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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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Bulletproof Mascara by Bethany Maines
Chick Lit Review

Bulletproof Mascara by Bethany Maines

Nikki Lanier is in desperate need for a job, and her lone degree in linguistics is not helping her case any. When she gets an offer from Mrs. M, head of Carrie Mae Foundations (think Mary Kay or Avon) she gingerly agrees to learn about all things makeup. She quickly finds out that not only does Carrie Mae specialize in foundation and mascara, but they are also secret agents out to protect women around the world. Nikki soon finds herself attending target practice, learning which guns are used in which situations, and how to fight enemies with acid nail polish and flash grenade compacts.
After Nikki successfully completes her training test, Mrs. M sends her on to her first mission- to Taiwan. Nikki, along with veteran agent Valerie, are to rescue Lawan Chinnawat, director of a woman’s clinic and a leader in protesting the sex trades that dominate Asia. Along the way, Nikki befriends a handsome stranger who she thinks may be a government agent in on the kidnapping, and learns of a traitor within the company, almost losing her own life because of it.
Bulletproof Mascara, the hilarious spy novel from Bethany Maines, will keep readers laughing throughout as innocent Nikki goes from her awkward unemployment stage to confident secret agent, figuring out missions. Nikki’s character is immediately likeable, someone who is a little unsure about themselves but willing to take on a new challenge. The plot line is fun and engaging, with the mystery not being revealed until the very end. I was a little skeptical at first when I read the synopsis, because cosmetics gals working as secret agents didn’t sound very believable, but Maines definitely makes it work. Bulletproof goes on my favorites list, and I cannot wait for the sequel to come out! The book even has its own website, www.bulletproofmascara.com, and there is plenty of fun to be found there. A must read for chick lit fans that enjoy a little mystery and suspense in their books.

May 9, 2010
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House Rules by Jodi Picoult
Chick Lit Review

House Rules by Jodi Picoult

Jacob Hunt isn’t the average teenager. Though he is seemingly quite smart- especially with forensics analysis, he is terrible at reading social cues and expressing emotions, causing him to be an outcast among his school. But Jacob suffers from Asperger’s syndrome- a form of autism. While he can function at a higher level than those with autism, it doesn’t help him make friends any easier. The only person who really seems to understand Jacob is his tutor- until she is found dead, and Jacob is the prime suspect. Suddenly, Jacob’s family- which includes his single struggling mother and younger teenage brother- are under the spotlight. Could Jacob really have committed murder?
House Rules is a gripping, suspenseful novel by best-selling author Jodi Picoult. By examining different character point of views, readers can get a deeper understanding of the murder mystery at play. The clues help lead the plot along, but are never too informative, so I kept trying to read faster to find out who was the real killer. I had tears in my eyes while reading what Jacob’s mother went through during her daily life- what she needed to do when Jacob has tantrums in public and how she was coping during the days he was in jail. The story is powerful until the end, and keeps you thinking about the characters long after you have finished.

April 29, 2010
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Fat Chance by Deborah Blumenthal
Chick Lit Review

Fat Chance by Deborah Blumenthal

Maggie O’Leary is overweight and not ashamed to admit it. As a top columnist for a New York paper, her column “Fat Chance” touches on the myths of being overweight, offers support and confidence to her loyal readers, and talks about the obstacles overweight people have to endure. While Maggie is large and loving her shape, eating what she pleases, and never working out, that all changes one day when Hollywood comes calling. Heartthrob actor Mike Taylor is preparing for his next movie role as a diet doctor, and is seeking Maggie to be his consultant. Maggie, not seeing how she could possibly fit in to the LA lifestyle of perfect and plastic, decides to go on a diet to look more the part. But she does it all in secret, not wanting people at her job or her readers to know she is trying to change herself, while still writing how great big girls are. Her consulting trip to Hollywood leads Maggie to a possible love interest, and further confuses what she wants out of life. Can she possibly continue on with her column, her life, when she doesn’t truly believe those old philosophies anymore?
Fat Chance by Deborah Blumenthal is a lighthearted tale, and readers will enjoy following the heroine on her weight loss journey. At times the story seemed to fast-paced, especially with the supporting characters and their stories. I also didn’t quite feel a connection to the main character and why she was putting herself on a diet. The first chapters of the book spoke on how proud she was on not being super skinny and how she loved helping readers, but at the drop of a hat she changes her ways. If you can get past all that, Fat Chance is a fun and fast read that will give readers a lot of facts on nutrition, which was a little added bonus among the chick lit storyline.

April 25, 2010
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Necklace of Kisses by Francesca Lia Block
Chick Lit Review

Necklace of Kisses by Francesca Lia Block

Necklace of Kisses by Francesca Lia Block picks up from where YA readers left Weetzie Bat and her Secret Agent Lover Man. Now older, Weetzie and Secret Agent Lover Man, or Max as he is now referred as, are both suffering. Since 9/11, Max has lost all desire and hope, and Weetzie is struggling in the relationship. Deciding to flee to a magical pink hotel, she is on the search for her old prom date, to share the kiss she never had. While there, Weetzie meets a variety of characters through her kisses, including a kidnapped mermaid being forced to have plastic surgery and an invisible housekeeper.
I haven’t read Weetzie Bat, the first novel that came out in 1989 about these characters, but I had done some research before diving into Necklace of Kisses so I felt prepared for what I was about to read. I was all wrong though, as I remained pretty confused throughout the duration of this reading. The plot is fast-paced, but sometimes too fast so I couldn’t feel like I was grasping what I was reading. I enjoyed the magical aspect of the characters and the hotel and the journey Weetzie was putting herself on, but with so many other confusions like characters popping in and out from beyond the grave and wherever else they were appearing from was just too much for me. The best thing about Kisses was that it was very short, it only took me two sittings to complete.

April 23, 2010
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The Dirty Girls Social Club by Alisa Valdes-Rodriguez
Chick Lit Review

The Dirty Girls Social Club by Alisa Valdes-Rodriguez

The Dirty Girls Social Club by Alisa Valdes-Rodriguez is an open-eyed peek at the lives of six very different women. The group of college friends, or sucia’s, as they call themselves, are all trying to figure out their loves lives and find a promising career, but none have it easy. Lauren, a feisty columnist, is struggling with her love life after finding her fiancée cheating on her. Usnavys, a successful executive for United Way, is trying to find a man that will be able to meet her pricey expectations of lavish vacations and designer clothes. Rebecca is miserable in her stiff marriage, and uses her job as founder and editor of a Latina women’s magazine as comfort. Elizabeth works as a prominent TV anchor, but is hiding the fact that she is a lesbian from her friends. Amber is trying to make it in the entertainment biz as a performer, and Sara is hiding a frightening secret in her home life.
Dirty Girls offers readers steamy romance scenes, heartwarming love stories, and enough drama to make your head spin. The ending is particularly intense with a murder that lands one of the characters in a coma, but the beginning was a little shaky for me. I actually read these novels out of order; I read the sequel to Dirty Girls, Dirty Girls on Top, before this one, and that novel is what really kept me going through the slow beginning of its prequel. If I didn’t already have a background on the characters and had fallen in love with their stories, I would have been really tempted to give up on Dirty Girls. I am glad that I didn’t though, once you get passed the rocky beginning and get into the real dramatic scenarios, the novel becomes almost irresistible to put down.

April 16, 2010
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Still Thinking of You by Adele Parks
Chick Lit Review

Still Thinking of You by Adele Parks

Rich and Tash have the love that everyone craves. A completely honest relationship, these lovers have it all: trust, commitment, sensitivity, and passion in the bedroom. When Rich’s friends tag along for the private wedding at a French ski resort, one unwelcome guest tags along: one of Rich’s ex-lovers, Jane. While Tash is under the belief that Rich has been honest with her about anything and everything, including his past conquests, this is one old flame that Rich hasn’t told a soul about. Jane is the little sister of his pal Ted, and used to be a fat ugly mess during their college years. But now, Jane has transformed herself into a beauty, and has her sights set on Rich.
Still Thinking of You by Adele Parks is a luscious read filled with colorful characters, devious plot twists, and a tearful ending. I liked that each supporting character (Rich’s gang of friends) got to tell their own story from there inside point of views. Each friend is struggling with their own issues: bankruptcy, infidelity, trying to start a family, and that brings even more to the love story between Rich and Tash. The novel started off a little too slow, I think there was a lot of information that wasn’t necessarily needed, but if you keep pushing through, you will find an incredible story. Still Thinking of You gives readers romance, deception, and a bit of relationship advice as well. A fantastic read for chick lit fans.

April 12, 2010
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Scot on the Rocks by Brenda Janowitz
Chick Lit Review

Scot on the Rocks by Brenda Janowitz

Brooke Miller is in a pickle. A successful Manhattan attorney, Brooke is so sure her dashing Scottish boyfriend is about to propose any minute to her. To Brooke’s complete shock, he doesn’t propose, he dumps her, admits he’s been cheating, and kicks her out of their shared apartment! She is devastated, but sure she can win him back. It can’t really be over right?
When Brooke’s ex-boyfriend, Trip, calls to tell her he is getting married to a Hollywood movie star, she tells a teeny tiny lie. She tells him that she too is engaged- to her dashing Scottish, well, now ex-boyfriend. But she is sure they will get back together before Trip’s wedding, so it won’t be a lie for long. Except for when the wedding roles around and Douglas still hasn’t asked her back, Brooke has no choice but to come up with an outrageous plan to deceive Trip and the other wedding guests.
Scot on the Rocks, the debut novel from Brenda Janowitz is fast-paced and funny, with the heroine landing herself in more than one silly situation. Sometimes though, I did feel frustrated with the main character trying so hard to get this loser back when a real man was right in front of her. But the supporting characters really helped the scenes along, from a best friend struggling with her own marriage, a co-worker trying to win the girl, and of course the luscious Hollywood wedding. A fast and funny read that chick lit fans will enjoy.

April 9, 2010
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Second Time Around by Beth Kendrick
Chick Lit Review

Second Time Around by Beth Kendrick

Ten years after graduating from Leighton College in New York, five friends hold a reunion, where they reminisce on old times. All former English majors, the women wonder what would have become of their lives if they had chosen a different major and profession. A professor, a bartender, a copyright, and an administrative assistant all get that second chance when the fifth member of the group passes away, leaving her four friends $1,000,000 to reinvent themselves.
Now, a novelist, an event planner, a pastry chef, and a bed and breakfast owner are finding the answers to their “what if” questions. They are finally following their dreams and desires, and are doing it together back in the town of their college. Finding their true callings amidst career struggles and love battles, the four friends grow closer to one another while honoring their friend’s spirit and life along the way.
Second Time Around by Beth Kendrick is a heart-felt story on the value of friendship and finding a way to follow your heart. Each woman’s story was interesting and colorful, and the way each character could tie in with one another was excellent. A unique subplot involving the deceased friend kept the mystery up throughout the novel, and the ending will make all readers satisfied.

April 3, 2010
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