Publisher: Ballantine Books
Release Date: July 26, 2016 (first published May 2015)
Format: Hardcover
Pages: 352
Source: Publicist/Publisher
Genre: Chick Lit, Contemporary Fiction
​Rating: 4 bookmarks

Synopsis: Stella Carey has good reason to only work nights at the hospice where she is a nurse. Married to a war veteran who has returned from Afghanistan brutally injured, Stella leaves the house each night as her husband Vincent, locks himself away, unable to sleep due to Post Traumatic Stress Disorder.

*This book was provided by the publicist/publisher in exchange for a honest review
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I am a nurse. I have been for 10 years. Over half of that is in the emergency room. I have dealt with car accidents, work-related accidents, domestic violence, acutely ill children, and sometimes, all of that in one day.

I am not, nor will I ever be, brave enough to be a hospice nurse. 
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You see, hospice nurses are a rare breed. They take care of the patients that have no hope of getting better. They make the transition through death as painless as possible for these souls, and in the process, oftentimes become part of the patient’s family. My heart just couldn’t handle that.

Publisher:  Pamela Dorman Book/Viking​ 
Release Date: January 30, 2018
Format: Hardcover
Pages: 400
Source: Publicist/Publisher
Genre: Contemporary Fiction, Chick Lit
​Rating: 4 bookmarks

Synopsis: Louisa Clark arrives in New York ready to start a new life, confident that she can embrace this new adventure and keep her relationship with Ambulance Sam alive across several thousand miles. She steps into the world of the superrich, working for Leonard Gopnik and his much younger second wife, Agnes. Lou is determined to get the most out of the experience and throws herself into her new job and New York life. 

As she begins to mix in New York high society, Lou meets Joshua Ryan, a man who brings with him a whisper of her past. Before long, Lou finds herself torn between Fifth Avenue where she works and the treasure-filled vintage clothing store where she actually feels at home. And when matters come to a head, she has to ask herself: Who is Louisa Clark? And how do you reconcile a heart that lives in two places?

​* This book was provided by Penguin Random House in exchange for an honest review.

​First, I must say that I really loved Me Before You, it’s a book that sticks with you forever.  Then I read After You and while I didn’t enjoy it as much as the first book, I was satisfied finding out what happened to Louisa. Now we have Still Me, the third installment. I recommend that you read the first two books before reading Still Me. You'll need the context from past books. Same as previous books, this is told from Louisa's point of view.  I'd consider this both a contemporary romance and women's fiction, probably in the Chick Lit sub genre.

Publisher: She Writes Press
Release Date: May 2, 2017
Format: Hardcover
Pages: 275
Source: Publicist
Genre: Womens Fiction, Chick Lit
Rating: 3 bookmarks

Synopsis:Letting go after her abrupt break-up with Samson is harder than Julene thought it would be, especially since her ex has wasted no time in burying himself in the local dating scene. But during an extended visit to her parents overseas, Julene rediscovers her love of art, and a burgeoning career develops. Samson, on the other hand, after trying valiantly--and unsuccessfully--to forget Julene, has settled instead on his own new career. 

When Julene returns home to Australia, a coincidental meeting leads to an emotional reunion--but her love and patience will be tested when she finds out just how busy Samson has been in her absence. Yes, they have both made mistakes they can work through and move past--but when a specter from Samson's past looms, Julene wonders: Can she trust him again?

* This book was provided by BookSparks in exchange for an honest review.

Micayla Lally really knows how to draw you into her book! Told by back and forth perspectives of the two main characters, Julene and Samson, you get a great view of how their lives have shaped them post-breakup. The characters start out in a Yin and Yang-type fashion, one doing amazingly with a new, optimistic start to their life, and the other in a downward-spiral that made them a hard character to like. The juicy plot gets to a great start and I couldn’t put it down for the first few chapters.
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… However, that’s where my interest peaked. The next 150 pages were spent forcing myself through unrealistic character interaction, awkward dialogue and not too much actual plot development. The chapters started out with colorful detail, but quickly turned into choppy descriptions that read more like a list of their daily activities. There were so many opportunities to develop scenes, slow down the pace, and create compelling interaction with secondary characters; but every time Lally got close, it would cut to the next scene. The only thing keeping me going was the thought that “there HAS to be a climax coming at some point.” 

Publisher: Berkley Books | Penguin Audio
Release Date: May 2, 2017
Format: Audio MP3
Pages: Hardcover: 368 pages | Audio Length: 9 hours 51 mins
Narrator: Emily Rankin ​
Source: Publisher
Genre: Women’s Fiction, Chick Lit​
​Rating: 3 bookmarks

​​Synopsis: Lilian Girvan has been a single mother for three years—ever since her husband died in a car accident. One mental breakdown and some random suicidal thoughts later, she’s just starting to get the hang of this widow thing. She can now get her two girls to school, show up to work, and watch TV like a pro. The only problem is she’s becoming overwhelmed with being underwhelmed. 
 
At least her textbook illustrating job has some perks—like actually being called upon to draw whale genitalia. Oh, and there’s that vegetable-gardening class her boss signed her up for. Apparently, being the chosen illustrator for a series of boutique vegetable guides means getting your hands dirty, literally. Wallowing around in compost on a Saturday morning can’t be much worse than wallowing around in pajamas and self-pity. 
 
After recruiting her kids and insanely supportive sister to join her, Lilian shows up at the Los Angeles botanical garden feeling out of her element. But what she’ll soon discover—with the help of a patient instructor and a quirky group of gardeners—is that into every life a little sun must shine, whether you want it to or not…

*This audiobook was provided by the publisher in exchange for a honest review.

Lilian lost her husband in a tragic car accident that she practically witnessed right outside her front door. She suffered a nervous breakdown after this incident and was hospitalized. Her supportive younger sister, Reichel, steps in to take care of her nieces, Annabel, age seven and Clare, age five.

The book opens with Lilian getting back to work as a textbook illustrator for Poplar Press and being a mom with her predictable routine of picking of the girls from school and typical mom stuff. But her routine is disrupted abruptly when her boss assigns her to a job to illustrate a book for the Bloem Company on vegetables and flowers, but there is a catch… she must attend a six-week gardening class. The class is instructed by the handsome Professor Edward Bloem who is also part owner of the Bloem Company. Lillian attends the classes with her daughters and her sister Reichel. However during the course, Lilian’s attraction to Edward “blooms”, but she struggles with it because she can’t seem to move past her love for her dead ​husband Dan. However, she soon finds out that love and gardening have a lot in common.

 Publisher: William Morrow and Harper Audio
Release Date: March 15, 2016 (first published July 7, 2015) 
Format: Hardcover/MP3
Pages: 256 / Audio Length: Approx 6.5 hours
Narrator: Katie Schorr
Source: Publisher/Scribd
Genre: Contemporary Romance, Chick Lit
Review Date: August 10, 2016
Rating: 3 bookmarks

Synopsis: Star quarterback, first-round draft-pick, and heartthrob Tyson Palmer has made a name for himself with his spectacular moves. When the head coach of the Austin Mavericks refuses to let him waste his million-dollar arm, Tyson makes a Hail Mary pass at redemption and succeeds with everyone . . . except Dani, whose negative comments about his performance draw high ratings and spectacular notices of her own.

Dani can’t forgive Tyson’s transgressions or forget the sizzling history the two of them shared in college, a passionate love Tyson casually threw away. And even more infuriating, he doesn’t realize that the bombshell with huge ratings is the cute girl whose heart he once broke.

But can a woman trying to claw her way to the top and a quarterback who knows all about rock bottom make it to the Super Bowl without destroying each other? And what will happen when Tyson—riding high now that he’s revived his career—realizes he needs to make an even more important comeback with Dani? Can he make some spectacular moves to get past her defenses—or will she sideline him for good? 

*Disclaimer: This book was given to myself and the rest of my real world book club. No review was promised.

This upcoming weekend, my book club (Girlfriends Literary Group), will be meeting to discuss this summer read. As the cover indicates, it's a fun, bubble gum sweet story. Following the romance standard formula, The Total Package delivers romance filled with angst, misunderstandings, sexual attraction, and more.

Hey bookish friends,

Today I have another audiobook listen/book reading mashup! I've been doing alot of this type of reading in the last few months.  I like it.

The Girl You Left Behind was one of the faster Moyes reads. I finished this book in 2 days! Of which, one of those days was a work day, so I only got a couple hours in reading and the rest of the work day I was listening to the audiobook. Followed by a Saturday of reading to finish the 2nd half of the book.

​Publisher: Pamela Dorman Books | Penguin Audio
Release Date: August 20, 2013 (first published 2012)
Format: Hardcover & Audio MP3
Pages: 369 pages | Audio Length: Approx 13 hours
Narrators: Clare Corbett, Penny Rawlins​
Source: Paperback courtesy of the Publisher & Scribd audiobook 
Genre: Historical Fiction, Chick Lit 
Review Date: December 30, 2015
Rating: 4 bookmarks

​Synopsis: In 1916, French artist Edouard Lefevre leaves his wife Sophie to fight at the Front. When her town falls into German hands, his portrait of Sophie stirs the heart of the local Kommandant and causes her to risk everything - her family, reputation and life—in the hope of seeing her true love one last time.

Nearly a century later and Sophie's portrait is given to Liv by her young husband shortly before his sudden death. Its beauty speaks of their short life together, but when the painting's dark and passion-torn history is revealed, Liv discovers that the first spark of love she has felt since she lost him is threatened...

In The Girl You Left Behind two young women, separated by a century, are united in their determination to fight for the thing they love most—whatever the cost.

Disclaimer: This US hardcover edition of this book was given to me courtesy of the publisher in exchange for an honest review.

​The story jumps back in forth in time, modern day London and 1916 France. While it is a dual timeline, the story was still easy to follow.  In the present day, Liv is fighting to keep in her position a painting that her deceased husband gifted to her.  That painting is called The Girl You Left Behind. Said photo is of Sophie - which her painter husband painted of her in 1916 before he was sent off to war shortly after the Germans occupied France.  

The Girl You Left Behind has a very interesting premise with an engaging story. The main focus of this century long story are Liv and Sophie, but as the story goes on, lots of characters are introduced, including Paul, who is the man that Liv meets and starts to date during her fight for the painting.  The secondary characters, both then and now all add an additional and purposeful layer of drama and depth to the storylines. We experience love then loss with Sofie and then we get to experience the opposite of a loss followed by love with Liv.  

Happy Monday friends,

I have an hot book review for you on this Monday morning.  Start the week of with picking up this read.  If you've read Me Before You, by Jojo Moyes, I know you've been looking forward to the long awaited sequel. We get to look into Louisa's life 18 months after Will's suicide,

In addition to the review, thanks to Penguin Random House, you have a chance to win a copy of your own! Also check out the online book club kit included in this post and feel free to share with your reading group!

Publisher: Pamela Dorman Books 
Release Date: September 29, 2015 (first published September 23, 2015)
Format: Hardcover
Pages: 352 pages
Source: Publisher
Genre: Chick Lit
Review Date: October 5, 2015
Recorded: October 2015
Rating: 4 bookmarks

Synopsis: Louisa Clark is no longer just an ordinary girl living an ordinary life. After the transformative six months spent with Will Traynor, she is struggling without him. When an extraordinary accident forces Lou to return home to her family, she can’t help but feel she’s right back where she started.

Her body heals, but Lou herself knows that she needs to be kick-started back to life. Which is how she ends up in a church basement with the members of the Moving On support group, who share insights, laughter, frustrations, and terrible cookies. They will also lead her to the strong, capable Sam Fielding—the paramedic, whose business is life and death, and the one man who might be able to understand her. Then a figure from Will’s past appears and hijacks all her plans, propelling her into a very different future. . . .

For Lou Clark, life after Will Traynor means learning to fall in love again, with all the risks that brings. But here Jojo Moyes gives us two families, as real as our own, whose joys and sorrows will touch you deeply, and where both changes and surprises await.

Disclaimer: This book was given to me courtesy of the publisher in exchange for an honest review.

The story was cohesive and flowed smoothly. There were glimpses into the past, so for those of use that haven't read Me Before You in a long time, you'll get some mini memory refreshers.  ​Moyes is a talented author with the ability to really draw you into a story and make you care for the characters. It's a real talent.
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Watch my video review on my BookTube channel to get the full scoop on After You.

If you enjoyed Me Before You or if you're a fan of Jojo Moyes books, then you'll want to check out After You.