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Maven Fairy Godmother: Through the Veil by Charlotte Henley Babb
Chick Lit Review

Maven Fairy Godmother: Through the Veil by Charlotte Henley Babb

Charlotte Henley Babb is now on tour with CLP Blog Tours and Maven Fairy Godmother: Through the Veil. This was a very unique and quite funny spin on a fairy tale and the fairy godmothers that fill their pages. Maven is the not-so-ordinary fairy godmother, older, wider, and has many trip-ups on the job. But when she just entered the world of Faery, can anyone really blame her? Well, her boss seems to, but what’s more – she might even be out to kill Maven.
The book is built up well with regions such as Mundane, Fiction, and Faery, and the characters are funny and likeable. Maven is quite flawed, when we first meet her she is an out-of-work teacher and living out of her car. I liked her transition to fairy godmother, and I understood the story. There was a chance of getting lost and confused, but the authors does a good job of explaining and making Maven someone who can be relatable. The middle got a little jumbled at times with more characters being brought into the mix, and I found myself really favoring the sections that dealt with primarily Maven. But overall I thought this was a humorous read with a unique twist on what a fairy godmother can really be.
[Rating: 4]

December 26, 2012
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CLP Blog Tours Review: Meant to Be by Karen Stivali
Chick Lit Review

CLP Blog Tours Review: Meant to Be by Karen Stivali

Karen Stivali is on tour now with CLP Blog Tours and Meant to Be. This is a true romance story, and one that I found difficult to put down. Readers follow the journey of love between neighbors Daniel Gardner and Marienne Valeti – though both are married to other people. What starts as an innocent friendship turns into a tortuous friendship as both Daniel and Marienne realize they are falling for each other. Both remain loyal in their marriages and their friendship only grows stronger throughout the years. But when will the friends get their chance at true love and happiness?
This was a beautifully written story by Stivali, and I’m thrilled to know the sequel, Holding On, is already out. I often don’t enjoy books about infidelity and marriages breaking up because of it (as I am getting married next year) and I almost thought this book would entail that. I’m so happy I was way off course with that thought, because Daniel and Marienne’s marriages did not fail because of them or their friendship. They both remained fiercely loyal to their spouses, which I could appreciate. It was slow torture being able to understand how well the two fit together and how unfit their spouses were for them. There were a lot twists in the book that kept me on my toes, and the ending had me jumping for joy. Very much looking forward to reading Holding On.
[Rating: 4.5]

December 17, 2012
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Falling For You by Heather Thurmeier
Chick Lit Review

Falling For You by Heather Thurmeier

Heather Thurmeier is on tour with CLP Blog Tours and Falling For You. As someone who enjoys a good reality show – my weakness is Dancing With the Stars – I knew I was going to get along well with this novel. MC Cassidy Quinn is chosen to compete on a The Bachelor-style reality show, but her enthusiasm for trying something new quickly vanishes as she realizes the eligible man is none other than her ex. Through the challenges and time spent together, Cassidy wonders if she might not truly be over him. On the flip side, we have Evan Burke, the camerman on the show that is assigned to Cassidy. He has vowed never to fall in love after watching his brother grieve over his wife’s passing, but Cassidy makes him feel…something. Cassidy finds herself attracted to Evan as well, but her contract specifically states those feelings can’t be acted upon. And with her ex always close by and keeping her in the competition, Cassidy doesn’t know which man she should choose…or if they will choose her.
I had a really fun time reading this book, and could easily slot myself in alongside Cassidy. I enjoyed the fact that readers could get a POV from both Cassidy and Evan, which really heightened the story as a whole. I’m also really excited to read the second novel in this trilogy, as the ending had me pumped for book #2. I thought Thurmeier’s writing style was light yet fast-paced and edgy at times, which can be hard to achieve. One I recommend!
[Rating: 4]

December 17, 2012
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CLP Blog Tours: Pass the Hot Stuff by Dana Page
Chick Lit Review

CLP Blog Tours: Pass the Hot Stuff by Dana Page

Dana Page is on tour with CLP Blog Tours and Pass the Hot Stuff. I thought the premise of the novel was great. Blythe Townsend tends to live life on the side of caution, and that holds true with her relationships. She is currently dating the “safe” guy but she thinks her relationship is fine. Yes they lack passion and his business dinners bore the pants off her, but she still thinks it’s better than playing with fire. Until…she keeps seeing a handsome man around, and he turns out to be a co-worker of her boyfriend’s. Blythe still doesn’t believe in giving up the safe guy, especially for someone who seems to be a player. But sometimes Blythe just wants the hot stuff…
I thought this was a fab debut from Dana Page. I loved the New Orleans setting, and thought Blythe was a strong heroine. I could definitely relate to her staying with the safe choice, because I have actually done that in a past relationship. I thought the cast of supporting characters were fantastic – and super funny!- and I really enjoyed this read. Sometimes I thought scenes could border on “telling” instead of “showing” in the writing, but I was able to easily get past that with the plot. There are also a lot of spicy scenes in there if you enjoy a bit of romance  Great debut!
[Rating: 4]

December 17, 2012
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150 Pounds by Kate Rockland
Chick Lit Review

150 Pounds by Kate Rockland

I received a copy of 150 Pounds in exchange for an honest review.
Summary:
In the fast paced life of blogging, two women stand out: Alexis Allbright, of Skinny Chick, and Shoshana Weiner, who writes Fat and Fabulous. Both have over five million loyal readers. Both are hungry for success. But the similarities stop there.
With over 100 pounds on the scale separating them, weight isn’t their only difference. Alexis is a loner who is so bitchy the only person who can stand her company is her gay best friend Billy. She gives neurotic New Yorkers a run for their money with her strict daily workout routine, and weighing of food. Shoshana is Alexis’s opposite. Living in Jersey with rowdy roommates, she is someone who “collects friends,” as her mother puts it; and treasures a life of expanding circles…and waistlines.
When both appear as panelists on a popular talk show, their lives intersect in ways neither could have imagined. In turns comedic, heartwarming–and familiar to any woman who’s ever stepped on a scale–Alexis and Shoshana realize they have far more in common than either could have possibly imagined, and more importantly, something to offer.
My Review:
What a fabulous read! On first glance I fell in love with the cover, and after reading the blurb, I knew this was a must-read for me. And now I am making it a must-read for you! I love the term smart chick lit, and I feel that 150 Pounds is definitely that. Kate Rockland has a terrific voice and writing style, and as a blogger myself, I could immediately identify with her characters. I thought it was fascinating to get inside both Alexis and Shoshana’s minds and see why they think the way they do and what is behind their actions. I thought this novel brought humor, a resounding message, and a way for women to have more confidence after reading. I loved it!
[Rating: 5]

December 12, 2012
2 Comments
Book Review: Sarah’s Key by Tatiana de Rosnay
Chick Lit Review

Book Review: Sarah’s Key by Tatiana de Rosnay

I received a copy of Sarah’s Key in exchange for an honest review. Summary: Paris, July 1942: Sarah, a ten year-old girl, is brutally arrested…

December 3, 2012
4 Comments
On Tour: Pass the Hot Stuff by Dana Page
CLP Blog Tours

On Tour: Pass the Hot Stuff by Dana Page

The safe guy or the sexy guy? The answer is always…Pass the Hot Stuff Blythe Townsend is a belle who is in desperate need of having her chimes rung. But the man she is dating would have to get his head out of his briefs – his legal briefs – long enough to notice. She is a frustrated romantic obsessed with Turner Classic Movies. She lives in the French Quarter with her dog, Lady Marmalade, and is determined not to go sour on love even though she has dated every nutcase along the Mississippi Delta. Now, she is trying her best to make it work with her deadly dull boyfriend. Blythe accepts him – boring business dinners and all. There’s always steak, but never any sizzle. There’s only so much a libido can take; and when she repeatedly spots a man around town she christens Tall, Dark and Eye Candy, she starts to feel what she’s been missing. So, what’s stopping her from tasting something a little… sweeter? She refuses to be hurt again, and this sexy New Orleans guy has all of the trappings to do just that. Blythe will have to find her inner big-shouldered broad to deal with the craziness in her life; and she has a group of hilarious, mouthy women helping her sort through the crazy. Their story is a sultry dance to Delta blues and soulful jazz that drifts the reader into the romance of New Orleans. So, sit down at the kitchen table and pour yourself a drink – we’re gonna pass the hot st

November 29, 2012
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Dogs Have Angels Too by Sarah Cavallaro
Chick Lit Review

Dogs Have Angels Too by Sarah Cavallaro

I received a copy of Dogs Have Angels Too in exchange for an honest review.
Summary:
A heart-warming comedy of errors for dog lovers of the twenty-first century. . . .

In the dog-eat-dog world of recessionary New York City, the irrepressible Miss Pink leads a pack of down-on-their-luck women, who ultimately find hope in the most unlikely of places: an over-crowded animal shelter, where unwanted pets are routinely abandoned to their grim fates. Miss Pink, a former marketing executive and divorcée who’s intermittently homeless herself, makes it her mission to find homes for a growing bevy of cuddly canines. Her “adoption walks” bring her to meet a series of fellow New Yorkers, all of whom are struggling with their own personal and financial crises. In other words, they are all uniquely right for recruitment in Miss Pink’s master plan-which she’s devising on-the-fly, by the seat of her favorite pink pants!
My Review:
I enjoyed this book because I think a lot of people can relate to it – hurt by the economy, feeling down on yourself, and trying to find a way to still be inspired and upbeat. Miss Pink was a nice character that manages to still have drive after all she goes through, and that was nice to read about. I am a dog lover, so that aspect always made me smile. With all that said, something just seemed lacking in the book to me. Sometimes I couldn’t connect with the writing, and I found myself drifting away at a few different points while reading. Still an enjoyable read though, and one I especially think animal lovers would enjoy.
[Rating: 3]

November 26, 2012
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Diary of a Mad Fat Girl by Stephanie McAfee
Chick Lit Review

Diary of a Mad Fat Girl by Stephanie McAfee

I received a copy of Diary of a Mad Fat Girl in exchange for an honest review.
Summary:
Graciela “Ace” Jones is mad-mad at her best friend Lilly who cancels their annual trip to Panama City for mysterious reasons; at her boss Catherine for “riding her ass like a fat lady on a Rascal scooter;” at her friend Chloe’s abusive husband; and especially at Mason McKenzie, the love of her life, who has shown up with a marriage proposal one year too late. Ace is never mad, though, at her near-constant companion, an adorable chiweenie dog named Buster Loo.
Ace’s anger begins to dissipate as she takes matters into her own hands to take down Chloe’s philandering husband-and to get to the bottom of a multitude of other scandals plaguing Bugtussle, Mississippi. Then, she starts to realize that maybe Mason deserves a second chance after all.
With a sharp and distinctive voice, Stephanie McAfee delivers a hilarious and fast-paced tale about Ace Jones and her two best friends-thick as thieves and tough as nails-navigating Southern small-town politics and prejudices, finding love, and standing up for each other all the way.
My Review:
What a hoot! The concept reeled me in, the execution was flawless, and I loved all the Southern talk. I swear, I think in a past life I was a southern belle, because I am just addicted to these types of books! Ace was a hysterical main character, and I enjoyed every minute of going on an adventure with her. I loved Bugtussle, Mississippi and the characters that filled the town. And Buster Loo? I am seriously trying to persuade my fiancé to let me name our future pup after this chiweenie. (Would probably work better if we didn’t live in Iowa.) This is a must-read, and I am just as ecstatic to currently be reading the sequel, Happily Ever Madder!
[Rating: 5]

November 5, 2012
4 Comments