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Coming To A Bookshelf Near You: June 2012

Every year around this time, everyone is looking for a HOT summer read to take to the beach, lounge by the pool, or to curl up inside with in the air conditioner to avoid the scorching heat outdoors. Either way, summer is a popular time for publisher’s to release their heavy hitters, and this year is no exception. Below is a list of reads that Samantha and I have compiled for the month of June… many of which we currently have in our “To Be Read” piles.

Between You and Me by: Emma McLaughlin and Nicola Kraus

What happens when you are followed by millions . . . and loved by none?

Twenty-seven-year-old Logan Wade is trying to build a life for herself far from her unhappy childhood in Oklahoma. Until she gets the call that her famous cousin needs a new assistant— an offer she can’t refuse.

Logan hasn’t seen Kelsey in person since their parents separated them as kids; in the meantime, Kelsey Wade has grown into Fortune Magazine’s most powerful celebrity. But their reunion is quickly overshadowed by the toxic dynamic between Kelsey and her parents as Logan discovers that, beneath the glossy façade, the wounds that caused them to be wrenched apart so many years ago have insidiously warped into a show-stopping family business.

As Kelsey tries desperately to break away and grasp at a “real” life, beyond the influence of her parents and managers, she makes one catastrophic misstep after another, and Logan must question if their childhood has left them both too broken to succeed. Logan risks everything to hold on, but when Kelsey unravels in the most horribly public way, Logan finds that she will ultimately have to choose between rescuing the girl she has always protected . . . and saving herself.

Spring Fever by: Mary Kay Andrews

The New York Times bestselling author of Summer Rental delivers her delicious new escapist novel about small towns, old flames, and deep secrets

Annajane Hudgens truly believes she is over her ex-husband, Mason Bayless. They’ve been divorced for four years, she’s engaged to a new, terrific guy, and she’s ready to leave the small town where she and Mason had so much history. She is so over Mason that she has absolutely no problem attending his wedding to the beautiful, intelligent, delightful Celia. But when fate intervenes and the wedding is called to a halt as the bride is literally walking down the aisle, Annajane begins to realize that maybe she’s been given a second chance. Maybe everything happens for a reason. And maybe, just maybe, she wants Mason back. But there are secrets afoot in this small southern town. On the peaceful surface of Hideaway Lake, Annajane discovers that the past is never really gone. Even if there are people determined to keep Annajane from getting what she wants, happiness might be hers for the taking, and the life she once had with Mason in this sleepy lake town might be in her future.

The Meryl Streep Movie Club by: Mia March

Two sisters and the cousin they grew up with after a tragedy are summoned home to their family matriarch’s inn on the coast of Maine for a shocking announcement. Suddenly, Isabel, June, and Kat are sharing the attic bedroom–and barely speaking. But when innkeeper Lolly asks them to join her and the guests in the parlor for weekly Movie Night–it’s Meryl Streep month–they find themselves sharing secrets, talking long into the night–and questioning everything they thought they knew about life, love, and one another.

Each woman sees her complicated life reflected through the magic of cinema: Isabel’s husband is having an affair, and an old pact may keep her from what she wants most . . . June has promised her seven-year-old son that she’ll somehow find his father, who he’s never known . . . and Kat is ambivalent about accepting her lifelong best friend’s marriage proposal. Through everything, Lolly has always been there for them, and now Isabel, June, Kat–and Meryl–must be there for her. Finding themselves. Finding each other. Finding a happy ending.

Summer Nights by: Allie Spencer

Could getting dumped on her birthday and stranded in San Francisco actually be the best thing that could happen to Flora?

Flora Fielding has been dumped on her 30th birthday, and left stranded in San Francisco. With nowhere else to turn, she seeks out her cousin Bella who has been working as a nurse in the city for the past few years. But when she arrives at Bella’s apartment, Flora is shocked to find that her cousin’s in even more trouble than she is—because instead of leading the fast-paced life of an emergency room nurse that Flora has imagined, Bella is eking out a living as the lead singer in an Abba tribute band. But as Flora soon learns, although life in San Francisco with Bella may be uncertain, but it’s never ever dull. What with the tense Battle of the Tribute Bands, the threat to the local area by an evil developer, and the attentions of a very persistent computer geek, Flora soon begins to wonder whether she wants to go home at all.

Wallflower in Bloom by: Claire Cook

From the acclaimed bestselling author of Must Love Dogs comes a winning and witty new novel about a woman who emerges from the shadow of her overbearing family and finds herself “dancing with the stars.”

Deirdre Griffin has a great life; it’s just not her own. She’s the around-the-clock personal assistant to her charismatic, high-maintenance, New Age guru brother, Tag. As the family wallflower, her only worth seems to be as gatekeeper to Tag at his New England seaside compound.

Then Deirdre’s sometime boyfriend informs her that he is marrying another woman, who just happens to be having the baby he told Deirdre he never wanted. While drowning her sorrows in Tag’s expensive vodka, Deirdre decides to use his massive online following to get herself voted on as a last-minute Dancing with the Stars replacement. It’ll get her back in shape, mentally and physically. It might even get her a life of her own. Deirdre’s fifteen minutes of fame have begun.

Irresistible and offbeat, Wallflower in Bloom is an original and deeply satisfying story of having the courage to take a leap into the spotlight, no matter where you land.

So, here is our list of books for June. Which ones are you looking forward to? Comment below and let us know.

Charming Tuesday: A Beauty Favorite

Charming Tuesday Product of the Week: Blush

Samantha’s Must-Have:

I have quite a few Almay products, and my favorite blush comes from the line as well. I did try their Smart Shade blush, but didn’t like it near as much as the powder. It’s long lasting throughout the day, one application is enough from morning to night, which I haven’t found in any other blush product yet. I have the natural color, and I love how it looks on me. Almay is definitely a brand to try if you haven’t, and I recommend the powder blush as well!

Sara’s Must-Have:

During the summer months, I typically wear bronzer, but whenever I am getting dressed up or whenever I don’t want my skin to have a sun-kissed glow, I grab my Maybelline Bouncy Blush in fresh pink. This is a new Maybelline product, and I must say that I absolutely adore it. I love the gel like finish and that it feels lightweight like a powder, but melts into my skin like a cream and really flows with my foundation. Plus, the shade of pink really pops against my skin tone. I highly recommend this product.

WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE BLUSH? LEAVE A COMMENT BELOW AND LET US KNOW.

In My Mailbox: Week of June 10

In Samantha’s Mailbox:

Title: Pickin’ Tomatoes

Author: JW Bull

Received: Via CLP Blog Tours

Synopsis: Maggie Malone wants a new life. Who aspires to be a single, forty-year-old, jobless new mother? Driven by the need for an income, Maggie decides to enter a writing contest. Cooking and Women Magazine is seeking a columnist who can compare finding “Mister Right” to cooking. To qualify, an entrant must be single and an experienced chef. Maggie is neither – she can’t even cook. But desperation turns white lies into tasty morsels that whet her creative appetite and she whips up an article comparing finding “Mister Right” to picking the right tomato for her homemade salsa. She wins the contest, is dubbed The Chef of Hearts, and her new life, although a bit shaky, is launched.

Women across America write to her about loneliness, infidelity, insomnia – even to complain about a boyfriend’s snoring. Maggie dissects their problems with a single stroke of her pen, all the while struggling with her own issues. She dishes out therapy in recipes and funny stories and becomes an instant celebrity. As she balances learning how to cook, being a mother and writing a column, her dual lives begin to spin out of control. On the back burner, subterfuge sizzles in the skillet, threatening Maggie’s new recipe for success and she finds herself in the same stew as many of her readers – lost and alone. It’s only when Maggie comes clean with all her lies that she realizes pickin’ the right tomato might not be simply about finding “Mister Right” – sometimes it’s about making the right choices.

Pickin Tomatoes serves up a three-course meal of mayhem, motherhood and middle age flavored with dashes of irony, wit, and wisdom. Throw in a liberal sprinkling of recipes geared towards those who don’t cook, and Pickin’ Tomatoes becomes a must read for anyone who has searched for “Mister Right” but, most of all, wants to find herself.

Title: Ocean Beach

Author: Wendy Wax

Received: From Erin @ Penguin Group

Synopsis: Unlikely friends Madeline, Avery and Nicole have hit some speed bumps in their lives, but when they arrive in Miami’s South Beach neighborhood, they are all hoping for a do-over. Literally. They’ve been hired to bring a once-grand historic house back to its former glory on a new television show called Do-Over. If they can just get this show off the ground, Nikki would get back on her feet financially, Avery could restart her ruined career, and Maddie would have a shot at keeping her family together.

At least, that’s the plan – until the women realize that having their work broadcast is one thing, having their personal lives play out on TV is another thing entirely. Soon they are struggling to hold themselves, and the project, together. With a decades-old mystery—and the hurricane season—looming, the women are forced to figure out just how they’ll weather life’s storms…

Title: Loving David

Author: Gina Hummer

Received: Mindi Sue @ Smith Publicity

Synopsis: What would you do if someone like Ryan Reynolds or Robert Pattinson jumped into your car at a stoplight? That’s what happens to Charlotte when out of nowhere, gorgeous actor David King becomes her surprise passenger. Not recognizing him at first, the startled Charlotte’s initial impulse is to mace him. But once she realizes who he is and that he’s making an escape from a crowd of zealous fans, she puts away her pepper spray and thinks what a great story she’ll have to tell her girlfriends! From there, the impossible happens: the two take tentative steps toward romance, and a relationship blooms. But Charlotte is a behind-the-scenes romance writer, and David is an in-the-spotlight and in-the-tabloids celebrity. Could it ever work? Charlotte’s defenses drop one by one. Their age difference doesn’t really matter, and though their realities are worlds apart, they begin to become one. Just when everything seems to be leading to a storybook ending, David’s past intrudes, and Charlotte has to wonder if his romance with fellowstar Olivia Hudson really is over.
In Sara’s Mailbox:

Title: What The Dog Ate

Author: Jackie Bouchard

Received: Jackie Bouchard

Synopsis: The vet handed Maggie Baxter a plastic specimen bag containing a pair of size-tiny lavender thong panties extracted from her dog; but they were not hers. Or rather, they were hers now since she’d just paid $734 to have Dr. Carter surgically remove them from Kona’s gut.

This is how Maggie Baxter, a practical, rule-following accountant, discovers that her husband of seventeen years is cheating on her. All her meticulous life plans are crushed. When he leaves her for the other woman, Maggie and her the-world-is-my-smorgasbord chocolate Lab, Kona, are left to put their lives back together. As Maggie begins to develop a Plan B for her life, she decides to be more like Kona. No, she’s not going to sniff crotches and eat everything that isn’t nailed down; rather she’ll try to approach life with more ball-chasing abandon. Finding herself in situations where she begins to go through her usual over-analysis of the pros and cons, she stops and instead asks herself: What would Kona do? With Kona as her guru, Maggie begins her quest for tail-wagging joy.

“What the Dog Ate” is a funny, tender story of mending a broken heart and finding love and a new life right under your nose, with woman’s best friend at your side. If you enjoyed Claire Cook’s “Must Love Dogs” or Lolly Winston’s “Good Grief,” you’ll love “What the Dog Ate” and be rooting for Maggie and Kona.

Charming Tuesday: A Beauty Favorite & A Giveaway

Charming Tuesday Product of the Week: Eyeliner

Samantha’s Must-Have:

I have been using Maybelline for my eyeliner since I was in college, and I love it. It seems every time I try a new one, I find it to be amazing. I have tried and would recommend the Unstoppable, Define-A-Line, Line Stylist, and Studio Master, and I think you could be happy with any of them! Maybelline is the only eyeliner I currently wear, and I love trying their new products!

Sara’s Must-Have:

On most days, I typically don’t wear eyeliner. For some reason, eyeliner to me is more of a “going out” product and I simply save it for nights out with the husband or a girls night. So, my eyeliner tends to be a little more dramatic than most. For years, I stole my mom’s black Estee Lauder eye pencil, but once I moved away from home, I needed to find something else instead of always relying on my mom’s favorite products. So, for quite some time, I experimented with different eyeliners and found that they never went on quite like the one I was used to wearing. Then one day, I stumbled upon the Bobbi Brown makeup counter and tried out their Long Wear Gel Eyeliner and was hooked instantly. The color goes on fluidly, lasts ALL day, offers a dramatic punch of color, and really just works. My favorite by far is the Violet Ink since it really makes my green eyes pop.

WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE EYELINER? LEAVE A COMMENT BELOW AND LET US KNOW.

In My Mailbox: Week of June 3

In My Mailbox: Week of June 3, 2012

In Samantha’s Mailbox:

Title: What a Texas Girl Wants
Author: Kristina Knight
Received: Via CLP Blog Tours
Synopsis: Kathleen Witte is a down-to-earth girl. She has to be, with the family ranch on the verge of success. After seven months of keeping it all together by swearing off men, however, Kathleen needs a bit of fun in the sun. Waking up with a husband she can’t remember isn’t how she planned to blow off steam.
The last thing Jackson Taylor wants in his life is a down-to-earth girl. He has four weeks of freedom in which to find his birth mother. He’s done well avoiding commitment until now, so when he wakes up on a Mexican beach with Kathleen his first reaction is curiosity. When he spies the matching wedding rings on their left hands curiosity turns to concern.
Neither Jackson nor Kathleen want to stay married, but when her family shows up, they have no choice. Once back in Texas, however, can they keep this all-business marriage from turning into an all-consuming love?
Title: Paula Takes a Risk
Author: Randi M. Sherman
Received: Via CLP Blog Tours
Synopsis: After thirty-four years of just letting life happen to her, Paula Tenenbaum’s mundane existence was suddenly interrupted. It was bad enough to be fired from her job because she was “average”, but on that same day, her boyfriend also dumped her for being “un-dynamic.” Somehow, someway Paula needed to make a change. But before she could figure out what her first step should be, her scheming neighbor Larry tapped into her silent desperation and dreams and challenged everything that she believed about herself. At first Paula was skeptical and scared, but quickly, she realized that she had nothing to lose, as she donned the persona of the successful, and vibrant individual that she had always dreamed of being, navigating thru business, colorful personalities and the people that she had idolized from afar. Written with sharp humor, and huge personality, Paula Takes A Risk is the hilarious story about the metamorphosis of Paula Tenenbaum, who naively enters into an adventure that changes her life. This is a story certain to strike a chord in anyone who secretly desires change, but is afraid to make it.

Title: Chelsea Wives
Author: Anna-Lou Weatherley
Received: Unsolicited, Avon Books
Synopsis: This is Desperate Housewives meets First Wives Club set in the glamorous borough of Chelsea.
‘A fun, romp of a read, the perfect poolside companion’ Grazia
They are the ultimate ladies who lunch: Imogen, the beautiful ex-model, Calgary, the glamorous, former fashion editor, and Yasmin, the feisty ex-party girl.
But life isn’t all champagne and canapés. Plagued by personal tragedy and united by failing marriages, they mastermind a shocking plan to turn the tables on their husbands.
Set against a backdrop of exotic locations, designer boutiques and London’s high society scene, these Chelsea Wives are about to join forces and risk it all for the ultimate revenge…

In Sara’s Mailbox:

Title: Sorority Sisters
Author: Claudia Welch
Received: Kayleigh @ Penguin Group
Synopsis: In 1975, trying to find a place to belong, four young women found each other in the same sorority pledge class. Through parties and pranks; finals and skipped classes; boyfriends and break-ups, they forge a bond that takes them by surprise. No one expected it to last beyond college graduation. But some bonds are too strong to break. Now they’re sisters. And with sisters, it’s not about what happens. It’s about no matter what happens.

Title: Sometimes Ya Gotta Laugh
Author: Timothe Davis
Received: Timothe Davis
Synopsis: When our friends make choices we don’t like, what do we do? And when those choices threaten our friendships, how far will we go to protect our friends? Jordan Spencer is thirty-six and hasn’t had a relationships that’s lasted more than six months. He’s fine with that, though. He’s got space issues. And what difference does it make anyway? He has his two best friends – Gabby and Chris – for happy hours, clubs, and weekend hangouts. But Gabby is falling for a guy that Jordan doesn’t like and Chris-the-sex-machine is having a phallic-crisis.
Jordan thought that their friendship would last forever. But with each day, they drift further apart. Should he fight for the friends who have become his family? Or has the season of their friendship past?
Set to the soundtrack of his life, Jordan Spencer will learn that in a world full of sex, lies, and drag queens, that even the best of friends occasionally lie to each other. Sometimes they cry for each other. But in the end, sometimes ya just gotta laugh

Title: A Moment Like This
Author: Anita Notaro
Received: Unsolicited
Synopsis: Be careful what you wish for…Antonia has always put everyone else before herself. Shy and quiet, her life in a small village in Wicklow has been devoted to her invalid mother and singing in the local church choir. Somehow, it’s easier that way. But when she is left alone her friends encourage her to audition for a television talent show. Blessed with a glorious singing voice, she is suddenly thrust into the limelight and enters the world of celebrity and glamour. She’s the Girl from Nowhere, but can she cope with this startling new life? Antonia discovers that this business is tougher than she ever thought possible, but also that she’s stronger than she thought she was. And she finds that help can come from the most unexpected places…This title comes from the number one bestselling author of “Take A Look At Me Now”, winner of the Galaxy Irish Popular Fiction Book of the Year.

Title: Christina Courtenay
Author: The Silent Touch of Shadows
Received: Jane @ Choc Lit Team
Synopsis: Professional genealogist Melissa Grantham receives an invitation to visit her family’s ancestral home, Ashleigh Manor. From the moment she arrives, life-like dreams and visions haunt her. The spiritual connection to a medieval young woman and her forbidden lover have her questioning her sanity, but Melissa is determined to solve the mystery.
Jake Precy, owner of a nearby cottage, has disturbing dreams too, but it’s not until he meets Melissa that they begin to make sense. He hires her to research his family’s history, unaware their lives are already entwined. Is the mutual attraction real or the result of ghostly interference?
A haunting love story set partly in the present and partly in fifteenth century Kent.

Beauty Review: Neutrogena Pink Grapefruit Foaming Scrub

I admit – I am a girl, and I like pink. When I started looking for a new exfoliating scrub, the Pink Grapefruit Foaming Scrub…

Charming Tuesday: A Beauty Favorite

Charming Tuesday Product of the Week: Bronzer

Samantha’s Must-Have:

I’m a big fan of bronzer, especially since I gave up tanning beds a few years back. It took me a bit to find a good product and learn how to apply it properly, but for years bronzer has been a staple in my makeup bag. Lately I have been using Too Faced Peach Leopard Brightening & Perfecting Bronzer. Too Faced is one of my favorite lines, so when I was looking for a new bronzer I scoped them out right away. They have many different options, but I have found the Peach Leopard works best for me. I would definitely recommend Too Faced for your bronzer needs!

Sara’s Must-Have:

Living in Texas, one tends to spend a lot of time out in the sun and most gals typically develop a summery tan all by themselves. Well, not this gal. I typically hide in the shade and slather on the sunscreen whenever I get a chance, so usually, I have to fake a tan. I am a huge fan of bronzer, both liquid and powder and about three years ago, I stumbled on to Estee Lauder Sun Goddess Liquid Bronzer. At first, I was a little intimidated by how dark the liquid looked in the bottle, but that passed quickly. I dab on a few drops here and there and spread it evenly on all of the usual “sun kissed spots” and it looks very realistic. The product doesn’t have much of a smell and is fast drying…and bonus, it is very buildable!

WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE BRONZER? LEAVE A COMMENT BELOW AND LET US KNOW.

In My Mailbox: Week of May 27

Title: Sea Change

Author: Karen White

Received: From Jessica @ Penguin Group

Synopsis: For as long as she can remember, Ava Whalen has struggled with a sense of not belonging, and now, at thirty-five, she still feels stymied by her family. Then she meets child psychologist Matthew Frazier and thinks her days of loneliness are behind her. After a whirlwind romance, they impulsively elope, and Ava moves to Matthew’s ancestral home on St. Simons Island, off the coast of Georgia.

But after the initial excitement, Ava is surprised to discover that true happiness continues to elude her. There is much she doesn’t know about Matthew, including the mysterious circumstances surrounding his first wife’s death. And her new home seems to hold as many mysteries and secrets as her new husband. Feeling adrift, Ava throws herself into uncovering Matthew’s family history and that of the island, not realizing that she has a connection of her own to this place–or that her obsession with the past could very well destroy her future.

Title: Finding Lucas

Author: Samantha Stroh Bailey

Received: From Samantha Stroh Bailey

Synopsis: Can you ever really go back to the past?

On her fifth anniversary with boyfriend Derek, Jamie Ross finds herself in a Montreal hotel room wondering how the carefree guy she met in a Chicago bar has turned into “the quintessential metrosexual.” Weighed down by Derek’s disdain for her second hand wardrobe, her unusual family and her low-paying job as an associate producer of a daytime talk show, Jamie reaches a breaking point. And when her new boss plans to reunite lost loves on the show, she remembers Lucas— the boy she’d loved and lost ten years earlier. What follows is a quest that is at times hilarious and at others disastrous as Jamie’s life transforms from run of the mill to absolutely crazy. But will finding Lucas give Jamie everything she’s looking for?:

Title: Showbiz

Author: Ruby Preston

Received: Via CLP Blog Tours

Synopsis: “Set amid the twinkling marquees of modern day Times Square, Showbiz, is a juicy behind the scenes glimpse into the delicious and malicious world of Broadway.”

After four years in Manhattan, slaving away as the under-appreciated apprentice to the brilliant but ruthless “King of Broadway,” Scarlett Savoy is finally on her way to becoming a Broadway producer in her own right. But then, a shocking suicide turns Broadway on its head. Scarlett finds herself at the center of the storm as everything she thought she knew about the business of Broadway begins to unravel. A chance meeting with an influential gossip columnist sparks romance – but can he be trusted? Scarlett is forced to decide to what lengths she’ll go, who she’s willing to become, and what she’ll sacrifice, to achieve her Broadway dreams.

[happy place] Title: Finding My Happy Place

Author: Heather Wardell

Received: From Heather Wardell

Synopsis: If thirty-year-old Megan were any more of a doormat, she’d have footprints on her back. She takes up running to strengthen her body, but marathon training with cute but heartbroken coach Andrew strengthens her assertiveness too. When her best friend’s demands threaten her race Megan must decide: cave in as she always has before or stick to her new-found ‘happy pace’ in running and life.

In Sara’s Mailbox:

Title: The Silent Touch of Shadows

Author: Christina Courtenay

Received: Jane @choc lit team

Synopsis: What will it take to put the past to rest? Professional genealogist Melissa Grantham receives an invitation to visit her family’s ancestral home, Ashleigh Manor. From the moment she arrives, life-like dreams and visions haunt her. The spiritual connection to a medieval young woman and her forbidden lover have her questioning her sanity, but Melissa is determined to solve the mystery. Jake Precy, owner of a nearby cottage, has disturbing dreams too, but it’s not until he meets Melissa that they begin to make sense. He hires her to research his family’s history, unaware their lives are already entwined. Is the mutual attraction real or the result of ghostly interference? A haunting love story set partly in the present and partly in fifteenth century Kent. Christina Courtenay won the 2012 Best Historical Romantic novel of the year award (RoNA) for her novel Highland Storms.

Beauty Review: Too Faced Natural Eye Collection

I started using Too Faced products a couple years back, and they quickly became a staple in my makeup bag. I have their face primer, mascara, eye primer, multiple eye shadow collections, lip plumping gloss and bronzer. One of my favorite eye shadow collections is the Natual Eye. I am a big fan of natural looking makeup, and this collection of shadows really does the trick. There are three instructional cards that come with it as well, and the tips for achieving the look you want are great to have. My favorite mixture is Silk Teddy all over my eyelids, Pushup on the crease, and Honeypot towards the end of my lids. When I got out, I like to sweep Nude Beach over the eyelids as well for the extra sparkle, and often use Sexpresso as a liner. If you like a natural look, I recommend this. I think my next collection will be the Naked Eye or the Matte Eye collection.
[Rating: 4.5]