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Debut Author and Titles: January 2012
Chick Lit Authors

Debut Author and Titles: January 2012

Debut Authors and Titles – January 2012

Title: Point, Click, Love
Author: Molly Shapiro
Available: January 1, 2012
Synopsis: In Molly Shapiro’s fun and sexy debut novel, four women try to sort through the wild and complicated world of text messaging, status updates, and other high-speed connections.

Best friends and fellow midwesterners Katie, Annie, Maxine, and Claudia are no strangers to dealing with love and relationships, but with online dating and social networking now in the mix, they all have the feeling they’re not in Kansas anymore. Katie, a divorced mother of two, secretly seeks companionship through the Internet only to discover that the rules of the dating game have drastically changed. Annie, a high-powered East Coast transplant, longs for a baby, yet her online search for a sperm donor is not as easy—or anonymous—as she anticipates. Maxine, a successful artist with a seemingly perfect husband, turns to celebrity gossip sites to distract herself from her less-than-ideal marriage. And Claudia, tired of her husband’s obsession with Facebook, finds herself irresistibly drawn to a handsome co-worker. As these women navigate the new highs and lows of the digital age, they each find that their wrong turns lead surprisingly to the right click and, ultimately, the connection they were seeking.

Title: Julia’s Child
Author: Sarah Pinneo
Available: January 31, 2012
Synopsis: A delectable comedy for every woman who’s ever wondered if buying that six-dollar box of organic crackers makes her a hero or a sucker.
Julia Bailey is a mompreneur with too many principles and too little time. Her fledgling company, Julia’s Child, makes organic toddler meals with names like Gentle Lentil and Give Peas a Chance. But before she can realize her dream of seeing them on the shelves of Whole Foods, she will have to make peace between her professional aspirations and her toughest food critics: the two little boys waiting at home. Is it possible to save the world while turning a profit?
Julia’s Child is a warmhearted, laugh-out-loud story about motherhood’s choices: organic vs. local, paper vs. plastic, staying at home vs. risking it all.

Title: Bond Girl
Author: Erin Duffy
Available: January 24, 2012
Synopsis: When other little girls were dreaming about becoming doctors or lawyers, Alex Garrett set her sights on conquering the high-powered world of Wall Street. And though she’s prepared to fight her way into an elitist boys’ club, or duck the occasional errant football, she quickly realizes she’s in over her head when she’s relegated to a kiddie-size folding chair with her new moniker—Girlie—inscribed in Wite-Out across the back.
No matter. She’s determined to make it in bond sales at Cromwell Pierce, one of the Street’s most esteemed brokerage firms. Keeping her eyes on the prize, the low Girlie on the totem pole will endure whatever comes her way—whether trekking to the Bronx for a $1,000 wheel of Parmesan cheese; discovering a secretary’s secret Friday night slumber/dance party in the conference room; fielding a constant barrage of “friendly” practical jokes; learning the ropes from Chick, her unpredictable, slightly scary, loyalty-demanding boss; babysitting a colleague while he consumes the contents of a vending machine on a $28,000 bet; or eluding the advances of a corporate stalker who’s also one of the firm’s biggest clients.
Ignoring her friends’ pleas to quit, Alex excels (while learning how to roll with the punches and laugh at herself) and soon advances from lowly analyst to slightly-less-lowly associate. Suddenly, she’s addressed by her real name, and the impenetrable boys’ club has transformed into forty older brothers and one possible boyfriend. Then the apocalypse hits, and Alex is forced to choose between sticking with Cromwell Pierce as it teeters on the brink of disaster or kicking off her Jimmy Choos and running for higher ground.
Fast-paced, funny, and thoroughly addictive, Bond Girl will leave you cheering for Alex: a feisty, ambitious woman with the spirit to stand up to the best (and worst) of the boys on the Street—and ultimately rise above them all.
Title: Blame It on the Fame

Author: Tracie Banister

Available: January 2012

Synopsis: A power-trippin’ bitch, a has-been, a skanky ex-model, a press-shy indie queen, and a British stage actress no one knows – this is how the Best Actress hopefuls in this year’s too-close-to-call Oscar race cattily describe each other. Which of them will win the much-coveted gold statue and what price will they be forced to pay as they travel the red carpeted-path to Hollywood glory?

Amidst all the press-schmoozing and angsting over which designer gown to wear, these Oscar contenders feud, commiserate, and face a succession of personal crises – scandalous secrets come to light, marriages implode, accidents land two nominees in the hospital while another receives news that could derail her career, all culminating on Tinsel Town’s biggest night when anything can happen, and does.

January 17, 2012
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Future Tour: Death on Heels by Ellen Byerrum
CLP Blog Tours

Future Tour: Death on Heels by Ellen Byerrum

Ellen will be on tour March 12-April 2 with her novel Death on Heels D.C. style scribe Lacey Smithsonian always swore she would never go…

January 17, 2012
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Ranch vs. Caesar- Which to Choose?
Chick Lit Plus

Ranch vs. Caesar- Which to Choose?

The past few months I have become a big fan of salads. Coming from the girl who used to gag on lettuce, this is a…

January 17, 2012
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Princess of Park Avenue by Daniella Brodsky
Chick Lit Review

Princess of Park Avenue by Daniella Brodsky

Daniella Brodsky is on tour with CLP Blog Tours and her re-launch of Princess of Park Avenue. This story follows Brooklyn girl Lorraine Machuchi and her climb to be somebody. As opportunities seem to just fall in her lap, Lorraine suddenly finds herself in Manhattan, staying for free in a posh apartment, coloring hair for the elite, and buying designer clothes. But can you ever really take the Brooklyn out of the girl? The biggest downfall letting Lorraine truly embrace her new life is Tommy. Tommy, the guy that Lorraine can just not get over. Tommy, the guy who can reel Lorraine back in with just a glimpse of his unbuttoned shirt. Can Lorraine really be a Park Avenue Princess if she keeps letting Tommy sneak back into her life?
I kept going back and forth with this story. I loved the idea behind Lorraine and taking a sort of Jenny from the Block type and turning her into a successful woman trolling Park Avenue. Watching Lorraine grow and find her confidence was a lot of fun for me. I also really enjoyed the twists with the Park Avenue Princesses and their devious plans, and the beginning of the chapters was excellent foreshadowing. Some of the characters reminded me of the Jersey Shore cast, but those scenes definitely cracked me up rather than made me want to wash my mouth out like with the TV show. My downfalls came with how long it took Lorraine to break free of Tommy. I was worried right up until the last chapters that she would never figure it out. My other downfall was that the book seemed very long. There were quite a few scenes that could have been snipped to let the story read a bit quicker. Overall though, a fun chick lit story that I’m sure many readers will be able to identify with.
[Rating: 3.5]

January 16, 2012
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In My Mailbox: Week of January 15
Chick Lit Plus

In My Mailbox: Week of January 15

In My Mailbox: Week of January 15

Title: Death on Heels
Author: Ellen Byerrum
Received: Via CLP Blog Tours
Synopsis: D.C. style scribe Lacey Smithsonian always swore she would never go back—back to Sagebrush, Colorado, that scruffy hard-luck Western boomtown where she’d earned her reporter’s spurs. But then three young women are murdered, their bodies left barefoot on lonely country roads, and the accused is her old boyfriend, Sagebrush rancher Cole Tucker. Lacey cowgirls up and heads out West (in her best cowboy boots) to prove Tucker’s innocence. And perhaps to resolve the last of her old feelings for the man she had loved and left. Naturally, Lacey’s plan doesn’t sit well with her current beau, private investigator Vic Donovan, who has his own history (and game plan) in Sagebrush.

Tucker takes one look at Lacey and kicks over everyone’s game plan: He abducts her in a daring courthouse escape into the badlands of northern Colorado. On the run from the law with her old flame, in stolen vehicles and on horseback, with Vic and the posse in pursuit, Lacey’s world turns upside down. Who can she trust? Tucker or Vic? The law or her own feelings and her reporter’s instincts? Caught between two men, with a vicious killer on her trail, Death on Heels is a whole new—and potentially fatal—frontier for this fashion reporter.

Title: Dogs Have Angels Too
Author: Sarah Cavallaro
Received: From Sarah Cavallaro
Synopsis: In the dog-eat-dog world of recessionary New York City, the irrepressible Miss Pink leads a pack of down-on-their-luck women, who ultimately find hope in the most unlikely of places: an over-crowded animal shelter, where unwanted pets are routinely abandoned to their grim fates. Miss Pink, a former marketing executive and divorcee who’s intermittently homeless herself, makes it her mission to find homes for a growing bevy of cuddly canines. Her “adoption walks” bring her to meet a series of fellow New Yorkers, all of whom are struggling with their own personal and financial crises. In other words, they are all uniquely ripe or recruitment in Miss Pink’s master plan- which she’s devising on the fly, by the seat of her favorite pink pants!

Title: Sarah’s Key
Author: Tatiana De Rosnay
Received: Via SheKnows Book Club
Synopsis: Paris, July 1942: Sarah, a ten year-old girl, is brutally arrested with her family by the French police in the Vel’ d’Hiv’ roundup, but not before she locks her younger brother in a cupboard in the family’s apartment, thinking that she will be back within a few hours.
Paris, May 2002: On Vel’ d’Hiv’s 60th anniversary, journalist Julia Jarmond is asked to write an article about this black day in France’s past. Through her contemporary investigation, she stumbles onto a trail of long-hidden family secrets that connect her to Sarah. Julia finds herself compelled to retrace the girl’s ordeal, from that terrible term in the Vel d’Hiv’, to the camps, and beyond. As she probes into Sarah’s past, she begins to question her own place in France, and to reevaluate her marriage and her life.
Tatiana de Rosnay offers us a brilliantly subtle, compelling portrait of France under occupation and reveals the taboos and silence that surround this painful episode.

January 16, 2012
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On Tour: Princess of Park Avenue by Daniella Brodsky
CLP Blog Tours

On Tour: Princess of Park Avenue by Daniella Brodsky

Daniella will be on tour January 16-February 6 with her novel Princess of Park Avenue How far would you go to forget Mr. Wrong? Anyone…

January 15, 2012
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My December Birchbox Review
Chick Lit Plus

My December Birchbox Review

December was my second month to receive a Birchbox, and I’m having a blast with my new products. December’s box was filled with fun and practical items, and my reviews are below. If you haven’t signed up to receive your customized Birchbox yet, I suggest you do!

“Birchbox delivers the best products and the best insider secrets, without any fuss. Every month Birchbox members will receive a curated box of luxe beauty samples. Each box will span beauty categories and deliver exciting products that fit into both your day-to-day routine, and into those days when you want to turn up the drama a notch.”

1. AHAVA Mineral Body Lotion – This lotion smells so freaking good. It smells fresh and almost powdery, but not overwhelming. This has become one of my favorite lotions and I would definitely buy a full size bottle of it!
2. Amika Obliphica Hair Treatment – I was so excited when I saw this in my Birchbox. I’m always looking for new products to use on my hair, which is often super frizzy. And I’m thrilled with the results! I used just a drop of the oil after I got done blow drying my hair, and it didn’t weigh down my strands or make my hair look greasy. The frizz was decreased and my hair looked shiner. I recommend this product 100%!
3. EBOOST Orange Natural Energy Booster – I’ll be honest, I was a little hesitant to try this. I’m not a big fan of drinking my vitamins, but I wanted to give it a whirl so I could write a review. The verdict? It actually wasn’t bad! It was orangey and even a little fizzy with a sweet taste. The energy booster is packed with vitamins B, C, and D and has a dose of natural caffeine. It was nice to reach for during cold season!
4. Inococo Nail Polish Appliqué – I’ve been hearing about nail polish stickers lately, and was happy to give them a try and see if they worked for me. It was interesting to learn that these strips are actually thin layers of nail polish, and are better for nails because they contain less solvent and have small pores to let nails breath. And – they stay on for two weeks and come off with nail polish remover! I thought they were pretty simple to put on, of course my right hand gave me troubles since I’m right-handed, but I was impressed overall with them.
5. Jouer Moisturizing Lip Gloss – Last month I received the Jouer Moisturizing Lip Enhancer, and it was my favorite product in the box. It was hard for me to really rate this item, because the color I received was way too pink for me. What I did was put on the Jouer Lip Enhancer, then lightly applied the Lip Gloss and blended them together. I actually really like the combination!
6. Showstoppers Designer Fashion Tape- I haven’t had an opportunity yet to use the double-sided tape, but I’m glad that I have it my drawer ready to go! You never know when it will come in handy. This tape comes in nude or black, and will stick to a variety of fabrics. Great to have when you need it!

January 14, 2012
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Unscripted by Natalie Aaron and Marla Schwartz
Chick Lit Review

Unscripted by Natalie Aaron and Marla Schwartz

Natalie Aaron and Marla Schwartz are on tour with CLP Blog Tours. Unscripted follows loveable heroine Abby Edwards, who works as a reality TV show producer. Abby has been currently burned in a relationship, and has given up on dating. True love couldn’t possibly be true in the land of LA. Abby throws herself into her work, but friction in her friendship with BFF Zoe throws her world off balance. It doesn’t help that her new boss is deliciously hunky but she can’t decipher his attitude towards her. And then there’s the ex-boyfriend, a screenwriter who has just hit it big with a movie based “loosely” on their relationship. Abby needs to get a handle on her life, and learn that not everything will follow a script. But can she rewrite her own reality for success?
I had so much fun reading Unscripted! Aaron and Schwartz have both worked as producers, and the behind the scenes peeks readers will get are hilarious and border on unbelievable. I absolutely lost it during the scene where the “bachelorette” who submitted her tape as a joke and had no interest in LA went all diva on the workers and decided fame wasn’t something to ignore. The romance between Abby and boss Will was written in a really sweet way. I loved seeing the characters get a second chance ten years later. I didn’t so much like BFF Zoe, she just gave me an ick feeling and I wondered why Abby would put up with that. Strangely, I had a friend that had a lot of Zoe qualities and she tested my patience one too many time. That friendship has since been severed. I was wishing that Abby would see the light with her, but the other two friends were great additions to the cast! Overall, Unscripted is a fast-paced read that chick lit fans must get their hands on! I’m happy to say that Unscripted is my first Favorite of 2012!
[Rating: 4.5]

January 13, 2012
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On Tour: Year of the Chick by Romi Moondi
CLP Blog Tours

On Tour: Year of the Chick by Romi Moondi

An awkward family homecoming at Christmas.

A humiliating public weigh-in, with two judging parents as the audience.

The announcement of a deadline for arranged marriage doom.

And that’s just the first two chapters.

In “Year of the Chick,” Romi Narindra must find love before her parents find her a husband. This is a difficult task in a world where self-consciousness is at an all-time high, and dating experience at an all-time low.

Severely lacking in seductive skills and uninspired by her corporate job, Romi turns to what she loves, by writing about her quest to find love on her brand new blog.

From whiskey-breath scum bags to uni-brow creeps and everything in between, Romi and her wingmen come up empty time after time. Just when giving up seems like the thing to do, she meets a fellow writer unexpectedly.

On the Internet.

So will it be arranged marriage doom, or an Internet affair that’s not as creepy as “To Catch a Predator”?

Time will tell in the “year of the chick,” a twelve-month quest to find love….tick-tock.

January 12, 2012
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