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Skipping A Beat by Sarah Pekkanen
Chick Lit Review

Skipping A Beat by Sarah Pekkanen

Julia and Michael Dunhill are high school sweethearts living the good life. Julia runs a successful party planning business, but Michael is the real bread winner, worth millions thanks to the launch of his company DrinkUp. But when Michael goes into cardiac arrest and his heart stops beating for four minutes and eight seconds until he is revived, something changes between the husband and wife. Julia’s marriage was based on love and commitment in the beginning, but once money got involved, that had changed. Julia and Michael were business partners and sometime lovers, but the fun loving marriage they once had was taken over by business deals and corporate events. Julia had become accustomed to rarely seeing her husband, plastering fake smiles on her face at fancy dinner parties, and going to the opera. Because on the flip side, she had a gorgeous house with heated floors, a brand new car, and a wardrobe to die for. The money seemed to make her dissolving marriage worth it.
But after Michael’s cardiac arrest episode, it seems he wants to change their relationship. He wants to be the old Michael, before he became so rich and famous. He wants to donate his money and the beautiful house with the heated floors and the news cars to charities. But does Julia? Can she handle giving everything up for Michael, after so many years in stale marriage?
Skipping A Beat, the sophomore novel from Sarah Pekkanen, is a masterful piece of writing. I cried multiple times while reading, because my connection with the characters felt so real. This is a modern novel at its best, making the beautiful heroine choose between money and true love. Even though Julia’s character wasn’t likable at all times, she was honest. She made me think. And the ending….well, you’ll just have to read that for yourself! Chick lit fans will fall in love with Pekkanen’s honest and complex writing all over again.
**Note: This novel is available for preorder, and will be released in February 2011.**
Rating:4.5/5

January 17, 2011
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Celebrities for Breakfast by Shelley Stout
Chick Lit Review

Celebrities for Breakfast by Shelley Stout

Judith Collington needs to get out of LA. She spends her days as a personal shopper for celebrities, caving in to the demands of the rich and famous. With her seventh-grade daughter Shannon maturing by the minute, Judith makes the decision to move to Illinois. She has the opportunity to run a bed and breakfast, taking over after the elder owner steps down. But after uprooting her life and settling down in the Midwest, Judith loses the chance to purchase the B&B- and the new owner only reminds her of what she left behind in California.
Celebrities for Breakfast by Shelley Stout is a romantic comedy, and I thought it was interesting to get more than one view point from the characters. Even though the story is told through Judith’s voice, there are some of Shannon’s journal entries that prove pivotal, and even a third voice that pops up along the way. I did think the story was a bit too dull at times, and I think that’s because it was predictable. But if you like romance, I would give Celebrities for Breakfast a try and see what you think. There are some sweet moments and a lesson or two you can pull from the story.
Rating: 3

January 15, 2011
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Falling Home by Karen White
Chick Lit Review

Falling Home by Karen White

Cassie Madison would rather forget her hometown. She has an envious high powered career in advertising in Manhattan, a fabulous apartment and clothes, and a rich successful fiancé. She has worked to get her Walton, Georgia accent to disappear, and hasn’t been back to see her family in fifteen years. Not since her sister Harriett ran off and eloped with her Cassie’s boyfriend. But when her ailing father is on his last breath, Cassie has no choice but head to down Walton to say goodbye. Cassie is reluctant to speak to Harriett, but as time passes and Cassie stays in Walton preparing for the funeral, she can’t help but reconnect with her sister and her sister’s children. She also unexpectedly develops feelings for Sam, the town doctor, who once was the class geek that Cassie ignored. But how can Cassie give up her high powered life and successful fiancé in New York?
I am a big fan of Karen White, but Falling Home just didn’t do it for me. This was a re-released novel of earlier work, and it fell short with me. The plot was good and there were a few suspenseful parts to it, but the characters were a bit boring and slow moving. I found myself unenthusiastic about picking the book back up to read. The story will probably make you cry, I certainly did during the tear-jerker scenes, but the romance was too predictable and uneasy for me to get into. On Folly Beach is still my favorite novel from Karen White.
Rating:3.5/5

January 14, 2011
2 Comments
Debut Authors & Novels- January, February
Chick Lit Review

Debut Authors & Novels- January, February

Here are some debut authors and their novels coming out in January and February. Chick Lit Plus challengers- I hope this helps find some debuts for you to count towards the reading challenge! More debuts will be posted each month.

Title: A Valentine’s Kiss
Author: Lucie Hart
Synopsis: This Valentine’s day Imogen is going to meet the man of her dreams. If only she can discover who he is…At a gloriously over-the-top house party in the balmy South of France, British trainee chef Imogen finds herself playing blind man’s buff with a host of impossibly handsome men. And then one of them kisses her. It’s the most perfect kiss she’s ever experienced in her short – and frankly, to date romantically disappointing – life. Sweet, sexy and full of promise. Imogen wants more, but by the time she recovers her wits sufficiently to remove her blindfold her mystery kisser has disappeared. Could her Prince Charming be one of her fellow-chefs, Dimitri or Bastien? Both are clearly interested in her. But there’s also enigmatic Latino hunk Enzo, good-times-guy DJ Cheyenne, aristocratic Amaury, and the American visitors – Archer and Everett…So many men, so little time. And Imogen can’t just keep kissing men until she finds the right one…can she?
Release Date: January 20, 2011

Title: Playdate
Author: Thelma Adams
Synopsis: Inside their picture-perfect homes, the residents of this quiet California suburb are not at all what they seem.
Lance is a former weatherman, now a buff yogi, stay-athome dad, and manager of his daughter’s Girl Scout troop’s cookie distribution. Belle is his precocious and quick-witted daughter. Darlene is a classic Type A work-a-holic, she has little time or patience for the needs of her husband and daughter
And just down the street are Alec and Wren. Alec, a womanizing businessman, is also the financial backer—and sometimes more—behind Darlene’s burgeoning empire. Meanwhile, Wren is a doting mother and talented yogi, ready to lay down the mat for a quick session with Lance.
As looming Santa Ana winds threaten to turn brushfires into catastrophe; Playdate proves that relationships are complicated and the bonds between families, spouses and children are never quite what they seem. What happens next door, beyond the hedges, in the romper room and executive office—it’s all as combustible as a quick brushfire on a windy day.
Release Date: January 18. 2011

Title: Postcards from the Heart
Author: Ella Griffin
Synopsis: Life is looking up for Saffy. She has a great job, a gorgeous flat in the most desirable part of Dublin and – after six years – it looks like her boyfriend, Greg, is going to propose. Greg (just voted the 9th most eligible man in Ireland) is on a high too – he’s about to swap his part as a heartthrob in an Irish soap for a break in Hollywood. His best mate Brian wakes up every morning with Daryl, the most beautiful woman on the planet but, even after seven years and two kids, she won’t get married. He spends his days teaching teenagers and his nights writing the book he hopes will change everything, including Daryl’s mind. But their happy endings are playing hard to get. It seems everyone’s keeping secrets – one night stands, heartbreak, grief and loss are all in the mix. It’s going to take some tough questions and even tougher answers before anyone’s being honest – even with themselves. POSTCARDS FROM THE HEART is a book about four friends in their thirties. It’s about love, lust, life, death, balloon rides and missing hamsters. But most of all it’s about figuring out how to stop saying ‘I don’t’ and how to start saying ‘I do’.
Release Date: January 2011

Title: 666 Park Avenue
Author: Gabriella Price
Synopsis: Ever since fabulously wealthy Malcolm Doran walked into her life and swept her off her feet fledgling architect Jane Boyle2 s world has become an absolute fairy tale. When he proposes with a stunning 5-carat diamond to seal the deal Jane can2 t believe her incredible fortune and decides to leave her Paris-based job and make a new start with Malcolm in New York. But when Malcolm introduces Jane to the esteemed Doran clan one of the most feared and revered families of the New York City upper crust Jane2 s fairy tale takes a darker turn. Soon everything she thought she knew about the world and herself is upended and Jane is left to struggle with newfound magical abilities and the threat of those who will stop at nothing to get them. Bringing together the dual fascinations of high society and black magic 666 Park Avenue is a story of a young woman2 s discovery and survival when her mother-in-law to-be turns out to be a horrible grasping witch…literally.
Release Date: February 1, 2011

January 12, 2011
5 Comments
Planning to Live by Heather Wardell
Chick Lit Review

Planning to Live by Heather Wardell

I have been a big fan of Heather Wardell since her first book, and her latest novel cements my place as an admirer as both a reader and a writer. Planning to Live has a simple plot structure: Rhiannon, a thirty year old overweight perfectionist flees from her parent’s house on Christmas Day simply to avoid the temptations of food. But while driving on the icy roads, Rhiannon loses control of her car and slams into a tree. Trapped in her car, bleeding, and with no way to reach her phone to call for help, Rhiannon reflects on her life up until that moment. She thinks about her obsession with food, her relationship with her parents, the death of her first love. When hours go by and she is still not found, Rhiannon faces the reality that she may not get out of the accident alive. Her laptop is her last source of possible communication with her family and friends, and Rhiannon writes out her thoughts, hopes, and goals. While she thinks about her life, she realizes that it is the journey, not the destination that is so important. A motto for everyone to live by.
Even with a simple plot, girl stuck in car, this novel is powerful. While Rhiannon thinks about her life and the decisions she has made, I thought about my life and the decisions I had made. When Rhiannon realized it is the journey, not the destination, I thought of how true that statement is. And while the entire novel takes place in one night, with a few flashbacks along the way, I felt that I knew Rhiannon for years. I won’t give away the ending, and I won’t because I really want everyone to read this book. I know it will be just as rewarding for you as it was for me. Thank you Heather for another great read!
Rating: 4.5/5

January 10, 2011
3 Comments
In My Mailbox: Week of January 9
Updates

In My Mailbox: Week of January 9

In My Mailbox: Week of January 9, 2011

Title: Millie’s Fling
Author: Jill Mansell
Received: Bought for Amazon Kindle
Synopsis: When Millie Brady saves Orla Hart’s life she doesn’t realise how drastically it will change her own – not least because the boyfriend who was proposing at the time stormed off in a huff. Actually, Millie’s relieved. She’s happy to enjoy a man-free summer in Cornwall. But Orla has other ideas. She’s determined that Millie should meet the man of her dreams. Trouble is, Millie’s taste in men doesn’t tally with Orla’s. The one who really interests her is Hugh Emerson, and he’s the man with whom Orla’s adamant she mustn’t get involved…

Title: Eclipse
Author: Stephenie Meyer
Received: Borrowed from a friend
Synopsis: As Seattle is ravaged by a string of mysterious killings and a malicious vampire continues her quest for revenge, Bella once again finds herself surrounded by danger. In the midst of it all, she is forced to choose between her love for Edward and her friendship with Jacob—knowing that her decision has the potential to ignite the ageless struggle between vampire and werewolf. With her graduation quickly approaching, Bella has one more decision to make: life or death. But which is which?

Title: Stir Until Thoroughly Confused
Author: Heather Wardell
Received: From Heather Wardell
Synopsis: Mary’s given up everything, including an unsatisfying marriage, to become a chef. But the career comes with a side dish: Kegan, her sexy but controlling new boss. They’re soon in a relationship, and in all-too-frequent arguments, and when it becomes clear they can’t work together and be together Mary faces a dilemma: keep her dream job or her dream man?

January 9, 2011
1 Comment
Author Profile: Lucie Simone
Chick Lit Authors

Author Profile: Lucie Simone

Author Name: Lucie Simone

Website: http://www.luciesimone.com/index.html

Bio: Lucie is a girl’s girl. Her novels reflect her love of living in LA, sipping fruity drinks, rubbing elbows with almost-celebrities, and trying to find love. She has also had the luck to travel, seeing the United States from coast to coast and even vacationing around the globe. Lucie lives in Hollywood, and enjoys spending her time in coffee shops and bookstores, often reading a romance novel or working on writing one of her own. She has a degree in journalism and television production, and has worked in both the entertainment and advertising industries. Her blog describes her as an author, a girly girl, a feminist, a yogi, a vegetarian, an animal lover, a bookworm, a film fan, and so much more.
Titles: The Waterdance, A Taste of Italy, and Hollywood Ending.
See my review of A Hollywood Ending
Bio Retrieved from luciesimone.com

January 8, 2011
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Author Profile: Sibel Hodge
Chick Lit Authors

Author Profile: Sibel Hodge

Author Name: Sibel Hodge

Website: http://www.sibelhodge.com/

Bio: Sibel has dual British/Turkish Cypriot nationality, and divides her time between Hertfordshire and North Cyprus. She is a trained fitness instructor and sports and massage therapist and writes freelance feature articles on health, fitness, and various lifestyle subjects.
Sibel’s debut novel, Fourteen Days Later, is a romantic comedy and was short listed for the Harry Bowling Prize 2008. Written in a similar style to Catherine Alliott and Marian Keyes, Fourteen Days Later is My Big Fat Greek Wedding meets P.S. I Love You.
The Fashion Police is Sibel’s second novel and was a runner up in the Chapter One Promotions Novel Competition 2010. It is a screwball comedy-mystery, combining murder and mayhem with romance and chick-lit – the first in a series featuring insurance investigator, Amber Fox. Written in a similar style to Janet Evanovich, it is Stephanie Plum meets Bridget Jones.

Currently: Sibel currently is working on the sequel to Fourteen Days Later.
Titles: Fourteen Days Later and The Fashion Police.
Read my interview with Sibel or check out her health and lifestyle blog!
Bio Retrieved from sibelhodge.com

January 6, 2011
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In My Mailbox: January 5th
Updates

In My Mailbox: January 5th

In My Mailbox: Week of January 5th

Title: Twilight
Author: Stephenie Meyer
Received: From a friend
Synopsis: Isabella Swan’s move to Forks, a small, perpetually rainy town in Washington, could have been the most boring move she ever made. But once she meets the mysterious and alluring Edward Cullen, Isabella’s life takes a thrilling and terrifying turn. Up until now, Edward has managed to keep his vampire identity a secret in the small community he lives in, but now nobody is safe, especially Isabella, the person Edward holds most dear. The lovers find themselves balanced precariously on the point of a knife — between desire and danger.

Title: A Taste of Magic
Author: Tracy Madison
Received: Bought from AmazonKindle
Synopsis: A young, divorced bakery owner discovers she’s inherited her gypsy ancestress’s fabulous magical powers, but learns that when seeking true love with her hunky new neighbor, a person has to be careful what she cooks up.

Title: New Moon
Author: Stephenie Meyer
Received: From a Friend
Synopsis: Legions of readers entranced by Twilight are hungry for more and they won’t be disappointed. In New Moon, Stephenie Meyer delivers another irresistible combination of romance and suspense with a supernatural twist. The “star-crossed” lovers theme continues as Bella and Edward find themselves facing new obstacles, including a devastating separation, the mysterious appearance of dangerous wolves roaming the forest in Forks, a terrifying threat of revenge from a female vampire and a deliciously sinister encounter with Italy’s reigning royal family of vampires, the Volturi. Passionate, riveting, and full of surprising twists and turns, this vampire love saga is well on its way to literary immortality.

January 6, 2011
4 Comments