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Showing posts with label Karen Stivali. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Karen Stivali. Show all posts
Wednesday, December 26, 2012
Review: "Meant to Be" by Karen Stivali
Meant to Be
by: Karen Stivali
Publishing Date: 10/29/12
Publisher: Turquoise Morning Press
Genre: Contemporary Romance
Source: Provided by Author
Description:
Sometimes you’re already committed to the wrong person when fate finally brings you the right one.
When NYU professor Daniel Gardner’s career-obsessed wife convinces him to move to the suburbs, he hopes it’s a first step toward starting the family he longs to have. Instead of domestic bliss he finds his neighbor,
Marienne Valeti. She loves her freelance design job, but must contend with a growing sense of isolation created by her husband’s indifference. A penchant for good books, bad movies, and Marienne’s to-die-for brownies sparks a powerful bond between them. Passion simmers, but they resist its lure, surrendering only in the seclusion of their minds.
Their friendship
helps them weather every hardship, from divorce to widowhood, leaving them both secretly wondering if it can survive a first kiss.
My Review:
My first book from the fabulous author, Karen Stivali, and now I cannot wait to read her other books.
"Meant to Be" is a definite page turner and will have you rooting for Daniel and Marienne to be with each other. =)
Daniel is a Professor at NYU and his wife, Justine, who is about to open her own Spa has him move to the suburbs where he hopes to start a family finally.
When Daniel is not working as a professor he volunteers at the local theater where he meets up with his neighbor Marienne. He already knows her husband, Frank, who he rides with to work every weekday on the rail. He has been meaning to meet Marienne since they moved in behind Daniel. They automatically become close friends and decide to have Friday nights as couples nights, where Marienne and Frank have Daniel and his wife over and vice versa. In the meantime though, Daniel, is trying to hide his feelings for Marienne every time he sees her, and Marienne is trying to hide her feelings for Daniel. They have come to realize they both have so much more in common and that they were most likely meant to each other, especially when Daniel finds out Marienne has pictures of him from his past.
Marienne finds out the truth on how Daniel met his wife and she thinks it is wrong what Justine did and continuously does to Daniel. Daniel does not even realize the real truth on how Justine met him and what her real intentions were.
Daniel realizes a truth about Justine, when Marienne has the best miracle happen to her and Daniel is starting to realize he may never have what Frank and Marienne have. Until Daniel finds out the truth about what Frank is doing to Marienne behind her back.
"Meant to Be" is about a two people who were actually meant to meet each other, but they have to meet the wrong person first, before they can meet their actual match. Daniel and Marienne were meant to be together especially when they start sharing stories of the past together.
Karen definitely did a great job with this story and how true love will find itself eventually. I thought "Meant to Be" was such a sweet story and I fell in love with the character Daniel as soon as he was introduced. He helped Marienne so much, even more than her husband, Frank, who was such a jerk to her. Justine was just as bad to Daniel, but she had a back story to why she hooked up with Daniel in the first place and that made me hate her even more.
I had such a hard time putting down this book because I wanted to find out what would happen next to Daniel and Marienne.
I was so mad on what Frank was doing to Marienne when the truth came out at the end and I was happy to what finally happened at the ending.
I definitely cannot wait to read the next installment to Daniel and Marienne's story now and I definitely look forward to reading other books from Karen Stivali as well.
This book may make you mad on the significant others of Daniel and Marienne, but you'll definitely want to know if Daniel and Marienne eventually get their happily ever after, especially with what they ordeal in this book.
I recommend this book to contemporary romance readers out there.
You'll fall in love with Daniel's sweet British ways and also fall in love Marienne's character as well. Just a warning, this book may make you hungry for cakes, cookies, etc. Marienne's character bakes and cooks a lot and she definitely had me wanting to bake after I finished this book. =)
I received a complimentary copy of "Meant to Be from the Author in exchange for an honest review.
My first book from the fabulous author, Karen Stivali, and now I cannot wait to read her other books.
"Meant to Be" is a definite page turner and will have you rooting for Daniel and Marienne to be with each other. =)
Daniel is a Professor at NYU and his wife, Justine, who is about to open her own Spa has him move to the suburbs where he hopes to start a family finally.
When Daniel is not working as a professor he volunteers at the local theater where he meets up with his neighbor Marienne. He already knows her husband, Frank, who he rides with to work every weekday on the rail. He has been meaning to meet Marienne since they moved in behind Daniel. They automatically become close friends and decide to have Friday nights as couples nights, where Marienne and Frank have Daniel and his wife over and vice versa. In the meantime though, Daniel, is trying to hide his feelings for Marienne every time he sees her, and Marienne is trying to hide her feelings for Daniel. They have come to realize they both have so much more in common and that they were most likely meant to each other, especially when Daniel finds out Marienne has pictures of him from his past.
Marienne finds out the truth on how Daniel met his wife and she thinks it is wrong what Justine did and continuously does to Daniel. Daniel does not even realize the real truth on how Justine met him and what her real intentions were.
Daniel realizes a truth about Justine, when Marienne has the best miracle happen to her and Daniel is starting to realize he may never have what Frank and Marienne have. Until Daniel finds out the truth about what Frank is doing to Marienne behind her back.
"Meant to Be" is about a two people who were actually meant to meet each other, but they have to meet the wrong person first, before they can meet their actual match. Daniel and Marienne were meant to be together especially when they start sharing stories of the past together.
Karen definitely did a great job with this story and how true love will find itself eventually. I thought "Meant to Be" was such a sweet story and I fell in love with the character Daniel as soon as he was introduced. He helped Marienne so much, even more than her husband, Frank, who was such a jerk to her. Justine was just as bad to Daniel, but she had a back story to why she hooked up with Daniel in the first place and that made me hate her even more.
I had such a hard time putting down this book because I wanted to find out what would happen next to Daniel and Marienne.
I was so mad on what Frank was doing to Marienne when the truth came out at the end and I was happy to what finally happened at the ending.
I definitely cannot wait to read the next installment to Daniel and Marienne's story now and I definitely look forward to reading other books from Karen Stivali as well.
This book may make you mad on the significant others of Daniel and Marienne, but you'll definitely want to know if Daniel and Marienne eventually get their happily ever after, especially with what they ordeal in this book.
I recommend this book to contemporary romance readers out there.
You'll fall in love with Daniel's sweet British ways and also fall in love Marienne's character as well. Just a warning, this book may make you hungry for cakes, cookies, etc. Marienne's character bakes and cooks a lot and she definitely had me wanting to bake after I finished this book. =)
I received a complimentary copy of "Meant to Be from the Author in exchange for an honest review.
Tuesday, October 9, 2012
Interview & Giveaway with Karen Stivali
Please give a warm welcome to Karen Stivali to
Book Lovin' Mamas today.
Book Lovin' Mamas today.
Karen Stivali is a prolific write, compulsive baker and chocoholic with a penchant for books, movies and fictional British men. When she's not writing, she can be found cooking extravagant meals and serving them to family and friends. Prior to deciding to write full time Karen worked as a hand drawn animator, a clinical therapist, and held various food-related jobs ranging from waitress to specialty cake maker. Planning elaborate parties and fundraisers takes up what's left of her time and sanity.
Karen has always been fascinated by the way people relate to one another so she favors books and movies that feature richly detailed characters and their relationships. In her own writing she likes to explore the dynamics between characters and has a tendency to craft romantic love stories filled with sarcasm and sexy details.
Karen has published three erotic romances with Ellora's Cave: Marry Me (June 2012), Long-Distance Lovers (co-written with Karen Booth, March 2012) and Always You (Passionate Plume First Place Novella Winner, RWA 2012).
Karen's first full-length novel, Meant to Be, will be published by Turquoise Morning Press on August 26, 2012. It's sequel, Holding On, will be released on November 26, 2012. A prequel to these novels, the short story All I Need, appears in the Foreign Affairs Anthology (Turquoise Morning Press, August 2012).
Coming in 2013 Karen will have several contemporary romances releasing from Samhain Publishing and Turquoise Morning Press.
For more information on Karen Stivali, you can find her current projects and upcoming projects please visit her at: http://karenstivali.com
1 ) Tell us 3 things about yourself that readers would not find in your biography.
I'm fairly superstitious. You'll often find me knocking on wood or throwing a pinch of salt over my shoulder (look out if you're standing behind me while I'm cooking.)
I always wear at least 6 rings and 4 bracelets (never take them off) but I often forget to put in earrings (even though my ears are double pierced).
I'm a lifelong insomniac (and if you follow me on Twitter you already know this because I'm a frequent late-night Tweeter).
2) If you could describe yourself in three words, what would they be?
Stressed but happy.
3) How do you choose the names for your characters in your books?
Choosing names for my characters if often a bit challenging for me. I can't use a name if I already know someone who has that name. I have a very strong association between names and people, and I never, ever base characters on anyone I know, so I make sure my characters get names that won't make me think of someone I know. That rules out of a lot of names but it also forces me to really think about the characters and give them a name that suits personality.
4) What's a typical writing day like for you? (Do you have a routine you follow, and do you listen to music, etc.)
There is absolutely no rhyme, reason or routine to my writing schedule. I write when and wherever a through strikes me. This has led to some instances of writing a scene or an idea on the back of a bank receipt while in line at the grocery store or on a roll of toilet paper using eyeliner as a pen. Most days, though, you'll find me sitting at my kitchen desk, typing away in between phone calls, cooking, and other household tasks. And I write a lot at night when everyone else in the house is asleep. I'd day music is on about 50% of the time. As long as it's music I like it's never a distraction.
5) How do you beat out your writer's block?
I usually fight writer's block by editing something that's already written. When I'm working on one project I'll usually get ideas for another (because I always want to be doing what I'm not supposed to be doing) so that will make me have the motivation to start a new project as soon as the editing is finished. Sometimes before the editing is finished (but shhhh, don't tell my editors!).
6) If you could travel anywhere in the world, where would you go and why?
I'm going to give a boring Dorothy answer to that and say that there's no place like home. I traveled a ton when I was younger and although I loved a lot of the places I visited, I also really love where I live now, in the beautiful mountains of NH. That said, I'd love to go back to Florence, Italy or Oxford, England (two places I've spend a lot of time and really enjoyed) and you could twist my arm into taking a vacation on the Greek Islands.
7) When you're not writing, what are your hobbies or favorite things to do?
My favorite hobby is baking. I not only love to bake but I find it calming. And I never get any complaints from friends and family when I happen to bake way too much stuff.
8) Who are some of your favorite authors?
That's a very loaded question because since I've started writing I've met so many new writer-friends that they're all my favorite authors, so I'm going to tweak that questions and answer with who are my favorite CLASSIC authors. I've always loved Erich Segal, JD Salinger, Judy Blume, Anton Myrer, Erica Jong and EE Cummings.
9) What is next for Karen Stivali?
I was thinking of having a sandwich. Oh, wait, that's probably not what you meant. I have a new book, Holding on, releasing in late November. It's the sequel to my recently released novel Meant to Be (and there's a short story prequel to both stories in the romance anthology Foreign Affairs).
I also recently contracted several new works. The first release will be Then, Again. It's a contemporary romance about a second chance with an old crush. It's due out from Samhain Publishing in May 2013. If you peek at my website in the next few weeks I'll be talking about a few other new projects as well, but for now they're secrets. (Shhh!)
10) Do you have anything specific that you want to say to your readers?
A lot of people ask me why I choose to write erotic romances, contemporary romances and women's fiction (with romantic elements) rather than sticking with one genre. The answer to that is that there are only shades of difference between those genres where my work is concerned. All of my novels are contemporary, featuring modern day couples in current times. My erotic romances are the absolute sweetest end of the spectrum (steamy and explicit, but always sweet stories) and my women's fiction is the hottest end of the spectrum (no closed door sex, just not quite as steamy as the erotic stories). So, for me, the story dictates the heat level, and genre is just a label. All my books are love stories, plain and simple. I write about people relationships and sex...and food. There's always food.
For more info about my writing or to try out some of my recipes you can visit me at my blog http://karenstivali.com or chat with me on Twitter https://twitter.com/karenstivali or check out my reviews on Goodreads http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/5170527.Karen_Stivali or check out my Amazon author page http://www.amazon.com/-/e/B005KWSFGO
Fun quick questions:
1) Sunset or Sunrise - Sunset
2) Beach or Mountains - Vacation at beach, live in the mountains (that's why I love NH!)
3) Coffee or Hot Tea - Summer--iced coffee, Winter--hot tea
4) Summer or Winter - Autumn (I love the colored leaves), but Winter is a close second
5) Country Music or Rock N' Roll - Rock N' Roll
Meant to Be
by: Karen Stivali
Publishing Date: 8/26/12
Publisher: Turquoise Morning Press
Genre: Contemporary Romance
Description:
Sometimes you’re already committed to the wrong person when fate finally brings you the right one.
When NYU professor Daniel Gardner’s career-obsessed wife convinces him to move to the suburbs, he hopes it’s a first step toward starting the family he longs to have. Instead of domestic bliss he finds his neighbor,
Marienne Valeti. She loves her freelance design job, but must contend with a growing sense of isolation created by her husband’s indifference. A penchant for good books, bad movies, and Marienne’s to-die-for brownies sparks a powerful bond between them. Passion simmers, but they resist its lure, surrendering only in the seclusion of their minds. Their friendship
helps them weather every hardship, from divorce to widowhood, leaving them both secretly wondering if it can survive a first kiss.
Coming Soon: 11/26/12
Now here's your chance to win an ebook copy of one of Karen Stivali's backlist books.
(Must be over the age of 18)
Just fill out the Rafflecopter below.
Winner will be announced 10/16
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