Book Review ~ The Bright Side of Disaster by Katherine Center

March 3, 2019March 3, 2019 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

February 19, 2019February 19, 2019 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 🙂

book review · Contemporary Fiction · Womens Fiction

Book Review ~ How to Walk Away by Katherine Center

February 18, 2019February 18, 2019 CathyLeave a comment

After finishing a book that left me feeling a tad bit disgusted, I needed a feel good read. How to Walk Away did NOT disappoint.

“When you don’t know what to do yourself, do something for someone else.”

What a lovely quote and indeed the ending of this book left me feeling satisfied and even joyful. I was slightly crestfallen to leave these characters behind!

This is the story of a lovely young woman who has her entire future ahead of her, planned out meticulously the way she thinks it should go.. until.. well until she no longer does. This is her journey through all that entails and for me, it was a quite a journey to watch her undertake.

Right off the bat, I found myself relating to this girl in a very real way and as well found it to be a pretty fast paced beginning. She was so likeable and that made me want to root for her. It also helped that more than one person in her life drove me nuts and I just wanted her to prove them wrong already and maybe sock them in the nose at the same time! As you can imagine, this all led to a couple days where I did not get much done!

It was an inspiring read; it made me think about how we deal with tragedy, how we cope when things go so wrong and still manage to move forward, maybe learning along the way what really matters in life and being better for it. This was a beautiful novel, very endearing, and I would highly recommend it! 5 STARS 🙂

book review · Historical Romance

Book Review ~ A Kingdom of Dreams – Spun magic

January 9, 2019January 31, 2019 CathyLeave a comment

A Kingdom of Dreams by Judith McNaught

Publisher: Pocket Books
Release Date: July 1, 2003 (First published 1989)
Genre(s): Historical Romance
Page count: 438 pages (soft cover)
Series: Westmorland Saga #1

My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Abducted from her convent school, headstrong Scottish beauty Jennifer Merrick does not easily surrender to Royce Westmoreland, Duke of Claymore. Known as “The Wolf”; his very name strikes terror in the hearts of his enemies. But proud Jennifer will have nothing to do with the fierce English warrior who holds her captive, this handsome rogue who taunts her with his blazing arrogance. Boldly she challenges his will… until the night he takes her in his powerful embrace, awakening in her an irresistible hunger. And suddenly Jennifer finds herself ensnared in a bewildering web… a seductive, dangerous trap of pride, passion, loyalty, and overwhelming love.

Review:

This was the first Judith McNaught book I read and WOW is all I have to say. I love it! This book moved me to tears. Seriously I was sobbing at parts and then Judith would spin her magic and I’d be laughing hysterically at the pure comical genius she has woven into this book! Royce truly made me swoon, still does, as I can’t stop thinking about him yet. He’s such a softie with an extremely tough exterior. Jennifer is strong and courageous and watching these two fall deeply in love was breathtaking! The last battle scene took my breath away. What amazing writing. The love scenes were lusty, yet oh so tender. I can’t wait to read another of Judith’s books, and another and another (you get the idea). Don’t miss this book. You’ll still be thinking about it long after you’ve finished it.

About the author:

Judith McNaught is a #1 New York Times Best-Selling Author, with more than forty million copies of her novels in print, in over eighty countries and more than thirty languages. She was also the first female executive producer at a CBS radio station. McNaught is credited with inventing the modern Regency Historical romance subgenre.

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