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I Heart Paris by Lindsey Kelk
Chick Lit Review

I Heart Paris by Lindsey Kelk

I Heart Paris, the follow-up novel from Lindsey Kelk’s I Heart Hollywood, picks up where heroine Angela Clark left off. Back in New York and still with boyfriend Alex, Angela is busy working on her blog and trying to decide if she should move in with Alex. Alex keeps asking Angela, but Angela is hesitant because of a messy breakup in her past. When Alex suddenly needs to fly to Paris to perform in a live concert with his band, he asks Angela to go with her. At the same time, Angela is offered a terrific writing opportunity on Paris fashion, and happily heads across the Pond. As usual with Angela, nothing seems to go her way once she lands. Alex’s crazy ex-girlfriend seems to keep popping up wherever Alex is, her writing assignment is not going as smoothly as she hoped, and someone from her work may be trying to sabotage her. Between trying to keep her relationship alive and maintain a professional career, Angela’s trip to Paris is anything but uneventful!
I Heart Paris is definitely going on my Favorites list. The writing was humorous, the characters were extremely likeable, and I loved the air of mystery surrounding the possible work sabotage. It was also refreshing to read a story where the boyfriend is actually a good guy! I loved Alex’s character and how much he loved Angela despite her increasingly clumsy ways and the miscommunication involving the ex-girlfriend. The visions of Paris made me feel like I was in the city, and the fashion will please chick lit fans immensely. I’ve realized that I’ve said I’ve loved parts of this book about three times now, so I definitely need to give it a 5 star rating. This is the third in Lindsey Kelk’s ‘I Heart’ series: I Heart New York, I Heart Hollywood and I Heart Paris, and I sure hope we get a fourth!
Rating: 5/5

September 6, 2010
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Tuesday Tells it Slant by Holly Christine
Chick Lit Review

Tuesday Tells it Slant by Holly Christine

Tuesday Tells it Slant by Holly Christine hits the top of my list for favorite books! I was a bit hesitant to get excited about reading this, the synopsis didn’t fully catch my attention and actually confused me a bit. But once I started and got past the first few jumbled pages, I couldn’t put it down. The story follows the journal entries of Tuesday Morning and the defining moments in her life, from her relationship with her twin sister, Monday, to securing her first real job, to falling in love. But when Tuesday’s life starts slipping out of control, she decides to do something about it. Re-writing her past seems to be the only way she can control her future, so she revisits her journal, methodically changing what has already happened into a new story, redirecting her into a new future. But how precious is the past, and did Tuesday make a mistake rewriting hers?
I know that my synopsis of the story probably sounds just as confusing, but I really think everyone should try this book out. The concept is so intriguing, someone wanting to rewrite their past all with a paper and pen. While I was reading, I found myself wondering what I would change if I had the power to, or if I would leave all my memories intact. I found Christine’s writing to be thought-provoking and eloquent, even while discussing some of the harsh realities people must face. The beginning may throw some readers off like it did myself. The journal entries skip around from events among the years, but once you get just a few pages in, you can start to see a pattern amongst the dates. I highly enjoyed this novel; I found it to be a refreshing break from the usual chick lit or women’s fiction pattern. Tuesday Tells is Slant gets five stars from me.
Rating: 5/5

August 28, 2010
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Scandalous by Tilly Bagshawe
Chick Lit Review

Scandalous by Tilly Bagshawe

Sasha Miller had the unfortunate luck of meeting Theo Dexter. Sasha, a shy, naïve young woman, Sasha was studying at Cambridge University to become a scientist. Theo, an egotistical, seductive womanizer, convinces Sasha to embark upon an affair with him, filling her mind with stories that his wife, Theresa, is to blame for the demise of his marriage. Falling completely under Theo’s spell, Sasha trusts Theo with everything- until he betrays her in such a way that Sasha must leave Cambridge, must transform herself into a new woman. Intent on getting her revenge, Sasha becomes obsessed on how to make Theo pay for ruining her life.
Scandalous by Tilly Bagshawe is truly that- Scandalous. Once I started reading this novel, there was no putting it down. There are about four main characters, and each of there stories are delicately interlaced with one another. The plot methodically moves along, and readers watch as Sasha gets humiliated while Theo becomes a super star in Hollywood. Not only does this story touch on love, betrayal, vengeance, and scandal, but there is also the celebrity world mixed in, with the glamorous lives only the rich and shameless can live. Bagshawe’s writing reminds me of another great writer- Jackie Collins- but the stories are more personal, more realistic. Scandalous definitely belongs on my Favorites list!
Rating: 4.5/5

August 23, 2010
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Love You Love Your Work Let’s Do Lunch! by Micheline McAllister
Chick Lit Review

Love You Love Your Work Let’s Do Lunch! by …

Ashling Donovan decides to move from Des Moines to Los Angeles in hopes of becoming a successful teleplay writer. After moving in with her boyfriend, Ashling sets her sights on securing a job. But when said boyfriend unexpectedly breaks up with her for a Myspace girl, Ashling is desperate for a job, a home, and money. When she shows up to interview as a PA, Ashling is seized with an opportunity, a lie, that could change her life. Overnight, Ashling becomes a widely known head writer, creator of a new show, and her own personal assistant, all in one. But will the truth about her double life identity be discovered- and ruin her Hollywood reputation?
Love You, Love Your Work, Let’s Do Lunch! is Micheline McAllister’s second novel, and just as filled with juicy Hollywood secrets as the first. It was comical to read how people in LA will fall all over themselves trying to name drop, and what some people will do to get ahead. I highly enjoyed reading Ashling’s tale from an Iowa nobody to a big name in Hollywood, all because of a well crafted lie. I did think a couple times that there was no possible way someone could make up being a well respected writer, but in the land of celebrities, I guess almost anything is possible. I think chick lit readers will find humor in this novel, appreciate good writing, and be able to escape in the heroine’s double life.
Rating: 4/5

August 19, 2010
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Welcome To My Life by Micheline McAllister
Chick Lit Review

Welcome To My Life by Micheline McAllister

Samantha Kelly is a 32 year old personal assistant working in Hollywood, hoping for her big break. While working fourteen hour shifts and doing mundane tasks like calming down her bosses wife and picking up dry cleaning for everyone on set, Samantha wonders if she is stalled out. Long shifts, little pay, and no recognition on top of being single and having an untrustworthy best friend has Samantha ready to call in quits in Los Angeles. But when another friend offers Samantha a part in her movie, her life suddenly starts looking better and better. Offered more acting jobs, Samantha soon can afford the nicer things in life, including bigger homes and designer clothes. But while her bank account and fame keep expanding, Samantha’s love life and friendships seem to be depleting. The life of a working celebrity suddenly doesn’t seem so exciting and fabulous. Can Samantha find a way to balance it all?
Welcome to My Life, the debut novel from Micheline McAllister gives an insider’s look on the Hollywood scene. McAllister has worked in the entertainment industry as a personal assistant, actress, writer and artist, and holds nothing back when recounting this tale. I enjoyed reading both sides of the main character- her bleak life as “just” a personal assistant, to the high life of being an overpaid actress. I like the fact that this novel is written from an “insider” because there are a few eye-openers about the industry that had me shocked! My only downside was that Samantha’s character didn’t stick with me after I closed the book; I almost forgot who she was and what her story was. But the duration of the novel is witty, fast-paced, and filled with juicy tidbits that will satisfy chick lit fans.
Rating: 3.5/5

August 18, 2010
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Swallow by Tonya Plank
Chick Lit Review

Swallow by Tonya Plank

Sophie Hegel is a young lawyer living in New York City. After graduating from Yale Law School and securing her first real job, Sophie is proposed to by her decade older boyfriend, Stephen. While he is proposing, Sophie feels something in her throat, described as a fist-ball, lodging her breathing. From that moment, the fist-ball keeps appearing during important times in Sophie’s life, such as representing clients and meeting other lawyers. Sophie tries therapy to understand what is happening to her, as the fist-ball is causing her to be unable to eat or drink. When the therapist talks about her childhood, Sophie dredges up painful memories about her father, who films pornography movies., and the relationship she has with her mother and sister. The therapist diagnoses Sophie with a psychosomatic illness called Globus Sensate, and Sophie must deal with her issues in order to overcome this disease.
Swallow, the debut by Tonya Plank, is an interesting story. It took me awhile to grasp the concept that there was an imaginary fist-ball constantly in the main characters throat. I really didn’t understand where the story was going. Once I dove deeper in, I could see how her childhood left damaging psychological distress on her adult life, and started rooting for the character to overcome and succeed. Swallow is marked as dark comedy, but I don’t see anything comedic about the story. I thought it was extremely edgy and dark, and I enjoyed Plank’s writing. I think readers should give this novel a chance, even though the synopsis may see a little far-out, the story is meaningful.
Rating: 3/5

August 14, 2010
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Diary of a Beverly Hills Matchmaker by Marla Martenson
Chick Lit Review

Diary of a Beverly Hills Matchmaker by Marla Martenson

Matchmaker, author, and life coach Marla Martenson chronicles her adventures of matchmaking in the land of Los Angeles. Diary of a Beverly Hills Matchmaker is just what it sounds like, giving readers an inside peek into the lives and relationships of those single and looking. With the backdrop being LA, the stories, people, and situations are to the extreme. Martenson has a humorous voice, and I loved reading about how she needed to figure out how to hook up an old, nerdy, overweight, and balding man with a supermodel look-alike who has to have an Ivy league education but prefers to be a 1950’s housewife. Or secure a match for the man who found his sole mate- but her areolas were too large. Or the woman who will sleep with any man as long as he will drop thousands of dollars for her to shop designer labels. Each tale provides new laughter, and I absolutely love this book! I really liked that Marla not only let readers know about her matchmaking work, but also wrote about her own struggles of writing a book, maintaining a wonderful marriage, and keeping her self-esteem up in the city of LA. It’s also a quick read, only took me a couple of sittings to complete, so if you are looking for something fast, funny, and even enlightening, be sure to check out Diary of a Beverly Hills Matchmaker.
Rating: 5/5

August 13, 2010
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Crossed Wires by Rosy Thornton
Chick Lit Review

Crossed Wires by Rosy Thornton

Mina is a single mom working at a car insurance call center. Peter is a widowed father of twin girls, who crashes his car into a tree stump trying to avoid a cat. When Peter calls the insurance center for help, Mina answers the phone. From that simple phone call, two complete strangers who live miles and miles apart begin a friendly relationship, each wondering if it is possible they found love.
Crossed Wires by Rosy Thornton is a charming love story. I enjoyed reading about not only Mina and Peter’s relationship, but the lives the supporting characters lead. Peter’s twin daughters struggle with growing apart, while Mina’s daughter can’t come out of her shell. There is also a little mystery played out with Mina’s troublesome younger sister that kept my interest. Overall, I thought the over the phone love story was too drawn out, that it took too long for the characters to meet face to face. The sub plots almost held me over, but the last few chapters I found myself frustrated that Mina and Peter had yet to meet. I still enjoyed the read, and I would love to see sequel on how the merging families have turned out.
Rating: 4/5

August 11, 2010
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The Starlet by Mary McNamara
Chick Lit Review

The Starlet by Mary McNamara

In Mary McNamara’s debut novel, Oscar Season, readers were introduced to Juliette Greyson. Juliette was the head of PR at the Pinnacle Hotel in Los Angeles, dealing with the rich and famous on a daily basis. After the murder of her cheating ex-husband, Juliette flees to Florence for a break from the LA lifestyle, and that is were The Starlet picks up.
Juliette saves troubled actress Mercy Talbot (think Lindsay Lohan) from diving into a fountain and whisks her away to her Italian estate she shares with cousin Gabriel. Upon arrival to Cerreta, Gabriel is outraged Juliette would bring a drug riddled celebrity on the premises. Gabriel and Juliette are both recovering addicts, and Gabriel does not have the patience to deal with Mercy and her Hollywood ways. The story begins to change when Juliette realizes that someone else may be supplying Mercy with the drugs, that someone being Mercy’s own overbearing mother. After the mysterious death of Mercy’s former co-star, the plot intensifies when another death on set occurs. Juliette is determined to find the culprit, and help save Mercy from succumbing to death from addiction at such a young age.
Even though I had not read Oscar Season previously, The Starlet easily stood its ground alone. The tantalizing pull of celebrities and their over-the-top lifestyles mixed in with drugs, sex, and murder makes this mystery irresistible to put down. I loved Italy as the setting, the beautiful images along with the serene atmosphere of Cerreta made the whole drug/murder scandal that much more scandalous. The love stories that were threaded throughout seemed to get a little confusing, but I guess that is life of the rich and famous. I definitely recommend The Starlet and look forward to reading more novels from Mary McNamara.
Rating: 4/5

August 6, 2010
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