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Hello, my name is Kelly and I welcome you to the Bookend Diaries book blog. I created this blog to share my own reviews of existing and new books, to discuss with other readers what we’re currently reading, update you on my book club picks, and of course, to ultimately support the work of the authors we all enjoy. I am addicted to reading and I thought this would be a great way to reach out to other readers who are as obsessed with books as I am.

Tuesday, June 1, 2010

By Invitation Only by: Jodi Della Femina



***Purchased through Barnes and Noble

Synopsis

Nobody knows the Hamptons like Jodi Della Femina, who captures the inside world of love, society, and scandal in this delicious summer page-turner. Toni Fratelli has a busy summer ahead. After several setbacks in Manhattan force her to move home to East Hampton, her To Do list is full. She has to help her father run his popular Italian restaurant, start up her own catering company—and be the Maid of Honor at her best friend’s wedding on the beach. Unfortunately for Toni, the groom’s mother is a competitive socialite who’ll stop at nothing to make sure her son doesn’t marry a local girl. The biggest caterer in the Hamptons is trying to run her new business out of town. And worse than anything, she seems to be losing her best friend to a circle of snooty bridesmaids. At least Toni finds love. When she meets a sexy surfer named Chris, it quickly turns into the most romantic summer fling of her life. But there’s more to Chris than his vintage Mustang and used guitar … and Toni’s going to like the truth. Before the end of the summer she’ll be forced to face her hopes – and fears – as trying to forgive becomes her biggest challenge of all.

My Review Comments:

This is the perfect summer read at the beach. With wedding season right around the corner I thought this would be a perfect pick, too. The story line is centered around two best friends and a wedding. Toni has a catering business in the Hamptons and she is competing with another caterer that is undermining her at every turn. She is doing her best to stay on top with so many distractions, such as being maid of honor for her best friend’s upcoming wedding, trying to keep her Father’s Italian restaurant afloat, and her own love life. What makes this book truly special is the bond between two best friends and unexpected romance that Toni finds herself in. But, everything isn’t as it seems with Toni’s new love Chris. Toni thinks Chris is a surfer who only has a vintage Mustang and not a penny to his name, when really he is so much more, he is a financial businessman from New York with lots of money. This book really takes you into the social settings of the Hamptons with all the extras. It is a great escape. What is really wonderful about this book is how the author ultimately ties up all the loose ends.

18 comments:

  1. Thanks for sharing Kelly. The cover is beautiful! I am going to check this out over on Goodreads....

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  2. A lovely review! This seems to be a lovely book, and I really like the cover, can't help it.;)

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  3. Sounds like a great summer read!

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  4. Thank you for stopping by my blog!! I am a new follower of yours now and added you to my google reader.

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  5. This sounds soooo good and what a fun cover! Great review! I am a new follower! Have a wonderful weekend!

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  6. this sounds wonderful. i love beachy books with a great heart. thank you!

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  7. I read this last year and loved it. I agree with you that it is the perfect summer read. Nice review!

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  8. Sounds like a fun summer read! thanks for sharing.

    Bonnie at The Literary Gato
    http://theliterarygato.blogspot.com/

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  9. sounds fun, this has been on my to-read list for a while, maybe i should bump it up :)

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  10. Sounds like a great book.

    Hopping by from the Blog Book linky. :) Now a follower too, please check out mine and do the same. Thanks!

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  11. This sounds like a perfect book for the summer! Thanks for checking out my blog. Love your bog design, very chic!
    xxx

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  12. This really does sound like fun! I'll have to add this to my TBR list. I just browsed around your blog and am liking it a lot. My first love in reading is definitely adult fiction and I see that's what you seem to like as well. Great taste! ;) I've been reading a lot of YA lately for book tours, and I've really got to get back to my adult books! I'll definitely be checking out some more of your reviews.

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  13. Thanks for hopping by on Friday.
    That sounds like an excellent escapist beach read.

    ~Jenn
    http://jennyburd.blogspot.com/

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  14. I love your reviews and your blog. I have an award for you if you are interested:

    http://bookgirl-mel.blogspot.com/2010/06/versatile-blogger-award.html

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  15. Your blog is so wonderfully attractive. Thanks for having me.

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  16. Thanks for hopping by my blog today! I've seen this book wondered about it. Thanks for the review. Still adding books to my summer reading list, so this sounds like one I would enjoy.

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  17. Thanks for adding a link to the Saturday Review at Semicolon. I fixed it so that it pointed to a specific review --this one!

    Oh, and I love Audrey looking on from above!

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  18. Sounds wonderful! Will definitely have to put it on the TBR pile (which grows every Sat. thanks to the Sat. Review of Books)!

    I invite you to visit Colloquium and enter to win a copy of "This One is Mine" by Maria Semple. I loved it (you can read my review) and want to pass it on to another reader who will (hopefully) love it, too! Enter any time up to midnight (Pacific time) June 15, 2010!! The winner will be selected at random!

    JHS
    Colloquium

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