Review: 121. To the Moon and Back by Jill Mansell...

Jill Mansell must be the Queen of British chick-lit! Her books are always just the right balance of funny and romantic, and I'd watch any (all!) of 'em if converted to the big screen...

Title: To the Moon and Back
Author: Jill Mansell
ISBN-13: 9781402243851
ARC: 433 pages
Publisher: Sourcebooks, Inc., 2011
Purchase at IndieBound, Amazon, The Book Depository
Source: Sourcebooks

drey's thoughts:
While reading To the Moon and Back, I kept thinking in the back of my mind how I was going to classify it--was it a contemporary romance? Or chick-lit? I finally settled on both, because while this is quite the romantic read, it's not just about the boy and the girl.

In addition to being about a boy and a girl, To the Moon and Back also deals with loss and grief, allowing yourself to move on, and the wonderful bonds of friendship. All wrapped up in Mansell's trademark humor. How could I not have liked it?

As I read, I could also see the story playing out in my head. You know how there are books you absorb, and books you imagine? Well, I vividly imagined the story playing out. I could see Ellie, Jamie, Roo, Tony, Todd, and Zack in my head--just as if I had a movie reel flickering away... And maybe I'm in a sappy mood, but I loved all the characters--even as I wanted to thunk Zack upside the head for being just a tad too good. You don't get the girl by wishing on a star, buddy!

Make this a movie, and I'll be there with my box of Kleenex... And my girlfriends, of course!

drey's rating: Outstanding! I loved it so much I read it twice, back-to-back, because I just couldn't get enough of Ellie and Zack.

Have you read To the Moon and Back? What did you think?

33. Review: Staying at Daisy's by Jill Mansell...

I have Jill Mansell firmly entrenched on my list of authors I have to read, and couldn't wait to crack open the pages of Staying at Daisy's!

Title: Staying at Daisy's
Author: Jill Mansell
ISBN-13: 9781402243844
ARC: 501 pages
Publisher: Sourcebooks, Inc., 2011 (reprint)
Purchase at IndieBound, Amazon, The Book Depository
Source: Sourcebooks

drey's thoughts:
I love Jill Mansell's characters--they are absolutely lovable. And Daisy is no exception. Single by decision since she found about that her husband was cheating on her when he died in a car accident, she has a difficult time flipping between wanting to hang with Dev Tyzack and staying as far away as she can get. After all, he's famous (former rugby star) and totally hot. Can't be good, right? So when her old college flame shows up, she falls into a relationship with him instead, because he's not quite as dangerous to her heart...

In addition to this lovely triangle, there's Daisy's father, who's a flamboyant widower, her BFF Tara, who's the good-time girl, Tara's mom, and a surprising pair who turn Daisy's life upside-down. Or, more upside-down. And as we go with Daisy on her journey to self-discovery, she comes to accept that the past is past, and she can decide how to move forward--and whether her heart moves with her or not.

Jill's writing creates characters you care about, and her humor shines through in the characters' quirkiness and personalities. Entertaining through and through.

drey's rating: 4/5 Excellent! Jill should be at the top of any chick-lit fans' list!

Have you read Staying at Daisy's? What did you think?

120. Take a Chance on Me by Jill Mansell...

Title: Take a Chance on Me
Author: Jill Mansell
ISBN-13: 9781402237515
ARC: 412 pages
Publisher: Sourcebooks Inc., 2010
Purchase at IndieBound, Amazon, The Book Depository

FTC Disclosure: My copy of Take a Chance on Me was provided by the publisher for this blog tour. I am an affiliate at IndieBound, The Book Depository, and Amazon, and any purchases made by clicking on the cover or the links provided may result in monetary compensation.

drey's thoughts:
Jill Mansell's Take a Chance on Me is a quirky and warm story about a girl--Cleo--who's still living with the embarrassment of being humiliated by her high-school crush, and a boy--Johnny--who's taking his time to figure out what he really wants. True to form, her characters are larger-than-life and definitely not perfect, yet you find yourself rooting for them to get their happily-ever-after.

And it's not just Cleo and Johnny you feel for, the accompanying cast of characters are pretty entertaining, too. Not that everything's hunky-dory for everyone else. Oh, no... As the romantic webs start entangling everyone in the town of Channings Hill, you wonder if it's going to end up more like a daytime soap than a rom-com. But no worries, everything works out in the end, even if the ending was just a teensy bit rushed.

The humor shines through brightly, and the characters are so vivid that you can imagine this on film. This is another must-read from Jill Mansell--add it to your fall list!

drey's rating: 3.5/5 Very Good

Challenges: 100+, Pub

93. Holly's Inbox: Scandal in the City by Holly Denham...

Title: Holly's Inbox: Scandal in the City
Author: Holly Denham
ISBN-13: 9781402241147
Paperback: 535 pages
Publisher: Sourcebooks, Inc., 2010
Purchase at IndieBound, Amazon, The Book Depository

FTC Disclosure: My copy of Holly's Inbox: Scandal in the City was provided by the publisher for this review. I am an affiliate at IndieBound, The Book Depository, and Amazon, and any purchases made by clicking on the cover or the links provided may result in monetary compensation.

drey's thoughts:
I never did get a chance to read Bill Surie's Holly's Inbox, but am glad I did get my hands on the follow-up, Holly's Inbox: Scandal in the City. One thing I want to point out--the cover of my copy is pink, not the blue-ish tone as depicted, but I can't for the life of me find a pink cover image.

Anyway! About the book itself! It's fabulous! Especially if you like British chick-lit. Holly's life is looking good. She's in love with the yummy Toby, gets promoted at work, and her family drama is at a minimum. Unfortunately for her, things don't stay that way for long. Toby's trips to France has her paranoid that he's got a French mademoiselle on the side. And the new catering manager is trying to put her down and steal Toby.

Holly and her friends are wickedly entertaining, and the emails flying around can be absolutely hilarious. This is one that'll go down as smoothly as a perfectly-made flan.


drey's rating: 3.5/5Very Good

Challenges: 100+, Pub

Tour: 85. And One Last Thing... by Molly Harper...

Today I'm a tour stop for Molly Harper's And One Last Thing.... I really enjoyed Molly's Jane Jameson series, and figured her snarky dialog would find its way into this newest offering.

FTC Disclosure: My copy of And One Last Thing... was provided by the publisher for this blog tour. I am an affiliate for IndieBound, The Book Depository, and Amazon, and any purchases made by clicking on the cover or the links provided may result in monetary compensation.

About the author:
Raised in Mississippi and Kentucky, Molly Harper graduated from Western Kentucky University with a bachelor's degree in print journalism. She worked for six years as a reporter and humor columnist; her reporting duties included covering courts, school board meetings, quilt shows, and once, the arrest of a Florida man who faked his suicide by shark attack and spent the next few months tossing pies at a local pizzeria. Molly lives in western Kentucky with her husband and daughter. Find her online at mollyharper.com.

Title: And One Last Thing...
Author: Molly Harper
ISBN-13: 9781439168776
Paperback: 310 pages
Publisher: Simon & Schuster, 2010
Purchase at IndieBound, Amazon, The Book Depository

drey's thoughts:
Well. If you're looking for a light summer read full of snark and wit, look no further. At least, until after you've read Molly Harper's And One Last Thing...! The first sentence made me laugh:

If Singletree's only florist didn't deliver her posies half-drunk, I might still be married to that floor-licking, scum-sucking, receptionist-nailing, hack-accountant, Mike Terwilliger.

Ok, so maybe I have a unique sense of humor. But I don't think that's the only reason I enjoyed And One Last Thing... as much as I did. Lacey is a girl after my own heart (not that I swing that way!). She's lived the Stepford Wife life, only to find out that her husband wasn't quite as (almost) perfect as she'd hoped he was. Ok, so maybe he wasn't even close. But, this story is more about how she deals with the revelation of Mike's affair (confusion, disbelief, anger, rage, retaliation) along with the resulting consequences (confusion, embarrassment, defensiveness, retreat).

When Lacey runs to hide out at the family cabin, she meets a grumpy neighbor who turns out to be a good friend as well as the rebound guy. Now Lacey has to decide what she wants to do when she grows up, including whether to keep rebound guy around.

Snarky dialog peppered throughout, this is an entertaining romp through the life of a woman wronged.

drey's rating: 3.5/5 Very Good

Challenges: 100+, Pub

TLC Book Tours: 64. The Fixer Upper by Mary Kay Andrews...

It's tour time! TLC Tours is touring Mary Kay Andrews' The Fixer Upper!

FTC Disclosure: My copy of The Fixer Upper was provided by TLC Tours for this blog tour. I am an IndieBound and Amazon affiliate, and any purchases made by clicking on the cover or the links provided may result in monetary compensation.

About the Author:

New York Times bestselling author Mary Kay Andrews is a native of St. Petersburg, Florida, and a diplomate of the Maas Brothers Department Store Charm School. She also has a journalism degree from The University of Georgia. (Go Dogs.) After a 14-year career as a reporter, mainly at The Atlanta Journal-Constitution, she quit newspapers to make a living telling lies. She wrote 10 critically acclaimed mysteries, including the Callahan Garrity mystery series, under her real name, Kathy Hogan Trocheck. Her new alias is a combination of her children’s names. Married to her high school sweetheart, she mostly lives in Atlanta, although sometimes also on Tybee Island, Georgia. Find her online at marykayandrews.com.

Title: The Fixer Upper
Author: Mary Kay Andrews
ISBN-13: 9780060837389
Paperback: 419 pages
Publisher: HarperCollins, 2009
Purchase at IndieBound, Amazon

drey's thoughts:
I practically inhaled The Fixer Upper. I was looking for something a little light, a little sassy, and a lot interesting, and I dare say I found it with this one. The story starts with the heroine, Dempsey (which reminded me of McDreamy, and that's never a bad thing to be reminded of!), drowning her sorrows on the worst day of her life. Her girlfriends are unfortunately relatively quick extras, but you don't even notice.

Dempsey has a quirky family, and a horrible (ex-)boss. She heads south to fix up an inheritance of her father's, and finds herself surprisingly comfortable in a small Southern town of 2200, especially considering she used to live in Washington, D.C. While there, she is hounded by her past, intrigued by a very nice possibility, and while butting heads with a distant relative, immerses herself in a Dempsey that she never knew existed.

I was so engrossed in Dempsey's life that I didn't even notice the time flying by. Next thing I knew, it was the last page. Like, what??? Anyway. If you're looking for a summer read, pick this up. Pair with a frou-frou drink, a little bit of shade, and sunscreen for the parts that would get sunburned while you're forgetting about time. *grin*

drey's rating: 4/5 Excellent

Challenges: 100+

235. Dear John by Nicholas Sparks...

About the book:

"Dear John," the letter read. And with those two words, a heart was broken and two lives changed forever.

When Savannah Lynn Curtis comes into his life, John Tyree knows he is ready to turn over a new leaf. An angry rebel, he had enlisted in the army after high school, not knowing what else to do. Then, during a furlough, he meets Savannah, the girl of his dreams. The attraction is mutual and quickly grows into the kind of love that leaves Savannah vowing to wait for John while he finishes his tour of duty. But neither can foresee that 9/11 is about to change the world. Like so many proud mena nd women, John must choose between love and country. Now, when he finally returns to North Carolina, John will discover how love can transform us in ways we never could have imagined.

drey's thoughts:
This being a Nicholas Sparks novel, be prepared with tissues. I don't know why, but every once in a while, I need a good sob story to blubber over. And Nicholas Sparks does churn out the blubbery ones with amazing regularity. But while Dear John does tug at the heart-strings, it didn't make me blubber. Which I guess is a good thing for the tissue box...

This book is like a four-part play. Act I has John and Savannah meeting and falling in love. Act II has John going abroad to finish his term in the military, and how difficult that parting is. Then 9/11 happens, and he is carried along in the tide of patriotism, and re-ups. Act III is the consequence of long-distance relationships, when the end that was in sight, no longer is. When John comes home because of his father's ill health, and subsequently his funeral, he meets up with Savannah. There are lingering feelings, but neither act on it--in keeping with his honor and her morals. And Act IV puts it all into a nice little box and ties a bow around the whole story.

It's a nice story, but not an emotional roller-coaster like I'd expect from a Sparks novel. However, fans will love it anyway.

Title: Dear John
Author: Nicholas Sparks
ISBN-10: 0446567329
ISBN-13: 9780446567329
Paperback: 276 pages
Publisher: Grand Central Publishing, 2009
Purchase at IndieBound, Amazon

Challenges: 100+, Pub

Disclosure: My copy of Dear John was provided by Hachette Book Group for this review.

208. Twenties Girl by Sophie Kinsella...

About the book:

Lara Lington has always had an overactive imagination, but suddenly that imagination seems to be in overdrive. Normal professional twenty-something young women don't get visited by ghosts. Or do they?

When the spirit of Lara's great-aunt Sadie--a feisty, demanding girl with firm ideas about fashion, love, and the right way to dance--mysteriously appears, she has one last request: Lara must find a missing necklace that had been in Sadie's possession for more than seventy-five years, and Sadie cannot rest without it. Lara, on the other hand, has a number of ongoing distractions. Her best friend and business partner has run off to Goa, her start-up company is floundering, and she's just been dumped by the "perfect" man.

Sadie, however, could care less.

Lara and Sadie make a hilarious sparring duo, and at first it seems as though they have nothing in common. But as the mission to find Sadie's necklace leads to intrigue and a new romance for Lara, these very different "twenties" girls learn some surprising truths from each other along the way. Written with all the irrepressible charm and humor that have made Sophie Kinsella's books beloved by millions, Twenties Girl is also a deeply moving testament to the transcendent bonds of friendship and family.

drey's thoughts:
One thing I can always count on from Sophie Kinsella--a book that will make me laugh out loud. I've read just about every books she's written, and Confessions of a Shopaholic has made its rounds of various girlfriends' bookshelves...

And Twenties Girl definitely did not disappoint. It is entertainingly funny--laugh-out-loud in places, embarrassingly so in others--from page one to page 435. Lara's reaction to her great-aunt's ghost appearing, drew chuckles. Her seemingly talking to herself drew smirks. Her lying to her parents, winces.

If you liked Bridget Jones' Diary or The Undomestic Goddess, you'd love Twenties Girl. Note that I didn't include Confessions here. It's because I like Lara more than Becky--she's got a head on her shoulders (ghost notwithstanding), and is way less flaky than Becky.

Title: Twenties Girl
Author: Sophie Kinsella
ISBN-10: 0385342020
ISBN-13: 9780385342025
Hardcover: 435 pages
Publisher: Random House Publishing Group, 2009

Challenges: 100+, Pub, Support Your Local Library

Disclosure: My copy of Twenties Girl made a brief stop on my bookcase, and went safely back into the folds of the library...

196. Perfect Timing by Jill Mansell...

About the book:

The timing couldn’t be worse…

Sparks flying between Poppy Dunbar and a handsome stranger the night before her wedding set Poppy on a wild and wacky journey of self-discovery. She flees the sweet, boring, predictable life she could have had in search of a mysterious stranger and a fresh start in London.

But there, her life is complicated by Caspar, her gorgeous flatmate, who has big plans for her. Now if only the two of them can get their timing right…

drey's thoughts:
Oh, Poppy. Such a well-meaning girl. Such a silly girl. Walking away from tying the knot because you think you’re marrying the wrong man, even though you know nothing at all about the guy you’d just met. In any case, she walks. And finds herself in London, alone, with the newfound knowledge that her father, really isn’t. Now, her mission is two-fold: find the stranger that she only knows as Tom, and find her father.

Poppy is a funny, warm, sympathetic character. She is lucky, too—-finding herself a room while working at an event, getting a job with a boss who puts up with her flightiness… Her roommates are quirky and amusing-—Caspar more than Claudia, who can be just a witch. As time goes by, and Poppy achieves some of her goals, she learns that you don't always want what you thought you did, once you get it. And that some things are best left unsaid.

Perfect Timing is quirky chick-lit that you will breeze through in a flash.

Title: Perfect Timing
Author: Jill Mansell
ISBN-10: 1402226748
ISBN-13: 9781402226748
ARC: 431 pages
Publisher: Sourcebooks, 2009

Disclosure: My copy of Perfect Timing was an ARC provided by Sourcebooks for this review.

160. The Smart One and the Pretty One by Claire LaZebnik...

About the book:

When Ava Nickerson was a child, her mother jokingly betrothed her to a friend's son, and the contract the parents made has stayed safely buried for years. Now that still-single Ava is closing in on thirty, no one even remembers she was once "engaged" to the Markowitz boy. But when their mother is diagnosed with cancer, Ava's prodigal little sister Lauren comes home to Los Angeles where she stumbles across the decades-old document.

Frustrated and embarrassed by Ava's constant lectures about financial responsibility (all because she's in a little debt. Okay, a lot of debt), Lauren decides to do some sisterly interfering of her own and tracks down her sister's childhood fiancé. When she finds him, the highly inappropriate, twice-divorced, but incredibly charming Russell Markowitz is all too happy to re-enter the Nickerson sisters' lives, and always-accountable Ava is forced to consider just how binding a contract really is . . .

drey's thoughts:
The Smart One and the Pretty One is a giveaway book that I thought looked cute. And hey, who can turn down a chick-lit novel about sisters when you have one yourself? =)

The interaction between Ava and Lauren is pretty realistic, in my opinion. When you have siblings, there's always a hint of that rivalry underlying any--and every--thing you do. Sometimes you work together to push each other to reach further. Sometimes you go in the exact opposite direction to differentiate yourselves. Lauren seems to have done the latter, and it's resulted in a lot of not-so-good-for-Lauren choices. Which she now has to face the consequences for, and she's running. Right back home to mom & dad. Until she camps out at Ava's. Whom she resents for being the "smart" one.

Which then brings their differences into the harsh glare of fluorescent lights. Not that Ava's "better" than Lauren. She propels herself into Lauren's complete opposite when it comes to fashion, and looking good. Not that she doesn't (look good), she just doesn't put in the effort that would make a difference. Because she doesn't want to be the "pretty" one.

While The Smart One and the Pretty One tries to be humorous and entertaining chick-lit, I think what comes through more than anything else, to me, is the reality that we women can sometimes be too harsh on ourselves. I mean, why put labels on ourselves? Who says we have to pick between being "smart" and being "pretty"? Why can't we be both? And what if we're really neither? Does that just doom us forever?

Title: The Smart One and the Pretty One
Author: Claire LaZebnik
ISBN-10: 0446582069
ISBN-13: 9780446582063
Paperback: 288 pages
Publisher: 5 Spot, 2008

Challenges: 100+

159. The Last Song by Nicholas Sparks...

About the book:

Seventeen-year-old Veronica "Ronnie" Miller's life was turned upside down when her parents divorced and her father moved from New York City to Wrightsville Beach, North Carolina. Three years later, she remains angry and alienated from her parents, particularly her father...until her mother decides it would be in everyone's best interest if she and her younger brother spent the summer with him in North Carolina.

Ronnie's father, a former concert pianist, is living a quiet life in the beach town, immersed in creating a work of art that will be the centerpiece of a local church. Resentful and rebellious, Ronnie rejects all of his attempts to reach out to her and threatens to return to New York before the summer's end. But soon Ronnie meets Will, the town's local heartthrob, and the last person she thought she'd ever be attracted to. As Ronnie slowly lets her guard down, she finds herself falling deeply in love, opening herself up to the greatest happiness--and pain--that she has ever known.

An unforgettable story of love in all its myriad forms--first love, love between parents and children--The Last Song demonstrates, as only a Nicholas Sparks novel can, the many ways that love can break our hearts...and heal them.

drey's thoughts:
I really don't know how the dude does it. Book after book, multiples of which have been made into movies. And here's the latest in a long line of heart-tugging tales spun for your leisurely reading.

The story moved along pretty predictably, especially in the beginning. There's only so many ways to "write" a rebellious teenager who's angry with her parents, after all. But eventually you come to feel for Ronnie, her brother Jonah, and especially her father, Steve. Will is the perfect first love, Marcus the perfect anti-Will, Blaze the perfect penitent. There's really not much else in terms of characters. If you're looking for something deep, skip this. If you're looking for a chick-lit book to remind you of your (misspent?) youth and first love, pick it up with a dash of Bailey's. Don't forget the box of Kleenex--you'll need it towards the end.

Title: The Last Song
Author: Nicholas Sparks
ISBN-10: 0446547565
ISBN-13: 978-0446547567
Hardcover: 390 pages
Publisher: Grand Central Publishing, 2009

Challenges: 100+, Pub

143. Best Friends Forever by Jennifer Weiner...

About the book:

Some bonds can never be broken...

Addie Downs and Valerie Adler will be best friends forever. That's what Addie believes after Valerie moves across the street when they're both nine years old. But in the wake of betrayal during their teenage years, Val is swept into the popular crowd, while mousy, sullen Addie becomes her school's scapegoat.

Flash-forward fifteen years. Valerie Adler has found a measure of fame and furtune working as the weathergirl at the local TV station. Addie Downs lives alone in her parents' house in their small hometown of Pleasant Ridge, Illinois, caring for a troubled brother and trying to meet Prince Charming on the Internet. She's just returned from Bad Date #6 when she opens her door to find her long-gone best friend standing there, a terrified look on her face and blood on the sleeve of her coat. "Something horrible has happened," Val tells Addie, "and you're the only one who can help."

Best Friends Forever is a grand, hilarious, edge-of-your-seat adventure; a story about betrayal and loyalty, family history and small-town secrets. It's about living through tragedy, finding love where you least expect it, and the ties that keep best friends together.

drey's thoughts:
Best Friends Forever is a heartwarming story about friendship, its travails, and the lengths to which we can--and often do--go to, to keep it. Or sink it. And, maybe, just possibly, redeem it.

Jennifer Weiner is definitely a master of chick-lit, and if you're a fan of the genre, you'll want to read this. After all, who's never had a best friend (regardless of whether we still have the same ones or not)? Who's never experienced betrayal of some sort at the hands of said BFF? And if you've been lucky enough to say "not me, uh uh!" then you'll read this book and be thankful for the friends you do have. =)

And to my BFFs--I love you. Have a grand day!

Title: Best Friends Forever
Author: Jennifer Weiner
ISBN-10: 0743294297
ISBN-13: 9780743294294
Hardcover: 359 pages
Publisher: Simon & Schuster, 2009

Challenges: 100+, Pub

130. Italian for Beginners by Kristin Harmel...

About the book:

Thirty-four-year-old Manhattan accountant Cat Connelly has always lived life on the safe side. But after her little sister gets married, Cat wonders if she has condemned herself to a life of boredom by playing by the rules. She decides to take a chance for once, accepting an invitation to spend a month with an old flame in Italy. But her reunion with the slick and gorgeous Francesco is short-lived, and she finds herself suddenly alone in Rome. Now, she must see if she has the courage to live outside the lines for the first time - and to face a past she never understood. It will take an unexpected friendship with a fiery Italian waitress, a whirlwind Vespa tour of the Eternal City with a handsome stranger, and a surprise encounter with an old acquaintance to show Cat that life doesn't always work out the way you expect, but sometimes you have to have fall in order to fly.

drey's thoughts:
Loved this book--it was perfect for hunkering down with a glass of iced tea or lemonade, in a shady spot in the backyard with the breeze tickling my bare feet... =) First of all, TONS of Audrey Hepburn references abound. And I love Audrey Hepburn. Heck, my mom does too, 'cuz that's where I got my name from... *grin* And did you notice the cover? Yes, there's references to Roman Holiday, too.

I really liked Cat--insecurities and all. I empathized when her grandmother embarrassed her in front of the entire church at her sister's wedding. I liked that she matured and grew as the story progressed, that she started taking chances. And I liked that she finally realized that she didn't know everything about her mother, and could leave that piece of baggage behind. (No, I didn't mean her mother, I meant Cat's emotional baggage, lol!) The things she went through, the things she learned--about herself and her mother, the experiences she gained once she opened up to living... I ended the book quite proud of Cat!

This is definitely well-written chick-lit, that deserves a spot on your shelf if you're into the genre. (which is a great segue, don't you think, into the next section?)

Giveaway!
Thanks to Hachette Book Group, I have 2 copies of Italian for Beginners for you...
Rules:
-- Contest is open to US and Canada residents, no PO Boxes please!
-- To enter, comment and share: Do you want to go to Italy? Any particular part? I'd love to go, and all over!! One of these days...
-- Follow for 1 extra entry.
-- Share for 2 extra entries (let me know what & where, please).
-- Do it all before 6:00 pm CST August 26th. Good luck!

Title: Italian for Beginners
Author: Kristin Harmel
ISBN-10: 0446538302
ISBN-13: 978-0446538305
Paperback: 360 pages (ARC)
Publisher: 5 Spot, 2009

Challenges: Pub

117. Dixieland Sushi by Cara Lockwood...

About the book:

Wax on...

Jen Nakamura Taylor thought she left behind her awkward past of growing up half-Japanese, half-white in a small Southern town when she moved north to produce a popular Chicago television show. But when she gets word that her Southern Belle cousin is marrying Kevin Peterson, the very boy Jen loved-with-a-capital-L for years, she realizes she can't run from her past forever. Not only does the news conjure up sticky memories of growing up with a mixed heritage in the South (soy sauce on chicken fried steak, anyone?) but now the very single and very busy Jen has got to find a date for the wedding--a grand affair that could put Scarlett O'Hara to shame.

Wax off...

Riley--Jen's cute British friend from work--seems just the ticket; even his girlfriend thinks it's a good idea. But as Jen and Riley whistle on down to Dixie, sparks start to fly. Add to the fire the grown-up but still charming Kevin Peterson, who appears to have a soft spot for Jen, and, well, whoa. It's going to take everything Jen has (and a lot of help from the Karate Kid-wisdom of her pop culture hero Mr. Miyagi) to survive the meeting of past and present, and of North and Far East and South...where Jen finally learns to come to terms with her heritage, her love life, and herself.

drey's thoughts:
I picked up Dixieland Sushi on a whim--it's got a cute cover, I loved the title, and checking out a book about a half-Asian growing up in the South tickled my fancy... I've had it for 7 months now, and picked it up last night for a bit of light reading. And boy, did it do the trick.

Dixieland Sushi is light-hearted chick-lit at it's best--humorous, witty, and entertaining. The dialog is quick and crisp. The repartee between Jen and Riley is spot on. I can see these guys hamming it up in my head. The book switches back and forth between Jen's current day and her past--LOVED the references to her childhood, with her crush on Kevin, her BFF-till-she-betrayed-her, her squabbles with her sister Kimberly, and her life in general... Jen's family is definitely quirky, to say the least!

If you need another easy-to-read, chick-lit book for your beach bag, you can't go wrong with this. =)

Title: Dixieland Sushi
Author: Cara Lockwood
ISBN-10: 0743499425
ISBN-13: 9780743499422
Paperback: 283 pages
Publisher: Downtown Press, 2005

116. A Girl's Guide to Modern European Philosophy by Charlotte Greig...

About the book:

Set on a 1970s college campus in Sussex, Susannah is a sophomore philosophy major with more on her mind than Nietzsche’s polemics. Caught between her sophisticated older boyfriend and her new student beau, Susannah finds herself in a life-changing predicament— she’s pregnant. Susannah is suddenly immersed in the gender politics of her generation— the ideals of the new feminism versus the conservative values of former generations.

Susannah instinctively evokes the teachings of the master philosophers, from Heidegger to Kierkegaard—on a whim at first, but with serious deliberation soon after—to determine monumental decisions about her future. Along the way, several foundations of female gender identification are inadvertently examined.

With clever nuance and a lively voice, Greig achieves a rare blend of intellectually stimulating thought, down-to-earth relatability and good-natured fun. Humorous, light-hearted, yet intellectually satisfying, A Girl’s Guide to Modern European Philosophy is an affable overture to philosophy and an absorbing exploration of what it means to be female in the modern world.

drey's thoughts:
I have to admit, I had high hopes for this one... With a title like A Girl's Guide to Modern European Philosophy, who wouldn't? But I just couldn't "get" Susannah... She lives with her boyfriend Jason, who's older, and doesn't always remember that she's there. And then she gets involved with one of her classmates, Rob. Which, in and of itself, I don't have a problem with. It's the dithering about that bothers me... Stop swinging like a pendulum between these two, and make a choice already! And it's not like they're such stellar specimens that makes it really difficult to choose, either--one swings for a different team, and the other's young & irresponsible. Then again, if you can't be irresponsible while young, then when can you? *sigh*

Philosophy is dispersed liberally throughout--but lest you're misguided, this is NOT a discussion of philosophy. Rather, it's a sprinkling of philosophy as it is covered in Susannah's courses. Until she gets to the point where she needs to figure out what to do, and enlists the help of Heidegger and Kierkegaard.

A Girl's Guide to Modern European Philosophy is definitely a coming-of-age story, but not as humorous as I expected it to be.

Title: A Girl's Guide to Modern European Philosophy
Author: Charlotte Greig
ISBN-10: 1590513177
ISBN-13: 978-1590513170
Paperback: 275 pages
Publisher: Other Press, 2009

112. Hollywood is Like High School with Money by Zoey Dean...

About the book:

Twenty-four-year-old Taylor Henning has just landed her dream job as an assistant at a major movie studio. Immediately, her catty coworkers undermine her, and she realizes the saying "Hollywood is like high school with money" is absolutely true. But Taylor wasn't exactly a social butterfly in high school. How is she supposed to do any better now?

Then she meets her boss' daughter, Quinn, and has an epiphany: Maybe this queen-bee teenager can teach her the tactics she needs to succeed in the movie business. The shrewd Quinn takes Taylor under her wing and soon she's racking up victories against rival assistant Kylie. But when Taylor is directed to steal Kylie's boyfriend, something happens that's not in the script: She falls for him. Can Taylor harness her inner mean girl while staying true to herself?

drey's thoughts:
Hollywood is Like High School with Money is chick-lit ala The Devil Wears Prada... Similarities: Girl starts new job as assistant to someone important. Girl has rival in form of first assistant, otherwise known as girl-who-won't-do-any-part-of-her-job-that's-not-cool-'cuz-new-girl-can-do-it. Girl eventually wins boss over, only to lose because she did something to get there and it now comes back to bite her in the behind.

Pretty formulaic, yes. But still highly entertaining. Taylor Henning is bright and funny, and the story flows along smoothly and quickly. This is a perfect fluffy read for that day on the beach, or while drinking lemonade in the backyard hammock.

Title: Hollywood is Like High School with Money
Author: Zoey Dean
ISBN-10: 0446697192
ISBN-13: 9780446697194
Paperback: 278 pages
Publisher: Grand Central Publishing, 2009

66. Dogs and Goddesses by Jennifer Crusie, Anne Stuart, and Lani Diane Rich...

Dogs and Goddesses is an entertaining story of three women who find themselves poised to save the world. How, you ask? They don't know...

The story starts with Abby moving into town with her dog, a Newfoundland. She's there to check in on her inheritance, left by her grandmother. As soon as she rolls into town, she's waylaid by an exasperating college professor who demands that she fulfill her grandmother's contract to bake cookies for his math department reception. Daisy is a web programmer with a Jack Russell, who's Abby's renter. And Shar is a professor of ancient history who's trying to finish her grandmother's book, but can't find that one last footnote. Oh, and she has a dachshund.

All three women have dogs. All three meet at an obedience class for their dogs. And all three find themselves surrounded by chaos when inexplicable powers show up around them. Wait - from them! And they realize that the ancient goddess that Shar is trying to footnote, is REAL, and trying to take over the world! (muahahahahaha!)

Dogs and Goddesses is an enjoyable humor-filled romp. Check it out if you like chick-lit, Jennie Crusie, or are just looking for a fast, fun, read.

Title: Dogs and Goddesses
Author: Jennifer Crusie, Anne Stuart, Lani Diane Rich
ISBN-10: 0-312-94437-3
ISBN-13: 978-0-312-94437-7
Paperback: 388 pages
Publisher: St. Martin's Paperbacks, 2009

63. Girls in Trucks by Katie Crouch...

Girls in Trucks is the story of Sarah Walters, born into one of the oldest debutante societies in Charleston. Growing up includes weekly Cotillion dancing lessons, minding manners, and appropriate behavior, all overseen by the Camellias. When Sarah moves north for college, and later, a career, she finds that the lessons learned growing up, don't translate so well to the modern world.

Girls in Trucks chronicles Sarah's journey from southern belle to broken-hearted, lost soul. Parts of this book was difficult for me to read, if only because I'm sitting here going "C'mon, Sarah! Don't pick that door! Pick that one!" and "noooooooooooooooooo"... *sigh* There is redemption toward the end though. Sarah discovers the meaning of love, and discovers that she's had it all along.

This is not a feel-good, fluffy, warm-fuzzy, chick-lit read. But it's good anyway. Want your own copy? Check out my giveaway, or click on the cover to purchase from Amazon. =)

Title: Girls in Trucks
Author: Katie Crouch
ISBN-10:
ISBN-13: 978-0-316-00212-7
Paperback: 241 pages
Publisher: Back Bay Books, 2008

40. Jack with a Twist by Brenda Janowitz...

After Scot on the Rocks, Brooke's life is back on track. Gorgeous fiance? Check! Great new job? Check! Fabulous designer making her a custom wedding dress? Check! So, what could go wrong? You know something goes wrong, or there wouldn't be a story, right?

How about we start with the family clashes between the parental units? Over the menu, the location, the cake... What about her best friend Vanessa's divorce, taking place right now? And her mom's not-so-subtle hints that Brooke's size 10 isn't quite svelte enough for that designer dress that she'll be wearing...

On top of that, she lands the case of her career. Only to face off in court against none other than the man she's about to marry. Jack with a Twist is an escalation of events when neither will back off the case. And Brooke ~ sleep-deprived, wedding dress-less, suspicious-of-Jack's-new-associate, pile-of-wedding-plans-to-take-care-of, asleep-on-her-feet Brooke ~ finally decides that this Jack is not the Jack she thought he was.

Brenda Janowitz is as entertaining with Jack with a Twist as she was with Scot on the Rocks. Grab it for a quick, fun, read. Don't forget the chocolate!

Oh, and come back on Monday (March 2nd) for a giveaway of Jack with a Twist!!

Title: Jack with a Twist
Author: Brenda Janowitz
ISBN-10: 0-373-89555-0
ISBN-13: 978-0-373-89555-7
Publisher: Red Dress Ink, 2008

29. Scot on the Rocks by Brenda Janowitz...

Title: Scot on the Rocks
Author: Brenda Janowitz
ISBN-10: 0-373-89528-3
ISBN-13: 978-0-373-89528-1
Paperback: 293 pages
Publisher: Red Dress Ink, 2007

What do you do when your ex-boyfriend - the ultra-competitive one, who always has to "win" - invites you to his wedding? So what if he's getting married to the latest It Girl? Do you go, or not? Do you agonize for hours (days!) over the decision?

Brooke actually experiences this. Her ex-boyfriend is getting married (yes, to the It Girl), and calls to gloat/invite her to the wedding. So Brooke does what any sane not-at-all-jealous/envious/insert-your-version-of-the-green-eyed-monster-here girl does - she accepts the invitation. And tells the ex that she's bringing her fiance. The Scot (from the title)...

Little does she know that by the time the wedding rolls around, she'll be sans Scot (who never even made it to fiance), and agonizing whether to show up solo or not show up at all. One bright idea later, her friend Jack is escorting her to the wedding, complete with kilt & Scottish accent.

Scot on the Rocks is a funny and entertaining story about a girl who has everything working the way it's supposed to, before it falls apart. She scrambles to try and salvage the pieces, and discovers along the way that she might not want all those pieces after all. And sometimes what you're really looking for has been right next to you all along. A great first novel for Brenda Janowitz.