Sep 27, 2011

Book Review and Teaser: Little Black Dress by Susan McBride

Teaser Tuesdays asks you to choose sentences at random from your current read. Identify the author and title for readers.

"Did you bring the dress?" Her voice was so soft I could barely her. "Do you have it?" she said, this time more loudly, and her dark gaze stared across the room at me, unflinching.

"First, tell me why."


Comments: Not to be confused with Mennonite in a Little Black Dress, this novel, Little Black Dress is a story about two sisters who are very different in temperament and whose lives are influenced by revelations from a little black dress that tells the future. The book is firmly in the category of magical fantasy. I thought the novel could have been written well and the story of the sisters could have been more compelling if the author hadn't used this device.

Book description: Two sisters whose lives seemed forever intertwined are torn apart when a magical little black dress gives each one a glimpse of an unavoidable future.

Antonia Ashton has worked hard to build a thriving career and a committed relationship, but she realizes her life has gone off-track. Forced to return home to Blue Hills when her mother, Evie, suffers a massive stroke, Toni finds the old Victorian where she grew up as crammed full of secrets as it is with clutter. Now she must put her mother’s house in order—and uncover long-buried truths about Evie and her aunt, Anna, who vanished fifty years earlier on the eve of her wedding. By shedding light on the past, Toni illuminates her own mistakes and learns the most unexpected things about love, magic, and a little black dress with the power to break hearts...and mend them. (Goodreads)

Title: Little Black Dress by Susan McBride
Paperback, 320 pages
Published August 23rd 2011 by William Morrow
Objective rating: 3.5/5

A copy of this book was sent to me by the publisher for possible review. My opinions are in no way influenced by my receiving a complimentary copy.

22 comments:

  1. Sounds interesting!
    Tried commenting earlier, but looks like my browser lost the content - hope it works this time around :)

    My teaser is from a Marion Zimmer Bradley book, written with Holly Lisle: Sort of fantasy, but not really.

    http://readseverything.blogspot.com/2011/09/glenraven-by-marion-zimmer-bradley.html

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  2. I like that teaser a lot, but it makes me very curious to know more.

    Sorry the book seemed just average for you though.

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  3. It definitely sounds like an interesting read. I really liked the teaser as well; very teasing!

    My teaser is from a book I absolutely loved; Divergent! Click to be teased!

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  4. Great teaser -- too bad the book didn't live up to the promise of the quote!

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  5. Wonder what is so special about the dress.

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  6. I loved this book! Hope you're enjoying it, too.

    I remember that excerpt...fascinating stuff.

    Here's MY TT POST and
    MY WEBSITE

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  7. I've also read books I thought could totally have omitted the magical element with no ill effects. Too bad this one falls into that category!

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  8. I really like the way that you combined this meme with a review! I have a copy of this one and look forward to reading it at some point...too bad the writing fell short for you!

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  9. Btw, this was the first Zimmer book I've read - do you have recommendations for her other books?

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  10. Deepali: The book of Marion Zimmer Bradley's that I read and loved was The Mists of Avalon. I like the Arthurian legends and this is the background. I think you will like it.

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  11. Fredamans: the dress is magical and can tell the future.

    Staci, Rhapsody, Amy: Enjoy the reading!

    Laurel: Glad you loved it! It had a good realistic story and may not have needed the fortune telling dress!

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  12. ooohh, great teaser! So cryptic! I've been seeing this book all over the place. Thanks for visiting my teaser :)

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  13. Interesting review you made here! I can not wait to read the book!

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  14. Your teaser makes me want to know more but the review tells me I might not care for the magical part.

    Margot at Quirky Girls Read

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  15. This book sounds like it's following the Sisterhood of the Travelling Pants, which was all the rage with teenage girls a few years ago -- magical pants that fit everyone, magical experiences whenever they wore them.

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  16. Mysterious teaser. It makes me wonder if the dress has anything to do with time travel. Happy reading!

    Thanks for visiting my blog today!

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  17. This sounds really good. I'm going to add it to my list.

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  18. I have read a few reviews for this book. The premise just isn't grabbing me.

    -jehara

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  19. Sounds interesting! Also very different from the stuff I usually write.

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  20. That's too bad. I enjoyed her first book.

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  21. I really liked this book. I read it a few years ago.

    Sorry you were disappointed.

    She has a new book out. The title escapes me for now.

    ENJOY your weekend.

    Elizabeth

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