On Tour: In Search of a Love Story by Rachel …
Rachel will be on tour January 21-February 11 with her novel In Search of a Love Story Emily Donovan doesn’t have a romantic bone in…
Author Profile: Mary Castillo
Author Name: Mary Castillo
Website: http://www.marycastillo.com/index.html
Bio: Mary Castillo can remember the exact moment when her destiny to write smart, sexy stories for women began. (And no, it was not the day this photo was taken!) Her Grandma Margie gave her a copy of Forever Amber by Kathleen Winsor (banned in 14 states and then when it was made into a movie starring Linda Darnell, condemned by the Hays Office, which controlled decency in movies) and said, “If you have any questions about what they’re doing in that book, just ask me!”
While Forever Amber is hardly a book for a high school freshman (frankly the heroine makes Scarlett a model of propriety and modesty in comparison), Mary was fascinated by a character that seized life with no apologies … and looked doing it.
After a few minor distractions (poor dating choices and pre-med studies), Mary committed herself to writing on February 10, 1994 and then sold her debut to Harper Collins Avon A in 2004. Hot Tamara was selected by Cosmopolitan magazine as the Red Hot Read of April 2005. The book wasn’t banned but Grandma was proud!
A lifelong professional writer, including a stint as a reporter for the Los Angeles Times Community News (second best job in the world), Mary is the proud author of three novels (Switchcraft, In Between Men and Hot Tamara) and three novellas featured in the anthologies, Orange County Noir, Names I Call My Sister and Friday Night Chicas. Her latest book, a paranormal that goes back and forth between modern day and Prohibition, Lost in the Light is now available.
Latina magazine called Mary “an author to look out for” and selected In Between Men and Names I Call My Sister for the Top 10 Summers Reads in July 2009. OC Metro magazine named Mary one of the hottest 25 people in the O.C. (the first but certainly not the last time her hotness has been publicly confirmed). She has also been profiled in Orange County Register, Coast, The Arizona Republic and San Diego Union Tribune.
Mary grew up in a haunted house in National City, CA. She cries every time she sees the movies, The Ghost and Mrs. Muir and Casablanca, and feels that Joan Collins is by far the preeminent TV villain (which is why Joan plays such an pivotal role in the novel, In Between Men).
A graduate of USC, Mary lives in The O.C. with her family.
Also, she may have a mild addiction to Pinterest.
See my 4.5 star review for Lost in the Light!
Visit Mary’s tour page!
Connect with Mary!
Website: http://www.marycastillo.com/index.html
Twitter : https://twitter.com/MCastilloWrites
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/marycastillo
GoodReads: http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/47331.Mary_Castillo
Falling For You by Heather Thurmeier
I received a copy of Falling For You by Heather Thurmeier in exchange for an honest review.
Falling For You stars the newly single, Cassidy Quinn, who has just been chosen to appear on a new reality dating show called, The One. Expecting to find Prince Charming and fall madly in love, Cassidy is less than thrilled when she sees that Brad, her ex-boyfriend, happens to be the bachelor. Seeing him brings back old feelings and she starts to wonder if she is over him like she thought she was. But, then she meets Evan, the camera man who is in charge of documenting her life for the show, and he begins tugging at her heart strings. But, with the show going on, and her Brad and Evan vying for her attention, what is a girl to do?
I thought this book was so cute. Light and fun, this book is definitely a quick read and very, very enjoyable. I found myself laughing out loud on numerous occasions as Cassidy stumbles her way through the show, and even more so as she tries to juggle her heart and both men. I also really enjoyed the romantic scenes between Cassidy and the two men. Overall, this is a great read that is well written with very believable and quirky characters. Also, the ending will definitely keep you on your toes.
Rating: 4/5 stars
Book Review: Nobody’s Damsel by E.M. Tippetts
I received a copy of Nobody’s Damsel by E.M. Tippetts in exchange for an honest review. I recently reviewed Someone Else’s Fairytale and really enjoyed the story, and I was looking forward to the follow-up on Chloe and Jason’s romance. I always hear that sequels aren’t supposed to be as good, but I thought this novel was even better than the first! It didn’t take me long at all to finish because I was so gripped by the tale and couldn’t put the book down until the end.
If you haven’t read the first book I really recommend it, because I want you to read Nobody’s Damsel and having the background information on Chloe and Jason will help immensely. The couple is now married, but Chloe is still having some difficulty adjusting to her role as wife of a Hollywood A-Lister. She doesn’t enjoy the paparazzi stalking her or the incessant rumors printed about her marriage, but she truly loves Jason and believes he loves her. Chloe has also taken on a job as a forensic scientist, something close to home for her after almost being murdered when she was younger.
The story weaves between Chloe’s work and the case that she is struggling on, and her home life and her struggles with the ever-present paparazzi and the undying rumor that Jason is cheating on her with his ex – and new costar. I was riveted from the never-ending action on the pages, and I found myself so entranced by the story that once while reading someone knocked on my door and I actually yelped. There is mystery, intrigue, romance, celebrity, scandal, death…all wrapped up in a truly impressive novel with a sweet cover. A favorite!
5 stars
Future Tour: Finding Out by Sheryn MacMunn
Sheryn MacMunn will be on tour March 4 – 25 with her novel, Finding Out.
Getting dumped on the sidewalk by her live-in boyfriend of seven years and realizing that he nearly emptied their savings account is the first of Sheila Davenport’s problems. At thirty-six, Sheila had thought her life was on track. But life no longer makes sense. Now she’s saddled with a mortgage that’s about to skyrocket, a psychotic boss, and a new employee who is unqualified and hell-bent on messing with the company’s rules.
Her friends advise her to date immediately, preferably someone rich and successful, or risk being old and alone. But Sheila needs to figure out what went wrong and how she got to this place. Since Prince Charming has ruined Sheila’s life, who can save her now?
Help comes unexpectedly from her elderly neighbor, Ruth Grey, who has had her own share of ups and downs. As their friendship grows, Ruth reveals her deeply moving story of survival in WWII Germany. Ruth’s mesmerizing past is a powerful tale of love and revenge that provides the perspective Sheila desperately needs to put the pieces of her own life back together.
Will Sheila succeed at work or walk away? Can she save her home? And why do her friends think they have it any better?
A story of love found and lost, true friendship, and how the human spirit endures.
Please visit CLP Blog Tours for the full tour calendar! **Anyone who purchases their copy of Finding Out before March 25 and sends their receipt to Samantha (at) ChickLitPlus (dot) com, will get five entries in a drawing to win a $20 Amazon gift card!!**
Future Tour: Someone Else’s Fairytale by E.M. Tippetts
E.M. Tippetts will be on tour March 18-April 8 with her chick lit novel Someone Else’s Fairytale Jason Vanderholt, Hollywood’s hottest actor, falls head over…
Margaret from Maine by Joseph Monninger
I was provided with a copy of Margaret from Maine by Joseph Monninger in exchange for an honest review.
This book begins with Margaret Kennedy, who lives on a dairy farm in a very rural part in Maine. Her husband Thomas, was injured in war overseas and left in a vegetative state due to his bravery. His body lived, but the spirit of the man had long ago left his physical shell. That made things very hard from Margaret as she is made to care for Thomas, as well as take care of the dairy farm and their young son. Her spirit breaks with each passing day. But, when the President signs a bill in support of wounded veterans, she hopes that things will start to change and that she will find some relief. She receives a chance invitation to the capital, and Charlie King, a handsome Foreign Service officer, takes it upon himself to escort her there. But, what happens on the trip is what makes this story special, because the two of them fall in love. But, things become difficult. With her husband still alive and breathing, although no longer really alive in every sense of the word, she is torn by the man that she once loved and her duty to him as his wife … but torn also because her heart longs to be happy with Charlie. Will the two be able to find a way to make it work? Or will their love be lost forever?
I haven’t read a book this good in such a long time. Joseph Monninger truly has a way with words and this book tugged at my heart strings the entire read. I felt for Margaret as she was faced with such a heartbreaking event when her husband was injured in war. But, she loved him and as his wife she took care of him day in and day out. But, I can only imagine what she must have felt like, or how alone she felt. Then, one fateful day brings Charlie into her life, and after six long years of selflessly caring for her injured husband, another man puts a twinklie back in her eye. Gah, what a book! I loved every second of it and was breathless as the pages dwindled down to the end. This book is seriously the most romantic book I have read in a while and I am tempted to put it right up there at the top of my all time reads. Un-put-downable!
Rating: 5 stars
Book Review: The Forever Year by Lou Aronica
I received a copy of The Forever Year by Lou Aronica in exchange for an honest review. I’m a big fan of this author and I enjoy books he send my way, because they take me out of my comfort zone from chick lit and women’s fiction novels. The Forever Year is a novel about father and son, and the relationship they forge when Mickey moves in with his youngest son, Jesse, after his kids decide he shouldn’t be living on his own. Mickey and Jesse never had the best relationship, as Jesse was much younger than his siblings and it always seemed Mickey just didn’t know what to do with him. But the pair begin a new relationship once Mickey moves in, and Mickey decides Jesse should hear a story that he hasn’t told anyone else.
I thought this book was very gripping, especially since Mickey’s story comes out in little pieces over time and really leaves you wondering what he will say next and when he will say it. I enjoyed watching the relationship between Mickey and Jesse get stronger as I continued reading. The supporting cast – Jesse’s siblings and girlfriend – are all unique characters and I thought they were interesting to read about as well. The love story that is told is so touching, and really made me evaluate my own relationship and understand how special it really is. I fell for this book, and I hope you will too!
[Rating: 4.5]
Future Tour: Schoolgirl Cinderella by Priya Narendran
Priya will be on tour March 18-25 with her YA/fairytale romance novel Schoolgirl Cinderella Ten year old Briony Duke and her parents own a prestigious…
