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Declaring Spinsterhood
What can you do when your family harps on you to get married (already!), when your delicious and alluring ex-boyfriend—cheater to the core—believes that you’ve fallen for another guy and sets out to woo and conquer (again), and when you suddenly realize that you have fallen in love with your best friend, the guy whose shoulder has always been available...but is presently being enjoyed by another woman? In Jamie Lynn Braziel’s riotous first novel, Declaring Spinsterhood, she explores the world of 30-something single women, the pressures they face to tie the knot, and what happens when that knot begins to feel more like a noose. In the world of Emma Bailey, nothing is sacred. Including, and most especially, marriage.
This book occasionally mentions going to church and prayer.
This book occasionally mentions going to church and prayer.
230 pages, Kindle Edition
First published December 10, 2008
65 people are currently reading
366 people want to read
About the author
Jamie Lynn Braziel
2 books13 followersI was born in Texas in 1976 to Roger and Kathy Braziel. My father named me after the character Jaime Sommers in "The Bionic
Woman", although with a different spelling, because he liked the show so much. I always had a good laugh every time someone
tried to say our last name because they almost always got it wrong. Still do. It's pronounced just like the country Brazil by the way.
I have one sibling, a younger brother named Jerry. We typically got along well although we did have the occasional wrestling
match officiated by my dad. He's married now, and my sister-in-law is the best thing that ever happened to him. They have a
son, my sweet little nephew whom I adore, and live in Oklahoma, so I only get to see them every couple of months, but we have a
blast.
We moved to Oklahoma when I was about three years old to a little town called Willis just outside of Kingston. I went to
elementary and middle school at Kingston, and during that time, my dad was called to preach. His first church was in Kingston,
but during the summer between my eighth and ninth grade years, Dad was called to the very small town of Wapanucka
(population 402 at the time).
I started high school in Wapanucka a couple of weeks late. It was a pretty big adjustment because it was a much smaller school
without the extensive curriculum to which I was accustomed, but I adapted and enjoyed the two-and-a-half years we spent there.
Then my dad resigned, and we moved back to Kingston where I finished my high school career as valedictorian. I was awarded a
scholarship to Southeastern Oklahoma State University, in Durant, Oklahoma. I majored in English because I loved books so
much and thought I wanted to be a teacher, and minored in French.
After graduation, I took various jobs in order to obtain some experience and sample different careers. After deciding that neither
teaching nor the law was for me, I went to work for a bank, and I'm still there as a financial analyst now working towards a Master's
degree in accounting. Go figure!
I've never been married and don't have any kids. I'm not against either one, but I'm not actively seeking them out either. I guess
you could say that I'm waiting on God to send me the man He has chose. Between working, going to school, promoting my book
on the web, and playing and singing with the Circle J Cowboy Church Band (my dad's latest pastorate), I stay quite busy and
happy.
Declaring Spinsterhood is my very first novel, but not the first attempt, and I certainly hope it's not the last. It has been an
exciting experience from the very first time I sat before my laptop on November 1, 2006 and typed the opening words, "It was the
wedding of her dreams."
My favorite authors are Stephenie Meyer, Jane Austen, the Brontë sisters, Daphne DuMaurier, L.M. Montgomery, Louisa May
Alcott, Jean Plaidy, Janet Evanovich, and I better stop here, or I'm going to run out of room.
Woman", although with a different spelling, because he liked the show so much. I always had a good laugh every time someone
tried to say our last name because they almost always got it wrong. Still do. It's pronounced just like the country Brazil by the way.
I have one sibling, a younger brother named Jerry. We typically got along well although we did have the occasional wrestling
match officiated by my dad. He's married now, and my sister-in-law is the best thing that ever happened to him. They have a
son, my sweet little nephew whom I adore, and live in Oklahoma, so I only get to see them every couple of months, but we have a
blast.
We moved to Oklahoma when I was about three years old to a little town called Willis just outside of Kingston. I went to
elementary and middle school at Kingston, and during that time, my dad was called to preach. His first church was in Kingston,
but during the summer between my eighth and ninth grade years, Dad was called to the very small town of Wapanucka
(population 402 at the time).
I started high school in Wapanucka a couple of weeks late. It was a pretty big adjustment because it was a much smaller school
without the extensive curriculum to which I was accustomed, but I adapted and enjoyed the two-and-a-half years we spent there.
Then my dad resigned, and we moved back to Kingston where I finished my high school career as valedictorian. I was awarded a
scholarship to Southeastern Oklahoma State University, in Durant, Oklahoma. I majored in English because I loved books so
much and thought I wanted to be a teacher, and minored in French.
After graduation, I took various jobs in order to obtain some experience and sample different careers. After deciding that neither
teaching nor the law was for me, I went to work for a bank, and I'm still there as a financial analyst now working towards a Master's
degree in accounting. Go figure!
I've never been married and don't have any kids. I'm not against either one, but I'm not actively seeking them out either. I guess
you could say that I'm waiting on God to send me the man He has chose. Between working, going to school, promoting my book
on the web, and playing and singing with the Circle J Cowboy Church Band (my dad's latest pastorate), I stay quite busy and
happy.
Declaring Spinsterhood is my very first novel, but not the first attempt, and I certainly hope it's not the last. It has been an
exciting experience from the very first time I sat before my laptop on November 1, 2006 and typed the opening words, "It was the
wedding of her dreams."
My favorite authors are Stephenie Meyer, Jane Austen, the Brontë sisters, Daphne DuMaurier, L.M. Montgomery, Louisa May
Alcott, Jean Plaidy, Janet Evanovich, and I better stop here, or I'm going to run out of room.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 99 reviews
April 2, 2011
Frustrated by a string of bad blind dates and fed up with her family nagging her about still being single at thirty, Emma Bailey makes a stand and declares her intent to remain a spinster. Unfortunately, her moment of dating emancipation doesn't quite go as planned. Her mother nearly disowns her, the rest of her family doesn't believe her, and no sooner does she embrace singlehood than her ex-boyfriend Steve wants to get back together with her and she realizes she's in love with her best friend Brian.
And here she thought she was making her life less complicated.
Declaring Spinsterhood starts off with a decent, if unoriginal concept, but gets quickly tripped up by several significant issues, and despite the fact that the best-friends-to-lovers theme is one of my favorites in contemporary romance, unlikable characters and inconsistent storytelling kept me from getting any pleasure in the read. Emma is a nightmare of wildly vacillating and overly exaggerated emotional reactions and utterly lacked anything resembling a backbone. I got so tired of her reiterating that declaration of spinsterhood...as she prepares for dates. Not that she called them dates.
They were dates.
She has the emotional maturity of a hormone-jacked thirteen year old with ADD and couldn't stand up to her family if her life depended on it, though with a mother like hers I can sort of understand that. Third world dictators are kinder and less judgmental than that woman. I've rarely read a character I found as irredeemably odious as mummy dearest, and the hypocrisy she bandied about turned my stomach. She's supposed to be this deeply religious wife of a minister, yet tells Emma she's no longer welcome in her home if she's going to remain unmarried. Seriously??
She's constantly critical, purposely subversive, and openly manipulative, and throughout the entire book fails to say one kind thing to Emma - in fact blames Emma's lack of a husband (as does the rest of her family) on Emma being too choosey, even after Emma is almost molested at the end of one particularly bad date. Lets just say I wouldn't go out of my way to get a Mother's Day card for the woman, though she certainly gives Joan Crawford a run for her money.
Brian wasn't bad. He was a nice source of support for Emma (though I would have preferred it had she not so desperately needed his support as often as she did), and the scenes with their time together as friends were some of the brightest in the book. I also liked Emma's friend and coworker Kathy. She was the most balanced and emotionally mature of the secondary characters and she provided the vast majority of the common sense, calm reason, and insight.
Beyond the myriad of character issues there were plotting and pacing issues, and some rather odd and abrupt transitions that were weakly supported by the thin narrative. Sensitive readers should be aware that there was a scene of graphic brutality in the book, and while it was arguably well written, some may consider it gruesomely descriptive. I appreciated it from a technical standpoint, as it showed descriptive skill in both the action and emotion of the assault, but I was puzzled by its vicious severity and question it's necessity. It didn't make sense in relation to the plot and the alleged motivation of the perpetrator (can't exactly drag a half-dead, brutalized woman into a bank to access a safety deposit box without raising a few eyebrows), and served as nothing but poorly contrived impetus to jump start the romantic resolution of the book. Which was also abrupt, ill defined, and questionably placed.
Too many things went very wrong in this book. There are glimmers of more positive things, like the likable secondary characters and solid technical writing technique, but in the end there just wasn't enough of them for me.
Disclosure: An Advance Reader's Copy (ARC) of this book was provided to me for the purpose of an honest review. All ratings, comments, thoughts, and opinions are my own.
~*~*~*~
One Good Book Deserves Another
And here she thought she was making her life less complicated.
Declaring Spinsterhood starts off with a decent, if unoriginal concept, but gets quickly tripped up by several significant issues, and despite the fact that the best-friends-to-lovers theme is one of my favorites in contemporary romance, unlikable characters and inconsistent storytelling kept me from getting any pleasure in the read. Emma is a nightmare of wildly vacillating and overly exaggerated emotional reactions and utterly lacked anything resembling a backbone. I got so tired of her reiterating that declaration of spinsterhood...as she prepares for dates. Not that she called them dates.
They were dates.
She has the emotional maturity of a hormone-jacked thirteen year old with ADD and couldn't stand up to her family if her life depended on it, though with a mother like hers I can sort of understand that. Third world dictators are kinder and less judgmental than that woman. I've rarely read a character I found as irredeemably odious as mummy dearest, and the hypocrisy she bandied about turned my stomach. She's supposed to be this deeply religious wife of a minister, yet tells Emma she's no longer welcome in her home if she's going to remain unmarried. Seriously??
She's constantly critical, purposely subversive, and openly manipulative, and throughout the entire book fails to say one kind thing to Emma - in fact blames Emma's lack of a husband (as does the rest of her family) on Emma being too choosey, even after Emma is almost molested at the end of one particularly bad date. Lets just say I wouldn't go out of my way to get a Mother's Day card for the woman, though she certainly gives Joan Crawford a run for her money.
Brian wasn't bad. He was a nice source of support for Emma (though I would have preferred it had she not so desperately needed his support as often as she did), and the scenes with their time together as friends were some of the brightest in the book. I also liked Emma's friend and coworker Kathy. She was the most balanced and emotionally mature of the secondary characters and she provided the vast majority of the common sense, calm reason, and insight.
Beyond the myriad of character issues there were plotting and pacing issues, and some rather odd and abrupt transitions that were weakly supported by the thin narrative. Sensitive readers should be aware that there was a scene of graphic brutality in the book, and while it was arguably well written, some may consider it gruesomely descriptive. I appreciated it from a technical standpoint, as it showed descriptive skill in both the action and emotion of the assault, but I was puzzled by its vicious severity and question it's necessity. It didn't make sense in relation to the plot and the alleged motivation of the perpetrator (can't exactly drag a half-dead, brutalized woman into a bank to access a safety deposit box without raising a few eyebrows), and served as nothing but poorly contrived impetus to jump start the romantic resolution of the book. Which was also abrupt, ill defined, and questionably placed.
Too many things went very wrong in this book. There are glimmers of more positive things, like the likable secondary characters and solid technical writing technique, but in the end there just wasn't enough of them for me.
Disclosure: An Advance Reader's Copy (ARC) of this book was provided to me for the purpose of an honest review. All ratings, comments, thoughts, and opinions are my own.
~*~*~*~
One Good Book Deserves Another
February 13, 2016
Emma Bailey has once again been the bridesmaid at a wedding - this one for her younger brother. Her nosy family members feel free to ask her about her love life and push her to marry and have a family. Her mother even sets her up on blind dates after Emma has already said no. She had her heart broken once and ins't ready to be hurt again. The only thing she can think of to stop her family in their tracks is to declare spinsterhood. Her best friend Brian thinks she's so brave and strong and is fully supportive. The only problem is, Emma has just realized her feelings for Brian. How can she be a spinster and have Brian in her life? The only thing to do is continue with their friendship.
I loved the concept of the story but it was very poorly executed. Emma only decides to declare spinsterhood as a reaction against her family's meddling. She makes a poor job of it though. Her epiphany comes way too soon and the rest of the story is filled with misunderstandings and more family meddling. Then there's the tired love-triangle plot and some random drama thrown in for good measure. Are there actually families like that out there? I can see Uncle Richard but her mother was so nosy and involved. A mother should want her child to be happy no matter what and stand by her decisions. Emma is an adult and a business owner for goodness sake. She's almost 30 which isn't that old. Brian's family is better but his mother has some weird methods for getting what she wants.
I disliked Emma very much. She's whiny and self-pitying. Instead of declaring spinsterhood because she's happy being single, she's constantly whining and complaining. She's a successful businesswoman and should have the confidence to stand on her own but she doesn't. She's a poor judge of character. She poo-poohs self-defense and goes for a gun instead but self-defense may have been helpful for a moment before she found her gun. She was sometimes cruel to Brian. The one thing I did like about her is that she's strong in her resolve not to sleep with a guy she isn't sure she's making a commitment with.
I found Brian a little creepy. Spoilers ahead - read at your own risk:
The only character I really liked was Kath. She's strong, confident, loyal, and fun.
Hopeless romantics may not see this book in the same light I did. Spinsters beware and do not read this book. Also, who uses the word spinster anymore?
This book has a mild Christian element. Emma is a preacher's kid and going to church is a big part of her life but this doesn't appear to be a specifically Christian novel.
This isn't a squeaky clean read but it is clean. There is some sensuality in the story.
I loved the concept of the story but it was very poorly executed. Emma only decides to declare spinsterhood as a reaction against her family's meddling. She makes a poor job of it though. Her epiphany comes way too soon and the rest of the story is filled with misunderstandings and more family meddling. Then there's the tired love-triangle plot and some random drama thrown in for good measure. Are there actually families like that out there? I can see Uncle Richard but her mother was so nosy and involved. A mother should want her child to be happy no matter what and stand by her decisions. Emma is an adult and a business owner for goodness sake. She's almost 30 which isn't that old. Brian's family is better but his mother has some weird methods for getting what she wants.
I disliked Emma very much. She's whiny and self-pitying. Instead of declaring spinsterhood because she's happy being single, she's constantly whining and complaining. She's a successful businesswoman and should have the confidence to stand on her own but she doesn't. She's a poor judge of character. She poo-poohs self-defense and goes for a gun instead but self-defense may have been helpful for a moment before she found her gun. She was sometimes cruel to Brian. The one thing I did like about her is that she's strong in her resolve not to sleep with a guy she isn't sure she's making a commitment with.
I found Brian a little creepy. Spoilers ahead - read at your own risk:
The only character I really liked was Kath. She's strong, confident, loyal, and fun.
Hopeless romantics may not see this book in the same light I did. Spinsters beware and do not read this book. Also, who uses the word spinster anymore?
This book has a mild Christian element. Emma is a preacher's kid and going to church is a big part of her life but this doesn't appear to be a specifically Christian novel.
This isn't a squeaky clean read but it is clean. There is some sensuality in the story.
July 17, 2011
I want to call this book what I would consider to be one of my perfect beach reads without that sounding completely insulting. Some people see "beach reads" as one of those smutty romance novels that you take to the beach in paperbook format to read without guilt - and if you get some sand in the pages, then no problem. However, my definition is a little different. I love the beach and consider the beach to be a very romantic place. With that mindset, what I consider a good beach read is a great romance that can be read with an equally great back-drop -- like the beach. The beach just gives it that extra something that makes it that much better for me. So, that's what Declaring Spinsterhood is for me - a great romance book that I want to read with the ocean roaring at my ears, the sun warming my skin with the sand squishing between my toes. Absolute perfection, really.
The narration of this book makes it easy to read and very easy to follow. Emma is a great character to read about, full of life and spunk. She served the book well with her sparkling personality and intense free spirit. I love her drive and determination, especially how she keeps on keeping on when things seem to not go a certain way. Brian is an amazing friend and so much more. Emma's mom is... well, not exactly the greatest person in the world, but she serves her purpose in the book. As a matter of fact, all of the characters shine in this book serve as small pieces to the puzzle that is this book, clicking together perfectly.
The romance is kind of sudden, yet not really surprising at all. It really heats up the pages afterward, but the love scenes stay very G-rated - so, it's not one of those smutty books you have to hide from the world. Actually, it's quite the opposite... you'll want to share this with most of the world once you're done.
I think the only thing I can say is that the dialogue gets a little lengthy at parts, but besides that.. it's brilliant. It's a great read for all of my Contemporary Romance readers out there. You won't be disappointed. ;)
The narration of this book makes it easy to read and very easy to follow. Emma is a great character to read about, full of life and spunk. She served the book well with her sparkling personality and intense free spirit. I love her drive and determination, especially how she keeps on keeping on when things seem to not go a certain way. Brian is an amazing friend and so much more. Emma's mom is... well, not exactly the greatest person in the world, but she serves her purpose in the book. As a matter of fact, all of the characters shine in this book serve as small pieces to the puzzle that is this book, clicking together perfectly.
The romance is kind of sudden, yet not really surprising at all. It really heats up the pages afterward, but the love scenes stay very G-rated - so, it's not one of those smutty books you have to hide from the world. Actually, it's quite the opposite... you'll want to share this with most of the world once you're done.
I think the only thing I can say is that the dialogue gets a little lengthy at parts, but besides that.. it's brilliant. It's a great read for all of my Contemporary Romance readers out there. You won't be disappointed. ;)
December 29, 2014
Johanna Parker is a fantastic narrator and has narrated several exceptional books. She must not have read this book before narrating it. No one could read this twice.
The plot hinges on a declaration of spinsterhood by the main character. Thus the title. And she does "declare" it at lunch one Sunday. Then the book continues on exactly as before. Besides providing a few lines of dialog, the book totally ignores what was supposed to be the primary hook of the plot line.
The mother is emotionally abusive to the daughter. The father is one of those characters we are supposed to see as an upstanding moral Christian. Instead he is a mysogonist who thinks if his daughter would only carry a gun and find a man to guide her, no matter how big a tool the guy is, she would be worthy of his love. No one could be raised by these parents and emerge undamaged. And while the daughter gets angry at them, we are still suppose to believe they are good people worthy of the daughter's love. After all they are Christian, go to church every Sunday and the dad is a preacher. That must mean they are "good." Two words. Jim Jones.
On a blind date her loving mother made for her, her drunk date makes a sloppy attempt to grope and kiss her in a public place. Even though her dad was also a cop, she is totally helpless against the drunk groper. Her family response? Not -- take a self defense class. No. It is get a conceal and carry license so the next time your mother sets you up on a date with a drunk lech, you can blow his head off. This alone makes this book a great argument for gun control.
I could not finish the book. There could be no acceptable happy ending. And I was pretty sure the only satisfying ending, her parents getting killed in a violent shoot out, wasn't in the cards.
The plot hinges on a declaration of spinsterhood by the main character. Thus the title. And she does "declare" it at lunch one Sunday. Then the book continues on exactly as before. Besides providing a few lines of dialog, the book totally ignores what was supposed to be the primary hook of the plot line.
The mother is emotionally abusive to the daughter. The father is one of those characters we are supposed to see as an upstanding moral Christian. Instead he is a mysogonist who thinks if his daughter would only carry a gun and find a man to guide her, no matter how big a tool the guy is, she would be worthy of his love. No one could be raised by these parents and emerge undamaged. And while the daughter gets angry at them, we are still suppose to believe they are good people worthy of the daughter's love. After all they are Christian, go to church every Sunday and the dad is a preacher. That must mean they are "good." Two words. Jim Jones.
On a blind date her loving mother made for her, her drunk date makes a sloppy attempt to grope and kiss her in a public place. Even though her dad was also a cop, she is totally helpless against the drunk groper. Her family response? Not -- take a self defense class. No. It is get a conceal and carry license so the next time your mother sets you up on a date with a drunk lech, you can blow his head off. This alone makes this book a great argument for gun control.
I could not finish the book. There could be no acceptable happy ending. And I was pretty sure the only satisfying ending, her parents getting killed in a violent shoot out, wasn't in the cards.
April 3, 2018
I so wanted to like this book! I really loved the friendship between Brian and Emma. I appreciated the care and concern they showed for one another, and their platonic love. I knew it was a romance, so I figured that wasn't going to last, but I had a few issues with the rocky road they followed.
April 22, 2023
3.5 stars
April 6, 2012
Declaring Spinsterhood is the story of Emma Bailey, a luckless thirty-year-old woman tired of dating. Since she has decided men are too difficult, she announces to her family that she is declaring spinsterhood. Her best friend is her neighbor, Brian. They are obviously going to end up together. You wonder the whole time why Emma was so dense.
This book would appeal to a woman who is religious. Emma is waiting until marriage to have sex, attends church every Sunday, doesn't drink and doesn't swear. "Hell" is referred to as a curse word. She says "drat" and "dang" and "heck". There was no sex. There was no passion. It was boring as heck. (Ha). Declaring Spinsterhood reads like a memoir, and is not anything special AT ALL.
It would really probably appear to mostly members of Young Republicans. Female members. I am not surprised that the book was self-published because I can't imagine any major publishing house (outside of, apparently, Amazon Encore) publishing it.
Declaring Spinsterhood wasn't horrible, it just really wasn't for me.
This book would appeal to a woman who is religious. Emma is waiting until marriage to have sex, attends church every Sunday, doesn't drink and doesn't swear. "Hell" is referred to as a curse word. She says "drat" and "dang" and "heck". There was no sex. There was no passion. It was boring as heck. (Ha). Declaring Spinsterhood reads like a memoir, and is not anything special AT ALL.
It would really probably appear to mostly members of Young Republicans. Female members. I am not surprised that the book was self-published because I can't imagine any major publishing house (outside of, apparently, Amazon Encore) publishing it.
Declaring Spinsterhood wasn't horrible, it just really wasn't for me.
July 14, 2014
Disappointing. Cliched. There didn't seem to be much reason for Emma's low self-esteem. She's clearly pretty and dateable. Yeah, she had a cheating boyfriend, but I call that dodging a bullet, not a catastrophe. She's supposedly a successful small business owner (though I was wondering how that's possible if she spends the entire Thanksgiving weekend visiting family and friends instead of selling books). Yet she's routinely so woebegone that I lost count of how many times people asked her if she was okay. I didn't think her character really grew or changed through the book - she just corralled a permanent rescuer.
January 1, 2014
Childish fairy tale crap. The main character is weak and stupid. She has a religious family that is mean and unsupportive and only cares about her getting married and not her. She is a grown woman who can't tell anyone the truth about her feelings. The ending is fairy tale crap instead of something real. I'm incredibly disappointed that I wasted time and money on this.
December 11, 2018
This is my 3rd time reading this. Great friends to lovers story. My favorite! I wish this author had written more books!
August 31, 2016
3 1/2 stars. A little too preachy for me (every other chapter takes place at church...) but a cute story with likable characters.
September 2, 2018
I really enjoyed reading this book. It is an easy, summer read but one that has enough twist and turns to make it fun and interesting. I agree that falling in love with your best friend is what leads to true happiness in marriage. I say this after being married to my friend for fifty-six years and still counting. As to being a spinster, our heroine really didn't mean that she had sworn off dating, she just wanted everyone to stop trying to fix her up with every man they knew that was not married. We have all known mothers like the one portrayed in this story. Have fun reading this little book.
July 31, 2021
This was a free Kindle Unlimited novel I tried. I should know better. It didn’t actually suck, it was a bit cute, but I am just not a huge fan of romances, and so I wasn’t impressed. Essentially, after frequent harassment about her lack of a wedding ring by family and friends, Emma declares herself a permanent spinster – and of course, almost immediately finds the One. If you’re into cutesy and light romance novels, you might like this – let me know – but it definitely wasn’t something I’m into.
April 25, 2018
Absolutely stupid! I stand by my original comments that this would've been better for a story with teenage kids. There was almost no kissing and the way they acted was decidedly immature. The story was interesting in the beginning but went south in a hurry. The MC didn't swear at all and her 'bad' language was only tolerable because I read it in a Doge voice. The 'plot twist' at the end was so glaringly obvious that a 60 year old with cataracts would be able to see it clearly.
February 16, 2017
This was a great book. The characters are all lively & courageous. It's just like a small town. Everybody sticks their noses in everybody else's business . Everyone thinks they can tell you how to live & what to do.
August 3, 2017
Funny
The story of a Emma and Brian was good but the story line was a little predictable. Loved the family dynamics.
The story of a Emma and Brian was good but the story line was a little predictable. Loved the family dynamics.
January 6, 2018
Ahhh
Such a sweet story. There was a nice unexpected twist. Well written and enjoyable book. I’d definitely read something else by this author.
Such a sweet story. There was a nice unexpected twist. Well written and enjoyable book. I’d definitely read something else by this author.
June 23, 2018
Beautiful!
Wow, I loved this book!! It was funny and romantic, but also had twists I wasn’t expecting! I thoroughly enjoyed it!
Wow, I loved this book!! It was funny and romantic, but also had twists I wasn’t expecting! I thoroughly enjoyed it!
Read
July 13, 2020Loved this book
This was a great book! I Loved it so much! It was funny, romantic, suspenseful and kept me very intrigued!
This was a great book! I Loved it so much! It was funny, romantic, suspenseful and kept me very intrigued!
January 21, 2021
Cute romantic comedy.
February 28, 2021
What a delightful, well written book. This is not the type of book I usually read, but I thoroughly enjoyed it. I will enjoy the German translation just as much, I am sure.
July 13, 2011
Declaring Spinsterhood by Jamie Lynn Braziel
Release Date: May 3rd, 2011
Publisher: AmazonEncore
Page Count: 227
Source: From Little Bird Publicity for review
Emma Bailey is fed up with the dating scene, and if she hears her mother nag one more time about getting married... well, she's had it, and she wants everyone to know it. In a moment of clarity (or insanity?), she announces to the world that she will never marry.
No husband and no kids, no worries about diapers, driving lessons, or divorce. Her friends are there for her, but they're also involved in their own lives and loves, so off she goes into a world of casual dating. But what happens when the avowed spinster, the woman who has supposedly tucked her heart into a safe little space, suddenly realizes that her best friend, Brian, means more than a casual relationship?
Jamie Lynn Braziel's Declaring Spinsterhood delivers with this enjoyable romp through dating, friendship, and passion.
What Stephanie Thinks: Braziel's debut is a comedic, light, and relatable summer read that I adore. The pickle Emma gets herself into makes me laugh and wince at the same time. Granted, the situation is a bit dramatic, but it still makes for great chick-lit! And fiction isn't supposed to 100% realistic anyway; readers always long for the happy ending she gets.
The plot flows deliciously. Even though it is highly predictable, I held onto the book because it was fun to read. Even the secondary issues, not including Emma and Brian's complicated relationship, are predictable, but they're still fun all the same. Emma's voice is klutzy (like me!) and entertaining, but also shamelessly truthful. She is both a cynic and a hopeless romantic, which makes for a likable protagonist. What I don't like is how immature she is. The way she acts towards her parents and her friends establishes a rather whiney, grumpy teenager persona, rather than the thirty-year-old unmarried loner she is. But I guess that's what makes her a bit of an odd ball; overall, I appreciated her and her cute humor.
Another problem I have is with her relationship with Brian, her supposed best friend. Halfway into the book, Emma suddenly admits to having feelings for him; a lot of these feelings seem to be yielded because of the fact that he is always there for her, and that he is breathtakingly handsome. This is a bit confusing because Brian has always had Emma's back, and I assume he's always been attractive, so why is she just now beginning to like him? Either way, the manner in which they act towards each other tells me they never were "just friends" to begin with. Do just friends sleep together (in the same bed) and kiss each other just for show? I don't do that with my guy friends.
Emma acts indecisive, also; her declared spinsterhood doesn't last long, and as expected, she ends up with her best-friend-who-she never-considered-boyfriend-material-until-he-is-unavailable. Despite these little annoying quirks Braziel doesn't clear up within the novel, I really enjoyed this easy, breezy book. It is surprisingly entertaining and hits close to home in terms of the search for true love and satisfaction.
Stephanie Loves: "He sighed in exasperation. 'If you keep finding something wrong with every man you date, you'll never get married.' He wagged his finger at me. 'Only one man walked on water, Emma, and that was Jesus.' The old adage. 'He's not available, so I suggest you find someone else.'"
Radical Rating: 9 hearts- One of my all-time favorites!
Release Date: May 3rd, 2011
Publisher: AmazonEncore
Page Count: 227
Source: From Little Bird Publicity for review
Emma Bailey is fed up with the dating scene, and if she hears her mother nag one more time about getting married... well, she's had it, and she wants everyone to know it. In a moment of clarity (or insanity?), she announces to the world that she will never marry.
No husband and no kids, no worries about diapers, driving lessons, or divorce. Her friends are there for her, but they're also involved in their own lives and loves, so off she goes into a world of casual dating. But what happens when the avowed spinster, the woman who has supposedly tucked her heart into a safe little space, suddenly realizes that her best friend, Brian, means more than a casual relationship?
Jamie Lynn Braziel's Declaring Spinsterhood delivers with this enjoyable romp through dating, friendship, and passion.
What Stephanie Thinks: Braziel's debut is a comedic, light, and relatable summer read that I adore. The pickle Emma gets herself into makes me laugh and wince at the same time. Granted, the situation is a bit dramatic, but it still makes for great chick-lit! And fiction isn't supposed to 100% realistic anyway; readers always long for the happy ending she gets.
The plot flows deliciously. Even though it is highly predictable, I held onto the book because it was fun to read. Even the secondary issues, not including Emma and Brian's complicated relationship, are predictable, but they're still fun all the same. Emma's voice is klutzy (like me!) and entertaining, but also shamelessly truthful. She is both a cynic and a hopeless romantic, which makes for a likable protagonist. What I don't like is how immature she is. The way she acts towards her parents and her friends establishes a rather whiney, grumpy teenager persona, rather than the thirty-year-old unmarried loner she is. But I guess that's what makes her a bit of an odd ball; overall, I appreciated her and her cute humor.
Another problem I have is with her relationship with Brian, her supposed best friend. Halfway into the book, Emma suddenly admits to having feelings for him; a lot of these feelings seem to be yielded because of the fact that he is always there for her, and that he is breathtakingly handsome. This is a bit confusing because Brian has always had Emma's back, and I assume he's always been attractive, so why is she just now beginning to like him? Either way, the manner in which they act towards each other tells me they never were "just friends" to begin with. Do just friends sleep together (in the same bed) and kiss each other just for show? I don't do that with my guy friends.
Emma acts indecisive, also; her declared spinsterhood doesn't last long, and as expected, she ends up with her best-friend-who-she never-considered-boyfriend-material-until-he-is-unavailable. Despite these little annoying quirks Braziel doesn't clear up within the novel, I really enjoyed this easy, breezy book. It is surprisingly entertaining and hits close to home in terms of the search for true love and satisfaction.
Stephanie Loves: "He sighed in exasperation. 'If you keep finding something wrong with every man you date, you'll never get married.' He wagged his finger at me. 'Only one man walked on water, Emma, and that was Jesus.' The old adage. 'He's not available, so I suggest you find someone else.'"
Radical Rating: 9 hearts- One of my all-time favorites!
September 4, 2011
3
Declaring Spinsterhood by Jamie Lynn Braziel is a chick-lit book- which is not a genre I frequent: rather one I sometimes stumble upon. I got this book in a giveaway, and it was also the ARC copy, though I noticed no prominent mistakes. On the whole, it was enjoyable to read, but predictable.
Our main character, Emma Bailey, has a relatively entertaining way of reciting the story, though she repeated herself more than I liked. Her family life is quite terrible, and I literally couldn’t understand why she put up with it or- moreover- why her family were such an unfeeling load of renal mass without a shred of empathy. I liked the Dad, and her brother, but no-one else really. I mean, you’d think they’d just lay off with the jokes about her being single: especially since they’ve been doing it for years. Braziel tried rectify this by giving her a gun license, making her ‘bad-ass’ but I don’t get it. She doesn’t seem to do anything different to her usual self. I sort of felt that the gun merely acted as a plot device.
The mother was the worst because she was completely deaf to everything her daughter said to her, inviting Emma’s ex-boyfriends to Sunday lunch, and arranging a myriad of blind dates, despite them epically failing in the past. I actually didn’t really understand why Emma’s father married her since he is so much nicer and more cheerful, while she just some kind of cold, reputation-obsessed matchmaker. I’d have liked to see a point when she wasn’t so unapproachable.
Her friends were much more interesting: Kathy’s amiability was really evident to me, and I liked her almost straight away (though I don’t understand her covering for Emma so much). Brian was nice, but I knew where the story was going: that he’d get a girl, Emma would have an epiphany and one way or another things would work out. Even with this in mind, I wish it wasn’t so smooth. We knew something was wrong with all of Emma’s romantic interests because she didn’t trust Steve to be faithful…or that other guy at all. I don’t even remember his name, and he was passively important.
The novel’s name comes from Emma’s declaration that she is going to give up on men and live alone for the rest of her life, but I never really felt this was the case. She was pining after someone else at the time, and she never made any big change towards this aim. I sort of didn’t understand the declaration anyway it seemed either (A) a spontaneous, unconsidered choice or (B) a bad reaction to a bad date. The guys she dated were jerks, granted, but I don’t think we got enough history to back this up. Perhaps I’m being harsh though, since it was obvious that Steve really messed her up and, romantically, things weren’t looking too bright.
I think I’ve torn into this book a little, but I don’t think it’s that bad. I don’t read books in this genre, and I’m a bit particular about romance in books, so I could conclude that this just wasn’t my kind of reading material. It’s short though, so I’d never say I wasted time.
Declaring Spinsterhood by Jamie Lynn Braziel is a chick-lit book- which is not a genre I frequent: rather one I sometimes stumble upon. I got this book in a giveaway, and it was also the ARC copy, though I noticed no prominent mistakes. On the whole, it was enjoyable to read, but predictable.
Our main character, Emma Bailey, has a relatively entertaining way of reciting the story, though she repeated herself more than I liked. Her family life is quite terrible, and I literally couldn’t understand why she put up with it or- moreover- why her family were such an unfeeling load of renal mass without a shred of empathy. I liked the Dad, and her brother, but no-one else really. I mean, you’d think they’d just lay off with the jokes about her being single: especially since they’ve been doing it for years. Braziel tried rectify this by giving her a gun license, making her ‘bad-ass’ but I don’t get it. She doesn’t seem to do anything different to her usual self. I sort of felt that the gun merely acted as a plot device.
The mother was the worst because she was completely deaf to everything her daughter said to her, inviting Emma’s ex-boyfriends to Sunday lunch, and arranging a myriad of blind dates, despite them epically failing in the past. I actually didn’t really understand why Emma’s father married her since he is so much nicer and more cheerful, while she just some kind of cold, reputation-obsessed matchmaker. I’d have liked to see a point when she wasn’t so unapproachable.
Her friends were much more interesting: Kathy’s amiability was really evident to me, and I liked her almost straight away (though I don’t understand her covering for Emma so much). Brian was nice, but I knew where the story was going: that he’d get a girl, Emma would have an epiphany and one way or another things would work out. Even with this in mind, I wish it wasn’t so smooth. We knew something was wrong with all of Emma’s romantic interests because she didn’t trust Steve to be faithful…or that other guy at all. I don’t even remember his name, and he was passively important.
The novel’s name comes from Emma’s declaration that she is going to give up on men and live alone for the rest of her life, but I never really felt this was the case. She was pining after someone else at the time, and she never made any big change towards this aim. I sort of didn’t understand the declaration anyway it seemed either (A) a spontaneous, unconsidered choice or (B) a bad reaction to a bad date. The guys she dated were jerks, granted, but I don’t think we got enough history to back this up. Perhaps I’m being harsh though, since it was obvious that Steve really messed her up and, romantically, things weren’t looking too bright.
I think I’ve torn into this book a little, but I don’t think it’s that bad. I don’t read books in this genre, and I’m a bit particular about romance in books, so I could conclude that this just wasn’t my kind of reading material. It’s short though, so I’d never say I wasted time.
September 5, 2010
Original post at One More Page
So I was aimlessly looking around Amazon one day, looking for books to buy within my monthly book budget. I admit to becoming hooked to Kindle stuff, so when I spotted some $0.99 books, I jumped and got one. After all, it's only $0.99 -- less than Php 50! It's just like buying an app!
Declaring Spinsterhood sounds like one of those chick lit novels that I see almost everyday when I visit the bookstore. The theme is quite common: woman is getting older and still unmarried, family harps on her and tries to match her to everyone. Then there's the annoying ex that she still somewhat likes, and then a guy best friend who she ends up falling for...but, oh, he's in love with someone else. It's typical, but I know that some authors can make some of these story cliches work for them and even make it seem original.
This one...didn't work.
Emma Bailey seemed like a promising protagonist, with a wacky cast of characters in the background. However, Emma never felt like someone I could relate to. I wasn't sure which was really moving here, if it's the plot or the characters. Most of the time, it feels like the story's forced to come out. I didn't see much growth for Emma, nor with any other characters. Brian, the best friend, seemed like someone I'd like, but all the "sleeping-together-but-not-having-sex" thing had me turned off. Maybe I expect more for a guy best friend -- a real good guy would have enough sense to just sleep in another bed, even if you're best friends.
And wait. How can Emma and Brian be really close friends and know so many things about each other if they only met six months ago?
It's not that there weren't any notable characters though. The so-called villains did get me annoyed. The mother didn't feel realistic -- what mom would banish her daughter from their home because she didn't want to be married? Steve, the ex, was an annoying jerk, and I figured out the connection between him and Brian's girlfriend by the second time he mentioned Chicago. I liked Kathy, the best friend, and at least she had enough sense to listen to Emma, but not enough sense to drive something into her, and help her grow.
However, I can't really blame the author for the somewhat poorly developed plot and characters. The book was written as a NaNoWriMo novel, and from what I read, it is a NaNoWriMo novel. The book was self-published, which may explain the lack of polishing in the story. Maybe another round of edits could have made it better?
Declaring Spinsterhood isn't exactly bad, but it's not exactly good, either. Could be better. I'm glad I got it for $0.99 only -- else I would be absolutely annoyed at an impulse buy again.
So I was aimlessly looking around Amazon one day, looking for books to buy within my monthly book budget. I admit to becoming hooked to Kindle stuff, so when I spotted some $0.99 books, I jumped and got one. After all, it's only $0.99 -- less than Php 50! It's just like buying an app!
Declaring Spinsterhood sounds like one of those chick lit novels that I see almost everyday when I visit the bookstore. The theme is quite common: woman is getting older and still unmarried, family harps on her and tries to match her to everyone. Then there's the annoying ex that she still somewhat likes, and then a guy best friend who she ends up falling for...but, oh, he's in love with someone else. It's typical, but I know that some authors can make some of these story cliches work for them and even make it seem original.
This one...didn't work.
Emma Bailey seemed like a promising protagonist, with a wacky cast of characters in the background. However, Emma never felt like someone I could relate to. I wasn't sure which was really moving here, if it's the plot or the characters. Most of the time, it feels like the story's forced to come out. I didn't see much growth for Emma, nor with any other characters. Brian, the best friend, seemed like someone I'd like, but all the "sleeping-together-but-not-having-sex" thing had me turned off. Maybe I expect more for a guy best friend -- a real good guy would have enough sense to just sleep in another bed, even if you're best friends.
And wait. How can Emma and Brian be really close friends and know so many things about each other if they only met six months ago?
It's not that there weren't any notable characters though. The so-called villains did get me annoyed. The mother didn't feel realistic -- what mom would banish her daughter from their home because she didn't want to be married? Steve, the ex, was an annoying jerk, and I figured out the connection between him and Brian's girlfriend by the second time he mentioned Chicago. I liked Kathy, the best friend, and at least she had enough sense to listen to Emma, but not enough sense to drive something into her, and help her grow.
However, I can't really blame the author for the somewhat poorly developed plot and characters. The book was written as a NaNoWriMo novel, and from what I read, it is a NaNoWriMo novel. The book was self-published, which may explain the lack of polishing in the story. Maybe another round of edits could have made it better?
Declaring Spinsterhood isn't exactly bad, but it's not exactly good, either. Could be better. I'm glad I got it for $0.99 only -- else I would be absolutely annoyed at an impulse buy again.
February 20, 2016
I was initially going to give this book just two stars at how ridiculously perfect and cutesy it was. But after reading the last two chapters and what happened to the main character I squarely give it a 1 star and several seats. Because not only did the main character screw up her own happiness time and again by throwing out all sorts of mixed signals and whining cause her guy friend wasn't getting the message of how much she loved him. I felt like the author totally assassinated one of the main character's potential suitors all in the name of making such a cookie cutter ending. It was horrible.
I also couldn't stand that this book was about the main character declaring spinsterhood. Which I get she said it very rashly and likely didn't get what she was talking about. But at the same time I felt like she didn't know how to make a commitment to herself and stick to it either. I mean first she is saying she won't be dating any more then what does she do?! She goes on dates with a ton of folks rather she really wants to be with them or not. She even goes on dates with her cheating ex and keeps giving him the time of date and he is a total jackass. I'm sorry I don't care how much her family was pressuring her to settle down and I get she was feeling humiliated for what the ex did. But it took her ex cheating with her male best friend's girlfriend, for her to finally say how much of an ass he was. I mean sure she kind of said it and ran when she declared she wanted to be a "spinster", but clearly the dude smoothed it over so folks were believing he wasn't as bad as all that again. Which totally defeated the whole purpose or ratting him out in the first place.
I also hated how the author used the ex as such a catalyst in the main character's decision-making about guys all the time, that she actually wasn't even aware of the world around her. I will add that her family did the same freaking thing too.
Oh and can I add, I was not a fan of the no sex before marriage rule in the story(not usually against it), but for the main character to say she believes in that and goes to church every Sunday, has a dad for a minister and knows how her mother is and caring about other people think. Why in the world did she think it was okay to sleep in a bed with her MALE best friend?! I get men and women can be friends at times. But when there is such an obvious attraction between you and you SAY you have particular values and beliefs. Then why in the sam hell are you TESTING the hell out of the man that way?! I mean even the most gentlemanly of dudes would try something after a while. Hence the friend grabbing her leg to check out her garters after her little sexy lotion and peekaboo showing in her robe on one particular Sunday. Just ridiculous.
SOOOOOO not one I would recommend!
I also couldn't stand that this book was about the main character declaring spinsterhood. Which I get she said it very rashly and likely didn't get what she was talking about. But at the same time I felt like she didn't know how to make a commitment to herself and stick to it either. I mean first she is saying she won't be dating any more then what does she do?! She goes on dates with a ton of folks rather she really wants to be with them or not. She even goes on dates with her cheating ex and keeps giving him the time of date and he is a total jackass. I'm sorry I don't care how much her family was pressuring her to settle down and I get she was feeling humiliated for what the ex did. But it took her ex cheating with her male best friend's girlfriend, for her to finally say how much of an ass he was. I mean sure she kind of said it and ran when she declared she wanted to be a "spinster", but clearly the dude smoothed it over so folks were believing he wasn't as bad as all that again. Which totally defeated the whole purpose or ratting him out in the first place.
I also hated how the author used the ex as such a catalyst in the main character's decision-making about guys all the time, that she actually wasn't even aware of the world around her. I will add that her family did the same freaking thing too.
Oh and can I add, I was not a fan of the no sex before marriage rule in the story(not usually against it), but for the main character to say she believes in that and goes to church every Sunday, has a dad for a minister and knows how her mother is and caring about other people think. Why in the world did she think it was okay to sleep in a bed with her MALE best friend?! I get men and women can be friends at times. But when there is such an obvious attraction between you and you SAY you have particular values and beliefs. Then why in the sam hell are you TESTING the hell out of the man that way?! I mean even the most gentlemanly of dudes would try something after a while. Hence the friend grabbing her leg to check out her garters after her little sexy lotion and peekaboo showing in her robe on one particular Sunday. Just ridiculous.
SOOOOOO not one I would recommend!
October 29, 2012
Cute enough, but clumsily written
*NOTE: I received a free review copy of this book.*
Warning: This review might contain what some people consider SPOILERS.
Rating: 5/10
PROS:
- Some of Emma’s comments, both spoken and narrated, are funny. She’s cynical and snappish, but somehow she manages not to come off as a total jerk.
- Brian is sweet and funny and likeable, in a boy-next-door sort of way. He’s not terribly exciting, but then Emma isn’t a terribly exciting girl either, so they fit well together.
- Because I’m single and approximately the same age as the narrator, I sort of half-loved, half-hated reading about her dates. Braziel includes enough little horrifying details that I was able to compare the fictional dates in the story to actual dates I’ve been on, and Emma’s reactions in the book were very similar to my reactions in real life.
CONS:
- I wouldn’t call the writing BAD, but it’s not very smooth either. There’s quite a bit of telling (“I felt this way”) as opposed to showing (“Here’s what I did because of how I felt”), which makes for a read that’s clunky and slow overall. There are also stretches that essentially just describe Emma’s actions, one thing after another, without any in-depth exploration of her feelings: We went to this restaurant. The veal was excellent. We attended the opera. The music was wonderful. Etc.
- There’s not a lot of depth to the story. Even when Emma is venting her frustration at being constantly asked why she’s still single or is recounting the emotional pain of having her heart broken, the comments are shallow and cliché: “I wanted to pull my hair out in frustration”; “my heart gave a yelp of pain.”
- I found Emma’s mother to be about 5% endearing and 95% annoying. For one thing, she’s a hardcore meddler (and Emma simply lets her do it, which annoyed me further), and for another, I have a hard time sympathizing with a character who’s so sheltered/reserved that she considers someone who says the word “penis” to have a “potty mouth.” That’s the clinical term for the male reproductive organ; there are far worse words Emma could have used.
- The ending, in addition to being abrupt and rather unbelievable, is so sappy that I almost couldn’t bring myself to read the final 6 pages.
Overall comments: I think the blurb on the back of this book is slightly misleading: there’s nothing remotely sexual here, despite the blurb’s mention of “passion.” In fact, I’d classify this as religious romance. Emma is the typical angelic preacher’s kid, through and through. The story is cute enough; my main problems were the clumsy writing and the mother-daughter relationship, which made me want to stop reading entirely on more than one occasion.
*NOTE: I received a free review copy of this book.*
Warning: This review might contain what some people consider SPOILERS.
Rating: 5/10
PROS:
- Some of Emma’s comments, both spoken and narrated, are funny. She’s cynical and snappish, but somehow she manages not to come off as a total jerk.
- Brian is sweet and funny and likeable, in a boy-next-door sort of way. He’s not terribly exciting, but then Emma isn’t a terribly exciting girl either, so they fit well together.
- Because I’m single and approximately the same age as the narrator, I sort of half-loved, half-hated reading about her dates. Braziel includes enough little horrifying details that I was able to compare the fictional dates in the story to actual dates I’ve been on, and Emma’s reactions in the book were very similar to my reactions in real life.
CONS:
- I wouldn’t call the writing BAD, but it’s not very smooth either. There’s quite a bit of telling (“I felt this way”) as opposed to showing (“Here’s what I did because of how I felt”), which makes for a read that’s clunky and slow overall. There are also stretches that essentially just describe Emma’s actions, one thing after another, without any in-depth exploration of her feelings: We went to this restaurant. The veal was excellent. We attended the opera. The music was wonderful. Etc.
- There’s not a lot of depth to the story. Even when Emma is venting her frustration at being constantly asked why she’s still single or is recounting the emotional pain of having her heart broken, the comments are shallow and cliché: “I wanted to pull my hair out in frustration”; “my heart gave a yelp of pain.”
- I found Emma’s mother to be about 5% endearing and 95% annoying. For one thing, she’s a hardcore meddler (and Emma simply lets her do it, which annoyed me further), and for another, I have a hard time sympathizing with a character who’s so sheltered/reserved that she considers someone who says the word “penis” to have a “potty mouth.” That’s the clinical term for the male reproductive organ; there are far worse words Emma could have used.
- The ending, in addition to being abrupt and rather unbelievable, is so sappy that I almost couldn’t bring myself to read the final 6 pages.
Overall comments: I think the blurb on the back of this book is slightly misleading: there’s nothing remotely sexual here, despite the blurb’s mention of “passion.” In fact, I’d classify this as religious romance. Emma is the typical angelic preacher’s kid, through and through. The story is cute enough; my main problems were the clumsy writing and the mother-daughter relationship, which made me want to stop reading entirely on more than one occasion.
May 20, 2011
Emma Bailey is a smart attractive woman, she owns her own children’s bookstore has great friends and a supportive if not wee bit overbearing family. But when it comes to love, she’s a walking talking cliché, you know the one’s unlucky in love, always a bridesmaid etc., in fact if it weren’t for her interfering mother setting up a string of bad blind dates, she might not have a love life at all. After a painful breakup she’s entirely too dependent on her next door neighbor best friend Brian and now that he’s dating leaving her feeling old maid-ish she’s decided to “Declare Spinsterhood” and just put an end to dreaming about her very own Happily Ever After.
In her first novel Jamie Lynn Braziel gives us a lighthearted look at one woman’s fight for life liberty and the pursuit of happiness how she sees fit, she also adds some tense moments in the novel that come quite unexpectedly and really give the read more oomph. She uses down home Texas twang to give her characters the real deal feel of the Lonestar state and uses narrative that is easy to read, easy to follow and informative to her readers and even though the dialogue tends to drag in a few places it does not hurt the enjoyment of the novel and I’m sure that once this author feels more confident in her writer skin she’ll excel in this as well. Her characters are real stars of her show and they all are not only interesting but intricate pieces of this plot puzzle and as the pieces fall into place the characters get even better. Her heroine Emma is a bright light, a funny enigmatic girl who reminds me a little of The Unsinkable Molly Brown as she just keeps keeping on no matter what’s happening around her. Her other stand out characters in this novel are the best friend Brian, Emma’s workmate and friend Kathy and the mother from Hades. The romance will come up on you all of a sudden although by the time it gets here you won’t be surprised, but I won’t mention the hero because it’s the journey that stands out and I wouldn’t want to ruin that for any reader. The love scenes are G rated and would not offend any reader and yet it’s not because of prudishness or any Victorian ideals it’s just simple choice of the character and it’s really refreshing, and not to worry for those fans who like sensuality in their reads the kisses in here will heat up the pages.
Fans of Susan Mallery or Jennifer Crusie would like this author, fans of realistic life situation romance would like this read, contemporary romance lovers of simple genre romance too. So do yourself a favor and give Ms. Braziel a try, you won’t be sorry you did.
In her first novel Jamie Lynn Braziel gives us a lighthearted look at one woman’s fight for life liberty and the pursuit of happiness how she sees fit, she also adds some tense moments in the novel that come quite unexpectedly and really give the read more oomph. She uses down home Texas twang to give her characters the real deal feel of the Lonestar state and uses narrative that is easy to read, easy to follow and informative to her readers and even though the dialogue tends to drag in a few places it does not hurt the enjoyment of the novel and I’m sure that once this author feels more confident in her writer skin she’ll excel in this as well. Her characters are real stars of her show and they all are not only interesting but intricate pieces of this plot puzzle and as the pieces fall into place the characters get even better. Her heroine Emma is a bright light, a funny enigmatic girl who reminds me a little of The Unsinkable Molly Brown as she just keeps keeping on no matter what’s happening around her. Her other stand out characters in this novel are the best friend Brian, Emma’s workmate and friend Kathy and the mother from Hades. The romance will come up on you all of a sudden although by the time it gets here you won’t be surprised, but I won’t mention the hero because it’s the journey that stands out and I wouldn’t want to ruin that for any reader. The love scenes are G rated and would not offend any reader and yet it’s not because of prudishness or any Victorian ideals it’s just simple choice of the character and it’s really refreshing, and not to worry for those fans who like sensuality in their reads the kisses in here will heat up the pages.
Fans of Susan Mallery or Jennifer Crusie would like this author, fans of realistic life situation romance would like this read, contemporary romance lovers of simple genre romance too. So do yourself a favor and give Ms. Braziel a try, you won’t be sorry you did.
August 14, 2011
After a crushing heartbreak and some complete dating disasters, Emma Bailey is fed up with the dating scene. Thirty years old and ready to declare herself a spinster, her mother is unwilling to accept her decision and is constantly trying to set her up on blind dates. Emma's only solace from her maddening mother is her best friend and neighbor, Brian. How could Emma possibly get through life without him there to share evenings of Chinese food and Cary Grant movies? Everything in Emma's life is running smoothly until Brian finds himself a serious girlfriend, and Emma finds herself unhappily solo.
I can sum up this book in one word: Predictable. Painfully so. If you couldn't pull together the outcome of the book based on my summary, you're daft! The characters were fairly shallow and cliché- the nagging mom, the teasing brother, the oblivious dad, and the arrogant prick of an ex. That said, Declaring Spinsterhood was cute. It's no epic love story or future Nicholas Sparks-esque movie, but it provides some light entertainment for the few hours it takes to read.
Emma and Brian are funny and cute together, and their dating horror stories are ones which most people can relate to. Many women can relate to having the meddling mother, but the author seems to exaggerate a bit (really though, if you found out what your daughter's ex did to her, would you push her to get back together with him, simply so she'd have a boyfriend???). The characters of Emma and Brian were fairly well developed, although sometimes Emma's personality didn't sync well with her actions. She comes across as timid and easily influenced when she's with her family, but she's simultaneously out getting her concealed carry license so she can better protect herself. What woman with marksman skills at the range is a total push-over?
The writing was very simple, and in many instances quite rushed. Characters would often make a decision to go do something and with no transition, they'd be off doing it in the next line! For a mostly lighthearted book, there is one part towards the end that seems rather out of place and violent. From the beginning of the book, Emma and Brian's feelings for each other were glaringly obvious to the reader, and the author seemed to feel it was necessary for Emma to be nearly killed for the characters to have that "Aha!" moment. A "Speak now or forever hold your pe--" "STOP THE WEDDING!" moment would have been more believable!
All in all, predictable and uninventive. If you like a light-hearted read for a day at the beach or on the plane, this is a good one. It's not going to win any awards, but it will entertain you for a bit.
I can sum up this book in one word: Predictable. Painfully so. If you couldn't pull together the outcome of the book based on my summary, you're daft! The characters were fairly shallow and cliché- the nagging mom, the teasing brother, the oblivious dad, and the arrogant prick of an ex. That said, Declaring Spinsterhood was cute. It's no epic love story or future Nicholas Sparks-esque movie, but it provides some light entertainment for the few hours it takes to read.
Emma and Brian are funny and cute together, and their dating horror stories are ones which most people can relate to. Many women can relate to having the meddling mother, but the author seems to exaggerate a bit (really though, if you found out what your daughter's ex did to her, would you push her to get back together with him, simply so she'd have a boyfriend???). The characters of Emma and Brian were fairly well developed, although sometimes Emma's personality didn't sync well with her actions. She comes across as timid and easily influenced when she's with her family, but she's simultaneously out getting her concealed carry license so she can better protect herself. What woman with marksman skills at the range is a total push-over?
The writing was very simple, and in many instances quite rushed. Characters would often make a decision to go do something and with no transition, they'd be off doing it in the next line! For a mostly lighthearted book, there is one part towards the end that seems rather out of place and violent. From the beginning of the book, Emma and Brian's feelings for each other were glaringly obvious to the reader, and the author seemed to feel it was necessary for Emma to be nearly killed for the characters to have that "Aha!" moment. A "Speak now or forever hold your pe--" "STOP THE WEDDING!" moment would have been more believable!
All in all, predictable and uninventive. If you like a light-hearted read for a day at the beach or on the plane, this is a good one. It's not going to win any awards, but it will entertain you for a bit.
June 4, 2012
I noticed that the author gave thanks for NaNoWrimo, which is an annual challenge to write 50,000 words in the month of November. I think it's great that she took on this challenge and that it turned into this book.
Emma Bailey is 30 and single, despite her family's best efforts to get her paired up so that she can be barefoot and pregnant. She owns a children's bookstore and has a lifelong love of Nancy Drew mysteries.
Her ex-boyfriend has come back around, but he broke her heart when she learned that he had been cheating on her. Her family is unaware of this and keeps trying to get her to take him back. At the same time, they set her up with every heterosexual man in the vicinity, hoping that one will take. Luckily, her best friend, Brian, is there to help fend off this unwanted attention.
This book is definitely a beach read, as it can be read in one day and the plot does not break new ground. Within a few pages, you know which guy Emma is going to end up with, no matter what obstacles are thrown in their way. As I was reading it, I kept thinking that I had read something similar before - and I was right. The book Easily Amused, by Karen McQuestion, has a parallel storyline. Indeed, if you've read that book, even more of the storyline in Declaring Spinsterhood is easy to figure out.
I have to say, if this were my family, I would have hired someone to take them out. I couldn't imagine such intrusion and open interference in my life. I think that they treat Emma horribly and she deserves better.
There is a scene at the end of the book, very Mystery Woman-like (the movie series on the Hallmark Channel), that seems to be out of place in this book. It could have been done well with more of a Nancy Drew-type peril, in which the protagonist is never in any real danger. But this book takes it a bit farther and it doesn't flow with the fluffiness of the rest of the story.
Finally, I find it a bit hard to believe that a woman dated a man for two years without any sexual contact. Don't get me wrong - I loved the idea of waiting for the man you would marry. But once you hit your late 20s/early 30s, all bets are off.
All that being said, Ms. Braziel clearly has promise as an author. I hope that she will continue to develop her craft.
Emma Bailey is 30 and single, despite her family's best efforts to get her paired up so that she can be barefoot and pregnant. She owns a children's bookstore and has a lifelong love of Nancy Drew mysteries.
Her ex-boyfriend has come back around, but he broke her heart when she learned that he had been cheating on her. Her family is unaware of this and keeps trying to get her to take him back. At the same time, they set her up with every heterosexual man in the vicinity, hoping that one will take. Luckily, her best friend, Brian, is there to help fend off this unwanted attention.
This book is definitely a beach read, as it can be read in one day and the plot does not break new ground. Within a few pages, you know which guy Emma is going to end up with, no matter what obstacles are thrown in their way. As I was reading it, I kept thinking that I had read something similar before - and I was right. The book Easily Amused, by Karen McQuestion, has a parallel storyline. Indeed, if you've read that book, even more of the storyline in Declaring Spinsterhood is easy to figure out.
I have to say, if this were my family, I would have hired someone to take them out. I couldn't imagine such intrusion and open interference in my life. I think that they treat Emma horribly and she deserves better.
There is a scene at the end of the book, very Mystery Woman-like (the movie series on the Hallmark Channel), that seems to be out of place in this book. It could have been done well with more of a Nancy Drew-type peril, in which the protagonist is never in any real danger. But this book takes it a bit farther and it doesn't flow with the fluffiness of the rest of the story.
Finally, I find it a bit hard to believe that a woman dated a man for two years without any sexual contact. Don't get me wrong - I loved the idea of waiting for the man you would marry. But once you hit your late 20s/early 30s, all bets are off.
All that being said, Ms. Braziel clearly has promise as an author. I hope that she will continue to develop her craft.
May 12, 2011
Ever got so fed up with the dating scene that you decided to give it all up? Think you could be happy without marriage? Think you could be happy with just yourself and a few close friends? I personally say no!! I'm 28ish, and I don't want to give up on the happily ever after fantasy until I'm 30.
In Declaring Spinsterhood by Jamie Lynn Braziel, Emma Bailey is a gun-toting 30-year-old who is ready to give up. A series of bad dates and meddling from her mother lead to this decision. She's quite content running her children's bookstore, reading Nancy Drew novels, listening to Keith Urban music, and watching old Hollywood movies with her dog and best friend Brian. Yes, her best friend is a man.
Brian is the type of friend Emma can confide in at her darkest hour. To me their relationship is as close to marriage, except there is no sex involved. He knows what ticks her off and what doesn't. Only he knows how much Emma would appreciate a blow-up doll of Cary Grant!! You have to read the book to get that one, but trust me it's all in good fun.
Emma says, "I'm declaring spinsterhood." While her mother thinks she has lost her mind. But Brian sees it as Emma standing up for herself. Brian is always there, whether it's to have a shoulder to lean on at church or to run interference with her mother. He's there to comfort Emma when her self-centered former boyfriend breaks her heart. But what happens when he's not sharing her philosophy and "declaring bachelorhood?"
Brian's dating life picks up when Emma decides to abandon hers. Is she just worried that Brian will no longer have time for her? Or is it love? It is love. Rather than confess her feelings, Emma decides to suffer internally. Meanwhile I'm screaming in my head, "No, no, no, no!!" That will never work. If you don't seize the opportunity, it might never come again.
This is a lovely and entertaining story. The only thing that seemed out of place an action sequence towards the end. Overall, it was a cute story worth checking out.
Rating: Superb
Note: I received a copy of the book at the request of the author's publicist (Little Bird Publicity) in exchange for an honest review.
In Declaring Spinsterhood by Jamie Lynn Braziel, Emma Bailey is a gun-toting 30-year-old who is ready to give up. A series of bad dates and meddling from her mother lead to this decision. She's quite content running her children's bookstore, reading Nancy Drew novels, listening to Keith Urban music, and watching old Hollywood movies with her dog and best friend Brian. Yes, her best friend is a man.
Brian is the type of friend Emma can confide in at her darkest hour. To me their relationship is as close to marriage, except there is no sex involved. He knows what ticks her off and what doesn't. Only he knows how much Emma would appreciate a blow-up doll of Cary Grant!! You have to read the book to get that one, but trust me it's all in good fun.
Emma says, "I'm declaring spinsterhood." While her mother thinks she has lost her mind. But Brian sees it as Emma standing up for herself. Brian is always there, whether it's to have a shoulder to lean on at church or to run interference with her mother. He's there to comfort Emma when her self-centered former boyfriend breaks her heart. But what happens when he's not sharing her philosophy and "declaring bachelorhood?"
Brian's dating life picks up when Emma decides to abandon hers. Is she just worried that Brian will no longer have time for her? Or is it love? It is love. Rather than confess her feelings, Emma decides to suffer internally. Meanwhile I'm screaming in my head, "No, no, no, no!!" That will never work. If you don't seize the opportunity, it might never come again.
This is a lovely and entertaining story. The only thing that seemed out of place an action sequence towards the end. Overall, it was a cute story worth checking out.
Rating: Superb
Note: I received a copy of the book at the request of the author's publicist (Little Bird Publicity) in exchange for an honest review.
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