As you may know, one of my favorite things about being a blogger is having the opportunity to read and review books before they’re released. Today I’m excited to share my review on Nikki LeClair’s new novel ‘Reuniting Reality’ in addition to a fabulous exclusive guest post written by the author herself! Oh and did I mention there’s a giveaway too?!
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Reuniting Reality by Nikki LeClair
Published by Nikki LeClair on March 20, 2018
Genre: Chick Lit
Starring opposite her best friend in hit reality TV show Daughter of Famous Mothers, Julie Duncan was riding high, clouded with adoring fans and cozily married to an ambitious plastic surgeon. One day, everything changed. Betrayed by not only her husband, but someone she completely trusted, Julie disappeared from that life and left it all behind.
Four years later, Julie’s life is far from brag-able. Living with her sister and scraping by doing D-list gigs, Julie is given an opportunity to fix her pathetic life. The only catch? Spending a week on camera with the people who destroyed her life.
So what’s a girl to do when her back is against the wall?
✓ Create a new, improved version of herself—a version that has moved on and let go the trials of the past.
✓ Invent a hopping new social life and a hot Olympian boyfriend.
✓ Beg forgiveness from her former best friend.Simple enough until her fake new boyfriend suddenly shows up, her former best friend gives the cold shoulder, her ex-husband is as shady as ever, and butterflies she thought had died long ago begin to flutter alive.
Will Julie be able to keep up her ruse? Or will the cameras catch something she won’t ever be able to escape?
My Review of the Book:
Reuniting Reality is a fun quick girly read. It’s an interesting story about a young woman that gets invited to be on a reality reunion from a reality show she was on years ago. The same reality show that lead to a ruined marriage, a falling out with a best friend, and a somewhat tarnished public reputation.
The main theme of the novel is the importance of having honest and open communication with the people that are closest in your life and also about recognizing when someone is being real and honest with you vs. the people who will lie and cheat and do anything possible to make a quick buck and get their time in the spotlight. There was also the perspective that true friendships can survive through thick and thin, and it’s never too late to admit past wrongdoings and rekindle friendships that you may have thought were lost forever.
True colors always show themselves eventually and good always overcomes evil. I loved the ending of the novel, I suppose in part because I’m a big believer in Karma and that you get back what you put into life. Great read that I highly recommend, I can’t wait to see what Nikki writes next!
My Rating: 5/5 Stars
I received a complimentary review copy from the author. My review reflects my own opinion and I was not paid to review this. Receiving free books does not affect my review opinions or ratings.
To the Authors Who are Giving Up, Please Don’t.
Guest Post by Author Nikki LeClair
You know that quote by Margaret Thatcher, ‘You may have to fight a battle more than once to win it’? I find it illustrates the author world perfectly.
I’ve been publishing, self-publishing and through a publisher, for almost six years. Six long, exciting, gruelling, messy, I hate myself! People actually like my book? I friggin suck at this! Look I won an award! Why aren’t people leaving reviews? Years.
In the last three years have I fully immersed myself in the world of Chicklit and Cozy Mysteries. In the last three years I made myself more of a voice, interacted with fellow authors of the genre, and joined groups on Facebook dedicate to the art of what we write. These ladies, and men, have been a source of inspiration for me, in good times and bad. Especially the bad times.
It’s no piece of cake being an author. It’s hard to actually sit and down write a book. Most people who want to do it never do because they never make the time. They have kids, they have jobs, they have birthdays, they have to make supper, they have to hit the gym, or they are just too lazy. I have been that person and 3 or 4 days out of the week I still am that person. I have to force myself to stay up an hour or two past everyone else and get down some words. Or awake an hour earlier. I use to complain about it but lately I’ve shut up about it and just been grateful. Because I know, those few minutes of complete and utter bliss when you write The End, is so worth it.
It’s what comes afterwards that is an uphill battle. Never mind getting it out there (although it’s amazing you did!), getting that gorgeous cover (finding a talented cover artist can be a life saver), hashing out free copies left and right for instant praise (I still do this even though I’m warned against it). You’re lucky if your book gets its fifteen minutes of fame while it’s on its book tour, and you’re lucky if you make over a 100 a month based on that book far past its release date. New books come out daily, especially in the Amazon and self-publishing world, and never has it been easier to get lost in the jumble.
Chances are you will end up lost in the jumble. I’ve seen it happen to authors and it’s happened to me, but the one thing I have learned, the one thing I have trained myself to do every time I see it happen is to think ‘This is not final.’ Too many authors are giving up, and I 100 % understand why they do, especially the self-published ones. It’s your own money you’re throwing at your book baby. It hurts to see another author’s book getting more praise, admiration, and a higher number of reviews (which may not be as great as the ones your book is getting). It’s baffling to realize book lists once renowned are bought out. It’s heartbreaking, confusing and daunting, but you have to for the sake of your own sanity and peace build up resilience to all of it. You have to power through, you have to know that your book, your series, is only in the gutter temporally and there are things you can do to fix it. There are people who have not yet read your book, but will, and will fall absolutely in love with it. You didn’t work this hard, write all those hours, sacrifice meals, sleep, and get togethers to give up. It takes years for most authors to make it to a livable wage if that’s their goal. Every time I see an author announce their early retirement I get annoyed, and then sad. Annoyed because nine times out of ten they give up when they feel they can’t win, like they see their fellow authors winning. Sad because I know how difficult a decision this was for them to make, and how gutted they must feel.
So please, please remember that being an author is not a career for the weak willed these days, and build yourself up so that you never feel the need to permanently escape. Don’t rely on everyone else to do it for you, build your own resilience even if you feel stupid doing so. Write for you and nobody else. Publish for you and nobody else. Just don’t quit.
Enter the Giveaway Below!
^^^ Click to Enter! ^^^
About Nikki LeClair
Nikki LeClair lives in Canada with her loving husband and their two rambunctious children. When she isn’t ordering her children to behave or begging her Border Terrier to listen to her, she sits behind her lap-top plotting out the next adventure of her new characters. She’s a fan of a good glass of Pinot Noir, and can’t live without her favorite Tea blends.
She enjoys hearing from readers and fans of her work. You can find her on twitter at @NikkiL_Books, and on her Facebook Fanpage Nikki LeClair
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Thanks for being a host on Nikki’s tour today!! <3