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Ros by Dee DeTarsio
Chick Lit Review

Ros by Dee DeTarsio

I really enjoyed the first two books from Dee DeTarsio – The Scent of Jade and The Kitchen Shrink – so I was excited when she contacted me regarding her latest story – Ros. I was intrigued because this story featured Ros, basically an alien from the future that time-traveled back in time and planets to try to figure out what happened to her brother. Heroine Micki has to try to figure out how to hide this extra-terrestrial from the military, her mother-in-law, and her cat – who is featured pretty heavily throughout this journey. Ros gave me a lot of laughs, and I love these little twists in books, so the whole alien part only added to my experience instead of hindering it. DeTarsio has a special way of writing. In The Scent of Jade and now again with Ros she can stretch the chick lit genre into something more. I love that she pushes these boundaries and really steps outside the box. I admire that from both a reader and author perspective. I have to recommend Ros, because the story will make you laugh, but will also really touch you. And it’s so fun to read the creative ways someone thinks the future will be like. Ros going to the bathroom – amazing! I will eagerly await the next gem from Dee DeTarsio!
[Rating: 4.5]

February 8, 2012
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Future Tour: Love by Design by Liz Matis
CLP Blog Tours

Future Tour: Love by Design by Liz Matis

Design Intervention starts the second season with its own surprise makeover. Interior designer Victoria Bryce must break in her temporary co-host, Aussie Russ Rowland. Victoria, former socialite wild child hopes the reality show will give her the clout to launch her own design line without her family connections. Russ, former bad boy Australian TV star is using the show to launch his acting career in the States. Sparks fly on camera as they argue over paint colors and measurement mishaps leading to passions igniting behind the scenes. But when their pasts collide with the present will the foundation they built withstand the final reveal?

February 7, 2012
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Author Profile: Lennie Ross
Chick Lit Authors

Author Profile: Lennie Ross

Author Name: Lennie Ross
Website: http://www.lennieross.com/
Blog: http://www.lennierosswrites.com/
Bio: Lennie Ross writes a blog on dating in Los Angeles called Lennie Ross Writes and works as a researcher, story editor, and story consultant for other screenwriters. Under a pseudonym, she wrote several screenplays for Playboy’s now defunct film division, Indigo Entertainment. She has also written several romantic comedy and suspense thriller feature film scripts. Her screenwriting credits include: writing and hosting a documentary on asthma; writing, producing, and starring in her own sitcom pilot, and writing and starring in her own play, I Think I’m Falling In Love With You. Lennie wrote two episodes of the Japan-Canada co-production animation series, Cyber- Six, and has had several TV movies optioned.
While pursuing a screenwriting career, Lennie has worked as a producer, talent agent and assistant casting director for roughly ten years. Prior to her adventures in the screen trade, Lennie wrote advertising copy for print and television, and fashion and travel articles for regional, national, and international publications including Beautiful B.C., Canadian Inflight, Adventure West, Pacific Northwest, Western Living and Vancouver Magazine.

Title: Blow Me
See my review for Blow Me
Bio retrieved from lennieross.com

February 7, 2012
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On Tour: Mad About the Boy by Suzan Battah
CLP Blog Tours

On Tour: Mad About the Boy by Suzan Battah

Suzan will be on tour February 13- March 5 with her novel Mad About the Boy Julia Mendoza is driven by the success of her…

February 7, 2012
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Blog Tour Sign Up: All the Difference by Kaira Rouda
CLP Blog Tours

Blog Tour Sign Up: All the Difference by Kaira Rouda

From the bestselling author of HERE, HOME, HOPE, comes a novel of suspense and choices, with a nod to the best of Susan Isaacs’s tales of suburban murder.
Once again, everything isn’t what it seems in the wonderful suburb of Grandville. ALL THE DIFFERENCE is the story of three Grandville women whose lives become entangled by the choices they make and how, ultimately, one of them turns to murder to achieve her goals.
Roommates Laura and Angie couldn’t be more different. Laura is a local celebrity, the television anchor who is motivated to move out of small-time media markets and on to the big time, no matter the cost. Meanwhile, Angie, a luckless waitress, spends her time waiting for Mr. Right to save her from temporary jobs and a life spent making bad choices.
On the other side of town, Ellen abandons her life as a successful fundraiser for that of an isolated housewife in the country estate she shares with her husband, whose affairs become increasingly hard to ignore. When the city’s gossip columnist, Maddie, and restaurant reviewer, Dixon, become involved in the story, the unlikely duo stir up more than they intended. But will anyone be able to stop the next murder?
With her signature mix of compassion and wit, Kaira Rouda once again takes readers on an entertaining journey into the heart of women’s lives in suburbia, this time with a dose of suspense.

“A murder mystery that kept me guessing until the end, with lovable characters who made me laugh and cry. Kaira Rouda has done it again.” – Melissa Foster, bestselling author of Come Back to Me and Chasing Amanda
“There’s a reason why Kaira Rouda has racked up so many awards for her work—it’s called talent! In All the Difference, she demonstrates her versatility, her knack for creating indelible characters, and her gift for keeping readers thoroughly entertained!”—Bonnie Trachtenberg, bestselling author of Wedlocked: A Novel
“Reading Kaira Rouda is like getting together with one of your best friends – fun, fast and full of great advice! – Claire Cook, bestselling author of Must Love Dogs and Best Staged Plans

February 6, 2012
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In My Mailbox: Week of February 5
Chick Lit Plus

In My Mailbox: Week of February 5

In My Mailbox: Week of February 5

Title: These Girls
Author: Sarah Pekkanen
Received: From Kortney @ Sparkpoint Studio
Synopsis: Family secrets may shape us all, but it’s the rich, complicated layers of friendship that can save us.
Cate, Renee, and Abby have come to New York for very different reasons, and in a bustling city of millions, they are linked together through circumstance and chance.
Cate has just been named the features editor of Gloss, a high-end lifestyle magazine. It’s a professional coup, but her new job comes with more complications than Cate ever anticipated.
Her roommate Renee will do anything to nab the plum job of beauty editor at Gloss. But snide comments about Renee’s weight send her into an emotional tailspin. Soon she is taking black market diet pills—despite the racing heartbeat and trembling hands that signal she’s heading for real danger.
Then there’s Abby, whom they take in as a third roommate. Once a joyful graduate student working as a nanny part time, she abruptly fled a seemingly happy life in the D.C. suburbs. No one knows what shattered Abby—or why she left everything she once loved behind.
Pekkanen’s most compelling, true-to-life novel yet tells the story of three very different women as they navigate the complications of careers and love—and find the lifeline they need in each other.
Title: Diary of a Mad Fat Girl
Author: Stephanie McAfee
Received: From Jessica @ Penguin Group
Synopsis: 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 three years 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.
Title: Nine Uses for an Ex-Boyfriend
Author: Sara Manning
Received: From Transworld Publishers
Synopsis: Hope Delafield hasn’t always had an easy life.
She has red hair and a temper to match, as her mother is constantly reminding her. She can’t wear heels, is terrified of heights and being a primary school teacher isn’t exactly the job she dreamed of doing, especially when her class are stuck on the two times table.
At least Hope has Jack, and Jack is the God of boyfriends. He’s sweet, kind, funny, has a killer smile, a cool job on a fashion magazine and he’s pretty (but in a manly way). Hope knew that Jack was The One ever since their first kiss after the Youth Club Disco and thirteen years later, they’re still totally in love. Totally. They’re even officially pre-engaged. And then Hope catches Jack kissing her best friend Susie…
Does true love forgive and forget? Or does it get mad… and get even?

February 5, 2012
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Guest Post by Samantha March – The Book Reviewer Gets Reviewed
For Writers

Guest Post by Samantha March – The Book Reviewer Gets Reviewed

The Book Reviewer Gets Reviewed I did not realize how much pressure I was going to feel after publishing Destined to Fail. Sure, I felt…

February 5, 2012
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Future Tour: Children of the Gods by Monica Millard
CLP Blog Tours

Future Tour: Children of the Gods by Monica Millard

Monica will be on tour March 19- April 9 with her novel Children of the Gods For as long as seventeen-year-old Reka Cushing can remember,…

February 5, 2012
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Scotland by Starlight by Nancy Volkers
Chick Lit Review

Scotland by Starlight by Nancy Volkers

Cassie Wrentham is moving to Scotland. She will finally be with Ralph Macnair, the (much) older but charismatic Scotsman she fell for on her first visit to the country. Cassie hopes she is finally ready to settle down and start a great life, but her doubts start crowding her way. She worries about finding a job, affording rent, making new friends, and if she should marry Ralph. Would it only be for convenience and a Visa? Or were she and Ralph truly meant to be?
Scotland by Starlight is the sequel to A Scottish Ferry Tale by Nancy Volkers. I actually liked this more than the first novel, and quickly became enchanted by the characters and their story. Cassie was very relatable in her reluctance to get married, and Ralph practically had me swooning for him throughout the pages. One thing I would change would be the heavy Scottish dialogue. Sometimes I couldn’t understand what he was saying and that snapped me out of my trance. One other thing too would be giving just a bit of information that reader’s learned in the first novel. Some characters and situations were brought up in Starlight that I couldn’t exactly remember. It’s hard to balance between saying too much and boring readers with facts they already know, and giving away the right amount of information to help jog the memories. But let’s talk about the ending that you will never see coming. I sure didn’t. I don’t want to give away too much here, but you will cry. And cry some more. Be prepared for a shocking conclusion.
[Rating: 3.5]

February 5, 2012
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