Book Review: Swans Are Fat Too by Michelle Granas

Swans Are Fat Too
by Michelle Granas

Natalia Lanska, formidable Polish pianist, is dead. No one is really sorrowing, except maybe her granddaughter Hania, whose own career as a concert artist never took off due to a terrible weight problem. Feeling unwanted, Hania arrives in Warsaw for the funeral hoping for a warm welcome from her relatives. Instead, they saddle her with their appalling children, decamp, and refuse to return. Hania’s situation is at first improved and then complicated when a neighbor ─ the very correct, very austere descendant of an old Polish family ─ asks her to proofread an amateur history project. Hania sets to work with a will, and Pan Doctor Prince Konstanty Radzimoyski is surprised when his ideas get more editing than he bargained for. Typing pages of the past, rediscovering her native city, and playing the piano all contribute to taking Hania’s mind off her problems, but can’t change her awareness that the children need help and that her growing attachment to her employer will only give her pain. The summer Hania spends between love, hostility, and the weight of history tests her resourcefulness, but her fresh ideas and readiness to carry on brighten the lives of her new acquaintances. Still, no one, least of all Hania herself, expects that her beautiful qualities will make Konstanty forget her figure and other excess baggage.

This book contains a history of Poland in a nutshell and is about seeing beyond the conventions.

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  I first saw this book listed on Goodreads First Reads and the title instantly caught my eye. I saw it had no reviews, but the blurb was just as attractive as the title, so I went over to Amazon and surprise, surprise! It only cost U$ 1.00! What. A. Gem. It left me with a couple of tears in my eyes after the last chapter, which I was reluctant to finish, simply because I felt that I had not had enough of Hania. What a lovely book! A real find from a new author. So very well written and engaging! The characters were incredibly well portrayed, very realistic in their flaws and strong emotions. 
Even the pieces of history were interesting. There aren't many big/fat/obese/overweight characters in books out there, especially NOT as the heroine, so it was very intriguing/bittersweet to read about a realistic woman and the way society treated her. I have to admit that I knew nothing about Poland before I read "Swans Are Fat Too", but what I do know is that those things Hania has to go through are not particular to that country. I felt like could really relate to her, to see the world as she saw it (I could never be as patient as she was, however. Those kids were terrible! LOL). 

As I had the pleasure of mentioning to Michelle Granas in a message here, I would love to read more about Hania and Konstanty! Maybe a short story with what happens after? LOL. ;P The girl realy needs to start playing the piano professionally again! I am also quite curious whether her relationship with her father will improve and know more about the future of the children, as well as of the baby.

I'm certain that in no time more readers will come to her with these same wishes! Without a doubt, the best contemporary I've read in a long time! Here's hoping I win the giveaway, because I'd love to revisit it again. ;D

Review: Chubby Girl Hot! by Michelle Fawkes

Chubby Girl Hot!
Michelle Fawkes

Katie is smart, attractive, and has a good job. She's a computer geek and graphic designer for a major corporation. People tell her she's pretty. And they always tell her she has a "great personality."

But Katie is chubby. And society has decreed that being chubby equals second class citizen. That's okay with Katie. She has dreams like everyone, but she's accepted her lot in life and makes the best of it. She knows she'll never get married or even have a real boyfriend, other than as a friend with sometimes benefits. Her life moves along in a quiet, predictable rut.

Until one day...

Genre: Adult, Erotica

Publication Date: Dec. 27, 2011

Publisher: Smashwords

Format: e-book, 22 pages 

Series: yes

Source: review copy from author

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My Review

Katie is a talented graphic designer. She's funny, she's smart and she's pretty... but her extra pounds make her feel very self-conscious.

When her recurrent "friend with benefits", Freddie, tells her he's moving to another state, she finds herself in need of a new 'fuck buddy'... and she wants Brad, the new IT manager at her company.

And Brad wants her, too. He asks her out for lunch. They talk, have lots of fun together, discover many things in common and decide to go out again, this time for dinner. After a lovely dinner out, things start to get really hot. For one night, Katie forgets about her restraints about her weight and has fun. And really great sex... but with the next morning comes the light of the sun and the reality sinks in. He's incredibly handsome and she's overweight.

Katie starts to push him away, no matter how much it hurts her. She goes out dancing to try and have some fun, but comes upon him kissing Regina, the evil marketing manager that always treats her like a zero and bothers her about her weight. She's devastated and leaves, but her best friend, Bibi, goes to deal with Brad, telling him about how much of an idot he is, about Katie seeing him with Regina, and that she loves him. Brad goes after Katie to explain that the other woman came on to him out of nowhere and to tell her he loves her.

It was nice to read about a real woman with a real body for once. It's a very short story, but it was interesting and certainly hot. There were a few editorial mistakes but nothing that got in the way of the story, but what did bother me was how fast the characters were to say 'I love you'... but that's usually how it goes with most romance novels, I guess.

Chubby Girl Hot! makes for a nice, light and quick read for before bed or to just pass the time. The story continues in  Chubby Girl's Vacation and Chubby Girl's Wedding.


*I would like to thank the author for providing me with a copy for review.*

Sixpence Bride (Timeswept) by Virginia Farmer - Review

Sixpence Bride (Timeswept) by Virginia Farmer

Jilted by her fiance, Tanner had to struggle not to believe that her own value had been somehow diminished. Still she knew better than to let that fear ruin her tour of England. But no one had explained to her that there would be a mock bride auction—or that she would be sucked back in time to the close of the eighteenth century.

Suddenly Jocelyn found herself in another time, another body, and in a real auction—being claimed by a real hunk of a man. Still, her bride price hardly seemed flattering. And the handsome Garren had not yet shown her the attention for which she yearned. But as she began to make this new body her own, she saw interest flare behind the lord's reserved facade. She'd soon show him—and herself-in pounds or pennies, no one was worth more than his...

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My Review:

It was such a quick read, super funny and cute. Loved the heroine Tanner/Jocelyn and the story, but I really would have enjoyed it more if it had a further development.

I would've liked to see how Nelwina fared in the 21st century, what they would feel if they returned to their original time and then traded bodies again, a little more romance between the main characters, a clearer ending for the villain... it felt quite rushed and short, as if the author had to cut a lot of the story out.

Too bad, it could have been a 5 star! :) I will read it again, though.