Chick Lit Plus by Samantha March

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Loreal Go 360 Facial Cleanser Review
Chick Lit Plus

Loreal Go 360 Facial Cleanser Review

I have been pretty faithful the past few months to the Biore Skincare line, but I wanted to try something new. You know me- beauty junkie, always wanting to try everything. So I grabbed a bottle of L’Oreal’s new Go 360 Clean Deep Facial Cleanser (the green bottle). Why did I choose this product? Because I was intrigued by the “scrublet” that came attached to the front of the bottle. You get your face wet, pour a little of the cleanser on to the scrublet, and run over your face. Wait a few seconds and rinse. The deep facial cleanser promises to shrink pores by getting down and dirty with the pores on your face, removing makeup, oil, and dirt to keep acne away.
I will be honest here- the first time I used this product, I was horrified. Just moments after rinsing off the cleanser, my face was raw red and starting to flake. I put on a pound of moisturizer so I could go out in public, but still felt like my face was was peeling away. I threw the cleanser deep into a corner of my bathroom drawer and vowed never to use it again. A few weeks later, I was doing some research on the cleanser to write a scathing review for it, when I noticed a lot of people used words such as “gentle” “fresh” and “non-drying” when talking about the deep facial cleanser. That couldn’t be right! This evil gel made my face dry and flaky for days after one use! How could people really use this on a daily basis?
I decided to give L’Oreal one more try. Honesty again here- I think I got a little carried away the first time I used it. I blame the scrublet! I had so much fun running that little brush over my face, I couldn’t stop. The second time I tried the product, I didn’t use as much pressure, and didn’t take ten minutes to apply the gel. I lightly ran the scrublet over my face twice (taking under a minute) then promptly rinsed. Verdict- everything was fine! My face felt clean, not dry and tight, and I had no flakes. I used it again the next day, just to see if I could use this on a daily basis and again- no dryness! I have been using the scrublet almost every night now for the past week and have had no issues with dry patches. I am so glad I gave this product another try, because I now really enjoy it and would definitely recommend. Just don’t go overboard with the srcublet like I did! L’Oreal has four different kinds of this new cleanser, and they have a great tool on their website that will help you find which is best for your skin type.
[Rating: 4]

March 10, 2011
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Please Don’t Stop the Music by Jane Lovering
Chick Lit Review

Please Don’t Stop the Music by Jane Lovering

Jemima Hutton needs to keep her past a secret. She knows if it gets out, her new friends wouldn’t want anything to do with her. She is determined to build a successful life, and is having good luck with her jewelry making business, until her lucky streak ends. When she meets the reclusive Ben Davies at his guitar shop, she begs him to stock her jewelry, and he agrees. As Jemima and Ben’s friendship grows, Jemima knows Ben is hiding a secret. He used to be a rock star, front man of a popular band and touring all over the world. Why is he now hiding out in a guitar shop, using a different name and pretending to not care about his past? But Ben also knows Jemima is hiding something, and as their friendship grows, the more Jemima becomes terrified her past will come out.
Please Don’t Stop the Music by Jane Lovering was an eye-opening book. My favorite part of this novel is that the main character is so different from what I usually read. Her background is dirty, messy, heart-breaking. I love reading about strong woman, and Jemima captured my attention from the first chapter. The villain in the story plays a large part throughout, and Lovering effectively made me hate her then love her all within a very short amount of time. There was just one scenario in the book that I just could not give credit too, when the mystery father of Jemima’s friend and roommate is announced. I won’t give any spoilers here, but I couldn’t really buy into that story. Other than that, the ending had me crying over the hard lessons the characters learned and the emotional turmoil they were going through, and I could feel the passion in the writing. A definite recommendation from me.
[Rating: 4]

March 9, 2011
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Special K Cereal Bars
Chick Lit Plus

Special K Cereal Bars

I love to sleep, so getting up early in the morning to get ready for work is my enemy. After I moved this past summer, my commute to work went from 5 minutes to 25 minutes. What did that mean for me? Less sleep! I fixed this solution by skipping breakfast at home. I would usually give myself enough time for some toast and fruit or even a bowl of cereal while I fixed my hair. After the move, I started bringing breakfast to work with me, grabbing a banana or pop-tart and eating it while driving or once I started working. While I would occasionally grab fruit, sugary pop-tarts or caffeine loaded coffee drinks started to become the norm for me. Sometimes, I would even just skip breakfast all together- one of the biggest no-no’s out there. I knew I needed to rely on something small and fast that could easily be grabbed from home or stored in my desk at work.
Then one day about a month ago I was in the gift shop at my work (a hospital) when I saw a cute little pink package. The pink immediately caught my eye, along with the bold headline ONLY 90 CALORIES!! I thought, 90 calories- too good to be true! It was a Special K Strawberry Cereal Bar, and my hand wavered as I went to snatch one up. Special K? I tried the cereal once, and I thought it was flavorless and dry. But my break was almost over, I needed something for breakfast, and one bar cost fifty-five cents. I took a leap a faith.
And I am not sorry I did. I loved it! The strawberries were sweet, the drizzled icing a treat, and the rice and whole grain flakes were filling. Even for .81 ounce of food, I was happily satisfied throughout the morning. And did I mention there are only 90 calories in one bar? If you were like me and hesitant to try these cereal bars, give them a shot! They are perfect for a light breakfast, low on calories, but can be enjoyed if you have a sweet tooth like me. They also come in a variety of flavors, including blueberry, chocolate drizzle, honey nut, and raspberry cheesecake. Yum!

March 8, 2011
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The Boyfriend of the Month Club by Maria Geraci
Chick Lit Review

The Boyfriend of the Month Club by Maria Geraci

Grace O’Bryan is still single, even after dating plenty of bachelors in the Daytona Beach area. During her book club meeting with some of her best girlfriends, Grace has the idea to turn the book club into a boyfriend club. The woman can exchange stories about the men they have dated, warn each other about the bad apples, and hopefully find potential winners through their discussions. But while Grace envisioned just a close group of friends meeting, her friend Ellen takes the club a bit too seriously, and it quickly gets out of hand. Meanwhile, Grace is trying to balance her job working as a manger at the struggling family store, a possibly love interest in her dentist, another possible love interest in Daytona Beach’s own most eligible bachelor, and keeping up with her family dynamics.
The Boyfriend of the Month Club by Maria Geraci is humorous and an interesting read. I enjoyed Grace’s character; I could feel a connection with her and bonded with her story and her search for love. The friendships in the book were excellent- except I did find myself extremely frustrated with the Ellen character often. And I really enjoyed that I wasn’t sure what was going on with Grace’s love life. So often, readers know which guy the girl will end up with, and you just wait to see how it plays out and they come together. But with two characters both in Grace’s line of vision, it made the story that much more interesting and kept my attention. A lighthearted and fun read, I would definitely recommend The Boyfriend of the Month Club to chick lit fans.
Rating: 4

March 7, 2011
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In My Mailbox: Week of March 6
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In My Mailbox: Week of March 6

In My Mailbox: Week of March 6th

Title: Surf, Sea and Sexy Stranger
Author: Heidi Rice
Received: From Doug Miller @ Midas Public Relations
Synopsis: Honed, handsome, and needing the kiss of life! Millionaire entrepreneur Ryan King is mortified: he’s just been pulled from the ocean by a pretty female lifeguard! Why, after months recovering from a horrific motorbike accident, did he get back on his surfboard? For the same reason he wants a hot, wild woman back in his bed – to prove he’s the same man he was before… Maddy is shocked to find that this half-drowned, totally gorgeous surfer has her body humming! She always ends up getting used – maybe this time it’s her turn to do the using? It’s the short, sizzling affair they both need – until their dangerously addictive liaison careers out of control…

Title: Molly Cooper’s Dream Date
Author: Barbara Hannay
Received: From Doug Miller @ Midas Public Relations
Synopsis: Pacific islander Molly Cooper has house-swapped her way into London’s exclusive Chelsea. It’s her dream to explore Britain…and meet a perfect English gentleman!
Patrick Knight is finding Molly’s chatty emails strangely compelling. The onetime city banker thought swapping his London pad for Molly’s idyllic cottage would help him write his first novel—but it’s not quite working out…
What do you do when you realize the on you want is half a world away, living in your home, sleeping in your bed…?

Title: Here, Home, Hope
Author: Kaira Rouda
Received: From Crystal Patriarche @ Book Sparks PR
Synopsis: Kelly Mills Johnson becomes restless in her thirty-ninth year. An appetite for more forces her to take stock of her middling middle-American existence and her neighbors’ seemingly perfect lives. Her marriage to a successful attorney has settled into a comfortable routine, and being the mother of two adorable sons has been rewarding. But Kelly’s own passions lie wasted. She eyes with envy the lives of her two best friends, Kathryn and Charlotte, both beautiful, successful businesswomen who seem to have it all. Kelly takes charge of her life, devising a midlife makeover plan.
From page one, Kelly’s witty reflections, self-deprecating humor, and clever tactics in executing that plan—she places Post-it notes all over her house and car—will have readers laughing out loud. The next instant, however, they might rant right along with Kelly as her commitment to a sullen, anorexic teenager left on her doorstep tries her patience or as she deflects the boozy advances of a divorced neighbor. Readers will need to keep the tissue box handy, too, as Kelly repairs the damage she inflicted on a high school friend; realizes how deeply her husband, Patrick, understands and loves her; and ultimately grows into a woman empowered by her own blend of home and career.

March 6, 2011
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Workout Wish List: Bosu Ball
Chick Lit Plus

Workout Wish List: Bosu Ball

I am one who enjoys a good workout, and I primarily like completing my workouts at home. While I need to go to the gym to use treadmills and ellipticals, I have quite an array of workout DVD’s and small equipment in my house. I have dumbbells, a kettleball, resistance bands, my pink yoga mat, but now I have a new want to add to my wish list: a BOSU Ball. I noticed this workout friend when Kelly Osbourne was spotlighted in Shape Magazine. The BOSU ball helps balance, while strengthening the core muscles around your abdominal and back. Kelly’s workout had her doing planks and pushups on the ball, as well as standing (balancing) while doing bicep curls and other moves with weights. The BOSU ball boasts that not only does it help trim and tone your body, but improves balance and coordination.
I found on Amazon the BOSU Ball Trainer Home Version- which includes the ball, pump, exercise manual, and a workout DVD. I think the BOSU ball would be a perfect addition to my at-home fitness room. It won’t take up a lot of space, and I can get a great workout while doing moves I normally would complete with the added challenge of balance. Does anyone own or have used the BOSU ball? Is this something you would recommend?

March 5, 2011
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GIVEAWAY: Tales From the Crib by Jennifer Coburn
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GIVEAWAY: Tales From the Crib by Jennifer Coburn

Talk about bad timing!

When Lucy Klein gets her positive pregnancy results, she’s overjoyed. She and her husband Jack have been trying to get pregnant for years throughout their rocky marriage. But before she can tell him the big news, Jack has something he needs to announce – he wants a divorce!
Rather than split up, Lucy and Jack decide to live together as friends. This way, they can share expenses and parenting responsibilities. Co-parenting is a fine deal for Jack who is back in the dating scene by Lucy’s third trimester of pregnancy, but is a frustrating one for Lucy who has unfulfilled sexual fantasies about every man from restaurant delivery boys to puppeteers.
Meanwhile, Lucy’s mother is taking over her life. The grand dame of Planet Earth, Anjoli frequently visits her daughter to share her own brand of maternal wisdom.

As Anjoli leaves her Drama Queen bookstore to “help” Lucy with baby Adam, the new grandmother has an affair with baby’s pediatrician, hosts two weddings (including cousin Kimmy’s wedding to herself), and constantly frets about which kind of pie to serve guests. With a cast of family and friends from Lucy’s Jewish aunts to Junior League neighbor, Candace, Tales From the Crib is the story of how one baby can bring people together – so they can drive each other nuts!

I have two copies of Tales From the Crib for giveaway! To enter, please send an email to Samantha(at)chicklitplus.com with your full mailing address. For bonus entries, comment on this post, comment on Facebook, or re-tweet on Twitter. Only those who email me their mailing address will be entered! Winners will be chosen on Wednesday March 9th. A big thank you to Jennifer Coburn for sponsoring this giveaway! Please check out her website for more great books, including her latest novel, The Queen Gene.

March 4, 2011
13 Comments
Challenge:Post Reviews:March
Updates

Challenge:Post Reviews:March

March Challenge Reviews January Reviews February Reviews Please note this is not the sign up page. To sign up, click here Only signed up challengers…

March 4, 2011
39 Comments
Stir Until Thoroughly Confused by Heather Wardell
Chick Lit Review

Stir Until Thoroughly Confused by Heather Wardell

Author Heather Wardell made it to the top of my Favorites List with her first novel, Life, Love and Polar Bear Tattoo¸ and I have been eagerly reading her books since. Her latest, Stir Until Thoroughly Confused, did not leave me disappointed. The story centers around Mary, who is struggling to break free from difficult divorce. She moves to Toronto to put behind her controlling ex-husband and mother, but is without a job. She is determined to follow her dream of working as a chef. Enter Kegan. Yes, the Kegan from some of Wardell’s past novels, that Kegan. Kegan appears to be a somewhat changed man, and it doesn’t take long for a romance to start quietly brewing between him and Mary. But with Kegan now Mary’s boss, his controlling attitude revolving around his restaurants lead to one too many fights between the new couple. Mary is smacked with an ultimatum: choose Kegan and the relationship, or her dream career.
I love revisiting the characters from Wardell’s previous novels. It is fun to catch up with them and see which direction their lives have taken. In Stir, readers not only get plenty of Kegan to keep them happy, but a handful of other characters make cameos as well. This book is filled with interesting characters and unique plot points, even though the main subject is a well known one: should a woman choose her career or a man? Wardell keeps her story fresh and fast-paced, engaging readers in the world she creates so well. The only part I disliked was I felt there should have been more showing the downfall of Mary and Kegan’s relationship. I felt that things went really well for them, then started to fall apart almost without any warning. It seemed as though the characters were just a half step ahead of where the story was going. But overall, another fantastic read and a definite recommendation from me! If you haven’t read anything yet by Heather Wardell, a highly suggest you do!
[Rating: 4]

March 3, 2011
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