Author Archives: ReadingRenee

Smart Women by Judy Blume


Smart Women
Who doesn’t love the drama of a Judy Blume book? This was a different POV take on a lot of characters. The main was Margo, who after a divorce moved from NYC to Bolder, Colorado. She had 2 kids Michelle and Stuart. Her ex Freddy, a dentist, is remarried and in typical form plays the kids against her. I enjoyed the different POV and how what actually comes out of your mouth is rarely what you feel. I think A lot of Margo’s behavior was more than honest. I think a lot of divorced woman hide their sex lives, boyfriends and tend to behave for the benefit of the kids. So, what I appreciated about Margo was that she was out for herself in a lot of ways.

In addition to Margo there were her two friends, BB who was so troubled and Clare who was a real best friend. B.B. and Margot are casual friends, her daughter Sara was at the other end of BB’s abuse. She was so manic and nobody saw it except Sara and she was too young to understand. BB and her ex had a son Bobby who was killed in a tragic car accident while Andrew drove him and two friends home from a baseball game. The fact that BB kept this a secret was really her downfall. She has feelings that were sealed up for years. Clare had a daughter “Puffin” what kind of a name is that? She was very successful and her ex Robin comes back. The two were never divorced. The cutest thing was when Puffin hooked up with Stu, Margo’s son. Then they had a lot to deal with and that is a reveal and spoiler too!

When BB asks Margo to help get her husband the rental next door for the summer, Margo helps. she and Andrew resist each other, I think Margo resisted more, eventually they get together. I know Margo promised herself she was going to be serious and resisted him for that reason.

 

Tons of drama and overall I thought it was a solid 4* book. People who wrote and reviewed made comments about the time and it takes place in the 80’s. I really didn’t see that many references and where some saw this as a negative I saw it as a non issue.

 

Color of Loneliness by Madeleine Beckett

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Color of Loneliness

This book cracked me up. I have so many clippings from it and when I say read it, I mean read it. The story is really about poor Myra and her crappy life. Just when you think this poor girl is going to bury herself in the sand, something else happens. It was her friend Susie that was too funny for words. Like how she refers to her undies as “rotten cottons” I almost did pee myself.

After the bad luck streak was at an all time high she decides to leave Philadelphia and move into her recently deceased Grandfathers house. Everything goes wrong here too. Her Ex Trent (douche from the word go) is still trying to stalk her. Her bff Susie deflects a lot of it and is there every step of the way for Myra. I loved that part of the book. Susie is married and has boys who are little demons and a husband Jeff who is adorable. Susie is on a never ending diet and gushes day after day about a new fad diet or her need to pizza and a snicker bar. There was an endless supply of Susie diet humor too. She was priceless!

Enter Dylan, the contractor, who Susie just spouts filth about day after day. she asks Myra “did you ride the drill yet?” So freakin funny. Anyways bad things happen, strange things happen, and then Dylan happens. I say no more! Book two is introduced at the end and now I am going to research and find out when it is out.

I think this is a 5* chicl lit girlie girl funny book go get it & lets support out authors who need some word of mouth press!

Follow her on Goodreads:http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/6538176.Madeleine_Beckett

Twitter: https://twitter.com/colorofbeckett

Color of Loneliness by Madeleine Beckett

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For real I am so on a good book roll

 

Color of Loneliness

 

Myra Sommers, an attractive young copy editor living in Philadelphia, makes the tough decision to return to her family home in Nyssa, Oregon. A recent death leaves her with no remaining family, and she decides to heal and regroup there. Her decision to leave is solidified by recent revelations involving her cheating ex-boyfriend, Trent. 

Myra parts ways with her only friend, Susie O’Connor, a zany woman who’s more than a little insane. In Nyssa, Myra finds little immediate comfort in her “new” home which is literally falling apart around her. She sinks into a deep depression, exacerbated by her feelings of loneliness and isolation in the small town.

News of Myra’s return takes no time to spread through Nyssa, and she quickly encounters several locals, some friendly, some not. Among the friendly faces is Jim, an elderly neighbor whom she begins to rely on for help and companionship. When she realizes that she’s going to have to hire someone to do repairs on her broken-down home, Jim gives her the name of a local contractor, Dylan Lawson, who has done work for him in the past.

When Myra calls Dylan for an estimate, she’s astounded by the contractor’s gruff, surly demeanor. But she trusts Jim and there are few other options in the small town. 

Dylan can’t help but notice that Myra is young, single, and beautiful, which makes him suspicious of her real reason for calling him. The women in Nyssa pursue him relentlessly but he’s not in the least bit interested.

After Myra approves his estimate, Dylan begins the process of repairing her home. While he works, she begins writing a book; that is, when she’s not fielding insane calls from Susie who misses her like crazy. 

Slowly, a reluctant friendship develops between the pair, followed by romantic feelings which neither of them can fight. However, their painful past experiences threaten to tear them apart. Can they move beyond their despair and open their hearts to love?

 

Follow her: 

Goodreads: http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/6538176.Madeleine_Beckett

http://madeleinebeckett.blogspot.com/

 

 

In Need of Therapy by Tracie Banister

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In Need of Therapy

I started this thinking it had to be cute cause of the cover. The bright color and the Dr looked adorable. I was SO correct. I love bragging when I am right. So the story is Pilar Alvarez, therapist extraordinaire, and somewhat crazy assistant Margo. There were some quick one liners from Margo. She was always watching out for Pilar.  Pilar lived in a nice little house and her unemployed sister Izzy was there to mooch off of her. Pilar had a great family an older sister who was married with kids and that is all her Mom wanted for her. She tired to make Pilar go on dates that were disasters. Pilar’s Dad was a partner in a law firm and very prominent in the community. She had a stalker sort of boyfriend who couldn’t take no for an answer. Victor would embarrass her, follow her around and tell people he was her fiance. She has several patients who were equally nuts yet somewhat hilarious!. Lori the hair dresser was in love every other day and then out of the love immediately after.

The best part was when the new psychiatrist moved into the suite next door. She meets Ford and feels some sort of connection and they sort of pal around. After little while for talks about his son. OOppps Pilar messes up again and gets chummy with a married man. Poor girl doesn’t get a break. .

Mitch is a patient who turns out to be Derek Reynolds a pretty famous actor who turns out to be in “no” need of therapy. I was pissed off! I thought maybe (wrong as it would be) Dr Alvarez would be the “one” for Mitch. Maybe he needed someone his total opposite to get him on the right path. Mitch is just as messed up as the other patients.

I will say I really recommend this one for the laughing. I cracked up so many times over the characters and the ending was hysterical too. I wont give away but a patient gets married. Seriously a funny book. No question a 5*

 

Twitter: @traciebanister

 

 

Devil in Disguise by Heather Huffman

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Devil in Disguise

This is a new author for me. When I checked it out I was stunned she had several books out all with great reviews. So I thought another good book to review. Now I am shocked at the content not only as a reader but as a Mom. There was a write up about the topic of “human trafficking” and the author is donating proceeds for the cause. So BIG BRAVO to Heather for that!!

So the plot is about teens getting lured through a chat space (think my space and FB chats) and drugged until they are convinced they are hopeless and give up. That is when these psycho’s get their “catalogue” together and try to sell girls.

The book is more suspense than thriller and I think equal romance (smut that wont make you blush too too much) The main characters are Rachael Cooper a prominent Reporter who is easily recognized and her ex Conrad. Well Rachael scores an interview with an idol Bruce Springsteen. They do the usual chatting and when the interview is over they get a little personal. He of course, is very in tuned when it comes to woman (swoon!!) and tells her she isn’t over her ex.  Then Bruce tells her to call him. Rachel thinks a little too much of course.

Shortly after Rachel gets a call from her mother saying her sister is missing. The only person Rachel can think of is Conrad. He can find her, he can help, no hesitation she calls him.

Author Heather Huffman reunites some of her fans’ favorite characters with this unforgettable journey of romance, friendship, humor and suspense.

Determined to protect her family, Rachel finds herself right in the middle of the worst thing that could happen to her sister. It was tragic to learn about the underworld of human trafficking. As Rachel, Conrad and now his Sister Neena try to find these guys, get her sister back and do it all while hiding out deep in the bayou of Louisiana.

Everything happens and makes Rachael see an opportunity to re-evaluate her choices in life and take a new path. Lucky for us we are treated to Conrad and some major romance. I think anyone with a teen or college aged kid, boy or girl, should read this book for the topic alone. The Conrad scene is a big bonus. It will shake you up a little when they are undercover and pretending to be interviewed for a purchase. Gosh that part was intense! Overall a great read and big recommendation from me!

Follow Heather on Twitter :https://twitter.com/Heathers_mark

Web Page: http://www.heatherhuffman.net/