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Author Profile: Kaira Rouda
Chick Lit Authors

Author Profile: Kaira Rouda

Author Name: Kaira Rouda

Website: http://www.kairarouda.com/
Bio: Due to the career ladder of her professor father, Kaira was born in Chicago (Northwestern), moved to L.A. (USC), then to Austin (University of Texas), Boston (Harvard University) and finally Columbus (The Ohio State University) where Kaira, her mom and her siblings put their collective feet down and grew roots. Kaira spent the remainder her childhood in Columbus, and following graduation from Vanderbilt University, returned to spend another 20-plus years in Central Ohio in the marketing and publishing fields. She believes she has written just about everything: for public relations and advertising clients, including copy for electronics manuals (yawn), press releases for dog ice cream and hamburgers, carpet cleaning television and radio spots, to real estate websites and more; for business newspapers, regional and national magazines and blogs; for countless charities near and dear to her heart; a business book for women entrepreneurs; and now, finally, she is writing what she dreamed of writing since fourth grade: novels of her own. Here, Home, Hope is the first of several novels, all set in the fictional suburb of Grandville, that will be published. Kaira is ecstatic her dreams are coming true.
Kaira is a philanthropist who started Central Ohio’s first homeless shelter for families in the early 1990s, served two terms on the board of the MidOhio Food Bank, the YWCA, The Wexner Center for the Arts and numerous other charities, with a particular interest in empowering women and girls. The creator of the Real Living Real Estate brand — one of the fastest growing in the country — Kaira has earned numerous awards in business. For more on her career, please visit RealYouIncorporated.com.
Two years ago — of course not following her oldest child who had picked a college there — Kaira and her husband and four kids moved to Southern California where she is busy writing, volunteering, and growing new roots

Titles: Here, Home, Hope
See my review of Here, Home, Hope
Visit Kaira’s Blog!
Bio Retrieved from kairarouda.com

Author Name: Kaira Rouda

Website: http://www.kairarouda.com/
Bio: Due to the career ladder of her professor father, Kaira was born in Chicago (Northwestern), moved to L.A. (USC), then to Austin (University of Texas), Boston (Harvard University) and finally Columbus (The Ohio State University) where Kaira, her mom and her siblings put their collective feet down and grew roots. Kaira spent the remainder her childhood in Columbus, and following graduation from Vanderbilt University, returned to spend another 20-plus years in Central Ohio in the marketing and publishing fields. She believes she has written just about everything: for public relations and advertising clients, including copy for electronics manuals (yawn), press releases for dog ice cream and hamburgers, carpet cleaning television and radio spots, to real estate websites and more; for business newspapers, regional and national magazines and blogs; for countless charities near and dear to her heart; a business book for women entrepreneurs; and now, finally, she is writing what she dreamed of writing since fourth grade: novels of her own. Here, Home, Hope is the first of several novels, all set in the fictional suburb of Grandville, that will be published. Kaira is ecstatic her dreams are coming true.
Kaira is a philanthropist who started Central Ohio’s first homeless shelter for families in the early 1990s, served two terms on the board of the MidOhio Food Bank, the YWCA, The Wexner Center for the Arts and numerous other charities, with a particular interest in empowering women and girls. The creator of the Real Living Real Estate brand — one of the fastest growing in the country — Kaira has earned numerous awards in business. For more on her career, please visit RealYouIncorporated.com.
Two years ago — of course not following her oldest child who had picked a college there — Kaira and her husband and four kids moved to Southern California where she is busy writing, volunteering, and growing new roots

Titles: Here, Home, Hope
See my review of Here, Home, Hope
Visit Kaira’s Blog!
Bio Retrieved from kairarouda.com

June 7, 2011
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Bodyguards in Bed by Lucy Monroe, Jamie Denton, Elisabeth Naughton
Chick Lit Review

Bodyguards in Bed by Lucy Monroe, Jamie Denton, Elisabeth Naughton

Bodyguards in Bed is a book made up of three different novellas from three separate authors, all with the same theme: hot bodyguards doing more than just protecting their clients. The first, “Who’s Been Sleeping in My Brother’s Bed” by Lucy Monroe, covers a brilliant Ph.D. student whose home has been burglarized. Danusia hightails to her brother’s apartment, which thought would be empty, but instead finds hottie black-ops agent Maxwell Baker has set up his own temporary home there. Her eye has been on her brother’s friend Max for some time now, and being alone in an apartment proves their chemistry is hot as ever. The second novella, “Hot Mess” by Jamie Denton, follows office worker Alyssa who gets in an identity mix-up. While at LAX to pick-up whistle blower Charles Rolston, she accidently reels in FBI special agent Noah Temple. Noah skips telling her she has the wrong man, but knows he made a mistake after they end up sleeping together. And the last is “Acapulco Heat” by Elisabeth Naughton, where supermodel Lauren needs the protection of former army ranger Finn Tierney while on location. When Lauren’s co-worker turns out to be from a family of drug lords, murder ensues. It’s up to Finn to protect Lauren from getting murdered herself, but of course he finds time for some passion as well.
Bodyguards in Bed was a quick read, and I thought all three stories were interesting. Short stories and novellas aren’t my forte, but it was a fun book filled with some hot scenes. I think my favorite novella was the third, probably because I thought it was the longest and I could get more into the story and characters. I thought I was going to really like the first, but it seemed to end as soon as it began. If you like short stories and are looking for a hot summer read, I would recommend Bodyguards in Bed to you.
[Rating: 3.5]

June 6, 2011
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In My Mailbox: Week of June 5
Updates

In My Mailbox: Week of June 5

In My Mailbox: Week of June 5

Title: Confessions of a PTA Mafia Mom
Author: Elsie Love
Received: From Elise Love/CLP Blog Tours
Synopsis: Elaine Jackerson has found herself in quite a predicament. Her husband, Bob, is sleeping with his secretary, her daughter is experimenting in the backseat with random boys, and her eight year old wants nothing to do with her.

In an attempt to get herself out of her midlife rut, Elaine joins the Herschel Grammar School PTA. Little does she know, Suni Calverson, the current president has handpicked her to be the newest member of the group. As soon as the ink is dry on the signup sheet, Elaine is thrust into a world that she never knew existed. A world where the PTA gets things done with blackmail, bribes, threats and quite possibly guns.

After stumbling across her husband and his secretary humping in his office, Elaine turns to the only friends she has: Suni and her henchmen. They convince her to let them “take care” of Bob. Elaine agrees to the plan, as long as no one dies. Unfortunately for Elaine, Suni has other plans. Before Elaine can sleep off her Mojitos, her children have been kidnapped and Bob has disappeared. Afraid that Elaine will go back on her word, Suni forces her onto a plane to hide out in a posh suite in Las Vegas that belongs to the famous French landscape photographer Gerard Ilg.

Determined to get her children back and avoid jail, Elaine spends her time in Sin City vacillating between planning her escape and trying to stay out of the arms of the much younger, very hot, very Hawaiian limo driver Benjamin Oliana. Does he care for Elaine, or is she just another notch on his Billabong belt? What about her famous host who keeps encouraging her to “find her passion”? Gerard is a man of the world—a man that knows Suni. Can he be trusted? More importantly, can she sort out her feelings, take down the PTA Mafia, and go home to her children?

Title: Clothesline
Author: Kate Supino
Received: From Kate Supino
Synopsis: When Kelly, Ana and Sera decide to take charge of their financial futures and go into business for themselves, anything and everything is possible.
From door-to-door sales to bathing fancy pets, it’s a no holds barred adventure when the three best friends combine their talents and taste for success.
But when secrets are exposed and friendship is on the line, it’s time to get serious. Will Kelly commit to doing what she is truly passionate about? Will Sera push past her pride when they need help? And is Ian “the one”?

Title: Take It Like a Mom
Author: Stephanie Stiles
Received: From Stephanie Stiles
Synopsis: Annie Fingardt Forster used to be a lawyer who wore dry-clean only and shaved both legs. But things have changed. Now a stay-at-home mom, she wears cargo pants and ponytails and harbors a nearly pathological hatred towards hipster parents.

With a three-year-old and a baby on the way, Annie knows what to expect…at least, she thought she did. Faced with her husband’s job loss, pre-school politics, and a playground throwdown with her arch nemesis, Annie realizes that even with her husband and friends by her side, what she really needs is to learn to suck it up-and take it like a mom.

Title: A Life That Fits
Author: Heather Wardell
Received: From Heather Wardell
Synopsis: Twenty-eight-year-old Andrea returns home from a business trip to find Alex, her boyfriend of fourteen years, nervously waiting for her. Assuming he’s finally going to propose, Andrea’s instead horrified to learn he’s been cheating on her and is leaving to be with the other woman, who he calls Andrea’s opposite.
At first Andrea’s paralyzed by shock and sadness, but the business analyst soon forms a plan: change every last detail of her life and become her opposite so Alex will come back to her.
It’s a challenge at first, but soon Andrea’s loving the changes she’s making, the new activities she’s doing, and the new people in her life. But will she change enough to get Alex back? And if she does, will he fit into the wonderful new life she’s creating for herself?

June 5, 2011
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On Tour: Family Pieces by Misa Rush
CLP Blog Tours

On Tour: Family Pieces by Misa Rush

Misa Rush is on tour June 6-20 with her novel Family Pieces. What do you do when your once charmed life falls to pieces? Karsen…

June 4, 2011
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On Tour: Hollywood Ending by Lucie Simone
CLP Blog Tours

On Tour: Hollywood Ending by Lucie Simone

Lucie Simone is on tour June 6-20 with her novel Hollywood Ending. Trina Stewart needs cash. Fast. She’s barely got enough dough to keep her…

June 4, 2011
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Challenge:Post Reviews:June
Updates

Challenge:Post Reviews:June

June Challenge Reviews January Reviews February Reviews March Reviews April Reviews May Review Please note this is not the sign up page. To sign up,…

June 3, 2011
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Night Road by Kristin Hannah
Chick Lit Review

Night Road by Kristin Hannah

Where do I begin to say how much I loved this book? With the powerful writing that swept me into the story immediately? Or maybe with the fiercely real characters, whom I identified with even though I have never been in their situation? Characters who I cried for, who stayed in my head after I closed the book, who sparked conversations with numerous friends on many different subjects. What would you do if you were Jude? How do teach teenagers about drinking and driving? Why did Lexi give up her freedom for a mistake?
Night Road by Kristin Hannah is a gripping story about a family that deals with a terrible tragedy. Mother Jude Farraday is a “helicopter mom” always in the lives of her twins, Mia and Zach. A slightly overbearing mother, she is always there to make sure her children are on the right track. But things start to slip away during their senior year of high school. Mia’s best friend, former foster child Lexi, is in love with Mia’s twin brother. And Zach is in love with Lexi. The threesome is always together, the best of friends, until one night of wrong decisions rips the friendship, and the Farradays perfect family, apart.
I know this story will be unforgettable to me. I also know when I read a phenomenal story, because I have the characters in my head even when I am not reading. I can’t tell you how many times I imagined scenes between Lexi and Jude, where I became so worked up in the drama of their lives that I had to remind myself I was reading a book. I have read a few reviews that complain about Jude’s character being selfish and a horrible bitch after the accident, and it’s the truth. But people aren’t supposed to be cheerful and reasonable after death. I thought Hannah showcased just what can happen to people after such a tragedy. Did I hate Jude’s character? Yes. But that’s the reality of life. The only downfall I saw to the story was that it ended too soon for me. I wanted to get more of an ending between Lexi and Zach. But I think Night Road is completely worthy of a five star rating, and will definitely get a place on my Favorites List.
[Rating: 5]

June 2, 2011
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Girl in a Spin by Clodagh Murphy
Chick Lit Review

Girl in a Spin by Clodagh Murphy

Girl in a Spin, the second novel from Irish author Clodagh Murphy is out the park good. This story has romance and betrayal, politics and scandal, and a delightful heroine who will not give up on love. I know some chick lit fans are wondering about the “politics” word I used, which isn’t so common for chick lit novels. Jenny Hannigan, the good-hearted and optimistic main character, falls for Richard Allam, a recently separated politician. Jenny thinks she has found true love with Richard. He is the complete package- charming, successful, wealthy- but Jenny also believes Richard has a kind heart and loves her back. When Richard’s publicist Dev Tennant gets involved for Richard’s upcoming election, his job is to “spin” Jenny into someone the public can support- the perfect politician wife. But while Jenny has a slightly wild past, Dev’s job turns out to be harder than he imagined- but he still can’t stop himself for beginning to fall for his boss’s girlfriend. While Jenny finds herself attracted to Dev, she remains loyal to Richard- until Richard’s real motives for leaving his wife are brought to light.
I think the main reason that I loved Girl in a Spin so much is because of Jenny’s character. She actually reminded me a lot of myself, which was fun to notice, but also because she is so darn loveable. I loved her optimism. Even though she came from a tough background and supported herself most of her life, she never gave up on thinking she could get a happy ending. Even though a lot of the book covered political topics- campaigns, speeches, appearances- I was never confused or bogged down by the political references. And the hilarity in many of the scenes! Jenny has quite an unconventional background, complete with a few stalkers that make for some laugh out loud lines, and Murphy does a spot-on job at mixing humor and more serious topics. I thought the politics and the scandal that goes along with Richard and his divorce is (unfortunately) quite a common occurrence nowadays, and that really kept me invested in the story. I liked how readers are able to get into different characters minds- from Jenny all the way to Richard’s estranged wife, Julie. I was hooked until the very last page, and Girl in a Spin will definitely be making it on my Favorites List!
[Rating: 5]

June 1, 2011
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Guest Post by Deborah Cloyed
For Writers

Guest Post by Deborah Cloyed

Living Life and Writing Fiction The number one question I get about the book is how much it is based on real life people and…

May 31, 2011
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