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Twang by John Schlimm
Chick Lit Review

Twang by John Schlimm

Twang, the latest novel from former country music publicist John Schlimm gives readers a backstage pass to some of the biggest country superstar’s secrets. Maybe. That’s what we get to try to figure out as we read about Salome and Willa Field, a sister sensation that are legends in the country music scene. With a whole lot of devious secrets buried underneath their carefully thought out images. And while we read about Thad Evans and Hope Tanner, country music’s biggest celebrity power couple – but one of them is living a lie. And Billie Blotter, columnist and “friend” to every celebrity is about to bust open their biggest secrets in his tell-all book. Who will be spared? And whose images will be changed forever?
Twang was a lot of fun to read, and to try to figure out if Schlimm is calling on his true insider knowledge between the pages. I thought I saw some similarities between the real stars, but who knows? I’m not much of a country fan, so maybe more of you will be able to find more storylines that just may be real. Regardless of what’s true or not, it was a fun book to read that was full of intriguing secrets and storylines that seemed to grow with each chapter. I would recommend it!

December 23, 2011
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Luck of the Devil by Patricia Eimer
Chick Lit Review

Luck of the Devil by Patricia Eimer

Luck of the Devil by Patricia Eimer is a hilarious novel about Faith Bettincourt, daughter to the Devil. Faith has an unexpected family reunion when the Devil himself comes to town bringing along her mortal mother. Also in for the ride – her demon half brother and her demon sister with her husband and a slew of marital problems. Added to the mix is Faith’s succubus roommate, a ghost that won’t quit haunting her, and a hot next door neighbor that just might not be all mortal either.
While I wasn’t quite sure what to expect from the synopsis, this book definitely surpassed any initial concerns I had. The writing was fun and light, and the scenarios were drop dead funny. Faith’s character is so likeable, and her romance with the next door neighbor is hotter than hell itself. There was a little tug of mystery that kept the story moving along for me, and the mother….just comical. All the characters brought something to the table, and I had a lot of fun reading this book. I hope to enjoy more from Patricia Eimer!
[Rating: 4]

December 21, 2011
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Pushover by Laurel Mayer
Chick Lit Review

Pushover by Laurel Mayer

Sometimes, I get frustrated with myself when I begin to write a review on a book that I didn’t love only to find out that all the other reviews are glowing. This is the case with Pushover by Laurel Mayer. While I did like the book, I didn’t love it and can’t give it a five star review. The story follows Dani Wilder as she opens her first restaurant – in a location where a woman was allegedly pushed to her death. By Dani’s boyfriend’s former fiancée. When Dani finds out about this past lover, whom Jack has never mentioned, she begins to wonder if he is really over her and more so – did she really do it? When Rebecca sweeps back into town, she begins to spin her own web of lies and manipulate her way back into Jack’s good graces. How will Dani make it unscathed through all the drama, and can her restaurant and dream be a success?
While I thought I could love the plot and I’m all for a good mystery, this book just fell a little flat for me. I thought the writing was a bit slow and sometimes I just didn’t have that spark to keep reading. I’m really bummed too because like I said I enjoy the mystery aspects in a book, and I love reading about food. The parts that slowed me down were the flashbacks with Vic and Melinda. I thought they were a bit much. I could easily tell that Vic was highly in love with Melinda and that something devastating had happened, but all the pages of back story was just not necessary in my opinion. Jack’s character confused me a bit at times too – I couldn’t always tell what Dani saw in him – but Rebecca was great. In an evil way, of course. Her character is one that you will just hate, but need to keep reading about. Overall, I had a good time reading Pushover, but it’s not a favorite of mine. I think flashbacks can really make or break a story, and in my opinion it broke it for this one. But, I could tell that Mayer does have some great writing skills, and I will definitely check her out again!
[Rating: 3.5]

December 16, 2011
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The Hazards of Hunting While Heartbroken by Mari Passananti
Chick Lit Review

The Hazards of Hunting While Heartbroken by Mari Passananti

Zoe Clark is devastated when her fiancée ends their decade long relationship right before their over the top wedding. When his reasoning for calling it off is admitted, Zoe feels shaken and no longer trusts her judgment when it comes to men. But then comes Oscar. Oscar, the perfect boyfriend, the perfect man. Successful, wealthy, charming, and the chemistry is there. But is he too good to be true? Zoe turns to her BFF’s for help, Angela and Kevin, but turns out one of them is hiding a secret from Zoe that will send more shock waves through her dating life.
The Hazards of Hunting While Heartbroken by Mari Passananti is a book meant for the women. Zoe’s story is bound to touch you in some way, either making you think about your own life, what it is you really want, or giving you the confidence in being alone. I enjoyed watching Zoe’s transformation, from having to be part of a two-some, to thinking her life will only be complete once she finds the perfect man, to finally realizing that being alone is okay. Though the beginning started pretty slow for me, the ending really picked up when it came to what Oscar was hiding. The foreshadowing in the story gave me a good idea as to what it was, but it was still gripping to read about. Overall, I enjoyed watching Zoe go through her journey, and The Hazards of Hunting While Heartbroken is recommended by me!
[Rating: 4]

December 14, 2011
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Here by Denise Grover Swank
Chick Lit Review

Here by Denise Grover Swank

Denise Grover Swank is on tour with CLP Blog Tours. I was so excited to host Denise again – for the third time – because…

December 12, 2011
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Eighteen Acres by Nicolle Wallace
Chick Lit Review

Eighteen Acres by Nicolle Wallace

While I can’t say politics are my niche, I was looking forward to reading the debut by Nicolle Wallace, Eighteen Acres. A story about the first female president and all the adversities she must face, I knew I wanted to get this on my list. Charlotte Kramer, forty-fifth president of the United States, is up for reelection and it is up to her and friend/White House chief of staff Melanie Kingston to ensure she stays in office for a second term. Melanie, who has spent fifteen years working in the White House, has no outside social life and begins to wonder if it might her time to step down. Charlotte, hot in pursuit of a reelection, gets her world torn apart as her marriage crumbles, her husband’s affair can no longer be ignored, and her closest advisor and dear friend makes a decision to which Charlotte will never be able to forgive him for––and puts national security at risk. Dale Smith, a reporter who is the one Charlotte’s husband is having an affair with, tries valiantly to keep her conscience in check while she tries to climb the ropes of her career. All three women struggle with their personal journeys while fighting to stay in control.
I was impressed with Eighteen Acres, and it was easy to see that Wallace clearly has an insider point of view. Her bio states she, “is a political strategist and former political analyst for CBS Evening News whose recent posts include White House Communications Director under George W. Bush and campaign advisor for John McCain and Sarah Palin.” Well, hello. Not only is the political finesse there, but the writing was pretty smooth throughout and held my attention. All three women stood out to me for different reasons, and I was invested in their stories. While the beginning was a little slow and it took me a while to get used to all the political jargon, the second half of the book kept me on my toes and pushed me to the end. The big decision Charlotte’s advisor makes is quite the doozy, and her reaction and the series of events that happens afterwards were read with breathless abandon. Overall, a good start for Wallace and I hope to read more from her.
[Rating: 4]

December 9, 2011
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High-Heels and Slippers by Ella Slayne
Chick Lit Review

High-Heels and Slippers by Ella Slayne

Ella Slayne is on tour with CLP Blog Tours. Protagonist Josie Jenkins is in a bit of a rough spell. A Brit living in Texas, she is starting to feel homesick from her family, and she and her boyfriend just broke up. To make it worse, she has to work with the ex-boyfriend, who also happens to be her boss. Oh, and married. After being the mistress for two years, Josie is alone and trying to not only move on from Bob, but also keep her job as manager. When Callum Doherty, office hottie, shows an interest in Josie, she is shocked. Could he really be interested in her? Suddenly, her once man-devoid world is overpopulated, with Bob trying to get back in her good graces, Callum asking her on dates, and a high school sweetheart making contact with Josie through Facebook. How will Josie choose the right man? And is she only setting herself up for heartbreak?
I thought High-Heels and Slippers by Ella Slayne was a fun and entertaining read. Even though Josie was “the other women” for so long, I couldn’t really get mad at her. It was easy to see that she thought she loved Bob, and that she believed him when he said he was going to leave his wife. The plot points surrounding the high school sweetheart are unbelievably sad, but Slayne wrote the scene with a careful hand and made sure to put hope and inspiration between the lines as well. Something that could have dragged down this light-hearted read just made it better. I did enjoy Callum and the mystery surrounding him––sort of a ‘player, not a player’ question, but I think parts needed to be expanded on a bit. I won’t lie, I honestly thought for awhile there that he was married too, and his frequent “Mom needs me” excuses were so he could run home to his family. But it did keep me interested in him and the story, and that is never a bad thing. Overall, a solid debut from Slayne, and one to get on your list!
[Rating: 4]

December 7, 2011
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Build a Man by Talli Roland
Chick Lit Review

Build a Man by Talli Roland

Talli Roland is rapidly running up my ladder of favorite authors. I couldn’t wait to read the latest from her, Build a Man, and am grateful she keeps sending copies my way! This story follows Serenity Holland, an American living across the Pond and working as receptionist at her boyfriend’s cosmetic surgery clinic. She really has dreams of being a tabloid reporter, and she is trying desperately to get noticed from a magazine. It is at the clinic that she meets Jeremy Ritchie, a man determined to have a complete transformation. Jeremy wants plastic surgery from head to toe to make over who he has become, and Serenity’s boyfriend Peter is just the man for the job. Serenity catches of the eye of a tabloid with her story about Jeremy––a man so obsessed with plastic surgery––and finally lands a chance to become a real writer! But will going undercover work in Serenity’s favor, or will she watch everything fall apart?
I am happy to put Build a Man on my Favorites List and give it a whopping five stars! Roland has everything right in this story––a sweet but confused heroine, a gripping plot, and lots of laugh along the way. I was invested from the beginning, and had to see how Serenity and Jeremy’s story played out. The only gripe I was about to have was that it ended too quickly––I felt that Serenity and Jeremy were only just beginning when the story came to an end, but then I saw there is a sequel––hurray! If you haven’t read anything yet from Roland, get her on your list!
[Rating: 5]

December 7, 2011
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The Full Moon Bride by Shobhan Bantwal
Chick Lit Review

The Full Moon Bride by Shobhan Bantwal

Full Moon Bride by Shobhan Bantwal was the first Indian-culture book I have read, and I was fascinated by it. The heroine is Soorya Giri, a thirty-year old environmental lawyer who lives in New Jersey with her parents and grandmother––who desperately want her to be married. Arranged marriages are the norm in the Indian culture, but Soorya is appalled by them. Living in America, she has seen how other couples marry for love and not just tradition, and she wants the same for herself. When Soorya is introduced to Roger Vadepalli, she doesn’t want to like him. He is arrogant and egotistical, but at the same time quite charming and intelligent, with dreams outside his tradition as well. But there is also Lou, a colleague who her family will not approve of, but who seems to enjoy Soorya’s company as well. As Soorya faces these decisions, she realizes what it means to be independent from her family and how to finally find what is right for her.
First off, I think the cover is exquisite. Second, like I mentioned above, this was my first time trying out a book with an Indian heroine, and I would like to think I learned a lot from it. From the culture, traditions, food, roles of men and women, etc., there is a lot to take in. I thought Soorya was a fine heroine, someone who has obviously been very sheltered along her life by her family. Even though she was somewhat hesitant about certain topics, she was still a strong and smart character, and I enjoyed reading her story. Sometimes things did seem a bit old-school to me: Soorya being a thirty-year old virgin who absolutely cringes at the thought of sex, and the fact that she thought she couldn’t flirt with Lou because he was black––but those were smaller details to me. The story as a whole was a welcome one, and I would recommend this book, especially if you have an interest in the Indian culture.
[Rating: 4]

December 5, 2011
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