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Guest Post by Jamie Brazil

What’s the Price of Friendship?

Friending outside my household income level isn’t new to me. I’m a writer and most years I make less than 25K. I used to make more in my emergency dispatch days, but then again, except for the freedom to travel to foreign countries, I was rarely happy. These days, just about everyone I know earns more than I do. So what does this have to do with anything?

Recently, I was asked to be a fourth on a girls’ beach weekend. Two of the other three land solidly in a six-figure income bracket. I’ve never met the third gal, so I don’t know about her. Yet suddenly I’m feeling like Columbus scanning an Alexander-Wang-handbag-carrying horizon of friendship.

Sure, I can pack my Anya Hindmarch mirror bag (bought at a garage sale last summer). And I can leave my credit card at home. But I’m human and girlfriend weekends, with the required shopping binge, can be fatal to budgets — not to mention diets and a resolve to curb alcohol consumption. Should I accept the invitation?

All this puzzling gave me pause when I realized this situation felt familiar. In fact, I’d written about it. In a novel. Mine.

In Prince Charming, Inc. my heroine, Elyse, is a matchmaker. Her best friends and clients are the upper crust of San Francisco society. Elyse barely fits in through designer thrift store finds and sturdy no-brand business-wear… and always feels a little inferior for it. Of course her friends are true, and in the end fashion has little to do with friendship.

Funny how our own characters have something to teach us! Of course I should go to the beach. So I can’t indulge in an outlet mall buying frenzy. Big deal. I can still be part of the group simply by blowing my diet and guzzling margaritas! There’s always a price to friendship.

Charming Tuesday: A Beauty Favorite

Charming Tuesday Product of the Week: Nail Polish

Samantha’s Must-Have:

I’ll admit – I’m a bit of a spa junkie. For the past few months I have been obsessed with the Shellac manicure, and go about once a month to the salon to get it done. It’s so nice not to have my nails chip for two weeks! Everyone once in a while I get pedicure too, but not nearly as often as a mani. I don’t mind giving myself a pedi at home, and I have a bunch of supplies I bust out – buffers and foot lotions, the foot bath, etc. My favorite nail polish as of late has come to me through a Birchbox – Color Club Neon Nail Polish. Neon is so in right now, everything from clothing to shoes to polish. I received the green, and got so many compliments on the color. I recently purchased a set so I have all the colors, and this will definitely help save some money at the spa!

Sara’s Must-Have:

I am the absolute worst about removing nail polish, so, whenever I do my nail, I want to be sure that whatever I use is going to last a while. I’ve been hearing about Sally Hansen nail polish strips for quite sometime, and up until a few months ago, I had never tried them. I was hesitant because of many reasons: the price, the level of difficulty, not knowing whether or not they would work….but I finally bought a box and haven’t looked back. They are so easy to apply and most of the time, the strips last two weeks on my fingers tips. They strips are also very shiny and always make me feel like I had a professional manicure, even though I only applied them myself. My favorites are “Kitty, Kitty” which are a leopard print, as well as the bright greens and yellows that they have for summer time. I highly recommend that you swing by and some up- they’re always a lot of fun!

WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE NAIL POLISH? LEAVE A COMMENT BELOW AND LET US KNOW.

Prince Charming, Inc by Jamie Brazil

Prince Charming, Inc. by Jamie Brazil is a hilarious, enchanting tale that follows Elyse Tobin, matchmaker extraordinaire. Unable to fix her own love life after disastrously falling for Nick Salvatore, Elyse creates a manual for the perfect man and begins refurbishing them … then marketing them to the wealthy socialite women who are desperate for the perfect man, and tired of looking on their own. After numerous successful re-makeovers of men, Elyse creates quite the niche market for her product and soon enough becomes the talk amongst the single women. But, one unfortunate day, she gets an unfortunate call from the IRS, and they’re looking to audit her. She is at risk for losing her house and her sanity … and the one man that she least expected, is the one that comes through and saves the day.

I absolutely adored Prince Charming, Inc. I found Elyse witty and became enamored with Nick not long after his introduction. Sure, at first you are supposed to loathe him, but I was able to tell pretty quickly what was really going on and couldn’t help but to root for him. This was a really fun read and I thought Jamie Brazil did a fabulous job at creating an enchanting tale about love and the heart. Plus … how can you go wrong with all of the mentions and descriptions of cheesecake?!?

Overall, a sweet and charming love story.

[Rating: 4/5]

Author of the Month

Chick Lit Plus is so pleased to announce that our Author of the Month for May is Jennifer Gilbert, author of I Never Promised You A Goodie Bag.

I Never Promised You A Goodie Bag is a warm, wise, alternately painful and funny inspiring memoir of survival, renewal, and transformation. It’s a tale about learning to let go and be happy after years of faking it, proving that while we can’t always control what happens to us, we can control who we become. And instead of anticipating our present in a goodie bag at the end of an event, we realize our presence at every event is the real gift.

In celebration of being our Author of the Month for May, we have asked Jennifer a few questions about receiving the coveted spot on Chick Lit Plus. Please read her answers below:

What was your reaction when you learned that you had been selected as the Author of the Month for Chick Lit Plus?

Totally and completely honored. As May is International Chick Lit month and I am the first author to be selected as the Author of the Month, this is an incredible compliment to me as well as the ‘trailblazing’ route I like to take in life. It’s incredible to me…I’m so awed by this honor and so incredibly appreciative that my book has been chosen and it is a vote of confidence that this book has resonated with you and hopefully many others.

How does it feel to have your book so well-received by the public?

I am overwhelmed by gratitude. I have bared my soul in this book and am so nervous about how it will be received, so when I read the positive feedback it literally brings me to tears, I’m so overwhelmed. It reassures me that I NEVER PROMISED YOU A GOODIE BAG is relatable to everyone who has their own story. We ALL have something in our life that has held us back, or propelled us forward. If my story helps people to realize that we have the choice to be better, to change and let go, then I have accomplished so much more than writing a memoir.

Thank you so much Jennifer for allowing us to review your book!

Please be sure to get your hands on I Never Promised You A Goodie Bag – a definite 5 star on Chick Lit Plus.

Chick Lit Author Blog Hop 2012

I’ve been wanting to write an article recently reminiscing about Chick Lit Plus. I always tell people starting CLP was the best decision I’ve made (besides recently undergoing Lasik surgery), and it is the truth. The friendships I’ve made, the professional connections, and the knowledge and opportunities that have come my way make me think of how lucky I am. I wear many hats – book reviewer, editor, blog tour coordinator, publisher, author – but I love my busy life and working hard at something I truly enjoy and can say with all my heart I have a passion for.
I fell in love with books at a young age, thanks to the influence of my mother and grandmother. I knew I wanted to be a writer myself, and after graduating college with my BS in business, I decided to put some sort of plan into action. I bought my first laptop (even though I was online student the last two years of college – figure that out) and started researching. I kept coming across book blogs, since I didn’t even really know what the word “blog” meant, I had to do some research on that. After I had a better grasp on blogging and what book bloggers were doing, I searched for a web designer and Chick Lit Plus was put into motion.
So, I had my blog. Then I froze. I remember thinking – how do I get followers? What books do I review? What did I get myself into? I started making trips to the library once a week, checking out anything that looked interesting (mostly those with pink covers) and spilling my thoughts on the book, posting them for everyone to see. I joined Twitter and made a Facebook page for Chick Lit Plus, starting accumulating fans, and within three months had authors and publishers sending me books to review.
Before I started CLP, I had already joined the chick lit fan club. Most books I was checking out could fall in the category, and I was absolutely adoring them. I dove deeper into the genre, looking for some fabulous books to be my first reviews. Which made the top five cut?
1. The Agency by Ally O’Brien
2. The First Assistant by Clare Naylor & Mimi Hare
3. Bliss by Danyel Smith
4. Something Borrowed by Emily Giffin
5. The Truth About Diamonds by Nicole Richie
It’s fun to look back at those first few books that caught my attention purely based on covers alone (besides Nicole Richie – I’ve always just been a fan). I actually didn’t even know Emily Giffin as EMILY GIFFIN when I read Something Borrowed. I checked out the book with a pink cover. Anything with pink, drinks, lollipops, or shopping bags made it in my pile. Now, I’m super lucky to be sent amazing books each week for my reviewing pleasure. I love being a part of the chick lit community, I am so thankful to all the wonderful people I have met along the way, and I’m thrilled to be taking part in the Chick Lit International Month for the second year in a row. Cheers to chick lit – now go read a book!

Contest Info:

I am giving away an eBook copy of my debut novel, Destined to Fail to one lucky winner! To enter, please leave a comment below, and be sure to include the words “chick lit” in your comment in order to be entered!

Grand Prize:
For a chance to win the Chick Lit Author Blog Hop Grand Prize of a $150 Sephora gift card, simply do the following:

• Collect all 34 of the secret words (you will find a secret word in each of the blog posts on the hop.) The word will be italicized, so it will be easy to locate. ***HINT***The secret word in my blog hop post is in the last paragraph.
• Submit your list of 34 secret words to CLABlogHop@aol.com before midnight on Sunday, May 20th and you will be entered into the Grand Prize Drawing!
• The Grand Prize winner will be announced on Monday, May 21st, and the $150 Sephora gift card can be redeemed online, or at any Sephora store in the US.
• Chick Lit Author Blog Hop contests are open to residents of the United States only.
Please see the post below for a Linky list with all 34 participating authors/blogs. You will have an opportunity to win a different e-book at each blog hop stop. Good luck!

What’s Your Number? by Karyn Bosnak

While I haven’t seen this movie, when I received a copy of the book I was looking forward to it. I had seen the previews and I thought Anna Farris (one of my favorite actresses) made this movie look hilarious! Well, I might have to watch the movie now after reading the novel, because it didn’t do much for me. The story is based on Delilah Darling, who is horrified after reading in the New York Post that the average person has 10.5 sex partners – and she’s just notched number twenty. On the brink of thirty, recently unemployed and now convinced she’s a mondo slut – Delilah is determined to find those past twenty guys and see which one is Mr. Right for her. She can’t get to twenty-one, that is just wrong. Someone in her past is the one for her – she just has to find him.
The story follows Delilah as she goes on a cross-country road trip searching for ex-boyfriends, old flames, and one-night stands. While parts were funny, the humor just wasn’t there for me. Delilah was loveable enough as a heroine, but for the most part I was just thinking she was missing a screw – no pun intended! The book was a really slow read for me, and I eventually starting skimming pages to keep it moving. I think I will still check out the movie sometime, but the novel definitely fell flat for me.
]Rating: 3.5]

On Tour: The Devil Has Dimples by Pepper Phillips

Pepper will be on tour May 21-June 11 with her novel The Devil Has Dimples Adopted! In the Deep South, one of the first questions…

Author Profile: Kimberly S. Lin

Author Name: Kimberly Lin

Bio: Kimberly Lin is a Southern California native, graduated from UC Irvine with a degree in Economics. After college, she moved to Los Angeles and worked as a financial writer and hedge fund analyst but always dreamed of becoming a women’s fiction author.

Utilizing her experiences, she writes stories that are witty, heartwarming and relatable to the modern woman.

She now resides in Orange County, CA. Recession Proof is her debut novel, and she is now working on her second novel and is the Publisher of Minted Magazine.

Title: Recession Proof
See my 4 star review for Recession Proof!

Connect with Kimberly!

FACEBOOK
GOODREADS
BLOG: THE CHEAP
MINTED MAGAZINE

VIDEO: RECESSION PROOF

GET THE BOOK!

BARNES & NOBLE
SMASHWORDS

In My Mailbox: Week of May 20

Title: Southern Charm

Author: Tinsley Mortimer

Received: Amanda @ Simon and Schuster

Synopsis: A modern Manhattan fairy tale with the sparkle of a champagne cocktail, Tinsley Mortimer’s debut novel provides a delicious peek into her world of society, fashion, and big-city fame.

SOUTHERN GIRL Minty Davenport has always dreamed of skyscrapers, yellow cabs, and a life like Eloise’s in New York City. So upon graduation from college, she bids adieu to Charleston and makes a beeline for the Big Apple. Almost instantly, she finds herself at an event being photographed for Women’s Wear Daily, and her career as a New York society “It Girl” is launched. As Minty navigates the ironclad customs of New York society, a blossoming love life, and a job working for a ruthless and powerful publicist, she finds that the rules a southern belle lives by—being nice to everyone, accentuating her femininity, and minding her manners—don’t necessarily guarantee success in Manhattan. She may indeed be accumulating new friends and opportunities along with boldfaced mentions and a very eligible bachelor boyfriend, but someone is plotting her very public downfall. When Minty gets to the top of the social ladder, she must decide if the glamorous life she thought she wanted is really everything she hoped it would be.

Tinsley Mortimer’s insider observations about New York’s elite are deliciously witty, and the heart of her book is that of an irresistibly lovable young woman who is on the brink of finding her dream.

Title: The Perfect Location

Author: Kate Forster

Received: Unsolicited, Avon Books

Synopsis: Three glamorous actresses gliding through a life lived on the silver screen. One Hollywood Blockbuster.

An intricate web of passionate pasts, addictions, lovers and secrets, perfect for fans of Lesley Lokko and Adriana Trigiani.

Rose Nightingale is an Australian actress still recovering
from a bad marriage.

Sapphira De Mont is the world’s most beautiful movie star,
but hides a secret addiction and a broken heart.

Calypso Gable is a young star on the rise trying to escape
her mum-manager’s clutches.

As they come together on set in the Italian hills, they find
out more about one another – and about themselves –
than they ever thought possible.

An intricate web of passionate pasts, addictions, lovers and secrets, perfect for fans of Lesley Locko and Adriana Trigiani.

Title: Come Fly With Me

Author: Sandi Perry

Received: From Sandy Perry

Synopsis: Haven’t we all experienced a moment when we’ve said something we wish we could take back? What if you were an eleven-year old girl and thought that moment caused the death of someone you cherished? Allison Ross, now a twenty-nine year old art gallery owner in Chelsea, was that young girl. The sudden death of her father in a suspicious car crash begins the unraveling of the tightly-wound world she has built around herself. This present day tragedy raises the unresolved issue of her Uncle Joey’s untimely demise, for which she feels responsible. Adding to her turmoil, she is shocked to learn that she’s been named interim CEO of her father’s luxury jet company. Past and present blur as she fights to maintain control of a company she wants no involvement in while she struggles to keep her gallery afloat.

Allison’s neighbor and good friend, Kenyon James, bakes butter-filled goodies culled from her Bubby’s recipe files, and teases her that one day someone is going to come along who will be able to break through the armor she wears over her heart. Enter Alexander Coventry, a brilliant barracuda who is the prime candidate to take her father’s place as CEO of RossAir Industries. Alex is the charmingly handsome son of a wealthy Atlanta family whose father taught him defeat is not an option. Allison and Alexander have two things in common—they both feel the need to prove to themselves to their fathers, and they’re both incredibly stubborn. His motives toward her and the company get muddier by the day as these two opinionated forces dance around one another as they jockey for power, fall in love, and search for her father’s killer. The story reaches its climax with a return to the cliffs of Frenchman’s Bay in Bar Harbor, the scene of her early childhood trauma.

In Sara’s Mailbox:

Title: The Rock Star in Seat 3A

Author: Jill Kargman

Received by: Unsolicited

Synopsis: It’s Hazel’s thirtieth birthday and she has everything she’s ever wanted: a kickass job, a dream apartment in New York City, and the perfect boyfriend—who’s just days away from proposing. Hazel thinks she’s happy but isn’t quite ready to settle down. So when her most far-fetched fantasy enters the realm of the possible, shouldn’t she drop everything to see it through?

The morning after her birthday, Hazel boards a flight to L.A. only to get the surprise of her life. When she’s bumped up to first class, extra legroom and free drinks are absolutely the last things on her mind when she catches sight of her seatmate: her all-time biggest celebrity crush, rock star Finn Schiller! Only the night before she’d confessed her infatuation with the gorgeous musician, and her boyfriend joked that she had a free pass if she ever met him. Hazel can’t believe fate has actually thrown them together.

Even more unbelievable is that during the flight they genuinely connect. Finn likes her uncensored cursing and wicked sense of humor, and that she’s unlike all of his groupies; Hazel likes his killer looks, ripped physique, and soulful music. But what started as a fantasy quickly becomes a real attraction, and after a dream date and taste of the rock-star life with Finn in L.A., Hazel is forced to examine the track her life is on. Indulging in a passionate affair with a rock star seems crazy—but could she ever forgive herself if she walked away from her wildest dream coming true? And is her wildest dream the stuff that happiness is made of?

A lively novel about a down-to-earth New York City girl who suddenly finds herself in a rock ‘n’ roll Cinderella fantasy, The Rock Star in Seat 3A is seasoned with Jill Kargman’s signature wit and hilarious dialogue. This is a fairy-tale romance with a twist.

Title: South Hills Sidekicks: Uninvited

Author: Leah Spiegel & Megan Summers

Received By: Leah Spiegel

Synopsis: When Alley started her senior year at Upper St. Clair in the South Hills area, it was supposed to be the usual drag of hanging out with people who spent more on one outfit than Alley did on her entire wardrobe. That was until Kirsten, a girl in their clique, suddenly goes missing and the only people who seem to care are her friends. All evidence leads to the new comer Shane, a cocky and self-pretentious person in Alley’s opinion, but the police seem uninterested so she and the rest of the girls start a little investigation of their own. But they are nowhere closer to finding Kirsten than when they started and now they had the police’s attention; just not in the way they expected. The girls have to start over and discover that maybe it wasn’t an outsider who took Kirsten, but someone within their own clique who has something to hide; a secret that just might have gotten Kirsten killed.

Title: Secrets, Lies & PG Tips

Author: Leanne Rose

Received by: Leanne Rose

Synopsis: ‘Secrets, Lies & PG Tips’ is a chick-lit novel written in first person, narrated by British 25 year old Nina Parker. Nina is a self-confessed hopeless romantic and recently moved to San Francisco to pursue a glamorous (as seen on TV) life of cocktail parties, designer shoes, a high flying career and of course, the perfect man to share it all with.

In reality, Nina’s biggest work challenge is remembering the soy milk in her boss, Eddie’s overcomplicated coffee. And the cocktail parties are more ‘swigging wine from the bottle while watching sitcom reruns’ kind of evenings. And as for the perfect man…..