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Book Review: White Lies by Emily Harper

I received a copy of White Lies by Emily Harper in exchange for an honest review.
Summary:
Imagine standing in line at Harvey Nichols waiting to buy the most gorgeous silk Gucci dress. The only minor problem? You can’t afford it, it’s a size smaller than you are, and you have absolutely no place to wear it.
Meet Natalie Flemming: a twenty-something woman working in London for a fabulous shoe-designing firm, but the only thing they let her touch is the company’s tax forms. She has decided to give fate a vacation and takes the task of finding the man of her dreams (or Johnny Depp if he would just return her calls…) into her own hands.
She craves adventure, spontaneity, passion- or will just settle for a decent date.
Review:
I found White Lies to be a very fun and cute chick lit read. Natalie is a bit all over the place, intelligent yet a bit flaky, but that’s what made her endearing to read about. Her search for Mr. Right was a quite hilarious and I loved the little diary notes between each chapter. Sometimes I wished she didn’t lie quite as much because I just kept wanting to smack myself with each white lie, but if she didn’t, the concept of the book wouldn’t really be there, right? All in all, I thought this was a charming little read that kept me interested throughout. I also absolutely adore the cover! I recommend!
4 stars

Release Day: Hard Hats and Doormats by Laura Chapman

Today, Marching Ink released its fifth title. Huge congratulations to Laura Chapman and her debut novel Hard Hats and Doormats. I met Laura online via…

Book Review: Melting Ms Frost by Kat Black

Reviewer: Terry I was given this book in exchange for an honest review. Ms Frost is an uptight, tightly wound Manager of an upscale restaurant…

December 2013 New Releases

December New Releases
Yes, holiday season is upon us once again. Books are the gift that keeps on giving, and there are plenty of good ones to pick from this month. So make your list (and check it twice), before heading out to your local bookseller this December.
Morning Glory by Sarah Jio – November 26th. Ada leaves New York City after a tragedy, moving to a house boat on Seattle’s Lake Union. It’s there that Ada discovers the trunk of a former resident, Penny Wentworth. Penny was a young newlywed in 1959 and Ada is determined to learn her fate. The mysteries of the past get tangled in Ada’s questions about her future. I love the way Sarah Jio writes because she’s great at weaving together story lines of the present with those of the past, seamlessly transporting the readers to different times and places. I can’t wait to escape into this story.
Out to Lunch by Stacey Ballis – December 3, 2013. Jenna and Aimee were best friends and business partners in an events and catering company until Aimee’s untimely death at the young age of forty-one. Jenna is grief stricken and lost without her friend. She also has to deal with Wayne, Aimee’s Star Wars-obsessed widower. Complicating matters is the fact that Aimee left Jenna in charge of all her finances, which means Jenna gets to referee Wayne’s get-rich-quick schemes. What was her friend thinking? I haven’t read the book, but I think I might know the answer to that question. This book sounds charming and early reviews suggest that the food descriptions are Pinterest worthy, so you may want to read on a full stomach.
Undressing Mr. Darcy by Karen Doornebos – December 3, 2013. This book is another modern day twist on Jane Austen and it sounds like a hoot. Vanessa is a public relations executive who’s a master at social media. Julian is an Englishman who has written a book, My Year as Mr. Darcy, as a means to save his faltering estate. Along with the book, Julian hosts a Darcy themed talk show that features him, well, undressing. Did I mention that “Mr. Darcy” is hot? Throw in Austen fan festivals, a pirate encounter and a trip to merry ole England and I think we have ourselves a fun ride!
Hard Hats and Doormats by Laura Chapman – December 11, 2013. What a cute title. Lexi is a girl who likes to follow the rules, which is probably a good thing, since she’s the HR manager at a chemical company! After she gets passed over on a big promotion, Lexi begins to wonder if maybe rules are meant to be broken, especially the rules on interoffice dating. I enjoy stories based in the work place, because office politics and romance can be so complicated. I also love a story in which nice girls don’t finish last.
The Redhead Plays Her Hand by Alice Clayton – December 17, 2013. Actress Grace Sheridan has it all, a gorgeous British movie star boyfriend, Jack, and the lead role on a hit television show. When her curvaceous figure ignites an industry debate over thinness, producers order Grace to drop 15 pounds. While Grace is eating rabbit food and suffering through boot camp, Jack is hitting the Hollywood party scene. Jack’s fans don’t want him in a relationship, so when he shows up at her events late and drunk, Grace wonders if he loves his fans more than her. Forget playing her hand, I’m thinking she needs to re-deal the cards. I love Hollywood insider stories and this one sounds juicy.

Blog Tour Sign Up: Private Air by Billie Bates

Billie Bates will be on tour in February/March with her chick lit novel Private Air. I am looking for book bloggers to post reviews, guest posts, interviews…

In My Mailbox: Week of December 8

Title: The Lies That Save Us
Author: JL Redington
Received: CLP Blog Tours
Synopsis: Alexa is beautiful, smart and alone in the world, a result of devastating losses in her life. She purchased a diner in the quiet out of the way town of Startup, Washington and hired employees to help run it. She’s just beginning to feel secure in her loneliness.
Suddenly her world is jolted awake by Cayman, a handsome young stranger that enters her diner seemingly from nowhere. Event’s happen quickly, and soon Alexa is deep into secret lives, deception and desire.
Will she figure out the riddle of her father’s death? Will she be able to resist the temptation to fall in love with Cayman in spite of her suspicions? Will she live to tell the tale?

Title: Sweet Expectations
Author: Mary Ellen Taylor
Received: Joan Schulhafer Publishing
Synopsis: Daisy McCrae knows that change can be sudden—and devastating. And while it doesn’t have to be a bad thing, change has the power to turn your whole world upside down….

Running the family bakery and living in the store’s attic might not be Daisy’s dream life, but she’s beginning to understand what being content feels like. And then she gets some unexpected news. In one moment, Daisy’s calm existence turns into chaos. Now she’s struggling to keep it together, especially with renovations at the bakery spiraling out of control.

But when a box of recipes and mementos is found hidden behind a wall in the bakery, Daisy suddenly has something to cling to—a mystery that echoes her own troubles and gives her the opportunity to figure out what she really wants out of life….

Title: Love on a Budget
Author: Norma L Jarrett
Received: Norma L Jarrett
Synopsis: Jake Jiles was always handy with tools. Despite his love for all things do-it-yourself, he went to college and majored in business to fulfill his parents’ dream. He finally got the courage to leave his corporate job and start his “Honey-Do-4-Hire” business. Less than a year in, he’s already exhausted his savings and still living at home with his mother, but he’s determined to birth his franchise. Consumed with his business and fresh off a breakup, he wasn’t in the market for Mrs. Right. But after completing a job on Valentine’s Day, his potential dream girl, Sky showed up. After a brief chat over her car dilemma, he ignored the chemistry and left without her number. But cupid and God had other plans. After a divine connection, the only thing that stood between Jake and Sky, were funds. Will Jake pursue “Love on a Budget” or miss out because the price is too high?

Title: Shy Town Girls – Ivy
Author: Kate Leimkuehler
Received: Kate Leimkuehler
Synopsis: Jake Jiles was always handy with tools. Despite his love for all things do-it-yourself, he went to college and majored in business to fulfill his parents’ dream. He finally got the courage to leave his corporate job and start his “Honey-Do-4-Hire” business. Less than a year in, he’s already exhausted his savings and still living at home with his mother, but he’s determined to birth his franchise. Consumed with his business and fresh off a breakup, he wasn’t in the market for Mrs. Right. But after completing a job on Valentine’s Day, his potential dream girl, Sky showed up. After a brief chat over her car dilemma, he ignored the chemistry and left without her number. But cupid and God had other plans. After a divine connection, the only thing that stood between Jake and Sky, were funds. Will Jake pursue “Love on a Budget” or miss out because the price is too high?

Title: A Cinderella Christmas
Author: Holly Kingston
Received: Novelicious Books
Synopsis: This laugh out loud romantic comedy is a Christmas cracker of a read!

This year’s Cinderella pantomime is the hottest production in town. What’s more, Lucy is starring alongside Ryan Aspall: famous TV actor, sex symbol and potential love of her entire life. One teeny problem – Lucy is tripping the light fantastic as … the back end of the comedy cow. Surely nothing kills a flirty moment quite like wearing a massive set of udders?

At least she has the support of glamorous (if potentially flammable) Charmaine; a reality star diva of a Cinderella, who Lucy is completely fascinated by. But behind the fame and beauty, Charmaine is not all she seems.

With more drama off the stage than on it, and everyone wanting to be star of the show, will Lucy find the confidence to make it out of the cow suit and into the spotlight this Christmas?

Book Review: Undressing Mr. Darcy by Karen Doornebos

Reviewer: Terry I was given this book in exchange for an honest review. Jane Austen Fans are going to love this tribute book!  Undressing Mr.…

Book Review: There’s More to Life than Cupcakes by …

Reviewer: Kate I received a copy of There’s More to Life than Cupcakes by Poppy Dolan in exchange for an honest review. Synopsis: Ellie Redford…

CLP Blog Tours Book Review: Zoey & The Moment of Zen …

Reviewer: Christy Cat Lavoie is now on tour with CLP Blog Tours and Zoey & The Moment of Zen Summary: When coffee shop owner Zoey Everwood…