#MMBBR #Review #TheDatingBender by @Christin_julian #FirstLine #LimitlessPublishingLLC

Missing the antics and hilarity of Girls?

Meet Samantha Serrano, your new favorite dysfunctional leading lady. In The Dating Bender by debut author and Napa Valley resident Christina Julian (Limitless Publishing; August 22; 978-1640340879; $15.99), Samantha stumbles from one romantic misadventure to the next, while relying all too heavily on relationship advice from glossy mags like Cosmo, Redbook, and O. You’ll laugh (and cringe) as she navigates family drama, exciting career opportunities and, humbling disasters.

Samantha was planning on a happily ever after, courtesy of an early marriage to her best friend, because that’s what good Catholic girls do. When that, quickly and shamefully, falls to pieces, she moves to Colorado where her job at a tech startup flies as high and fast as her sex life. Things look promising until she stumbles out of the boardroom and into the available arms of a colleague—who happens to be her boss.

When that relationship tanks, she ditches her dream (or is it her parents’ pipedream?) of lifelong love for a dating bender that takes her from Colorado to Manhattan and ultimately to Rome. The globetrotting adventure serves up a hefty dose of sex, angst, alcohol, and optimistic yet wrenching dysfunction—all part of the package for Samantha Serrano. There’s Superstar, the brilliant tech geek, Long John Silver, a luscious fireman-turned-soap-star-wannabe, Buff Boy, a taut surfer type, and Justin, a terrorist fighting FBI agent. When the dating bender takes an unexpected turn at the foot of the Vatican, Samantha realizes that she must let go of her family’s wishes and her own personal fears and misguided beliefs to discover who she really is and find true love.

FirstLine ~ Dad was tanked, which was no surprise, yet he stood eager and ready to walk me down the aisle.  

I enjoyed this book.  There is no good way to face your future when your past is one that was not perfect.  It is easy to follow the road that leads to self destruction because that seems like the way we are destined to go, but our future is our own to form and I loved watching Samantha grow and change and create her own path.   I could relate to this book and found it to be a quick and interesting read.  There was something very satisfying about this book.  A great read for the end of summer for early fall.

Christina Julian writes snarky rom-coms that celebrate the underdog and live to make people laugh. She adores dysfunctional leading ladies and the tangled twisty lives they lead. She adamantly believes there is nothing in life that can’t be conquered with a bodacious wine, strong cup of coffee, or a generously iced cupcake. When she is not tapping out her next novel or wrangling her 3-year-old twins, she can be found swilling and swirling in the name of research as a wine and food columnist in Napa Valley. She strives always to live her life to the extreme.

Christina’s work has appeared in the San Francisco Chronicle, Wine Enthusiast, Weddings California, California Home + Design, 7x7, Napa Valley Register, Napa Valley Life, Bohemian, Weekly Calistogan, NorthBay Biz and beyond. Connect at christinajulian.com. 

Follow her on Twitter @Christin_julian and on FB at facebook.com/ChristinaJulianAuthor

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