August 2013 New Releases

Contributor: Allie

Sadly, summer is almost over, but we still have a handful of chick lit books to look forward to before the leaves begin to change.  Upcoming releases for August include the following:

The Debt & The Doormat by Laura Barnard – ebook, July 23, 2013.  This is the story of two best friends, Poppy & Jazz, who seem to have a knack for getting into trouble.  When Jazz gets herself in financial trouble, Poppy offers to help.  The offer results in the two friends swapping lives and that’s when the trouble really starts.  Poppy is trying to get over broken heart, and living Jazz’s life leads to madness and many secrets.  Will her life ever get back to normal?  Does she want it to?

The Husband’s Secret by Liane Moriarty – July 30, 2013.  Moriarty’s book, What Alice Forgot, is one of my all-time favorites, so I am always excited by the prospect of another tale spun by this Australian author.  The Husband’s Secret is getting rave reviews from various sources, most of which contain a warning that this tale is a bit darker than what the author normally writes.  The premise of the book is a wife’s discovery of a letter written to her by her husband – to be read only after he’s died.  Cecilia’s husband is very much alive, but she (as I think most wives would) reads the letter anyway, which opens a Pandora’s Box.  The letter contains deep, dark secrets that blow apart not only Cecilia’s life, but the lives of two other women, as well.  It does sound dark, but I’m dying to know what the secret is!

Calling Mrs. Christmas by Carole Matthews – ebook, (hardcover in England), August 1, 2033.  What better way to cool off from the August heat than reading about love at Christmas.  Cassie Smith has created her own business, called “Calling Mr. Christmas,” in which she’ll perform all those pesky holiday tasks:  wrapping presents, decorating trees or writing Christmas cards.  When her client Carter Randall enlists her help to make his children’s Christmas extra special, including going on their holiday trip, Cassie finds herself facing a heart-breaking choice that could change her life.

Lake Como by Anita Hughes – August 13, 2013.  Anita Hughes writes beautiful stories, about beautiful people, in exquisitely beautiful settings, who have not-so-beautiful problems.  Set in in San Francisco and Lake Como, Italy, this is the story of an interior designer named Hallie whose life is turned upside down when she discovers her fiancé in a very compromising position – with her boss.  She flees to Italy to spend time with her half-sister and to start over.  She lands a dream project of designing a lake-side estate for a wealthy American mogul.  Just when it seems Italy is the answer to all her problems, Hallie stumbles upon a family secret that makes her question everything about herself and her new life.   San Francisco is my favorite city and I dream of traveling to Italy, so I’m very excited about this one!

Desperately Seeking Heaven by Jill Steeples – ebook, August 27, 2013.  This is a paranormal romance from British author Jill Steeples.  Alice Fletcher is spending a Friday night home alone, watching trash TV, when she is unexpectedly joined on her couch by Jimmy Mack.  Jimmy is her daytime TV crush, who just died in an accident.  It seems he can’t get to “the other side” without righting a few of his earthy wrongs, and he needs Alice’s help.  Predictably, Jimmy turns her life upside down.  Sounds like fun ride to me, as I’ve had more than my share of TV crushes (although I’d prefer them to be alive and breathing if they showed up on my couch).

The First Affair: A Novel by Emma McLaughlin and Nicola Kraus – August 27, 2013.  Oh my, this one sounds juicy.  Jamie McAlister finds herself interning at the White House, which is a stroke of luck, given the dismal job market she’s facing.  Unfortunately an internship means no paycheck and Jamie finds herself at odds with her fellow interns, who all seem to have loads of money. Then she has an unexpected encounter with the President – of the United States!  What follows is an inappropriate clandestine relationship that, of course, is discovered.  Soon Jamie and her family face calculated public destruction.  Oh, Monica Lewinsky can’t be happy about this one!