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Blue by Lou Aronica
Chick Lit Review

Blue by Lou Aronica

I don’t usually read fantasy novels, but I do like to give one a chance every so often. And I am sure glad I decided to take a chance on Blue, a novel by Lou Aronica. The story follows a family, Chris Astor and his fourteen year old daughter Becky. Becky has suffered through health conditions throughout her young life, and when times were at their worst, Chris helped Becky escape her pain by creating a magical world. Each night, father and daughter would revisit the Tamarisk Kingdom, and fill the land with their imaginations.
Queen Miea of Tamarisk is facing a great battle. Her land is suffering and on the verge of becoming extinct. No on can seem to find the answers she needs in order to save her community and the people along with it. But when Becky discovers that the fantasy world she created so many years ago is real, she becomes determined to save Tamarisk, and enlists her father to help. At first thinking his daughter is dreaming of the stories, Chris is hesitant to help. But once he sees for himself the magical land he created for his daughter during the worst moments of her life, Chris will do anything to save Tamarisk- and save his daughter.
This was such a well written novel, I couldn’t praise Aronica more for the beautiful way he intertwined characters and worlds. Every last detail in the fantasy world was creative and added more to the story. There were some heartbreaking scenes along the way that had me crying, but the love between father and daughter was extremely clear and quite emotional. I loved that I chose to read this book, because there wasn’t much romance or scandal to read about. The story focused solely on the love of a family, the painful journey some must take when losing a loved one, and the gift of believing. A recommendation to all readers.

January 12, 2011
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Debut Authors & Novels- January, February
Chick Lit Review

Debut Authors & Novels- January, February

Here are some debut authors and their novels coming out in January and February. Chick Lit Plus challengers- I hope this helps find some debuts for you to count towards the reading challenge! More debuts will be posted each month.

Title: A Valentine’s Kiss
Author: Lucie Hart
Synopsis: This Valentine’s day Imogen is going to meet the man of her dreams. If only she can discover who he is…At a gloriously over-the-top house party in the balmy South of France, British trainee chef Imogen finds herself playing blind man’s buff with a host of impossibly handsome men. And then one of them kisses her. It’s the most perfect kiss she’s ever experienced in her short – and frankly, to date romantically disappointing – life. Sweet, sexy and full of promise. Imogen wants more, but by the time she recovers her wits sufficiently to remove her blindfold her mystery kisser has disappeared. Could her Prince Charming be one of her fellow-chefs, Dimitri or Bastien? Both are clearly interested in her. But there’s also enigmatic Latino hunk Enzo, good-times-guy DJ Cheyenne, aristocratic Amaury, and the American visitors – Archer and Everett…So many men, so little time. And Imogen can’t just keep kissing men until she finds the right one…can she?
Release Date: January 20, 2011

Title: Playdate
Author: Thelma Adams
Synopsis: Inside their picture-perfect homes, the residents of this quiet California suburb are not at all what they seem.
Lance is a former weatherman, now a buff yogi, stay-athome dad, and manager of his daughter’s Girl Scout troop’s cookie distribution. Belle is his precocious and quick-witted daughter. Darlene is a classic Type A work-a-holic, she has little time or patience for the needs of her husband and daughter
And just down the street are Alec and Wren. Alec, a womanizing businessman, is also the financial backer—and sometimes more—behind Darlene’s burgeoning empire. Meanwhile, Wren is a doting mother and talented yogi, ready to lay down the mat for a quick session with Lance.
As looming Santa Ana winds threaten to turn brushfires into catastrophe; Playdate proves that relationships are complicated and the bonds between families, spouses and children are never quite what they seem. What happens next door, beyond the hedges, in the romper room and executive office—it’s all as combustible as a quick brushfire on a windy day.
Release Date: January 18. 2011

Title: Postcards from the Heart
Author: Ella Griffin
Synopsis: Life is looking up for Saffy. She has a great job, a gorgeous flat in the most desirable part of Dublin and – after six years – it looks like her boyfriend, Greg, is going to propose. Greg (just voted the 9th most eligible man in Ireland) is on a high too – he’s about to swap his part as a heartthrob in an Irish soap for a break in Hollywood. His best mate Brian wakes up every morning with Daryl, the most beautiful woman on the planet but, even after seven years and two kids, she won’t get married. He spends his days teaching teenagers and his nights writing the book he hopes will change everything, including Daryl’s mind. But their happy endings are playing hard to get. It seems everyone’s keeping secrets – one night stands, heartbreak, grief and loss are all in the mix. It’s going to take some tough questions and even tougher answers before anyone’s being honest – even with themselves. POSTCARDS FROM THE HEART is a book about four friends in their thirties. It’s about love, lust, life, death, balloon rides and missing hamsters. But most of all it’s about figuring out how to stop saying ‘I don’t’ and how to start saying ‘I do’.
Release Date: January 2011

Title: 666 Park Avenue
Author: Gabriella Price
Synopsis: Ever since fabulously wealthy Malcolm Doran walked into her life and swept her off her feet fledgling architect Jane Boyle2 s world has become an absolute fairy tale. When he proposes with a stunning 5-carat diamond to seal the deal Jane can2 t believe her incredible fortune and decides to leave her Paris-based job and make a new start with Malcolm in New York. But when Malcolm introduces Jane to the esteemed Doran clan one of the most feared and revered families of the New York City upper crust Jane2 s fairy tale takes a darker turn. Soon everything she thought she knew about the world and herself is upended and Jane is left to struggle with newfound magical abilities and the threat of those who will stop at nothing to get them. Bringing together the dual fascinations of high society and black magic 666 Park Avenue is a story of a young woman2 s discovery and survival when her mother-in-law to-be turns out to be a horrible grasping witch…literally.
Release Date: February 1, 2011

January 12, 2011
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Jewel, Ty Murray Expecting
Chick Lit Plus

Jewel, Ty Murray Expecting

What is with the baby news coming from Hollywood this week! On the heels of Natalie Portman, Victoria Beckham, and Owen Wilson, Jewell and husband Ty Murray have announced they are expecting. People.com released the news from the singer, 36, saying she is in her second trimester. This will be the first child for the couple, who married in 2008.

January 12, 2011
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Owen Wilson to be a Dad
Chick Lit Plus

Owen Wilson to be a Dad

Well who saw this coming? Owen Wilson is going to be a dad! The actor’s rep confirmed the baby news to People.com, saying, “Owen Wilson and Jade Duell are happy to be expecting a baby.” Wilson, 42, has been dating Duell for more than a year. This will be the first child for the actor. No due date was given.

January 11, 2011
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Planning to Live by Heather Wardell
Chick Lit Review

Planning to Live by Heather Wardell

I have been a big fan of Heather Wardell since her first book, and her latest novel cements my place as an admirer as both a reader and a writer. Planning to Live has a simple plot structure: Rhiannon, a thirty year old overweight perfectionist flees from her parent’s house on Christmas Day simply to avoid the temptations of food. But while driving on the icy roads, Rhiannon loses control of her car and slams into a tree. Trapped in her car, bleeding, and with no way to reach her phone to call for help, Rhiannon reflects on her life up until that moment. She thinks about her obsession with food, her relationship with her parents, the death of her first love. When hours go by and she is still not found, Rhiannon faces the reality that she may not get out of the accident alive. Her laptop is her last source of possible communication with her family and friends, and Rhiannon writes out her thoughts, hopes, and goals. While she thinks about her life, she realizes that it is the journey, not the destination that is so important. A motto for everyone to live by.
Even with a simple plot, girl stuck in car, this novel is powerful. While Rhiannon thinks about her life and the decisions she has made, I thought about my life and the decisions I had made. When Rhiannon realized it is the journey, not the destination, I thought of how true that statement is. And while the entire novel takes place in one night, with a few flashbacks along the way, I felt that I knew Rhiannon for years. I won’t give away the ending, and I won’t because I really want everyone to read this book. I know it will be just as rewarding for you as it was for me. Thank you Heather for another great read!
Rating: 4.5/5

January 10, 2011
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In My Mailbox: Week of January 9
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In My Mailbox: Week of January 9

In My Mailbox: Week of January 9, 2011

Title: Millie’s Fling
Author: Jill Mansell
Received: Bought for Amazon Kindle
Synopsis: When Millie Brady saves Orla Hart’s life she doesn’t realise how drastically it will change her own – not least because the boyfriend who was proposing at the time stormed off in a huff. Actually, Millie’s relieved. She’s happy to enjoy a man-free summer in Cornwall. But Orla has other ideas. She’s determined that Millie should meet the man of her dreams. Trouble is, Millie’s taste in men doesn’t tally with Orla’s. The one who really interests her is Hugh Emerson, and he’s the man with whom Orla’s adamant she mustn’t get involved…

Title: Eclipse
Author: Stephenie Meyer
Received: Borrowed from a friend
Synopsis: As Seattle is ravaged by a string of mysterious killings and a malicious vampire continues her quest for revenge, Bella once again finds herself surrounded by danger. In the midst of it all, she is forced to choose between her love for Edward and her friendship with Jacob—knowing that her decision has the potential to ignite the ageless struggle between vampire and werewolf. With her graduation quickly approaching, Bella has one more decision to make: life or death. But which is which?

Title: Stir Until Thoroughly Confused
Author: Heather Wardell
Received: From Heather Wardell
Synopsis: Mary’s given up everything, including an unsatisfying marriage, to become a chef. But the career comes with a side dish: Kegan, her sexy but controlling new boss. They’re soon in a relationship, and in all-too-frequent arguments, and when it becomes clear they can’t work together and be together Mary faces a dilemma: keep her dream job or her dream man?

January 9, 2011
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Health Tests Women Need
Chick Lit Plus

Health Tests Women Need

I read an article from Fitness Magazine that was titled “Eight Medical Tests Every Woman Needs,” and knew I needed to pass the information along. Not only is it important for women to know what tests they need, but they should know how often they need it and why. The writer, Donna Fennessy, did a great job at breaking down the eight different tests. Here are three that she touched on, and be sure to read the entire article yourself.
TEST: Pap Smear
WHO TO SEE: Gynecologist
WHY: Collecting cells from the cervix during a pelvic exam is the best way to tell if your cervix is healthy — cell changes can lead to cervical cancer.
HOW OFTEN: Starting at age 21, most women need to be screened every other year or less, according to the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists. Once you turn 30 — and you’ve had three consecutive negative tests and no abnormal history — you can get it done once every three years.

TEST: Skin Cancer Screening
WHO TO SEE: Dermatologist
WHY: She can ID weirdly shaped moles or other growths that might be cancerous or precancerous.
HOW OFTEN: Get new or changed growths assessed ASAP. If you’re a current or recovering tanning-bed or sun lover, are fair or dotted with moles or freckles or have a family history of skin cancer, see the derm twice a year. If not, go annually.
FAST FACT: Derms are better at diagnosing melanomas than primary-care docs, finds a recent study. The result of better screening? Higher survival rates.

TEST: Cholesterol Panel
WHO TO SEE: Your GP
WHY: High cholesterol means higher risk for heart disease. You want total cholesterol under 200 mg/dL; LDL (bad cholesterol) under 100 mg/dL; HDL (good stuff) 60 mg/dL or more; and triglycerides under 150 mg/dL.
HOW OFTEN: At least once every five years, starting at age 20.

January 9, 2011
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David & Victoria Beckham Expecting Fourth Child
Chick Lit Plus

David & Victoria Beckham Expecting Fourth Child

David and Victoria Beckham are expecting their fourth child! A rep for the posh confirmed the news and released this statement to People.com, “David and Victoria Beckham are delighted to confirm they are expecting their fourth child in the summer.” The couple already have three sons keeping them busy, Brooklyn, Romeo, and Cruz, ages 11, 8, and 5 ½.

January 9, 2011
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Author Profile: Lucie Simone
Chick Lit Authors

Author Profile: Lucie Simone

Author Name: Lucie Simone

Website: http://www.luciesimone.com/index.html

Bio: Lucie is a girl’s girl. Her novels reflect her love of living in LA, sipping fruity drinks, rubbing elbows with almost-celebrities, and trying to find love. She has also had the luck to travel, seeing the United States from coast to coast and even vacationing around the globe. Lucie lives in Hollywood, and enjoys spending her time in coffee shops and bookstores, often reading a romance novel or working on writing one of her own. She has a degree in journalism and television production, and has worked in both the entertainment and advertising industries. Her blog describes her as an author, a girly girl, a feminist, a yogi, a vegetarian, an animal lover, a bookworm, a film fan, and so much more.
Titles: The Waterdance, A Taste of Italy, and Hollywood Ending.
See my review of A Hollywood Ending
Bio Retrieved from luciesimone.com

January 8, 2011
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