Book Review: The Moon Dwellers by David Estes
Reviewer: Andrea I received a free copy of this novel from the author in exchange for an honest review. Summary: In a desperate attempt to…
CLP Blog Tours Book Review: Getting Skinny by Monique Domovitch
Monique Domovitch is on tour now with CLP Blog Tours and Getting Skinny Summary: Owning a restaurant is as crazy for Nicky Landry as an…
In My Mailbox: Week of July 14
Title: Lowcountry Bombshell
Author: Susan Boyer
Received: CLP Blog Tours
Synopsis: Private Investigator 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.
Moonpennies by Alanna BrownTitle: Moonpennies
Author: Alanna Brown
Received: Alanna Brown
Synopsis: Lina Daniels was eleven years old when her mother divulged that true love doesn’t exist and heartbreak is inevitable. Now a late-twenties struggling writer, Lina is terrified of opening her heart to anyone. She fumbles through life, battling bouts of depression and avoiding real relationships at all costs…until one too many glasses of wine at a New Year’s Eve party undermines her resolve.
She ends up in the arms of an irresistible prospect and decides to give love a chance.
The better judgment of her best friends tells her he’s not the right guy. But finding the courage to fall in love is only the beginning of Lina’s journey. Uncharted risks and bold mistakes open her eyes to a life-changing realization. She may learn her mother was right about the certainty of heartbreak. Yet she may also find that true love does exist, and it makes the heartbreak worthwhile.
Lions, Tigers and Sexy Bears Oh My by Candace HavensTitle: Lions, Tigers and Sexy Bears Oh My
Author: Candace Havens
Received: Entangled Publishing
Synopsis: A Montana town where no one is who they seem….
Everything about runaway heiress Ainsley McLeon screamed trouble—from her luscious midnight locks to her Louboutin-clad toes. Yet sexy, stoic bar owner Luc couldn’t deny the instant connection he felt to the tempting stranger…or the long-dead feelings she evoked. She could work in his pub until her truck was fixed but after that she had to leave town for good. Ainsley traveled with her own emotional baggage and there was no way she’d fall for the bear-tempered Luc…no matter how many passionate nights she spent in his bed or how safe she felt in his muscular arms. Can these two opposites find love in the middle of a blizzard, or will Luc’s darker side and Ainsley’s past catch up with them?
Winter at Death’s Hotel by Kenneth CameronTitle: Winter at Death’s Hotel
Author: Kenneth Cameron
Received: Sourcebooks
Synopsis: In January 1896, Conan Doyle arrives at the Britannic Hotel in New York with Louisa, ready to begin his first American tour. When a woman’s brutally butchered corpse is found in a Bowery alley, Louisa is convinced from the artist’s sketch in the paper that she’d seen the victim at the hotel.
When Louisa sprains her ankle and is forced to remain at the hotel while her husband goes on tour, she cannot resist pursuing her intuitions. And when more bodies start appearing, she’s convinced that she holds the key to solving the killings.
Wedding Update: Here Comes the…Stress
Don’t call me a bridezilla. This is the sentence that I say in my head over and over as my wedding date gets closer. I don’t like yelling at people and I am very non-confrontational, but this wedding has brought out a whole new side of me. Why am I yelling at people? The latest fiasco (in the line of many) is that our jewelry store forgot to order our wedding bands. Yes, we went to the jewelry store in May, looked at bands for two hours, had three people including a manager help us, yet no one went ahead and pushed the order through. So when I thought to myself, where is our phone call about the bands being in, and decide to stop off at the store, imagine my extreme pleasure in being told, “I’m sorry, it looks like the order didn’t get put through.” Cue yelling. We’ve also had salespeople “forget” to order the bridesmaid dresses so now my maids barely have time for alterations, and even a hotel simply decided our contract and deposit to block off rooms for our guests wasn’t good enough and gave it to a different wedding party. So please, don’t call me a bridezilla when I yell. I wouldn’t have to be yelling if these errors weren’t being made. The wedding planning would still be stressful, don’t get me wrong, but now I have zero confidence in any of my vendors. I have now becoming the paranoid bride that is calling all of her vendors – from the officiant, cake lady, florist, reception hall manager, etc – to check, double check, confirm and re-confirm everything is set and I will get no more surprises along the way. Is stuff still going to go wrong? Yes, I have no doubt. That happens. But I have to say the amount of human error that has happened so far has me quite displeased, stressed, and not sleeping well at night. But that’s why I have this blog – so I can vent – right? I’ve been putting a few charming tidbits of what’s going wrong on Facebook and Twitter, and I love the email messages I am receiving from other past brides regaling me with their horror stories. They are helping me calm down, see the light at the end of the tunnel, and show me that one day I will look back and laugh and hopefully tell another woman all my sad stories so she can feel relief. I accept that no wedding is perfect and that the planning process will put stress on any bride-to-be.
Well, that was quite the rant! Can you tell this latest miscue just happened and is fresh on my mind? Let’s talk about something more uplifting…like my invitations! I haven’t shared them with the virtual world yet, so I’m happy to use this post to show them off. My first dress fitting is next week, and I finally purchased my shoes as well, so I’m all set for that appointment. Some items we are working on now: our wedding slideshow, buying gifts for our wedding party, and finalizing our ceremony timeline and vows. Less than two months to go and no matter how stressful this has become, I’m still so excited to become a wife and marry my best friend. Just don’t call me a bridezilla.
Book Review: A Certain Summer by Patricia Beard
I received a copy of A Certain Summer by Patricia Beard in exchange for an honest review.
Summary:
“Nothing ever changes at Wauregan.” That mystique is the tradition of the idyllic island colony off the shore of Long Island, the comforting tradition that its summer dwellers have lived by for over half a century. But in the summer of 1948, after a world war has claimed countless men—even those who came home—the time has come to deal with history’s indelible scars.
Helen Wadsworth’s husband, Arthur, was declared missing in action during an OSS operation in France, but the official explanation was mysteriously nebulous. Now raising a teenage son who longs to know the truth about his father, Helen turns to Frank Hartman—her husband’s best friend and his partner on the mission when he disappeared. Frank, however, seems more intent on filling the void in Helen’s life that Arthur’s absence has left. As Helen’s affection for Frank grows, so does her guilt, especially when Peter Gavin, a handsome Marine who was brutally tortured by the Japanese and has returned with a faithful war dog, unexpectedly stirs new desires. With her heart pulled in multiple directions, Helen doesn’t know whom to trust—especially when a shocking discovery forever alters her perception of both love and war.
Part mystery, part love story, and part insider’s view of a very private world, A Certain Summer resonates in the heart long after the last page is turned.
My Thoughts:
I absolutely devoured this book and thought it was fantastic! Set in a time that isn’t often written about, this novel brings the years following WW2 front and center. Part historical fiction and part romance, this book follows the effects that the war had on those returning from war and those who were waiting back at home for them. In a small, family oriented community, we see first hand the emotional impact. And through fabulous writing, Patricia really brings to life the characters, which she has written so flawlessly. I really enjoyed the dynamic between Helen and Frank, and although they were treading dangerous waters, I think Patricia handled the situation with comfort and ease. Overall, this story is light and and easy to read and is the perfect addition to any beach bag. I highly recommend it.
Rating: 4/5 stars
On Tour: When Girlfriends Chase Dreams by Savannah Page
Savannah will be on tour July 15-29 with her novel When Girlfriends Chase Dreams A novel about chasing dreams, for better or worse, and living…
Q&A with Sarah Louise Smith
Chick Lit Plus is so excited to share this fun interview with the very talented, Sarah Louise Smith. Read on to find out a little more about one of our favorite authors.
When did you know writing was for you?
I’ve been writing stories since before I can remember, but it was only in my late teens and early twenties that I started to seriously entertain the idea of writing a novel and becoming an author… it then took about 10 years before I could actually sit down and write a whole, complete novel!
How would you describe your book?
My new book, Izzy’s Cold Feet, is about a girl who’s on a bit of an emotional roller-coaster. She has had a traumatic childhood, and is very confused about the man she’s about to marry. It’s (hopefully!) sad, funny, and romantic with some twists and is written in the first person. My first book, Amy & Zach, is about a British girl, Amy and an American guy, Zach, and they take it in turns to share their story with the reader. They both have a secret and it has a few twists and turns.
What was the hardest part of the writing process for you?
Finding time to write. Getting a work, social life, family life and writing life balance can be tricky. I’m very lucky that my husband is willing to take on more of his fair share of household chores in order to give me more time for writing. I also find that I write about 25% of a novel and then start thinking about something new. I have to force myself to focus on one thing at a time and finish each project before starting the next!
What does your daily schedule look like?
I get up early and write, go to work (I work in marketing communications), come home and cook, then write some more, walk my dog, read or watch some television and then early to bed. It’s busy but I love what I do.
What would be your advice to aspiring writers?
Just to keep writing. You have to commit to a story, or you’ll never finish. And no matter how much rejection you get, you must keep at it.
What advice would you give yourself ten years ago? Any words of wisdom?
Ooh good question! Probably to dedicate more time to my writing. I sometimes wish I’d done all this earlier; but then I know my writing is better than it was 10 years ago. Perhaps I wasn’t ready, back then!
And now…let’s have a little fun:
What are your favorite movies/books?
Movies: Love Actually, Definitely Maybe, and The Holiday at my favourites right now. Books: Pride & Prejudice by Jane Austen and Chasing Daisy by Paige Toon (in fact any books by either of those authors are my favourites). I’m a sucker for a feel-good romantic comedy with a happy ending, as you can tell!
What is your biggest guilty pleasure food wise?
Milk chocolate. I have to ration myself.
What is your must have beauty product?
Beauty serum. I’m not a big make-up wearer and don’t spent tonnes of time or money on beauty products but I love that stuff.
What is in your purse?
It’d be easier to answer what isn’t! 🙂 Money, lip gloss, antibacterial hand gel, tissues, my kindle, keys, spare contact lenses, painkillers, pens, old receipts, a notebook, hair ties, earphones, and a bunch of other useless objects! 🙂
Who is your writing inspiration?
There are so many people who inspire me: other writers (including those mentioned above), my father (who also likes to write), but most of all, my husband, who encourages me and cheers me on.
Who is your favorite literary character?
Elizabeth Bennett from Pride & Prejudice. She was fun, modern, and didn’t care what other people thought of her.
Celebrity crush?
Oh I have a few! One of them is Zach Braff. I met him last year, and he was very friendly and sweet.
Thank you so much for stopping by Chick Lit Plus, Sarah Louise Smith!
Book Review: Down and Out in Bugtussle by Stephanie McAfee
I received a copy of Down and Out in Bugtussle by Stephanie McAfee in exchange for an honest review.
Summary:
With her fiancé now her ex-fiancé, Ace has hightailed it back to Bugtussle, Mississippi, and back to her Gramma Jones’s house. Her best friends, Lilly and Chloe, are delighted she’s back, but Ace still has some challenges ahead of her.
For one thing, her replacement as Bugtussle High School’s art teacher, Cameron Becker, refuses to vacate the position. So Ace is stuck working as a substitute teacher while harboring fantasies of running Miss Becker out of town. On top of that, Lilly and Chloe are obsessed with setting her up on less-than-romantic blind dates—even though all she wants is a break from her pitiful love life.
To ease her troubled mind, Ace resolves to restore her grandmother’s gardens to their former glory. But in the well-worn gardening book she’s dug out of her grandmother’s attic there are a series of suspicious notes that indicate her grandmother may have had a special someone in her past. Now, with her faithful chiweenie, Buster Loo, by her side, Ace is determined to get to the bottom of her grandmother’s secret life, all the while hoping her own life isn’t about to implode….
Review:
I’ve been having a lot of fun read Ace’s series, and I was just as excited to get to Down and Out in Bugtussle. I wondered how Ace was going to be now that she is back in Bugtussle after fleeing her seemingly-charmed life in Florida. I supported her decision in moving but was still curious how the pieces would fall into place for her. With the same wit, charm, and crass that readers are sure to know and love by now, Ace’s journey will continue to keep you laughing through it all. From trying to get her job back to being made over into an eighties chick, Ace also takes on uncovering her grandmother’s secrets and trying to find love…kind of. Such a fun series and I hope there is more!
4 stars
More reviews from this series…
My 5 star review for Diary of a Mad Fat Girl!
My 5 star review for Happily Ever Madder!
I received a copy of Down and Out in Bugtussle by Stephanie McAfee in exchange for an honest review.
Summary:
With her fiancé now her ex-fiancé, Ace has hightailed it back to Bugtussle, Mississippi, and back to her Gramma Jones’s house. Her best friends, Lilly and Chloe, are delighted she’s back, but Ace still has some challenges ahead of her.
For one thing, her replacement as Bugtussle High School’s art teacher, Cameron Becker, refuses to vacate the position. So Ace is stuck working as a substitute teacher while harboring fantasies of running Miss Becker out of town. On top of that, Lilly and Chloe are obsessed with setting her up on less-than-romantic blind dates—even though all she wants is a break from her pitiful love life.
To ease her troubled mind, Ace resolves to restore her grandmother’s gardens to their former glory. But in the well-worn gardening book she’s dug out of her grandmother’s attic there are a series of suspicious notes that indicate her grandmother may have had a special someone in her past. Now, with her faithful chiweenie, Buster Loo, by her side, Ace is determined to get to the bottom of her grandmother’s secret life, all the while hoping her own life isn’t about to implode….
Review:
I’ve been having a lot of fun read Ace’s series, and I was just as excited to get to Down and Out in Bugtussle. I wondered how Ace was going to be now that she is back in Bugtussle after fleeing her seemingly-charmed life in Florida. I supported her decision in moving but was still curious how the pieces would fall into place for her. With the same wit, charm, and crass that readers are sure to know and love by now, Ace’s journey will continue to keep you laughing through it all. From trying to get her job back to being made over into an eighties chick, Ace also takes on uncovering her grandmother’s secrets and trying to find love…kind of. Such a fun series and I hope there is more!
4 stars
More reviews from this series…
My 5 star review for Diary of a Mad Fat Girl!
My 5 star review for Happily Ever Madder!
Future Tour: Thirty-Two Going on Spinster by Becky Monson
Becky will be on tour August 5-26 with her chick lit novel Thirty-Two Going on Spinster Julia Dorning is a spinster, or at least on…
