BLOG TOUR & REVIEW: Groundswell by Katie Lee

Description

EAT, SURF, LOVE. A butterfly flaps its wings in New York City . . . and a groundswell forms in Mexico. . . . Sometimes the biggest ripples come from the smallest events. Like the day that Emma Guthrie walks into world-famous movie star Garrett Walker’s trailer. When she steps through the door, she’s a novice PA who’s just dropped out of college after losing her scholarship. When she walks out, she’s on her way to becoming Mrs. Emma Walker—wife of an A-list actor. Soon, Emma has made the transition from nobody to red-carpet royalty, trading jeans and flip-flops for closets full of Chanel and Birkin bags, swishing past velvet ropes to attend every lavish party and charity gala on both coasts. With her husband’s encouragement, Emma pens a screenplay based on her life, Fame Tax, which becomes a blockbuster sensation. Through it all, Garrett is her ally and her mentor . . . until their relationship is thrown into question by an incriminating text message that Emma discovers on Garrett’s phone the night of the Met Costume Institute Gala.
Devastated by her husband’s infidelity and hounded mercilessly by the paparazzi, Emma must flee New York City to get away from it all and clear her head. Her destination? A sleepy coastal town in Mexico where no one recognizes her and there is nothing but unspoiled beaches for miles. Here, she meets Ben, a gorgeous, California-born surf instructor, who teaches her about the healing powers of surfing, shows her the joys of the simple life, and ultimately opens her up to the possibility of love.
From Manhattan’s hippest restaurants to the yacht-and-celebrity infested waters of St. Barts, Katie Lee’s debut novel is an irresistible insider’s glimpse into a glittering world—and a captivating story about how losing everything you thought you wanted can be the first step to finding what you need.

About the Author

Katie Lee is the food and lifestyle contributor for The Early Show and has appeared on Oprah, CBS Sunday Morning, The Rachael Ray Show, The Nate Berkus Show, and Iron Chef America. She writes a regular column for Cosmopolitan and has been featured in publications such as People, Vanity Fair, Food and Wine, Town & Country, and InStyle. She is the author of the cookbooks The Comfort Table and The Comfort Table: Recipes for Everyday Occasions. She lives in the Hamptons.

Details

• Hardcover: 240 pages
• Publisher: Gallery (June 21, 2011)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1439183597
• ISBN-13: 978-1439183595

SOURCE:  PUBLISHER

MY THOUGHTS
LOVED IT

Emma is struggling financially, loses her scholarship and moves to Hollywood.  She gets a job as a PA on a movie set and ends up marrying the star.  Her fairytale ending doesn't go quite as planned since she discovers her husband cheating on her with her best friend.  She ends up running away to Mexico where she discovers surfing and the connection with the ocean that repairs her heart as well as her mind.  This rags to riches story is just a perfect summertime read that hits a lot of marks perfectly.

Emma is very likable and it is easy to see how such a nice girl gets wrapped up in the Hollywood lifestyle.  She at least remains true to herself even though she does buy into the dream, which turns into a nightmare.  Her journey of self discovery in nicely played with the background of surfing.  I haven't read a book like this with such a unique twist.  I have a feeling that the author used some personal experiences in the writing of this one since she married Billy Joel.  I really enjoyed this one.