Review - The Little Bookshop on the Seine by Rebecca Raisin

SUMMARY 
La Vie En Rose
Bookshop owner Sarah Smith has been offered the opportunity to exchange bookshops with her new Parisian friend for 6 months! And saying yes is a no-brainer – after all, what kind of a romantic would turn down a trip to Paris…for Christmas?

Even if it does mean leaving the irresistible Ridge Warner behind, Sarah’s sure she’s in for the holiday of a lifetime – complete with all the books she can read!

Imagining days wandering around Shakespeare & Co, munching on croissants, sipping café au laits and watching the snow fall on the Champs-Élysées Sarah boards the plane.

But will her dream of a Parisian Happily-Ever-After come true? Or will Sarah realise that the dream of a Christmas fairytale in the city of love isn’t quite as rosy in reality…

A deliciously feel-good Christmas romance perfect for fans of Debbie Johnson and Julia Williams.

MY REVIEW 
Let me begin by saying how much I LOVE this cover!  I would have to say it's my favorite of 2015 to date!  The colors are amazing, Sarah looks amazing and the Paris back drop couldn't be more beautiful.  As I have stated in some of my tweets, after reading this piece I am planning a trip to Paris!
The details that Rebecca used in regards to the city alone paint the most amazing picture and I truly felt as though I was there and could imagine everything that Sarah was seeing!

I am jealous of Ms. Sarah!  She is a book shop owner!  That would truly be my dream job!  And to top it all off, she gets to do an exchange with her dear friend Sophie in Paris!  Sophie needs to get away from the city of love after her relationship goes to shambles and she no longer can bare seeing the new "happy couple" daily.  After nearly 1 second, if that, Sarah says YES!  She will take over Sophie's book shop for 6 months and Sophie will travel to Ashford to run hers!

Sarah can't believe that she actually stepped out of comfort zone and said yes?  She has never been on a plane let alone out of the country?  What is she thinking?  Paris at Christmas, who would say no?

After saying yes, she wonders how she will tell Ridge?  What will he think of her sudden change of plans?  He travels the world over, it shouldn't be an issue, or will it?

So many sites to see, and 6 months to do it, it should be a breeze right?  Well you would think, but not so much for this new book shop temporary manager in Paris France!  When first arriving at the shop, she is thrown right to the wolves, I mean customers.  She was hoping to catch a bit of sleep but these customers won't have that!

The employees, they are very rough around the edges, and are walking all over poor Sarah daily.  She needs to realize being nice Sarah from Ashford will not get her anywhere.  Will she turn around and head home or will she learn to be the manager that Sophie believes she can be?

She is having a hard time focusing on the craziness of the store, when her knight in shining armor, Ridge, has been rather absent from her life.  They keep missing each other calls, or no calls for weeks at a time...Will their relationship make it through this test?

This story is an intricate web of story lines that are all perfectly developed and told to the reader.  You really feel like you are right there with her every step of her journey.

Pour a glass of wine (or two), sit by the fire and enjoy!  

WINE SELECTION 
I am going to pick Perrier Jouet Pink Champagne, sounds divine!  

MY RATING 
I rate this amazing story, 5 glasses of wine!  It's one of my top books for the year!  Congrats Rebecca on yet another amazing story!  I can't wait for the next one!  Cheers!

 

One Book At A Time has been viewed over 20,000 times! Giveaway time!!!

What a mile stone to reach everyone!  Thank you all so much for your amazing support!  It has been a great ride in the last 6 months and here's to many more years to come!  It's giveaway time!


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My Holiday Review - What Happens at Chirstmas by T.A. Williams

SUMMARY
For the perfect Christmas…

When career-girl Holly Brice learns that her estranged father has died, she decides to take a trip down memory lane and find out about the man she never knew.

Arriving in the sleepy little Dartmoor village, she’s shocked to discover that she’s inherited the cosy little cottage she remembers so fondly, a whole load of money – and her father’s adorable dog, too!

Head to snow-covered Devon!

And as the first snowflakes begin to fall and Holly bumps into her gorgeous neighbour, Jack Nelson, life gets even more complicated! Men have always been off the cards for high-flying Holly, but there’s something about mysterious writer Jack that has her re-thinking her three-date rule…

MY REVIEW 
My first holiday read of the season, and it did not disappoint!
I fell in love with the characters in this book one by one.  They are all so well written and you get a real sense of connection to each one no matter if their story line is big or small.

Holly Brice had been prepared to dislike her father her whole life, after all he abandoned her and her mother for basically her whole, without even a birthday card each year...or so she thought...

She arrived in the picturesque small town of Devon, what was going to be a few weeks trip to clean out and sell her father's home turned out to be an adventure that would change her life...for the better!

She has fallen in love with a four-legged  fur baby and is wondering how on Earth she will take care of him back home in London!

While we are talking about love, she has never been one to have time for boyfriends in her busy career-driven life but upon her arrival she has slowly fallen for two men in a short window of time...What are their stories, are they available?  Could one be gay as her best friend has suggested? 

Those men aside don't forget about the older man who seems to be smitten with her as well...What is a girl to do with all of these choices?

Day by day, hour by hour, things begin to fall into place.  Connections to her past regarding her father lead her to ask the question, did he really forget about her all those years ago or did she hold a place in his life every day since he left?

This amazing story set in the weeks before Christmas will grab you from the beginning and have you wondering daily what is around the next corner!

WINE SELECTION 
A great dinner pairing for any Christmas celebration, Featherstone Black Sheep Riesling 2013!  

MY RATING 
I give this amazing, festive piece 5 wine glasses for sure!  It has truly put me in the holiday spirit and I can't wait to start my next holiday read!

 

Review - A Sister's Place by Savannah Page

SUMMARY 
Sisters Gracie and Juliette Bennett used to be the best of friends. But over the years, time and distance have worn the ties of sisterhood that once bound them together. Each has been following her own life's path, growing further apart.

When their beloved grandmother Mimi passes the Bennett sisters are set to inherit her house--the charming Santa Barbara Craftsman, a family heirloom three generations old.

But there's a catch: In order to inherit their home away from home Gracie and Juliette must live at 1402 Laguna Lane for one year...together.

Now, in an unexpected and peculiar way, their paths intertwine. Gracie and Juliette have a chance to come together and reexamine their relationship, perhaps even become the kinds of friends only sisters can be. Because as they'll learn over the course of the trying year ahead, Mimi's clever plan is about more than preserving a piece of family history.

Differences will be embraced, pasts confronted, loyalties tested, and secrets revealed. And in their darkest hours Gracie and Juliette will have to decide if a sister's love is what they need to get through the year. If a unique friendship between sisters is what they've needed all along.

MY REVIEW
What's more important than a bond between two sisters?  Unfortunately Gracie and Juliette Bennett have no experienced that for several years.  Their path's in life have taken them on different adventures on different ends of the country.  

Grandma Mimi has other things up her sleeve though (with the help of their mother of course).  She passes her home down to the girls under one condition.  They are to live together, reconnect as sisters, for one year and then the house is theirs to do with as they wish.  Sneaky plan, but genius non the less.

The girls have had their fair share of ups in downs in the past - Gracie and ex boyfriend and Juliette's brush with the law (and that's putting it simply).   My thoughts are that if they had each other, they would have been able to fair these storms in a much better way. 

Present day they need each other now more than ever.  There is insight that Gracie can give Juliette in regards to her never ending job search and there is advice that Juliette can give regarding Gracie's on-again off-again relationship.

They have been put through the ringer, so to speak, and there was even a moment when one threatened to move out and never return.  

Will they make it to spring?  Will the girls part ways and never speak again?  

Such a good, well-written family bonding story that will have you talking back to the girls on occasion, wanting to give them YOUR advice.  

WINE SELECTION
In celebration of Mimi and her love for oranges and her favorite orange tree, I will suggest an Orange Wine - Charonge, an Orange Chardonnay! 

MY RATING 
For keeping me guessing on what the sisters would be doing from one day to the next, I rate this piece 4 wine glasses - I am happy that I had a chance to experience this book and enjoyed it each day.

My Guest Spot : Hello...Chick Lit by Aimee

Hello...Chick Lit:

Blog Friends Forever Tour – Interview with a Book Blogger

 

I am super excited to be apart of Aimee's Blog Today!  It's all about us blogger's...SUPER FUN!  We get to talk about of love of books, but never as much about ourselves!  Take a look at this great blog post from today!  Enjoy! XX

Bethany

 

 

Release Day - Review and Giveaway!!!! Plan Bea by Hilary Grossman

SUMMARY 
How well do you really know the people in your life?

Annabel O’Conner has the perfect husband, two adorable children, an amazing job, and the mother from hell! Annabel doesn’t like it but has come to terms with the fact that her relationship with her mother, Bea, deteriorated to the point of forced and strained communications. However, an unscheduled call from Bea turns her world around and makes Annabel question everything she believed about her life.

Despite the fact secrets, lies, and misplaced blame have destroyed the women’s relationship; Annabel reluctantly agrees to help Bea plan her wedding. Little does Annabel know the impact of her decision.

In this Women’s Contemporary Fiction novel, Hilary Grossman explores the complex relationship that exists between mothers and daughters in a light-hearted and relatable manner.

MY REVIEW 
I have been waiting so long to read this book!  And when that chance arrived, I couldn't put it down!  The writing is superb and I wouldn't expect anything less from Hilary.  (I LOVE the name of the adorable cat as well, Lila. <3)


Anna really grabs your attention from the beginning.  She has what looks to be the prefect family from the outside, but on the inside is a broken woman who has wanted nothing more to be loved by her mother and to have that mother/daughter relationship she has craved for years.  

Bea is a very head strong woman who is used to getting what she wants when she wants it.  She comes across as very cold and rigid with no real emotional attachment t Anna, Cole or even her own grandchildren Violet and Harley.  

Then Bea comes to Anna with her newest undertaking, she is getting MARRIED!  Anna does a double take?  Not only is her mother marrying a man that she has only known for a few months but she is asking Anna to be her WEDDING PLANNER?  Anna thinks she is certifiable at this point.  But against her better judgment and Cole's reservations about the whole idea, Anna agrees to help her out.

Throughout the way they go and pick out invitations, flowers, dresses, food and more.  Every time Anna makes a suggestion, Bea shoots it down and goes with the complete opposite.  Anna starts to question why she is even there?

Without giving much more of this amazing story away, let me just say you need to read it to fully grasp the dynamic of this mother/daughter relationship from beginning to end.  You will get so attached to these characters and really feel the emotions they are feeling every step of their personal journeys!

Sit back, grab a glass of wine or a bottle and enjoy the ride!  It will be worth it 100%!

WINE SELECTION 
With such a heart felt family drama from beginning to end, I would pair this piece with a red wine from the Finger Lakes Region, Red Cat Red Wine!

MY RATING 
I would give Plan Bea 5 wine glasses at the very least!  I was loving every minute of this heart felt family dynamic!  

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Links to reach Hilary:
Twitter
Facebook
Instagram

Links to Purchase:
Amazon US 
Amazon UK
Barnes and Noble
Goodreads

 

Review - Queen of the Universe by Geralyn Corcillo

SUMMARY
TV writer extraordinaire Lola Scott is about to lose her show because she still hasn't cast the role of Sam Destry, the dark, brooding bounty hunter. But then the PERFECT man for the part walks into her office—Arlen Black. One problem, though. He's not an actor there to audition. Nope. He's the handyman Lola hired to renovate her historic Hollywood house.  

No problem. Lola gleefully offers him the dream job of a lifetime. No dice—the stoic recluse in a tool belt wants nothing to do with Lola and her show. But Lola doesn't give up. She goes after Arlen using every trick she can think of, but her Hollywood machinations just bounce right off him.   

Why can't she get a bead on this guy?  

A scrambling Lola is about to get the ax when Arlen surprises her socks off and signs on to play Sam. She has no idea why he changed his mind, but she doesn't have time to stop and think about it. Not when she has to get him camera-ready, suppress her totally unprofessional attraction to him, and hide from the studio exec, her million-dollar leading lady, and the world at large that her ace-in-the-hole leading man is really just her sexy handyman.  

When the stellar pilot garners media accolades, Hollywood gossip sinks its claws into Arlen. One paparazzi photo threatens to destroy everything he holds dear, and at last Lola understands why he upended his life to do the show and save her career. Now she's got to move heaven and Earth not to save the show … but to save Arlen.

MY REVIEW 
I love the concept of this book!  Real world meets Hollywood Glam!  It will pull you in right from the very beginning!  

Lola Scott is a TV Writer who can work wonders on just about any TV issue that can happen!  Now, can she turn HER TV show into reality or will she go down in history for this one failure never to be heard from again?

Lola and Ray (her trusty sidekick who is truly hilarious on all accounts) are in trouble...they can't find anyone to play the part of Sam, the mysterious man that lives next store.  What exactly will Lola do if she can't find a leading man in time?

Then HE walks in...Sam...the man she has always dreamed about...BUT WAIT, this man isn't even an actor?

Arlen Black stopped by the set to get details from Lola regarding renovations on her house and he doesn't realized what crazy dream he just walked into!  He doesn't realize what just happened to him in the matter of a Hollywood Minute.

Lola manages to talk him into reading for the part with her and the kiss, wow that kiss!  All in the name of the show right?  Or was it?

And this is where the crazy whirlwind begins...Will Lola win Arlen over?  Will her agree to play same?  Will she fall in love with this man and not even know it?  

Geralyn will keep you intrigued from beginning to end, you will never know what will happen from one chapter to the next!  

Sit back and grab your favorite bottle of wine and enjoy every minute!  

WINE SELECTION 
I will gear my wine selection today to the brooding, handsome Arlen - I'm going to pick a deep red wine - 
Apothic Red from California - Enjoy! 

MY RATING 
I give this fun Hollywood tale of love and desire, 5 wine glasses!  I couldn't stop reading, I always needed to know more!  (I truly hope there is another book in the mix for this amazing cast of characters!)