April New Book Releases
Contributor: Allie It’s April, and I really hope that some of you are finally experiencing warmer weather. They say April is the month that makes…
New Releases
Contributor: Allie It’s April, and I really hope that some of you are finally experiencing warmer weather. They say April is the month that makes…
Contributor: Allie I don’t know about you, but for me this winter has been long and cold. We’ve had lots of snow and too many…
I’m so thrilled that today is the release day for my third novel A Questionable Friendship – eek! I’m chatting about it on my author blog today,…
I am excited to take part in the cover reveal today for Marni Mann and her new adult novel Pulled Beneath. I am so fortunate to be…
Ah February, the month of groundhogs, Valentines and presidents. I don’t know about your weather, but where I live it’s been very, very chilly. As a consequence, I’ve been indulging in quite a few books and I’m ready for some new material. Here’s a sample of the fun chick lit books that will be published this month.
Twisted Sisters by Jen Lancaster – February 4, 2014. Lancaster is one of the funniest authors I’ve ever read. Her latest fiction book is a humorous and sometimes sarcastic story of Reagan Bishop, a successful psychologist with her own cable show. Despite all her success, Reagan feels as though she never measures up to her younger sister, Geri, who is her parents’ favorite. When her show gets picked up by a network, the pressure of prime time proves to be too much. With the help of a New Age healer, and a Freaky Friday-like plot twist, Reagan finds herself addressing her sibling rivalry issues once and for all.
The Curl Up & Dye by Sharon Sala – February 4, 2014. Once upon a time LilyAnn Bronte was her high school’s Homecoming Queen, with a quarterback boyfriend and a bright future in front for her. Then her boyfriend was killed in Iraq and she spent the next eleven years mourning his loss. During this time, LilyAnn’s childhood friend, TJ, supports her, while harboring his unrequited love for her. When a handsome stranger comes to town, LilyAnn begins to reawaken, which doesn’t go unnoticed by TJ. After she gets a makeover that TJ realizes isn’t for him, he pulls away. Will LilyAnn pursue a new life or realize that she had love all along?
The Dream Dress by Janice Thompson – February 19, 2014. Gabi Delgado is a seamstress at a fancy bridal salon in Texas who dreams of being the next Vera Wang. After she’s fired from her job, in front of a reporter for Texas Bride magazine, she must decide if the time is right to pursue her dreams. The reporter who witnessed her humiliation is surprisingly helpful, and handsome. Gabi may have to take a chance on love, too.
A Questionable Friendship by Samantha March – February 18, 2014. Brynne and Portland have been best friends since college. Now both twenty-five, married and living in Maine, they find their friendship strained. Brynn is happy with her fulfilling marriage and the small café and bookshop she owns. She’s also excited about her plans for motherhood. The problem is Brynne is having trouble getting pregnant. Portland, whose marriage is falling apart, envies her friend’s apparently perfect life. This novel explores what really makes someone a true friend, a support system, a sister.
Evening Stars by Susan Mallery – February 25, 2014. This is another book about sisters. Nina took care of her younger sister Averil, practically raised her, because their mother lived her life so recklessly. Nina sacrificed her dreams, so that Averil could break free from their home on Blackberry Island. When Averil returns with her husband, Nina is none too happy, because that’s not what she envisioned for her sister. Since Nina is also juggling two different admirers and dealing with their mother, Averil’s return leads Nina to wonder if it’s time for her to reach for the stars.
Contributor: Allie January is the month of resolutions and new beginnings. For me, it’s also a month of hibernation with bowl games, NFL playoff games,…
December New Releases
Yes, holiday season is upon us once again. Books are the gift that keeps on giving, and there are plenty of good ones to pick from this month. So make your list (and check it twice), before heading out to your local bookseller this December.
Morning Glory by Sarah Jio – November 26th. Ada leaves New York City after a tragedy, moving to a house boat on Seattle’s Lake Union. It’s there that Ada discovers the trunk of a former resident, Penny Wentworth. Penny was a young newlywed in 1959 and Ada is determined to learn her fate. The mysteries of the past get tangled in Ada’s questions about her future. I love the way Sarah Jio writes because she’s great at weaving together story lines of the present with those of the past, seamlessly transporting the readers to different times and places. I can’t wait to escape into this story.
Out to Lunch by Stacey Ballis – December 3, 2013. Jenna and Aimee were best friends and business partners in an events and catering company until Aimee’s untimely death at the young age of forty-one. Jenna is grief stricken and lost without her friend. She also has to deal with Wayne, Aimee’s Star Wars-obsessed widower. Complicating matters is the fact that Aimee left Jenna in charge of all her finances, which means Jenna gets to referee Wayne’s get-rich-quick schemes. What was her friend thinking? I haven’t read the book, but I think I might know the answer to that question. This book sounds charming and early reviews suggest that the food descriptions are Pinterest worthy, so you may want to read on a full stomach.
Undressing Mr. Darcy by Karen Doornebos – December 3, 2013. This book is another modern day twist on Jane Austen and it sounds like a hoot. Vanessa is a public relations executive who’s a master at social media. Julian is an Englishman who has written a book, My Year as Mr. Darcy, as a means to save his faltering estate. Along with the book, Julian hosts a Darcy themed talk show that features him, well, undressing. Did I mention that “Mr. Darcy” is hot? Throw in Austen fan festivals, a pirate encounter and a trip to merry ole England and I think we have ourselves a fun ride!
Hard Hats and Doormats by Laura Chapman – December 11, 2013. What a cute title. Lexi is a girl who likes to follow the rules, which is probably a good thing, since she’s the HR manager at a chemical company! After she gets passed over on a big promotion, Lexi begins to wonder if maybe rules are meant to be broken, especially the rules on interoffice dating. I enjoy stories based in the work place, because office politics and romance can be so complicated. I also love a story in which nice girls don’t finish last.
The Redhead Plays Her Hand by Alice Clayton – December 17, 2013. Actress Grace Sheridan has it all, a gorgeous British movie star boyfriend, Jack, and the lead role on a hit television show. When her curvaceous figure ignites an industry debate over thinness, producers order Grace to drop 15 pounds. While Grace is eating rabbit food and suffering through boot camp, Jack is hitting the Hollywood party scene. Jack’s fans don’t want him in a relationship, so when he shows up at her events late and drunk, Grace wonders if he loves his fans more than her. Forget playing her hand, I’m thinking she needs to re-deal the cards. I love Hollywood insider stories and this one sounds juicy.
November New Releases
To me November marks the end of the harvest season and the approach of winter. In other words, it’s starting to get very chilly! So, I’m grateful that there are some wonderful (and in some cases long) books coming out this month that I can curl up with and savor after a big Thanksgiving dinner.
The Valley of Amazement by Amy Tan – November 5, 2013. This novel is the latest sweeping epic by the NYT bestselling author, Amy Tam. It’s the story of a mother and daughter. In 1897 Lucia is a young American who falls for a Chinese painter and abandons her home for the intriguing and mysterious world of old Shanghai. At sixteen she makes some disastrous choices, which lead her to the life of a Madam. Fifteen years later, during the fall of the Ching dynasty, she loses her daughter Violet in a cruel act of clever manipulation. Violet is forced to become a “virgin courtesan.” Both woman experience betrayal and heartbreak, but refuse to submit to society’s expectations. Tan is expert at writing about the intricacies of the mother daughter relationship and this story, which spans forty years and two continents, will take the reader on an amazing journey.
The Most Wonderful Time of the Year by Marie Landry – November 5, 2013. Christmas isn’t always a wonderful time of year, especially for those who’ve lost a loved one. In the first few years after her grandmother’s death, Ginny Bailey bravely went through the holiday motions. When she finds out she’ll be alone this Christmas, she gives up the cheerful pretense. To add to her bah humbug spirit, everything in her life starts to go wrong – until Dean comes back into her life. Maybe Christmas can be wonderful again?
Wish Upon a Star by Trisha Ashley – November 7, 2013. The theme of this holiday story is the miracle that Christmas can bring. Cally is a young single mom, who doesn’t have time for love. When her young daughter Stella gets sick, she must move in with her mother to save money for surgery. All Cally wants for Christmas is a healthy child. Then the charming Jago shows up offering her hope of a different kind. Can Cally also look forward to the gift of love under her Christmas tree this year?
The Theory of Opposites by Allison Winn Scotch – November 12, 2013. Allison Winn Scotch is one of my favorite authors, so I’m very excited about her new book, a story about fate and destiny. Willa Chandler-Golden has what most would consider a good life – a great job, loving husband and a father who changed the world. Her dad wrote a best-selling self-help book that sold the notion that everything happens for a reason. Willa isn’t so sure about her dad’s theory, especially with her ever present negative pregnancy tests. When things begin to really fall apart for Willa, she finds herself on a totally different path. Can Willa tempt fate and be brave enough to change her life?
The Runaway Wife by Rowan Coleman – November 12, 2013. This is the story of a Rose, a woman who escapes her abusive husband by running away to the Lake District in England, where she seeks shelter at a small bed & breakfast. What led her there was the kindness of a stranger, whom she met long ago. Will this connection, which has sustained her, still be there? The beautiful surroundings, a nosy innkeeper and her charming son give Rose the hope to reach out to her estranged father. Can she continue to chase a dream or will she decide to face the reality in her heart?
Merry & Bright – Chick Lit Holiday Anthology – November 15, 2013. Sip your eggnog, linger under the mistletoe, and make a Christmas wish. Merry & Bright brings you six tales of Christmas cheer, featuring stories of budding romances, Southern charm, lost loves, heaps of humor, and lots of pie by authors Isabella Louise Anderson, Cindy Arora, Laura Chapman, Lauren Clark, Libby Mercer, and Nancy Scrofano. From sunny Los Angeles to the Rocky Mountains to the Deep South, Merry & Bright will take you on a heartwarming adventure you’ll love to visit again and again. Wrap yourself in holiday mirth and prepare to be swept off your feet.
The Supreme Macaroni Company by Adriana Trigiani – November 26, 2013. We wrap up the month with another family saga that spans continents. This is the third novel in Trigiani’s Valentine trilogy. Designer shoemaker Valentine is about to marry her tanner, Giancarlo, a handsome Italian who is twenty years her senior. He’s also the grandson of her grandmother’s new husband, which is complicated and probably a bit dysfunctional. Valentine tries to balance her work and private life, all the while opening a shoe factory in Brooklyn, and preparing to give birth to her first child. Giancarlo on the other hand, has very different ideas about their future – he envisions a quiet life in Tuscany. Choices, choices!
Contributor: Allie October is my favorite month. The back-to-school routine has worked itself out and the holiday madness still seems like it’s months away. Don’t…