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The Kiss Test by Shannon McKelden
Chick Lit Review

The Kiss Test by Shannon McKelden

Margo Gentry has a great life. She works as a DJ to Manhattan’s only country music station, and just got a prestigious award that will likely come with promotions and praise. Her boyfriend is fabulous and understanding of Margo never wanting to get married. Her mother lives far far away, and can never just pop in for dinner. Yes, Margo has a great life.
Until it all explodes. The radio station gets bought out and all DJ’s lose their jobs- even Margo with her fancy new award. Her boyfriend suddenly decides marriage, kids, and moving to the suburbs is a must- something that makes Margo want to gag. And her mom calls to say she is getting married-for the 11th time!- and insists that Margo be her maid of honor. With no job and no place to live after refusing her boyfriend’s proposal, Margo finds comfort by living with her best friend Chris- until she realizes his house is just a revolving door for all women trying to pin him down by passing his “kiss test.” Chris, a friend from Margo’s childhood, insists she be a part of her mother’s wedding, and offers to drive her across the country to attend. Margo accepts his offer on one condition- they can stop by in Graceland to visit the home of Elvis- Margo’s obsession. The road trip turns out to be a test of their friendship- and of the kiss test.
I really enjoyed The Kiss Test by Shannon McKelden. The one-liners are hilarious, the situations Margo gets herself into are off the wall funny (the part where she has to sleep in a bathtub was the best!) and I thought this novel had some good life lessons buried under the humor. The friendship between Margo and Chris has a genuine feel to it, and I thought the road trip was the perfect way to show that. I did get a little overwhelmed with all the Elvis obsessions, but other than that, this is a super funny read and I recommend it to all chick lit fans!
Rating: 4/5

December 13, 2010
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Blind Faith by CJ Lyons
Chick Lit Review

Blind Faith by CJ Lyons

Sarah Durandt is still living a nightmare. Two years ago, her husband and young son were murdered, but their bodies were never recovered. Now, as the man who confessed to killing her family awaits his execution, Sarah begs to know where the bodies were buried. She just wants her closure, but the killer won’t give that to her. She returns home with her lawyer and special friend, Alan, but the memories of Josh and Sam continue to haunt her. She is determined to find her husband and son, but never imagines what the search could lead her to. A tangle of deceit, multiple identities, and surprising foes await to be unearthed as Sarah begins the complicated unraveling of her families murders.
Oh boy. Blind Faith by CJ Lyons had five stars written all over it from the moment I started reading. Lyons has an obvious talent for creating her “thrillers of the heart” and wastes no times hooking the readers to Sarah, the main character. The complicated twists and turns in the story didn’t deter me or frustrate me at all, instead they pulled me in further, keeping up with the characters and action as it all unfolded. This is a fantastic mystery, and the writing flows along so smoothly that I often times felt I was the detective trying to piece all the clues together. There were even a few scenes where I felt my heart beating faster, as I was anxious to where the plot would take me. Not a lot of mysteries can cause that intense reaction from me! This is a great novel, and I would definitely recommend CJ Lyons and her thrillers to readers.
Rating: 5/5

December 10, 2010
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Life After Yes by Aidan Donnelley Rowley
Chick Lit Review

Life After Yes by Aidan Donnelley Rowley

Rarely do I read a book that is so powerful, so moving, and so thought-provoking, that the characters and plot invade my thoughts for weeks after finishing. Debut author Aidan Donnelly Rowley does exactly that in the SheKnows Book Club final pick of the year, Life After Yes. The story follows Prudence Quinn O’Malley, a born and bred New Yorker, after she accepts a marriage proposal from her supportive and loving boyfriend, Sage. The proposal, which takes place in Paris, is beyond beautiful and romantic, and Quinn accepts without a second thought. But just a day later, Quinn’s thoughts and emotions begin to spin out of control. Is it because her father won’t be able to walk her down the aisle, as he perished on that fateful 9/11 day? Is it because she still thinks about her first love, and wonders if she is making the right choice in committing her life with Sage?
I think one reason I found a common ground with Quinn is because of the numerous mistakes she makes. Quinn is a highly successful young lawyer and is set to marry Sage, who is an equally successful investment banker. But even with her success and her supporting friends and family, Quinn still almost seems like a misfit, determined to be selfish and indulge in binge drinking, and upset those she’s loves the most. At first, I was angry with the book. I hated Quinn! The way she treated people, especially her fiancée, the way she seemed to care so little for anyone else but herself, made me disgusted with her character. But as the story moved along, I started to understand. I began to feel for Quinn. The more dilemmas’ she faced, the more the deeper meaning of the story became obvious to me. By the time I reached the last few chapters, I had started crying, thinking about my own life and the mistakes I made, the ones I haven’t owned up to and probably never will, and how I can strive to be the best I can with what I have. It was almost like therapy!
Life After Yes was one of my favorite reads of 2010. I commend Aidan Donnelly Rowley for writing such a truthful story, with real characters and real problems. I almost feel this novel should come with a warning label: Will you risk asking yourself the questions Quinn is asking of herself? Are you brave enough to face the answers? I recommend everyone to read this book, chick lit fan or not. I think we can all identify with a piece of Quinn, and take away a lesson on true happiness.
Rating: 5/5

December 8, 2010
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The Tapestry of Love by Rosy Thornton
Chick Lit Review

The Tapestry of Love by Rosy Thornton

I have read a previous book from author Rosy Thornton, Crossed Wires and enjoyed it, so when Rosy asked if I would review her latest novel, The Tapestry of Love, I had no problem accepting. I’m saddened that I didn’t like this story as much as Crossed Wires. The heroine is Catherine, who sells her home in England and moves to the Cevennes Mountains after her divorce and her kids have grown and moved out of the home. She desires to set up a small business as a needlewoman, creating tapestries among other items for the locals. She must adapt to the mountain life, to her neighbors, and fight to run her business against the demands of the French bureaucracy.
I was about nine chapters into this story and still I was confused on what the plot was. Was there a romance between Catherine and any of her neighbors? Did she want her husband back? I wasn’t sure which direction the plot was going to lead me to, and I felt very confused and a little lost. This novel was just a bit too quiet for my taste. Not a lot of drama, mystery, or passion seemed to by hiding. I didn’t get a real emotional involvement with any of the characters, except for when one of the locals sleeps with Catherine’s sister because “she needed him” and he was doing her a favor. That made me dislike this character the rest of the way. Thornton’s writing is very beautiful though, and her descriptions are picturesque and vivid enough to make me feel like I’m in the Cevennes Mountains. I only wish the characters would have pulled me into the story more, and the plot would have been a bit more enticing.
Rating: 2.5/5

December 5, 2010
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Anyone For Me? by Fiona Cassidy
Chick Lit Review

Anyone For Me? by Fiona Cassidy

I highly enjoyed newcomer Fiona Cassidy’s debut novel, Anyone for Seconds? and gladly accepted her offer to review her sophomore novel. With Seconds, the story focused on Frankie and her tumultuous life of children and romance, with her best friend Ruby being her biggest supporter along the way. In Anyone for Me? Ruby is the heroine, and the story focuses on her journey of searching for her birth mother. Ruby was adopted at a young age, and becomes insistent on knowing her birth story and why her mother gave her up, even when her adoptive mother tries to derail her plans. On top of her mad search, Ruby must keep up on her wedding plans with Luke, deal with a cancer scare with Frankie, and try to stop a greedy group of hotel managers from scaring her mother out of her picturesque cottage.
As I was first reading Anyone for Me? and getting to know Ruby on a more persona level, I really didn’t like her. She was loud and rude and brash and I felt embarrassed many times during the first few chapters for the way she acted in public. I was worried that I wasn’t going to have many nice things to say about her and the novel, but as time went on, you could see a change in Ruby and her personality. I started to warm up to her character more, and really became invested in her search for her birth mother. Cassidy has great comedic writing, and some of the supporting cast she thought up (in particular the wedding planner Gabriel) were laugh out loud hysterical. I was a bit disappointed at the end though. Most of the book is made up of Ruby searching for her birth mother, and I didn’t feel the ending really justified the mystery. I won’t say why so I don’t give away the ending, but I’m hoping maybe a third novel will be in the works giving a better explantation and closure to Ruby’s journey. But that being said, I still enjoyed this witty Irish novel, and would recommend it to chick lit fans.
Rating: 3.5/5

December 3, 2010
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Well Read and Dead by Catherine O’Connell
Chick Lit Review

Well Read and Dead by Catherine O’Connell

One of my favorite heroines Pauline Cook is back and better than ever in Well Read and Dead, the second novel in the high society mysteries by Catherine O’Connell. This time, Pauline returns to America after an extended European vacation, only to come back after the terrorist attacks of 9/11. Her once exceptional stock portfolio has now crumbled, leaving her without much money to go of off- again. To make it worse, her beautiful Chicago penthouse that was highly damaged in a fire still isn’t in a livable condition yet, one of her closest friends Whitney has gone missing, and Whitney took Pauline’s precious cat, Fleur, with her! Pauline becomes determined to find Whitney, so she can get her cat back and score a cool multimillion dollar reward promised to her by Whitney’s husband if Pauline can find her. What Pauline doesn’t know is that Whitney has stumbled upon a very disturbing secret regarding her husband’s lingerie business, and Pauline finding Whitney and discovering the truth could cost the woman both their lives.
Again, I was highly entertained by the antics of Pauline. Losing 20 million dollars when her Enron stock collapsed? A missing best friend and no place to live? Pauline doesn’t let these obstacles bring her down, she continues her shopping, luncheons, and staying in the best room at one of Chicago’s finest hotels. There was something different about Pauline in this novel compared to the first, Well Bred and Dead, and those occurrences happen when two very devastating occurrences happen. I won’t say what they are because I don’t want to ruin it for anyone, but I was shocked more than once in this book. I thought O’Connell’s writing was once again exceptional for the character and her story, and I highly look forward to the third novel, Well Wed and Dead.
Rating: 5/5

December 1, 2010
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A Chesapeake Shores Christmas by Sherryl Woods
Chick Lit Review

A Chesapeake Shores Christmas by Sherryl Woods

Mick and Megan O’Brien divorced twelve years ago and had five children together. After twelve years of trying to go their separate ways, Mick and Megan are back together, slowly working towards reconciliation and getting remarried. Megan still can’t seem to let go that Mick is stubborn in his ways, and that he continually put his work before her while they were married- and fears he will do the same the second time around. Some of the children (now grown adults) aren’t quite on board with their parents impending nuptials, especially divorce attorney Connor, who seems determined to ruin the wedding. Will the family be able to come together for the holidays, or will too many unseen obstacles keep getting in the way?
A Chesapeake Shores Christmas by Sherryl Woods is from a series, but don’t be worried if you haven’t read the previous books. You will feel right at home with the O’Brien family. The story is sweet, a couple coming together after years apart, finding their way again after so many hurdles. I read that many people didn’t like Megan’s character, because she left the family after her and Mick divorced, but I related with her. As the story goes on, she becomes a very likeable heroine: strong, determined, and trying to be independent. It is clear that she loves all her children deeply, even Connor who keeps trying to shut her out. I think my only problem with this story is that it was just too nice and sweet. Sure, Connor plays a villain and has his own challenge present itself, but that wasn’t enough conflict to really make me feel for the character’s stories. If you are looking for a light read that will make you saw “aww” and feel warm and cuddly inside, A Chesapeake Shores Christmas would be right for you.
Rating:3.5/5

November 24, 2010
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Call Me Mrs. Miracle by Debbie Macomber
Chick Lit Review

Call Me Mrs. Miracle by Debbie Macomber

I had a bit of a stretch on my bookshelf, meandering away from the chick lit genre and diving into some different categories. I wasn’t too excited to read Call Me Mrs. Miracle by Debbie Macomber. The cover didn’t look too exciting, like the promises some chick lit covers hold, and I wasn’t sure about a lovey Christmas story. But I have to be proved wrong sometimes, don’t I? I loved this story! It was so cute and delightful, filled with inspirational characters, the most inspiring of all being (of course) Mrs. Miracle.
The story centers around Jake Finley, manger and boss’s son of the last family-owned toy story in New York City. While preparing for the Christmas rush and trying to prove to his father that he is capable of running the store on his own one day, Jake meets Emily Merkle, an employee who appears out of thin air to help customers. One customer in particular catches Jake’s eye- Holly Larson. Holly is struggling financially after taking on the duty of being guardian of her 8 year old nephew, Gabe, once his father gets deployed. She desperately wants to give Gabe a special Christmas, but isn’t sure she can pull it off. With the help of Mrs. Miracle, Jake and Holly both get the Christmas they deserve.
Even though I could guess how the story would end, I still loved the anticipation and build-up along the way. It was a light read, no major complications or mystery surrounding the characters, and the romance was pitch perfect. I think some inspirational lessons will be taken away from readers who enjoy this novel, but the writer doesn’t dump an overload of inspirational stories throughout the way. There is a subtle guidance woven with the plot and the character’s stories, and I would highly recommend Call Me Mrs. Miracle, even if this may not be your first genre choice.
Rating: 4/5

November 19, 2010
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Cold Dawn by Carla Neggers
Chick Lit Review

Cold Dawn by Carla Neggers

When Rose Cameron finds a body, burnt nearly beyond recognition, the small town of Black Falls, Vermont fears a killer could be a on the loose-again. Smoke jumper Nick Martini joins the community from California after an arson investigator is killed, a hunch that the death may be connected to the recent Black Falls murder. Now, Rose and Nick must deal with the one night of passion they shared months ago, to figure out if it could be anything more. But with Nick best friends and business partners with one of Rose’s highly over protective brothers, neither are sure the relationship could work- or if they really want it to. But both need to push aside their feelings of lust and romance and catch the killer lurking in Black Falls.
I knew Cold Dawn by Carla Neggers would be on my Favorites List after the first chapter. Even though this mystery novel is part of a series, readers will easily be able to pick up with the characters and the plot even if they have not read the previous books. The suspense was enough to keep me up at night, frantically flipping the pages to figure out who the murderer was and how all the subplots would tie together. The romance between the lead couple was very well written, full of drama and cliff hangers at the end of chapters, that kept me hooked on this story. My only issue was the amount of characters that contributed to the story, I began to feel overwhelmed after trying to keep track of all of them! But besides that little fact, this is a great story that gets a definite recommendation from me. After reading Cold Dawn, Carla Neggers has shot to the top of my favorite authors list!
Rating: 4.5/5

November 17, 2010
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