So Not Happening by Jenny B. Jones Published by Thomas Nelson Genre: Chick Lit/Mom Lit/Lady Lit ISBN #978-1-59554-541-1 Reviewed by: Debbie Archer Order Now!
So Not Happening is Jenny B. Jones at her best! This first book in her new "A Charmed Life" series, is spunky, real and hilarious! She weaves God into this awesome YA story the way we should weave Him into our lives. I can't wait for my students to read this one. They LOVED The Katie Parker series. They will ADORE Bella Kirkwood! Way to go, Jenny!

Out of Her Hands by Megan DiMaria Published by Tyndale Fiction Genre: Chick Lit/Mom Lit/Lady Lit ISBN #9781414318882 Reviewed by: Chandra Lynn Smith Order Now!

Out of her Hands By: Megan DiMaria In the sequel to her first book, Searching for Spice, Megan has written a book that will touch the heart of any mother. Whether you are a new mom filled with dreams of your child's future, a middle mom struggling through the turbulent teen years, or an empty-nester, there is something for you in this book. With skill, heart, and humor, Megan took us back into the life of Linda Revere as her nest is emptying. Linda has always held high hopes for her children's futures and trusts every prayer prayed for them will come to fruition. So, when her son, Nick, begins dating a young woman who isn't exactly what Linda expected, Linda's well-ordered life gets a little challenged. Her widowed father-in-law begins a new relationship, her best friend announces a move across the country, and her daughter prepares to go to college in the fall. Linda feels the fabric of her life unravel. The harder she tries to control the world and events around her, the less control she actually has. It is not until she realizes everything is out of her hands that she can see the joy before her in life as it changes. This is a tender story of love and trial and children growing up. Megan has a keen grasp on the differences between sons and daughters and the ways they relate to their parents. You will find yourself agreeing and disagreeing with each of the characters. And within the pages you will find the beauty of a family that loves each other and God and works through everything together. I enjoyed this book even more than the first one. If you haven't read Searching for Spice I recommend it. However, Out of Her Hands stands alone and will be enjoyed even without reading book one.

Only Uni by Camy Tang Published by Zondervan Genre: Chick Lit/Mom Lit/Lady Lit ISBN #0-310-27399-4 Reviewed by: Diana Lesire Brandmeyer Order Now!

Only Uni by Cami Tang This is Trish Sakai's story and yet it becomes your story or the story of someone you know. Trish has truly found God, but doesn't quite understand she isn't required to follow man made rules to be devoted to Him. Trish's culture is very different from my own Midwest upbringing making this story unique for me. I enjoyed learning about her Asian culture, which is a character of its own. Tang has a fresh way of integrating the Christian message in her books. I read the last page and my desire to know became a raging fire. I want to know more about Christ and what God desires for me. With her sassy dialogue and intriguing characters Tang brings the reality of living a Christ-filled life into the real world-a world where people fumble, take wrong turns and find out they are still loved by family, friends and God. Tangs writing is fun, engaging and encouraging. Get this book, but first if you haven't read it get Sushi for One, then prepare for a fun evening of reading because you won't want to put these books down. You may not even want to loan them to your friends because they are books you'll want to read again.

The Big Picture by Jenny B. Jones Published by Think Genre: Chick Lit/Mom Lit/Lady Lit ISBN #9781600062087 Reviewed by: Chandra Lynn Smith Order Now!

Katie Parker returns in this third book in the Katie Parker Production Series. Jenny B. Jones has once again written an entertaining story of youth, trials, faith, and forgiveness. Sometime when you get to the third book in a series, the story has weakened and the characters lost some charm. This is not the case with The Big Picture. You will welcome the opportunity to become involved in Katie Parker's life again. She settles into life in her foster home, and then her mother gets out of rehab and reclaims custody. Katie must move back to her mother's home and start again. She leaves her best friend and her boyfriend, who appears to be more focused on his ex than her. As she starts over in the new location her new-found faith struggles to understand God's plan. Katie makes friends with another young man who never questions her background, but always manages to be by her side when she needs help. When the situation with her mother changes for the worse and becomes dangerous, Katie's life seems condemned much like the local drive-in, The Big Picture. As she and her friends, both new and old, work to save the local landmark, Katie faces destruction in her world. Her mother returns to the old criminal ways. Can one lonely teenage girl find a happy ever after in a life is tough world? The Big Picture is an excellent book which I highly recommend. The final book in the Katie Parker series leaves you hoping maybe someday to return to the small town of In Between. Jenny B. Jones has a creative way of writing from the point of view of a teenage girl trying to find her way in a lost world. You will laugh, cry, and sigh with contentment as you read this book. I also recommend the first two books in the series, In Between and On the Loose.

Table for One by Georgiana Daniels Published by Wild Rose Press Genre: Chick Lit/Mom Lit/Lady Lit ISBN #978-1601541673 Reviewed by: Michelle Sutton @ http://edgyinspirationalauthor.blogspot.com or www.michellesutton.net Order Now!

Table for One was laugh out loud funny. I mean really funny. I felt bad for poor Lucy who seemed to make more bad decisions than good ones, but I loved her anyway. She was a great heroine. Edgar was a fabulous hero, too, even if he was a momma's boy. I don't think I would've handled his mother as graciously as Lucy had. My favorite line in the story is Cricket. Cricket. That is during a part of the story where everything stops and no one makes a sound. Isn't that a fabulous way to describe how things go quiet and everyone stares at you. :) I totally loved the author's voice and I think she did a great job with the first person present tense point of view. That is very difficult, but she pulled it off. And this story was mercifully free of cliches. The hilarious thoughts and comments that Lucy had were incredibly well-thought out and very funny. This story touched my heart and tickled my funny bone at the same time. The spiritual arc was superb. I just can't say enough good things about Table for One. I'm thoroughly impressed!

Beach Dreams by Trish Perry Published by Harvest House Genre: Chick Lit/Mom Lit/Lady Lit ISBN #978-0-7369-2446-7 Reviewed by: Chandra Lynn Smith Order Now!

Trish Perry has done it again. She takes an interesting cast of characters, places them in a picturesque setting, provides them with multiple challenges, and makes her readers laugh and cry and not accomplish anything else until the book is finished! Tiffany LeBouf, who we learned to dislike in Trish's first two books, is the heroine in this one. Tiff returns home after caring for her dying mother to find her job is gone and her life is pretty much on hold. A trip to a beach house in southern California with her father seems the perfect chance to relax and regroup. But a mix-up in booking means she is sharing the house with obnoxious Eve, girlfriend of handsome Jeremy. Sparks fly between Tiff and Eve. When Jeremy shows up to surprise Eve, a different kind of spark ignites between him and Tiff. The little beach house will not hold all of them and nothing can hold all of its occupants little secrets. This book is thoroughly entertaining and touching. Trish has mastered the art of telling a deep story using humor and characters so real you are sure they could be your next door neighbors. I highly recommend Beach Dreams. I also recommend the first two books, The Guy I'm Not Dating, and Too Good To Be True. I, for one, can't wait to see what Trish Perry has in store for us.

Beach Dreams by Trish Perry Published by Harvest House Genre: Chick Lit/Mom Lit/Lady Lit ISBN #9780736924467 Reviewed by: Michelle Sutton @ http://edgyinspirationalauthor.blogspot.com or www.michellesutton.net Order Now!

After having read Too Good to be True and The Guy I'm Not Dating, both written by Trish Perry, I was eagerly anticipating the return of her characters. I was thrilled to discover that Jeremy was back, and this time this hot Brit's the hero! I hadn't read the first two books in the beach house series by Sally John, but frankly that didn't matter because the characters in the story were from Trish's previous series. And let me tell you what I love about her writing. She really knows how to write about relationships. I loved the setting and the activities that took place. The language used by the English was quite fun, if you fancy that sort of thing, LOL! Anyway, Tiffany, the mean girl from the first two books who was humbled and softened at the end of book two, returns in this story as the heroine. She still fights the urge to tell people off and resists the temptation to return to her old ways on occasion, but that made her more real to me. There were two different times when I got choked up toward the end of this story. I can't tell you what those things were that emotionally moved me because it would spoil the story, but I'll just say that sometimes what you think people believed about you and what you think they meant is not always true. That's the beauty of learning to communicate from the heart. While this book is a great beach read and loads of fun, it's by no means shallow, and on occasion it contains excellent insight into spiritual matters. And those almost-kisses were pure torture! I'm just sad the story had to end.

In the Dead of Winter by Nancy Mehl Published by Heartsong Genre: Suspense/Mystery/Thriller ISBN #9781597895224 Reviewed by: Sharon Dunn Order Now!

The cozy mystery is probably my favorite sub-genre of mysteries, so I was excited to see Heartsong release this new line of books. In the Dead of Winter by Nancy Mehl is the first Heartsong mystery I have read. Mehl creates a mystery that has all the cozy elements: the small town, Winter Break, Kansas; an amateur sleuth, college student Ivy Towers; and charming cast of supporting characters. Ivy returns to Winter Break in a snowstorm to bury a beloved Aunt. But Aunt Bitty’s fall from a ladder in her bookstore may not have been an accident. The element of romance is thrown into the mix in the form of Amos Parker, a childhood friend of Ivy’s, who is now a deputy sheriff. Mehl put together a trail of clues and suspects that is easy to follow while still keeping me guessing about the murderer until the end of the book. Also, each member of the supporting cast is described and defined in such a way that they are realistic, three dimensional and memorable. While complying with all the expectations I had for a cozy, I liked that Nancy adds some updated touches. The first person narrative and light humor had just a hint of chick lit. I liked that even though Ivy is a Christian, she has unresolved issue with her Christian parents which made the story more realistic and created strong reader identity. Reading In the Dead of Winter has made me want to pick up more Heartsong mysteries.

The Big Picture by Jenny B. Jones Published by Think Genre: Chick Lit/Mom Lit/Lady Lit ISBN #9781600062087 Reviewed by: G. Hoffman Order Now!

What’s not to love? Take a quirky (make that really quirky) foster grandmother, a tough situation with her real mom, add a little romance, and you get Katie Parker. The Big Picture was an awesome, can’t-put-it-down book. The hilarious schemes of Maxine (Katie’s foster grandma) left me laughing out loud (and cringing at times). Katie’s behavior and thoughts, especially with her just out of jail mom, were so honest and real. I couldn’t help but feel connected to Katie. It’s a fantastic book! You’ve gotta read it!

On the Loose by Jenny B. Jones Published by Think Genre: Chick Lit/Mom Lit/Lady Lit ISBN #978-1-60006-115-8 Reviewed by: Chandra Lynn Smith Order Now!

What a delightful read! Jenny B. Jones has done it again with her second Katie Parker Production book. Katie Parker moved in with her foster parents, James and Millie, six months ago and has adjusted well. Life is finally settling for her. Then a tornado hits her town of In Between and leaves more than just debris and broken houses in its wake. Immediately after the tornado, Katie's world is invaded when Maxine her eccentric foster grandmother, moves in with them temporarily. Maxine's apartment was damaged by the storm. Maxine invades Katie's bedroom, space, privacy and life. As Katie tries to adjust to that, the family finds out Millie has breast cancer. The rattles Katie's already weakened sense of security. Will James and Millie want her around as they deal with this cancer? Or will they send her back to the children's home? Add to these circumstances, relationship issues at school between Katie and her best friends, preparations with her drama classmates for a school show, the school science fair, a bully girl named Angel, her own attraction to the school's version of Prince Charming, and Katie's life becomes worse than the tornado that hit her town. Can Katie find her way through the whirlwind of her life to the things that matter most and realize the love and family she always wanted is truly right at her fingertips? Jenny Jones wrote a most entertaining book. Katie is a likable teenage girl and your heart will be drawn to her life. As you read this book you will laugh out loud one minute and wipe away tears the next.I highly recommend this book for teens and up. Wait until the end when you realize you have fallen in love with Charlie Benson, too. I look forward to the next Katie Parker book.