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Recession Proof by Kimberly S Lin
Chick Lit Review

Recession Proof by Kimberly S Lin

Kimberly S. Lin is on tour with CLP Blog Tours and her novel Recession Proof. I really enjoyed this book because the topic is one that was and still is so heavy on the majority of people after the recession. The main character is Helen Jennings, a young professional who has been working her tail off as a financial fund analyst. She knows she doesn’t love her job or have any sort of passion for it, but it pays the bills and looks good on paper. Helen also feels like she is settling in her love life. She doesn’t have the spark with boyfriend Mark, but he’s a nice guy and they work well together. When Helen is let go from her job and struggles to find another in the struggling economy, she finally opens her eyes and decides she can’t let her life pass her by. Her and Mark break up, she moves in with best friend Sophie, and starts to focus on a career she loves – writing.
I saw a lot of myself in Helen, and I connected with her character right off the bat. The beginning was a bit awkward with her and Mark, who so clearly should not have been together, but I could understand why she wasn’t taking the leap and letting him go. Helen showed me that even if you spend years settling, you can still turn your life around and make situations happen that are positive. She was very inspiring to read about and I took a lot away from Recession Proof. The only real downfall to the story was some editing issues, especially lack of commas. For me, being an avid reader and editor, it was pretty obvious and distracted me from the story. Overall though, great story and I highly recommend this book!
[Rating: 4]

December 26, 2011
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Twang by John Schlimm
Chick Lit Review

Twang by John Schlimm

Twang, the latest novel from former country music publicist John Schlimm gives readers a backstage pass to some of the biggest country superstar’s secrets. Maybe. That’s what we get to try to figure out as we read about Salome and Willa Field, a sister sensation that are legends in the country music scene. With a whole lot of devious secrets buried underneath their carefully thought out images. And while we read about Thad Evans and Hope Tanner, country music’s biggest celebrity power couple – but one of them is living a lie. And Billie Blotter, columnist and “friend” to every celebrity is about to bust open their biggest secrets in his tell-all book. Who will be spared? And whose images will be changed forever?
Twang was a lot of fun to read, and to try to figure out if Schlimm is calling on his true insider knowledge between the pages. I thought I saw some similarities between the real stars, but who knows? I’m not much of a country fan, so maybe more of you will be able to find more storylines that just may be real. Regardless of what’s true or not, it was a fun book to read that was full of intriguing secrets and storylines that seemed to grow with each chapter. I would recommend it!

December 23, 2011
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Luck of the Devil by Patricia Eimer
Chick Lit Review

Luck of the Devil by Patricia Eimer

Luck of the Devil by Patricia Eimer is a hilarious novel about Faith Bettincourt, daughter to the Devil. Faith has an unexpected family reunion when the Devil himself comes to town bringing along her mortal mother. Also in for the ride – her demon half brother and her demon sister with her husband and a slew of marital problems. Added to the mix is Faith’s succubus roommate, a ghost that won’t quit haunting her, and a hot next door neighbor that just might not be all mortal either.
While I wasn’t quite sure what to expect from the synopsis, this book definitely surpassed any initial concerns I had. The writing was fun and light, and the scenarios were drop dead funny. Faith’s character is so likeable, and her romance with the next door neighbor is hotter than hell itself. There was a little tug of mystery that kept the story moving along for me, and the mother….just comical. All the characters brought something to the table, and I had a lot of fun reading this book. I hope to enjoy more from Patricia Eimer!
[Rating: 4]

December 21, 2011
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Future Tour: Waitlisted by Laurel Gans
CLP Blog Tours

Future Tour: Waitlisted by Laurel Gans

Laurel will be on tour January 30- February 20 with her novel Waitlisted Kacey Barlow had no idea it would be this hard to get…

December 21, 2011
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2011 Thankful for the Holiday Blog Hop
Chick Lit Plus

2011 Thankful for the Holiday Blog Hop

I am doing something new to this year and participating in the 2011 Thankful for the Holidays Blog Hop! This is being hosted by Romancing…

December 20, 2011
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In My Mailbox: Week of December 18
Chick Lit Plus

In My Mailbox: Week of December 18

In My Mailbox: Week of December 18

Title: Someone Else’s Fairy Tale
Author: EM Tippetts
Received: From EM Tippetts
Synopsis: Jason Vanderholt is Hollywood’s hottest actor. Chloe Winters is a college student who hasn’t bothered to see most of his movies. When he decides she’s the one, it’s like a fairytale – or it would be for most women. For Chloe, it could be her worst nightmare as her past, attracted by the bright lights of the media, comes back to haunt her.

Title: Touchable Love
Author: Becky Due
Received: From Becky Due
Synopsis: Love will always conquer fear and Christy has much to fear. When she enters the lives of two men, they teach her everything she needs to know about love. However, while dealing with her past issues and trying to treat her body like the temple it is, she teaches them a thing or two in return.

Title: Fake Perfect Me
Author: Cari Kamm
Received: From Cari Kamm
Synopsis: Isabella Reynolds has the perfect life … or does she? Maybe there is a grand illusion behind all the glamour.

Isabella Reynolds seems to have it all–the former Southern belle with big dreams is the head of her own skin care company and is the self-proclaimed queen of all things beautiful in New York City. Then her world comes crashing down, and she is stripped of everything she loves–her man, the Italian litigator ”Saint” Santo; her company, and even her beloved dog, Potato. With her penchant for bingeing and purging, how can she turn her life around when she still feels the need to maintain her ”perfect” facade?
Fake Perfect Me, author Cari Kamm’s heart-warming–and often heartwrenching–tale of a successful New Yorker and her inner circle, offers an inside look at a world of excess. Isabella Reynolds may seem unlike anyone you’ve ever known, but at her core, she’s instantly recognizable. Her trials and tribulations, her ups and downs, are much the same as anyone’s. Her world may have a high price tag, but its true value comes from its losses and lesson… to love one’s self.

December 19, 2011
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GIVEAWAY: Build a Man by Talli Roland
Chick Lit Plus

GIVEAWAY: Build a Man by Talli Roland

How far would you go to create the perfect partner? Slave to the rich, rude and deluded, cosmetic surgery receptionist Serenity Holland longs for the…

December 16, 2011
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Pushover by Laurel Mayer
Chick Lit Review

Pushover by Laurel Mayer

Sometimes, I get frustrated with myself when I begin to write a review on a book that I didn’t love only to find out that all the other reviews are glowing. This is the case with Pushover by Laurel Mayer. While I did like the book, I didn’t love it and can’t give it a five star review. The story follows Dani Wilder as she opens her first restaurant – in a location where a woman was allegedly pushed to her death. By Dani’s boyfriend’s former fiancée. When Dani finds out about this past lover, whom Jack has never mentioned, she begins to wonder if he is really over her and more so – did she really do it? When Rebecca sweeps back into town, she begins to spin her own web of lies and manipulate her way back into Jack’s good graces. How will Dani make it unscathed through all the drama, and can her restaurant and dream be a success?
While I thought I could love the plot and I’m all for a good mystery, this book just fell a little flat for me. I thought the writing was a bit slow and sometimes I just didn’t have that spark to keep reading. I’m really bummed too because like I said I enjoy the mystery aspects in a book, and I love reading about food. The parts that slowed me down were the flashbacks with Vic and Melinda. I thought they were a bit much. I could easily tell that Vic was highly in love with Melinda and that something devastating had happened, but all the pages of back story was just not necessary in my opinion. Jack’s character confused me a bit at times too – I couldn’t always tell what Dani saw in him – but Rebecca was great. In an evil way, of course. Her character is one that you will just hate, but need to keep reading about. Overall, I had a good time reading Pushover, but it’s not a favorite of mine. I think flashbacks can really make or break a story, and in my opinion it broke it for this one. But, I could tell that Mayer does have some great writing skills, and I will definitely check her out again!
[Rating: 3.5]

December 16, 2011
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The Hazards of Hunting While Heartbroken by Mari Passananti
Chick Lit Review

The Hazards of Hunting While Heartbroken by Mari Passananti

Zoe Clark is devastated when her fiancée ends their decade long relationship right before their over the top wedding. When his reasoning for calling it off is admitted, Zoe feels shaken and no longer trusts her judgment when it comes to men. But then comes Oscar. Oscar, the perfect boyfriend, the perfect man. Successful, wealthy, charming, and the chemistry is there. But is he too good to be true? Zoe turns to her BFF’s for help, Angela and Kevin, but turns out one of them is hiding a secret from Zoe that will send more shock waves through her dating life.
The Hazards of Hunting While Heartbroken by Mari Passananti is a book meant for the women. Zoe’s story is bound to touch you in some way, either making you think about your own life, what it is you really want, or giving you the confidence in being alone. I enjoyed watching Zoe’s transformation, from having to be part of a two-some, to thinking her life will only be complete once she finds the perfect man, to finally realizing that being alone is okay. Though the beginning started pretty slow for me, the ending really picked up when it came to what Oscar was hiding. The foreshadowing in the story gave me a good idea as to what it was, but it was still gripping to read about. Overall, I enjoyed watching Zoe go through her journey, and The Hazards of Hunting While Heartbroken is recommended by me!
[Rating: 4]

December 14, 2011
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