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In My Mailbox: Week of May 6
Chick Lit Review

In My Mailbox: Week of May 6

Title: The Cowboy Singer
Author: Paula Tiberius
Received: Via CLP Blog Tours
Synopsis: April Connors figured her love life was on hold indefinitely now that she was about to have a baby while temporarily staying at her grandmother’s house (what a turn-on!). Meeting infamous country singer Jimmy Wick may have made her giant belly flip, but she was filing him under a big “as if.” No man in his right mind would fall for a gal this pregnant, and besides, she needed to focus on herself and the baby. James Warwick (a.k.a. Jimmy Wick) was not in his right mind. His ex-wife was petitioning for full custody of the only thing that made him happy besides playing music, his four-year-old princess, Summer, and the thought of losing her had him crazier than an outhouse rat. His saving grace was his new ‘friend’ April who he was falling head over heels for. The only problem was, April had just been knocked up, dumped and stranded by the last guy she was with and was in no mood to go down that road again. She was hellbent on getting her life back on track just as James was watching his fall apart, leaving them both caught off guard by the unstoppable romance that would sweep them off their feet.

Title: Brownie Fix
Author: Ellen Cardona
Received: Via CLP Blog Tours
Synopsis: Chocolate. Love. Sex. Really, what else could a woman want in life? For Persey, the heroine of Brownie Fix, her days are fun-filled until what is normally one of life’s most fulfilling experiences, the birth of her son, leads her straight into a dark state of postpartum depression. Wandering in her own postpartum hell, Persey meets people that are absurd, like the swinging neighbors who want a little more than a cup of sugar and a group of mothers who become whipped up in worship to a climactic furor. On top of the madness, she keeps seeing a yellow-toothed old man who acts like he wants to breastfeed from her. Or is it her imagination? Add the voices in her head that become louder and louder, and it’s little wonder that Persey reaches for brownie mix to soothe her insanity. Buckling under the pressure and lack of sleep from motherhood, Persey experiences the five stages of grief that lead her to uncover a buried secret, and gradually she begins to heal with the help of her family, friends, and, of course, brownies.

Title: Then Came You
Author: Jennifer Weiner
Received: Via SheKnows Book Lounge
Synopsis: Jules Strauss is a Princeton senior with a full scholarship, acquaintances instead of friends, and a family she’s ashamed to invite to Parents’ Weekend. With the income she’ll receive from donating her “pedigree” eggs, she believes she can save her father from addiction.
Annie Barrow married her high school sweetheart and became the mother to two boys. After years of staying at home and struggling to support four people on her husband’s salary, she thinks she’s found a way to recover a sense of purpose and bring in some extra cash.
India Bishop, thirty-eight (really forty-three), has changed everything about herself: her name, her face, her past. In New York City, she falls for a wealthy older man, Marcus Croft, and decides a baby will ensure a happy ending. When her attempts at pregnancy fail, she turns to technology, and Annie and Jules, to help make her dreams come true.
But each of their plans is thrown into disarray when Marcus’ daughter Bettina, intent on protecting her father, becomes convinced that his new wife is not what she seems…
With startling tenderness and laugh-out-loud humor, Jennifer Weiner once again takes readers into the heart of women’s lives in an unforgettable, timely tale that interweaves themes of class and entitlement, surrogacy and donorship, the rights of a parent and the measure of motherhood.
Title: In the Bag
Author: Kate Klise
Received: Unsolicited, HarperCollins
Synopsis: A European vacation. A luggage mix-up. A note from a secret admirer.
Meet two single parents who think they’re too busy to date.
And two teenagers who can’t stop writing flirty emails.
This is a tale of connections—missed and made—in a universe that seems to have its heart set on reuniting Ms. 6B and Mr. 13C.
Webb
I can’t believe I picked up the wrong bag at the airport. My dad is never going to let me hear the end of it.
Coco
I don’t understand why Mom told me to pack my worst underwear. And now I’ve lost my bag? Ack!
Andrew
I cannot stop thinking about that woman in seat 6B on the flight to Paris.
Daisy
I don’t have time to worry about the creep sitting in 13C who slipped a note in my purse. I have to find my daughter’s missing bag before this ruins our vacation.
In the Bag is a smart and stylish story that explores the old-fashioned art of romance in a modern world, where falling in love can be as risky as checking a bag on an international flight. Buckle your seat belt—it’s going to be a bumpy vacation!
Title: The Making of Us
Author: Lisa Jewell
Received: Najma @Cornerstone Publicity
Synopsis: Lydia, Robyn and Dean don’t know each other – yet. They live very different lives but each of them, independently, has always felt that something is missing. What they don’t know is that a letter is about to arrive that will turn their lives upside down. It is a letter containing a secret – one that will bind them together, and shows them what love and familyand friendship really mean…
Title: Wishful Thinking
Author: Gabi Stevens
Received:
Synopsis: Free-spirited artist Stormy Jones-Smythe was raised by two talented Wizard fathers but never showed the slightest hint of magical abilities. Which is why she’s totally surprised when three famous fairy godmothers show up at her door to tell her she’s one of them. Surprised, and none too happy. The godmothers are fugitives, framed for treason, and the last thing the magical Council wants is another fairy godmother going rogue. Hence Stormy’s new full-time Guard, Hunter Merrick. Stormy quickly realizes she’s not going to escape Hunter’s watch…and before long, she’s not sure she wants to. But her freedom depends on her ability to expose the plot against the godmothers, and that means getting control of her magic. Despite the growing chemistry between them, Hunter is fiercely loyal to the Council—and duty-bound to keep Stormy from doing either of those things. But he didn’t count on Stormy’s irrepressible exuberance and passion for life. Before long, even Hunter isn’t sure which side he’s on, and he can’t contain Stormy either way.

Title: The Lovers of Pound Hill
Author: Mavis Cheek
Received: Unsolicited
Synopsis: When city girl Molly Bonner arrives in the village of Lufferton Boney, she creates quite a stir. With her non-country-style boots, determined manner and alluring looks, she sets off a wave of intrigue that ripples through the lives of everyone there, from Julie the barmaid at the Holly Bush to antiques dealer Dryden Fellows and Montmorency the cat. Nobody knows exactly what she’s up to, but one thing seems certain: her presence will alter the lives and loves of the village and its people for good.

For Molly is a girl on a mission: to discover the truth behind Lufferton Boney’s sinister and most notorious resident, the giant (and slightly obscene) Gnome, a fertility symbol etched into the face of Pound Hill. As she works her way into the villagers’ hearts and lives, Molly needs to keep one step ahead. She has a few demons of her own to settle, as she pursues the wonderful secret that only the Gnome can reveal.

May 6, 2012
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GIVEAWAY: Prosper in Love by Deborah Michel
Updates

GIVEAWAY: Prosper in Love by Deborah Michel

A good marriage lasts forever…until it doesn’t.

From the start, Lynn and Jamie Prosper were one of those couples who seem meant to be—so content with each other that they barely notice the rest of the world nodding approvingly at their wedded bliss. But sometimes, even in the very best of marriages, all it takes is a mischievous outsider to bring the perfect couple toppling off the top of the wedding cake…
True, Jamie has been working so hard and traveling so much as a young lawyer that he hardly has enough energy to show his devotion. Not that Lynn, a junior museum curator, has any reason to question it. But when Lynn’s old college friend turns up at a cocktail party, chinks in their marriage’s previously unassailable armor start to show.
Suddenly, without meaning to, Lynn and Jamie have both acquired divorce lawyers. And those benevolent onlookers—meddling in-laws and competitive friends alike—eagerly bear witness to each new misstep. Is love really enough to make a marriage last?

I have one print copy of Prosper in Love by Deborah Michel up for grabs! To enter, please leave a comment below. A winner will be chosen on Wednesday May 9. Thank you to Erin @ Penguin Group for sponsoring this giveaway!

May 5, 2012
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Beauty Review: Lip Plumping Shop
Chick Lit Plus

Beauty Review: Lip Plumping Shop

When I was asked by the Lip Plumping Shop to review their product for the beauty section on CLP, I jumped at the chance. I use many different lip plumping lip glosses, so I definitely wanted to give this a try. I guess I didn’t quite read the concept behind the Lip Plumping Shop when I said yes, because I was surprised a few weeks later when a pink pump arrived in my mail. A bit taken aback, I was wary to try out the device. Putting something over my lips and suctioning them seemed a bit off to me. But because I had agreed to review the product, I gave it shot. Using the lip glosses provided as well as the device, I used the products as directed for one week. And? Well, I actually did notice results! I was surprised, I’ll admit, but it seems the products do work as they say. I stopped using the products after that one week of use though. I’m not sure how comfortable I feel with the suction on my lips and since I have a fairly full pout anyway, I really don’t need something extreme. I will say I let a girlfriend try it out as well and she loves it, so I guess it probably just depends on your comfort level. If you do try out this unique product, I just recommend really reading the instructions first before you use it.

May 4, 2012
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Yesterday’s News by Kajsa Ingemarsson
Chick Lit Review

Yesterday’s News by Kajsa Ingemarsson

Yesterday’s News by Kajsa Ingemarsson follows main character Agnes who appears to have it all: a boyfriend who adores her, a fabulous best friend, a loving and supportive family, and a good job. But, as the novel moves along, her life begins to unravel and we watch as Agnes tries her best to cope and move past it all. At a crossroads, she makes some quick decisions that could impact her life in a very heavy way. Will things work out for Agnes? Is it possible to have your dreams come true? You will have to read Yesterday’s News to find out!

Yesterday’s News is a very smooth-flowing, easy read. I had a wonderful time getting to know the characters (especially Pablo) and I thought Ingemarsson did a fantastic job with character development- they were all very real, honest, and easy to relate to. My only real complaint is that parts of the story could of been built up a little more. There were a few notable times while reading when I felt like Kajsa cut things short and it was hard for me to elicit any kind of emotional response. Overall though, this book is solid chick-lit and a fun read- I am thinking that Kajsa has an international hit on her hands.

[Rating: 4/5]

May 4, 2012
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On Tour: Lucky Charm by Marie Astor
CLP Blog Tours

On Tour: Lucky Charm by Marie Astor

Marie will be on tour May 7-21 with her novel Lucky Charm Twenty-eight-year old Annabel Green is about to tie the knot with her college…

May 3, 2012
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On Tour: Vivid by Andrea Murray
CLP Blog Tours

On Tour: Vivid by Andrea Murray

Andrea will be on tour May 7-28 with her novel Vivid When Vivian Cartwright was five years old, she witnessed her mother’s death. Now, sixteen-year-old…

May 3, 2012
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Guest Post by Caroline Burau
For Writers

Guest Post by Caroline Burau

Self-publishing: The good news is, it’s all you! And the hard part is, it’s all you.

Having my memoir, Answering 911: Life in the Hot Seat picked up by a well-respected publisher in 2006 was a huge thrill. I signed a contract, finished my first draft, and immediately the wheels started turning.
During the six months leading up to publication, someone other than me did a whole slew of things I didn’t fully appreciate at the time. A gorgeous cover was designed, drafts of the book were edited multiple times (some with, some without my input), advanced copies were sent out to numerous media outlets for reviews, and respected authors were picked to provide blurbs. As if this wasn’t enough, about a month before the release date, a lovely young lady name Jana called me and introduced herself as my publicist. My publicist? I have a publicist? Jana took care of booking readings, signings, radio, newspaper, and TV interviews.
In short, I wrote a book, participated in the editing process, then basically made sure I showed up when and where I was told to go. The pace got somewhat rigorous, and I fought my own nerves at every single appearance, but it was a wonderful ride that I know many writers would kill to experience.
And then it was over. One day, I called Jana about a request I’d gotten for a reading at a local library and she broke the news: “I’m not your publicist anymore.” I was aghast! But it was nothing personal. My time was up; she was on to the next new title.
Over the years, I continued doing occasional readings and appearances for Answering 911. In 2011, I completed a novel, Sugarfiend, and hoped that my status as a published author would give me an advantage. After querying more than two dozen agents and getting little to no response, I felt like giving up.
Novels, I was told, are more numerous and therefore harder to sell than memoir or nonfiction. I would have to be patient. I’m not big on being patient. Self-publishing seemed the logical choice.
And it’s been great . . . but it’s been slow. Why? Because I’m it. I’m the writer, editor, cover designer, marketing department, publisher, and publicist. If it wasn’t for my husband’s technical know-how and marketing background, I might truly be overwhelmed.
To start, I had to get over my biggest fear: that because the book hadn’t been picked up by a “real” publisher, it wasn’t any good. But over the course of four meticulous full edits, I at last reached a point where I not only liked Sugarfiend, but enjoyed it. That’s when I knew it was ready.
From there, I formatted the book for three different self-publishing formats: Kindle, Nook, and CreateSpace (for the trade paperback.) It was time-consuming and taxed my scant technical know-how. (Again, husband! To the rescue.)
Now that the book is available, the responsibility of getting the word out is all mine. Media outlets tend to look askance at self-published works. They get a lot of queries from people looking for publicity, and without a reputable publisher’s seal of approval, it’s hard to get them to pay attention.
So, while my royalties are much higher with my self-published book (70-50 percent versus 10 percent or less with a traditional publisher) the number of units sold will inevitably be much lower. But thanks to the power of social media, newspapers, radio, and TV no longer hold a monopoly on information. Plenty of self published authors have used Facebook, Twitter and other outlets to drum up huge word of mouth.
To get the word out, I now blog regularly for www.women.com and as a guest blogger for anyone who will have me (like this awesome site). It’s fun, and it keeps my writing chops up. I stick to sites where I think my target audience will find me: women, sugar “addicts”, and lovers of humorous fiction. I also hired a web designer to set up my own author blog and web site (www.carolineburau.com) a central location for fans to check out both books, read updates, and link to my social media pages.
In short, the great part is that it’s all up to me. And the hard part is that it’s all up to me.
It’s too soon to tell whether I made the right choice. I still entertain fantasies of Sugarfiend getting the attention of some big exec at Penguin, getting signed to a 50,000-unit first-run, then being adapted for a major motion picture (which I’ve already decided must star Kat Dennings.)
But mostly, I’m glad I can say to fans of my first book and anyone else who asks, that Sugarfiend is out there and ready for the world to enjoy. And I didn’t wait for anyone’s nod of approval. I did it for myself.

Caroline Burau is a freelance writer in White Bear Lake, Minnesota, and author of Sugarfiend http://www.amazon.com/Sugarfiend-ebook/dp/B0071BFKOW/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1328076456&sr=8-2 and Answering 911: Life in the Hot Seat. http://www.amazon.com/Answering-911-Life-Hot-Seat/dp/0873516028/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1328076456&sr=8-1
You can also follow her on Twitter (@carolineburau)

May 3, 2012
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Guest Post by Terri Giuliano Long
For Writers

Guest Post by Terri Giuliano Long

Big thank you to Terri Giuliano Long to stop by CLP on her blog tour for In Leah’s Wake!   “It is our choices…that show…

May 3, 2012
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The Singles by Meredith Goldstein
Chick Lit Review

The Singles by Meredith Goldstein

Debut novel, The Singles by Meredith Goldstein, follows the single biggest fear of most single people – attending a wedding solo. Despite the bride, Beth “Bee” Evans, generous and thoughtful offer of a plus one for all of the guests at her wedding, five attendees decline and are consequently dubbed “The Singles”. The story follows the adventures of the five “Singles”, Hannah, Vicki, Rob, Joe, and Nancy. Hannah is the single bridesmaid pining over her ex with wishful thinking and hopes that the wedding will bring them closer together; Vicki is in love … with the characters in romance novels; Rob is single yet hopelessly in love with his dog; Phil can’t seem to find anyone that is better than Mom; and Joe is single yet hopeful for a chance (and romantic) encounter at the wedding. Author Meredith Goldstein weaves together each of their stories as they prepare and attend the upcoming wedding.

I found The Singles to be charming and heartfelt. I laughed and cried during a few scenes and felt as though the characters were developed very realistically. Although their lives are often sad, I felt that each of the five “Singles” had a very unique and interesting perspective that added to the overall feel of the novel. Their escapades really shine as they are woven together, each having a significant impact on the story as a whole. I absolutely adored the ending and was quite pleased with the way that everything turned out. Overall, a fun and often humorous tale that I think will be a big hit this summer.

May 3, 2012
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