5 Stages of Grief by Bethany Ramos

5 Stages of Grief by Bethany Ramos
Published By: Black Opal Books
Release Date: September 12, 2011
Format: Paperback - 374 pages / Kindle 459 KB / Nook 351 KB
ISBN: 1937329100
ASIN: B005MV5R4G
Genre: Chick Lit / Contemporary Romance / Women's Fiction


About The Author:

Bethany Ramos is a chick lit author that is passionate about the fun, witty, and clever dynamic that can be found in a good chick lit novel. Her chick lit novel 5 Stages of Grief was published by Black Opal Books in 2011. She has also written a children's book called Lions Can't Eat Spaghetti that is under contract to be published through 4RV Publishing in 2015.

Bethany works full time as a freelance ghostwriter through Elance.com, specializing in Internet marketing, social media marketing, and SEO. She also co-owns her own website with her husband at The Coffee Bump. Bethany can be reached for further information about her writing services at bethany_ramos83@yahoo.com or follow her on Twitter.



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Disclaimer: At the request of the author and Chick Lit Plus, a Kindle edition of the book was sent, at no cost to me, for my honest review and participation in the virtual book tour event.


Virtual Book Tour Event: On Monday, January 30, 2012, in association with Chick Lit Plus, Bethany Ramos participated in a virtual book tour event with an Author Guest Post on Jersey Girl Book Reviews.
http://jerseygirlbookreviews.blogspot.com/2012/01/author-guest-post-bethany-ramos-author.html



Book Description: 


Danielle thinks that the worst is behind her, but she couldn't have been more wrong ...

As a beauty editor of Denver's hot new High Life magazine, Danielle Starkey didn't have becoming a widow on her do-to list. Then nine months after her husband's death, she discovers he booked a vacation with another woman. Suddenly, Danielle sees Adam's death in a whole new light and has to get over it - for the second time.

Hit with the truth when she least expects it, Danielle brings a fresh, funny, and honest approach to the grieving process as struggles through online dating, stalking her dead husband's mistress, and, hopefully, finding the man of her dreams. With her stubborn and sassy best friend April by her side, Danielle refuses to let sleeping dogs lie. Will she finally face the truth about herself and her marriage? Or will she succumb to one of the five stages of grief?


My Book Review:


What would you do if nine months ago your husband died in a car accident, and you were finally coming to grips with it, just to have to relive it all again? That is what twenty-nine year old widow, Danielle Starkey had to deal with, when a shocking telephone call from a travel agent calls her in regard to a missed romantic vacation to Antigua that her dead husband Adam had made for two, only it wasn't with her, but his mistress! Consumed with anger, grief and an obsessive desire to confront "The Mistress," Danielle plots a way to come face to face with the other woman, and lets her know in a very publicly embarrassing way that the secret is out. What happens next is Danielle's traumatic journey through the 5 Stages of Grief: denial, anger, bargaining, depression and acceptance ... and it isn't an easy journey. Mixed with all the emotions that a person can go through, Danielle tries to come to grips with the reality that her marriage wasn't perfect, while trying to move forward with her life, even trying to find love through online dating. Will Danielle's journey through the 5 Stages of Grief help her close that chapter of her life, and allow a new chapter to begin? Can she ever "trust" another man again, enough to fall in love with him, or will she continue to live in the past?

I thought that the 5 Stages of Grief was an intriguing book to read, it is not the usual chick lit novel that I am used to reading, but I was pleasantly surprised. The storyline was well written, it described a very realistic, sad yet redeeming portrayal of Danielle's journey through each of the 5 Stages of Grief. While the topic of grieving is not an easy one to read about, this story also had its humorous side that lifted the heaviness, and provided a lot of laughter as well. The characters were realistic and fun to get to know, I especially loved following Danielle and her BFF April throughout the book, their antics provided many chuckles, but some tears as well. I even liked reading about the mistress, Cherry James, and enjoyed a snarky snicker when Danielle confronted her. Overall, I think that this novel was worth reading, it provides the reader with an insightful look into the grieving process, but also provides a fun romantic flair to the story as well. For a debut novel, I commend the author on writing a chick lit novel that goes beyond the norm, and I would recommend all chick lit fans to add this book to their TBR list!


RATING: 4 STARS ****