#WomensFiction Archives

January 12, 2020January 13, 2020

Blog Tour (w/Review): The Little Bookshop on the Seine by Rebecca Raisin

What a charming novel! I am so grateful I had the opportunity to read it through the Harlequin Trade Publishing Romance and Women’s Fiction Winter Blog Tour

The author got right to the point – there was not a lot of pretense or beating around the bush. Sarah and Sophie swap bookshops, with Sarah arguably getting the better end of the deal because she gets to go to Paris (although Sophie has her reasons for wanting to trade places as well).

I loved how Sarah approached books, and the author’s personification of the books (Sarah could hear them sighing, felt that they whispered secrets, etc.) was relatable. Anyone who is a book lover knows that dog-earing pages and cracking spines physically hurts the book. (Not really, but book lovers understand what I mean).

I thought the author did an excellent job of charting Sarah’s relationship with Ridge, her mostly absent boyfriend. I don’t want to give anything away, but the arc was unique and did not go in the direction I thought that it would (and I was glad it didn’t).

I liked all of the secondary characters as well. I saw through Beatrice from the get-go but would love to have Oceane as a friend and guide in Paris. She was the epitome of Paris-chic.

This book read as a love letter to Paris as much as it did to books. The author took great care in describing the sights and the people of Paris, both in the narrative and through Sarah’s eyes. I particularly liked the moments where Oceane or Luiz let Sarah in on a “secret” café or boutique that had specific “rules” for entry (especially loved the antique shop).

I was in Paris with my family two summers ago. It was a brief visit, but it was enough to get a taste of the charm that is so well described in this book. I loved reading the descriptions of the alleyways and arrondissements as they brought back memories of our strolls through the streets. This was a delightful book with likable characters and a spectacular backdrop, and it shouldn’t be missed.

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Author Website
Twitter: @JaxandWillsMum
Facebook: @RebeccaRaisinAuthor
Instagram: @RebeccaRaisinWrites
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Author Bio: Rebecca Raisin is the author of several novels, including the beloved Little Paris series and the Gingerbread Café trilogy, and her short stories have been published in various anthologies and fiction magazines. You can follow Rebecca on Facebook, and at www.rebeccaraisin.com

May 20, 2019May 20, 2019

Book Review: Waisted

Society has an unhealthy focus on weight. Fashion magazines feature rail thin models and it seems like every celebrity has a fad diet that “worked for them” (yeah sure, give me unlimited time to work out and a private chef that cooks to order and I could probably look like that too!).

The pendulum seems to be swinging the other way, however, with clinically obese models now gracing the SI Swimsuit edition. Don’t get me wrong, it takes courage and I love the pride they have in themselves, but promoting an unhealthy look is wrong regardless of whether it is too skinny or too fat.

Waisted by Randy Susan Meyers dissects this abnormal focus on weight through the experiences of Daphne and Alice (and a few other women) who sign up for a reality show that is ostensibly to help them better themselves and therefore learn how to lose weight in a healthy manner. Healthy mind/healthy body and all that jazz. Unfortunately, the program is anything but healthy.

As always, no plot spoilers here. But it is definitely a book worth reading. I appreciated the contrasting family lives of Daphne and Alice, as they served to enhance the message that no matter what someone looks like on the outside, they are probably dealing with their own issues.

There were some parts that didn’t ring true to me, however. First, there were the descriptions of the women who were overweight. For example, near the beginning, Daphne weighs in at 192.08 at 5’4″. Yes, this is obese, but the sizing seemed off. Claiming that she is wearing an 18 does not seem accurate. A person who is 5’6″ and 220 generally wears a 16. Now, I know that weight is distributed differently, but it still seemed odd.

Second, I was disappointed that there was not more to the reality show/documentary plot line. It could have been a major theme, but once it (semi-)resolved itself, it seemed to be more of a mechanism to cause friction between Alice and her husband than anything else. And that didn’t have enough follow through.

In fact, the last third of the book seemed to completely switch focus. Once the women were back with their families, the whole reason for them coming together became part of the background. I appreciated that we got to see the reality of the struggle of weight loss, but I didn’t care for the sole focus on the two women – only because the whole concept of the documentary was so good, and could have carried through to the end.

I also wish there had been a little bit more closure to each of the women’s stories. The other women who were in the documentary were essentially faceless by halfway through the book, and there could have been a great counterpoint between all of them if they had remained essential characters.

Overall, however, it is an extremely sharp commentary on how women perceive themselves and how they think society perceives them. There were some good lessons to be had, and I think it would be an informative read for anyone who has ever had even the slightest worry about her weight.

Waisted by Randy Susan Meyers
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

This unflinching look at how women perceive themselves in the face of excessive weight gain is sometimes difficult to read. The author hits the nail on the head when it comes to the focus that society has on “being skinny.” I appreciated the overall message that people need to love who they are whatever weight they may be, but I wish there had been a little more focus on the “being healthy” aspect. I also wanted a better resolution to the women’s experience in Vermont. I felt that the author let that plot point go in order to focus on the self-realization of the individuals, and the end felt a rushed. There were too many times that inner dialogues stopped the action. For some more thoughts on this, visit my blog at Fireflies and Free Kicks Fiction Reviews. Thank you to Atria Books (via NetGalley) for a pre-release digital ARC.

View all my reviews

September 10, 2018September 10, 2018

BOOK REVIEW: “Petals and Stones”

Guys, this is one you don’t want to miss! The catalysts for the story are two things a woman hopes to never have to deal with in her marriage, and the main character, Uma, has to deal with them both in a short amount of time. Her journey as she deals with the emotions brought about by the events, while trying to recover and rediscover herself, is poignant but also thought-provoking. I know that it made me take a step back and answer some of the same questions Uma asked herself. Fortunately for me, my answers were different…but it definitely made me recognize some important things I had overlooked. My Goodreads review is below.

This exploration of what happens when two different life-changing events collide into one big maelstrom of emotion is hauntingly beautiful. Joanne Burn has created a story that is both reflective and thought-provoking. As Uma recovers from the one-two punch of events, she is forced to re-evaluate her life choices. Through Uma’s journey, the author explores issues such as the emphasis on image over truth in a marriage, whether something built on a lie is sustainable, and why it sometimes takes a tragedy to recognize the reality of a situation. The author also uses symbolism effectively, specifically the lighting of fires (for cooking or warmth) to illustrate Uma’s inner fire being relit. I especially liked that she used the four elements (air, fire, water, earth) as a basis for Uma’s healing: the way Uma was swept along by the breeze of her marriage (and the winds that signify change as she comes to her realizations), the previously mentioned fires, the ocean that calls to Uma and invigorates her, and the spices, stones, and flower petals that finally give her the answers she has been looking for. An excellent book that should be at the top of anyone’s TBR list! Thank you to NetGalley, Legend Press, and the author for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

September 7, 2018September 7, 2018

BOOK REVIEW: “All That Was Lost”

If you have a secret, do you have to lie in order to keep it a secret? Or is it possible to be truthful and still keep your secret? Can keeping a secret and lying about it negatively impact your well-being?

This was a fantastic book that explores these questions in an approachable and thought-provoking manner. Patrice is a well-known psychic who hires Leo to ghostwrite her autobiography. Through Patrice’s flashbacks to 1967, the reader gains insight as to her motivations. Leo has his own story that intertwines with Patrice’s, as does Louise. These three main characters’ points of view intertwine nicely without the reader feeling jarred when a perspective changes. There are a couple of minor twists, and a few major ones, but this isn’t a thriller. It’s more of a reflection on how life can throw us curveballs, how we deal with those curveballs, and how our actions can affect others. A really great read from Alison May.

(For more on this book, see my review on Goodreads!)

June 18, 2018September 7, 2018

BOOK REVIEW: “Girls’ Night Out”

What an amazing story! Based on the authors’ last book, I went in expecting another good thriller. While “Girls Night Out” certainly met that expectation, I was more intrigued by their thought-provoking analysis of long-term friendships. Anyone who has friends they’ve known for awhile will instantly be able to relate to the three main characters in this story. The authors have done a great job in layering the perspectives of Natalie, Lauren, and Ashley from both before and after “the night.” It was especially interesting that each woman had her own secrets that were revealed as the main “mystery” was unraveled. I thought the authors did a phenomenal job of illustrating the difficulties middle-aged women have when they come to a crossroads in life, and how even confiding in long-term friends can be a challenge. A definite must-read!

June 5, 2018September 7, 2018

BOOK REVIEW: “The Other Woman”

It’s so difficult to review a psychological thriller without giving away important plot points. I’m going to give it a try without giving too much away. This was one of the better books that I have read lately, but it had a few flaws. The author does a good job of making the primary villain extremely unlikable, almost too much so. At some points, I wondered why anyone would put up with someone so horrible, and not just walk away. However, I will say that that question does eventually get answered. Emily, the main character, goes through an awful lot, which is par for the course in a psychological thriller. I found her to be a little weak, but there was no particular reason given for her to be that way. In addition, the other antagonist (no name, don’t want to give it away) wasn’t fleshed out enough. I wanted more reasons for and/or examples of why and how that person was the way they were. The end reveal didn’t answer enough of those questions for me. All of that being said, it was still an enjoyable read, with a fairly tight plot. I would definitely recommend it to someone who likes the genre. I was given an advanced copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

June 3, 2018September 7, 2018

BOOK REVIEW: “Down With Love”

She had me at “Ramen. Freakin’. Noodles.”

I LOVED this book! At first glance, it seemed like it would be just another “Alpha male player finds the one woman who changes his ways” book. While that is an underlying theme, to reduce it to something that simple would be a great disservice. Max has so many more layers, as does Charlie. The journey that they take as they war with each other is both heartwarming and hugely entertaining (the quotes at the beginning of each chapter help guide the reader; I’d suggest maybe citing them if possible). Kate Meader has a way of writing that doesn’t seem as stilted as many other authors in this genre. Her characters are likable and they “spoke” in a way that was very natural; Charlie, especially, reminded me of how my friends and I talk. Meader also writes descriptively. I never highlight passages in books, but I highlighted more than a few in this one. My favorite was “…familiar doubts have a habit of dropping acid into the crevices in my self-assurance.” By using her words beautifully, (Max would be proud), she gives more life to her characters’ feelings. I will be putting Meader in my “favorite authors” list, and look forward to reading more books by her!

May 29, 2018September 25, 2018

BOOK REVIEW: “Mr. Nice Guy”

I was honestly confused by this book. From the description, I expected a more straightforward “he said/she said” story told through the competing magazine columns. That part of the story was interesting, and I think the book would have been fine if that had been it. But there was more to the story; a secondary plot about the main character, Lucas, trying to find his way in the publishing business. This became very convoluted. His boss’ backroom dealings, an odd financial benefactor and various other characters seemed to be filler. That being said, the “magazine job” angle would have been an interesting story on its own as well. What it all boils down to is that this book seemed to be a mash up of two separate books that never seemed to really entirely gel. It tried to do too much, and as a result, nothing was as gripping as it could have been.