Book Review and Giveaway - The Overdue Life of Amy Byler by Kelly Harms

Book Synopsis
Overworked and underappreciated, single mom Amy Byler needs a break. So when the guilt-ridden husband who abandoned her shows up and offers to take care of their kids for the summer, she accepts his offer and escapes rural Pennsylvania for New York City.

Usually grounded and mild mannered, Amy finally lets her hair down in the city that never sleeps. She discovers a life filled with culture, sophistication, and—with a little encouragement from her friends—a few blind dates. When one man in particular makes quick work of Amy’s heart, she risks losing herself completely in the unexpected escape, and as the summer comes to an end, Amy realizes too late that she must make an impossible decision: stay in this exciting new chapter of her life, or return to the life she left behind.

But before she can choose, a crisis forces the two worlds together, and Amy must stare down a future where she could lose both sides of herself, and every dream she’s ever nurtured, in the beat of a heart.

 

Purchase Links

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My Review
Amy Byler is a single mom in a small town in Pennsylvania.  She works as a teacher and librarian at a prestigious prep school.  Her time and energy is stretched very thin.  When her ex-husband reappears and wants to take the kids for the summer, Amy has the opportunity to go stay with her best friend from college in New York City.  She has a chance to rediscover the person she was when she was young and single.  This summer away changes her life.

The Overdue Life of Amy Byler is such a fun book.  There are elements of The Devil Wears Prada (a best friend who is a powerful editor of a fashion magazine), Sex and the City (single life in New York City), and also a really good rom-com (hot male librarian with a meet cute story).

Amy ends up being profiled by her friend's magazine as being on a Momspringa -- like the Amish Rumspringa, where young Amish people go off into the "English" world for a while to decide if they want to be Amish or not.  The Momspringa storyline is a hoot!  It includes a makeover, a popular spinning class, and blind dates in the city arranged by the magazine.  

The heart of the story, though, is the conflict Amy feels about her love for her children (and how much she misses them) vs. her new romance with Daniel (the hot male librarian) in NYC.   Amy wants to have it all but doesn't know how that can happen.

The writing is lots of fun!  It includes excerpts of her daughter's summer journal, Amy's first person telling of her summer adventure, and texts back and forth between Amy and her friends.  This is a lively book -- I read it over the course of a few days (in every spare moment because I wanted to get back to it!) but it would be a great vacation read.

There is an innate intelligence to the book because Amy is a librarian, her love interest is also a librarian, and there is a lot of book chat.  For instance, Amy describes her need to clear the air:  "I prefer the air a bit hazier. ... Not as thick as a Bleak House fog, but more like a Great Expectations mist" (p. 211).

Did I mention the humor in this book?  There are whole chapters that are just laugh out loud funny -- and I am not someone who usually laughs out loud!

I highly recommend The Overdue Life of Amy Byler for a beach read, a weekend read, or a perfect literary pick me up.  Five stars for summer fun!

Author Bio
Kelly Harms is an author, a mother, and a big dreamer. She lives in Madison, Wisconsin, with her sparkling son, Griffin; her fluffy dog, Scout; and her beloved Irishman, Chris. Before this midwestern life, she lived in New York, New York, and worked with many of her author-heroes as an editor at HarperCollins and then as a literary agent. When she’s not lost in a book that she’s either writing or reading, you can find her on the water, in the water, or near the water. Say hello anytime at www.kellyharms.com.

 

Connect with Kelly

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Giveaway
Win a copy of this book.  Entry through Rafflecopter below.   U.S. only.  Giveaway ends at midnight 5/30.  Winner will be contacted by email and needs to respond within 48 hours, or a new winner will be contacted.

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Book Review - Moonlight Over Manhattan by Sarah Morgan

Book Synopsis
Determined to conquer a lifetime of shyness, Harriet Knight challenges herself to do one thing a day in December that scares her, including celebrating Christmas without her family. But when dog walker Harriet meets her newest client, exuberant spaniel Madi, she adds an extra challenge to her list—dealing with Madi’s temporary dog sitter, gruff doctor Ethan Black, and their very unexpected chemistry.

Ethan thought he was used to chaos, until he met Madi—how can one tiny dog cause such mayhem? To Ethan, the solution is simple—he will pay Harriet to share his New York apartment and provide twenty-four-hour care. But there’s nothing simple about how Harriet makes him feel.

Ethan’s kisses make Harriet shine brighter than the stars over moonlit Manhattan. But when his dog-sitting duties are over and Harriet returns to her own home, will she dare to take the biggest challenge of all—letting Ethan know he has her heart for life, not just for Christmas?

 

Purchase Links

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My Review
Harriet Knight is a Manhattan dog walker.  She is a kind but timid person, and challenges herself to do one thing that scares her each day in December.   One of the things she tries is online dating.  As a result of a disastrous blind date, she escapes a restaurant through a bathroom window and turns her ankle.  When she has it checked out in a local hospital, she meets a handsome doctor named Ethan Black.  She goes home, assuming this was a one time meeting.  To Harriet's surprise, when she is called on to help with an unexpected dog walking - and pet sitting - challenge, it is at Ethan's apartment. Ethan is taking care of his sister's lovable - but destructive - spaniel named Madi.  Madi has separation anxiety and needs constant company.  That is where Harriet comes in.  As she stays at Ethan's apartment to help Madi, sparks fly, and it turns out to be a very special December for them both.

Moonlight Over Manhattan is part of Sarah Morgan's Manhattan With Love series.  I have read and reviewed several books in this series.  They are all fun reads, but I think Moonlight Over Manhattan is my favorite in the series.  I really enjoyed Harriet as a character.  She is kind and likable, and I admire the way she challenges herself to do things that make her nervous.  Ethan is also a kind hearted person.  They both love books and reading ... and there is even an adorable dog involved!   (Note for fellow dachshund friends - Harriet is fostering a dachshund for a rescue group early in the book.)

I loved the glimpses of Manhattan over the holidays, and enjoyed the wonderful descriptions in this book in general.  For instance:

"They walked along the snowy streets, their breath clouding the freezing air.  This part of Manhattan had a small, intimate feel.  Snow fell like frozen confetti, muffling street noise and carpeting the cobbled streets.  In this part of the street the trees reached across and touched each other, street lamps bathing the snow with an ethereal glow" (p. 167).

All the books in this series are feel good reads, and Moonlight Over Manhattan is no exception.  Harriet and Ethan are likable, kind, caring people whom readers will enjoy getting to know.  They are also well developed characters who have enough little quirks to be really interesting.

Moonlight Over Manhattan is a light, fun holiday read.  It is perfect to enjoy for a few evenings or over a winter weekend.  I recommend it for fans of contemporary romance, feel good reads, and holiday novels.

Author Bio
USA Today bestselling author Sarah Morgan writes lively, sexy contemporary stories for Harlequin.

Romantic Times has described her as ‘a magician with words’ and nominated her books for their Reviewer’s Choice Awards and their ‘Top Pick’ slot. In 2012 Sarah received the prestigious RITA® Award from the Romance Writers of America. She lives near London with her family..

 

Connect with Sarah

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I received a copy of this book from TLC Book Tours.

Book Spotlight and Giveaway - Mystic Summer by Hannah McKinnon

Book Synopsis
A chance run-in with a college boyfriend puts a young woman’s picture-perfect life in perspective in this warm-hearted and lyrical novel—from the author of The Lake Season.

Since finishing graduate school, Maggie Griffin has worked hard to build an enviable life in Boston. She’s an elementary school teacher in a tony Boston suburb, a devoted sister, and a loving aunt. With her childhood best friend’s wedding quickly approaching and her own relationship blossoming, this is the summer she has been waiting for.

But when Maggie’s career is suddenly in jeopardy, her life begins to unravel. Stricken, Maggie returns home to seaside Mystic, Connecticut, where she expects to find comfort in family and familiarity. Instead, she runs into Cameron Wilder, a young man from her past who has also returned home, and whose life has taken a turn that puts Maggie’s city struggles in harsh perspective. When tragedy strikes for Cameron, Maggie is faced with big decisions as she weighs what matters most and strives to stay true to the person she’s become.

Set against the gorgeous backdrop of a New England summer when past and present collide, Mystic Summer is a gorgeous novel about looking back, moving forward, and the beauty that blooms when fate intervenes.

Purchase Links

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Author Bio

Hannah McKinnon is the author of The Lake Season and Mystic Summer. She graduated from Connecticut College and the University of South Australia. She lives in Fairfield County, Connecticut, with her family, a flock of chickens, and two rescue dogs.

Connect with Hannah

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Giveaway

One lucky winner will receive a copy of Mystic Summer.  Giveaway is open to readers in U.S. and Canada, and ends on 6/24.  The winner will be notified by email, and will need to respond within 48 hours.  The author or her publicist will mail the book directly to the winner.

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Book Review and Giveaway - Sit Stay Love by Dana Mentink

Book Synopsis
Take one abrasive professional athlete, a quirky out-of-work schoolteacher, and an overweight geriatric dog, and you're ready for a lesson in love . . . Tippy style.

Pro baseball pitcher Cal Crawford is not a dog guy. When he inherits his deceased mother's elderly dog, Tippy, he's quick to call on a pet-sitting service.

Gina isn't thrilled to be a dog sitter when her aspirations lie in the classroom. Furthermore, she can't abide the unfriendly Cal, a man with all the charm of a wet towel. But with no other prospects and a deep love for all things canine, she takes the job caring for Tippy.

As Gina travels through Cal's world with Tippy in tow, she begins to see Cal in a different light. Gina longs to show Cal the God-given blessings in his life that have nothing to do with baseball or fame. When her longing blooms into attraction, Gina does her best to suppress it. But Cal is falling in love with her too . . .

Discover the charming story of Tippy, the dog who brought a family together.

Purchase a copy: http://bit.ly/1W95mqe

My Review
When I received Sit Stay Love in the mail, I scanned a photo of the cover and posted it to my Facebook page with the words:  "I think I am the target audience for this book."   The cover features a soulful, expressive dachshund face - a senior dog.  The only thing I love more than dachshunds is senior dachshunds, and the dog on the cover bears a strong resemblance to my late dachshund Lucy Ricardo.

I read this book over the weekend, and it is a perfect weekend read.   Sit Stay Love is a light romantic story about Gina, a former school teacher turned dog sitter, and Cal, a baseball player who has just lost his mother and inherited her senior dachshund, Tippy.

Despite the difference in these characters' lives, a friendship with romantic chemistry slowly develops.  This all happens because of Tippy.  Part of the story takes place in San Francisco, and part takes place on a charming rural ranch.  

Gina is a very likable protagonist who practices kindness every day and prays for people she cares about.   Although Cal initially comes off as gruff, he becomes sympathetic as readers learn about his background growing up on a ranch with his mother, aunt, and uncle.

Of course, dachshund lovers will delight in this book.  The author really captures the doxie personality perfectly, and Tippy is a star in this story.

I very highly recommend Sit Stay Love, especially as a beach read or weekend read.   It is absolutely delightful, and you will fall in love with Tippy, as I did.

Author Bio
Dana Mentink lives in California, where the weather is golden and the cheese is divine. Dana is an American Christian Fiction Writers Book of the Year finalist for romantic suspense and an award winner in the Pacific Northwest Writers Literary Contest. Her suspense novel, Betrayal in the Badlands, earned a Romantic Times Reviewer's Choice Award. Besides writing, she busies herself teaching third and fourth grade. Mostly, she loves to be home with her husband, two daughters, a dog with social anxiety problems, a chubby box turtle, and a feisty parakeet.

Website | Facebook | Twitter | Pinterest | Instagram

Giveaway
Join Dana in celebrating the release of Sit, Stay, Love with a blog tour and a Travels with Tippy prize pack giveaway!

 

One grand prize winner will receive:

• A copy of Sit, Stay, Love
• A $75 Visa cash card
• A basket filled with Tippy-themed goodies
  • Travel-themed decorator box
  • Reading dog statue
  • Dog journal
  • Poems for Dog Lovers
  • Snuggle Paws fleece blanket from Animal Rescue Site
  • Pawprint scarf
  • Doxie desk pen
  • Pupmobile auto magnet

 

Enter today by clicking the icon below. But hurry! The giveaway ends on April 25th. The winner will be announced April 26th on Dana's blog.

I received a copy of this book from Litfuse in exchange for an honest review.

Book Review and Giveaway - Girl Meets Class by Karin Gillespie

Girl Meets Class
Contemporary Women’s Fiction
Paperback: 266 pages
Publisher: Henery Press (September 8, 2015)
ISBN-13: 978-1941962855
E-Book ASIN: B00ZD1VIXO

Synopsis:

The unspooling of Toni Lee Wells’ Tiffany and Wild Turkey lifestyle begins with a trip to the Luckett County Jail drunk tank. An earlier wrist injury sidelined her pro tennis career, and now she’s trading her tennis whites for wild nights roaming the streets of Rose Hill, Georgia.

Her wealthy family finally gets fed up with her shenanigans. They cut off her monthly allowance but also make her a sweetheart deal: Get a job, keep it for a year, and you’ll receive an early inheritance. Act the fool or get fired, and you’ll lose it for good.

Toni Lee signs up for a fast-track Teacher Corps program. She hopes for an easy teaching gig, but what she gets is an assignment to Harriet Hall, a high school that churns out more thugs than scholars.

What’s a spoiled Southern belle to do when confronted with a bunch of street smart students who are determined to make her life as difficult as possible? Luckily, Carl, a handsome colleague, is willing to help her negotiate the rough teaching waters and keep her bed warm at night. But when Toni Lee gets involved with some dark dealings in the school system, she fears she might lose her new beau as well as her inheritance.

My Review

What a delightful read!  I have heard of Karin Gillespie's books for a while now, but this is the first one I've read.  It will not be the last.

I started with a little trepidation, because I usually don't enjoy books with spoiled, entitled protagonists.  That's the thing, though.  Toni Lee starts out spoiled, but she changes.  And that is the heart of this novel.

This novel has lots to enjoy:  southern charm (my home state of Georgia, no less!), a school setting (one of my favorites), and a romantic relationship with sparks and heart.  Carl is one of my favorite book boyfriends in recent reads.

And it has Toni Lee.  I loved watching this character grow and change, discovering her passion in life and love ... and I only hope this is just the first book about Toni Lee and the other characters in this book.

I really enjoyed this book and have already recommended it to friends.   I'm recommending it to you here, too.  Read it!  You are in for a treat.

About The Author –

Karin Gillespie is national bestselling author of five novels and a humor columnist for Augusta Magazine. Her nonfiction writing had been in the New York Times, The Writer Magazine and Romantic Times. She maintains a website and blog at Karingillespie.net. Sign up for her newsletter on her website, follow her on Twitter or connect with her on Facebook. 

Purchase Links

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Giveaway

One lucky winner will receive an eBook of Girl Meets Class.

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I received this book from Great Escapes Book Tour in exchange for an honest review.