Show Us Your Books!

I've kept meaning to participate in the Show Us Your Books link up, but never got myself together to do so...until now!

A while ago I read Eight Hundred Grapes by Laura Dave. It was a book I'd heard good things about from other bloggers, and read with my book club group.
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Part of the Goodreads synopsis is:
"There are secrets you share, and secrets you hide…
Growing up on her family’s Sonoma vineyard, Georgia Ford learned some important secrets. The secret number of grapes it takes to make a bottle of wine: eight hundred. The secret ingredient in her mother’s lasagna: chocolate. The secret behind ending a fight: hold hands.
But just a week before her wedding, thirty-year-old Georgia discovers her beloved fiancé has been keeping a secret so explosive, it will change their lives forever."

The reviews on this book are pretty mixed. Some people love love loved it, and other people disliked it. I fell in the middle. It was an enjoyable story and I liked seeing the relationships between the characters develop and change. Plus, I learned a little bit about wine-making in the process. There wasn't anything earth-shattering about the book for me, but it was an enjoyable read.
I'd give it 3.5 out of 5 stars
The other book that I read over Christmas was called Hollywood Dirt by Alessandra Torre. I discovered it on a random search on Amazon for a new read and found this one for $4.99 with more than 4 stars so I gave it a shot!
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The Goodreads synopsis:
"Cole Masten. Abandoned by his superstar wife, Hollywood’s Perfect Husband is now Hollywood’s Sexiest Bachelor: partying hard and screwing even harder. Watch out Los Angeles, there's a new bad boy in town. 
Summer Jenkins. That’s me, a small town girl stuck in Quincy, Georgia. I cook some mean chicken and dumplins, can bluff a grown man out of his savings in poker, and was voted Most Friendly my senior year. 
We were from different worlds. Our lives shouldn’t have collided. But then Cole Masten read a book about my small town. And six months later, his jet landed on our dusty airstrip, and he brought Hollywood with him. 
From the start, I knew he was trouble. For our town. And for me.
Sometimes, opposites just aren’t meant to attract."

This book was a fun read. Although the main situation that occurs is slightly " too good to be true" watching the relationship between Cole and Summer unfold gets steamy. I enjoyed this one much better than the Crossfire series (well, the first book, I never made it past that one) because the writing was just better I think. If you're looking for an easy romance read, this is a good one that you'll likely breeze through pretty easily.
I gave this one 3.5 out of 5 stars.

I started reading The Fall Up, which is part of a series, but I feel like it might be too similar of a storyline to Hollywood Dirt after reading the first chapter so I might try and find something different in the meantime.

That's what I've been reading--what about you? Share some good ones with me!

Life According to Steph

30 comments:

  1. I felt the same way about 800 grapes...the end is what took it down for me...xo, Biana -BlovedBoston

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  2. Love seeing book reviews...they always give me great ideas on what to read myself! Bummer about 800 grapes...with everything you hear it should be great!

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  3. I have been trying to get my hands on Eight Hundred Grapes, but I can't ever seem to get to a good book store that carries it. Looking forward to giving it a read.
    xo, Whitney and Blaire
    Peaches In A Pod

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  4. I kept hearing amazing things about 800 grapes, so I'm glad to hear an honest review! Hollywood Dirt sounds like the perfect book to read at the beach or pool when you just want something light and easy haha

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  5. I have Eight Hundred Grapes on my "to be read" list, but I have seen back and forth reviews on it! The last book I think I read was Dark Places by Gillian Flynn..it was good, but after reading Gone Girl and knowing her style of writing, I knew to expect twists and turns!

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  6. Thanks for the reviews on the books, Jenn. I will check them out. On another note, I mentioned you on my blog today. If you get a minute to stop by, please do so. Have a great day! :)

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  7. I feel like 800 Grapes has been on my reading list forever, but I still haven't gotten around to it...now that my subway commute is a little longer with my new job, I need some new reading material!

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  8. My sister sent me home with a bunch of books. I just read All Fall Down and it was definitely an easy read. Yeah I love that I can participate! I definitely want to check out 800 grapes next!

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  9. I was in the middle with Eight Hundred Grapes too. It was a cute read but nothing mind blowing. I'll have to check out Hollywood Dirt. I like fun reads! <3, Pamela Sequins & Sea Breezes

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  10. Hollywood Dirt might be the easy kind of thing I could read but be distracted from on a long plane ride.

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  11. i love a fun read. and tied to something pop culture related (hollywood)? yeah! good reviews girl!

    xoxo cheshire kat

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  12. I just bought "The Life-Changing Magic of Tidying Up".. I've heard it's life changing when it comes to organization! I love your recommendations as well!

    Christina :: Simple and Delish

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  13. 800 Grapes in next in my queue. I had 4 actual paperback books that V loaned me I had to get through and then I got the newest Alex cross book, so I need something easy breezy.

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  14. Eight Hundred Grapes has been taking up space on my TBR for awhile now. I probably should read it at some point.

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  15. Glad that you kind of enjoyed 800 Grapes! I bought it for my sister for Christmas because well, you know how much I love it. These other books seem intriguing, although I'm pretty attached to the Crossfire series so nothing compares in my book. :)

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  16. hahaha i never made it passed the first book in the crossfire series either lol. i felt the same as you with eight hundred grapes, it was okay.

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  17. Hollywood Dirt sounds good...if i actually decide to read a book in the near future. It's been a while and my reading these days are just for work and logging. Pretty sad. lol

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  18. I enjoyed Eight Hundred Grapes. It almost made me want to try wine again. I haven't found one I like yet!

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  19. Hollywood Dirt looks like a great beach read for an upcoming vacay! Great reviews gurlie <3

    Green Fashionista

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  20. I'm glad you linked up. I love finding bloggers that are new to me this way. The Grapes book is on my tbr. I've seen mixed reviews, but I'm interested enough to read it.

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  21. I felt the same way about Eight Hundred Grapes - it was just okay. I thought the ending (or who she was going to end up with) was kind of predictable!

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  22. I need to make the time to read more.
    You've inspired me to do so (:

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  23. I'm totally guilty of being a mostly "fun and light" reader - Hollywood Dirt sounds like my kind of thing! Perfect for a beach - definitely remembering! I'm so determined to pick up the reading this year. You're such an inspiration with how many books you always get through!

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  24. Just finished "The Husband's Secret" and "Big Little Lies" both by Liane Moriarty… both really great!! Cannot wait to dive into some more fun reading after my board exam tomorrow!

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  25. I haven't read either of these, that story line does sound a little "too good to be true"... hmm. I barely read in December, and all of my November books were finishing a YA series. ha Oh well. January has brought more time and diversity in books for me. MUCH. NEEDED. :) XO - Alexandra

    Simply Alexandra: My Favorite Things

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  26. I dont know why I struggled to continue reading Eight Hundred Grapes- I ended up having to return it to the library bc other holds on it lol It wasnt bad just didnt keep my attention that well

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  27. These are both on my to read list. Thank you for sharing your thoughts.

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  28. I feel like it's so hard when you feel in between about a book! Something I realized this year.. is that I REALLY like happy endings. Somehow I managed to really like Eight Hundred Grapes despite the fact that the ending wasn't really my fave. Thanks for linking up! XO

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  29. love this! just started a book club myself! love for you to come along and vote for your favorite! so glad i came across your blog! hope you'll stop by mine as well! happy friday!

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