women’s fiction

The August Plan…

Posted on by The Novel Girl

Happy Monday, everyone!!

I can’t believe that August is already here!

This year feels like it has flown by, and we are getting close to my favorite time of the year: Fall!! Unfortunately, for me, this year the Fall season is bringing me back to school. I’ve decided to pursue another degree, and I start back in September. That means that I am trying to get in as much fun reading as I can this month!

I am going to try to get through as many of these as possible before the Fall quarter starts:

I am currently reading Three Women by Lisa Taddeo, which I am enjoying. I’m also making my way through Preacher for the first time, and wondering why I’ve waited so long to read it!

What are your reading plans for August? Do you have any big upcoming plans for fall?

What should I read next?!

Let me know your thoughts!!

Have a great week!

Always,

T

Pretty Guilty Women

Posted on by The Novel Girl

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Author: Gina LaManna

Genre: Thriller

Publisher: Sourcebooks Landmarks

Pages: 336

Four old college roommates, all who’ve grown apart, reunite as Whitney is to become the new Mrs. Banks at a posh resort wedding. They each have their own reasons for attending, aside from seeing Whitney wed. If nothing, it should be a relaxing weekend at the fancy resort. 

Lulu is on her latest rich husband, a Banks relative, and they are coming up on their five year mark. She is sure that her husband is hiding something, and she plans to use this trip to find out what is going on and save her marriage. Something, however, goes terribly wrong at the Banks wedding. Someone’s dead. Four separate women confess to committing the murder alone. Why would the all confess? Who is telling the truth? 

I’ve read several of Gina LaManna’s Magic & Mixology series books, so I was very excited to receive the ARC to this book. For some reason, I always enjoy reading a great thriller in the summer, and this one didn’t disappoint. I loved that, like her previous series, this is full of strong female characters. All of these characters have a great story and are well developed. Even if you don’t love them right away, you come to root for them in the end. By the end of the book, I wanted to hang out and have some wine with these ladies! The author used descriptions freely, but not so much that they got in the way of the story. The plot moved along at a steady pace, with no very slow places. This book felt very much in the same arena as Big Little Lies, Not That I Could Tell, etc, with that great blend of women’s fiction and thriller. If you are a fan of those, I feel that you would really enjoy this. I look forward to reading more from this author! (P.S. If you’re a fan of books with a lot of fun and magic- check out her Magic & Mixology series! I love it!)

This releases on 9/3/19. 

Many thanks to the publisher for the ARC! 

The McAvoy Sisters Book of Secrets

Posted on by The Novel Girl

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Author: Molly Fader

Genre: Women’s Fiction

Publisher: Graydon House

Pages: 368

Seventeen years after their last summer together, the one that drove them apart, the McAvoy sisters have moved on. Lindy has a new life in the city and never returned home. Delia, on the other hand, never left and raises her daughters in their hometown. Now, with their mother’s health going downhill and her daughter rebelling, Delia must welcome Lindy and her helping hands home. This may give them both a chance to get back something that they’ve both been missing. When old secrets surface, will it drive them further apart or finally bring the McAvoy sisters back together? 

This is the first book that I have ready by this author. It is a very well written and poignant family drama. The characters were well written, well developed, and thoroughly fleshed out. The main characters really give you someone to root for, which is always nice! The plot was well paced and didn’t feel like slowed in many places, as can happen sometimes in family dramas. The book finished well, and it didn’t feel like the author rushed the ending to tie things up. Overall, I really enjoyed this book and I’m happy to have read it! 

This book releases on July 16, so if this sounds like something you’d like there’s plenty of time to pre-order! 

Many thanks to the publisher for the review copy!! 

 

Sisters of Spirit

Posted on by The Novel Girl

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Author: Annette Blair, Lynn Jenssen, Christine Mazurk, Jeanine Duval Spikes

Genre: Women’s Fiction

Publisher: Seaside Publications

Pages: 342

 

This is a lovely anthology that tells the stories of four ladies- Marina, Bryce, Clara, and Anastasia- who are drawn to one another by something deeper than merely their friendship, or the blood that bonds traditional family. They are bonded by spirit. This bond makes them feel as though they have been not only friends, but sisters their whole lives. One day, while walking along the beach with one another, each sister finds an item that set her on her own special course. One is having a marital crisis, while one is having a crisis of confidence. Another sister wonders if she can trust the man that she is working for, while the last questions whether she can help someone without losing her own heart along the way.

Each author tells the story of a different sister. When reading the stories of these Spirit Sisters, the reader can tell that these fantastic authors have their own spiritual connection to one another. While the reader is able to discern the individual voice of the author, they flow together in a way that really makes this anthology work well. Each story is short enough to read in a sitting, but fully developed enough to leave the reader satisfied. If you’re a fan of women’s fiction, go ahead and grab this one up! You won’t be disappointed!

 

Pre-Order the re-released anthology, Available April 21!