Chick Lit Plus by Samantha March

Latest Youtube Videos

Book Review: Caramel and Magnolias by Tess Thompson
Chick Lit Review

Book Review: Caramel and Magnolias by Tess Thompson

I received a copy of Caramel and Magnolias by Tess Thompson in exchange for an honest review. What a thrilling, keep you on the edge of your seat book! I thought the prologue really opened the story, and I enjoyed that it wasn’t until a few chapters in that I made the connection between the beginning and the rest of the content. Cleo Tanner is the main character, a woman suffering a broken heart for the past ten years, who gave up her acting dreams and now is a teacher in Seattle. Her best friend, Sylvia, is having troubles in her marriage that seem to stem from the fact that she cannot get pregnant. When Cleo is approached by an adoption agency owner, she thinks she might have figured out a way to help her friend. But when a detective starts questioning the adoption agency, Cleo wonders if she didn’t make a huge mistake. She jumps into the investigation to try to get some answers and protect Sylvia – and also help herself get over her past and be able to move on.
This is such an amazing read. There is heartbreak, romance, deception, murder, mystery – all entwined around an engaging cast of characters. I really enjoyed the friendship between Cleo and Sylvia, as it reminded me of some of my friendships, and how a friend’s happiness can be worth taking a risk. I didn’t want to put this book down, but I found myself dragging out the ending because I didn’t want the story to stop! I have also read Riversong from Thompson and highly recommend you check out both of her titles!
5 stars

February 6, 2013
Leave a comment
In My Mailbox: Week of February 3
Chick Lit Plus

In My Mailbox: Week of February 3

In Samantha’s Mailbox:

love-in-translationTitle: Love in Translation

Author: Sara Palacios

Received: Via CLP Blog Tours

Synopsis: Still reeling from an unexpected breakup, Emily nurses her broken heart by spending time with her best friends and taking one-too-many vodka shots. After one long night, she takes a hard look inside herself and doesn’t like what she sees. She realizes that she has sacrificed too much in her failed relationships from the past and vows to never settle for anything less than almost-perfect again. As she picks up the pieces and regains her confidence, a sexy Spanish chef moves in across the hall and knocks her off her feet. What ensues is an unexpected and tantalizing affair that opens her eyes – and her heart – to a whole new world and leaves her feeling sexier than she has ever felt. Emily finally sees how easy love is supposed to be. Is happily-ever-after actually possible? Just when she starts to think so, she realizes that sometimes life gets more complicated before it gets easier. And complicated is an understatement when Steven (her best and oldest friend in the world) confesses his love for her. Everything spirals out of control as Emily must make a choice between love and friendship, and in doing so, possibly risk it all.

LOVE IN TRANSLATION is a modern day love story about following your heart to unexpected places and taking chances in life … because sometimes you will find exactly what you are looking for.

swanTitle: Swan Story

Author: Priya Narendran

Received: Via CLP Blog Tours

Synopsis: Soon to be married Daniel Macgregor meets mysterious beauty Sarah Mitchell on the day his father gives him a ballet company as a present. Although at first reluctant to take responsibility, he changes his mind when he realizes Sarah dances for the same company. Over the course of the production of “Swan Lake” they fall head over heels in love. Unknown to Daniel, Sarah is cursed to turn into a swan from sunset to sunrise and only true love will break the spell. So it makes Sarah wonder, what will happen when he finds out what she is.

eighty eightTitle: Eighty-Eight Keys

Author: Catherine Lavender

Received: Via CLP Blog Tours

Synopsis: Leah is a young woman who is trying to break free from a strict religious background and pursue her dream as a pianist in the world of show business. While trying to find her independence her heart is held captive by Jason Rowe a local basketball star who established an organization to help troubled youth. When Jason is found murdered in his home, Leah is determined to get answers from a closed investigation. During her state of emotional turmoil, Leah finds comfort not only in the melody of her music, but in the arms of a married man named Calvin. With her dreams at her fingertips, Leah is tangled in a web of lies and deceit. Despite the fear of learning the truth, Leah has to realize that only the truth can set her free.

A dead lover, with a trail of broken hearts…
A married man, with a double-life…
A dream chaser, with a killer at her heels…
A piano, with eighty-eight keys…

katieTitle: A French Affair

Author: Katie Fforde

Received: Randomhouse

Synopsis: Gina and Sally Makepiece have inherited a stall in the French House – an antiques centre nestled in the heart of the English countryside.

Gina is determined to drag the French House and its grumpy owner into the twenty-first century. Bearing all the attributes of a modern-day Mr Rochester, Matthew Ballinger is less than happy with the whirlwind that has arrived on his doorstep.

The last thing either of them want is to fall in love.

But will a trip to France change their minds?

Essex GirlsTitle: Essex Girls

Author: Laura Ziepe

Received: Avon

Synopsis: You can take the girl out of Essex …

You’ll be well jel over the adventures of three good-hearted, strong-willed, fake-baked Essex Girls. Fun, fresh and always ream, this novel Perfect for fans of TOWIE and the novels of Katie Price.

Jade did everything she could to fit in at university – toned down her tan, gave up on her favourite fake lashes, swapped designer dresses for jeans. And it seemed to make her boyfriend Tom happy. But obviously not quite happy enough.
When Jade finds Tom’s been cheating she heads home: to Essex. Reunited with her best mates Kelly and Lisa, even a night out at The Sugar Hut isn’t enough to put a smile back on her face. So they hatch a plan to get away from it all, to a place so ream it’s unreal – Marbella. Sun, sea, men, vajazzles: what could possibly go wrong?

In Sara’s Mailbox:

mooseTitle: The One-Way Bridge

Author: Cathie Pelletier

Received: Source Books

Synopsis: Cathie Pelletier draws readers back to the beloved town of Mattagash, a seemingly quiet New England outpost in Maine. Yet Mattagash is anything but tranquil. While its citizens bicker publicly over small-town theft or their neighbors’ offensive mailboxes, they privately struggle through deeper life issues: scandal, loss, failed ambitions, and the scars of war.

Reaching across the vastness of America and into the jungles of Vietnam, The One-Way Bridge is an unforgettable portrait of loneliness, family, and community—and the kinds of changes we make for love.

white windTitle: A White Wind Blew

Author: James Markert

Received: Source Books

Synopsis: When the body fails, you’ve got two choices. Send a doctor in, or send a prayer up. And if neither works?

You’ll find Dr. Wolfgang Pike at his piano.

Music has always been Wolfgang’s refuge. It’s betraying him now, as he struggles to compose a requiem for his late wife, but surely the right ending will come to him. Certainly it’ll come more quickly than a cure for his patients up at Waverly Hills, the tuberculosis hospital, where nearly a body an hour leaves in a coffin. Wolfgang can’t seem to save anyone these days, least of all himself.

Sometimes we just need to know we’re not the only ones in the fight. A former concert pianist checks in, triggering something deep inside Wolfgang, and spreading from patient to patient. Soon Wolfgang finds himself in the center of an orchestra that won’t give up, with music that won’t stop. A White Wind Blew delivers a sweeping crescendo of hope in a time of despair, raising compelling questions about faith and confession, music and medicine,and the undying force of love.

February 3, 2013
Leave a comment
Book Review: The Love of My (Other) Life by Traci L. Slatton
Chick Lit Review

Book Review: The Love of My (Other) Life by Traci …

I received a copy of The Love of My (Other) Life by Traci L. Slatton in exchange for an honest review.

This book begins with an introduction to Tessa. Tessa is a struggling painter who has been left behind by her husband with tons of bills that need to be paid. Over the years she has made some serious missteps in her career but hopes to eventually turn that around. Then, we meet Brian Tennyson. He is smart and funny and he really takes a whole of her … but he claims to be from another universe. And, he says that in their universe, they’re actually married. So, what’s a girl to do? Tessa’s world gets thrown upside down as she tries to find the truth and really begins to wonder about second chances and fate vs. coincidence. Are the two in fact soul-mates?

I was so interested when I first read the synopsis for the book and slightly thought it would read like a sci-fi novel. Well, if you are worried like I was, there is no need because this book is too cute for words. I instantly felt the spark when Tessa and Brian met and although it sounds odd, I believed him when he was he was from another universe from the get-go. This book is a riot and I really enjoyed it. I loved the conversations and the heart-felt-moments between the two main characters and I thought Traci did an amazing job at creating such likeable characters. Overall, this book is a winner and a fun ride!

February 1, 2013
1 Comment
Book Review: The Missing Manuscript of Jane Austen by Syrie James
Chick Lit Review

Book Review: The Missing Manuscript of Jane Austen by Syrie …

I received a copy of The Missing Manuscript of Jane Austen by Syrie James in exchange for an honest review.

The book begins as Samantha McDonough stumbles upon a letter tucked away in an uncut page of a two-hundred-year old poetry book. She instantly recognizes the salutation, the handwriting, and the content as an old piece from the infamous Jane Austen. Although the discovery is quite amazing, Samantha finally reads the letter and the content is even better – it claims that there is a missing manuscript that went missing at Greenbriar. Samantha racks her brain and can’t believe what she has just found, so she takes it upon herself and goes on a hunt for the missing MS. Afterall, it could be worth millions. Will she find it? And will it be all that she imagined?

The second I received the review request for this book, I instantly knew that I was going to love it – and I was right! A book about a missing Jane Austen manuscript? I was hooked instantly. This book was written really well and I loved the mystery and the suspense element that the author provides. I was fully invested in the hunt right along with Samantha and was so excited to see how the story unfolded. Overall, this book is a really fun ride with a great twist once you throw Anthony into the mix. I highly recommend this fun tale!

Rating: 4.5 stars

February 1, 2013
Leave a comment
CLP Blog Tours Book Review: SkinnyTinis by Teresa Marie Howes
Chick Lit Review

CLP Blog Tours Book Review: SkinnyTinis by Teresa Marie Howes

I received a copy of SkinnyTinis by Teresa Marie Howes from CLP Blog Tours in exchange for an honest review.

SkinnyTinis is a cocktail recipe book with more than 70 recipes. For people watching their weight, this book is perfect because Teresa has gone through drink favorites and thinified them … and now they rake in around 142 calories each. The recipes still offer the same great taste as the traditional (and full calorie) alternatives, yet you won’t have the guilt that goes along with them.

Oh boy, I was so excited when I received my SkinnyTinis in the mail. Ironically, my mother-in-law was in town and I had just purchased a few bottles of alcohol, so I had some assistance in taste testing. By far my favorite was the Skinny Cosmopolitan (which is one of my go-to-drinks when out on the town) and I absolutely loved how quick and easy all of the recipes were. Now, I am not that big of a drinker so I have only tried a few, but so far, the ones that I have tried have been delicious and light. I also really enjoyed the great photographs that accompanied each recipe and I really loved that the book was so colorful. I have already recommended this book to a few gal pals and I will continue to do so. Thank you so much Teresa for doing the research and creating skinny solutions for my favorite mixed drinks. I love this book! A new bar staple!

Rating: 5 stars

January 31, 2013
1 Comment
Book Review: The Typewriter Girl by Alison Atlee
Chick Lit Review

Book Review: The Typewriter Girl by Alison Atlee

I received a copy of THE TYPEWRITER GIRL by Alison Atlee in exchange for an honest review.
Summary:

When Betsey disembarks from the London train in the seaside resort of Idensea, all she owns is a small valise and a canary in a cage. After attempting to forge a letter of reference she knew would be denied her, Betsey has been fired from the typing pool of her previous employer. Her vigorous protest left one man wounded, another jilted, and her character permanently besmirched. Now, without money or a reference for her promised job, the future looks even bleaker than the debacle behind her. But her life is about to change . . . because a young Welshman on the railroad quay, waiting for another woman, is the one man willing to believe in her.

Mr. Jones is inept in matters of love, but a genius at things mechanical. In Idensea, he has constructed a glittering pier that astounds the wealthy tourists. And in Betsey, he recognizes the ideal tour manager for the Idensea Pier & Pleasure Building Company. After a lifetime of guarding her secrets and breaking the rules, Betsey becomes a force to be reckoned with. Now she faces a challenge of another sort: not only to outrun her sins, but also to surrender to the reckless tides of love. . . .
My Review:

I thought this book was a lot of fun and felt instantly taken back into the past. I loved Betsey from the get go and was so excited to finally get to read such a strong and forceful female literary character (it has been a while) and I love that she truly fights for what she wants. The chemistry between Betsey and Mr. Jones definitely took hold of me during my reading and I was so eager to get to the end, only to be disappointed that the book was over and I wouldn’t be able to read anymore. Overall, this book is really well written and very well researched. A true gem and quite historical. I would definitely recommend it.
Rating: 4 stars

January 30, 2013
Leave a comment
Future Tour: Fashion Victim by GT Herren
CLP Blog Tours

Future Tour: Fashion Victim by GT Herren

GT Herren will be on tour March 4-11 with Fashion Victim, a chick lit mystery novel To hear her buddy Chanse McLeod tell it, Paige…

January 29, 2013
1 Comment
Book Review: Alberta Clipper by Sheena Lambert
Chick Lit Review

Book Review: Alberta Clipper by Sheena Lambert

I received a copy of Alberta Clipper by Sheena Lambert in exchange for an honest review. This novel unfolds the love story between Christine Grogan and Mark Harrington. Christine is a highly successful meteorologist at an investment bank with a loving father and sister – and a past that continues to haunt her. Mark thinks he is on top of the world. He has a lucrative career, a woman, a house – but then a flip is switched and his great life is now surrounded by question marks. The two struggle to regain their balance – and find one another.
Alberta Clipper is such a lovely romance story. Readers find out early on that Mark is in love with Christine, but she doesn’t have a clue. She tries dating other guys and even seems to hit the jackpot with one, all while Mark suffers in silence as he holds back his true feelings. There are many fabulous sub-plots in this novel – Christine’s past, her family life, even their co-workers and their issues. One word I keep thinking of while writing this review is smart. This is a smart book that explores a lot of different topics, and I highly enjoyed it. And it’s from an Irish author – not sure why that’s so fascinating to me but it is and I wanted to mention it! One for your shelves.
4 stars

January 29, 2013
Leave a comment
CLP Blog Tour Book Review: I Kill Me: Tales of A Jilted Hypochondriac by Tracy H. Tucker
Chick Lit Review

CLP Blog Tour Book Review: I Kill Me: Tales of …

I received a copy of I Kill Me: Tales of A Jilted Hypochondriac by Tracy H. Tucker via CLP Blog Tours.

Christine Bacon is your typical mom, wife and friend … but with a fatal attraction. To all things fatal. Every bump, bruise, scratch, muscle rumble or zit is a gateway to her death, well, in her mind at least. A veteran hypochondriac, her near-death experiences are exacerbated when her husband proposes they have a menage a trois with Eleanor, his busty British massage therapist, to “shake things up.” A mistake of course, Christine reluctantly agrees and her marriage slowly goes downhill afterwards. But, that isn’t the only thing that goes downhill as her fears and anxieties as a hypochondriac get wildly out of hand. The only things that save her are her two daughters, her dear friends and ironically, a few household items. Will she ever find someone who loves her despite her condition?

Tracy is by far one of the sweetest people that I have ever met and I was thrilled when she asked me to review her book. And, without a doubt, I wasn’t disappointed. This book is witty and laugh out loud but it also has a ton of heart. I thoroughly enjoyed Christine and felt for her as she navigated her life dealing with everything that she was dealing with. Tracy has a true talent of writing humor into a lot of places where I didn’t really expect to find it, but I definitely appreciated it because it felt more real. I also enjoyed the steamier scenes as well and thought that Tracy did very well spicing those up as well. Overall, this book was excellent and I was so glad that I got a chance to read/review it.
Rating: 4.5

I Kill Me Button

Author Bio:

Tracy H. Tucker is first and foremost the mother of three of the best people on Earth. She has a Master’s in Literacy from the University of Maine and has inspired the youth of America for seventeen years. She’s an avid animal lover and would like to publicly thank her husband for putting up with the pet hair, the dogs in the bed, the things the cats hack up and the repeated requests for goats. It’s a wonderful life.

Connect with Tracy!

Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/#!/pages/Tracy-H-Tucker/445365385497413

Goodreads: http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/15758840-i-kill-me

Blog: http://tracyhtucker.wordpress.com/

Twitter: https://twitter.com/THTucker
Buy the Book!

Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/Tracy-H.-Tucker/e/B008KZ50OS/ref=ntt_athr_dp_pel_3

Smashwords: https://www.smashwords.com/books/view/205124

I Kill Me was selected as the Best Indie Book for 2012 by Chick Lit Cafe!

January 25, 2013
2 Comments