Review: Vera Stein Is Fine

Vera Stein Is Fine by Julie Murphy
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Steamy

LGBT

Vera, Brody and Eli meet in college. Vera falls for Brody and Eli is left as the third wheel throughout college.  

Jump forward 20 years, and Vera is still with Brody (well, sort of) as his personal assistant (Brody is an actor) and a sometime booty call. She has also been her dying mother's caretaker for the last ten years or so.   One day, Vera read Brody's e-mail and found out something hurtful. Vera goes running to her Grandmother for comfort and help at the grandmother's retirement home. She walks in on her Grandmother (Ruby, an ex- scream queen) in an awkward situation.

Well, to make a long story short. Vera ends up taking a position at the nursing home as the events coordinator and finds herself face-to-face with Eli.

This is your typical frenemies-to-lovers story with a lot of quirky side characters and situations. Steamy without being over-the-top. And since this is a romance as well as a growth novel, you can bet that there is a HEA.

This would make a perfect movie for the Hallmark Channel, although it would need a bit of editing.*grin*

*ARC was supplied by the publisher Avon, the author, and NetGalley.

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SUMMARY : "From #1 New York Times bestseller Julie Murphy comes a heartfelt and hilarious tale of a woman who thinks life and love have passed her by until she’s thrown into her grandmother’s quirky world of octogenarian free love and gets a second chance with the one man she never expected to see again. Perhaps it’s never too late to play the opening credits…

Welcome to Starlight Palms, a favorite retirement facility among Hollywood actors and industry professionals tucked away just outside of sunny Palm Springs. Filled with forgotten scream queens, eccentric screenwriters, and heartthrobs of the past, it has a brand-new resident: Vera Stein, age forty.

Vera knows she’s missed her chance at a life worthy of the silver screen, just like she missed her chance at ever finding true love. But Vera isn’t one to take chances. She’s spent most of her adult years caretaking for her dying mother and her movie star boss’s ego. Now abruptly houseless and jobless, Vera has nowhere to land, so to grandmother’s house we go!

The Starlight Palms Senior Living Center is midcentury Hollywood down to its pastel-painted bones. This desert gem isn’t lacking in saucy plot twists (swinging seniors, anyone?) or a leading man: Elias Buckley, the on-site doctor and Vera’s former ill-fated college fling and—for reasons that will stay in Vegas—legally her ex-husband according to the state of Nevada.

It’s not long before Vera falls into a job as the activities coordinator and under the spell of a certain smart-mouthed doctor… Suddenly all those empty years in LA look less like mistakes and a lot more like backstory. With a fresh start at her fingertips, Vera begins to see that even with all the detours she’s taken, there’s still a Hollywood ending (and maybe even a happily ever after) in sight…

TROPES
- Second Chance Romance
- Workplace Romance
- Multigenerational Family Drama
- Forced Proximity
- New Lease on Life and Spice"

Review: The Second Chance Trailer Park

The Second Chance Trailer Park by Katie Powner
My rating: 4 of 5 stars



4.5 Stars

Meridith may not think she is having a midlife crisis, but in my opinion, that is exactly what I think is happening to her.

Meridith's life is a mess. She has lost a promotion to a much younger woman who doesn't have her experience. She is a serial dater whose relationships don't make it past the six-month mark. She may have lost a man she loves because the inside of his car is a mess.

Now she thinks she wants peace and quiet, joining a book club and sipping wine while chatting with other like-minded women. She thinks she can get this peace by moving to an age-restricted trailer park. Of course, to get in, she has to lie about her age! This is not what she gets, though.

This book runs the gamut from funny to sad to quirky, and sometimes just perfect. Although this book is about characters who are 55 and older, I recommend this book for any age. The ending is perfect -a real HEA!

I loved it, and it will be going on my re-read shelf!

*ARC was supplied by the publisher, Alcove Press, the author, and NetGalley.

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SUMMARY:  

"Fifty-two-year-old Meredith McGillicutty is not having a midlife crisis. She’s just ready for a change of pace, that’s all. The fact that she lied to get into a retirement community has nothing to do with being passed over for a promotion at work nor her recent breakup with the only man she’s ever loved. 

Nothing.     

Meredith only wants some peace and quiet. To sit on a porch in elastic-waist pants and mingle with other mature individuals who value a life of serenity. But the residents of the Peaceful Pines retirement community have other plans for her. These quirky and endearing neighbors seem to know her better than she knows herself, and they decide Meredith’s life is only just beginning. 

Blending humor and tenderness, The Second Chance Trailer Park will appeal to fans of Fredrik Backman and Lenora Worth."

Review: Fury in Death

Fury in Death by J.D. Robb
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

J. D. Robb hits another one out of the ballpark with her newest Eve Dallas novel.

Just when you think you've seen every horrid thing that can happen in this world, the scary imagination of the author comes up with something new and fresh. In this book, we start off with a horrible enough prologue and shoot right to a dead body that has been pulverized. Pulverized not by falling 50 or so floors out of a window, but by being beaten with fists.  Then another death by pulverization, and something connects both of these dead men. The company they worked for. A company that claims to be working for the betterment of the world, but guess what? Eve eventually finds out that that is just not true. Oh man, you are going to love to hate these protagonists, and they sure do deserve your hate.

This was a fairly slow build to a very exciting ending.

I loved it-a perfect addition to this series.

*ARC was supplied by the publisher St. Martin's Press and the author.

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SUMMARY: "

NYSPD lieutenant Eve Dallas never knows what to expect when she gets word of a body. It could be an elderly man who made the mistake of climbing a ladder in slippery footwear. And the next call could be a wealthy biotech executive beaten to death in his home office—but what was Larry Chu’s mistake?

The victim’s corpse is so mangled and damaged it’s hard to believe a lone, unarmed assailant could have managed it. The killer was clearly unnaturally strong—and smart enough to find a way into Chu’s highly secure building. Most of all, whoever did this was very, very angry.

The excessive violence leads Dallas to conclude that this was a deeply personal act, born of a rage that she can’t excuse but can understand thanks to her own traumatic past. And though the motive seems rooted in heated emotion rather than cold hard cash, she can’t ignore the suspicious bank account in the Cayman Islands, or the shadowy, profit-hungry company Chu worked for. The mystery only grows when it turns out Chu isn’t the only victim—and Dallas will need to tear through one layer of secrecy after another to reveal what lies behind this explosion of fury..."

Review: The Lake Club

The Lake Club by Lina Patton
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

A quick, beachy type read, filled with lies and secrets. A lot of backstabbing is going on, infidelities, and an old mystery too!

 As far as the characters go, Danika was a total *itch, Augie was a dishrag, and Chat (oh dear, but yes, that is really his name) came off as being a sneaky two-timer.  I really didn't like or connect with any of them, but the story was so compelling that I just couldn't put this book down. 

This would be an interesting book club read, as there is plenty to discuss while reading this book.

*ARC was supplied by the publisher William Morrow, the author, and NetGalley.

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SUMMARY: "DRAMA LOVES A DEEP END

When Danika Crawley attends events at the Aldon Lakes Country Club, heads turn. Danika has it all—beauty, money, a successful husband, and two perfect children. She plans on making this summer her best season yet and has a secret weapon to secure the envy of her neighbors.

Augie Elling has lost it all. Reeling from a post-grad scandal amidst her now-former life in New York, she returns to Aldon Lakes with her tail between her legs. Augie wants to keep her head down, save money, and find a way to leave her hometown for good, but someone keeps distracting her.

Danika and Augie have one thing in common: they are both a little obsessed with Chat, the male nanny Danika hired for the summer. But, unbeknownst to either woman, Chat’s appearance in town sets off a chain reaction that threatens Aldon Lakes’ carefully maintained ecosystem. As the heat rises between the three of them, the truth behind a long-buried scandal comes to light, and everyone at the club must reckon with the consequences.

The Lake Club is both an addictive, rollicking beach read, and a stylish, deft exploration of a lesser-known region of American wealth."

Review: The Chateau on Sunset

The Chateau on Sunset by Natasha Lester
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

For some odd reason, all I could think about when reading this book was the lyrics to the old Eagles song "Hotel California."

This book is supposed to be a modern retelling of "Jane Eyre" -I wouldn't know because I have never read that book. What I do know is that this book pulled me in right from the very first chapter and wouldn't let me go until after I read the author's notes.

If you are a fan of very old movies, you will be able to pick out a lot of old-time stars that are hidden behind false names.

This book deals with some very heavy issues of the day, such as drug use, rape, exploitation, and being a woman in a man's world. 

The story revolves around Aria Jones, who was orphaned and then dumped on a drug-addicted fading actress/star, her aunt, at the Chateau Marmont. I am not going to tell you more for fear of ruining the story for you, but it was quite an intense story with humor and horror.

*ARC was supplied by the publisher Ballentine Books/ Random House, the author, and Netgalley

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Summary: "In 1957, newly orphaned Aria Jones is sent to live with her aunt, a fading star who hides away in Hollywood’s infamous Chateau Marmont. There, two aspiring actresses, Calliope and Flitter, take grieving Aria under their wing.

But the Marmont isn’t meant for small girls with big hearts, and Aria’s first few nights reveal an insidious secret that continues to haunt her as she grows up in the hotel’s halls, where the bright lights of Hollywood cast even darker shadows. If Aria can just stay invisible and invite no trouble as she saves money, then she can leave the Marmont and live life on her own terms—alone, but free.

All her carefully laid plans are shattered when the hotel is bought by Theo Winchester: a reclusive rockstar turned unexpected caretaker of his daughter Adele, and unlike any man Aria has met before. To earn the last bit of money she needs to escape, Aria becomes Adele’s tutor, which brings Aria closer to Theo and ignites a passion she never expected.

Suddenly, Aria finds herself wondering if she still wants to remain invisible—and if inviting trouble is a risk she’s willing to take to pursue what she truly desires

Review: Chelsea Girls

Chelsea Girls by Catherine Lloyd
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Wow, this book reminded me that I am a part of History. That is, if you consider the 1950's to be long enough to be historical!

Mary Quant was a leader in women's fashion, leading women out of the dull colors of Post-War England and into the bright and shining colors and shapes of a new era.

I'm a bit young and poor to have worn any of her clothing, but my wardrobe still had some influence of Mary Quant. My fashion ended up being hip-hugger bell-bottoms and crop tops, which still flood the market. These had been influenced by Mary.

A lot of name-dropping went into this book-Sasson, Twiggy, Jean Shrimpton, J.C. Penney, etc.

This was a brilliant piece of fiction with a ton of reality included.

This will make a great beach read as well as a book club choice. There is a lot to discuss in this book, especially for a slightly older group who lived in this era.

Not only does this book tell all about the fashion revolution, but it is also a deep look into women owning their own businesses and the difficulties surrounding women in business.


*ARC was supplied by the publisher, Kensington Books, the author, and NetGalley.

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Summary: "A glamorous and revealing biographical novel for readers of Renee Rosen, Allison Pataki, and Fiona Davis, starring one of Swinging London’s defining figures, Mary Quant, who made history with the miniskirt, slashed hemlines, and transformed more than fashion, for herself, for her friends, and for a generation.

Post-war London is a city in flux, with burned-out buildings serving as vivid reminders of the past. But beneath those scars is a sense of resurging optimism. Chrissie Walker, a new student at Goldsmiths arts college, feels it keenly. So does Mary Quant, the auburn-haired classmate who becomes Chrissie’s best friend.

Like Chrissie, Mary wants more from life than to nab a husband and settle down. Though shy, Mary shows her daring in subtle ways, including her home-sewn clothes. Designed to run and move in, her outfits inspire Chrissie and others to reinvent their own style. They also catch the eye of charismatic fellow student Alexander Plunket Greene, who becomes Mary’s partner and helps fund the opening of Bazaar, a King’s Road shop that marks the beginning of an empire.

Dresses with ever-rising hemlines, skinny-rib sweaters and Peter Pan collars, boldly patterned tights and scarves—Mary Quant’s “Chelsea look” becomes a sensation among socialites, working-class girls, and everyone in between. As the miniskirt becomes a global phenomenon, Mary Quant ignites a fashion revolution that transforms everyone in its orbit—including Chrissie, who must reconcile her own ambitions with her friend’s fame, debutante Daphne, whose life opens up in unexpected ways, and Fern, an aspiring model who will become an icon.

In the years that follow, each will deal with the public and personal challenges faced by unconventional women willing to break the rules—and in the process, transform the world."

Review: The Windsor Affair

The Windsor Affair by Melanie Benjamin
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

This is a wonderful gossipy book that will be perfect for a light beach read. I understand that the author's other smash hit was The Swans of Fifth Avenue, and this was a book I found to be not to my liking. I was surprised, then, to find this one much more riveting.

The book summary gives you all the salient points, but I will say that the summary leaves out just how emotional this book was, how much history it covers, and just how confusing all these pet and royal names are to a mere American!

I enjoyed this book very much and recommend it to all who love gossipy, intriguing books.

*ARC was supplied by the publisher Delacorte Press/RandomHouse, the author, and NetGalley.

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SUMMARY: "Feuding Windsor brothers and their wives—some things, it seems, never change. The Men: Edward David Windsor, heir to the British throne, and Albert, known as Bertie, his younger brother, “the spare.” The Women: Edward’s wife Wallis, an American divorcée, and Bertie's  wife Elizabeth, descended from Scottish nobility. The Feud: a rivalry that will last all their lives, make headlines, and still fuel gossip pages nearly a century later.

The Windsor Affair recreates the cataclysmic events that nearly toppled the monarchy and incited the power struggle between Elizabeth Bowes-Lyon, the queen-to-be, and Wallis Simpson, aka “That Woman," who fell into a calculated love affair with Prince Edward. Told from the perspective of both women, the novel propels readers into the fabulous world of the debonair Prince of Wales, café society of the 1930s, and the glittering private lives of the Windsors.

The first novel dedicated to the infamous rivalry between these two world-famous women, The Windsor Affair brings us all the gossip and intrigue between the two very different—yet perhaps more similar than they would admit—wives of royals. As Queen, Elizabeth would become the symbol of British pluck and courage during World War II and remain a British institution for the rest of her long life. Wallis would be forever forced to enact the World’s Greatest Love Story even after it sours, as she goes from being admired to vilified and, ultimately, pitied.

Against the backdrop of the Abdication Crisis, World War II, coronations, funerals, births, and deaths, these two women maintain a bitter, biting, sharp-tongued feud—until age and the long arm of history bring about a kind of understanding. For the last communication between these bitter rivals was a simple, surprising “In friendship, Elizabeth.”"