ebook) ~ 32 pages
Last Summer ~ 69 pages

Day 4: Total pages ~ 661
Build A Man (ebook) ~ 255 pages

Day 3: Total pages ~ 406
When in Doubt, Add Butter (physical) ~ 212 pages
Last Summer by Holly Chamberlin ~ 35 pages

Day 2: Total pages ~ 159
When in Doubt, Add Butter (physical) ~ 76 pages

Day 1: Total pages ~ 83
Build A Man by Talli Rolland (ebook) ~ 43 pages
When in Doubt, Add Butter (physical) ~ 40 pages

In My Mailbox #57

In My Mailbox was created by Kristi over at The Story Siren. The general idea is to share the books that you have purchased, that you have borrowed, or that you have found.

Things around this book shelf have been pretty active this week and I am happy to say that very little money actually left the wallet... you know, one of those perfect book weeks!

In other news, the weather in Southern Ontario seems to have turned a corner and we are no longer dealing with humidity and heat, days that felt like you could fry an egg on the deck... I am MUCH happier!

Without further adieu, here is this weeks edition of 'In My Mailbox':

(click on the book covers to go to Goodreads)

Review Copies from Random House Canada, Hachette Book Group, HarperCollins UK and St. Martin's Press:

 A purchase and a borrow (from a friend for the #ReadtheHobbit challenge)

What was in your mailbox this week?

Review: Twenty-Eight and a Half Wishes (A Rose Gardner Mystery)

Twenty-Eight and a Half Wishes by Denise Grover Swank

Format: eBook
Pages: 376/882 MB
Published: June 29, 2011
Publisher: Bramagioia Enterprises
Genre: Fiction, Chick Lit, Mystery

My Rating: 5/5

Summary (from author's website):

"It all started when I saw myself dead."

For Rose Gardner, working at the DMV on a Friday afternoon is bad even before she sees a vision of herself dead.  She's had plenty of visions, usually boring ones like someone's toilet's overflowed, but she's never seen one of herself before.  When her overbearing momma winds up murdered on her sofa instead, two things are certain:  There isn't enough hydrogen peroxide in the state of Arkansas to get that stain out, and Rose is the prime suspect.

Rose realizes she's wasted twenty-four years of living and makes a list on the back of a Wal-Mart receipt: twenty-eight things she wants to accomplish before her vision comes true.  She's well on her way with the help of her next door neighbor Joe, who has no trouble teaching Rose thr rules of drinking, but won't help with number fifteen - do more with a man.  Joe's new to town, but it doesn't take a vision for Rose to realize he's got plenty of secrets of his own.

Somebody things Rose has something they want and they'll do anything to get it.  Her house is broken into, someone else she knows is murdered, and suddenly, dying a virgin in the Fenton County jail isn't her biggest worry after all.

Trailer:

Review:

We all have bucket lists and sometimes it takes an event, such as a vision, for us to really sit down and think about them.  To really add all of the things we haven't yet done but long to accomplish.

This is the third series of Denise Grover Swank's that I have started and I have to say, it is now competing to take the crown as my all-time favourite.  With each of Denise's book, I find that I am more and more amazed with her amazing ability to tell a story.  Not only does she create characters that are so real and so vivid, but she puts them in a world that is as normal as the one we all live in every single day.  It really allows the reader to become part of the story and feel as though it was written for them.

Twenty-Eight and a Half Wishes is a fun, light romantic story with so many twists and turns that it seem to walk a tight line with becoming a mystery-thriller.  For me, that is the perfect combination of story.   The character of Rose has to be one of my favourites in a long time.  Sure she is so innocent that you have to wonder if she could be to good to be true, but as you dig deeper into her life, her story becomes clear and you realize that it's just her life's circumstances that made her the way she is.  Beyond the innocence though, she is so sarcastic and so funny that I actually found myself smiling while reading.  Her neighbour, Joe, is also one of my favourite characters for entirely different reasons... SWOON!

Overall, a novel full of twists and turns, ups and downs and ins and outs.  Twenty-Eight and a Half Wishes is one that fans of all genres will enjoy.  Denise Grover Swank has once again, hit the ball out of the park.

Review: The Affair

The Affair by Lee Child

Format: Hardcover
Pages: 405
Published: September 27, 2011
Publisher: Random House Canada
Genre: Action, Thriller, Fiction

My Rating: 4.5/5

Summary (from chapters.ca):

Everything starts somewhere. . . .

For elite military cop Jack Reacher, that somewhere was Carter Crossing, Mississippi, way back in 1997. A lonely railroad track. A crime scene. A coverup.

A young woman is dead, and solid evidence points to a soldier at a nearby military base. But that soldier has powerful friends in Washington.

Reacher is ordered undercover-to find out everything he can, to control the local police, and then to vanish. Reacher is a good soldier. But when he gets to Carter Crossing, he finds layers no one saw coming, and the investigation spins out of control.

Local sheriff Elizabeth Deveraux has a thirst for justice-and an appetite for secrets. Uncertain they can trust one another, Reacher and Deveraux reluctantly join forces. Reacher works to uncover the truth, while others try to bury it forever. The conspiracy threatens to shatter his faith in his mission, and turn him into a man to be feared.

Trailer (for the upcoming Jack Reacher movie):

Review:

**NOTE: A copy of this book was provided by the publisher.  However, no compensations were made and this review reflects my honest thoughts and feelings**

What happens when the eyes of the entire Pentagon suddenly look at your small town... where do you go to hide?  Are you safe from the cover-up or are you right in it's path?

When I think of action/adventure slash thriller stories, my mind immediately goes to Lee Child's Reacher stories.  There are very little series that can allow you to jump in at any point and read as if you have been a fan for life.  Child's ability to allow readers to do that is wonderful.

Not being a fan of prequels, I wasn't sure how I would feel about The Affair... although, truth be told, I didn't know it was a prequel until I started reading it.  However, this wasn't your normal, everyday prequel, other than the odd reference to 1997 and a few comments about VCR's and ease of security, you would never know that it wasn't the next in the line of Jack Reacher tales.  It was the same old Jack being his same old, bad ass self and I loved every single minute of it.

As with my previous Jack Reacher adventures, I found myself constantly sitting on the edge of my seat and reading way into the night.  The writing skill that Lee Child shows is unbelieveable.  Even in scenes I was expecting the story to go a certain way, things changed at the last minute and I would find myself sitting with my mouth hanging open with shock.  To do that to a reader who is used to mystery/thriller stories definitely takes some skills!

Once again, the characters in The Affair are well planned and well executed.  Each has a rightful place in the story and even though they may seem to be background at the the time, the reason for their being becomes clear soon enough.  With this being a prequel, I did find myself wondering if certain characters were present in previous stories but the story was so gripping that my mind didn't stay focused on it long enough to find out.

Overall, an amazing edition to the Reacher series and I simply cannot wait for the next one... and of course for the movie!  Fans of 'sit on the edge of your seat' reading will have to add this to their MUST READ piles!

TBR Tuesday

TBR Tuesdays was created by Dana at Let's Book It. It's a place to share books that have been on our to-be-read (TBR) list for a while and also to possibly add yet another book to the list by visiting participating blogs!

Face it, we all have lists of books that we would love to read and if you are anything like me, you likely have the pile of books to prove it. There are so many ways to track book lists, whether you choose to use an online library like Goodreads or LibraryThing or perhaps even an Excel spreadsheet or notebook in your purse, having books to buy is the biggest part of being a book lover.

Together with my Book of the Month (where I am attempting to shorten the TBR list, one book at a time), TBR Tuesdays will be a place that I am going to share one book from my list. It may be a new book, it may be an old book, it may even be a book that isn't out yet... either way, a book will be shared.

If you would like to get in on the action, please add your name to the linky below and link up your TBR Tuesday post. Also make sure you head on over to Let's Book It to see others who are also sharing this week!

Without further adieu, here is this week's book:

The Next Best Thing by Jennifer Weiner

If you were like me and snagged a copy of Swim while it was being offered, you are eagerly anticipating The Next Best Thing.  I have been a fan of Jennifer Weiner for as long as I can remember and with each release, I get more and more excited!

Summary (from chapters.ca):

Actors aren't the only ones trying to make it in Hollywood.…At twenty-three, Ruth Saunders left her childhood home in Massachusetts and headed west with her seventy-year-old grandma in tow, hoping to make it as a screenwriter. Six years later, she hits the jackpot when she gets The Call: the sitcom she wrote, The Next Best Thing, has gotten the green light, and Ruthie's going to be the showrunner. But her dreams of Hollywood happiness are threatened by demanding actors, number-crunching executives, an unrequited crush on her boss, and her grandmother's impending nuptials.

What is on your TBR list this week?

Review: Summerland

Summerland by Elin Hilderbrand

Format: Trade Paperback
Pages: 392
Published: June 26, 2012
Publisher: Little, Brown and Company
Genre: Fiction

My Rating: 4/5

Summary (from chapters.ca):

A warm June evening, a local tradition: the students of Nantucket High have gathered for a bonfire on the beach. But what begins as a graduation night celebration ends in tragedy after a horrible car crash leaves the driver of the car, Penny Alistair, dead, and her twin brother in a coma. The other passengers, Penny's boyfriend Jake and her friend Demeter, are physically unhurt - but the emotional damage is overwhelming, and questions linger about what happened before Penny took the wheel.

As summer unfolds, startling truths are revealed about the survivors and their parents - secrets kept, promises broken, hearts betrayed. Elin Hilderbrand explores the power of community, family, and honesty, and proves that even from the ashes of sorrow, new love can still take flight.

Review:

**NOTE: A copy of this book was provided by the publisher.  However, no compensations were made and this review reflects my honest thoughts and feelings.**

When tradegy strikes and you think it's your fault, how do you move on?  Is it even possible to see the light at the end of the tunnel?

This story had a vastly different feel to it that all of Elin Hilderbrand's other Nantucket novels.  The previous stories all left me with a feeling of comfort and relaxation.  In fact, I found myself wanting to hop on the next plane and spend my summers on the beaches of Nantucket.  With Summerland, we weren't introduced to characters that were vacationing but in fact, characters that lived on the island.  It allowed for the readers to see Nantucket as a real community; a real home to real people where, yes, real things happen.  I really appreciated this twist as it made me realize that even in the most wonderful of summer holiday towns, tragedy happens and those that care for your stay on the island are dealing with things other than if your coffee was fresh enough, or if the beach was free of garbage.

As with all of her other novels, Elin Hilderbrand has painted a beautiful picture with her words.  The island and all of the characters come to life on the pages of Summerland and, once again, I found myself being swept away.  Having the story broken into three parts, July, August and September, allowed the reader to understand the stages of grief and the stages of guilt that a person goes through.  I also really enjoyed hearing the different viewpoints of each of the characters as it made for a more complete story.  No judgements were made because I was able to hear each side of the story.

Overall, Summerland is a story that feels like a rainbow on a story afternoon.  No matter how dreary the day seems, there is always a pot of gold out there somewhere.  I fully recommend this book to all of Elin Hilderbrand's fans and to anyone who enjoys a summer story with a darker twist.

In My Mailbox #56

In My Mailbox was created by Kristi over at The Story Siren. The general idea is to share the books that you have purchased, that you have borrowed, or that you have found.

What a wonderful summer we are having!  If you have been anything like me, it has been hard to keep up with my reading because of all the awesome outdoor weather.  I keep hoping for a thunderstorm filled weekend so I can spend some time catching up but thus far, no luck! 

Another fairly quiet week around Turning the Pages but still a couple of GREAT review books and a couple of #VEGAS purchases too!

Without further adieu, here is this weeks edition of 'In My Mailbox':

(click on the books to go to Goodreads)

Review Copies from Random House Canada:

#VEGAS purchases... both ebook:

What was in your mailbox this week?