Category Archives: Hachette Book Group

November 5, 2012 · 3:58 am

Review: Love, Suburban Style by Wendy Markham

Title: Love, Suburban Style by Wendy Markham
Publisher: Hachette Book Group
Imprint: Grand Central Publishing/Forever
Genre: Contemporary, Romance, Paranormal/Ghosts
Length: 385 pages
Book Rating: B+

Review Copy Obtained from Publisher Through NetGalley

Summary:

Fed up with her moody teenage daughter, Meg Addams decides what they both need is a good dose of suburban wholesomeness. But when they leave Manhattan behind for Meg’s humble blue-collar hometown, they find it crowded with wealthy strangers and upscale boutiques. Settling into a creaky fixer-upper, Meg finally spots a familiar face right next door–and it belongs to none other than Sam Rooney. The would-be love of Meg’s high school life is now a single dad, her daughter’s new soccer coach–and a neighborly ghost-buster whenever things go bump in the night. With three kids and an undeniable attraction between them, Meg and Sam are in for some heart-racing, wee-hour encounters that have nothing to do with spirits…but everything to do with hearts.

The Review:

Wendy Markham’s Love, Suburban Style is a fun, light-hearted romance with just a little bit of a paranormal element. On the downside of her Broadway career and with her daughter expelled from school, Meg Addams decides to move back to Glenhaven, the town where she grew up. Her new next door neighbor? Sexy single dad Sam Rooney who just happens to be the object of Meg’s unrequited high school crush. Meg soon discovers that while much of Glenhaven has changed, her feelings for Sam have remained the same.

Meg Addams is a down to earth level headed single mom. When roles begin going to younger actresses, she realizes it is time to leave her once successful career behind and forge a new path. With her unenthusiastic daughter, Cosette, by her side, she relocates to Glenhaven, where she quickly discovers that the small town she left behind has changed dramatically. Meg’s self-esteem falters occasionally as she adjusts to the wealthier, upscale town, but with her terrific sense of humor and pragmatic attitude, she soon carves out a niche for herself.

Sam Rooney is widower who is a wonderful, but somewhat overprotective father of two teenagers, Ben and Katie. Devastated by his late wife’s death four years prior, he is devoted to his kids and has yet to begin dating again. Although instantly attracted to Meg, he is reluctant to risk getting hurt again.

Meg and Sam’s kids are realistic and delightfully developed. Cosette’s adjustment to small town living does not happen overnight nor does she lose her distinctive individuality. Ben is smart and athletic with perhaps a little more sensitivity than teenage boys usually exhibit. But it is Katie who completely stole my heart. Feeling the lack of a mother, Katie eagerly forms an attachment to Meg. Katie’s devotion to Meg soon becomes a source of conflict between Meg and Sam.

The romance between Sam and Meg is slow growing and quite entertaining. Since the story is told from both Meg and Sam’s perspectives, the reader always knows what each of the characters is thinking and what motivates them. I enjoyed the push/pull between them and I like how they each gave careful consideration to the possible ramifications that a failed romance could have on their lives and their children.

The paranormal aspect of the storyline is absolutely fabulous. The ghostly apparitions, things going bump in the night and otherworldly occurrences kept me guessing exactly what this part of the plot was going to eventually lead to. And boy was I surprised when everything, including the ghost’s identity, was finally revealed!

Love, Suburban Style is a marvelous novel with a unique plot. Wendy Markham has an engaging writing style but it is her extraordinary character development and witty dialogue that keeps the story moving at a brisk pace. An easy, enjoyable read that I highly recommend.

4 Comments

Filed under Contemporary, Ghosts, Grand Central Publishing, Hachette Book Group, Love Suburban Style, Rated B+, Review, Romance, Wendy Markham

July 23, 2012 · 3:57 am

One Good Friend Deserves Another by Lisa Verge Higgins

Title: One Good Friend Deserves Another by Lisa Verge Higgins
Publisher: Hachette Book group/Grand Central Publishing
Imprint: 5 Spot
Genre: Contemporary, Fiction
Length: 352 pages
Book Rating: A

Review Copy Obtained from Publisher

Summary:

HOW MANY OF THESE DATING RULES HAVE YOU BROKEN?

1. Choose Your Own Man
2. Make Sure Your Friends Approve
3. No One-Night Stands
4. Trust Your Instincts
5. Never Make the Same Mistake Twice
6. After a Break-Up, Wait Six Months Before Dating Again.

Dhara, Kelly, Marta, and Wendy have been the closest of friends since college. So close, that after a series of romantic disasters, they bond together to create Rules of Relationships to keep their hearts safe.

Years later, the rules seem to have worked . . . until Marta discovers that her hot boyfriend is married, Kelly begins a risky love affair, Wendy inches closer to a pre-marital infidelity, and, most shocking of all, Indian-American Dhara suddenly agrees to an arranged marriage.

Hearts are about to be broken and the bonds of friendship are tested. Is it possible to find true love, when you’re breaking all the rules?

The Review:

One Good Friend Deserves Another by Lisa Verge Higgins is an absolutely captivating story about four very different women from completely different socioeconomic and ethnic backgrounds and the friendship that keeps them grounded as they are faced with potentially life altering decisions.

Dhara Pitalia, Kelly Palazzo, Wendy Wainwright and Marta Sanchez forge a close friendship in college that endures the passage of time and all of life’s ups and downs. Indian/American Dhara’s sudden agreement to an arranged marriage comes as a huge shock to Kelly, Wendy and Marta. As her friends stage an intervention and remind her of dating rule number one, Dhara comes face to face with Cole Jackson, the first man she loved. Through flashbacks, Dhara relives her tempestuous relationship and finally confesses to her friends what eventually destroyed their romance. Will Dhara go back to the man she loved with all her heart and soul? Or will she honor the agreement between the Pitalia and Bohara families and marry Desh?

Wendy is a from a wealthy and socially prominent family. Desperately trying to live up to family expectations, she has conformed to their idea of an acceptable life. She is overwhelmed with her upcoming wedding preparations and finds herself at odds with her mother and fiancé over some of the arrangements. With her unexpected attraction to artist Gabe Teixeira, Wendy must decide if family acceptance is worth compromising who she really is.

Kelly is from a working class background. She is a computer genius who is socially awkward and clueless when it comes to social cues. When she is danger of breaking rule number five, her friends immediately stage an intervention. Kelly is well aware of the risks involved but she is more than ready to take a chance on love. Will she find everlasting love? Or will her romance end in heartbreak?

Marta has a life plan and she is carefully sticking to it. Having achieved her career goals, she would like nothing better than settle down and raise a family. In the aftermath of her break-up with Carlos, she is guilty of breaking rules number four, five and six. Brutal honesty and an intervention might be the only hope for Marta as she frantically pursues her happily ever after.

Lisa Verge Higgins has an engaging writing style that quickly draws you into this beautiful portrayal of love, family and friendship. It is a heartwarming journey for these four close friends. Each of the women in the story discovers their inner strengths and a stronger sense of who they are as they work through their difficult decisions.

One Good Friend Deserves Another is a charming and compelling story that I highly recommend.

4 Comments

Filed under 5 Spot, Contemporary, Fiction, Grand Central Publishing, Hachette Book Group, Lisa Verge Higgins, One Good Friend Deserves Another

July 19, 2012 · 3:56 am

Summerland by Elin Hilderbrand

Title: Summerland by Elin Hilderbrand
Publisher: Hachette Book Group
Imprint: Reagan Arthur Books/Little, Brown and Company
Genre: Contemporary, Fiction
Length: 391 pages
Book Rating: B

Review Copy Obtained from Publisher

Summary:

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.

The Review:

How well do we know our husbands, wives, children, friends, and neighbors? In Summerland, Elin Hilderbrand’s newest release, that answer becomes painfully clear in the aftermath of a fatal car wreck. The survivors and their families search for answers to the cause of the crash uncovers several shocking secrets that will forever change their lives.

Living year round on the island of Nantucket, the Alistair, Randolph and Castle families are close friends. Their children, twins Penny and Hobby Alistair, Jake Randolph and Demeter Castle have been friends since pre-school. The families’ lives are intricately intertwined through their children’s relationships, school activities and close friendships. They have supported one another through difficult losses, celebrated the children’s various triumphs and lend a helping hand whenever one is needed. That all changes following the horrific car wreck that leaves Penny dead, Hobby in a coma and Jake and Demeter physically unscathed but emotionally devastated.

Everyone reacts in different ways in the days, weeks and months after the accident. Penny and Hobby’s mother, Zoe, withdraws and concentrates all her attention on her remaining child. Jordan and Ava, Jake’s parents, distance themselves both emotionally and physically. Al and Lynne, Demeter’s parents, continue to help Zoe despite her indifference to them.

Instead of chapters Summerland unfolds from each of the characters’ and the townspeople’s viewpoints. Through flashbacks, we learn how everyone ended up where they are today. Important facts about the individual people and their families are revealed. Their hopes, their fears, their vulnerabilities. Eventually their deepest and most closely guarded secrets are exposed. It is only after the ugly facts are brought to light that the healing process can finally begin.

Summerland by Elin Hilderbrand is an outstanding read. It is breathtakingly poignant but it is also incredibly uplifting. The characters are so beautifully and realistically drawn that you cannot help but get caught up in their compelling story of friendship, love, loss and new beginnings.

1 Comment

Filed under Contemporary, Elin Hilderbrand, Fiction, Hachette Book Group, Little Brown and Company, Rated B, Reagan Arthur Books, Summerland

July 17, 2012 · 3:56 am

Reunion by Lauraine Snelling

Title: Reunion by Lauraine Snelling
Publisher: Hachette Book Group
Imprint: FaithWords
Genre: Contemporary, Inspirational, Fiction
Length: 330 pages
Book Rating: B

Review Copy Obtained from Publisher Through NetGalley

Summary:

Keira Johnson, a 50-year-old mother of two grown sons, believes she lives a good Christian life without secrets– until she discovers a life-jarring fact her late mother kept hidden all her life. Kiera was born out of wedlock, and the man she had always known as her father had adopted her as an infant.

Meanwhile, Keira’s beloved 17-year-old niece, Kirsten, has just discovered an unwanted pregnancy. Her boyfriend, Jose, is bound for college and Kirsten does not know what to do. As the family comes together for a reunion, Keira and Kirsten struggle with their fractured pasts and jumbled present. Will truth and honesty be the catalysts that allow the entire family to find peace?

Inspired by events in Lauraine Snelling’s own life, REUNION is the author’s finest novel to date.

The Review:

In Reunion, Lauraine Snelling deftly weaves a compelling story of faith, family and unconditional love. In the days leading up their annual family reunion, Keira and her niece Kirsten’s lives are in turmoil as they each deal with devastating news. Keira’s discovery that her late father is not her biological father leaves her questioning her identity. Kirsten’s unplanned pregnancy has far-reaching implications for many of the people in her life.

We tend to define ourselves by who our family is. In Reunion, Keira learns this lesson firsthand when she uncovers the shocking secret surrounding her birth. What is her role in her adopted father’s family if she is not related by blood? Should she tell the other members of her family? Most important, how could her mother, who is the most honest person Keira knows, hide the truth from her?

The storyline with Kirsten’s pregnancy is very well done and realistically portrayed. Her anger and emotions are age appropriate and believable. She explores all the options available and makes her decision based on what is right for her.

Underlying both women’s struggles are their strong faith in God and close family ties. Through scripture, they gain strength and guidance as they work through their problems. Their families are always there for them and give them their unconditional love.

A strong sense of community is also at the core of Reunion. With their lives in such chaos, it would be easy for all of them to lose sight of what is happening around them. But when a natural disaster strikes a nearby town, they are quick to offer aid.

Reunion by Lauraine Snelling is a beautifully written novel that is never preachy or angsty. It is a story with a great deal of depth and the themes of unconditional love, forgiveness and abiding faith will strike a chord with anyone who enjoys Inspirational fiction.

1 Comment

Filed under Contemporary, FaithWords, Hachette Book Group, Inspirational, Lauraine Snelling, Rated B, Reunion

May 15, 2012 · 3:56 am

Stardust by Carla Stewart

Title: Stardust by Carla Stewart
Publisher: Hachette Book Group
Imprint: FaithWords
Genre: Historical (1950s), Christian, Fiction
Length: 336 pages
Book Rating: A

Review Copy Obtained from Publisher Through NetGalley

Summary:

Shortly after burying her unfaithful husband, Georgia Peyton unexpectedly inherits the derelict Stardust motel from a distant relative. Despite doubts from the community and the aunt who raised her, she is determined to breathe new life into it. But the guests who arrive aren’t what Georgia expects: Her gin-loving mother-in-law; her dead husband’s mistress; an attractive but down-on-his-luck drifter who’s tired of the endless road; and an aging Vaudeville entertainer with a disturbing link to Georgia’s past.

Can Georgia find the courage to forgive those who’ve betrayed her, the grace to shelter those who need her, and the moxy to face the future? And will her dream of a new life under the flickering neon of the STARDUST ever come true?

The Review:

Stardust by Carla Stewart is an extraordinary novel about redemption, overcoming adversity despite overwhelming odds and the healing power of forgiveness. It is a beautiful lesson in faith and trust in God as Georgia Peyton struggles to let go of the past and make a new life for herself and her young daughters Avril and Rosey.

Georgia is a strong woman with an open and giving heart. She unflinchingly faces life head on and she is definitely her own woman, forging her own path in the wake of her unfaithful husband O’Dell’s death. She stands up for what she believes in and she speaks her mind. Georgia is very open-minded for the time period and she has a diverse group of friends. Her love and patience for her mother-in-law is heartfelt and quite touching as is her unorthodox but close friendship with Ludi Harper. But it is her willingness to lend a helping hand to O’Dell’s mistress that reveals the true depth and generosity of her loving spirit.

Carla Stewart paints a vivid and authentic portrait of life in a southern small town in the 1950s. Stradust is an intricately woven and unforgettable story that is complex with many different layers. The characters are magnificently drawn with realistic flaws and imperfections. Infidelity, alcoholism and segregation are just a few of the different topics explored in this compelling novel of love, faith and salvation.

2 Comments

Filed under 1950s, Carla Stewart, Christian, FaithWords, Fiction, Hachette Book Group, Historical, Rated A, Stardust