Gina Rae Mitchell

Eat Your Heart Out by Shirley Goldberg | Review

A book blog tour from Goddess Fish Promotions.

Thank you to the author, publisher, and Marianne & Judy at Goddess Fish for providing me the information for this tour.

Book Details

Eat Your Heart Out (Starting Over # 2) by Shirley Goldberg
Series: Starting Over #2
Published by The Wild Rose Press on 03/17/2021
Genres: Fiction, Humorous, Romance, Romantic Comedy, Satire, Women's Literature
Format: eBook, Paperback
Pages: 289

They’re not ready to go from friends to lovers. Will practice make perfect?

When a tyrant in stilettos replaces her beloved boss, and her ex snags her coveted job, teacher Dana Narvana discovers there are worse things than getting dumped on Facebook.

Time for the BFF advice squad, starting with Dana's staunchest ally, Alex—hunky colleague, quipster, and cooking pal extraordinaire. But when the after-hours smooching goes nowhere, she wonders why this grown man won't make up his mind.

Alex Bethany's new lifestyle gives him the confidence to try online dating. What he craves is a family of his own until a life-altering surprise rocks his world. He knows he's sending Dana mixed messages. Alex panics when he thinks he's blown his chance with his special person.

From appetizers to the main course will these two cooking buddies make it to dessert?
Funny and bittersweet, Dana and Alex's story will have you rooting for them.

Buy on Amazon
Add to Goodreads

Source: Goddess Fish Promotions, Received from the author or publisher for review.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Purchase Links for Eat Your Heart Out

Amazon     Amazon UK     Bookshop/IndieBound

Barnes & Noble     Kobo    iTunes     The Book Depository

Chapters/Indigo

Link to book one of the series: Middle-Ageish: Starting Over Book 1

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Excerpt from Eat Your Heart Out

So, this is what it’s like being on a date with you.” Dana hesitated—caught herself. “This isn’t a date, is it?

Her voice flattened and she took a sip of wine. “Oh, I’m not belittling your gesture, bringing me to this fine establishment. But it isn’t a date because you’re seeing that woman, aren’t you? The one you asked me for advice about.”

Alex fidgeted. Idiot. Asking Dana how to recognize the signs a woman was interested––what had he been thinking? What could be more awkward? This. This was definitely up there on the list of more awkward moments.

“You’ve always been straight with me,” she said, holding the wine glass in midair.

That little flash of skin whenever she raises her arm. He picked up his wine glass. At this rate, he’d have to order a second bottle, simply to block his mind from going where it shouldn’t.

“Alex, do it again, be straight.”

He leaned in, took the glass from her hand, and put it on the table. “Come closer,” he said. “I want to whisper sweet somethings in your ear.”

She bent toward him, a puzzled but amused expression percolating, her face glowing in the subtle lighting.

“Yes?” Her voice throaty, challenging.

“This is a date,” he said and tilted his head, brushed her lips with his, pulled back slightly, and did it again.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

My thoughts on Eat Your Heart Out

This is the first book I have had the pleasure of reading by Shirley Goldberg. I found her voice real and entertaining. The story moved slow and steady, yet kept me turning the pages straight through to the end.

I was expecting a simple rom-com. Eat Your Heart Out certainly has lots of funny moments, as well as the snarkiness I love so much in a character. However, the story touches on much deeper issues such as extreme weight loss, obsessions with food, and the trials of mixing work and dating. It’s especially challenging for our protagonist to work with an ex-lover that stole her dream job out from under her.

The camaraderie of the friends is quite touching. The love they have for each other shines through in the little things as well as big ones. It can be as simple as shielding you from bad news until you are ready to hear it or having your back when you feel the world is against you.

Alex and Dana have a slow “friends to lovers” arc that is just sweet enough for this story. Yet, there are great laugh-out-loud moments sprinkled throughout the story.

You can go as deep into the story as you wish with the many themes running throughout, or you can simply enjoy it at the surface for its entertainment value.

I recommend Eat Your Heart Out to all lovers of contemporary fiction with a side of introspection.

 

I received a copy of Eat Your Heart Out for a Goddess Fish tour. This review is my honest, unbiased opinion.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Giveaway!

Shirley Goldberg will be awarding a $25 Amazon or Barnes and Noble GC to a randomly drawn winner via rafflecopter during the tour.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Visit more stops on the tour for extra chances to win.

Stormy Nights Reviewing & Bloggin’
Our Town Book Reviews
Archaeolibrarian – I Dig Good Books!
Eclectic Ramblings of Author Heather Osborne
Natural Bri
Bibliomanai Aza
Fabulous and Brunette
Sandra’s Book Club
Notes From a Romantic’s Heart
The Obsessed Reader

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Purchase Eat Your Heart Out online from a local book store.

I also share many of my reviews on the following websites:

• Lovely Audiobook’s Monthly Link-up (Not limited to audiobooks)
• The Inspire Me Monday Link Party
• Inspire Me Monday with Anita Ojeda
• Grammy’s Grid Unlimited Monthly Link Party
• Esme’s Salon Monthly Link-up