Book Review: Love at First Date ( Better Date Than Never 1)

Book Title: Love at First Date ( Better Date Than Never 1)

Author: Susan Hatler|Website| Twitter| Facebook|

Publisher: Hatco Inc
Genre: Romance
Series/Standalone: Series
Format: ebook

Cost: $2.99

Pages: 85

How I got it: Kindle Freebie

Purchase: Amazon | Barnes & Noble |
Publication Date: 10/2012
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Synopsis:

Ellen may not believe in storybook love, but it’s about to rewrite her life . . . Ellen’s figured out that finding the right guy is all about compatibility. That’s why she signs up for Detailed Dating—the local online dating scene in Sacramento. They ask men the hard questions, compare their answers with hers, then she filters through the profiles of each provided “match.” After numerous email exchanges, she narrows it down to two promising candidates she’s excited to meet in person. When Ellen’s best friend asks her for a favor, dog-sitting leads to disaster and Ellen ends up at the local vet where she meets a man she can’t get out of her mind. Henry isn’t a logical choice, but she finds herself paying for dog obedience class to spend more time with him. Ellen knows that in order to have a lasting relationship, she should take the safe route and go for one of the pre-screened guys. But, how can she think with her head when her heart keeps begging her to give Henry a chance?

This one was hilarious, it's the start of a fun little series by the auhtor and i', enjoyeing myself immesnly.  Ellen creates a profile online looking for the perfect guy, but she also gets roped into taking care of her friend's dog.  As with all stupid pets the dog eats his way throguh her pocketbook and she rushes him to the local vet, There she meets Henry a ho hunk of a man, but he doesn't have any of the qualities she requires from a guy. Or so she thinks

I loved reading this story and getting in the characters' heads and seeing how they thought. It made for some seriously funny moments.  Poor Ellen doesn't believe love and ever after because her mom never met a man she could keep.  Because of that Ellen went about love differently and yet when faced with having to change she fought it a little more than necessary.

I really loved the ending of this novel and don't want to spoil it but man oh man was Henry amazing!!! I loved that even though this was a romance novel, the author managed to make the characters liekable and relateable, she made Ellen a character you wanted to route for.  I loved reading her friendships, and can't wait to learn more about the other women in the series.

 ★★★★☆

i Highly recommend this book and the series to follow ( as I have read two others already)
Happy Reading

Book Review: Truth or Date (Better Date Than Never 2)

Book Title: Truth Or Date ( Better Date Than Never 2)
Author: Susan Hatler |Website| Twitter| Facebook|

Publisher: Hatco Inc
Genre: Romance
Series/Standalone: Series
Format: ebook

Cost: $2.99

Pages: 188

How I got it: NetGalley

Purchase: Amazon | Barnes & Noble |
Publication Date: 4/2013
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Synopsis:

(Better Date than Never series, Book #2) Gina Hall is done with men who won’t commit. Ten years waiting for her ex to propose wasted her time. Never again. When her friend Kristen starts a game of Truth or Dare, she dares Gina to go on a date with Ethan, who’s amazing and total marriage material. As Gina plans the going away party for office playboy Chris Bradley, she spontaneously initiates a game of Truth or Dare with him. When his turn comes around, he dares Gina to pose as his girlfriend to help get a flirty colleague off his back. Gina finds playing couple with Chris way too much fun. Even though Gina and Chris are pretending, their relationship begins to feel painfully real. Fearing she might be falling for another fly-by man, Gina must focus on Ethan so she doesn’t make the same dating mistakes all over again.

I lol'd a lot reading this book. The characters were quirky and funny. Gina's relationship ended badly I mean really though all that time and no ring or date picked out?? NO madam.  I loved catching up with Gina who made a few appearances in the first book in the series.

After her breakup Gina has decided that men aren't for her for a while, yet she finds herself playing Truth or Dare with office friend Chris who is leaving soon. When Chris needs to make an impression he dares Gina to help him out and she goes for it. What Gina doesn't know is how much Chris has liked her and now that he's leaving the company policy no longer counters that and she's now free, Yeah you know where this is going... let the shenanigans Begin!!,

Gina didn't realize at first that she had a thing for Chris; it wasn't until another woman started making advances that she began to clue into her true feelings. Due to her previous relationship she still has some issues with her sense of self worth, and attractiveness and I could totally relate to he feeling blue when it seemed another girl had gotten his attention.  She was relateable and real and I loved every moment of her coming back to herself.

It was awesome to read Gina's reawakening, as she's been off the market so long she doesn't know how to do this fake dating thing, but boy oh boy Chris is hell bent on showing her.  I really loved them together.

I really loved how much emotion was packed into this small book and how well Susan wrote the converging of a relationship.  It was realistic and so well done.  I just loved how everything flowed and how well each scene was depicted.

I also enjoyed the little side characters & the side stories that were being told, the foundation for the other books being laid out so you kinda knew the next story. Of course I'm going to get those as well.

*I want to note that I received this from NetGalley then forgetting that I had the review copy purchased the second & third books from Amazon.  They had given the first book away for free and that one hooked me in.  It's both a review copy and a purchased book and neither of those influenced my review*

 ★★★★☆

I highly recommend the series, it's fun, funny and a romping good time
Happy Reading

Month In Review: September

Where the heck did the month go?? Why is it already about to be October???  I can't believe this it's only a few more weeks until my favorite time of year. Samhain and then after that Yule!!! (otherwise known as Halloween and Christmas to you muggles).

Well, I new I wasn't going to complete the 30 books but I did come pretty darn close, I'm breaking the books down by genre so here it goes.

Adult Books:

Erotica


Young Adult Books

Well there you have it folks. 16 Books!!!  What did y'all do for the month?? I can't wait to hear from y'all share in the comments down below and I'll be sure to swing on by to check them out.

What's going on your TBR for October?? I'm picking some horror/paranormal romance what about you??

Book Review: Survival Lessons

Book Title: Survival Lessons
Author:  Alice Hoffman |Website| Facebook|

Publisher: Algonquin Books by Chapel Hill
Publication Date: October 1, 2013
Genre: Inspirational
Format: Hardcover

Cost: $13.95

Pages: 96

How I got it: Book Expo America 2013

Purchase:Amazon | Barnes & Noble | 
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Synopsis:

Fifteen years ago, Alice Hoffman received a diagnosis that changed everything about the life she d been living. Most significant aside from the grueling physical ordeal she underwent was the way it changed how she felt inside and what she thought she out to be doing with her days. Now she has written the book that she needed to read then. In this honest, wise, and upbeat guide, Alice Hoffman provides a road map for the making of one s life into the very best it can be. As she says, In many ways I wrote this book to remind myself of the beauty of life, something that s all too easy to overlook during the crisis of illness or loss. There were many times when I forgot about roses and starry nights. I forgot that our lives are made up of equal parts sorrow and joy, and that it s impossible to have one without the other. . . . I wrote to remind myself that in the darkest hour the roses still bloom, the stars still come out at night. And to remind myself that, despite everything that was happening to me, there were still some choices I could make

I love Alice, yes, I love her so much, so when I heard she was going to be at BEA I was all over myself to get to her.  I got the book and I love it!!! As a long term disease sufferer, it's a pain in the rear to read books that try to make it sound like that you will be fine (you will be, but still don't invalidate my pain).

I read this book on the train and I was crying my eyes out, because it's so good to hear so many of these lessons from someone who has also suffered.  The book is small but she gets right to the point and shares what she has learnt during her years of chemo.

It's crazy to think all of this was happening and we didn't know about it.  I'm glad she is sharing with us now, This is a small but had quite a strong impact and I totally recommend this to anyone who loves to read survival stories.

 ★★★★★



Happy Reading my loves