REVIEW: JULIA (THE GOOD LIFE #1) by SARAH KRISCH

Series: The Good Life #1
Genre: Contemporary Romance
Publisher: Self-Published
Publication Date: 8/8/13
Format: ebook
Pages: 150
Source: Received from author for review
Rating: 3.5 stars

A failed actress, twenty-something Julia McCarthy begins writing a fictionalized blog as a form of self-therapy. Based on her carefree summers at her grandparents' farm, she never expects her little experiment to garner a viral following, but it does. Boy, does it ever.

Now, with thousands of loyal blog followers, and a syndication deal with the Chicago Herald, Julia is approached by GreenTV to adapt her blog into a TV show. The producers see her as a "Rachel Ray on the Prairie-type". She sees herself as a fraud.

In Julia's fictional world, she's successful. She can pay her bills on time. Heck, she even has a fictional gorgeous husband and charming little boy. Ready to realize her dreams, Julia returns to her grandparents' farm to shoot the TV pilot.

Brad Taylor is definitely not her type: he’s rugged, sensible, and oh-so smug about learning that Julia’s blog is a farce. As the manager of her grandparent’s farm, Brad doesn’t have time to deal with whimsical women who don’t even know how to cook.

Julia can't allow her attraction to Brad to distract her, not when her dreams are about to come true. But are these truly her dreams, her good life?

A fun, fast (150 pages) contemporary romance

 

The description states that Julia: The Good Life is a fast, fun read. And that's true. I flew through this "Going Home" story in less than two hours total, and enjoyed it.

I tend to enjoy novellas more than most of my friends. There's something about a quick escape between my longer reads that feels nice. Almost as if it provides a reset, of sorts. This may seem like I am discounting the novella in question, but that's not my intention. I've read novellas that have left me completely unimpressed, but this is not one of those.

Julia was a sweet and thoughtful story of a woman who's lost her way, but doesn't realize that until she finds herself back at her childhood home. There she reconnects with her childhood crush, Brad, a vet who's now made his home on her grandparents' farm. Julia has led an almost double life, and must decide if she'd rather continue the sham, or live the good life with Brad.

Julia: The Good Life was a fast and sweet read, with a nice dash of spice.


Favorite Quotes:

  Brad sighed. "You women and your food. I don't get it. If you want a second piece of pie, just have the second piece. If you think it'll chase away Mr. Right, you obviously don't know much about men or what they like."   ~ebook, 30%


 "I know our timing couldn't be worse. There's no room for me in your life; I get it. But I just wanted you to know that I'll be here. I'm not going anywhere. I can't see into the future, but I do know where I will be tomorrow, next month, five years down the road."  ~ebook, 94%

Purchase Julia: The Good Life

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About the author:

Sarah Krisch's debut novel, Julia, The Good Life Book 1 is set on a rural farm in the cozy community of Harmony Grove. She was inspired to pursue her secret passion for writing by her husband and author Glen Krisch.

She likes to write fun, fast-paced stories of romance which explore the deeper aspects of what makes people tick.

Sarah has three rambunctious boys who keep her on her toes, but she wouldn't have it any other way. They have taught her more than she ever thought possible about Godzilla, frog-catching, and the best way to track escaped pet snakes in her home.  

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