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Showing posts with label Fashion. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Fashion. Show all posts
Thursday, January 03, 2019
Royal Wedding Novel Interesting and Engaging
1:00 AM
(Image from Barnes & Noble)
London, 1947—World War II ended two years ago, but the English are still living with ration books and food shortages, to say nothing of the sorrow that will forever haunt their hearts. The announcement of a royal wedding between Princess Elizabeth and Lieutenant Philip Mountbatten is just the thing to lift spirits. From drawing rooms to boardrooms to classrooms, everyone is abuzz with excitement. For Ann Hughes and Miriam Dassin, both embroiderers at Norman Hartnell's Mayfair fashion house, the event is also causing more than a little stress. Tasked with helping to create a wedding gown fit for a princess, they're working feverishly to finish the sumptuous, embroidery-laden dress in time. When they're not laboring at work, they're falling in love, learning each other's secrets, and making decisions that will impact the rest of their lives and beyond.
Canada, 2016—When her beloved Nan dies, Heather MacKenzie inherits a box of beautiful, hand-stitched flowers. Although they're exquisite, Heather can't imagine why Nan saved them or why she gifted them to her granddaughter. What did the pieces mean to Nan, who Heather often saw knitting, but never embroidering? Heather soon discovers that the flowers she's been given match those that were sewn on Queen Elizabeth's wedding dress in 1947, which is even more perplexing. Did Nan, who never spoke about her past, have something to do with the famous gown? If she did, why did she not mention it? Realizing how little she really knew about her grandmother, Heather embarks on a quest to find out everything she can about the woman's mysterious past.
Dual timeline novels that explore interesting bits of history are my jam, so I couldn't wait to read The Gown, Jennifer Robson's newest. It's an engaging novel with an intriguing setting, inlaid with fascinating details about the making of a luxurious wedding gown. Neither of these elements overwhelm the story, which is, at its heart, really a tale of friendship between two women from different backgrounds who come together through their job. Plotwise, the tale is very straightforward—a little too much so, really, since I kept waiting for a surprising twist to liven things up. That didn't happen, which left me longing for a bit more development, both in plot and character. Still, The Gown remains an easy, appealing read that I enjoyed overall.
(Readalikes: Reminds me of dual timeline novels by Susan Meissner and Kate Morton)
Grade:
If this were a movie, it would be rated:
for brief, mild language (no F-bombs), violence (including a fairly graphic rape scene), mild innuendo
To the FTC, with love: I received an ARC of The Gown from the generous folks at HarperCollins in exchange for an honest review. Thank you!
--
Interested in more opinions of The Gown? Follow along on its book tour, organized by TLC Book Tours, by clicking on the following links:
Monday, December 31st: Instagram: @ladyofthelibrary
Wednesday, January 2nd: Instagram: @my_book_journey_
Wednesday, January 2nd: 5 Minutes For Books
Thursday, January 3rd: As I turn the pages
Thursday, January 3rd: Bloggin' 'Bout Books
Friday, January 4th: Into the Hall of Books
Friday, January 4th: Laura's Reviews
Monday, January 7th: BookNAround
Monday, January 7th: InkyMoments
Tuesday, January 8th: Jessicamap Reviews
Wednesday, January 9th: Instagram: @giuliland
Thursday, January 10th: A Chick Who Reads
Friday, January 11th: Lindsay's Book Reviews
Monday, January 14th: Instagram: @ciannereads
Tuesday, January 15th: Instagram: @sjwonderlandz
Tuesday, January 15th: Based on a True Story
Wednesday, January 16th: Always With a Book
Wednesday, January 16th: Instagram: @tbretc
Thursday, January 17th: Instagram: @somekindofalibrary
Thursday, January 17th: Doing Dewey
Thursday, January 17th: Instagram: @theunreadshelf
Friday, January 18th: Broken Teepee
Tuesday, January 22nd: A Bookish Way of Life
Monday, December 31, 2018
Sweet, Wholesome Heart Land An Enjoyable Read
3:00 AM
(Image from Barnes & Noble)
Grace Klaren has always been a small town girl with a big city dream.
Just when it seems she's finally getting somewhere in the New York City fashion world after six years of grunt work, Grace finds herself jobless and unable to afford the exorbitant rent on her apartment in the city. With little other choice, she returns to the tiny farming town where she grew up to wallow in the arms of Gigi, the loving grandmother who raised her. Silver Creek, Iowa, might be her home, but it's still the boring, backwards place it's always been; as soon as Grace can save up enough money, she'll flee it once again.
In the meantime, Grace spends her days trying to help Gigi sell hopelessly unfashionable clothing at a flea market stall. It's here that inspiration strikes. When Grace sells a dress she remakes using her own designs for $200 online, she realizes that—despite what some snooty designer in New York City might say—she can make money creating her own clothing. Soon, the enterprise has turned into a booming business, one that turns heads in The Big Apple. An old colleague calls with a lucrative offer of his own and suddenly, Grace faces a surprisingly difficult choice—New York City or Silver Creek, Iowa?
Heart Land by Kimberly Stuart is a warm, wholesome novel about one woman's quest to find her place in the world. Sweet and clean, it focuses on the power of family, friendship, and faith. Although Heart Land is technically a Christian novel, it treads lightly in the God department. The subject shows up enough that we know religion is important to several of the book's characters, but not so much that it feels fake or cheesy. Grace comes off as a little flaky, but she's a likable heroine, even if she's not all that well developed. This description fits most of the book's cast, in fact. Although not everything in the novel rings true (Silver Creek is economically depressed, but people can still afford new construction and expensive dresses?), but overall, it's a light, enjoyable read that reminds the reader of what's most important in life. I liked it and am definitely up for reading more from Kimberly Stuart.
(Readalikes: Reminds me of a million other down-on-her-luck-woman-retreats-to-the-small-town-to-which-she-swore-she'd-never-return-only-to-discover-she-never-wants-to-leave novels, although no specific title is coming to mind.)
Grade:
If this were a movie, it would be rated:
for mild innuendo
To the FTC, with love: I bought a copy of Heart Land from Amazon with a portion of the millions I make from my lucrative career as a book blogger. Ha ha.
Wednesday, February 28, 2018
Newest Hebridean Thriller A Compelling Page Turner
1:00 AM
(Image from Barnes & Noble)
When Ruairidh Macfarlane proposes investing in a small, Hebridean tweed company, his wife balks. Niamh has business and marketing experience, but still, sinking their life's savings into her husband's dream seems more than a little risky. Still, the duo manage to make a successful go of it. When their unique version of Harris tweed catches the attention of some bigwigs in the fashion industry, it seems like everything's finally coming up roses.
Although the business is taking off, Niamh's relationship with her childhood friend turned husband, has gotten a bit rocky. While on an important business trip in Paris, she accuses Ruairidh of having an affair with Irina Vetrov, a married fashion designer. Furious, he stomps out of their hotel room. Moments later, Niamh spies him climbing into Irina's car. Minutes after that, the vehicle explodes, killing Ruairdh and Irina instantly. A shocked Niamh soon finds herself the prime suspect in her husband's murder. Even when she's released and allowed to return to Scotland, she's hounded by police and regarded with suspicion.
While Niamh grapples to come to terms with her husband's violent death, she also searches for answers. The more she discovers, the more she begins to suspect that the reason for Ruairdh's murder has more to do with local politics than international ones. When someone makes an attempt on her life, she knows the killer isn't satisfied yet ...
I'm a big fan of Peter May's thrillers, especially those that take place in the moody, broody Hebrides. May has a keen way of making the locale come alive for me in all its stark, striking glory. His newest, I'll Keep You Safe, is set mostly off-island, which might explain why I didn't love it as much as some of his others. Like a true Hebridean, I'm leery of outlanders and prefer an all-local cast. This novel also seems more graphic to me. May uses a different format for this novel, which provides an interesting contrast. Still and all, I'll Keep You Safe remains a tense page turner that kept me riveted from start to finish. I saw the killer coming, but a couple of the story's twists did catch me by surprise. So, while this isn't my favorite of May's, I'll still read anything of his, especially if it's set in the always-fascinating Hebrides.
(Readalikes: Other Hebridean thrillers by Peter May; also books by Ann Cleeves)
Grade:
If this were a movie, it would be rated:
for language, violence, depictions of illegal drug use, and sexual content
To the FTC, with love: I received an ARC of I'll Keep You Safe from the generous folks at Quercus. Thank you!
Thursday, February 01, 2018
May's Newest Not My Favorite, But Still Compelling
1:00 AM
(Image from Barnes & Noble)
When Ruairdh Macfarlane proposes investing in tweed, his wife balks. After all, what do the two of them know about fabric? Will they be able to survive if they sink their life savings into a small, Hebridean textile business? Niamh has a background in business and marketing, but she still thinks her husband's idea is crazy. Against all odds, the duo create a successful company. When their unique take on Harris Tweed catches the attention of bigwigs in the fashion world, it looks like their dreams of fame and fortune are finally coming true.
Although Niamh and Ruairdh have been friends since childhood and spouses for a decade, their solid bond seems to be cracking. While on an important business trip to Paris, Niamh accuses Ruairdh of cheating on her with Irinia Vetrov, a married Russian fashion designer. Furious, he stomps out of their hotel room. She spies him climbing into Irina's car, which explodes only moments later, killing them both. A shocked Niamh soon finds herself the prime suspect in her husband's murder. The only way to clear her name is to find out what really happened.
Even in the Macfarlane's remote home in the Hebrides, Niamh becomes the target of someone bent on doing her harm. Why did her husband die? And who is trying to kill her now?
I'm a big fan of Peter May's novels, especially those set in the moody, broody Hebrides. He has a way of making the locale come alive for me in all its stark, striking glory. A lot of I'll Keep You Safe (available March 6, 2018), May's newest thriller, takes place off-island, which is maybe why I didn't like it quite as much as some of his others. It also felt more graphic. Its format differs from May's previous novels, which made for an interesting contrast. I did enjoy delving into the characters' back stories, although I realized that, like a true Hebridean, I'm leery of outlanders and prefer an all-local cast. Still and all, I'll Keep You Safe is a tense page turner that definitely kept my attention. While I saw the killer coming, there was at least one twist that caught me by surprise. His newest isn't my favorite, but I still love May and will read anything he writes, especially if it's set in the always-fascinating Hebrides.
(Readalikes: Other books by Peter May; also those by Ann Cleeves)
Grade:
If this were a movie, it would be rated:
for strong language, violence, sexual content, and depictions of illegal drug use
To the FTC, with love: I received an ARC of I'll Keep You Safe from the generous folks at Quercus. Thank you!
Thursday, August 17, 2017
Beyond the Books: Cleo Madison Shirt Review
4:57 PM
Although I review mostly books, I actually receive a fair amount of requests from retailers offering up products to try. I decline most of them, but when it comes to clothes, well ... I have a hard time resisting! So, when Liz—the owner of Cleo Madison, an online boutique specializing in modest clothing—offered to let me try an item from her store in exchange for a review, I jumped at the chance.
As you've probably discerned already, I chose the Betty Floral Baseball Tee pictured above (shown on a model, who's about 1000% more photogenic than I am). I'm plus-sized, so I got an x-large, which fit just right—not too tight, not too loose. The length, especially, is perfect. I love the grey t-shirt fabric that makes up the sleeves and back of the shirt. It's soft, stretchy, and super comfy. I'm not as wild about the floral panel in front. It's fairly sheer (I wear a cami underneath because I'm self-conscious like that) and the material is a little scratchy. It has a tendency to bunch around the chest area, so I find myself tugging it down a lot. Irritating, but not a huge, huge deal. Overall, I like this shirt because of the soft t-shirt fabric (love it!), the fun print (a nice change from my usual plain Jane tops), and the length (perfect). Despite a few annoying details, it's a piece I enjoy wearing.
Owner Liz Morgan created her shop in an effort to provide women with a convenient place to find clothes that are modest, conservative and trendy. Cleo Madison definitely delivers. While the Betty Floral Baseball Tee is unfortunately sold out, the store still has plenty of tops, dresses/skirts, shoes, and swimwear from which to choose. The prices are reasonable, shipping is free in the U.S., products arrive quickly—what's not to love? Be sure to check Cleo Madison out on Facebook, Instagram, Pinterest, and its website. For fun posts on fashion, food, travel, modesty, etc., don't miss Liz's blog.
To the FCC, with love: I received a free product in exchange for an honest review. Many thanks to Liz at Cleo Madison for her generosity!
As you've probably discerned already, I chose the Betty Floral Baseball Tee pictured above (shown on a model, who's about 1000% more photogenic than I am). I'm plus-sized, so I got an x-large, which fit just right—not too tight, not too loose. The length, especially, is perfect. I love the grey t-shirt fabric that makes up the sleeves and back of the shirt. It's soft, stretchy, and super comfy. I'm not as wild about the floral panel in front. It's fairly sheer (I wear a cami underneath because I'm self-conscious like that) and the material is a little scratchy. It has a tendency to bunch around the chest area, so I find myself tugging it down a lot. Irritating, but not a huge, huge deal. Overall, I like this shirt because of the soft t-shirt fabric (love it!), the fun print (a nice change from my usual plain Jane tops), and the length (perfect). Despite a few annoying details, it's a piece I enjoy wearing.Owner Liz Morgan created her shop in an effort to provide women with a convenient place to find clothes that are modest, conservative and trendy. Cleo Madison definitely delivers. While the Betty Floral Baseball Tee is unfortunately sold out, the store still has plenty of tops, dresses/skirts, shoes, and swimwear from which to choose. The prices are reasonable, shipping is free in the U.S., products arrive quickly—what's not to love? Be sure to check Cleo Madison out on Facebook, Instagram, Pinterest, and its website. For fun posts on fashion, food, travel, modesty, etc., don't miss Liz's blog.
To the FCC, with love: I received a free product in exchange for an honest review. Many thanks to Liz at Cleo Madison for her generosity!
Wednesday, February 25, 2015
Easy, Breezy, Beach-y Romance An Enjoyable Read
1:00 AM
(Image from Barnes & Noble)
Lila Alders has it all: a steady job as the host of a late-night television program, a large, lavish home, the perfect husband, and a loving set of parents who dote on their only child. Then, in the blink of an eye, most of it vanishes. Grieving the loss of her father, the collapse of her marriage, and the end of her career, the 29-year-old has no idea what to do with herself. Her sudden cash flow problem leaves Lila little choice but to move in with her widowed mother.
Hoping to lay low and lick her wounds under the guise of helping her mom, Lila soon realizes that there is no hiding for the former golden girl of Black Dog Bay, Delaware. Everywhere she looks, she sees old friends, former classmates, and a small army of ex-boyfriends. Lila longs to start fresh, but how can she when her old life is staring her in the face every single day?
When Lila discovers her parents' fortune has disappeared, forcing the sale of their beloved seaside home, she knows it's time to take drastic action. Money has to start flowing—and soon—or the Alders women will be living on the street. Lila has no idea how to manage a business, but opening a vintage clothing store seems to be an answer to their problems. Although the plan leads to some major challenges, it also teaches Lila some of the biggest, most surprising lessons of her life. It also guides her toward a boy whose existence she barely registered in high school who's somehow becoming the man she can't forget—not even for a minute.
Lila knows the time is ripe for taking chances, but is she willing to risk everything, even her fragile heart, for a life she never imagined? Even if it might be the one she's been after all along?
I don't read a lot of romance novels, but I do find something alluring about a good shattered-woman- returns-to-her-hometown-to-start-over story. Sure, they're cliché and overdone and, yet, apparently, I'm a fan. Which explains why the premise of New Uses for Old Boyfriends by Beth Kendrick appealed to me. Not surprisingly, I enjoyed the book. It's warm, funny, upbeat, and just a fun, fluffy read. Yes, it's predictable. Yes, things go too smoothly for our heroine. Yes, it's unrealistic. No, I don't care. When it comes to easy, breezy chick lit, I just want an entertaining story. New Uses for Old Boyfriends fits the bill quite nicely, thank you very much.
(Readalikes: the first Black Dog Bay book, Cure for the Common Breakup by Beth Kendrick; also reminds me of Robyn Carr's Virgin River and Thunder Point books)
Grade:
Hoping to lay low and lick her wounds under the guise of helping her mom, Lila soon realizes that there is no hiding for the former golden girl of Black Dog Bay, Delaware. Everywhere she looks, she sees old friends, former classmates, and a small army of ex-boyfriends. Lila longs to start fresh, but how can she when her old life is staring her in the face every single day?
When Lila discovers her parents' fortune has disappeared, forcing the sale of their beloved seaside home, she knows it's time to take drastic action. Money has to start flowing—and soon—or the Alders women will be living on the street. Lila has no idea how to manage a business, but opening a vintage clothing store seems to be an answer to their problems. Although the plan leads to some major challenges, it also teaches Lila some of the biggest, most surprising lessons of her life. It also guides her toward a boy whose existence she barely registered in high school who's somehow becoming the man she can't forget—not even for a minute.
Lila knows the time is ripe for taking chances, but is she willing to risk everything, even her fragile heart, for a life she never imagined? Even if it might be the one she's been after all along?
I don't read a lot of romance novels, but I do find something alluring about a good shattered-woman- returns-to-her-hometown-to-start-over story. Sure, they're cliché and overdone and, yet, apparently, I'm a fan. Which explains why the premise of New Uses for Old Boyfriends by Beth Kendrick appealed to me. Not surprisingly, I enjoyed the book. It's warm, funny, upbeat, and just a fun, fluffy read. Yes, it's predictable. Yes, things go too smoothly for our heroine. Yes, it's unrealistic. No, I don't care. When it comes to easy, breezy chick lit, I just want an entertaining story. New Uses for Old Boyfriends fits the bill quite nicely, thank you very much.
(Readalikes: the first Black Dog Bay book, Cure for the Common Breakup by Beth Kendrick; also reminds me of Robyn Carr's Virgin River and Thunder Point books)
Grade:
If this were a movie, it would be rated:
for language (1 F-bomb, plus milder invectives), sexual innuendo, and mild sexual content
To the FTC, with love: I received a finished copy of New Uses for Old Boyfriends from the generous folks at Penguin via those at BookSparks PR. Thank you!
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