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Book Review: Shelf Life by Christina George

I received a copy of Shelf Life by Christina George in exchange for an honest review.
Summary:
Publishing: An industry of out-of-control of egos, unrealistic expectations, and books with the shelf life of milk. This is Kate’s world, but for how long? When one of Kate Mitchell’s star authors is carted away in handcuffs, she thinks it’s only the beginning of her troubles. As her world crumbles around her, Kate desperately looks for anyone to hold onto but finds that happy endings are truly works of fiction. When her career and love affair hit their expiration date, Kate sets off on a new adventure…. Starting over in California is easy, but Kate soon learns that leaving her old life behind isn’t. Nicholas Lavigne is eager to help her forget, but two things still own her heart, the dream of discovering the next great American novel, and MacDermott Ellis. As Kate tries to rebuild her life she finds a surprising gift that reboots her career in a new and unexpected direction. Suddenly her name becomes synonymous with one of the biggest bestsellers publishing has seen in ages and she’s welcomed back with open arms. At the height of her success the ghosts of her past come back to remind her of the world she’d been trying to forget and the man who never let go of her heart. Behind the book, there’s always more to the story. Welcome to Publishing, the ego has landed.
Review:
I have reviewed the first book from George, The Publicist, and I’m happy to say that I really enjoyed the second a lot more. The editing was a lot better, much more polished, and the story kept me more interested quicker and longer. There was a lot of intrigue amongst some of Kate’s crazy authors, as well as her relationship with Mac. I enjoyed watching Kate struggle between two men and really between right and wrong. I didn’t really like how her ending with Mac came about. He came off a bit of a hero to me when I don’t believe that. I don’t want to give too much away, but it was a bit of a letdown with him. Overall though, I’m glad I gave this book a chance because I was able to enjoy and even relate to parts of the story.
4 stars

On Tour: Last Diner Standing by Terri L. Austin

Terri will be on tour September 23-October 14 with her novel Last Diner Standing Rose Strickland is having a blue Christmas. Her friend is arrested for…

Book Review: The Reluctant Bride by Beverley Eikli

Reviewer: Kate I received a copy of The Reluctant Bride by Beverley Eikli in exchange for an honest review. Synopsis: Emily Micklen has no option…

CLP Blog Tours Book Review: Lowcountry Bombshell by Susan M. …

Susan M. Boyer is now on tour with CLP Blog Tours and Lowcountry Bombshell
Summary:
Liz Talbot thinks she’s seen another ghost when she meets Calista McQueen. She’s the spitting image of Marilyn Monroe. Born precisely fifty years after the ill-fated star, Calista’s life has eerily mirrored the late starlet’s–and she fears the looming anniversary of Marilyn’s death will also be hers.

Before Liz can open a case file, Calista’s life coach is executed. Suspicious characters swarm around Calista like mosquitoes on a sultry lowcountry evening: her certifiable mother, a fake aunt, her control-freak psychoanalyst, a private yoga instructor, her peculiar housekeeper, and an obsessed ex-husband. Liz digs in to find a motive for murder, but she’s besieged with distractions. Her ex has marriage and babies on his mind. Her too-sexy partner engages in a campaign of repeat seduction. Mamma needs help with Daddy’s devotion to bad habits. And a gang of wild hogs is running loose on Stella Maris.

With the heat index approaching triple digits, Liz races to uncover a diabolical murder plot in time to save not only Calista’s life, but also her own.
Review:
I picked up this book without having read the first, Lowcountry Boil, but that did not hinder my reading experience in the slightest! I’m a big fan of chick lit mysteries, and I had a lot of fun with the characters. The plot line with Calista – who looks like Marilyn Monroe and whose life seems to freakishly parallel to the late bombshell – was really intriguing. I liked that I was never quite sure who it was that was after Calista, and I loved when everything was revealed! I do want to pick up the first book simply because I think I would enjoy it, and I look forward to more!
4.5 stars
**Everyone who leaves a comment on the tour page will be entered to win a $20 Amazon gift card! Anyone who purchases their copy of Lowcountry Bombshell before October 7 and sends their receipt to Samantha (at) ChickLitPlus (dot) com, will get five bonus entries.**

Connect with Susan!

Website: http://www.susanmboyerbooks.com/
FB: https://www.facebook.com/Susanmboyerbooks
Twitter: https://twitter.com/susanmboyer
Pinterest: http://pinterest.com/SusanMBoyer
Goodreads: http://www.goodreads.com/SusanMBoyer

Buy the Book!

Fiction Addition: http://www.fiction-addiction.com/?CLSN_275=1377526357275571469a2c593c4994e6&keyword=lowcountry+bombshell&searchby=title&page=shop%2Fbrowse&fsb=1&Search=Search

Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/Lowcountry-Bombshell-Susan-M-Boyer/dp/1938383567/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1371387840&sr=8-1&keywords=lowcountry+bombshell
B&N: http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/lowcountry-bombshell-susan-m-boyer/1116243342?ean=9781938383564

Blog Tour Sign Up: The Bitches of Brooklyn by Rosemary …

No zombies. No serial killers. No threat of global nuclear warfare. Just life, love, friendships, marriages, work, children, parents, laughs, tears and a fair amount of wine.

Are they really bitches? That depends who you ask…Rachel, Clare, Tina and Jane are four friends awaiting the arrival of a fifth at a secluded Cape Cod bungalow where they spend an all-girls weekend every year since reconnecting at a reunion. But the fifth woman doesn’t show.
Instead she sends a note that reads –
“I’ve run off with one of your men.”

Has she? Is it a prank? Do they run for the phone or try to enjoy the weekend without her? Fast, funny and filled with Harris’ trademark snappy dialogue you’ll recognize friends and maybe a little of yourself as the women are forced to reevaluate their friendships, their marriages and their memories.

Inspired by a classic Hollywood film, The Bitches of Brooklyn is for every woman who’s ever had a best friend and wondered…is she really??

Future Tour: Unscripted by Jayne Denker

Jayne will be on tour October 28-November 18 with her chick lit/contemporary romance novel Unscripted One of Hollywood’s hardest working women is about to discover there’s…

Book Review: Swimming Pool Summer by Rebecca Farnworth

Rebecca Farnworth’s story of new love, old love, friendships and new lives sets the stage for a perfect end of summer read. The story unfolds as three longtime girlfriends take a holiday to Greece.

Meet Victoria, or “Tor” as she’s known to her friends. Some may call her a ‘cougar’ because she landed sexy Ed in what appears to be a perfect relationship for both of them. Ed, 10 years her junior, seems to be the complete package. He gets along with everyone & is loved by all of her friends, and best of all, he’s head-over-heels in love with Tor. But when Tor unintentionally gets pregnant, she fears that their relationship will come to an end.

Leila seems to have the perfect life – she and her husband, Tom, are busy raising their 4 year old daughter Gracie. Their relationship seems odd to some – yin and yang. But they compliment each other so well, they’re a good balance and have a strong love for each other. But one mistake in her past has caused some discord in her marriage. Suddenly, she and Tom are short with each other, and things are stressed between them. Leila finds that her marriage is troubled, and Tom notices a difference, too. Is she willing to forgive herself for her past? And will her past allow her to put the pieces of an almost broken marriage back together?

Frankie has a beautiful, perfect, size 8 body, and she works hard to maintain it. And why wouldn’t she? Patrick, one of her best friends, told her she has an amazing body. Frankie harbors a secret, though. She’s been in love with Patrick since they shared a single kiss years ago. She can’t get over that kiss, and Patrick has no idea that she’s been in love with him since then. Fixated on Patrick, Frankie isn’t prepared for him to show up in Greece. The worst part? He isn’t alone.

Rebecca Farnworth’s “Swimming Pool Summer” brings Leila, Frankie, Tor, plus their significant others and a few uninvited guests together on a Greek island for holiday. Each woman harbors their own internal battles with each of their different relationships. Can they put their individual troubles aside and enjoy their final holiday as the group they are, or will jealousy and pride tear their friendships apart?

I liked this end-of-summer read. Emotions are real, relationships are challenged, and the plot / story is enjoyable. There were a few humorous parts that 30-40 something women will enjoy. If you’ve ever had a group of friends that were like family, you’ll enjoy this book. I’ll definitely look for more books by Rebecca Farnworth.

My Score: 4.5 Stars

In My Mailbox: Week of September 15

Title: The Three Month Plan

Author: Kimberley Patterson

Received: CLP Blog Tours

Synopsis: Kelly Callahan had everything going for her. Everything that is, except for a relationship. It wasn’t for the lack of trying, it just seemed like she was a magnet for all the wrong ones. But all of that was about to change the minute she laid eyes on Jake.
On a dare from her close friend, Michelle, Kelly accepts a challenge to date and become Jake’s girlfriend within three months. The consequence of losing is global humiliation, and she refuses to lose.

Enlisting the help of her childhood friend and confidant, Brian, Kelly manages to catch Jakes attention. She also unknowingly hooks Brian who tries to sabotage the plan. Kelly finds herself with a dilemma; take the final step with Jake and win the plan or follow her heart and reveal her feelings for Brian.

The Vintage Teacup Club by Vanessa GreeneTitle: The Vintage Teacup Club

Author: Vanessa Greene

Received: Penguin Group

Synopsis: Three women’s lives are about to change because of a few delicate pieces of china…

When Jenny Davis comes across a beautiful vintage tea set at an outdoor market in the English countryside, she’s convinced it’s fate. A young bride on a budget, she has her heart set on a vintage tea-party theme for her wedding—and the gorgeous gold-rimmed china before her is perfect. There’s only one problem. Two other women have fallen in love with it, too. So they come up with a solution: They’ll share it.

They establish a sisterhood, sharing the ups and downs of their lives—from broken hearts and weddings, to family drama and career dreams. When a figure from Jenny’s past threatens to ruin her big day, Alison’s teenage daughter pushes her to the limit, and Maggie’s romantic life is thrown into turmoil, the members of the Vintage Teacup Club band together—proving their newfound friendship will last a lifetime.

Facebook Jeanie by Addison WestlakeTitle: Facebook Jeanie

Author: Addison Westlake

Received: Addison Westlake

Synopsis: It’s Bridget Jones meets Groundhog Day…

Ever wonder if you made the right choice? What if you could go back and find out?

31-year-old Clara is in a steady relationship—with Facebook. Every night after her depressing bureaucratic job (so much for saving the world), after coming home to her empty apartment Clara settles down with a pint of ice cream for some good, old-fashioned Facebook stalking. It’s her college boyfriend, The One Who Got Away. He now has a perfect marriage, perfect house, perfect life—everything she could have had if she hadn’t been so, so stupid.

But, wait. Jeanie from Facebook shows up at Clara’s job. There’s a new app they’re beta-testing and Clara’s perfect for it. That night she clicks on it and… nothing happens. But the next morning when Clara wakes up at noon, hung over, listening to her roommate blow-drying her hair and singing “Gettin’ Jiggy Wit It”, she realizes she’s back in college. With the chance to do it all over again.

Back in the world of frat parties, BFFs, and long-suffering, overlooked lab partners, join Clara as she discovers what it really means to hit the reset button on life. What could possibly go wrong? And, this time, can she get it right?

Kiss of Fire by Rebecca EthingtonTitle: Kiss of Fire

Author: Rebecca Ethington

Received: Mark My Works Book Publicity

Synopsis: Joclyn Despain has been marred by a brand on her skin. She doesn’t know why
the mark appeared on her neck, but she doesn’t want anyone to see it,
including her best friend Ryland, who knows everything else about her. The
scar is the reason she hides herself behind baggy clothes, and won’t let the
idea of kissing Ryland enter her mind, no matter how much she wants to.

The scar is the reason she is being hunted.

If only she knew that she was.

If only she had known that the cursed stone her estranged father sent for
her 16th birthday would trigger a change in her. Now, she is being stalked
by a tall blonde man, and is miraculously throwing her high school bully ten
feet in the air.

Joclyn attempts to find some answers and the courage to follow her heart.
When Ryland finds her scar; only he knows what it means, and who will kill
her because of it.

Little Island by Katharine BrittonTitle: Little Island

Author: Katharine Britton

Received: Penguin Group

Synopsis: The Little family has a dark secret.

Joy Little’s grandmother left these last words: “Grace. Flowers. By the water. Have fun!” A note that Joy’s mother, Grace, has interpreted as instructions for her memorial service. And so, the far-flung clan will gather at their inn on Little Island, Maine, to honor her.

Joy can’t help dreading the weekend. Twenty years ago, a tragedy nearly destroyed the family—and still defines them. Joy, Grace, her father Gar, and twins Roger and Tamar all have their parts to play. And now Joy, facing an empty nest and a nebulous future, feels more vulnerable than ever to the dangerous currents running through her family.

What lies beneath the surface of this tragedy is the terrible secret that haunts them all. And it’s only when that secret is revealed that every member of the family can honestly reappraise the past and come to a deeper understanding of who they are and what they mean to each other.

For fans of Anita Shreve and Elin Hilderbrand, this richly evocative contemporary novel explores the family dynamic and ultimately examines what can break us apart and what can keep us together.

Hunka Hunka Nursing Love by Kathryn MaeglinTitle: A Hunka Hunka Nursing Love

Author: Kathryn Maeglin

Received: Kathryn Maeglin

Synopsis: Valerie Palka is a savvy businesswoman who is obsessed with keeping her elderly mom, Helen, safe from all the lethal disasters that can befall widows living alone. Helen thinks the workaholic Valerie should focus on having as much luck in the bedroom as she does in the boardroom. But when Helen takes a spill and is rushed to the ER, a handsome male nurse, Keith Nuber, strikes her fancy, and she tells her daughter, “If you could get a handsome devil like that to take care of me, I’d be willing to consider it.” So Valerie creates a care agency, Home Health Hunks, staffed by attractive younger men.

Valerie’s idea is filled with potential . . . and potholes. As she navigates the tricky road to satisfying her mom as well as her own ambition, she finds herself falling for one of her employees—Keith—and is forced to examine her beliefs about the true meaning of success.

Blog Tour Sign Up: Won’t Last Long by Heidi …

Can two people who are totally wrong for each other ever be right?
She’s a feisty, sly marketing exec intent on hiding her small-town roots. He’s a laid-back engineer with a shaggy mutt and a pushy ex.
When Joshua asks Melina out, she asks what kind of car he drives. She’ll do drinks, not dinner. She’s always in control. But with Joshua’s easy confidence and sharp wit, Melina is soon breaking the dating rules she made for herself.
Opposites attract—but friends think Melina and Joshua can’t possibly last. When crisis throws their world off its axis, Melina must confront her childhood family, the people she’s come to care about, and the destruction of her pristine image.