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In My Mailbox: Week of August 14

In My Mailbox: Week of August 14

Title: Twenty-Eight and a Half Wishes
Author: Denise Grover Swank
Received: From Denise Grover Swank via CLP Blog Tours
Synopsis: “It all started when I saw myself dead.” For Rose Gardner, working at the DMV on a Friday afternoon is bad even before she sees a vision of herself dead. She’s had plenty of visions, usually boring ones like someone’s toilet’s overflowed, but she’s never seen one of herself before. When her overbearing momma winds up murdered on her sofa instead, two things are certain: There isn’t enough hydrogen peroxide in the state of Arkansas to get that stain out, and Rose is the prime suspect. Rose realizes she’s wasted twenty-four years of living and makes a list on the back of a Wal-Mart receipt: twenty-eight things she wants to accomplish before her vision comes true. She’s well on her way with the help of her next door neighbor Joe, who has no trouble teaching Rose the rules of drinking, but won’t help with number fifteen– do more with a man. Joe’s new to town, but it doesn’t take a vision for Rose to realize he’s got plenty secrets of his own. Somebody thinks Rose has something they want and they’ll do anything to get it. Her house is broken into, someone else she knows is murdered, and suddenly, dying a virgin in the Fenton County jail isn’t her biggest worry after all.

Title: Merciless
Author: Diana Palmer
Received: From Jaime at Planned Television Arts
Synopsis: Can she convince a man to let down his defenses when he’s set on guarding his heart? Tall, dark and eligible? That’s all that matters to the women of Jacobsville when it comes to handsome and aloof FBI agent Jon Blackhawk. But if it were up to him, he would never settle down. Luckily, Jon has the best gatekeeper: his efficient and reliable assistant, Joceline Perry. Without her help, he’d be at the mercy of husband hunters—but the more he comes to rely on her, the more he notices how invaluable she really is… While Joceline can’t deny that her boss is attractive, as a single mother with responsibilities she’s determined to be professional. But when Jon is accosted by a criminal seeking revenge, she comes to his aid—fueling the spark that is growing between them. As the attempts on Jon’s life increase, Joceline stands by his side. But when the smoke clears, will the man who avoided love realize that all he ever needed was right there all along?

Title: Goddess of Vengeance
Author: Jackie Collins
Received: From Ann-Marie @ Get Red PR
Synopsis: Lucky runs a high profile casino and hotel complex, The Keys in Vegas.
Lennie, her movie star husband, is still writing and directing successful independent movies, while Max, her stubborn and gorgeous teenage daughter is about to celebrate her 18th birthday, and her son, Bobby, owns a string of hot clubs. Lucky has everything. Family. Love. Life.
And everything is exactly what billionaire businessman Armand Jordan is determined to take from her one way or the other.
Born a Prince in the small but affluent Middle Eastern country of Akramshar, Armand comes to America with his American mother at an early age, and rises to become a real estate business titan. Armand regards women as nothing more than breeding mares or sexual playthings, so when his people inform him that the one property he covets more than anything, The Keys, is not for sale, he is shocked. That a mere woman would dare to turn down his offer to buy The Keys is unthinkable, and Armand vows to force Lucky’s hand whatever it takes. And so the battle for power begins . . .
Meanwhile Bobby is dealing with shady Russian investors, while his girlfriend—smart and independent Denver Jones—is becoming a Deputy D.A. in the L.A. drug unit.
And Max, Bobby’s seventeen year old sister, is busy embarking on a forbidden affair with a sexy young movie star. An affair they have to keep on the down-low lest Lucky finds out.
The word is that “what happens in Vegas stays in Vegas” and what happens in Goddess of Vengeance will blow your mind!

Title: Aftertaste
Author: Meredith Mileti
Received: From Kensington Books (unsolicited)
Synopsis: Mira Rinaldi lives life at a rolling boil. Co-owner of Grappa, a chic New York City trattoria, she has an enviable apartment, a brand-new baby, and a frenzied schedule befitting her success. Everything changes the night she catches her husband, Jake, “wielding his whisk” with Grappa’s new waitress. Mira’s fiery response earns her a court-ordered stint in anger management and the beginning of legal and personal predicaments as she battles to save her restaurant and pick up the pieces of her life. Mira falls back on family and friends in Pittsburgh as she struggles to find a recipe for happiness. But the heat is really on when some surprising developments in New York present her with a high stakes opportunity to win back what she thought she had lost forever. For Mira, cooking isn’t just about delicious flavours and textures, but about the pleasure found in filling others’ needs. And the time has come to decide where her own fulfilment lies – even if the answers are unexpected.

Disturbing: Rape Kit Backlog

While reading through April’s edition of Cosmopolitan magazine, I came across an article that dealt with a very uncomfortable and heartbreaking topic- rape. But the article wasn’t discussing how uncomfortable or heartbreaking rape can be to a person, but instead what happens after the crime is committed- and it was shocking. As a victim of sexual abuse myself, I know all about rape kits and the physical evidence police need off your body once you come forward. I was young at the time, but I remember the doctor scouring my entire body and feeling like I was some sort of science project. Once the evidence was sent it, it was matched to my attacker- which was a person I knew and could identify. But not all cases are so tidy. There are many instances where woman are attacked in parking lots, while jogging, or even in the library- having no idea who their attacker is or how to identify them. So they compile a rape kit- or a Sexual Assault Forensic Evidence (SAFE) kit. Doctors can collect DNA off the victim’s body (hair, bodily fluids, etc.) and test it to see if they can find any matches. Cosmo uncovered an unsettling fact about these rape kits- that an extreme number of kits have gone untested nationwide for more than a decade. How can this be happening? Victims suffer through the abuse, then through coming forward, telling their story, and being subjected to a rape kit, all for nothing. The answer boils down to money. Cosmo reports that the testing of a rape kit can cost anywhere between $1000-$1500, so there are too many cases where the rape kits never make it out of the police station or never get tested at a forensic lab.
I find this to be devastating news. The point of a SAFE kit is to help the victim- to hopefully find the perpetrator and get justice for their crimes. And to keep these criminals off the streets, where they could attack again- rape is more of a serial crime than just a onetime occurrence. Cosmo does say that Congress had been giving funds to police departments since 2000 to try to help pay for testing, but the backlog is still accumulating. So what can we do to help? Visit endthebacklog.org to learn how you can help. This is a great website that was created by Joyful Heart Foundation. You can make a donation through the website, learn how to contact state legislators, and help spread the word. Rape kit testing needs to be a priority.

Beauty Review: Maybelline Define-a-Line Eyeliner

Maybelline has been my go-to makeup line for the last few products I have bought, especially when it comes to eyes. Recently, I picked up their Define-A-Line eyeliner, and am very impressed by the results. The first thing I noticed with this eyeliner was how smooth it went on. No hard pressing, no going over the line multiple times, just one swipe and I get a perfect line. The second thing I noticed was how long lasting it was. This eyeliner stays on from when I first apply it in the morning, all the way until I take it off before bedtime. My only complaint is a very common one with eyeliner that is applied to the upper lash line: it smudges above the eye. A few times a day I have to wipe the smudged liner off, but it comes off quickly and easily, so it’s not too terrible. The liner also comes with a built-in smudger, so you can easily have a more relaxed look if you choose. Overall, I really love this product and will definitely be buying it again. I think the next mascara I will try will be Maybelline’s Define-A-Lash Lengthening Mascara. Crossing my fingers for the same great results!
[Rating: 4.5]

Jennifer Lopez, Marc Anthony Split

Anyone else surprised by this news? After seven years of what seemed to be a happy marriage, Jennifer Lopez and Marc Anthony have decided to end their marriage. People.com broke the news, which included a joint statement from the musical couple, “We have decided to end our marriage. This was a very difficult decision. We have come to an amicable conclusion on all matters. It is a painful time for all involved, and we appreciate the respect of our privacy at this time.” Lopez, 41, and Anthony, 42, were married in 2004 in Beverly Hills. They have two children together- 3-year-old twins Max and Emme.

On Trend: The Blues

I just wrote an article recently on a hot spring/summer trend being lace and sheer. There is one more color that we can add to our shopping bags- blue! In particular, darks blues or sapphire. Can anyone take a guess why this color is so popular? The Royal Wedding and Duchess Catherine of course! Kate Middleton’s sparkling engagement ring, the eighteen carat oval sapphire surrounded by fourteen diamonds, which of course belonged to Prince Williams’s late mother, Princess Diana, is the envy of many young women around the world. The day Prince William and Kate Middleton announced their engagement, Kate complimented her new piece of jewelry with a blue wrap Issa dress, a style that is said to compliment almost any figure. The day following her wedding, where she wore two custom design gowns, Kate rocked a $90 Zara cornflower-blue shift dress. Since her engagement and dazzling fashion choices, sapphire blue is becoming one of the hottest colors to be seen in for the Spring and Summer of 2011. I think I also need to pick up a similar wrap dress to add to my wardrobe! What do you think about this color being on trend? Do you love seeing what Kate Middleton is going to where next, or are you over the Royal Hoopla?

Beckham’s Welcome Baby Girl

The Beckham’s finally have another girl in the house! UsMagazine.com reported that Victoria and David Beckham welcomed their baby girl, Harper Seven, at 7:55 a.m. Sunday morning at Cedars-Sinai in Los Angeles. This is the first daughter for the couple, who have been married for twelve years and have sons Brooklyn, 12, Romeo, 8, and Cruz, 6. Baby Harper weighed 7 lbs. 5 oz., and a rep for the family released this statement: “David and Victoria Beckham are delighted. Brooklyn, Romeo and Cruz are excited to welcome their new baby sister to the family.” Wondering about the name choice? The middle name, Seven, is in reference to David’s old soccer jersey number when he played for Manchester United. Do you like the name?

A Boy for Natalie Portman!

It’s a boy for Natalie Portman! People.com revealed that the Oscar winning actress, 30, and her fiancé, Benjamin Millepied, welcomed a baby boy into their lives. No word on the name or any other details as of yet have been released. This is the first child for the couple, who met on the set of Black Swan.

Crystal Harris Splits from Hugh Hefner

Well who saw this one coming? Just four days before their much anticipated nuptials, the wedding between Hugh Hefner and Crystal Harris has been officially…

Pink Welcomes Baby Girl

Pink is thinking pink! The singer and her husband, Corey Hart, welcomed a baby girl on Thursday in Los Angeles. Pink posted this to her Twitter account: “We are ecstatic to welcome our new beautiful healthy happy baby girl, Willow Sage Hart. She’s gorgeous, just like her daddy. #beyondblessed.” This is the first child for Pink, 31, who confirmed her pregnancy in November.