Best Seller by Martha Reynolds (5 stars)

About Best Seller
(from GoodReads)

Set in New England at the time of the American Bicentennial, BEST SELLER is the poignant story of a displaced young woman struggling to figure out who she is within the context of her hometown and the carefully masked dysfunction of her family.

"Everything can be fixed by writing a check." 

Words to live by for Robin Fortune's wealthy father, until he can't buy her way back into college after she's expelled for dealing pot. Now he chooses not to speak to her anymore, but that's just one of the out-of-whack situations Robin's facing. 

At nineteen, she feels rudderless, working in a diner by day and sleeping with a buddy from high school by night - all so strange for her because she was always the one with the plan. While her college friends plotted how to ensnare husbands, she plotted a novel, which she scratched out into a series of spiral-bound notebooks she hides in the closet. 

But now, there's nothing. No vision, no future, no point. In fact, the only thing she feels she has to look forward to is that her favorite author, Maryana Capture, is paying a visit to the local Thousand Words bookstore. Robin surmises that if she can convince Maryana to help her get her novel published, she'll finally get herself back on track. Except that life never takes a straight path in this intensely satisfying coming-of-age novel.

Add to GoodReads

Purchase on Amazon

Review

Robin Fortune has had, well, a bit of misfortune. She's kicked out of college for selling pot. To teach her a lesson, her father forces her to make it on her own for a while. Now working to pay the rent and on her own, she still dreams of one day turning her story--handwritten in several notebooks--into a best selling novel. She'd love to follow in the footsteps of her favorite author, Maryana Capture. 

Unfortunately, one road block after another gets in Robin's way; her mother and father are having marital troubles, Robin is having boyfriend troubles, and not everyone in Robin's life is playing fair. Can she find her way with so many obstacles in her path?

A successful coming-of-age tale depends on a relatable main character who can capture the reader's heart. Robin is so that character. She's headstrong, yet flawed; loving, yet selfish. Even when she's floundering, she doen't run home to daddy to fix everything. There are lessons she needed to learn first. Her path isn't without missteps and wrong choices, but she never gives up. 

Near the end, I felt it was rushed. Then I realized, it was because I never wanted it to end. I love the writing style of Billie Letts and Fannie Flagg. Martha Reynolds has entered that category with this one. It might be my new favorite of her novels, and that says a lot.

Rating: 5 stars

I also loved Martha's Chocolate series. Please check out the reviews: Chocolate for Breakfast, Chocolate Fondue, and Bittersweet Chocolate.

About Martha Reynolds
(From Martha's Amazon Author Page) 

Real True Fiction.

Martha Reynolds is the author of the five novels, including the award-winning CHOCOLATE FOR BREAKFAST, its sequel, CHOCOLATE FONDUE, and the third and final book in the trilogy, BITTERSWEET CHOCOLATE, as well as BITS OF BROKEN GLASS and the newly-released BEST SELLER.

All books are available in digital and print versions.

Martha's essays and reflections have appeared in Magnificat magazine and the International Fund for Animal Welfare's blog.

She and her husband live in Rhode Island, never far from the ocean.

Read and follow the writings of Martha at http://MarthaReynoldsWrites.com
Follow her on Twitter @TheOtherMartha1
Like her Facebook author page at Martha Reynolds Writer

Note: I received a complimentary copy for review purposes. A positive review was not requested or guaranteed; the opinions expressed are my own. 

Ringing in the New Year Celebrating Books

2013 was a stellar year for awesome books! I read 100 this year, and my goal is the same (if not more) for 2014.

As we begin a new year, I wanted to share all my 4.5-star and higher rated books from 2013. I'm looking forward to even more great books this year. (click the title to see the full review)

4.5 star

Foreplay, Sophie Jordan
Maggie's Turn, Deanna Lynn Sletten
Finding It, Cora Carmack
Supernova, Elizabeth Sharp
The Hourglass, Sharon Struth
Trusting You, LP Dover
Strength, Carrie Butler
Sisters in Bloom, Melissa Foster
Mystic ~ Melody, Jo Michaels
The Curse Giver, Dora Machado
For Everly, Raine Thomas
The Enchanted, Elaine Cantrell
Sisters in Love, Melissa Foster
Chocolate Fondue, Martha Reynolds
Lion's Head Deception, Chuck Waldron
Marked for Vengeance, SJ Pierce
After Tuesday (These Days #1), Renee Ericson
The Hunter, Monica McCarty
The Beloved Daughter, Alana Terry
The Faerie Prince, Rachel Morgan
The Keeper of Secrets, Julie Thomas
Cooper Moon: The Calling, Cheryl Shireman
Assured Destruction, Michael F. Stewart
The Long Way Home, Mariah Stewart
Traces of Kara, Melissa Foster
Primal, DA Serra

4.75 Stars

Winter Garden, Kristin Hannah

5 Stars

Bittersweet Chocolate, Martha Reynolds
Someone Else's Love Story, Joshilyn Jackson
Warrior Beautiful, Wendy Knight
Blood Draw, Melissa Luznicky Garrett
Mystic ~ Coralie, Jo Michaels
The Faerie War, Rachel Morgan
Courage, Carrie Butler
Borrowed Things, Doris Schneider
Yassa, Jo Michaels
The Disappearing Girl, Heather Topham Wood
The Day After Yesterday, Kelly Cozy
Manuscript Found in Accra, Paulo Coelho
Dark Genesis, Dave Ferraro
Wondertown, Mac Fellows

 

Rachel Morgan, Melissa Foster, Martha Reynolds, and Jo Michaels (all seen above) made the list more than once. Melissa Foster and Jo Michaels both made the list three times. Few things make me happier than having some go-to authors.

In the last two weeks of December, I read several books that will be officially reviewed over the next two weeks. A couple were 5-star reads. Look for appearances again by Melissa Foster and Jo Michaels (both 5-star reviews) and a new favorite... Juliana Haygert.

Here's to reading in 2014!

Bittersweet Chocolate by Martha Reynolds (5 stars)

About Bittersweet Chocolate
(from GoodReads)

In the third and final installment of Martha Reynolds's award-winning Chocolate series, Bernadette Maguire's story is about to come full-circle...

But is she ready for what her future holds? It's been five years since Bernie married Gary, a dear friend from the past and the true man of her dreams. Bernie now practices law in New York City, while Gary enjoys tenure as a German professor at the university, and they have a beautiful life together. But when Gary learns his job will be eliminated, then Swiss banker Karl Berset reaches out to Bernie with devastating news that could have far-reaching effects, it seems it may be time to return to Switzerland--at least for a while. Several years earlier, Bernie reconnected with Jean-Michel, the son she conceived nearly thirty years ago during her Fribourg dalliance with Karl, and he now has a family of his own. But a gene he may carry for a deadly genetic disease from a father he never knew could very well ruin his life and the lives of his children. Though he's not the only one about to face a huge and terrifying change in the bittersweet conclusion of the beloved Chocolate saga.

Review

Bernie Maguire is happily married, her career is humming along, and she's enjoying a nice relationship with the son she gave up many years ago. But then she gets a call from her son's birth father that changes everything, news that could devastate her son and his growing family.

More changes are afoot when her husband loses his job and they end up back in Switzerland. Everything is teetering on a precipice. Just as Bernie is settling in, and her son is navigating his own traumas, there is another devastating blow. Can Bernie face a suddenly different future?

Let me start by saying that I've loved this series, and I'm sad to see it end. But Martha Reynolds outdid herself with the final installment. At no point during the series did she take the fluffy, easy way out--instead, she gave us life with all of its ups and downs. Moments of pure happiness as well as heartbreaking sadness were weaved together through the lives of beloved characters. 

In this story, Bernie's son, Jean-Michel, faces genetic testing to find out if he has a disease his birth father has recently developed--a man he didn't want to know. Now his life involves his birth mother, a wife, two sons and a baby on the way, his adoptive parents, and the family of his birth father. And it's all tied together so seamlessly even with all the complexities of such a blended family. Bernie was my favorite character throughout--she never stopped growing and discovering things about herself--but Jean-Michel, and his strong and supportive wife, stole a place in my heart. I'm so attached to these characters (guess I'll have to re-read the series at some point to spend time with them again).

I highly recommend this series to readers who appreciate how much the heart can handle, both in love and sadness. In addition, if you are a reader who wants characters who feel like extended family, look no further. Love, love, love this series. 

Rating: 5 stars

Please check out my reviews of the first two books of this series: Chocolate for Breakfast and Chocolate Fondue.

About Martha Reynolds
(From Martha's Amazon Author Page) 

Martha Reynolds ended an accomplished career as a fraud investigator and started writing full time in 2011. Her debut novel, Chocolate for Breakfast, follows a young woman into adulthood during a year abroad in Switzerland.
 
Martha is presently writing her second novel, tentatively titled The Reunion, and plans a sequel to Chocolate for Breakfast.
 
She and her husband live in New England, never far from the ocean.
 
Read and follow the writings of Martha at her website and on GoodReads.

Note: I received a complimentary copy for review purposes. A positive review was not requested or guaranteed; the opinions expressed are my own. 

Bits of Broken Glass by Martha Reynolds Spotlight

Martha Reynolds' newest book, Bits of Broken Glass, debuted yesterday, 9/22/13. I'm so excited to read her latest especially since I loved her Chocolate series. To see my thoughts, please visit my Chocolate for Breakfast review and Chocolate Fondue review.

Without further ado...

About Bits of Broken Glass

How much really changes in 25 years? Former classmates are poised to find out as their first-ever high school reunion gets closer. Some lives have improved, some have soured, but all remained connected by their shared West Alton High past...

Once the target of ridicule, one-time "ugly duckling" Kellie has transformed in both beauty and attitude, though her fears and fragility remain as deep scars within. Will facing those who once wronged her help or do even more damage to her delicate psyche? Joe was adored by everyone in school. Well...almost everyone. Being gay in a close-minded small town, he knew he had no future in West Alton, so right after graduation, he traded one ocean for another. Now an Oscar-winning Hollywood director, Joe is ready to return. Except that it means having to face the horrific event that ultimately pushed him away... Former cheerleader Cherry planned this reunion to make peace with those she may have wronged in school. But as she faces cancer and stares down her own mortality, will she really be able to make things right again? And then there's Scott, the West Alton "lifer," who's been collecting a disability pension from the town for a suspicious back injury, among other questionable life choices. Are his reasons for wanting to attend the reunion pure? Or does he have another agenda? As the months count down, long-kept secrets will be revealed as the question ever looms... Can you ever really go home again?

Show more

Show less

Amazon link

About Martha Reynolds
(From Martha's Amazon Author Page) 

Martha Reynolds ended an accomplished career as a fraud investigator and started writing full time in 2011. Her debut novel, Chocolate for Breakfast, follows a young woman into adulthood during a year abroad in Switzerland.
 
Martha is presently writing her second novel, tentatively titled The Reunion, and plans a sequel to Chocolate for Breakfast.
 
She and her husband live in New England, never far from the ocean.
 
Read and follow the writings of Martha at her website and on GoodReads.

Chocolate Fondue by Martha Reynolds (4.5 stars)

About Chocolate Fondue
(from GoodReads)

Twenty-three years ago, Bernie Maguire, a young student in Switzerland, delivered a son. Giving him up for adoption was the right decision, she knew, but Bernie always wondered about the boy who was now a young man.

Back in Fribourg, Switzerland for vacation, Bernie is stunned when she sees the man she knows is her son. Now she must decide whether to identify herself to him and hope for a connection, or say nothing and leave the young man to live his life. The matter is complicated by a hotel employee who discovers the truth, and who intends to get in the way of Bernie’s plans.

CHOCOLATE FONDUE is the sequel to Martha Reynolds’s award-winning debut novel, CHOCOLATE FOR BREAKFAST.

Review

Let me start by saying... Yes. Yes. Yes. That's what I want from a sequel.

Bernie Maguire got pregnant at a young age and gave up her son for adoption, but she never stopped thinking about him and wondering how his life turned out. On a trip to revisit the places of her youth, she runs into a man and immediately knows it's her son.

She's conflicted--does she walk away, even though her instincts scream for her to make a connection, or does she step into the life of her grown son. Instead of rushing into a decision, she tours the area and relives the ups and downs of her time there. As part of her journey, she confronts the man who got her pregnant so many years ago. A man who still has many lessons to learn.

While she's debating meeting her son, another person overhears her dilemma and wants to use the information to her own advantage. Will Bernie decide to meet her son? And, if she does, will he welcome her into his life, his family?

Chocolate Fondue is filled with amazing characters who have a rich history and real reactions to complicated situations. It's real life, but in a heartwarming and relatable way. Life hands us all questions without perfect answers, and that's what happens to Bernie. Yet, you can disagree with her decision and still be rooting for her because she agonizes over it. She doesn't rush in headfirst and only consider her own feelings.

I hope Martha Reynolds will think about one more Chocolate story, because I sure would love to know how the story continues. A simply beautiful tale. One I highly recommend.

Rating: 4.5 stars

About Martha Reynolds
(From Martha's Amazon Author Page) 

Martha Reynolds ended an accomplished career as a fraud investigator and started writing full time in 2011. Her debut novel, Chocolate for Breakfast, follows a young woman into adulthood during a year abroad in Switzerland.
 
Martha is presently writing her second novel, tentatively titled The Reunion, and plans a sequel to Chocolate for Breakfast.
 
She and her husband live in New England, never far from the ocean.
 
Read and follow the writings of Martha at her website and on GoodReads.

Note: I received a complimentary copy for review purposes. A positive review was not guaranteed or requested; the opinions expressed are my own.

*****

About Chocolate for Breakfast
(Book One)


Young Bernie (Bernadette) Maguire is in for the journey of a lifetime when her junior year abroad takes her to Fribourg Switzerland. Ripe for love and adventure, she is seduced by a handsome Swiss banker. She is horrified when she discovers she's pregnant.

Protected and befriended by those who help to keep her secret for as long as possible, this moving rite-of-passage tale will warm the heart as a young woman struggles with an all-too-familiar dilemma. Yet after the unexpected death of her father and the discovery of her pregnancy by her classmate Timmy, who believes the child to be his, Bernie’s life takes some unexpected turns that it will take decades to resolve.

An excerpt from my review:

I read in the author's bio that she is considering writing a sequel, and I hope she does. Bernie has so much more life to live, and I want to know she gets the opportunity to come out of the shadows of her decision. She deserves to be loved, and to love herself.

So imagine my delight when the sequel was published and was everything I wanted it to be!

Read my full review here.

Chocolate for Breakfast, Martha Reynolds (4 stars)

From Amazon: Young Bernie (Bernadette) Maguire is in for the journey of a lifetime when her junior year abroad takes her to Fribourg Switzerland. Ripe for love and adventure, she is seduced by a handsome Swiss banker. She is horrified when she discovers she's pregnant.

Protected and befriended by those who help to keep her secret for as long as possible, this moving rite-of-passage tale will warm the heart as a young woman struggles with an all-too-familiar dilemma. Yet after the unexpected death of her father and the discovery of her pregnancy by her classmate Timmy, who believes the child to be his, Bernie’s life takes some unexpected turns that it will take decades to resolve.

Review

Bernie is ready to experience life and love, and what better place than her trip abroad to Switzerland. From the moment she gets on the plane, she’s determined to shed her former life. Mere days into her new adventure, she is swept off her feet and enjoys some intense moments of seduction.
 
Unfortunately, the handsome man is a playboy and disappears quickly. Just as Bernie starts to move on, she realizes she’s pregnant and everything changes. Friends offer support, but ultimately Bernie has to make her own decision. No path is easy, and no decision is without its own scars.
 
The decision haunts Bernie years later and affects every facet of her life, including her choices in love and her relationship with her family. One simple night of reckless abandon costs her so much.
 
Don’t let the title fool you, this is no run-of-the-mill light romance. The author creates a rich depth in Bernie’s dilemma while avoiding getting preachy. While it was a bit slow to start, I found myself getting pulled into Bernie’s life and choices. I hope you will, too.

I read in the author's bio that she is considering writing a sequel, and I hope she does. Bernie has so much more life to live, and I want to know she gets the opportunity to come out of the shadows of her decision. She deserves to be loved, and to love herself.

Recommended for readers who can embrace a flawed character, but one who finds a way into your heart.
 
Rating: 4 stars
 
Note: I received a complimentary copy for review purposes. A positive review was not requested or guaranteed; the opinions expressed are my own.
 
About Martha Reynolds
(From Amazon)

Martha Reynolds ended an accomplished career as a fraud investigator and started writing full time in 2011. Her debut novel, Chocolate for Breakfast, follows a young woman into adulthood during a year abroad in Switzerland.
 
Martha is presently writing her second novel, tentatively titled The Reunion, and plans a sequel to Chocolate for Breakfast.
 
She and her husband live in New England, never far from the ocean.
 
Read and follow the writings of Martha at her website and on GoodReads.