Book Review: "Truffles by the Sea" by Julie Carobini and Book Giveaway!

I'm giving away a brand new copy of today's book! Leave a comment with your email address so I can contact you if you win. I'll pick a name and announce the winner on Wednesday, March 12. Good luck!

This week, the

Christian Fiction Blog Alliance

is introducing

Truffles by the Sea

Bethany House (February 1, 2008)

by

Julie Carobini

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:
Julie Carobini is an award-winning writer whose stories often spotlight her family, the sea, and God's timely work in the lives of those around her. She lives with her husband, Dan, and their three children in Ventura Beach, California.

She also likes to blog! Go leave her a comment at Waves of Grace.


Julie left you all a special message:

To celebrate my upcoming CFBA tour March 5-7, I'll be giving away a copy of Truffles by the Sea AND and a 1/2 lb. box of yummy truffles to three of your readers.

All they need to do is drop by my blog http://juliecarobini.blogspot.com/ during the tour and leave a comment and a way to contact them if they win!


ABOUT THE BOOK:

If you read, Julie's first book, Chocolate Beach, then you might remember Gaby as Bri’s dramatic, lovesick best friend. Unfortunately, things get worse—much worse—for her before they get…well, best not to give it away.

Sometimes all a girl has left is chocolate...

Gaby Flores has a penchant for drama and an unfortunate knack for dating Mr. So Wrong. After breaking off yet another relationship, watching her apartment building burn to the ground, and discovering that her dippy delivery guy has run off with most of her business, Gaby decides it’s time to turn things around.

So she moves to a tiny waterfront loft and takes on a new motto: “Be gullible no more!” With help from her friends, she works to rebuild her flower shop—and her life. But when legal troubles and quirky neighbors and two surprising romances enter her beachy world, Gaby’s motto and fledgling faith are put to the test.

Can a young woman prone to disaster in both work and love finally find happily ever after?

"Truffles by the Sea is delightful! Julie Carobini has a new fan in this reader, and she's earned a spot on my keeper shelf." --Kay James, RomanceReaderatHeart.com

"This book is a delight to read, and the author has us rooting for Gaby from page one. This girl's never-say-die attitude is incredible, and her life is filled with all kinds of foibles. This is chick lit with heart – about so much more than finding a man.... While keeping the light chick lit tone, this book satisfied while avoiding the tired old formulas. Just when I’m ready to give up on the genre, I stumble across an author who can write without relying on stereotypes." --Cara Putman, writerinterrupted.com

"I liked Julie Carobini's first novel, Chocolate Beach, but her sophomore release, Truffles By The Sea, greatly surpasses it. I thoroughly enjoyed Carobini's second book and felt her writing was much stronger throughout. The characters are deeper and yet funnier – a great combination.... It's a great read for a cold winter day – you can curl up with the book, a nice fire and pretend you're the one by the sea." --Jill Hart, RadiantLit.com

Chocolate makes life better

If the beach and chocolate are a few of your favorite things, this book is for you. Readers of Chocolate Beach will delight in reading about Gaby's story as she tries to start a new chapter in her life. I liked reading about her adventures in the flower shop, dealing with her landlord, dating new guys, and meeting all her new neighbors. I loved all the colorful characters that were in Gaby's neighborhood. From the nosy Iris, the goth Kit, the older Agnes, and the reformed alcoholic Adam, they all added spice to Gaby's story. And it was great to see Bri and her husband in the story again. Her relationship with Gaby shows how close they are and gives a good definition of what all friendships should be like. I totally did not expect Gaby to end up with who she did. It was a nice surprise and a fun way of how they got together. The only thing that bothered me with this book is that it just jumps right into the story. The reader doesn't really learn much about what happened to Gaby before she moved into her new place. Bits and pieces are told along the way, but the full story was never told. I felt kinda lost in the beginning and went back to reread chapters to see if I had missed something. I also thought it would have been more fun to read more of the disgruntled bride's lawsuit but that's just the sadistic side it me. This was a really fun book to read. Like it's predecessor it's a great book to read out on the beach with a box of chocolate truffles by your side. Just be sure to watch out for the seagulls! Looking forward to reading more from this beach-lit author.

Truffles by the Sea by Julie Carobini is published by Bethany House (2008)