The Paradise Problem by Christina Lauren

Hello everyone.  I hope you are having a great day.

I know I've told you about my fabulous niece before, but she is becoming a huge problem.  She makes me green with jealousy. I know that is cliche, but I don't mean a little green, picture the Hulk meets the Jolly Green Giant green. Not only is she an artist, like a real, trained artist. But she can pick creative things up in a second.  She watched a YouTube video about crocheting and whipped out blankets and purses.  I can sew and embroider and desperately want to crochet.  I watched the same video, thinking it was the holy grail.  I would be on my way to yarny goodness.  Yeah....she watches and made a blanket...I watched and made a giant knot.  I've tried DOZENS of times, lots.  I'm not exaggerating.  Now hubby is buying me different kinds of yarn, thinking I cannot possibly be so inept.  Yet, I fear this is a craft that was made specifically for the octopus.  I cannot do it. Last weekend was Mother's Day.  My niece (who cooks, without any training, naturally) made a triple layer cake for her mom.  No big deal.  Except she piped the most beautiful flowers on top.  I can make roses, but my mom taught me when I was a kid. My niece apparently communed with the frosting gods, said "Om" a few times and whipped up perfect flowers of several varieties out of thin air.  I give up.  I need a vacation.  Somewhere tropical with clear blue water, perfect breezes and men serving drinks wearing nothing but fig leaves that speak absolutely no English.  Okay, that may be overreaching...

I recently read The Paradise Problem by Christina Lauren.  The author is a pen name for the writing team of best friends Christina Hobbs and Lauren Billings.  This is the story of a couple, Liam and Anna.  They have married during college for cheap housing.  Unknown to Anna, it also helps Liam in another way.  He is the heir to a sizeable fortune but must be married for five years before he can collect.  This inheritance isn't known to Anna because she and Liam don't really know each other.  They live in the same apartment but just as roommates.  This poses a huge problem as Liam's sister is getting married and his family is demanding to meet his wife of almost five years.  The wedding is of the destination sort, on a private island with blue water and huts suspended over the rolling waves. Not only does the couple married for years know nothing of each other, but Liam's family is a huge problem.  Rich, entitled, judgmental and rude, they are waiting to scrutinize Liam's wife and their relationship.

This book was fun.  Not only was the situation amusing but the writing is laugh out loud funny.  This story will have you entranced and glad to have your life instead of this wealthy family's. If you're having a tough week, read this.  If you are going on vacation, this is a no brainer.  A blast and one of the few books I wish I could read again for the first time. Now that is a good one!

The Kiss Curse by Erin Sterling

Hello everyone.  I hope your day is going well.

Has anyone else noticed a lot of "jump on the bandwagon-ing" going on in books over the last few years?   I guess it is natural since selling books is a business.  I don't, however, remember the whole writing world turning into stories about vampires after Anne Rice's very popular Interview With the Vampire.  Twilight comes out, and you can barely find a book that doesn't include bloodsuckers.  Heck, they were and still are so common, I'm actually starting to wonder about some people I know.  I gave my husband several concerning glances after a particularly brutal session he had with a bowl of spaghetti.  Then came the books about someone on the autism spectrum, they were everywhere.  While these stories could actually help the population become more accepting of people with differences (as we all should be, who is to say what is normal anyway), the number of authors jumping on the topic was annoying. Now there is a new topic with huge popularity, witches.  Three, yes, THREE of my Book of the Month choices included witches.  Now, I'm not complaining about my beloved BOTM, and I love seasonal topics...so Halloweeny.  But the topic isn't just for this Fall, there are huge series that have witches as gardeners, sisters, in the past, in fantasy, in history, in horror, in cozy mysteries, and in romance novels.  Overall, I wish everyone would cover their answers and keep their eyes on their own paper.  Do their own thing.  Except for witches at Halloween, that gets a pass from me, but the second they step on Santa's toes out they go!

I recently read The Kiss Curse by Erin Sterling. You might recognize Erin Sterling, she also wrote The Ex Hex, last year.  The Kiss Curse is the sequel although it can easily be read as a stand-alone book.  Lest you think I've betrayed my beloved thrillers, cheating on them with this cute romantic comedy, Erin Sterling also writes thrillers under the author name Rachel Hawkins.  This is the story of Gwyn, who owns a witchy product store in Georgia.  Enter Wells, the mysterious bartender, turned shop owner from Wales, who sets up his store right across from Gwyn.  Of course, there is much dislike at first, then their attraction to each other becomes undeniable.  Not only do they have to fight their feelings for each other, should they embrace them or resist, but there is trouble in town as well, that only they can fix.  

This book, like The Ex Hex, is just fun.  There is nothing super deep here, no rocket science textbook.  This story will allow you to spend a day or two transported to their author's world where things are always interesting, and Fall is in full swing.  The story is short, sweet and to the point.  The writing highly entertaining.  I absolutely adored the dialog between the two main characters which was full of sarcasm and had me laughing many times.  

I can't believe I'm saying this about a book about witches, but I hope there is a third.  Gasp!  I know, don't tell anyone.  Do yourself a favor, grab a plaid blanket, a cup of pumpkin latte Frappuccino espresso with a half twist who-hockey and enjoy this book.  Allow it to work its charms on you!

 

Book Lovers by Emily Henry

Hello everyone.  I hope you're having a cool day.

I am guessing, since you're reading this, you are a book lover.  I come from a long line of readers, okay well it's more like a dash but it's there.  My maternal grandparents were big readers so was my mom.  They would often trade books back and forth.  Sometimes they would tuck a note inside for each other.  It was all fun and games until they went off the deep end and started seeing who could write the most creative note, well not write but use the most unusual paper.  When they got down to toilet paper and a leaf, I stopped watching.  They read good stuff. I remember my mom reading Coma by Robin Cook and the always fascinating Jaws.  Who hasn't put "You're gonna need a bigger boat" in their "great sayings" rotation?  Just think without the book Jaws, there would be no movie, no saying, no fantastic score by John Williams and, let's be honest, how else would you see Robert Shaw take out his front tooth?  Books!

I recently read Book Lovers by Emily Henry.  This is the story of a literary agent, Nora, who goes to a small North Carolina town with her sister for a vacation.  Despite the odds Nora bumps into someone she knows from NYC, Charlie, an infuriating editor.  In this romantic comedy their interactions continue as they share their book business talents.

This is a cute, fun story that will transport you to Carolina and melt all your stress.  After liking but not loving Henry's first book, Beach Read, I said I was going to follow her.  So glad I did, as each subsequent book I've liked better than the one before.  This is a bit long at 400 pages but a fun read.  Great for a summer vacation, real or in your head to a small town in North Carolina.

Gum wrapper!  I've been trying to come up with something I'd write a note on if my mom and grandparents were still around.  I'd definitely write on a gum wrapper, not a good kind like Wrigley's or Juicy Fruit (look it up youngsters), but something small like Dentyne or Trident!

The Ex Hex by Erin Sterling

Hello everyone.  I hope you're having a great day.

Halloween is almost here.  When we were kids we had the best time trick-treating.  Our neighborhood was extremely safe and kind of off on it's own, so my parents let us go out with friends.  We visited so many houses for candy.  During this time kids wore plastic masks that had elastic around the back.  I remember one year, I went as Dracula.  I carried a tape recorder that played spooky music, which I tried to hide under my cape.  I'm certain nobody knew where it was coming from.  I was obviously being followed by my own personal orchestra.  I also remember it being cold.  Nothing wrecks a well planned Halloween costume like your mom yelling to wear your winter coat as you head out the door.  One year it even snowed, I don't mean flurries, I mean snow on the ground.  Yep, when the tv tray was set by our front door with a huge bowl filled with candy, you knew fun was on the way, cavities too.

I recently read The Ex Hex by Erin Sterling.  I am consistent, if nothing else.  I just thought this book sounded like a cute romantic comedy and would be a nice break from thrillers.  Turns out Erin Sterling is the pen name of Rachel Hawkins, author of the thriller The Wife Upstairs, which I enjoyed.  The Ex Hex is the story of Vivienne and Rhys.  Vivi and her cousin accidently put a curse on Rhys, which messes up everything.  Life in their small Georgia town was picturesque but as Halloween approaches odd things are beginning to happen.  

This book is fun, not rocket science, just plain old fun.  It's not too long, at just over 300 pages, and is a breeze to read.  The dialog is quite funny.  Some of it spattered with profanity, so if that offends you steer clear.  I promise, this book may not have you on the edge of your seat like my beloved thrillers, but it will have you laughing until the very last page.

Next time you buy yourself a six dollar pumpkin latte, pair it with this book for the full fall treatment.  FYI, the book is a far better bargain.