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The Baby Trap by Sibel Hodge
Chick Lit Review

The Baby Trap by Sibel Hodge

I received a copy of The Baby Trap in exchange for an honest review.
Summary:
Based on her own experiences with infertility and two attempts at IVF, Sibel Hodge’s latest novel The Baby Trap will have you laughing and crying at the ups and downs of modern baby-making…

When Gina turns thirty-three her body clock unexpectedly begins clanging in her ear with annoying persistence. The only problem is, having a baby isn’t as easy as she thought. Whether she’s feng shui-ing the house to death with fertility symbols, throwing out her husband’s tight boxers in favour of baggies, swapping wine and chocolate for green tea and yams, popping fertility drugs like M&M’s, or having sex so precision-timed it makes international warfare manoeuvres look unorganized, her life is turned upside down. And when nothing seems to be working, her quest for the B-word turns into an obsession.

Can Gina stay sane, get pregnant, and keep her marriage together? Or will her baby trail become a baby trap?
My Review:
What a fun read! I love books where I am nothing like the main character yet I totally get her. I think that is major kudos to the writer. I really enjoyed the energy between Gina and her husband. Gina gets a tad crazy when it comes to making a baby, but her hubs sticks by her even when she makes him lay off the alcohol and start drinking green tea. I am not on the baby train quite yet in my life, but I really got into this story. It was easy for me to connect with Gina and share in her heartache and sheer confusion on why they were not getting pregnant. The ending was super interesting, and I definitely recommend this book!
[Rating: 4.5]

November 7, 2012
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The Boots My Mother Gave Me by Brooklyn James
Chick Lit Review

The Boots My Mother Gave Me by Brooklyn James

The Boots My Mother Gave Me by Brooklyn James is a great coming of age fiction novel that anybody can relate to. Have you ever wondered what it would be like to walk through life in someone else’s shoes? Feisty tomboy, Harley LeBeau puts in the drivers seat as she puts you in the boots that her mother gave her and takes you a long for a wild ride. Although she is faced with a difficult choice, she chooses to save herself and escape an abuse childhood even though it means leaving her mother and younger sister behind. Along the way she finds her independence, spreads her wings and truly finds herself. She also learns to trust in love and in herself.

The book cover for this one threw me and to be honest, I wasn’t really looking forward to reading it based on that alone. But, that all changed once I cracked it open. The Books My Mother Gave Me is surprisingly deep and thoughtful and examines the dynamics of abuse relationships and what it takes to overcome one. I have always been one of those women who has never why a woman would stay in an abused relationship, but this book definitely opened my eyes and now I feel more compassionate. It is a tough choice especially when children are involved and this book digs deep to make you see that. I loved this story from the get go and Harley is a surprising hero as she stands up to her situation and makes some very solid decisions. Overall, a fantastic read that I highly recommend to any and all women.

And as a bonus, the author has compiled a music playlist that is also available for download. It’s very fun and definitely fits the many moods of the book. You should check it out.

[Rating: 4.5/5]

November 6, 2012
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Author Profile: Cindy Roesel
Chick Lit Authors

Author Profile: Cindy Roesel

Author Name: Cindy Roesel
Website: http://www.cindyroesel.com/
Bio: CINDY ROESEL is an Emmy Award winning television broadcast journalist. After working for twenty years in newsrooms filled with ambitious backbiting adrenalin junkies, she’s turning her experiences into novels. Cindy lives in Miami with her shih tzu, Sassy.
See my 4 star review for Viewer Discretion Advised!
Visit Cindy’s tour page!
Connect with Cindy!

www.cindyroesel.com

cindyroesel.blogspot.com

writeoncindy@yahoo.com

cindyroesel.facebook

cindyroesel.twitter

cindyroesel.LinkedIn

Buy the Book!

AMAZON.COM

www.amazon.com/dp/09851281000

B&N.com

www.barnesandnoble.com/w/viewer-discretion-advised-cindy-roesel/1109713715?ean=9780985128104
Bio retrieved from CLP Blog Tours

November 6, 2012
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Future Tour: On the Rim of Love by Marie Astor
CLP Blog Tours

Future Tour: On the Rim of Love by Marie Astor

Marie will be on tour December 10-24 with her contemporary romance novel On the Rim of Love Maggie Robin has been dating the irresistibly good-looking,…

November 5, 2012
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Guest Post by Debbie Dyke
For Writers

Guest Post by Debbie Dyke

First of all, thank you for the opportunity to share my writing background with you and your interest in The Bloody Mary Club! I appreciate…

November 5, 2012
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Blog Tour Sign Up: In Search of a Love Story by Rachel Schurig
CLP Blog Tours

Blog Tour Sign Up: In Search of a Love Story …

Emily Donovan doesn’t have a romantic bone in her body.

At least, that’s what her friends Ryan and Ashley keep telling her. They’re convinced her bad luck with men is directly related to her life-long lack of interest in all things romantic. When Emily’s latest relationship crashes and burns, she decides to go along with her friends’ plans for a romance research project. Sure, the idea that she’ll have better luck if she learns about the great romances of literature and film seems a little silly, but Emily figures it can’t hurt.

In no time at all, Emily finds herself buried under a mountain of romance novels, chick flicks, and sappy love songs, hopeful that her hard work will pay off with true love. When she meets Greg, Ashley and Ryan are convinced she’s found prince charming—after all, he’s rich, handsome, and totally into Emily. What more could she want? And why does it seem that her friend Elliot isn’t exactly happy for her?

Faced with misunderstandings, miscommunications, and a seemingly endless string of missteps, she is nevertheless determined to give true love a try. In doing so, Emily will eventually find that true romance, the kind that lasts, has little to do with stereotypes or clichés, and everything to do with finding out what’s in her own heart.

November 5, 2012
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Diary of a Mad Fat Girl by Stephanie McAfee
Chick Lit Review

Diary of a Mad Fat Girl by Stephanie McAfee

I received a copy of Diary of a Mad Fat Girl in exchange for an honest review.
Summary:
Graciela “Ace” Jones is mad-mad at her best friend Lilly who cancels their annual trip to Panama City for mysterious reasons; at her boss Catherine for “riding her ass like a fat lady on a Rascal scooter;” at her friend Chloe’s abusive husband; and especially at Mason McKenzie, the love of her life, who has shown up with a marriage proposal one year too late. Ace is never mad, though, at her near-constant companion, an adorable chiweenie dog named Buster Loo.
Ace’s anger begins to dissipate as she takes matters into her own hands to take down Chloe’s philandering husband-and to get to the bottom of a multitude of other scandals plaguing Bugtussle, Mississippi. Then, she starts to realize that maybe Mason deserves a second chance after all.
With a sharp and distinctive voice, Stephanie McAfee delivers a hilarious and fast-paced tale about Ace Jones and her two best friends-thick as thieves and tough as nails-navigating Southern small-town politics and prejudices, finding love, and standing up for each other all the way.
My Review:
What a hoot! The concept reeled me in, the execution was flawless, and I loved all the Southern talk. I swear, I think in a past life I was a southern belle, because I am just addicted to these types of books! Ace was a hysterical main character, and I enjoyed every minute of going on an adventure with her. I loved Bugtussle, Mississippi and the characters that filled the town. And Buster Loo? I am seriously trying to persuade my fiancé to let me name our future pup after this chiweenie. (Would probably work better if we didn’t live in Iowa.) This is a must-read, and I am just as ecstatic to currently be reading the sequel, Happily Ever Madder!
[Rating: 5]

November 5, 2012
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Challenge 2012:Post Reviews:November
Updates

Challenge 2012:Post Reviews:November

November Reviews

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Only signed up challengers are eligible to win

Prize for October: One (1) winner will receive a print copy of Home for Christmas by Cally Taylor and one (1) winner will receive a print copy of The Queen Gene by Jennifer Coburn. This will be open to US/Canada residents only. In order to qualify, you must post the link to your review in the Mister Linky below. This can be to your blog, GoodReads page, or other sources such as Amazon.

November 4, 2012
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My Challenge: Jillian Michael’s 30 Day Shred
Health & Fitness

My Challenge: Jillian Michael’s 30 Day Shred

I have decided that the month of November will be the month where I finally partake in Jillian Michael’s 30 Day Shred Challenge. I bought the DVD well over six months ago, and while I’ve done the workout a handful of times, I had yet to challenge myself to complete the DVD once a day every day for thirty days. I started on Thursday, November 1, and I am excited to see how I do. The DVD has three levels on it, each one with a thirty minute workout. I’m starting with level one, of course, and hope to move to level two after 10 days and then level 3 after another ten days. Each workout has three circuits to it and each circuit has the same layout–– 3 minutes of strength, 2 minutes of cardio, and 1 minute of abs. How am I doing so far? Day 1 I felt great – strong and fit and ready to do this. I woke up on Day 2 with my arms screaming at me. I rarely do a lot of upper body workouts because I have skinny arms that tone very easily, so my workouts mostly focus on lower body and cardio. Because of this, my arms were not used to the workout I gave it – pushups and chest flies being the two that really got me. Day 3 my arms hurt so bad I couldn’t lift them long enough to put mascara on.
I’ll be blogging hopefully every week about my 30 Day Challenge. I took my weight and measurements the morning of Day 1 and plan on retaking them each Monday, and hopefully I will notice a difference at the end!

November 4, 2012
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