Chick Lit Plus by Samantha March

Latest Youtube Videos

Tales From the Yoga Studio by Rain Mitchell
Chick Lit Review

Tales From the Yoga Studio by Rain Mitchell

Tales From the Yoga Studio by Rain Mitchell is a charismatic novel about a group woman struggling in different aspects of their lives. Lee, the owner and instructor of a yoga studio, is having money and marriage troubles. Her husband Alan recently moved out of their home, but Lee is determined to make it worth with him. Katherine, who works as a masseuse at Lee’s studio, is a recovering addict who stumbles into what may be love, but she doesn’t feel worthy of receiving it. Graciela is a dancer who was recently injured, and is turning to yoga to try to help recover. Imani, though a successful actor and wife to an adoring husband, suffered a miscarriage and is feeling lost after her devastating experience. And Stephanie is determined to be the best screenwriter, but her namedropping and egotistical manner turns everyone away from her. The girls all meet at Lee’s studio, and form odd friendships to help each other through their journeys.
This novel seems to be getting plenty of mixed reviews, but I liked it, I really did. I love yoga, so it was fun for me to know the poses they were performing and to learn new ideas. There is a big “corporate yoga” scandal in the book, which I thought was really interesting to read about. There are essentially five main characters, and each has their own small sections to discuss their lives. I think five may be too many. Or else Mitchell needed to give more time to each character. Just when I thought I was getting to connect with one, I would be yanked into another’s world. But I thought each woman brought an interesting characteristic and authentic problem to their group, and I enjoyed watching how they would interact with one another. I really never did understand where Graciela’s injury came from though. Or why Lee was so blind to her husband’s obvious wandering eye. But overall, I thought this was a good story and I am hoping for some sort of spin-off with a few of the characters.
[Rating: 4]

April 15, 2011
4 Comments
Irresistible Forces by Brenda Jackson
Chick Lit Review

Irresistible Forces by Brenda Jackson

Taylor Steele, a professional wealth and assets manager, knows she wants to have a baby. She just doesn’t want a husband. She also doesn’t want to take the adoption route, or be artificially inseminated. But who could she convince to help her conceive the natural way, with no strings attached? Taylor knows the only man that would make her plan work would be Dominic Saxon, one of her millionaire clients. Dominic is single, wealthy, and gorgeous. Taylor convinces him to go on a “procreation vacation” with her, to resort whose purpose is to help couples make babies. But while there, Taylor and Dominic start to wonder if this will truly be a no strings attached plan, or if something more is brewing between the sheets.
I don’t often read straight romance books, but I decided to take a chance on Irresistible Forces by Brenda Jackson. I really couldn’t get into it. The plot just seemed too absurd, and it was predictable from the beginning. Both Taylor and Dominic seem to have feelings from each other before the baby plans, yet try to do something with no strings attached? We can all see how this will end. No excitement or mystery was there. The middle of the book completely falls away from any plot or real dialogue, and is basically just Taylor and Dominic having sex. When there is dialogue, it sounds so unrealistic that I couldn’t really buy it. This was a shorter book, but missed the mark for me.
[Rating: 2]

April 11, 2011
1 Comment
Save as Draft by Cavanaugh Lee
Chick Lit Review

Save as Draft by Cavanaugh Lee

Not too long ago, I gingerly accepted a review request for Teresa Medeiros’s Goodnight Tweetheart, a novel made up mostly of Tweets. I say gingerly because I thought, “Tweets? How could readers understand and connect with characters by reading their Twitter thoughts?” I gave the novel 4 ½ stars.
Proven wrong, I now eagerly accepted to read the debut by Cavanaugh Lee, Save As Draft. This novel is written mostly in email messages, along with a few tweets, texts, and Facebook updates along the way. The story follows Izzy Chin as she tries to find love. She joins E-Harmony and connects with Martin, and they have an instant connection. Through technology, they decide they could meet in person. One wildly successful date later, Izzy dumps Martin after deciding to take a chance on her best friend Peter. Peter and Izzy fall in love, as readers can depict from the sappy emails and TMI Facebook status updates, and quickly get engaged. But when Peter starts acting like he is married to his job, Izzy feels lost in the shuffle. She knows it may be wrong, be she drifts back to Martin, who is overly hopeful he can make a relationship with Izzy work. Readers can see how different the outcome could have been, if only some of the characters would just hit send.
The ending I think will shock everyone. I actually started shouting after I closed this book. But in a good way, a way that made me think. What if we were just honest with each other? What if we didn’t have technology allowing us to censor our thoughts and emotions? Save As Draft is definitely on my Favorites List. I loved getting to know characters a different way, and the added friendships of Izzy’s and their take on marriage brings in the comedic relief. The subjects touched in this novel are actually very serious, and I appreciate how this story is told with such honesty and validity in the technology crazed world we live in. I highly recommend this book, and looks forward to more from newcomer Cavanaugh Lee.
Rating: 5

April 8, 2011
4 Comments
Personally, I Blame My Fairy Godmother by Claudia Carroll
Chick Lit Review

Personally, I Blame My Fairy Godmother by Claudia Carroll

What girl doesn’t love the Cinderella fairy tale? A young woman coming from nothing, living with her horrible stepmother and retched step-sisters, only to fall madly in love with Prince Charming and live happily ever after. Jessie Woods believes her life rivals the one of Cinderella. She didn’t have much as a child, but with the love and support from her father, she determinedly made something of herself. Working as a daredevil TV host, living in a mansion, and dating one of the most eligible bachelors, Jessie’s life couldn’t get better.
But it could get worse. When Jessie gets offered to accept a free car after one of her daredevil shows, she greedily accepts- on live TV. She is immediately sacked from her position, and with no job and the credit card bills becoming more and more demanding, Jessie is forced to cut back on her lavish lifestyle. Way back. And then more. After losing her house, she is forced to move in with her stepmother and her two grown daughters- still living at home with no husbands or social lives to speak of. To make it all worse, Jessie’s boyfriend will no longer return her calls. Can she still find a happy ending after all?
Personally, I Blame My Fairy Godmother by Claudia Carroll is a riot! I was laughing out loud at the crazy situations Jessie finds herself in- from working fast food to breaking and entering her ex’s house. The stepsister’s are a story in themselves, and the stepmother and her start-up internet business- genius! Though the story might be seem all light and comical, there is a lesson to be learned from many of the characters. The only part that sometimes got under my skin was the constant complaining about Jessie’s failed relationship. But I loved the stereotypes and the many comparisons to fairy tales. I thought that really worked for what Carroll was trying to achieve, and I definitely recommend this Brit Chick Lit novel!
[Rating: 4.5]

April 4, 2011
Leave a comment
Spinning by Michael Baron
Chick Lit Review

Spinning by Michael Baron

I usually veer to the chick lit/woman’s fiction genre, but every once in awhile I will take a chance and step outside the box. A few months back, I was asked to read The Journey Home by Michael Baron. I read it, and fell in love. When I was recently asked to read Baron’s latest novel, Spinning, I knew I had to accept. And again, I am glad I did.
The story follows Dylan Hunter, a playboy public relations executive that specializes in “spinning” or bending the truth to suit his or his client’s needs. But Dylan is thrown when a former lover, Diane, shows up on his doorstep. Diane has moved her and her young daughter, Spring, to New York City for a change of pace. After first worrying Spring could possibly be his, Dylan doesn’t know how to handle the sudden change in his life. Diane assures him he is not the father, but won’t go into any further details on Spring’s father. Dylan falls into a comfortable pattern with Diane and Spring, and enjoys having more to live for than just his job, money, or his next fling. But his new shiny life is soon smashed to pieces when Diane is killed in a car accident. With no other family members stepping forward, it seems Dylan is the only person young Spring has left in her life. Dylan has to decide if he can handle the sudden responsibility of parenthood, understand the legalities of adopting a child, and see if he can handle spinning all the plates at once.
Spinning was such a wonderful read. Dylan isn’t the most likeable character at first, but you can see he is only human. Spring breaths fresh air into the novel, and I broke down at several points when reading thinking about how she lost her mother at such a young age. Baron explores deep and sensitive topics- single parenthood, death, adoption- just to name a few. This book promises to touch a nerve with all readers, and will leave you thinking about the character’s lives after you have finished. Another must read from Michael Baron.
[Rating: 4.5]

April 1, 2011
Leave a comment
The Atlas of Love by Laurie Frankel
Chick Lit Review

The Atlas of Love by Laurie Frankel

Debut author Laurie Frankel was the latest choice for the SheKnows Book Club. Her novel, The Atlas of Love, brings a story of three women trying to be a family. Narrated by Janey, we meet Katie and Jill, all three who are English-lit students, while they struggle to keep up with classes and try to have social lives. For Mormon Katie, this means finding a boyfriend with the same religion. For Jill, life has a different plan. She becomes pregnant by her much younger boyfriend, and when he decides he can’t be a father, he takes off. Janey and Katie immediately come to their friend’s rescue, offering to move in with Jill and help care for the baby. Be their own unique family.
But once baby Atlas comes along, everything changes. Janey becomes overly attached to the baby boy, Katie gets engaged, and the father suddenly appears back in the picture, wanting to be with Jill but still not interested in being a dad. The story takes a dramatic turn when Atlas lands in the hospital, and the three friends are forced to make a decision. Can they keep living like a happy family? Or will the bonds of friendship become broken?
The Atlas of Love started a little slow, but quickly picks up steam and transported me into the character’s world. I felt a real honesty with each character- including when Jill wanted to give the father a second chance. I may not have liked what she was doing to her friends who changed their lives for her, but it was real. I thought this was a really interesting topic for a novel, one that more readers can relate to as we move away from what a “normal” family is. With TV shows now showcasing how 21st century families live (ABC’s Modern Family, for one example) I wasn’t that surprised at the non-traditional setting I was reading about. I definitely recommend this debut novel!
[Rating: 4.5]

March 30, 2011
1 Comment
Know It All by Sarah Mylnowski
Chick Lit Review

Know It All by Sarah Mylnowski

I don’t read a whole lot of short stories, but when author Sarah Mlynowski asked if I would check out Know It All, a short story that originally appeared in the collection Girl’s Night In, I said yes with enthusiasm. And I’m glad I did! Even with the few short scenes, I was laughing at the characters and learning a lesson.
Shaun, a twenty-something single gal, gets a new roommate, Dee, who claims to be “a little bit physic.” Shaun certainly doesn’t believe someone can be physic, little bit or not. But when Dee claims to have seen Shaun’s ex-boyfriend falling in love with a new woman, Shaun has to make sure that doesn’t happen. Not that she is still in love with him. But if she is over him, why does she keep rushing around making sure he doesn’t meet this woman? Each time Dee has another vision of them meeting, Shaun intervenes. Is Shaun truly over her ex? And is it time to stop interfering with fate?
I think Mylnowski did an excellent job at building characters quickly, and making this story very relatable to all women. To move on or not to move on? The ways that Shaun interrupts all the chance meetings are very funny, and the lesson at the end is a good one. If you enjoy short stories, I would definitely recommend you pick up Know It All.
[Rating: 4]

March 28, 2011
2 Comments
Lucky Stiff by Deborah Coonts
Chick Lit Review

Lucky Stiff by Deborah Coonts

Lucky O’Toole, the feisty heroine from Deborah Coonts novel Wanna Get Lucky? is back and better than ever. In the second novel, Lucky Stiff, Lucky is now happily dating female impersonator/singing extraordinaire Teddie, and still working for the luxurious Babylon Resort and Casino on the Vegas strip. On a seemingly normal night, a swarm of bees escapes from an exhibit, and Lucky’s normal streak is over. The domino effect begins, starting with a DA naked and locked hotel closet, a bookie with no conscience found dead in the shark tank, and Lucky’s good friend at the top of the suspect list. Could the DA and bookie be relevant to one another? And can Lucky handle all the Babylon’s problems on top of her love life, which is spinning out of control after Teddie is offered a recording deal?
Lucky Stiff is even better than the first, which is usually pretty rare. I liked that even though this was a sequel, it could easily be a stand alone as well. And Coonts doesn’t fill the pages with information readers would find in the first novel, she gives just the right amount of needed info and moves on with the new plot line. The writing borders on raunchy, with sex being a hot topic amongst all the characters- especially Lucky’s Madame mother- who is auctioning off a young woman’s virginity. Readers will enjoy the fast paced scenes, the picture of a glittery and glamorous Vegas with an underlying of secrets and sin. I heard from Coonts that she is currently working on a third in the series, and I cannot wait to read it!
[Rating: 5]

March 23, 2011
1 Comment
Wanna Get Lucky? by Deborah Coonts
Chick Lit Review

Wanna Get Lucky? by Deborah Coonts

Wanna Get Lucky? is the first in the Lucky O’Toole Las Vegas mystery series by Deborah Coonts, and I loved it! The story follows heroine Lucky, who is in her thirties and works as the head of Customer Relations at a mega casino and resort on the Vegas strip. Lucky has dedicated much of her life to her work, after the Big Boss took a chance on her and gave her a job at only fifteen years old. Since then, Lucky has worked herself up to achieve everything she has. Her tough exterior comes from growing up in the Sin City, and also from her mother, who runs a brothel. Lucky is used to solving problems, from irate guests to drunken fights, and people counting cards in the casino. But when the lovely Lyda Sue drops to her death from the helicopter owned by Lucky’s resort and the pilot goes missing, Lucky has a new task to handle- murder.
Wanna Get Lucky? is a fast-paced, keep you on your toes novel. I love a good mystery, and Coonts adds in so many plot twists and new character developments that I couldn’t figure this one out until the end. The main character is a gem, a tough female not afraid to speak her mind and get her way. I loved reading about her love life as well, and the mom who is a Madame- hilarious! The only part I didn’t love so much was it was a bit stereotypical. The Big Boss was like a mobster, and sometimes the Vegas scene seemed like what people who have never been to Vegas might think it’s like. But I’ve been there, and it wasn’t quite like what is described. Then again, I was a tourist visiting for a few days. But, I also think this is an aspect that makes the book so much fun to read. It’s drama, it’s mystery, it’s fiction. Wanna Get Lucky? is over the top, a novel readers can get lost in. I cannot wait to read book number two- Lucky Stiff.
[Rating 4.5]

March 21, 2011
3 Comments