Monday, September 23, 2013

Monday Morning Book Review

Monday Morning Book Review
 
Last week I read several books and this week I will attempt to post reviews on all of them.  I say attempt because it turns out this week will be a busy one for me.  Yesterday was the first day of fall and I find with the cooler temps that it actually feels like fall.  A lot of people on Facebook are already counting down to Christmas, not me.  For me, too many people want to hurry time along instead of enjoying each and every moment.  I saw a commercial the other day for Christmas and even in the stores some have already put out Christmas items.  I begin to ask the question what about the other holidays, like Halloween, Veteran's day, Thanksgiving, etc, are they not important also. 
 
Okay, on to the purpose of my blog.  Today I am doing a review on an up and coming author.
Let me introduce to you Melissa Tagg.
 

Biography

Melissa Tagg is a former reporter turned author who loves all things funny and romancey. Her debut novel, a romantic comedy titled Made to Last, releases from Bethany House in September 2013, with a follow-up slated for summer 2014. In addition to her nonprofit day job, she is also the marketing/events coordinator for My Book Therapy, a craft and coaching community for writers founded by award-winning author Susan May Warren.

During her reporting days, Melissa interviewed presidential candidates and llama farmers, rode a hot air balloon and flew a plane, and once found herself face to face with a buffalo. But today she gets her kicks by letting her characters have their own fun. She's passionate about humor, grace and happy endings.
 
 
 
 
Melissa Tagg's debut novel is a romantic comedy with a sweet resolution.  She brings us lovable characters and a true to life dialogue that details family and relationship concerns that any reader can identify with.  An enjoyable read.  I am sure Melissa is to become one of your favorite storytellers.
 
 
Have you ever told a small lie that suddenly becomes a bigger and suddenly your caught up in something that has grown so large you honestly don't know how to stop it.  Well, you could identify with Miranda Woodruff.  Miranda is a young woman who has her own home building television show and doesn't realize her now celebrity status.  She is the daughter of missionaries in Brazil who sent her to live with her grandparents at the age of 7.  The ensuing years with very little contact from her parents led to deep rooted feelings of abandonment.  She finally returns to Brazil and begins building houses for people.  It was here that she met and fell in love with Robbie.  Upon their engagement and return to the States, Miranda couldn't be happier.  She interviews for a home building television show and during the interview gives credit for her building skills to her husband, not her fiancé.  She was, after all, getting married so this slip to the tongue wasn't so bad.  What Miranda doesn't know or expect is that Robbie will leave and without explanation.  No engagement, no wedding, no husband.  Abandoned again by someone she loves, how can God let this keep happening? 
 
Matthew Knox is a reporter who is trying to get his career back on tract after numerous setbacks, of course most of these are self-induced.  His father left his family when Matt was 15.  Not only did he walk away from his family, but he cleared out the family bank accounts too.  The anger Matt feels towards his father only grows as the years pass and when the opportunity arises for revenge, Matt takes it.  Twisting around information from an informant, he sets in motion the downfall of his father, but everything backfires and instead leads to his career downfall.  For 5 years, Matt has tried to get his career back on tract, but it seems for every step he takes forward, he only lands two back.
 
Three years to  the day since Robbie walked out, Miranda is having one of those days you wish you could avoid.  Upon arriving at work she learns about network cutbacks and her show could be facing termination, even though nationally she does well in the ratings.  She has always felt guilty about everyone assuming she is married, but is stunned when told she needs to bring her husband out of hiding.  Her manager, producer along with a few other people know there is no husband, so how can they suggest she produce one.  How in the world is she suppose to do this?  Well, you just buy a fake one, right?  Miranda reluctantly agrees, but is not so sure this is going to work.  Her feelings for Robbie have really not diminished over the years and she just wants him to come back and work things out.  Blaze is nothing like Robbie and they don't really know each other except for what is on the surface.
 
Everyone is curious about Miranda's husband, because no one has seen him.  The media would love to get the story.  Matt is approached with the idea of shadowing Miranda while doing a weekly blog series that would end in a tell all article to come out later.  Matt doesn't want to take this assignment because it feels like tabloid news to him, but he ends up agreeing with the hopes this will get his career back on tract.  Miranda is apprehensive about a reporter shadowing her and digging into her personal life which could all lead to her television persona blowing up in her face.  Between Robbie, Blaze and Matt, she definitely has 2 unwanted men in her life. Again, how can she make things right?  She could tell all, which she longs to do, but she would get fired and lose the chance of winning the much coveted award she has been nominated for.  Can she live this lie out to the end and make it all work out? Will she find the inner strength needed to undo the small lie she told years ago?
 
I give the book 5 gold stars.
 
 
 
Blessings
Katrina
 
 

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