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Book Review and Giveaway: Sophie’s Encore by Nicky Wells
Chick Lit Review

Book Review and Giveaway: Sophie’s Encore by Nicky Wells

Its’ time to Rock And Roll in earnest! Yes, Nicky Wells is here to celebrate the launch of Sophie’s Encore. Three cheers for the third book in her Rock Star Romance Trilogy!!!

Says Nicky,
“I’m so excited to share with you, finally, this third installment in Sophie and Dan’s epic romance! Thank you for coming to celebrate with me. Read on for:
The blurb!
Samantha’s Review
The fantabulous giveaway!

But most of all, enjoy yourself and party hard! Are you ready?”

Sophie’s Encore — The Blurb

Her rock star is waiting in the wings, but will he get a second chance?

It’s all change for Sophie Jones—only this time, there is more at stake than just her happiness.

Rock star extraordinaire, Dan Hunter, has been her patient and caring friend through the highs and lows since her wedding day, but now he figures it is time for her to start over. By stealth, the rock singer draws Sophie into the behind-the-scenes work for his band’s latest album. Through the days and weeks spent together at the mixing desk, Sophie discovers whole new horizons for her life, yet before she can even begin to explore them, she faces the very real threat of losing her rock star for good.

Join Sophie and Dan in Sophie’s Encore to find out how their journey will end…
Review:
I received a copy of Sophie’s Encore in exchange for an honest review.
I’ve been having a blast with the series, and I was so anxious to get to the third and final book. What an emotional roller coaster we go through right at the beginning! I don’t like giving away too much in my reviews, so I have a feeling this might be difficult to write. What I will say – fabulous conclusion to Sophie’s journey. It was terrific to see her get a happy ending. Dan is such a blast to read about, especially this version of a more mature Dan. It’s impossible not to root for Sophie and if you haven’t read any of her books yet – get on it! Such a wonderful trilogy.
4.5 stars

Amazon.co.uk Kindle: http://www.amazon.co.uk/Sophies-Encore-Rock-Romance-ebook/dp/B00EXXDVF6/

Amazon.com Kindle: http://www.amazon.com/Sophies-Encore-Rock-Romance-ebook/dp/B00EXXDVF6/

Nook: http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/sophies-encore-nicky-wells/1116668869?ean=2940148368359&itm=1&usri=sophie%27s+encore

Amazon.co.uk Paperback: http://www.amazon.co.uk/Sophies-Encore-Nicky-Wells/dp/1938404653/

Amazon.com Paperback: http://www.amazon.com/Sophies-Encore-Nicky-Wells/dp/1938404653/

Barnes & Noble Paperback: http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/sophies-encore-nicky-wells/1116668869?ean=9781938404658

Party Time — The GIVEAWAY!!!

1 x signed Sophie’s Encore Poster
2 x Sophie’s Encore Mugs
1 x Sophie’s Run Mug
1 x $10 Amazon Gift Voucher (or equivalent currency)
2 x Sophie’s Encore Key Ring
1 x Sophie’s Run Key Ring
2 x “Swag Pack” featuring 2 postcards (1 signed) each for all three Rock Star Romance books, and 2 bookmarks each for Sophie’s Turn and Sophie’s Run

ENTER HERE: a Rafflecopter giveaway

The giveaway closes 30 September at 12 midnight BST.
Entrants must be 18 or over. Giveaway is open internationally

About Nicky Wells

Nicky Wells is your ultimate rock chick author. Signed to US Publisher, Sapphire Star Publishing, Nicky writes Romance That Rocks Your World, featuring the rock star and the girl next door.

Nicky’s books offer glitzy, glamorous contemporary romance with a rock theme ~ imagine Bridget Jones ROCKS Notting Hill!

Born in Germany, Nicky moved to the United Kingdom in 1993 and currently lives in Lincoln. In a previous professional life, Nicky worked as a researcher and project manager for an international Human Resources research firm based in London and Washington, D.C. Like her leading lady, Sophie, Nicky loves listening to rock music, dancing, and eating lobsters. When she’s not writing, she’s a wife, mother, occasional knitter, and regular contributor to The Midweek Drive show on Lincoln’s Siren 107.3 FM. Rock on!

Blog | Twitter | Facebook | Romantic Novelists’ Association | Sapphire Star Publishing | Amazon | Goodreads| Pinterest

*Nicky waves*
Whoa! What a party! I hope you enjoyed yourself. Thank you again for stopping by Chick Lit Plus today to help me celebrate. Happy reading and rock on! And don’t forget to say ‘hi’, I’d love to hear from you and I will come back to chat later!

September 12, 2013
2 Comments
Book Review: Maybe I Will by Laurie Gray
Chick Lit Review

Book Review: Maybe I Will by Laurie Gray

I received a copy of this book for an honest opinion.
As the story opens up, Sandy is a well adjusted teen with two great friends, Cassie and Troy, friends from preschool days. Family life is good, school is good and Sandy is happy. One night while hanging out at Cassie’s house things gets out of hand and Cassie’s boyfriend Aaron gets physical with Sandy. Sandy is talking up a new sport and Aaron wants to show Sandy just what he knows. Aaron rapes Sandy. Sandy is thrown into a whirlwind of emotions and the immediate escape is alcohol. It’s a downward spiral, spinning Sandy further down into depression and hatred. Sandy tries to climb out but life gets to be too hard and despair seems to be the easier way out. Facing reality and finding out exactly who are Sandy’s real friends are just part of the challenges ahead for Sandy on the road to recovery. The power of poetry and Shakespeare are significant skills that Sandy’s possesses that can help Sandy move ahead if and when Sandy wants to take the steps.
Its 10:30 pm, I was just finishing up the Author’s Notes at the end of the novel regarding Maybe I Will and I was left speechless. Sure, I remembered that the book was about rape and its effect on a young teen but the other twist I had completely, I mean totally completely forgotten about that. So that is why I woke up my husband spilling out the entire book’s storyline to him while he was barely able to hold open his eyes the other night. This twist had to do with gender identity. The main character is Sandy and I guess since my name is also Sandy, I assumed this character was a girl but there is no reference to that in the whole book. The author clarifies that in the Author’s Notes which totally threw me for a loop and a shocker. As I was reading this book, the author uses the word “I” a lot referring to Sandy which really bothered me as I was reading. I wondered why there were no other pronouns used and I understand that now. I have to applaud the author for such great writing skills as she left the gender open for the reader. Looking back at the story now, it’s like you choose your own main character, is it a girl or a boy? For what is rape? For every state, rape is defined differently but a broad definition of rape is a form of unwanted sexual behavior that is imposed on someone. Rape is about power but gender identity, it is not immune to.

4 Stars.

September 11, 2013
4 Comments
Book Review: Kiss Me in Paris by Kimberly Kinrade and Dmytry Karpov
Chick Lit Review

Book Review: Kiss Me in Paris by Kimberly Kinrade and …

“Does true love really exist outside of movies and romance novels?”
Despite reading the synopsis, this book was a pleasant little surprise, and not what I thought it was going to be about. Winter is a NY native aspiring writer. Cade is a Texan cowboy, ambitious to become an architect. Both are running from their pasts, their demons and their secrets. Both of them are trying to find a way to make amends with their families and their own lives. Their pasts have been filled with hurt and pain, but somehow they both wind up in Paris. Both hopeful that this trip will lead them to their future endeavors, instead they find friendship, love, and freedom from their fears. While I enjoyed the story between Cade and Winter, I felt the book went very much into detail about writing/authors and architecture. For me this lost my interest. I also found that the cover did not translate with the story. However, if you separate out the personal story between two peoples’ lives, their families, and the changes they make, than this is an amusing, little read! 4 out of 5 stars.

September 11, 2013
6 Comments
Book Review: Desperately Seeking Heaven by Jill Steeples
Chick Lit Review

Book Review: Desperately Seeking Heaven by Jill Steeples

Alice Fletcher is driving home from work one Friday night – a Friday the 13th – when she comes upon a car accident. She finds the driver on the side of the road, quite shaken and behaving a little strangely. He refuses to call the police or get medical help. Alice feels drawn to the man, who seems familiar to her. As it turns out, he’s none other than Jimmy Mack, a very popular television personality.
An immediately smitten Alice agrees to take him to her place to recuperate. While watching the television together, they learn that Jimmie has been killed in a car accident. What? How can that be? He’s in her apartment! Is she losing her mind? It turns out that Alice is the only one who can see Jimmy. The two come to the conclusion that Jimmy can’t cross to the other side without settling some unfinished business. Jimmy needs Alice’s help, because he’s not certain what that business is.
Jimmy and Alice work together, attending the funeral and visiting his family and friends, to look for clues. Eventually a reality show personality comes out of the woodwork with a story that sullies the reputation of the deceased and it’s up to Alice to set the record straight. Her task becomes all the more crucial when she realizes she’s falling for Jimmy – a ghost.
The storyline is unique and I was both intrigued by the paranormal aspects and curious to see how it would all play out. I did have some issues though. First, the reasons for Jimmie’s inability to cross over were vague and really not momentous enough to keep him in an afterlife limbo. Also, the author’s description of Jimmy’s ghostly presence was at times weak. Only Alice could see him, but she could also feel him, which means that there was physical interaction, hugging and dancing, sometimes in public. It’s not plausible that this didn’t attract the attentions of others. I don’t know about you, but if I saw someone hugging or slow dancing with the air, I’d run the other way! The storyline of Jimmy and Alice falling in love felt a bit rushed. It’s hard to get invested in a couple that you know will never be together. I did like the ending though, which was sweet and appropriately handled. The author has a great voice and she was able to make a situation that should have been maudlin, rather fun to read.
3 stars

September 10, 2013
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CLP Blog Tours Book Review: Riverstar by Tess Thompson
Chick Lit Review

CLP Blog Tours Book Review: Riverstar by Tess Thompson

Tess Thompson is now on tour with Riverstar and CLP Blog Tours. Summary: After ending a dysfunctional affair with a powerful movie producer, feisty Hollywood…

September 9, 2013
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Book Review: It’s All in Your Mind by Ann Herrick
Chick Lit Review

Book Review: It’s All in Your Mind by Ann …

It’s All in Your Mind by Ann Herrick
Summary:
Vija is quickly drawn to Nolan, a romantic folksinger. He’s handsome, talented, charming, and, she eventually realizes, a control freak. How did he take charge of her life so easily? Will she decide to break it off, or is she too far involved to end the relationship?
17-year-old Vija Skalbe wants to be an all-American girl–no matter how hard her parents try to impose their strict Latvian standards on her. Then Nolan, a folksinger, steals her heart at a coffeehouse. When Nolan stops at their table, it’s Vija’s friend, Caprice, who does all the talking. But it is Vija who gets his phone number–and later the back seat of his motorcycle. Soon she is cruising from one adventure to another, dizzy with joy, her new-found freedom and the excitement of being with the kind of guy who is a challenge.
However, when Vija’s father has a heart attack, she must take over running the family lawn-care business. She feels overwhelmed until sweet brainiac Joel volunteers to help. He shares the workload and lifts her spirits with his humor. But it is Nolan who fills her heart.
It doesn’t matter that Nolan wants everything his way. Or that he’s constantly eyeing other girls. Or that he can be pouty and punitive. Or that he says she’s seeing things all wrong. Until it does matter. But Vija’s in so deep. Will she deal with Nolan’s controlling tactics, or is she too far under his spell?
Review:
I received a copy of this novel from the author in exchange for an honest review.
It’s All in Your Mind has loads of 1950s appeal. Set on the cusp of the Vietnam Conflict and the “flower-power” movement, this novel has a sugary- sweet charm straight from a Frankie and Annette movie. I think many YA girls will find the chivalrous nature of the relationships surprising and will be wondering why their own boyfriends don’t act more like Joel and even Nolan when he’s not attention seeking. After all, there is something to be said for that pre-women’s lib time when boys still voluntarily opened doors and paid for dates. It was refreshing if not a little frustrating with Vija’s overly innocent attitude. I found myself wanting to shake her every time she believed Nolan’s shovels of . . . manure and each time she played doormat to Caprice.
There were some eye-roll moments, like when Vija (picture Sandy from Grease but with a Latvian accent) thought she was in love because Nolan won her a teddy bear at the fair, and modern girls will see the red flags of Nolan’s domineering jerkiness close to the novel’s beginning, but some of that, I’m certain, is by design. I was a little let down because there wasn’t a major blow-up moment when Vija has her epiphany about Nolan. After all, this guy has been telling her what to eat and asking her to dye her blonde hair, and I REALLY wanted Nolan and Joel to run into each other at the beach or for Vija to spot Nolan in all his philandering glory.
The novel was a bit slow-paced at times, much like the 1950s I suppose, but it’s an easy read with lots of historical references.

3.5 stars

September 6, 2013
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Book Review: Lying To Meet You by Anna Garner
Chick Lit Review

Book Review: Lying To Meet You by Anna Garner

I received a copy of Lying To Meet You by Anna Garner in exchange for an honest review.

Summary:

Does being in a relationship make you a hot commodity in the eyes of would-be suitors?

Chloe Lane is about to find out. When her childhood pal, Ethan Webster, asks her to play the part of his girlfriend in order to test this theory, she reluctantly agrees. As a work-crazed fashion designer, boutique owner and soon-to-be reality show judge, Chloe has no time for a real boyfriend, but being part of a faux pair will do just fine. Not that she has any intention of trying to attract someone else.

However…

Opportunity unexpectedly knocks when Chloe meets fellow reality judge, William Shannon. Super successful and super sexy, this high-powered entrepreneur inspires Chloe to test Ethan’s theory herself. Now, on top of keeping her fashion business productive, carving out a new role as a television personality, maintaining a fake relationship and attempting to lay the groundwork for a future relationship, she’s lying to William, lying to her friends, lying to her family and quite possibly lying to herself. Will Chloe be able to keep it all together, or are things about to explode?

Review:

I have been a really big fan of author Anna Garner’s other two novels, Fashioning a Romance and Unmasking Maya, although they were written under her pen name, Libby Mercer. Lying To Meet You really brings her talents front and center as we this fantastic love story. True to fashion, this book is witty and sweet and the characters were very well written. Overall, I enjoyed this story so very much and cannot wait to see what Garner comes out with next. My favorite part without a doubt is the ending–I had such a hard time putting the book down during the last 40 pages or so and it seemed as though I couldn’t flip the pages quick enough. Overall, a fantastic story by a wonderful author.
Rating: 4.5/5 stars

September 5, 2013
2 Comments
Book Review: Back to Life by Danielle Allen
Chick Lit Review

Book Review: Back to Life by Danielle Allen

Reviewer: Andrea I received this ARC from the author in exchange for an honest review. Summary: Sahara Lee has spent the last ten years living with the…

September 4, 2013
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CLP Blog Tours Book Review: His Fantasy Maid by Susan Blexrud
Chick Lit Review

CLP Blog Tours Book Review: His Fantasy Maid by Susan …

Susan Blexrud is now on tour with CLP Blog Tours and His Fantasy Maid
Summary:
On the eve of Jake Sinclair’s bachelor party, his best man surprises him with a fantasy maid named Amy. Clad in a bikini, she cleans his house and jump starts his heart. She’s beautiful, smart, and compassionate. Why is a woman like this working as a fantasy maid? A few days later, his thoughts still distracted by the enigmatic Amy, Jake crashes his car and wakes in the hospital emergency room where his fantasy maid is now wearing scrubs and wielding a stethoscope. Is she a hallucination, or is his fantasy maid a doctor?
Review:
Well, I’ll first start by saying this book was characterized as chick lit, which it definitely is not. I was pretty shocked within the first couple of pages when it was clear this is all romance, all the way. I don’t dislike romance, I was just a bit confused in the beginning. Looking past that, I was able to enjoy the book. Jake and Amy fall hard for one another on first glance – which happens to be Jake’s bachelor party. Through a series of events that throw the two together, Jake realizes that Amy is who he is meant to be with – but can they move past all the hiccups and finally be together? Sometimes the plot moved a little too fast for my taste and I would have been fine with a little more depth in places, but this quick read offer a lot of steamy scenes and a good romance.
4 stars

September 3, 2013
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