Review: Fashionistas

Fashionistas by Lynn Messina
My rating: 2 of 5 stars

This book is a reprint from a book written in 2003, and it shows.  I am assuming (yeah, I know what they say about the word assume!LOL!) that this book is getting ready to come out with a new publisher and perhaps as an e-edition. Some books can overcome the world's changes and roll with them; this book could not. 

Fashionistas has been compared to [book:The Devil Wears Prada|5139] -close but no cigar.  The characters ALL of them were dislikable, and all of them deserved what they got except for Vig.  She deserved worse.

*ARC supplied by the publisher.

View all my reviews

SYNOPSIS: "Life at Fashionista magazine can be a real bitch. Especially when you work for one.

Vig Morgan finally worked her way out of the assistant-for-the-bitch-from-hell trenches only to get stuck in a sea of editors. But Vig isn't like the other associate editors at the aggressively hip and overwhelmingly current Fashionista magazine. For one thing, she couldn't care less which star wore which designer to which party. Sure, she's clever and witty—and just as ambitious as the next overqualified underpaid underling, but she would never get drawn into a plot to depose the evil editor-in-chief. Or would she?

Jump with Vig into the choppy waters of scheming, backstabbing, free speech, flirtation and fashion, as the lackeys at the bottom of the masthead band together to take down the queen at the top, with some unexpected—but not necessarily unpleasant—results."

Review: I Have a Tapeworm: And other ways to make friends

I Have a Tapeworm: And other ways to make friends by MaryJanice Davidson
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

I'm a bit disappointed. This book started out very funny and right about when MJ started talking about Charlaine Harris's problem with her last Sookie novel; I just started to get bored and found the endless repetitions were not funny.

This is a book of some of her columns from USA Today and her blog. I think the problem is that taken as a weekly read, they would be great on their own, but reading them one after another is just too much to take in.

As a Kindle Unlimited book, it is worth it, you can keep this book for quite a while and just read it in little bites.

For people of a certain age (like me!!!) you may find this book reminiscent of Erma Bombeck, but don't get your hope up too much! The Erma Bombeck Collection 

View all my reviews

Review: Mercy

Mercy by David Baldacci
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I don't know what to say about this book, but I'll give it a whirl! However, DO NOT start this series with this book. Although it provides a lot of backstories, you will have lost something precious. Astounding, riveting, violent, vicious, emotional, gratifying...I can come up with more, but why bore you? This was one of the best books I have read in quite a while. I assume (yes, I know what they say about assuming things!). However, I do hope that there may be at least one more book. All of the other books in this series have been written using just Atlee's point of view; this book is written a bit differently by using Atlee's and Mercy's voice as well as another secondary/main character. It was a bit spooky, but I was quickly able to get into it. It was almost like getting three stories in one. As I said, I don't know what I can say to get you to read this, but if you like Baldacci's works and have stuck with this series, then you HAVE to read this book to see how it all ends. I liked this series so much that I have gone out to buy the two books I received as ARC. *ARC provided by the publisher Grand Central Publishing, the author David Baldacci, and NetGalley. Thank-you.

View all my reviews

SYNOPSIS: "FBI Agent Atlee Pine’s harrowing search for her long-lost sister Mercy reaches a boiling point in this breakneck thriller from #1 New York Times bestselling author David Baldacci. 

 
For her entire life, FBI agent Atlee Pine has been searching for her twin sister, Mercy, who was abducted at the age of six and never seen again. Mercy’s disappearance left behind a damaged family that later shattered beyond repair when Atlee’s parents inexplicably abandoned her.
 
Now, after a perilous investigation that nearly proved fatal, Atlee has finally discovered not only the reason behind her parents’ abandonment and Mercy’s kidnapping, but also the most promising breakthrough yet: proof that Mercy survived her abduction and then escaped her captors many years ago. 
 
Though Atlee is tantalizingly close to her family at last, the final leg of her long road to Mercy will be the most treacherous yet. Mercy left at least one dead body behind before fleeing her captors years before. Atlee has no idea if her sister is still alive, and if so, how she has been surviving all this time. When the truth is finally revealed, Atlee Pine will face the greatest danger yet, and it may well cost her everything.

Review: Wish You Were Here

Wish You Were Here by Jodi Picoult
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

I have never read anything by this author, so when this  ARC came up, I jumped at the chance to see what all the fuss was about.  I admit that this author is very good at what she does.

Unfortunately, I cannot reveal much more about this story than the synopsis because I might inadvertently give away a spoiler! And a heck of a twist it was!  Plus, well, this I can tell you-we have a sort of cliff-hanger at the end. The very last page!

This was a very emotional read for me since I had lost a  close family member to Covid. So if you have lost a close loved one, you may want to stay away from this book for now and let the rawness fade a bit.

These were complicated characters and, at times, very shallow and selfish. Yet, everything Ms. Picoult wrote was vivid -the pain, helplessness, scenery, all of it. 

It was a page-turner for sure but, for me, a reluctant one.

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

View all my reviews

SYNOPSIS: "From the #1 New York Times bestselling author comes a deeply moving novel about the resilience of the human spirit in a moment of crisis.

Diana O’Toole is perfectly on track. She will be married by thirty, done having kids by thirty-five, and move out to the New York City suburbs, all while climbing the professional ladder in the cutthroat art auction world. She’s not engaged just yet, but she knows her boyfriend, Finn, a surgical resident, is about to propose on their romantic getaway to the Galápagos—days before her thirtieth birthday. Right on time.

But then a virus that felt worlds away has appeared in the city, and on the eve of their departure, Finn breaks the news: It’s all hands on deck at the hospital. He has to stay behind. You should still go, he assures her, since it would be a shame for all of their nonrefundable trip to go to waste. And so, reluctantly, she goes.

Almost immediately, Diana’s dream vacation goes awry. The whole island is now under quarantine, and she is stranded until the borders reopen. Completely isolated, she must venture beyond her comfort zone. Slowly, she carves out a connection with a local family when a teenager with a secret opens up to Diana, despite her father’s suspicion of outsiders.

Diana finds herself examining her relationships, her choices, and herself—and wondering if when she goes home, she too will have evolved into someone completely different."

Review: Last Stop on the 6

Last Stop on the 6 by Patricia Dunn
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

This book is one of the few books I've read this year that is going on my 'comfort book' shelf. These are the books that I periodically pull out to read to give myself a lift or soothe myself. This was also a quick read, one that you could probably do in a day or less. As an added bonus, if you have Kindle Unlimited it will be a book that you can read under the Unlimited rules.

This book is filled with what some may feel is inappropriate language.  It is set against the backdrop of the start of the Gulf War. This book also deals with some very serious issues that may be hot buttons for some. Drug addiction, rape, and alcoholism, to name a few.

I loved this book tremendously!  I don't know if this is because of  my Italian heritage; well, Italian Hungarian (almost the same thing family-wise!!!)

This is a growth story, a story about what happens when we run away from our troubles and what happens when we lie and/or assume too much.

This story was funny, sad, exciting, and frustrating but primarily amusing. At least it was funny if you know anything about this type of Italian enclave.

I could visualize these characters without the author getting overly wordy. I could smell the gravy bubbling on the stove without a lot of descriptive terminologies. Instead, the author writes with a conciseness that I very much appreciate and love.

This is one of the best books I have read lately, and my kudos go out to the author.

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

View all my reviews

SYNOPSIS: "LAST STOP ON THE 6 is the return of the prodigal daughter to a world of long-buried hurts, political complexities, and female resilience. Dunn introduces characters of all possessing questions for which there are no easy answers - only the slow and steady re-awakenings of familial bonds and moral responsibility.

Angela Campanosi fled her home in the Italian-American enclave of Pelham Bay, the Bronx, after an accident left her brother, Jimmy, an up-and-coming actor, paralyzed. Now, ten years later, on the eve of Jimmy’s wedding, anti-war activist Angela returns home from LA to grapple with the guilt, secrets, and idiosyncrasies that make family, family. What could possibly go wrong? 

For starters, the groom has disappeared, leaving behind only a cryptic note and his rotating collection of plastic patron saints on his nightstand. Angela’s asthmatic mother insists on keeping Jimmy’s fiancée in the dark; her father, three years sober, goes on a bender; Angela’s ex-boyfriend has taken over running the family exterminating business; and her stepfather just wants to feed everyone, even vegetarian Angela, some of his meat gravy.

Angela embarks on a search for Jimmy through the old neighborhood, discovering in the process that our perceptions about people—even ourselves—can be wrong, and that family is something far more potent than blood.

Set against the backdrop of the Gulf War and the millions of people who filled the streets in protest (reminiscent of today’s activism), LAST STOP ON THE 6  is a hilarious, subversive, deeply moving tale."

Review: Dava Shastri's Last Day

Dava Shastri's Last Day by Kirthana Ramisetti
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

The synopsis sounded intriguing. I required a humorous yet profound novel at this time in my life. What I did get was a varied and politically correct cast of characters, a complicated and sometimes convoluted story with an abundance of information on music and musicians that I had never heard of. I'm still not sure if all of the bands she mentions are real or not! All this music talk just bored me. I can see that it was the crux of many of Dava's relationships...but it just didn't work to keep me engaged.

The idea of a terminal cancer patient bringing her family together on her private island for one last time was an interesting one. But, of course, knowing that she (Dava) was a multi-billionaire added a little something to the mix, and then finding out that this book was set in 2044 during what seems to be the height of climate change was the cherry on the cake.

Unfortunately, as I said, the music issue was a non-starter for me(perhaps because of my age); the characters were all shallow, the lies were hard to take, the deaths by cancer were just brutal, and the book just never seemed to end.

I did manage to finish this simply because I wanted to see how it ended and if Dava's family overcame all of their issues. But, unfortunately, I did have to do a lot of skimming.

*ARC provided by the publisher, the author, and NetGalley.

View all my reviews

SYNOPSIS: "In this thought-provoking and entertaining debut novel about of a multicultural family, a dying billionaire matriarch leaks news of her death early so she can examine her legacy--a decision that horrifies her children and inadvertently exposes secrets she has spent a lifetime keeping.

Dava Shastri, one of the world's wealthiest women, has always lived with her sterling reputation in mind. A brain cancer diagnosis at the age of seventy, however, changes everything, as she decides to take her death—like all matters of her life—into her own hands.

Summoning her four adult children to her private island, she discloses shocking news: in addition to having a terminal illness, she has arranged for the news of her death to break early, so she can read her obituaries.

As someone who dedicated her life to the arts and the empowerment of women, Dava expects to read articles lauding her philanthropic work. Instead, her "death" reveals two devastating secrets, truths she thought she had buried forever.

And now the whole world knows, including her children.

In the time she has left, Dava must come to terms with the decisions that have led to this moment—and make peace with those closest to her before it's too late.
 
Compassionately written and chock-full of humor and heart, this powerful novel examines public versus private legacy, the complexities of love, and the never-ending joys—and frustrations—of family."

Review: Flying Angels

Flying Angels by Danielle Steel
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

This book may not have been the best book for me to choose from my TBR pile since I recently visited the Flight 93 National Memorial in Stoystown, PA. However, I was already in an emotional mood before picking this book up.

 Flying Angels is a VERY emotional read. Not only an emotional read but a very realistic (and bloody) look at what went on during WWII and the men and women who fly with the Medical Air Evacuation Transport Squadron and save lives while putting their own in danger; several times a day. 

There is romance for some; death for others. And I have to admit that I was surprised at who didn't make it all the way through this book and who did or did not get romance and a HEA.

This was not a fun book for me, but it was informative. There is plenty of character growth. This book does start slowly with a lot of back story for several of the women. However, the rest of the women we meet don't seem to get the same respect, which bothered me for some reason.

I recommend this book to those who like their historical romances to be 'in your face' truthful, in all of its blood a guts glory.

*ARC supplied by The publisher #RandomHouseBallantine, the author #DanielleSteel, and #NetGalley.

View all my reviews

SYNOPSIS: "World War II brings together six remarkable young flight nurses, who face the challenges of war and its many heartbreaks and victories as unsung heroes, in this inspiring novel from #1 New York Times bestselling author Danielle Steel.

Audrey Parker's life changes forever when Pearl Harbor is attacked on December 7, 1941. Her brother, a talented young Navy pilot, had been stationed there, poised to fulfill their late father's distinguished legacy. Fresh out of nursing school with a passion and a born gift for helping others, both Audrey and her friend Lizzie suddenly find their nation on the brink of war. Driven to do whatever they can to serve, they enlist in the Army and embark on a new adventure as flight nurses.

Risking their lives on perilous missions, they join the elite Medical Air Evacuation Transport Squadron and fly into enemy territory almost daily to rescue wounded soldiers from the battlefield. Audrey and Lizzie make enormous sacrifices to save lives alongside an extraordinary group of nurses: Alex, who longs to make a difference in the world; Louise, a bright mind who faced racial prejudice growing up inthe South; Pru, a selfless leader with a heart of gold; and Emma, whose confidence and grit push her to put everything on the line for her patients.

Even knowing they will not achieve any rank and will receive little pay for their efforts, the "Flying Angels" will give their all in the fight for freedom. They serve as bravely and tirelessly as the men they rescue on the front lines, in daring airlifts, and are eternally bound by their loyalty to one another. Danielle Steel presents a sweeping, stunning tribute to these incredibly courageous women, inspiring symbols of bravery and valor."

Review: Our Country Friends

Our Country Friends by Gary Shteyngart
My rating: 0 of 5 stars

I will recommend this book to anyone who already loves and understands this author. I was very excited when this ARC became available because, to my knowledge, there are no other books out there yet that are pretty much all about Covid and the friends and family who get trapped together because of it.

Apparently, I do not have the type of sense of humor needed for this book, nor do I have the education for it. I am not as politically correct as one needs to be to read this book.

Endless run-on sentences, dislikeable characters, bigotry, prejudice, and out-and-out babble predominates what I have managed to read.

I am done. Covid has made life too difficult to force myself to finish something this painful.

*ARC provided by the publisher.

View all my reviews

Review: Over My Dead Body

Over My Dead Body by Jeffrey Archer
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

I most likely would have liked this book much more had I been British and perhaps read the first few in this series. Oddly, I usually never have problems getting into a series when starting it late. I typically enjoy the book and want to go back and read the earlier ones. Not so with this book.

For me, the writing was dull; the characters were primarily unlikeable, the ending abrupt (or is it a cliffhanger?), I felt that some plot points/storylines were left unfinished, and I just couldn't engage with any part of this book.

The only reason I am giving it three stars is that I'm sure fans of this author will love this addition to the series, and even those who like novels that are a bit on the historical side will enjoy this. Unfortunately, the story takes place in the mid-to-late '80s giving this book a very stuffy feel.

*ARC is supplied by the publisher and ATTL.

View all my reviews

SYNOPSIS: "An unputdownable story of murder, revenge and betrayal from international number one bestseller Jeffrey Archer.

THE CLOCK IS TICKING IN THIS ROLLERCOASTER RIDE OF A THRILLER…


In London, the Metropolitan Police set up a new Unsolved Murders Unit—a cold case squad—to catch the criminals nobody else can. 
 
In Geneva, millionaire art collector Miles Faulkner—convicted of forgery and theft—was pronounced dead two months ago. So why is his unscrupulous lawyer still representing a dead client? 
 
On a luxury liner en route to New York, the battle for power at the heart of a wealthy dynasty is about to turn to murder.
 
And at the heart of all three investigations are Detective Chief Inspector William Warwick, rising star of the department, and ex-undercover agent Ross Hogan, brought in from the cold. "

Review: The Christmas Dress: A Novel

The Christmas Dress: A Novel by Courtney Cole
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

This book was one of the sweetest books I have read in a long time. NOT sappy sweet, but uplifting sweet. Yes, there is a HEA, and well, there should be. But, no, there are no steamy sex scenes-none at all! And I didn't miss it one bit. The story was just that good that it didn't need sex to 'pep it up or 'keep it real.'
I will not give you much of a description of this book since the recap does it so well. I will just say that if I were Meg Julliard's age and confronted not only with the death of her last relative AND inheriting a crumbling building that currently houses only older people, I might lose it totally. Meg makes a few mistakes at first but then pulls up her big girl panties and does what needs to be done.

I admit, luck (as well as talent), but mainly fate, has a huge thing to do with this story's HEA, but that's okay. After the last year that we've had, we need a little sweetness, don't we?

*ARC supplied by the publisher, William Morrow, the author, and NetGalley. My thanks to all.

View all my reviews

Synopsis: "An enchanted Christmas dress brings two generations of women together for the magic of the season in this delightful holiday story from New York Times bestselling author Courtney Cole. 

One Dress. Two Women. The Magic of the Holiday Season.

When hopeful fashionista Meg Julliard must return to her hometown of Chicago to manage her late father’s apartment building, she thinks her dreams of making it in the fashion business are over. Add in her father’s eclectic roster of tenants who all need Meg’s attention (ASAP!), a host of building related disasters, and a handsome handyman she keeps embarrassing herself in front of, and this has all the makings for the worst Christmas she’s ever had.

Ellie Wade, one of the building’s longtime residents, is also not feeling the Christmas Joy this year. She is preparing to move into a nursing home (reluctantly), and is in the process of sorting through her belongings to downsize. Every corner of her apartment holds memories, some good, some bad. But there’s one dress she hesitates to pack up as it represents both the best and worst night of her life.

Ellie and Meg strike up an unlikely friendship and the story of Ellie’s dress comes out. Ellie gifts the gorgeous dress to Meg, hoping that it will bring her more luck, on the condition that she wear it to the building’s Christmas party.

The dress magically fits, and while it eventually leads to the best night of Meg’s life, it also acts as inspiration for Meg to follow a life-long dream of her own, a dream that will help save the crumbling Parkview West, and restore it to its former glory, and keep it as a safe home for all of the current tenants.

The dress and the magic of the holiday season helps both Meg and Ellie find their own happy endings."