In One Year and Out the Other

Rating:
Summary: Wonderful short stories to start the year or any time
Review: I am usually not a fan of short stories and did not realize that is what this book was until I received it as a gift, but was pleasantly surprised. I loved the novelettes, or short stories. They were fun to read, and gave me exposure to authors I have not read before. I was familiar with Cara Lockwood and Pamela Satran, but others were new treats to explore. I highly recommend this as a light, fun read. Now I am off to explore the other novels of these clever women. Enjoy!!

Rating:
Summary: Great read for the start of a new year!
Review: I got this book for Christmas and I read it in one day, it was that addicting. The Bad Breakup Regime by Beth Kendrick was pretty good and a little misleading.The story is about a man and woman who live together after their mates dumped both of them for the others mates. Resolved: A new Year's Resolution List by Cara Lockwood was also pretty good and I love the other books that Cara Lockwood has written.The story shows a woman who is far from perfect and she has to sort through her issues.The Future of sex by Megan McAndrew was a so-so story, not that great.The character seemed a little too desperate for me and she seemed to have no conscience. Happily Never After by Tracy McArdle was pretty good and I thought it also lead you to believe something was going to happen.The story is about a woman who seems happy until she has to go through something difficult and she finds comfort in an unexpected place. Halo, Goodbye by Kathleen O'Reilly was not very good in my opinion. The story takes place in Heaven and it just seemed too far out for me.Midnight Kiss by Eileen Rendahl is a pretty good story about friends.How to start the new Year like a guy by Pamela Redmond Satran was a so-so story, nothing great and the title pretty much explains what the story is about.Expecting a call by Diane Stingley is a pretty good story and it is a twist on a Christmas Carol.The Luckiest People by Libby Street was also a pretty good story about a girl who finds herself in bed with a movie star, except she can't remember his name. Great short story book for those who love chick lit. My favorite stories are Resolved: A New Year's Resolution List and my least favorites are probably Halo, Goodbye and The Future of Sex. But still pick up this book and check it for yourself.

Rating:
Summary: A very happy New Year indeed
Review: Reading this book just puts you in the New Years mood! Seriously - when you read it, you're going to want to pop open a bottle of champagne and celebrate with everyone in sight!

This was an awesome anthology, though as with all anthologies, some stories were better than others. The best ones were probably Cara Lockwood's story which focuses on a girl trying to get over an affair she had with a married man, and also Libby Street's, which deals with a one night stand and not recognizing the guy in her bed the next morning. Makes me excited to read her upcoming debut novel.

On the lamer side were stories like "The Future of Sex" which is basically about a woman who decides she should get artificial inseminated because she wants a baby. But even though some of the stories were worse than others, none were actually BAD, they just weren't ones I'd read again.

So I'd say that every woman should get a book like this, and when the new year comes around again, you'll be prepared to celebrate weeks early and can begin celebrating while reading this in bed.

Rating:
Summary: In One Year... and I Want Another!!!
Review: This book wasn't thought of as being done in short stories when purchased. I was highly pleased though! Almost every story ended up having a little piece of me in it... either something I had once done, same situation happened to me, same scenario. You get the picture. I completely related to this book. Not only did each and every author achieve a portion of me within their novelettes, but also they gave me a chance to branch out to other writing styles and new authors. I HIGHLY recommend this book!! It truly makes a person understand that everything happens for a reason.... and leaves you feeling like a new person inside and out.

Rating:
Summary: fine chick lit anthology
Review: This nine tale chick lit anthology is overall an entertaining relatively strong collection. Each tale is well written with none disastrous and a third really superb. Especially enticing are entries by sub-genre favorites Cara Lockwood, Beth Kendrick, and Diane Stingley. Though this reviewer holds a prejudicial belief that that the short story is the perfect medium for this milieu, sub-genre fans including those who prefer novels will appreciate this collection. This reviewer's New Year resolution is to try to read books in a timelier manner. Still better late than never, fans will toast the authors of this delightful lighthearted anthology, which holds up for any holiday as the characters and their respective relationships make for a fun read in time for Valentine's Day.

Harriet Klausner