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The Icing on the Cupcake by Jennifer Ross
Chick Lit Review

The Icing on the Cupcake by Jennifer Ross

Ansley is your classic sorority sister with loads of money, class- and a terrible attitude towards others. Though she has pursued a college eduction, this diva in the making plans on settling into the happy life of a housewife: getting married, popping out adorable children, and spending her time planning parties and other highly important functions in the neighborhood. Her plans are dashed when her adorable and successful fiancée, Parish, dumps her- in the middle of a party! Humiliated and distraught about the gossip that is sure to fly about her, Ansley flees the comfort of her hometown of Dallas and hightails to New York City to live with her grandmother until she can recover and get a game plan going.
Ansley’s grandmother, Vivian, is a feisty older woman who is juggling her own set of problems. Her husband has recently passed away, and left Vivian in hot water with the IRS over his finances and some risky tax moves he had been hiding from her. Making the situation even more uncomfortable is the fact that Vivian left Dallas when Ansley was young girl, estranging herself from her own daughter and granddaughter- not speaking to either in years. With her sudden houseguest, Vivian is hoping to make a family connection after so many years, but the question surrounds why she left her family in the first place…
The Icing on the Cupcake is a delicious and fluffy read from Jennifer Ross. Ansley’s character is easily disliked in the beginning, but after she sets up shop in New York and starts to have a personality change, she is extremely relatable. Vivian is a riot- a woman who is not afraid to talk about her sex life and her wishes to bed the IRS agent she is working with on her late husband’s finances. There were two things I particularly liked about this story- the mystery that keeps going strong throughout about why the family is separated and the not so expected love ending for the heroine. I enjoy when books veer away from the norm, and I think this is definitely one of those. I can only hope for a sequel to see how Ansley’s love life turns out! For all you bakers that love to read- check out the delicious recipes that end each chapter.

June 5, 2010
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Forget Me Knot by Sue Margolis
Chick Lit Review

Forget Me Knot by Sue Margolis

Abby Crompton, owner of a trendy London florist boutique, is struggling in her relationship. While everything may seem picture perfect to outsiders, Abby fears there is something array with her fiancée Toby. Other than their complete opposition in the social aspect- Toby comes from a highly wealthy family, Abby not so much- but now their lack of any activity in the bedroom is making Abby unsure of her future wedding plans. When she is running late to meet the dreaded soon to be mother-in-law, Abby confronts her fears of an elevator and promptly gets stuck in one. While waiting to be rescued, Abby confides all her doubts about her impending marriage and fiancée to the handsome stranger that is trapped along with her, filmmaker Dan.
Abby’s embarrassment is elevated when she later meets Dan in a business setting- he is going to be directing a film where scenes take place in Abby’s boutique. While continually assuring her that he doesn’t think anything less of her and the inebriated personal babble she bestowed on him, Abby finds herself thinking of Dan in a more romantic setting. When her relationship with Toby comes to a direct halt, Abby wonders if anything more could happen with Dan. Before she can even begin to rebound,, she finds some unsettling news that Dan has been hiding from her, and gives up hope on that budding relationship. But following all great chick lit patterns, Abby is able to find love in the end even after all the false starts.
Forgot Me Knot is a romantic delight from British author Sue Margolis. A lightweight comedy that chick lit readers will enjoy. This was one of the better books from Margolis in my opinion, the characters were a riot, especially the heroine’s mom who finds a way to stand up for what she believes in during a cruise vacation gone bad. The storyline moves along quickly, and remains charming throughout.

June 3, 2010
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Looks to Die For by Janice Kaplan
Chick Lit Review

Looks to Die For by Janice Kaplan

Lacy Fields is thriving in life. A great job as an interior designer, a successful and loving husband who works as a plastic surgeon in Hollywood, great family and friends. But when the cops explode into her house one night and arrest her husband Dan for murdering a wannabee actress, Lacy feels her life getting turned upside down. Convinced that Dan is not a murderer, but feeling like everyone- including Dan’s attorney- thinks he’s guilty, the mom who loves designer shoes and sparkling jewelry decides to launch her own investigation into the shady world of fame, money, and scandal. She certainly doesn’t expect what she finds- ex-cons, ransom notes, a dead body in her own trunk, being taken hostage. But determined to stand by her man, nothing will knock down this well-dressed amateur sleuth as she works feverishly to clear her husband’s name and put the pieces of her family back together.
Looks to Kill For, the first of two Lacy Fields mysteries from well-known author Janice Kaplan, will give readers plenty of suspense along with the posh LA lifestyle the heroine is living. The mystery is puzzling, with enough plot twists and character assumptions that will keep you guessing until the end, and the celebrity name dropping is delightful for chick lit fans. Kaplan’s witty writing along with the pull of a love story will keep readers wanting more from Lacy Fields.

June 3, 2010
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Enchanted Inc. by Shanna Swendson
Chick Lit Review

Enchanted Inc. by Shanna Swendson

Katie Chandler is just your average 26 year old who moved from her small town lifestyle in Texas to the magical world of New York City. She lives with her two friends, who also moved from Texas, and works Monday-Friday at a thankless assistant job to an evil boss. Katie wishes she could really do something with her life, make her mark somehow. Be important, wanted, needed. She never thought she actually possessed a talent, a gift, for magic.
Katie learns, after much persistence from the company MSI, that she is an immune- someone who can see magic but can’t actually practice it. MSI, which stands for Magic, Spells, and Illusions Inc. wants to recruit Katie and put her gift to use, being able to see past magical shields, cloaks, and invisibility. MSI are the good guys in the magical world, working to prevent evil magic at play. Katie quickly adapts to her new life, magic by day and normal at night. The hardest part is not being able to tell her roommates and parents about what she now does as a living- which includes working for the one and only Merlin. When a former MSI employee turns to the dark side, a battle ensues and Katie finds herself playing a pivotal part. Finally, somewhere she belongs, where she will make a difference.
Enchanted Inc. the first in the Enchanted series from author Shanna Swendson, is a fun tale that offers a magical adventure from the norm. The adventures the heroine embarks are comical, and the writing is light and saucy, with a twinge of seriousness and enough of a love story to interest chick lit fans. If you are looking to escape the everyday stories with the usual plot twists and characters, crack open the Enchanted series and get lost in the magic.
Rating: 4.5/5

June 2, 2010
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Perfect on Paper by Maria Murnane
Chick Lit Review

Perfect on Paper by Maria Murnane

Waverly Bryson has to be the luckiest girl in the world. After years of disastrous blind dates and her hopes of love being dashed, she has finally become a bride to be. Her fiancée? Only the gorgeous and wealthy Aaron Vaughn III. But suddenly things go horribly wrong. Just two weeks shy of becoming a wife, Aaron breaks it off with Waverly, telling her he’s just not in love with her. Ouch. Waverly is properly devastated, and moves blinding through the next year, wondering why love just won’t happen to her.

Then Waverly meets Jake McIntyre while on the job in Atlanta. He could be the perfect man, except Waverly can’t seem to keep it together around him. The evening concludes with her getting too drunk to dance with Jake and having to leave his company to throw up in the bathroom. Sure that she has ruined any chance with him, Waverly thinks she may well be single the rest of her life. In addition to her failed love life, her job is sinking fast. Being passed over for an assignment at her sports PR position is tough enough, and now Waverly is unsure she wants to continue on in the industry. It’s the support of her two best friends, McKenna and Andie that keep Waverly’s spirits up.

Perfect on Paper: The (Mis)adventures of Waverly Bryson by Maria Murnane is laugh out loud comedy. The heroine goes on laughable dates, finds herself in awkward situations, and is the definition of a klutz. Through each situation the humor shines through, and readers will enjoy the ‘honey notes’ that pop up along the way. This is a definite favorite of mine, I love when books can actually make me laugh and smile throughout each chapter. Murnane does a fantastic job making Waverly so relatable, and the supporting cast including the two best friends, a handful of co-workers, and a lazy father, really help Waverly’s journey along. Chick lit fans will enjoy the complicated romance and strong pull of friendship throughout.

Rating: 5/5

June 1, 2010
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The Bachelor and Spinster Ball by Janet Gover
Chick Lit Review

The Bachelor and Spinster Ball by Janet Gover

Bec and Hailey are best friends that grew up together in the teensy town of Farewell Creek. After Bec returned to the town after trying to make it in the big city, she was hoping that high school sweetheart and childhood friend Nick would still have feelings for her, but it seems those feelings are no longer. What Bec doesn’t know is that Nick is struggling financially after his farm was taken over, and even though he still loves Bec, he doesn’t feel he can adequately provide for her. Hailey is dealing with the death of her parents, and is trying to keep up the store they ran before the car accident a year prior. Hailey has given up her dreams of being a singer and finding love to continue the memory of her parents.
The three friends are brought closer together when a bush fire destroys part of the town, prompting Bec to spur the locals into putting together a fire brigade. In order to raise the proper amount of money, the town holds a Bachelor and Spinster Ball, bringing in people from surrounding cities to enjoy the weekend festivities. When an accident nearly takes Bec’s life, a dark secret her mother has been hiding finally comes to light, and Nick also reveals his feelings to Bec. Meanwhile, Hailey is struggling to put down her guard when it comes to love, finding the man who just could be Mr. Right. But being with him would mean leaving Farewell Creek- and the memories of her parents.
The Bachelor and Spinster Ball by Janet Gover is set in the Australian outback, and each of the three main characters are immediately likeable. Each journey that is being played out is different, yet the three tie together so well. With the sub-plots also at work: the mother’s secret, a budding town romance, and a teacher’s inability to fit in with the rest of Farewell Creek, the entire novel will keep readers wondering what will happen next. A romantic story that also focuses on the meaning of friendship and the importance of family will delight chick lit fans.

May 23, 2010
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The Cinderella Curse by JL Penn
Chick Lit Review

The Cinderella Curse by JL Penn

Cindy is a pretty ordinary girl- ordinary looks, ordinary job, ordinary friends. But one day, she crosses path with a witch, gets cursed, and turns into a pumpkin each night at midnight. This is a real damper for Cindy, as she is trying to give her love life a shot with a handsome police officer. Luckily, he works the overnight shift, so he has yet to see Cindy turn orange in bed. But when his schedule changes, Cindy knows she either needs to tell him the truth and hope he can handle it, or say good-bye to the man she is starting to fall in love with. With supportive parents and a best friend who helps get her through her pumpkin nights, Cindy tries with all her might to reverse the curse, even seeking out local witch covens for help. But only a fairy tale ending will be the answer for this puzzle.
The Cinderella Curse by JL Penn is a hilarious short story, and readers will enjoy all the trip-ups Cindy encounters as a pumpkin. Though the ending may be a bit predictable, it is still a fun story to dive into from one of my favorite authors.
Rating: 4.5/5

May 20, 2010
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Wedding Season by Katie Fforde
Chick Lit Review

Wedding Season by Katie Fforde

Sarah is a jaded wedding planner, helping couples create their special day while not believing in love after her college heartbreak. Bron, a hairdresser, is struggling while living with her over-demanding boyfriend and working at a salon where she clashes on every subject with her overbearing boss. And Elsa, a dressmaker, is painfully shy and would prefer to live life in the shadows. Together, these three women form a tight friendship, each trying to help one another with their issues while working on two weddings-scheduled for the same day.
Sarah is trying to pull off a wedding for her pregnant and over-exuberant younger sister and one of the biggest celebrities, all while fighting feelings for a photographer that is already engaged. Bron is desperate to get out of her relationship and away from her salon job, but never expected to find betrayal on both ends. And Elsa is unsure how to handle advances for the charming Laurence, not used to someone being interested in her romantically. The woman work together charmingly, even when multiple plot twists threaten.
Wedding Season by Katie Fforde is a fun read for chick lit fans, filled with weddings, parties, love, and friendships. Even though Sarah is the main character, Elsa and Bron each get enough time in the spotlight so a deep connection is made with them and their personal stories. An entertaining and light read throughout, sometimes a bit too fluffy for my taste, but still a fun book.

May 17, 2010
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Intimate Encounters by Sierra Michaels
Chick Lit Review

Intimate Encounters by Sierra Michaels

Cali is leading two very different lives. While a graduate student earning high grades in her archeology field and working to finish her master thesis, she also works as a sensual massagist, working with a handful of other young women that are trying to get by in life. Cali struggles with finding normalcy, even though the only men she is meeting is for her services, and her friendships are with women who perform those same services each night. She desperately wants out of the shady business, especially after she is drugged and raped by a client, and a cop poses as a client to bust the illegal acts. But she knows that she can’t hold down a regular job while trying to finish her studies, and the money she makes is too good to refuse.
Intimate Encounters is the debut album from author Sierra Michaels, and is a genuine piece about the struggles many women must deal with. The heroine is wondering if she made the right choice about her chosen field of study, but feels she has come to far to turn her back now. And she knows she can’t keep on leading this double life to make great money if she wants to be able to settle down with a man. Though the novel talks openly about extremely proactive subjects, I never felt I was reading a ‘dirty’ book. Instead, I felt truly touched by Cali and the decisions she needed to make. Encounters is a favorite of mine, mostly due to Michaels being able to take this character who is unsure about her life and is going down the wrong path, and be able to set her straight. It was a long journey for Cali, and I think readers will not only respect the decisions she made along the way, but find the inspiring message lying within.

May 15, 2010
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