Chick Lit Plus by Samantha March

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Christina Aguilera, Husband Announce Split
Chick Lit Plus

Christina Aguilera, Husband Announce Split

Another celebrity couple separates! What is in the water over there? Singer Christina Aguilera and husband Jordan Bratman have decided to separate after five years of marriage, sources tell People.com. Though the source says “no divorce proceedings” are happening, the couple is “trying to figure things out.” Aguilera, 29, and Bratman, 33, have one son together- Max, age 2. This separation surprises me more than Courteneny Cox’s, there was never any mention of tension in the marriage or problems. Last I read, Christina loved having “Naked Sundays” with Jordan! What are your thoughts- surprised? Sad?

October 13, 2010
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Courteney Cox, David Arquette Seperate
Chick Lit Plus

Courteney Cox, David Arquette Seperate

Well this is sad news. After eleven years together (54 in Hollywood years) Courteney Cox and David Arquette have separated. The actors, who first met in 1996 while filming Scream, are parents to 6 year old daughter Coco. Cox, 46, and Arquette, 39, married in San Francisco three years after meeting, and have often publicly talked about marriage struggles and the fact they use couples counseling. The couple released this statement regarding their separation:
“The reason for this separation is to better understand ourselves and the qualities we need in a partner and for our marriage. We remain best friends and responsible parents to our daughter and we still love each other deeply. As we go through this process we are determined to use kindness and understanding to get through this together. We are comfortable with the boundaries that we have established for each other during this separation and we hope that our friends, family, fans and the media also show us respect, dignity, understanding and love at this time as well.”
Darn. These were one of my favorite Hollywood couples. What do you think? Did you see this one coming?

October 12, 2010
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Author Profile: Michele Gorman
Chick Lit Authors

Author Profile: Michele Gorman

Author Name: Michele Gorman

Website: http://www.michelegorman.co.uk/Welcome.html
Bio: Michele Gorman grew up in Pittsfield, Massachusetts, in rural northeastern USA. Trying to go the useful direction in college, she pursued accounting and went on to work as an auditor. Gorman then moved to Chicago, and while working for the bank realized she was not in the field she desired. So she went back to school, receiving a master’s degree in sociology, and met a great man- who then moved to London. For three years they continued a long long distance relationship, until Gorman eventually crossed the Pond to be with him. In early 2006, Gorman became an official citizen of Britain, and currently lives in London.
Titles: Single in the City
Bio Retrieved from www.michelegorman.co.uk

October 12, 2010
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Author Profile: Kathy Charles
Chick Lit Authors

Author Profile: Kathy Charles

Author Name: Kathy Charles

Website: http://www.kathycharles.com/index.html
Bio: Kathy Charles worships at the church of pop culture. At the age of ten she dreamt of being the female equivalent of Steven Spielberg, barking into a megaphone while a crew of hundreds rushed around a sound stage doing her bidding. When she discovered being a director meant getting up early, she turned her attention to writing, where you can keep your own hours and there is no chance of going over budget.

Currently: In addition to writing, Kathy currently works in the film industry in Australia where she lives with her husband, cat and pug dog.
Titles: John Belushi is Dead.
Bio Retrieved from www.kathycharles.com

October 11, 2010
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In My Mailbox: Week of October 10
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In My Mailbox: Week of October 10

In My Mailbox: Week of October 10, 2010

Title: Happy Hour at Casa Dracula
Author: Marta Acosta
Received: From Marta Acosta
Synopsis: Despite her Fancy University (F.U.) degree, Milagro de los Santos isn’t having much success at life. She can barely pay the rent and all of her boyfriends are as frivolous as beach reads. Then, at a party in honor of her successful ex-boyfriend, she meets the unusually attractive, quirky Oswald Grant.
Who knew that her passionate kiss with Oswald would result in serious illness, a craving for raw meat, and an aversion to sunlight? Well, her ambitious ex knew, and after he attempts to kidnap Milagro, she must hide out with Oswald’s snobby family at their country estate to recover and learn the truth about their mysterious “genetic condition.”
When Oswald and his family are threatened, Milagro uses her wits, her wiles, and a whacky scheme to bring down the power-hungry creeps who refuse to let the undead live in peace.

Title: Midnight Brunch
Author: Marta Acosta
Received: From Marta Acosta
Synopsis: Hip, funny Milagro de los Santos thinks she’s finally found love and a home at the California ranch of fabulous Oswald Grant and his urbane relatives, who have a rare genetic disorder that some call vampirism. But Milagro is bewildered when she’s excluded from an ancient and mysterious midnight ceremony whose participants include Oswald’s unfriendly parents, a creepy family elder, and Milagro’s ex-lover, the powerful and decadent Ian Ducharme. What skeletons are the vampires keeping in their designer closets?
When Milagro’s life is threatened by a rogue family member, she flees to the desert to hide. Instead of solitude, she encounters an egomaniacal actor, a partying heiress, a sly tabloid reporter, and a lavish spa full of dark secrets — all of which might help her find a way home.

Title: The Bride of Casa Dracula
Author: Marta Acosta
Received: From Marta Acosta
Synopsis: Milagro de los Santos is having serious problems planning her wedding to fabulous Oswald Grant, M.D. Her future in-laws loathe her, her dog just died, and Oswald’s family has a genetic anomaly that makes them crave blood. Then her extravagant best friend hijacks the role of wedding coordinator, and the secretive Vampire Council assigns conniving Cornelia Ducharme to guide the couple through the ancient vampire marriage rituals.
To top it all off, Milagro’s career is on the skids. She’s reduced to ghostwriting the memoirs of a loony little man who claims to be a shapeshifter. And why does Cornelia’s decadent, way too attractive brother, Ian, always show up whenever Milagro is away from Oswald?
When a series of accidents interferes with wedding plans, Oswald worries that Milagro is cracking under the pressure. Is she just paranoid, or is a hidden enemy trying to make sure Milagro doesn’t wed the undead?

October 10, 2010
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Georgia’s Kitchen by Jenny Nelson
Chick Lit Review

Georgia’s Kitchen by Jenny Nelson

Georgia Gray is set- employed as head chef at one of Manhattan’s best restaurants, fabulous rock on her left finger from Glenn, and the best friends a girl could hope for. But when a less than stellar review is published about her restaurant, Georgia’s outlook is suddenly looks bleak. Jobless with a black mark next to her name in the food industry, though the review came from the extracurricular activities between her boss and the reviewer’s young daughter, Georgia thinks she can at least rely on Glenn, her entertainment lawyer fiancée, to turn to. But when she finds out Glenn has been dabbling in with cocaine while out with “clients” the engagement is broken off. Not knowing where else to turn, Georgia calls up an old friend in Italy and begs for a chef job.
Claudia comes through for Georgia, and soon enough Georgia is happily settling into her Italian countryside trattoria. But when she learns she is not the head chef of the new kitchen, along with feelings of jealousy for Claudia for having the life she so badly covets, Georgia begins to doubt her spontaneous move to Italy. But when she meets Gianni- the perfect Italian man who is ready to sweep her off her feet and offers her a career too delectable Georgia couldn’t possibly pass it up- she just can’t say yes. But can she find the courage to follow her own dreams back in New York?
Georgia’s Kitchen, the debut novel from Jenny Nelson, is five stars! One page was all it took me to be completely hooked on Georgia and her story. One page. I may not know my way around the kitchen, but reading about Georgia and her career as a chef made me feel I was right beside her chopping and dicing and mincing. Then the travel aspect comes in. I love traveling and learning about different countries and cultures, so once Georgia is in Italy, I couldn’t put this book down. I loved that the ending was a bit different than what I expected. There is a happy ending, don’t get me wrong, but I enjoy that Nelson gives Georgia the power to control her life, and not have her crying and pining over her failed relationship at all times. What an exceptional debut from Jenny Nelson, and I look forward to many more from her.
Rating: 5/5

October 9, 2010
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The Tapestry of Love Recipe Giveaway
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The Tapestry of Love Recipe Giveaway

I have a new twist on the giveaways I usually do! Author Rosy Thornton is releasing her latest contemporary romantic novel, The Tapestry of Love, on October 14th, and she wanted to do something a little different than usual. To celebrate this release, Rosy wants to share with all of you her recipe sheet that goes along with the novel.
The Tapestry of Love is set in the Cévennes mountains in France, and the local cuisine plays a large part in the atmosphere of the book, so Rosy decided to whip up some of the delicious recipes that are featured in the novel and share them! It’s simple to get the recipes, just comment on my Facebook page, RT the post on Twitter, or leave your name and email address in the comments section on this post. If you post on Facebook or Twitter, I will message or DM you for your email. And that’s it! Once I have your email, I will send you over the recipes from Rosy. No chosen winners, no limited numbers! Be sure to post your name and email below to get yours!

October 8, 2010
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One Year Blog Anniversary
Updates

One Year Blog Anniversary

Well today is officially the day- my one year blogiversary. I couldn’t be more excited, albeit a bit surprised, at how fast my blog grew. I absolutely love the new world I have been welcomed in to. I feel such a connection, even though it may be virtual, with so many other readers, writers, agents, publishers, etc etc. I have been so lucky to make great working relationships with so many in this industry, and I get excited each time a new book, interview, or just a simple email ends up in my inbox. I got the nicest email just yesterday from a woman telling me she bases all her book buying decisions on my reviews- quite a compliment!
One of the main reasons I started Chick Lit Plus was to help gain connections in the writing industry because I am trying to be a published author some day. The responses I received to help critique and edit my work overwhelmed me. I want to give a big thank you to Cathleen Holst who has been working so patiently with me while I take baby steps towards becoming a better writer. Without her continuing support and encouraging words, I fear I may have given up. I also want to thank Lauren from MyLifeIncomplete.com, who has turned into such a fantastic virtual friend. I have leaned on Lauren when I needed some unbiased advice and she is always coming up with some great ideas for my site. I hope we can keep working together in the future! I also have one more thank you and that goes to Crystal Patriarche of BookSparks PR. Crystal kindly asked me to be a part of the SheKnows Book Club earlier in the year, and I had a great time working with the SheKnows community. I look forward to coming back next year, and for any readers that haven’t signed up for the SheKnows Book Club, I suggest you do! An interactive Q&A session with authors is such a great experience!
I hope everyone is enjoying my giveaways so far for my blogiversary week. If you haven’t already entered to win The Kiss Test by Shannon McKelden or Just Like Me, Only Better by Carol Snow be sure to get your emails in! I have one more giveaway to post tomorrow, so come back to read all about it. A big thank you to each and every one of you that check out my entries each day, and I hope you keep coming back for more!
Samantha

October 7, 2010
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GIVEAWAY: Just Like Me, Only Better by Carol Snow
Updates

GIVEAWAY: Just Like Me, Only Better by Carol Snow

Keeping up with my blogiversary week, I have another giveaway! Just Like Me, Only Better by Carol Snow is a hysterical book that I know will have chick lit readers laughing until the end. I gave the novel a 5 of 5 star review for the excellent writing and well written plot, and I wanted to give away my ARC of the book to one lucky winner.
Ever since Veronica’s husband found the love of his life-not her-she’s been a walking zombie with runny mascara. It doesn’t help that she keeps getting mistaken for Haley Rush-the Hollywood starlet whose dazzling life is plastered on every magazine.

When Haley’s manager offers Veronica a job as a celebrity double, it only takes a moment before she says yes. Veronica gets to drive Haley’s car, wear her phenomenal clothes-and have fun with her hot celebrity boyfriend, Brady Ellis. Too bad the job’s only part-time, and at the end of the day she has to return to her life as a cash-strapped substitute teacher and cub scout mom.

But when real sparks fly with Brady, is it a fantasy come true or a disaster in disguise?
To enter, please send me an email at Samantha (at) chicklitplus (dot) com with Only Better in the subject line, along with your full mailing address. For extra entries, comment on my Facebook page. Winners will be chosen Sunday the 10th.

October 6, 2010
4 Comments