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The Cougar Club by Susan McBride
Chick Lit Review

The Cougar Club by Susan McBride

The Cougar Club by Susan McBride isn’t to be passed just because you aren’t a cougar! A cougar, a term coined popular by celebrities such as Demi Moore, is when an older woman hooks a young man, such as Ashton Kutcher. The three characters in this novel are high school friends that drifted apart but are now coming back together, all in their 40’s and at a crucial point in their lives. Kat has just been fired from her cushy job and broke off her relationship with her younger man, and ran from New York to her hometown of St. Louis in need of the comfort from her family and friends. Carla is the top anchorwoman that is determined not to let a much younger bimbo steal her job and spotlight, and Elise is watching her marriage fall apart, convinced her husband is having an affair. The three friends tighten their bond and help one another through their separate journeys.
I found The Cougar Club to be a smart, witty, and thought-provoking novel. The characters are all extremely likeable and down to earth, making it easy to feel their problems and search for the solutions along with them. I am not in the “cougar” age yet, but that didn’t hinder my reading experience at all. The life lessons, love lessons, and overall meaning of what true friendships are all about makes this book a must read for chick lit fans.

July 26, 2010
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In My Mailbox: Week of July 25th
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In My Mailbox: Week of July 25th

In My Mailbox: Week of July 25, 2010

Title: Dating Mr. December
Author: Phillipa Ashley
Received: Danielle Jackson @ Sourcebooks
Synopsis: Emma Tremayne leaves her high-powered PR job and moves to the Lake District looking for peace, quiet-and celibacy. So perhaps it’s not the best idea when, in the spirit of “community-mindedness,” she agrees to help the local mountain rescue team fund raise by putting together a “tasteful” nude calendar. Especially since quite a lot of the community seems to mind what she’s up to-including the tall, dark and handsome Mr. December, Will Tennant, who appears to have gotten the wrong impression about Emma’s intentions. So how does she convince him that he’s more than just the flavor of the month?

Title: A Desirable Residence
Author: Madeleine Wickham
Received: From Sallie Madden @ St. Martin’s Press for review and giveaway
Synopsis: The asking price for this house includes a stunning renovation of hearts and dreams….Liz and Jonathan Chambers were stuck with two mortgages, mounting debts, and a miserable adolescent daughter. Then realtor Marcus Witherstone came into their lives—and it seemed he would solve all their problems. He knew the perfect tenants from London who would rent their old house: a glamorous PR girl, Ginny, and her almost-famous husband, Piers.
But soon Liz is lost in blissful dreams of Marcus, Jonathan is left to run their business, and neither of them has time to notice that their teenage daughter is developing an unhealthy passion for the tenants, Piers and Ginny. Everyone is tangled up with everyone else, and in the most awkward possible way. As events close in, they all begin to realize that some deceptions are just a bit too close to home.
Title: Fragile
Author: Lisa Unger
Received: From Amanda Parker @ BookSparks PR
Synopsis: Everybody knows everybody in The Hollows, a quaint, charming town outside of New York City. It’s a place where neighbors keep an eye on one another’s kids, where people say hello in the grocery store, and where high school cliques and antics are never quite forgotten. As a child, Maggie found living under the microscope of small-town life stifling. But as a wife and mother, she has happily returned to The Hollows’s insular embrace. As a psychologist, her knowledge of family histories provides powerful insights into her patients’ lives. So when the girlfriend of her teenage son, Rick, disappears, Maggie’s intuitive gift proves useful to the case—and also dangerous. Eerie parallels soon emerge between Charlene’s disappearance and the abduction of another local girl that shook the community years ago when Maggie was a teenager. The investigation has her husband, Jones, the lead detective on the case, acting strangely. Rick, already a brooding teenager, becomes even more withdrawn. In a town where the past is always present, nobody is above suspicion, not even a son in the eyes of his father. “I know how a moment can spiral out of control,” Jones says to a shocked Maggie as he searches Rick’s room for incriminating evidence. “How the consequences of one careless action can cost you everything.” As she tries to reassure him that Rick embodies his father in all of the important ways, Maggie realizes this might be exactly what Jones fears most. Determined to uncover the truth, Maggie pursues her own leads into Charlene’s disappearance and exposes a long-buried town secret—one that could destroy everything she holds dear. This thrilling novel about one community’s intricate yet fragile bonds will leave readers asking, How well do I know the people I love? and How far would I go to protect them?

Title: Waxed
Author: Robert Rave
Received: From Matt Walker @ Period Media
Synopsis: Waxed is the story of three relationship-challenged sisters working together at New York’s hottest waxing salon, catering to socialites, actresses, and regular folk alike. Yank. On the surface, glamorous Carolina Impresario—big sister and owner of Impresarios—unapologetically wants it all, but secretly she is caught between her successful boyfriend and the only man she has ever truly loved. Pluck. After a painful divorce, middle sister Anna reluctantly reenters the workforce and puts on a brave face while attempting to raise her children, one of whom is decidedly different. Tear. Newlywed Sofia is a hybrid of her two older sisters: She loves the idea of a domestic life like Anna’s, but is entranced by New York nightlife and a new best friend, resulting in some major complications at home. Amid the sticky confines of a perfectly manicured world, these three sisters search for love, friendship, and better versions of themselves. Waxed is a funny and heartfelt novel that illustrates the lengths to which some women will go to present a seemingly flawless exterior, even when it involves pain. . . .

Title: A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to Her Brother’s Shotgun Wedding
Author: Noreen Riley
Received: From Noreen Riley
Synopsis: “A Funny Thing Happened On The Way To Her Brother’s Shotgun Wedding” is the story of Evelyn Dunleavy, her close knit circle of family and city-dwelling friends, and the chaos that ensues when her oldest sibling, Michael, announces that he is getting married. In London, where he now lives, to the girlfriend no one really knows. And by the way…she’s pregnant. The rest of the story follows Evie over to London for a few months as the official family delegate charged with getting to know her soon to be sister-in-law. It certainly doesn’t hurt that because of his cramped living quarters her brother has lined up a room for her in the apartment of one of his groomsmen, Nate, that Evie feels an instant attraction to…despite his love of the music group ABBA, or the fact that he chooses curries over pizza. It doesn’t help that Michael still considers his sister to be off-limits from the advances of his friends. She comes to the quick conclusion that wedding planning can be stressful no matter which side of the Pond you hail from, and it’s always more fun to have your best friends around you for a bachelorette party, especially when the bride-to-be is seven months pregnant.

Title: Life, Love, and a Polar Bear Tattoo
Author: Heather Wardell
Received: From Heather Wardell
Synopsis: When Candice’s in-laws died in a car accident eight months ago, she lost her husband Ian too. After only two years of marriage their guilt and pain have left them living together but apart. During Ian’s month-long trip overseas, Candice plans to decide if her marriage can be saved, but when the first man she ever loved is the new client at work, she wonders what she truly wants from life and love.

July 26, 2010
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Muffins and Mayhem by Suzanne Beecher
Chick Lit Review

Muffins and Mayhem by Suzanne Beecher

Muffins and Mayhem: Recipes For a Happy (if Disorderly) Life by Suzanne Beecher is a part memoir, part cookbook of Suzanne’s truly disorderly life. With absent parents, a teenage pregnancy, drug addictions, and a physical impairment, Suzanne’s story of how to overcome so many obstacles makes her novel an inspiring and emotional read. While she highlights the many pitfalls in her life, along with the glory days of opening her own restaurant and finding her husband, readers can see her compassion for baking and cooking, and how her love for the kitchen helped her along the way. Suzanne is a beautiful writer, even comedic at times, but I thought the plot jumped around a little too much for my taste. There are so many events and people that she wants to touch on, that at times the characters got all jumbled around. I did like the many recipes she shares with readers (I hope to try a few out myself) and the wisdom Suzanne evokes. I would recommend Muffins and Mayhem on that alone, but it also is an entertaining, quick read that I think chick lit fans could enjoy.

July 25, 2010
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Author Profile: Robert Rave
Chick Lit Authors

Author Profile: Robert Rave

Getting his start as a New York publicist working at one of the city’s most renowned firms, Robert Rave takes his behind-the-scenes view of the world of high-society and celebrity elite to set the stage for his light-hearted, witty literary adventures.

In his first novel, Spin, Rave chronicled the life of Taylor Green – a young corn fed publicist trying to make a name for himself in the cut-throat world of high-stakes PR. As Taylor finds himself in increasingly bizarre yet hilarious situations for the sake of his job, he is forced to weigh the fame and fortune he seeks against his own character and moral code. Dubbed “a Devil Wear’s Prada for straight guys” by Entertainment Weekly, Spin was acclaimed by critics as a must-have summer beach read, and established Rave as one-to-watch on the “chick-lit” scene.

On August 3rd Rave will release Waxed, an equally titillating novel which follows the Impresario sisters who run New York’s hottest waxing salon. Against the backdrop of this sexy yet taboo vocation, Rave tells a textured story of the three women as they struggle with relationships and strive for personal fulfillment. With equal parts wit, wisdom and humor, Rave layers in charming cameos by the many women (and men) who visit the salon, to deliver a thoroughly enjoyable read. Rave also launched www.youvebeenwaxed.com, a companion website to the novel. The site serves as a meeting place for women and men to share their often funny, and sometimes painful anecdotes of personal grooming.

Rave, recently named a Forty Under Forty by The Advocate, is also a regular contributor to the The Huffington Post. Rave currently resides in Los Angeles with his two French Bulldogs, Stanley and Freddy.

July 24, 2010
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Skin Cancer Annual Checks
Chick Lit Plus

Skin Cancer Annual Checks

I went to the dermatologist today to get my first full body check. I have frequented tanning beds in the past, and do occasionally go outside without slathering on the SPF, and read in my Shape magazine that annual derm checks are a smart idea. I had also found a spot under my right eyelid that was causing me concern. Again while reading Shape, I came across a story a young woman had wrote in about her experience with skin cancer. She had a found a spot on her eyelid that looked like a pimple, but couldn’t pop it and it never went away. Months later when she finally had it checked out, it ended up being skin cancer. The spot under my eyelid looks like a pimple but I can’t pop it, and has been there for about six months now. After reading that article, I called my dermatologist the very next to schedule my appointment.
The first thing my doctor did was check out that spot. Luckily, I had good news- no skin cancer. He said it was simply a small cyst that could come from a clogged pore. Popped it with a needle, and it was done. Relief. Next came the full body check. I wasn’t even really sure what this was, or what I was going to have to do, but it was really simple. The nurse gave me a gown that I put on, and the doctor checked out my whole body- my feet, scalp, armpits, etc. He asked if I had any moles or freckles that I had noticed that were changing, to which I answered no. I actually don’t have a whole lot of moles or freckles, probably only five that I can see on my body, so I really wasn’t too worried about the check. But, with the UV tanning I have done in the past, I would much rather be safe than sorry. The body check took less than three minutes and the doc gave me the all clear. Good for another year, unless I should notice any spots changing. It’s important for everyone to keep tabs on their skin, that way you can tell if a mole is changing in size or color. Thanks to Shape for consistently bringing up the topic of skin cancer and the importance of getting body checks!

July 24, 2010
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Sip or Skip: McDonalds Fruit Smoothies
Chick Lit Plus

Sip or Skip: McDonalds Fruit Smoothies

I was pressed for time this morning, rushing to get off to a doctor’s appointment after letting myself sleep in for a few minutes, so I wasn’t able to make myself a nice blended drink at home like I had anticipated the night before. When I left my doctors office, the first place I saw was, of course, McDonalds. They are everywhere. I had recently seen their commercials for their new fruit smoothies, and I thought that would be perfect for breakfast. So I swung through and grabbed a small, 12 oz. cup for $2.79 of the strawberry/banana smoothie. My first impression on the taste: YUM! I thought it was delicious, so good in fact I had to immediately check out if this drink truly was healthy. My taste buds enjoy foods that are not good for me: junk food, fast food, etc. so I thought there could be no way I was actually drinking something healthy. Turns out, I was sort of right. The McDonalds fruit smoothies are not quite as healthy as the ones I can make for myself at home, mainly because of the sugar content. The smoothie consists of a banana/strawberry puree blend, low-fat yogurt, and ice. Both the fruit blend and yogurt contain sugar, 44 grams total. The total calories for the drink were 210, but you do get about 70% of your daily value of Vitamin C from the drink. So it may be better to stick with the real fruit smoothies I make home, with my fresh strawberries, banana, and yogurt, without all that added sugar to it. The McDonalds version could be a good choice on some occasions, but probably best to stick to my at home blend!

July 23, 2010
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Author Profile: Susan McBride
Chick Lit Authors

Author Profile: Susan McBride

http://susanmcbride.com/index.shtml

July 22, 2010
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Christina Applegate Pregnant
Chick Lit Plus

Christina Applegate Pregnant

Christina Applegate is pregnant! Applegate, one of my favorite actresses, announced today that she and fiancée, Martyn Lenoble, are expecting. The couple, who got engaged on Valentine’s Day after two years of dating, have yet to set a wedding date. Applegate, 38, underwent a double mastectomy and credited Lenoble for helping her recover and giving her strength after the procedure. Congrats to the couple!

July 22, 2010
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Guest Post from Author Fleur McDonald
Chick Lit Authors

Guest Post from Author Fleur McDonald

How were you able to get published?
About five years ago, I decided I wanted to write a book that I would like to read. Without too much thought, I decided on the topic of stock stealing. I still don’t know why I thought of it, particularly at a time when I was completely sleep deprived with two littlies, but I thought I could develop intrigue and mystery around this subject.
I set about writing. Once I had written five chapters, I asked a friend to read it to see if it was any good. I also sent it to my writing mentor for his opinion. The responses were brilliant and overwhelmed me. I decided I needed to keep writing.
Patience has never been my strong point! When I had written about a third of the story, I thought I’d try Allen and Unwin publisher’s ‘Friday Pitch’. This offers first-time authors a chance to have their first chapter and a synopsis read and considered by its publisher Louise Thurtell. I wanted to know what she thought about it—never mind finishing the manuscript!
Her response was just as encouraging as others I had received, although it wasn’t what she was looking for at that time and she encouraged me to try another publisher. I didn’t want to now I had established contact with Louise. So I waited about a year, tweaked it a bit more, and resent it—but I did little work on finishing the manuscript.
Suddenly, not only was there was a phone call saying ‘Yes! We want your manuscript!’, there was a contract and … an unfinished manuscript!
I got to work quick smart and finished the rest of the story in about six-months.
My journey to get to this point has been amazing. It blows me away whenever I think about it. I don’t have any writing qualifications or experience in writing for publishers. I just wrote the book I wanted to read. From that, I was picked up from the ‘slush pile’, handed a contract, now have two books published with another two book deal and have also sold the rights for both Red Dust and Blue Skies to Germany. (Red Dust has already been released there with Blue Skies due out next year.)

Has anything in general surprised you since becoming an author?

Hm, not sure. I didn’t really know enough about the industry when I first started, to be surprised by anything. I just went with the flow and did what ever I was told to do!

I guess the response to my books has been surprising and very overwhelming. Red Dust flew off the shelves as did Blue Skies, but that may be more because there is a hunger for Australian stories than anything else.

I also love the way that Allen and Unwin are as passionate about my books as I am – I’m not sure if I’m surprised by that or just grateful!

How many times were you rejected before finding your agent?

I haven’t actually ever been rejected by an agent, when I was submitting my fiction novels. I got my first two books published without an agent, but Gaby Naher, from the Naher Agency is now my wonderful, patient and calming agent and negotiated my two book deal.

I was rejected by plenty when I was pitching my children picture books.

One thing I will point out here – it’s harder to get an agent once you are published. Most people think it wouldn’t be the case, but it is. My publisher introduced me to both Curtis and Brown and Gaby Naher. Curtis and Brown wouldn’t take me on, because they had a similar client and because I had already negotiated two books. Just something to be aware of.

How long does it take you to finish writing a novel?

About a year – I diddle around for the first part – don’t do much, just think a lot, write lots of notes and then when I realise I’ve only got about six months before it’s due, get really stuck in and write. I usually have enough ideas and thoughts to be able to do that.

What gave you the drive and motivation to write a book and push to get it published?

Well, I never really started out with the thought that I would try and get published. I started to write a book that I would like to read and then, it was one of my friends who thought I should try.

I started researching the industry and submitted for the ASA Mentorship program, but didn’t get anywhere there. I don’t like failing so that was probably my turning point!

July 20, 2010
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