Melissa BaldwinRecensioni

“It’s amazing how quickly life can change when you least expect it.”
Tori Hayes does not like change and that’s fine because she is content with her single status and fulfilling sales career. Tori makes an exception and steps out of her comfort zone to be a part of her college best friend’s wedding party. But it is nothing like she thought it would be. She is suddenly thrown into the type of drama that only a Southern belle bride and her friends can create. The secrets, lies and deception are more than Tori can take. And as if that wasn’t enough the groomsman, Tyler, appears to know how to push all her buttons. And if there's one thing Tori knows… she doesn’t like her buttons pushed… or does she? Tori can’t understand why she keeps finding herself in the middle of all this madness when all she wants to do is support Caroline and give her the perfect day. Will there be a happy ending amid all this chaos?
I am in love with romantic comedies! I really loved this book because it was an amazing concept. I loved the idea of friends that haven't been super close and all of a sudden she is invited into this friendship group that is well established to be a part of the wedding. The whole wedding was a complete cluster! I mean the drama between these people was hilarious. We have Leslie who is so obsessed with Tyler that she is instantly against Tori. The drama that unfolds and the secrets that exist in this group really create some intense situations. One of the bridesmaids has a huge secret that could ruin the entire group!
I liked that Tori wasn't looking for any relationship and it just kind of happened. I don't know that I agree with it being an enemies to lovers trope for me. It seemed more like two strangers becoming friends. I think it was a cute story and had some laugh worthy moments but I would have appreciated a bit more romance I think, or a stronger enemies narrative. I think Leslie and Tori were more enemies than Tyler and Tori. It was very much a slow burn romance narrative. For me the best part of this narrative was the moments that reminded me of the movie Bridesmaids. I really did enjoy this one because it was well written and fast paced and all the circumstances were incredibly funny.

Personal crisis loves company. Meaning, the timing of the blast from the past photo and the beauty of how the world can connect in seconds, equated to Stacy's having the chance to get reacquainted with her besties from yesteryear. The good news? Both Candace (sorry, C.J.) and Olivia are thrilled to bits to hear from her. The bad news? They would both rather be bald than in the same room with the other...let alone in the same car...let alone without being told they were going to be so they could mentally prepare. Yeah...Stacy definitely had some explaining to do, but all's well that ends well, right? Well, even if it doesn't end on the highest of notes (which, spoiler alert, it does!), she can at least take comfort in catching up with an old acquaintance. The fact that they are a HE and SMOKING HOT and SUCCESSFUL and so OBVIOUSLY INTERESTED it hurts but in the cutest way possible (and they have the best texts and conversations) is beside the point. OH, did I fail to mention that Stacy does have a way of getting in her own way and if her former besties aren't there to make this meet and greet happen, it probably won't? Good thing they were and still are her "ride or die" friends til the end...provided they don't off each other first!

I had a great time with this trio of friends and all the drama their road trip entailed. I mean, if Olivia can "get lost" so her friends have to call in the cops, and Candace can passive aggressively control the driver/passenger situation, then Stacy is surely entitled to use waterworks and emotional meltdown warnings to bring them together! (LOL!) Seriously though, once they saw each other as they are and not simply as they were, the bonds they had were reformed anew, and something that any gal would love in a true life friend. Speaking of bonds, Stacy and Gavin? Whew! A match I couldn't wait to happen, although I admit to waiting for the other shoe to drop at any time...call me a pessimist, but with all the other fireworks, who knew what would happen!


**ecopy received for review; opinions are my own

On the Road to Love (Love in The City Series Book 1) by Melissa Baldwin

Stacy has it all, a successful career, husband and a happy life. Then her husband files for divorce turning her world upside down. She heads off on a road trip for some self reflection and reconnecting with her past.

A fast paced fun plot with a likable lead character. Stacy goes through a major change in her life, and how she handles it is the key to her (eventual) happiness. The characters were well developed, with humor, love, family and romance. Overall I found On the Road to Love enjoyable and feel others will enjoy it as well.

In See You Later Broadway, the second book of the Broadway series, author Melissa Baldwin weaves a sassy tale that continues to follow the Broadway dreams, life choices and decisions, and complicated romantic trials and tribulations of Maris Forrester.

Set in New York City and told in the first person narrative, the reader was introduced to Maris Forrester in the first book of the series, See You Soon Broadway. The reader followed Maris as she made the decision to move from her hometown to NYC to chase her dream of performing on Broadway. Now in See You Later Broadway, Maris' story continues as her aspirations to perform on Broadway go awry when unexpected choices leaves her with a lot of decisions to make in her career and romances, in order to move forward with her life.

This was such a fun book to read, it had a great mixture of drama, humor, and romance, that easily kept me engaged and laughing as I followed the continued unfolding of Maris' story. Anyone can relate to the craziness surrounding dreams and goals, and how the best laid plans can unexpectedly go awry, especially when romance issues are added into the mix. There are lot of laugh-out-loud moments and surprising twist and turns: from her family and friend relationships, to her complicated romances, to her determination to follow through on her career plan to star on Broadway. Nothing is going to keep this sassy lady from achieving her dreams and finding happiness in her life.

See You Later Broadway is a fast paced and thoroughly enjoyable romantic comedy that will leave a smile on your face.

RATING: 5 STARS

Disclaimer: I received a copy of the book from the author in exchange for my honest review and participation in a virtual book tour event hosted by Chick Lit Plus.

https://jerseygirlbookreviews.blogspot.com/2017/10/see-you-later-broadway-by-mel...

This novel is more about the voice than the narrative. The first-person protagonist treats this as something of a stream-of-consciousness, with all the repetitiveness this implies. I get the impression that Baldwin was fully invested in this character, to the point where it was something of a flaw: she did not have the objectivity to slip in bits of important and interesting information about Sienna's world, rather than focusing entirely on the inside of her head. Sienna is something of an unreliable narrator, but I don't get the impression that Baldwin noticed that much, either. Her approach to life is naive beyond what's plausible for someone with her business skills and (much-lauded by others) practicality. Again, this could have been interesting if Baldwin, when writing her, had been aware of this juxtaposition of the Outer and the Inner Siennas.

It is written first person, present tense, for those who hate either. I didn't mind it, but I did grow weary of the voice. It was mostly free from grammatical errors and thesaurus abuse.

If you read a sample and enjoy the voice, you'll probably like the book. I think more author awareness, and less repetition, would have improved it a lot, although the voice definitely rang true.½

An Event to Remember or Forget is an entertaining chick lit / romantic comedy story that will keep you in stitches!

In An Event to Remember or Forget, the first book of the Event To Remember series, author Melissa Baldwin weaves a sassy tale that follows the event planning and romantic trials and tribulations of Sienna Harris.

Set in Southern California and told in the first person narrative, the reader follows event planner Sienna Harris as her plans to finish up her duties at Carrie's Classic Events and launch her own company, Sheer Happiness Events, go awry when she has issues with her always unavailable boss, society maven Carrie Anderstone, intertwined with fighting her relationship doubts with her boyfriend Luke, especially when she unexpectedly finds herself attracted to his arch nemesis, handsome Australian businessman Ace Eckelund.

This was such a fun book to read, it had a great mixture of drama, humor, and romance, that easily kept me engaged and laughing as I followed the unfolding of Sienna's story. Anyone can relate to the craziness surrounding event planning and how the best laid plans can unexpectedly go awry, especially when romance issues are added into the mix. There are lot of laugh-out-loud moments and surprising twist and turns: from her obsessive daily to-do-lists, to her romance troubles, to her determination to follow through on her plans for an important charity event that will help launch her own company, to her comedic interactions with best friends Madison, Abby, and Craig. Nothing is going to keep this sassy lady from achieving her dreams! I can't wait to see what new adventures await Sienna, Madison, Abby, and Craig in Wedding Haters, the second book in the series.

An Event to Remember or Forget is a fast paced and thoroughly enjoyable romantic comedy that will leave a smile on your face.

Disclaimer: I received a copy of the book from the author in exchange for my honest review and participation in a book review program hosted by Chick Lit Plus Blog Tours.

http://jerseygirlbookreviews.blogspot.com/2016/05/an-event-to-remember-or-forget...

For a star rating and a full review please visit InD'tale Magazine online Dec/Jan 2015/16, www.indtale.com

Wedding Haters is an entertaining chick lit / romantic comedy wedding themed story that will keep you in stitches!

In Wedding Haters, the second book of the Event To Remember series, author Melissa Baldwin weaves a sassy tale that follows the wedding planning trials and tribulations of bride Madison Wales. Told in the first person narrative, the reader follows Madison and her best friend and wedding planner Sienna Harris as Madison's perfect bridal plans are sabotaged by her meddling Grandmother and evil cousins Ellie and Stephy. Can Madison and Sienna save her wedding dreams and get it back on track, or should Madison and Cole go the easy route and elope?

This was such a fun and lighthearted book to read, it had a great mixture of family drama, humor, romance, and a touch of mystery that kept me engaged and laughing as I followed the unfolding of the craziness of Madison's wedding planning debacle. Anyone who has been down the wedding planning route can relate to the craziness of the event, and how the best laid plans can unexpectedly go awry, especially when meddling family members add their two cents in the mix. I loved the witty dialogue and dramatic interactions between the characters; the wonderful friendship between Madison, Sienna, and Abby; and her sweet romantic relationship with Cole. I love reading wedding themed chick lit stories, and this one had just the right amount of entertaining drama and humor intertwined with an intriguing mystery twist that easily earns two thumbs up!

Wedding Haters is a fast paced and thoroughly enjoyable chick lit story that will leave a smile on your face.

Disclaimer: I received a copy of the book from the author in exchange for my honest review and participation in a book review program hosted by Chick Lit Plus Blog Tours.

http://jerseygirlbookreviews.blogspot.com/2015/12/wedding-haters-by-melissa-bald...

Sienna has a job she loves and a loving boyfriend. Well, kind of. Her job situation is not the best. She works for a rich socialite that hardly does any of the work, and Sienna's boyfriend is less than attentive most of the time. Sienna is getting ready to break out on her own though by forming her own company. She just has one last big event to plan. It turns out though that this may be the toughest event of all to plan. Add in drama with her boyfriend in the form of a very attractive old rival, and Sienna may have more on her plate than she can handle.

This was a super cute book. It was just fluffy and fun. Sienna is a great character. No matter what happens she handles it with calm. That's not to say she doesn't get emotional because she does, it's just that she never wallows in the bad. Sienna is totally someone you'd want to be friends with because she lifts up people and quickly owns up to her mistakes. The only thing you could question is why she is still with her boyfriend. He is horribly inattentive and forgetful. However Sienna is nothing if not loyal. That's admirable.

There a bit of a twist in the story that is not too hard to figure out because plenty of clues are dropped. That doesn't make the reveal have any less impact though. Oh, and there's also the handsome Ace to talk about. I love the maturity that both Ace and Sienna have. They don't try to hide things and actively hash things out. How refreshing. The ending of the book was very unexpected to me. I did love it though. It stuck when the tone of the book and Sienna's true character. This is a fun and fast read that will entertain.

Book provided for review.

4 STARS

An Event to Remember… or Forget by Melissa Baldwin is a romantic comedy or chick lit. Some places the book took me I could see where it was taking me others was a surprise. The ending was a surprise but fit the book and had a good message and attitude. This was a clean read. I liked Sienna and her friends and co-workers for the most part. Some of the characters we were not supposed to like what they did.

Sienna Harris is a event planner. She is almost ready for her to take a risk and start her own company. I like that she is not working on her company while she is still at Carrie's Classic Events. She is waiting till after her biggest event goes off. Sienna has been dating Luke for ten months. Her friends don't like him.

Sienna and Luke are both tempted by different things. It is their choices what to do with the temptations. There always choices to be made about how we will act with good or bad events.

Sienna is making excuses for Luke's behavior with everyone. She ignores the red flags. Everyone had opinions about Sienna's choices. I like how she calls her parents as sounding board. I was rooting for things to go right again in her life.

You get drawn into Sienna Harris life and what is going on with her friends. The cookies her roommate makes made me want to try some.
I would read another book by Melissa Barton in the future.

I received this ebook for free and In return I agreed to give honest review and be part of An Event to Remember or Forget blog tour.