Book Review: The Good Wife

By Melissa Amster

I've been keeping up with the Brennan Sisters ever since I read The Good Woman last autumn. At that time, readers were introduced to Sarah, the youngest sister, and heard about some of her marital anxieties and how they affected her relationship with her oldest sister, Meg. This time around, we get to hear more about Sarah's story and find out what the other sisters are up to in The Good Wife, the third and final novel in the Brennan Sisters trilogy.


Despite Sarah's husband's infidelity three years ago, he has remained faithful ever since. However, Sarah doesn't know whether she can trust him or not and the tension is building in their marriage as a result. In the meantime, her husband is facing changes and questions in where his career as a professional baseball player is going and Sarah is wondering if she gave up too much of herself when they got married. As her husband's career continues to affect their family, as well as Sarah's shaky trust, will their marriage become stronger than ever or is it doomed to fall apart at the seams?

After meeting Jane Porter this past spring, I got a stronger feel for her literary voice. I could almost hear Jane narrating the story out loud as I was turning the pages. She writes so genuinely and authentically that I forget I'm reading a book and feel like the characters are sitting right next to me, telling me about their joys and fears, as well as their deepest secrets. I even felt like I was right in the action at the baseball games and could practically taste the peanuts and smell the hot dogs cooking nearby. Jane's use of detail is fantastic, as always, without ever taking away from the story. The narrative and descriptions go hand-in-hand throughout.

There is another story taking place within this novel. Lauren Summer is grappling with whether she should stay and put all her money into a restaurant that isn't profiting or go back to work with her sister at the restaurant they own jointly in their hometown, where a lot of painful memories are awaiting her. In some ways, I liked this story the most out of the novel, even though some parts were heartbreaking to read. The balance of the ultimately satisfying parts made it even more worthwhile to shed some tears. However, Lauren's story overshadowed Sarah's story and pushed it in the backseat until the novel was getting close to the final 100 or so pages. Then it was Sarah's turn in the spotlight. By that time, it felt rushed. I still liked reading about Sarah, and her paranoia over her husband possibly having another affair felt so real that I almost took it on personally.

In the meantime, we also get to find out what is going on in the lives of Meg, Bree, Kit and their brother, Tommy (with Cass). I don't want to spoil anything, but I feel like some of the stories were left hanging for more novels to be written about them later, even though it doesn't sound like any more are on the horizon. I can only hope that they'll make cross-over appearances in other novels, the same way Shey Darcy from She's Gone Country appeared in The Good Daughter.

Jane Porter never fails to impress me and I hope she'll continue to write compelling contemporary romance novels like she did with the Brennan Sisters trilogy and her previous books.

Until I read The Good Wife, I had trouble coming up with a movie cast. This time around, I think I figured it out.

Movie cast suggestions for an epic Brennan Sisters film:
Sarah: Sarah Chalke
Meg: Angie Harmon
Kit: Christina Hendricks
Bree: Leslie Mann
Cass: Jennifer Morrison
Boone (Sarah's husband): Jason Lewis
Jack (Meg's husband): Jon Hamm
Lauren: Maggie Lawson

Thanks to BookSparks PR for the book in exchange for an honest review. They're giving away a copy of The Good Wife with Jane Porter's interview. (US only.)

More by Jane Porter:

Book Review and Giveaway: Blogger Girl

By Melissa Amster

**Giveaway is now closed**

Most women in chick lit novels have careers in culinary arts (especially baking), public relations, law, journalism or even cosmetology. So it's nice to come across a novel about a chick lit book blogger (even if it's not actually her career...it just seems that way). Thanks to Meredith Schorr, I've finally met my literary match.


Kimberly Long is a legal secretary by day and a chick lit book blogger by night (and usually day too, given that her boss lets her get away with blogging on the job). Her blog, "Pastel is the New Black," has become well-known, especially for the pink champagne flute rating system. So it's no surprise that her nemesis from high school would contact her, seeing that she wrote a hot new chick lit novel and is looking for reviews from popular blogs. Adding to this is anxiety over her upcoming high school reunion and stress about a guy she likes at work, who seems to have a new girl with him every day. Soon, various factors cause Kimberly to question whether running a book blog is really the high point in her professional life.

It's nice to know that someone "gets" me. This someone is Meredith Schorr, through the voice of Kimberly. This is because Meredith is not only a writer, but she also has a blog. She usually features books and authors there, especially of the indie variety. Blogger Girl is like a celebration of book bloggers. Kimberly addresses the time and effort that goes into maintaining a book blog and also the feelings of inadequacy over just being a book blogger and not even getting paid for it. Kimberly is modest about her blog the same way I am, especially around people who don't read as much. (I get that way when my husband tells people about CLC. I'm fine telling people about it if they read chick lit, but get embarrassed when people ask about it and they've never picked up a chick lit novel.) She'd have to field snarky comments about chick lit that would belittle it in some way or another and have to defend it. It's hard to explain this phenomenon, but if you get into Kimberly's head, you'll know what I'm talking about! I actually did an experiment to get into Kimberly's head in a different way. While I haven't been given a book written by a nemesis or even thought of attending my high school reunion (*sigh of relief* over both), I recently came across a video on YouTube from my senior class party. Oh, the anxiety it provoked! It allowed me to really understand how Kimberly was feeling about having to attend her reunion and face her nemesis, Hannah Marshak, again. Especially since her own sister was suddenly friends with Hannah on Facebook and telling Kimberly to read her book already.

Blogger Girl is snarky, humorous and comforting all at the same time. I love the characters (well, not the evil ones, but they're written well enough to make me want to dislike them with a passion). Kimberly's camaraderie with her closest friends is great and I enjoyed "watching" them interact. I felt like I could easily fit in with her group. I just wish that they didn't smoke pot. It didn't fit that well with the story and I don't feel all that comfortable with drug use in books (nor do I ever really appreciate when a main character smokes cigarettes). I think they could have relaxed just by drinking wine and it would have fit better with the story too. The only other concern I had was over proofreading, as I found a bunch of typos throughout the book. To balance out those issues, the story never becomes predictable. Even when I thought I had everything figured out, Meredith managed to throw in a few twists to keep me guessing.

I loved Blogger Girl and it has become another top favorite of 2013! I consider it the Girls Just Want to Have Fun of books. I love that movie and it never fails to make me smile anytime I watch it. I watched it after finishing Blogger Girl and was making comparisons between the characters and also the way I felt after watching the movie vs. reading this book. Kimberly would be Janey, Bridget would be Lynn, and Hannah would be Natalie (I could even see the actress who played Natalie in that role, had this taken place in the 1980s...which wouldn't make sense considering it's about a blog!) Having said that, I have a few movie casting suggestions for Blogger Girl.

Kimberly: Amanda Seyfried
Bridget: Ari Graynor
Nicholas: Ron Livingston
Hannah: Leighton Meester

Thanks to Meredith Schorr for the book in exchange for an honest review. She has one e-book for a lucky reader anywhere in the world!

How to win:
Tell us about your favorite book blog (aside from CLC, not that we're assuming anything here... ;) ) Share the link too!

One entry per person.

Please leave your e-mail address or a way to reach you if you win. Entries without contact information will NOT be counted.

Open worldwide. Giveaway ends September 15th at midnight EST.

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Book Review: The Very First Bite

By Jami Deise

Do you start every new year with a resolution to lose weight? Does that Lay’s potato chip “you can’t have just one” commercial speak to you personally? Does bad news send you right to sugary carbohydrates? Then curl up and spend some time with Lanie Albers, whose goal to lose 20 pounds by her high school reunion is tested by continual romantic upheavals that send her straight to the kitchen.

Lanie, the heroine of Cynthia Langston’s novel, The Very First Bite, is horrified the day she gets on the scale and sees the numbers 155 staring back at her. How did her life get so out of control? Maybe it has something to do with her non-boyfriend, Mark, who refuses to use the b-word or make a weekly date for anything. Or maybe she’s still hurting over being dumped by her best friend Candace, who abruptly disappeared on her seven years ago and never returned any calls. Or maybe she’s still hung up on high school/college boyfriend Chad, who may or may not be getting divorced.

When Lanie gets her invitation to her 15-year reunion, she realizes she has to confront all her problems. But her weight is the biggest one. Vowing to lose 20 pounds in 10 weeks, Lanie embarks on a series of bad diets – Atkins, NutriSystem, etc. – but her issues with Mark keep her bingeing. Will Lanie ever get her eating under control and lose the weight? Will Mark ever call Lanie his girlfriend? Will Lanie ever find out why Candace dumped her? Author Langston answers these and other questions in an emotionally satisfying way.

The Very First Bite is one of the most enjoyable books I’ve read this year. Langston expertly weaves together the varied subplots of her story, always keeping the focus on how Lanie’s feelings drive her actions. Lanie is an extremely relatable heroine, loving food, hating exercise, and completely at a loss at the best way to handle the non-boyfriend she loves. I also appreciated how Langston showed that losing a best friend can hurt just as much and for just as long as losing a lover.

Other than one slightly annoying coincidence at the end, Langston does a masterful job bringing everything together the night of the reunion. She avoids the usual clichés about why best friends break up, adding a twist that is subtly communicated throughout the book.

And as enjoyable the book is, another benefit of reading it is that it helps keep you on the straight and narrow with your own diet. Reading about another person’s binges – no matter how tasty she makes the pizza, donuts, and cheeseburgers sound – are a fabulous way to keep one’s own appetites in check.

The Very First Bite, a self-published novel, demonstrates how good independent authors can be. I plan on reading Langston’s first book, Bicoastal Babe, and look forward to her future work.

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Book Review: Revenge Wears Prada

Almost a decade has passed since Andy Sachs quit the job “a million girls would die for” working for Miranda Priestly at Runway magazine—a dream that turned out to be a nightmare. Andy and Emily, her former nemesis and co-assistant, have since joined forces to start a high end bridal magazine. The Plunge has quickly become required reading for the young and stylish. Now they get to call all the shots: Andy writes and travels to her heart’s content; Emily plans parties and secures advertising like a seasoned pro. Even better, Andy has met the love of her life. Max Harrison, scion of a storied media family, is confident, successful, and drop-dead gorgeous. Their wedding will be splashed across all the society pages as their friends and family gather to toast the glowing couple. Andy Sachs is on top of the world. But karma’s a bitch. The morning of her wedding, Andy can’t shake the past. And when she discovers a secret letter with crushing implications, her wedding-day jitters turn to cold dread. Andy realizes that nothing—not her husband, nor her beloved career—is as it seems. She never suspected that her efforts to build a bright new life would lead her back to the darkness she barely escaped ten years ago—and directly into the path of the devil herself... (Synopsis courtesy of Goodreads.)

Melissa Amster:

It’s been 17 years since I last set foot inside a certain well-known breakfast establishment. That’s because I was a waitress—sorry, server—there during a summer off from college. It was such a hellish experience, that I don’t wish for another cent of my money to be spent on that franchise at all whatsoever. And that was only a three-month summer job. So I can understand why Andrea (Andy) Sachs would not want to have anything to do with Miranda Priestly after a torturous YEAR of being her assistant. Unfortunately for her, she chose a career that put her right back in Miranda’s radar 10 years later in Revenge Wears Prada: The Devil Returns, Lauren Weisberger’s sequel to the ever-so-popular novel, The Devil Wears Prada.

I will admit that I was afraid to read Revenge Wears Prada because of all the slack it was getting through various reviews, whether they were at well-known publications or through personal friends. Then I saw some good reviews that were like sunlight peeking through the clouds. I kept thinking, “no two readers are alike” and decided to dive right in. You know what? I don’t get why it was receiving such slack. It was an entertaining and ultimately satisfying read. Sure, it was decadent and involved lots of name dropping and money being thrown around like it was no big deal. However, Andy stayed strong in her determination to not get sucked in to the glamorous life, even when she had a few tastes of what it was like. There were times when I would get frustrated with her because she was so set in her ways and only thinking of her grudge against Miranda. Then there were reminders of why Miranda was so awful and I suddenly was “Team Andy” all the way.

Lauren Weisberger’s use of description made me feel like I was right in every scene with Andy. I could feel the blustery autumn weather in New York City and smell the exhaust from the cabs driving on the busy streets at rush hour. I could practically taste the foods being presented at the fancy dinners and events. While the demands on Andy were different this time around, I could definitely relate to some of the stress she was experiencing, but I won’t say why as to not include spoilers.

The only things that really stood out to me as issues were the jumps in time and the title. I felt like time got pushed ahead too quickly and little moments that could have been savored were treated as quick references from a previous time. I know Lauren was trying to get to the point of the story without including as much minutiae, but she could have worked with a smaller time frame and fleshed out the moments within. As for the title, I didn’t feel like there was really any “revenge” going on. Maybe some karma, but that’s about it. Maybe it could have just been simply called The Devil Returns or Return of the Devil. Sure, they sound like horror titles, but with Lauren’s name and a cute cover attached, that concern could be eliminated right away. The one thing I wish I hadn’t done prior to reading this book was seeing the movie of The Devil Wears Prada. Not that I would have known a sequel was in sight back in 2006, but all I kept picturing were the actors and actresses from the movie. Anne Hathaway was playing Andy in my head, along with Emily Blunt as Emily. And, of course, Meryl Streep appeared quite a few times in the movie in my mind.

Overall, I liked (did you hear that, everyone...LIKED) Revenge Wears Prada. I’ve read sequels to chick lit novels before and this one definitely ranks above some of the others. If you’re looking to find out what happens to Andy 10 years after says the F-word to Miranda, I think Lauren did a good job of creating an interesting story for her.

Tracey Meyers:

After so many years of working, one is bound to run into a boss (or two) who makes their life hell and potentially leaves them with a mild case of Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD).  (I know that there are one or two that come to mind if I really think about it.)  For Andrea (Andy) Sachs, that boss is Miranda Priestly. At the end of The Devil Wears Prada, Andy thought she was done with Miranda for good.  However, little did she know that "the devil" would in fact return one day.

To say I was excited to hear about the release of Revenge Wears Prada is an understatement.  Thrilled.  Ecstatic.  That was more like it.  I couldn't wait to see what Lauren Weisberger had in store for Andy and Miranda.  My attempts to not get feedback regarding this sequel were futile.  (When you are a book blogger it's hard to remove yourself from such a thing.)  So, as you might imagine, I was saddened to hear "Revenge" wasn't as well received as one might have thought it would be, and quite frankly concerned that I wouldn't like it either.  However, with all that in mind, it didn't take me long put those fears to rest.  Yes, you heard that right!  I am going on record that I did not only LIKE Revenge Wears Prada, but in fact LOVED it!  Actually, I loved it so much, I was constantly e-mailing my BFF (who had already read the book) about it as I progressed in through the story.

From the very beginning I was sucked into this story.  Though potentially confusing for some, I loved how Lauren went from present day to flashing back to what happened over the 10 years the reader has been absent from the characters lives.  It laid the perfect foundation for the story to move forward.  Another thing I loved about this sequel is that you can see that the characters have grown, but yet stay true to the personalities that were solidified in The Devil Wears Prada.  Lastly, the detail in this book is AMAZING.  As a writer, this will serve as an example of the kind of detail I aim to use in any pieces I create.

In terms of the "revenge" aspect of the story, I'm sort of on the fence.  At first I was expecting some sort of epic events that one would see in such a movie like The Empire Strikes Back.  However, though there was revenge, it was a lot more subtle then the title would suggest.  In someways I see how Miranda did in fact get revenge on Andy and Emily. She surely sent their worlds into an unexpected direction and messed up a relationship, or two.  However, at the risk of over analyzing this story too much, I think she did Andy a HUGE favor and sent her life in a better and more satisfying direction.

Whether there was "revenge" or not, I thoroughly enjoyed this book and feel as though it would be a great autumn read.

Thanks to Simon and Schuster for the book in exchange for an honest review.

More by Lauren Weisberger:

Nicky Wells proves that happiness "rocks" and has some prizes to give away

Nicky Wells is no stranger to Chick Lit Central! In fact, Melissa A. can proudly say she has read Nicky's "Rock Star Romance" trilogy and you can now check out her review of the latest novel, Sophie's Encore, which will be available starting tomorrow!

Today, Nicky is here to tell us what makes her happy. One of them is quite obvious, given the theme of her books, but the others are a fun surprise! She also has some prizes to give away to a lucky reader anywhere in the world. The giveaway is part of her blog tour, so she will be picking the winner at the end of this month. Also, the Goodreads giveaway for Sophie's Encore is open until tomorrow for readers in the US, Canada and UK! In the meantime, you can visit her at her website, and on Facebook and Twitter. Tomorrow, September 5th, visit her at her website, Facebook and Twitter (#SophiesEncore) to celebrate the launch of Sophie's Encore! (Fun things for you to do while Melissa A. and Amy are in synagogue all day celebrating the Jewish New Year.)

Nicky Wells is your ultimate rock chick author. Signed to US Publisher, Sapphire Star Publishing, Nicky writes "Romance That Rocks Your World," featuring the rock star and the girl next door. (It's no secret that Melissa A. would prefer Jon Bon Jovi to be the cover model of Sophie's Encore, but we can't have our cake and eat it too!)

Born in Germany, Nicky moved to the United Kingdom in 1993 and currently lives in Lincoln. In a previous professional life, Nicky worked as a researcher and project manager for an international Human Resources research firm based in London and Washington, D.C. Like her leading lady, Sophie, Nicky loves listening to rock music, dancing, and eating lobsters. When she’s not writing, she’s a wife, mother, occasional knitter, and regular contributor to "The Midweek Drive" show on Lincoln’s Siren 107.3 FM. Rock on!

My Happy Hit List!

When Melissa A. asked me to write a little feature about the top five things that make me happy, I had a huge smile on my face. What a fantabulous idea! I sat down immediately to get going…and ground to a screeching halt. For, you see, writing would be very high on that list. But then you already knew that, seeing as that I write books, so I figured that would be a bit boring.

Therefore, I bring you my Top Five Things That Make Me Happy (Other Than Writing). Here goes:

1. My family and kids
There’s nothing better than to receive a big beaming smile, get a slobbering kiss or a messy hug, or to hear my children’s excited and delighted laughter, chuckles, or shouts of glee. Honestly, hearing their little happy voices when they’re playing together makes me go weak at the knees. What an honor and a privilege to raise two little monkeys. (I hasten to add… we have our not-so-Kodak-moments, too, just like everyone else).

2. Rock music

That’s hardly a surprise, but it’s true. Listening to good, melodious rock music, be it a power song or a haunting ballad, just makes me ridiculously happy. There’s something about the combination of beat and instruments and powerful vocals that just ‘does it’ for me. It has to have a good tune and some awesome lyrics, though.

3. The seaside
I need my fix of silver and blue, of sun and sand, of crashing of waves on shore or against rocks. The seaside is my go-to place when I feel down, despaired or despondent. I like to sit on a rock and just let my soul dangle—freewheel, like the seagulls—in the fresh air and glittering vistas. The eternal breathing of the surf somehow puts things in perspective and makes things right. (And now you know why Sophie runs where she runs when she…um…well, goes on the run!).

4. Food
*sighs* I love eating. Food is a definite Happy-Thing. Just imagine: a slice of crispy pizza topped with delicious, spicy pepperoni that ooooooozes juice, with lashings of melted cheese and the tickly tang of a pickled chili or three to complement the sensation… *swoons* How could you feel anything but blissed out with a treat like that? Or a succulent lobster, or a bowl of mussels in garlic, cream and white wine sauce mopped up with fresh white bread, still warm from the oven? I think you get the idea. Join me anytime!

5. Fresh bedding
Aha, this got your attention! Uh-huh, there’s nothing quite like slipping under freshly laundered, crisp blankets and duvets. Preferably after having been in the shower and having applied oodles of body lotion for that extra soft skin feeling. Oh and, let’s not forget the fresh pajamas. A perfect sense of well-being. Sleep tight!

And you know what all of this creates, right? Yes, my ultimate feel-happy scenario: The family and I by the seaside listening to rock music, eating delicious food, and climbing into freshly made-up beds. My idea of heaven. What’s yours?

Special thanks to Nicky for visiting with us today and making us smile even more than before! You'll be smiling too, if you win the following gift package:

1 x signed Sophie’s Encore Poster
2 x Sophie’s Encore Mugs
1 x Sophie’s Run Mug
1 x $10 Amazon Gift Voucher (or equivalent currency)
2 x Sophie’s Encore Key Ring
1 x Sophie’s Run Key Ring
2 x “Swag Pack” featuring 2 postcards (1 signed) each for all three Rock Star Romance books, and 2 bookmarks each for Sophie’s Turn and Sophie’s Run


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Open worldwide. Giveaway ends September 30th at midnight BST. Entrants must be 18 or over.

Book Review: Sophie's Encore

By Melissa Amster

I was first introduced to Sophie when she had to make a choice between two men in Sophie's Turn. Then I got to spend more time with her when some pieces of her life fell into place, while others were falling apart, in Sophie's Run. So I was glad to keep up with the next chapter (or many chapters, in this case) of her life in Sophie's Encore, the final installment of the "Rock Star Romance" trilogy by Nicky Wells.



It’s all change for Sophie Jones—only this time, there is more at stake than just her happiness.

Rock star extraordinaire, Dan Hunter, has been her patient and caring friend through the highs and lows since her wedding day, but now he figures it is time for her to start over. By stealth, the rock singer draws Sophie into the behind-the-scenes work for his band’s latest album. Through the days and weeks spent together at the mixing desk, Sophie discovers whole new horizons for her life, yet before she can even begin to explore them, she faces the very real threat of losing her rock star for good.

Join Sophie and Dan in Sophie’s Encore to find out how their journey will end... (Synopsis courtesy of Goodreads.)

Sophie's Encore was definitely my favorite of the trilogy. It was tighter than the previous two, for various reasons. It just flowed nicely throughout and I liked the cohesiveness that Sophie and Dan shared as best friends. I was recently talking to someone about book boyfriends and told them how Dan is my book boyfriend. (However, he looks more like a cross between Jon Bon Jovi and Gavin Rossdale in my head.) There was some travel involved throughout the story, whether it was a two-hour jaunt or other parts of the world. I enjoyed the armchair adventure appeal of it. I also enjoyed learning more about how sound is mixed behind the scenes. I even found myself thinking more in detail about songs I hear on the radio as a result. Some of the terminology was a bit over my head, but it was still very interesting. There was a lot of humor that I could relate to in the story, coming from a source that wasn't in the previous two novels. The presence of these characters added even more of an appeal for me. And best of all, there were some blush-worthy scenes. I always enjoy a book that requires a mental cigarette from my end (since I don't smoke, this is the best way to explain such scenes).

My only complaint (aside from Jon Bon Jovi not being hired as the cover model) was that the drama climaxed too soon in the story and once it was gone, it was smooth sailing the rest of the way through. Not to say the drama in the beginning wasn't awful because I even had "words" with Nicky over it. (No hard feelings though, and I got some reasons behind her choices as a result.) There was one other dramatic part, but the predictability factor squashed that intensity a bit. I guess this is just me being envious of Sophie for having it so easy after a certain point. Not everyone has a rock star for a best friend and benefits from the perks that go along with such a friendship. (I'm just talking financial ones here...really!) Of course, this is a novel and it's a fun way to escape into the decadent lives of others.

Overall, Sophie's Encore was a sweet story. It's definitely worth reading the first two books to get a feel for the connection between Sophie and Dan, but this novel is the icing on the delicious cake.  Join Sophie on the last leg of her ride and see what surprises are in store for her this time around.

Thanks to Nicky Wells for the book in exchange for an honest review. She's giving away a special prize package, which you can enter through her visit to CLC.

You can win a copy of Sophie's Encore at Goodreads.  (US, Canada and UK only. Ends September 5th...yes, tomorrow).

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Spreading cheer with Sue Margolis...plus a book giveaway

Photo from Amazon.co.uk

Introduction by Melissa Amster

Sue Margolis joined me on my honeymoon. Well...she did in book form, at least! I spent some quality time with Apocalipstick while laying on the beach or relaxing by the pool during our stay at Sandals in St. Lucia. I found myself laughing out loud and madly blushing. From that point on, I devoured her other novels, starting with what was currently available and then getting each new one as it came out. When Sue joined the online world in 2011, I could not contain my excitement over getting a chance to virtually meet this talented and entertaining writer! Seeing that I'm such a huge fan, I'm so glad to have her back at CLC and to share a copy of her latest novel, Coming Clean, with a lucky US reader (thanks to Penguin).

September is "Happiness Month" here at CLC, and Sue is helping us kick it off with a top five list of things that make her happy. You can find her at her website and on Facebook.

Sue Margolis' Top Five Happy Things:


1. Top of my list has to be my new granddaughter. I became a first time grandma in February. That was the wonderful news. The not so wonderful news is that she lives with her mum and dad in New York City while her grandfather and I are in London. So we Skype every day. Just watching her playing with her toys or having lunch in her high chair, getting mashed banana all over her face fills me with more joy than I ever thought possible.


2. Having all my kids and their other halves gathered around the dinner table laughing and joking. It doesn't happen that often now that my eldest lives in the US, but it's truly wonderful when it does.

3. Being inside, cosy and warm and drinking tea when there's a downpour outside. I love standing at an open window watching and smelling the rain. Delicious.

4. Being alone in the house during the day in my pyjamas watching a trashy movie. Luxury. It's the best way I know to unwind.

5. Friends. The older I get the more I realise how important it is to have good friends and that spending time with them is precious and to be cherished.

Special thanks to Sue for visiting with us and to Penguin for sharing Coming Clean with our readers.

Synopsis of Coming Clean:
Eleven years ago, Sophie and Greg couldn’t get enough of each other. A pair of full-time jobs and two kids later, they’re in therapy asking themselves where all the sexy times went. Sophie thinks she knows: They’re buried under Greg’s mess. And even though her slob of a husband tries to make up for his shortcomings by cooking the occasional meal, Sophie is left to clean umpteen dirty dishes.

The last straw is when Greg uses some inheritance money to buy a World War II Sherman tank, which starts World War III in their marriage.

Sophie doesn’t so much surrender as retreat—right out of the relationship. While Greg almost immediately shacks up with someone else, Sophie finds herself facing even more uncertainty due to a job reorganization. And even though she begins to lose her heart to a high school crush, Sophie starts to realize that a shiny new relationship doesn’t always offer the softest place to fall…and she may find self-acceptance and love in the place she least expects it. (Courtesy of Goodreads.)

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 September 8th at midnight EST.

Luxury Reading is also giving away a copy of Coming Clean. (US only. Ends 9/15.)