Book Talk with R and T: Announcement and Giveaway for THE SPARROW SISTERS by Ellen Herrick

Look at that gorgeous cover! Makes me ready for fall weather!

Yep, it's time for another fun week with me and Tamara chatting about a new release we love. So join us all week as we share our reviews of THE SPARROW SISTERS, interview Ellen Herrick, chat about spoilers, and host a fabulous giveaway!  Be sure to follow us each on Twitter (@IvoryOwlReviews & @RockStar1023) so you don't miss out on a single bookish second!


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Review of PRETTY MUCH SCREWED by Jenna McCarthy

Title: Pretty Much Screwed
Author: Jenna McCarthy
Publisher: Berkley
Publication Date: July 7, 2015
ISBN: 9780425280683
Number of Pages: 336
How I Got It: from publisher
Format: paperback
Goodreads Description:
“I don’t love you anymore.”
For Charlotte Crawford, the worst part about being dumped after twenty years of marriage is that her husband, Jack, doesn’t want another woman; he just doesn’t want her. Forty-two and clueless, Charlotte is a fish out of water in a dating pool teeming with losers. Just when she thinks she’s finally put her failed marriage behind her, it comes back to bite her in the ass…hard. Without warning, Charlotte finds herself staring down the barrel of a future she wouldn’t (she would totally) wish on her worst enemy. Engaging, fearless, and relentlessly funny, Pretty Much Screwed is a story of love, loss, friendship, forgiveness, turtledoves, taxidermy, and one hilariously ill-placed tick.
My Review: 
Between the title and the cover image, I knew this would be a fun, light read. With the "four girlfriends" setup (why is always four?) readers are first given main character Charlotte's, best friend Lizzy's marriage meltdown. Though shocking, when privy to Charlotte's marriage (aka asshole husband) you can't help but hope that "the D word" is catching. I don't like when characters are absolutely clueless about obvious situations, and I found myself wanting to smack Charlotte a few times to wake her up. Along with a few eye rolls, I chuckled several times and found the conversations and banter realistic. I smiled as I read this and would recommend it to someone wanting a light read or to someone dating again after a divorce.

***I received a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review**

Review of RAINY DAY SISTERS by Kate Hewitt

Title: Rainy Day Sisters
Author: Kate Hewitt
Publisher: NAL Trade
Publication Date: August 4, 2015
ISBN: 9780451475589
Number of Pages: 359
How I Got It: direct from publisher
Format: paperback
Goodreads Description:
The USA Today bestselling author presents a heartfelt novel about two sisters struggling toward new lives and loves. Welcome to Hartley-by-the-Sea in England’s beautiful Lake District, where two sisters who meet as strangers find small miracles tucked into the corners of every day....
When Lucy Bagshaw’s life in Boston falls apart, thanks to a scathing editorial written by her famous artist mother, she accepts her half sister Juliet’s invitation to stay with her in a charming seaside village in northern England. Lucy is expecting quaint cottages and cream teas, but instead finds that her sister is an aloof host, the weather is wet, windy, and cold, and her new boss, Alex Kincaid, is a disapproving widower who only hired her as a favor to Juliet.
Despite the invitation she offered, Juliet is startled by the way Lucy catapults into her orderly life. As Juliet faces her own struggles with both her distant mother and her desire for a child, her sister’s irrepressible optimism begins to take hold. With the help of quirky villagers, these hesitant rainy day sisters begin to forge a new understanding…and find in each other the love of family that makes all the difference.
My Review: 
Just like being drawn to book covers, I'm also drawn to certain titles. Rainy Day Sisters piqued my interest. I love rain and love rainy days, so this sounded like a cozy read. I was interested in trying to figure out the relationship between cold Juliet and messy Lucy.  I enjoyed my time in the little village with its cast of characters: teachers, neighbors, and children all with endearing qualities and not-so-lovely human traits of their own. I've also come to like unlikeable characters in my novels and the girls' mother ranks up there. I enjoyed this read and will read future Hartley-by-the-Sea novels.

***Disclaimer: I received a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review**

2 Spooky New Releases: The Curse of Crow Hollow and The Night Sister

Titles: The Curse of Crow Hollow / The Night Sister
Authors: Billy Coffey / Jennifer McMahon 
Publishers: Thomas Nelson / Doubleday 
Publication Date: August 4, 2015 (both)
ISBNs: 9780718026776    9780385538527
Number of Pages: 384  /  336
How I Got It: NetGalley
Format: Kindle

Goodreads Descriptions:
The Curse of Crow Hollow:
Stories are told of a witch who lives in the woods outside of town. But where does truth end and legend begin?A group of teenagers find strange prints seared into the ground around their campsite. They follow the tracks, thinking it will lead to fun.But it doesn't. They eventually arrive at the edge of Alvaretta Graves's property--house of the legendary Riverwood Witch. When an agrument that arises turns violent, Alvaretta places a curse on them.The sickness comes the next day, gripping residents one by one. Fear overtakes the town, and panic soon follows.The posse that makes its way back to the witch's home is armed with guns and Bibles and is searching for an end to the sickness and violence. But they are in no way prepared for what they discover there.

The Night Sister:

Once the thriving attraction of rural Vermont, the Tower Motel now stands in disrepair, alive only in the memories of Amy, Piper, and Piper's kid sister, Margot. The three played there as girls until the day that their games uncovered something dark and twisted in the motel's past, something that ruined their friendship forever. Now adult, Piper and Margot have tried to forget what they found that fateful summer, but their lives are upended when Piper receives a panicked midnight call from Margot, with news of a horrific crime for which Amy stands accused. Suddenly, Margot and Piper are forced to relive the time that they found the suitcase that once belonged to Silvie Slater, the aunt that Amy claimed had run away to Hollywood to live out her dream of becoming Hitchcock's next blonde bombshell leading lady. As Margot and Piper investigate, a cleverly woven plot unfolds—revealing the story of Sylvie and Rose, two other sisters who lived at the motel during its 1950s heyday. Each believed the other to be something truly monstrous, but only one carries the secret that would haunt the generations to come.

My Review: 
I loved both of these novels. They were each so creepy and put me in the mood for the upcoming fall season. I was surprised that they weren't releasing in October because they seem like they would be perfect for readers looking for a spooky seasonal read. I will admit that I thought "oh this isn't that scary" with The Night Sister until the last 100 pages, then I had the heeby-jeebies and could not turn the pages fast enough. The Curse of Crow Hollow had me worried for a bit that it would turn out like The Returned or Under the Dome, which were both huge let-downs for me. I was also concerned that it would take a severe religious bend due to the Christian publisher. I was wrong on both counts. It was like nothing I've ever read and wait until you get a load of the narrator! So if you are looking for some spine-tingly, skin-crawly reads this fall, check out both of these releases.

***I received copies of these books in exchange for honest reviews**