Book Review and Giveaway: Totlandia, the Onesies (Book Four)

By Melissa Amster

Time to bring out the sunscreen, your favorite bathing suit and some beach reads. Don't forget some ice cold lemonade because it's HOT outside! At least, it's sizzling in Pacific Heights where tensions are heating up for Jade, Lorna, Ally, Jillian and, of course, Bettina. They're back in Totlandia, the Onesies (Book IV: Summer).

As summer sizzles in Totlandia, emotions boil over for the newest members of Pacific Heights Moms & Tots Club, whose trust in each other is sorely tempted by Bettina and her club politics.

When Jillian's vindictive joke backfires, she learns the true meaning of forgiveness.

Jade’s betrayal puts her in a dangerous downward spiral with no bottom in sight—until she finds friendship and redemption where she least expects it.

Lorna faces the biggest trial in her marriage, and makes an important decision that may end it for good.

While Ally may regret the choices she made to get accepted in the club, her exile puts new opportunities in her path, thanks to Brady and his ceaseless desire to win her over—with Barry's help, who is playing his own little game with the Top Moms Committee.

But it's Bettina who suffers the ultimate punishment—one that changes her life, and the livelihood of the club, forever. (Synopsis courtesy of Goodreads.)

Let me tell you, the fourth book in this scandalous series was eagerly awaited and long overdue. Yes...we had to wait for winter to read about summer! Even so, it's nice to live vicariously through someone toasting in the sun while we're freezing our toes off! I missed the ladies of the Pacific Heights Moms & Tots Club, so it was like catching up on a TV series after it came back from hiatus. I just wish there was something at the beginning to tell me where we last left off. Josie Brown does a good enough job bringing in snippets from the previous books in the series, but I still felt like some things were foggy. A recap would have helped.

I enjoyed seeing what the women were up to this time around. Would there be more backstabbing and betrayal? Would anyone get the happy ending they deserved...or receive a hearty helping of karma? Book Four was just as funny and entertaining as the previous three, with perfect levels of snarkiness and irony. I enjoyed the revenge fantasies, as well. Some were down right delicious! It was nice seeing the characters get what was coming to them, either good or bad, depending on their role in the story. I would have liked to see a certain character in particular get more of what was coming to them, but maybe that will happen in "The Twosies."

While Josie is great at writing a steamy romantic scene that requires a "cigarette" after reading it, some parts of this novel bordered on Fifty Shades of Grey levels of erotic. Maybe I'm a prude, but it felt like a bit too much for me. I just wish there had been a warning about it. I know there was some scenes leading up to it from Book Three, but they didn't seem as "in your face" as they were this time around. I'm just glad my kids weren't reading over my shoulder or I would have had some explaining to do. Just know that you're in for a wild ride!

Overall, I'm glad I had the opportunity to read this series, as it definitely filled the place in my life that was abandoned by Desperate Housewives and 90210. I am excited to share that Coliloquy has one e-book set of all four books to share with a lucky reader anywhere in the world. (I also want to thank them for sharing this series with me!)

How to win:
Since PHM&TC is like a high school clique, tell us about a time you saw an adult acting like a kid (of any age).

One entry per person.

Please include an e-mail address or another way to reach you if you win. Entries without contact information will NOT be counted.


Worldwide. Giveaway ends December 23rd at midnight EST.

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