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In My Mailbox: Week of June 26
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In My Mailbox: Week of June 26

In My Mailbox: Week of June 26, 2011

Title: Take Me Home From the Oscars
Authors: Christine Schwab
Received: From Jessica @ Sky Horse Pub
Synopsis: Christine Schwab has lived a life of Hollywood and New York glamour most people can only dream about. For 20 years she appeared as a fashion and beauty reporter on the nations leading television shows including, Live with Regis & Kelly, Oprah!, The Today Show, Entertainment Tonight and NBC Nightly News. She dined with celebrities, met US Presidents, attended numerous Oscars, Emmys and Golden Globes, published two books and was featured in and wrote for many of the most popular magazines while living a thrilling personal and public life married to a powerful Hollywood executive. But for most of those years, she was hiding a devastating illness that threatened to take over her entire life.

In Take Me Home From the Oscars, Schwab tells for the first time her story of living an amazing life in television while suffering from rheumatoid arthritis. Schwab recounts with incredible honesty how on the same day she produced and appeared in a major makeover segment for Live with Regis & Kelly in New York and then raced to Chicago to appear on Oprah!, all while balancing medications to ward off the relentless pain that plagued her on-camera and off. She shares an enchanted evening at the Oscars and the unpredictable arthritis pain that cut it heartbreakingly short. She re-lives being driven to deceive herself and others in a career that demands timeless beauty and youth.

Schwab kept her career alive through determination, deception and hope. In Take Me Home From The Oscars, she takes us behind the scenes in Hollywood and New York, and behind her public persona to the 19-year journey through drug trials and treatment at the UCLA Medical Center. Readers will root for her at every step, and cheer when she ultimately finds remission and her new life’s work as a spokesperson for the National Arthritis Foundation. This is a book of hope for anyone dealing with adversity in their life.

Title: It’s a Man’s World
Author: Polly Courtney
Received: From Charlotte @ Avon Books
Synopsis: But it takes a woman to run it
If you can’t beat ‘em, join ‘em…
Alexa Harris loves a challenge. So when she’s asked to head up Senate Media’s lads’ mag, Banter, she doesn’t need much persuasion.
But life on the all-male editorial team proves harder than Alexa had imagined – and not just because of her ambitious targets. As Alexa battles with a testosterone-fuelled office, she decides to play the boys at their own game.
As success hits, she’s forced to look at who she has become. Has she forfeited her principles in return for praise from the lads? And what price will there be to pay?
An addictive page turner with a hard-hitting meaning.

Title: The Full Moon Bride
Author: Shobhan Bantwal
Received: From Kensington Press
Synopsis: What makes a marriage-love or compatibility? Passion or pragmatism? Shobhan Bantwal’s compelling new novel explores the fascinating subject of arranged marriage, as a young Indian-American woman navigates the gulf between desire and tradition…
To Soorya Giri, arranged marriages have always seemed absurd. But while her career as an environmental lawyer has flourished, Soorya is still a virgin, living with her parents in suburban New Jersey. She wants to be married. And she is finally ready to do the unthinkable…
Soorya’s first bridal viewings are as awkward as she anticipated. But then she’s introduced to Roger Vadepalli. Self-possessed, intelligent, and charming, Roger is clearly interested in marriage and seems eager to clinch the deal. Attracted to him in spite of her mistrust, Soorya is also drawn into a flirtation with Lou, a widowed colleague who is far from her family’s idea of an acceptable husband.
In choosing between two very different men, Soorya must reconcile her burgeoning independence and her conservative background. And she must decide what matters most to her-not just in a husband, but in a family, a culture, and a life…

Title: Eighteen Acres
Author: Nicolle Wallace
Received: From Kensington Press
Synopsis: Eighteen Acres, a description used by political insiders when referring to the White House complex, follows the first female President of the United States, Charlotte Kramer, and her staff as they take on dangerous threats from abroad and within her very own cabinet.
Charlotte Kramer, the 45th US President, Melanie Kingston, the White House chief of staff, and Dale Smith, a White House correspondent for one of the networks are all working tirelessly on Charlotte’s campaign for re-election. At the very moment when they should have been securing success, though, Kramer’s White House implodes under rumors of her husband’s infidelity and grave errors of judgment on the part of her closest national security advisor. In an upheaval that threatens not only the presidency, but the safety of the American people, Charlotte must fight to regain her footing and protect the the country she has given her life to serving.
Eighteen Acres combines political and family drama into one un-put-downable novel. It is a smart, juicy and fast-paced read that we’re sure fans of commercial women’s fiction will fall in total love with.

June 27, 2011
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On Tour: Phone Kitten by Marika Christian
CLP Blog Tours

On Tour: Phone Kitten by Marika Christian

Marika is on tour June 27- July 10 with her novel Phone Kitten Marika Christian’s PHONE KITTEN introduces an absolutely unique, first-time-ever kind of female…

June 27, 2011
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Debut Authors and Titles- Summer 2011
Chick Lit Authors

Debut Authors and Titles- Summer 2011

Debut Authors & Titles- June & July 2011

Title: Pushover
Author: Laurel Mayer
Synopsis: Dani Wilder is a rising star on the Hollywood culinary scene, and she thinks she has finally found the perfect locale for the launch of her first restaurant. The prime spot sits on Sunset Boulevard, highlighted with rich wood beams, a vaulted ceiling, private booths and a stunning loft so high that the fall could kill someone. In fact, it did.
As this mild-mannered chef prepares to open L.A.’s “it” restaurant, she stumbles upon the sordid, dark secrets of her otherwise perfect boyfriend’s past. Impossibly handsome and pediatrician to celebrity kids, Jack has it all – including a former fiancée he never mentioned, or got over. Accused of pushing a woman to her death in the space on Sunset, Rebecca Sterling shares more than history with the restaurant, she was engaged to Jack and now she’s back in town.
Yes, Rebecca returns to do what she does best: spin a web of lies and get her way. And her deceptive methods work as usual with Jack. It’s certainly awkward for Dani, but is it dangerous? Dani suspects Rebecca got away with murder, lied to Jack, and is sabotaging the restaurant. Dani’s love, life, and livelihood are entangled in Rebecca’s scheme, and at what cost? After all, the only thing Rebecca loves more than making an entrance is making an exit.
Available: May 26

Title: Diary of a Mummy Misfit
Author: Amanda Egan
Synopsis: Ever felt like you don’t belong?

When Libby Marchant and husband Ned made the monumental decision to sacrifice luxuries and holidays to see their only son Max through private education, they hadn’t expected to meet so many unsavoury and dislikeable personalities along the way.

Happily, the cruel jibes of the pompous ‘Meemies’ are made more tolerable by the lasting and loyal friendship they strike up with the affluent Fenella & Josh.

Follow Libby’s journey as she discovers the chasm between the Haves and the Have-Nots in her mad new world of school committees, designer handbags, bitching and botox.

With Fenella by her side, Libby is able to maintain her sanity. But what happens when the credit crunch bites, you’re desperate for another baby and your Asian neighbour is trying to match-make you with her infatuated son?
Available: June 2011

Title: Take It Like a Mom
Author: Stephanie Stiles
Synopsis: One thing sets her apart from other modern-day superheroes: mom genes. Annie Fingardt Forster used to be a lawyer who wore dry-clean only and shaved both legs. But things have changed. Now a stay-at-home mom, she wears cargo pants and ponytails and harbours a nearly pathological hatred towards hipster parents. With a three-year-old and a baby on the way, Annie knows what to expect … at least, she thought she did. Faced with her husband’s job loss, pre-school politics, and a playground throwdown with her arch nemesis, Annie realises that even with her husband and friends by her side, what she really needs is to learn to suck it up – and take it like a mom.
Available: July 5, 2011

Title: Rock Star’s Girl
Author: Jennifer Farwell
Synopsis: Emily Watts just wants a weekend break from the workaholic hours she’s taken on to keep her business, a popular fashion-snark web site, up and running. What she gets is overnight celebrity and a career-killing media scandal.

While taking time out to attend a concert in support of friend Jesse Cinder, a struggling musician, Emily meets Cory Sampson, the lead singer of a chart-topping rock band. When she agrees to a date with Cory, making entertainment headlines is the last thing she expects. Even so, it’s a minor surprise by comparison to her discovery that in the music world, media notoriety trumps all. Tabloid allegations erupt when Cory and fame-hungry Jesse use Emily for personal gain, and her tarnished image results in steep revenue losses for her web site when its advertisers balk. Suddenly, even her backup income vanishes when editors at the publications she freelances for cut ties. To save the web site and writing career she’s made her life and dream, Emily must go from being a pawn in the Hollywood headline game, to becoming the media mastermind.

Available: July 2011

June 24, 2011
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On Tour: Starring in the Movie of My Life by Laurel Osterkamp
CLP Blog Tours

On Tour: Starring in the Movie of My Life by …

Laurel is on tour June 20-July 4 with her novel Starring in the Movie of My Life Thirty-five-year-old Samantha acts without thinking. Her heart is…

June 24, 2011
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Little Miss Teacher by Cassandra O’Sullivan Sachar
Chick Lit Review

Little Miss Teacher by Cassandra O’Sullivan Sachar

Cassandra O’Sullivan Sachar is on tour with CLP Blog Tours June 13-27 with her novel Little Miss Teacher. This story follows Candace Turner and her first year as an English teacher. Candace lands a high school teaching gig straight out of college, and struggles to deal with her career and life in the real real world. Her lesson plans don’t always go as smoothly as she hopes, both in the classroom and in her personal life. Some of her students are wild, her professional outfits are all wrong, she overdoses on NyQuil and passes out on the job, and a tragedy strikes her classroom. She also can’t get her crush to crush on her, her fling with another teacher turns out to be a disaster, and she can’t seem to fit in with the other instructors.
I found Little Miss Teacher to be humorous yet very real. Cassandra O’Sullivan Sachar is an English teacher herself, and it felt like I was almost reading through her diary. I had flashbacks of my high school days, and I remember when I had a first year teacher who sometimes looked like she just wanted to give up on us. I remember feeling sympathetic for her when she couldn’t tame us. A behind the scenes look on what a teacher really goes through during the first year was extremely interesting. There were funny parts, such as the NyQuil incident, but there were serious moments too that puts life into perspective, like the death of a student and a health scare with Candace’s best friend and roommate. I would have liked to see a little more on Candace’s friend or crush or family member, something to give the story a little oomph. About halfway through, I started to wonder what exactly the point of the story was, and thought maybe a little more drama would have helped speed it along and capture my attention. But once I finished and looked back on the whole story, I enjoyed learning something new about a profession and the struggles and embarrassing moment’s teachers have. I liked how the lessons plans for the classroom could be related to the lesson plans in life, and I would recommend this book. Thank you to Cassandra and the other great bloggers who participated in this tour!
[Rating: 3.5]

June 23, 2011
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GIVEAWAY: Confessions of a Call Center Gal by Lisa Lim
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GIVEAWAY: Confessions of a Call Center Gal by Lisa Lim

Madison Lee is a fresh college grad, ready to take on the world of print media. But she has zero luck landing a job. Unemployment is at ten percent and on the rise. Desperate and left with no other options, she accepts a position as a service rep at a call center in Pocatello, Idaho. At the Lightning Speed call center in Spudsville, Maddy plunges into the wild and dysfunctional world of customer service where Sales is prided over Service and an eight hour shift is equivalent to eight hours of callers bashing her over the phone. Oh sure, the calls are bad. But Maddy manages to find humor on the phone and off the phone. And with all the salacious drama behind the calls, there is never a dull moment at the Lightning Speed call center.
Lately . . . Maddy has been pining for her smolderingly gorgeous co-worker Mika Harket. Now things are heating up on the phone–and elsewhere. Don’t hang up on this novel. Working at a call center has never been this garish . . . or this delightful.
I have two copies of Confessions of a Call Center Gal by Lisa Lim for giveaway- one paperback and one eCopy. To enter, please leave a comment below letting me know why you want to win, and please include if you would prefer paperback or eBook. Winners will be chosen Thursday, July 7. Thank you to Lisa Lim for sponsoring this giveaway!

June 22, 2011
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The D Word by Liz Fenton and Lisa Steinke
Chick Lit Review

The D Word by Liz Fenton and Lisa Steinke

Jordan Daniels knows her marriage to Kevin is over. Even though they have a young son together, Jordan hasn’t been happy, and knows she wants more. But a year after she files for divorce, Jordan isn’t so sure she made the right choice. Even more frustrating- her career. Jordan makes a living as a spiritual counselor, and relies on her feelings and dreams to help others see their future. But she can’t see hers, and wonders if it’s too late to get Kevin back. Kevin seems to have moved on easily from the divorce, while Jordan can’t put clothes on his side of the closet yet. Can she win him back?
Elle Ryan knew something felt off when she agreed to marry Chase. But it took just weeks before the wedding before Elle got the strength to call it off- hurting her boyfriend and his sister, who happens to be her best friend. Elle never thought she could meet a great guy at the dog park, but when she runs into Kevin Daniels and his dog Georgie, the sparks fly immediately. Though Elle comes with her own baggage, so does Kevin- his ex-wife Jordan and five year old son Max. Elle can clearly see Jordan wants Kevin back, and will try to do anything to get Elle out of his life. Can Elle win the battle?
The D Word, co-authored by Liz Fenton and Lisa Steinke (the ladies behind the fabulous blog chicklitisnotdead.com) bring chick lit readers a story full of love and heartache, with twists in the story and enough light-hearted situations to make you smile even when you are reading about a not so happy topic. The story is told from both Jordan and Elle’s point of view, and it’s always interesting to get inside two character’s minds and see how they think- and what they think of each other. I loved that Jordan was jealous of Elle for her red hair and fresh face, and Elle was jealous of Jordan for being blonde and sophisticated. Spot-on for how woman usually think! I was curious throughout the way about how all the characters would end up, because there was no clear path. And I could easily side with both Jordan and Elle, so that made me invested in both characters. The only think I didn’t like was all the flashbacks. Those would yank me out of the story, and some I thought were really unnecessary. But other than that, a lot of fun to read and I think chick lit fans should put this on their to-read list!
[Rating: 4]

June 22, 2011
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Future Tour: Blow Me by Lennie Ross
CLP Blog Tours

Future Tour: Blow Me by Lennie Ross

Lennie Ross is on tour August 1-15 with her novel Blow Me Blow Me is the story of three single women—Skylar, Dawn, and Chloe—all hovering…

June 22, 2011
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Trace of Fever by Lori Foster
Chick Lit Review

Trace of Fever by Lori Foster

Lori Foster is keeping hearts racing and palms sweaty with her latest novel Trace of Fever. This book picks up after When You Dare, and follows Dare’s friend and partner Trace Rivers as he works undercover as a bodyguard for Murray Coburn. Murray runs a human trafficking business, and Trace has a personal interest after the kidnapping of his sister Alani. Just when Trace thinks he has gotten enough information and amo to take down Coburn and his business, Priscilla “Priss” Patterson shows up at the offices claiming to be Coburn’s daughter. Priss is set for revenge against Coburn, who used and abused her mother and eventually led to a terrible and fearful childhood for Priss while her mother had to cope with her nightmares. Now Trace’s plans are foiled while he tries to protect Priss, all without blowing his cover and exposing the real him to Coburn and his associates.
I was really excited to pick up Trace of Fever after I gave When You Dare a five star review, but the book fell a bit flat for me. There is so much odd sexual tension and innuendos between Trace and Priss during the beginning chapters that I started to feel a bit lost. I felt that Dare had a lot more action and kept the story moving with a seat of your pants feel to it, while Trace focused more on the sex. Every character seemed only to care about sex, and it started to get stale for me after so many chapters. Once the end started approaching and I didn’t know if Trace of Priss would get out alive after confronting Coburn, the story started to pick up for me and I became engrossed in the last few chapters. If you are a big romance fan, I would definitely recommend checking out the book, but if you like the action more, you might become a bit bored with the beginning. It was fun to catch up with Dare and Molly and even Chris from the first book, and see how their lives have progressed. There is a third book coming out, Savor the Danger, that follows Jackson and Trace’s sister Alani, and I will be interested in reading that one as well. That will be available June 28th.
[Rating: 3.5]

June 21, 2011
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