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Anita Hughes

BOOK REVIEW: “French Coast”

July 28, 2015 Leave a Comment

FrenchCoastCoverPic

“French Coast” by Anita Hughes

Blurb: Serena has the job she’s always dreamed of and Chase, the man her heart never dared to. As a new editor at Vogue, she bags the biggest interview of the year with Yvette Renault, the infamous former editor of French Vogue, in The Carlton-InterContinental Hotel during the Cannes Film Festival. She eagerly jets off to France while Chase stays home, working with her father, a former senator, on his upcoming mayoral campaign.

Everything feels unbelievably perfect…until it doesn’t. The hotel loses her reservation hours before her big interview. Serena fears that she’ll have to go home without her story, but then she meets Zoe, a quirky young woman staying in the suite below Yvette’s who invites Serena to stay with her. Serena is grateful for her mysterious roommate’s generosity, but it seems that there’s more to her story than meets the eye. To make matters worse, soon after arriving in Cannes, Serena learns a shocking secret about her parents’ marriage, and it isn’t long before she begins to question her own relationship. With her deadline looming and pressure mounting, Serena will have to use her investigative journalism skills, new friendships, and a little luck to get her life and love back on track. Fast paced and impeccably written.

French Coast will draw readers in to the intoxicating world of the Cote D’Azur. Hughes’ beautiful prose and sense imagery bring the food, fashion, and feel of the ocean to life in this audacious new novel.

My Review: “French Coast” has been a book I’ve been wanting to read for a long time now, and I’m so happy I was able to finally read it.

From start to finish, the author’s writing captured me (like it does with all the books I’ve read of hers), and I couldn’t get enough. I was a little curious as to why Serena would pick up and leave her new fiancé, Chase, so quickly, but she had a job to do, and she didn’t want to miss out on her big chance. Once she arrived in France, met Zoe, and learned Yvette’s stories, I found it interesting at how the stories from the past and the present correlated. I really enjoyed Serena’s character, and by the end, I saw that she’d transformed into her true self.

One of my main things I wished that there could have been more scenes with Serena and chase, because I really liked them.I also wondered if she wanted more closure from him. I also wish we could see into her new life, considering all the changes, (sorry, no spoilers).

I read this book in two days, so if you’re looking for a quick summer beach read, I highly recommend this book.

I give “French Coast” 5 stars!

**Buy “French Coast” now!: Amazon   Barnes & Noble

* * * * *

AnitaHughes2About author, Anita Hughes: Anita is the author of Lake Como, Monarch Beach, and Market Street. She attended UC Berkeley’s Masters in Creative Writing Program, and has taught Creative Writing at The Branson School in Ross, California. Hughes lives in Dana Point, California, where she is at work on her next novel.

**Contact Anita: Website   Twitter

Filed Under: Book Review, French Coast Tagged With: Anita Hughes, Book review, Books, Chick-Lit, French Coast, Romance, Women's Fiction

Anita Hughes

April 7, 2015 1 Comment

AnitaHughes2

Author, Anita Hughes: Anita Hughes is the author of Lake Como, Monarch Beach, and Market Street. She attended UC Berkeley’s Masters in Creative Writing Program, and has taught Creative Writing at The Branson School in Ross, California. Hughes lives in Dana Point, California, where she is at work on her next novel.

**Contact Anita: Website   Twitter

GUEST POST

Five Best Tips on Becoming an Author

1) My first tip on becoming an author is to write what you know. Sitting down to write a novel is hard and I think it helps to know the terrain that you are going to be traveling. Subsequent books can (and should) be set further afield but for a debut author it is often a good idea to mine subject material you are familiar with. It doesn’t have to be something that happened to you but perhaps an event that struck you and a setting you know. I set my debut novel, MONARCH BEACH, where I live and I could visualize the locations as I was writing.

2) Set goals for yourself. Writing can be like doing homework that no one is going to check. Even now, writing my sixth novel, I am very strict with my time. I aim at writing 1,000 words a day (which often means a lot of writing and rewriting of the same words). If I write more it’s like earning extra credit!

3) Find a trusted reader. Many authors belong to critique groups and that’s great, but I write quickly and I think I would grow impatient if I had to wait for weekly (or monthly) critiques. I have one trusted reader who I can rely on to tell me if the story is working. Sometimes adding or subtracting one sentence or paragraph can make a big difference and you need another set of eyes to point that out.

4) Think about the characters and the plot ALL THE TIME. Once I am submerged in writing, I keep the book in my mind at all times. I think up dialogue when I’m at the grocery store and go over scenes while I’m driving. I carve large chunks out of my day to rethink where the story is going and the motivation of my characters.

5) My last tip is nothing new but it is the most important: READ. I have been a reader all my life and it is the most invaluable tool for being a writer. But don’t make reading work. Read what you enjoy and read voraciously. I always tell my children if they don’t like a book put it down and read another. As a reader you need to be completely enthralled and can’t wait to pick the book up again. And as a writer you need the same thing – you can’t wait to send the kids to school or the husband to work so you can get back to your manuscript.

* * * * *

FrenchCoastCoverPic

“French Coast” by Anita Hughes

Book blurb: Serena has the job she’s always dreamed of and Chase, the man her heart never dared to. As a new editor at Vogue, she bags the biggest interview of the year with Yvette Renault, the infamous former editor of French Vogue, in The Carlton-InterContinental Hotel during the Cannes Film Festival. She eagerly jets off to France while Chase stays home, working with her father, a former senator, on his upcoming mayoral campaign.

Everything feels unbelievably perfect…until it doesn’t. The hotel loses her reservation hours before her big interview. Serena fears that she’ll have to go home without her story, but then she meets Zoe, a quirky young woman staying in the suite below Yvette’s who invites Serena to stay with her. Serena is grateful for her mysterious roommate’s generosity, but it seems that there’s more to her story than meets the eye. To make matters worse, soon after arriving in Cannes, Serena learns a shocking secret about her parents’ marriage, and it isn’t long before she begins to question her own relationship. With her deadline looming and pressure mounting, Serena will have to use her investigative journalism skills, new friendships, and a little luck to get her life and love back on track. Fast paced and impeccably written,
French Coast will draw readers in to the intoxicating world of the Cote D’Azur. Hughes’ beautiful prose and sense imagery bring the food, fashion, and feel of the ocean to life in this audacious new novel.

**Buy “French Coast” now: Amazon

Filed Under: Anita Hughes Tagged With: Anita Hughes, Authors, Books, Five Best Tips on Becoming an Author, French Coast, Guest Post, New Releaes

BOOK FEATURE: MARKET STREET

April 2, 2013 1 Comment

MarketStreetCover

“MARKET STREET” by Anita Hughes

Blurb:  From the author of MONARCH BEACH comes a delicious story of a department store heiress, her messy marriage and her passion for food.

Filled with delicious descriptions of high fashion, gourmet food and the City By the Bay, MARKET STREET is a rewarding treat that will linger  long after its surprising and satisfying finish.

Chapter 1 (tease)

Cassie tore the edge of her croissant and looked out the Fenton department store’s floor-to-ceiling windows at the street below. Christmas was over, the post-Christmas sales were limping to a close, and men and women walked with their coats wrapped around them. The giant tree in Union Square had been carted away. The dazzling window displays in Gucci and Chanel, of Cinderella slippers studded with real diamonds to wear to holiday parties and little black dresses accessorized with stacks of multi-colored bracelets had been replaced with sensible January displays: rain boots, umbrellas and floor-length winter coats. Even Burberry’s window leaked bleak. The sweet reindeer wearing a plaid sweater and socks and been exchanged for a faceless mannequin wrapped in scarves like a mummy.

AnitaHughes2**About Anita Hughes:  Anita is the author of MONARCH BEACH. She attended UC Berkeley’s Masters in Creative Writing Program. Anita lives in Dana Point, CA with her family. Her third novel, LAKE COMO, will be released on August 13th, 2013.

**Contact:  Website  Facebook  Twitter

**Click HERE to read my review of her first book, “Monarch Beach”!

Filed Under: Market Street Tagged With: Anita Hughes, Book feature, Books, Chick-Lit, Market Street

Market Street

March 26, 2013 Leave a Comment

Book review of “Market Street”

MarketStreetCover

“Market Street” by Anita Hughes

Book Description:

From Anita Hughes, author of Monarch Beach, comes Market Street, a delicious story of a department store heiress, her messy marriage, and her passion for food

Cassie Blake seems to lead a charmed life as the heiress to Fenton’s, San Francisco’s most exclusive department store. But when she discovers her husband, Aidan, a handsome UC Berkeley professor, has had an affair with a student, she flees to the comfort of her best friend Alexis’s Presidio Heights mansion, where she wonders if she should give their marriage one more chance.

Whether or not she can forgive Aidan is not the only choice Cassie has to make. Cassie’s mother is eager to have her oversee the opening of Fenton’s new Food Emporium, which Fenton’s hopes will become San Francisco’s hottest gourmet shopping destination. Cassie’s true passion has always been food, not fashion, and Cassie suspects her mother might be trying to lure her into the Fenton’s fold by entrusting her with such an exciting opportunity. And then there is James, the architect designing the Emporium, who is quietly falling in love with her…

**THIS FOLLOWING REVIEW CONTAINS SPOILERS**

My Review:

Still reeling with joy after reading “Monarch Beach” by Anita Hughes, her debut novel, I was asked to read and review “Market Street.”  As a huge fan of the author I accepted the offer and was given an early NetGalley copy.

“Market Street” began as an easy read, with action starting right away.  I wanted to know if Cassie would take the job at the emporium, but found myself more curious if she would take her cheating husband.  The way he cheated, their relationship and the way he seemed to act as is he hadn’t done anything wrong, piqued my interest.  While there was a bit of name and brand dropping, I understood it because that’s what defined the characters were and what I expected from the book.  Up until the end of the first quarter, my attention was held.

I liked how Cassie’s friend, Alexis, allow her to stay with her, but it seemed like she overstayed her welcome, and not just because Alexis’s husband was away on business, (and I often wondered if he was cheating like Aidan).  Cassie is a thirty-two year old woman, but staying with her friend for as long as she did kind of threw me off.  I also didn’t understand their dialogue.  One would say something, then the other would say something completely random, but maybe that was the way the characters have always talked with each other.  In the end, I felt that Alexis took over the part of the main character.  I also found it odd that she’s the one who took it upon herself to shut the chapter on Cassie and Aidan’s marriage by sending him a box of lingerie.

I tried to like Cassie’s character — I really did, but there were times that I was so over her.  She seemed to run away from her issues, especially her husband’s infidelity and not face the issues.  I wanted her to make up her mind, was she in the marriage or was she out of it?  At times I felt sorry for Aidan (the cheater) because Cassie seemed to care too much about her emporium (which I’m glad she took a stand and did for herself) and what her mother thinks to work on and fight for her marriage.  Often, Cassie was daydreaming about wanting to be watching a movie or wrapped up in Aidan’s arms in their bed, which annoyed me because if she really wanted to, she could.  As for Aidan, I didn’t like him.  He was very arrogant, but maybe he was supposed to be that way.

At the end I though, I liked how Cassie appeared to be more grown-up and adjusts her priorities, making her relationship with James at the top of the list.  I just wonder why she didn’t do this with her marriage, and it would have been nice to for the reader to “see” some kind of closure between Cassie and Aidan.

While I anticipated “Market Street” to be another brilliant read by Anita Hughes, I thought it was only okay.  I found there to be a little too much name dropping of designers that I just didn’t care about, which seemed like page fillers.  And while I have stayed at The Breakers Hotel in Palm Beach (which is mentioned) and understand high-class society, I didn’t care about what Cassie, Alexis, Aidan or James wore.  What interested me more was the story, not what they were modeling.

I recommend “Market Street” to anyone who is into fashion or a fan of Anita Hughes because she’s a brilliant writer who creates memorable and delightful stories, but this book just wasn’t on that resonated with me.

I give this book 3 stars!

Filed Under: Book Review, Market Street Tagged With: Anita Hughes, Book review, Books, Chick-Lit, Market Street

Anita Hughes

August 6, 2012 5 Comments

Q & A with Anita Hughes

Who is Anita Hughes?  I was born and raised in Sydney, Australia. I live with my family in a villa on the grounds of the St. Regis, Monarch Beach. I am a mother, writer, taxi service for my children, cook, laundress and dog washer.

What are your days/nights like?  I take my children to school and then sit down and write. At noon I take a break and walk my dog to the beach. I love to think while I walk. By the time I get home I usually have the next section of my manuscript worked out. Then I pick the kids up, help with homework, make dinner and hang out with them in the evening. After they have gone to bed I revise what I wrote that day and plan the next day’s writing.

How did you come up the title of “Monarch Beach?”  Actually an editor at St. Martin’s Press came up with the title! I am so grateful because it fits perfectly. I love my cover and my title: they make me feel like I’m at the beach even when I’m not.

If “Monarch Beach” were turned into a movie, who would you choose for actors?  I could see Natalie Portman or Ann Hathaway as Amanda. Adrian Grenier would make a perfect Andre and Alec Baldwin would be terrific as Edward. I see Stephanie as someone really fun – maybe Kate Hudson.

What inspired “Monarch Beach?”  I live on the grounds of the St. Regis and I am surrounded by beauty. I thought – if you were really unhappy would living in a gorgeous place make you feel better – or do you take your grief wherever you go?

How did you celebrate your first book being published?  My children and I went out for frozen yoghurt. I did browse online for pretty shoes and dresses but I decided I would save that for my first author event.

What are your favorite must-haves for writers?  I need my laptop, coffee and a good book. When I’m not writing, I’m reading, so I always have to have a great book on my bedside table.

Explain what would be your perfect day?  Sleep in and then go to the spa and sit in the Tranquility Room. Then go for a swim or walk along the beach. At night, I love to watch a great movie or a show on HBO.

What’s your favorite snack to eat during the editing or writing process?  I like a cup of coffee when I’m revising. It gives me a burst of energy to do my best work.

Do you have any advice for new writers?  My advice is to completely immerse yourself in your manuscript. When I am working on a novel, I think about it all the time. Make your characters your friends, live in their world, and it will come alive.

What is the best advice you’ve been given?  To write the books I want to read. I look forward to sitting down and writing – it is like reading but better. It is exciting to see what appears on the page.

Do you have any upcoming projects?  If so, tells us:  My second novel, MARKET STREET, will be released on March 26th,  2013. I love the cover and I’m really excited about it. A third novel, LAKE COMO, will come out some time next year.

Additional comments from Anita:  Thank you so much for hosting me on your wonderful blog, Isabella!

**Visit Anita at any of the below links:

Anita Hughes Books

Facebook

Twitter

**Click HERE to read my review of “Monarch Beach”

Filed Under: Anita Hughes Tagged With: Anita Hughes, Books, Chick-Lit, Guest Author, Guest Interview, Monarch Beach, Writing

Monarch Beach

July 1, 2012 7 Comments

Book review of “Monarch Beach”

“Monarch Beach,” by Anita Hughes

When a mom, Amanda Blick sees her sexy French chef husband, Andre, wrapped around his sous-chef, she’s heartbroken.  When her mother urges Amanda and her son, Max, to get a change of scenery with her at St. Regis Resort in Laguna Beach, she agrees to go to Laguna Beach.  She needed to get away from him for the summer and think about her future.  Instead of simply relaxing, doing her best to keep her mind off of Andre, Amanda meets a handsome older man who sweeps her away.  Also divorced, Edward teaches Amanda that there can be a life after Andre…until his loyalties are to be questioned.

There had been a lot of talk about “Monarch Beach,” so I put it on my to-read list.  When I was asked to review it I jumped at the chance.  From the first sentence to the last, “Monarch Beach” drew me into Amanda’s world.  Through her ups and downs with Andre and Edward, the book was very enjoyable.  With all the twists and turns — especially at the end, I literally couldn’t put this book down.  If I wasn’t reading it, I was thinking about planning my own getaway to the St. Regis Resort, hoping to create my own journey.  The characters were very likable, even Andre tried to fool me, but I loved Amanda.  She was a devoted mom who just wanted to do the best for her son after her marriage failed.  I  liked Amanda’s mom and thought that she played a very enjoyable and loving role.  Like Amanda’s character, I loved how she evolved, too.  The ending will leave you aching for more, (I’m really hoping for a continuation with these characters)!

Anita Hughes is a brilliant author who has written a book I loved!  “Monarch Beach” is a funny, heartwarming and sexy read, and I recommend it to anyone who wants a delightful, addicting and fast-paced summer read.

I give this book 5 out of 5 stars!

**Click HERE to read my interview with Anita Hughes!

Filed Under: Book Review, Monarch Beach Tagged With: Anita Hughes, Book Reviews, Books, Chick-Lit, Images, Isabella, Link, Monarch Beach, Random, Romance Books, Writing

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