Friday 15 November 2013

Book Review - Breaking the Rules by Cat Lavoie

It's back - the regular book review. And about time too. It's the only excuse I get to read. Otherwise I am writing, working, doing housework (bleurgh), so I need a reason to read (aka excuse)

I liked the cover of Breaking The Rules and came across Canadian author Cat Lavoie via Facebook. There's a lot to be said for social media!
But, I have a treat in store for you, this is not any book review, oh no, this is a double whammy! Cat has just released a new book, on my To Read list (the small matter of finishing my own book got in the way of reading it since its release) so you get two lowdowns instead of one.

Here's a wee bit about Breaking The Rules


When twenty-seven year old Roxy Rule’s best friend and roommate accepts a glamorous new job overseas, she expects their relationship to continue as it’s always been—carefree and easy—until they share a heart-stopping kiss moments before his departure. Overcome with mixed emotions, she fights the urge to over analyze the situation and resumes back to her normal life in New York City, working for an intolerable boss at a dead end job, creeping further and further away from her own dreams of becoming a professional chef.

While things become more complicated between her and Ollie, Roxy is sure that nothing can come between two lifelong best friends—not even mild jealousy over a thriving career or a silly little kiss that meant nothing. In fact, it was such a meaningless and forgettable kiss that she convinces herself that it’s not even worth mentioning to her fiancé, although it is all she can think about.

Roxy’s already topsy-turvy life only gets more complicated when her sisters Steffi and Izzie suddenly become her roommates. Steffi is six months into a pregnancy she refuses to discuss and Izzie is in the throes of a premature midlife crisis. Roxy tries to take control of her career, her love life and her sisters – but can she really handle it all? And can the Rule family keep it together – or break under the pressure?



Author Cat Lavoie


Sooz's Review
BRIDGET JONES MEETS SHOPAHOLIC
loved this book and found it very refreshing. Characters were well-rounded and I loved the dynamic between the three sisters and found it completely believable. The bossy older sister, the ditzy younger sister and then Roxy, the middle one and protagonist. Any girl having a male best friend and a fiancé is asking for trouble and Roxy certainly seems to bear this theory out. Each of the sisters has secrets. Roxy's indiscretion with a celeb and prospects of career progression looking as if they were going down the pan were favourite parts of the novel for me. But Ollie, Roxy's best friend, who couldn't love Ollie, and of course, the novel wouldn't be complete without a superbitch of a girlfriend, who hated his female best friend, would it?! The friends are parted in quite an extreme way and the bitch girlfriend does her best to keep them even further apart, but whose fault is it really and why? The drunken phone call made my day, as who hasn't done it and regretted it next morning. The twist in the tale re the child's father I hadn't seen coming either.
Naturally Roxy's financial adviser fiancé got the thumbs down from me for his controlling and patronising behaviour.
The hands-on, overbearing, anxious parents whom everyone was hiding secrets from and physically hiding from (in Roxy's apartment) had me in stitches. Imagine your parents turning up at 2am!
A well-written, wonderfully funny chicklit novel. Cat Lavoie's new novel, Zoey And The Moment Of Zen is just out and I will definitely be buying it. A new name on the chicklit scene and one to watch. An easy 5 stars from me.


So, now we move on to Cat's new release, Zoey and the Moment of Zen


Don't you just want to be spirited away there now?!!

Here's the blurb!

When coffee shop owner Zoey Everwood takes her obsession with ex-boyfriend Braden too far, everyone—except Zoey—is convinced a bit of fun in the sun at the Moment of Zen Wellness Resort will help her get over him once and for all.
But Zoey's relaxing vacation turns out to be anything but peaceful when she meets Shane Lawson, a resort guest who bears a striking resemblance to Braden. And things get even more complicated when the resort's owner starts spilling secrets about Zoey’s aunt Nessa, the woman who raised her. Add a snarky Wellness Coordinator and Nate Holmes—Shane's grumpy friend—to the mix, and you've got the recipe for a perfect tropical storm.
When Zoey comes back home with a new husband instead of tacky souvenirs, she must convince everyone she hasn't completely lost her mind. As Zoey and Shane struggle to keep the magic alive outside the resort, Zoey discovers that she isn't the only one having trouble letting go of the past. And when Nate drops a bombshell that changes everything, Zoey must decide if the old saying is true—what happens at the Moment of Zen stays at the Moment of Zen.
 
Well, it sounds good to me. You can buy a copy of Cat's books via the links below:-
 
BREAKING THE RULES

Amazon Kindle: http://amzn.to/11omrMH
Amazon UK Kindle: http://amzn.to/18hxKiT
Amazon Canada Kindle: http://amzn.to/186kL2q
 
ZOEY & THE MOMENT OF ZEN
Amazon Kindle: http://amzn.to/Has3aU
Amazon UK Kindle: http://amzn.to/17IxqVa
Amazon Canada Kindle: http://amzn.to/1gERZLz
 
CONNECT WITH CAT:
 
 
Tune in on Monday for the big COVER REVEAL - yep, I'll be revealing The Christmas Spirit's cover and to steal an American phrase, it's awesome! Brad Covey, my cover designer, is a genius! Don't miss it!

1 comment:

  1. Thank you so much for the lovely review and for having me on your blog today, Sooz! :) Can't wait to see your awesome cover for The Christmas Spirit!!

    ReplyDelete