Chick Lit Plus by Samantha March

Latest Youtube Videos

The Queen Gene by Jennifer Coburn
Chick Lit Review

The Queen Gene by Jennifer Coburn

I received a copy of The Queen Gene in exchange for an honest review.
Summary:
After selling her home in the suburbs, Lucy Klein decides to pursue her lifelong dream of starting an arts community in the Berkshire Mountains. She envisions a creative oasis where struggling painters, sculptors and musicians visit from around the world. But the dream soon becomes a nightmare when the artists arrive and not a single one can create anything — except trouble, that is.

To make matters worse, Lucy’s ultra-high-maintenance mother, Anjoli is singularly focused on finding a holistic cure for her teacup Chihuahua’s obsessive compulsive, hair-pulling disorder. Rebirthing, acupuncture and white light therapy just aren’t helping poor little Paz. But Anjoli soon has new problems to contend with, like the NYU sorority house going up across the street from her.

Then there’s Lucy’s gorgeous cousin Kimmy who recently married herself in a dress made of disco ball mirrors, and now wants to get pregnant with Ivy League sperm. Deciding sperm banks have too many rules, she decides to go about things the old fashion way — with a roundtrip train ticket to Princeton and a change of panties in her designer purse.

Lest we forget about Lucy’s 84-year-old Aunt Bernice who is grieving the loss of her sister who recently died at Red Lobster. Though she misses her Floridian counterpart, Bernice is not going to let anything stand in her way of exploring brave new worlds –and Brazilian bikini waxes.

Enjoy a wild ride through the world of way over-the-top kiddie birthday parties, puppy psychotherapy and “performance art” weddings with a family so nutty, it will make you appreciate your own!

Between Lucy’s relatives and the artists from hell, it’s a wonder she can focus on her own life.
My Review:
Ah, Coburn’s books have been cracking me up! The Queen Gene is no different, and I laughed my way through this novel. I literally got the hiccups from laughing so hard when it came to Anjoli and her dog! The artist community that Lucy and husband Jack create turn out to be nothing but trouble – but hilarious ones for the readers. If you are looking for some comedic relief mixed in with an engaging plot and lovely MC, pick up The Queen Gene–– ¬and check out more of Jennifer Coburn’s books for that matter!
[Rating: 4.5]

October 12, 2012
Leave a comment
Run the Risk by Lori Foster
Chick Lit Review

Run the Risk by Lori Foster

I received a copy of Run the Risk in exchange for an honest review. I have been reading Lori Foster’s romance suspense novels featuring hunks of male man meat for a while now, and they are just …. tantalizing. The covers, the men in between the pages, these spicy novels are just irresistible! Detective Logan Riske goes undercover to find Rowdy Yates, a link to finding out who killed his best friend. He tracks down Rowdy’s sister, Pepper, but doesn’t think he will fall for the woman who is also undercover as Sue Meeks. What Logan doesn’t realize is that Pepper might be the missing link after all…
I though Run the Risk was a very engaging book, in more ways that just Logan being one studly man. I liked the suspense in regards to Logan’s partner and the lieutenant, and whether they were trustworthy or part of the corrupt cop group. There were a lot of plot twists that kept me interesting, and the sex scenes between Logan and Pepper were pretty intense. If you like spicy romances with lots of suspense and even some murder thrown in, check out Lori Foster and Run the Risk!
[Rating: 4]

October 12, 2012
Leave a comment
Bleak by Lynn Messina
Chick Lit Review

Bleak by Lynn Messina

Bleak by Lynn Messina follows New York writer Ricki Carstone, author of debut novel, Jarndyce and Jarndyce. She strikes gold when she finds out that her book has been optioned into a movie and that Moxie Bernard, teen throb extraordinaire, has just signed onto star. Her life becomes like a scene in all of the movies, with glitz and glamour … well, enough to make Ricki quit her full time job and risk it all in hopes of making it big time as a successful screenwriter out in LA. Harry, an out of work actor who claims to know all about the biz, helps her dive into the screenwriting world, but she soon realizes that there is a price to pay for his assistance. But, she figures that it will all work out in the end when she sees her name on the big screen. But, how long will it take? And will it EVER happen?

I was first introduced to Lynn Messina when I reviewed her debut novel about zombies. I love her wit and humor and I think both come in very handy in this book as well. In a hilarious update of the Dicken’s classic, Messina brings up a wonderful question and truly makes you think. How long is too long when it comes to your dreams?!? I absolutely loved this book and couldn’t possibly say more good things about it. Ricki is truly talented and it makes your heart ache as you see her fight for her dreams, yet make bad decisions after bad decision. I wished and hoped every single time that she would learn from them, but as humans, sometimes lessons are hard to learn. This book was a very thought provoking read from an honest perspective. Overall, I thoroughly enjoyed it.

[Rating: 4.5/5]

October 11, 2012
2 Comments
What Stays in Vegas by Beth Labonte
Chick Lit Review

What Stays in Vegas by Beth Labonte

I received a copy of What Stays in Vegas in exchange for an honest review.
Summary:
Bored administrative assistant, Tessa Golden, is trapped in a life of lousy weather, irritating bosses, and mind-numbing secretarial work. Her dreams of being an artist have rapidly deteriorated into building things out of paperclips while on hold with tech support. To make matters even worse, the love of her life has gone off and married another woman.

So when Tessa is suddenly transferred to the Las Vegas branch of her company – playing wingwoman to her freshly divorced boss, juggling a client-from-hell, and catching the eye of one very eligible coworker – will her life finally be shaken up enough to straighten itself out?
My Review:
What a fun read! I may have only been to Las Vegas one time, but reading about Sin City has become a new favorite of mine. Tessa is an excellent MC, bored, unfilled, and needing to find that something more. I like how her trip to Vegas help put some things into perspective for her. I also was really intrigued about her love life – what a mess! It was great to see Tessa get stronger along the way, and getting back to her dream. I was hooked throughout, and this is a really strong chick lit book that I recommend!
[Rating: 4]

October 10, 2012
4 Comments
To Be Honest by Polly Young
Chick Lit Review

To Be Honest by Polly Young

To Be Honest by Polly Young follows fifteen year old Lisi Reynolds. Like most teenagers, life can never be perfect. Her best friend Josh has a tumultuous love life, her mother is a shop-a-holic and the love of her life, the uber hot and swoon-worthy Chad doesn’t even know she exists … so she takes matters into her own hands and fibs. Albeit small, they are still fibs. So, what’s wrong with that? Well, that all changes when a rare moment presents itself and she finds herself living in another’s shoes. Life seems cool and better than she ever imagined in Miss Mint’s shoes. Why would she ever give it up? Well, only time will tell.

To Be Honest by Polly Young is a fun, youthful take a familiar story that is too much fun to resist. Polly does a fabulous job at creating a troubled (or she thinks, what youth doesn’t seem to be traumatized at fifteen?) and giving her the opportunity of a lifetime to swap places. I really enjoyed this story and found myself pulled in within the first couple of pages. I loved Lisi early on and found her story, and her dilemma, quite charming and wondered what I would have done if I had been presented with a similar situation at fifteen. Fortunately for everyone involved, I’ve never been given that chance, but this one is definitely an enchanting story and I absolutely adored the ending. I think you will too.

[Rating: 4.5/5]

October 9, 2012
Leave a comment
Blue Aspen by Tenaya Jayne
Chick Lit Review

Blue Aspen by Tenaya Jayne

Tenaya Jayne is currently on tour with CLP Blog Tours and Blue Aspen. The first half of this book gripped me. We start by getting a quick snippet from a psych doctor and learn that she is reading the journal of a patient, then the story begins. The main character is seventeen year old Dulcee Elders, who gets dropped off at her uncle’s house after her mother decides she doesn’t want her anymore. It’s clear Dulcee has suffered some abuse, and lived in what I would guess to be a hostile environment. It’s at her uncle’s house that Dulcee starts having strange dreams, dreams where she is visited by a Vincent Sands. When her dream-world and reality collides, Dulcee and Vincent are inseparable. But when Dulcee’s uncle starts to wonder about her mental health, Dulcee is taken to psych hospital, and ripped away from Vincent. Only a drastic measure will bring the two together again.
There were parts I really enjoyed in this novel, particularly the beginning. I liked that we knew right off the bat that Dulcee was a psych patient; that really heightened the storyline for me. It was really interesting watching her get sucked into Vincent’s world. As the book continued on, I do wish we could have figured out a few more stories – such as the death of Dulcee’s dad or her uncle’s wife. The ending also had me a touch confused; I think maybe there was too many characters competing for a voice, and that was throwing me off. But if you are a fan of paranormal or fantasy type books, I think you would like this one!
[Rating: 3.5]

October 8, 2012
Leave a comment
Downward Dog, Upward Fog by Meryl Davids Landau
Chick Lit Review

Downward Dog, Upward Fog by Meryl Davids Landau

I received a copy of Downward Dog, Upward Fog in exchange for an honest review.  Summary: Lorna Crawford has a great boyfriend, longtime friends, and…

October 5, 2012
Leave a comment
Last Minute Love by Romi Moondi
Chick Lit Review

Last Minute Love by Romi Moondi

Romi Moondi is a hilarious chick lit writer that I feel fortunate that I have come to know. Year of the Chick was an introduction to Romi Narindra, and the second in the series, Last Minute Love, picks right back up. Romi is still talking occasionally to the guy she met online but who is geographically unavailable, her parents are still trying to arrange-marry her, and Romi still feels a bit lost. But finally abandoning the search for Mr. Right and figuring out what truly makes Romi happy sets her on a path that finally gives Romi hope that maybe self-happiness is just around the corner.
The second in the series is just as fast-paced as the first, and a very enjoyable read. I don’t feel it’s absolutely necessary to read the first in order to read this one, but I definitely recommend it, just because it’s such a fun book. I loved following Romi’s journey and seeing her move on from being a bit man-crazy to searching for self-discovery. I’m fairly positive I’m correct when I say there will be a third in the series, and I will be watching for it!
[Rating: 4]

October 5, 2012
Leave a comment
The Dating Intervention by Lynn Ricci
Chick Lit Review

The Dating Intervention by Lynn Ricci

The Dating Intervention by Lynn Ricci follows Vanessa. As the story begins, you see that Vanessa has it all: a wonderful home filled with a loving husband and two great kiddos, a successful career and a great group of girlfriends. But that all changes when she learns of her husbands affair and wonders what to do. Is this truly what life has in store for her? She realizes that she wants to be happy and leaves her picture perfect life with him behind and enters into the post-divorce, post-40 dating world. What she finds is one hopeless blind date followed by another. Will she ever be able to live a life that makes her happy? Or will she regret her decisions and go running back to the world that she once knew?

When I first started reading The Dating Intervention, I was quite impressed. Lynn is a debut author and I love seeing all of that hard work come together for someone for the first time. The beginning of the book was strong and I really felt for Vanessa early on. I think all of us have struggled with a less than stellar life at one point in time, but I can tell that she really struggles and is in dire need of a change. So, I was honestly glad when she left her world behind to start fresh, but knowing what I know about the dating scene for people over 40 after a divorce, I know that it isn’t pretty and can be quite exhausting. Heck, when isn’t dating exhausting? I found her blind dates to be hilarious but often times very sad. I felt for Vanessa through most of the book and found myself really rooting for her to figure it all out and come out on top at the end. My only complaints are the time hopping throughout the book. I think Lynn could have found a more seamless way to incorporate the back story, but I definitely give her kudos for attempting something that even well established authors struggle with. Overall, a strong debut and I definitely look forward to reading more from Lynn in the future.

[Rating: 4/5]

October 4, 2012
2 Comments