Paris is Always a Good Idea by Jen McKinlay **Book Review** @BerkleyPub

Happy almost weekend!

You all! This book was romcom perfection! The romance, the setting, the food!👩‍❤️‍💋‍👨

My Thoughts

Three men. Three countries. And a whole lot of food. Jen McKinlay will tug at your heartstrings and feed your travel bug with this delightful story. Chelsea’s Life completely changed seven years ago after the death of her mother. She has thrown herself into her job where she works for a Cancer nonprofit. She excels at fundraising, but has no personal life. When her father announces he is getting remarried Chelsea is distraught. BUT the unwelcome news makes her realize she has not been happy for a long time. Determined to find her happiness again Chelsea decides to return to the place she was last happy… on her European gap year trip. So off to Ireland, Paris, and Italy Chelsea goes. Not only to find her happiness, but to also rediscover who she once was and perhaps fall in love with one of the men she left behind.

What a fun book! The food… the setting… the amour… did I mention the food? Loved traveling around Europe with Chelsea! There were so many laugh out loud moments and I loved meeting all these charming or perhaps not so charming men. Although I have to say I was partial to Jason her American coworker who showed up in Paris unannounced, because of course Chelsea had some work to do on her vacation. Jason really perfectly balanced out uptight Chelsea. I love the banter and the chemistry between these two. From the second he showed up in front of her door with her suitcase in hand (long story) I was rooting for him. I really can’t say enough good things about this book, it truly was romcom perfection!

This book in emojis ☘️ 🥖 🧀 🍇 ☕️ 🍷 👗 🧳

***Big thank you to Berkley for my gifted copy of this book. All opinions are my own. ***

About the Book

One of Popsugar’s Best New Books for Summer 2020 

A 30-year-old woman retraces her gap year through Ireland, France, and Italy to find love – and herself – in this hilarious and heartfelt novel. 

It’s been seven years since Chelsea Martin embarked on her yearlong postcollege European adventure. Since then, she’s lost her mother to cancer and watched her sister marry twice, while Chelsea’s thrown herself into work, becoming one of the most talented fundraisers for the American Cancer Coalition, and with the exception of one annoyingly competent coworker, Jason Knightley, her status as most successful moneymaker is unquestioned. 

When her introverted mathematician father announces he’s getting remarried, Chelsea is forced to acknowledge that her life stopped after her mother died and that the last time she can remember being happy, in love, or enjoying her life was on her year abroad. Inspired to retrace her steps – to find Colin in Ireland, Jean Claude in France, and Marcelino in Italy – Chelsea hopes that one of these three men who stole her heart so many years ago can help her find it again. 

From the start of her journey nothing goes as planned, but as Chelsea reconnects with her old self, she also finds love in the very last place she expected.

Have a beautiful day! XOXO Berit 💕

Mindworm by David Pollard **Cover Reveal** @rararesources

Happy Saturday!

Let’s kick off the weekend with a cover reveal!🎉

Mindworm

The placid life of a college librarian is plunged into a desperate fight for survival when he witnesses the death of his only friend. Suddenly he is forced to confront disturbing changes in his nature and appetites and their consequences. Suspected of murder and pursued by an implacable police detective he runs – but is he running from the law or from himself?

Pre-Order Links:

UK – https://www.amazon.co.uk/Mindworm-David-Pollard-ebook/dp/B089G3JRJF

US – https://www.amazon.com/Mindworm-David-Pollard-ebook/dp/B089G3JRJF

Publication Date – 1st September

Author Bio –

After more than forty years of paid employment David Pollard retired to glorious Hereford and immersed himself in the theatrical activities of the county. He is currently Chair of Hereford County Drama Festival.

David sees himself as a teller of tales – he is a playwright, author of short stories and novels. He has a preference for dark and dystopian material. He is also an actor and theatrical director. Among the many authors admired by David is Robert Louis Stevenson – for his website David adopted the appellation Tuistala – Samoan for ‘Teller of Tales’ which the Samoan people called RLS.

Several of David’s plays have been published by Lazybee Scripts – one of which ‘Aspects of a Betrayal’ was shortlisted for the Kenneth Branagh prize at the Windsor Fringe Festival.

David has two works published on KDP/Amazon:

‘His Cat and Other Strange Tales’ – a collection of macabre short stories

‘The Alienation of Ludovic Weiss’ – a psychological thriller

A third book ‘Mindworm ‘ is scheduled for publication in September 2020

When not writing, directing or acting David runs a podcast platform for the streaming of radio plays and short story readings – Hand to Mouth Sound Theatre.

For relaxation David reads voraciously with a liking for history and thriller fiction. He also enjoys country walks of the strolling variety.

Social Media Links –

Twitter: @dpollardauthor

Website: http://www.thetusitala.co.uk

Louisiana Lucky by Julie Pennell **Book Review** @atriabooks

Hello lovely book people!

What would you do if you won big in the lottery? This is a book all about three sisters and what happens when they win the big one! 💰

My Thoughts

What would you do if you won $204 million? The Breaux sisters play the lottery every week, but cannot believe it when their numbers are called. Lexi Can now have her dream wedding. Hanna Can now send her kids to private school and live in a house with a roof that doesn’t leak. Callie isn’t sure what she’s going to do with the money, but she knows she’s going to do something that will be beneficial to many. This book was simultaneously hilarious and heartbreaking. Lexi and Hanna both thought their new found wealth would also bring them respect. Callie found out not everyone has a heart as big as hers. Julie Pennell has packed a lot of fun and family into this little gem.

Loved reading this! The book allowed me to fantasize what I would do if I won the lottery. I also really enjoy getting to know these sisters. I thought the sister’s reaction to the Wynfall was very realistic as well as how other people reacted. Hanna thought if she sent her son to a wealthy private school he would be less likely to be bullied. Lexi planned a fancy wedding because she thought her mother-in-law to be would think she was worthy. Callie was too trusting. I enjoyed all of the sister’s stories, but I think I liked Callie’s The Best. This is the perfect pick me up, a great escape from today’s crazy times.

This book in emojis 💵 🏡 👰🏼 📰 💰

*** Big thank you to Atria for my gifted copy of this book. All opinions are my own. ***

About the Book

From the critically acclaimed author of The Young Wives Club, a “heartwarming story about friendship, heartache, and self-discovery” (Karen White, New York Times bestselling author), comes a charming novel reminiscent of the works of Mary Alice Monroe and Kristy Woodson Harvey, about three sisters who win a huge lottery prize and learn what it truly means to be lucky.

Lexi, Callie, and Hanna Breaux grew up in small-town Louisiana, and have always struggled to make ends meet. For years, they’ve been playing the lottery, fantasizing about how much better life would be if they had the money.

For Lexi, it means the perfect wedding; for Callie, it means having the courage to go after her career dreams; and for Hanna, it means buying a house that isn’t falling apart and sending her bullied son to private school. When the incredible happens and the Breaux sisters hit it big—$204 million dollars big—all their dreams come true. Or so they think. Because it’s actually not a cliché—money isn’t the answer to everything, and it often comes with problems of its own.

Heartfelt, engaging, and featuring characters you’ll root for from the first moment you meet them, Louisiana Lucky is a satisfying page-turner from a rising star in women’s fiction.

About the Author

Julie Pennell was born and raised in Louisiana. After graduating from college, she headed to New York to work at Seventeen magazine. She currently lives in Philadelphia with her husband and young son, and is a regular contributor to TODAY.com. Her writing has also appeared in The Knot, In Style, and Refinery29. She is the author of The Young Wives Club and Louisiana Lucky.

 

LOUISIANA LUCKY by Julie Pennell

Emily Bestler Books | Paperback | ISBN: 9781982115630

On-sale: August 4, 2020 | 320 pages | US $

Be sure to add it to your TBR! XOXO Berit☀️