Category: Romance

Beach Read · book review · Chick-lit · Romance · Womens Fiction

Book Review ~ The Bright Side of Disaster by Katherine Center

CathyLeave a comment

The Bright Side of Disaster is the second book by Katherine Center that I’ve read and it was a cute, enjoyable read.  There wasn’t a lot of depth but it was a feel good story that made me chuckle more than once.  We meet Jenny Harris who is pregnant, engaged and happy when suddenly she shockingly finds herself alone and on the brink of single motherhood.  The book follows her struggles in the months that follow and finding her way back to happiness and perhaps a better life than she could have imagined.  

I find that this author has a penchant for making me chuckle or laugh quite out of the blue!  I’m often minding my own business, quietly reading along and .. boom.. guffawing out loud!  

For example, re:  Dr. Blandon, the fat cat:

“”I snuck him out to the park last week,” Meredith said.  “He likes it.”  

I  looked at Dr. Blandon.  He looked at me.

“No, he doesn’t,” I said.

I left Dr. Blandon licking his belly fur on the sofa, hoping that Dean wouldn’t notice him right away.  But Dean did notice him – as soon as he came to bed.  He woke me at around three in the morning saying “Why is there a raccoon sleeping on your face?””

Sometimes it is subtle or dry humor, but it gets me every time.  What can I say?  I enjoy it.  I enjoy her stories.  They lighten my mood and just make me happy, and I close the book with a smile on my face.  How can you beat it really?  4 STARS 🙂

book review · Contemporary Fiction · Romance · Womens Fiction

Book Review ~ One True Loves by Taylor Jenkins Reid

CathyLeave a comment

Ahhh, One True Loves had ALL the feels.  This book hurt my heart.  I promised myself I would not cry.. but I just ended up blinking faster and faster until I finally let out a muffled “UGHH” and let the darn tears fall.  

“I am finishing up dinner with my family and my fiance when my husband calls.”

Bam.. first line of the book.  It certainly pulled me in!  Poor Emma loses her new husband and childhood sweetheart when his helicopter disappears over the Pacific and he is presumed dead.  Once she finally finds the strength to move and finds new love with Sam.. surprise!  Jesse, her husband, is back and very much alive.  Impossible situation.  Impossible decision.  It made me think what would I do??  What should she do??  Once I allowed tears to come, I cried for each one of them and the heartache they were feeling.

I will admit I had a hard time getting into the story in the first half of the book, with the back story and all the events leading up to present day.  It felt a little bit rushed getting to know the characters and their history and I was slightly bored and not sure if I cared enough to continue on.  But I did.. and I’m GLAD of that!  Once we were back in present day, I couldn’t turn the pages fast enough to find out what would happen!  

This story brought out many emotions for me and I laughed and cried along with Emma.  I enjoyed the author’s style of writing as well.  I think I’ll be reading more of her work in the future.  She certainly has a talent for creating intriguing characters and weaving together a lovely story with ALL the feels! 4 STARS 🙂