Book Review: Totlandia Book 8...plus a special giveaway

By Melissa Amster

**Synopsis contains SPOILERS. This is the last book in an eight-part episodic series. Each book completes a story arc, but it includes a series cliffhanger that connects Books 1-4; And then Books 5-8.**

The final book of the series is filled with surprising conclusions for the Pacific Heights parents you’ve come to love—and the one you love to hate:

Stress from the club and motherhood puts Lorna into a tailspin that threatens her life. Will Matthew make the right choice for her and their children?

Jade’s past puts her career and her marriage to Reggie in jeopardy;

And in the hope of salvaging her friendship with Jillian, Ally makes a decision that will affect their lives forever. But can it also save her relationship with Brady?

Finally: when Art’s funeral fails to end Bettina’s personal purgatory in San Francisco’s social circles, her new puts her back on top—but her successes come at a high price: the love and acceptance of those she loves most.

Welcome to Totlandia's summer of love, lust, temptation, and redemption. (Courtesy of Amazon.)

The wild ride has, sadly, come to an end. However, the last book is filled with some interesting surprises and wraps up the series nicely. As you may already know, I was completely hooked on Totlandia from book one. Each book is just the right length...not too long, not too short. They all packed a satisfying punch and quenched my thirst for gossip, scandal, revenge, steamy bedroom action, etc. There was an underlying theme of friendship throughout, as well. I even felt a kinship with the main characters. That includes Bettina, believe it or not!

I can't say too much as to not spoil anything, but if you're into a story with a telenovela feel or you just want something sexy and snarky (yes, a book series about motherhood has some NC-17 material...what else do you expect from Josie Brown?!?), give this series a try. You can take a break between books, or just devour them all at once; whatever works for your reading schedule! They're addictive though!

I hope Josie will revisit the moms of Pacific Heights in the future, maybe for a reunion series, or even a longer book that tells us where they are now. I have a feeling their stories are not over!

Thanks to Josie for the book in exchange for an honest review. She has TWO sets of the first four e-books (known as The Onesies) for some lucky readers!

My reviews for The Onesies:
Book 1: Fall
Book 2: Winter
Book 3: Spring
Book 4: Summer

My reviews for The Twosies:
Book 5: Fall
Book 6: Winter
Book 7: Spring

How to win: Use Rafflecopter to enter the giveaway. If you have any questions, feel free to contact us. If you have trouble using Rafflecopter on our blog, enter the giveaway here. 

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Giveaway ends January 22nd at midnight EST.

Book Review: Totlandia (The Twosies, Book 5: Fall)...plus a special giveaway

By Melissa Amster

I have been a fan of Josie Brown's Totlandia series for the past year or two, so I was excited to start a new chapter in the lives of Lorna, Ally, Jade, and Jillian with the Twosies, picking up where the Onesies left off. (Please note that there are spoilers for the Onesies, but you'll have a chance to win those books if you scroll down.)

When Bettina Cross is faced with having to share the leadership of her beloved Pacific Heights Moms and Tots Club with her sister-in-law, Lorna Connaught, she plays dirty—only to discover that her actions have aligned her two true enemies: Kimberley Savitch, and Kelly Overton.

Bettina’s problems are compounded when Daniel Warwick, a Department of Justice prosecutor, wants to use her as bait to trap her soon-to-be ex, Art, into coming home and answering to long list of fraud charges. The fact that Art has scammed most of San Francisco’s wealthiest families has Bettina fighting desperately to preserve her most priceless possession: her social standing.

When Brady lines up venture capital funding for Life of Pie, Ally must tamp down his gung-ho power ranger tendencies, while at the same time shore up Jillian’s insecurities that her pies won’t live up to Brady’s promises.

And now that the once homeless Reggie is teaching the complete works of Shakespeare to UC Berkeley undergrads, Jade struggles with her fear that she’s competing for his affections with his younger, more beautiful students.

Finally, an unexpected tragedy puts Jillian in the middle of her ex's life again—with consequences that will affect her future and those of her twins—forever.

The leaves are falling, and there’s a bitter chill in the air—but Mother Nature has nothing to do with it. Blame it on human nature—in this case, Pacific Heights parents behaving badly. (Synopsis courtesy of Amazon.)

Since the last time I read a Totlandia book, I started watching Jane the Virgin. While reading Book Five, I was reminded of this much-loved TV series. Both have lots of scandals and secrets, people you can't trust, romantic entanglements, backstabbing, sex, and humor. I could easily see the narrator of Jane the Virgin having a field day with Totlandia.

It was interesting to see Bettina taken down a few pegs. I felt sorry for her sometimes and thought of Mrs. Perfect by Jane Porter, where the stuck-up character becomes the likable one after a set of circumstances occur beyond her control. Even so, Bettina has a ways to go, as she's still materialistic and snobby. It was nice to see her vulnerable side though.

I was also glad to see that an aspect of Book Four was toned down in Book Five. It was still prevalent, but more talk than action, which I appreciated this time around.

Book Five has even more scandal and betrayal, along with some new and exciting twists. There was only one part that was predictable and that was something minor and funny, which goes to show that Josie will pull out a lot of game changers when we least expect them. I am already eager to read Book Six!

A while ago, I asked Josie to cast some of the lead characters in the Totlandia series. While I agree with Jennifer Garner as Bettina, I could also see Laura Ramsey from Hindsight in this role. I have some other ideas up my sleeve, as well.

Ally: Monica Potter (after watching Parenthood for a while, this was an easy choice.)
Kimberley: Bridget Regan (She plays Rose on Jane the Virgin.)
Jillian: Ellie Kemper (Kimmy Schmidt)
Jade: Brooklyn Decker
Brady: Reid Scott 
Lorna: Jenna Fischer or Lake Bell

Thanks to Josie Brown for the book in exchange for an honest review. She has an e-book set of the Onesies (Books 1-4) for a lucky reader anywhere in the world!

See my reviews for the Onesies:
Book 1: Fall
Book 2: Winter
Book 3: Spring
Book 4: Summer


How to win: Use Rafflecopter to enter the giveaway. If you have any questions, feel free to contact us. If you have trouble using Rafflecopter on our blog, enter the giveaway here. 

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Open worldwide. Giveaway ends December 1st at midnight EST.

Book Review and Giveaway: Totlandia, the Onesies (Book Four)

By Melissa Amster

Time to bring out the sunscreen, your favorite bathing suit and some beach reads. Don't forget some ice cold lemonade because it's HOT outside! At least, it's sizzling in Pacific Heights where tensions are heating up for Jade, Lorna, Ally, Jillian and, of course, Bettina. They're back in Totlandia, the Onesies (Book IV: Summer).

As summer sizzles in Totlandia, emotions boil over for the newest members of Pacific Heights Moms & Tots Club, whose trust in each other is sorely tempted by Bettina and her club politics.

When Jillian's vindictive joke backfires, she learns the true meaning of forgiveness.

Jade’s betrayal puts her in a dangerous downward spiral with no bottom in sight—until she finds friendship and redemption where she least expects it.

Lorna faces the biggest trial in her marriage, and makes an important decision that may end it for good.

While Ally may regret the choices she made to get accepted in the club, her exile puts new opportunities in her path, thanks to Brady and his ceaseless desire to win her over—with Barry's help, who is playing his own little game with the Top Moms Committee.

But it's Bettina who suffers the ultimate punishment—one that changes her life, and the livelihood of the club, forever. (Synopsis courtesy of Goodreads.)

Let me tell you, the fourth book in this scandalous series was eagerly awaited and long overdue. Yes...we had to wait for winter to read about summer! Even so, it's nice to live vicariously through someone toasting in the sun while we're freezing our toes off! I missed the ladies of the Pacific Heights Moms & Tots Club, so it was like catching up on a TV series after it came back from hiatus. I just wish there was something at the beginning to tell me where we last left off. Josie Brown does a good enough job bringing in snippets from the previous books in the series, but I still felt like some things were foggy. A recap would have helped.

I enjoyed seeing what the women were up to this time around. Would there be more backstabbing and betrayal? Would anyone get the happy ending they deserved...or receive a hearty helping of karma? Book Four was just as funny and entertaining as the previous three, with perfect levels of snarkiness and irony. I enjoyed the revenge fantasies, as well. Some were down right delicious! It was nice seeing the characters get what was coming to them, either good or bad, depending on their role in the story. I would have liked to see a certain character in particular get more of what was coming to them, but maybe that will happen in "The Twosies."

While Josie is great at writing a steamy romantic scene that requires a "cigarette" after reading it, some parts of this novel bordered on Fifty Shades of Grey levels of erotic. Maybe I'm a prude, but it felt like a bit too much for me. I just wish there had been a warning about it. I know there was some scenes leading up to it from Book Three, but they didn't seem as "in your face" as they were this time around. I'm just glad my kids weren't reading over my shoulder or I would have had some explaining to do. Just know that you're in for a wild ride!

Overall, I'm glad I had the opportunity to read this series, as it definitely filled the place in my life that was abandoned by Desperate Housewives and 90210. I am excited to share that Coliloquy has one e-book set of all four books to share with a lucky reader anywhere in the world. (I also want to thank them for sharing this series with me!)

How to win:
Since PHM&TC is like a high school clique, tell us about a time you saw an adult acting like a kid (of any age).

One entry per person.

Please include an e-mail address or another way to reach you if you win. Entries without contact information will NOT be counted.


Worldwide. Giveaway ends December 23rd at midnight EST.

More by Josie Brown:

Book Review & Giveaway: Totlandia (The Onesies, Book Three)

By Melissa Amster

**Giveaway is now closed**

This past autumn, my best friend and I were walking around Georgetown and found a pie shop. My best friend loves baking pies and is so good at it too. We decided right then and there that "pie is the new cupcake!" So when one of the characters in Totlandia: The Onesies (book three) said the exact same thing, I immediately e-mailed my best friend to tell her. It makes me wonder if Josie Brown is spying on our conversations. After all, her characters are good at espionage....

Spring comes in like a lamb as the exclusive Pacific Heights Moms & Tots Club welcomes its newest members. But that tranquility belies a storm brewing, as new tensions and old rivalries come to a head.

The surviving moms are ready to reap the rewards of membership, but none of them counted on club founder, Bettina Connaught Cross, needing a pick-me-up from a bitter betrayal. While lesser women might cry into their pillows, Bettina finds comfort in exerting control over her domain.

With Bettina on a rampage, the new Onesies are trying to stay out of sight long enough to deal with their own issues: Lorna wants to tell her family about Dante’s autism, but keeping it on her own terms could be difficult when her hippie mom and socialite mother-in-law meet for the first time. Jillian fights to regain her financial footing and confront her own insecurities, finding comfort in an unexpected place. And Ally can’t bear the thought of hurting Jade, so she continues to bury her feelings for Brady. But when another desperate housewife stirs the mix, Jade could become a pawn in an even more devious game.

It’s no ordinary spring in Totlandia, as emotions build to a fury and end with a roar. (Synopsis courtesy of Amazon.)

Just when I was running out of some good scandalous reading material, Josie Brown is back and she brings it with even more intensity. Who will stab someone in the back first? Who knows something that the others don't? Who is in for a big shock? All will be answered and there will still be a cliffhanger in the end! It's a real page turner...kind of like having a marathon of Desperate Housewives or 90210 (but you could replace these with Revenge, Gossip Girl, or a number of other shows involving sex and scandal.) There's an expectation at this point that you've already read the first two books. Josie doesn't give as much back story as other books in a series would do. I don't mind this because that just takes up space and you really SHOULD read this series in order. It's meant for people who are already familiar with the characters and plot lines. Even so, there's an ease to the story where you don't feel like you're missing out if this is the first book you've read. (Kind of like jumping into the middle of a TV show halfway through the series.) However, the suspense will be gone if you read this before you read the other two. If that's the case and you want to know what you're missing out on before delving in, please read my previous spoiler-free reviews for the series.

Once again, Josie Brown does a great job reminding me why I'm so happy with my own community, considering the number of judgmental and snooty back-stabbers that the newest members of the "Onesies" have to deal with! Now I'm going to layer on the sunscreen to get ready for the summer heat, of both the weather and scandal variety.

Thanks to Coliloquy for the e-book in exchange for an honest review. They have THREE e-books of Totlandia: The Onesies (book three) to share with some lucky readers worldwide!

Mark your calendars for THIS Tuesday night (10 pm EST/7 pm PST) for a special Twitter party where you can win Totlandia e-books! Use #Totlandia and @JosieBrownCA to join in on the fun!

How to win Totlandia: The Onesies (Book three):
Let's talk about spring! Tell us anything you want about the upcoming season (which will hopefully be here soon if the groundhog is right)....favorite things about it, what you're looking forward to most, what it makes you think about, etc. Let's bring some May flowers to CLC while it's still freezing in February!

One entry per person.

Please include your e-mail address or another way to reach you if you win.

Giveaway ends February 24th at midnight EST

Book Review: Totlandia (The Onesies, Book Two)

By Melissa Amster

Bundle up in your coat and boots (and designer scarves, of course) because winter has come to Pacific Heights. The weather may be a perfect 70 degrees, but the chill in the air is unmistakable. Especially since there's still a mom (and tot) to eliminate from The Pacific Heights Moms & Tots Club "Onesies" division....

Josie Brown keeps us riveted to the stories of Ally, Jade (along with Brady), Jillian and Lorna in Totlandia: The Onesies (book two).

In this second book of the Totlandia series, five mommies are just one misstep away from entry into the elite Pacific Heights Moms & Tots Club. Everyone has a scandalous secret to hide, but who will be the next to fall?

As the club's founder, Bettina, ratchets up the stress level with a series of holiday-themed challenges, the cracks begin to show. Jade's past catches up to her in the most unlikely of settings. Jillian's struggles to make ends meet are complicated by Bettina's demands. Ally's work and home lives collide, threatening to expose all of her secrets. And Lorna's already fraying family ties are torn to shreds by a series of devastating events.

With just four spots remaining, will the five remaining ladies turn cutthroat? Or will their newfound friendships be strong enough to help them band together? (Synopsis courtesy of Amazon.)

I like how some loose ends from book one were tied up in book two, while still leaving enough suspense to carry us into book three. While some parts seemed a bit exaggerated, I enjoyed being "sucked in" to the drama and couldn't tear my eyes away. Josie is telling me that book three won't be out until around Valentine's Day, but I have no idea how I'll make it until then. Everything I said I loved about book one (see review) still applies to book two. If it's even possible for Bettina to be more awful than she was in book one, the proof is in the (Christmas) pudding! Josie makes it easy for readers to completely hate Bettina and want to see her taken down a few pegs.

I was watching a recent episode of 90210 where Naomi was trying to be part of an exclusive West Beverly alumni women's club and there were all these hoops to jump through. The woman running the program, played by Denise Richards, was totally like Bettina...all stuck up and judgmental. It brought up a similar point to one that was brought up in Totlandia...is it really worth potentially ruining ones' life, just to be part of an exclusive club? In any case, it's still entertaining to see the lengths these women will go to in order to secure their membership...especially when their deepest secrets start bubbling to the surface.

Bravo to Josie, once again! (And hurry up Valentine's Day!)

Thanks to Coliloquy for the e-book in exchange for an honest review.

More by Josie Brown:

Book Review: Totlandia (The Onesies, Book One)

By Melissa Amster

As many of you may know already, I am a mother of three children ages seven and under. So I flock to mom-lit whenever possible. When I found out that Josie Brown was coming out with a new series about motherhood, my ears immediately perked up. Not only is Josie a fantastic writer, but she's also choosing a subject of interest to me. The best part is, with the story being set into four parts, the books are "bite-size" and easy to read in a short period of time between chasing a toddler and trying to keep my older two from ripping each other's hair out.

The Pacific Heights Moms & Tots Club is the most exclusive children’s playgroup in all of San Francisco. For the city’s ultra-competitive elite, the club’s ten annual spots are the ultimate parenting prize.

But not everyone is PHM&TC material. The club’s founder, Bettina Connaught Cross, adheres to strict membership rules: Moms only. No single parents or working mothers allowed. Membership is an arduous commitment. And there’s no room in the club for scandal, bad behavior, or imperfection…from tots or their moms.

In a world of power and prestige, no one has more than Bettina. And as every mom in Pacific Heights knows, you simply cannot cross her. But this year’s admissions process is more rigorous than ever, pitting prospective members against each other to prove their mettle.

But four of the six candidates vying for the remaining four slots have a secret that would knock them out of the running. Can these hopeful moms keep up appearances long enough to outlast the competition? Or will their chances—and their private lives—go up in flames?

Friendship. Lies. Seduction. Betrayal. Welcome to Totlandia. (Shortened synopsis, courtesy of Amazon.)

Totlandia: The Onesies (book one) starts out with a bang....or at least a struggle over a diaper between an adult and a young child, no less! (A bratty one, at that!) Gradually, we are introduced to all the major players in the story:

Lorna is the mother of Dante, the new favorite grandchild of her mother-in-law. Her sister-in-law, Bettina, runs the PHM&TC and is like the evil sorority sister you never want to come up against. (The club really is like a sorority where both the mothers and their children are being judged over every action.)

Jillian, Ally, and Jade (and her ex-husband, Brady) are in the same boat as Lorna, fighting for a spot in the exclusive club, but becoming friends at the same time. However, they all have secrets they hope will not come out or their chances at membership will be ruined. I don't want to spoil all the interesting surprises in store and book one is short enough that you find out each of their secrets by the end.

Josie Brown writes Totlandia with her usual storytelling flair. The dialogue is smooth and flowing. The characters are easy to side with or become angry with, depending on each situation. The scenery is easy to visualize. And we musn't forget all the sex (blushworthy, at that) and scandal that is a staple of a true Josie Brown novel. Totlandia: The Onesies (book one) kept me entertained and on my toes the entire time. It showed that there are mothers who are human and sometimes screw up even with the best intentions at hand. Lorna, Jillian and Ally are very easy to sympathize with. I'm still warming up to Jade. And I'm dying to know who Madame Ovary is. There's only one decision a character makes that I don't agree with so far, but I hope it gets resolved in book two. All in all, it's like a soap opera for mommies. Guilty pleasure, anyone?!? I look forward to reading book two next and will share my thoughts on that one, as well!

Thanks to Coliloquy for the e-book in exchange for an honest review. BOOK ONE is currently FREE for Kindle, but only for today! We'll be giving away e-books of BOOK TWO when Josie visits CLC.