Latest Review: Somebody to Love

Somebody to Love by Kristan Higgins
Goodreads Summary: After her father loses the family fortune in an insider-trading scheme, single mom Parker Welles is faced with some hard decisions. First order of business: go to Gideon’s Cove, Maine, to sell the only thing she now owns—a decrepit house in need of some serious flipping. When her father’s wingman, James Cahill, asks to go with her, she’s not thrilled…even if he is fairly gorgeous and knows his way around a toolbox.

Having to fend for herself financially for the first time in her life, Parker signs on as a florist’s assistant and starts to find out who she really is. Maybe James isn’t the glib lawyer she always thought he was. And maybe the house isn’t the only thing that needs a little TLC

My Thoughts:
Kristan Higgins is one of the top contemporary romance writers of the moment - most of her books are fantastic when you need a dose of chick-lit!  Somebody to Love is not one of her best, but I still really enjoyed the book.  It's so much fun to see what happens to Maggie and Malone from Higgins' earlier book Catch of the Day (one of my faves)!  Also, the last scene was ADORABLE, I actually teared up! 

Yet, I think what made this one fall flat a little for me is that Parker is not as loveable of a main character as most of Higgins' other main characters.  One of the delightful things about reading Higgins' novels is the quirky and endearing personalities she creates - and Parker's inner monologue wasn't as fun to read compared to past characters.  Another issue I had is that there are a few loose ends that were never entirely resolved which made the ending feel a little rushed.

I recommend this to Higgins' fans (especially those who've read Catch of the Day and/or The Next Best Thing [which features Parker as a side character]) and to those who enjoy contemporary romance novels.

3/5 stars - solid contemporary romance fare.

This fulfills my Romantic Fiction entry for the Eclectic Reader 2012 Challenge!

***Disclosure: Received copy via Harlequin

Super-Shorty Reviews

My reviewing these days has just gone by the wayside...if I don't review a book immediately after I've read it then my motivation slowly wanes.  To remedy this slightly, I'll quickly shoot off some super-short reviews :)

Lola and the Boy Next Door by Stephanie Perkins

Goodreads Summary:
Budding designer Lola Nolan doesn’t believe in fashion . . . she believes in costume. The more expressive the outfit -- more sparkly, more fun, more wild -- the better. But even though Lola’s style is outrageous, she’s a devoted daughter and friend with some big plans for the future. And everything is pretty perfect (right down to her hot rocker boyfriend) until the dreaded Bell twins, Calliope and Cricket, return to the neighborhood.

When Cricket -- a gifted inventor -- steps out from his twin sister’s shadow and back into Lola’s life, she must finally reconcile a lifetime of feelings for the boy next door.

My thoughts:

• I liked it even better than Perkins' Anna and the French Kiss!
• If you haven't read Anna and the French Kiss (and are planning to) you may want to read it first as this book has spoilery characters from Anna in it.
• Adorable.  I loved both main characters in this book and their endearing quirks.
• If you like John Green, you'll probably like Stephanie Perkins.
• Read this if you're in the mood for a great contemporary YA romance :)
• 4/5 stars

Shades of Milk and Honey by Mary Robinette Kowal (sequel coming soon!)

Goodreads Summary:
Shades of Milk and Honey is exactly what we could expect from Jane Austen if she had been a fantasy writer: Pride and Prejudice meets Jonathan Strange & Mr. Norrell. It is an intimate portrait of a woman, Jane, and her quest for love in a world where the manipulation of glamour is considered an essential skill for a lady of quality.

Jane and her sister Melody vie for the attentions of eligible men, and while Jane's skill with glamour is remarkable, it is her sister who is fair of face. When Jane realizes that one of Melody's suitors is set on taking advantage of her sister for the sake of her dowry, she pushes her skills to the limit of what her body can withstand in order to set things right--and, in the process, accidentally wanders into a love story of her own.

My thoughts:

• If you're like me and love a) Jane Austen and b) fantasy - you will be smitten with this book!
• I adored Jane and liked the fact that she was admirable for her mind and skill rather than her looks.
• It was a fantastic and quick read with a lovely ending.  It's perfect as a stand-alone novel, but to my delight there is a sequel called Glamour in Glass coming out in April!
• 4/5 stars

Phew!  There we go, sorry for the abbreviated nature of these reviews but at least now I'm a bit caught up.  Coming soon - reviews of Dash & Lily's Book of Secrets and The Stupidest Angel.