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Recommend this book:
The Reinvention of Mimi Finnegan
Whitney Dineen
2016 Silver Medal
324 Pages
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Fiction - Chick Lit
Reviewed by Jane Finch for Readers' Favorite
The Reinvention of Mimi Finnegan by Whitney Dineen is a delightful chick-lit story told in a funny and adorable way. Mimi reaches an early mid-life crisis that begins with the diagnosis of a bunion. Constantly comparing herself to her clever and successful siblings, Mimi has always struggled to find her own identity. The fact that she is single doesn’t help her self-worth. Obsessed with her weight, her appearance, and her apparent failure to accomplish anything in life continues to drag Mimi down to the depths of despair. All that changes when she meets Elliot Fielding. She immediately jumps on the roller coaster of infatuation that quickly turns to true love, but - even now she has finally found someone she could share her life with - she discovers he is in a serious relationship with another.
The humour of this novel is its absolute charm. Captivating the reader from the start, the first person approach is spot on. The author, Whitney Dineen, must have a brilliant sense of humour herself which shines forth in her writing. I love the way even a visit to a burger bar can engender such hilarity. A really great read that I didn’t want to put down. It made me chuckle throughout, even with the sad parts. I shall certainly seek out other work by this author. It’s ideal for its genre, chick-lit, but would also work with comedy fiction. Watch out Bridget Jones, Mimi Finnegan is on your tail.
The Reinvention of Mimi Finnegan by Whitney Dineen is a delightful chick-lit story told in a funny and adorable way. Mimi reaches an early mid-life crisis that begins with the diagnosis of a bunion. Constantly comparing herself to her clever and successful siblings, Mimi has always struggled to find her own identity. The fact that she is single doesn’t help her self-worth. Obsessed with her weight, her appearance, and her apparent failure to accomplish anything in life continues to drag Mimi down to the depths of despair. All that changes when she meets Elliot Fielding. She immediately jumps on the roller coaster of infatuation that quickly turns to true love, but - even now she has finally found someone she could share her life with - she discovers he is in a serious relationship with another.
The humour of this novel is its absolute charm. Captivating the reader from the start, the first person approach is spot on. The author, Whitney Dineen, must have a brilliant sense of humour herself which shines forth in her writing. I love the way even a visit to a burger bar can engender such hilarity. A really great read that I didn’t want to put down. It made me chuckle throughout, even with the sad parts. I shall certainly seek out other work by this author. It’s ideal for its genre, chick-lit, but would also work with comedy fiction. Watch out Bridget Jones, Mimi Finnegan is on your tail.
Recommend this book:
Baby Girl
Memory House Series, Book Four
Bette Lee Crosby
2016 Gold Medal
236 Pages
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Fiction - Chick Lit
Reviewed by Michelle Randall for Readers' Favorite
Happily ever after is never as easy as the fairy tales make it out to be, and falling in love doesn't mean you have found your ending. Cheryl Ann wants her happily ever after, and she has a plan to get out of where she is, go to college and be somebody. Even the best laid plans don't go the way you want, and when Cheryl Ann's mother refuses to get on board with the dream, she must make some hard choices. When things are going well, an unexpected pregnancy forces her to make choices she never imagined, and those choices lead to twists in her path that she never saw coming. Baby Girl is the story of Cheryl Ann's life and triumphs. She has her pitfalls and bumps in the road, but she is determined to make something of herself, better than what she had growing up. Author Bette Lee Crosby weaves this story together in a manner that feels like a huge patchwork quilt. All the pieces and tears in Cheryl Ann's life come together to make something beautiful.
Baby Girl: Memory House Series, Book Four will have you crying along with Cheryl Ann as she makes hard choices, cheering as things go right, and wanting her to find that true love, once in a lifetime kind of love. Author Bette Lee Crosby treats each part of Cheryl Ann's story with respect and dignity, never making any choice or decision feel shameful, and building it into a heartfelt tale. There are social issues in this book, yet the author deals with them in Cheryl's mindset and they come across as genuine. Even though this is a story about Cheryl Ann, from her teens on up through life, I feel this book is a great read for all ages, including teenagers.
Happily ever after is never as easy as the fairy tales make it out to be, and falling in love doesn't mean you have found your ending. Cheryl Ann wants her happily ever after, and she has a plan to get out of where she is, go to college and be somebody. Even the best laid plans don't go the way you want, and when Cheryl Ann's mother refuses to get on board with the dream, she must make some hard choices. When things are going well, an unexpected pregnancy forces her to make choices she never imagined, and those choices lead to twists in her path that she never saw coming. Baby Girl is the story of Cheryl Ann's life and triumphs. She has her pitfalls and bumps in the road, but she is determined to make something of herself, better than what she had growing up. Author Bette Lee Crosby weaves this story together in a manner that feels like a huge patchwork quilt. All the pieces and tears in Cheryl Ann's life come together to make something beautiful.
Baby Girl: Memory House Series, Book Four will have you crying along with Cheryl Ann as she makes hard choices, cheering as things go right, and wanting her to find that true love, once in a lifetime kind of love. Author Bette Lee Crosby treats each part of Cheryl Ann's story with respect and dignity, never making any choice or decision feel shameful, and building it into a heartfelt tale. There are social issues in this book, yet the author deals with them in Cheryl's mindset and they come across as genuine. Even though this is a story about Cheryl Ann, from her teens on up through life, I feel this book is a great read for all ages, including teenagers.
Recommend this book:
Twin Piques
Tracie Banister
2015 Finalist
462 Pages
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Fiction - Chick Lit
Reviewed by Cheryl Schopen for Readers' Favorite
In Twin Piques by Tracie Banister, identical twins, Sloane and Willa, couldn’t be more different from each other. Sloane is the confident, practical one who is solely focused on her work as a forensic accountant. Willa is the quirky, free-spirited one who enjoys her job as a pet psychic. Not only does Sloane have to deal with high-profile cases and her sort-of-boss-with-benefits situation, but she also might have to finally admit her feelings for her long-time best friend, Gav. Willa, being the hopeless romantic that she is, falls head over heels for Brody, a rose expert, but he seems to be giving her mixed signals. Though obviously different, these twin sisters may need each other more than they realize.
This was such a fun, entertaining read. I absolutely loved the twin dynamic of this story. While they have such different personalities, they tend to rely on one another’s strengths, which I really liked because it’s such a realistic part of a relationship between sisters. Plus, their male counterparts were equally enjoyable in their own ways. They each complement the girls perfectly. In addition to the unforgettable, relatable characters, the plot was surprisingly unpredictable. There were a few twists and turns that had me practically dropping the book on the floor, along with my jaw. So, I give kudos to Tracie Banister for her superb storytelling skills and obvious talent for writing. I thoroughly enjoyed the book. It had me smiling from ear to ear the whole time. Twin Piques will definitely make you laugh, make you want to spend some quality time with your sister, and will even tug at your heart strings a little.
In Twin Piques by Tracie Banister, identical twins, Sloane and Willa, couldn’t be more different from each other. Sloane is the confident, practical one who is solely focused on her work as a forensic accountant. Willa is the quirky, free-spirited one who enjoys her job as a pet psychic. Not only does Sloane have to deal with high-profile cases and her sort-of-boss-with-benefits situation, but she also might have to finally admit her feelings for her long-time best friend, Gav. Willa, being the hopeless romantic that she is, falls head over heels for Brody, a rose expert, but he seems to be giving her mixed signals. Though obviously different, these twin sisters may need each other more than they realize.
This was such a fun, entertaining read. I absolutely loved the twin dynamic of this story. While they have such different personalities, they tend to rely on one another’s strengths, which I really liked because it’s such a realistic part of a relationship between sisters. Plus, their male counterparts were equally enjoyable in their own ways. They each complement the girls perfectly. In addition to the unforgettable, relatable characters, the plot was surprisingly unpredictable. There were a few twists and turns that had me practically dropping the book on the floor, along with my jaw. So, I give kudos to Tracie Banister for her superb storytelling skills and obvious talent for writing. I thoroughly enjoyed the book. It had me smiling from ear to ear the whole time. Twin Piques will definitely make you laugh, make you want to spend some quality time with your sister, and will even tug at your heart strings a little.
Recommend this book:
The Sort of Life of Julie Winterfeldt
Tracy A. Fischer
2015 Finalist
272 Pages
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Fiction - Chick Lit
Reviewed by Lisa McCombs for Readers' Favorite
Just when we think we've achieved the life of our dreams, the proverbial “you know what” tends to hit the proverbial fan. Julie Winterfeldt finds herself in the starring role of such a predicament when her marriage dissolves in unexpected turmoil, leaving her disillusioned, disappointed, disheartened, and totally humiliated. Without the unconditional support of her very financially privileged best friend, Julie cannot imagine suffering through life’s new plan for her. Divorce is demeaning enough, but when a severe stomach virus turns into an unplanned pregnancy, unemployed and homeless Julie is forced into an equally privileged lifestyle as Kate’s housemate. Kate’s enthusiasm as Julie’s caregiver and surrogate “aunt” to the new arrival illustrates a different side to their lifelong friendship. In an attempt to “pay her way”, Julie dives into Kate’s daily routine of volunteer work. While helping at a local children’s shelter, Kate learns the true joy that mentoring young people can offer her own life. Not only does she break the cardinal rule, allowing her heart to open fully to the children in her charge, Julie also learns what her role as a mother is.
I love, love, love this story. The author's use of humor and sensitivity is the perfect combination for an entertaining read. I couldn't stop reading The Sort of Life of Julie Winterfeldt. Author Tracy A. Fischer designed the perfect feel good story that leaves this reader anxious to read more from her. The Sort of Life of Julie Winterfeldt falls so effortlessly into mainstream women’s fiction that its success is inevitable. From the very first sentence, I realized that Julie Winterfeldt is every woman’s friend.
Just when we think we've achieved the life of our dreams, the proverbial “you know what” tends to hit the proverbial fan. Julie Winterfeldt finds herself in the starring role of such a predicament when her marriage dissolves in unexpected turmoil, leaving her disillusioned, disappointed, disheartened, and totally humiliated. Without the unconditional support of her very financially privileged best friend, Julie cannot imagine suffering through life’s new plan for her. Divorce is demeaning enough, but when a severe stomach virus turns into an unplanned pregnancy, unemployed and homeless Julie is forced into an equally privileged lifestyle as Kate’s housemate. Kate’s enthusiasm as Julie’s caregiver and surrogate “aunt” to the new arrival illustrates a different side to their lifelong friendship. In an attempt to “pay her way”, Julie dives into Kate’s daily routine of volunteer work. While helping at a local children’s shelter, Kate learns the true joy that mentoring young people can offer her own life. Not only does she break the cardinal rule, allowing her heart to open fully to the children in her charge, Julie also learns what her role as a mother is.
I love, love, love this story. The author's use of humor and sensitivity is the perfect combination for an entertaining read. I couldn't stop reading The Sort of Life of Julie Winterfeldt. Author Tracy A. Fischer designed the perfect feel good story that leaves this reader anxious to read more from her. The Sort of Life of Julie Winterfeldt falls so effortlessly into mainstream women’s fiction that its success is inevitable. From the very first sentence, I realized that Julie Winterfeldt is every woman’s friend.
Recommend this book:
Peace by Piece
Carol Fragale Brill
2015 Honorable Mention
368 Pages
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Fiction - Chick Lit
Reviewed by Natasha Jackson for Readers' Favorite
Maggie makes assumptions based on a glimpse of an interaction and changes the course of her life as well as her views on love and relationships. She abruptly leaves her first love, Thomas, behind and for the most part, gives up on love altogether. That is until years later, when she meets an adorable little girl with an off-center ponytail and the scent of Juicy Fruit gum named Izzie. It is just Izzie and her dad Donald, and little Izzie satisfies Maggie’s need to be loved and wanted, even if it is in the unconditional way of young children. In Peace by Piece, Carole Fragale Brill paints a portrait of a very insecure woman in Maggie, who makes most of her choices based on fear, mostly a fear of being alone. Although there is absolutely no spark between Maggie and Donald, she marries him and devotes her life to raising Izzie who has become a daughter to her.
Incomplete is the best word to describe Maggie. She doesn't feel beautiful or loved or lovable. Struggling with eating disorders and a completely distorted self-image, she allows Donald to dictate that she put all of her dreams on hold to be a mother to Maggie without any children of her own. Carol Fragale Brill tells this story beautifully, weaving the past and the present together seamlessly so the reader gets the whole story rather than missing important bits. When Maggie finally decides that she matters to herself, if to no one else, she goes and accomplishes her goals and gets a second chance to feel loved again. The title is just one of the memorable phrases in Peace by Piece, but it is so apt for everything Maggie goes through and where she eventually ends up. This is a story about the characters and the author does a fantastic job of showing Maggie’s growth and journey to learning to love herself.
Maggie makes assumptions based on a glimpse of an interaction and changes the course of her life as well as her views on love and relationships. She abruptly leaves her first love, Thomas, behind and for the most part, gives up on love altogether. That is until years later, when she meets an adorable little girl with an off-center ponytail and the scent of Juicy Fruit gum named Izzie. It is just Izzie and her dad Donald, and little Izzie satisfies Maggie’s need to be loved and wanted, even if it is in the unconditional way of young children. In Peace by Piece, Carole Fragale Brill paints a portrait of a very insecure woman in Maggie, who makes most of her choices based on fear, mostly a fear of being alone. Although there is absolutely no spark between Maggie and Donald, she marries him and devotes her life to raising Izzie who has become a daughter to her.
Incomplete is the best word to describe Maggie. She doesn't feel beautiful or loved or lovable. Struggling with eating disorders and a completely distorted self-image, she allows Donald to dictate that she put all of her dreams on hold to be a mother to Maggie without any children of her own. Carol Fragale Brill tells this story beautifully, weaving the past and the present together seamlessly so the reader gets the whole story rather than missing important bits. When Maggie finally decides that she matters to herself, if to no one else, she goes and accomplishes her goals and gets a second chance to feel loved again. The title is just one of the memorable phrases in Peace by Piece, but it is so apt for everything Maggie goes through and where she eventually ends up. This is a story about the characters and the author does a fantastic job of showing Maggie’s growth and journey to learning to love herself.
Recommend this book:
Wantin
Truth Devour
2015 Honorable Mention
234 Pages
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Fiction - Chick Lit
Reviewed by Jack Magnus for Readers' Favorite
Wantin is a new adult coming of age story written by Truth Devour. Talia's parents shared a passion for travel and adventure, and she didn't get to spend very much time with them as she was growing up. Her fondest memories are of her Haitian nanny, Marlee, and her early years on that island. Everything changes, however, when Talia turns six and her parents die. Although she desperately wants to stay with Marlee, her aunt and uncle have come from Australia to take her home with them. Her fears are allayed when her cousin, Brad, takes her outside to show her his favorite stream and introduces her to the platypus he befriended there. Brad becomes her best friend, and, as they grow up together, they share a growing affection that they realize cannot be since they are first cousins.
Truth Devour's new adult coming of age tale, Wantin, chronicles Talia's adventures as she explores the world around her and it's a marvelous world indeed. I loved the early scenes in Haiti and, like Talia, was a bit apprehensive when Ruth and Shane come to take her home with them. Her years with them are also beautifully chronicled, especially those parts of the story concerning her horses. Talia is an intriguing character who is intensely private and fears maintaining relationships or staying very long in one place ... and that's not such a bad thing. The reader gets to explore some fascinating locales and gather rich cultural experiences through Talia's eyes. Reading Wantin was both entertaining and enriching. I'm looking forward to reading Unrequited, the sequel to this book. Wantin is highly recommended.
Wantin is a new adult coming of age story written by Truth Devour. Talia's parents shared a passion for travel and adventure, and she didn't get to spend very much time with them as she was growing up. Her fondest memories are of her Haitian nanny, Marlee, and her early years on that island. Everything changes, however, when Talia turns six and her parents die. Although she desperately wants to stay with Marlee, her aunt and uncle have come from Australia to take her home with them. Her fears are allayed when her cousin, Brad, takes her outside to show her his favorite stream and introduces her to the platypus he befriended there. Brad becomes her best friend, and, as they grow up together, they share a growing affection that they realize cannot be since they are first cousins.
Truth Devour's new adult coming of age tale, Wantin, chronicles Talia's adventures as she explores the world around her and it's a marvelous world indeed. I loved the early scenes in Haiti and, like Talia, was a bit apprehensive when Ruth and Shane come to take her home with them. Her years with them are also beautifully chronicled, especially those parts of the story concerning her horses. Talia is an intriguing character who is intensely private and fears maintaining relationships or staying very long in one place ... and that's not such a bad thing. The reader gets to explore some fascinating locales and gather rich cultural experiences through Talia's eyes. Reading Wantin was both entertaining and enriching. I'm looking forward to reading Unrequited, the sequel to this book. Wantin is highly recommended.
Recommend this book:
![](http://pinterest.com/pin/create/button/?url=/book-award/what-would-oprah-do&media=https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/51-It+o9f8L._SL442_.jpg._AA200_.jpg&description=Ever been at a loss at what to do next in your life to make you happy? Sometimes you need that "Spirit-Animal" person who can be your idol and guide you as to what to do next. Who better to guide Cate Sanders...a perpetually alone, recently unemployed Cate Sanders...than the incomparable Oprah Winfrey? (I can almost hear it now...."You've got anoth...){kind=link}
What Would Oprah Do?
Erin Emerson
2015 Bronze Medal
274 Pages
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Fiction - Chick Lit
Reviewed by Katelyn Hensel for Readers' Favorite
Ever been at a loss at what to do next in your life to make you happy? Sometimes you need that "Spirit-Animal" person who can be your idol and guide you as to what to do next. Who better to guide Cate Sanders...a perpetually alone, recently unemployed Cate Sanders...than the incomparable Oprah Winfrey? (I can almost hear it now...."You've got another career, YOU'VE got another career, "YOU'RE ALL GOING TO BE WHATEVER YOU WANT TO BE IN LIFE!!!") Oprah is the best cheerleader after all, so Cate writes letters to her idol at every major decision point in her life to try to figure out what the best option would be. What Would Oprah Do? by Erin Emerson is a cute story about discovering who you are...sometimes way later than you should have...and that you should trust in yourself and your own choices.
Erin Emerson is a very talented writer. The story was funny, quick moving, with some pop culture references that had me laughing in between scenes. Cate Sanders is strong as a lead character, despite her bewilderment at what to do with her life. She was fun to follow around, and I had a great time imagining what Oprah would do in any given situation. I may use this in my own life to make sure I'm living my life to its most-fabulous. What Would Oprah Do? was a fun and quick read that really kept me entertained the entire ride through. I will definitely look for more from Erin...or even Cate Sanders herself if there's a chance for a sequel or spin-off!
Ever been at a loss at what to do next in your life to make you happy? Sometimes you need that "Spirit-Animal" person who can be your idol and guide you as to what to do next. Who better to guide Cate Sanders...a perpetually alone, recently unemployed Cate Sanders...than the incomparable Oprah Winfrey? (I can almost hear it now...."You've got another career, YOU'VE got another career, "YOU'RE ALL GOING TO BE WHATEVER YOU WANT TO BE IN LIFE!!!") Oprah is the best cheerleader after all, so Cate writes letters to her idol at every major decision point in her life to try to figure out what the best option would be. What Would Oprah Do? by Erin Emerson is a cute story about discovering who you are...sometimes way later than you should have...and that you should trust in yourself and your own choices.
Erin Emerson is a very talented writer. The story was funny, quick moving, with some pop culture references that had me laughing in between scenes. Cate Sanders is strong as a lead character, despite her bewilderment at what to do with her life. She was fun to follow around, and I had a great time imagining what Oprah would do in any given situation. I may use this in my own life to make sure I'm living my life to its most-fabulous. What Would Oprah Do? was a fun and quick read that really kept me entertained the entire ride through. I will definitely look for more from Erin...or even Cate Sanders herself if there's a chance for a sequel or spin-off!
Recommend this book:
Storm in a B Cup
Lindy Dale
2015 Bronze Medal
270 Pages
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Fiction - Chick Lit
Reviewed by Cheryl E. Rodriguez for Readers' Favorite
Lindy Dale writes an earnest, heartfelt story in her novel, Storm in a B Cup. Sophie Malloy is in a long term relationship with Brendan; they share a home and bank accounts. She has a wonderful six-year-old son and owns her own shop. Life is simple and blissful, until she is diagnosed with breast cancer. A silent storm begins brewing and soon it is unleashed. Sophie's life gets turned upside down and inside out after she receives the news that she has breast cancer. Sophie soon learns that breast cancer is taking much more from her than just her breast. Disappointments, betrayals, multiple surgeries - through it all she refuses to give up on life. Her experience allows her to discover genuine love and friendship and opens her eyes to those who were mere obstacles in her life. Breast cancer becomes a catalyst for change. Painful endings open the door for new beginnings for Sophie.
Storm in a B Cup captures the emotions and the mind of a cancer victim. Lindy Dale writes with unadulterated sincerity, using her own personal experience as a means to portray the character of Sophie Malloy. The mixture of humor blended with the emotional and physical pain made a uniquely clever, yet truthful “cancer-killing” cocktail. (All cancer victims desire the death of cancer.) As the reader, you feel the roller coaster ride of the character as she fluctuates between anger, sadness and hollowness. The cast of characters - zany, spiteful, obsessive, and lovable - were written in a manner that supported the “realness” of the protagonist. The author’s style was filled with moving metaphors and poignant phrases. One of my favorite was the description of tears as “canals of sadness springing from my eyes.” Cancer sucks! Storm in a B Cup illuminates the truth regarding the “life altering effect” of breast cancer. Thank you, Lindy Dale, for writing with honesty and wit, and for making the ending a fresh beginning.
Lindy Dale writes an earnest, heartfelt story in her novel, Storm in a B Cup. Sophie Malloy is in a long term relationship with Brendan; they share a home and bank accounts. She has a wonderful six-year-old son and owns her own shop. Life is simple and blissful, until she is diagnosed with breast cancer. A silent storm begins brewing and soon it is unleashed. Sophie's life gets turned upside down and inside out after she receives the news that she has breast cancer. Sophie soon learns that breast cancer is taking much more from her than just her breast. Disappointments, betrayals, multiple surgeries - through it all she refuses to give up on life. Her experience allows her to discover genuine love and friendship and opens her eyes to those who were mere obstacles in her life. Breast cancer becomes a catalyst for change. Painful endings open the door for new beginnings for Sophie.
Storm in a B Cup captures the emotions and the mind of a cancer victim. Lindy Dale writes with unadulterated sincerity, using her own personal experience as a means to portray the character of Sophie Malloy. The mixture of humor blended with the emotional and physical pain made a uniquely clever, yet truthful “cancer-killing” cocktail. (All cancer victims desire the death of cancer.) As the reader, you feel the roller coaster ride of the character as she fluctuates between anger, sadness and hollowness. The cast of characters - zany, spiteful, obsessive, and lovable - were written in a manner that supported the “realness” of the protagonist. The author’s style was filled with moving metaphors and poignant phrases. One of my favorite was the description of tears as “canals of sadness springing from my eyes.” Cancer sucks! Storm in a B Cup illuminates the truth regarding the “life altering effect” of breast cancer. Thank you, Lindy Dale, for writing with honesty and wit, and for making the ending a fresh beginning.
Recommend this book:
She Sins at Midnight
Whitney Dineen
2015 Silver Medal
309 Pages
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Fiction - Chick Lit
Reviewed by Jack Magnus for Readers' Favorite
She Sins at Midnight is a women's fiction novel written by Whitney Dineen. Lila Montgomery is a thirty-something hopeful who hit the West Coast with stars in her eyes when she was in her early twenties. Los Angeles is a hard place for an aspiring actor, however, especially if she's not sporting the gaunt look that's in vogue in the industry. Lila works as an assistant to the lecherous Josh Furber at The Amalgamated Artists Agency, where she still has vague hopes of being discovered, but she's starting to think more and more about the things she doesn't have - like a husband, a couple of kids and a comfortable home in the suburbs. Now that her 15th school reunion is looming closer, she's been comparing herself to friends like Jilly, who has a husband and 3 kids, and finding herself wanting.
Whitney Dineen's chick lit novel, She Sins at Midnight, is clever and disarming. Lila, the aspiring actor and assistant, has been writing erotic historical fiction at night. The one she finally has the nerve to submit becomes a best seller -- which makes her trip back home for the reunion even more complicated. She Sins at Midnight has a bit of everything. It's a marvelous story about high school friends coming together and finding how much they enjoy the adults they've become. There's a racy historical novel that teeters on camp, creating chaos and forming an interesting parallel in Lila's life. Finally, there's romance. Not first love, but infinitely sweeter and more complex second-chance romance that's never sentimentalized and is sometimes just a little steamy. She Sins at Midnight is a very enjoyable, feel-good book and you don't have to be a chick to have a blast reading it. It's most highly recommended.
She Sins at Midnight is a women's fiction novel written by Whitney Dineen. Lila Montgomery is a thirty-something hopeful who hit the West Coast with stars in her eyes when she was in her early twenties. Los Angeles is a hard place for an aspiring actor, however, especially if she's not sporting the gaunt look that's in vogue in the industry. Lila works as an assistant to the lecherous Josh Furber at The Amalgamated Artists Agency, where she still has vague hopes of being discovered, but she's starting to think more and more about the things she doesn't have - like a husband, a couple of kids and a comfortable home in the suburbs. Now that her 15th school reunion is looming closer, she's been comparing herself to friends like Jilly, who has a husband and 3 kids, and finding herself wanting.
Whitney Dineen's chick lit novel, She Sins at Midnight, is clever and disarming. Lila, the aspiring actor and assistant, has been writing erotic historical fiction at night. The one she finally has the nerve to submit becomes a best seller -- which makes her trip back home for the reunion even more complicated. She Sins at Midnight has a bit of everything. It's a marvelous story about high school friends coming together and finding how much they enjoy the adults they've become. There's a racy historical novel that teeters on camp, creating chaos and forming an interesting parallel in Lila's life. Finally, there's romance. Not first love, but infinitely sweeter and more complex second-chance romance that's never sentimentalized and is sometimes just a little steamy. She Sins at Midnight is a very enjoyable, feel-good book and you don't have to be a chick to have a blast reading it. It's most highly recommended.
Recommend this book:
Hooked
Allen Wolf
2015 Gold Medal
235 Pages
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Fiction - Chick Lit
Reviewed by Gisela Dixon for Readers' Favorite
Hooked by Allen Wolf is a contemporary romance novel with a twist. Set in New York City, Hooked is a heart-warming tale of love in the modern world. Shawn is a computer programmer, living in New York, who is looking for love. What makes him different from the thousands of other people looking for the same thing is that Shawn is autistic and lives with his grandmother, Ruth, who takes care of him, and thus he has a harder time meeting women who can understand him and not dismiss him as an oddity. Shawn meets Violet at a ‘Pimps and Hos’ costume party where he asks her out on a date, not realizing that she is a prostitute. At first, Violet doesn’t know what to make of Shawn, but soon realizes that underneath the odd, slow persona is a genuinely nice, honest, and kind man. What happens next as these two struggle with their reality forms the backdrop for this endearing love story.
Allen Wolf has done an outstanding job as a romance writer. Hooked is certainly not your average romance novel and what I especially liked about it is that it brings the deeper problems in our society to the fore and promotes open thought and discussion about them: topics such sex slavery, prostitution, the challenges that people with Autism or Asperger’s Syndrome face in their daily lives are important and need to be addressed in the world we live in today, among other things. I also loved both of the central characters in this book; they made this book seem realistic for me. All in all, this is a wonderfully well-written, funny, quirky, romantic love story that I would highly recommend to everyone.
Hooked by Allen Wolf is a contemporary romance novel with a twist. Set in New York City, Hooked is a heart-warming tale of love in the modern world. Shawn is a computer programmer, living in New York, who is looking for love. What makes him different from the thousands of other people looking for the same thing is that Shawn is autistic and lives with his grandmother, Ruth, who takes care of him, and thus he has a harder time meeting women who can understand him and not dismiss him as an oddity. Shawn meets Violet at a ‘Pimps and Hos’ costume party where he asks her out on a date, not realizing that she is a prostitute. At first, Violet doesn’t know what to make of Shawn, but soon realizes that underneath the odd, slow persona is a genuinely nice, honest, and kind man. What happens next as these two struggle with their reality forms the backdrop for this endearing love story.
Allen Wolf has done an outstanding job as a romance writer. Hooked is certainly not your average romance novel and what I especially liked about it is that it brings the deeper problems in our society to the fore and promotes open thought and discussion about them: topics such sex slavery, prostitution, the challenges that people with Autism or Asperger’s Syndrome face in their daily lives are important and need to be addressed in the world we live in today, among other things. I also loved both of the central characters in this book; they made this book seem realistic for me. All in all, this is a wonderfully well-written, funny, quirky, romantic love story that I would highly recommend to everyone.
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