Chick Lit Plus by Samantha March

Latest Youtube Videos

New Release: These Things Hidden by Heather Gudenkauf
Chick Lit Review

New Release: These Things Hidden by Heather Gudenkauf

Heather Gudenkauf, New York Times and USA Today bestselling author of The Weight of Silence, follows her phenomenally successful debut novel with THESE THINGS HIDDEN (MIRA Books, February 2011, $15.95 U.S./$18.95 CAN.), an equally absorbing dramatic work. In THESE THINGS HIDDEN, Gudenkauf deftly tells the story of three families united by a chilling secret the night two babies are born.

The story begins with a girl named Allison Glenn being released from prison after spending five years there for an unconscionable murder. Without any contact from her parents or her sister, Allison is sent to a halfway house in her hometown. She is determined to reconnect with her sister Brynn and desperate to atone for involving her in what happened that fateful night. Brynn wants nothing to do with her sister and feels that it is she who is still imprisoned — forced to keep hidden the truth of what really happened.

As a precocious sixteen-year-old high school student, Allison seemed to have an ideal life in the town of Linden Falls, Iowa—perfect grades, sports achievements, beauty and popularity. But there were cracks under that flawless exterior. Her parents were relentlessly driving her to perfection and the pressure of meeting unrealistic expectations propelled her into the arms of Christopher Tullia, an unsavory college student who offered her an escape from the demands of her day-to-day existence.

That respite came at a high cost when Allison realized that she was pregnant. Desperate to preserve the illusion of her perfection and future she hid the pregnancy. That facade was shattered when Allison, suddenly in labor, convinced her loving and sensitive younger sister Brynn to help keep her secret.
When the truth is revealed the consequences are unimaginable and change the lives of the families involved forever.

THESE THINGS HIDDEN
Heather Gudenkauf
Mira Publisher
$15.95 U.S./$18.95 CAN.
ISBN-13: 978-0-7783-2879-7
352 Pages

HEATHER GUDENKAUF
Heather Gudenkauf is the author of the New York Times and USA Today bestselling novel The Weight of Silence. She lives in Iowa with her family. Heather is an advocate of Safe Haven laws that are enacted in most states to provide a safe place for parents or another person who has the parent’s permission to leave an infant at a hospital or health care facility without fear of arrest for abandonment. Visit her website at www.HeatherGudenkauf.com

December 21, 2010
1 Comment
Midnight Brunch by Marta Acosta
Chick Lit Review

Midnight Brunch by Marta Acosta

Marta Acosta follows up her enjoyable Casa Dracula debut with Midnight Brunch¸ still following the life of heroine Milagro de los Santos. Milagro is the only known human to survive a vampire infection, making her quite popular in the vampire world. But Milagro has eyes only for the dashing Oswald, and now lives with him in the family estate. Milargo is upset when she learns she isn’t allowed to attend the naming ceremony for the new baby in the family, simply because she is not family. Already feeling left out at times around Oswald and his clan, this only angers Milargo further. When Oswald departs on a humanitarian trip, Milagro decides to follow a few leads to understand more about the vampires and their culture. She doesn’t expect to find herself in a desert spa, playing assistant to a celebrity actor, and having her life threatened by quirky vampires who are determined to take over the world.
I know a lot of people say that sequels never stack up to the original, but I loved Midnight Brunch- even more than Happy Hour at Casa Dracula! I knew Milagro and Oswald and their story, and I was happy to see that the action picked up with barely a stitch in time going by. It was like welcoming old friends. Milagro is the same sexy heroine, living on the dangerous side by choice this time, and I liked watching her and Oswald’s relationship grow. I would definitely recommend readers to the Casa Dracula series, even if you aren’t vampire or paranormal fans. I wasn’t, and hadn’t read a paranormal book before Happy Hour, and I’m sure glad I did! Acosta’s writing and the world she created are too good to pass up.
Rating: 5/5

December 20, 2010
1 Comment
Tony Romo Engaged to Candice Crawford
Chick Lit Plus

Tony Romo Engaged to Candice Crawford

Anyone else close to Jessica Simpson going to get engaged? Not only has Simpson herself recently gotten engaged, ex-husband Nick Lachey popped the question to girlfriend Vanessa Minnillo, but now Simpson’s ex, Tony Romo, has proposed to his girlfriend! The Dallas Cowboys quarterback popped the question to girlfriend Candice Crawford (brother is Chace Crawford of Gossip Girl) Thursday night during her 24th birthday dinner in Dallas. Romo, 30, began dating the former beauty queen in September 2009, only two months after breaking things off with Simpson. The ring is approximated at four carats. No word yet on when the wedding will be.
Wait! Didn’t Romo break up with Jessica Simpson on her birthday? And now he proposes to his next girlfriend on her birthday? Hmm…interesting.

December 17, 2010
Leave a comment
Debut Author Spotlight: Aidan Donnelley Rowley
Chick Lit Authors

Debut Author Spotlight: Aidan Donnelley Rowley

Debut Author: Aidan Donnelley Rowley
Debut Novel: Life After Yes
I met Aidan because her debut novel, Life After Yes, was the final selection for the fabulous book club I belong to- SheKnows. The SheKnows bloggers got to vote on our last book, and I am sure glad we chose Life After Yes. Here is a clip of my five star review:
“Life After Yes was one of my favorite reads of 2010. I commend Aidan Donnelley Rowley for writing such a truthful story, with real characters and real problems. I almost feel this novel should come with a warning label: Will you risk asking yourself the questions Quinn is asking of herself? Are you brave enough to face the answers? I recommend everyone to read this book, chick lit fan or not. I think we can all identify with a piece of Quinn, and take away a lesson on true happiness.”
After our selection was chosen, I hopped online to find out more about Aidan Donnelley Rowley, and was pleasantly surprised to find that she has a pretty unique blog going. Aidan tackles numerous subjects, ranging from pregnancy and parenthood, health and happiness, and of course- writing. Her blog is titled “Ivy League Insecurities” which I found interesting. Like her main character Quinn in Life After Yes, Aidan is Ivy League educated, and attended Yale College and Columbia Law School. She worked as a lawyer for a hot second, but now has focused on her family- who includes her two young daughters- and her writing. Aidan blogs about her daily life, her struggles as a writer, and her insecurities. I like her blog because she feels like a real person. Yeah, she has an Ivy League education. And yes, she has published a fantastic novel. But she isn’t afraid to admit her insecurities. I find her writing refreshing, meaningful, and inspiring.
So please take some time out to swing by Ivy League Insecurities and drop a line to Aidan, or visit her on Twitter or Facebook. If you haven’t picked up your copy yet of Life After Yes, you will want to get that on your Christmas list. I gave Aidan’s debut a five star review, and I’m sure many other readers will agree!

December 17, 2010
1 Comment
Happy Hour at Casa Dracula by Marta Acosta
Chick Lit Review

Happy Hour at Casa Dracula by Marta Acosta

Happy Hour at Casa Dracula is book one in the feisty, fantasy, and romantic “vampire” series from Marta Acosta. Readers are introduced to Milagro de los Santos, the hip Latina who accidently gets infected by the ravishing Oswald. When Milagro suddenly gets the urges to eat raw meat and drink blood, Oswald whisks Milagro away to his family compound, and starts spilling the family secrets. Oswald and his family won’t claim themselves as vampires, instead insisting that they have a genetic condition- which makes them have urges to drink blood and can’t go in the sun. They fear Milagro has been infected after her encounter with Oswald, and that no human has survived infection. When Milagro appears to be able to fight off the infection, and grows increasingly attracted to the engaged Oswald, she must accept the vastly different life she will now lead.
I have never read vampires book, and don’t get much into paranormal reads, but when my pal Marta Acosta asked me to review her series, I couldn’t say no. And I’m glad I didn’t turn her down! Happy Hour isn’t a typical vampire novel filled with dark scenes and biting necks. Milagro is a hilarious protagonist, an independent chick who isn’t afraid to walk on the wild side and wear that skin tight leopard dress. The journey she takes readers on promises to be funny, entertaining, and will keep you flipping the pages. I love the world that Acosta has created, and look forward to more from the series!
Rating: 4/5

December 16, 2010
4 Comments
Author Profile: Shannon McKelden
Chick Lit Authors

Author Profile: Shannon McKelden

Author Name: Shannon McKelden

Website: http://shannonmckelden.com/

Bio: Shannon knew she enjoyed writing since the sixth grade, when her short stories earned her A+ grades. While she enjoyed writing, that dream got sidetracked as she worked in a shoe store and a bank, graduated high school, got married and took on a mortgage. After her daughter was born, Shannon was able to start dabbling in the writing again- and went on to publish short stories for magazines. It took a few years later and finding the Romance Writers of America, but Shannon now has published three novels.

Currently: Shannon lives in the Pacific Northwest with her husband, two kids, three cats, a dog and a crow.
Titles: Venus Envy, Venus Guy Trap, and The Kiss Test
Bio Retrieved from shannonmckelden.com

December 15, 2010
1 Comment
Scarlett Johansson, Ryan Reynolds Split
Chick Lit Plus

Scarlett Johansson, Ryan Reynolds Split

What is eating Hollywood? It seems to be the week for breakups- and it’s only Tuesday! Zac Efron and Vanessa Hudgens split after four years of dating, Jennifer Connelly and Michael C. Hall are on their way to a divorce, and now Scarlett Johansson and Ryan Reynolds have separated! People.com reported the news, and released this joint statement form the couple, “”After long and careful consideration on both our parts, we’ve decided to end our marriage. We entered our relationship with love and it’s with love and kindness we leave it. While privacy isn’t expected, it’s certainly appreciated.”
A source close to the couple says Johansson initiated the split and the couple has been separated for six months. Johansson, 26, and Reynolds, 34, have been known for their hush-hush relationship, rarely speaking out about each other. They married in 2008 in Reynold’s hometown of Vancouver, with only friends and family to witness the ceremony, and no wedding photos were ever released. The couple have no children.

December 15, 2010
1 Comment
Guest Post: For Love of Writing by Donna VanLiere
For Writers

Guest Post: For Love of Writing by Donna VanLiere

For Love of Writing
Donna VanLiere
The Christmas Journey
www.donnavanliere.com

At every writer’s seminar or symposium you’ll hear someone from a publishing house or literary agency say to write about you love or what you know. Red Smith, the first sportswriter to win the Pulitzer Prize, said, “There’s nothing to writing. All you do is sit down at a typewriter and open a vein.” That’s easier said than done and impossible to do unless you’re pouring your heart into the words and writing about you know.

It’s those books, the ones that come from the place of knowing that are the ones worth reading—ones where the writer poured herself into the writing. Those are the novels that touch the reader to the core, prompting her to care more deeply or give more generously. Those are the stories that reach the far places of the reader’s heart making her angry at injustice or more passionate about the homeless. Eloquence and style have their place but for my money I’d rather read a book that was written with passion because it’s within those pages that I feel something.

In Hebrew, the word dabar means both word and action. A good book shouldn’t just say something but make you feel something. When I give a book away as a gift it’s always because the book did something to me. As a writer, you should always ask yourself, “What do I want the reader to feel?” because it’s not all about the words. There’s more. There’s helping the reader feel a little wiser, a little less alone, a little less afraid, a heap more grateful, a little more understanding, patient or loving, a bit more human and a lot more alive. Those are the books worth reading and the only ones worth writing.

December 14, 2010
1 Comment
Zac Efron, Vanessa Hudgens Split
Chick Lit Plus

Zac Efron, Vanessa Hudgens Split

One of Hollywood’s youngest golden couples has called it quits. People.com reported that High School Musical stars Zac Efron and Vanessa Hudgens have split after four years together. A source tells People that “they are 100 percent still good friends.” Efron, 23, is filming The Lucky One in New Orleans, and Hudgens, who turns 22 on Tuesday, is working on Journey 2: The Mysterious Island in Hawaii. No reason was given for the split.

December 14, 2010
1 Comment