A little over a year ago, I read a wonderful book by this author called How I Learned to Love the Walrus, so when the author asked if I wanted to read her newest one, Disengaged, I immediately said yes. I fully realize it’s not fair to compare the two books, but it’s difficult not to. Both are chicklit with some funny parts and a little romance. But that’s where the similarities kind of end. Again, it’s not fair, but this book falls a little short of my expectations for this author. Walrus had an amazing location which Beth was able to turn into a character in and of itself. This one lacks that extra backdrop. It also kind of goes off the rails a bit towards the predictable end.

Having said that, the book itself is not bad. I enjoyed the storyline. While I didn’t like Allie (the main character), I did like most of the supporting cast. The writing is absolutely wonderful, as you would expect and the editing is just as wonderful. I liked the love interest(s) and the humor and quirky nature of the storyline. I felt like the story was perhaps a little over the top at times, but not so much that I rolled my eyes the entire time.

Where this books does really shine is in plot development. The author has a gift to keep the story moving. Unlike so many other chicklit authors that seem to be writing to just simply fill their word quota, Orsoff writes to keep the storyline moving and keep my interest intact.

I’d recommend this for fans of the authors other books and those who enjoy a quirky chicklit book now and then.

Rating: 3 out of 5 stars

Book count for 2012: 8

When this book came in my email box (I adopted this author, sight unseen for Adopt An Indie month), I really didn’t know much about it. I knew it was chick lit and the cover looked cool (yeah, I know, but I at least admit that I judge books by their covers!). So, I went into this without any real preconceived notions.

The writing is supremely clean and polished. It flows nicely and was obviously very well edited. The author does an exceptional job of giving each character their own “voice” so that you knew who was talking at all times – none of that awkward “lost in the conversation” stuff going on.

Because the characters did have such distinctive voices, I really really really didn’t like one of them. Quinn. I spent part of my time wanting to reach through my kindle and smack him around a bit and the other part cringing by his complete lack of sense. But, he’s a hot rock star, so I guess we’ll forgive him. But still… sheesh!

I’m not sure that it was entirely accidental that I didn’t like Quinn. I mean, it added to the story because I DID care, but I just didn’t like the guy. I really did like the main female character (George, of course!) though. If a bit of a silly “seriously this is not happening” character, she made an absolutely fabulous lead character with depth.

Look, it’s chick lit. It’s not Pride and Prejudice. I go in knowing that I will probably be annoyed by the love story, but I read it because I love it (gosh, does that make ANY sense?). For me, it’s escapism, I can be somewhere else for a while, usually somewhere fabulous with someone even more fabulous. This book delivers on this promise – and is topped with a really nice plot.

I had already figured out the big reveal at the end of the book, but the mini one before that I had NO idea was coming. *Hat tip* to the author – very few times does that kind of thing slip by me.

I would highly recommend this for chick lit readers. You’ll enjoy it. But ya know, even though just want a quick escape read, you’ll enjoy this too. It’s a great story, give it a shot.

Rating: 4 out of 5 stars

Book count for 2011: 57

This is a cute and very fast little short story. Being the oldest of 3 girls and the first to get married, I couldn’t really identify with the main character and what she was feeling about her sister getting married, but I think I understand it.

Effie is a cute character and one I hope the author will resurrect into a full fledged novel one day. She cute, funny, with a little bit of that dark humor that I think every good female lead character needs. Her lists were funny and endearing.

This short story was way too short. I want more.

This is recommended for those chick lit fans that are looking for a super fast read (it took me about 15 minutes, tops). Well worth it for the smile it gave me.

Rating: 4 out of 5 stars

Book count for 2011: 55

Over the top chick lit. That’s probably the best way I could describe this book. It’s funny, it’s stupid and I couldn’t decide if I should roll my eyes or burst out laughing. This isn’t War & Peace, to be sure, but ya know… sometimes you really just need a book that will make you laugh a little – or a lot. I must admit that if I were taking the story at face value, I would have to say that it’s completely ridiculous. But it was supposed to be overly insane. That was the point.

I finished this one pretty quickly as I was anxious to find out what April would get herself into next.

But this book was a little more than this. Yes, it was pretty thin, but there’s a little bit of heart mixed in with all of that laughter and goofiness. Yes, it’s a fun book, but the author does try to give us a little bit of a message about moving on and the importance of going on with your life when things, well… suck.

Overall, I’d recommend this for a light beach read – or a winter night when you just need to curl up with a book, a glass of wine and a good laugh. A good piece of humorous chick lit.

Rating: 4 out of 5 stars

Book count for 2011: 52

I ran across this book while trying to find something to read that was funny. I honestly only opened this one randomly. It had come in from the author asking for a review and was pretty far down in my pile. I am SO glad that this one caught my eye on that day. I read it on my Kindle and used that “share” button so much, my Facebook friends were both intrigued and really annoyed with me. But there were so many funny stories and quips in this book that it kept me giggling madly.

This book was about getting older (I think I busted a stitch with the “shapewear” essay) and about various family funnies that happen. There’s nothing here that’s Earth shattering; it’s a cute, funny, and well written collection of essays about being a woman over the age of forty. I’m not quite there yet myself, but I found myself identifying with so many of the first essays.

I think it did lose a little steam towards the last few essays, but they were still funny and heartwarming. Overall, this is a very well thought-out, portrayed and written collection. I’d recommend this for woman over the age of 33 or so. I suspect those in their late 40s would enjoy it even more.

Rating: 4 out of 5 stars

Book count for 2011: 48

First the bad – the current cover for this book doesn’t do it justice at all and really has very little to do with the content. I must say that had someone not pointed this one out to me, I probably wouldn’t have noticed it, much less purchased it. Yes, I judge books by their covers.

I am really glad that a friend of mine did point it out to me because this book was just what I needed to get me out of a reading slump that I found myself in this Summer. It was reasonably light and beachy, but had enough of a plot line and a few serious issues to keep me interested in the storyline.

I was actually quite surprised by the plot and how the authors managed to weave the serious issues between and with Rod and Judith into a lighter read. In some ways, it was sad, yet also made it feel just a little more real.

The writing was great, I saw one little error where Tammi answered Rod’s phone and then just seemingly a few hours later, he couldn’t use it because it ran out of battery the night before, but if that’s the biggest content edit problem I found, we’re doing pretty good. The grammar was well done and it was overall very well written and edited.

This is highly recommended for those that enjoy chick lit, but also like a little meat with it.

Rating: 4 out of 5 stars

Book count for 2011: 44

I believe this author was giving this book and I saw it on Twitter. Maybe I bought it. I don’t remember how I found it, but I did earlier this month and grabbed it because… okay, because I liked the title, okay? I mean, seriously!

These are a few short stories and all were fun and light and would be perfect to sit out on the beach or by the pool, chill out and read for a bit while ignoring your children and trying to lose yourself in something that makes you forget that you have sand creeping in places that it doesn’t belong.

I won’t go into each story except to say that the title one was my absolute favorite. They are all a little far-fetched, but you get exactly what you are expecting in this quirky little book of short stories.

The only real problem I saw was that a couple of the stories seemed unfinished, even for short stories. I wanted just a little bit more.

I recommend this one for the ladies that can laugh, smile and not take their reading too terribly serious. This is fun.

Rating: 4 out of 5 stars

Book count for 2011: 40

The author sent me this book early this year asking for a review. I thought it sounded interesting, women’s fiction, set near an ocean, etc…

I will say that the story line isn’t bad. It was cute, interesting and I enjoyed that part of it. The characters are very well-rounded and I felt like I got to know not only the people but the area.

The ghost part was perhaps a little overboard, but I don’t think it necessarily took away from the story.

The problem comes from the grammar and spelling errors in this one along with a few content problems. Some parts felt forced and it showed. It really could have been helped with a good editor.

Unfortunately, the editing issues overtook the good and were pretty distracting. I hope the author has taken it through an editor since then and perhaps it’s fixed now. The story itself really was good.

I recommend this for those that aren’t distracted by editing issues and like reading a little southern or women’s fiction.

Rating: 3 out of 5 stars

Book count for 2011: 33

I noticed this book earlier this year, but – and I’ll be honest there – the cover was just uninspired and uninteresting. It wasn’t until I saw the description somewhere that I realized that it was totally something I would read. I purchased it early last month and earlier this month the author contacted me asking for a review. I took that as a sign and told her I’d already purchased it on my own and would read it – figured I’m supposed to read it since it kept catching my eye…

Wow. This is such a well written book. As a child that grew up in a family with domestic abuse, it’s almost cathartic at times, as strange that may sound. At times, though, the authors make me cringe. It’s obvious they either have never experience what they are writing or haven’t done their homework. This author hit it on the head. The feelings that Joy exhibits at a child are right on. Happy that her mom is letting her “get away” with something and guilt when they get caught. Her actions as an adult further show this author’s homework was well done – the trust issues, the forced isolation, the burning need to help others in the same situation, etc. I think this was the stand out for me for this book. How true it felt. I kept reminding myself that it was NOT a memoir. It was fiction.

The story is sweet, but very very predictable. This isn’t a mystery and the author pretty much guides you where she’s going. In some ways I kind of was hoping for some sort of shift there so that it didn’t go how it was obviously heading, you know?

I saw a few grammar/spelling errors, but nothing too awful terrible. If there were others, I was entirely too wrapped up in the story to care – which I suppose is the whole point anyway.

The author handles the subject of domestic abuse well, nothing is too graphic, but it’s graphic enough to feel real and make you follow the storyline. None of it is gratuitous and the vast majority of the story takes place once the main character is an adult and revolves around her life today. And, yes, it’s a romance.

It’s really sad that this book has this cover – I’m not sure what it should have been, but this one makes it fade into the background of other books – it really deserves something that reaches out and grabs the reader. Let’s face it, we all pretty much judge books by their cover.

I would highly recommend this book to those that enjoy women’s fiction with a warning that it does have some tough subject matter, but is mostly an uplifting (yet not religious) story of hope — and of joy.

Rating: 4 out of 5 stars

Book count for 2011: 32

Oh, Southern Fiction. It’s good, it’s bad, it’s silly, it can be spot-on and it can be so over exaggerated that I want to scream. This one fell somewhere in the middle of all that for me. If you are looking for some insightful piece of fiction, you can easily skip this one. It’s not about teaching you something. It’s about making you laugh and making you roll your eyes all at once.

I will say that I was not in love with most of the characters. I found some of them to be SO annoying and so over exaggerated that I alternatively wanted to read it as quickly as possible and throw it down and go watch paint dry. I read about 80% of this and then finished it with text-to-speech on my Kindle during a busy time of the year for me. It was great because it was super easy to pick up and put down. However, by listening to part of it, I wasn’t entirely sure whodunnit until I met with my book club and they filled me in. It got lost either in my mind wandering or just in the muddle that became the end of this book.

The book starts out very strong with a little bit of southern fun (albeit, over-the-top), gets lost a little in the middle, comes back but the ending felt pasted together a bit. It felt like the author wasn’t sure how to wrap it all up together so she walked along picking up most of the loose ends, but I’m not sure it really all gelled for me, in the end.

A good southern chicklit book with lots of fun built in… recommended for those that would enjoy that.

Rating: 3 out of 5 stars

Book count for 2011: 26