Book Review: I’ve Got Your Number by Sophie Kinsella

I've Got Your Number: A Novel


Title:  I’ve Got Your Number 
Author:  Sophie Kinsella 
Reading level: Adult
Genre:  Chick Lit
Size:  448 pages
Release Date:  Feb. 14th 2012 
Publisher: Random House
Stand Alone or Series: Stand alone
Source: NetGalley

First Line:  "Perspective. I need to get perspective."

Summary (from GoodReads):

I've lost it. The only thing in the world I wasn't supposed to lose. My engagement ring. It's been in Magnus's family for three generations. And now, the very same day his parents are coming, I've lost it. The very same day. Do not hyperventilate Poppy. Stay positive!!

Poppy Wyatt has never felt luckier. She is about to marry the ideal man, Magnus Tavish, but in one afternoon her 'happy ever after' begins to fall apart. Not only has she lost her engagement ring but in the panic that followed, she has now lost her phone. As she paces shakily round the hotel foyer she spots an abandoned phone in a bin. Finders keepers! Now she can leave a number for the hotel to contact her when they find her ring. Perfect!

Well, perfect except the phone's owner, businessman Sam Roxton doesn't agree. He wants his phone back and doesn't appreciate Poppy reading all his messages and wading into his personal life.

What ensues is a hilarious and unpredictable turn of events as Poppy and Sam increasingly upend each other's lives through emails and text messages. As Poppy juggles wedding preparations, mysterious phone calls and hiding her left hand from Magnus and his parents... she soon realises that she is in for the biggest surprise of her life.

Favorite Quotes from the Book:


:)


<3


I can't think about it for too long, because I get all upset and panicky, so I allow myself only a tiny snippet of worry at a time. I've had my quota for this evening.


Sam pauses, right behind me.  there's an unbearable fragile beat as I wait for him to shatter the quiet.  But it's as though he feels the same way. He says nothing. All I can hear is the gentle sound of his breathing. Slowly his arms wrap around me from behind.

My Thoughts:


This was my first Sophie Kinsella read and I was absolutely charmed from the very first page.  The character of Poppy Wyatt is one that I feel most women can easily relate to.  She's flawed and insecure yet impulsive and mouthy at at once.  The author does an amazing job of capturing the realities of what we all think and feel at one time in our lives or another and imbuing Poppy with those emotions!


The supporting cast are also a pleasant surprise running the gambit from a less that ideal fiance and in-laws, to the assortment of friends...some true...some not so true.  And the pace of the novel is perfect... keeping things moving along while peppering in moments of hilarity, reality, uncomfortability, and incredible sweetness. I was laughing non stop and enjoyed every minute.

The budding romance that develops of all things via text messages between Poppy and Sam was incredibly sweet and somehow believable.  I think I fell a little in love with him myself as I felt so much like Poppy while reading this!


The only downside for me were the footnotes...not that I didn't enjoy reading them, but it was a bit difficult toggling back and forth on an e-reader.  With a print copy though I feel they'd only enhance the read.


This was an amazing delightful read that I stayed up way past my bedtime to finish and when I did I was left with only one question...  


Why in the world did I wait so long to read Sophie Kinsella??

Was it worth my Time? 

Teaser Tuesdays - The Book of Lost Fragrances by MJ Rose

Teaser Tuesdays is a weekly bookish meme, hosted by MizB of Should Be Reading. Anyone can play along! Just do the following:

• Grab your current read
• Open to a random page
• Share two (2) “teaser” sentences from somewhere on that page
• BE CAREFUL NOT TO INCLUDE SPOILERS! (make sure that what you share doesn’t give too much away! You don’t want to ruin the book for others!)
• Share the title & author, too, so that other TT participants can add the book to their TBR Lists if they like your teasers!

Summary from Goodreads:

A sweeping and suspenseful tale of secrets, intrigue, and lovers separated by time, all connected through the mystical qualities of a perfume created in the days of Cleopatra—and lost for 2,000 years. 

Jac L’Etoile has always been haunted by the past, her memories infused with the exotic scents that she grew up surrounded by as the heir to a storied French perfume company. In order to flee the pain of those remembrances—and of her mother’s suicide—she moves to America, leaving the company in the hands of her brother Robbie. But when Robbie hints at an earth-shattering discovery in the family archives and then suddenly goes missing—leaving a dead body in his wake—Jac is plunged into a world she thought she’d left behind. 

Back in Paris to investigate her brother’s disappearance, Jac discovers a secret the House of L’Etoile has been hiding since 1799: a scent that unlocks the mysteries of reincarnation. The Book of Lost Fragrances fuses history, passion, and suspense, moving from Cleopatra’s Egypt and the terrors of revolutionary France to Tibet’s battle with China and the glamour of modern-day Paris. Jac’s quest for the ancient perfume someone is willing to kill for becomes the key to understanding her own troubled past.the ancient perfume someone is willing to kill for becomes the key to understanding her own troubled past

Teaser:

"Two hundred people were killed in the last two weeks. And we have all the blood on our hands.” - pg 56*

 What's your teaser today?




*Quote taken from an ARC and subject to change

Book Excerpt & Giveaway: Destined to Fail by Samantha March

The Book:

Jasmine Jones is ready to begin her new life as a college student, and is ecstatic to have best friend Abby by her side. But weeks into their new college life, Abby drops the bomb- she is pregnant, and dropping out of college. Jasmine can’t handle the fact that Abby is wasting her opportunity to get an education, and going back to her cheating, abusive boyfriend. She struggles to move on from her friendship with Abby, but befriends two new girls at college. Everything seems back on track for Jasmine- great new friendships and roommates, a strong relationship with boyfriend Nate, and excelling at her college courses. But Jasmine’s newfound happiness is shattered when her pregnancy test comes out positive. Does she have to drop out of college now and become a young mother? Will Nate stay with her? How can she afford a child? Jasmine’s life has been filled with obstacles and challenges along the way- from a missing father, sexual and physical abuse, and addictions that tore her family apart. With this latest setback, Jasmine fears her life will always be a struggle. Destined to Fail is one woman’s story about overcoming adversity in life, about taking the negatives and finding a positive, and about never giving up hope.

An Excerpt:

Splat. Vomit hit the water in the toilet, landing with a sickening sound, splashing tiny droplets back up towards my face. I tried to lift my head farther from the stool, but my body felt so weak it didn’t want to respond. I threw up until I was retching, heaving noises coming from somewhere deep in my stomach. Tears rolled down my cheeks and landed in the tainted toilet water.

I had thrown up almost every day for the past three weeks. Maybe longer, I was starting to lose track. I got sick mostly in the mornings, sometimes throughout the day, and even at nights. Certain smells seemed to trigger the virus––eggs Cari cooked in the morning or the cheap frozen steak meal Kiley frequented. The worst part of being sick was the body exhaustion and dizziness. Those symptoms made it hard to go to class and I had been missing more days than usual.

I also started my new job just two weeks prior, working in the Activities Center. John’s friend Logan had put in a good word for me and I was overjoyed to be working on campus. But I had to ask Logan to cover for me twice because I was too sick to go in. That couldn’t keep happening.

I had gone to the doctor after I missed the first day of work. My unfamiliar Des Moines doctor checked my throat and questioned my eating patterns, and sent me off with a prescription to help ease the symptoms of a particularly nasty flu virus that was going around school campuses and daycares. Swallowing horse pills twice a day did nothing to help.

Now I was alone in my college apartment on a Thursday night. Cari left for a house party and Kiley had gone back to her hometown to introduce John to her parents. After I finished vomiting, I leaned back against the bathroom wall, the cold tiles sending goosebumps down my arms. Sweat dripped down my temples, running a river down my chin. I didn’t even sweat that much when I worked out. I grabbed a towel and dabbed at my forehead, willing myself to take deep breaths. I knew what I had to do.

The Author:

Samantha March fell in love with books at a young age. Thanks to her mother and grandmother, both avid readers, Samantha followed in their footsteps. Field trips to the library highlighted her week, and she went on to do volunteer work at her local library while in middle school. Her early works closely resembled characters from The Baby-Sitters Club and Mary-Kate and Ashley Olsen movies. In high school, Samantha excelled in writing courses and even the mundane tasks of writing history papers. 

A slew of real work wake-up calls caused Samantha to shelve her dream of becoming an author. She took what she considered the practical route and enrolled in a business college in Des Moines, Iowa, where she graduated with honors in 2009. But her thoughts of writing never dissolved. In October of 2009, Samantha started the book blog ChickLitPlus.com. From her small blog, Samantha met fellow readers and writers who pushed her to continue her goal of becoming published. 

Destined to Fail is the debut novel from Samantha March, and will be published by Marching Ink in November 2011. Samantha currently lives in West Des Moines, IA with her boyfriend and jumbled cast of friends who help inspire her writing. Besides reading, writing, and ChickLitPlus responsibilities, Samantha enjoys sports- especially the Green Bay Packers and Chicago Cubs- and will never refuse ice cream.

Find Samantha: Website | Twitter | Facebook

Find Keeper of my Heart: Goodreads | Amazon | BN 

The Giveaway:

A Destined to Fail E-book is up for grabs!

Cover Reveal: LUMINOSITY by Stephanie Thomas

LUMINOSITY (Luminosity, #1) by Stephanie Thomas 

Release date:  September 11, 2012

Blurb:

"My name is Beatrice. When I was born, I was blessed with the Sight. I was
immediately removed from my parents and enrolled in the Institution. At
the age of twelve, I had my first true vision, earning my raven’s wings.
And when I turned seventeen, one of my visions came true. Things haven’t
been the same since.

The Institution depends on me to keep the City safe from our enemy, the
Dreamcatchers, but I’m finding it harder to do while keeping a secret from
everyone, including my best friend Gabe. It is a secret that could put us
all in danger. A secret that could kill me and everyone close to me.

But the enemy has been coming to me in my dreams, and I think I’m falling
in love with him. He says they’re coming. He says they’re angry. And I
think I’ve already helped them win."

Paperback Available for Pre-Order from Amazon Here

Add to your Goodreads TBR Here

Check out Stephanie Thomas Here

In My Mailbox - 2/26/12

In My Mailbox is a weekly meme created by The Story Siren to share whatever books and bookish goodies that you've bought, borrowed, won, or been gifted and have thus entered your home the previous week. You can show off books that you are excited about and it's also a great opportunity to showcase books that you may not actually have the time to read or review.

Added to my Bookshelf for Pleasure:

Hardcover of Supernaturally – Kiersten White (Oops-I’d best get myself a copy of Paranormalcy now!)Paperback of Minding Frankie – Maeve BinchyMovie Tie-in Paperback of The Woman in Black – Susan Hill 

Paperback of Swamplandia! – Karen Russell

Paperback of The Revenge of the Radioactive Lady – Elizabeth Stuckey-French

Paperback of A Visit from the Goon Squad – Jennifer Egan

Paperback of I Remember Nothing – Nora EphronPaperback of To The End of the Land – David GrossmanPaperback of Lord of Misrule – Jaimy Gordon

Added to my Bookshelf for Review:

 Boardbook God Gave Us Love – Lisa Tawn Bergren

Book Review: The Sneezy Wheezy Day by Sharon Cramer

Cougar Cub Tales:The Sneezy Wheezy Day


Title:  The Sneezy Wheezy Day 
Author & Illustrator:  Sharon Cramer 
Reading level: Children’s
Size: 41 Pages 
Release Date:  January 2012 
Publisher: B&F Publishing
Stand Alone or Series: One of the Cougar Cub Tales 
Source: NetGalley

First Line:  "The cougar cub siblings were sister and brother, who lived in their den by the edge of the hills."

Summary:

Brother Cougar Cub is ill. With the help of sister, they seek the advice of their well intentioned forest friends. The Grizzly Old Bear tells him, The reason you’re warm is you have too much hair. Best if you trim it as short as you dare. But, could it be that SISTER finally discovers the best remedy? The Sneezy Wheezy Day is a wonderful tale that will delight and challenge your child, but it is the paintings that will capture you and your young readers! Make sure to have your child search for the small, hidden creature on each page!

My Thoughts:

This is an adorably cute book which captivates not only with it’s rhyming verse but mostly with it’s incredibly vivid watercolor pictures.  The two sibling are on a quest to find a cure for the ill brother cub.  They meet a host of wonderful animals and get all kinds of advice before returning home and finding that sister cub had the solution all along.

My only curiosity throughout was: where is Mama bear?  However every time I’d flip the page and see another gorgeous illustration I’d be captivated all over again.

Was it worth my Time? 

Guest Post & Giveaway: Darcy Flynn, Author of Keeper of My Heart

Today I am happy to welcome Darcy Flynn, author of Keeper of My Heart to Melissa's Eclectic Bookshelf.

(If you are on the home page and can't see the Giveaway either click on the post title or "read more" at the bottom to go to the individual post's page!) 

Quiet Spaces

When I started writing my novel, my son was in second year in college and my husband had recently begun working from home. I thought, how wonderful, we’ll be working here at the house together. Side by side, having afternoon tea and enjoying our farm. But what I didn’t anticipate were the frequent interruptions I’d opened myself up to.

This was my first novel. My baby. I’d read all the books, taken the workshops and now I was ready to begin.  It seemed ideas bombarded me every few minutes, if not every second.  Plot outlines, scenes, conversations came at me from all directions. I frantically scribbled them on any scrap of paper I could find. This was the state of mind I was in those early days. I needed absolute quiet. Minimal interruptions. I labored over every sentence, writing and rewriting until my thoughts and intent were clearly stated.

Invariably, it would be during one of those painstaking moments my husband would yell for me from downstairs. The great thought, right on the tip of my fingers would disappear. Frustrated, but being the loving and supportive wife that I am; I’d stop, go downstairs and see what he wanted. Usually, it was something on the computer he thought I might find interesting. I’d think, couldn’t this have waited? Did I have to see this at this very moment?

You see, my husband, can do three things at one time and do them well. He can write a business proposal while his favorite game is on the TV and have a coherent conversation with me all at the same time.

What he didn’t understand is that I couldn’t do that!

Instead of communicating my frustration with him, I’d make the appropriate comment and run back upstairs to write.

After some weeks of this, I finally expressed my frustration. You got it.

Kaboom!

I’ll save you the details, but let me say, I gave him a piece of my mind I couldn’t afford to lose! LOL

Being the organized type A person he is, he suggested that in the mornings we go on a quiet schedule, where I could write uninterrupted. Then we could have lunch together and talk about our respective mornings. We agreed the afternoons would be less restrictive. And we gave each other permission to interrupt the other without repercussions.:)

One of the things I learned during that time was to relax and enjoy the process. Not to fret over a lost thought or idea. But, I do keep my smart phone handy and use the ‘voice memo’ app frequently.

If you’re an artist or a writer, how do you protect the few hours you have each day to work? I know an author who wears a tiara while she writes to let her children know that ‘mom is working’.  What are some of the challenges you’ve had to deal with?  From which family members?  Where do you work? A quiet nook? A coffee shop?

Please share your experiences. What has worked or not worked for you?

Blessings,

Darcy

The Book:

Katie McCullough doesn’t know it, but Max Sawyer, the over confident, irritatingly handsome hotel developer who outbid her for the lighthouse property, is none other, than her mystery lighthouse sailor. The one man who captured her heart five years earlier, the one man who has since been the plum line for every other unsuspecting male who has crossed her path. Unfortunately for Max, he doesn’t measure up either.

Still reeling from losing the property she’d planned to call home, sparks fly when Katie assumes Max is turning her beloved lighthouse compound into one of his ‘Serenity Spa Resorts.” Outraged, Katie sets out on a mission to dismantle the property…and his plans.

Except Max’s plans have absolutely nothing to do with hotels and everything to do with winning Katie’s heart.

About the Author:

Darcy was born into the rich culture of New Orleans, La.  As a city filled with colorful historical intrigue and broad creative energy, her natural bent to the arts coupled with her love for one of the most romantic cities in the world has been the inspiration and anchor of her artistic multi-dimension endeavors. Darcy was always compelled by the need to express herself and like her mother’s famous gumbo, her previous expressions included a little bit of everything - art, music, acting and dance.

Although, published in music, art and the Christian non-fiction market under another identity, it was the empty nest that turned Darcy to writing romantic fiction. A lover of lighthouses, Darcy’s first novel, Keeper Of My Heart, unfolds in a small Maryland fishing village on the Chesapeake Bay.

Darcy, a former Mrs. Tennessee, continues to be surrounded by all things creative in Music City and when not in writing in her London flat, lives on a beautiful horse farm in historic- Franklin, Tennessee with her husband, son, two English Setters and a calico cat.  Darcy enjoys stargazing, raising rare breed chickens and gardening.

Find Darcy: Website | Twitter | Facebook

Find Keeper of my Heart: Goodreads | Amazon | BN 

The Giveaway: 

Darcy is giving away 5 ecopies of Keeper of My Heart to 5 lucky readers

Follow Friday - 2/24/12 (Where I read...)

 (Thanks to Parajunkies View  & Alison Can Read  for  hosting)

Q: Activity!!! Take a picture or describe where you love to read the most...

 I usually read either on my couch with a nice cup of tea on hand:

or curled up in bed with my kitty while I fight off Morpheus:

Book Review: Cycles by Lois Brown

Cycles

Title:  Cycles            
Author:  Lois Brown               
Reading level: Young Adult
Genre:  Science Fiction/Fantasy          
Size: E-Book, 198 pages          
Release Date:  December 2011
Publisher:  Levanter Publishing 
Stand Alone or Series: Cycles #1
Source: Author in exchange for an honest review

First Line:  "A drop of  liquid oozed from Renee's fingertip."

Summary (from GoodReads):

She remembers things that never happened.
She's a stranger in her own home.
She always knew she was different.
She just didn't know why.
Until now.
Renee Beaumont is about to die . . . again.

My Thoughts:

I flew through this novel at record pace.  The writing flowed easily, the characters were all quite likable and believable and I found the premise to be interesting and unique.  I have to admit that I was quite pleasantly surprised by this one.  I wondered how I would relate to such young characters but I needn't have feared. Sam is wise beyond his years and Renee, well she also has much more experience than one would assume.  (I don't want to give anything away!)


 Lois Brown does a wonderful job of introducing two very young characters and throwing them into the midst of  a fascinating and mysterious intrigue. I loved trying to puzzle it all out right alongside Renee and Sam.  I don't think that I'd have been able to guess at any of it before it was revealed.


My only complaints would be that it did seem a smidgen unbelievable to me that two 13 year old were running around on their own.  And there is one scene involving a conversation between Renee and a schoolteacher that seemed 100% improbable and age inappropriate.  But then again...times may have changed greatly since I was 13!


On the whole, I was impressed with Lois Brown's creativity and her character development and am curious to see where the story goes from here...

Was it worth my Time? 

Cat Thursday - Baby Piper

Welcome to the weekly meme that celebrates the wonders and sometime hilarity of cats! Join us by posting a favorite LOL cat pic you may have come across, famous cat art or even share with us pics of your own beloved cat(s) and then link up at the host's site: The True Book Addict. It's all for the love of cats! Enjoy!
My fiance dug up some old pictures of Piper as a kitten so I thought I would share!  The quality isn't the best but I think his cuteness makes up for it!

Piper with his siblings!

All tucked in for the night.

Aren't I just the cutest?

Tuckered out!

As a reminder: This is Piper now :)

Book Review: Smitten by Colleen Coble, Kristin Billerbeck, Diann Hunt & Denise Hunter

Smitten

Title:  Smitten 
Author:  Colleen Coble, Kristin Billerbeck, Diann Hunt & Denise Hunter 
Reading level: Adult
Genre:  Christian Fiction/Romance
Size: Paperback, 403 pages 
Release Date:  December 2011
Publisher: Thomas Nelson
Stand Alone or Series: Stand Alone (Though I heard rumor of a follow up: Secretly Smitten)
Source: Publisher in exchange for an honest review

First Line:  "Natalie Mansfield’s heart swelled as she stood anon the perimeter of the town square and watched her niece and the other children decorate the town for Easter."

Summary (from Amazon):

Welcome to Smitten, Vermont.


With the help of four friends, it's about to become the most romantic town in America.


The proposed closing of the lumber mill comes as unwelcome news for the citizens of Smitten. How will the town survive without its main employer? A close-knit group of women think they've got just the plan to save Smitten. They'll capitalize on its name and turn it into a tourist destination for lovers-complete with sweet shops, a high-end spa, romantic music on the square, and cabins outfitted with fireplaces and hot tubs.
But is this manly town ready for an influx of romantically-minded guests?

Country music sensation Sawyer Smitten, the town's hometown hero, wants to help by holding his own wedding there on Valentine's Day. And little Mia's lavender wreaths hang all over town as a reminder that faith can work miracles. Along the way, four women spearheading the town's transformation-energetic Natalie, sophisticated Julia, graceful Shelby, and athletic Reese-get in the spirit by reviving their own love lives.

Join best-selling inspirational romance authors (and real-life BFFs) Colleen Coble, Kristin Billerbeck, Diann Hunt, and Denise Hunter for an inspiring stay at the (soon-to-be) most romantic town on the eastern seaboard.

One visit . . . and you'll be smitten too.

My Thoughts:

What I Loved: 

That cover--it is to die for!  The colors, the artistry with the little images like the ring hidden in the pattern and the sleeping New England own with the windows lit from within!  Love, love, love it!  It was honestly the first thing that attracted my attention to this book and from there I was determined to read and review it!

The setting and characters--A small town in New England where every one knows and cares about their neighbors!  It's the type of place that I would want to live! Natalie, Julia, Shelby & Reese are all immensely likable characters each with their own unique quirks which adds dimension to the book.

The premise--Four friends determined to work together with each other and the town to save it from going under when it's main economy (the saw mill) closes.  The idea of making this small town into a quaint romantic destination is perfect!

What Disappointed Me:

The romances--I felt like all four of the stories were almost the same but for a few tweaks.  Girl and guy are friends but then realize that their feelings for each other have grown and are afraid to lose their friendships by admitting their feeling.

The dialogue--For most of the book the dialogue felt stilted and unreal.  I honestly could not see these conversations happening in real life.

The revitalization--I would have loved to hear more than just a passing mention about the actual changes that were happening in the town.  More description of the new businesses and the sprucing up of the town square etc. would have added some much needed depth to the story.

The Christian aspect--I knew picking this book up that it was Christian fiction and I've read and enjoyed numerous Christian books in the past.  This one however just felt a little too forced for my taste.  Almost every third paragraph had some reference to God, prayer, faith etc.  I understand that the idea that the faith of the town was key to the success of the revitalization, however I felt it a bit implausible that every single character we met was a devout Christian who not only practiced his/her faith fervently but also verbalized it multiple times in every conversation held.

Overall Impressions:

In general,  I feel that the premise of this book was great and the writing and characters wonderful. I did enjoy the read,  however at the end I was left feeling disappointed.  I felt that, though entertaining, the book lacked the depth and life for which I was hoping.

Was it worth my Time?