Four Takeaways and a Funeral - Kerrie Noor

Four Takeaways and a Funeral: A Deliciously Succulent Comedy (Belly dancing and Beyond) By Kerrie Noor

Synopsis:

Mavis and Lumpy are getting married. It is to be a small affair with a hot and spicy theme, a few close friends, and a celebrant on Skype.

“We want no fuss,” said Mavis. “Just lots of food, great photos, and belly-dancing.”

However…

Mavis’s idea of hot and spicy is not Lumpy’s, and Lumpy’s idea of great photos is definitely not Mavis’s. Mavis and Lumpy find there is more to getting married than organizing the dips. And as their relationship spirals out of control Mavis loses her mother and must come to terms with a past she would rather forget.

With a funeral befitting a sitcom, sibling rivalry on a par with a Shakespearean tragedy and a dying mother’s impossible wish; Mavis and Lumpy relationship crumbles like a burnt chapatti.

And it is up to Nefertiti to make “things” right…so she thinks.

Review:

Four Takeaways and a Funeral by Kerrie Noor is a hilarious romp of a tale about a couple that are getting married and things get ridiculously out of control.

Mavis and Lumpy are the celebrated couple that are planning their wedding. Mavis has her idea of how she wants her wedding planned but Lumpy has other ideas. Mavis wants her wedding to be hot and spicy with lots of belly dancing and photos. Lumpy’s idea of hot and spicy is Indian food for their Scottish wedding.

Then there is Mavis’ sister, Fanny, who is always right about everything, causing a constant flow of sister rivalry. All of a sudden, Mavis’ mother passes away and there is a funeral in the mix.

Things spin out of control and Mavis and Lumpy are about to fall apart. But, in comes Nefertiti, the belly dancing instructor, to save the day.

Four Takeaways and a Funeral by Kerrie Noor is a down right funny comedy that readers will be thoroughly entertained by. The story is narrated by the eccentric belly dancing instructor, Nefertiti. She is always there doing crazy things and is best friends with Mavis. There are other quirky characters like the bag lady that is camped out in the backyard.

This book totally lives up to its description. I found myself laughing my head off on many occasions. The storyline and plot flow with ease. The characters are colorful and realistic at the same time. They are well developed and charming. I totally got into them and all their antics had me in stitches. The settings, food and people are described so vividly that I had a perfect picture in my mind of the whole scene.

There are many humorous situations going on and readers will be turning the pages quickly while laughing out loud hilariously. Witty and fun, Four Takeaways and a Funeral is an original work of humor and satire. It is written very well and has a completely unique plot and storyline. This is the first book in the series that I have read and it was easy for me to understand what was transpiring and simple to get to know the various charming characters. There are two previous books in the series that I am definitely going to read.

Kerrie Noor has a way with words that draws the reader in right from the very first chapter. Her style is completely different from anything I have read before and I loved every word of her quirky, unconventional book. It’s captivating, kooky and offbeat and perfect to cure the blues. I totally recommend this book to readers that love comedies and something different for a change. This book is a great escape from ordinary everyday life. Highly recommended by Chick Lit Cafe.

Purchase Four Takeaways and a Funeral @Amazon here

Knights After My Heart by Sonya Jesus - Book Review

Knights After My Heart by Sonya Jesus

Synopsis

Amelia’s past issues and personal time limits propel her into a relationship that alters her normal life at Westbrook University. Connor, her new potential boyfriend, triggers jealousy, rehashes old relationships, sparks new ones, and ignites a rage in others that will devastate her ordinary life. As she desperately tries to hold on to her pre-Connor life, she struggles to balance the new-found attention while trying to follow her heart. Something she realizes is complicated… very complicated – because her heart has no idea where it’s going.

Connor may be the change Lia is looking for, but he is certainly not the ending Hawk wants for his Queen. Hawk’s invested too much time in planning his future to let some random guy walk away with his happily ever after. He will do anything to protect her virtue, even if it means protecting her from herself because Amelia belongs to him.

He’s chosen her…

He’s watched her…

He’s studied her…

He knows everything there is to learn about her…

And when the time is right she will reign his heart.

Review:

Knights After My Heart by Sonya Jesus is an intriguing young adult book filled with twists and turns. The main character of the book is Amelia. Amelia has not had much success in the way of relationships.

But she has a prospective new boyfriend, Connor, who has been after her to be his girlfriend. She is somewhat reluctant and has always had a habit of shutting herself down when it comes to the men in her life when things get confining. The problem with Amelia accepting Connor as her boyfriend is complicated. It brings up issues of jealousy, past relationships, it brings on new ones, and sparks anger in others that could ruin her everyday life.

As a college student at Westbrook University and the possibility of a new boyfriend, Amelia has a lot going for her. But things are not that simple for this young women. And if she knew that a guy named Hawk, has beenstalking her, she would really be over the top devastated. Hawk wants Amelia to be his queen. He knows everything about her and has been studying her intently. Amelia’s best friend, Robins, is the ultimate friend and the guy that the girls all want to be with. Amelia is popular and seems to have it all. But, to what extent will Hawk go to in order to make Amelia his queen?

Knights After My Heart is one wild ride. It is a romantic mystery filled with fascinating characters and interesting plot twists. I couldn’t put it down and devoured it to the very last page, which was a cliffhanger, causing me to want to quickly get the next book in the series in my hands. With the appealing descriptions and activity of college life, all readers will love to reminisce and dream about college life. This is such an entertaining, beguiling, and riveting sexy story. Perfectly crafted with powerful believable characters.

The wonderful descriptive writing put me right on the scene watching on as the story unfolded. I could see and feel the emotions and relate to what the characters were going through.

The romance in this book is also unique and there is an unexpected twist in the form of a love triangle of sorts. This book is full of mystery with suspicious behavior making it an enthralling suspenseful novel to revel in and be startled by. I became unnerved on many occasions and was stricken speechless.

The characters are fabulous and well developed with strengths, flaws and attitudes. They are relatable and likable except for the questionable and somewhat creepy guy, Hawk. The story is told in two POV’s, Amelia’s and Hawk’s. It works well with in the storyline and flows seamlessly. I was fully impressed by the way Sonja Jesus wrote the dialogue between the characters. She has a unique original voice that resounds on every page. I am definitely going to read more from author Sonya Jesus. Chick Lit Cafe highly recommends Knights After My Heart by Sonya Jesus

Purchase Knights After My Heart @Amazon Here

Bittersweep by Wareeze Woodson - Book Review

Bittersweep by Wareeze Woodson

Synopsis:

Elizabeth lifted her chin. After fifteen years, she was back in Bittersweep, Texas, intent on discovering the reason she and her family were forced to leave without her mother in the wagon. Her memories were that of a five-year-old child, but she still recalled blowing cinders and ash rising over the treetops behind the wagon. She needed to know if her memory was accurate or clouded with age.

Under the assumed name of Campbell, she had accepted a teaching position in the small township. Her first encounter with the chairman of the school board was a disaster. He jerked her out of the way of a team of runaway horses dragging a heavy wagon directly toward her. Drat! She was off to a great start.

Review:

Elizabeth returns to the small township of Bittersweep, Texas, after leaving with her family fifteen years prior. She has some memories of her family’s forced departure from Bittersweep, and even at the young age of five, she keenly remembers that her mother was not with them when they left, but she wonders why. Elizabeth is haunted and determined to discover the reason why they were forced to leave and why her mother didn’t leave Bittersweep with them.

In the small town of Bittersweep, Elizabeth takes on the position of the local teacher under the assumed name of Campbell. She is also on a mission to find her mother’s treasured box. Elizabeth has a lot going on, including protecting her heart from the good-looking and striking chairman of the school board. Then she is falsely accused of murder. There are many questions and mysteries to be solved, like who was involved in the bank robbery, for one?

Wareeze Woodson has woven a wonderful historical fiction novel filled with intrigue and drama. The story and plot is full and complete, lacking nothing. There are twists and turns around every corner and plenty of mystery to keep this reader fully engaged from start to finish. There are a lot of well written, unexpected surprises in this engrossing story.

The excellent descriptive writing had me visualizing the settings, smells and people while putting me right on the scene set back in Texas in 1897. The author has a way with words that draws the reader in and holds their attention from the very first chapter.

Bittersweep is a captivating book with a great storyline that is rich and meaningful. The fully developed characters are realistic and relatable and I loved the personalities of Elizabeth and JP.

Readers will be intrigued by the various mysteries that are the focus of this book. It had me guessing and trying to figure out the many secrets, puzzling circumstances and affairs. Woodson has developed several plot points that come together in a significant, exciting culmination and finale.

Wareeze Woodson has done a superb job in writing Bittersweep. She is an excellent writer and is noted as so. Thus, Bittersweep is one of the best historical fictions that I have read in a long time and I plan to read it again.

Chick Lit Cafe highly recommends Bittersweep to all avid historical fiction fans and those that love a good escape.

Purchase Bittersweep @Amazon Here

A Place Called Schugara by Joe English

A Place Called Schugara by Joe English

A story of life, death, love lost and meaning found in Schugara and beyond.

Review:

A Place Called Schugara by Joe English is a literary masterpiece. In it we have three main characters that all descend on the Caribbean island of Mabouhey. Travers Landeman, an Ohio businessman, Albert Sidney McNab, an insurance investigator from New York, and a bookseller from Chicago, Joe Rogers, all connect on the small island. Each has his own story and reason for going to the island and each finds much more than he anticipated. Their destinies end up being tied to one another as they creatively help each other resolve their issues.

This book was so much more than what I was expecting. Spanning decades, continents and cultures, A Place Called Schugara is rich, detailed, and engaging. The characters are the foundation of this fabulous novel. They are well developed with compelling, defined personalities. Author Joe English has created characters that evolve exponentially and naturally throughout the storyline. Each one is an integral thread in the overall story which adds interest and intrigue to the plot. Each one has a story to tell, and their own baggage to carry, and author Joe English tells it well. These characters and their specific stories are fabulous, memorable and artful. Along with the three main characters, there are many other notable ones as well, all adding to the quality and flow of the novel.

There is a mix of societal issues embedded within the plot. The author touches on the Catholic Church abuse scandals, the War on Drugs and more. There is a lot going on in this book and the narrative flows beautifully. Readers will feel the author’s sense of humor through his appealing play on words. This book is truly written by a master storyteller and excellent wordsmith.

I found A Place Called Schugara to be spellbinding and absorbing. I couldn’t put it down and read on quickly to find out what was going to happen next. I learned many interesting facts; A Place Called Schugara held my full attention. It is a rather long novel to read, but well worth the time invested. Chick Lit Cafe highly recommends this book to all discerning readers.

Recognition is due Line by Lion Publishing of Louisville, Kentucky, for bringing A PLACE CALLED SCHUGARA to the world as well as the vision and courage of Amanda Rotach Lamkin, its publisher.  That we have A PLACE CALLED SCHUGARA to ponder, to savor, to enjoy demonstrates the importance of keeping the nation’s independent publishing houses vibrant. Maximum espect.

Purchase A Place Called Schugara @Amazon Today

Speaking in Tungs by Karla Jay - Book Review

Speaking in Tungs by Karla Jay

Synopsis:

2018 Florida Authors and Publishers Association (FAPA) President’s Award in Humor and Chic Lit! In this entertaining first novel set in rural Pennsylvania, a young woman from San Francisco searches for her birth parents while beginning her first job as a home-health speech pathologist. She soon learns how hard one job can be as she navigates the backwoods of Tungston, (“Tungs”) trying to comply with the needs of her quirky patients, all the while being stalked by a violent fugitive, and finding herself unexpectedly falling for the charms of a small-town, including one hot fireman. Through no fault of her own, she exposes a criminal who has been safely hidden in the thick forest, and now as he tries to stop her from exposing him, her patients’ lives, as well as her own are in jeopardy.

Review:

After the death of her parents, Marleigh Benning, a young woman with a degree in speech pathology, discovers that she was adopted. She decides to search for her birth parents and takes an internship as a home health speech therapist. But, she soon realizes that her job isn’t going to be easy, as she traverses through the backcountry of Tungston, Pennsylvania. As she tries to meet the needs and deal with her quirky unusual patients, she is definitely out of her element in this rural town, being from San Francisco, California, she is miles away from home and in a completely different societal setting. However, she begins to not only fall for the town of Tungston, but also for a hot fireman. She also finds herself and her patients in danger, as she is being stalked by a hardened and vicious escapee that she has unintentionally exposed.

Speaking in Tungs by Karla Jay is an intriguing engaging story that follows the life of one young woman who finds herself in a part of the country that she is totally unfamiliar with. There are dirt roads, peculiar small town stores and residents that are completely different than what she is used to from living in the west. Marleigh is dependable and reliable, intelligent and very likable. She is attracted to the fireman and feeling very passionate. She is out of place but determined to be a part of the community and make her life work in this foreign place she now calls home. This is a hilarious story with emotional moments that will touch every reader’s heart.

Speaking in Tungs is a heartwarming story filled with twists and turns and bold unusual, yet realistic characters. This story has a very different premise with a speech therapist going to live, work and fall in love in a pastoral setting in Pennsylvania. It is a multi-genre piece. It’s a romance, a mystery, a laugh out loud humorous chick lit read and a lightly suspenseful novel. The characters in this fabulous book are quirky, colorful and well developed. They humored me and had me thinking that I would love to know them in person. I found myself being drawn towards them and really caring about them. I love it when a book has me really desiring to know the people and be a part of their lives and live where they live.

Karla Jay has an exciting unique voice and a way with words that draws the reader in from the very first chapter. Even the title of this book gives readers insight into her distinctive creative play on words. She grew up in the area that is the setting of the book and mixes facts with fiction well. Her descriptive writing is filled vivid scenes of the landscapes and woods and had me craving to visit that part of the country and to behold the beauty of the land with its lush green countryside that she often describes in her story.

Speaking in Tungs had me completely hooked from the very beginning to the final last satisfying page. It is one of the best novels that I have read in a long time. This was Karla Jay’s debut novel and she has written more since then. I will definitely be picking up and reading the sequel to this book entitled “Speaking of the Devil.” Chick Lit Café highly recommends Speaking in Tungs to all readers.

Purchase book @Amazon here.