Head over Heels

Tales from the Yoga Studio #2

by Rain Mitchell

Five unforgettable women. One beloved yoga studio. A million tales to tell.

Yoga teacher Lee is facing a tough decision. Struggling to make ends meet at her treasured studio she's given a helping hand in the form of an invitation to participate in the biggest yoga event of the year . . . but to do so means going against everything she believes in. Masseuse Katherine is being evicted from the only home she's ever known, while actress Imani fights to make her film comeback. And as Graciela plays with fire - or rather a famous baseball player - right under the nose of her volatile boyfriend, Stephanie finds herself in a very unexpected relationship.

Yoga may be all about the glamorous celebrity teachers these days, but for five women the small humble Edendale studio remains a place for true friendship - and right now that's exactly what these women need . . .

Genres: Fiction, Chick Lit, Beach Reads, The United States Of America, Romance

324 pages, Kindle Edition

First published May 1, 2012

Reviews

[Em · Rating 4 out of 5]

I felt like I was reconnecting with old friends as I read "Head Over Heels." I love yoga, which is why I was drawn to "Tales from the Yoga Studio," and I look forward to the third and final installment of this series.

This is a light and easy read, but it's a page turner. It's hard to not read it straight through.

One of the things I find notable is that two of the male romantic interests seem to be perfect, the husband of Imani and the boyfriend of Katherine. Where are these real life men? :) I guess in a book like this, the character development is on the women, not the men.

I won't spoil the plot for those who haven't read the book, but I'm so glad that Graciela is finally going to be able to move on with her life.

One of the storylines is that there's a yoga and music festival in the Sierras. Could that be Wanderlust? Who might be the real life version(s) of Kyra?

For some reason, this book seemed more light and fun than the first one. It's been a while since I read the first one, so I'm not sure why. Maybe it's because Lee is free from her obnoxious ex-husband, so the black cloud of Alan isn't as dominant as it was in the first book. Maybe it's because all of the women seem to be in a better place professionally and personally.

If there is a drawback to the series, it's that each woman has to have a significant other in her life. Why can't at least one character be happy where she is, without a significant other? Life is like this - relationships come and go. Sometimes good relationships last a while and end without drama because the relationship no longer fits the two people involved.

One of the things I like about this series is the focus on female friendship where the women are different but share an appreciation for yoga. However, they really are friends. I like that there are women in it who are older and younger and the older women nurture the younger ones. Strong female friendships where they aren't all the same race/age/demographic, etc., makes for much more interesting characters.

It will be fun to see what happens in the third and final installment. I'd love to see a movie made out of this trilogy or a TV series.

Recently I learned that Rain Mitchell is a pseudonym for the writer Stephen McCauley. Hmmm...still not sure what to think about this series being written by a man. However, I do think I'll have to look into his other books.

One more thing...I like yoga, and it's very interesting to see the big business of yoga being commented on in this book and the first one. The yoga blogs and mainstream media such as The New York Times have been buzzing this year with all kinds of good fodder should the author decide to be inspired by real life. Truth IS stranger than fiction for those who have been keeping up with the yoga world this year.

[Nicholas · Rating 4 out of 5]

Is it wrong that I love this lite and fluffy version of Stephen McCauley (the author behind the pseudonym Rain Mitchell) almost as much as I love it when he writes under his own name? I might even try yoga as a result of this pair of yoga-themed novels, and that is something I never thought I'd say.

[Dolores · Rating 4 out of 5]

Cute series

[Kayla · Rating 3 out of 5]

I think I got sucked into this "yogaLit" series because I love yoga and I like the characters. I was hoping the author would move a little deeper into the interactions between the main characters but she continues to skim the surface. Will I read the third book? Yes I will...hope springs eternal:)

Finally, the author is a male, using a pseudonym. I am always suspicious of that.

[Emily · Rating 2 out of 5]

Why I read this one, I can't imagine (since I disliked the first in the series so much). I did think that it was a little bit better than the first; there is less about the dysfunctional men and more about the women making better choices. Still, it isn't a book I'd recommend.

[Tonie Brown · Rating 5 out of 5]

A fun read

I fell in love with the characters, the crazy southern California backdrop, and the spot on yoga references. It's definitely chic lit but fun.

[Marja · Rating 2 out of 5]

This continues the journey of women that we met in Tales from the Yoga Studio. Maybe this was a tiny bit better than the first book but it's still shallow and the women don't develop. They just do stuff or stuff happens to them. I guess the author planned to continue with the series but just never did because I found the ending abrupt and unsatisfactory for many of the storylines.

This series really doesn't require much from the reader but it doesn't give much in return either.

[Chris · Rating 3 out of 5]

I liked this but after reading realized that I read the second in the series, which is maybe why I felt like I was missing something. It's a 'cotton candy' read about a group of women (they're friends though interact sporadically) who all do yoga in LA. One odd thing, I would guess that the author doesn't live in LA. The way they describe people just blithely going to and fro the city is slightly comical--e.g., very few people who live in Silver Lake would go all the way to Santa Monica for a yoga class (it could easily be an hour+ each way)..

[Nicole Johnson · Rating 3 out of 5]

Head Over Heels by Rain Mitchell was a light and relaxing book. I go to the gym a lot and participate in a yoga inspired class called PiYo. I love this class and the feeling I get when the session is over. The characters were believable although I feel like there were several characters that were underdeveloped. I loved the dialogue Lee had with her mom on the phone. I’m looking forward to reading the next book in this series.

[Joanne · Rating 5 out of 5]

Quick read

As a yogi I liked this book . I have not read the first one as I didn't realise it was a series but no problem you can still read.it and it made sense. I read it in a day. Quick and easy read.and I want to see what happens to the characters next. Hopefully there is a book 3?.

[Kristi · Rating 3 out of 5]

I like this two book series. It's fun. Rain Mitchell is a pseudonym for Stephen McCauley. McCauley does a great job of writing from a female perspective. Was a bit disappointed in the end because there was a loose end that was not tied up.

[Margaret · Rating 4 out of 5]

Fun. Smart-alecky take on the yoga scene. Actually pretty accurate at times. I liked it because even though it is fluff, you actually get bonded to the characters a little.
Good vacation read.

[Amanda · Rating 2 out of 5]

Not my favorite book. The characters seemed a little flat. The antagonists had the most personality. The plot was slow and then very rushed, clearly setting itself up for a third book in the series.

[Kelly McCloskey-Romero · Rating 4 out of 5]

Fun. As good as the first one.

[Ashley · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book wasn’t to bad. I liked how she tied the characters together through the yoga studio but a lot of it was super predictable.

[Kim · Rating 4 out of 5]

I read this book so fast because a) it was an easy read and b) I got really hooked in! I read this sequel right after reading Tales from the Yoga Studio and I think I might even like this one better! However, I only gave it 4 stars because there was so much build up with the story and all the drama in the characters lives and then it just ended. Almost as if the author ran out of time and had to finish in a hurry or just got bored and decided to finish it up....in Lainey's point of view no less! She's not even a main character!! I was so confused and bummed with the ending! All I can say is, I hope there's a third book in the saga!

[Misa Niranon · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book really felt like it was some part of a series. I remember reading a piece of another book that had the same characters but I can't remember if it was a dream or what. HAHA. If it's part of a series, I'm surprised that Goodreads didn't put down the other titles, too.

Well, this author had a way of making you feel as if you kind of were one of the friends in this yoga circle. I'm not sure if there was a time when all of them were conversating with one another (I know some talked to each other but was there a scene where all of them were in it?). The characters were pretty much relatable in a way and easy to imagine. I could definitely see this book becomming a movie and it'd definitely be a chick flick like 'Bride Wars' in my honest opinion. It was easy for me to get into the story because of the easy writing. Even if you didn't know anything about yoga the story was still very good. I was definitely glad that they put a bit of information on each of the main characters on the back of the book because I had a hard time figuring out who was who at first.

I never did understand what had happened to Imani at the yoga festival. She just kind of disappeared. I know that Katherine and Renay were there but I wasn't for sure where Imani was. I thought that she was there with them but there wasn't any sort of mention. I could've just overlooked it, too.

The male characters weren't really to my taste. Of course, I was gushing over the Jacob guy but I guess that was because his personality was sweeter than Daryl's. I'm slowly starting to understand what Daryl's mother meant in that letter that she put for Graciela. So I'm assuming that she's staying at the apartment that she had shared with Daryl? It'll be nice to know that she's getting back to the circle of girls by working at Lee's studio. I had a weird feeling about Graham for a while but thinking about it he could possibly be the sweet guy that had watched over Lee for a long time. I mean, he even took her twins out and had food with them while both of the twins' parents were at the festival.

Overall, it was an easy read and pretty entertaining. I wouldn't mind reading some of the other books by this author as it seems that she's been writing about their other stories with the same characters.

ONTO THE NEXT BOOK!!``

P.S. I forgot to mention but this was another one of my bathroom books. HAHAHA.

[Mae Yee · Rating 4 out of 5]

A really good book with numerous twists and turns that were able to captivate the reader throughout the book. The descriptions were vivid, plot was interesting, characters were given unique backgrounds that complemented the whole story very well. You can imagine the characters in your head and even if you are not into yoga, you feel the urge to take it up given the detailed descriptions of yoga classes in the story - Very good incorporation of yoga to centre the story around.

One down side of the book was that I was slightly disappointed at the ending (not saying the ending was bad) but I was looking towards having Graciela and Jacob being together again. They were such a sweet couple and the story could have ended with both of them making up and Jacob truly finding his other half in Graciela and both of them get together. (awwww) Also, I'm quite curious as to what happened to Lee and David Todds . The author was not very clear about it but I think I could guess Lee gave David up. Apart from all these, the ending was still rather good with everyone finding peace in their life and settling down. It was a simple and peaceful ending.

All in all, Head Over Heels by Rain Mitchell is a great book worth reading! :)

[Birgit · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book is the sequel of 'Tales from the Yoga Studio', and it is a good sequel! It tells further the story of five friends who do yoga and have to deal with the things of live. First there is Lee. She is the yoga teacher and has her own studio. She's searching for some help, but nobody really pleases her, except for David Todd, but will he abandon his life style as a free yoga teacher to work in the yoga studio of Lee? Then there is her best friend, Katherine, who loves her boyfriend, but has to search for a new home. Will she decide to live together with her boyfriend or not? Graciela, is a dancer, who had the luck to go dancing with Beyonce. While she is abroad, she cheats on her boyfriend. Then her boyfriend comes to search her. How will this end up? Imani is an actress, who has had a baby and does her come back in the movie scene. And last but not least, there is Stephanie, who is a screen writer and has found the love of her life, but will the others accept her love?

Honestly, this is a good sequel of the first book. The intrigues were very interesting and thrilling and I couldn't stop reading. This book contains the ingredients of good chicklit. So I would definitely recommend this book to others!

[Melissa Davis · Rating 3 out of 5]

I'll start by saying that I got this book in a goodreads giveaway. It's the second in a series (but I didn't know that at the time), and reads a bit more like a soap opera than a novel. That being said, I liked the characters and felt like they had some read conflict going on in there lives. The thread that ties them together is yoga. Not being a big Yogi myself, it was hard to get past all of the yogi lingo, but at the center of this book was some good old fashioned chick lit. I liked it enough that I might very well read the next one.

[Susan Clark-cook · Rating 3 out of 5]

I was able to read this book fairly quickly, but for me, it got off to a slow start. I was afraid it was going to be another sort of formulaic "yoga for women" kind of book, but I am glad I kept going. Along about the middle of the book, it started to really get interesting as the author delved more into each of her characters giving us a fuller look at their lives and situations. By the time I finished the book I was invested and completely interested in each of the outcomes and each of the women. I would like to read more about these characters.

[Sarah · Rating 4 out of 5]

In spite of the gag reflex causing title this book was actually pretty darn good. I gave it a second glance because I'd read and enjoyed the prequel. Though it borders on the fluffy, chick lit side there is a bit of depth and heart amidst the girl power. Or, perhaps, I simply like it because the story centers around yoga, which i adore. Either way, it proved a pleasurable perusal and I'd seek out a sequel were it to come my way. (Confession: In my youth I worked my way through a good chunk of The Baby-sitter's Club series so it's not as though I'm an ultra high brow reader.)

[Janin · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is the second book in a series. I appreciated that it was written well enough that you didn't already have to have read the first book in order to understand it-- and that the characters are interesting and endearing enough that it makes me want to read both the first and the next book in the series (: It's all about friendship, yoga and the interconnected lives of these 5 women-- through both good times and bad.

[Madison · Rating 4 out of 5]

**NOTE** I received this book free from goodreads giveaway.
I did enjoy the book but it took awhile for me to get into it. i am not a fan of skipping around and this book definitely brings you to a good part and then you have to wait to finish it. The stories were very good though and did enjoy reading this book! i am not into yoga myself but it actually made me want to try a class or two! Over all its a very good light read!

[Dorothy · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is such a great relaxing book for summer, for when stressed. Mitchell's ability to develop interesting characters makes her books so enticing. I related to all of her female characters. Her third book is coming out some time next year...I'll read it, too. Of course, I practice yoga which helps to keep me interested. Even if you've never considered doing yoga, you'd be riveted to her books, too.

[Amy · Rating 2 out of 5]

So apparently there's a genre called "yoga-lit"... Go figure.

Read the first in this series and it was entertaining enough. This was more of the same. Fluff chick lit with a heavy yoga angle.

Too many characters for anyone's story to get any real detail and a *Really* abrupt ending- like so abrupt that I was surprised to see the digital kindle "How did you like this" rating page pop up.

[Ticia · Rating 4 out of 5]

Both of Rain Mitchell's little books (Tales from the Yoga Studio and Head over Heels) are very good. My biggest suggestion to her publishing company would be to let her write a longer book! Her characters and plots need more time to develop! Be that as it may, these books were a guilty pleasure for me. I am looking forward to her third book.

[Kim Nixon · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was an unusual book for me. A bit shallow and the characters were no fully developed. But the read was an easy summer read. I could set aside my judgements and just read. I am highly interested in yoga. This book had little to do with yoga. More, it moved thru some women's lives as they coped with dysfunction, love, and loss.

[Kathy McVay · Rating 4 out of 5]

I stumbled upon this book and really enjoyed it. It centers on several women connected through a yoga studio. The yoga community is the backdrop to the story and a neat one. It was a pleasant, easy read. This looks to be a second story in a series. I am going to read the first one next and keep an eye out for future books by this author.

[Brian Wasserman · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this book. I admit sometimes I couldn't remember who was who because they go back and forth so much between the stories,but the list on the back of the book is helpful. I think people who do yoga, would most enjoy the book, though others might also. It is more about the people than really being about yoga.