Book (Mama) Review: A Brother's Honor

By Marlene Engel

Granger Aeronautics, which was once number one as the provider of aerospace products and services, has lost a lot of clients in the past year and was in jeopardy of going under. Fifteen years prior, Sheppard Granger (one of the owners of Granger Aeronautics) was convicted of a crime that he didn’t commit. On Sutton Hill, the Granger Family estate, Sylvia Granger was found shot to death. According to authorities, her husband’s fingerprints were found on the murder weapon. Determined to run the business himself, prove his son’s innocence and raise his three teenage grandsons, Richard Granger would die fighting for the things that meant the most to him. And on his deathbed, he asked his grandsons (Jace, Caden and Dalton), who are now all grown up and each successful in their own rite, to promise him that they would not only find out what was causing their once successful company to fail, but to do it while trying to prove their father’s innocence.

Determined to bring Granger Aeronautics back to the top company that it once was would be a challenge, especially since they didn’t know who in the company they could trust. Knowing that they needed more help than they were able to do on their own, they decided to hire Shana Bradford of Bradford Crisis Management. Shana is not only great at her job, she’s also strikingly beautiful with a rule that she would never get involved with a client. But from the first day that Jace Granger met with Shana, they both knew that keeping their relationship strictly professional wasn’t going to be easy. Will working side by side, day in and day out prove too difficult for Jace and Shana? Or will they throw out the saying that mixing business with pleasure is never a good idea?

I really didn’t know what to expect when I decided to read A Brother's Honor. I’ve read several Harlequin novels, but have to admit that they’re not my first choice when choosing a book. I was very pleasantly surprised at how much I enjoyed this book. The characters were relatable, the storyline caught my attention right from the beginning and it was full of unexpected events. I was enjoying the book so much that I didn’t want it to end. To my surprise, this was book one in a series. While this book had the three brothers, it mostly followed Jace. The second book that is due out next summer follows a different brother, Caden. I am beyond excited knowing that I can continue to read about these amazing brothers. I loved this book and would definitely recommend it to others.

Thanks to McAllister PR for the book in exchange for an honest review.

Marlene Engel is the owner of Book Mama Blog, which is our sister blog. Visit her there to get to know her, read reviews, enter contests and learn about free e-books.

More by Brenda Jackson:

Book Review: Where in the OM Am I?

By Tracey Meyers

Almost five years ago I bought a yoga mat with the intent to wake-up every Saturday morning for a 8:30 AM yoga class held at my apartment building's gym.  As many of you know where good intentions typically lead, I only attended the class once.  It's not that I didn't like yoga, it was that I felt sleeping-in on a Saturday morning was more important than dragging myself out of bed to workout.  Five months ago, I attended a Monday, 7:15 AM yoga class at a gym right down the street from where I work.  Since then, yoga has become a regular part of my life and ironically a regular part of my morning routine two days a week.  AND after only a few months, I found myself wanting to attend yoga class more then twice a week and the idea of one day becoming an instructor has popped into my mind.

With the hope that this doesn't sound too cliché, getting the chance to read Where in the OM Am I? by Sara DiVello seemed like perfect timing only the universe could have arranged.  Beside having a similar educational background and professional aspirations as Sara, I also share a love of yoga and an interest in the process of becoming an instructor.  I was interested in getting an inside look into what drove her to become a yoga instructor and the journey she took to get there.

What I found when I peeked between the covers of this book was not as smooth karmic journey as you might think one's path to yoga bliss would be.  Instead, it was a bumpy road filled with ups and downs.

I really loved how Sara is candid about her experiences with yoga instructor training and trying to balance her corporate Public Relations career, as well.  I could feel how hard it was for her to balance the two worlds while the transition was taking place.  Additionally, I could also feel her struggle with taking something that was once an escape from reality and making into something she did for a living.  One of my favorite lines in the book reads, "Previously, yoga had been my place of refuge and respite.  Now, between the perpetual workshops, ensuring self-study, homework, and required class, yoga was starting to feel strangely like work."

I picked that quote specifically to point out a misconception many have about turning a hobby into a paid venture.  I believe Sara very eloquently captured the idea that in theory something that we enjoy doing would be nice to pursue as a career as long as we recognize that by doing so it will in fact at some point require work like our regular job does.

I commend Sara for leaving her established career as a Public Relations professional and pursuing her dream of becoming a yoga instructor. 

Regardless if you practice yoga or not, Where in the OM am I? is a delightful read and various themes that many can relate to. From the humorous and serious aspects of corporate life to finding the right path for oneself, the book offers up something for anyone who's ever gone on a journey of their own to find themselves.

Thanks to BookSparks PR for the book in exchange for an honest review.

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Go-to-Gay: Home and Away

Introduction by
Tracey Meyers

Recently, I traveled back to Saugatuck, Michigan for a second writing retreat hosted by bestselling author, and CLC's Go-To-Gay, Wade Rouse.

I always look forward to my trips to the southwest coast of Michigan.  Unlike the hustle and bustle of my urban jungle, the coast thrusts me into a serene setting and forces me to slow down for a few days.  Sure, I've found these hiding places in my own little bubble I call home. However, unlike my world, the slower pace of  the coast is all around you and not just in a small nook where you go to hide for an hour or two.

During my time at the retreat, I took a walk on a path located on Wade and Gary's property.  At one point, I sat in a chair located on the path, closed my eyes and concentrated on being present in the moment. When I opened them I saw a plethora of beautiful trees in front of me.  My heart beat at a calm, steady pace and I felt thankful to have found such a place to relax.

I could go on and on about why I love this small corner of the Midwest so much, but I will let Wade share his thoughts on it instead.

Home and Away

I had never been to Saugatuck and Douglas, Michigan, touted as the “Fire Island of the Midwest" and the “Art Coast of Michigan.” But, as soon as I arrived, I became “smitten with the Mitten.”

Like my grandma, I believe that everyone has a place they dream of living, a nirvana, a heaven on earth, a place where – when you reach it – you feel it resonate in your soul: I have arrived! This is where I am supposed to be.

For some, it might be a lodge in the mountains, a hut snuggled next to the Caribbean, a loft in Manhattan, a country house in Tuscany, or a log cabin in the Ozarks. And yet, the majority of us hit such dream spots only a few times in our lives, during a week’s vacation.

The first time I arrived in Saugatuck and Douglas, I instantly knew my question had been answered, because the answer resonated in my soul: I have arrived. This is where I am supposed to be.

Where I found myself was a small town – with a big asterisk.

I found myself in “Gayberry”.

That’s what I instantly termed this little area on the west coast of Michigan, this mix of Mayberry RFD, Martha’s Vineyard, and San Francisco. It wasn’t the small towns I was familiar with or similar to the ones my partner, Gary, knew. In the summer, Saugatuck has a Hamptons feel, resorters flocking from nearby cities to the nostalgic little beach town to soak up its charms, shop in outstanding art galleries, and load up with blueberries and strawberries and peaches and apples at its picturesque U-Pick farms. 

Sauagtuck-Douglas is an artists’ colony located among Lake Michigan’s towering sand dunes. The neighboring towns sit along the Kalamazoo River and the waters of Lake Michigan. 

The beaches are among the most stunning in the United States, the summer air humidity-free, the vistas breathtaking. The towns are a throwback, complete with quaint, window-boxed cottages and whitewashed Victorianesque storefronts that bustle with activity, art galleries on part with the big cities’ best, and topnotch restaurants. It has survived modernization and thwarted the flirtations of big chains, like McDonald’s, to remain a Midwestern Martha’s Vineyard, a resort area with strip malls and billboards and tackiness.

Yes, the first time I arrived in Saugatuck-Douglas, I knew I had found more than a vacation destination. 

I knew I had finally found home.

Excerpted from Wade Rouse’s bestselling memoir, At Least in the City Someone Would Hear Me Scream: Misadventures in Search of the Simple Life (©Three Rivers Press).

The writings of bestselling humorist Wade Rouse – called “wise, witty and wicked” by USA Today and the lovechild of Erma Bombeck and David Sedaris – have been featured multiple times on NBC’s Today Show as well as on Chelsea Lately on E! and People.com. His latest memoir, It’s All Relative: Two Families, Three Dogs, 34 Holidays and 50 Boxes of Wine (reviewed here) launched in paperback February 1st from Broadway, and he is creator and editor of the humorous dog anthology, I’m Not the Biggest Bitch in This Relationship: Hilarious, Heartwarming Tales about Man’s Best from America’s Favorite Humorists (NAL). The book features a Foreword by Chelsea Handler’s dog, Chunk, essays by such beloved chick lit authors as Jane Green, and 50 percent of the book’s net royalties go to the Humane Society of the United States. His first memoir, America's Boy, has been re-published by Magnus Books for paperback and Kindle. For more, visit his website, or friend him on Facebook or Twitter.

Home and Away with Kelly Harms....plus a book giveaway

Introduction by Melissa Amster

The Good Luck Girls of Shipwreck Lane....try saying that 10 times fast! This tongue-twister is the title of Kelly Harms' debut novel, which was published this week! It's about two women who share a name and live in the same town finding out that they won a dream home in Maine. But which one truly is the lucky winner? I'm reading this book now and enjoying the descriptions and dialogue. It's a fun summer read to add to your beach bag!

After meeting Kelly through The Debutante Ball (who's there along with Dana Bate and Amy Sue Nathan), I knew she'd be a great fit at CLC and am excited for you all to meet her. Since her book involves both a house and traveling, answering our "Home and Away" Q&A should be a cinch for her! Needless to say, her answers are fun and revealing! Speaking of places to live, she and I are both from the midwest, although she still lives out there, residing in Madison, Wisconsin with her toddler son.

For some lucky girls (or guys) in the US, she has THREE signed copies of her novel to give away.

You can find Kelly at her website, Facebook and Twitter.

Home:

Favorite place you liked to hang out at when you were a kid?
My childhood home is surrounded by beautiful oak trees, and some maples, and a few had conveniently toppled in a small cluster to make a perfect place for a little girl to read. It was my hundred acre wood and my adventures were just as fanciful as Pooh's.

What is your neighborhood like?
Now I live in a cute little street on the lake, lined with white 1940s cape cods with pretty windowboxes, one after another. On front porches and stoops you'll find young families, grad students, and, in one case, a feisty 80-something who won't let me do a damn thing for her no matter how I try.

What would you do on a "staycation?"
Sleep! I'm the mother of a toddler, knee deep in her debut launch. I am a full-fledged member of the walking drowsy.

Away:

What is the craziest thing that ever happened to you while traveling?
I fell in love. It happened a lot, actually. After a few times in a row it didn't seem so crazy anymore.

Have you ever been on a cruise or to an all inclusive resort? If so, what was your experience like? If not, which would you rather do?
No, I haven't! I've always dreamed of an Alaska cruise. When my toddler is old enough to enjoy it, I think that would be an excellent way to see bears and whales and blow his little mind.

Though I would like to be the sort of person who enjoys all-inclusive lazy beach vacations, I am not actually one of those people. The longest I have consecutively relaxed on a vacation (or otherwise) for is two days, and I was eight months pregnant at the time. I doubt I could replicate that experience without having another six pound parasite growing inside me.

What is a must-have when you stay at a hotel?
Room service! I was raised to believe room service was one of the most over-indulgent, wasteful things a person could choose to spend money on. It probably is. And nothing makes me feel more luxurious than sitting on a big king bed bent over a $20 burger and fries while I watch one of the gazillions of cable channels I don't let myself have at home. Three hours of Teen Mom 2 plus those tiny bottles of ketchup and mustard? Yes please!

Thanks to Kelly for visiting with us and sharing her book with our readers.

How to win: Use the Rafflecopter to enter. If you have questions on how to use it, e-mail us.

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US only. Giveaway ends July 16th at midnight EST.

Never too old to be a chick?

By Cindy Roesel

I’ve been writing book reviews for many years, including a few for CHICK LIT CENTRAL and lately have been finding myself not completely relating to the wonderful chicks in their 20s and 30s. I remember those days, but let’s just say if I HAD kids, they’d be experiencing their 20s and 30s. So I was recently talking with Melissa A. about how I wanted to start reviewing more novels about women like me. Then we started talking about the term "Chick Lit" and I wondered at what age do ladies stop being chicks?  As we talked about the labels used to identify books about women my age I learned they’re calling them HEN LIT and MATURE LIT. Take a look at Wikipedia – its’ right there – matron lit, hen lit, boomer lit! The idea that I’m a HEN or even that I’m MATURE is so far from reality! That really annoys me! I’m more girly than most girls I know! Check out my picture on Facebook. It’s recent, not touched up and I think I happen to look pretty good! Lots of us gals in our 50s look great and WE ARE NOT CLUCKING HENS! What the heck does that even mean? Fifty really is an in-between age. You’re looking ahead at what’s coming up and hopefully wiser from your past experiences. It isn’t about your looks. So isn’t CHICK LIT really a state of mind? It’s a state in MY mind, lady! You can be a chick at ANY age! I’m here to tell you that as long as you are a modern woman with sass, class and in my case, some brass, there will be room for more chickies in the nest! I LOVE CHICK LIT CENTRAL and LOVE BEING A CHICK!

Speaking of chicks, Carrie, Samantha, Miranda and Charlotte-AKA the chicks of Candace Bushnell’s novel, SEX AND THE CITY--are approaching 50-something, if they're not there already! (Samantha is the first to hit this age group.)  And in case you haven’t heard, the big buzz on the Internet is Helen Fielding is coming out with a third installment of BRIDGET JONES DIARY just as her first BJD is celebrating 16 fabulous years!

In BRIDGET JONES: MAD ABOUT THE BOY, Bridget is 50-something. It seems the novel, which hits theatres October 13th this year, already has Helen/Bridget fan’s panties all in a twist and planning parties. I haven’t read any of the galleys or advance review copies, but the chat on-line seems to be Bridget is up to her old ways, only she’s doing it in the landscape of social media! That could be a good or bad thing. But keep in mind we hear that she’s single again and she’s intimately involved with her old friend – alcohol....and she’s writing EVERYTHING down.

Of course, the book will probably eventually make it to screen. Hollywood hasn’t had a great track record of being too kind to 40-plus women either on first dates, twisting in yoga, wearing wedding dresses, whining in restaurants, traveling to Paris, London, New York or (Insert City). One may argue Sex and the City and Bridget Jones (both books) defined the modern woman for the late 1990’s. Will  BRIDGET JONES: MAD ABOUT THE BOY or E.L. James’ FIFTY SHADES OF GREY Trilogy initially define the early 21st century woman? Only time will tell....

I’m excited by a lot of the fiction I’ve been reading by chicks lately. Let me list a few novels to toss into your beach bag, along with your sunscreen.

GEODUCKS ARE FOR LOVERS, debut novel by Daisy Prescott, set in the Pacific Northwest
THE WIDOW WALTZ by Sally Koslow, about midlife reinvention
ELIZABETH the FIRST WIFE by Lian Dolan, where an ex-husband makes his ex-wife a deal she can’t refuse
THE GLASS WIVES by Amy Sue Nathan, an unexpected example of what defines family

When considering this whole chick-age relationship with her readers, I can’t think of an author who has a more seamless relationship than Claire Cook. Claire wrote her first novel at age 45 in 1995 and just came out last month with her 10th novel, TIME FLIES. What an amazing woman and author! We could only wish for a career like hers.....

Right now, while I complete the sequel to my first novel, the goal is to finish the book, so I'm not focused on any of the character's ages. We are beyond that. At this point, everyone seems to be at their perfect stage of "chickdom" and womanhood.

Book Reviews: Finding Emma and Emma's Secret

By Kathryn Hamilton

Most parents have experienced the sheer and utter panic of losing sight of their child at some point or another because little ones often don’t understand the danger in running off willy-nilly at a whim. I myself got lost in Sears at the age of three or four, when I decided to play hide and seek in the clothing racks unbeknownst to my parents. Thankfully, I was tearfully reunited with my family within a half hour. Imagine though, this occurring in your front yard, only with the added horror of realizing that your child has gone missing. This is the scenario which Steena Holmes very poignantly creates in the captivating Finding Emma and its equally engrossing sequel Emma’s Secret.

Two years after her daughter has gone missing, Megan Taylor refuses to believe that Emma is gone forever. The community has moved on, and her family is trying to move on, but Megan’s “obsession” with finding her baby girl is threatening to destroy that family. Despite pleas from husband Peter to accept that Emma won’t be returning home, Megan continues her search after a chance sighting leaves her positive that her daughter is close, but will this be the final straw?

Steena Holmes portrays every parent’s nightmare in such a way that you are sure to get drawn into the novel from page one. There is a realism to the characters that only comes from a dedication to heartfelt research. Ms. Holmes allows for enough character development so that the reader gets an understanding of what is beneath the words and behaviour of the Taylor family, without detriment to the plot. It would be easy to criticize Megan for her tunnel vision as her primary focus is on finding Emma, but Ms. Holmes writes her in such a way that one can empathize with the desperation and agony she feels, and the guilt that drives her actions. In many ways, the reader is able to see the incredible strength this woman has, but also the numerous ways she is flawed. This juxtaposition creates an honest portrait of a mother in crisis.

Although I certainly felt empathy towards Megan, I was more drawn to her daughters Hannah and Alexis. I found myself wanting to shake Megan and tell her to wake up to what was going on in front of her. My heart broke for these two young girls forced to deal with such an adult situation while both parents are seemingly disengaged. The only character that I did not feel as connected to was Peter. I felt that his role was somewhat minor and the reader wasn’t given as much foresight into his character as the others. However, this is rectified in the sequel, where there is a much greater focus on the family as a whole.

Emma’s Secret picks up a few months after the conclusion of Finding Emma. The reader gets a sense that Ms. Holmes has a real understanding of her characters and doesn’t skip a beat as their story continues. To me, at the heart of this novel in particular is the story of how a family begins to heal after a tragedy/crisis. Guilt is an emotion that many of the characters must find their way through and the ways in which this guilt manifests itself is true to who they are. Forgiveness is another theme that runs throughout the story; forgiveness of others but more importantly, forgiving yourself. Guilt and forgiveness are intertwined and Ms. Holmes does a beautiful job in showing how they can hurt a family and the integral part they have in the healing process.

As a reader, I was pleased that the character of Peter was given more of the spotlight in the sequel. We are shown a different side to him that makes him much more likable and in many ways, the hero of the story. As with Megan, Peter is also flawed, but certainly redeems himself and proves to be the rock and voice of reason.

Many children go missing every year and sadly a high percentage of these children are never reunited with their families. Ms. Holmes does an outstanding job in creating a story that is honest and heartbreaking, but also demonstrates the beauty of family coming together and healing. A portion of proceeds from the sale of these novels go towards the Missing Children Society of Canada.

Thanks to BookSparks PR for both novels in exchange for an honest review. There's also a novella from this series, Dear Jack, available for $2.99 on Kindle.

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Home and Away with Mia March...plus a book giveaway

Introduction by Melissa Amster

We are thrilled to have Mia March visiting us at CLC again this summer. I loved The Meryl Streep Movie Club (see my review from earlier this year) and am excited to visit Boothbay Harbor, Maine again through Finding Colin Firth. Between pop culture references and descriptions of an idyllic town, Mia March’s novels are definitely hot summer reads! (But any time of year works, as well!) She’s here today to answer our “Home and Away” Q&A. Given how beautifully she described the bed and breakfast and the town surrounding it (in The Meryl Streep Movie Club), this theme is a perfect fit! She could easily write a travel brochure that would lead to tons of new visitors descending upon Boothbay Harbor! And maybe…just maybe, Colin Firth and Meryl Streep will end up there in real life! Join us in wishing Mia a happy pub day!

Thanks to Gallery Books, we have THREE copies of Finding Colin Firth to give away to some lucky readers anywhere in the US and/or Canada. 

Visit Mia March at her website, Facebook and Twitter pages.

Home:

Favorite local restaurant?
A rustic lobster shack called Day’s Lobster Take-Out, on a beautiful marsh with picnic tables. Amazing lobster rolls and hand cut fries and ice cold lemonade. I take my son there too often, but how can I not?

What is your neighborhood like? 
I live in the village part of my small Maine town, full of historic early nineteenth-century houses with plaques near the front door that read: Ebeneezer Fipps House, 1822. Lots of white clapboard, including churches with huge steeples. I love walking my dog around my neighborhood and wondering about the families and stories that have passed through these old homes.

Did any celebrities (aside from yourself) go to the same school as you?
Sadly no. I would have liked for Robert Downey Jr. or Johnny Depp to have been my classmates. I would have had wild crushes on both of them.

Away:

How do you prefer to travel: plane, train or automobile?
I LOVE trains! Have to have a window seat, a good book or two, pistachio nuts, iced coffee, and no one next to me, unless that person is either very quiet or very interesting.

Have you ever been on a cruise or to an all inclusive resort? If so, what was your experience like? If not, which would you rather do?
I’ve never been on a cruise (though I’d love to some day). I have been to a couple of all inclusive resorts—once to a Club Med in the Bahamas with a boyfriend when I was 23 (the most UNromantic vacation ever; there was lots of basketball watching involved on his part). Second time was with girlfriends to the Dominican Republic. Lots of sunning, swimming, talking, and sipping fruity drinks on the beach. Now that was a great vacation.

Where is the farthest location you've ever traveled to?
Italy is the farthest (but I’ve been three times and wish I could go twice a year). Next summer I’m hoping to make it a little farther to Greece. I love traveling and am planning a fun road trip of the south west (U.S.) for August with my ten year old. We want to see cactus and red rocks and wear cowboy hats.

Special thanks to Mia for visiting with us and to Gallery Books for sharing Finding Colin Firth with our readers!

How to win: Use the Rafflecopter to enter. If you have questions on how to use it, e-mail us.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

US/Canada only. Giveaway ends July 14th at midnight EST.