Joselyn VaughnRezensionen

I loved this short book of a couple reconnecting and reviving their marriage. The fact that both of them wonder what happened to their passion is probably something that happens frequently. I just kept thinking, talk, talk, talk. Cute book.

A sweet and realistic story about rediscovering love.½

I liked this novella. Sam and Margie, a husband and wife of 30 years are getting ready to attend a Christmas Ball at the retirement community where the husband’s mother is a resident. The portrayal of their preparations for the evening is all the more interesting as the author’s writing flows seamlessly back and forth between Sam’s thoughts and Margie’s thoughts as they dress for their evening out and consider their ‘expectations’ for the evening. This is not merely a Mars vs. Venus story. It is an exploration of the state of a marriage that began so many years ago based on the heartfelt sharing of young ambitions and dreams and has seemed to have survived the challenges of everyday living and raising children. Now the question is: Can this husband and wife communicate their feelings to one another and find the joy, love and passion to explore more of the dreams they once had and perhaps build on those dreams to share the rest of their lives together – not as room-mates dwelling at the same address but as the friends and lovers they were when they married?

The residents of the retirement community are delightfully portrayed and remind us that life isn’t over due to residency at a retirement facility. The residents’ conversations and actions during the evening event add amusing humor to the novella.

As a married woman who has attended holiday events at a mother-in-law’s assisted living facility, I highly doubt that some of the personal, in-depth conversations that Sam and Margie shared would have actually taken place even as they met in some of the facility hallways and rooms on the night of the Christmas Ball. But in order for the novella to take place in one evening, I understood the premise and imagined it as described. That said, I really enjoyed the author’s writing.

I think it’s a novella that could be read by men and women. It might help some couples that really need to have this exact conversation with each other find the strength and the hope to begin their heartfelt exchange. There is no “right” or “wrong” in each person’s analysis of their feelings and interpretations of their marital state with their partner. The author gives each character’s introspection with care and understanding and is able to share each character’s doubts including thoughts of possible divorce without “preaching” and without criticism or judgment. The reflections of the married couple add to the dimension of the characters and make the story richer in thoughtful presentation. Although the story takes place all on one evening, it is a tender story that will give any reader –especially if married - pause for musing. As a married partner, I know that the novella gives me a poignant reminder to be attentive – to see my partner’s expressions and to hear and listen to my partner’s voice – the words spoken and unspoken.

I was lucky enough to receive a copy of this title as an “Early Reviewer” from Library Thing.

I was asked to review this book by Librarything .com

This story is essentially about a couple at a time of their life when the spark may have gone. As you can guess life may be better without the other half.

It is a tiny read for me as I can read a novel in a day, 51 pages. Good for someone who does not have the stamina for a long read.

It is a sweet little story. The middle age couple chaperone a retirement Christmas ball, and new dress weight loss and a rekindling.

Middle age couple that hasn't put any effort in their marriage wind up chaperoning a retirement home Christmas Ball. And the old folks sparking off each other get them into looking at each other with fresh eyes.

This was a nice short read. Unfortunately, as a relatively young reader, I found myself unable to connect with the couple in the story. They've been married for thirty years (or slightly longer). Their kids are grown and gone. Sam's mother comes across as a major source of embarrasment. They're at a boring point in their lives...neither one is really happy with where they are in their marriage.

Margie contemplates leaving because she feels that Sam doesn't appreciate the hard work she put into her weight loss efforts. She wore a new dress and dolled herself up for a night out with her husband and he barely acknowledges her.

Sam begins to wake up when he notices the fabulous dress. But he notices her even more when other men are flirting with his wife.

As the night drags on, they eventually realize that they both want to stay together and they both need to rekindle their marriage.

Again, it's a nice story. I sense the frustration, the sorrow, and the hurt feelings. But it's just terribly difficult for someone like me to really relate to this kind of thing at this point in my life.

A short, sweet romance.
I liked the way the two characters kept doubting themselves and second-guessing the other’s actions.
The way Barbara first described Elmer, I thought I wouldn’t like him but that soon changed.
I just wish the male lead was named something other than Elmer.
All the research the author did, concerning weather, also showed.
The story was the right length too and kept me interested to the end.

http://breesabookworm.blogspot.com/

This was the first book I ever won through the Goodreads First Reads Program. I was totally psyched to have won it, and even more pysched when I got it and it was a signed copy with a little message from the author. How totally sweet is that to win!?

But then I got nervous, because I'm like, what if this book completely stinks. What if I can't even get through the first couple of pages? Fortunately, it turned out to be good. :)

Courting Sparks is a book about Noah and Daphne, life-long friends. Daphne dated Noah's cousin, Aaron, for ages until their messy break-up. Noah was always there for Daphne, but he always wanted something more from her too. Daphne wasn't having any of that and fought him, or rather herself on it. The book is a journey of how they find their way from best friends to possibly something more.

Along the way there are weddings, bachelorette and bachelor parties, and an arsonist on the loose that needs to be caught. Of course, Daphne seems to be always a bridesmaid never a bride. :)

It's a fun read, pretty simple and straight forward. Just like I like, nothing was drawn out and it never got boring. I liked that it was clean, that it showed both character's points of view, and that their emotions/thoughts were pretty realistic. It was also funny, the conversations amongst the girls in this book, the situations (which were well thought out), and the wedding mishaps. The outside characters were fun as well!

Of course Noah was very likable...or shall I say YUMMY?! :)

I'm really happy to have gotten this book, and I thank the author, Joselyn Vaughn. I'm going to have to check out her other book!

CEOs Don't Cry - Review by Martha A. Cheves, Author of Stir, Laugh, Repeat

'"Could this day get any worse?" Leslie Knotts muttered to herself, eyeing the watermark-circled hole in the ceiling tiles above her head. Thudding and muffled expletive rumbled from the hole. She yanked her cashmere scarf from her neck and stomped the slush off of her Prada heels. She took one look around her new office in the Carterville branch of Hanston and Boyd Accounting and gasped. This place was a mere phone call away from being condemned.'

How can a city girl from Chicago be expected to take an office that is in such a rambling mess and be expected to turn it into a profitable branch? This is only one problem Leslie faces after being passed over for a junior partnership with Hanston and Boyd. Her dreams of becoming a CEO are pushed into almost non-existence after being transferred to a small town called Cartersville which exists out in the middle of nowhere. She had spent her whole life climbing the corporate ladder just to have one of her co-workers, Chuck, went behind her back and had her moved to this destitute town. Things couldn't get any worse.

Oh but they can and they do. Leslie meets Mark, the nephew of the lady who owns the bed and breakfast where she will be staying while she brings the branch into the 21st century. Mark is a handyman who wants to start his own construction business. Leslie decides to hire him to basically revamp the full interior of the office, and she needs it finished before tax season starts in full force. Again, in steps Chuck to destroy her plans and dreams.

On top of all of her other problems, Leslie learns that there is a group in town called the Library Ladies and Mark's Aunt Minnie is one of the ring leaders. Their purpose in life is to match unmarried men with unmarried women and their success rate is 100%. So, with Mark being single and Leslie being new to town as well as single, they make a perfect match. At least that's what they think but Mark and Leslie have their own plans for their futures and marriage isn't one of them. How do they fight the Library Ladies 100% success rate? You will have to read the book to find that answer.

CEOs Don't Cry has everything needed to make an enjoyable, lighthearted romance novel. The humor provided by the Library Ladies will keep you smiling and laughing throughout the book. Leslie's method of overcoming the obstacles bestowed on her are quite ingenious. Once I started reading CEOs Don't Cry, I didn't want to put it down. So what will Leslie do when the chance comes for her to have her life long dreams come true? You'll have to read CEOs Don't Cry to find the answer to that question.

The characters are great. A terrific read!